Oct 14, 2026 Metropolitan Council

BRANDON NOEL: THANK YOU, MAJOR.

VERNON WESLEY: THANK YOU, SIR.

BRANDON NOEL: ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2026, THE CAPITAL HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2026, AND THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 6, 2026, BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR/TREASURER.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

ASHLEY, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS?

[INTRODUCTIONS ]

ASHLEY BECK: SECTION 2.12, INTRODUCTIONS.

NUMBER 2, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CAPITAL HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO LEVY AND COLLECT A 2% SALES AND USE TAX UPON THE SALE AT RETAIL OF THE USE THE LEASE OR RENTAL, THE CONSUMPTION AND STORAGE FOR USE OR CONSUMPTION OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND ON ALL SALES OF SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT, AND A 2% HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT, AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO BY THE CAPITAL HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

NUMBER 3, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR STATE CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000, AND A REQUIRED LOCAL MATCH OF $250,000, FOR A TOTAL OF $1 MILLION FOR PLANNING, DESIGN, AND RENOVATIONS TO THE RAISING CANE'S RIVER CENTER BY MAYOR'S OFFICE AND RAISING CANE'S RIVER CENTER.

NUMBER 4, AMEND THE 2026 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL'S CHARLES R. KELLY, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, AND LEO S. BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTERS, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 29, 2026.

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER, ADD ONE HOUSEKEEPER, DELETE ONE BUILDING ATTENDANT, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMUNITY CENTER, ADD ONE HOUSEKEEPER, AND DELETE ONE BUILDING ATTENDANT, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL LEO S. BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTER, ADD ONE HOUSEKEEPER, DELETE ONE BUILDING ATTENDANT, BY COUNCILMEMBERS DARRYL HURST, TWAHNA HARRIS, CAROLYN COLEMAN, AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.

CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS.

NUMBER 5, SUSANNAH ROBERTS FREEMAN ET AL, 3218 SYCAMORE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST.

NUMBER 6, THE ESTATE OF ELNORA PROFIT JOHNSON, 4284 O'DELL STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 7, NORWOOD THOMAS CALVIN AND EDNA WASHINGTON CLAVIN, 1100 NORTH ACADIAN THRUWAY, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 8, KIMBERLY DESHAWN ROGERS, 5523 FAIRFIELD AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 9, THE ESTATE OF GEORGE BELL SR.

AND THE ESTATE OF JEANETTAER S. BELL, 1258 NORTH 38TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 10, ELVIN STERLING AND NORMA GAUTHIER STERLING, 2331 JEFFERSON AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 11, CORETTA DAVENPORT, 2573 YAZOO STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 12, JOHN CARL KOLB, 1835 POCAHONTAS STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

NUMBER 13, HARMONY CENTER II INC. 1206 SOUTH 18TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

NUMBER 14, LANDMARK BANK, 3913 TOPEKA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

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

[00:15:16]

BRANDON NOEL: DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

LET'S GO TO OUR SECOND SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.

SEPARATE SHEET.

I'M GOING TO READ THE DPW RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY ARE PRESENTED.

AND THEN WE WILL GET FEEDBACK ON ANY CHANGES Y'ALL WANT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 46, 47, 48, 50 AND 51.

30 DAYS ON ITEM 49, AND TO DELETE ITEM 52.

ANY CHANGES TO THAT? 46, 30 DAYS? WHICH ONE? YEAH, 48, THOUGH, SYCAMORE? EVERYBODY ELSE GOOD? ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO READ THEM BACK.

REQUEST IS TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 47, 50 AND 51, 30 DAYS ON 46, 48 AND 49, AND DELETE ITEM 52.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. WE HAVE SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

ITEM 53, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CALLING

[53. 26-01211]

OF A SPECIAL ELECTION BY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 6, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, ON SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2027, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF A SPECIAL MILLS AD VALOREM TAX WITH THE AVAILS OF PROCEEDS OF SAID TAX TO BE USED ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES OF THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE COST OF OBTAINING WATER FOR FIRE PROTECTION PURPOSES AND FIRE HYDRANTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 6.

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

WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

54, AUTHORIZING METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO DECLARE LOT 40,

[54. 26-01162 ]

SQUARE 19, UNIVERSITY PLACE SUBDIVISION, BATON ROUGE, AS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND NOT NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF THE SAME PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 33:4712 ONTO DANIEL JOHNSON FOR THE SUM OF $6,500 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

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

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ITEM 55, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER

[55. 26-01206]

INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL, AND LOUISIANA URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE 2, OPERATED BY THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 FOR USAR EQUIPMENT BY THE FIRE CHIEF.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES

[56. 26-01189 ]

56, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL, TO ADD $196,000, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $456,000,

[00:20:02]

AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT END DATE FROM JUNE 30, 2026 TO DECEMBER 31, 2026 BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE.

JESICCA CONVERSE: HI.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JESSICA CONVERSE.

I WOULD SUGGEST-- I'M OPPOSING THE APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION .

ONLINE, THERE'S NO CLARITY, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FOR WHAT THIS CONTRACT AMENDMENT WILL ACTUALLY BE USED FOR.

ALL IT SAYS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S UP THERE ON THE SCREEN.

SO I'M UNAWARE OF WHAT THIS CONTRACT, THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL BE USED FOR.

AND I ALSO AM NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THIS COUNCIL, IF THE FUNDING THAT IS USED TO FUND THIS COUNCIL, IF IT'S APPROVED BY THE PARISH, IF THE ITEMS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY THIS COUNCIL ARE THEN SUBJECT TO PUBLIC INFORMATION.

AND IF I COULD GET SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.

I THINK THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY.

THOUGH I WOULD MOTION TO DELAY THAT UNTIL MORE INFORMATION CAN BE PROVIDED ONLINE.

BRANDON NOEL: THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? CHRIS CSONKA: GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M CHRIS CSONKA.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY THIS, THIS IS A CONTRACT EXTENSION OF A PREVIOUS CONTRACT FOR THE USE OF OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDS TO FUND THE PRETRIAL DIVERSION AND RECOVERY PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT FALLS UNDER THE CJCC.

IT INITIALLY LAPSED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, AT THE END OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

AND THE WAY THEY'RE SETTING UP THE NEW OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDING SCHEDULE IS IT'S GOING TO START IN JANUARY.

SO THIS IS JUST EXTENDING THAT OUT TO GET US THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR UNTIL THE NEW CYCLE STARTS.

ANY QUESTIONS? OK.

BRANDON NOEL: ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON YOU GOT THIS ITEM.

NO, YOU ALREADY SPOKE, MA'AM.

ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THANK YOU.

FIRST, I'M GOING TO LET THE LADY COME UP AND GIVE A FOLLOWUP COMMENT OR QUESTION.

COME ON UP.

AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

JESICCA CONVERSE: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.

WILL THAT INFORMATION THAT CHRIS CSONKA BE AVAILABLE ONLINE? IS THAT GOING TO BE A VETTED PIECE OF INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE? OR DOES HE TYPICALLY JUST TELL YOU AS HE APPROACHES THE PODIUM? CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THANK YOU.

I'LL LET HIM RESPOND TO THAT.

CHRIS, RESPOND TO THAT.

CHRIS CSONKA: IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CONTRACT, WHICH WAS SIGNED A YEAR AGO, IS ALREADY ON FILE WITH YOU GUYS.

I'M SURE YOU CAN GO THROUGH PURCHASING OR THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE TO GET A COPY OF THAT CONTRACT ON IT.

IT HAS ALL THE REASONS THAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON.

SO ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ABLE-- CLEVE DUNN, JR.: SO CHRIS, I THINK WHERE HER DIRECTION IS GOING, WHERE CAN THE PUBLIC, HER OR ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC, SEE YOUR WORK AND TRACK YOUR WORK, AND JUST UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING? I THINK THAT'S WHAT SHE'S ASKING.

AND MY ORIGINAL QUESTION TO YOU IS GONE.

YOU KIND OF GAVE A GENERIC ANSWER ABOUT WHAT THIS WORK IS, BUT GO IN-DEPTH ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING WITH OPIOIDS.

CHRIS CSONKA: SURE.

THE OPIOID ABATEMENT SETTLEMENT FUNDING GOES TO FUND THE PRETRIAL DIVERSION AND RECOVERY PROGRAM.

IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE RAN SINCE 2019.

WE HAVE-- CLEVE DUNN, JR.: BUT CHRIS, TALK ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS.

CHRIS CSONKA: YEAH.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: IF PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE COURTS DOING THE WORK YOU DO, THEY HAVE NO IDEA EXACTLY WHAT THE DIVERSION PROGRAM.

TELL US EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS.

CHRIS CSONKA: SO WE HAVE EMPLOYEES.

ONE'S A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, WHO GO INTO THE JAIL, TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEWLY BEEN ARRESTED, DO ASSESSMENTS ON THEM.

IF THEY FALL-- AND WE WORK WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND DESIGNATED JUDGE.

IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA TO ENTER THE PROGRAM AND THEY WANT TO ENTER THE PROGRAM, THEN WE TAKE THEM IN.

WE GET THEM OUT, THE JUDGE CHANGES THEIR BOND, THEY'RE RELEASED ON A BOND, THEY GO DIRECTLY INTO TREATMENT.

AND OUR CASE MANAGERS HANDLE THEM AND HAVE A CASE PLAN FOR THEM.

NINE MONTHS TO A YEAR LATER, THEY GRADUATE FROM THE PROGRAM.

THE DA DISMISSES THEIR CHARGES RATHER THAN CONVICTING THEM.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE YOU SEEING ANNUALLY? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GRADUATING? CHRIS CSONKA: SO THOSE NUMBERS FLUCTUATE, OBVIOUSLY, YEAR TO YEAR.

I THINK RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 14 ACTIVE WITHIN THE PROGRAM.

WE JUST DID A STAFFING.

THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD 10 OR 12 THAT HAVE GRADUATED.

[00:25:04]

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MORE THAT ASSESSMENTS WE'VE BEEN DONE ON.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: AND TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, THIS AGREEMENT, DOES IT REQUIRES YOU TO GIVE US AN ANNUAL REPORT OR QUARTERLY REPORT? CHRIS CSONKA: YEAH.

SO THE OPIOID ABATEMENT SETTLEMENT FUNDING IS ALL REIMBURSABLE.

SO WE HAVE TO TURN IN TIME SHEETS.

WE HAVE TO TURN IN ALL THE RECEIPTS FOR EVERYTHING WE SPEND.

AND THEN THAT'S APPROVED BY THE CITY.

AND THEN WE GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S ALL ON FILE WITH THE CITY.

IT'S A MONTHLY REIMBURSEMENTS.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: YOU'VE SUBMITTED SOME OF THAT ALREADY TO THE CITY? CHRIS CSONKA: YEAH, FOR THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN SUBMITTING THOSE.

SO THE CITY HAS COPIES OF ALL THAT.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: DO YOU PUT ON YOUR WEBSITE OR ANYWHERE THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN JUST GO TO TRACK YOUR WORK AND SEE THESE FINDINGS? CHRIS CSONKA: NO, WE DON'T PUT THOSE ON THE WEBSITE.

I'M SURE IF THEY WANT TO GO TO CONTRACTS OR I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'D GO, MAYBE SOMEBODY, ANGIE OR SOMEBODY COULD TELL US WHERE THEY WOULD LOOK IT UP.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S AT.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THE CITY IS A RESOURCE WHERE THEY CAN GET IT.

BUT GIVE YOUR INFORMATION ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOUR CONTACT NUMBER, ALL OF THAT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

CHRIS CSONKA: SO YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WWW.EBRCJCC.ORG.

IT TALKS ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE MANAGE AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.

PRETRIAL DIVERSION RECOVERY PROGRAM'S ONE OF THOSE.

AND THEN IF YOU NEED MORE DETAILS ON THAT, ALL OUR CONTACT INFORMATION IS ON THERE.

YOU CAN CONTACT US DIRECTLY.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THANK YOU CHRIS.

CHRIS CSONKA: YOU'RE WELCOME.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: GOOD.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: HOLD ON.

HOLD ON.

BRANDON NOEL: I'M SORRY.

JESICCA CONVERSE: OK.

I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, THAT IF WE CONTACT CHRIS CSONKA FOR INFORMATION, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC? CLEVE DUNN, JR.: YES, HE SHOULD.

KELLY OR SOMEBODY WHO'S ADMINISTRATING THIS? NO, IT'S FOR KELLY.

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO CHRIS KEEP REFERRING TO THE CITY OF PARISH, AND THAT'S FINE.

WE CAN BE A RESOURCE OR YOU ALL CAN BE A RESOURCE WHERE THEY CAN GET THAT INFORMATION.

BUT HER QUESTION IS, AND I THINK SHE'S CORRECT, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME TO THE CITY FOR THAT.

IS THAT A REQUIREMENT? KELLY LEDUFF: YEAH, UNLESS IT'S SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS IN THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS THAT SHOULDN'T BE ON OPEN DATA BECAUSE OF WHO IT IS, WHAT IT IS.

SO OF COURSE, SHE CAN DO A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.

WE MONITOR THIS EVERY MONTH.

WE CAN GIVE-- CLEVE DUNN, JR.: BUT AGAIN, THE QUESTION IS WITH THEM, ARE THEY ABLE TO GIVE INFORMATION TO THE-- KELLY LEDUFF: IT'S NOT MANDATED THROUGH-- BRANDON NOEL: [INAUDIBLE] CLEVE DUNN, JR.: NO, THANK YOU.

KELLY LEDUFF: IT'S NOT MANDATED THROUGH THE SETTLEMENT FUND BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY DO.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: OK.

KELLY, HOLD UP.

SO THE INFORMATION THAT'S USUALLY ATTACHED TO THESE AGENDA ITEMS, I THINK THAT WAS ANOTHER CONCERN THAT SHE HAD, WHY AN EXPLANATION WAS NOT THERE.

SO ANSWER THAT FOR US, PLEASE.

KELLY LEDUFF: YEAH, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST AN EXTENSION, SAME SCOPE OF WORK, TO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT JUST TO GET THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO WE DON'T LOSE THIS PRETRIAL IN DIVERSION COURT.

IT WASN'T ANYTHING TO ATTACH.

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SCOPE.

IT'S THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT.

WE'RE JUST EXTENDING THE TIME PERIOD AND FUNDING IT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: AND SO FOR EVERYBODY, FOR CONSTITUENTS THAT MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THE CONTRACT OR SEEN WHATEVER, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU COULD HAVE ATTACHED IN ORDER THAT THAT QUESTION WOULD NOT HAVE COME FORWARD? KELLY LEDUFF: THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AND SCOPE OF WORK.

AND I'D LOVE TO TALK TO HER, GIVE HER MY NUMBER.

SHE CAN COME UP AND WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

AND THAT WOULD BE AN ERROR ON OUR PART ON MY STAFF AND MYSELF IF IT WASN'T ATTACHED.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET, THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THAT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT SHE NEEDS TO.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT $196,000 BEING ADDED, COMING TO AND NOT TO EXCEED $456,000, AND THEN WHEN CHRIS TELL US 14 PEOPLE, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR 14 PEOPLE.

KELLY LEDUFF: YEAH.

AND THEY'VE HAD WAY MORE TOUCHPOINTS.

I WILL SAY THIS.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I CHOSE TO EXTEND THIS, WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER, WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, ALL THE DOLLARS THAT WE'VE USED ON OUR OPIOID FUNDS, THEIRS HAVE BEEN REALLY EFFECTIVE.

IT IS MUCH MORE THAN 14 PEOPLE.

AND I KNOW SOMETIMES COMING AND STAND IN FRONT OF THESE 12 COUNCIL PEOPLE COULD BE MORE IN DEPTH.

BUT THEIR TOUCHPOINTS, THEY'RE TOUCHING WAY MORE PEOPLE THAN THAT.

IT'S JUST THAT MANY THAT HAVE GRADUATED.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: ALL RIGHT.

CHRIS, COME AND TELL US ABOUT SOME NUMBERS.

SINCE IT'S NOT 14, TELL US WHAT IT IS.

CHRIS CSONKA: SO FIRST, I'LL START OFF WITH WE DO A MONTHLY STATUS HEARING IN FRONT OF A JUDGE, WHERE ALL THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS COME IN.

SOME GRADUATE, SOME MAY NOT, BUT EVERYONE GIVES A REPORT.

I INVITE EVERYBODY HERE TO COME TO THE ONE ON FRIDAY.

WE HAVE ONE THIS COMING FRIDAY AT 9:00 AM IN JUDGE RON JOHNSON'S COURT.

[00:30:01]

HE'S SITTING IN FOR JUDGE DON JOHNSON.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SEE WHAT IT IS, LITERALLY, WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING CAN, COME THERE AT 9:00 AM OR 9:30 AM, 9:30 AM IN JUDGE RON JOHNSON'S COURT THIS FRIDAY.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: OK.

YEAH, I'VE BEEN THERE.

BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT TO ANSWER HER QUESTION IN NUMBERS, NUMBERS IS WHAT HER CONCERN WAS.

COME ON.

ANSWER THE LATEST QUESTION.

CHRIS CSONKA: YEAH.

AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE FALSE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.

I WASN'T PREPARED TO GIVE ANY OF THAT.

WE COULD ACTUALLY-- I MEAN, THAT'S ON ALL OUR REPORTS THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

MEMBER: SO CURRENTLY OUR NUMBERS, LIKE CHRIS SAID, WE DO HAVE 14 PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN UNDER OPERATIONS FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS OR SO.

BUT WE'VE ASSESSED A TOTAL OF 143 PEOPLE.

WE HAVE 99 MALES, 44 FEMALES.

IT SAYS 77 BLACK MALES, BLACK PERSONS, 61 WHITE PERSONS.

SO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO BE IN THE PROGRAM ARE 34.

THE DA HAS DENIED 87.

THE DA'S OFFICE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS THE GATEKEEPER FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM OPERATES ALMOST LIKE DRUG COURT, RECOVERY COURT, BUT IT'S THE PRETRIAL VERSION OF THAT, MEANING THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT PLEADING GUILTY TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

100% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROGRAM DON'T HAVE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO BE RELEASED FROM JAIL.

THEY'RE ONLY IN JAIL ON NONVIOLENT OFFENSES.

AND IF THEY'RE IN JAIL ON NONVIOLENT OFFENSES, AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GET OUT AND THEY PASS THROUGH THE DA SCRUTINY, THEN THEY'RE ALLOWED TO BE IN THIS PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE ONLY DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE INCOME TO BE ABLE TO BOND OUT OF JAIL AND HAVE A NONVIOLENT OFFENSE.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: THANK YOU, SIR.

MEMBER: YES.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

JENNIFER RACCA: MR. LEDUFF, CAN YOU COME BACK, PLEASE INFORM US? WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FUNDS HERE.

AND WE SAID OPIOID DOLLARS A LOT.

AND I LIKE TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHERE THE DIFFERENT DOLLARS COME FROM, WHAT THEY MEAN, AND HOW THEY CAN BE SPENT.

CAN YOU BE SPECIFIC WITH REGARD TO WHAT OPIOID DOLLARS ARE, WHERE THEY COME FROM AND HOW WE CAN SPEND THEM, THE LIMITATIONS ON SPENDING THEM? KELLY LEDUFF: YES, MA'AM.

SO THESE ARE SETTLEMENT FUNDS, NOT FEDERAL FUNDS.

LOUISIANA RECEIVES MONIES EVERY YEAR FROM A NATIONWIDE SETTLEMENT THROUGH OPIOID ABATEMENT.

AND THIS IS OUR PORTION HERE FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

WE WORK WITH ALL THE MAYORS ACROSS THE PARISH FOR THEIR OBJECTIVES AS WELL AS COUNCIL.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A NOTICE FOR FUNDING AVAILABILITY UP NOW TO INCREASE OUR PROCESSES AND GET ON THAT ONE-YEAR CYCLE.

SO WHAT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO, LIKE WITH THIS CASE, IS TO FUND THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY TO GET TO THAT FRESH START IN JANUARY.

BUT THESE ARE SETTLEMENT DOLLARS, NOT FEDERAL FUNDS.

JENNIFER RACCA: AND OPIOID DOLLARS CAN'T BE SPENT ON EVERYTHING, RIGHT? THERE ARE LIMITATIONS AS TO WHAT THEY CAN BE SPENT ON? KELLY LEDUFF: ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE STATEWIDE TASK FORCE TODAY.

IT'S AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.

THERE'S RULES AND GUIDELINES.

AND EVERY CONTRACT MEETS A PARTICULAR SET OF SCOPE OF WORK.

A LOT OF IT WE MUST HAVE.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE TO DEFINITELY HAVE IN OUR PARISH.

JENNIFER RACCA: SO CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SPENT ON, AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THEY CANNOT BE SPENT ON? KELLY LEDUFF: CHIEF MORRIS CAN'T ASK US TO BUY NEW POLICE UNITS WITH THESE FUNDS.

WE CAN OPEN A MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL.

JENNIFER RACCA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KELLY LEDUFF: YOU'RE WELCOME.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.

TWAHNA HARRIS: MS. CHRIS AND NILES, I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU PROVIDE THE REPORTING TO MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES, PLEASE.

THE NUMBERS THAT YOU GAVE, I THINK, IS VERY VITAL, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE DOLLARS ARE GOING.

YOU MENTIONED 14 PEOPLE A SECOND AGO, AND FOLKS WOULD SAY 14 PEOPLE FOR $456,000, YEAH.

I THINK YOU NEED TO GET THOSE NUMBERS OUT TO US, BUT ALSO MAKE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

CHRIS CSONKA: THAT'S 14 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS.

SO TWO STAFF MEMBERS AND A PROGRAM DIRECTOR ARE MANAGING THOSE 14 RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT ROTATES.

THOSE PEOPLE ROTATE IN AND OUT.

AND SO THAT'S ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE AT.

TWAHNA HARRIS: RIGHT.

I UNDERSTAND.

BUT YOU DIDN'T SAY IT THAT WAY IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT NOW THAT YOU'VE BROKEN IT DOWN.

BUT PLEASE GET THAT REPORTING TO US AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN SEE WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING AS WELL.

AND KELLY-- THANK YOU.

KELLY, ONCE THIS CONTRACT ENDS ON DECEMBER 31, 2026, WHAT'S THE PLAN? ARE YOU GOING TO RENEW THIS CONTRACT? DOES IT COME BACK TO US? WHAT HAPPEN TO THE PROGRAM ONCE THOSE DOLLARS ARE-- KELLY LEDUFF: SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE WAS DO A FULL STRATEGIC PLAN OVER THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK IS FAIR IS THAT ONCE A YEAR, EVERYBODY APPLIES FOR THESE FUNDS.

[00:35:02]

SO THAT IS CURRENTLY OPEN OUR EMAIL, EACH ONE OF YOU A COPY OF THAT NOTE.

WE WORK DILIGENTLY TO GET THAT UP.

IT'S BEEN UP SINCE MONDAY.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO APPLY, CJCC INCLUDED.

CERTAIN CRITERIA, CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, WE PICK IT ONCE A YEAR.

AND WE FUND IT FOR A YEAR IN ONE PACKAGE.

AND WE REGROUP THE NEXT YEAR.

TWAHNA HARRIS: ALL RIGHT.

BRANDON NOEL: ANYONE ELSE? WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 57, THERE'S BEEN A RECOMMENDATION

[57. 26-01207 ]

TO DELETE THIS ITEM.

