City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. The Economic Workforce and Planning Development Committee's agenda, August the 11th, 2026, committee composed of Ms. Councilman Larva and Councilman Fuller, foul, I'm sorry, and Councilman Green. Alexander City Council meetings and Council Committee meetings are broadcast live and may be reviewed live by the public on Optimum Channel, Cable Channel 4. A rebroadcast may be viewed on Optimum Cable Channel 4 and the City of Alexandria website, which is www.cityofalexandria.com. The one item on the agenda is to consider file adoption of an ordinance amending and reenacting Articles 12, Chapter 7 of the city code to allow the use of administration adjudications to enforce building codes, zoning, vegetation and nuisance ordinances, sewage and drainage regulations, matters involved in licensing and permits and other violations as determined by the City Council. Good afternoon, Mr. Daniels. It's your turn.

Good afternoon, Daniel Smith, Planning Director. We're requesting this ordinance to expand the authority of the hearing officers who are conducting administrative adjudications for the city. If you guys recall last year, we came to you with an ordinance to start that program, but because of state law, it sets a cap for municipalities and parishes under 70,000 people. They only have limited authority to hear certain types of cases. So currently, under current law, both state law and the city's ordinances, an administrative hearing officer for the city can only hear cases that deal with extreme blight, so things that are an actual danger to the public health. They can hear fire code violations, environmental violations. What this does is it follows a state law that we requested and then got enacted this year, Act 612 of 2026, which would expand that authority to do other types of cases in a similar fashion as other cities and parishes that have more than 70,000 people. If you look at the statutes, they're 13, 25, 75, 12, dot 12 is the one that was just enacted. That's because, you know, 1 through 11 were for other communities such as Jefferson, DeRidder, Monroe. We've really piggybacked on what those other communities had asked for and received. And what this will allow us to do is to hear more types of cases, so not just the blighted properties, but any violations potentially of property maintenance code. It'll allow us to go after zoning violations, which was one of the main drives of this ordinance. We'd also be allowed to here, vegetation, nuisances, sewers, and drainage systems. And we do have one of those in city court right now, for example, and licensing and permits. And then there's this catch-all language for the governing authority if they wanted to add and further expand that authority. I mentioned zoning, we've had certain zoning cases that we prosecuted in city court as misdemeanors. That can be time consuming, it's not very efficient, and it is a misdemeanor, it's a criminal, when really we're trying to get people to address violations that are more civil in nature. so this you know currently the hearing officer really only has the authority more or less to issue penalties and those fines go against the property and for something like a zoning matter that's a lot more appropriate forum and approach to try to enforce those ordinances so if this language basically mirrors exactly what's in state law now it just went into effect August 1st and we ask for your consideration $500 per violation. And that can be actually per day, though we would have to have a really strong case to do daily fines. And that's essentially what's concurrent with misdemeanor jurisdiction, $500. And that's set by state law as well. Can you give me examples on how this court would work? Okay, well, we've already had a few hearings. So basically we send notice. The ordinance that you guys have already passed requires 30 days of notice. Okay, stop right there. What type of violations are we currently hearing? Blighted commercial properties. Okay. We've had about five properties, and a couple of them we're working with. A few of them were no-shows, and we had them fined $500, and that's been filed as an administrative judgment on the property. So, I mean, the really bad, really extreme blight is where we started. There's some down on 3700 Block of Willow Glen River Road, 3200 3rd Street was one of them. Kind of the worst of the worst is where we started. And what are some other examples besides just... Well, for expanded authority, like a zoning case. For example, we've had people who... You know, running unauthorized businesses in a neighborhood, for example. And collecting money for that business and the neighbors complain to the city. It's, you know, rooting their enjoyment of their property. So we've brought those cases to city court for, as a misdemeanor, zoning violation. We'd much rather bring it before an administrative hearing officer. And in city court, you have an arraignment. You have to wait a few months. They have this court date. They don't show. Maybe there'll be a bench warrant. We're trying to avoid all that kind of stuff for... zoning violation for example you know okay so with this proposed amendment what type of cases are you trying to hear now zoning this would be a big chunk of them okay um we have a dispute with uh a drainage system that's dumping onto their neighbor's yard that could be something that we would bring to a hearing officer rather than bring it to city court um people who violate their permits or people who build without a permit that's one thing we could you know presumably take before a hearing officer. And then also, you know, houses that get before you guys for condemnation and demolition, they've already, usually are way too gone to have any kind of repair done. But if there are some structures that could still be repaired but are in violation of, you know, property maintenance codes, presumably we could bring those as well. Intervene before it got too far gone. So far, for the folks who showed up, they've gotten more time because they either had a property under contract they were trying to sell, but the folks that did not show up just straight up, you know, just didn't appear. And the ordinance gives the authority to, if you don't appear, as basically a mission of liability. And so those folks are fined $500 for having a blighted property.

