Metropolitan Council - Regular Meeting

All right, I think we're lit. Jen, you ready? Fall asleep. Stay awake. But she's gorgeous. She's gorgeous. Oh my gosh. Okay. Ready? You're the

Yeah. Bang it. All right. Yeah. All right. Hello everybody. Welcome to the Council Chamber of East Baton Rouge Parish. As always, it's our honor to have you watching our meeting and we'd love to have you as part of our government. Chairing today's meeting is our council member from District 11, our council member Lori Adams. Miss Adams,

thank you Dennis. Good afternoon and welcome to the Metropolitan Council meeting for East Baton Rouge Parish in the city of Baton Rouge. It is Wednesday, April the 8th, 2026. Let's call the meeting to order. Ashley, do we have a quorum? We have a quorum. And now um we have for our invocation and pledge today the pastor of the City Church of Baton Rouge, Dr. Ernest H. Jackson. Thank you for being with us, Dr. Jackson.

That's great. It's my pleasure today to be here in service. If we all can stand uh for prayer. Heavenly Father, gracious sovereign God, we gather today as your servants, humbly seeking your wisdom for Baton Rouge, this great city, as your word declares in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, and in all your ways, submit to him, and he will make our paths straight. Bless our Metro Council members with transcendent clarity of mind, steadfast integrity of heart, and resolute courage to serve the common good. Guide their deliberations with your eternal truth that every decision may cultivate justice, compassion, and prosperity for all residents from the youngest child to the eldest citizen. Unite us in purpose, temper our words with humility, and shield us from division. May the light of your Holy Spirit illuminate our path, directing our steps. Right. We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. And amen.

Let's have our pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Now, Bishop, sing us a little something before you go now. Don't do it. Thank you. Not today. Thank you, Dr. Jackson.

All right. The adoption and approval of the minutes. Item number one, approval and adoption of the minutes of the Metropolitan Council meeting March 25th, 2026 by Council Administrator Treasurer. Um, we'll need a motion to approve these minutes. Councilman Kenny with a second from Councilwoman Amarosa. Um, Ashley, please read introductions. Section 2.12, Introductions. Number two, an ordinance of the city of Baton Rouge Parish of East Baton Rouge. A creating the Bayou Fountain Economic Development District within the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana on the property described on exhibit A shown on exhibit B. B defining the boundaries of the property from which new area sales and use taxes and hotel occupancy taxes can be levied by the district and used to fund all or a portion of the cost of economic development projects as described here. All in accordance with and authorized by chapter 27 of title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 as amended. C designating the governing authority of the district, D acknowledging their authority to levy sales and use taxes and hotel occupancy taxes within the district and E providing for other matters in connection with the foregoing by Councilwoman Jennifer Rocka. Number three, authorizing the finance department to refund an erroneous remittance of sales tax to the Baton Rouge Clinic AMC in the amount of 336,43727 for remitting sales tax on non-t taxable prescription drug purchases for the audit period July 1st, 2021 through November 30th, 2022 with the cost of such refund to be charged against sales tax revenues by the finance director. Number four, a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held in the parish of East Baton Rouge, state of Louisiana on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026 to authorize the parish to renew the levy and collection of a.5 mills adorum tax on all property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the parish be spat state of Louisiana for a period of 10 years commencing with the tax collection year 2027 and annually

thereafter to and including the year 2036 to provide funds for the purpose of purchasing, maintaining and operating machinery, facilities, and equipment. necessary in the eradication, abatement or control of mosquitoes, other arthropods of public health importance and rodents, maintaining adequate administrative and support staff in connection therewith, making application to the state bond commission, providing notice that a public hearing regarding the adoption of this resolution shall be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. at the regular meeting place of the metropolitan council, third floor, city hall, room 348 222 St. Lewis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and providing for other matters in connection there with by mosquito abatement and road control district. Number five, a resolution authorizing the execution and delivery of the 15th amendment to the intergovernmental contract and local services agreement among the city of Baton Rouge Parish of East Baton Rouge and the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District relating to the refinancing of certain prior indebtedness of the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District to the city of Baton Rouge and providing for other matters related there too by Greater Baton Rouge Airport District. Number six, a resolution authorizing the city of Baton Rouge, state of Louisiana, to make application to the state bond commission for consent and authority to issue one not to exceed 3,500,000 public improvement sales tax revenue refunding bond series 2026A for the purpose of providing sufficient funds to current refund outstanding principal amount of its public improvement sales tax revenue bonds. two, not exceeding 31,500,000 public improvement sales tax revenue refunding bonds for the purpose of providing sufficient funds to current refund the outstanding principal amount of its a public improvement sales tax revenue refunding bonds and B public improvement sales tax revenue bonds. And three, pay the costs of issuance thereof and authorizing the execution and delivery of a bond purchase agreement. One or more credit enhancement devices and any and all other required in connection with the issuance of the bond authorizing the preparation and distribution of the preliminary official statement and official statement

relating to said bonds and providing for other matters in connection therewith by bond council. Number seven, amend the 2026 pay plan for the classified, unclassified, and nlassified contract fire and police employees of the city of Baton Rouge Parish of East Baton Rouge so as to make the following changes effective May 30th, 2026 and appropriate $1,919,270 for said purpose. Amend the classified and unclassified appendix 1, item 23 to adjust the critical retention hiring pays for four emergency medical services classifications. Add eight new EMS classifications. Delete six existing EMS classifications. Add eight new paygrades. And increase the paygrades for 21 existing EMS classifications by mayor president, human resources director, finance director, and EMS administrator. Number eight, amend the 2026 allotment of positions for the city of Baton Rouge Parish of East Baton Rouge so as to change the allotment of emergency medical services effective May 30th, 2026. Add 12 new EMS positions and delete 10 existing EMS positions by mayor president, human resources director, finance director, and EMS administrator. Number nine, amend title one, municipal and parish organization, chapter 3, personnel part four, employees retirement system of the code of ordinances so as to include the Baton Rou Airport Authority as a new employer to the city parish employees retirement system by the interim retirement administrator. Condemnation introductions. Number 10, Jared Bowie, 1133 North 39th Street, Council District 7, Harris. Number 11, Alfred Scott, 3109 Fton Street, Council District 10, Coleman. Number 12, The Unopen Succession of Gabriel Martin, 3325 Chipoah Street, Council District 7, Harris. Number 13, the Estate of Bernard Jones, Senior, 4030 Odell Street, Council District 7 Harris. All items require reading have been read and a motion to introduce all items is in order.

Okay. Do we have a motion to introduce? Councilwoman Emarosa makes the motion and Councilman God Day seconds it. Any objections? Seeing none, the items are introduced. Um, council members to your separate sheet um for your DPW recommendations. Okay, give everybody a second to get your sheets. All right. So, um, we will, it's recommended that we proceed with item 30. Item 31, 34, 35, 37, 40, 42, 43, 47, 48, 49, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 62, and 63. 38, we defer for 2 weeks. 41, 57, 39, and 33. Deferral for 30 days. 45, 46, 55, 58, 52, and 36, defer for 60 days. Item 50, defer to July 22nd, 2026. And 44, 53, 60, 61, and 32, delete. Are there any other changes? All right, let's open up the you do public hearing after the change.