I THINK SOME OF THE INFORMATION WAS INCORRECT.

AUTHORIZE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AND ENTER INTO AN EXECUTIVE GRANT AGREEMENT FOR SUBRECIPIENTS AND DEVELOPERS AWARDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TO THE US HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,346,995, HOME INVESTMENT AND PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,450,716.46, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,397,770, AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $281,178, TOTALING $7,486,659.46, PLUS $1,088,000 IN ESTIMATED PROGRAM INCOME BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ASHLEY BECK: COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 57.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

58, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT

[58. 26-01223 ]

TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE CAPITAL REGION AREA FLOODPLAIN TASKFORCE MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION DOCUMENT FOR CREDIT UNDER THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM, THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

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

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

ITEM 59, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE

[59. 26-01224 ]

A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY DETECT FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $549,000 FOR A CONTRACT PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2029 TO PROVIDE DATA COLLECTION EQUIPMENT AND AI TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DETECTION OF BLIGHT BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PENNY LANDRY: PENNY LANDRY, BATON ROUGE.

A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, AND I'M JUST WONDERING, IS CITY DETECT A LOUISIANA COMPANY OR AN OUT-OF-STATE COMPANY? ARE THEY A FLOCK CAMERA COMPANY? WE HAVE ABOUT ALMOST A HALF A MILLION CITIZENS HERE IN THIS PARISH.

MOST OF THEM HAVE EYES.

WE HAD AN INITIATIVE FOR PEOPLE TO REPORT BLIGHT.

I'M UNSURE WHAT THE REASON WE NOW NEED TO SPEND HALF A MILLION $49,000 FOR DATA COLLECTION EQUIPMENT AND AI TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT BLIGHT.

I'M FILING THIS UNDER A CATEGORY CALLED TAXPAYER ABUSE.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER, THIS CONTRACT IS UNTIL DECEMBER 2029.

IF IT IS NOT A LOUISIANA COMPANY, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO APPROVE IT.

IF IT IS A FLOCK CAMERA COMPANY, I'D ASK YOU NOT TO APPROVE IT.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GET CITIZENS INPUT.

IF THEY THINK OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IS NEEDED FOR CAMERAS.

HOW MANY OF THESE CAMERAS? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE? DO WE HAVE TO ADD STAFF TO LOOK AT THESE CAMERAS, TO LOOK AT THE DATA? IS THAT ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED? PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS.

BRANDON NOEL: ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

[00:40:02]

PLEASE.

JESICCA CONVERSE: BASICALLY JUST GOING TO SECOND THAT.

BUT JESSICA CONVERSE AGAIN.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD I THINK-- I MEAN, I ALSO THINK IT'S A GROSS MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDING FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL PROBABLY BECOME OUT OF DATE AND THEN BECOME A TOOL OR UTILITY FOR THE POLICE, OR IF IT DOESN'T JUST BECOME OBSOLETE IN TIME.

ALSO, IT IS INCREDIBLY EASY TO-- YOU HAVE A GIS ANALYST.

YOU HAVE A SPATIAL ANALYST IN-HOUSE, I'M SURE.

IT IS INCREDIBLY EASY TO USE THE PROPERTY CONDITION SURVEY CONFIGURATION TOOL, WHICH USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING TO STREET-LEVEL PROPERTY PHOTOS AND AUTOMATICALLY CALCULATE A BLIGHT PROBABILITY FOR EVERY PROPERTY.

THIS IS EASY TO DO.

ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SECOND WHAT SHE SAID.

AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR CITIZENS ARE YOUR GREATEST RESOURCE.

AND YOU HAVE WBRZ REPORTING IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE SAYING THAT THEIR AREAS ARE NOT EVEN IDENTIFIED DURING THIS BLIGHT PROGRAM.

I AM STARTING TO THINK THAT THIS IS BECOMING KIND OF A SLUSH FUND SITUATION.

I HOPE IT'S NOT.

ONLY LAST YEAR WAS THE $100,000 MISUSE OF FUNDS BY LAMONT COLES DISTRICT.

I FIGURED THAT WAS YOUR IDEA.

BUT I WANT TO SAY AS WELL, COUNCILMAN BRANDON, I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR MEETING FOR THE DRONE TECHNOLOGY.

IT WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL.

I MEAN, YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM ALL THE CONSTITUENTS.

BUT SOMEBODY SAID THE UTILITY OF TECHNOLOGY, USING IT FOR IT'S MOST APPROPRIATE USE.

AND DRIVING AROUND CARS TO BASICALLY DO WHAT GOOGLE DID, I WOULD ASSUME, WE DON'T NEED TO RECREATE THE WHEEL HERE.

ALSO, THE CITY IS ADVOCATING FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INCREASED SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.

THIS IS JUST NOT A GOOD IDEA.

AND IT'S NOT GOING TO-- YOU COULD WAG YOUR FOOT ALL YOU WANT.

I'M GOING TO TAKE MY TIME-- I IMAGINE IT'S GOING TO BE A BOOM AND BUST THING ANYWAY.

AND SO $125,000 EARLIER SPENT ON BLIGHT FOR DRIVING AROUND LIKE THIS.

MY COMPATRIOT SAID WHY NOT INVEST IN THE PEOPLE FOR FOLKS TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF THEIR PROPERTY? I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WE TALK ABOUT CRIME AND BLIGHT AS IF WE'RE GOING TO-- HOPEFULLY, WE DO ERADICATE IT.

BUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ONCE IT'S ALL DONE? YOU'RE GOING TO GENTRIFY THIS AREA, PERHAPS? BRANDON NOEL: THAT'S YOUR TIME MA'AM.

JESICCA CONVERSE: OR ARE YOU GOING TO INVEST IN THIS AREA WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE USED TO BEAUTIFY THE AREA? BRANDON NOEL: MA'AM? JESICCA CONVERSE: I HEAR YOU.

BRANDON NOEL: THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ASHLEY BECK: COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 59.

MEMBER: [INAUDIBLE] BRANDON NOEL: NO, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP? THAT'S YOUR WHOLE TIME.

IF SOMEBODY UP HERE WANTS TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, THEY CAN DO THAT.

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

COUNCILMAN HURST.

DARRYL HURST: HEY, SO WHEN I SEE $549,000 FOR TECHNOLOGY TO IDENTIFY BLIGHT-- AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? EXPLAIN THE TECHNOLOGY.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: I HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT I'D LOVE-- DARRYL HURST: NOT ON MY TIME.

NO, CAN SHE HAVE HER OWN TIME, BRANDON? BECAUSE I DID TELL HER TO COME UP.

YEAH, YEAH.

YEAH, LET HER DO THAT.

LET HER DO THAT.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: JUSTIN? ALL RIGHT.

SO CITY DETECT IS A COMPANY THAT PLACES CAMERAS ON OUR ALREADY EXISTING CITY PARISH STAFF VEHICLES THAT THEN OPERATE IN A SIMILAR WAY TO GOOGLE STREET VIEW, CAPTURING IMAGES AND THEN RUNNING THEM THROUGH AI OR IMAGE PROCESSING TO THEN FLAG POTENTIAL BLIGHT VIOLATIONS.

IT DETAILS OUT IN A GIS-BASED PLATFORM TO MY STAFF, WHO WILL THEN REVIEW EVERY SINGLE FLAG AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER THERE IS A VIOLATION AND THEN OPEN A CASE FILE.

IF NOT, THEY DON'T AUTOMATICALLY ISSUE VIOLATIONS.

AND EVERYTHING HAS TO BE REVIEWED BY STAFF.

SO THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE CAMERA ON THE LEFT.

[00:45:02]

AND THEN NUMBER 1 IS IT PLACED ON TOP OF A GARBAGE TRUCK.

NUMBER 2 IS WHERE IT'S IDENTIFIED SOME GRAFFITI.

AND THEN NUMBER 3 IS THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE MAPPING IS.

AND NUMBER 4, OBVIOUSLY, SOME ACTION.

SO NEXT PAGE.

AGAIN, HERE'S A LITTLE PICTURE OF THE CAMERA.

IT JUST SITS ON TOP, TAKING PICTURES.

SO ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT IT CAN DO IS TO DETECT STRUCTURAL DETECTIONS.

SO IN 2022, THE PARISH SPENT 6 TO 8 MONTHS WITH MY INSPECTORS, GOING AROUND THE PARISH AND DOING AN ENTIRE BLIGHT SURVEY.

IT TOOK A LOT OF MAN HOURS, A LOT OF TIME, 6 TO 8 MONTHS, DOING CONDITION ASSESSMENTS OF EVERY STRUCTURE.

THIS WILL BE ABLE TO HELP US DO THAT MORE FREQUENTLY, MORE OFTEN, AND ALSO BE PROACTIVE.

THAT IS THE GOAL HERE.

WHEN WE'RE RELYING ON CITIZENS TO CALL IN BLIGHT, BASED ON THE 2022 BLIGHT SURVEY, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A DISPARITY, A SEVERE DISPARITY OF BLIGHT THAT'S BEING CALLED IN AND THE BLIGHT THAT'S NOT BEING CALLED IN THAT STILL EXISTS.

SO THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO CAPTURE THAT AND PROACTIVELY ADDRESS THAT.

WE CAN ALSO HAVE EARLY INTERVENTION, PARTNERING WITH OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO GET PROPERTY OWNERS THE HELP THAT THEY MAY NEED FOR OUR CITIZENS TO MAKE THEIR PROPERTIES BETTER.

ROADSIDE DETECTION OF LITTER AND ILLEGAL DUMPING AND DEBRIS, AND GRAFFITI AND ENCAMPMENTS, ILLEGAL SIGNS IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THIS.

THIS IS A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IT DETECTED UP AT THE TOP.

HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THE DATABASE THAT MY STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO USE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE FLAGS AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

THIS IS A CLOSER-UP VIEW.

AS YOU CAN SEE, PARCELS ARE RANKED.

RED IS, OF COURSE, WORSE, GREEN'S GREAT.

AND YOU CAN TOGGLE UP AND DOWN WHAT WEIGHT YOU WANT EACH TYPE OF BLIGHT VIOLATION TO COUNT FOR AS FAR AS THAT RANKING OF GREEN TO RED.

HERE IS A PICTURE, A SNAPSHOT, OF WHAT SOMEONE FROM MY STAFF WILL BE REVIEWING, BASICALLY THEIR DASHBOARD.

EACH OF MY STAFF IN MY OFFICE IS ASSIGNED A SPECIFIC AREA THAT THEY RECEIVE THE 311 COMPLAINTS FROM.

THEY WILL ALSO BE ASSIGNED TO BE REVIEWING THE POTENTIAL BLIGHT VIOLATIONS FLAGGED BY THIS SYSTEM, AND THEN DOING RESEARCH AND THEN DETERMINING IF A VIOLATION EXISTS AND THEN OPENING A CASE FILE.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU CLICK ON EACH ONE.

AS YOU CAN SEE AT THE VERY BOTTOM, IT INCLUDES A PICTURE EVERY TIME THE TRUCK HAS DRIVEN BY THIS.

AT THE TOP LEFT, IT HAS A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT VIOLATIONS THAT IT THINKS THAT IT HAS SENSED.

AND THIS IS WHERE MY OFFICE AND MY STAFF ARE GOING TO SAY, IS THERE A VIOLATION OR NOT HERE? NEXT PAGE.

HERE'S SOME SPECIFIC ROADSIDE DETECTION, TO WHERE YOU-- BECAUSE YOU CAN FILTER.

IF YOU WANTED TO DO A TARGETED NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, WE COULD COME IN HERE, AND WE COULD LOOK AT JUST SPECIFIC, WE JUST WANT TO MOW GRASS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE COULD SEE TALL GRASS JUST IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO TARGET SOMETHING OR JUST ILLEGAL DUMPING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

HERE'S ANOTHER SNAPSHOT OF SOME ILLEGAL DUMPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE.

HERE'S SOME STUDY, SOME CASE STUDIES.

SO CLEVELAND, OHIO, UTILIZED THIS TO DO WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO.

THEY HAD DONE A MANUAL BLIGHT SURVEY OF EVERY PARCEL AND EVERY STRUCTURE.

IT USED 40 CODE INSPECTORS.

AND IT TOOK OVER SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THIS SURVEY EVERY MONTH.

SO IT'S SAVING A LOT OF TIME.

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, HAS AN EXTENSIVE LITTERING AND ILLEGAL DUMPING PROBLEM, NOTHING THAT WE AREN'T ALSO EXPERIENCING.

LITTER AND DEBRIS.

AND SO THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ALL OF THESE ILLEGAL DUMPINGS AND LITTERING PILES AND TO BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE AND TRIAGE THEM.

STORM RESPONSE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A BIG ONE.

RIGHT NOW, WE GO AROUND OR ADAM'S STAFF GO AROUND AND ARE MANUALLY LOGGING DEBRIS PILES AND WHATNOT AFTER WE HAVE A STORM EVENT.

WELL, GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA HAS UTILIZED THEIR CITY DETECT TO BE ABLE TO AUTOMATE THAT.

SO INSTEAD OF TAKING WEEKS OR MAYBE A MONTH TO KEEP GOING AROUND, WE CAN DRIVE AROUND PROBABLY IN A DAY OR TWO, IF WE HAVE A FOCUSED AREA, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS CONTRACT IS FOR FIVE CAMERAS.

I'M SORRY.

I MEANT TO SAY THAT.

VACANT LOT IDENTIFICATION.

IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TARGET REDEVELOPMENT AND KNOW WHERE VACANT PROPERTIES EXIST AND WHERE TO ENCOURAGE REDEVELOPMENT AND DO FUTURE PLANS AND OTHER THINGS, WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO IDENTIFY VACANT LOTS.

RIGHT NOW, WE COULD HAVE STAFF GOING THROUGH THE GIS AND LOOKING AT EVERY PAGE AND CLICKING ON THEM ALL, OR WE CAN UTILIZE THE CITY DETECT

[00:50:03]

TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

SO HERE'S SOME OF THE CITIES THAT ARE ALSO UTILIZING THIS SOFTWARE.

WE HEARD ABOUT THIS AT A CODE ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY IN MEMPHIS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AND SEVERAL OF THESE CITIES WERE THERE AND SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF IT.

SO WHAT THIS IS, IT IS A PROACTIVE PROPERTY CONDITION DETECTION.

IT'S A TOOL FOR OUR STAFF.

AND AGAIN, IT ACTS JUST LIKE GOOGLE STREET VIEW.

IT'S NOT A STAFF REPLACEMENT.

IT'S NOT AUTOMATIC TICKETING.

AND IT IS NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.

I WILL REPEAT THIS DATA IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY THE CITY, BY MY DEPARTMENT.

NOBODY ELSE CAN SEE IT.

IT IS NOT SHARED.

IT IS NOT FLOCK.

IT IS ONLY TAKING PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.

FACES AND LICENSE PLATES ARE ALSO BLURRED OUT.

SO I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ALSO SAID WAS THAT, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE DISPARITY OF BLIGHT THAT IS CALLED IN VERSUS NOT CALLED IN.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THIS PARISH UP AS A WHOLE, WE NEED TO ADDRESS ALL BLIGHT IN ALL PLACES.

THERE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T LIVE.

AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING AND OTHER BLIGHT VIOLATIONS OCCUR.

AND WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I ALREADY HAVE INSPECTORS.

I HAVE FIVE OF THEM THAT DRIVE AROUND THIS PARISH EVERY DAY.

WE'RE NOT ADDING VEHICLES.

WE'RE NOT ADDING STAFF.

THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW MY STAFF TO ALSO TRIAGE 311 CALLS THAT COME IN.

SO SOMEBODY CALLS AND COMPLAINS ABOUT A SPECIFIC LOCATION.

MAYBE WE DROVE BY IT THE DAY BEFORE.

AND I CAN SEE THAT VIOLATION WAS ALREADY FLAGGED.

I ALREADY HAVE MY STARTING PICTURE.

I HAVE ELIMINATED MY INITIAL INSPECTION.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCY HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE AND TRYING TO BE SYSTEMATIC AND DATA DRIVEN ABOUT ADDRESSING BLIGHT IN OUR PARISH.

AND I ALSO HAVE COMER HERE.

HE'S FROM CITY DETECT.

DARRYL HURST: SO HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR BUDGET TO PICK UP THE BLIGHT THAT YOU DETECT? WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ALL THE TIME.

COUNCILMAN HURST.

SO LET'S ANSWER THE QUESTION.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: NOT VERY MUCH.

DARRYL HURST: PRETTY MUCH $0.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: YES, SIR.

DARRYL HURST: SO WE'RE WILLING TO SPEND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO DETECT IT WITH NO MONEY TO PICK IT UP.

THAT'S ASININE TO ME.

THAT'S ASININE.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: WE'RE SPENDING HALF A MILLION OVER 3 AND 1/2 YEARS.

DARRYL HURST: EITHER WAY, THERE'S STILL 100,000 WITH-- HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE WE BEHIND ESTIMATED WE'RE PICKING UP BLIGHT RIGHT NOW? RACHAEL LAMBERT: THREE MILLION.

DARRYL HURST: SO WE'RE AT THREE MILLION IN ARREARS.

WHY ARE WE SPENDING MORE MONEY TO DETECT WHEN WE'VE DETECTED ENOUGH THAT WE CAN'T ABATE? SO FOR ME, I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS.

I'M GOING TO ASK TO PUT THE MONEY TOWARDS PICKING THE BLIGHT UP INSTEAD OF DETECTING MORE BLIGHT THAN WE CAN'T PICK UP.

BRANDON NOEL: SO I WAS THINKING MUCH ALONG THE SAME LINES AS COUNCILMAN HURST.

I WAS GOING TO ASK SAY, YOU THREE MILLION, THAT'S THE BACKLOG ON TEARDOWNS? RACHAEL LAMBERT: DEMOS, JUNK, TRASH AND DEBRIS, BOARDING UP HOUSES AND TALL GRASS.

I MEAN, AS FAR AS I KNOW WE HAVE BLIGHT INDIVIDUALS FOR OUR DISTRICT WHO RIDE AROUND.

YEAH.

I MEAN, I COULD TAKE YOU ON AN HOUR-LONG DRIVE TO LOOK AT TALL GRASS ANYTIME YOU WANT.

I CAN VIDEOTAPE IT IF YOU WANT.

WE CAN DO THAT, NO PROBLEM.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: I MEAN, HE CAN CALL IT IN.

BRANDON NOEL: BUT I'M SAYING, WE DON'T NEED NO EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT.

WE ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE WHO DO DO THAT.

AGAIN, I THINK, TO COUNCILMAN HURST'S CREDIT, I AGREE.

IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF-- IF WE WERE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF ALL THE BLIGHT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, AND THEN WE'RE SAYING, OK, NOW WE JUST NEED HELP DETECTING MORE, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE-- RACHAEL LAMBERT: I THINK THAT WE DO, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE OUTREACH WORKERS DON'T DO A GOOD JOB AT REPORTING IT.

BECAUSE WE STILL KNOW THAT IT EXISTS AND THEY'RE NOT CALLING IT IN.

BRANDON NOEL: BUT WE HAVE A BACKLOG ANYWAY.

SO THEY CAN STOP WORKING-- THEY CAN STOP WORKING FOR THREE YEARS, AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: THE ADMINISTRATION IS AIMING TO ADD MORE DOLLARS FOR ACTUAL ABATEMENT NEXT YEAR.

BRANDON NOEL: I THINK WHEN WE CATCH UP-- RACHAEL LAMBERT: IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE-- BRANDON NOEL: RACHAEL, RACHAEL.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: SORRY.

BRANDON NOEL: I THINK WHEN WE CATCH UP ON WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE A BACKLOG ON, WHEN WE RUN INTO A PROBLEM WHERE WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES WE'VE ALREADY DETECTED, AND THERE'S NO MORE COMING INTO THE PIPELINE, THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT GETTING MORE EFFICIENT ON CREATING THE PIPELINE.

COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

DENISE AMAROSO: HAVE YOU NOT HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH REPUBLIC ABOUT PICKING UP YOUR BLIGHT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT UTILIZING THE CAMERAS ON THEIR VEHICLES TO DO THIS INSTEAD, BUT THEY REFUSED US THAT.

DENISE AMAROSO: NO, I KNOW THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE REPUBLIC IS A PRIVATE COMPANY

[00:55:03]

AND THEY CAN'T.

BUT HAVE THEY NOT HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT HELPING YOU PICK UP BLIGHT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: NO.

WELL, WE'VE ASKED.

THE ANSWER HAS BEEN NO.

DENISE AMAROSO: REALLY? RACHAEL LAMBERT: WELL, YEAH.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A HUGE BACKLOG, AND THEY CAN'T GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

DENISE AMAROSO: NO, THEY CAN'T GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: YEAH.

AND THAT'S THE THING, IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BLIGHT THAT PREDOMINANTLY EXISTS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

SO THERE NEEDS TO BE HANDS THAT ACTUALLY GO ONTO THE PROPERTY AND CLEAR IT OFF.

DENISE AMAROSO: SO HOW CAN Y'ALL GO ON-- HOW CAN Y'ALL GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY? RACHAEL LAMBERT: BECAUSE WE GET A COURT ORDER.

DENISE AMAROSO: YOU GET THE COURT ORDER? RACHAEL LAMBERT: YES.

DENISE AMAROSO: OK.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

DWIGHT HUDSON: RACHAEL, WHEN BLIGHT IS IDENTIFIED, EITHER BY THIS SYSTEM OR BY SOMEONE CALLING IT IN, OR OUR CURRENT CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE DOING THAT, WHO HAS THE FIRST PRIORITY TO ADDRESS THAT BLIGHT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? DWIGHT HUDSON: LET'S SAY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, A PROPERTY OWNER HAS GOT A CONDITION ON THEIR PROPERTY, JUNK, TRASH AND DEBRIS.

IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED.

THEY'VE BEEN CITED.

WHO IS SUPPOSED TO PICK THAT UP WHEN THE NOTICE IS GIVEN? RACHAEL LAMBERT: THE PROPERTY OWNER.

DWIGHT HUDSON: RIGHT, THE PROPERTY OWNER.

SO IF WE'RE ADDING MORE PEOPLE INTO OUR QUEUE, AND SOME OF THESE ARE BEING ADDRESSED BY PROPERTY OWNERS, WHICH A CERTAIN NUMBER ARE.

AM I CORRECT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: YEAH.

SO-- DWIGHT HUDSON: WHAT PERCENTAGE OF-- RACHAEL LAMBERT: FOR TOMORROW'S BLIGHT COURT MEETING, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE ISSUED 89 LETTERS, VIOLATION LETTERS.

AND THAT OVER 50 WERE CLEARED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER PRIOR TO COURT.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR PROPERTY LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.

THERE ARE THOSE THAT DON'T AS WELL.

DWIGHT HUDSON: SO BY UTILIZING THIS TECHNOLOGY, WE'RE NOT JUST ADDING TO A LIST THAT IS NEVER GOING TO BE ADDRESSED? POSSIBLY 50% OF THESE CAN BE ADDRESSED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: YES, SIR.

DWIGHT HUDSON: OK.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONTROVERSY AROUND OUTREACH WORKERS, THE CONTRACTORS THAT DO THIS.

I WILL TELL YOU, MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM WAS NEVER POSITIVE.