Now, I see there's an appeals to the 9th JDC. That's correct. That's in state law. All right. What is the burden of proof at the appellate stage?

Well, since it's the appellate court, it would be, You know, it's a de novo review of the law and manifest error on the facts. But an administrative hearing officer does get some level of discretion because they're the fact finder. You wouldn't have a new trial at the night JDC, a de novo review. Just review the record. That's exactly right. Be closed record review unless the judge ordered the record to be open. And since it's a civil matter, you know, at the hearing officer stage, that's your preponderance of evidence.

Civil standard. I guess the appellate would just be asking, I guess pushing some type of error of some sort.

Or that the city didn't meet its notice requirements would be a big one that you could appeal on. It is a little odd because you're appealing a lower... judgment to a district court that sits in sort of a quasi-appellate capacity. But it's not unusual, especially in the first, especially in like 1980s for things coming out of Baton Rouge, civil district court in New Orleans does it routinely.

Okay. And that's the normal process from the administrative law judge to the local district court?

That's right. And that's spelled out in state law. That wouldn't be optional for us.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Mr. Smith, I see Representative DeWitt carried this House Bill 66 for the city and goes into effect, you said, August. Who determines and goes out and finds these violations? Which department, sir?

Well, each department that's responsible for its own ordinances would do that, but by and large, it would be inspectors from the community development department. When we're looking at blighted properties, for example, they already have that inventory of the properties that they recommend for rehabilitation or for demolition with the city council. But for example, if there was a fire code violation, the fire department, fire marshal will bring that.

In the ordinance, I'm reading where you said zoning, vegetation, and nuisance ordinances. June the 3rd, 2026, I reported to the Louisiana Health Department a situation with the sanctuary. The grass was high. So we have something in writing, but I'm trying to say we're going to enact something else, but we're not enforcing what we have currently on the books.

Well, This ordinance, the ordinance y'all passed last year, it just adds another tool to the toolbox. So they have these reservation clauses or preservation clauses where it says that by allowing the city to take this approach does not foreclose the city from taking any other approach. So grass cutting and those kind of nuisances are handled by public works in the city attorney's office. But this wouldn't take away or shift anything necessarily. It would be adding another tool for the city to use.

Would this amendment cost the city more money to enact?

It would not. It does take staff time to bring these cases. So some things would be shifted from city court, theoretically. We're paying staff over there, too, of course. So it does not have a big fiscal hit. In theory, it could generate some small revenue if people are paying these fines. That's not the purpose of it. I don't want to cast it that way at all. But yeah, we would... We're looking at right now about how best to use resources, and particularly the planning division, to try to get this to be sustainable. We do pay the hearing officers for their time. That's in the ordinance that was already passed. Okay. But right now it's been pretty limited. Right.

Will we be required to hire any more personnel to do this?

We envision possibly creating a position. Don't know if that will be budget neutral, where we would just shift the position to... make a new position, you know, shift something that's already to a new role to handle these, the notices, to handle the, to be the docket clerk for better, you know, for lack of a better term. So possibly a division, excuse me, possibly a position. And then we're considering, you know, trying to figure out who can bring these cases more sustainably, possibly one of our, you know, part-time city court prosecutors that we're already, that we already have on staff.

And do you have any idea what the fees would be at the 9th JDC for appealing something like this?

I believe it's your regular, I think it's the regular court cost filing fee. Does it need to be the regular court cost filing fee?

I don't know the answer to that question. I'm not sure we can. Well, I guess my question is, I would like to know, do we really need, people need to be charged in a rule $400, a full $400 or something like this.

It's for a $500 fine appeal. Yeah. I understand where you're coming from. I don't believe that, I don't believe the city has the authority to change that, to change the state law.

Okay. Just wondering, just wondering. You could do some more tools in the toolbox and let's do it quicker from all four. Let's start over.

Because people could proceed as a pauper if the court approves it. That's true.

But our goal right now really isn't to kill and dime folks that can't afford it.

Well, my concern is most of the people that we're going to be dealing with are going to be folks who may have limited resources. So putting an additional $400 on them to appeal it is something that's concerning to me. All right.

Anything else?

You have a motion to recommend?