Item number 43 and 44 give me 30 days. Okay, 43 and 44. 41 give me 60 days. 41 60 days. Any other changes? All right, let's open up the public hearing. Is there anybody here wishing to speak on one of these items? Anybody here? All right. Not seeing anyone. We'll close the public hearing. Oh, okay. 44 is on delete. So, would you would you rather give them 30 days? Is that what you want, Cleave? 30 days rather than Yes, 30 days. Sorry, Councilman Dunn. Okay.

All right. Do we have a motion to approve? Counciloman Amarosa makes the motion. Councilwoman Harris um seconds it Oh, I do. I'm so sorry. Let me reread. Okay, so here we go. Here's the final. Proceed with 30 31 34 35 37 40 42 43 47 48 49 51 54 56 57 58 59 62 and 63. Um number 38 will be deferred for 2 weeks. 41 57 39 33 43 44 will be deferred for 30 days. 45 46 55 58 52 36 and 41 will be um deferred for 60 days. Number 50 will be deferred until July 22nd, 2026. And 53 60 61 and 32 will be deleted.

I'm so sorry. I read 41 twice. Oh, he but you want he wants 60. You want 60 on 41. Okay. I'm so sorry. Okay. I've got to read one more time. 41 30 days on 43 and 44. Okay. Yes, I will read it slower. I'm sorry. Okay. Um proceed with 30 31 34 35 37 42 40 42 43 47 48 49 51 54 56 57 58 59 60 and 62. I messed up again.

Oh, I didn't. Okay, which one?

I'm so sorry. Did I miss anything else? Okay, let's see. Let me come here. Just give me one second, guys. I think this is the hardest thing of the whole job. Um 57 is Daryl Hurst, right? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Got it.

You have a We have 55 is 60 days. Do you want it deleted?

55 is is delete. Okay. Right. Um 57 is 30 days and we take it off 39 43 44. Okay. Um 45 47 58 52 36 and 41 50. Okay, that's it. Okay. And he's checking on 55. How's everybody doing?

Okay. 55. All right. Here we go. One more time. All right. Proceed. We're going to proceed with 30 31 34 35 37 40 42 47 48 49 51 54 56 59 62 and 63. We will defer for 2 weeks. Item 38, we'll defer for 30 days. Items 57, 39, 33, 43, and 44. will defer for 60 days. Item 45, 46, 58, 52, 36, and 41. We'll defer until July 22nd, 2026. Item 50, and we will delete 53, 60, 61, 32, and 55. Great. So, we've got a motion still from Councilwoman Amarosa, a second run from second from Councilwoman Harris. Any objections? All right, we don't have to do that again tonight. Thank you. All right. Um, let's see. All right. So, let's move on to the public hearing item number 64. authorizing settlement of the matter entitled Paula Williams versus City of Baton Rouge, Paris of East Baton Rouge, and Patrick Winnman in the amount of 300,000 plus court costs in the amount of $333 for a total amount of 300,3 $333 and appropriating $300,333 for such purpose by parish attorney. We um have received a request from the parish attorney to defer this for 30 days. So, I'll entertain a motion to defer this. Oh, I'm so sorry. Let's open up the public hearing. Do we have anybody wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we close the public hearing. We have a um a recommendation

or a request by the parish attorney to defer this for 30 days. Council um Councilman Goodday makes the motion. Do I have a second? Councilwoman Amrosa, any objections? The item is deferred. Item 65, authorizing settlement of the matter entitled Shawana Duncan and estate of Victor Duncan versus Jones at all consolidated with Brianna Duncan at all v. Jones at all in the amount of $299,999.99 plus court costs in the amount of $1,997 for a total amount of $31,97.15 um by parish attorney. Um, let's open up the public hearing. Do we have anybody wishing to speak on this matter? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. We have had a request by the parish attorney to delete this item. Do I have a motion to delete item 65? Councilwoman Goday have a second. Councilwoman Amarosa. Any objections? Shirley is abstaining. Um, let's show Councilwoman um Rocka as abstaining. Um, with no objections, the item um will be deleted. Item 66, authorizing settlement of the matter entitled Delzeio Banks um versus prison medical services at all in the amount of $67,500 plus court costs in the amount of $3,25945 for a total amount of $70,75945 by the parish attorney. Let's open up the public hearing. Do we have anybody wishing to speak on this item? Seeing no one, let's close the public hearing. Do I have a motion? Councilman God Day makes a motion to approve. I have a second from Councilman Kenny. Any objections? Seeing none, the item is approved. Item 67, authorizing settlement of the matter entitled

Latasha M. Surf versus Davron Jones um in the amount of $45,000 plus court cost in the amount of $2954646 cents for a total amount of $47,79546 by parish attorney. Let's open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Do I have a motion? Council members, Councilman Goay moves for approval. Do I have a second? This this chairs the motion. Um, do I have any objections? Seeing none, item 67 is approved. Item 68, authorizing the mayor president to accept, enter into, and execute all agreements on behalf of the purchasing division in coordination with the CB CDBG HUD federal grant economic development initiative community project by purchasing director. Let's open up um this for public hearing. Does anyone wish to speak on this item? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. We have a request by the purchasing director to delete this item. Do I have a motion to delete by Councilwoman Amarosa, second by Councilman God Day. Any objections? Seeing none, um the item is deleted. Item 69, authorizing the mayor president on behalf of the Baton Rouge police department to accept a donation in the amount of $15,000 from the Baton Rouge Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation said funds to be used for the acquisition of a police K9 explosive detection K9 by police chief. Uh let's open up the public hearing on this item. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter seeing council

members, you should have received one email comment in support of item 69.

Thank you, Ashley. Um, seeing no one wishing to speak on this, let's close the public hearing. Um, do I have a motion? Councilman um, God moves approval. Do I have a second? Councilman Emorosa seconds it. Any objections? Seeing none, item 69 is approved. Item 70, authorizing the mayor president on behalf of the Baton Rouge Police Department to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Zurich American Insurance Company for the partial donation of a recovered 2023 Dodge Charger with an estimated value of $52,000 by police chief. Um, let's open up the public hearing on this matter. Anyone wishing to speak? Seeing no one, let's close the public hearing. Council members, what is your pleasure? Uh, Councilman Goay makes a motion to approve the item. Councilwoman Amarosa second.

I have a question. Who are we giving this to? Okay. Wait a minute. Slowing down.

All right.

Good evening, council. So, uh, the vehicle 2023 Dodge Charger, it was stolen and then subsequently recovered. The insurance company paid out the claim to the owner. they want to donate the vehicle to us. Um, so we are subsequently going to use it. Um, it looks very much like a street drag racing type vehicle. So, we're going to use it for some undercover operations in that vein and also out equip it with some of our big car technology to um, park into apartment complexes, places like that. And hopefully it will get broken into. We can catch vehicle burglars. So, the car is valued at about um, $52,000 then. Uh, and so they're giving it um giving it to us for just over $7,000 that we're going to have to pay for it. Any other questions? Good. All right. We have a motion by Councilman Good, a second by Councilwoman Amarosa. Any objections? Seeing none, let's um move on to item 71. authorizing the mayor president to execute supplemental agreement number one to to the contract with WTD architecture LLC for additional design services in connection with their contract for the Baton Rouge Fire Department SARS building in the uh in an amount not to exceed $5,000 by building and grounds director. Let's open up the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter? Seeing no one, let's close the public hearing. Council members, thank you. Councilman Goodday makes a motion that we approve this item. Do I have a second? Um, the chairs it. Any objections? Item 71 is approved. Item 72, authorizing the mayor president to execute a contract with GEC, Inc. with subconsultants Goateech Inc., Stan Consulting Services, Inc., and Southern Earth Sciences Inc. for engineering services in connection

with sales tax, street and road rehabilitation program construction supervision and inspection supplemental phase 20 in an amount not to exceed $2,32,820 by transportation and drainage director. Um let's open this up for public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing and go to councilman uh Kenny. Hey F, you want to come up just briefly explain to the viewer artist at home this particular item?

