City Council - Regular Meeting

Dear heavenly father, [snorts] we come this evening and we're going to ask you to please be in our minds and on our hearts so that the leaders of this city will make the Christian decisions that would be beneficial to all citizens of Alexandria. Dear Lord, we also want to thank you for another beautiful day.

Uh we thank you Lord for all the blessings you have bestowed on our families and our friends. And again Lord, please guide our minds. Guide the minds of our leaders uh that they may represent the citizens of Alexandria in my Jesus name I pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. And amen. The flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] Legislative president, please.

Roll call, please. Mr. Johnson, here. Miss Felter here. Mr. Green here. More here. Mr. L here. Merry here. M the approval of the minutes taken from the regular meeting held on October 21st. Um I need a motion and a second.

Moved by um Councilman Green, second by Councilman Fowler. Um public comments. What section of the written minutes would you like to make a comment on? If it's not in the written minutes, there will not be any discussions or comments only. If you have any questions pertaining to any item on the agenda, please contact administration before or after the meeting. Discussions. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried.

F. Executive session to be held pursuant to RS4217A2 on the following. A to consider an executive session to receive a report and recommendation from the city attorney regarding settling the dispute in the matter at the ninth judicial district court entitled Terry Holmes versus city of Alexandria docket number 273418 and other matters related there too. I need a motion and a [clears throat] second. Motion by Councilman Lord, second by Councilman Johnson to go into executive session. Roll call. Roll call, please. Mr. Yes. Mr. Lang? Yes. Miss Perry? Yes. Mr. Johnson? Yes.

Miss Feler? Yes. Mr. Green? Yes. Mr. F? Yes. Madam President. Okay.

article 3 of chapter 2 section 2-46 through 2-50 of the Alexander code of ordinance relative to city council district repealing ordinance number 372024 and reacting city council district boundaries and description in ordinance number 153-2022 relative to redistricting and reortioning city council district 1 2 3 4 and 5 as shown on the map titled city of Alexandria council district prepared by the office of city engineers to provide for effectiveness and other matters with respect there too I need a motion

second please motion by councilman Lberine second by council Johnson to open a public hearing. At this time, we'll have public comments. The public hearing is only here to make comments from the citizens and they hear the comments from the citizens. Each person has three minutes to make their comments because they don't have to sign it. Okay. [clears throat] Do we have anyone that would like to make any comments? [snorts]

No, I know that you sign, but you don't have to sign up for public hearing. Wait, [laughter] tell us.

Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. My comments about this situation is I have seen a lot of interviews, people talking. Um, it's my understanding that the 2024 map was done according to the census and right now I feel that those maps should be reinstated, reenacted, whatever you want to call it. The maps that Elizabeth Meyers Felter did in 2022 was politically motivated. Now, she said that the maps that this right here is politically motivated. So, it wasn't politically motivated when the council let you do it. You represented you went to the rapies area planning committee to do what you did. So, what you did was you a lot of people were affected. Some people went to the precincts that they were voting for all alone. When you did the gerrymandering, those people had to find out when they went to the precinct that they were not there to vote in that precinct. They had to find find what precinct. So, yeah, you did it for a political motivation to get your seat. Um, you also said in your interview that you talked to some of the council members and they just didn't seem to understand it, but you did it. And yes, you said in the same breath, you voted for it. So, you told on yourself. So, I feel that the council from the present that did this while you were here, they should be held accountable

for doing it. I think the president at that time, I may be mistaken, was Jim Bard. The area, the Rap Parish planning committee should have contacted the rest even though it wasn't up to them to do it. It was for Miss Felter to talk to her other council part counterparts. I can't think of but you didn't and the several of the council members that didn't know or understand. Miss Bell, can I interrupt just for a little bit? May I reclaim my time when you do that?

Yes, ma'am. You sure can. We're going to talk about the redistricting. We're not going to, you know, it's freedom of speech, but we're going to stay on the redistricting. That is this is all part of redistricting. But but what it says public hearing concerning amending. Okay. And reenacting. Yes, ma'am. So that's what I'm I'm saying on that it should be reenacted. Yes, ma'am. It never should have been done in the first place. Yes, ma'am. So, how much time do I have left? You have 27 seconds.

That'll work. So in my opinion as a citizen and a rate payer that those maps on 2024 should be reenacted [clears throat and cough] and I yield back to Miss Perry. Thank you Miss Bale. Good afternoon or good evening that is everybody knows who I am. Um so I got a question according to

it's comments it's comments only comment okay okay I I'll put it in a comment let me let me let me say according to I have to say that part

so according to you your home room charter right it says the only reason why we should do any type of redistricting. I want you guys to understand according to the home room charter, section 2-03 A and C of the Alexander home room charter provides two provisions for changes in district boundaries. Number one, in the event of annexation of new areas into the city and following each federal denial census, those are the only time you're supposed to do any type of redistricting when it comes to your own home rule charter. And I'mma leave it at that. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Do we have anyone else?

Hello everybody. My name is Mr. Cornelius Lawson White Jr. I live at 3638 10th Street in Alexandria. My phone number is area code 3184466934. Last time I was at this meeting, I got beat down. Mr. Now Mr. White, you going to start out right? No, hold up. Madam President, no. I'm I'm I'm going to get to my point. You see, you're not going to beat me up. But Mr. White, uh Mr. White, Hold on, Mr. White. Mr. White, hold on. Go ahead, Mr. White. Yes, ma'am.

