Sep 23, 2026 Metropolitan Council

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YOURS IN 2, 1. WELCOME TO THE

[CALL TO ORDER]

[Presentations and Recognitions]

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, I DO WANT TO, I'LL ASK MISS, 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, MISS SANELLA, IS HERE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW SANELLA, SHE RUNS BATON ROUGE, BASICALLY. YOU SHOULD GET TO KNOW HER. 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 MISS 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, SHARONICA 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 SHARONICA 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 MISS 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.

SO, MISS PAULA, PLEASE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GAUDET. AND I THINK, JUSTIN, SHE'S GOT SOMETHING TO QUEUE UP. YES.

AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 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 JA 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 GOING TO 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. SO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN KENNEY. 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, IN OUR VIDEO, SO YOU'LL KIND OF GET TO KNOW WHAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE.

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 WANT TO SHOW A QUICK VIDEO. THIS IS A 4-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 WANT TO VOLUNTEER OR COME VISIT US.

THE CORE MISSION OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IS TO INSPIRE AND PREPARE YOUTH 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 DAY 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 GAMES 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. JA

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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 AND A ROLE MODEL LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN HERE IS REALLY TRAINING ME HOW TO BE 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, JA'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 MOTIVATED ME TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER WITH JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT 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 PARTICIPATORY EXERCISES WHERE YOU ASK FOR 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. THIS IS OUR HOME, 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 GOING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE. EXCELLENT. SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT. HOPEFULLY THAT GAVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.

WE ARE CONNECTING THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM TO THE ACTUAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. I DO ALSO WANT TO SHARE, 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 BI- 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, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL RE- FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME, AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

AWESOME. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMPORTANT WORK.

IMPORTANT WORK. ALL RIGHT, AND NEXT UP WE WILL HAVE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNEY JR.

RECOGNIZING LONDON KELLER FROM SHARON HILLS ELEMENTARY, JOSIAH WILLIAMS FROM BROWNFIELD ELEMENTARY, AND AMAYA, HOPEFULLY I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT, HOLENQUEST FROM BAKER HIGH SCHOOL FOR STUDENT OF THE YEAR AND BAKER BUFFALO FESTIVAL QUEEN 2026. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, TODAY, I HAVE A COUPLE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS ACROSS DISTRICT 2. ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS I HAVE TODAY IS SOME ROYALTY FROM THE BAKER, LOUISIANA COMMUNITY, MISS AMIA HOLLINQUEST. SHE IS A PROUD STUDENT OF BAKER HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE WAS RECENTLY CROWNED BAKER BUFFALO FESTIVAL QUEEN FOR 2026. COME ON UP, MISS HOTLENQUIST. SO FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR, UM, THE CITY OF BAKER HAS AN ANNUAL BUFFALO FESTIVAL, UH, WHERE THEY HAVE DAY, A WHOLE WEEKEND FULL OF ACTIVITIES, BUT RECENTLY THEY WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING TO HAVE PAGEANTRY FOR YOUNG LADIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND SHOW EMPOWERMENT.

AND SO, UM, SHE WAS CROWNED FIRST PLACE AND THE QUEEN

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ALL RIGHT, MISS ARI QUEEN, DON'T GO TOO FAR. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A GROUP PICTURE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO INVITE UP YOUR MOM, YOUR MOTHER, AND YOUR FAMILY TO COME ON UP AT THIS TIME. SO LET'S GIVE MISS HOLLINQUEST'S 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.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, UM, I HAVE MR. JOSIAH WILLIAMS FROM BROWNSVILLE ELEMENTARY.

UH, MR. JOSIAH WAS RECENTLY, UM, ANNOUNCED AS THE STUDENT OF THE YEAR AT BROWNSVILLE ELEMENTARY. COME ON UP, MR. MR. WILLIAMS AT THIS TIME. SO MR. WILLIAMS WAS RECENTLY CROWNED, UH, WHAT NAMED STUDENT OF THE YEAR AT BROWNSVILLE ELEMENTARY IN MY DISTRICT. UM, HE IS 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 WANT TO SAY TO THE METRO COUNCIL? YES. GO AHEAD. I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY GRANDPARENTS, AND MY MOTHER.

THEY PUSHED ME TO MY LIMITS THIS TIME. ALL RIGHT, COME BACK, JOSIAH. COME BACK. WHERE'S MOM? MOM, RAISE YOUR... 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.

UH, CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. UM, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT FOR YOU. BECOME STUDENT OF THE YEAR IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, OKAY? GO FOR THE THREE-PEAT. UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONTINUE BEING AN AMAZING STUDENT, AND WE WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE JOURNEY AT THIS TIME. SO, MOM, YOU WANT TO COME ON UP? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, UH, SPECIAL CERTIFICATE FOR YOU AND YOUR SON. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, NAT- LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, LONDON KELLER. IS MISS LONDON KELLER HERE TODAY? ALL RIGHT.

SO MISS LONDON KELLER IS THE STUDENT OF THE YEAR AT SHARON HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. COME ON UP, MISS KELLER. LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MISS KELLER. SHE IS INVOLVED IN SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE STEM CLUB, STUDENT COUNCIL, CHOIR, CHEERLEADING, AND A STUDENT AMBASSADOR, UM, AT HER 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 NOTHING BUT RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT HER. SO TO BE STUDENT OF THE YEAR TAKES A LOT AND TAKES AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT, OKAY? I WAS NEVER STUDENT OF THE YEAR, RIGHT? AND SO, UH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU. SO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE METRO COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK MY PARENTS AND GOD FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

MM-HMM.

ANY OF YOUR FAMILY ARE HERE? MOM, GRANDMOTHER, ANYBODY HERE AT THIS TIME? LET'S GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. COME ON UP. COME ON UP AS WELL. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER.

COME ON UP. ALL RIGHT, HERE YOU GO, LINDA. COME TO THE FRONT. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT FOR ME, COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ALL RIGHT, 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 CAPITOL AREA.

WE RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 25TH AS DOLLY DAY IN BATON ROUGE.

COUNCILWOMAN.

ALL RIGHT, LADIES, IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME, COME ON UP HERE. I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE TODAY. AND WE NEED DOLLY. OH MY GOODNESS, YES, 100%. 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 HER PHILANTHROPY UNTIL AFTER, UM, SHE PASSED.

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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 GOING TO 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 AND THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.

SO, UM, WHEREAS 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 FOUNDED IN 1995 IN HONOR OF HER FATHER, WHO COULD NOT READ OR WRITE, WITH A MISSION TO INSPIRE A LOVE OF READING BY PROVIDING FREE, HIGH-QUALITY BOOKS TO MILLIONS, FREE, HIGH-QUALITY, UM, BOOKS PLACED, LET'S SEE, IN CH- I CAN'T READ EITHER. I, I WAS BORN IN 1970. I WAS NOT A BENEFICIARY OF THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY. LET'S START THIS AGAIN. UM, FREE, HIGH QUALITY BOOKS TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. 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 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 9 TO 5 AS DOLLY DAY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARIS OF EAST 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 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 LADIES, 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.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HOWDY. 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, 925, GET IT, AS DOLLY DAY.

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 ENROLLED CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. 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 DOLLARS 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 04,000, 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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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 TO 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 HONORING DOLLY. 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. HAPPY DOLLY DAY. WOULD Y'ALL LIKE TO COME DOWN AND JOIN US FOR A PIC. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, 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, I JUST GOT TO GET MY SHOES, THAT'S IT. EVERYTHING ELSE IS SET.

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'VE KNOWN HER QUITE A WHILE. 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 GOING TO COME BACK WITH JOY IN YOUR HEART, THEN GO VISIT MISS BUTLER AND WATCH HER WORK, WATCH HER WORK HER MAGIC. SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MISS 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.

I GOTTA GET A HUG.

OH.

THANK YOU. IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO GET A CONGRATULATIONS FROM HIM 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE'S A LEGEND, YOU KNOW, UM, IN THE SPORTS WORLD,

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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'RE 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. SO WE INVITE YOU GUYS OUT, 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. THANK YOU.

NOW, I KNOW THIS WAS A VERY NICE PROCLAMATION, BUT AM I CORRECT YOU WON A CAR TOO? IS THIS TRUE? DON'T BE SHY. WHAT KIND OF CAR? MERCEDES.

