[00:00:01]
OCTOBER 2ND, 2020[CALL TO ORDER]
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, SPECIAL READING, ACTUALLY CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.UM, I'LL ALSO NEED YOU TO CONFIRM WHETHER YOU RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS MEETING, COUNCILMAN WELCH NOTICE AND I'M HERE.
COUNCIL MOMENT BANKS ABSENT COUNCILMAN LOOP.
CATWOMAN GREEN, ABSENT COUNCILWOMAN COLLINS LEWIS.
COUNCILMAN COLE ABSENT COUNSEL ON THE MRI.
[1. 20-01067 Declaring that the Metropolitan Council as the governing authority of East Baton Rouge Parish affirmatively “opts-in” to allow bars located in this parish to open for onpremises consumption within the guidelines and restrictions more fully set forth in section 2(B) of proclamation number 117-JBE-2020. By Councilmembers Hudson, Watson, Racca, Amoroso, & Loupe.]
ONE, DECLARE IN THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, OR FAMILY OPTION TO ALLOW BARS LOCATE IN THE PAIRS FOR OPEN ON PREMISES CONSUMPTION WITHIN THE GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS MORE FULLY SET FORTH IN SECTION TWO, B OR THE PROCLAMATION.NUMBER ONE, ONE SEVEN DASH J B E 2020 BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, HUDSON WATSON, ROCCA, AMARIS, AND LUKE.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM ONE? YES.
THE FIRST COMMENT ON ITEM ONE IS DEAR MEMBERS OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
MR. LUPE WAS QUOTED AND INSIDE OUR BUSINESS REPORT, OUR GOVERNOR AND MAYOR HAVE BEEN OUR RESPECTIVE AUTHORITIES ON THE ISSUE WITH, WITH ACCESS TO EXPERTS, DOCTORS THAT I DO NOT POSSESS LUPE SAYS IN A TEXT MESSAGE, BUT THEY HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB THUS FAR AND DO NOT NEED MY INPUT.
AND PERSONALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY FREE TIME TO PLAY GAMES WITH ANYONE.
UM, I AM GLAD THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME TO PLAY GAMES WHILE PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS, RIGHT? ACTUALLY LET'S NOT DO IT.
UH, THAT GROUP THAT WAS FROM JEREMY BOWLES.
NEXT COMMENT IS FROM THERESA ABDI TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
I'M WRITING AS A BARTENDER THAT WORKS AT CLICKS BILLIARDS, AND WE HAVE FOLLOWED ALL OF THE GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS VERY CLOSELY.
I'VE LOST A LOT OF MONEY ON TIPS, NOT BEING ABLE TO SELL ALCOHOL $3 AND 25 CENTS PER HOUR IS VERY HARD TO LIVE ON.
I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR ANY ASSISTANCE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT OR FOOD STAMPS.
I'M STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY AND BEGGING YOU TO HELP OUR, OUR BUSINESSES THAT NEED TO BE REOPENED WELL NOW THEY SAY WE CAN SELL ALCOHOL, BUT NO MORE COOL NAME SOURCES AND Y'ALL GAVE US ALCOHOL SALES, BUT TOOK OUR OTHER MAIN INCOME POOL.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE FOR BARS TO BE OPEN AND FOR POOL TO BE ALLOWED TO BE PLAYED.
THE SMALLER POOL TABLE IS SEVEN FOOT AND THE LARGEST IS NINE FOOT BARS THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POOL HALLS.
NEXT COMMENT IS FROM VINCENT ABDI TO HIM.
IT MAY CONCERN THE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST PLAYING POOL DARTS, ET CETERA IN BARS MAKES NO SENSE.
CASINOS ARE ABLE TO OPERATE GAMING MACHINES WITHIN GUIDELINES THAT SHOULD APPLY TO BAR GAMES AS WELL.
AGAIN, THE COMMENT GOES ON TO, UM, UH, GO INTO DARK GAMES AND POOL THAT, OR THOSE ARE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER IS GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
FIRST UP I HAVE IS COUNCILMAN HUDSON, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON BRIEFLY.
I KNOW SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA HAVE SAID, WHY ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS? WHY ARE WE DISCUSSING IT? I WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS, UH, IMPORTANT TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO THINGS CORRECTLY.
UH, I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR IF YOU LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, UH, AND YOU'VE BEEN, YOU LOOK AT OUR, AT OUR PARISH PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, UH, THAT WE ARE IN FACT, AS THE METRO COUNCIL, THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING AUTHORITY TO BE, TO BE MAKING THIS DECISION.
I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO VOTE ON IT BECAUSE OF THAT.