I ENDED UP JUST HAVING MY STAFF, MY COUNCIL AIDE, GO AND LOOK AT STUFF WHENEVER I HAD IT COME UP.

IS THERE GOING TO BE A COST SAVINGS BY REDUCING OUR UTILIZATION OF CONTRACT WORKERS? ARE WE GOING TO MOVE AWAY FROM CONTRACT WORKERS? WHAT'S THE PROCESS THERE? RACHAEL LAMBERT: IF IT WERE UP TO ME, YES.

BUT I KNOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS STILL WORKING WITH YOU ALL ON THE PATH FORWARD FOR OUTREACH WORKERS NEXT YEAR.

THE COST OF THE OUTREACH WORKERS IS AROUND $165,000.

AND THAT IS THE COST OF THIS PER YEAR.

SO IT'S $50,000 OR $45,000 FOR THIS YEAR IN THE SETUP.

AND THEN EACH YEAR SUBSEQUENT IS $166,000.

AND I KNOW THAT SOMEONE TOUCHED ON THE 3 AND 1/4 YEAR CONTRACT.

WE'RE SAVING 20% BY ESTABLISHING, LIKE OVER THE ENTIRETY OF THE CONTRACT, BY HAVING A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT AND LOCKING IN THAT PRICE.

DWIGHT HUDSON: I WILL TELL YOU THAT-- THIS IS JUST MY FEEDBACK ABOUT MAINTENANCE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, ABOUT BLIGHT, ABOUT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS ARE COMPLAINT-DRIVEN SYSTEMS. NOTHING IS PROACTIVE.

NOTHING IS ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR ISSUES.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT UNTIL IT'S ON TWO ON YOUR SIDE, AND NOW WE'VE ALL GOT MUD ON OUR FACE.

I UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITIES AROUND AI AND USING CAMERAS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY, SAVE A LITTLE MONEY, DO THINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND ULTIMATELY GET A LITTLE BIT CLEANER PARISH.

SO I COMMEND YOU FOR LOOKING INTO IT.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD MOVE.

I THINK IT POSSIBLY COULD REMOVE SOME OF THE SUBJECTIVITY OUT OF IDENTIFYING BLIGHT.

AND SO I COMMEND YOU FOR IT.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: THANK YOU.

THAT IS OUR GOAL TO BE PROACTIVE TO ADDRESS BLIGHT IN A DATA-DRIVEN AND NOT SUBJECTIVE WAY.

AND YES, WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE BLIGHT DEPARTMENT, INTO THE FUTURE AND UTILIZING TOOLS THAT WE CAN.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ROWDY GAUDET: THANK YOU.

DID I UNDERSTAND THE GENTLEMAN IS YOU'RE WITH CITY DETECT? COMER JENNINGS: YES, MY NAME IS COMER JENNINGS.

ROWDY GAUDET: JENNINGS IS YOUR LAST NAME? MR. JENNINGS, YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WORK THERE AND EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS.

COMER JENNINGS: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME.

I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THE OBJECTIVITY AND THE EFFICIENCY OF WHAT CITY DETECT IS DOING IS TRYING TO OFFER.

[01:00:01]

GIVEN THE CAPABILITY OF CAPTURING AN IMAGE EVERY SINGLE TIME WE PASS A PROPERTY, WE CAN OBJECTIVELY IDENTIFY WHAT ISSUES ARE SPECIFIC TO THAT PROPERTY, GIVING RACHAEL AND HER TEAM THE RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY AND CATEGORIZE WHAT THINGS NEED PRIORITY AT THE GIVEN MOMENT.

SO SAY, IT'S SPRINGTIME.

AND WE WANT TO IDENTIFY ALL OF THE-- WE HAVE A CERTAIN PROJECT TO IDENTIFY ALL THE OVERGROWTH.

I MEAN, EARLIER, THAT EXAMPLE WAS BROUGHT UP.

OR HERE'S A BETTER ONE.

OR WE HAVE A PROJECT TO FIND ALL THE TIRES THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

WE CAN CREATE A VERY SIMPLE LIST OF THAT THAT WILL DEVELOP A WORK ORDER SO WE CAN PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY THESE THINGS.

IT'S VERY EASY TO SAY, HEY, I KNOW ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE IN MY CERTAIN DISTRICT OR MY CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC DATA AND SPECIFIC ISSUES WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR AREA THAT WE KNOW THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND RESIDENTS CAN DEAL WITH NOW VIA COURTESY NOTICES AND EDUCATING? RATHER THAN PROVIDING A PENAL SERVICE, WE CAN HELP DEVELOP THESE COURTESY NOTICES AND LETTERS SO THAT WE CAN PROPERLY KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN, CITY PARISH CLEAN AND EFFICIENTLY MANAGED.

THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE AND SPEAK AND REPRESENT SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS REALLY GREAT, WHICH IS CITY DETECTION.

WE'RE QUITE PROUD.

ROWDY GAUDET: HAVE YOU DONE WORK-- YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY.

YOU'VE DONE WORK IN SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES WE SAW IN THE POWERPOINT? COMER JENNINGS: YES, SIR.

ROWDY GAUDET: ARE THERE DATA POINTS THAT EITHER YOU HAVE OR YOU COULD SHARE AROUND WHAT THESE OTHER CITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH RESPECT TO? COMER JENNINGS: ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I KNOW THERE WAS A COUPLE SHARED ON THE SLIDES IF WE WANTED TO GO BACK TO THOSE.

BUT SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY PROUD AS PART OF THE COMPANY IS OUR ABILITY TO GENERATE THESE COURTESY NOTICES THAT WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH.

SHE ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER THAT WITH THESE COURTESY NOTICES, WE'VE SEEN IN OVER 80% POSITIVE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE RATE WITH OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING THESE LETTERS, SHOWING THAT, HEY, WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS IN X AMOUNT OF DAYS BEFORE FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WITHIN CITIES, AS A PART OF THESE PACKETS, AN EXTENSION APPLICATION TO THIS PACKET SAYING LIKE, HEY, YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DAYS.

IN FACT, HERE'S AN EXTENSION LETTER REALLY SHOWING THAT WE'RE CARING AND WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION.

AND WE WANT TO HELP KEEP PROPERTIES CLEAN IN THE CITY, QUALITY OF LIFE, BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL.

ROWDY GAUDET: HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT IN BATON ROUGE? WERE YOU PRESENTING AT A CONFERENCE? WAS IT-- RACHAEL LAMBERT: SO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE WENT TO THE STRATEGIC CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGEMENT ACADEMY IN MEMPHIS THIS YEAR IN MAY.

IT WAS AT THE MEMPHIS SCHOOL OF LAW.

WE HEARD A LOT OF-- THERE WERE, I THINK, 10 OTHER CITIES THAT WERE THERE AS WELL.

AND WE HEARD A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS.

WE'VE ALREADY STARTED IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THOSE.

AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF-- THERE WAS A PRESENTATION ON IT.

AND A LOT OF THE OTHER CITIES HAVE SAID THAT THIS HAS HELPED THEM GREATLY.

ANOTHER THING TO POINT OUT, THOUGH, TOO, IS THAT I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DOLLARS ALREADY AROUND PICKING UP AND ABATING THE BLIGHT.

BUT HAVING ALL THESE DATA POINTS AND INFORMATION AT HAND AND READILY ACCESSIBLE WILL ALLOW US TO APPLY FOR MORE GRANTS AND DOLLARS TO ADD TO WHAT ALREADY THE CITY IS DOING IN ORDER TO ABATE THE BLIGHT ITSELF.

ROWDY GAUDET: WHAT'S THE AI ASPECT OF IT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: IT'S JUST BASICALLY THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE IMAGE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF BLIGHT EXISTS.

COMER JENNINGS: AND I CAN SPEAK ON THIS FOR A MINUTE.

WHAT WE'RE USING IS ESSENTIALLY COMPUTER VISION, WHICH IS TEACHING A COMPUTER TO LOOK AT AN IMAGE AND SAY, THESE ARE GLASSES.

AND WE APPLY THAT TO A HOME.

ROWDY GAUDET: AND WITH RESPECT TO DETECTION OF BLIGHT? COMER JENNINGS: YEAH, DETECTION OF BLIGHT AND SPECIFIC THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.

ROWDY GAUDET: AND THEN RACHAEL, SOME OF YOUR STAFF WOULD OBVIOUSLY, BE EVALUATING THIS ON A COMPUTER, VERIFYING THE INFORMATION? RACHAEL LAMBERT: YEAH, IT WOULD WORK INTO OUR SAME PROCESS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

RIGHT NOW, WHEN SOMEONE CALLS IN A COMPLAINT TO 311, IT GOES TO A STAFF MEMBER AND THEY SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION.

AND THEN THE INSPECTOR GOES OUT AND TAKES A PICTURE.

THEN IT GOES BACK TO THE STAFF MEMBER IN THE OFFICE TO THEN LOOK AT THE PICTURE, REVIEW IT, RESEARCH THE OWNER, SEND OUT A VIOLATION LETTER.

IN SOME INSTANCES, LIKE I SAID, MAYBE WE HAVE A 311 REQUEST, BUT AN INSPECTOR WITH THEIR CAMERA DROVE BY A DAY OR TWO AGO.

AND WE CAN VISIBLY SEE THAT VIOLATION THAT THEY'RE CALLING ABOUT.

AND WE JUST MAYBE HAVEN'T GOT TO IT IN OUR DASHBOARD OR THAT STAFF MEMBER.

WELL, THEY CAN UTILIZE THAT PICTURE TO THEN PUT IN THAT CASE FILE AND ELIMINATING THAT INITIAL INSPECTION BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN THERE.

ROWDY GAUDET: ALL RIGHT.

RACHAEL, THANK YOU.

MR. JENNINGS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN HURST.

DARRYL HURST: HEY, RACHAEL, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THIS IS HURTING, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING AS A DIRECTOR.

BUT WHAT I REALLY HEARD ON THE MIC IS THAT YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THE PEOPLE IN '28 THAT DO THIS JOB.

SO YOU BRING THIS IN '27, YOU FIRE THE BLACK WORKERS IN '28.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS MACHINE IS I CAN'T TELL THIS MACHINE TO GO BACK OUT THERE

[01:05:02]

AND REINSPECT FOR ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO MAKE DECISIONS.

AND I WANT TO HAVE A POINT OF CLARITY THAT MR. GERALD GAINES THAT WORKS FOR ME, WRITES MORE TICKETS THAN ANYBODY IN CITY PARISH, AND PER MY CONVERSATION WITH YOU, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE STELLAR WORKERS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT ON THE MIC, MAKE SURE YOU PUT CLARITY ON PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AS WELL AND NOT JUST THE ONES THAT ARE DOING POOR JOBS.

I COULD SAY, I COULD OUTSOURCE YOU TO SOUTH CENTRAL BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS BEHIND $3 MILLION.

YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: THAT'S YOUR WILL.

DARRYL HURST: BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

SO RESPECT THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE DOING A GREAT JOB THE WAY THAT I RESPECT YOU.

SO WE ARE NOT READY FOR YOU.

I'M STILL VOTING NO.

WITH $3 MILLION BEHIND, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DUPLICATE THE MONIES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE FOR BLACK WORKERS.

WHEN YOU GET RID OF THEM, WE PUT IT IN PLACE.

UNTIL THEN, GOD BLESS Y'ALL.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: RACHAEL, WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR THOSE OUTREACH WORKERS? RACHAEL LAMBERT: A CONTRACT IS SIGNED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

THOSE OUTREACH WORKERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED IN THE PAST BY THE COUNCIL PERSONS.

THEY COORDINATE WITH THE COUNCIL PERSONS AND ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RIDING THE DISTRICTS OR THE AREAS THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED AND REPORTING BLIGHT INTO 311.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: AND SO WHAT'S YOUR PROCESS? RACHAEL LAMBERT: I MEAN, ANY 311 COMPLAINT FUNNELS INTO OUR STANDARD PROCESS OF, WE RECEIVE IT, WE SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION.

IF IT'S IN VIOLATION, THEN A LETTER IS SENT OUT.

AND THEN A RECHECK IS DONE RIGHT BEFORE BLIGHT COURT.

AND THEN IF IT'S STILL IN VIOLATION, IT'S HEARD AT BLIGHT COURT.

A COURT ORDER IS OBTAINED.

AND THEN AFTER THE WAITING PERIOD AFTER THAT, IT'S RE-INSPECTED.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY EVEN CLEAN IT UP AFTER BLIGHT COURT.

AND THEN IF NOT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON OUR DOCKET TO GO AND ADDRESS.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: AND I GUESS MY CONCERN IS THE STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE ABOUT THE OUTREACH WORKERS.

I CAN SPEAK FOR MINE AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT SAME LIST, THAT SAME PAPERWORK THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE TURNED IN TO YOU, I MANDATE THAT I'M GIVEN THAT EVERY, EVERY MONTH.

AND SO WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, ALL THIS DATA DRIVEN AND NO MONEY, AND GRANTS ARE LIMITED.

AND A HALF A MILLION IS NOT GOING TO CLEAN OUR CITY.

SO AIN'T NO NEED US THINKING ABOUT THAT.

WE GOT MORE GRASS THAN GOD CAN MAKE, I BELIEVE.

AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE ALWAYS GOING SOMEWHERE TALKING ABOUT GREAT IDEAS.

AND THIS YOUNG MAN IS HERE TALKING ABOUT HOW HE CAN WALK ON WATER AND GET RID OF THE BLIGHT.

AND THAT'S FOR THIS TIME.

AND MY CONCERN IS YOU KEEP YOUR STAFF AND YOU GET RID OF MINE.

I'M ALREADY STRUGGLING IN 10.

AND SO I CANNOT EMBRACE THAT.

AND FOR IT TO BE SAID IN HERE GET RID OF THEM, WHAT IF WHOSOEVER YOU WORKED FOR THE MAYOR, WHOSOEVER, JUST SAY OUT LOUD IN HERE, LET'S JUST GET RID OF RACHAEL, THAT'S NOT NICE.

THAT AIN'T COOL.

THAT AIN'T DECENT.

AND I REALLY AND TRULY TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT BECAUSE I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERSON THAT'S IN 10.

AND THAT'S THE GUY THAT RIDES AROUND AND WANT TO FOLK TO GET ON TV AND TALK ABOUT FOLK WITH ALL OF THIS, LIKE BLIGHT.

HALF A MILLION IS NOT GOING TO CLEAN OUR CITY.

WE GOT MORE GRASS THAN ANYTHING.

THOSE ARE THE CALLS THAT I GET ABOUT ALL THE GRASS OVER THE STOP SIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.

BUT NO, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET RID OF MY STAFF AND NOT GET RID OF SOME OF YOURS THAT COULD VERY WELL BE AT HOME.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THANK YOU.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT RACHAEL IS NOT A FAN OF THE OUTREACH WORKERS THAT REPORT BLIGHT.

AS MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN HURST AND COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN STATED, I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE WORK THAT OUR OUTREACH WORKERS HAVE DONE.

THOMAS FLEMING AND NOW EARL GARRETT DO AN AMAZING JOB WITH REPORTING BLIGHT, GOING TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ENGAGING WITH CONSTITUENTS.

[01:10:03]

AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB.

WE HAVE NO QUALMS WITH THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO PAINT A BROAD BRUSH THAT ALL THE OUTREACH WORKERS ARE, ALL THE BLIGHT WORKERS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

MOVING ON, THOUGH, YOU MADE A REFERENCE ABOUT YOUR CORRESPONDENTS AND YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CORPORATE PARTNER, REPUBLIC SERVICES.

I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED IF WE'RE GOING TO EMBARK ON SOME TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH THEM.

CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW ABOUT POTENTIAL EXTENSIONS OR PUTTING A CONTRACT OUT FOR BID FOR TRASH COLLECTION.

AND YOU SAID YOU ASKED THEM.

I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

TOO MANY OF Y'ALL ASKING VENDORS INSTEAD OF TELLING VENDORS WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS.

SO THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOME COST SAVINGS IF WE CAN PUT CAMERAS ON THEM TRUCKS THAT'S GOING UP AND DOWN EVERY ROAD IN THIS CITY PARISH.

THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOME COST SAVINGS.

SO IF THEY CAN CAPTURE THOSE IMAGES AND PARTNER WITH US IN THAT WAY, THAT WON'T CAUSE THEM NO EXTRA EXPENSE, WON'T CAUSE THEM NO EXTRA LABOR.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE SITTING DOWN WITH OUR VENDORS.

NOW, I WOULD REMIND YOU AND WARN YOU-- AND YOU WAS AT THE DRONE MEETING.

THE LADY REFERENCED THE MEETING.

THERE WERE SEVERAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE DRONES.

BUT ONE OF THE MINOR CONCERNS OUTSIDE OF TOO LOW, TOO MANY AND TOO LOUD, THE NEXT CONSISTENT CONCERN WAS THE IMAGES THAT THE DRONES WERE CAPTURING.

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: I DO CLEVE DUNN, JR.: I WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE LOOK AT THIS IMAGE OR AI FEATURE, WE BE MINDFUL.

BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WERE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DRONE IMAGES AND WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH THE IMAGES, OR WHAT AMAZON WAS DOING WITH THE IMAGES, WHO'S TRACKING IT, WHO'S WATCHING IT, WHO HAS ACCESSIBILITY TO IT? IS IT A PUBLIC RECORD? SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BECAUSE I ANTICIPATE SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMAGES THAT THE DRONES MAY BE CAPTURING, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE IMAGES WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY, WHETHER IT'S WITH REPUBLIC OR WHETHER IT'S WITH THIS VENDOR? SO I THINK WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND THINK ABOUT THAT ASPECT AS WELL.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE EVEN HAVE OUR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND THAT JUST YET FROM MY EXPERIENCE.

I THINK COUNCILMAN HURST MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT IF WE GOT A BACKLOG THAT'S $3 MILLION WHY ARE WE SPENDING MORE MONEY TO THE TUNE OF $500,000 TO IDENTIFY MORE BLIGHT THAT WE CAN'T PICK UP RIGHT NOW? SO I'M GOING TO BE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM FOR THOSE REASONS.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN MOAK? AARON MOAK: ON THE AI ASPECT, IS YOUR COMPANY SOFTWARE DRIVEN OR HARDWARE DRIVEN? COMER JENNINGS: WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

SO IT'S A WEB-BASED SERVICE.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: SO IT'S A WEB-BASED SERVICE? YOU CONTROL THE SOFTWARE? COMER JENNINGS: YES.

COMER JENNINGS: WITH UNIQUE HARDWARE ON THE VEHICLES, OBVIOUSLY.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: IT'S UNIQUE HARDWARE, OR IS IT JUST CAMERA, AND YOUR SOFTWARE IS PROCESSING THE IMAGE? COMER JENNINGS: SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.

BRANDON NOEL: IT'S UNIQUE HARDWARE FOR BLIGHT AND RECOGNIZING CERTAIN THINGS, OR IS YOUR SOFTWARE JUST PROCESSING THE IMAGE THAT IS TURNED IN BY THE CAMERA? COMER JENNINGS: SO IT DOES BOTH.

AND I MAY HAVE MISSPOKE THERE.

WE HAVE OUR HARDWARE, WHICH IS THE UNIT THAT GOES ON THE ACTUAL VEHICLE ITSELF.

AND THE SOFTWARE, OUR PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE THAT WE BUILD, PROCESSES THE IMAGE AND IS MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB APPLICATION.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: WOULD IT OR COULD IT, YOUR SOFTWARE DO THE SAME THING WITH ANY OTHER IMAGES THAT ARE TURNED IN THROUGH ANY OTHER PORTAL AND/OR IMAGING-BASED HARDWARE? COMER JENNINGS: GREAT QUESTION.

PART SOME OF THE IMAGES THAT WE CAPTURE, PARTICULARLY THE ROADSIDE ISSUES SUCH AS LITTER AND DEBRIS AND ILLEGAL DUMPING, THAT SORT OF THING, THESE ARE CAPTURED ON THE EDGE, MEANING THAT OUR CAMERA SYSTEMS THAT WE BUILT OUT OURSELVES COLLECT EXACTLY THAT.

SO WE CAN'T JUST UPLOAD A RANDOM IMAGE FROM A PORTAL THAT SOMEONE HAS TAKEN AND THEN PROCESS IT THAT WAY.

OUR CAMERAS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AND BUILT FOR THIS EXACT PURPOSE.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: DOES IT PROCESS IMAGES FROM OTHER SOURCES? COMER JENNINGS: NO.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: SO IT HAS TO BE YOUR CAMERA SYSTEM? COMER JENNINGS: YEAH, WE CAPTURE THEM.

ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT? [GROANS] ONE SECOND.

[LAUGHTER] OK.

LET'S GO INTO WHERE WE'RE POSSIBLY LOOKING AT SPENDING $550 MILLION TO PROCESS A $3 MILLION SHORTFALL AND PICK UP WHAT WE HAVE LATER.

YOU SAID YOUR SYSTEM IS IN PLACE IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES? COMER JENNINGS: YES.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: HOW MANY, AND HOW LONG? COMER JENNINGS: OVER 20 ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WE'VE BEEN SELLING COMMERCIALLY FOR, I THINK, OVER THREE YEARS NOW.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: OVER THREE YEARS NOW?

[01:15:01]

IN THAT PROCESS OF WHAT THEY HAVE DETECTED AND SEEN, AND WHAT KIND OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT HAS THOSE MUNICIPALITIES GOTTEN? AND WHAT I MEAN BY RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS WE'RE TALKING DATA DRIVEN.

EVERY TIME YOU TALK DATA DRIVEN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROCESSING NUMBERS SO THAT YOU QUALIFY FOR X, Y, Z. HOW MANY OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES HAVE QUALIFIED FOR MORE FUNDING, APPLIED FOR MORE FUNDING, AND RECEIVED MORE FUNDING TO TAKE CARE OF THE BLIGHT LIGHT PROCESS? COMER JENNINGS: NOW, I CAN'T SPEAK TO MOST OF OUR CLIENTS.

WE'RE STILL A SMALLER SOFTWARE COMPANY.

I CANNOT SPEAK DIRECTLY TO ANY OF THESE CLIENTS RECEIVING DIRECT FUNDING AS A RESULT OF CITY DETECT SERVICE.

BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT ABSOLUTELY, WE'VE SEEN A RETURN ON THAT.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: DO YOU KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS WORKED WITH YOUR COMPANY TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING, TO RECEIVE FUNDING TO TAKE CARE OF THE BLIGHT PROBLEM THAT YOU'RE DETECTING? COMER JENNINGS: NOT SPECIFICALLY, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF USING WHAT RACHAEL MENTIONED, THE FEMA RELIEF OR AT LEAST A POST-STORM AUDIT.

USUALLY, THIS TAKES A LOT OF MAN HOURS AND A LOT OF TIME.

MAJOR STORM HAPPENS.

YOU NEED TO MANUALLY CREATE AN AUDIT OF THIS INFORMATION BEFORE WE NEED TO AT LEAST DO ABATEMENT, OR SEND THIS INFORMATION TO FEMA BEFORE WE RESPOND TO ABATEMENT.

WE DID EXACTLY THIS IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, AFTER HURRICANE HELENE.

NOW WE AS A COMPANY DID NOT SEND THE DATA TO FEMA OURSELVES, BUT WE COLLECTED IT FOR THEM VERY EFFICIENTLY.

IT TOOK US ABOUT TWO DAYS.