You're going to speak on redistricting. We're not going to You have But hold on. You have not brought up beat down and I don't know how long. So, no, sir. No, sir. So, let's not talk about that. Let's talk. Let's talk about the red mad. That's what But you're here to discuss this public hearing is for the redistricting. Not about your beat down, but the redistricting. Okay.

Well, that's the point. That was about the redistricting. Anyway, um and I hope some of y'all from the news media, I would love to talk to y'all after the the meeting. But on this, why why are we just like the young lady was saying, if we're changing the rules about this redistricting and all like that and it's in the home room charter that you can't change, you know, but one time. So you y'all can do whatever you want to at any time. Oh, we can't ask a question about that. This is your comments, Mr. White.

Okay. So you can do whatever you want to. It doesn't matter, you know, just like she was talking about Lizzie Felt. So now we're going to have these districts. I guess the planning commission got about it. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that, Jay. Um, but that's the only thing people won't question. There's a lot of things happening in this town. I guess that's why I'm going to have to run for mayor at large councilman something, you know, cuz nobody's getting no questions answered. And like I said, did did y'all violate the charter or you don't know?

They're not going to answer your question. Yeah. Well, tonight we just hear from people. I appreciate y'all. Like the purpose of this hearing is just to hear from the people. We're not going to comment. We're procluded from doing so, but we just we want to get feedback from the people on how this issue affects them. So, do we have anyone else? Talk. Please talk. I'm afraid to talk. Mr. John, can you come? [clears throat]

All right. Darren, can we see if we can make this thing show back up, brother?

Uh, prepared just a little bit and uh I was joking with ODA before the meeting. Sorry, Matt John's Rapid Planning Commission. I was joking with ODA before the meeting like it was it worked out really well. It was convenient. I took the presentation from last year and just switched the language for current proposed because it's the exact opposite of what we looked at in May of last year. So, uh, I'll give you what changes by the numbers. This will be for the citizens to know and and for you guys as well. And you guys probably already know most of this anyway, but uh after the 2020 census, we go through a process of of redistricting for not only Rapids Parish, but the school board and all the municipalities within the parish that that have council districts. And with that, uh we also re-evaluate precincts. In that process for the city, uh we finished doing the first pass at reaportionment in 2022. You guys adopted the boundaries that you're looking at possibly reenacting tonight. Uh and then last uh actually about 2023 we were asked to look at a few uh potential amendments to propose to you guys. Presented that last May. You adopted those. So what I'm showing you today are going to be the changes back from what we did last year to go back to the 2022 maps. Uh the districts are laid out on the left. Two, three, and four are the only three districts affected. So one and five. We didn't mess with any of your stuff there. Um the precincts are listed on the side. It shows you where where it's proposed to go and where where it is now. So again, when we say where it is now, that's per the ordinance as adopted last year. So C40 is in district 2. Um it's proposed, I'm sorry, currently district 2 has C40. It's going to get C9. That'll be the trade. District 3 will trade C9 for C18 and District 4 will trade C18 for C40. That doesn't make a ton of sense unless you're looking at a map. So I've got that as well. Um, one of the things that we're supposed to look at when we're helping you guys in the legal process of this is making sure that it stands up constitutionally. One of the ways we do that is look at the demographic data. So, we take that the num the total population of the city of Alexandria divided evenly amongst all of the

districts and say, "All right, if that's the case, then based on 45,275, I think is the number from the 2020 census. Uh, you should have about 9,55 people. It doesn't matter demographics, age, none of that stuff matters in in that first assessment. With that, there's nothing

the the rules that were given from the Supreme Court state that there is a an allowance for a 10% differential. The really loose interpretation of that means you can be 10% above or 10% below 9,55 in your population. That gives you a 20% range. So the more stringent interpretation of that rule means that you should only have 10% between the highest and the lowest of of your others which could be five and five or it could be seven and three. So the 2022 maps that we presented fit that more stringent definition. The ones that were passed last year fits the looser definition. So that's the trade-off there. So currently as it stands, district 2 is going to be 2.32% above that 9,55 mark. Uh, district three ends up at 7.11% below and district 4 ends up 4.48% above.

Stop right there. What explain I guess those numbers. Break those out so people understand what you're saying.

Oh, absolutely. Okay. So, again, the the target to to be in line with the Supreme Court uh regulations that were given in implementing this is that you [clears throat] want to try try to have 9,55 people per district based on the census from 2020. So, if it's that plus 2.32 means that it's 2.32% above 9,55, we're allowed to go above and below that number because it's going to be really hard to hit it on the head because the precincts are laid out oddly. Um, so the idea is that when you finish doing that spread that the the highest and the lowest, somebody below the 9,55 and somebody above the 9,55, if you're meeting the strictest interpretation of that rule, that's 10% or less of a range between those two. So this is 2.32% above 9,55. District 3 is 7.11% below 9,55. So if you look at just districts three and four, you'll see that the range exceeded the the most stringent interpretation of that rule at 11%. Right? So 11 and a half. So it it matches if you take the the liberal interpretation of the rule, which we did for some of the jurisdictions that we did this process for. So if you go from what was done last year, which is listed as current, and go to the proposed, you'll see that it's a much tighter fit. Now, what this doesn't show you is district 1 and two, and I can or one and five. Five had the largest differential from the mean or the 9,55, and it was a 7.65% deviation below. And that was intentional because the western side of Alexandria is the fastest growing. So even though it is within the 10% range from the highest to lowest, district 5 with the next census is going to be closer to being in line with whatever the next number is going to be. So with the growth going out there, that's that's the reason.