THOSE, THOSE THINGS COST LOTS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

CONGRATULATIONS. LET'S GET A PICTURE. Y'ALL GO, Y'ALL GO. I WANT TO... ARE YOU THE HUSBAND? FIANCÉ. YOU NEED TO BE IN THE PHOTO. YEAH. LET ME GET SOMEBODY TO TAKE OUR PICTURE. WOULD YOU MIND? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

EVERYBODY? ALL RIGHT, BIG SMILES. EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY. ALL RIGHT. ONE. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR, UH, PRESENTATIONS. THE REGULAR MEETING WILL START AT 4:00 P.M.. 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&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

[00:30:01]

COUNCILMAN.

THANK YOU, DENNIS. WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2026. WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.

WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE LED BY PASTOR LOUIS RICHARDSON OF WOODLAWN BAPTIST CHURCH.

PASTOR. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AS CITY AND PARISH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALLS.

THAT'S AS GREAT AS GRACE, BE A QUIET LIFE, TRY TO FIND GOD OLD BY OUR LIVES. HE SAYS, YES, GOD. HE ASKED FOR THAT.

AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE THROUGH THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THROUGH THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU, PASTOR.

ADOPTION AND APPROVAL

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

[INTRODUCTIONS ]

NUMBER FOUR, AMENDING TITLE 12 NUISANCES, CHAPTER 8 DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, SECTION 12 COLON 522 CONDEMNATION ORDER DEMOLITION AND SECTIONS 12 COLON 525 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 5 WEED, SECTION 12:351, REMOVAL REQUIRED IN SECTION 12:353.

3 FAILURE TO REMOVE SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATIONS AND AND RELATED WEED CUTTING LIENS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

NUMBER 6, AMENDING TITLE 6 PUBLIC HEALTH, CHAPTER 4, DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND OTHER WASTE MATTER, SECTION 6:381.1, PENALTY FOR VIOLATION, AND 06:381 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATION BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

NUMBER 7, AMENDING TITLE 6 PUBLIC HEALTH, CHAPTER 4, DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND OTHER WASTE MATTERS, SECTION 6:406.1, PENALTY FOR VIOLATION, SECTION 06:406, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATION BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. NUMBER 08, AMENDING TITLE 12, NUISANCES, CHAPTER 6, MISCELLANEOUS, SECTION 12:405, MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY, AND SECTION 12:405.1, MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY ON OCCUPIED STRUCTURES, SO AS 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 177 OF THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION OF THE 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. ONE, AN EVENT TO BE HELD IN BATON ROUGE AT LSU'S ALEX BOX STADIUM ON MARCH 4TH, 2027, AND

[00:35:01]

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. NUMBER 11, AMENDING TITLE 9,

[CONDEMNATION]

STEWART JR. AND STEPHANIE DENISE MOORE, 5763 HARTFORD AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST. NUMBER 14, COREY KENSHIN, 3946 SHERWOOD STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS. NUMBER 15, ALMO BARKER, 1254 NORTH 36TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS. NUMBER 16, ULYSSES Z.

ADDISON JR., 1693 47TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS. ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER 17, LOT 96, SUBDIVISION WOODAIRE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY.

NUMBER 18, LOT 297, SUBDIVISION BROOKSTOWN PLACE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST. NUMBER 19, LOT 38A, SQUARE 18, SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLACE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY. NUMBER 20, LOT 11A, SQUARE 34, SUBDIVISION ASTRUMA, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. NUMBER 21, LOT 20, SQUARE 38, SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. NUMBER 22, LOT 31A, SQUARE 32, SUBDIVISION BANKS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY. NUMBER 23, LOT 34 AND 35, SQUARE 6, SUBDIVISION BANKS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY. NUMBER 24, LOT 12, SQUARE 18, SUBDIVISION NEW DAYTON, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS. NUMBER 25, LOT 27 PLUS, SQUARE 3, SUBDIVISION ST.

ARMALEE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY. NUMBER 26, LOT 5 AND 06, SQUARE 208, SUBDIVISION ESTREMA, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. NUMBER 27, LOT 50, SUBDIVISION SOUTH DAYTON, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 28, LOT 10 PART, SUBDIVISION PLANK ROAD, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 29, LOT 17, SQUARE 3, SUBDIVISION PLANK ROAD, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 30, LOT 6, SQUARE 37, SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND EDITION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY.

NUMBER 31, LOT 12, SUBDIVISION SWORD ADDITION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

NUMBER 32, LOT 11, SUBDIVISION SWORD ADDITION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING BEEN READ, AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS IN ORDER.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS. I'M GOING TO READ DPW RECOMMENDATIONS, THEN WE'LL HAVE FEEDBACK AND PUBLIC HEARING.

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, AND 88. UH, DECEMBER 9TH ON ITEMS 76 AND 89, AND TO DELETE ITEM 74 AND 75. DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, I HAVE DISTRICT 7, UH, 30 DAYS ON ITEMS 72, 84, AND 85, AND THEN DECEMBER 9TH FOR ITEM 79, ACCURATE? ALL RIGHT, DISTRICT 10, WE HAVE ITEM 88, 60 DAYS.

THAT'S CORRECT, AND ALSO ITEM 73.

ALSO 60. ANYBODY ELSE? YOU GOOD? ALL RIGHT, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO READ THEM BACK. LET ME KNOW IF WE NEED ANY CHANGES.

TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 77, 78, 79. NOPE, SORRY, 79.

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 AND 88, DECEMBER 9TH FOR 76, 79, AND

[00:40:01]

WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 90. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SITTING AS A BOARD OF REVIEW FOR THE PARISH ON PARISH ASSESSMENTS BY THE

[90. 26-00863]

MOTION TO CONFIRM ALL OF THE ASSESSORS VALUATIONS.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[91.26-01188]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PENNY 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 5 YEARS BECAUSE NONE OF US HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO 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 COUNCIL ON AGING. 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. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? COUNCILMAN GAUDET. 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? THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[92. 26-01141]

[00:45:01]

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, THANK, UH, 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 CAPITOL HOUSE THAT LEVIED TAXES ON OCCUPANCY. NOTHING WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY CHANGES ANY OF THAT. SO ALL THAT REMAINS IN PLACE. THEN THE, 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 CAPITOL HOUSE. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE PUTTING A MASSIVE NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS AND 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 DOLLARS, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING IS, RIGHT NOW, WE STARTED WITH 61 MILLION DOLLARS BACK IN 2004.

ROUGHLY, IT'S DOWN TO 40, AND THERE'S 16 YEARS LEFT ON THE TERM. SO IF THE DEVELOPERS OF THE CAPITOL HOUSE SPEND 24 MILLION DOLLARS, 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 DOLLARS, AND THEY WANT TO HAVE 32 YEARS TO PAY THE 55 MILLION DOLLARS BACK ONLY FROM THE ACTIVITIES FROM THE CAPITOL HOUSE. AND SO, UM, TO BE VERY CLEAR, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT CHANGES THE OCCUPANCY TAX. MISS KIDDER'S HERE, AND WE WANT TO 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 DOLLARS EVEN SOONER.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. THANK YOU, MR. LANDRY. 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 GOING TO ATTACK ME TOO, BECAUSE, UH, HE SAID I WASN'T A CITIZEN, I WAS A TROUBLEMAKER. I'M NOT HERE TO MAKE TROUBLE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS AS A CITIZEN ADVOCATE.

THIS READS, ACKNOWLEDGE THE INTENT- 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 ENTITIES THAT HAVE SHOWN

[00:50:03]

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. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[93.26-01145 ]

APPURTENANCES. IT'S A NEW ONE.

AND APPENDAGES TO IT FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES IN CITY PARISH RIGHT-OF-WAY AND OPERATION OF, UH, IN THE OPERATION OF FIBER NETWORK. THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT, CONTERRA NETWORK SHALL PAY THE CITY PARISH AS COMPENSATION FOR USE OF THE CITY PARISH RIGHT-OF-WAY 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, MAY BE 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 GAUDET.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

COUNCILMAN MOAK. IS SOMEONE HERE FROM THE CONTERA NETWORKS? GREAT. GREAT. HEY, HOW ARE YOU? I'M DOING GREAT.

UH, NO, 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 US, TELL US AND THE PUBLIC A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SERVICES AND YOUR BACKGROUND.

SURE, YES SIR. UH, UH, CONTERRA 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 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, EITHER INTERNET, ETHERNET. WE ALSO PROVIDE VOICE SERVICES. UM, THAT'S JUST ABOUT IT.