UM, SO IF YOU LOOK, UM, AND THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THE FORM THAT ASHLEY HAS FILLED OUT OUTWARD CIRCLED IN RED, IT SAYS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE PARISH MUST AFFIRMATIVELY OPT IN TO ALLOW ON PREMISES CONSUMPTION.
UH, NOW FURTHERMORE, UH, YOU GO ON TO OUR PARISH PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AND ACTUALLY IF YOU WOULD PULL UP THE PARISH PLAN OF GOVERNMENT THERE, IT CLEARLY DELINEATES THAT THE GOVERNING BODY, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY IS THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH METRO COUNCIL.
UM, SO LOOK, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S QUITE CLEAR TO ME THAT, UH,
[00:05:01]
IT IS THE CASE THAT WE ARE THE ONES SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING THIS DECISION.I AM VERY GLAD THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SENT A LETTER TO THE ATC AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO LET US OPT IN.
UM, BUT IT'S MY OPINION THAT THE ATC IS OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE GUIDELINES OF A GOVERNOR.
UH, SO LOOK, IF THE FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING THE RULES, UH, ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO FOLLOW THEIR OWN RULES, HOW ON EARTH ARE WE SUPPOSED TO EXPECT THE PUBLIC, UH, TO LISTEN TO THE, THE RULES AND THE ORDERS THAT FOLKS WERE SETTING OUT HERE? IT JUST, IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.
NOW NOW FURTHER ON MOVING ON TO THE DECISION THAT'S SET BEFORE US LOOK, I THINK WE LAID IT OUT PLAINLY AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH THAT HAD BEEN OUT OF WORK, UH, BECAUSE OF THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THINK WHAT YOU MAY ABOUT BARS AND, AND THE VALUE THAT THEY BRING TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT MUCH OF A BAR GUY ANYMORE, SPENT MY TIME THERE IN COLLEGE, BUT YOU KNOW, NOT DOING THAT.
UM, BUT LOOK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT IS HOW A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE BRINGING HOME, UH, DINNER ON THEIR KIDS' TABLES.
UH, THAT'S HOW THEY'RE PAYING THEIR LIGHT BILL.
THAT'S HOW THEY'RE PAYING THE MORTGAGE.
UH, AND SO LOOK, IT'S TIME THAT WE GET THESE FOLKS BACK TO WORK, UH, AND LET THEM DO, UH, WHAT THEY'RE USED TO DO.
UH, LET THEM GET BACK TO THE DIGNITY OF WORK.
AND SO I JUST WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UM, UH, TO PASS THIS TONIGHT AND I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE BY HUDSON SECOND BY EMMA ROSSA WICKER.
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK? YEAH, I DID.
I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS AND THANKS FOR DWIGHT FOR MAKING THOSE COMMENTS.
I, I JUST NEED TO, I GUESS CLARIFY JUST REAL QUICK, A COUPLE OF THINGS, UM, BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE NUMBER ONE, APOLOGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE ON WEDNESDAY THAT CAUSED ANY KIND OF ISSUES WITH ANYONE.
UM, I WAS IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH ASHLEY, UH, DWIGHT AND I WERE TEXTING BACK AND FORTH THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS THAT I DID HAVE, UH, A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WITH MY MOM TRYING TO, UH, AT THE HOSPITAL WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT SHE HAD ACTUALLY HAD A STROKE.
SO I WOULD NEVER, UH, SHIRK MY RESPONSIBILITY.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT, A LOT OF CONVERSATION OUT THERE APPARENTLY THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING AS A RESULT OF, UH, SOME POLITICAL, UM, ISSUES.
UM, IF THERE WERE MEETINGS OF THAT SORT OR CONVERSATIONS OF THAT SORT, I WANT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC AND YOU GUYS THAT I WAS NOT PART OF THAT I WILL SIMPLY OUT TRYING TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF MY MOM AND MAKE SURE THAT SHE WAS OKAY.
AND WASN'T ABOUT TO GO SEE JESUS, TO BE HONEST.
SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TO, TO CLARIFY THAT, UM, I THINK DONALD'S ON THE CALL.
I THINK, UM, IN, IN MY 12 YEARS OF BEING ON COUNCIL, I'VE ONLY MISSED ONE TIME WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS CROWN, UH, CLEANER FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I THINK THE OTHER ONE WAS WHEN DONNA MADE ME GO HOME BECAUSE SHE LITERALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING INTO LABOR BECAUSE I WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT.
AND THE NEWS REPORTED THAT ACTUALLY I HAD THE BABY WHEN I HADN'T.
SO I DO TAKE MY RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS COUNCIL VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I'M GLAD TO BE BACK.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST EXPLAIN WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ME ON WEDNESDAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? I MIGHT JUST SAY SOMETHING.
SO AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK OUT THERE ABOUT, UH, WHY WE DIDN'T SHOW UP AS A GROUP, UM, TO, UH, EVEN CONFIRM WHAT TARA WAS SAYING.
I HAD NO DISCUSSION ABOUT ANYBODY WASN'T GETTING ANY MEETING WITH PATTY ABOUT WHY I WASN'T THERE.
AND HONESTLY, ON THE FIFTH, WEDNESDAY, I PLAN OTHER STUFF.
AND I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MEETING UNTIL TUESDAY WHEN SOMEBODY, I SAW SOMEBODY IN THE STORE NEAR THE CORNER OF THE MEETING.
SO I DON'T SHOW RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, I KNOW THAT THE MEDIA ALWAYS BLOWS THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION.
WHEN IT WAS SAID, THE REPUBLICANS SAID WE WERE SHAUN IN OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO PERSONALLY SAID IT, BUT SOME I CAN PERSONALLY CALL MY CELL PHONE TWO, TWO, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, NINE 96 90.
IF YOU TAKE ON PERSONALLY AND MY RESPONSIBILITY, I SHOW UP AT MEETINGS AND I TOOK OFFENSE TO THAT.
I APOLOGIZE TO MY FRIEND, SCOTT WILSON FOR THAT, BUT, UH, I AM, UH, I WANT TO HAVE ONE OTHER POINT OF CLARITY.
AND I TALKED TO ASHLEY ABOUT THIS EARLIER, UH, ABOUT THE GOVERNING BODY AND THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY.
SO THERE WAS A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT WHEN THEY HAD THOSE SCREENS SAY THAT DOES A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT SAY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY? OR IS THIS LANGUAGE SIMULTANEOUS? IS IT LANGUAGE THE SAME WITH THE SAME MEETING? I MEAN, WE CAN PUT ANDY ON THE LINE IF YOU WANT, UH, DONALD THAT'S.
UH, IF YOU LOOK BACK TO THE PART THAT, UH, ASHLEY PUT UP ON THE SCREEN, WHICH IS CHAPTER TWO, GOVERNING BODIES, SECTION TWO OH ONE EIGHT, AND YOU LOOK DOWN TO THE SECOND SENTENCE THAT BEGINS WITH, IF APPROVED, YOU LOOK DOWN PASSING SOME OF THE CALL THAT SAYS THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SHALL BE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARENTS OF EACH BEDROOMS OR COUNCIL WOMAN COLLEGE LOSES REFERENCING IS PART SECTION TWO OH FOUR.
[00:10:01]
AND I DON'T KNOW IF ASHLEY HAS THAT ONE, A WHERE IT SAYS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF BATON WHO SHALL CONSIST OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL HAS AND ABOVE PROVIDED FOR.SO I JUST WANT A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY ON THAT.
NOT ONLY FOR, FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE WHERE IT, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, AS WE TRY TO LOOK AT THOSE TIMES AGAIN, BUT ANDY, UH, THOSE TWO TERMS, MEANING THE SAME THING.
AND SHOULD THEY BE CONSISTENT IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S READ OR THE WORDING? I THINK IT'S A LADDER.
IN OUR OPINION, IT IS CONSISTENT.
THEY, THEY, THEY MEAN THE SAME THING.
AND I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED WHEN WE GO THROUGH AND WE MAKE CHANGES TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, BUT IN OUR OPINION, IT'S THE SAME THING.
IT'S THE COUNCIL IS THE METRO, THE METRO COUNTY, EXCUSE ME, IS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE PARISH CITY PARISH.
SO THE LANGUAGE IS ONE OF THE TIMES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SOME CLARITY.
THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THAT ALSO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS OR ANY, ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY.
WE HAD A MOTION BY HUDSON AND SECOND BY AMA ROSA, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS HEARING MARY? NO OBJECTIONS.
CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL, VOTE, ROLL CALL VOTE.
MA'AM COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL.
VOTE ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN WELCH.
I'D BE ABLE TO SAY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE A COP PROBABLY WAS THAT, UH, EXCUSE ME, MR. MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, ABOUT MAKING THE MAYOR LOOK LIKE A HERO.
I THINK THE MAYOR DID WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS WORKING, BUT I WANTED TO SAY MY PIECE, YOU ARE GIVING ME ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES, BUT I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE TOO, BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE MAYOR LOOK LIKE A HERO.
SOMEBODY TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M DONE ALSO IN AN MRI, SO YEAH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MOTION TO ADJOURN BY THE CHAIR.
IS THERE A SECOND? BOB WATSON ENJOY YOUR FRIDAY.