Thank you, council. Um, this item is to actually do the project inspection and program management of our asphalt overlay program that we do every year that the funds are committed to by the voters of the parish. Um certainly you have to have we have to have this type of service because we don't have the staffing or the manpower to accommodate what needs to be done. They've been doing this type of service for some time. This is will be the last year that GEC will be able to do the work. They have to go back to the selection board uh through the process that the what was set up. But in reality, I mean it is it is very important. We we want to be sure that the things that are being done out there are done correctly. Um, we we have inspectors, very good inspectors, and we also have people who help manage the overall program so we can facilitate and move the projects where we need them to be.

All right. Thank you for motion to approve.

We have a motion from Councilman Kenny to approve. Councilman Goay seconds that motion. Are there any objections? Seeing none, um, item 72 is approved. Item 73, authorizing the mayor president to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the Louisiana Department of Health for the intergovernmental transfer of funds pursuant to the local provider participation program and appropriating an amount not to exceed 136 million for such purpose by council administrator and treasurer. Let's open the public hearing for this. Does anybody wish to speak on this manner this matter? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Um, do I have a motion by Councilman God Day? Is it is it Do you want to speak, Councilman? Done.

Yeah. I just want um either Ashley or somebody from the administration just to touch on this.

Sure. Um, if y'all will remember in last year in 2025, the council adopted some ordinances that imposed um local provider participation um charges, fees on hospitals. Um, and this is um aimed at increasing services to patients um who need Medicaid in East Baton Rouge Parish. Um so, and the hospitals were all in favor of the program. These fees will be collected by the city parish through my office, through the treasurer's office and then sent to the Louisiana Department of Health who will then in turn send that money on to the federal government to draw down more Medicaid dollars. We do have somebody from our consultant here who's happy to answer other questions y'all have. That's the that's the basics of the program. Um the money can only be used for this purpose. These funds may not be used for any other purpose. So it's it's truly just a float.

Yes. Thank you. They sent a very detailed email to all of us. I just wanted everybody in the public and the viewing audience to to uh hear what we heard in email. Thank you. Motion to approve. All right. So, we have we have a motion to approve by Councilman Dunn, a second by Councilman Goday. Um any objections to this? All right. Seeing none. Oh, Anthony, I'm so sorry. Councilman Kenny, do you have do you like do you want to speak?

Okay. All right. Um so item 73 is approved. Item 74, authorizing the mayor president to accept the grant award for the for the court modernization and technology fund in an amount up to $50,000 on behalf of the Baton Rouge City Court from the Louisiana Supreme Court to support technology upgrades for the Baton Rouge City Court by interim clerk of court judicial administrator. Let's open up the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Council members, Councilman Goodday moves for approval and I have a second from Councilwoman Amarosa. Do I have any objections? Seeing no objections, item number 74 is approved. Item 75, resending and directing the clerk of court to cancel the notice to attend recorded on September 17th, 2025 in the matter of city of Baton Rouge versus Sarah Christine Sims, Torin von Horton Jr. and Elena Tori Horton. Um, reason for recision, the property is being sold and the structures have been demolished. Um, and this item is by Councilman Hurst. So, let's open up the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Councilman Hurst makes a motion to approve this item. Councilwoman Rocka seconds it. Seeing no objections, item number 75 is approved. Item 76, um, amend the 2026 pay plan for unclassified, unclassified, non-classified, contract, fire, and police employees of the city of Baton Rouge and parish of East Baton Rouge adopted by ordinance 1972 so as to add a new classification, director of contra contracts, and delete one special assistant parish attorney

position effective April 18th, 2026 by parish attorneys. Um let's um open up the public hearing on this matter. Anybody wishing to speak on this? Seeing none, we have a request to defer this item for two weeks. Do I have a motion to defer this item for two weeks? Councilman Dunn makes a motion. Councilwoman Harris seconds it. Do I have any objections? Seeing no objections, um the item uh 76 is deferred for two weeks. All right. Item 77, amend the 2026 aotment of positions for the city of Baton Rouge and the parish of East Baton Rouge, adopted by ordinance 19727 so as to change the allotment of the parish attorney administration to add one director of contracts and delete one special assistant parish attorney effective April 18th, 2026 by parish attorney. Um, let's open up the public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this matter? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. We have a request to um by the parish attorney to defer this item for two weeks. Council members, do I have a motion to defer this for two weeks? Um Councilman Dunn makes a motion and the chair, Councilman Goday is nodding his head for to second that motion. Um do we have any objections to that? Seeing none, we will defer item 77 for two weeks. All right, let's move on to administrative matters. See your separate sheet, council members. Okay, administrative matters introduction. A um authorizing the mayor president on behalf of the city parish and parish of East Baton Rouge to approve the the city parish of East Baton Rouge to prepare and submit a pre-application to the statewide flood control program for assistance in the implementation of a project for the

purpose of reducing existing flood damages by transportation and drainage director. Um, we were g we're going to need a motion to wave the rules to allow this item to be introduced. Um, so I'm I'm looking for a motion. Um, Councilman Dunn gives me a motion. I need a second. Do I have a second? Um, from Councilwoman Coleman. All right. Now, we're going to open up the public hearing on the motion to wave the rules. This is a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on the motion to wave the rules may approach the microphone at this time. Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Um, all right. So, now we're going to vote. Are there any objections? I'm sorry. Are there any objections to the motion to wave the rules? All right. Seeing none, um, we need a motion to introduce the items. Do I have a motion? Councilman Dunn makes a motion to introduce this item. Do I have a second? Councilwoman Harris. All right. Any objections to introducing administrative item number A? All right. No. All right. Okay. Um, administrative matters emergency item B, requesting that Greg Rome consider his decision to retire and further requesting that he continue in his role as parish attorney by Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman, Councilwoman Denise Amarosa, and Councilman Cleave Dunn Jr. All right, we need a um Okay, I need to open up the public no motion to the I need to um a motion to wave the rules. All right. I have um Councilwoman Coleman made the motion. Councilman Dunn seconded the motion. Um All right. So, we're going to open up a public hearing on the motion to wave the rules. Um again, this is a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on the motion to wave the rules may approach the microphone at this time. Seeing none, um we'll vote on the motion to wave the rules. Are there any objections to the motion to wave the rules? Okay, we have an objection from

Councilman Mo. So um this item cannot this item cannot be be heard. Right. All right. Here we go. So let's move on to appointments. Items 78 capital Area Finance Authority concurring in the mayor president's recommendation to fill the unexpired term by Russell Mosley. This term expires um July 1, 2028 and the current ballot is Patrick Goldsmith. Um, let's open up the public hearing on this matter. Anyone wishing to uh to speak on this matter? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Do I have a motion to um appoint Patrick Goldmith? The chair uh Okay, Councilman Goodday will make the motion. The chair will second it. Um any objections to this appointment? Okay. Item number 78 is um approved and congratulations to Mr. Patrick Goldsmith. All right. Item 79, library board of control, consideration of reappointing and replacing Dolores Watts. This is a four-year term and nine votes are needed. The current ballot is Garris Garrett Deschamp and Dolores Watts. Um Garrett has submitted his application. Dolores Watts is requesting reappoint. What is your um we'll open up the public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this matter? Not seeing none. Let's close the public hearing. Um members, what is your pleasure? Uh, I'll make a motion we reappoint Miss M. Dolores Watts.