SO, SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE BUSINESS TO BUSINESS? YES, SIR, BUSINESS TO BUSINESS.

OKAY, AND YOU'RE NOT RESELLING LINES? YOU'RE, YOU'RE NO, SIR.

BASICALLY LAYING YOUR OWN LINES? IT IS OUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE.

UH, WE OWN OUR OWN UH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY BASED OUT OF CARENCRO, UH, THAT DOES ALL THE WORK. UM, SO YES, SIR.

OH, THANK YOU. WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[94.26-01117]

[00:55:02]

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, DECONSOLIDATION. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS JOHNNY MARIE SCOTT BROWN. I AM A WIDOW, AND I LIVE IN THE 70805 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'RE 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 WANT TO SEE MINE LIVE IN A BETTER PLACE. MR. KENNEY, I'M A PRODUCT OF SCOTLANDVILLE IN THE 50S, SO WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I SAW IT BOOMING. SO REALLY, NOW I'M IN A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I SEE IT DETERIORATING.

I'VE BEEN IN 70805 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. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. 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 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, UM, A FAMILY WHERE YOU HAVE KIDS.

YOUR KIDS RE- 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 THEM, 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'S 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 THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS DECONSOLIDATION AND DETERMINE AND MAKE SURE THAT IF IT HAPPENS OR IF IT'S PROPOSED,

[01:00:01]

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 OR PROPOSED MAKEUP. I DO KNOW THERE 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 8 MEMBERS THAT ARE PROPOSED.

THANK YOU. ASH, UM, ANGIE, COULD YOU COME, PLEASE? BOTH COUNCILMAN HURST 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 THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY OF DECONSOLIDATION AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH 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. THANK YOU. BYE, COUNCILMAN DUNN. AND TO JUST STAY THERE REAL QUICK FOR ME, ANGIE, IF YOU WILL.

TO EDGAR'S POINT, I SUBMITTED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I WANTED THE FACTS AND 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 A 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 FORUM 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, LEGAL, 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 PAYERS 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

[01:05:01]

BUT MY QUESTION WASN'T ABOUT THAT. MY QUESTION IS, AND IF THIS CAN'T BE YOU, MAYBE THE PARISH ATTORNEY, WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE LIMITATIONS OF THE, OF THE COMMISSION? BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE ADDRESSING MANY OF THE ISSUES I'M ASKING YOU TO ADDRESS.

THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION. I, I PARISH ATTORNEY.

I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, UM, THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME HESITATION BY FINANCE AND LEGAL YEAH.

ABOUT DISCUSSING SOME OF THESE ISSUES YEAH.

IN A PUBLIC FORUM. WILL THIS COMMISSION BE RESTRICTED AS WELL? I THINK THAT, UH... 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 GOING TO 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 INVOLVED.

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 MY OFFICE IS HERE AND, AND, UH, IT RAISES THEIR CONCERN, I THINK THAT SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE WILL PROBABLY LET THE COMMISSION KNOW, HEY, WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT COULD CONCERN, UH, LITIGATION.

I DON'T WANT MY EXTRA FIVE.

NO? OKAY. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TOO OFTEN, COUNCILMAN. IT JUST DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE QUESTION IS OR THE SUBJECT MATTER IS AT THE AT THE TIME.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY I'VE I'VE SPOKEN WITH COUNCILMAN HURST, WHO AUTHORED THIS ITEM, 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. THE INTENT BEHIND IT IS TO BEGIN EXPLORATION OF AND THE CONVERSATION 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 MINDS, IT'S NOT A LET'S LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS. IT HAS ONE PURPOSE, DRAFT A HOME RULE CHARTER AND PUT IT TO THE VOTERS FOR A YES OR NO VOTE. IT'S 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 COLON 1395, WHICH IS THE CHARTER COMMISSION STATUTE.

UH, EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION SHALL HOLD OFFICE UNTIL A 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 MUNIC- 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. THANK YOU.

[01:10:08]

UH, COUNCILMAN HURST, QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. IF, IF THIS COMMISSION IS CREATED, WHATEVER FORM OR VEHICLE IS CREATED, UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COMMISSION TO MEET ACROSS THIS PARISH? BECAUSE I KNOW, UM, I THINK DECONSOLIDATION HAS BEEN A VERY, YOU KNOW, COMPLEX TOPIC BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE, AND SO I DO DEFINITELY THINK WE, WE WANT TO BE AS, AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE WITH THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL.

UM, AND SO THE VIEWERS AT HOME, I KNOW SOME OF MY COUNCIL CON- 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, OUT THE CITY OF BAKER, UM, ASKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT DID THIS LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY OF BAKER, RIGHT? AND SO I JUST WANT TO 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 UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION. AND JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN DUNN SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FACTS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DATA. UH, WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS TOO POLITICIZED BECAUSE THIS IS PEOPLE LIVES AND TAX DOLLARS. UM, THAT'S GOING TO BE AT STAKE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT RUSHING THIS CONVERSATION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER VEHICLE, JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN GAUDET SAYS, A SOUND VEHICLE BECAUSE IT'S UNCHARTED TERRITORY, UH, FOR ALL OF US HERE ON THIS COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE. SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MO- MOST INCLUSIVE CONVERSATION AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THIS PARISH HAS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I'M S- I KNOW, UH, I KNOW P- PEOPLE IN BATON ROUGE PROPER SAY, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT T- TO THEM IN WHAT CASE SCENARIO, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE IN THE 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 THE PROPER DUE DILIGENCE IF WE DIDN'T DO IT THAT WAY.

MM-HMM.

I THINK ALMOST EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD HOST SOMETHING, IF NOT JOINT, WHERE YOU'RE 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 PARISH ATTORNEY FROM LAFAYETTE THAT IT CHANGED FROM A COMMITTEE TO A COMMISSION. SO THAT WAS NOT MY DOING, THAT WAS THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S SUGGESTION, AND THEY'LL EXPLAIN WHY SHORTLY. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. I AGREE WITH YOU.

EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE FAIR REPRESENTATION. THAT'S WHY THE BOARD MAKEUP IS LIKE IT IS. I TALKED WITH CLEVE A COUPLE TIMES. WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO 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, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH HIM, 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 WOULD 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 POLLS.

GOTCHA. OKAY, NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, COUNCILMAN. AND JUST THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS AT HOME, UM, AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS IF, IF THIS, UH, VEHICLE IS APPROVED TONIGHT, BUT JUST MORE SO WE, I INCLINE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA ACROSS THIS PARISH, REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE IN BATON ROUGE PROPER, CENTRAL ZACHARY, CITY OF BAKER, UH, TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I DO THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES AND SURROUNDING PARISHES, I THINK LAFAYETTE WAS THE EXAMPLE AND OTHER NEIGHBORING PARISHES IN THIS COMMUNITY, RIGHT? IT WAS NOT A SILVER BULLET. IT WAS A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS WHEN YOU DISSOLVED A PARISH FORM OF GOVERNMENT. SO JUST HOLISTICALLY, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCILMAN HURST. SO I REACHED OUT TO BRACE TRAIGOFFRE, WHO IS THE CEO OF THE GREATER BATON ROUGE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BRAC, AND HE SENT ME A WEBSITE CALLED OURBATONROUGE.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 MEETINGS. 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 ORIG- ORIGINALLY CONSOLIDATED. 44 YEARS LATER, IN 1994, BAKER BECAME A MUCH

[01:15:04]

2005, THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTION THERE. AND IF MY DATES ARE WRONG, THEY'RE SOMEWHERE IN A RANGE, BUT THE CHANGES WERE MADE. AND IN 20, ARGUABLY 2019, 2024, THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE WAS INCORPORATED. 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.

GEORGE, IT WOULD PASS TOMORROW.