Are you going to make it?

Repeat it, sir.

Are you going to make it?

You can.

I'll make a motion.

Second. We'll move forward with this item number 14 during the regular council. Thank you. The committee is adjourned. Thank you.

Committee meetings are broadcast live and may be viewed live on the public Octum Channel 4. A rebroadcast may be viewed on Octum Channel 4. In the City of Alexandria website, we're going to have the invocation by Councilman Johnson and the pledge by Councilman Beloyed.

that having a father become you once again, asking you for guidance, asking you to guide these leaders that are making the best decision, not in our interest, but the interest of the city of Alexandria. And bless our student that's going back to school and have them have a great school year with no serious incident. In all these names we pray. Amen. Amen.

approval of the minutes taken from the regular meeting held on July 28.

I need a motion and a second, please.

motion by councilman Fowler second by councilman Beloyed public comments public comments on what section of the written minutes you would like to make a comment on if it's not in the written minutes there will not be any discussion or comments only on the agenda if you have any questions pertaining to any items on the agenda please contact the administration before or after the meeting

Public comments? Discussion?

All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried.

F, consent calendar. Number one, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low bid submitted for extrication tools and battery charges for the fire department. Number two, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to renew the existing contract with Soul Escape LLC for electric utility right-of-way maintenance. Number three, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to renew the existing contract with CBS Cleaning Services for janitorial services for the transit buses and the passenger transit van. Number four, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a professional service agreement with Pan American Engineering, LLC for Engineering, and PHMSA grant-related services. Number five, introduction of an ordinance amending the uplander police department's Recruitment and Retention Policy and Initiative, Ordinance Number 74-2023, in accordance with Resolution Number 0435-2023, providing for recruitment of post-certified officers. Number 6, Introduction of an Ordinance Authorizing the Mayor to Renew a Professional Service Agreement with Art Bradpice for Clean Services at Frank O'Hana Gym, and the youth and teen center on Sylvester Street.

Motion, please. Second. Second. Motion by Council Fowler, second by Councilman Johnson. Any items to committee?

G, resolution. Number 7, resolution authorizing advertisement for bid for turn-out gear for the fire department.

Motion, please. Second. Second. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Johnson. Public comments? Discussion? All in favor? All right. Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 8, resolution authorizing advertisement for high mass lighting for the electric distribution department.

Motion, please. Move. Second.

Second.

Motion by Council Member Lloyd, second by Councilwoman Felter. Public comments? Discussion? All in favor? All right. Any opposed?

Motion carried. Number 9, resolution to co-sponsor the Arts Council of Central Louisiana Falls. fall art walk in October 2026.

Motion, please. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second. Second. Second by Councilwoman Felter. Public comments, discussion, all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 10, a resolution authorizing advertisement for B is the annual requirements contract for water, wastewater, natural gas, and general site-related system 2026.

Motion, please. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second. Second. Second by Councilman Beloyed. Public comments? Discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried.

H, Ordinances for Final Adoption. Secretary of Public Hearing. Number 11, to consider final adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low bid submitted for an insulator articulating telescopic bone and material handling.

Motion, please. Move. Motion by Councilman Beloyed. Second by Councilman Fowler. Public comments? Discussion? All in favor? All right. Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 12, to consider final adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept a low bid submitted for full spectrum imaging system FSIS 2, color lab system, and full spectrum imaging system FSIS-CSE2.

Motion, please. Move. Motion by Councilman Beloyed. Second. Second by Councilwoman Felter. Public comments? Discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 13, to consider file adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the lobbyist submitted for a 47-foot sheet height hydraulic digger deck or truck. The administration is requesting that this item be removed.

Motion by Councilman Fowler. I'm sorry, motion by Councilman Beloyed. Second by Councilman Fowler. Beloyed to have this removed. Public comments? Discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 14, to consider foundation of an ordinance amending and reenacting Article 12, Chapter 7 of the City Code, Sections 7-231, 7-233, 7-235, 7-237, and 7-240 to allow the use of administrative Adjudication to enforce building codes, zoning, vegetation, and nuisance ordinances, sewage and drainage regulation, matters involving licensing and permits, licensing and permits, and other violations as determined by the City Council.

A motion, please. A motion by Councilman Fowler. Second. Second. Second by Councilman Johnson. Public comments, discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion. Any opposed?

No. Councilman Green? Councilman Green, no.

Okay. Motion. Go ahead. Motion carried.

Number 15, to consider foundation of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the lowest proposal received from Sandlot Cleaning and Details, LSC, for janitory services for the utility customer service building.

Motion, please. Move. Motion by Councilman Beloyed. Second. Second. Second by Councilman Fowler, public comments, discussion. All in favor?

Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 16, to consider foundation of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to renew the existing contract with Solar Power Line LLC for electric distribution overhead maintenance services.

Motion, please. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second. Second. Second by Councilman Lloyd, public comments, discussion. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?

Motion carried. Number 17, to consider foundation of an ordinance revoking a 30 feet by 30 feet lift station server 2 located lot 2-8 of Scottish Turn subdivision.

Motion, please. Motion by Councilman Fowler. Second. Second. Second by Councilwoman Felter. Public comments? Discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 18, to consider foundation of an ordinance to rezone 3511 England Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana from a MHP mobile home park zoning district. to a PD planned development zone to allow for mobile homes and RVs for lots 9 through 20, 37 through 48, and lot 57 at an existing mobile home park.

Motion, please. Second. Motion by Councilman Fowler. Second. Second. Second by Councilman Lombardine. Public comments? Discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 19, to consider foundation of an order to rezone 58 Hyman Lane, Alexandria, Louisiana from B2 Commercial Business, Community Business to C1 Limited Commercial Zoning District to allow for commercial parking.

Motion, please. Move. Motion by Councilwoman Felger. Second by Councilman Beloyed. Public comments? Discussion? All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 20, to consider filing an option of an ordinance annexing 26.73 acres being track 1, 6.71 acres, and track 2, 20.02 acres located in section 41, 53, and 54 of Township 4, North Range 2. West, Red Peace Parish, Louisiana.

Motion, please. Motion by Council. Followed? Second. Second. Second by Council Member Beloyed. Public comments? Discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 21, to consider found option of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low bid submitted financial gas welding services for the gas department.

Motion, please. Motion by Council Member Fowler. Second. Second. Second by Council Member Beloyed. Public comments? Discussion? Discussion? All in favor? Aye.

Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 22, to consider found doctrine of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the lobbyist submitted for three-phase PAC.

Motion, please. Motion by Councilman Beloyed, second by Councilman Powell. A public comment, discussion? All in favor? Aye.

Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 23, to consider found doctrine of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the lobbyist submitted for single-phase pole-mounted administration requesting that this item be delayed for two weeks.

Motion, please. Motion delayed. Second. Motion by Council Member Lloyd, second by Councilman Fowler. Public comments, discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 24, to consider file adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept a low bid submitted for single-phase pad-mounted administration. I request that this item be delayed for two weeks. Second.

Moved by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Johnson. Public comments, discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried.

Aye. Resolution public hearing community development number 25 to continue public hearing concerning condemnation on the following structure, 1505 2nd Street, Richard Hunter Holloway et al.

Motion and second to open the public hearing. Motion by Councilman Beloyed. Second by Councilman Johnson. Public comments? Discussion? All in favour? Any opposed?

Public hearing is open. No, public hearing is open.

Public hearing is open. Chad Reed with Community Development. We are asking for condemnation on 1505 2nd Street.

Do we have anybody here from that? Okay. Would you like to say something? You can go to the... Yes.

And as the council's aware, this one has already been continued. It granted them additional time last time. 60 days.

That's correct. The council, last time we were here, y'all graciously gave us continuance, and we appreciate that very much. Mr Holloway has been working vigorously to try to put something together. It's hard to get it done in 60 days and we would respectfully request that you please consider giving us another continuance for some time because he's trying to make something work. He's not dragging his feet. He has no reason not to do something. And believe you me, you have his attention and he is trying to do something. But to be able to put something together in that area is not an easy commercial marketable thing to do. And if you could give us more time, something's going to be done before the end of the year. There's no doubt about it. And we recognize that. We appreciate the consideration that you gave us last time. And we wish... Y'all, it's right there by the community... college, the vo-tech, and he's got two or three things on his mind trying to put it together and it's hard to do something like that in 60 days. And so y'all graciously continued it for us one time. We'd ask that you do it again, knowing that something's got to happen soon. And again, we respect that. I like to say, y'all, I appreciate what the council's doing very much. I like to say that you don't see what's not there. And if you drive around town on MacArthur Drive, or on some of the other streets, going to the residential areas, you can see the work that's happened. I mean, there have been a lot of structures that have been torn down. There have been a lot of dilapidated buildings that are no longer there. You don't see it because it's not there. And at the end of the day, things are looking better. Alexandria does look prettier. I don't care what you say about it. I do wonder how many structures have been taken down. I would like to have a count on it because I live here too, and I want it to look nice. And again, I appreciate everything that y'all are doing, and I appreciate you attempting to expedite the process. That's all wonderful. But y'all, we're not here dragging our feet, and we're not asking for something that we wouldn't use. He's trying to do something, and so he's here too. And I respect the decision that you make. But if y'all could give us more time, we do recognize that something has to be done before the end of the year, if not sooner, and we're working on it, and that's where we're at. Mr. Holloway?

I have a question. So for the inspectors, do y'all see an improvement? Do y'all see them working?

On the structure? 1505? No, there's been no improvement at all. I went by there today. There's been no change in it. We were instructed to put the boards up last time.

It has been boarded up. Excuse me, if I may.

It has been boarded up. It hasn't been boarded up to code. There's still openings in the building.

Well, I passed by on the front of it, and I saw it was boarded up from what it was looking like in the past. So I didn't go around the entire building, but you say it's not boarded up to your specifications?

It's not right. There's still openings in the building where rodents, things like that, can get in there. The inside is still exposed to the elements.

Well, the Y's and O's building was not built up for the Lomas, and we stood by it. But whatever. And to answer your question, the former mayor's home, the former mayor of Alexander Home on Jackson Street, I live on Mary, they have spent some money refurbishing that house. So it is a place that could be once you decide what you're going to do with it. But just to answer your question about houses being refurbished at home on Jackson Street, I was worried. I thought they were going to tear it down. But they have put some money into it to bring it back to Congress. So again, I'm not aware of the back of the building not being completely boarded up to the specifications. But what I did see on the front, you did make an attempt to do what you said last time. You would board it up. Thank you, Madam President.

Mr. Holloway. Do you understand? So I noticed taking your time and money. You still put money into that building?

Yes, sir. And at one time, my parents had actually stayed in the house many times. I mean, it was totally refurbed inside. And then just over a period of time, just I guess because of the area, it just fell into neglect. But we're hoping to make something very productive of it. And the lady's trying to raise some money and put a nice facility there.

How long, Mr. Holloway, and what kind of facility are you planning on?

A rehab facility for homeless veterans.

Would that require tearing the building down and building a new facility? No. She wants to use the existing building.

I'm sorry.

No, no, no.

And so when is this remodeling supposed to take place?

She's trying to get the grants and everything in place right now. I mean, that's the problem is it's taking a little bit longer than she had anticipated.

I know that house has been up there for some years and I do know that it's an eyesore. If you're going to do something with it, I'd like to see a timeline, a time frame or something on it because the last meeting we met, we actually boarded and you boarded and you said that you would do some things to it. besides just boarding it, but all you did was board the house up?

No, ma'am, I cleaned all the trash off the front porch and did as much as I could to clean it up. Now, apparently, there had been some people there before who liked to mess up the property, but that's an ongoing thing. There's no trespassing, so anybody seen on there should you know, be run away, but that doesn't necessarily happen, so. Here's my dilemma.

The funding is not there. So this is what, August?

Mm-hmm.

And we extended 60 days last time. So, and the funding is out of your hands. I mean, you can't say when the funding is going to get there so she could, you know, make a big improvement on it.

Well, if the funding is not there, then I guess I'll have to just take it down. But I would like to preserve the house and the lady thought it would be perfect for the homeless veterans place and I've talked to several people with the VA and it seems like there's an interest there. We've just got to get the funding secured. Just somebody saying we'll give you a grant for that, I want it in print.

Homeless veterans, I'm one of the original members on that board. Who are you talking to on that board?

Gary Perkins is one of the guys I've been talking to. He's the guy that owns Wildwood.

And just for the record, the city did originally have this on an agenda, I think, in April, and the city had granted sort of an administrative continuance based on a conversation that I had had with Mr. French. So while the council's only continued at one time, he's been given other extensions before that.

The first letter recommending rehab was sent out in 1997 and the first letter recommending demo was sent out in September of 25. So in 1997 it was supposed to be... We sent out a letter recommending rehab at that time. And since then, since the further degradation of the property, we sent out a letter in September of 25 recommending demolition. September of 25.

I was in the military back then.

So Mr Holloway, when did you decide that you wanted to make this into a veterans rehab home?

When this lady knocked on the door of my house and said she looked up the property and found out who owned it and knocked on my house and said can we put something there and I told her yes.

Okay. So what I would like to do is maybe you can bring those people up to this meeting. We'll give you 30 days. And you can bring those people up to the meeting, the VA that you spoke with, the lady that is trying to work on this structure, whatever it is that she's trying to do.

Right.

And we can hear what their time frame will be.

Okay.

And if it's not up to what the council think the time frame should be, then that will be the end of that house.

I understand. But I appreciate that because she was very sincere and asked me not to think she was a stalker for looking me up and coming to my house but I really appreciate her bravery and knocking on my door.

Because to be truthful, it is an eyesore when you come in downtown that it's been up there for years. That's about, I mean, if my colleagues agree with that. Mr. Horton?

How you doing? Excuse me.

My name is Richard Horton. I manage some commercial property right across from that facility that he's talking about, that house right there, 1429 3rd Street. And the thing I've noticed is there's a lady that comes out of that house. every morning. So you have homeless people living in that house. Unhoused people living in the house. So it's a hazard because children walking up and down, coming downtown all the time have to pass by there and all that debris is coming to the sidewalk. And so they can fence it off. It's an eyesore and it's also a businessman which is right there downtown. And that place has been there for as far as I know in Alexandria it's been that way.

And I agree with you. I see that sign later coming out that house.

It comes a time. It comes a time. Just take a picture of it and tear it down. I'm sorry.

Okay. Well, I appreciate that, but boarding it up, I don't see how she could be seen coming out of the house if it's boarded up. I've seen it several times.

Okay. Almost every morning.

Recently?

Yes.

Okay.

And you'll see it.

Well, sitting on the sidewalk can be... She's coming out of the house. Okay, well, again, everybody's seen that it's boarded up, so I don't know what to say.

I recommend it personally. I hope you don't take it the wrong way, Mr Holloway, but I recommend that we demolish that house. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?

I oppose.

You oppose? Yeah. Okay.

Okay.

We're going to start demolishing. Thank you for your attention to the matter.

Thank you. Now, Mr. Smith, what's the ramifications of this

Well, we'll have 30 days to have it torn down. The city contractor will be given a permit to do it after that time frame, after 30 days.

So we'll have 30 days? That's correct. Then you'll let out a contract to tear it down? That's exactly right.

If you have significant stuff done, you can contact Mr. Smith. I got you. Is that a hard 30 days?

I mean, there's a few days of mobilization, but it's not much more than 30 days. We have the contractors available throughout tearing structures down and this week, actually, from the last condemnation vote. And then the costs that are incurred by that demolition would be presented to the council for approval and then filed as a lien on the property.

That's precluding that I don't

That's correct. If you demolish it yourself, it's your property to do what you wish.

Right. You can call our office and we can get you the permit application at the end of the day that you have to fill out. You can hire your own contractor to do that. You can do that within 30 days.

Or if you've got 30 days, you get up there and do some heavy work on it and you come back to him on that.

Okay. That is true. And just to dovetail on what my colleague said, if you were to get some money and want to reinvest it, he still has a window to do that.

You would have to show significant progress. The condemnation order would still be in place. We'd have to evaluate that on a case-by-case situation, but that building would take a lot of work, and it would absolutely have to be a permit filed and work started, and a real permit, not one of these, oh, $5,000 and I'm going to, you know, replace the drywall.

How many years has that house been? Yeah, because I, you know, dilapidated and nothing has been done to it. That's in District 3. That's in the area downtown where people come in 20 years.

So, recap, you understand what's going on? You really have 30-plus days to make some serious major. Got it. And it's still going to be these guys.

Well, they've been nothing but gracious to us, and I appreciate their position, and I've got no problem with that. So we understand the import of what you have to say. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, we need a motion to close public hearing.

I have one thing, real quick, if you don't mind, please. I'm sorry. Chad, with the community development, I've been coming to you guys for about three and a half years now, seeking combinations and calls to public hearings with you guys. But if you'll stand up and come up here. This is Ms Michaela Jones. She is taking my demo program manager spot. I moved into the inspector's position. So she will be the one presenting to you guys here on out with the city council. Okay, congratulations.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

You're welcome. We need a motion and a second to close the public hearing.

Move. Can I make a comment before you close the meeting on an item not related, not specifically on the... I'm sorry. You can't.

I'm sorry, you can't.

No general public comment?

You can't. You had to fill out a... No. No general comment. outside to speak.

You can't give me three minutes to speak? No. No, sir.

I'm sorry. But I'm one person.

No, sir. So you want to fill out a little forms too late? It is.

A motion, please. Move. Motion by Councilman Beloyed, second by Councilman Fowler. Public comment? Discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. This meeting is adjourned.