RACHAEL, HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY, OR IN YOUR RESEARCH IN BRINGING THIS BEFORE US, HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY RETURNS AS FAR AS GRANT FUNDING, SPECIFIC GRANT FUNDING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LOOKED FOR, THAT THIS WOULD QUALIFY US TO APPLY FOR, NOT ONLY TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT THIS IS FINDING, BUT TO CATCH UP WHAT WE'RE DEFICIENT IN GETTING RID OF BLIGHT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: I REALLY THINK THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH THE NUMBER OF INSPECTORS IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE FIVE.

THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT HAS 23 IN THEIR PROPERTY STANDARDS DIVISION.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR CAPACITY AT A MUCH LOWER VALUE OF ADDING FIVE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO OUR PAYROLL.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT, BUT WE DID EXPLORE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITH DIFFERENT-- THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE CAMERAS ON THE PUBLIC TRUCKS.

BUT THEY'RE NOT CAPABLE OF DOING THIS YET.

THEY TELL US THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO IT, OR EVEN THE ONES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, THE SAMSARA, WHICH IS ON OUR VEHICLES, CITY VEHICLES RIGHT NOW.

BUT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVEN'T COME ACROSS ANY OTHER COMPANY THAT IS ABLE TO DO THIS CURRENTLY.

I MEAN, I HOPE YOU CAN RESPECT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS.

I'M ALL ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

BUT IF WE'RE JUST DETECTING MORE STUFF TO PUT ON OUR PLATE, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE.

THAT'S WHY I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE RETURN.

YOU LOOK AT THE RYAN WHITE HIV FUNDING THAT WE DO, IF THE NUMBERS GO UP AS FAR AS CASES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE QUALIFY FOR MORE FUNDING.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'LL FLUCTUATE FROM GETTING FEDERAL GRANTS FROM $8 MILLION A YEAR TO $15 MILLION A YEAR, AND UP AND DOWN AS FAR AS HOW WE'RE RESPONDING TO THE NUMBERS AND THE DATA-DRIVEN STUFF.

THAT'S THE BEST I CAN EQUATE IT TO TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHY WE QUALIFY FOR THESE FUNDINGS AND ALL.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

IF SOMEBODY KNOWS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A RETURN JUST BY STORING THIS DATA AND HAVE IT IN OUR DATABASE, AND BE ABLE TO PRESENT IT TO EITHER FEDERAL OR WHATEVER TO GET MORE BLIGHT MONEY SPECIFICALLY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK INTO IT.

AND IF YOU NEED TIME TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND MAYBE GET ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES INFORMATION OF WHAT WE WOULD QUALIFY FOR, HOW THIS WOULD HELP US QUALIFY FOR IT, HOW THIS WOULD PROMOTE GETTING RID OF THE BLIGHT, I THINK WE WOULD BE MORE INTERESTED IN JUMPING ON BOARD.

BUT JUST CREATING A LIST OF MORE BLIGHT, I JUST HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M TRYING TO FIND A REASON TO HELP YOU OUT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT I DON'T CONSIDER IT JUST CREATING A LONGER LIST.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT BLIGHT IS REPORTED IS PIECEMEAL.

IT IS HAPHAZARD AT BEST.

AND WE ARE NOT ADDRESSING BLIGHT SYSTEMICALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND METHODICALLY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAVING-- CLEVE DUNN, JR.: I APOLOGIZE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

ARE WE NOT ADDRESSING BLIGHT BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO ADDRESS IT OR ARE WE NOT ADDRESSING BLIGHT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT?

[01:20:01]

RACHAEL LAMBERT: BOTH.

BECAUSE I SEEM TO THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY BIG LIST READY TO GO.

MR. DANIEL? DANIEL: COUNCILMAN, I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE IDEA BEHIND CAPTURING THE TYPES OF BLIGHT ISSUES WAS TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS INTO GRANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BY CATEGORIZING DIFFERENT THINGS, AND GIVING US THE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRANTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE AI WOULD DO.

IT WOULD SAY YOU HAVE THIS MANY HOUSES THAT YOU NEED TO KNOCK DOWN.

YOU HAVE THIS MUCH JUNK, TRASH AND DEBRIS.

AND IT'S JUST IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY EASY WAY TO PUT IT INTO A DATABASE AND BE ABLE TO USE THAT.

WE WERE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE, LIKE SHE MENTIONED, VACANT LOTS, HOW CAN WE PUT THESE VACANT LOTS TOGETHER IN SOME SORT OF SYSTEMIC MANNER TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS? AND THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF PROCESS THAT WAS GOING THROUGH OUR MIND WHEN WE DISCOVERED THIS TECHNOLOGY.

BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TO NUMEROUS BLIGHT CONFERENCES.

ONE, WE WERE SEVEN DAYS UP AT HARVARD FOR FREE, BY THE WAY.

JUST DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK IT WAS-- CLEVE DUNN, JR.: I'VE GOT JUST A FEW MINUTES.

DANIEL: WELL, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M SORRY.

IT'S NOT THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THE BLIGHT WORKERS.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.

AND WHAT I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS WITHDRAW THIS ITEM AND COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THAT'S OK.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

BECAUSE I THINK, LOOK.

WHEN I LOOK AT THESE TYPE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DIRECTLY PAYING FOR, ESPECIALLY.

IF IT'S A FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN TO PUT THE CAMERAS ON AND ALL THAT, OK, GREAT.

I'LL ACCEPT THE GRANT AND DO IT OR WHATEVER.

BUT WHEN WE'RE TAKING OUR BUDGETED ITEMS THAT WE NECESSARILY CAN'T AFFORD TO REMOVE ANY MORE BLIGHT, I HAVE A PROBLEM ALLOCATING $550,000 TO WITH, ALL DUE RESPECT, TO HAVE MORE BLIGHT IDENTIFIED THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF.

SO I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INTERESTED IF I COULD HAVE SEEN THE CAUSE AND EFFECT AND THE RETURN OF WHAT WE'RE GOING AFTER.

BY DOING THIS, WE CAN APPLY FOR THIS, AND THIS AND THIS, AND WE HAVE A CHANCE-- I'LL BE HAPPY WITH JUST HAVING A CHANCE OF GETTING A MILLION OR 14 MILLION OR WHATEVER TO TAKE CARE OF OUR BLIGHT.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT DURING THIS TIME THAT WE HOLD OFF AND MAYBE DEFER THIS OR PULL IT AND BRING IT BACK LATER, WE CAN GET THAT LIST TOGETHER AND BRING THAT INFORMATION TO OUR COLLEAGUES.

DANIEL: WE'LL BRING BACK OPPORTUNITIES.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS, YOU GOT TO HAVE DATA.

YOU GOT TO HAVE MOUNTAINS OF DATA.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: I AGREE.

DANIEL: AND WE DON'T HAVE IT.

BUT WE WILL GO AND IDENTIFY THE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH KELLY ON SOME OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.

SO WE'LL PUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TOGETHER, AND WE'LL COME BACK.

AND THEN WE'LL TELL YOU HOW OBTAINING THIS DATA WILL ENABLE US TO GO AFTER THOSE GRANTS.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THANK YOU.

BRANDON NOEL: WILLIAM OR RACHAEL, FORGIVE ME IF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN ASKED.

WHERE IS THE FUNDING COMING FROM FOR THIS OR INTENDED? RACHAEL LAMBERT: GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

BRANDON NOEL: GENERAL FUND, OK.

THE ONLY OTHER THING I'LL ADD IS MY CONCERN LOOKING AT THIS, EVEN BEYOND THE-- AND I'LL ECHO WHAT SOME OTHERS HAVE SAID, MY BLIGHT INDIVIDUAL, CHRIS DAVIS DOES A GREAT JOB.

HE GRIDS THE ENTIRETY OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARISH, MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE AMITE RIVER ACROSS DISTRICT 1, WHICH, DRIVING IT WITH NO TRAFFIC FROM THE POD BAYWOOD AREA, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WHERE IT MEETS NEAR ALLISON IS A 45-MINUTE DRIVE, NO TRAFFIC, DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT.

DANIEL: WENT TO CHANEYVILLE THE OTHER NIGHT, VERY FAMILIAR.

BRANDON NOEL: YES, THAT'S NOT EVEN THE FURTHEST.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT MY CONCERN WITH THIS IS, IF WE HAVE FIVE VEHICLES, HOW OFTEN DOES IT REACH POD BAYWOOD? HOW OFTEN DOES IT REACH CHANEYVILLE? PORT HUDSON? SOME OF THE FAR REACHES OF THE PARISH? I'M NOT READILY WILLING TO HAVE THE BLIGHT PERSON THAT DOES A GREAT JOB IN MY AREA IN GRIDS, THE ENTIRETY OF DISTRICT 01, WHICH IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE PARISH, GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE PARISH.

WE STRUGGLE TO GET ATTENTION UP THERE.

AND HAVING AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DEDICATED TO THAT AREA IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND I JUST WOULDN'T BE SO SURE THAT THESE CAMERAS WOULD GET THERE AS OFTEN AND IDENTIFY THE ISSUES LIKE HE DOES.

SO THAT'S-- DANIEL: AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT REPLACING HIM.

MEMBER: [INAUDIBLE] BRANDON NOEL: YEAH.

SINCE THE ITEM IS GOING TO BE PULLED, SO JUST AN OBSERVATION.

[01:25:02]

I MEAN, I THINK THE DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING HERE IS REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT MANY BUSINESSES, THE CONVERSATION THEY'RE HAVING.

YOU'VE GOT ONE SIDE SAYING THIS IS TECHNOLOGY, GOING TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES AND CHANGE PROCESSES.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE OTHER SIDE SAYING, WELL, HOW DOES THIS IMPACT PEOPLE? HOW DOES THIS IMPACT EMPLOYEES? HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THOSE PROCESSES THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH? AND SO WHAT I DON'T WANT RACHAEL AND OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS IS TO GET DISCOURAGED FROM BRINGING INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND BRINGING WHERE TECHNOLOGY CAN CREATE EFFICIENCIES FOR THIS PARISH.

BECAUSE AS WE CONTINUE THIS MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO FINANCE ASPECTS OF THIS PARISH.

AND SO I ENCOURAGE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND CERTAINLY THE ADMINISTRATION, TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THESE WAYS TO BRING FORTH EFFICIENCY OF OPERATIONS.

I THINK WHAT WE'VE OBSERVED FROM TONIGHT IS THAT PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION ON HOW THESE WILL AFFECT THE PROCESSES THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL.

SO JUST MY OBSERVATION THERE.

AND I RESPECT THAT Y'ALL WANT TO PULL THE ITEM.

BRANDON NOEL: AGREE 100%, COUNCILMAN.

COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS? TWAHNA HARRIS: RACHAEL, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD FIVE INSPECTORS, CORRECT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: YES.

TWAHNA HARRIS: AND ELSEWHERE THERE WAS 25.

SO CAN YOU GIVE ME THE BASE SALARY OF AN INSPECTOR? RACHAEL LAMBERT: WITH BENEFITS, PROBABLY BETWEEN $60,000 TO $75,000.

TWAHNA HARRIS: SO YOU'RE.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: YES, VERY LOW.

TWAHNA HARRIS: VERY LOW.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: YEAH.

TWAHNA HARRIS: THAT'S A LOW.

SO YOU'RE WILLING TO DO A HALF A MILLION CONTRACT-- RACHAEL LAMBERT: THAT'S OVER THREE YEARS.

AND SO IF WE TALK ABOUT ONE YEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $150,000.

TWAHNA HARRIS: OK.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT IN THAT REALM.

WE'RE SPREADING THIS OUT OVER 3 AND 1/4 YEARS TO HALF A MILLION.

BUT GO AHEAD.

I'M SORRY.

TWAHNA HARRIS: BUT EVEN BREAKING IT DOWN BY YEAR TO YEAR, 150,000, THAT'S TWO INSPECTORS YOU COULD POSSIBLY HIRE TO DO THE JOB.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: IT IS, YES, MA'AM.

BUT THEY COULD NEVER COVER THE AMOUNT OF AREA THAT THIS COULD COVER.

TWAHNA HARRIS: WE HAVE OUTREACH WORKERS DOING THEIR JOB.

AND YOU HIRE MORE INSPECTORS FOR YOUR OFFICE.

SO EVERY YEAR, YOU CAN HIRE TWO INSPECTORS, CORRECT? SO THAT WOULD GIVE YOU A TOTAL OF 11 INSPECTORS.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU, AT THE SAME TIME, REACHING OUT TO REPUBLIC AND HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT BLIGHT, PICKING UP TRASH, ILLEGAL DUMPING.

BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, THEY'RE DOING A HELL OF A FINE JOB IN DISTRICT 7.

THEY ARE ADDRESSING THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, WHICH IS PART OF BLIGHT.

SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER DOING THAT.

BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS AT THIS TIME.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: WE'VE REACHED OUT AND HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH REPUBLIC SEVERAL TIMES.

TWAHNA HARRIS: AND WHAT HAPPENED? YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SOME CAMERAS.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: YEAH.

SO THEY ALL HAVE CAMERAS ON TOP OF THEIR VEHICLES-- TWAHNA HARRIS: CORRECT.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: --THAT THEN CAN TAKE A PICTURE.

SO THE PREMISE OF IT IS THAT IT'S TAKING A PICTURE EVERY TIME THE ARM ACTUATES OR AN ACTION HAPPENS ON THE TRUCK ITSELF.

AND SO WE EXPLORED THE IDEA BEFORE MOVING TO CITY DETECT OF TRYING TO GET THAT DATA OUT OF THERE AND THEN PROCESS IT THROUGH AN IMAGE PROCESSING SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THEIR PLATFORM.

BUT REPUBLIC WAS UNWILLING TO SHARE THAT DATA WITH US.

SO THAT WAS A NO GO.

WE SPOKE TO THE CAMERAS OR THE COMPANY THAT HAS THE CAMERAS ON OUR VEHICLES CURRENTLY, THE CITY PARISH VEHICLES, FOR PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY.

BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO JUST TAKE A PICTURE ALL THE TIME OR DO A VIDEO.

SO THAT COULD THEN BE RUN THROUGH AN IMAGING PROCESSING SOFTWARE.

SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO SIT THERE AND CLICK A BUTTON ON THE MACHINE ITSELF TO ACTIVATE IT TAKING A PICTURE.

TWAHNA HARRIS: HOW LONG AGO WAS THIS CONVERSATION HAD? RACHAEL LAMBERT: EARLIER THIS YEAR.

TWAHNA HARRIS: OK.

I THINK YOU NEED TO REVISIT THAT CONVERSATION.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: YES, MA'AM.

TWAHNA HARRIS: IT WON'T HURT.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN HUDSON? DWIGHT HUDSON: JUST REAL BRIEFLY, BECAUSE I KNOW THE ITEMS ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT BEING PULLED.

RACHAEL, YOU'RE PROPOSING THAT THIS COME OUT OF YOUR EXISTING BUDGET.

THIS IS NOT A NEW ASK FOR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, CORRECT? RACHAEL LAMBERT: YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH CITY DETECT SINCE PROBABLY MAY, JUNE.

SO FUNDING FOR THIS WAS SET ASIDE IN MY BUDGET.

DWIGHT HUDSON: GOT YOU.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.? CLEVE DUNN, JR.: WILLIAM? CAN Y'ALL HOLD ME TILL HE COME UP, PLEASE?

[01:30:03]

I BROUGHT THIS REPUBLIC SERVICE CONVERSATION UP EARLIER.

COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS JUST BROUGHT IT UP.

RACHAEL CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO SAY, THEY WON'T DO THIS, OR THEY WON'T LET US HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER.

IN YOUR EXPERT OPINION, BEING HERE AT CITY PARISH, WORKING IN THE DEPARTMENT, AS WE EMBARK UPON THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT EXTENDING THE CONTRACT OR GOING BACK OUT FOR RFP, RFQ OR WHAT HAVE YOU, CAN LANGUAGE BE PUT INTO AN AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OWNERSHIP OR A PARTNERSHIP OF THAT DATA AND THAT INFORMATION SO WE CAN COLLECT THAT POTENTIAL DATA? DANIEL: SO THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT NOW, COUNCILMAN, THAT SAYS THAT REPUBLIC IS REQUIRED TO PUT A CAMERA ON THE TRUCK.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT THAT APPLIES TO THEM.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHARE THE DATA EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN OUR CONTRACT.

SO I DISAGREE THAT-- BUT WE HAVEN'T FOUND A RESOLUTION TO THAT YET.

IN 2017, I PUT THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GO OUT, AND THEN WE DIDN'T.

AND THE WHOLE IDEA WAS TO CAPTURE IMAGES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT.

THEY PUT IT IN '22 OR WHATEVER.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR US.

BUT THEY SAID, NO.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: WELL, I HADN'T READ IT.

IT MAY BE A LITTLE BROAD.

SO AS WE APPROACH THIS AGAIN, EITHER NOW OR IN TWO OR THREE YEARS, CAN WE MAKE SURE THE LANGUAGE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT THE DATA AND THE INFORMATION AND IMAGES IS FOR US AND THEM? DANIEL: WE'VE ALREADY WORKED THAT LANGUAGE OUT.

SO WE'RE READY.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: BUT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR RACHAEL STAND HERE AND SAY WHAT THEY TELL HER THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO.

DANIEL: WELL, WE'VE WORKED IT OUT IN THE-- WE'VE WORKED OUT WHAT THE LANGUAGE SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE EVENT THAT THEY WOULD AGREE OR WHEN WE DO A NEW RFP.

SO WE'RE READY IN THAT EVENTUALITY.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: I ALSO HAVEN'T BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: OK, I'M JUST RESPONDING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

YOU'RE BASICALLY TELLING US THAT THEY WON'T DO IT? DANIEL: I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS EITHER, COUNCIL.

LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE REINFORCE THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE RELATIONSHIP, AND COMMUNICATE TO THEM THAT THIS COULD BE A COST SAVINGS AND WE CAN UTILIZE THAT TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION TO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY WITH THESE FOLKS.

BUT A QUESTION THAT HADN'T BEEN ANSWERED, AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN? COMER JENNINGS: COMER, C-O-M-E-R.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: ABOUT THE IMAGES.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES ABOUT HAVING CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMAGES THAT YOU'RE COLLECTING AND PRIVACY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE? COMER JENNINGS: WE ARE EXTREMELY PRIVACY SENSITIVE.

WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PARCELS, NOT PEOPLE.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: JOHN, COME SEE JOHN.

GO AHEAD.

COMER JENNINGS: WE, AS MENTIONED, WE BLUR FACES AND LICENSE PLATES BY DEFAULT.

JOHN, YOU WAS AT THE MEETING.

YOU REMEMBER SOME OF THE LINE OF QUESTIONING AS IT RELATES TO IMAGES AROUND THE DRONE CAMERAS.

SO I WANT TO ASK YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HEARD THERE, AND WHETHER IT'S REPUBLIC OR WHETHER THESE FOLKS, OR WHOEVER WE'RE GOING TO BE CAPTURING THESE IMAGES, THAT WE ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS WITH THIS AS WELL.

DANIEL: ABSOLUTELY.

WE'LL BE GLAD TO DO THAT.

YOU WANTED SOME TIME? YEAH.

THANKS.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THIS TECHNOLOGY, SOME OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IS NOT DETECTING, BUT IT'S THE FOLLOW THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE ABATED THE MEASURE EITHER PRE-- OR POST-ADMINISTRATIVE COURTS.

AND SO I HAVE PEOPLE-- BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY HAVE A STREET VIEW, THERE'S TREES THERE'S OTHER STUFF.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES, THERE'S PROPERTIES THAT DON'T HAVE RESTRICTIVE VIEWS BECAUSE OF FENCING.

AND I'LL SEND MY BLACK GUY OUT AROUND THE BACK TO TAKE PICTURES OF-- ONE GUY SENT ME SOMETHING ON SHELLEY STREET.

WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH ON THE FRONT LOOKED BEAUTIFUL, BUT THE BACK HAD A TREE GROWING THROUGH IT.

AND SO RACHAEL HAS ASKED, I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S TRYING TO SAVE IT.

WE SHOULD TEAR IT DOWN.

SHE KNOWS A SPECIFIC PROPERTY.

DARRYL HURST: I MEAN, UNLESS YOU HAVE X-RAY DETECTION, AT THAT POINT, IT'S A TRUE INVASION OF PRIVACY.

HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE REAR OF HOMES OR SOMETHING THAT'S OUT OF THE VIEW OF THE STREET.

SO AT THAT POINT, THAT'S WHEN I SEND MY BLACK GUYS OUT TO GO TAKE PICTURES.

RACHAEL KNOWS I DON'T REALLY TAKE MUCH OFF CONDEMNATION LIST UNLESS THEY SHOW ME A PLAN.

BUT MY QUESTION IS FOR THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE I HAVE TO SEND THE SAME GUY BACK THREE OR FOUR TIMES, YOUR TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T SOLVE MY PROBLEM.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: SO I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT EVEN IF THE PERSON WENT OUT THERE, IF THE VIOLATION IS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC WAY, MEANING THE STREET ITSELF, THAT WE CANNOT ENTER THAT PROPERTY.

WE CANNOT TAKE A PICTURE ABOVE A FENCE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BACKYARD.

IF IT IS NOT IN PLAIN VIEW, THEN WE CANNOT ENTER THAT PROPERTY.

[01:35:01]

AND AS FAR AS THE PRIVACY CONCERNS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE CONTRACT AND THE LANGUAGE OF SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

AND THEY WERE RELATIVELY SATISFIED IN HOW WE HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON ALL OF THOSE TERMS. BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

JENNIFER RACCA: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS VERY INTERESTING DIALOGUE ON BLIGHT.

I FEEL THAT I'VE HEARD ENOUGH.

HOWEVER, I THINK THAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN AARON MOAK, WOULD LIKE TO UTILIZE THE REST OF MY REMAINING TIME.

AARON MOAK: THANK YOU.

THIS IS NOT TO Y'ALL.

IT'S TO MY COLLEAGUES.

AND I KEEP HEARING THE REPUBLIC CAMERAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

ONE OF MY SPECIFIC LINES OF QUESTIONING TO THE GENTLEMAN WAS, IS THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SPECIFIC TO EACH OTHER IN IDENTIFYING WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR? WE CAN TALK ABOUT REPUBLIC.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE UP FOR THEM.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BELITTLE THEM.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BELITTLE RACHAEL OR ANYTHING ELSE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S FROM A STANDPOINT OF WE REFUSE TO DO THIS FROM A DATA-DRIVEN THING.

WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU THE DATA.

IF ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE REQUESTED DATA WHEN YOU GET A COMPLAINT INTO YOUR OFFICE ABOUT GARBAGE NOT BEING PICKED UP, AND WHICH I HAVE, I GET A PICTURE FROM REPUBLIC THAT SHOWS, WELL, THIS CONSTITUENT DID NOT HAVE THEIR GARBAGE CAN OUT THERE AT THE TIME THAT WE PASS BY.

THEY GIVE US THE DATA.

IT'S AVAILABLE IF YOU CALL AND ASK FOR IT.

HEY, THIS PERSON CALLED AND SO ON.

BUT GOING BACK TO THE CAMERA THINGS, THE CAMERAS ARE STATIONARY.

THEY'RE POINTED AT CERTAIN THING.

IT DOES HAVE THE DRIVEWAY.