I CALLED MAYOR SID 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 GOING TO BE THAT DAY, THE PARISH PRESIDENT OR THE MAYOR. AND I SAID, I RESPECT YOUR SINCERITY, AND I KNOW IT'S 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 LET'S GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHY 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 NOEL. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I RECOMMENDED HIS APPOINTMENT BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE'D BE FAIR, IMPARTIAL, AND LEAD THIS BODY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WITH INTEGRITY. BUT THE MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE HAS SLAUGHTER, ZACHARY, CENTRAL, AND I MIGHT BE MISSING SOMETHING ELSE, DOESN'T EVEN TOUCH 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 ARE NOT THE PEOPLE OF BATON ROUGE. I LIVE IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA. SO THE FIGHT THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN 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 GAUDET. WE SAT IN HERE WITH LEAD BR A FEW MONTHS BACK, AND ROWDY SAID, DARRYL, HE REALLY WAS TALKING TO LEAD BR. 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. ZACHARY CENTRAL, ST. GEORGE, AND BAKER 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. I SAT DOWN WITH THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE, AND I WANT TO BREAK THAT DOWN BECAUSE THE REASON WHY THEIRS WAS A LOT DIFFERENT IS BECAUSE THE CITY OF YOUNGSVILLE BROUGHT IN MORE TAX REVENUES THAN THE CITY OF, UH, OF LAFAYETTE. AND FOR THAT REASON, THEY DECIDED THAT IT WAS NOT A FULL DECONSOLIDATION, BUT THERE WERE STILL THINGS THAT NEED TO BE BROKEN APART. UH, I'VE TALKED TO, UH, CEO CHRISTELLE SLAUGHTER, SUPPORTED AND ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED SOME PORT- 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 WAS- WHICH WAS MY ORIGINAL ASK TO A COMMISSION. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN MOPE. CAN I HAVE THE PARISH ATTORNEY COME UP? SINCE I'VE ONLY GOT 5 MINUTES AND I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO GO OVER AS FAR AS THE ORDINANCE, UH, RESOLUTION ITSELF, GIVE ME A QUICK RUNDOWN ON THE COMMENTS THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN GAUDET GAVE WITH THE STATE IN INACTION AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGERED AND WHAT RIGHTS DO WE HAVE ONCE

[01:20:06]

UM, THE ORIGINATING DOCUMENT IS THE HOME RULE 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 OUR, I'M TALKING ABOUT MY OFFICE AND COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, UM, WE, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE'VE ACTUALLY SAT ON PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT COMMITTEES, UH, WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY TIME WHERE A PETITION HAS BEEN FILED TO CALL 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 OKAY.

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 CREATING DOCUMENT.

IT'S A CREATING DOCUMENT, LIKE THE LARSON ACT CONTROLS OUR MUNICIPALITY.

MM-HMM.

HOME RULE CHARTER CONTROLS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

MM-HMM. AND FROM SO, 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 PLAN OF, THE PLAN.

THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IS WHAT WE AMEND.

YEAH.

NOW, IN THE STATEMENT OF THIS- AND THE STATE STATUTE ALLOWS FOR THAT UNDER 1395.4.

OKAY. BUT THIS IS ENACTING A HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION.

SO DOES THAT WORDING IN WHAT THIS IS CALLED ENACT WHAT COUNCILMAN GAUDET 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 DECONSOLIDATE US OR CONTINUE TO CONSOLIDATE US? SAY SOMETHING ON THAT. SO, UM, WE MET, AS MISS COUNCILMAN HURST POINTED OUT, WE, WE REACHED OUT TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY, FORMER PARISH ATTORNEY FOR LAFAYETTE. HE SERVED TWICE, PAT OTTINGER, REALLY GOOD LAWYER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE 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, COUNCILMAN HURST, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHY HE MADE US CHANGE IT TO THAT, BECAUSE THE WAY I READ THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, IT'S 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, LET'S PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT, 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. I DON'T.

ACCORDING TO THE STATE RULES, THE HOME RULE CHARTER AUTHORITY AND COMMISSION, WHICH IS IN THE STATE LAW, GIVES, IT TELLS THEM WHAT THEIR THING IS THROUGH THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

SAME THING AS WE HAVE TO OPERATE UNDER THE LARSEN ACT.

WHAT STATUTE ARE YOU LOOKING AT? WE'RE, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CONSTITUTION, UM, ARTICLE 6, UH, SECTION 5.

OKAY.

UM, HOMEWILL 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 GOVER- PLAN OF GOVERNMENT CHANGE OR AMENDMENTS AND STUFF. I- I- I HAVE TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF COUNCILMAN GODAY THAT WE MAY BE CREATING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO ENACT A WHOLE NEW THING.

THE WHOLE NEW CHARTER HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT- YEAH, IT'S IN EXISTENCE NOW. SO BECAUSE IT'S IN EXISTENCE NOW, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT 1395.4.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THANK- THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE IT.

LAST THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS, I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET THIS IN IN 44 SECONDS. I DON'T- THE MAKEUP OF THE- THE BODIES, ZACH- ZACHARY CENTRAL, BAKER, WHATEVER, UH, THE REST OF THEM, 3 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT, UH, UNDER SECTION 8, 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 2 MORE RESIDENTS TO THAT, UH, SECTION RIGHT THERE IN 8.

3 TOTAL, 3 RESIDENTS TOTAL? CORRECT. AND I'M DONE, ANYBODY CAN USE THEIR TIME TO ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, SO.

COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.

THANK YOU. 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 PRESENTED TWO DIFFERENT PATHS FORWARD. UH, HIS IS A COMMISSION COMMITTEE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

MINE'S IS MORE OF GIVING OUR, UH, STAFF AND AND ANY THIRD PARTY INDEPENDENT, UH, QUALIFIED, UH, COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION TO LOOK AT THE INFORMATION, REVIEW THE DATA, AND GET US A REPORT. UM, I DON'T WANT US TO GET HUNG UP ON COMMISSION COMMITTEE AND ALL 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 DO IT. I THINK THE STAFF CAN MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS, INVITE THEM IN AND GET THEIR INPUT. I MEAN, THAT'S THE PATH AND THAT'S THE APPROACH I TOOK AND AND WANT

[01:25:01]

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 BECAUSE SHE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES. IT'S GOING TO TAKE, AS AS PAT OTTINGER TOLD, UH, DARRYL HURST AND I, THIS IS MAJOR SURGERY.

MM-HMM.

HE HE EMPHASIZED, IN FACT, THEIRS THEIRS FAILED, UH, MAYBE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT HE SAID, GUYS, THIS IS MAJOR SURGERY 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 IDENTIFIED THIRD PARTY TO DO IT, OR YOU RENAME WHATEVER COUNCILMAN HURST IS TRYING TO CREATE THAT'S NOT BINDING AND TRIGGERING A 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. GO AHEAD. LET ME LOOK.

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.

OKAY.

YEAH, I THINK THAT THE- THAT THE MISSION OF, UH, THE OBJECTIVE OF- OF WHAT COUNCILMAN HURST IS TRYING TO DO IS TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, TO PROVIDE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL. UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY, UM...

SO DO YOU REMOVE THE COMMISSION LANGUAGE AND CHANGE IT TO A COMMITTEE, OR DO YOU 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, AN ISSUE WITH MAKING THAT FROM THE FLOOR, I'LL I'LL MAKE THE MOTION 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 GOING TO MEET TO MAKE RES- RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE'VE HAD PLAN OF GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES MANY TIMES OVER IN THE PAST. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NAME.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE WITH COUNCILMAN, UH, MOAK'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.

THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN GAUDET. THANK YOU. LET ME 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 TIME FRAME 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'RE, LOOK, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AMENDMENTS, NUMBER ONE, BEFORE MY TIME ON THIS COUNCIL, UH, COUNCILMEMBER DUNN COLLINS-LEWIS LED A YEAR-LONG

[01:30:01]

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 TIME FRAME.

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'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. ALL RIGHT, AMEN, I'M DONE. COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

WELL, FIRST, I'M GOING TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN NOEL'S WIFE COMING IN THE ROOM BECAUSE HE WASN'T GOING TO DO IT, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AND DO THAT.

ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL? SET YOU UP. ALL RIGHT, MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR ANGIE, JUST REAL SIMPLY, 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 GOING TO 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 TO FIND SOMEONE AND CREATE A SCOPE OF EVEN WHAT IS GOING TO BE ENTAILED IN THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE TILL OCTOBER 28TH.

THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE TALKING IS SO COMPLEX AND 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 GAUDET 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.

YEAH, LET ME- LET ME 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, UM, DO YOU EXPECT THAT WE COULD HAVE THIS REPORT BACK WITHIN 6 MONTHS, 4 MONTHS? I MEAN...

WE DID A PRELIMINARY LOOKING AT PUBLIC WORKS, AND IT TOOK ALMOST 6 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 GO- THERE'S A LOT OF COORDINATION THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO INTO THIS.

OKAY. THAT- THAT'S MY QUESTION, THANK YOU. 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 GAUDET ADDRESSED. UM, SO I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT BY US NOW CALLING IT A, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE CALLING A STUDY COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE, YEAH.

IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. SO 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 GOING TO BE 1395.4 BECAUSE WE'RE SEEKING AN AMENDMENT. UM, OTHER THAN THAT, THE, THE, THE LAW PROVIDES THAT THIS BODY IS THE GOVERNING BODY. IT'S 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

[01:35:01]

WELL, LET ME ASK THE QUESTION THIS WAY, UM, BECAUSE IN, IN SECTION 9 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. THAT BECOMES WORRISOME TO ME IF, IF I'M LOOKING AT WHAT COUNCILMAN GAUDET DESCRIBED, UH, BECAUSE THE REST OF THIS RESOLUTION CONFLICTS AS FAR AS TERMS, WHICH IN THE RESOLUTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 6 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. SO...

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 NEED IT TO GO, JUST LIKE THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST. THAT'S WHY THE LAST COMMITTEE ASHLEY AND I SAT ON WAS WELL OVER A YEAR.

COUNCILMAN, YOU WANT TO CHECK YOUR TIME? UM... THE ONLY OTHER THING I'LL ADD IS I DO HAVE SOME... YES, I DO. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I'LL ADD IS IN REGARDS TO THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED. I DO WORRY THAT, AND THERE'S NO PERFECT WAY TO DO THIS, BUT I DO WORRY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN EVEN APPLICATION. I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE UP A COMMITTEE, WE OUGHT TO FIGURE OUT BY POPULATION OR BY SOME OTHER MECHANISM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S FAIR, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY SEATS EACH APPOINTEE GETS AND THAT KIND OF THING. I HAVE SOME WORRIES, SOME TROUBLE ABOUT THE AMENDMENT. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN MOAK. 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 FEEL LIKE ONE PERSON FROM THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS IS 12 OF US TRYING TO PICK ONE PERSON, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE PARISH LINE AT GREENSBURG UP IN PRIDE, OR IT'S ALL THE WAY AT THE OTHER SIDE OF LA 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, 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 DESIGNATEEE, SO THAT WOULD, THAT COULD ALMOST CONSTITUTE TWO. UM, YOU GOT BAKER CENTRAL, ZACHARY, AND ST. GEORGE, AND THEN THERE'S, 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 GOING TO 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? WHAT'S TO SAY THAT SEVERAL OTHER ONES DON'T PICK UP, TEAM TOGETHER 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 DESIGNATEES, 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, BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT'S GOING TO 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 GOING TO BE REALLY A LOT OF THE, THE AREA THAT'S GOING TO BE PICKED AND LOOKED AT HEAVILY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEAVING OUT THERE IN DECONSOLIDATION, 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 W- THEIR COUNCILS OR OR THEIR MAYOR CAN PICK SOMEONE AND THEY CAN FIND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, IF IF THAT REPRESENTATIVE DOES NOT, UH,

[01:40:01]

WE'RE NOT RECREATING A HOME RULE CHARTER.

BUT A LOT OF THESE, I BROUGHT UP THIS A WHILE AGO, A LOT OF, THERE IS A LARSEN ACT, AND THEN THERE'S A HOME RULE CHARTER TYPE.

UNDER THIS DECONSOLIDATION, DOES THAT AFFECT ANY OF THOSE? AS FAR AS THEY'RE GOING TO 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, NO.

IF THOSE CITIES ARE LARSON ACT CITIES.

YES, WE, WE'RE LARSON ACT CITY.

NO, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT.

WE ARE.

OH, YOU ARE.

CENTRAL IS. 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 KNOW.

I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE, WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT, IS JUST GOING TO MAKE A GIVE Y'ALL A A REPRESENTATION.

STUDY, AND THEN Y'ALL VOTE ON IT.

OKAY, ALL RIGHT. LAST QUESTION IS, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS IS TRULY GOING TO TAKE? HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED? AND IF Y'ALL CAN ANSWER THAT, OR ANGIE WITH FINANCE, OR WHAT KIND OF TIMING WOULD Y'ALL RECOMMEND? PROBABLY A- 18 MONTHS? YEAH.

18 MONTHS? A YEAR AND A HALF.

OKAY.

BECAUSE I THINK, OR IF YOU LOOK AT THE, ONCE YOU APPOINT THIS COMMITTEE, I THINK THE FIRST THING THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS, OKAY, NOW WE NEED TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO DO THE GROUNDWORK.

OKAY.

LIKE A DELOITTE OR A KPMG OR SOMEBODY LIKE THAT. THEN WE HIRE THEM TO DO THE MAJOR SURGERY.

YEAH.

AND THEN THEY WILL, YOU KNOW, I- I- I ASSUME THEY'LL PREPARE THE FINAL REPORT, WHICH WILL THEN GO TO Y'ALL. I- I- I WOULD THINK 18 MONTHS.

BUT THERE'S A PROVISION IN HERE THAT ALLOWS FOR THIS BODY TO EXTEND FOR HOWEVER LONG YOU ALL WOULD LIKE.

WELL, I THINK WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, AND IF WE NEED TO REDO THIS, THANK YOU.

COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

ALL RIGHT, 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 WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A DECONSOLIDATION WOULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE. UM, I'M GOING TO 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 DECONSOLIDATE OUR BUDGET.

ONCE WE ASK THEM TO DECONSOLIDATE 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'RE 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'RE 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'RE IN THE 19TH JDC CURRENTLY WITH PENDING LITIGATION BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE NOT CLEARLY DEFINED. SO MOVING FORWARD, DECONSOLIDATING 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 EXCELLENTLY FORMED COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE GRAY AREAS ARE AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. OTHERWISE, WE'RE 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 FIND WHAT NUMBERS, AND WITH THE RECENT CUTS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED, 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 WANT TO DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY FOR OUR PEOPLE, WE NEED TO

[01:45:01]

GEORGE? 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 BEST, BEST PATH FORWARD IS. 90 DAYS.

I'M GONNA DELETE IT, I'M GONNA DELETE IT.

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.

NO.

TO JANUARY 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.

YOU DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION.

NO, NO, NO, NO. THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. TO APPROVE WITH THE AMOUNTS.

I REMOVED MY MOTION.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL, BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, UNTIL...

I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

OKAY.

AND RESERVE MY SECOND AMOUNT OF TIME IF IT DOESN'T GO HOW I WANT.

SURE. COUNCILMAN HAR- COUNCILMAN HARRIS.

SO, LISTEN, THI- 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 TO TALK ABOUT IS THE 180 DAYS.

LET ME TELL Y'ALL SOMETHING.

IF WE DON'T PUT A TIME LIMIT ON THERE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHER FOLKS, THEY AIN'T SHOWING UP. JUST BEING REAL WITH YOU. THEY'RE GONNA MISS A MEETING. THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A 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 THEM, THEY HAD PERSONAL CONCERNS FOR THEIR CITY. SO THEY'RE NOT SITTING ON A BOARD WHERE THEY CAN INTERJECT AND ASK QUESTIONS, AND 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 BECAUSE WE'RE NOT

[01:50:01]

THE CITIZENS WILL PUT BE PUT AT THE FOREFRONT, AND MAKING OUR PARIS GREAT IS ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO. AND LET ME TELL YOU MY ISSUE WITH REMOVING THE COMMITTEE AND USING THIS BODY. I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN RACCA. 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 THEM OUT? 28.

I'M NEVER LEAVING.

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, IN 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 E- AND THEN THERE AL- THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A THIRD PARTY, I WOULD ASSUME, BECAUSE 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 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, BECAUSE WE NEED SOMEBODY TO MANAGE IT FROM START TO FINISH. SO I'M GOING TO DELETE IT, BUT I'M GOING TO DELETE IT TO TAKE EVERYBODY'S SUGGESTIONS TODAY AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE THE RIGHT WAY AND IT REPRESENTS DISTRICT 1 THROUGH DISTRICT 12. AND I'M GOING TO EMPLOY MY COLLEAGUES, UM, OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS. I'LL 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 THERE, MAYORS, AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY FEEDBACK THAT THEY WANT INPUT, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE THE RIGHT WAY SO THAT WE END UP BEING THE BEST MID-SIZED CITY IN AMERICA. SO MOTION TO DELETE.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOAK TO DELETE THE ITEM. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

95, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE

[95.26-01112]

[96.26-01113 ]

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOOG, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

97, AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND/OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO FORMALLY REQUEST THE LOUISIANA DOTD DIVISION OF AVIATION

[97. 26-01135]

[01:55:02]

[98.26-01136 ]

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. 98, AUTHORIZATION FROM 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 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 100, 110,000 DOLLARS, UH, OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO ADD TO THIS WHEN IT'S PRETTY MUCH, UH, ALREADY IN THE NEWS THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN OCTOBER? SO I'M AGAINST THIS SPENDING ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK THE DECISION'S ALREADY BEEN MADE. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. THANK YOU.

I'M GONNA ASK LOUIS 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. UH, MS. LANDRY, 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, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, EVERYTHING YOU YOU STATED IS CORRECT. THIS IS COMING FROM THE AIRPORT OPERATING DOLLARS, WHICH PULL NO NO FUNDS FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE CLARITY, COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN 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 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 03,597,617 DOLLARS 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 DOLLARS? I- I'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WHEN- WHEN IT'S OUR TURN TO SPEAK. I D-...

NO, THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS FOR YOU, MISS LANDRY. YOU CAN SPEAK, BUT QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED ONLY IF A COUNCIL MEMBER IS, UH, DECIDES TO USE THEIR TIME TO ANSWER IT.

YEAH, THAT'S A SHAME.

I'LL- I'M- I'M SORRY IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE FORMAT, YOU CAN RUN FOR OFFICE TO TRY TO CHANGE IT.

AN ANSWER, BUT THANK YOU.

OKAY, THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.

I WANT TO 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, ROADRUNNER, COCA-COLA, THE THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP ALL PAY RENT TO UTILIZE THE AIRPORT, AND THOSE ARE HOW UH FUNDS ARE ARE GENERATED. ALSO, AIR- AIRLINES PAY LANDING FEES. UH, SOME OF YOUR UH PRIVATE HANGARS PAY TO RENT THE SPACE. SO THOSE ARE ALL WAYS 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'S NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AVIATION. WHEN COVID HAPPENED AND MANY OF THE PLANES WERE LANDING AND A LOT OF THE AIRPORTS WERE RELYING ON LANDING FEES, WE WASN'T HURT AS BAD BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH NON-AERONAUTICAL REVENUE. SO THOSE ARE MANY WAYS THAT THE AIRPORT GENERATE REVENUE. DID I

[02:00:02]

YOU HIT IT FOR THE OPERATING FUND, THE AIRPORT GENERATE IS PRIMARILY FUNDED BY, UH, AIRLINE RATES AND CHARGES. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, FOR EVERY 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, THAT THE AIRLINES PAY INTO THE AIRPORT TO FUND THE OPERATING BUDGET.

UH, 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 PROJECT AT THE AIR, FOR 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 A POINT OF CLARITY, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL RECENT GRANT AWARDS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. CAN YOU MENTION A COUPLE OF THOSE? UH, THE MO- THE MOST RECENT, UH, AS OF LAST WEEK WAS A, UH, A CASD GRANT AWARD FOR A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS, IS GOING TO GO TOWARDS INCENTIVIZING, UH, DIRECT CHICAGO SERVICE FROM BATON ROUGE TO CHICAGO.

UM, SO WE GOT THAT, WE GOT THAT A GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT LAST FRIDAY. UH, WE, WE ALSO ARE GOING TO BE KICKSTARTING A, UH, TERMINAL RENOVATION PROJECT, WHICH IS ABOUT A 10.2 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT AWARD THAT WAS, UH, RECEIVED LAST YEAR SOMETIME.

THAT CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO BE STARTING, UH, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE, AND IT'LL TAKE ABOUT A, A YEAR TO COMPLETE. UH, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT TO, UH, TO UNVEIL THE NEW BATON ROUGE AIRPORT TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, LOUIS. AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, MISS LANDRY, YES, THE SAME, UH, LOGIC APPLIES. NO EAST BATON ROUGE 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, LOUIS? 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.

GOTCHA. BUT THERE IS A MATCH ON THE SCASNY GRANT. WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE WITH THE DIRECT FLIGHT TO DC WHERE WE USE THE SCASNY.

THERE WAS A LOCAL MATCH WITH THAT ONE. THERE WILL BE A LOCAL MATCH WITH THIS SCASNEY GRANT FOR THE DIRECT FLIGHT TO CHICAGO. GO AHEAD, LEWIS.

NO, 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.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN DUNN JR., YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR COUNCIL? NO, I'M DONE. THANK YOU, LEWIS. MIKE, YOU GOT ANYTHING TO ADD? I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT ALL REVENUE IS AIRPORT REVENUE TO BE USED AT THE AIRPORT, NO GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN MO.

YES, I, I, I SAW YOU, MISS LANDRY, I SAW YOU CHOMPING 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 BECAUSE 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 WITH 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 THE F- 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.

THE ITEM HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED. DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 100, AMENDING TITLE 12 NUISANCES, CHAPTER 1 GENERAL, SECTION 12.1, POLICE TO NOTIFY MAYOR

[100.26-01142 ]

[101.26-01119]

101, 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 BR, IN AN AMOUNT OF 3,999,479 DOLLARS AND TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN KENNEY. HEY, GURLEY, YOU WANT TO COME UP FOR ONE QUICK SECOND? JUST FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE AT HOME, JUST EXPLAIN TO THEM THIS GRANT. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SEE THIS NUMBER AND ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS,

[02:05:01]

OKAY, 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 03,999,479 IS THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO EXPEND FROM 2026 UNTIL 2028.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL. MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILMAN DON JR.

QUICK QUESTION, GIRLY. SO DOES THIS PUT HIRING ON, UH, THE FREEZE ON HIRING WILL LIFT THIS FREE- THIS FUNDING WILL LIFT THAT FREEZE? IT WILL NOT LIFT THE FREEZE.

HOWEVER, I'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING IN AFTER WE HAVE OUR STRIKE TEAM ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW NEXT WEEK WITH LOUISIANA WORKS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. KEEP US

[102. 26-01143 ]

I UNDERSTAND PROPERLY MOTION SECOND. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. 102, 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, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND DREAM TRUE SOLUTIONS, LLC, TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $19,600 FOR A 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 WANT TO SPEAK ON 102 AND 103 IN OPPOSITION.

UM, WE'RE GIVING AN ADDITIONAL $19,000 FOR A TERM THAT ENDS SEPTEMBER 30TH, SO THIS EXTRA 20,000 IS FOR 2 WEEKS. UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS 50,000, SO WE HAVE A 70,000 DOLLARS ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER FUNDS GOING TO, UM, 2 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, UM, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A, YOU KNOW, AWARD-WINNING DATA CITY. UH, 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 ARE, 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 DOLLARS MORE TO TWO ENTITIES, AND YET VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE. SO I'M AGAINST ANY SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS UNLESS THE CONTRACTOR PROVES THAT THEY HAVE PRODUCED THE RESULT FOR THE MONEY THEY WERE PAID, AND ALSO TO EXTEND THIS 19,000 DOLLARS FOR ONE MONTH.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

CAN SOMEBODY FROM OCD COME UP, UM, AND SPEAK THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION? UM, I DON'T WANT US TO THROW A BLANKET ACROSS THE WORK OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. CAN I KNOW SOMEONE TO DO SOME ACTUAL ON THE GROUND WORK, UM, IN SOME OF OUR ADDICTION AND COMMUNITY? SO CAN SOMEBODY FROM EITHER OVP OR OCD COME SPEAK ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE THROUGH THIS CONTRACT? GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ALL RIGHT, SO, UM, YOU ALSO WANT TO BEHALF OF DREAMTRUE SOLUTIONS OR JUST O- OVP ITSELF? UM, BOTH, BUT I'M SPECIFICALLY FOR DREAMTRUE SOLUTIONS AS WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL WORK HAND IN HAND.

OKAY, ALL RIGHT. SO, UM, AS FAR AS THE, THE WORK THAT DREAM TRUE SOLUTIONS WAS CONTRACTED FOR, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION, ALL RIGHT? SO, UM, IT'S BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CONVENING MEETINGS, FORUMS, UH, FOCUS GROUPS, SERVING AS A LIAISON BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND, AND OVP, OUTREACH, PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS. SO, UM, WE ENGAGED LIKE FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS HERE IN BATON ROUGE. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO READ CERTAIN THINGS TO YOU GUYS THAT WE DID DO.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE THAT WORK, LIKE,

[02:10:01]

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 THERE'S 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 THEM SO THEY COULD PUT ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY WANTED DURING THOSE COMMUNITY WALKS ON THERE, UM, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE COMMUNITIES. UH, THERE'S, THERE'S A, IT'S A LOT OF WORK. UM, I COULD BE UP HERE FOR 30 MINUTES LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT IT. I KNOW YOU COULD PREACH A SERMON.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT.