All right, we have a motion to reappoint Dolores Watts. Do we have a second? All right, the There's no second. Do you want me to run the ballot?

You want to sec? Okay, Councilwoman Amar Rosa will second the appointment the reappoint of Dolores Watts. Do we have any objections? Seeing none, congratulations, um, Miss Watts, and thank you for your service, um, continuing service to East Baton Rouge Parish. Item number 80, um, we're going to Let's take item 80 and 81 together. Um, Volunteer Fire Department, Fire District 3, Brownsfield, consideration of reappointing or replacing George Dean, current ballot, George Dean, requested reappoint, Lewis Kelly, Jr. requested reappoint and consideration of reappointing or replacing Lewis Kelly Jr. Um current ballot George Dean requesting reappointment and Lewis Kelly Jr. requested reappointment. Um let's open up the public hearing on these items. Anybody wishing to speak on this matter? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Do I have a motion to reappoint George Dean and Lewis Kelly to their service on the Brownsfield board? Okay, Councilman Kenny makes the motion. Um the chair will second that motion. Do we have any objections? Seeing none, um congratulations. Item 80 and 81 are um we have appointed George Dean and Lewis Kelly Jr. to um a second term on the Brownsville um fire district. Thank you gentlemen for your ongoing service to our community. Item 82, Volunteer Fire Department, Board of Commissioners, Fire District 4 Central, consideration of reappointing or replacing Michael J. Williston. Uh the current ballot is Michael J. Williston who has requested reappoint. Um let's open up the public hearing on this matter. Anybody wishing to speak? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Um what is the pleasure of the council? Councilman Moch. He makes a um a motion to reappoint Mr. Michael Williston. And do I have a second? I do by Councilwoman Rocka. She

seconds his appointment. Um, do I have any objections? Um, seeing none, um, congratulations, uh, Michael Williston, and thank you again for your, um, for your service to the central, um, fire district. All right, let's take 83 and 84 together. Uh, volunteer fire department, fire district 6, Hooper Road, consideration of reappointing or replacing Sharon Graves and consideration of reappointing or replacing Richard Fort. The current ballot um ballot is Sharon Graves and Richard Fort. Let's open the public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on these matters. Um seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Do I have a motion to reappoint Sharon Graves and Richard Fort? I do. Councilman Kenny makes a motion. Council Councilman um Mo uh makes the second. Do I have any objections? Um, seeing no objections, congratulations um to Sharon Graves and Richard Fort and thank you for your willingness to serve um our community. All right, uh let's go to change orders. We're going to take items 85 through 87 together. Pest control services contractor Bay Pest Control Company change order in the amount of $84,38726. Item 86, register voters tenant buildout. Contractor Capital City Construction LLC. Change order amount $34,664. Um item 87 Mchugh Road Groom Road to Lower Zachary Contractor Barier Construction Company LLC. Change order amount $31,99362. Um let's open up the public hearing. I think we did have one public comment on 85. Do you remember that?

Council members, you should have received one email comment on um number 85 in opposition. Thank you, Ashley. Let's open up the public hearing. Um anybody wishing to address these matters. Seeing no none, let's close the public hearing. U members, do I have a motion to approve items 85 through 87? Thank you, Councilman Kenny. He made a motion to approve and we need a second. The chair seconds this. Any objections? Um Okay, we have one objection to 85. Does that mean that we It's okay. Um any other objections? Um seeing none, um items 85, 86, and 87 are approved. All right. Acceptance of low bids. Item uh 88, US61 Scenic Highway, LA408 Harding Boulevard, Swan Avenue project, Hard Rock Construction LLC in an amount of $4,72,836.15. Um let's open the public hearing on this. Anybody wishing to speak? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Um do we have a motion to approve or Mr. Dunn, you have a

Fred, this this yours, right? I I think this project has been um anticipated for quite some time. Can you just talk about it?

Yes, sir. Um certainly and you're absolutely correct, you know, but when you're having to deal with the railroad company, trying to work out deals with the crossings and stuff like that does take a little longer than most people expect. But we finally moved through the process working with the railroad and the OOTTD and our staff. Uh this is a major improvement for this uh area of off of Harding and and Scenic. Uh there will be a lot of walkways are going to be improved, pedestrian crossings, new roadways that will be upgraded in the area to be able to do crossings for for a lot of the tracks. And the biggest thing which I feel like is very very important is to have actual gates at these crossings from a from a pedestrian and also from a transportation standpoint. uh we with this bid low bid the contractor he's currently working on u the the plank road job but has done a fantastic job and he does have the people and the manpower to address this and uh as soon as we can get the dates and comp down we will certainly have a groundbreaking up for this area because I know it's very very important for the community and they've been asking for this for some time particularly dealing with southern and the comm dealing tying southern and also the business community together in that particular area.

Thank you, Fred. I I'll defer the rest of my time to Councilman Kenny to talk about the importance of this street in this area to to the Scotlandville community and the Southern University community. Absolutely. Thank you, Councilman D. No, Fred talked about in totality. Um Southern University is currently going through a renaissance area era u currently as well. A lot of renovations. I know it's Councilwoman Coleman district um by virtue of district 10, but um we very excited that Southern University will be a part of this project. Um, a lot of students in that area walk throughout the area as well with more student housing on the horizon and things as well. So, thank you, Fred. I know there's been a project y'all been working on far beyond. I got into office, but we're glad to see you get across the finish line as well. I'm I'm sorry, council.

Don't be sorry. Be safe. What about the best district? Yeah, be safe. Shut up, Mo. Cuz I ain't well with you. So, come on. Yeah. Hush your mouth. Yeah. Yeah. But it's okay. Yeah, Fred, do it. Yeah. I don't think I said anything. Motion to approve. Yeah.

Okay. Okay. So, I'm going to accept the motion to approve by Councilwoman Coleman with Councilman Kenny making this second. Are there any objections to approving this wonderful project? Seeing none, um item 88 is approved. I'd like to request revisiting 85 if I may please that pest control services. Sure. All right. So, I'd like to Yeah, I'd like to reconsider and I'd like to have a conversation about that. Okay. We have a a motion from Councilwoman Coleman to reconsider item 85. Do we have a second?

Second. Councilwoman Ann Marosa. Any objections to reconsidering? Seeing none. Um, do we go to Okay, so let me reread this. Um, change orders, pest control services, contractor, Bay Pest Control Company. Change order amount, $84,38726. Um, do we need to open up a public hearing? Let's open up a public hearing on this. Um, is there anyone wishing to speak on this item? Council members, you should have received one email comment in opposition to item 85.

All right. Seeing no one who wishes from the public who wishes to speak, we're going to close the public hearing and go to um council members. Um, Councilwoman Coleman,

I need someone to explain to me how the pest control services, the original contract is $22,179.74 and then there's a change order for $84,000 and this new contract is $16 somebody. That would be me. Councilwoman, how you doing? Uh so we had the original uh contract we had was to cover all the facilities. Um we just had um additional request. So if someone request that has ants or uh need to put our rat traps uh when we just had a an large amount of last year of having issues coming in with the rain. Uh we had issues at a lot of facilities that we uh we managed. All right. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Bum.