TRUST ME.

I'VE HAD MY HOUSE SENT TO ME.

I PUT MY GARBAGE CAN OUT LATE.

I THOUGHT THEY HADN'T PASSED BACK BY YET.

I THOUGHT THEY HADN'T PASSED THROUGH BECAUSE THE REST OF THE GARBAGE CANS WERE STILL OUT ON THE ROAD.

AND I CALLED.

AND I SAID, HEY, YOU DIDN'T PICK UP MY GARBAGE.

AND NEXT THING I KNOW, I'M GETTING A PICTURE THAT SHOWS YOUR GARBAGE CAN WASN'T OUT THERE.

AND I'M LIKE, OH, I JUST GOT BUSTED.

BUT OK.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A MATTER OF REPUBLIC'S TRYING TO REFUSE DATA.

I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF THE SYSTEM CAN'T DO WHAT THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM IS TRYING TO DO.

SO THANK YOU.

BRANDON NOEL: ALL RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON TO DELETE, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS ITEM 114, WHICH I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FOR.

THE ADMINISTRATION, THE MAYOR, HAS REQUESTED THAT THIS ITEM NOT BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY.

SO SHOULD THIS ITEM NOT BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, WHICH I WOULD IMAGINE IS GOING TO BE THE CASE, BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION IS REQUESTING THAT, IT WILL NOT HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.

SO IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THAT ITEM, JUST KNOW THAT I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW NOW IN CASE ANYBODY WAS HERE JUST FOR THAT ITEM AND DOESN'T WANT TO STICK AROUND.

ITEM 60, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT,

[60. 26-01225 ]

ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR THE RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES RYAN WHITE ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $895,225 BY THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PENNY LANDRY: PENNY MAY LANDRY.

I DON'T WANT AARON TO TAKE THIS PERSONALLY, BECAUSE EVERY TIME I SPEAK AGAINST THE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM, IT'S NOT PERSONAL.

I WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS $40 TRILLION IN DEBT.

AARON SAID THAT RELATING TO THE OTHER ISSUE, IF THE NUMBERS GO UP, WELL, I'M UNSURE THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP FOR AIDS.

AND IT'S IN THESE AGENDA ITEMS BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVEN ITEMS FOR INTRODUCTION ABOUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING TO THE RYAN WHITE CENTERS.

IT HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE KEEP GIVING MORE AND MORE FEDERAL MONEY WITHOUT THE PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTANDING, JUST LIKE THE NUMBERS CAME UP BEFORE, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING THIS FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, WE DO NOT HAVE

[01:40:05]

TO ACCEPT ALL FEDERAL FUNDING.

I WOULD LIKE OUR COUNCIL TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT FEDERAL FUNDING WE ACCEPT AND APPLY FOR TO DEAL WITH OTHER ISSUES, MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES IN OUR CITY AND PARISH THAT ARE IMPACTING A GREATER NUMBER OF THE POPULATION.

SO THERE ARE SEVEN ITEMS FOR INTRODUCTION DEALING WITH GIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE RYAN WHITE AIDS CENTERS.

ITEM NUMBER 60 AND 61, TOTAL $1,049,000 FOR THE TIME PERIOD MARCH 1, '26 TO FEBRUARY 28, '27.

AND I'M AGAINST BOTH ITEM 60 AND 61 BECAUSE AS I'VE ASKED BEFORE, THAT EVERY AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO VOTE ON FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, THAT THE AGENDA ITEM FOR THE TAXPAYERS, FOR THE CITIZENS TO SEE, IS THERE A LOCAL MATCH ASSOCIATED WITH THAT FEDERAL FUNDING? AND THAT REQUEST HAS NOT BEEN MET.

AND NONE OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS DEALING WITH FEDERAL FUNDING.

LET THE TAXPAYERS KNOW IF THERE IS A LOCAL MATCH.

BRANDON NOEL: ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

ASHLEY BECK: COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 60.

SO I'LL JUST REITERATE, AS I'VE DONE EVERY TIME MS. LANDRY'S COME UP AND SPOKE AGAINST THESE, I'M RARELY GOING TO BE AGAINST ACCEPTING FEDERAL FUNDS THAT COME THROUGH THE GRANT WRITING PROCESS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY'RE FOR.

I AGREE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE'S A HUGE DEBT.

AND THEY RUN A DEFICIT.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

NO QUESTION, IT'S A PROBLEM.

BUT THE REALITY IS US REJECTING THESE DOLLARS AREN'T GOING TO HAVE THEM SECOND GUESS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND MAYBE SAY, OH, WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING THESE DOLLARS.

NO, THESE DOLLARS ARE COMING.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GET SHIFTED TO SOMEWHERE ELSE, SOME OTHER COMMUNITY.

AND WHILE YOU MAY NOT CARE ABOUT WHERE THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING, THE REALITY IS BEFORE, YOU SAID THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IS GOING AWAY.

AND MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

AND IF WE STOP FUNDING THEM, THEN MAYBE IT WOULD BE ON A RISE.

REGARDLESS OF THAT, MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE THAT THERE ARE FACILITATORS OF THESE DOLLARS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO, CASEWORKERS WHO DEAL WITH GETTING THE SERVICES OUT THERE.

THERE'S MEDICAL WORKERS THAT DEAL WITH THESE SERVICES.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY WHO HAVE JOBS.

THESE ARE A LOT OF DOLLARS THAT COME TO THOSE PEOPLE AND THOSE JOBS, AND THOSE PEOPLE BUY HOUSES, WHICH SUPPORT REAL ESTATE AGENTS, AND BANKS, AND INSPECTORS, AND LOAN OFFICERS.

THESE PEOPLE EAT AT RESTAURANTS AND SUPPORT ALL THE RESTAURATEURS.

THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT RECIRCULATE IN THIS COMMUNITY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND I JUST DON'T EVER SEE IT TO BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US, FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, TO REJECT FEDERAL DOLLARS KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GO TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY TO HAVE THOSE DOLLARS CIRCULATE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

I'D RATHER THEM CIRCULATE IN OUR COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE USE IS.

COUNCILWOMAN RACCA? JENNIFER RACCA: AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION SEVERAL TIMES.

AND I SO MUCH AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'VE SAID, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE WHAT I'VE SAID BEFORE.

AND I LOVE TO BE QUOTED.

BUT LET'S TAKE THIS AND LOOK AT IT ON A MORE GRANULAR LEVEL.

WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT THIS WAY.

WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS RECENTLY WITH REGARD TO WHAT COSTS LOOK LIKE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS, AND HOW THEY GO UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

ON A GOOD YEAR, YOU PROBABLY SEE ABOUT 10%.

ON A BAD YEAR, IN A SELF-FUNDED PLAN, YOU COULD SEE THE UPWARD END OF 30%.

IF WE HAVE 20 EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE HIV OR AIDS, AND THEY USE RYAN WHITE FACILITIES OR DOLLARS OR PROGRAMS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO THEM, THEN THAT SAVES CITY PARISH THOSE DOLLARS WITH REGARD TO THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS.

SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES RECEIVE VERY LOW WAGES, WHERE THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO GET MEDICAID OR SOME HAVE MEDICARE.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THEIR STATUS IS AS FAR AS THEIR EMPLOYMENT IS CONCERNED, WHAT THEIR PAY IS CONCERNED.

SO IF WE HAVE WITH THE 4,000 OR APPROXIMATELY 4,000 EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE, THE 2000 RETIREES, IF WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE

[01:45:01]

HIV OR AIDS, AND THEY GO AND THEY RECEIVE THIS CARE AND THIS TREATMENT, THESE ARE LESS DOLLARS THAT COME OUT OF OUR HEALTHCARE FUND, AND THESE ARE LESS DOLLARS THAT COME OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND THAT WE CAN SPEND ON RAISES, WE CAN SPEND ON OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES, WE CAN SPEND ON WHATEVER ELSE WE NEED WITH REGARD TO BLIGHT, OR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OR PUBLIC SAFETY OR OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR EMS, OUR DPW WORKERS.

SO THEY ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

THEY CREATE A SAVING.

THEY BRIDGE THE GAP.

THEY DO ALL THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMAN NOEL SAID.

SO TO DENY THEM WOULD BE NEGLIGENT ON OUR END BECAUSE THOSE DOLLARS ARE JUST GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO NEW ORLEANS, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO MISSISSIPPI, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO TEXAS.

AND LOUISIANA IS GOING TO BE AT THE BOTTOM, BEHIND THE CURVE, HAVING TO FUND AND SUPPORT THESE THINGS THROUGH STATE DOLLARS OR THROUGH CITY PARISH DOLLARS.

SO IT MAKES FISCAL SENSE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE ON, THERE IS AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE TO ACCEPT THESE DOLLARS.

AND IT MAKES FISCAL SENSE WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, BUT IT ALSO MAKES HUMAN SENSE.

BRANDON NOEL: DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN RACCA, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

61, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION

[61. 26-01226]

OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES FOR THE RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES PART A AND THE MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE, TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION IN AN AMOUNT OF $148,975 BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ASHLEY BECK: COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 61.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

62, AMENDING TITLE 12 (NUISANCES), CHAPTER 2 (NOISE), SECTION 12:101 (SAME-ENUMERATED) SO AS TO ADD A DECIBEL THRESHOLD TO RESIDENTIAL AREA, AND SECTION 12:104 (PENALTY) TO PROVIDE FOR ISSUANCE OF A WARNING BY COUNCILMAN AARON MOAK.

[62. 26-01210 ]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WELL? TOM BALOFF: GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS TOM BALOFF.

I'M WITH THE SHERWOOD FOREST CITIZENS ASSOCIATION.

AND WITH THE HELP OF COUNCILMAN MOAK AND COUNCILMAN DUNN, WHO REPRESENTS OUR AREA, WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

THE AMENDMENT IS SETTING DECIBEL LIMITS FOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

THIS ALL AROSE OUT OF A LAWSUIT WE HAD OUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH LOUD NOISE.

PARTIES WENT LATE INTO THE EVENING.

THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY OUR ASSOCIATION.

I HANDLED IT.

AND THE JUDGE WAS VERY RECEPTIVE.

EXCEPT, HIS BIG PROBLEM WAS THERE WAS NO OBJECTIVE.

THERE WAS NO OBJECTIVE LIMITS.

SO AFTER WE GOT A RULING AGAINST US BECAUSE THERE WERE NO OBJECTIVE LIMITS, WE DID THE RESEARCH.

I PUT TOGETHER A MEMO, WHICH WENT TO COUNCILMAN MOAK AND DUNN.

AND I THINK IT WAS CIRCULATED TO THE COUNCIL.

THERE IS AN EPA STUDY BACK IN THE '70S.

THERE'S A WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION STUDY.

THEY SUPPORT THE LEVELS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

LAFAYETTE IN NEW ORLEANS HAVE ALMOST IDENTICAL LEVELS TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

LAFAYETTE'S IDENTICAL.

THE LEVELS WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE ARE 60 DURING THE DAYTIME IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, 50 AT NIGHTTIME.

THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT THE EPA RECOMMENDED BACK IN THE '70S.

AND COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY USE THOSE.

THIS IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT LAFAYETTE HAS, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT NEW ORLEANS HAS.

WE ASK THAT THIS BE ENACTED.

BRANDON NOEL: ANYONE ELSE? ROBERT JOYNER: HELLO, ROBERT JOYNER.

I AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF CODIFYING DECIBEL LEVELS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME ISSUE WITH THE POLICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE IT WAS ALL SUBJECTIVE TO WHAT THE OFFICER WAS DOING AT THE TIME.

I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO REVISIT THE DECIBEL NUMBERS THAT ARE IN THE CURRENT DRAFT ORDINANCE, 60 DECIBELS DURING THE DAY.

A GAS-POWERED PUSH LAWNMOWER IS 90 DECIBELS.

THAT EXCEEDS THE DAYTIME NOISE LIMIT.

I TYPICALLY MOW TO MY PROPERTY LINE, SO I WOULD BE VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE

[01:50:01]

BY RUNNING MY LAWNMOWER.

50 DECIBELS A NIGHT, I PLAY MUSIC LOCALLY.

SOMETIMES I PRACTICE IN MY BACK ROOM.

50 DECIBELS IS THE SOUND OF TYPING ON A KEYBOARD, A HUM OF A REFRIGERATOR, OR A QUIET CONVERSATION.

AS SOMEBODY WHO ENJOYS THE USE OF MY PROPERTY WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, I FEEL LIKE THAT IS INFRINGING ON MY ENJOYMENT.

I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN AT LEAST REVISIT THOSE NUMBERS, BECAUSE THEY SEEM A LITTLE OUT OF WHACK FOR HOW PEOPLE TYPICALLY UTILIZE THEIR PROPERTY.

BRANDON NOEL: ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.

GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCIL GAUDET.

ROWDY GAUDET: YES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL, WE DID ANALYZE THESE NUMBERS.

WE DID LOOK AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

THESE NUMBERS BASICALLY RUN BETWEEN LAFAYETTE AND NEW ORLEANS IN CREATING OURS.

NOBODY'S GOING TO BE CITED FOR RUNNING THEIR LAWN MOWER.

I TOTALLY QUESTION THE WHOLE FACT OF SOMEONE SITTING ON THEIR FRONT PORCH AND JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION, WHETHER IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS TALKING TO Y'ALL RIGHT NOW, OR THEY WERE JUST TALKING AMONG EACH OTHER AND SO ON.

AND THE DECIBEL LEVELS FROM THE PROPERTY LINE DO NOT REACH THAT THRESHOLD.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COULDN'T BE USED AS A TOOL FOR A NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR JUST TO BE ANGRY AT ANOTHER NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR AND CALLING EVERY SINGLE TIME, AND SO ON.

SO THAT'S HOW WE REACH THE NUMBERS.

AND WITH THE FEDERATION OF CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE ALL AT THE TABLE WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING, THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THESE NUMBERS HERE.

AS FAR AS THE SUBJECT OF AFTER-HOURS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS TO CURTAIL THIS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA IS NOT FOR SOMEBODY PLAYING THE GUITAR IN THEIR BEDROOM, NOT FOR SOMEBODY, THE KIDS PRACTICING DRUMS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR WHATEVER, OR A NEW INSTRUMENT JOINING THE BAND, IT'S NOT GOING TO CURTAIL ANY OF THAT, BUT IT WILL HELP CURTAIL A LOT OF THE BACKYARD PARTIES THAT ARE GOING ON UNTIL MIDNIGHT, 01:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND EVERYTHING.

AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S INFRINGING ON THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, THEN I RESPECT YOUR VOTE AND YOUR OPINION.

BUT WE DID LOOK AT-- THIS HAS BEEN INTRODUCED AND DEFERRED AND PULLED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE NAILED DOWN PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE A CAUSE AND EFFECT OF AFFECTING SOMEONE'S ABILITY TO ENJOY THEIR PROPERTY.

SO I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE ON THIS TO PASS.

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: I DON'T KNOW WHO'S HERE IN THE PLACE OF THE CHIEF.

NOEL, COULD YOU COME UP, PLEASE.

TWO THINGS.

I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.

AND YOU GUYS APPROACH TO DIFFERENTIATING FROM A BACKYARD PARTY OR SOMEBODY PLAYING THEIR GUITAR, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO THAT? WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THAT? NEAL NOEL: THE DEPARTMENT WOULD RESPOND TO A CALL FOR SERVICE FOR LOUD NOISE.

WE DO IT ALL THE TIME.

WE DO NOT HAVE EQUIPMENT TO MEASURE DECIBELS AVAILABLE TO THE OFFICERS IN THE CITY.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

PROVIDED THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO GET THERE AND OBSERVE THE NOISE AND BE ABLE TO MEASURE THE NOISE.

IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, IF IT'S A PARTY, IT LEAVES US THE POSSIBILITY TO COLLECT THAT EVIDENCE.

AND IF THAT EVIDENCE OR IF THAT NOISE EXCEEDS THE LEVEL AS PRESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE, THEN WE COULD ISSUE A SUMMONS.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S A SUMMONS.

AND IF THE BEHAVIOR CONTINUED, WE WOULD DEAL WITH IT APPROPRIATELY.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: AND IF IT WASN'T A PARTY, IF IT WAS THE GENTLEMAN PLAYING HIS GUITAR IN HIS LIVING ROOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT DIFFERENTLY OR YOU WOULD HAVE SAME STANDARD? NEAL NOEL: I MEAN, ALL I CAN DO IS MEASURE NOISE AND APPLY IT TO THE ORDINANCE.

AND YOU READ MY MIND ON MY NEXT QUESTION.

MY CONVERSATION WITH THE CHIEF WAS THAT YOU GUYS DID NOT HAVE DECIBEL READERS, AND WAS LOOKING FOR SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT PARTICULAR DECIBEL READERS TO ACQUIRE TO ENFORCE THIS.

HAVE YOU GUYS DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THAT? WHAT'S THE PLAN ON ACQUIRING THAT EQUIPMENT? NEAL NOEL: WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ABOUT IT, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT FINAL ORDINANCE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND IF THE ORDINANCE PRESCRIBES THE TYPE OF DECIBEL.

MOST COURTS CAN VARY AS TO TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT THE BURDEN OF EVIDENCE IS.

[01:55:01]

WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE PROBABLY A DEVICE THAT CAN BE TESTED AND CALIBRATED, MUCH LIKE A RADAR TO MEASURE SPEED.

I DON'T THINK TO BE SOME TYPE OF LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY FOR THE DEVICE.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: IT'S BEEN KIND OF A BACK AND FORTH, YOU GUYS LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY, PARISH ATTORNEY LOOKING FOR YOU GUYS TO TAKE THE LEAD ON IT.

I THINK THEIR APPROACH IS-- AND YOU TELL ME.

DOES THE PARISH ATTORNEY TELL YOU WHICH GUNS TO BUY OR BULLETS TO BUY OR BODY CAMERAS TO BUY? NEAL NOEL: AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO HAVE FUNDING, AND WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT WE WANT TO BUY.

THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW ISSUE NOISE COMPLAINTS IS NOT.

BUT IF THE ORDINANCE CHANGES AND REQUIRES MORE BURDEN OF PROOF, THEN WE HAVE TO ADJUST OUR ABILITY TO MEET THAT BURDEN.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: RIGHT.

SO YOU BROUGHT UP A BUDGETARY CONCERN.

DO YOU HAVE FUNDING TO ACQUIRE EQUIPMENT? HOW MANY-- NEAL NOEL: WE DON'T HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO PLAN FOR THAT.

AND WE WOULD HAVE TO BE GRANTED THOSE DOLLARS.

BUT THE ANSWER IS MONEY.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: DO YOU ANTICIPATE EVERY OFFICER WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE? NEAL NOEL: I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE ENOUGH PER SQUAD PER SHIFT, THREE SHIFTS, THREE SQUADS A DAY-- I CAN'T HAVE-- YEAH.

I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH SO YOU'RE NOT TYING UP TWO OFFICERS FOR ONE COMPLAINT BECAUSE YOU GOT TO BRING THE DEVICE FROM ACROSS TOWN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: AND SO IF THIS IS TONIGHT, WHAT IS TYPICALLY ESTIMATE OF WHEN THE EQUIPMENT WILL BE ACQUIRED AND READY TO ENFORCE? NEAL NOEL: SO IF THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED TONIGHT, WE WOULD HAVE TO SELECT A DEVICE THAT CITY COURT SAYS MEETS THE BURDEN OF PROOF, HOW WE COLLECT IT, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN IT.

IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK WE HAVE TO RESEARCH IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT MUCH TIME.

I MEAN, PURCHASING PROBABLY WOULD TAKE US LONGER TO ACTUALLY ACQUIRE BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE TO GO OUT FOR BID OR WHATEVER.

BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THESE DEVICES, THE KIND THAT WOULD MEET THE BURDEN OF PROOF WOULD PROBABLY BE AROUND $2,500 TO $5,000 APIECE.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: REALLY? NEAL NOEL: REALLY.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: AND YOU ANTICIPATE HOW MANY? NEAL NOEL: I WOULD THINK WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED A MINIMUM OF 50.

AND THAT'S A GUESS, COUNCILMAN-- CLEVE DUNN, JR.: YEAH, I KNOW.

NEAL NOEL: --BASED ON THE SIZE OF EACH DISTRICT.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: GOT YOU.

OK.

THANK YOU, NEAL.

NEAL NOEL: YEP.

ROWDY GAUDET: HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

[INAUDIBLE] GET TO PARISH.

AM I ACKNOWLEDGED? OK, PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

ATTORNEY: GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ROWDY GAUDET: HOW LONG AGO WAS THE COMMERCIAL NOISE ORDINANCE PUT INTO PLACE, WHEN WE ADDED DECIBEL LEVELS? ATTORNEY: PROBABLY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK, AT THIS POINT.

ROWDY GAUDET: AND THAT WAS AN ORDINANCE BY? ATTORNEY: COUNCILMAN GAUDET, COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN SPONSORED MAYBE SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT THOSE WERE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT CONSISTENTLY SHOWED UP TO MEETINGS THAT WE HAD FOR OVER TWO YEARS BEFORE THE ORDINANCE EVEN CAME BEFORE YOU ALL FOR VOTE.

ROWDY GAUDET: THAT'S GREAT.

SO DURING THE TWO YEARS OF MEETING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE DISCUSSED DECIBEL LEVELS FOR COMMERCIAL AREAS AND ENFORCEMENT, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

BUT WE STILL PASSED THAT ORDINANCE FOR THE COMMERCIAL LEVEL.

AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO COMMERCIAL LOCATIONS, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE DECIBEL LEVELS, TO BE ABLE TO USE IN COURT AND SO ON.

CORRECT? ATTORNEY: CORRECT.

ROWDY GAUDET: SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT'S NOT BEING DONE HAS NOT BEING DONE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

NOW THIS IS NOTHING AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I GET IT.

IT'S A BUDGET THING.

AND IT'S A TIMING THING OF WHENEVER YOU GET THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE STUFF.

AND I RESPECT THAT THE REQUEST FOR THE FUNDING HADN'T BEEN ASKED FOR AND SO ON.

AND I RESPECT THAT.

AND I GET IT.

IT'S AN EXTRA BURDEN ON THE CITY PARISH.

BUT BECAUSE OF PASSING THIS ORDINANCE ISN'T GOING TO FORCE ANYTHING, BECAUSE THIS PART OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAD NO PROBLEM VOTING ON FOR THE COMMERCIAL SIDE DIDN'T FORCE THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BUY NOISE METERS OR ANYTHING ELSE.

I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE.

I WISH WE HAD SOME ENFORCEMENT AND EVERYTHING.

BUT BY PASSING THIS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET THE THINGS ON THE BOOKS

[02:00:02]

TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SO ON.

AND I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PART TO BE ADDED IN.

AND AS FAR AS THE ENFORCEMENT AND SO ON, ONCE WE PASS THE ORDINANCE THAT'S ON THERE, THAT'S THEIR BURDEN TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, TO HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO COURT.

SO AM I CORRECT ON THAT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THAT? NEAL NOEL: IT'S CERTAINLY THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE OFFICER WITH DISCRETION WHETHER OR NOT THEY WRITE A SUMMONS-- ROWDY GAUDET: CORRECT.

NEAL NOEL: --CHARGE A PERSON WITH THE ORDINANCE.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT IS BASED ON WHAT CITY COURTS DECIDES TO DO WITH THAT.