So stop. So stop right there. So it looks like with the proposed numbers, it seems like two, three, and four were equally populated. Yes, sir. Pretty close. less than 1% from the 999 that you mentioned. Yes, sir. You're not supposed to speak. I'm not supposed to speak. No, he's giving the presentation. Okay. All right, man. All right, bro. All right. Go ahead.

Well, you guys feel just shout them out. I'll try to answer as best I can. I want to try to make this clear. So, the first part of that was population. Solely population, not thinking about demographics. When we start talking about demographics, the rule is you don't want to flip a majority district to a minority district. Meaning, if you've got a majority black district, you don't want to flip that. So, the numbers here, they're it's like minuscule. The biggest one is like a 6% jump if you're looking in district, sorry, district three between the current Can I move this down for a second, please? [laughter]

Uh, for white and black, but again, it doesn't flip it. So, the fact that it doesn't flip it one way or the other means that it's not not a big enough deal for it to trigger us having to say we need to do something different. So the the demographic data doesn't play as big of a factor as the population. And that's that's what the Supreme Court tells us we got to use. Anyway, that being said, I've got a map that breaks down the difference between the two. I don't know how well you're going to be able to see it out there, but the one on the right is what was revised. That's Yeah, I can zoom in. Let me zoom into the area. So the district or the precincts in question are 18, C18, C9, and C40. And it's not going to load for me, of course. I'm so sorry about that. Yep. I'm not going to fight it. And those fall uh I can use this now. Those all fall within this little area right here. Here's C18. Here's C40. Here's C9. So, it's a three-way swap before going this way. Now, it's going to be a three-way swap going back. And uh this just gives you the the data that we were working with showing you that we pulled it pulled the census data from where we were supposed to. John, I'd like for the public to know [clears throat] something. These the two different maps that are up, they're identical maps. One has the Rapar's precinct shown, and that's one on the right. The one on the left does not have the precinct numbers. When you put the precinct numbers, it obstructs some of the streets. So it's easier to demonstrate precincts on one map and the other map is without prec. But they're the same maps.

Yeah. What what I have on the computer, if I can get it to work, should show you both of them side by side. But again, it it really is just those three precincts. So there were pros and cons to both. So, when we presented this last May, uh the pros were that it was unsplitting precincts. Uh splitting precincts is a no no. It's not the end of the world. It's not constitutionally going to get you in trouble, but it's something that we tried to avoid technically. Uh we couldn't do that and make the population fit as tight as we tried to the first time in 2022. What changed last year was putting those precincts back together. It didn't make the precincts whole. So, there was a pro on that side. It did just knock us out of the strictest interpretation of that that population range. Here we go. Is that what that is now? Yeah. Can I ask a question?

We're not allowed to ask a question. Can I ask a question? You can ask a question. Okay. What was the purpose of you doing that? Since it wasn't a big deal, why did you do We were requested by the city of Alexandria. That's I'm not going to get into the politics of it. Thank you, ma'am. Can you remove that? Yeah. Again, sorry. Yeah, that's right. Your numbers is 9,52 9,55 I believe, but yes, ma'am. Somewhere in that range. Okay. Because I 9,082 was the number that was given to me. So how did you get your numbers?

Yes, ma'am. Ours came directly from the census. Um, so the census when they get their data, it is I'll be frank, it's it's garbage sometimes, but it's what we have to work with. So the city of Alexandria may have had some annexations that happen that the census is not taken account for. And those again it's it's a minuscule difference between the two but our we have to use the what's technically provided to us from the census which was uh 45 275 I believe and we had to split that. Yes sir.

Yes sir. And and we could if we had those additional population figures and knew where they belonged in which census track we could add those in and go through the same process again. But you're looking at you know 20 something people. It's not going to not going to be a huge difference as far as how it affects the averages overall. I not disagree. I'm just saying overall is that a practice? I mean whether the city or whoever come in and ask you to do something, is that a practice to just go ahead and do it without checking with the courts or anybody that's speaking?

So the legalities of it are evaluated from our standpoint on what we're given as the rules from the Supreme Court. the city staff and city attorneys have to review it for how it fits with their charter and all the other legalities of it. Once it is done and voted on, it is still submitted to the secretary of state and to uh some I forget the judicial side of it, but it is sent for a review at that level as well. So the maps for 2024 was already signed and approved. Period. 24, right? So they can be adopted and then sent down for verification by the by by whatever the judicial side of it is. Trey, do you remember the name of it? I'm sorry. Well, they changed it. Okay.

Today since August, you don't need pre-clarance. We have to get we have to submit

proposals to the register of voters of Rapid Parish for her to read and also to the clerk of court of Parish because That's the office that actually conducts the elections. They have to review and send a written letter. This is across the state just city ele and the clerk has to look at it before it's adopted to assure the governing body. But Mr. Guction

Mr. Yes, if I may, I think her question was more steered towards the Department of Justice reviewing it. There's in the last nine years about nine years ago, the United States Department of Justice no longer conducts section. So the 2022 maps should have been going through that same process. Is that right? I believe so. Same as same as both. Yes, ma'am. Okay.