Councilwoman Emarosa. Yeah. Thank you. So, was was that the original bid? Was the 22,000? Uh, yes, ma'am. That was original original contract amount. When did the bids come out? When when did when I would have to go back and see. I don't know exactly what uh when the original contract was uh written out. So, is it So, was the 22,000 the lowest bid?

Uh, yes. So, the 20 $22,000 was was the lowest one coming in. Uh, and that was based off historic numbers uh that we that where they set the bid at and just uh the cost uh increases over over time is uh what what drove that up. But I I can get back with you and let you know the exact date uh that the contract was awarded. So, is this so is this 106 five for the year.

Yes, ma'am. That'll car carry us out for the rest of the year till till 20 uh to 1031 26. So, it's a pro it's a projection of what we what we would need based off the average that we've been running for the past 3 months. Okay. Thank you.

So, real quick, so So, um, was was he the one was Bay Pest Control the one that came in and said that change these numbers or were you the one came in and it's it's based off of what we projecting that so we don't run out of money and uh and not be able to provide services to the facilities. So, the contract change was um due to us as opposed to him. Correct. Okay. All right. Thank you. Yeah.

So, everybody good? So, Mr. Butler, it looks like we're kind of this it's really kind of a contract extension. Is that fair? Correct. Is that um Mr. Daniel?

Right. Yeah. So, this is I'm sorry. So, I'm explaining it incorrectly. They bid out the services. It wasn't uh a hard amount saying it was 22,000. It was just the services itself. Okay. Got it. Okay. So, it was on a per service basis and now we're continuing to use those services. Okay.

Um I that does give me clarity. Is every Any anybody else? Okay. Um do I have a motion to approve? Councilman Dunn makes a motion to approve. Do I have a second? Councilwoman Rocka makes um seconds that motion. Do I have any objections? Okay, seeing none, the item is approved. Thank you, Mr. Butler.

All right. All right. Now, um item 89, requesting a report from the department of development on condemned property resision recisions approved by the council over the past 24 months and the current condition of those properties by Councilwoman Lorie Adams. Um uh Rachel Lambert. Um thank you. We appreciate I appreciate you being here to to walk us through this. Good afternoon. I'm so sorry. I need to open up the public hearing. No, I can present first then open. Okay, let me say this. Um, so we're going to take the report and then after the report, we'll open up the public hearing at that time. So, thank you, Rachel.

Yes, ma'am. Um, I passed around a copy of this brief slideshow and then a listing of all 67 properties that have been were sended in 2024 and 2025 along with some notes and then what I will get to as we're kind of categorizing them into four different um groups. Um so if you go to the next slide, Justin, um like I said, there were 67 total recisions uh from 2024 and 2025. Um that was across eight different districts. Um in that time frame, there was 389 condemnations condemned by the council across all 12 districts. Um we kind of lump them into what we'll call favorable versus unfavorable. Roughly 40% had favorable outcomes. Um, if we go to the next slide, I'm getting there. Next slide, Justin. Um, favorable outcomes would mean that the property is remodeled or currently being remodeled. Some of them, because they were not rescended that long ago, are still actively working on their permits. Um, and you can see in my notes I kind of detail that. Though I did do a personal assessment of whether I felt that their project was or their permit was abandoned or not. Um, or the property was demolished by the owner. So there were five properties there. Unfavorable outcomes would be that there were no improvements. Meaning some of these may have applied for a permit, abandoned that permit, maybe their permit got issued, but they did not follow through with making the improvements. So they continue to sit in an unimproved state. Um there were nine properties that were recondemned or have been introduced back to you all to be recondemned. Um so next slide is a breakdown of the total number of

recisions across those eight districts. Um and whether they were favorable unfavorable. Again, on your slide, you can look at each address, each, you know, descriptive comment, and then, you know, what are the four categories I kind of lumped that into. If you want any more detail, um, about that, I can provide that to you, just let me know. Um, if we go to the next slide, I know some of those numbers on that previous slide look like especially five, seven, and 10 that there were a whole lot of recisions. But if you compare that specifically to the percentage of condemnations in those districts as a whole, it is extremely like right on target, right? So in district 7, it was 36% of the recisions, but they can 35% of the total condemnations were in district 7. Same with district 10. 27% of recisions and 31% of the total number of condemnations were in that district as well. So, and that goes for all of those across all the different districts across the board. They fell in line within one to two percentage points of their overall condemnation rate. Um, next slide. another kind of categorizing some things of favorable versus unfavorable a little bit of duplicate and then the last sides kind of sums it up. Uh the data proves that where there were high concentrations of recisions that it's adequate. Next slide please. That it's adequate and and comparative to the total number of percentage of condemnations that really we're at a 40% success rate to an extent. Um and that you know there was a lot of 48% of recisions are kind of stalling out at no improvements and um there's room for improvement there. So that's the end of my slideshow. Very brief like I said. Um, I'm here for questions and I know you want to open the public hearing.

Okay, let's open the public hearing. Um, anyone wishing to um address this matter, this report? Seeing none, let's close the public hearing. Um, council members, any any questions or comments? Councilwoman,

hi. Um, excuse me on In one of the last council meetings, we talked about fees that were associated with or fines associated with recision process. Can you walk us through that again, please? Um currently there is no we'll say per se fine or fee that comes along with a condemnation as there are if you would equate that with for violations that go to blight court such as junk trash and debris an open building. There's a fine for tall grass even though it doesn't go to blight court. Um at BL court the judge sets the fine amount. There's an administrative fee that is automatic on all of those blight court uh judgments. it's a $100 and but though that does not happen for condemnations. We do um recoup the amount of money for recording or asbestous testing or demolition if it actually gets to that point and you know send a bill and place a lean on that property. Um but there are no actual fines or fees as far as like a penalty for condemnation. So, if we resend a condemnation, what what costs are incurred for the city or an approximation of what that process costs taxpayers each time it's done?

Um, so the cost that in order for a recision to be placed on the agenda, um, the person who's requesting that recision has to pay recording fees. When a notice to attend to be at this council meeting is sent out, it is also recorded against that property in the with the clerk of court. And so the fees associated with that recording are then, you know, tallied up. The parish attorney's office incurs those costs. If I have tested it for asbestous, we've got like it's like $650. And so if we've gotten to that point as well, they'll have to pay that back to us as well. Um what was the second part? What does the collection um with regard to those fees look like? Are we able to collect that? Is it occurring?

So um for recisions, yes. if it they don't pay after probably 60 90 days with within requesting that recision, we're putting we're removing the hold and putting it back on the demo list. Now, lean recoup, it's it's not it's not a whole lot of a percentage, but there is some recoup because uh eventually it gets rolled onto the property tax rules. And specifically with regard to the recision piece, um the the fine applies to favorable and unfavorable. Um does it apply to both? There's there's no fine. Well, the fees that you're talking about that are for

Yeah. And it's wholly dependent upon actual costs incurred by the city parish. So some properties have 10 heirs and we would record 10 notice to attends. So they would have the $135 fee that times 10 because we would have recorded 10 notice to attend and they would have to pay that back. Those numbers are they attached to the favorable and unfavorable recisions? Yes. Yes. Yes, ma'am. Okay. And what is and you said if they're not paid then they move through the process and there is no recision. Correct. Did I understand that correctly? Yeah. Thank you so much. Okay. Councilman Mo,

how long does it usually take to get through a full process on average to get to a condemnation condemn to to get it on the agenda here? To get it on the agenda to be condemned, that varies. We do try to work with property owners. If we send them a letter and they contact our office, they apply for a permit, we will try to allow them some time to come into compliance because it's not the department's goal to

demolish properties. We want them to be brought back into commerce. So sometimes it takes longer. There are severe properties that we may our our process um goes like this. A property is reported for potential condemnation. We're going to go out and inspect it and if we find it in violation, then we will send a letter out. It's usually inspected within how long? Uh usually like a week. It really just kind of depends. Um so we got a week week or two there. Yes, sir. And um and then we give them 30 days to respond. And a month and a half

if we have and then within those 30 days they don't respond then we're forwarding that on to the parish attorney's office who then eventually puts it onto the council agenda. And that takes about how long? A couple weeks. It really depends on how much we've sent them, right? Because there might be a few that they haven't put on yet because we have too many like deferrals. There's we can only have so many we'll call it on the agenda at one time. we run into a um we run into a resource, right? Cuz every the week before every council meeting, my inspector is visiting every single property on the agenda. So would you say that from complaint to everything else usually on average 6 months? Yeah, it's on our six months.

Again, there are a lot of properties that are reported that I would call rehabable and not We've kind of been ranking them from one to five. five being the worst, one being, you know, rehabable, very rehabable. And so some of those ones, twos, and the milder threes might sit longer before they get sent to the council because we're trying to, of course, do the worst ones first.

Okay. So, we get to the condemnation, it's condemned, we vote on it. At that point, what process starts then? So, we're going to identify whether the property would be eligible for any sort of grant funding that we would get from OCD. There are certain areas of town that are ineligible due to their historic nature or that they're in the flood plane as well. Um, so we'll determine that, send off some information to get a pre-approval on that. We will also send them off to get tested for asbestous. And then once we How long does that usually take? I mean, that process of we

30 days for the for the the grant eligibility. um because there's a lot of notices that have to get sent out. Takes 45 to 60 days. Okay. The asbestous testing is typically running around 30 to 45 days. So we're about five say four to six 7 months in. Yeah. And then utilities right now energy and delta gas are running at about 8 weeks in order for to disconnect. That that is a very challenging factor currently. So now we're at 9 10 months that we're dealing with post condemnation. We're looking at at the quickest we could probably get something down would be 2 and 1/2 3 months after condemnation. After condemnation. Okay. So we're about 8 n months in. Mhm.

According to thing. So do you have to re after we vote on it? Do you have and and have it condemned? Do you have to go through the process again of notifying anybody that's on record? We do send out a um a finalized copy of your decision and order aka the the condemnation itself. Um, but receiving green card notice back is not as important as it is on the notice to intend. Okay. But there is a lot of mail involved. So, you get to the point you've done the asbesus test, you've got the power pulled from the property and everything, and then somebody shows up. Yeah. Mhm.

At that point, what happens then? They they show up and they say, "Whoa, wait a second." and they have to get with their council member and their council member then contacts you and says, "I'd like to put this or do they contact you? Does the owner contact you and say, "Hey, I've decided I'll do the work on it." They do both happen. We specifically tell people that we do not place holds on properties. That that's we need that communication to come in writing from their council member. But they show up and they want to do work on it all of a sudden. It has to be pulled from

it does not not if I do not receive um that intent or wishes from the council member. We we don't stop until we do. Okay. So the council member comes to you and says this person wants to do the work on it. Mhm. Before the person can do anything. It has to be pulled from the condemnation. Has to be recision.

A lot of times when that happens we may place what we'll call like a soft hold. we'll pull back from. We're not going to like remove it from the list, but we're going to give it a few weeks, see if they can get enough information together to make everyone feel comfortable that they're going to be able to proceed with that work. Once the recision is done, then once a formal request for recision is sent in, we will place it on what we'll call it a hard hold, right? until either the 60 to 90 days elapses after they get that communication of how much they have to pay in order for the recision to go on the agenda and then you know otherwise if they don't request a formal recision then we move it back to the demo list.

Okay. All right. So recision's been done. Councilman M, do you want the time? Yeah, recision's been done. It's off the list. The person said they're going to do whatever they're supposed to do again. they don't do it. Does all of those steps have to be done all over again? Inspection, asbestous, you have no this business would carry over.

Does any shortcuts happen to go back for recondemnation because they didn't do their work? In other words, it's a shorter process to say, "All right, you didn't do the work. Boom, it's right back on the list." Or do we have to get through the whole process again? So the whole like renoticing, rescending out the notice to attends, appearing back on the council agenda, all has to occur. Now say we tested for asbestous, the grant approval came in and they cut all the utilities before it was rescended. We don't have to do that again. So that is that time frame can't be shorter.

Okay. They just the reason I was being so specific about the timeline and everything else just like you know I understand that we don't have any fees or fines or or whatever else and what we do a little bit we do incur as far as actual payment to asbestous people or entry going whatever we have there. I get that, you know, we put that on the thing, but that's a lot of time and effort and inspectors that we sending out to these places to be pulled off that list. Um, I mean, I'm all for if there's something work out to where, you know, it it just it doesn't get pulled or rescended until, you know, you see actual credible, you know, full work that it can be non-condemned. uh if there's anything we can do with that, but you know, the the recision just seems to me has to be a a final thing, it's it's back in play. In other words, is there a way that whether through ordinance or or whatever functions that we can assist y'all with, is there a way to allow the homeowner that shows up after it's been condemned, maybe they just got the notice or whatever, they come in and say, "We're going to do this work." And the work pretty much from our standpoint would have to be guaranteed that okay, you've got x amount of time to put it to a point that if we reinspect this, it it will not be condemned. It won't be on a condemned level. Is there any way that we can get to that point?

So the one of the complicating factors with that would be that a permit cannot be issued if the property is condemned. Is that something we can change? We can, but I believe Mayuna spoke on that a while back. It would be a direct conflict. A condemnation nullifies and voids any existing permit and a new permits cannot be issued when a property is condemned. Okay? But they can board it up, make it, you know, so that it can't be inhabited or entered by people or rodents or vermin, whatever you want to call it. And then I feel that being I feel that being boarded up

is different than condemn. Like some of these things that I see that are on a con condemnation list are roofs are half gone.

Um front porches are literally the whole front of the structure is gone. Um I've got one in my district that was there forever. It it had to have a a 6ft round tree trunk through the roof for I don't know how long and it took out half the other roof. And I mean it finally got tore down or whatever. But I guess that's what I'm trying to get at is it's one thing. Yeah, I get the ones that say if you go board it up and secure it, that's not condemnable, but it's the ones that are you're going to have physical construction work to do to make this not fully condemnable. In other words, we're not going to salt the earth with this thing. So, it's that's what I'm talking about. Is there any way that we can improve that process? cuz those are probably the ones that I would think that fall within this unfavorable work part is they get out there and they go I just don't there's just you know it'd be better just to let the city parish tear it down we build another one on top of it.

I don't disagree. Um especially you know in the district where we're condemning a lot of properties that housing stock is much older so a lot of things have to be brought up to code when there are you know changes and permits that have to be made. when you're talking about half the roof is gone, that's a large structural, you know, project in itself, having to reframe a roof or walls or this, that, or the other. And so, um,

and I got 30 seconds. I apologize. I I'll close with this is I I'm all for, you know, if if a homeowner is going to come up even after it's condemned and say and however bad it is, you know, walking them through getting grants, getting them help, getting them whatever they need if they want to put that property back in use or getting them some assistance in, you know, completely tearing it down and and grants or whatever else to to rebuild a home on their property. I get it that it means a lot to them, but I just feel like it's got to get to a point that we should be able to move forward without completely pulling off that condemnation list if they're truly going to be able to do something. So, thank you.

I will try to see what other best practices other jurisdictions may have um implemented around that specifically. Councilwoman Coleman.

Yes. Uh thank you Rachel for your presentation there putting the numbers up and all of that. Um, and so I want to say that as the council person in 10, see 10, 7 and five are the areas where there are the condemnation, the plenty of condemnations there. And so as the uh council person in 10 I can say is I make decisions with my constituents. I even have my constituents to come with a plan. And so this is not a cookie cutter.

Agreed. And so a plan is what is it that you're going to do? in their time frame and the majority of them have a plan and they actual oolize their plan and then we uh even reach out to OCD from time to time about doing this and then when we talk about the blight and the condemnation then your budget is kind of low isn't it? The uh my department has zero dollars from the general fund.

Yes. So let the record reflect that. And so uh if they are burned then they were on top of the list. Isn't that correct? And so when we as council persons uh and I'm going to speak for myself know our district and know what is and know our constituents then that's why they uh voted and have us here sitting in this as opposed to every time when others feel that something needs to be done because there's not any blight or very little in their district. So we want to make sure that the record reflect that than just tearing down folks stuff and then talking about building them something else. That's a mortgage and you're not talking about young people. You're talking about people that are in their evening years and talking about a damn mortgage, which is not acceptable there. And so I just want and there is no cookie cutter

100% agree

process for the people that we serve. When we look at 37,000 plus I know in 10 of constituents who are in need of services and whatever and that's our job. I know in 10 that's ours. And so they come with a plan and then you've got to consider a bunch of stuff, illness, no money at that time. A lot of folk are on the ownership of that. So again, there is no cookie cutter process uh for this and we definitely do our due diligence to uh serve that big word that big s word to serve our constituents as opposed to just want to change uh the ordinances or the make another rule that will be impacting the people that we have chosen to serve. So I appreciate your report. I appreciate when we reach out or I and when I say we, I'm talking about my my people. Yes, sir. Me and my people reach out and then that we are able to actually serve. that I know without a shadow of a doubt that we have more positive whatever to serve and and and people are actually doing what needs to be done in order to put their home back in commerce and if they so choose to sell or if they so choose to do whatever then that's what they do in district 10. And so again, I I thank you, but I want the record to reflect I am the council woman in 10 and it is my f I do share a responsibility

to make sure that I don't go through tear down folk houses, but that I actually serve them and help them to come up and uh stay in their homes or do whatsoever it is. But I thank you, Rachel. I do. I didn't want this to be accusatory or or anything. Just presenting facts and data. You didn't and that's why I can thank you. You're welcome. Not Yeah. Yeah. You didn't and I thank you. Councilwoman Harris. Um the question I have a question for Councilwoman Adam. Uh do you have blight in your district? Uh yes, I have some.

Some um because I'm wondering why uh you call for this report to be given. Um can you explain why you were asking?

Yes, we actually I asked her was it maybe 3 weeks ago or four weeks ago in a council meeting we were talking about the process and whether um you know there should be a a recision fee. you know, if we were really um you know, always capturing people's um you know, true intent like is a recision is it is it easy to to get and then you you can you know prolong it for a longer time and just I wanted to understand um what the process was um and what the outcomes were and I mean I you know for all I knew 100% of the things that were rescended were improved so this is just a great snapshot to see you know what what happens. Um I I think we're all trying to figure out, you know, how to get housing stock um improved and this is this is a piece of the puzzle.

Okay. Uh Councilman Mo, um you had a piece of botted property in your district and you have several Oh, and Rachel stood up here and just ran it down the entire rescending process. Sitting on the council as long as you've been, I thought maybe you would have known the process by now. I didn't I didn't know the timeline of the process. I know that it takes a while and it takes time and effort and so on. And I think like when I go through my process Mhm. and I walk through, I want to make sure and I want to help the own homeowner get to the point that they can get back into that home. Correct. I that's what I've always done with mine. Okay.

But I've also told them that I will refuse to pull off any do any recision until certain steps are made. And I know each one of everyone in here probably does that in their areas also. And I commend everyone for doing that. And I think that everyone does an amazingly awesome job of working with their constituents in everything that they do with condemnations. Correct. But I also feel like that there are some even in my district because I've had se two I've had, you know, two of them that I've dealt with over five, six and a half years now. Mhm. That kept telling me, "I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. Going to do it."

And neighbor after neighbor kept calling and calling and calling. And so I want I kept telling them, "Do not try and pull it. do not do anything. But what can we do so that we can get them to the point to be able to do some work to show that when it gets to the point, I either go out there and look at it just like all of y'all go out and look at yours that I go out there and say, "Yes, this is going to be livable. They're actually out here doing stuff before I go rescending it." because I don't want I don't want us to have to go through that process again because it is time and effort from our department. So, you know, I I'll just answer it flat out right. I'm not condemning anyone, no pun intended, for the process and the work that you do. I wanted the time and process stated publicly. I know what the process is. I just thought I would put in with the time and effort that we're having to go through. So, I appreciate the opportunity to to be able to go through this and I thought we had great discussion the last time we discussed this.

I thought so as well. I did. Um, I want to also say that I know my district has a huge blight problem. Um, but the most important thing for me when it comes to blight is to make certain that I am communicating with the owner. if you can locate an owner and like councilwoman Coleman mentioned is what's your plans? What what plans are you going to do? What are you going to do with this piece of property? Can you afford to remodel? Can you afford to demolish? And I for myself do not go in immediately willing to tear it down right then and there. I believe in working with folks, okay? Because most of these properties, 99% of these properties are heirs property and folks don't want you touching their property, demolishing it, giving them them giving them an opportunity to at least do something with it. Now, if you're not willing to do anything with it, the next step is to move on and demolish it. But first of all, it's very important for constituents to know we're not here, we're not in the business of just demolishing or just tearing somebody's property down because you're interested in the property and you want to do something with it. That's not what we do. We want to work with them. Now, if you're not workable, if you're not going to do what you say you're going to do, then we take those steps. We move forward to the next step in demolishing it. Right. So,

Councilwoman, if I may, I would even agree with y'all and and every one of the other council members that and and what I said in my statement a while ago is I would even go to the point that if there's some kind of financial aid that we could offer them or direct them through to with our office because a lot of the times that they can't rebuild is when they see what needs to be done, it gets very financially hardship and so on. I would even go to the point of not wanting to tear it down to say, "Hey, let's at least get you some see if we can qualify you for some of this financial aid that might be available. I don't know if there is or not. Put a list together and and maybe give it out to them and help them go through it, but still not pull it off the list until, you know, we get through that process and everything." So, I agree with y'all that we're not in the business of going out there and tearing people's homes and so on. and I would even go so far as to helping them find financial aid. So, I apologize.

So, okay. Thank you for that. Rachel, uh you mentioned briefly that there's funding available funding some some funding source that you may have or a can you go over that again, please? Can you mention if your department do have some type of funding that maybe some of these homeowners can tap into to help with renovations? You don't have that? No, they're they're we have zero dollars in our budget even for tearing them down right now. We're

um we we had some money with OCD um and they're still trying to work to get to get us some more to be able to utilize um to tear, you know, tackle some of our backlog, which currently sits at 97 properties.

Okay. Um, but other than that, it's just our in-house crew that's, you know, working to tear down um, houses, you know, study one after the other. Um, I know that OCD has been working to have more programs um to have remodel and other funds. There are other um, organizations out there, nonprofits that are trying to help people like that as well. um we try to steer them to those people um and try to help people. Obviously, we're always working with people and trying to, you know, they if they want to be in their home, then we want them to be in their home. Okay. Is Kelly still here? Thank you,

Kelly. Anyone from OCD here? William, so if if funding does come available through the grants on a federal level, is that information made public so folks can know? Yes. Yes, ma'am. Uh, in fact, uh, Kelly was telling me today that 75 people had signed up for some, uh, one of the housing, uh, grants that they were coming up with. Okay. So, how's that? So, how do you get it out there? How is it made known to the public? How do you do that?

Well, um I'm not I'd have to really get with Kelly, but I would say the best example that I've seen was the town meeting that you had. Yes. You had quite a few people there and they were all interested in remodeling homes, theirs, and other people's. There's Kelly. Kelly, uh, the question is the when you do receive when OCD receive funding from from your from grants, federal dollars, how is that information made known to the public? So, every year it's it's called entitlement funds because we're an entitlement city.

Uh, the formula changes a bit. Um, so it's every year that that amount is advertised and it's in our one-year action plan, okay? as far as what we can do, it has to be approved prior to receiving those funds each year.

So, do you make it um do you make it known to faith-based community um community centers? Uh William mentioned that I had a town hall meeting a couple of months ago and of course that information would be useful there as well. But if we're not doing town hall meetings every month, uh maybe not even once a year, how could you get that information out so folks can know, look, I do have a blotted piece of property. OCD has access to funding. Um what are the criterias? What are the guidelines? How can I make that possible?

Yeah, that's one of the big changes that we are making. Um it it should be more reoccurring. Um, but the funds that y'all are speaking about in the past a large portion has just gone to the home rehabs, which is a great thing, right? Um, but I think it should be partitioned off to where a certain section particularly our elderly are going there. Those in the really bad cases like the blind lady who we're helping at this point. Um, but then it should be some just to help this whole process. So before Rachel was using disaster dollars um that were allocated towards tearowns, but we've carved out some of our entitlement dollars to use specific um for that. But again, rebuilding is key, but we're open to all ideas. I would love the information to be more readily available. Yes. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Harris. Um Councilwoman Rocka,

Mr. Lidduff, please don't go very far. So, we visited another city and they had a handout that was several pages long that had very similar programs that we currently have like MOA own sidelot sales um and and the resources that are available to people that would be phenomenal to have at community centers to have um in these areas where they experience a lot of blight. Are we anywhere closer to potentially um getting something like that generated? Is that something that we can do work together to make sure that we get that information out? Um, and that's my first question. I had more.

Yep. So, we've started um and it's an impact report, so it shows a little bit about what we're doing and the programs available. It's got a QR code and yes, we've started that process.

I would I would ask you to talk to each of the council members and have their input on what that looks like. I have copies of those documents that I'd love to share. um has some additional booklets um that I can get to you guys. The other piece is um recently in January, I ran into the insurance commissioner and he had a program that he wanted to roll out with the parish's uh blight and condemnation proceedings. and it's a roofing program and they would front a somewhere a large amount of money somewhere close to $10,000 or more um to have roofs repaired because it's the one thing that leads to blight is a leak your roof and it's a very expensive cost. Also, currently with getting home um property insurance, the year and date on your roof may prohibit you from doing so with the insurance changes that we've experienced. So, I think that having those conversations with those other public leaders and public officials can help us with those programs and maybe that's something we include in our booklet, but I do believe us all sitting together and having those conversations. Maybe we can have a workshop. I think it would be great. Um, but I I think that the council would love some input on what that looks like moving forward.

We'll involve everybody. I I think we need a town hall at every district regardless of where it is. So, LACE, LA OCD, so Louisiana Housing Corporation, um Louisiana OCD and Department of Insurance, we need to have everyone there. There are people that want to help. I've had conversations with them. They want to assist in any way they can. There's funding available. Um I think our Councilman Harris made an excellent point. Getting this information out to the people is the most important piece so they know that there are things that are available. So, thank you for your work and I appreciate it.

Let's work on it next week. Thank y'all. Let's just hold for one second. We need Yeah, we need We need eight people for the next item. He is Oh, hey, you're here. Good. Oh, good. Good. Okay. When were cops calling you?

Okay. You're always behind a post. What is up with them? Just kidding. Okay. Um Rachel, thank you for your time and energy on that. I think, you know, the more we can learn and understand um and come together and work together, the better off we'll be. Um item 90. Um it's an emergency item to be adopted. waving the distance requirement to allow for the Las Brew House Coffee and Grocery um 3101 Government Street to move forward with their application to the Alcohol Beverage Control Board for a permit to sell packaged natural wine and package retail beer off premises as part of their grocery store by Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman. reason for emergency to allow Lob um Brew Has Coffee and Grocery to move forward with their application with the ABC board as they opened for business on March 22nd, 2026. Okay. Um so in accordance with uh ordinance 16442, this item must be declared an emergency by twothirds vote of the Metropolitan Council. Do um we have a motion to declare this an emergency. Councilman Coleman.

Yes. And do we have a second? C a second from Councilman Moch. Um are we need to vote on the motion to declare it an emergency? Are there any objections? All right. So we have eight votes. Um all right. Let's open up the public hearing on the item. Um does anyone wish to speak on the um emergency introduction adoption? item. Sorry, finding the right words. I don't see anyone wishing to speak, so let's close the public hearing. And um so is that we need to take a vote. We take a vote on the item now. Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Councilwoman Earosa.

We vote on this. Does it actually go forward tonight or is it Yes. This up for No, this Yeah, this is adoption. So, this will allow them to go forward with their Okay. So, what is the distance problem? Can you clarify the distance problem? Why there's a distance problem?

Well, it it is a um there was there's a a very small distance issued and the folk are good with it. And so they went before the parish the um planning and zoning. And so they went to the people. They're good with this. They came to me. I put it on the agenda and we good. So So it's not like it's there's not like a school or a church or anything like that. Is it like neighbors and they are already on a strip with other folks doing the same thing? Just wanted to clarify. Thank you.

All right. Um Okay. So that we we've we've declared it an emergency item and we have um adopt adopted it. Is that right? We've done it. Okay. We need a motion to approve. Just checking out. Um, we have a motion by Councilman Coleman. We have a second by Councilman Moch. Are there any objections? Um, seeing none, the item uh is approved. Item nine is approved. Um, Councilwoman um Emorosa. Motion to adjurnn.

All right. Seconded by every Councilwoman Harris. And we have um so we're adjourned, but we have announcements. Councilwoman Harris. We're back with Pedaling for Peace on April 17th at 6 PM Shoppers Value. Chief, I see you over there. We need you in the place. You're there. Okay. And we need everyone else in the place. It's a great day. Friday, April 17th, 6 p.m. Shoppers value. Be there or be square. And we have bikes for you. Awesome. Beck, I need you in the house. Becky, any other announcements? You're going to Mississippi. You're not going to be there. So come out. We're going to have a great time and the weather is perfect as well. Awesome. See you there.

Thank you, Councilwoman Harris. All right. Don't forget that a small group of committed people is the only thing that has ever changed the world. Y'all have a great evening. John.