ROWDY GAUDET: WELL, I'M MAINLY TALKING ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT THROUGH-- LIKE YOUR SPEED RADAR GUNS AND STUFF, THEY ALL GO THROUGH A PROCESS AND SO ON.

I'M TALKING ABOUT PURCHASING OF THE EQUIPMENT AND USING THAT AS A REASON NOT TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT.

I GET THAT.

AND I HOPE WE CAN FIND THE FUNDING FOR YOU AND EVERYTHING, BUT GETTING THE NUMBERS IN PLACE AND GETTING THE ORDINANCE IN PLACE DOESN'T AFFECT AS FAR AS HOW CHANGING THE RESPONSE, OR HOW YOU RESPOND, OR WHAT YOU DO, AS FAR AS WHETHER IT'S ACTUAL TICKET OR WHETHER IT'S AN ACTUAL-- JUST A WARNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT OF.

WE PASSED THE COMMERCIAL PART.

AND WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT RIGHT NOW PASSING THE RESIDENTIAL PART.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO? DENISE AMAROSO: YEAH, THANK YOU.

COURTNEY, JUST FOR A LITTLE HISTORY, TELL US HOW WE GOT TO HERE TO THIS-- COURTNEY: OH, WE HAD SUCH FUN GETTING HERE.

DENISE AMAROSO: OH, HAD IT BEEN FUN.

COURTNEY: WE HAD SUCH FUN.

YOU AND I HAD LOTS OF FUN IN THAT THREE-HOUR TRIAL AT CITY COURT.

DENISE AMAROSO: YES, AND THAT'S WHERE I WANT YOU TO GO WITH THIS, HOW WE WENT FROM WHAT WE HAD, WHICH I THINK WORKED BETTER BECAUSE JUST THE WAY THAT THE LAW WAS WRITTEN AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH THE DECIBEL READERS.

COURTNEY: SURE.

SO ABOUT MAYBE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, I THINK THE TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS, AS FAR AS NOISE WERE CONCERNED AT THE TIME WAS HAPPY'S.

IS THAT RIGHT, HAPPY'S? DENISE AMAROSO: AND THAT WAS THE ONE THAT WENT TO TRIAL? COURTNEY: THAT'S THE ONE THAT WENT TO TRIAL.

AND THEN YOUR FAVORITE, IS IT BOIL AND ROUX.

HOW COULD I FORGET? BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO ERASE THAT FROM MY MIND.

DENISE AMAROSO: ABSOLUTELY.

COURTNEY: SO THE INCIDENT, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY MADE IT TO TRIAL.

AND IT WAS A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

AND IT WAS ABOUT A THREE-HOUR TRIAL.

AND THE CITY ACTUALLY LOST BECAUSE AT THE TIME, OUR ORDINANCE READ THAT AS LONG AS A PERSON'S PEACE WAS BEING DISTURBED, CITATION COULD BE ISSUED FOR NOISE ORDINANCE VIOLATION.

IT WAS VERY, GENERAL BECAUSE IT WAS SUBJECTIVE TO THE PERSON WHO WAS BEING OFFENDED BY THE NOISE.

WELL, AT THE TRIAL, THERE WAS SOME TESTIMONY GIVEN BY THE OFFICER WHO HAD ISSUED THE CITATION THAT EVENING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL HOW LOUD THE NOISE WAS BECAUSE THERE LACKED THE DECIBEL THRESHOLD, EVEN THOUGH A DECIBEL THRESHOLD WAS NOT REQUIRED IN THE LAW-- DENISE AMAROSO: WAS NOT WRITTEN, WAS NOT IN THE LAW.

COURTNEY: YEAH, IT WAS NOT EVEN IN THE LAW.

IT WAS JUST THAT THE NEIGHBOR WHO WAS BEING OFFENDED BY THE NOISE WAS SHE WAS BEING HARMED BY IT REPEATEDLY.

AND SHE BROUGHT SOME VERY GOOD EVIDENCE TO THE TRIAL.

SHE HAD LOTS OF VIDEO EVIDENCE FROM VARIOUS EVENINGS.

I THINK AT THE TIME SHE LIVED RIGHT BEHIND THE BAR.

BUT THE CITY STILL LOST.

BECAUSE OF THAT LOSS, YOU AND I WERE SITTING OVER THERE FOR THAT TRIAL THAT DAY.

AND SO THAT BECAME A CONVERSATION OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

COUNCILMAN COLEMAN GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE THAT WAS IN HER DISTRICT, THE BAR, AND THEN ALSO WHITNEY WITH THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

AND COUNCILMAN GAUDET GOT INVOLVED.

AND EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT WHAT COULD BE DONE.

AND THEN THAT'S WHEN THE DECIBEL THRESHOLD-- DENISE AMAROSO: BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT TRIAL WAS, THE JUDGE SAYS, WHERE'S THE DECIBEL READER? AND YOU BROUGHT OUT, WELL, THAT'S NOT IN THE LAW.

WELL, I'M SORRY THEN.

SO IT CAME FROM THE JUDGE THAT THERE HAS TO BE A DECIBEL READER.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE WHOLE SITUATION CAME.

THE OTHER SITUATION ALSO WENT BEFORE THE ABC BOARD, SINCE THEY ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND THE ABC BOARD EVEN SAID THEN WE NEED DECIBEL READERS.

AND SO THEY LET THAT OTHER SITUATION GO.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AND WHY WE NEVER INSISTED ON THEM, I GUESS BECAUSE THE POLICE OFFICERS ALWAYS SAID WE DON'T HAVE ANY AND CAN'T AFFORD THEM.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY IT WAS NEVER

[02:05:01]

PUSHED, AS COUNCILMAN MOAK SAID, WHY HASN'T ANYBODY PUSHED FOR THIS THING? SO ANYWAY.

WELL, THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

COURTNEY: YOU'RE WELCOME.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.? CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THANK YOU.

AS WAS STATED BEFORE, THIS IS 2.0.

THE ORIGINAL WAS COMMERCIAL.

COUNCILMAN MOAK AUTHORED THE RESIDENTIAL.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT 3.0 AS IT RELATES TO DRONES.

SO THIS THING IS MOVING.

SO NEAL, I GUESS I WANT TO GET A RESPONSE FROM YOU.

JUST EVEN LOOKING AT 2.0, MANY OF US WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE DECIBEL READERS WERE NOT ON HAND OR IN POSSESSION OF THE DEPARTMENT TWO YEARS AFTER 1.0 WAS PASSED.

AND I WANT TO GIVE TOM AND EVERYBODY ELSE, WHETHER IT'S THE COMMERCIAL FOLKS OR THE RESIDENTIAL FOLKS, OR POTENTIALLY THE DRONE FOLKS, A REALISTIC EXPECTATION OF ABOUT ENFORCEABILITY.

COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITH NOT HAVING THE READERS IN COURT WITH THE PREVIOUS ISSUE.

WHAT ASSURANCE WILL WE HAVE THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO GET THIS EQUIPMENT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE THE TWO, AND POSSIBLY THREE, ORDINANCES ARE ON THE BOOKS, THAT THEY CAN BE ENFORCED PROPERLY AND HELD UP IN COURT? NEAL NOEL: I CAN'T PROMISE ANYTHING WILL BE HELD UP IN COURT.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT WORKING WITH FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ATTORNEYS' OFFICE, IF THAT'S THE DESIRE, THE COUNCIL AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE WANTS TO MOVE THE DEPARTMENT OUT IN DIRECTION OF EXPEDITING THE PURCHASE AND ACQUISITION, THEN IT'S SIMPLY FUNDING AND ACQUISITION.

I DO THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A MOMENT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TRAFFIC CITATIONS AND RADAR, AND THAT KIND OF SYSTEM THAT'S TRAFFIC.

THIS CRIMINAL IS WHEN WE WRITE A SUMMONS FOR AN OFFENSE SUCH AS SOMETHING AS SLIGHT AS A NOISE ORDINANCE.

WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST TRIAL.

SO WE DO HAVE TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO FIND OUT THAT THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE AND WE ARE USING AND INVESTING IN IS WHAT THE COURTS IN THIS JURISDICTION IS GOING TO ACCEPT AND NOT SAY, WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS KIND AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

AND I HOPE YOU GUYS LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THE EQUIPMENT.

I JUST WANT TO SET THE EXPECTATION.

NEAL NOEL: I THINK THE OFFICER ALSO HAS TO BE IN A POSITION TO WITNESS, AND HEAR AND OBSERVE THE ACTIVITY THAT IS BEING REPORTED.

I THINK THAT'S-- CLEVE DUNN, JR.: SO WHEN THEY GET A CALL, IT HAS TO BE GOING ON ONCE THEY SHOW UP WITH THE DECIBEL READING? NEAL NOEL: THAT IS CORRECT.

NEAL NOEL: THERE'S SOME INHERENT PROBLEMS WHEN THEY SHOW UP AND THE ACTIVITY'S NOT NECESSARILY HAPPENING.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: GOT YOU.

THAT'S GOOD.

DENISE AMAROSO: ONE MORE QUESTION, PLEASE, SIR.

SO HOW MANY-- LET ME SEE HOW I PUT THIS.

SO WHEN YOU APPROACH A SITUATION, PERHAPS LIKE COUNCILMAN MOAK IS TALKING ABOUT, NEIGHBORS DISTURBING NEIGHBORS, YOU GUYS GET CALLED OUT FOR THOSE KIND OF CALLS? NEAL NOEL: A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT.

DENISE AMAROSO: AND SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU APPROACH THE OFFENDER? NEAL NOEL: SO FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO DETERMINE WHO IS THE OFFENDER.

WE OFTEN REPORT TO OR RESPOND TO THE ADDRESS WHERE THE COMPLAINT ORIGINATED FROM.

TYPICALLY, THERE IS A COMPLAINANT.

SOMETIMES THERE IS A COMPLAINANT WHO WISHED NOT TO BE CONTACTED.

AND SO EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.

IT'S USUALLY PRETTY FLUID.

AND THE OFFICER'S STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF IT TRYING TO DETERMINE, WHAT EVIDENCE DO I HAVE OF ANYTHING? DENISE AMAROSO: SO IF YOU DO COME UP ON A SITUATION OF SOMEONE DISTURBING THE PEACE, YOU ASK THEM TO TURN IT DOWN? WHAT IS USUALLY THEIR RESPONSE? ARE THEY PRETTY RESPONSIVE? NEAL NOEL: ABSOLUTELY.

DENISE AMAROSO: SO HOW MANY OF THESE EVEN GO TO COURT? NEAL NOEL: THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

DENISE AMAROSO: PROBABLY NOT VERY MANY, RIGHT? NEAL NOEL: WE DO HAVE THE NUMBERS ON HOW MANY DISTURBANCES WE GO TO IN A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND WE PROBABLY COULD GIVE YOU THE NUMBER OF NOISE ORDINANCES IN A PERIOD OF TIME.

DENISE AMAROSO: THAT ACTUALLY GO TO COURT? NEAL NOEL: THAT WE ACTUALLY RESPOND TO.

HOW MANY ACTUALLY END UP IN AN ARREST OR A SUMMONS BEING ISSUED? PROBABLY VERY FEW.

DENISE AMAROSO: THAT WAS MY POINT.

NEAL NOEL: YEAH.

DENISE AMAROSO: THAT ACTUALLY END UP IN-- NEAL NOEL: SOME OF IT IS DUE TO EITHER DISCRETION OR IT SOUNDS LOUD, BUT IT'S NOT THAT LOUD.

IT'S-- DENISE AMAROSO: RIGHT.

OK.

ANTHONY KENNEY: HEY, DEPUTY, REAL QUICKLY.

[02:10:01]

APPRECIATE IT.

SOME BUSINESSES ARE ZONED WITHIN, I GUESS, MIXED AND RESIDENTIAL IN SOME CASES.

SO HOW DO Y'ALL USE OUR DISCRETION WITH SOME BUSINESSES THAT'S FALL WITHIN RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN A SENSE? WELL, NOT FALL WITHIN RESIDENTIAL, BUT ZONE MIXED WITHIN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

NEAL NOEL: THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, BECAUSE THE OFFICER ON THE STREET HAS NO IDEA WHAT ZONE THEY'RE IN WITH REGARD TO WHETHER IT'S ZONED FOR A PARTICULAR INTENT.

BECAUSE IN SOME AREAS OF TOWN, YOU HAVE BARS IN THE MIDDLE OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

SO HOW IS-- THEY CAN MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.

BUT I THINK THE GENERAL APPROACH IS WHAT AM I HEARING? WHAT AM I OBSERVING? AND DOES IT SHOCK THE SENSES? ANTHONY KENNEY: SO A LOT OF IT IS MORE SO I WON'T SAY CASE BY CASE, BUT ALMOST CASE BY CASE IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION? NEAL NOEL: IT ABSOLUTELY IS CASE BY CASE.

ANTHONY KENNEY: OK, THANK YOU.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

DWIGHT HUDSON: A QUESTION FOR COURTNEY REAL QUICK.

AS I'M LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE, I SEE THE SECTION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTIAL.

I SEE THE SECTION WHERE WE ADDRESSED COMMERCIAL AREAS AND SPECIFIC DECIBEL READINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN THERE.

BUT I'M LOOKING AT OTHER SECTIONS.

LET ME SEE HERE.

THIS IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST, THE USE OF ANY AUTOMOBILE, MOTORCYCLE, BUS, STREET CAR, BUS OR VEHICLE SO OUT OF REPAIR OR SO LOADED WHICH EMITS OR CREATES LOUD GRATING, GRINDING OR RATTLING NOISE.

SO THERE'S NO DECIBEL LEVEL FOR THAT ONE.

COURTNEY: NO.

DWIGHT HUDSON: SO COULD WE WRITE A TICKET WITHOUT A DECIBEL READING ON THAT ONE? COURTNEY: YOU COULD, BECAUSE 12:100 IS STILL INTACT, WHICH IS WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE'S PEACE'S BEEN DISTURBED.

SO IF IT'S BEING DISTURBED BY THAT PARTICULAR THING UNDER THAT PARTICULAR SECTION, THEN A SUMMONS OR CITATION COULD BE ISSUED.

DWIGHT HUDSON: YEAH, I'M JUST INTERESTED.

AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.

I'M OK WITH THE ORDINANCE THE WAY IT IS.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S GOING TO MATTER A LOT ON-- COURTNEY: BUT THERE IS ANOTHER PART OF THE ORDINANCE THAT DOES HAVE A DECIBEL THRESHOLD THAT'S BEEN THERE MAYBE FOR 20 YEARS.

DWIGHT HUDSON: YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF IT IS GOING-- COURTNEY: --THE RADIOS.

DWIGHT HUDSON: --A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE THE POLICE OFFICER USING THEIR DISCRETION.

AND THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF ORDINANCE, I THINK.

COURTNEY: NO, NOT IF IT DICTATES THAT A DECIBEL THRESHOLD IS TO BE NOTED.

AND RIGHT NOW, WITH THE RECENT-- WELL AND IN FACT, THE LAST AMENDMENT WAS IN 2025-- I MISSPOKE EARLIER SAYING IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO-- 2025, IS FOR THE COMMERCIAL PLACES.

TODAY WILL BE THE THIRD PART, I THINK, WHERE NOW WE HAVE THREE PLACES WHERE THERE'S A DECIBEL THRESHOLD.

SO IF THERE'S A DECIBEL THRESHOLD THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED.

DWIGHT HUDSON: YEAH.

SO MY OTHER QUESTION IS, OUTSIDE OF 19TH JDC, I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT OUR 19TH JDC JUDGES, OUR CITY COURT JUDGES HAVE PUSHED BACK ON THIS AND SAYING THAT THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE CONVICTING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, WITHOUT A DECIBEL.

BUT ARE WE FINDING OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO ENFORCE THIS WITHOUT A DECIBEL REQUIREMENT? COURTNEY: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LEGAL SIDE OF THINGS ONCE THESE THINGS, THESE MATTERS GO TO COURT.

BUT WE HAVE DONE-- MY OFFICE HAS DONE MINIMAL RESEARCH JUST TO CONTACT OTHER PARISHES TO SEE IF THEY ARE USING DECIBEL READERS.

AND SOME OF THEM DEFINITELY ARE.

THE ONES THAT HAVE THIS IN THEIR ORDINANCE, WHERE THEY DO HAVE A DECIBEL THRESHOLD, THEIR POLICE FORCE HAS DECIBEL READERS.

DWIGHT HUDSON: ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.

COURTNEY: YOU'RE WELCOME.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN HURST? DARRYL HURST: [INAUDIBLE] DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY THAT? BRANDON NOEL: HURST? DARRYL HURST: AS STRONGLY AS I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS, I BELIEVE CLEVE DUNN HAS MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO SAY.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: I WAS TAKING A SIDEBAR, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

WHICH ONE YOU SAID DID THAT HAVE A DECIBEL READER ON IT? DWIGHT HUDSON: THE OLD RATTY CARS, LIKE MINE.

DARRYL HURST: OK.

[LAUGHTER] DWIGHT HUDSON: THEY'RE LIKE RACE CARS TOO, FOR THAT MATTER.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: COURTNEY, DID YOU THINK THAT WAS OK TO LEAVE IT IN THAT WAY OR YOU-- COURTNEY: WHICH PART, SIR? CLEVE DUNN, JR.: THE CARS NOT HAVING AN AMOUNT.

COURTNEY: WELL, NO ONE HAS ADDRESSED THAT YET.

SO UNTIL SOMEONE CALLS ME AND SAYS-- CLEVE DUNN, JR.: SO IT'S A NEW POINT? COURTNEY: --I WANT TO AMEND IT.

COURTNEY: YEAH, THAT'S A DIFFERENT SECTION.

SO THIS PART HAS-- I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE 11-- HOW MANY?

[02:15:04]

12, 13-- 13 SECTIONS OF PEOPLE MAKING NOISE, PEOPLE, THINGS, PLACES, ANIMALS, I DON'T KNOW, ALL KIND OF STUFF MAKING NOISE.

MAYBE ABOUT THREE THINGS HAVE A DECIBEL THRESHOLD.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST LEFT TO THE PERSON WHO'S BEING OFFENDED BY THE NOISE TO SAY, LOOK, IT'S TOO LOUD.

BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS WITH TOM AND OTHERS, AARON, YOURSELF.

BUT DON'T GO NOWHERE.

THE GENTLEMAN THAT CAME UP MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT PLAYING A GUITAR IN HIS LIVING ROOM.

AND WITH ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO COUNCILMEMBER MOAK OF INCREASING BY 10 FOR DAYTIME AND NIGHT TIME.

WOULD THAT BE SUBSTANTIVE? AARON MOAK: I'M OK WITH THAT, INCREASING BOTH OF THEM 50 TO THE 60, AND THE 60 TO THE 70.

COURTNEY: I GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THAT? BRANDON NOEL: YOU MAKING A MOTION? CLEVE DUNN, JR.: YEAH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

AARON MOAK: A SECONDARY MOTION.

I'VE ALREADY MADE THE MOTION, I BELIEVE.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: SUBSTITUTE MOTION, I GUESS.

COURTNEY: AND THAT AMENDMENT IS GOING TO BE THAT THE MAKING OF NOISE, WHICH EXCEEDS INSTEAD OF 60, 70.

AARON MOAK: CORRECT.

AND INSTEAD OF 50, 60.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: COUNCILMAN MOAK, YOU'RE WITHDRAWING YOUR PREVIOUS-- AARON MOAK: I WILL WITHDRAW MY PREVIOUS MOTION-- BRANDON NOEL: WE'VE MOTION AS AMENDED, SECOND BY-- MOTION AS AMENDED BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR., SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOAK.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? DENISE AMAROSO: POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

THE POLICE CHIEF TOLD ME TO TELL EVERYONE THAT HE'S LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION.

HE WOULD LOVE TO BE HERE TO COMMENT ON THIS.

HOWEVER, HE'S IN STATE-MANDATED TRAINING.

BUT GOOD JOB, TEAM.

BRANDON NOEL: BUT GOOD JOB WHAT? DENISE AMAROSO: TEAM.

ITEM 63, AMENDING TITLE 01, MUNICIPAL AND PARISH

MOTION CARRIES.

[63. 26-01230 ]

ORGANIZATION, CHAPTER 4 - REGULATION OF DEPARTMENT, SECTION 1:609.7 - HEARING PROCEDURE, AND 1:609.10 - ADDITIONAL REMEDY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR INCREASE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING COSTS AND ESTABLISH A TAX ROLL COLLECTION SURCHARGE BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ASHLEY BECK: : COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 63.

BRANDON NOEL: SEEING NOW, GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

DO WE HAVE SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

64, AMENDING TITLE 12 (NUISANCES), CHAPTER 8 -

[64. 26-01231 ]

DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, SECTION 12:522 - CONDEMNATION ORDER, DEMOLITION, AND SECTION 12:525 - COST OF DEMOLITION TO BE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY SO AS TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CONDEMNATIONS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PENNY LANDRY: PENNY MAY LANDRY, YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THIS.

I AM IN FAVOR OF ITEM 64-- [APPLAUSE] MEMBER: OH.

BRANDON NOEL: WE FOUND ONE, FOLKS.

WE FOUND ONE.

MEMBER: IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? PENNY LANDRY: I'M GLAD I MADE YOUR DAY.

I AM 100% IN FAVOR OF ITEM 64, 65, 66, 67-- BRANDON NOEL: SETTLE DOWN SETTLE DOWN.

PENNY LANDRY: --68.

IF OUR CITIZENS ARE VIOLATING LAWS, WE NEED TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES SO THEY GET IT.

FOLLOW IT OR IT'S GOING TO COST YOU MORE MONEY.

SO I AM 100% IN FAVOR OF THESE FINE, FEES FOR VIOLATIONS.

BRANDON NOEL: MAYOR? MEMBER: I AM OPPOSED TO THIS ITEM.

[LAUGHTER] BRANDON NOEL: ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

DENISE AMAROSO: I HAVE A SECOND IN THE NAME OF PENNY MAY LANDRY.

BRANDON NOEL: SECOND BY JOHN RACCA AS PROXY FOR MS. LANDRY.

65, AMENDING TITLE 12 (NUISANCES), CHAPTER 5, WEEDS,

[65. 26-01233 ]

SECTION 12:351 - REMOVAL REQUIRED AND SECTION 12:353 -

[02:20:02]

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

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

OH, COUNCILMAN HURST.

DARRYL HURST: IS THIS USING AI? I'M JOKING, RACHAEL.

MOTION APPROVED.

BRANDON NOEL: MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

66, AMENDING TITLE 6, PUBLIC HEALTH, CHAPTER 4 -

[66. 26-01234 ]

DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND OTHER WASTED MATTER, SECTION 6:381.1 - PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF SECTION 6:381, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATIONS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN RACCA, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

67, AMENDING TITLE 6, PUBLIC HEALTH, CHAPTER 4 -

[67. 26-01235]

DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND OTHER WASTED MATTER, SECTION 6:406.1 - PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF SECTION 6:406 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATIONS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

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

WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

68, AMENDING TITLE 12 (NUISANCES), CHAPTER 6 -

[68. 26-01236 ]

MISCELLANEOUS, SECTION 12:405 - MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY AND SECTION 12:451 - MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY - UNOCCUPIED STRUCTURES, SO AS TO RESOLVE CONFLICTING SECTIONS AND PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATIONS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

69, AMENDING TITLE 9, LICENSING AND REGULATION OF TRADES

[69. 26-01236 ]

AND OCCUPATIONS, CHAPTER 27, TIRE BUSINESSES, SO AS TO AMEND SECTION 9:1505, STORAGE OF TIRES TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF STORED TIRES BY COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN HURST, WHAT ARE WE INCREASING THIS TO? DARRYL HURST: IT'S GOING FROM 500 TO 800.