SO JUST, JUST THE BIGGEST THING I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, AND PROBABLY FOR SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO MAY 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 NORTH BATON ROUGE OR MID CITY, RIGHT, THEY CAN KIND OF SEE THAT DATA FROM A CLEAR VIEW STANDPOINT.

SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS ON THE FRONT END OR BACK END.

AND JUST FOR CLARITY, THIS WAS THE STATE APPROPRIATIONS DOLLARS THAT WAS SENT IN FROM SENATOR REGINA BARROW. SO THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL MONEY. TIME WAS EXTENDED ON THE ORIGINAL FUNDING FOR US TO CONTINUE TO USE THE DOLLARS. SO THIS IS A NEW FUNDING FROM GENERAL FUND. THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY ALLOCATED, CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND APPROVED, WHERE SHE ALLOWED US TO EXTEND THE TIME UNDER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT CONTRACT. SO THAT'S THE DISCREPANCY IN, IN THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACTS AND THE TIME.

THIS IS NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

GOTCHA. OKAY, THANK YOU.

MOTION TO APPROVE. CHIEF.

CHIEF, MISS LANDRY STATED THAT CRIME VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE. WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT STATEMENT CORRECT OR INCORRECT? VERY MUCH INCORRECT.

OKAY, SO CAN YOU EXPOUND ON WHY MISS 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 GOT TO 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 A 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 MY NUMBERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH AND THE HOMICIDE NUMBERS AS OF YESTERDAY, 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 4 JUVENILES, UM, FOR HOMICIDE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF BATON ROUGE.

SO DO YOU THINK, UH, MISS LANDRY'S INCORRECT STATEMENT WAS BASED ON SEEING THINGS FROM THE MEDIA MORE SO THAN ACTUALLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND 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 TO STATISTICS LOOKING AT THE CORONER'S OFFICE REPORTS OR THE PARISH-WIDE REPORTS OR THE OTHER CITIES. UM, BUT AS 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.

[02:15:01]

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

YES.

APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN HUDSON. COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

UH, IF KELLY WOULD COME UP.

OCD. MY, MY QUESTION IS, AND THIS QUESTION MAY ALSO BE DIRECTED TO AISLINN, 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 PREVENTION HAS, WE'VE HAD SUCCESS AND, AND ISSUES WITH IT IN THE PAST, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHAT, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO GET OUT OF THESE CONTRACTS, UH, AND THEN HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS? FOR DR. JUAN BARTHOLOMEW, 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 DELIVERABLES 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, UH, ENGAGING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, ENGAGING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGING COMMUNITY FORUMS. SO THAT WAS HIS ROLE UNDER HIS CONTRACT.

GOTCHA. THANK YOU. UM, I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST SAY, UH, WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN THE PAST, I WAS ALWAYS VERY SKEPTICAL, RIGHT? BECAUSE I, I WAS WORRIED THAT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE CONTRACTOR THAT YOU GET.

UH, AND I WILL SAY THIS, AT LEAST I, I DON'T KNOW THIS DR. JUAN BARTHOLOMEW 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, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. THANK YOU. 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 AT 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 CENTERED AROUND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

OKAY, WELL, THAT GOES BACK TO, MAN, UH, 2002, 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 CENTER, 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 BECAUSE I WAS GOING FOR FREE. AND, UM, TO DO SO, I NEED A 501C3. SO I KEPT ON GOING TILL I CREATED THAT 501C3, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE ME 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. IT'S ON THE, UH, IT'S 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 ASTRUMA FIRST OPENED UP WITH, UH, PRINCIPAL DOUGLAS, I WAS THE FIRST SPEAKER THAT HE HAD THERE, UM, TO SPEAK TO HIS YOUTH. UM, IT'S COUNTLESS, UH, EVENTS. I HOSTED A, A CONCERT, UM, IN, ON 70805 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, HOSTED 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

[02:20:01]

THANK YOU, AV. I SECOND, COUNCILMAN.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KINNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.

COUNCILMAN MOPE.

I'M JUST SPEAKING TO GIVE PUBLIC APPLAUSE TO EVERYONE THAT RESPONDED TO THIS, SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR HARD WORK. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 103, AUTHORIZING MAYOR

[103. 26-01144 ]

[104.26-01140]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY

[105.26-01147]

105, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE TEMPORARY PARKING LOT AGREEMENT WITH 2493 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 AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, SECOND

[Items 106-113]

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 106 THROUGH 113 TOGETHER, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH WESTWOOD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, FORMERLY CSRS, TO PROVIDE TWO-YEAR EXTENSION FOR THE, OF THE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN ASSOCIATION, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MOVE BR NEW CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 12,539,242 DOLLARS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT WITH STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATION WITH THE MOVE BR COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT IMPROVING EXISTING CORRIDORS AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROJECTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 19,919, 19,000,000 DOLLARS BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH BRUCE E. BRITT FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE BR CAPACITY PROJECT SHERWOOD FOREST EXTENSION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 59,200 DOLLARS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH MARA ENTERPRISES FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE BR CAPACITY PROJECT SHERWOOD FOREST EXTENSION, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $59,200 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND 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 BR CAPACITY PROJECT HOOPER ROAD, BLACKWATER ROAD TO JEWELL ROAD, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,240, BRINGING TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 167,200 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 3 TO A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH ECM CONSULTANTS FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE BR CONSTANTINE MIDWAY TO BLUEBONNET IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $391,323, BRINGING TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,286,514.40 CENTS BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH REGIS INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MUBR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, BARRINGER ROAD, SIDEWALK, CURRENCY DRIVE TO BROKER AVENUE, AND COW ROAD SIDEWALK, JEFFERSON HIGHWAY TO COW ROAD, AND FOREST OAK SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 148,834 DOLLARS 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

[02:25:02]

107, UH, SAME THING WITH STANTEC. UH, AS WE KNOW, UM, SOMETIMES OUR 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 IN A TIME FRAME AND FOR THE MONEY THAT THEY, UH, BID ON THE CONTRACT FOR. AND THEN NUMBER 111, I THINK THAT THESE COMPANIES SHOULD BE LIMITED TO TWO SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS.

THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER THREE, AND I AM IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 106, 107, AND 112. SEE, NOW WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

114, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT WITH APPRAISAL SERVICES FOR THE LAKE VOE GROUP, LLC FOR THE WARD CREEK FLOOD PAINT- FLOODPLAIN EASEMENT ACQUISITION GRANT PROJECT IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $12,800 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. 115, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH COOKMORE DAVENPORT AND ASSOCIATES FOR THE BAYOU DE PLANCHET FLOODPLAIN EASEMENT ACQUISITION GRANT PROJECT

[ 114. 26-01165 ]

116, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUBLEASE AGREEMENT WITH PRECINCT FUNDING LLC, PROVIDING FOR A 10-YEAR SUBLEASE

[ 115. 26-01166]

[116. 26-01167]

SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

117, 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 IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 02,674.78 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 92,009.34 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING

[117. 26-01168 ]

[118. 26-01170 ]

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

OF COURSE, ADAM. 119, RESCINDING AND DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON JUNE 30TH, 2025, AND DECISION TO AND ORDER RECORDED ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2025, IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS VOUGHT LOUISIANA, 2254 SCENIC HIGHWAY. REASON FOR RESCISSION

[119. 26-01160 ]

[120. 26-01163]

120, RESCINDING AND DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL THE NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON MARCH 4TH, 2026, AND THE DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON APRIL 13TH, 2026, CITY OF BATON ROUGE

[02:30:01]

THIS IS BY COUNCILMAN MCKENNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY COUNCIL MCKENNEY. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[ 121.26-01146 ]

[ 122. 26-01169]

122, AUTHORIZING MAYOR 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 AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NO, GO

[123.26-01171]

ITEM 123, THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION TO DELETE THIS ITEM, AUTHOR- AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND STACY WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 46,000 DOLLARS 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

[ 124. 26-01172]

124 IS ALSO 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 TAKINYA ROBERTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 65,000 DOLLARS BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

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

[125. 26-01174]

UH, UP. 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. THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANDREW HUNLEY, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT. UH, 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.

IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF US, I'M SURE IT'S BEEN ABOUT SOME POSITIVE THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. WE OPERATE A RESIDENTIAL REENTRY PROGRAM IN BATON ROUGE, THE LARGEST REENTRY PROVIDER IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY WORKS, UH, DELIVERS BEN- TWO BENEFITS THROUGH ONE INVESTMENT. THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT RECOVERY AND BUILD WORK SKILLS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HOME FROM INCARCERATION TO THIS COMMUNITY. UH, WE'RE 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

[02:35:01]

COUNCILMAN GAUDET. MR. HUNDLEY. SORRY. Y'ALL WERE JUST RECENTLY IN THE NEWS. I THINK Y'ALL GOT AN AWARD RECENTLY? CORRECT. WE WERE JUST NAMED THE 2026 WORKFORCE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR BY LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. OH, THAT WAS LOBBY? OH, OKAY. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

THAT'S- I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. I- I JUST HAPPENED TO BE A COINCIDENCE. OKAY, GOT IT, GOT IT. OKAY.

NO, WE- WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO- TO PARTNER WITH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AROUND, UH, YOU KNOW, TH- THIS AREA THAT, UH, FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO GET PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE, BUT ALSO ULTIMATELY SUPPORT PEOPLE'S SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION INTO THE COMMUNITY.

AND LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT IS A NONPROFIT, 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 AT PAROLEPROJECT.ORG. UH, VERY PROUD OUR, OUR, UH, BOARD VICE PRESIDENT AND CPA, DEACON DON ALLISON'S IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I'M SURE HE CAN ATTEST, UH, TO THE GOOD STEWARDS OF PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS THAT WE RECEIVE.

WE'RE, WE, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL AUDIT THAT'S CONDUCTED BY HENNESSY BOURGEOIS. YOU KNOW, ALL THE DONATIONS WE RECEIVE FROM THE PUBLIC ARE 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 PAROLEPROJECT.ORG OR FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT PAROLE PROJECT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED. DO WE

[126. 26-01187]

[ Items 127- 151]

ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES. LOT 14, SQUARE 348, SUBDIVISION POWERS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, MOTOR OWN. LOT 10, SQUARE 5, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, MOTOR OWN.

LOT 64A, SQUARE 2, SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

HIGH BIDDER SHE- UH, SHEILA KEMP, 100 DOLLARS. LOT 19, SQUARE 3, SUBDIVISION HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER KYLON WISHAM, 300 DOLLARS. LOT 304, SUBDIVISION GREENDALE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST, HIGH BIDDER PHARAOH JOHNSON III, 12,000 DOLLARS. LOT 13, SQUARE 03, SUBDIVISION MIDWAY PLACE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER GREGORY AND DONNA GILMORE, 100 DOLLARS. LOT 13, SQUARE 7, SUBDIVISION BAKER TOWNSITE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY WHITMORE, UH, HIGH BIDDER WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES, 100 DOLLARS. LOT 09, SQUARE 4, SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY CITY, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES, LLC, 100 DOLLARS.

LOT 17, SUBDIVISION DAVIS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES, LLC, 100 DOLLARS.

LOT 7 AND 8, SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY CITY, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES, LLC, 100 DOLLARS.

LOT 16, SQUARE 51, SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER KERMAN WAKER, 2800 DOLLARS. LOT 30, SQUARE 5, SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND HEIGHTS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY.

HIGH BIDDER GENEVIEVE BROOKS, 100 DOLLARS. LOT 1, SQUARE 1, SUBDIVISION ENTERPRISE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

HIGH BIDDER RANDALL CUNNINGHAM, 100 DOLLARS. LOT 32A, SQUARE 71, SUBDIVISION BANK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY. HIGH BIDDER JDS INVESTMENT GROUP LLC, 24,100 DOLLARS. LOT 37 SQUARE 2 SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK ADDITION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER ARNOLD O'CONNOR, 500 DOLLARS. LOT 54 SQUARE 2 SUBDIVISION BABIN, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER CALVIN RICKS, 100 DOLLARS. LOT 7 AND 8 SUBDIVISION BANK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER TELFORD WILLIAMS, 5,100 DOLLARS. LOT 23 AND 24 SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST.

HIGH BIDDER UNITED CHRISTIAN FAITH MINISTRIES, 100 DOLLARS.

LOT 11 AND 12, SQUARE 14, SUBDIVISION FORTUNE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST. TAXES DUE.

LOT 11, SQUARE 3, SUBDIVISION FORTUNE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST. HIGH BIDDER UNITED CHRISTIAN FAITH MINISTRIES, 100 DOLLARS. LOT 25, SQUARE 15, SUBDIVISION FORTUNE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 HURST, HIGH BIDDER UNITED CHRISTIAN FAITH MINISTRIES, 100 DOLLARS. LOT 26, SQUARE 14, SUBDIVISION

[02:40:01]

AND I'D LIKE TO DEFER NUMBER 141 AND 149.

TO THE SAME MEETING.

UH, WHAT MEET- WHAT? UH, OCTOBER 28TH.

THAT'S FINE.

OKAY, MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 127 THROUGH 151, DEFERRING ITEMS 141, 145, AND 149 TO THE OCTOBER 28TH MEETING.

BUT IS THAT A MOTION, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[Items 152- 158]

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

HM? ITEM 157, ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION APPEALS

[157.26-01202]

REQUEST RECEIVED FROM THE COMMITTEE. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET,

[158.26-01208]

CURRENT BALLOT, ALLISON CLAUDAY. APPLICATION SUBMITTED.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? MOTION, UH, SEEING NO, GO TO COUNCIL.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN

[Items 159 & 160]

159 AND 160 WILL BE TAKEN TOGETHER. REGISTRAR OF VOTERS TENANT BUILD-OUT, CONTRACTOR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $98,665.20. SALES TAX, STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM, PROJECT 19-7 HOLLYWOOD STREET, AIRLINE TO SCENIC AND EVANGELINE STREET, AIRLINE TO BATON ROUGE, CONTRACTOR BARBER BROTHER CONTRACTING LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT OF CREDIT OF $18,466.82. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE WITH THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. COUNCILMAN MOW. YEAH, MISS LANDRY, WOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE TAPE? OH, SORRY. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. FINAL ACCEPTANCE, THE

[161. 26-01276]

FINAL COST 3,739,527 DOLLARS AND 42 CENTS. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE, NOW GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY

[Items 162 & 163 ]

ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS 162 AND 163 WOULD TAKE TOGETHER. 162, LOWER ZACHARY ROAD OVER WHITE BAYOU BRIDGE REPAIR. LOW BID ANDERS CONSTRUCTION, 240,000.

163, SALES TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROJECT 21-5 GURIA AVENUE, STREETS IN COLLEGETOWN, STREETS IN HILLSDALE AND LAKE HILLS IN AND NORTH 35TH, LOW BID AMTRAK LLC, 2,990,122 DOLLARS AND 75 CENTS. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NO, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY THE CHAIR, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[02:45:01]

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN

[164.26-01203]

164, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 TO ESTABLISH A LITTER AND ILLEGAL DUMPING SURVEILLANCE CAMERA PROGRAM AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH 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 WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

COUNCILMAN HURST.

UH, CHIEF, JUST HOW HOW MUCH ARE THE CAMERAS A PIECE? YOU STAY RIGHT THERE. YEAH, IT SAYS CAMERA ROLL OUT, OR RACHEL.

OKAY, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AREAS, YEP.

HOW MUCH OF THE COST, SO WE EXPECT HOW MANY CAMERAS.

SO, UH, THE GRANT IS, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY 10 CAMERAS, UM, AND WE'RE- I'M ACCEPTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLACEMENT, UH, SO JUST EMAIL ME. UM, BUT I- WE'RE- WE'RE SOLICITING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED TO MAINTENANCE AND GOT 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.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

I THINK THE ITEM'S BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.

COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR, CAN YOU PLEASE INFORM ALL OF OUR, MY COLLEAGUES WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT, BECAUSE 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 CAPITOL HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. SO ALL, ALL 12 OF YOU ARE THAT BODY.

SO WE HAVE A SHORT MEETING AFTER WE ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

YOU WILL HAVE A SHORT MEETING AFTER YOU ADJOURN THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. SO DON'T GET UP AND LEAVE. DON'T LEAVE. IT DEPENDS HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO TALK, COUNCILMAN MOAK.

COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

MEETING'S ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.