And so when we're reviewing it for this again with all the rules that we have in place, [clears throat] our goal is to try to get it in posture to where when we present it to you guys, we say this is the most defensible. Like anybody can try to sue and go get it changed no matter what if they just don't like it. And the courts, depending on how it's reviewed, they could look at it and say, "This is completely wrong." Even if we got it as close to the letter of the law as we thought that that it should be. So it our goal is to try to get it as as defensible as possible for you guys. And that's that's what we had before. Um, so you got it close. You got it close enough to

take some of the people out of district three and overload district four so that a council person house could be in that district so that person could run. I I think maybe m still said and and the 2022 maps were the ones where we felt like we had it as tight as we could get it. In 2024, it did meet the looser definition. So, which is a 10%. It did. They both met they both met the definition. One was a strict interpretation of that definition. The other was a looser interpretation and we had done both for multiple jurisdictions at the will of whatever the governing jurisdiction was. Okay. Go ahead. Would you with your presentation?

I I think that's it unless you have any questions. Sorry. Thank you. I I have a question. What's splitting a a precinct? Splitting a precinct. All right. So, uh let's take this one for a second.

Uh say you've got C18 and and you've got Jackson Street runs through the middle of it. If if for whatever reason the population number on the north side of Jackson Street made more sense to to push it to [clears throat] district one, for instance. This is not what we're doing. You could split that precinct in order to make it work. What's frustrating about that and the reason we tried to avoid that is all the people in the same precinct then wouldn't be able to vote for the same thing, right? And so right now at C18, you'd be able to vote for everybody in precinct C18 would vote for district somebody in district three. But if it was split right there, everybody on north side of Jackson Street, even though they were still in precinct C18, they wouldn't be allowed to vote for district 3. They'd have to vote for district one. So that's the reason we tried to avoid that. And and in full disclosure, uh 2020 was my first time at the helm trying to get through this process. We started with the Rapids Parish Police Jury, which I thought was the right move. I will tell you now, I know that it is not. in the future whenever we do that.

Well, so whenever we do the police jury, that's when we can make the adjustments to the precincts because that's a parish situation. But because we did that without considering the effects that it was going to have when we got into the smaller geographical municipalities like city of Alexandria, city of Palville, uh it kind of painted us into a corner to where we were kind of stuck with the precincts as we had them. Had I been considering uh the precincts for the city of Alexander from the start, we would have been able to amend where some of those precinct boundaries li were were laid out so it would better fit. You know, you can move these things around a little bit easier. So that was that's on me. So that's nobody else's fault but mine. Thank you, Mr. John. Madam President, M. Mr. John, on this is

December second, will you come back with that resation when we can ask questions? Yes, sir. Because I don't want to get in trouble. love to trouble. I want to thank all the public for making the comments. Um, that is what we're here for, to listen at your concerns. Um, thank you for that. Thank you, Mr. Matt, for your presentation. Um, we have another meeting that will be December the 6. Second, I'm sorry, December the 2nd. And um you can come back to that public meeting and as well. I move to close. Motion second to close.

Okay. Thank you. Motion was made by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Velour to close the public hearing. I need a motion to um open back. So move a second. Second. No second vote on Excuse me. No, you need a motion. Second to close the public hearing. I did have one. Okay. Now we need to vote on it. Now we need to go ahead and vote on any further comments. Discussion and follow. I'm sorry. That's okay. Public comments. Discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried.

H. Consent calendar. Number one. Introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low be submitted for treated wood pose. Number two, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low be submitted for a minimum one rear load refuge truck 25 cubic yard capacity. Number three, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low be submitted for a minimum of one gravel truck for the sanitation department. Number four, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the lo submitted for a minimum of one shuttle truck for the sanitation department. Number five, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low bid submitted for Jackson Street gas man replacement for the gas department. Um, we had bid openings today and we did not receive any bids and the administration is requesting that this item be removed and readvertised at a later date. We don't need a motion. Number six, no sir. Introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low bid submitted for Masonic Court Sports. Number seven, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the city attorney to sell and compromise the dispute in the matter at the ninth judicial district court entitled terms versus city of Alexandria docket number 273418 and other matters related there too. Number eight, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the proposal receive from Utah LLC for water distribution flushing program. Number nine, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to award the engine overhaul service contract for DG Hana units 567 and 8 to motor service Yugo Stamp Inc. as backup service providers.

Need a motion, please move second. Motion by Councilman Bord, second by Councilman Fowler. Any items to committee? I resolution number 10. Resolution confirming Daniel T. Smith as director of planning. Motion, please. Move. Motion by Council Member Malloy, second by Councilman Fowler. Public comments, discussion. Yes, ma'am. Madam President. Yes.

Uh, this was open on September the October 24th. However, in the qualifications claims that you have to have uh things that noted listed in Mr. Daniel's resume which is very articulate and his BS is in psychology and Asian studies. Uh I read all of the letters that was forward for him. Uh the lady Miss Harris in New Orleans the Gold Wings by Mr. Dara. City of Alexandria by city councilman Goens. I don't see who's here. And then you had the Mr. Goen, I'm sorry, Mr. Matt Jo Jones. And then you had the Red River Delta. The things that was required for this is not privy in his resume, although he did go to Rice, Princeton, and Georgetown. But what the

what are the requirements? what they called for is not in his anywhere in his resolution anywhere in his resumes. My question is uh does he qualify for this? It's unqualif. It's a uh does he qualify for this? I don't see the eight years of experience. Uh it's just certain things that gives me a problem that if we're going to start deviating from the requirements uh I'll give them to you. Bachelor's degree with an accredited college or university in public administration, urban planning, architect or design or related fields. He has that

eight years. Eight years of progressive responsible management experience in planning, development and zoning preferred any equivalent combination or training education experience that provides the required skills, knowledge anda and abilities. Uh I heard you just say he has that In Mr. Goyne's letter, he states that he helped with the Hodgees project. I spoke with several people down in that area and they're not happy with that was part of his work. Hardest stock project is still vacant on the front.

Uh they're not happy with the apartments. And my thing is that I know his uh it's unclassified. He's only going to be there until the election of 26. But uh I don't think and I have nothing personal against Mr. Daniel Smith, but my thing is the qualifications aren't there for him to do this. Now, this was open on 9:24 25 and according to my clerk's stamped in closure is October 24th, 2025. So, did we not have enough people enough people to qualify for this mayor or whomever going to speak on this behalf?

So, I'll just start with the qualifications you listed. He meets all of them and exceeds every area. And I think everybody in the city who's worked with Daniel knows that Daniel uh received at the same time a Georgetown University law degree graduating magna cumla which is the top 10% of his class at Georgetown. At the same time he received his Georgetown law degree. He completed a Princeton University public affairs masters which is one of the listings that you listed that he meets. uh in which case he was also a top student and that was in domestic policy specialization. Uh that was from Princeton. Uh he also went to Rice University in Houston which is one of the best universities in the country. Um Daniel is a is a absolutely top uh intellect in terms of just being able to complete those things. a Georgetown law degree uh magna cumla which is the highest honors with the high with well under suma but second highest honors uh he's also was a city attorney from January 23 to present here his duties were specifically to advise the city division on the planning division zoning and community development people have seen him present here on those issues over and over he also was in New Orleans in the city attorney's office from uh nove November 2015 uh through January of 2023 uh where he also was in permits, the board of zoning and adjustments uh and all of those code enforcement, all of the matters that would qualify him here. If you add up those years of service to here before I get to his other stint in Alexandria, he more than meets the permissible, not required but preferred uh eight years. He was with the Bureau of Governmental Research in New Orleans. Uh he was at

Lisco and Lewis. Uh he was at Jones Walker. Uh he was he did a stent uh interestingly and for the Navajo Nation on DNA, people's legal services as a summer clerk. and he was with the city of Alexandria as grant writer and program manager where he mostly specialized in planning and large-scale projects like Spark of which he was a major part uh as a young man in that time of his life from 2007 to 2011 responsible directly for about $3 billion in grants. Uh he administered other planning, economic development and housing and transportation programs. I would submit that not many people are more qualified than Daniel Smith uh for this role and I would commend him for the council's approval.

Okay. Upon those accolades, mayor, urban planning, that's something that's really needed in this city. That's one reason to me that we aren't growing and moving forward because we don't want a bad ruin situation where we have a small area that's growing in the other side of town that's not growing. I just want to need somebody that's going to be in there going to be able to do urban planning, give us a good idea where this city is going overall. I'm councilman Lord. So I go from down third street all the way out to the coliseum. So I speak to people who all over the city have their concerns of way this city is moving and not moving in certain areas. It's not moving down lower third. There's a food desert. So uh Mr. Smith, I don't know what your urban situation will be doing to help these people in that area. I know we're moving west, but we have more to be concerned with just than moving one direction. Sir, I read your uh education various universities. I've read all the letters that they gave you that wrote was wrote for you. But none of them are saying that you supervised people, you could do all of this what is being required per the charter recommendation that was issued out by the city of Alexand.

It's not in the charter, sir. Planning is not planning is not in the charter. Let me retract charter. What they requested that was required for you. So your time. Mr. Daniel, can you tell me what are your plans with the just say for I got a question. I got a question. Would he be a department head? He's a division head. A division head. I'll be a division head. Okay. All right. [clears throat] All right. All right. So planning is not in in the charter. Planning was something that came about after the charter was adopted. Uh the standard set for a planning director.

I understand that. But my question was to Mr. Smith as the director. if you get this, what are your plans to move this city forward overall, sir?

Uh, well, thank you, Councilman, and and all the council. First, I want to say, you know, my appreciation to Mayor Roy for having faith in me uh to make this appointment and, uh, it is a big responsibility, and it's one I'm really excited about. And of course, uh it would require a lot of work and dedication, but that's one of the greatest uh divisions in this entire city from engineering, planning, and zoning, community development. Um we have an excellent staff and they've worked very hard and I believe I've earned their trust over the last few years by providing them day in and day out with advice. More specifically to what you're asking, I'm really appreciative of Mayor Royy's plans. He's come out recently with an executive order on housing. He's talked about the reignite program which would sort of be spark 2.0 in a sense which was something that as mayor Roy noted as a young man really uh I cut my teeth here in the city of Alexandria where I grew up working on those programs back before I went to law school. Um of course to be planning director for the entire city just as your councilman for the entire city. It's I've had the pleasure of years those four years before going to school and coming back now for the last three years of getting to know again every part of this town from places in district 2 that I think a lot of people don't even know exist you know tucked behind Sturk Street and places off of Third Street uh and down in Samtown and Woodside. Um this is this is a great city. has great bones, so to speak. And yeah, we do have a lot of awesome opportunities that are happening in certain parts of town, but we also need to redouble our efforts in other places. And again, I'd have to speak to the executive orders Mayor Roy put out recently, giving the planning department specific guidance on the direction he wants them to go. And I'm very familiar with those and and prepared to hit the ground running and implementing and helping him implement his vision for going forward. Uh, not just for the next year, of course, but for the next hopefully beyond that.

So, Mr. Smith, you said you've been through Sam Town and Woodside. Um, what would what would be your vision for Sam Town and Woodside?

Well, one of the things, and I don't want to get ahead of the executive order, but we we're probably going to look more closely at using adjudicated lots perhaps to incentivize development. There's ideas about changing some of the the zoning restrictions, maybe with smaller lots to allow people to to um come in with more affordable housing. These are some things that the planning department is is starting to generate in response to the executive order which I believe they'll have the uh draft of it to the mayor this week. A report it's about a 70-page report with all kind of ideas and and also goes through frankly some of the things that they've tried in the last few years that haven't worked and trying to identify what those issues are whether it's with developers or affordability or restrictions in the community development program. Um I think it's uh they were very excited to to work on it. I helped them sort of with some of the legal support and with your blessing I'd like to help them um by leading the department.

I got a comment. Who should you who's the director of planning now? Do we have one? We we don't have Well, this a new position. So Melinda is acting Melinda. Exactly.

Just as interim, but she's a classified employee. So she can't be director unless she gives that up. I I read your resume and I was impressed your resume and I spoke to one of the someone earlier and someone gave me a chance on on uh a job one time that I I did not have the background on. So I read it resume and I think since I've been here for the last two and a half years possibly we haven't ever scrutinized uh maybe we should but uh planning I don't think from what I read that you could not do the job and I was impressed resume I mean we started from scratch really so this is something brand new we're starting from scratch so we got to start somewhere my next question is

how How many people applied? Do we know? Yeah. How many people applied? I'd have to I'd have to ask Lisa. I just want to make sure people understand before we get So the unclassified staff, right,

is has always been and is subject. Those are like your cabinet secretaries. That's that's a mayoral appointment. And council's job in that situation is if someone doesn't qualify or someone thinks that this person can't serve in that, that's when the advice and consent of the council comes in. But it isn't like a classified position where it I went to Mr. Smith and when we saw all the applicants that Mr. Smith is clear

who I would want to do it. I was he didn't immediately say yes. He's been the deputy chief city attorney. So Jonathan's top right-hand person, but we had to discuss internally that like do we want to give up his advice and planning on the legal side to run it. But Daniel's first love was not necessarily the law. It was public policy and doing these things with Spark. But mayor, you have to you have to admit his experience is in law. And young man, you have a very impressive resume. I mean, I I I I want to first get that out there, but from what I'm seeing, I don't see much that deals with planning.

Yeah. So, if we go back to all the planning directors before him, [clears throat] we could start with their experience in planning. Has even even worked in a planning department. Nobody nobody has ever been urban planner that sat in the job. Okay. Has even worked in planning. Oh, yeah. Before going to law school, I was here for four years and largely what I did was working running the brownfields program for example and New Orleans. No, no, here in the city of Alexander. Okay. Before you went to law school. Yes, sir. Yes. Okay. All right. And I remember there's no one more on the ground in planning than Melinda than he is for the whole of planning, Brownsfield's grants, all of those things. He intimately understands that.

I don't doubt that he doesn't understand it. I mean, he's he's a very bright young man. I mean, Georgetown law ain't no cakewalk. Top top 10%. I commend you, young man. Lot of work. You know, your mayor was was had that distinction. Um, how young how young? Well, I don't know. Yeah, like you're a kid. He's not a [laughter] kid. But I guess but not a kid, but Well, he's younger than me, though. But mayor though, so you mean to tell me we couldn't find anyone with the requirements, more of the requirements that were listed in the in the listing in the advertisement of it? I I think he is he meets all of the requirements on listing. I just showed that he did. He literally meets every area. I

if if someone when you say we find the division heads are there to serve the administration, that's the vision. No one possesses that vision as much as him. He worked on Spark. He built the program. He built the slide decks. All of the things that we've done, this guy's been a part of my whole life as mayor. I don't know anyone more qualified. Thank you, mayor. Smarter or better to serve in this role right now than him. I am thankful that he's willing to do it. Hey, but

yes, this is a mayoral appointment. This is not a job application. [laughter] I think we're very lucky to have a young man or I agree with you that we we're lucky to have them now. So the so the planning division was run in the previous So there was an interim there for way longer than the than is allowed by law for forever.

Why could Why what was the problem there? without that. You'd have to ask the previous administration. I don't know why they do that. I like to have a division head who's responsible uh within the time limits you're supposed to have that. But there has been plenty of people I I can't think of the last time the planning director was a person degreed in urban planning, if we've ever had that. We've had some engineers. We've had some other people. We go back to Daryl W. I'm not sure what that degree was, but I don't think it was that. No. [clears throat] um question. Um yeah, speaking on since you've been back um in Alexandria,

it seems like most of the work you've done as a city attorney has been with the planning division and I mean can you speak on that a little bit because it seems like you've been an integral part already in that division working closely. Thank you. I mean I I couldn't know the exact breakdown but it's probably been about 50% I mean at least 50% right. um a lot say in community development in particular with all those HUD regulations and the demolitions you guys see that's takes a lot I mean that that takes a lot of guidance. Um also we've got the you know this the hearing bureau ordinance that's coming up that fits squarely in to the planning department and I think I and I and I can't speak for everyone over there but I really believe I have their trust as well. I mean this is

we did we did talk to them. This is who they want to lead uh and that's a good thing. and he also stands before you on the guest house and all the different things. Daniel's been integral in all of these things. I agree with you, man. He's he's very talented. I like talking to him, but every time I've dealt with them, it's in a legal capacity and it's probably usually in a legal capacity to do with planning [laughter] because you've been talking to about how those kind of things are all part of planning. Well, it's a big responsibility and appreciate your consideration and care, but I would ask you to please confirm me for this.

Madam President, In response to Mr. Fowler's comment about this is a mayor's appointment and in response to the mayor's appointment saying like in Washington that's a cabinet position we can look at our president gave us John gave us Kennedy for transport uh for health and hospitalization

which seems now just let me finish please that seems now to be very hard forought and the people that voted for it really hate that they done it. Again, Mr. Smith, I have nothing against you personally. Again, your accolades of college education is by far very esteem. My concern going into the planning department and speaking with people who apply for permits all over the city I've talked with there is such a bottleneck and a hardcore you looked at the mayor but I'm talking to you. Uh there's been a hardcore problem with planning. I'm just wishing that now Mr. Dicki was there who's no longer there for whatever reason. Uh Dolores Brewer was there. She left when the transition left. But we need someone that's going to go in and be able to work well with all genres of the people, the committee, the per the city citizens, all aspects of permitting. Uh and let me just I'm not gonna put their business out. One group tried to build something here and they got so frustrated with planning they moved to Pineville. [clears throat]

Wow. So I'm just saying sir, we're trying to grow the city. Again, your education says that you understand A to Z, but we want to make sure that you're going to do what you know that is best for the citizens of Alexandria. This is my concern. I don't want to vote in anybody if six months later come back to haunt me. So I wish you the best. I'm only one vote on this council of seven. Do we need more time?

I have given you I have given you my concerns that according to the paper that I printed from the city website, your qualifications are not there far as training. I mean, as far as doing what you need to be done, now the American sit say you're the best. He's whatever. I don't know how many people applied for this position, but it's something that the citizens need to be satisfied with with the movement of this administration moving forward and along with this council moving forward to put people in prospect in prospective position to make this city be the city that it needs to be because we're losing people to ball woodwork everywhere. moving out of the city because of permitting problem. So I'm just saying sir if you get this position work well with the citizens and I thank you for your time.

So let me ask this question Mr. Smith say you get well maybe it be administration question. So Mr. Smith gets the job um the council member seeing that he's not doing what we expect him to do. So, how do we how does that how do you play that out? We we don't deal with that. He's up there. He's the mayor. President, but Madam President, that's that's the case anytime.

But there's just not been any division heads that I've put forward where that's come up in the time I've been mayor. So, I that's not a thing I've ever experienced. But I can say this, the guy that I know I won't experience with it it with is standing right there. That guy you're not going to experience it with. And those of you and I think all of you have talked to Daniel and know his heart, his mind, his devotion to task and certainly his love for all people in the city and especially where there are challenges. That's all he's ever worked on in building spark. That's what this guy since we keep calling him a kid and he's not. this kid is that's what this kid cares about.

Well, I never and and so if you said to answer your question more directly, he's not making it.

I [clears throat] doubt you'll be being feeling like it because I will not I can't have someone not do well in planning. But the team that is assembled there and with their trust in him and what I know his intellect and m and abilities will do, we won't have that. But if you were to come to me with that, that would certainly be something I'd consider. It's just division heads are not applicants like we keep hearing. We put out a net because we want to hear from people to see that interest or they're architects who are leaving a job or they're that's an interesting thing. But typically your division heads, every mayor, not just Roy, any mayor, that's someone they go out and seek. It's not like a civil service applicant. I just do belt and suspenders because it's my style. I put out a net just to see interest. But if someone I know has the capability, again, we're talking about unclassified only, then I will go to that person and say that most mayors don't put out an application list for unclassified staff. They just appoint them. So the fact that I happen to do that wider net isn't a punishment on Daniel. It's just a choice I make to see and scale interest in the community.

Right. Well, I I believe Daniel can do the job. But I've spoke with Daniel on many occasions. Um to me it's like a student, let's say my daughter, graduated from college, um majored in psychology but working in education. A lot of people are sitting out here right now that may have a degree in something else but not working in their majors. So that's how I look at it. And then if you have a person that has already worked in planning, they still have to learn from the co-workers that they're working with

is Asian studies. Public affairs is his major. That's the requirement for the degree. So he's got a masters. That's how I look at it. Daniel, can I make a motion that we table this matter? No. No. Let's go. Let's vote on All right. Let's vote on it. Question. Have a couple of questions. request to make com. We have a motion by Mr. Bullard and a second by Mr. Fowler. Okay. Mr. Bard, yes. Mr. Larang, abstain. Miss Perry, yes. Mr. Johnson, yes. Miss Felton, yes. Mr. Green, public.

No, this is not personal. You know what I'm saying?

I'm sorry. Sir, sir, I'm sorry. Thank you. Thank you. No, miss. Congratulations. Thank you. Number 11, a resolution. Thank you, Madam President. You're welcome. A resolution authorizing advertisement for bids for playground improvements project.

Need a motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Lord. Public comments.

Miss Bale. A resolution authorizing advertisement for bids for playground improvement project. There's a playground in district 2, HDQ, Horseshoe Drive, Deerfield, Quail Ridge subdivision. It's a very small park. I noticed that the six parks that are on the list are Helen Black Park, Charles Smith, Frank O'Hana, Bringhurst City Park, Cheetum Park, Deborah Bowman Park, and they all have the OPC estimate. Even though HDQ district 2, Mr. Johnson's district. Um, it's a smaller park. It has a playground. Kids still go there. Will the smaller parks, and I know you probably can't answer this, but I'm asking the question, will the smaller parks will have um a chance to have their equipment improved because we still have little children go there. Oh, yes. People walk the park

and so I don't know what phase this is with the reunite project, but these six parks to me are the larger parks. So, the smaller parks should not be get left behind. And and thank you for that. You're you're 100% right. When when we uh made that decision last year, dividing up the six parks, I got feedback from earfield because I hang that's one of my places I go every pretty much every day. I walk back there and I talked to the president and we got a plan to get some of that money. That money that would dip it out. I asked for $100,000 just for that part because I know noticed that the uh the gravel was pretty much gone. Yes.

And they did a good job on trimming the trees back. So I'm aware aware of that one and uh the one in uh Martin part two. So I have spoken up for that and we will get money for those two too. Okay. because I I wanted to I I walk that park sometimes myself. Okay. And like I said, little kids still go there and play on the equipment. So, I don't want HDQ to be left behind while you guys are looking at these bigger parks. Thank you. We actually supposed to um mainten all the parks. This is phase one

and this is just Yeah. phase one. And we supposed to do all the parks. Miss Bale, um I was excited to see it on the agenda because it's been I've been elected four years and it's been f four years without equipment in our parks. Um and just to see it on the agenda um was good enough for me and myself. I will stay on this as well as I has been um asking about the playground equipment in the park.

Okay. because I see that Bringhurst has the highest estimate than all the rest of them. Like I said, um don't forget about the smaller parks. We will not miss Bale. Thank you for that. Miss Bale discussion all in favor. Any opposed? Motion carrying J. Ordinances for final adoption subjective public hearing. Number 12 to consider final adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the lo submitted for wire and cable. Motion please move.

Second motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Johnson. [snorts] Public comments, discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 13 to consider final adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the lowest proposal received from Hydroax USA LLC for Val exercis and program services. Motion please move. Second. Motion by Council [clears throat] Member Lloyd, second by Councilman Fowl with public comments, discussion. All in favor?

Motion carried. Number 14 to consider foundation of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a corporate endeavor agreement with the office of state fire marshals fire and emergency training academy to support fire emergency training programs at Alexandria fire department facilities. Motion please move. Second. Second. Motion by Councilman Fowler. Second by Councilwoman Felter. Public comments. Mr. White. Thank you, Madam President.

You're welcome. My name is Mr. Cornelius Lawson White Jr. I live at 3638 Tentth Street in Alexandria, Louisiana, 71302. My phone number is area code 318-4466934. Been a resident here for 64 years and I'm happy that the uh state fire marshall and Alexandria fire department will be working together with that. Um, I hope the council will give us an update on the uh greenhouse guest house. I mean the guest house situation. This doesn't have anything.

I know, but it would be good if we had an update on that because like I said, I wish we'd get the National Guard in there to clean up all that. That would be a good two week tour duty for the National Guard to do then the city. You know, it's something it's something that you speak about that u Mr. Why? Because I was talking to um Sheriff Mark Woods. Okay. And he had actually said something to that effect. Training for those guys. So um we'll look into that. Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Meetings adjourned.

Oh, I hold up. We have Wait a minute. Theo feels legislative. I'm sorry. We have um a special guest with us and she's representing Mr. Cleo Fields and come to the podium please ma'am. Excuse us for a second.

Good evening everyone. My name is Leavonia Malvo and thank you. I know you guys have had a very um engageful and very productive meeting. uh bring you greetings on behalf of Congressman Cleo Fields. Um I am the office coordinator for what we have zoned throughout the district um from the Appaloosis area but I service the have the pleasure of serving Rapids community and as I do so I'm learning many of you all uh and again just applaud the work uh just on Friday we celebrated with the mayor and the airport staff uh the announcement of of of the United Airlines return. So exciting things that are seemingly promising here. Uh just today we've been on the phone just following up with some of the residents that have safely made it back home from their Jamaica trip that was stranded in Jamaica and so grateful for the the coordinations. Many of you all reached out to our office to see what can we do to make sure the residents were returned safely. So I

Councilman Lav appreciate your concern that some of the citizens even um Mr. hitting over there bringing it to our attention. So, we just want to let you know Congressman Fields is definitely doing what he can to make sure that the government reopens. Uh we again, as I say, I'm here um in your Rapes Parish on the third Wednesday of the month. Uh we've coordinated with the library, uh the MLK branch. I'm there from 9 to 12 and then in the afternoon, I transition to Louisiana Christian University to um provide mobile office hours. We recognize it might be arduous to travel to our Palooas just to get some assistance for those who may not be able to do things uh technologically, but we're present again on the third Wednesday of each month in your parish. Uh if you want to schedule a meeting, uh you can reach out to me um phone number, I have some cards, but our phone number is 337-594-6610. Again, third Wednesdays of the month at the MLK library from 9 to 12. and then Louisiana Christian University in [snorts] the um the Grand Gransberry um conference center uh from 1 to 4. It's a pleasure. Thank you so much. I know you guys realize that the evening is extended. Appreciate the opportunity to bring your greetings and uh thank you for your uh continued engagement audience uh citizens and for the fine work that the mayor and the administration the council is doing in this city. Thank you.

Thank you.