I SAT DOWN WITH A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND SO IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE VIEW TO THE PUBLIC.

THEY JUST HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT TIRE SIZES THAT THEY WERE REACHING THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY JUST BASED ON THE NUMBER OF TIRES WE ALLOWED THEM TO STORE.

SO THIS IS JUST ALLOWING THEM TO CREATE MORE SIZES, STORE MORE SIZES.

SO IT DOESN'T IMPACT COMMERCE, BUT STILL CLEANS UP THE COMMUNITY SIMULTANEOUSLY.

BRANDON NOEL: VERY GOOD.

DARRYL HURST: THANK YOU.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN HUDSON, I'M JUST CURIOUS.

IS THERE A STATE CAP OR-- DARRYL HURST: NO.

MOST OF THIS STUFF WAS CREATED BY US IN TERMS OF STORAGE.

BRANDON NOEL: YEAH-- DARRYL HURST: SO THERE'S NO STATE CAP ON THAT.

THERE ARE STATE REGULATIONS FOR DISPOSAL, STATE REGULATIONS FOR PROPERLY STORING.

AND THEN ADAM STEPPED IN TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE, BECAUSE DHU SAID THEY COULD DO A WHOLE LOT MORE BECAUSE OF LIMITED RESOURCES.

BUT THIS JUST ALLOWS THEM TO STORE MORE TIRES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SELL.

BRANDON NOEL: OH, THIS IS NEW TIRES? DARRYL HURST: YEAH, NEW AND SOMETIMES USED TIRES AS WELL.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: SO IT'S GOING TO BE TIRES IN TOTAL.

THE STATE REGULATES WASTE TIRES, MEANING TIRES THAT CANNOT BE RESOLD.

SO THIS WOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL TIRES STORED ON THE SITE.

DARRYL HURST: YEAH, SO NEW AND USED TIRES THAT THEY COULD SELL TO THE PUBLIC.

BRANDON NOEL: I KNOW WE'RE INCREASING IT.

IT'S NOT A BAD THING.

I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY DO WE NEED A NUMBER IF LET'S SAY IT'S A TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THEY'RE WHOLESALING THOUSANDS OF TIRES.

WOULD THAT PERSON BE IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE? DARRYL HURST: NO, THIS IS RETAIL, NOT WHOLESALE.

AND THIS IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY WERE HOLDING WASTE TIRES, WHICH CREATED DISEASE CONTROL ISSUES, WATER, BACTERIA.

JIM WENT TO BUY TIRE RECENTLY.

AND-- [LAUGHTER] NO, I'M JOKING.

BUT SO A LOT-- ANYWAY, MOTION TO APPROVE.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: AS I SAY, THIS WOULD APPLY MOSTLY TO THE OUTSIDE STORAGE OF TIRES.

A WAREHOUSE, THERE'S GOING TO HAVE THEM IN A BUILDING.

AND I THINK THAT WOULDN'T APPLY TO THEM.

DARRYL HURST: YEAH.

SO WASTE TIRES ARE TYPICALLY OUTSIDE.

THIS IS INSIDE OF THE BUILDING.

ANYWAY, MOTION TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON, YOU GOOD? DWIGHT HUDSON: WELL, LET THE RECORD REFLECT HE DID NOT HAVE THE FLOOR WHEN HE MADE THE MOTION, SO I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

DARRYL HURST: SECOND.

BRANDON NOEL: MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ITEM 70, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE

[70. 26-01238 ]

[02:25:01]

AN AMENDMENT, ON BEHALF OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY, TO ADD $15,000 TO THE TWO-YEAR PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMMING CONTRACT WITH MOVEE MEDIA, LLC FOR REVISED TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $64,250, BY THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ASHLEY BECK: COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 70.

BRANDON NOEL: SEEING NONE WE GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

71, RESOLUTION APPROVING, PURSUANT TO ACT

[71. 26-01248 ]

NUMBER 177 OF THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE, THE REBATE OF LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES COLLECTED ON SALE OF ADMISSION TICKETS, CONCESSIONS, AND PARKING FOR MAJOR EVENTS TO BE HELD ON IN CONNECTION WITH TWO EVENTS SPONSORED FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, ONE, AN EVENT TO BE HELD ON BATON ROUGE, LSU-- IN BATON ROUGE AT LSU'S ALEX BOX STADIUM ON MARCH 4, 2027, EVENT NUMBER 1, AND THEN 2 EVENT TO BE HELD IN BATON ROUGE AT TIGER STADIUM ON MARCH 6, 2027, EVENT NUMBER 2, PURSUANT TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF VISIT BATON ROUGE AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE EVENT'S EXPECTED ECONOMIC IMPACT AND OTHERWISE TO PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO BY COUNCILMAN ROWDY GAUDET.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PENNY LANDRY: PARTY'S OVER.

PENNY LANDRY.

I AM IN OPPOSITION TO REBATES FOR ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THESE ARTISTS HAVE NOT BEEN NAMED.

THE TAXPAYER HAS NO IDEA WHO'S EVEN COMING FOR THESE EVENTS.

VISIT BATON ROUGE RECOMMENDS THIS.

I'M QUESTIONING THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF VISIT BATON ROUGE IN ALL OF THE MONEY THAT THEY RECEIVE AND THE RESULTS THAT THEY PRODUCE.

I THINK WE HAD THE SAME ISSUE LAST YEAR, AND Y'ALL APPROVED THE REBATE FOR THE ARTIST.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERTS WAS EVEN CANCELED.

SO GETTING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM AN ENTITY TO REBATE MONEY COLLECTED, INSTEAD OF THAT MONEY STAYING IN THE GENERAL FUND, BEING USED FOR TAXPAYER INITIATIVES, THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED, TO GIVE THAT MONEY TO AN ARTIST COMING IN FROM OUT OF STATE, MAYBE EVEN FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY, I DON'T KNOW, I'M AGAINST REBATES.

WHAT KIND OF REBATE I WOULD BE FOR ARE TAXPAYER REBATES, NOT ARTISTS REBATES.

BRANDON NOEL: ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ASHLEY BECK: COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 71.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON? DWIGHT HUDSON: I WANTED TO ASK MS. KIDDER TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE TO HAVING THESE REBATES IN PLACE.

AND THEN SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU WOULD ADDRESS WHAT WAS THE COST FOR US ON THE REBATE OF THE CANCELED EVENT, IF YOU WOULD TOUCH ON THAT TOO.

JILL KIDDER: JILL KIDDER, VISIT BATON ROUGE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS.

AS WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH A RESOLUTION, WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED YOU WITH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED ON EACH OF THESE EVENTS, AND THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION FROM OUR BOARD.

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO WHY WE'RE INVOLVED, IS BECAUSE THE STATE REQUIRED THAT WE DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ON EACH OF THESE EVENTS THAT COME BEFORE THEY COME TO YOU.

AND SO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS IN HERE.

BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON IT, THE TOTAL SPEND OF THESE TWO EVENTS, AND THIS IS TRULY OUR CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES, WILL BE ABOUT $24 MILLION IN TOTAL SPENDING FOR THE TWO EVENTS.

THE PROJECTED LOCAL TAX REVENUES TO BE COLLECTED ON THESE EVENTS IS $1.8 MILLION.

AND WHAT YOU'RE REBATING BACK ON IS JUST THE TICKET PRICE, AND THE CONCESSIONS, AND THE PARKING AT THE LSU EVENTS.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE REBATE WILL COME IN SOMEWHERE AROUND $160,000 ON A $1.8 MILLION TAX REVENUES.

AND I WANT TO ALSO TELL YOU THAT LAST YEAR ON THE CANCELED EVENT,

[02:30:03]

YOU PAID NOTHING.

BRANDON NOEL: THANK YOU.

MEMBER: [INAUDIBLE] BRANDON NOEL: MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

72, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE-LITIGATION CLAIM

[72. 26-01267]

OF AZIELLE MOORE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY MOSQUITO ABATEMENT RODENT CONTROL EMPLOYEE IN AN AMOUNT OF $11,554.04 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

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

WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

73, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT AND PRE-LITIGATION CLAIM OF RENEW

[73. 26-01268 ]

CHURCH FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A SEWER BACKUP IN THE CLAIMANT'S FACILITY, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $36,294.05 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

74, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE-LITIGATION CLAIM

[74. 26-01246]

OF ADRIENNE AND TIMOTHY P. GAYLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A SEWER BACKUP IN THE CLAIMANT'S HOME, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $24,027.30 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

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

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

75, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED,

[75. 26-01277 ]

SHAWANA DUNCAN AND ESTATE OF VICTOR DUNCAN V. JONES ET AL, CONSOLIDATED WITH BRIANNA DUNCAN ET AL IN THE AMOUNT OF $299,999.99, PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,186.66, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $301,186.65 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

SHOW COUNCILWOMAN RACCA AS ABSTAINING.

76, RESCINDING AND DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT

[76. 26-01255 ]

TO CANCEL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON JANUARY 12, 2026 AND THE DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON MAY 19, 2026 IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS PRUDENT ACQUISITIONS, LLC, 4051 MOHICAN STREET.

THE REASON FOR THE RESCISSION IS THE PROPERTY IS BEING RENOVATED.

THIS IS BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

77, RESCINDING DIRECTING CLERK COURT TO COUNCIL NOTICE

[77. 26-01265 ]

TO ATTEND RECORDED ON MARCH 04, 2026 AND DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON JUNE 17, 2026 IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS PRUDENT ACQUISITIONS, LLC, 5056 CLAYTON STREET.

THE REASON FOR THE RESCISSION IS THE PROPERTY IS BEING RENOVATED.

THIS IS BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.

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

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY THE CHAIR.

78, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH

[78. 26-01253 ]

BE-CI INC. AND NEAL JOHNSON, LLC, A JOINT VENTURE FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE EBR CITY HALL WIND RETROFIT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $22,302.50 BY THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? NOT ALL I WANT.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MEMBER: [INAUDIBLE] BRANDON NOEL: MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

I'M GOING TO TAKE 79 THROUGH 84 TOGETHER.

[Item 79 - 84]

AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES WITH BONTON ASSOCIATES, LLC, FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVEBR ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS, HARRY DRIVE SIDEWALK, AIRLINE HIGHWAY TO NORTH AIRWAY DRIVE, AND TARA BOULEVARD SAFETY ENHANCEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $176,424.65 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH NEEL-SCHAFFER INC FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVEBR ENHANCEMENT, PROJECT SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION SIGNAL REBUILDS, GROUP 3,

[02:35:02]

IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $21,333.83 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH NEEL-SCHAFFER FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVEBR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT SYNCHRONISATION, AND COMMUNICATION SIGNAL REBUILDS, PHASE II GROUP 4 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $14,383.63 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH URBAN SYSTEMS ASSOCIATES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVEBR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION, SIGNAL REBUILDS, PHASE II GROUP 1 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,818.48 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH VECTURA CONSULTING SERVICES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVEBR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION SIGNAL REBUILDS, GROUP 1 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $22,417.17 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH VECTURA CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVEBR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION SIGNAL REBUILDS, PHASE II GROUP 2 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $22,417.17 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 79 THROUGH 84? PENNY LANDRY: PENNY MAY LANDRY.

I AM IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 80 THROUGH 84 FOR THE REASONS I'VE SAID EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN HERE.

I ASKED FRED LAST TIME WHEN THERE WERE ABOUT 20 OF THESE SUPPLEMENTALS.

I MADE THE REQUEST AS A TAXPAYER THAT ON THESE AGENDA ITEMS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS, THAT ONE LINE, GIVING THE TAXPAYERS ONE SENTENCE, GIVING THE TAXPAYERS A REASON FOR THE SUPPLEMENT BE ADDED TO THESE AGENDA ITEMS. BECAUSE AS I SAID BEFORE, IF YOU CLICK ON THE LINKS OR WHATEVER, IT DOESN'T GIVE US THE REASON THE ADDITIONAL MONEY IS BEING AWARDED.

AND LIKE FRED GAVE ME AN EXAMPLE, OH, WE DISCOVERED AN UNDERGROUND DRAINAGE PROBLEM.

WELL, GOOD.

JUST TELL US THAT.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT.

WE JUST WANT TO KNOW THE REASON THE ADDITIONAL MONEY IS BEING AWARDED.

SO I SEE THAT IT HADN'T HAPPENED.

I'D LIKE THE METRO COUNCIL TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH FRED.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO INCLUDE THAT AGENDA ITEMS WHERE ADDITIONAL MONIES ARE GIVEN TO CONTRACTORS OVER AND ABOVE THE AMOUNT THAT THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED FOR, THAT THE CITIZENS AT LEAST GET A ONE-SENTENCE EXPLANATION.

AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE.

IT'S GETTING DARK.

I DO NOT FEEL SAFE, A WOMAN WALKING ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE AT NIGHT.

I'M PARKED ON THE STREET A COUPLE OF BLOCKS OVER.

AND I COME HERE BECAUSE I CARE.

I CARE ABOUT THE CITIZENS.

I CARE ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS.

AND I ALSO CARE ABOUT MY WELL-BEING.

AND WALKING THESE STREETS AT NIGHT, I DID IT SUNDAY NIGHT AND RIGHT AT DARK ABOUT THIS TIME.

AND I HAD FOUR HOMELESS PEOPLE CAME UP TO ME AND MY FRIEND AND ASKED US FOR MONEY.

AND SO I DON'T HAVE MY FRIEND HERE WITH ME TONIGHT, SO I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE IT GETS DARK.

AND I UNDERSTAND LAST TIME I WAS HERE, AFTER I LEFT TO GO TO MY GREAT NIECE'S PARTY, THAT AARON SAID, OH, LOOK, WE SHOULD ASK PENNY LANDRY ABOUT THIS, BUT LOOK, SHE'S LEFT.

Y'ALL, RESPECT ME, PLEASE.

I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO.

AND I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S ALSO A TOUGH JOB BEING A CITIZEN'S ADVOCATE.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

I'LL SEE YOU ALL IN TWO WEEKS.

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

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 85, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT

[85. 26-01273 ]

TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT AND DONATION

[02:40:02]

WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF EAST BATON ROUGE FOR DONATION OF PROPERTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVEBR CAPACITY PROJECT ARDENWOOD BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

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

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR., SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

TAKE 86 THROUGH 89, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE

[Item 86 - 89]

AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LUSTER GROUP, LLC FOR DEMOLITION AND ABATEMENT SERVICES, PACKAGE A24 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $53,705 BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ABG CONTRACTORS INC. FOR DEMOLITION AND ABATEMENT SERVICES, PACKAGE A25 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $65,762.40 BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ABG CONTRACTORS FOR DEMOLITION AND ABATEMENT SERVICES PACKAGE A26 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $65,762.40 BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ABG CONTRACTORS FOR DEMOLITION AND ABATEMENT SERVICES, PACKAGE A27 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $63,967.76.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 86 THROUGH 89? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

GO TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

[A. 26-01364]

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, EMERGENCY ITEMS A, AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR-PRESIDENT AND/OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A NON-FEDERAL REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENT FOR THE RELOCATION OF FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND CABLES IN SUPPORT OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RUNWAY 13/31 RUNWAY SAFETY AREA AT BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,202,021.51 BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER IS THIS IS NON-FEDERAL REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,202,021.51 IS NEEDED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RUNWAY 13/31 RUNWAY SAFETY AREA AT BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT.

PROMPT APPROVAL IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE PROJECT ON TRACK, PREVENT PROCUREMENT DELAYS, AND ENSURE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS REMAIN UNAFFECTED.

I NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? WE'LL HAVE A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? MEMBER: [SNEEZES] BRANDON NOEL: GOD BLESS YOU.

NO OBJECTIONS ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

THE ITEM CAN BE HEARD.

WE CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

DWIGHT HUDSON: I'LL MAKE A MOTION-- BRANDON NOEL: --SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON? DWIGHT HUDSON: I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM B.

BRANDON NOEL: WE HADN'T DONE B YET WE'RE ON A.

DWIGHT HUDSON: OH, I'M SORRY.

BRANDON NOEL: GOOD? OK.

ANY OPPOSITION ON A? MOTION CARRIES.

[B. 26-01365 ]

ITEM B, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ESTES INDUSTRIAL FOR THE REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS AT 10920 MEAD ROAD FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $195,300.

THE REASON IT'S BEING REQUESTED AS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS IS TO EXPEDITE REMOVAL AND DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURE.

WE NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SEEING NONE, WE GO TO A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SEEING NONE, WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM NOW.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? COUNCILWOMAN HUDSON-- I MEAN, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

[LAUGHTER] I APOLOGIZE.

DWIGHT HUDSON: JUST MY QUESTION IS WILL THESE DOLLARS STILL BE LIABLE TO BE REPAID BY THE PROPERTY OWNER? RACHAEL LAMBERT: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

DWIGHT HUDSON: OK, THANK YOU THAT.

BRANDON NOEL: GOT A MOTION? MEMBER: CAN I ASK HER A QUESTION? BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

DENISE AMAROSO: RACHAEL, THAT'S OUR BELOVED-- IT IS OUR BELOVED-- OH YEAH.

RACHAEL LAMBERT: SO THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 65,000 SQUARE FEET OF ASBESTOS-CONTAINING DRYWALL TEXTURE IN EACH OF THE ROOMS THEMSELVES.

THE MAIN STRUCTURE, WHICH, IF YOU SAW BERNIE WEISS'S ARTICLE THIS MORNING, IS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE.

THERE ARE THREE STRUCTURES ON THIS SITE TO INCLUDE ALL THE ROOMS. AND THE ONE WAS LOBBY, BALLROOM, CONFERENCE ROOM, ET CETERA.

AND THAT STRUCTURE DID NOT CONTAIN ANY ASBESTOS.

SO WE'RE SEEKING-- WE GOT SOME QUOTES ON IT.

AND THIS WAS THE LOWEST BID THAT WE-- DENISE AMAROSO: SO EARLIER, AND THIS MAY BE HIS QUESTION AS WELL, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE.

[02:45:01]

SO EARLIER, WE VOTED ON PUTTING LIENS ON DEMOLISHED PROPERTIES.

IS THAT CORRECT? DIDN'T WE? IS THAT WHAT WE DID? RACHAEL LAMBERT: NO, WE'VE ALWAYS PUT LIENS ON DEMOLISHED PROPERTY.

DENISE AMAROSO: OK.

SO WHAT DID WE DO EXACTLY? RACHAEL LAMBERT: WE ALLOW-- SO WITH OTHER ITEMS THAT GO THROUGH BLIGHT COURT, THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES THAT COVER THE COST OF STAFF MEMBERS AND THEIR TIME, AND THE RECORDING AND OTHER CERTIFIED MAIL COSTS TO BE RECOUPED.

SO WE ADDED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TO SOME OF THOSE, TO CONDEMNATIONS THEMSELVES SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO RECOUP SOME OF OUR TIME AND ATTORNEYS' TIME AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO ALL OF THAT MONEY IS ALWAYS LIENED.

DENISE AMAROSO: SO WHAT DID YOU TELL ME WAS GOING TO COST TO BRING THIS BUILDING DOWN? RACHAEL LAMBERT: WE ESTIMATE AROUND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS? DENISE AMAROSO: DO YOU THINK WE'LL GET THAT BACK? RACHAEL LAMBERT: I THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PURSUE OTHER LEGAL ACTION TO GET THAT MONEY BACK.

BUT I HOPE THAT WE DO.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

DENISE AMAROSO: THANK YOU.

BRANDON NOEL: ALL RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM? CAROLYN COLEMAN: YES.

BRANDON NOEL: MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

DENISE AMAROSO: SECOND.

BRANDON NOEL: SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

CAPITAL AREA HUMAN SERVICES DISTRICT TO REPLACE JAMES JEFFERSON, WHO IS NOT SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.

[90. 26-01186]

APPOINTMENTS.

HE MET THE CRITERIA OF BEING A MEMBER BY REPRESENTING JUDICIARY EMPHASIS ON SPECIALTY COURTS.

WE DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT BALLOT, SO REQUEST IS TO DEFER TO NOVEMBER 10.

ASHLEY BECK: COUNCILMEMBERS, I WILL SEND YOU AN EMAIL TOMORROW FOLLOWING UP ON THIS.

BUT THIS IS JUST A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION.

SO IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY CONSTITUENTS OR COLLEAGUES THAT Y'ALL KNOW THAT MIGHT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THIS BOARD MEMBER, PLEASE SEND THEM OUR WAY SO THAT WE CAN SEND THEIR NAMES ON TO THE GOVERNOR TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.

BRANDON NOEL: ALL RIGHT.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DEFER TO THE NOVEMBER 10 MEETING.

DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY THE CHAIR TO DEFER TO NOVEMBER 11, I MEAN, NOVEMBER 10 MEETING.

91, COMPLETE STREETS CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

[91. 26-01291 ]

OF REPLACING STEPHEN KAUFFMAN.

IT'S A FOUR-YEAR TERM.

CURRENT BALLOT IS CINDY WOODS.

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

DO WE HAVE MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

CONGRATULATIONS, CINDY WOODS.

92, BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY CONSIDERATION

[92. 26-01327 ]

OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING JOY WOMACK, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES OCTOBER 8, 2026.

CURRENT BALLOT, JOSHUA ANDERSON, COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNEY, KAREN MAHOMES, JAMES VILAS, JASMINE WEBSTER AND JOY WOMACK REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? JOY WOMACK: GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JOY WOMACK.

AND I WANT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE ENJOYED IMMENSELY BEING ON THE BOARD AT THE METRO AIRPORT.

AND IT'S BEEN A VERY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE REAPPOINTED.

AND I ASK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR VOTE.

BRANDON NOEL: THANK YOU, MS. WOMACK.

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

COUNCILMAN HURST? DARRYL HURST: HEY, I WILL TELL YOU, AS A RESIDENT, EVEN THOUGH I WAS BORN IN DISTRICT 5, I GREW UP IN DISTRICT 2.

AND ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES WAS COMPLAINTS ABOUT RATTLING OF WINDOWS AND DOORS, AND THINGS THAT CAME FROM THE AIRPORT.

I GREW UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AS MS. WHITE.

AND THE ONE THING THAT WE HAD ACCESS TO WAS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO ADVOCATE ON OUR BEHALF.

AND THE CITY PUT A PROGRAM TOGETHER THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WINDOWS OUT AT NO COST TO THE RESIDENTS.

AND I THINK THAT THEY'VE LOST THAT.

SERIOUSLY, IT WAS THAT BAD.

SOME AIRPLANE WOULD TAKE OFF, IT WOULD SHAKE YOUR HOUSE.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT ANTHONY KENNEDY'S NOMINATION.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT COMMUNITY WHERE THE AIRPORT RESIDES

[02:50:03]

NEEDS TO HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND IN TERMS OF HOW THE RESHAPING OF THE AIRPORT AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND FOR THAT REASON, AND I APPRECIATE PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON THE BOARD.

I RESPECT AND THANK YOU FOR THAT SERVICE.

BUT THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS A VOICE.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW AND LET THE PEOPLE OF THIS AUDIENCE KNOW, AND MY COLLEAGUES, WHY I SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUE ANTHONY KENNEY AS A NOMINEE.

MEMBER: JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION THAT NOISE MITIGATION WAS A FEDERAL PROGRAM.

BRANDON NOEL: SO I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF-- AND I SPOKE WITH COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

HE'S AWARE OF THIS.

AND I KNOW HE'S SEEKING IT.

AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING COUNCILMAN HURST SAID ABOUT HAVING THE COUNCILMAN REPRESENT.

MS. WOMACK IS A CITIZEN IN MY DISTRICT.

AND I ADVOCATED TO HAVE HER ON THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY PREVIOUSLY.

AND SHE WILLINGLY ACCEPTED AND EXCITEDLY.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, SHE'S A CHAMPION FOR THE AIRPORT, SO MUCH AS SHE ALWAYS TELLS ME, ANYTIME I TRAVEL, I NEED TO MAKE SURE I TRAVEL OUT OF BATON ROUGE AIRPORT.

SO I KNOW MIKE EDWARDS ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID SHE IS A JOY ON THE COUNCIL, NO PUN INTENDED.

AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB.

SHE ALWAYS SHOWS UP.

SHE'S THOROUGH, AND SHE'S ENGAGED AND CARES ABOUT IT.

AND WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE A LOT OF REPRESENTATION FROM THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE PARISH.

MS. JOY LIVES OUT IN THE [INAUDIBLE] AREA.

AND I THINK SHE DOES A GOOD JOB REPRESENTING NOT ONLY DISTRICT 01, BUT REPRESENTING THE NEEDS OF THE AIRPORT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE PARISH.

SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT MS. JOY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAD A MOTION ALREADY AND A SECOND.

BUT I'LL MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION IF NEED BE FOR MS. WOMACK.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: AND I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.

I WON'T REPEAT EVERYTHING, BRANDON SAID.

BUT BEING SERVED ON THE AIRPORT COMMISSION, I'VE SERVED WITH JOY.

AND EVERYTHING BRANDON SAID IS TRUE.

SHE COMES EARLY, STAY LATE.

SHE'S CONSISTENT.

AND I'VE TALKED TO COUNCILMAN KENNEY ABOUT THIS AS WELL.

SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT JOY, SECOND.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

OH, COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

ANTHONY KENNEY: HEY, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

NO, JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN HURST SAID, WHEN I GOT ON THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR, WE HAD A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT ABOUT WHY THE DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL PERSON WAS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE BATON ROUGE AUTHORITY BOARD FOR THE AIRPORT.

AND SO I JUST THOUGHT NEED TO BE THE COUNCIL PERSON TO BE ON THE AIRPORT BOARD.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN HAS A DIRECT VOICE ON THAT BOARD AS WELL.

MS. WOMACK, I DON'T THINK WE EVER MET BEFORE.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD EVENING.

SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK WE'RE IN COMPETITION OR NOTHING.

SO HOWEVER THE VOTE GO TONIGHT, I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, WHAT YOU'VE DONE ON THE BOARD AS WELL.

SO HOWEVER TONIGHT GOES, I'LL BE FINE WITH IT.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

I CONCLUDE MY REMARKS.

JENNIFER RACCA: SO, MS. JOY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO RECOGNIZE MR. JAMES VILAS, WHO HAS PUT HIS NAME IN FOR THIS POSITION MULTIPLE TIMES.

I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO REMEMBER HIS NAME AND TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER HIM FOR FUTURE APPOINTMENTS.

MR. VILAS IS A SPANISH-SPEAKING REPRESENTATIVE THAT LIVES IN MY DISTRICT.

HE HAS A HEART AND DESIRE TO SERVE.

AND IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY, THE SPANISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE OF OUR PARISH ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MINORITIES HERE.

SO I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IF Y'ALL WOULD KEEP HIS NAME IN MIND FOR ANY POTENTIAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE FUTURE.

I KNOW THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES HERE TONIGHT.

I DO BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD BE A REMARKABLE PERSON TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD.

SO PLEASE, I THINK HE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU POTENTIALLY FOR ANY FUTURE APPOINTMENTS.

BUT IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT MR. JAMES.

BUT AGAIN, MS. JOY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND IT'S NOT TO SPEAK ANYTHING AGAINST WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST THAT MR. JAMES HAS ADVOCATED TO BE ON THIS BOARD FOR SEVERAL TIMES.

AND I JUST WANT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO REMEMBER HIS NAME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.

TWAHNA HARRIS: I MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPOINT COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNEY.

MEMBER: [INAUDIBLE] DARRYL HURST: I WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

BRANDON NOEL: SO DO WE HAVE A SECOND? MEMBER: [INAUDIBLE] FOR WHAT? BRANDON NOEL: ANTHONY-- OH, OK.

NO, NO, WAIT.

NO WE HAVE-- SO THE ORIGINAL MOTION BY THE CHAIR WAS FOR MS. WOMACK, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS FOR COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

[02:55:02]

IS EVERYBODY-- ASHLEY BECK: IS EVERYBODY READY? BRANDON NOEL: I'M SORRY.

ASHLEY BECK: THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN NOEL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. TO APPOINT JOY WOMACK.

THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST, TO APPOINT COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST.

BRANDON NOEL: WAIT, WAIT.

COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ROWDY GAUDET: I LIKE TO ADD THE SUSPENSE TO IT.

IT WOULD BE IN THE INTEREST OF THIS COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 2, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE, IS ON THIS BOARD.

DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY, AS A METRO COUNCIL, TO MAKE THAT EFFECTIVE VIA RESOLUTION OR SOME OTHER MEANS, THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED? ASHLEY BECK: I'M GOING TO DEFER TO MR. TAFFARO.

ROWDY GAUDET: WELL, HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO, CLEARLY, BECAUSE I LOOK ON HIS FACE.

[LAUGHTER] HE DOES NOT WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

ASHLEY BECK: THE STATE LAW DICTATES THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD, WHETHER YOU CAN ADVOCATE FOR A CHANGE IN THAT REGARD.

YOU KNOW THAT ONE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? MEMBER: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

WHICH ONE? ROWDY GAUDET: OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR MEMBERS APPOINTED BY STATE STATUTE OR IS IT A-- MEMBER: SO SECTION ARTICLE-- ROWDY GAUDET: WOW, YOU REALLY DO? MEMBER: TITLE II SECTION 704 DICTATES HOW THE-- YES, SORRY-- DICTATES THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE BOARD.

IT SPECIFIES THAT YOU NEED TO BE AN ELECTOR AND LIVE WITHIN THE PARISH.

THEY CAN'T BE A FULL-TIME CITY PARISH EMPLOYEE.

AND THERE'S SOME LIST OF QUALIFICATIONS THAT THEY HAVE.

THE METRO COUNCIL APPOINTS NINE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.

THE ONLY OTHER CRITERIA IS ONE-THIRD OF THAT NINE CAN BE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO APPOINTMENT OF ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL WOULD NOT VIOLATE THAT PROVISION.

IT DOES NOT SPECIFY ANYTHING ABOUT THE PERSON BEING A COUNCIL PERSON.

IT SPEAKS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.

IT DOESN'T SPEAK ABOUT THE PERSON BEING A COUNCIL PERSON FROM A SPECIFIC DISTRICT.

AND THEN WHEN YOU ADOPTED THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, IT MIRRORS THE STATUTORY LANGUAGE.

ROWDY GAUDET: YOU SAID ONE-THIRD OF THE NINE CAN BE-- MEMBER: ELECTED OFFICIALS.

ROWDY GAUDET: --NOT SPECIFICALLY LOCAL, BUT THAT WOULD INCLUDE STATE? MEMBER: THEY WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE PARISH, THOUGH.

YES.

BRANDON NOEL: DOES NOT INCLUDE STATE, RIGHT? MEMBER: STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

IF YOU WANT TO-- IF YOU WANT TO ELECT REPRESENTATIVE SO AND SO WHO LIVE WITHIN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, YOU COULD DO THAT.

ROWDY GAUDET: ALL RIGHT.

I WAS TRYING FOR YOU, KENNEY.

ASHLEY BECK: SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST.

THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO APPOINT COUNCILMAN KENNEY TO THE BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY.

MACHINES ARE NEXT GOING TO BE OPEN FOR THE MOTION, THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPOINT JOY WOMACK.

FIVE VOTES.

BRANDON NOEL: TO REAPPOINT.

ASHLEY BECK: REAPPOINT JOY WOMACK.

YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE PER ROUND.

FIVE VOTES.

DARRYL HURST: MOTION TO APPOINT ANTHONY KENNEY, ASHLEY BECK: [INAUDIBLE] IS THERE A SECOND FOR MR. HURST'S MOTION? DARRYL HURST: COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.

BRANDON NOEL: I'LL MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPOINT JOY WOMACK.

DARRYL HURST: I REMOVE MY MOTION AND DO A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO REPORT.

ASHLEY BECK: NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

ALL RIGHT, THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR AGAIN.

BRANDON NOEL: DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR MY MOTION? DWIGHT HUDSON: IF THAT'S THE CASE, I WOULD MOTION THAT WE DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GERMANE.

ASHLEY BECK: WE NEED A SECOND TO MR. NOEL'S.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO.

ASHLEY BECK: SECOND.

SO WE HAVE HURST AND HARRIS FOR THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPOINT COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SUBSTITUTE MOTION FROM MR. NOEL, SECONDED BY MS. AMAROSO TO APPOINT JOY WOMACK.

NOW WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST.

THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO REAPPOINT JOY WOMACK.

JUST AS A REMINDER, YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE PER ROUND.

[03:00:02]

MACHINES ARE NEXT GOING TO BE OPEN ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPOINT COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

FOUR VOTES.

DWIGHT HUDSON: MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.

FIVE VOTES.

BRANDON NOEL: I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO DEFER? ITEM'S DEFERRED.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS 93 THROUGH 95 TOGETHER.

[Item 93 - 95]

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DISTRICT EIGHT PRIDE, CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTMENT OR REPLACING PAUL JUMONVILLE, LANE NORWOOD, VAN RATCLIFF.

ALL THREE ARE REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY CHAIR.

CHANGE ORDERS 96 THROUGH 102, WE'LL TAKE TOGETHER.

[Item 96 - 102]

TAXIWAY MARC NORTHWEST WIDENING.

CONTRACTOR, M&J CIVIL CONSTRUCTION, LLC.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $60701.30.

CONTRACT TIME INCREASED BY 13 DAYS.

CITY HALL SECURITY UPGRADES, CONTRACTOR, ARKEL CONSTRUCTORS, LLC. CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 2.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $294,497.

RENOVATIONS TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY, PHASE II, CONTRACTOR, SIENNA CONSTRUCTION, LLC.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $144,983.58 99, JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER UPGRADES, CONTRACTOR, ARKEL CONSTRUCTORS INC. CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $37,715.

100, MBR-CAP PICARDY-PERKINS CONNECTOR, MALL OF LOUISIANA BOULEVARD, PACKAGE 4, RAILROAD UNDERPASS.

CONTRACTOR, DENLEY BROWN CONTRACTORS, LLC.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $23,775.40.

101, MBR-CAP MCHUGH ROAD, GROOM ROAD TO ZACHARY ROAD, CONTRACTOR, BARRIERE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $25,095.98.

SALES TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROJECT 21-1 ROUZAN.

CONTRACTOR, BARRIERE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $78,678.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 96 THROUGH 102? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 103 THROUGH 105, TAXIWAY MARC WIDENING PROJECT.

[Item 103 - 105]

THIS FINAL ACCEPTANCE IS CONTRACTOR, M&J CIVIL CONSTRUCTION, LLC.

FINAL COST $379,233.30.

RUNWAY 13/31 SAFETY AREA AND RPG IMPROVEMENT SHOPPING CENTER DEMOLITION.

CONTRACTOR, LMB SERVICES LLC.

FINAL COST, $949,111.

JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER UPGRADES.

CONTRACTOR, ARKEL CONSTRUCTORS INC. FINAL COST $2,518,894.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 103 THROUGH 105? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN HURST? DARRYL HURST: HEY, I WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT.

LOOK, I TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH MR. DANIEL, A BUNCH OF OTHER FOLKS, JUST THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

BUT WE'RE CONSTANTLY PUTTING MILLIONS, AND MILLIONS, AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO BOTH THE JAIL AND JUVENILE SERVICES.

WE HAVE TO REALLY GET SERIOUS ABOUT PUTTING A FACILITY THERE THAT CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR PARISH, THAT LOWERS RECIDIVISM AND DOESN'T JUST CREATE A PLACE THAT MIRRORS THE BATON ROUGE ZOO.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS, BOTH OF THEM.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE WE FEEL LIKE WE LOCK UP ANIMALS INSTEAD OF HUMANS.

AND WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT.

SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT A STRONG STATEMENT TO MY COLLEAGUES.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I PROBABLY IN THE NEXT MONTH START RECONVENING THE COMMITTEE TO DO THIS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC INPUT, BECAUSE PUT ON HOLD FOR THRIVE TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO IMPEDIMENTS GOING TO THE POLL.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUS.

BRANDON NOEL: DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

[03:05:01]

DWIGHT HUDSON: MAYOR PRO TEM, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

I WANT TO PUT A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 92.

ASHLEY BECK: YEAH.

BRANDON NOEL: CAN ANYBODY? ASHLEY BECK: YEAH.

ANY OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 92? OK, WE'LL RECONSIDER ITEM 92, BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING JOY WOMACK, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES OCTOBER 8, 2026.

KAREN BARLOW, JOSHUA ANDERSON, COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNEDY SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

KAREN HOLMES SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

JAMES VILLA SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

JASMINE WEBSTER SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

JOY WOMACK REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT.

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

COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

ANTHONY KENNEY: COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANT TO RECONSIDER THIS ITEM.

I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A CONTENTIOUS TOPIC WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

SO I'M GOING TO PUT A MOTION TO REAPPOINT JOY WOMACK.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE AIRPORT BOARD.

AND WHEN ANY UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS COME UP, THEN WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE THEN.

BRANDON NOEL: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.

DARRYL HURST: AND MS. WOMACK, LET ME TELL YOU.

YOU'VE GOT NOTHING BUT PRAISES ON THIS SIDE FROM EVERYBODY OVER HERE.

SO THAT WASN'T PERSONAL.

THAT WAS MORE ABOUT DISTRICT REPRESENTATION.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF EITHER ONE OF Y'ALL WERE CHOSEN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT PICK FOR THE BOARD.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REAPPOINTMENT.

BRANDON NOEL: WELL, WE HADN'T VOTED, BUT MEMBER: CONGRATULATIONS.

BRANDON NOEL: COUNCILMAN GAUDET? GAUDET: I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE.

I MEAN, THAT'S NOT AN EASY DECISION.

IN DISTRICT 2, HE WILL HEAR FROM FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO QUESTION WHY HE'S NOT ON THAT BOARD.

AND SO I JUST COMMEND HIM FOR I KNOW HE'S A WELL THOUGHT-OUT INDIVIDUAL.

AND I'VE GROWN TO RESPECT HIM OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AND SO KUDOS TO YOU FOR MAKING THAT MOVEMENT AND THAT MOTION.

BRANDON NOEL: THAT'S AWESOME.

[APPLAUSE] IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS MS. JOY.

WELL DONE, COUNCILMAN.

ITEMS 106 THROUGH 109, ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS,

[Item 106 - 109]

WE'LL TAKE TOGETHER.

106, ACCEPTING LOW BIDS RECEIVED FOR THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT TAXIWAY F RECONSTRUCTION AND WIDENING, HENDRICK CONSTRUCTIONS INC, $3,967,795.89.

ACCEPTING LOW BIDS RECEIVED FROM THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, TICKET COUNTER AND BAGGAGE CLAIM BELT MODERNIZATION NEW FUTURE TERMINAL.

LOW BID CORPORATE INTERIORS OF BATON ROUGE, LLC $1,556,436.67.

WWTP DIGESTER AND SETTLING TANK CLEANING, LOW BID, SYNAGRO SOUTH LLC, $586,326.

SALES TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM 21-2 BROOKLAWN DRIVE, OLD RAFE MAYER ROAD, STUBBS LANE, GREENWELL STREET AND STREETS IN BRENTWOOD PLACE.

LOW BID, BARBER BROTHERS CONTRACTING COMPANY LLC, $4,722,000.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 106 THROUGH 109? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

110, RECEIVING THIRD QUARTER 2026

[110. 26-01205]

REPORT FROM THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT BY COUNCILMAN RODNEY GAUDET.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REPORT? ROWDY GAUDET: THE REPORT WAS SUBMITTED IN WRITING.

DIRECTOR VERLANDER HAD SOME PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED TIME AWAY FROM THE OFFICE.

AND SO HE WON'T PHYSICALLY BE HERE TONIGHT.

SO WE'VE TECHNICALLY RECEIVED THE REPORT.

AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A REVIEW OF IT AND TO READ THE FRONT PAGE OF TODAY'S PAPER, AS THAT BOARD, THE COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT, ON THE 21ST OF THIS MONTH, WILL BE CONSIDERING A VOTE TO INCREASE RATE FOR CELL PHONE USERS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES.

AND SO I'VE TODAY JUST SUBMITTED MY INPUT TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT BOARD WITH RESPECT TO ENSURING THAT IF THERE'S A FEE INCREASE, THAT THERE'S TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHAT THAT FEE INCREASE WOULD GO TOWARDS AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR IT.

IT WAS MY INTENTION FOR MR. VERLANDER TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

[03:10:02]

AGAIN, FULLY RESPECT.

PEOPLE HAVE SCHEDULED TIME AWAY FROM WORK.

AND I ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

SO HE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

AND IN HIS ABSENCE, I WON'T GO INTO DEPTH.

BUT I'VE EMAILED THE BOARD, THE COMMUNICATIONS BOARD, WITH MY INPUT ON THAT.

AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES JUST TO TAKE A REVIEW OF IT.

THERE IS A FEE INCREASE THAT'S PROPOSED.

AND WHILE WE DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE THAT AS A METRO COUNCIL BOARD, I THINK WE HAVE A DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO, NUMBER ONE, ARE USERS OF CELL PHONES, AND NUMBER TWO, NEED A RELIABLE 911 SERVICE TO PAY ATTENTION.

SO THERE YOU GO.

I MAKE A MOTION TO RECEIVE THAT REPORT.

BRANDON NOEL: WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE REPORT? SEEING NONE, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET TO ACCEPT THE REPORT, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

EMERGENCY ITEMS. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS 111, 112, 113 TOGETHER.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 16442, THESE ITEMS MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY 2/3 VOTE OF METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

I NEED A MOTION TO DECLARE THESE ITEMS AN EMERGENCY.

COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

ANY OPPOSITION TO DECLARE THESE ITEMS EMERGENCY? SEEING NONE, THESE ITEMS ARE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY.

ITEM 111, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH YWCA GREATER BATON ROUGE TO OPERATE THE HEAD START PROGRAM/FACILITIES LOCATED AT 1881 PROGRESS ROAD BY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

THE REASON FOR THE EMERGENCY IS FOR TIME CONSTRAINTS.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ASHLEY BECK: COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 111.

BRANDON NOEL: SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY-- CAROLYN COLEMAN: [INAUDIBLE] BRANDON NOEL: YES, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN? CAROLYN COLEMAN: [INAUDIBLE] YEAH, I NEED TO GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, THE YWCA TAKING OVER HEAD START PROGRAM THERE ON PROGRESS.

SO WHO'S HERE? ALL RIGHT.

COME ON.

DIANA PAYTON: GOOD EVENING.

I'M DIANA PAYTON, CEO OF THE YWCA OF GREATER BATON ROUGE.

WE HAVE PROPOSED TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY FOR A VACANT BUILDING THAT THE CITY HAS AT PROGRESS ROAD.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS NOT BEING USED.

IT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.

AS YOU KNOW, WITH BUILDINGS BEING VACANT AND NOT BEING USED, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT THE UPKEEP OF THAT FACILITY.

BUT FOR YWCA, IT'S A MAJOR HELP AND SUPPORT FOR OUR HEAD START PROGRAM.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HOUSED AT THE MOUNT CARMEL CHURCH.

AS YOU KNOW, SINCE COVID, MANY CHURCHES HAVE RECEIVED A REDUCTION, SOMETIMES IN MEMBERS FOR THEIR CHURCH.

AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THAT FACILITY, IT'S BECOMING A CHALLENGE.

AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE CITY TO TEMPORARILY MOVE INTO THIS SITE.

IT'S A TWO-YEAR LEASE AS WE BUILD A NEW FACILITY THAT WE'RE HOPING TO BUILD OFF OF ARDENWOOD.

THIS ISN'T A PERMANENT SITUATION.

THIS IS TEMPORARY TO GIVE US A PLACE TO LAND UNTIL WE BUILD OUR NEW FACILITY.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: AND THESE ARE YOUR CHILDREN THAT WILL BE THERE? DIANA PAYTON: ABSOLUTELY.

THESE ARE EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN.

THIS IS A SEPARATE GRANT.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE REGIONAL OFFICE ALSO EXPLAINING HOW IT IS SEPARATE PROGRAMS, SEPARATE GRANTS, SEPARATE CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING SERVED.

AND SO IT'S JUST A PARTNERSHIP FOR A TEMPORARY USE OF THE FACILITY.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: ALL RIGHT.

DIANA PAYTON: ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CAROLYN COLEMAN: THANK YOU.

DIANA PAYTON: THANK YOU.

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

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. SORRY.

CLEVE DUNN, JR.: JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT.

I THINK THE DRAFTING OF THE ITEM IS A LITTLE BIT MISLEADING, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE HEAD START PROGRAM.

SO I'M NOT TRYING TO THROW ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY DID YOU ANY GOOD BY THE WAY THEY DRAFTED IT.

SO I'M GLAD YOU CLARIFIED.

YOU ARE NOT TAKING OVER THE CITY PARISH HEAD START PROGRAM.

YOU'RE TAKING OVER A BUILDING THAT FORMERLY HOUSED ONE OF THE HEAD START PROGRAMS THAT'S VACANT.

YOU'RE RENTING THAT SPACE.

AND YOU'RE RUNNING YOUR OWN PROGRAMMING OUT OF THAT BUILDING.

AND THAT PROGRAM, ONCE YOU BUILD YOUR NEW BUILDING IN DISTRICT 6 ON ARDENWOOD, WILL HOUSE THOSE PROGRAMS. BUT I KNOW WHERE COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN WAS GOING.

WHEN YOU READ THE ITEM, IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE TAKING OVER THE CITY PARISH HEAD START

[03:15:03]

PROGRAM.

CAROLYN COLEMAN: AND THAT HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION.

AND YEAH.

AND Y'ALL KNOW THAT.

YEAH, EVERYBODY OVER THERE KNOWS THAT.

SO YES.

BRANDON NOEL: ITEMS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECOND.

112, AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT AND/OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE UNDER THE SMALL COMMUNITY HR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, FOR A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

REASON FOR THE EMERGENCY IS TO EXPEDITE CONSIDERATION DUE TO CRITICAL DEADLINES.

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

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST.