Metropolitan Council - Regular Meeting

Any opposition? Motion carries. Item 2, K17-269956, Meadowdale Drive. To rezone from single-family residential A1 to single-family residential A2 on property located on the west side of Meadowdale Drive, south of Green Acres Drive, Council District 2, Kinney. Commission action. Motion to approve. Carried 9-0. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to Council. Motion by Councilman Kinney. Second by Councilwoman Harris. Any opposition? Motion carries. Item three, case 18-2612891, Corsi Boulevard, to rezone from rural to light commercial 1LC1 on property located on the north side of Corsi Boulevard, west of Stumberg Lane, Council District 8, Amarosa. Commission to action. Motion to approve. Carried 9-0. Anyone wishing to speak on this item? Seeing no, we'll go to council. Motion by Councilwoman Amarosa. Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Any opposition? Motion carries. Item four, case 19-26-1407 and 1419 Curtis Street to rezone from limited residential A3.1 to high density multi-family residential A3.3 on property located on the north side of Curtis Street east of Scenic Highway, Council District 2, Kinney. Commission to action. Motion to approve. Carried 9-0. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. We have a motion. Motion by Councilman Kinney, second by Councilwoman Coleman. Any opposition? Motion carries. Item 5, case 20-26, 2865 Millerville Road to rezone from rural to light commercial to LC2 on property located on the east side of Millerville Road, north of South Harold's Ferry Road, Council District 8, Amorosas. Commission action motion to approve, carried 9-0. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Say no and go to council. Do we have a motion? Motion by Councilwoman Amorosa. Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Any opposition? Motion carries. Item six, case 21-26, 26, 27, and 26, 29, South Sherwood Forest Boulevard to rezone from rural to a commercial alcoholic beverage restaurant, CAB1 and Light Commercial 1, LC1, on property located on the east side of South Sherwood Forest Boulevard, south of Harrell's Ferry. South of South Harold's Ferry Road, Council District 8, Amarosa, Commission Action, motion to approve, carry 9-0. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to Council. We have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Amarosa, second by Councilman Dunn, Jr. Any opposition? Motion carries. Councilwoman Amarosa? This meeting's adjourned. Regular Council meeting will begin at 4 o'clock.

And so he taught me Henry and all that. The LHSA. It's incredible.

And when you know I told you that I did, I have called the LHSA. You know how good that lady was. Those arrows and, uh... Gordie Howe? I mean, that's...

Have a good day.

That's what they're ready to do. So the one with the grasshopper is the same one that . I'm sorry.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you.

Probably, yeah.

Thank you.

He and my brother were partners.

Thank you.

Hillary. Hillary.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. What's the plan?

I believe you're doing good, bud. I'm good.

I'm there for you. Good to see you.

It seems like he really thought that.

He said it in four different ways.

If he approves it, is it still, does it not have to come through his mind? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Okay. You ready? You want three wraps?

Okay, good. Got it. Hit him? Yeah.

Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Council Chamber of East Baton Rouge Parish. Good to have all of you watching our meeting today, whether it's streaming, AT&T, Cox, YouTube, Facebook Live, whatever it is. Good to have you part of our government. And at this time, here is the Mayor-President Pro Tem of East Baton Rouge Parish, Councilman Noel from District 1.

Thank you, Dennis. Welcome, everybody, to the Metropolitan Council's only meeting this Wednesday, July 22nd. I'm sorry. I'm reading the wrong one. Regular Metropolitan Council meeting this Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026. I'm going to call the meeting to order. Ashley, do we have a quorum?

We have a quorum.

All right. We're going to have an invocation by Pastor Jeremiah Phillips, World Shakers Church International, followed by the pledge by Epic Intergenerational Camp.

Thank you. May we all bow our heads. Heavenly Father, we thank you today that we can come here together and gather to come forth with the agenda that's on the bill. Father, we know that every agenda is subject to your agenda. So we ask that your agenda be done in this place today. Let it be done in our city. And Father, I just want to thank you for all of the council members and the people who are attending today. I ask that anything that needs to be done in their lives, Father, you bring it to pass. Whatever promotion needs to happen in their lives, we call for promotion right now in their marriage, in their family, in their children. Even on this job, Father, we ask that things be done to mend things, to get them straight to what they can do their job effectively and powerfully. And so we thank you for it. We receive it now. Any attacks, Father, that's coming against them, we ask that those attacks be shot down, be torn down, and we come against any evil attack or any evil agenda that comes against your people. And so we thank you for it. We know that it's all done in your will. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done in this place, in this city, in this state, in Jesus' name. Amen.

We're getting everyone together. The epic camp was a 6 week summer enrichment program held at the Dr Martin Luther King junior community center from June 8th through July 16th. The camp focused on stream education, science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and mathematics while fostering meaningful, meaningful intergenerational learning experience. We are proud to partner, we were proud to partner with East Baton Rouge-Paris Council on Aging, and I want to give a special thanks to Tasha Clark, her staff, and especially our seniors for providing a unique program that brought together youth and older adults to learn, connect, and grow alongside one another. Through hands-on stream activities, creative projects, and collaborative experience, participants developed critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, leadership skills, while strengthening relationships across generations. And I bring to you our campers from the Epic Camp. So everyone had an opportunity to meet him a few minutes ago. They took over. Thanks to Councilwoman Coleman for making that happen. So they took over the chambers and had a great time. So let's go, ladies and boys and girls. Let's say 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, with liberty and justice for all. I want to get a photo.

all right everybody look my way please all right good job

Thank you

Thank you.

Point of personal privilege, at this time I'd like for Mr. Wade from the River Center to come up and talk about our new hockey team.

Thank you. As some of you may know, seven weeks ago we announced hockey was coming back after the previous team had left. Today we announced the new head coach, the general manager, and they're in the process of getting offices. This team, the ownership contingent, agreed to have a local investor, which was the team sponsor for the past three years. He owns multiple businesses. He is out of Central. Ironically enough, years ago, he was a former football player for our mayor-president. That wasn't planned. It just sort of happened. And the three individuals who are investing in our community from outside of the area, one is a real estate developer out of Washington, D.C., another is a a partner in a law firm on Madison Avenue, another is a partner in a financial firm on Wall Street. So they come very well-heeled, and also they have multiple teams in other sports, a couple of European soccer teams, a Canadian basketball team, and three teams in this league. Most notably, their Binghamton team is coming off a three-peat championship. So hopefully they'll do the same here and bring a championship to Baton Rouge. We're really excited about it, and first game is October 16th, Friday.

Mr. Wade, can you tell us our new name?

Our new name is our old name, the Baton Rouge Kingfish are back to honor the memory of the Kingfish. Yep. Okay. Thank you all.

Okay. Approval and adoption of minutes of the Metropolitan Council meeting of June 24th, 2026 in the Greater Baton Rouge Airport Commission meeting of July 7th, 2026 by Council Administrative Treasurer. Do we have a motion? Motion by Councilman Kinney, second by Councilwoman Amorosa. Any opposition? Motion carries. Ashley, can you please read the introductions?

Section 2.12 introductions, number two, a resolution approving the issuance, sale, and delivery of the not to exceed $12,500,000 revenue anticipation note, series 2026 of the St. George Fire Protection District, number two, of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, state of Louisiana, and other matters relating thereto by the St. George Fire Protection District, number two. Number 3, a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in pride fire protection district. Number 8 of the parish of East Baton Rouge state of Louisiana on Saturday, December 12th, 2026 for the purpose of authorizing the renewal of a levy and collection of a 15 mills ad valorem tax. on the dollar of assessed valuation of all property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the district for a period of 10 years to be levied and collected by the parish of East Baton Rouge on behalf of the district for purposes of providing funds for fire protection purposes and providing notice that a public hearing regarding regarding the adoption of this resolution by the Metropolitan Council shall be held on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 at 4 o'clock p.m. at the regular meeting place of the Metropolitan Council, third floor, City Hall, room 348, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and provided for other matters in connection therewith by Pride Fire Protection District. Number four, a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in the Cheneyville Fire Protection District, number seven, of the Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana on Saturday, December 12th, 2026, for the purpose of authorizing the renewal of the levy and collection of a 10 mils ad valorem tax on the dollar of assessed valuation on all property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the district for a period of 10 years to be levied and collected by the parish of east baton rouge on behalf the district for the purpose of providing funds for fire protection purposes and providing notice that a public hearing regarding the adoption of this resolution by the metropolitan council shall be held on wednesday august 12 2026 at four o'clock pm at the regular meeting place of the metropolitan council third floor city hall room 348 222 st louis street baton rouge louisiana and providing for other matters in connection therewith by the council administrator treasurer number five a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held in the city of baton rouge state of louisiana on saturday december 12th for the purpose of authorizing the renewal of the levy and collection of a 0.87 mills ad valorem tax on our property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the city For a period of 10 years, commencing with the tax collection for year 2028 and annually thereafter to and including the year 2037 to provide funds to enable the city to provide a three platoon police system in the police department of the city, making application for Louisiana State Bond Commission and providing that notice of a public hearing regarding the adoption of this resolution by the Metropolitan Council shall be held on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 at 4 o'clock PM at the regular meeting place of. the Metropolitan Council, Third Floor City Hall, Room 348, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and provided for other matters in connection therewith by Mayor President Sid Edwards. Number six, authorizing the Mayor President on behalf of the Baton Rouge Police Department to enter into an operating services agreement with Axon Enterprises for the continued provision and enhancement Of the department's public safety technology system, the total cost of the proposed 10-year lease bundle agreement shall not exceed $31,169,176.74 by the police chief. Number seven, authorizing the mayor president on behalf of the Baton Rouge Police Department in appropriating for said purposes to enter into a professional services agreement with MP Design Group for the provision of architectural and mechanical engineering services at the public safety complex. The total compensation under the agreement shall not exceed $70,000 by police chief. Number eight. A resolution approving the calling of an election of the St. George Fire Protection District, number two, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, on December 12, 2026, for the purpose of reauthorizing the levy and collection of a six mils ad valorem tax for capital improvements for and the general operations of the district within the district for a period of 10 years by St. George Fire Protection District, number two. Number nine. A resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in the Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana on Saturday, June 27th, 2026 to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein by bond council. Number 10, a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of a special election held in the Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana on Saturday, June 27th, 2026 for the purpose of authorizing the collection of the levy and collection of a 9.5 mils ad valorem tax to be used entirely and exclusively the purpose of maintaining and operating a public library system in the parish and its branches and improving services acquiring land and constructing new library facilities for a period of 10 years beginning with the tax collection year 2026 and annually thereafter including the year 2035 and providing for other matters in connection therewith by bond council number 11. authorizing the police chief to implement a police support specialist program which shall allow former sworn personnel to contract with the Baton Rouge Police Department to perform assigned civilian duties, establishing the parameters requirements of said contracts for police support specialist effective July 25th, 2026 by the police chief and the human resources director. Number 12, an ordinance of the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge, creating the Delmont Economic Development District within the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the property described in Exhibit A, shown on Exhibit B, defining the boundaries of the property from which new sales and use taxes and hotel occupancy taxes may be levied by the district, and used to fund all or a portion of the cost of economic development projects as described herein, all in accordance with and authorized by Chapter 27 of Title 33 of Louisiana Vice Statutes of 1950 as amended. designating the governing authority of the district, and acknowledging their authority to levy sales and use taxes and hotel occupancy taxes within the district, and providing for other matters in connection with the foregoing by Councilman Daryl Hurst. Condemnation introductions number 13, Laura Declette. 2850 Fairfield Avenue, Council District 7, Harris. Number 14, Patrick A. Potter, 541 Crane Street, Council District 2, Kinney. Number 15, Mary Price Anderson, 970 St. Irma Lee Way, Council District 2, Kinney. Number 16, Kenneth Wayne Williams, 6733 Avocado Drive, Council District 5, Hearst. Number 17, Joaquin Pardo Farrell, 7869 greenville springs road council district 5 hearst number 18 jacques christopher daniels 837 north 47th street council district 7 harris number 19 frank williams and rachel williams 4110 windborne avenue council district 7 harris number 20 terry wayne smith 2527 main street council district 10 coleman number 21 erica cleo scott 2364 Thomas H. Delpit Drive, Council District 10, Coleman. Number 22, Beverly Brady, FKA Beverly B. Weddington, 219 South 11th Street, Council District 10, Coleman. Number 23, Will Crockett and Alice Crockett, 2732 Thomas H. Delpit Drive, Council District 10, Coleman. Number 24, Jason Ryan Banks, 1930 Carolina Street, Council District 10, Coleman. Number 25, Jermaine Smith, 4443 Aliquippa Street, Council District 10 Coleman. All items that require reading have been read. A motion to delete item 30 at the request of the department and introduce all other items is in order.

Motion.

Motion by Councilman Dunn, Jr. Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. All right, please see your separate sheet for condemnations. I'm going to read them as provided. by DPW on their recommendations, and then we'll go to the council members for their recommendations, and then we'll have public hearing on it all before we vote. Recommendations are to proceed with item 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 89, 90, and 92. 30 days on item 72, 60 days on item 78, and 90 days on item 73, 76, 87, 88, and 91. Have any recommendations by council? District 2, I have 30 days for 74 and 83. That's 79? Not 74? Okay. Okay. Yeah. That's the best course. Anybody else? Yes, council.

7730 days, please. 7730 days. Yes.

All right, anybody else good? 8260 days, okay. All right. I'm gonna read back this. Recommendations are to proceed with item 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 80, 81, 84, 85, 86, 89, 90, and 92. 30 days for items 72, 77, 79, and 83. 60 days for items 78 and 82. 90 days for items 73, 76, 87, 88, and 91. Anyone here wishing to speak on these items? Please, yes ma'am. Come on up and state your name for the record and let us know which item you're here to speak on.

Hello, my name is LaShonda Lapien, reference number 85. I needed more time. I'm the successor, and I just kind of left with what I got to do.

This is on 303 Bondcrest? Yes, sir. Councilman Kenney? Councilman?

Hey, we'll do 30 days. Come see me in my 80. We'll have a conversation.

I did reach out to the office. I didn't get a response.

When did you reach out?

I called last month.

Okay, probably depending on when they would be very busy. So we'll talk today. We'll get you information. Thank you. All right, thank you. 30 days, Mayor Pro Tem.

Anyone else wish to speak on any of these items? I think no one will go to council. I'm going to read them back one more time. Councilwoman, you good? Before we vote? We can reconsider it after. But we can proceed as to how this is. You want to call somebody from the mayor's office? Okay, go ahead.

Hi, Ms. Rachel. Can you come up, please?

Yes, ma'am.

On item 82 on our docket, it's a peculiar listing, in my opinion. I've yet to see this in my district. It's not a main structure. It appears to be an outside shed structure. Is that unusual? We do condemn sheds. Okay. And have you had any contact from the homeowner at all? Hold on. Let me see. Okay. While you're looking, I know there's a compilation of notes that you're probably reviewing. Has this matter ever been on the docket before? My team didn't seem to see it.

So I have a note from 714 that says that the owner called Anjali Bergeron, stating that she lives in the house in the front, and that's all that the note states. I don't think this has been, you know, this is the first time that it's been on the agenda. Okay.

Thank you so much. You're very welcome. I appreciate your help. I'm gonna proceed with the 60 days. Thank you. Okay. We've had trouble contacting the owner.

Okay, I'm reading back one more time. We are to proceed with items 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 80, 81, 84, 86, 89, 90, and 92. 30 days on items 72, 77, 79, 83, and 85. 60 days on items 78 and 82. 90 days on items 73, 76, 87, 88, and 91. We have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Amorosa. Move a second. Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Any opposition? Motion carries. He's going to have to get one. Tell him to give an answer and we can reconsider it. Item 93, authorizing Mayor President to amend the Raising Cane's River Center Rental Waiver Agreement with Visit Baton Rouge and ASM Global for the period of January 1st, 2025 through December 31st, 2028 to increase the total rental waivers available to be awarded for the calendar year of 2027 by $325,000 to an amount not to exceed $725,000 by the Mayor President Visit Baton Rouge and ASM Global. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, go to council. We have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilman Gode. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. Item 94, there's a recommendation to delete this item. Amending the 2026 operating budget so as to transfer funding in the amount of $50,000 from Planning Commission to the Parish Attorney's Office for the purpose of funding salaries to support operations within the Parish Attorney's Office of the Parish Attorney and Planning Commission. Again, there's a recommendation to delete this item. Anyone here wishing to speak on this? Seeing none, we'll go to council. Motion by Councilman Hudson, seconded by Councilwoman Amorosa to delete. Any opposition? Motion carries. Item 95, authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Baton Rouge Police Department to enter into an operating services contract with CoLogic Software Inc. to provide software services for the secure exchange of integrated criminal justice information system data. The estimated compensation for the four agreements will not exceed $48,480 paid annually for a total not to exceed $193,920, effective July 6, 2026 through July 5, 2030 by the police chief. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. Do we have a motion? Motion by Councilwoman Adams. Second by Councilman Hudson. Any opposition? Motion carries. 96, authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Baton Rouge Police Department to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. This CEA establishes terms for reimbursement of BRPD personnel costs associated with the full-time assignment of a school resource officer to East Baton Rouge Parish School System, McKinley High School for the 2026, 2027 school year by the police chief. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. We have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilwoman Adams. Any opposition? Motion carries. Item 97, authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Building and Grounds Building Maintenance Division to execute a contract with Institutional Service and Consultants Inc. for a replacement control panel at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison in the amount not to exceed $62,821.50 by Building and Grounds Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to Council. We have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Coleman. Second by Councilwoman Amorosa. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. Item 98, authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Department of Juvenile Services to execute a renewal contract with Justice Benefits, Inc. to administer the title 4E Federal Foster Care Reimbursement Program at a rate of 12% of revenue reimbursed to the city parish for eligible reimbursement activities effective January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026 by Juvenile Services Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. Do we have a motion? Motion by Councilwoman Adams. Second by Councilman Hudson. Any opposition?

Motion carries.

I'm going to take items 99 through 113 together. Authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a subrecipient contract with Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana in the amount of $223,500 awarded under the Ryan White Ending the HIV Epidemic Program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a sub-recipient contract with Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in the amount of $194,000 awarded under the Ryan White ending the HIV epidemic program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by the Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a sub-recipient contract with No Age Task Force doing business as Crescent Care In the amount of 196,000 awarded under the Ryan white ending the HIV epidemic program for the grant period March 20 March 1st, 2026 through February 28, 2027 by human development and services director. Authorizing mayor president on behalf of the division of human development and services, Ryan white program to execute a sub recipient contract with HIV AIDS alliance for region to Inc. in the amount of 298,000 awarded under the Ryan White Ending the HIV Epidemic Program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a subrecipient contract with Family Services for Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $215,000 awarded under the Ryan White ending the HIV epidemic program for the grant period March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing the mayor president on behalf of the division of human development and services Ryan white program to execute a sub recipient contract with capital city family health Inc in the amount of 245,000 awarded under the Ryan white ending the HIV epidemic program for the grand period March 1st, 2026 through February 28, 2027 by human development services director. Authorizing the Mayor and President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a sub-precipient contract with Volunteers of America, South Central Louisiana, In the amount of $253,596 awarded under the Ryan White HIV AIDS Part A program for the grant period of March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White program to execute a sub-recipient contract with Our Lady of the Lake, Inc. in the amount of $340,000. awarded under the Ryan White HIV AIDS Part A program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a sub-recipient contract with No AIDS Task Force doing business as Crescent Care in the amount of $130,270 awarded under the Ryan White HIV AIDS Part A Program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a sub-recipient contract with HIV AIDS Alliance for Region 2 Inc. in an amount of $1,098,373 awarded under the Ryan White HIV AIDS Part A Program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing mayor present on behalf of division, human development and services, Ryan white program to execute a sub recipient contract with family services of greater Baton Rouge. In the amount of 959,008 dollars awarded under the Ryan white HIV AIDS part, a program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28, 2027 by human development services director. Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White program to execute a sub-recipient contract with Capital City Family Health Center, Inc. in the amount of $684,381 awarded under the Ryan White HIV-AIDS Part A program for the grant period March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a sub-pacifian contract with our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Inc. in the amount of $49,508 under the Ryan White HIV AIDS Minority AIDS Initiative Program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a sub-recipient contract with Capital City Family Health Center Inc. in an amount of $69,354 under the Ryan White HIV-AIDS Minority AIDS Initiative Program for the grant period of March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services Ryan White Program to execute a subrecipient contract with HIV AIDS Alliance for Region 2 in the amount of $228,537 under the Ryan White HIV AIDS Minority AIDS Initiative Program for the grant period March 1st, 2026 through February 28th, 2027 by Human Development and Services Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on items 99 through 113? Ms. Penny Millandry.

Hello. Penny May Landry, West Contour Drive. First, I'm here to wish Aaron good luck in his campaign for Mayor Central.

Thank you. It's very nice of you.

You're welcome.

I'm also... Why are y'all laughing? I'm sincere. I'm sincere. I spoke with my GP about the AIDS epidemic. He's a local doctor. And he said, Penny, it's ridiculous. This thing is over. The government has taken care of the federal government, all the people. He said, I have patients with HIV. They go to work. He said, I don't understand the reason East Baton Rouge Parish has all of these initiatives for AIDS. Aaron, you OK? OK. So I noticed the last couple of agendas, we don't have all of these different agreements with different entities about what real problems we have here, one of which is mental illness. The other is drug addiction. And then I don't see our Metro Council forming all of these alliances I stopped counting at $5 million plus just for these agenda items. And it's like every six months we have these agenda items about Ryan White AIDS. I'll try to find out on all of these grants if we have a local match, because I know with a lot of federal money, the local entity receiving the money has a match. And also, no, I can't ask questions. However, I'm going to keep digging until I find out. Of these contracts, how much money we, the parish taxpayers are paying in matches towards that. So, in the future, I'd just like you all to reconsider. Maybe some a little more attention. to drug addiction and mental illness and less to something that the federal government is already taking care of and that the medical profession says is not a challenge anymore. Thank you.

Anyone else wishing to speak on this item? See, now we'll go to council. Council members.

Oh, sorry. Council members, you should have received one email comment in opposition to items 99 through 113.

customer mode. Thank you. I'm going to stand up for this, because we've done this multiple times. Ms. Penny, if you would mind coming up. Because I want to make sure. Yeah, you can come up. I have the option that option to call you back up and I want to make sure that we make this clear because I think every council member has pretty much explained this every single time and. I appreciate the fact as a constituent, you take the time to come up and you state your opinion and everything else and. But what I have some questions of you, but 1st, I'm going to make some statements real quick. Is we have explained over and over. that this ryan white hiv funding is federal funding with no match no match what it is and we've explained this process to you also these organizations are required to apply for this fund this federal funding through east baton rouge parish because we are the facilitator of the money when it comes down from federal they apply to us We send and say, okay, federal government, we need this amount of dollars because we've had this many applications, and we would like to fund these people. I don't know exactly how many people apply for it locally. These are just several of them that have applied, and they happen several times throughout the year. This gets sent up to the federal government. The federal government then says, okay, we're going to send you X amount of dollars for these specific people. We then, because we're the facilitators, that's the way federal money comes down. It either goes to the state or it comes to us to facilitate it through this thing. It doesn't cost taxpayers anything. But it funds these organizations. That's where the funding comes in. So if you're looking for the gotcha part or whatever, there is none. It's strictly medical organizations that are trying to fund themselves to be able to support these people with HIV, AIDS, or whatever else. That's that part. Now I'm going to get into the part that really kicks me in every time, and you say that you talk to a doctor, and it's not needed, and the federal government does this, and they've already done this, and they've done that. The reason they've done that kind of stuff is because of these medications, which are keeping it at bay, which are keeping it down, which are keeping the numbers to zero, which are making people that have HIV register zero in virus load or anything like that. If you want to dig into the full medical of it, then dig into the full medical of it. But these medications... are keeping those numbers down without those medications baton rouge new orleans chicago whoever you want to name pick a city their numbers will go through the roof with HIV and AIDS without this medication. There is no cure. Surely the doctor told you there's no cure. Yes, they have solved the problem of how to contain, how to make it zero, how to make it not show up, how people can do whatever. Plus, the other thing in this is, and if it has to roll into the next one, it's training. There's training. There is support.

How many people go through the training?

There's a lot, I tell you, there's a lot in the community that it's about practicing. It's about practicing safer and being in the community and things like that. And what you what's. How it's transmitted how it's not transmitted. It's all the thing. Just like the mental illness and so on and so forth. There are just as many of these grants out there. for mental illness and everything else that there are for the Ryan White. And this city parish goes after those.

Is this program available in the parish jail?

Yes. Thank you. In fact, one of these people are already administering it in the parish prison. In fact, we save money by doing it in the parish prison than having to take them all the way to Angola to get their medications and then bring them back.

So that's part of that. I'm not finished yet.

I'll ask you when I'm ready for a question. I'll ask you. What I'm saying is these programs... make it so that those things are zero and that it keeps the numbers down and it keeps it from spreading. So that's why these are important. The other thing, and the last part I'll say about this, is you talk about the mental health. We focus a lot on mental health. There's so many programs out there. There's so many grant fundings that we apply for. But you never come up and speak about those. And I'm not disagreeing with that. Those monies need to be spent on whatever. This money right here can't go for anything else except this. We've said that over and over. That's all it can go for is this right here. Now, my question to you is... Since this money can only go for this, do you just want the city parish to not apply for it and reject it outright? Or do you want this money to go to someone else in another city, in another place? That's the only options we have. Either don't apply for it and leave all these organizations hanging out there to go help fund themselves, or we apply for it and we get the federal dollars to help this out. It's a yes or no question. Do you want us to apply for it or not?

Is this time up yet?

I'm on my second time. That is my question to you. That is my question to you. Do you want us to apply for it or not?

On the record, we have no answer. I'm just letting you know. And I do not appreciate it, Aaron.

That's okay.

I wish you the best.

My option as a council member is to ask questions, and I'm trying to answer your question as far as why we get this funding. And all I'm asking is, if as a constituent, do you not want us to apply for this funding or not? Thank you. Councilwoman Harris.

It's too late.

Yes, ma'am.

It's too late.

Oh, wait. Ma'am, if you would like to speak on the topic and the drug abuse, you're more than welcome to. You used my time.

Hang on there. Your time's up. I thought I did my second round. You went into your second round. I did. I know. Now we're on Councilwoman Harris's. Oh, I thought I was finishing mine. I'm sorry. You did finish yours. Councilwoman Harris. Okay.

Dr. Zanders, can you come up, please?

Okay, I'll come back because I will be heard.

How you doing? Yes, ma'am.

I have a question. I noticed that the contracts that are the contracts that we're approving today for the Ryan White HIV, the date the contract begins or should have began on March 1st, 2026.

Correct.

So why are we six months late with these contracts?

There was language in the contract that parish attorney and the Ryan White program couldn't agree on. And so we had to negotiate that language and we finally got it to the place where everybody was acceptable with it.

Councilman, sorry, I just want to interject. I think it's just to clarify, you're talking about the grant period, not the contract. Grant period is between March 1st? Yes, grant period.

Thank you for that. But we're still late into the grant period. Right. Six months.

We couldn't execute them until we got the language correct.

So let me ask you this. So the service providers who qualify for this funding, were they notified?

Correct. Correct.

When did you notify them? Because our office received.

Can you say that again?

I said, when did you notify them? Because I'm going to say to you that a couple of these providers reached out to my office saying that they had not heard anything from social service. And this was a month ago.

Well, I can't tell you what they said, but I know doing that process from January to March that they were expecting to have those contracts executed and Dr. Edwards reached out to all our sub-recipients.

Is Dr. Edwards still with?

She's not.

So when did she leave?

I think in March.

Okay, and how long was she there before leaving?

Six or seven months.

So Dr. Edwards was in charge of these contracts, making certain that they were... So let me ask you this, Dr. Sanders. She was there seven months. Have you filled her position?

I have.

And who has taken her position?

Ms. Stokes. She's behind you.

Okay, so miss stokes is now in charge of these contracts.

That's correct.

So, do we do we lose 6 months of funding because we're so late getting started.

I wouldn't say we lost six months of funding. No, because at the end of the grant period, there will be no money that's going back. We're going to have to reimburse the sub-recipients for the services.

Okay, so you have six months remaining on this grant period. So they have to spend whatever $298,000 in six months?

Well, there's also you got to keep in mind that the sub recipients were providing services as we went along.

Okay. So this is okay. So, Mr Stokes is in charge. How long has Mr Stokes been with you guys?

Ryan white program or the HDS?

Okay, whichever has she been with? The HDS she just transferred over to Ryan white.

Yes.

She was actually the PA of OSS Okay, so you're telling me that you guys have communicated with these providers From start to now

I know in the past that we have, and again, you're talking specifically about the language in the contract, which delayed the contract.

Okay, so you communicated that with the providers. Okay. Can I have someone from parish attorney who was office who's in charge of getting this contract done? Thank you. Dr. Sanders. Thank you. Hello, hello. Lisa. Where's Lisa?

I think they're out.

Out, okay.

Talking, if you wanna, you wanna use your second time and go grab them or have somebody go get them?

Out, yeah, Chris is going to get them.

Okay.

So in the meantime, can I use some of my time to let Ms. Jackie speak?

Sure.

Come on, Ms. Jackie. You're welcome. Not too long, Ms. Jenkins, not too long. You got to save a little bit.

Again, my name is Dr. Jacqueline Linder, Germany. Again, I come to a meeting not knowing why I'm here, and I'm presented with a situation that I have a problem with. HIV and AIDS. In my studies, the mobilizing against AIDS, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, has a high rate of HIV and AIDS. And I realize that the president has denied funding to agencies that would take care of the needs of these people that's on medication who need the funding to get and stay alive. Not just here in Baton Rouge, but all over the country. But my question is, how long has this been on the table? I heard what you said at the grants and everything. It's just that I want it to be heard because I want to understand exactly what's going on here. We need it because people need the services. but the amount of money that's being brought in when we got other violence programs that's not being funded by the City of Baton Rouge, and that grant money is not being used, but you can use the grant money for this. That's my question.

Thank you, Ms. Jackie. Okay. Lisa, can you come up? Dr. Zanders just shared with us that there was some issue with the language with these contracts.

So, um, y'all forgive me because I was outside when this started, but I believe what's being referred to is that. Um, we communicated with Dr Xander's office and he with the state. Regarding the grand tours funding, and they indicated in order for us to continue to receive the Ryan white funds that there had been a couple of findings on our contracts. that those findings required that we add language that included if there was an emergency situation that we would be able to go ahead and provide those suppliers with funds provided it went through an approval process and that that was required in order to meet the issues or the findings that the state found

So going forward, these contracts, since this has been resolved, this language issue, so going forward, there should not be a delay with contracts being on time.

That is my understanding. I was, of course, just one party of a meeting with several people, but I think there are several things that have been put into place to try to make sure that that moves faster and that, again, we address any of the shortcomings that were found by the state funder.

Okay, so you said several things have been put in place on your end, the parish attorney's office, or...

I think the city parish, right? Because I'm sure you're well aware of the process that it goes through in order to have things approved and make sure that from the very beginning that the vendors have everything that they need and those kind of things. So I think that the group of people got together and made sure that that was something that they could move forward with because, again, that delay was, I'm told, a finding from the grantor. And, again, I'm not the expert on this. I just happened to be in the meeting, and I can tell you about the contract.

Okay. All right. Thank you, Lisa.

Yes, ma'am.

Councilwoman Rocca.

Yes, sir. Thank you. And welcome to Councilwoman Rocca's The More You Know series. Oftentimes, I like to put some information and facts out there so the public understands where we're coming from and why we do the things that we do. First and foremost, I would really like to address the fact that we somewhat flippantly look at these items and just move along and maybe that's how it appears to the public watching we make a motion we get in a second and then we just move right along also that sometimes we ask we ask questions that appear like we do not know the answers but oftentimes council members have spent countless hours researching and doing homework on these agenda items reading them shortly after they're introduced, talking to the parish attorney's office, talking to the mayor's office. Things do come up on occasion where we ask questions and we have people come to the podium because we know the answers, but the public does not know the answers. And the only way that we can let the public know the answers is by asking for these questions on the record and having the public hear them and see them through this public meeting. Now, let's talk about Ryan White. We've talked about this program multiple times before, but I think that we all need to understand that Congress makes these policies. Congress decides whether we reduce or we increase funds. Once Congress makes those decisions, those dollars are either handed down through the state or city level, through the parish, as we see here tonight, And they make those decisions based upon data. And data is so incredibly important to me because the law and data typically don't lie. So federal government covers most of the costs. Taxpayers pay into the federal government. The number one supplier for people that have HIV and AIDS of those resources is Medicaid. Medicaid spending exceeds $18 billion a year, or somewhere near that, on HIV and AIDS patients. I can only gather from my research that the reason why we continue to have this funding is because it is less expensive to pay for preventative maintenance for people that have HIV and AIDS than to pay for people that have full blown AIDS and then cost Medicaid exceedingly larger amounts of money. In fact, great strides have been made with medications and preventative measures for people that have HIV to the extent that it is proven that without this medication, morbidity increases and transmission increases. So if we stop the funding The AIDS epidemic continues and it grows, people die, and sadly, AIDS then gets transmitted at the rapid rates that we once have seen it transmitted. So if we take the human element out of it, which oftentimes we have to, to make a decision for policy, which sometimes hurts or seems cruel, but if we take the human element out of it, the cost associated with funding these programs is far less than what it could potentially cost if we yanked all of the funding for the Medicaid program. So when you see things, we have to as a body understand that there are people in higher positions than us that have already ran these numbers, looked at the data, and made a determination that if you're doing a risk-benefit analysis, it is far better to pay on the front end than it is to pick up the bill on the back end. So with that being said, I understand why we have these funds. It is my understanding and appreciation with the vendors that utilize these dollars. They are putting them to good use. Whenever you have people in the prison system, just like we saw with COVID, those small contained areas have a rapid spread of disease. This is an attempt to contain these things, to decrease these numbers and keep our population healthy in the many ways that we can. So, thank you.

Council McKinney.

Hey, I just want a record to reflect to abstain and for myself to abstain and recuse from 104, 110 and 112.

Um, I just want to speak a little bit on this. I think I'm going to piggyback a little bit on what's already been said, but just maybe a slightly different angle. Um, and this may help miss Landry. I don't know. Um. So, again, this is these are grant funds. From the federal government that are passing through here for us to facilitate with with local organizations that handle this work. And again, I think it's kind of already been said, but what you're hearing from your doctor may very well be true, but that's through this exact work. This is what the this is how the federal government has solved it. It's through exactly what you're seeing on our agenda tonight. I don't think at least to my knowledge, there's not. Federal government hasn't come up with a formula that they spray and chemtrails with planes over the country to solve it. They. Expend dollars through grants to. Local municipalities and states to facilitate these funds to. Help resolve the issue, like your doctors stating is being resolved. So I think. This is working, but I'll go a step further because I know at one point at a previous meeting, you did mention along with these that hey, the federal government's in debt and run a deficit every year and it's continuing to grow. And I tend to agree with you there. That's a problem. or there are a lot of things that could be looked at that they're spending dollars on, expending grant dollars, certainly. I think that's something that you and I and any others who are concerned about it should speak to our federal delegation about, but the reality is once it gets to this point and these grand dollars are expended. What Councilman Moog said is correct. We have a choice of we either accept them or they go back into the pool. They're still gonna get spent. It's just somewhere else is gonna get them. And to that end, What I would say is these organizations that are doing this work, not only is it treating local people, which is what we care about is our constituents. Not that we don't care about people in other parts of the state or the country, but specifically we're here to do work for the people of this parish. And that goes for those who are receiving the services, but also all of these organizations employ people. And these dollars can go help to help support those organizations And that keeps people employed, and those dollars recirculate throughout this community. Over and over again, these people shop at the stores, which create tax revenue and help small businesses, and they eat at the restaurants and every other thing. So any dollars that we have from the federal level or the state level that are coming that we can grab, I think it would be an injustice from a recirculation of the dollar, that indirect dollar that we talk about all the time from an economic development standpoint and from a tax basis, accept these dollars and utilize them. So I think this touches a whole lot of areas, but I hope that explains better on when we look at these things. It would be a rare occasion for me and I think most of us to say, no, thank you, federal government. We're not going to take these millions that you're trying to do in our area. Even if you may not agree completely with how they're spending the dollars, if they're going to have them here, I'd rather have them in our community than anywhere else because those dollars are going to circulate. motion to approve we have a motion by councilman Moak to approve second by councilman Hudson is there any opposition motion carries 1 14 amending resolution 4 8 0 6 4 section 5 B so as to expand the limit of the number of board boards a person can serve on from 2 to 4 by councilwoman Carolyn Coleman anyone here wishing to speak on this item miss Landry

This resolution is very short, and it leaves a lot of questions from citizens, because I've talked to several boards. Which boards specifically are we talking about here? How many boards? Let's just say there's 30, okay? That means that maybe there's five or six people on a board, okay, appointed by the Metro Council. You're looking at less than 100 people in a parish. What's the current population of East Baton Rouge Parish? Anybody know? No, okay, anyway. We have lots of good citizens here who can serve. So to have the same people serving on more than two boards takes away the opportunity for other engaged citizens to serve. And possibly we or the Metro Council in the mayor's office could do a lot better job of informing the citizens which board seats are available, what it means to serve on a board. I've never received a notification that there are vacancies on these three or four boards. I've never seen it in the newspaper. Maybe we could get more people involved in serving on boards if we did a better job of letting more people know about them. So I am in opposition to having people be able to serve on more than two boards. I think two is plenty and I think having only two that you can serve on, leaves an opportunity for other citizens to serve. And I request of you and the mayor's office that y'all do a better job of letting people know about which boards they can serve on and when board vacancies are up. Thank you for your consideration. Thank you.

Anyone else wish to speak on this item?

Council members, you should have received one email comment in opposition to item 114.

Seeing none, we'll go to council. Councilwoman Rocca.

Hi, Ms. Beck. Our council administrator, loving, sweet, beautiful Beck. Would you mind telling the public, for those listening at home, how they can gather more information about which board seats are open, available, and when they expire? I know that there's some place online that you can look at. Yes.

On the city parish website there is a tab that has government information and if you look under there's a boards and commissions page and it has all board and commission vacancies available. Additionally we do advertise in the advocate every time that there is a vacancy we have to advertise the vacancy at least 60 days before

the appointment is made um so anytime there is a board vacancy that comes up it's advertising the advocate and it is put on the city parish website and people can apply online thank you so much we would love um the public to apply we are we're always looking for good people to sit on board so thank you so much for that information i hope that we can get that out there for all those that are listening tonight councilman mo

i was just wondering uh just a couple questions what uh miss carolyn i i don't know if this is for you i appreciate you coming up with it um what is this coming out of i guess what is is there a need for what's i just again i don't know a whole lot about it i'm just i'd like to do a little more information on it if you don't mind sharing please thank you

As you can see and read it says that to expand the limit of the number of boards and this is council people can serve on from two up to four. Let the record reflect these boards are not paid boards so you definitely give up your time and your energy To serve on these boards and so. Where we are now at 4806 for that resolution, it is saying that you can only serve on 2 boards and so. The 4 doesn't mean we jump up to serve on 4 boards. That means that we have that option to serve on up to 4. I don't know if there would be a 4 that anyone would want to serve on, but it definitely would not just box us in saying 2. and with all of the expertise that is uh prevalent among the council members then folk are reaching out asking about us being a part of that then this does not limit us that's all okay uh thank you thank you for that so would we need to help somebody speak i don't know

So would we need to possibly change that instead of saying the number of boards a person can serve on to the number of boards a council member can serve on?

The resolution is not specific. The resolution that is proposed to be amended today is not specific to council members. No person can serve as it stands today on more than two boards. If y'all want to add a provision that it only applies to council members, I think you could do that. But as it stands today, the limit applies to anyone.

okay so with that being said and and i would uh ask councilwoman coleman that we amend this and if it has to be reintroduced or whatever if we're going to narrow it down to uh just council members instead of the general public and i kind of agree there's a lot of boards and there's a lot of people out there but if we're going to specifically go with council members and let's let's amend it to say boards a council member can serve on Ms. Carolyn, I'm just asking your opinion. I mean, are you okay with that, or?

Well, I guess when I look at the resolution and it says a person can serve,

So we're opening up all the boards to anybody that can serve on four boards. With that wording, we're saying that anybody in the parish can serve on four boards, not just the council member. And I'm just basing it on what you said a while ago about council members. So you okay with changing it to council member?

I'm fine with that. Okay.

Yeah, I'm fine with that. That's...

I would, I guess my concern is the resolution is. Uh, a person, it says a person. So, yeah, the current.

Resolution as it stands addresses a lot of things with respect to boards and commissions and the process by which people are appointed to boards and commissions. Um, it currently does not distinguish between council members and, um, citizens who are not. Council members. If that is something y'all want to do, I'll be honest. I haven't spoken to the parish attorney's office about that possibility of whether that poses any concerns. Okay.

I would, I would like to ask for a referral to the next council meeting to possibly clarify. I'm okay with council members. If you want to serve up to 4 boards and take your time and do that. I'm totally okay with that. I think as far as. The again, with as many people that are out there, if we're going to, if we're going to just open up broadly with boards, a person, any 1 can serve on, we might end up with few fewer people on multiple boards instead of having more room for. multiple people to serve on fewer boards. But council member-wise, I'm okay with that. We may have some boards that nobody steps up to serve on, and we may need the option to put a council member on there. No, I'm done. Councilman Hudson. Okay, go ahead.

Yeah, just real quickly, I wanted to lend my support to the item, but more pointedly to the item as written. You know, there was an, I don't remember what the board was recently, but it came up on our agenda and I asked Councilman Coleman to consider it because I thought she was a good fit for it. And she said, no, I'm tapped out. I'm already serving on two boards and so I can't. So I think, you know, particularly when it comes to her district, the assets that are in that district where she needs to have a voice because the asset is within her district, she needs the opportunity to do that. I don't see myself serving on more than two boards, but there are instances where council members may need to do it. As it pertains to the item as it's written, I think you may also need to consider the mayor's office in that, right? So we have mayor's appointments on boards where we may limit them. If we make it only council members, we may limit them. to not being able to serve on more than two boards. And then you also have instances like within these economic development districts and things like that where institutions are playing a role and they may need to have a person on that board. And so we would limit them if we kept it to only council members. So I think there is a method to the madness and the way that it's written. I think there is a valid need for it. And so I would just ask that we support it tonight. So thank you.

Councilman Dunn, Jr.

Thank you. I'll defer to the author of the item on what she wants to do, but I'd add these 2 cents to it. I think whatever the standard is for council members, the standard should be for any other citizen. So I wouldn't change the standard for us. And broaden it for council members and limited for. Regular citizens, so I think it needs to be consistent. That's that's the 2 cents I'll add and I defer to the author.

Councilman yeah, and same here, I will defer to councilwoman Coleman. I appreciate the dialogue on it between all 3 of y'all. That's the information that I was looking for. And the reason why, and I appreciate it. And if we want to go forward with this 1. That's I mean, I'm a Rosa.

Ashley, is there a limit to how many boards that a citizen can be on?

Do you know? Yes, the limit for everyone. At any city parish board or commission. This does not apply, obviously, to non-profit boards or anything like that. This is just city parish boards or commissions. Everyone is limited to two. To two, okay. Thank you.

I so move.

just remember though by going to four it eliminates the ability after you have two to tell people hey i'm sorry i can't i would so just fair warning motion by councilwoman coleman second by councilman moak any opposition motion carries item 115 the recommendation is to delete this item Authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Library Board of Control to execute first optional one-year renewal contract with OOK Janitorial Service, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $720,000 for the period of June 1st, 2026 through May 31st, 2027 with one optional one-year renewal for a total amount not to exceed $1,440,000 by the Library Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Now we'll go to council.

Councilman Dunn, Jr. Is anyone here from procurement or the library can kind of give us some?

I can explain. This item was actually approved as an emergency item on June 24th. The library, just out of an abundance of caution, also introduced the item in case it didn't get approved as an emergency. So it was approved on the 24th. Gotcha.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Motion by Councilwoman Amorosa. Second by the Chair to delete the item. Any opposition? Motion carries. 116, authorizing Mayor President to enter into a lease agreement with Motorola Solutions for purpose of providing new portable radios for police and fire departments. This lease includes the equipment software, upgrades of the same, extended warranties and other support, total cost for 10 years. is $9,206,273.60 by fire chief and police chief. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, go to council. Have a motion? Motion by Councilman Hudson, second by Councilman Moak. Any opposition? Motion carries. We're gonna take 117 through 124 together, authorizing Mayor President to enter into cooperative endeavor agreement for the Department of Energy, sorry, Department of Emergency Medical Services with Central Fire Protection District. Four, CEA is for the City Parish through EMS to lend Central Lucas automated CPR devices. City Parish and EMS wish to improve public health and provide access for life-saving equipment throughout the Parish of East Baton Rouge and within the Central Fire Protection District, number four. by EMS director. Authorizing Mayor President to enter to a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Department of Emergency Medical Services with the City of Baker. The CEA is for the City Parish through EMS to Lynn Baker, Lucas, automated CPR devices. City Parish and EMS wish to improve public health and provide access to life-saving equipment throughout the Parish, East Baton Rouge, and within the City of Baker. through the City of Baker Fire Department by EMS Director. Authorizing Mayor President to enter a cooperative endeavor agreement for the Department of Emergency Medical Services with the East Baton Rouge Fire Protection District. Number three, Brownsfield CEA is for the City Parish through EMS to lend Brownsfield Lucas automated CPR devices to the City Parish and EMS which to improve public health and provide access to life-saving equipment through the Parish of East Baton Rouge within East Baton Rouge Fire Protection District. Number three, by EMS Director. authorizing the Mayor-President to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement for the Department of Emergency Medical Service with the East Baton Rouge Fire Protection District Number 7, Cheneyville. This CEA is for the City Parish through EMS to lend Cheneyville Lucas automated CPR devices. The City Parish and EMS wish to improve public health and provide access to life-saving equipment throughout the Parish of East Baton Rouge and within the East Baton Rouge Fire Protection District Number 7 by the EMS Director. Authorizing Mayor President to enter a cooperative endeavor agreement for the Department of Emergency Medical Services with East Baton Rouge Fire Protection District Number 6, the CEA for the City Parish through EMS to lend District 6 Lucas automated CPR devices. City Parish and EMS wish to improve public health and provide access to life-saving equipment through the Parish of East Baton Rouge and within the East Baton Rouge Fire Protection District Number 6 by EMS Director. Authorizing the Mayor President entered into a cooperative endeavor agreement for the Department of Emergency Medical Services with East Baton Rouge Fire Protection District number five. The CEA is for City Parish through EMS to lend Eastside Lucas automated CPR devices the city parish and ems wish to improve public health and provide access to life-saving equipment through the parish of east baton rouge and within the east baton rouge fire protection district number five by ems director authorizing the mayor president to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement for the department of emergency medical services with the east baton rouge fire protection district number eight pride the cea is for the city parish through ems to lend pride lucas automated cpr devices the city parish and ems wish to improve public health and provide access to life-saving equipment throughout the parish of east baton rouge and within the east baton rouge fire protection district number eight by ems director authorizing the Mayor-President to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement for the Department of Emergency Medical Services with the City of Zachary. The CEA is for the City Parish through EMS to lend Zachary Lucas automated CPR devices to City Parish and EMS wish to improve public health and provide access to life-saving equipment throughout the Parish of East Baton Rouge and the City of Zachary through the Zachary Fire Department by Emergency Medical Services Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on items 117 through 124? Seeing none, we'll go to council. Motion by Councilman Mote. Second by Councilman Kinney. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. 125, authorizing Mayor President to execute a contract and engagement letter with Eisner Advisory Group, LLP, in the amount not to exceed $61,500 to perform a process assessment evaluation for collecting, processing, and recording revenues associated with the Baton Rouge City Court and Baton Rouge City Constable's Office by the Finance Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? I think I'm going to go to council. I have a motion. Motion by Councilman Goday. Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Any opposition? Motion carries. Item 126, authorizing Mayor President to accept an amendment on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services, Office of Social Services to accept funding from Louisiana Works Discretionary Funds in the amount of $50,003 in support of Ride to Work 2.0 Pedaling Towards Progress project for a total of $1,539,479 by Human Development and Services Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Anyone want to go to council? Move a motion. Motion by Councilman Goday. Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Any opposition? Motion carries. 127, authorizing Mayor President to execute supplemental agreement number one to an existing contract for professional services with Patch Landscape Architecture, LLC, for additional services associated with MoveBR enhancement project, Scotlandville Plaza enhancement project, in an amount not to exceed $10,250, bringing the total contract amount not to exceed $143,250 by Transportation and Drainage Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. We have a motion. Motion by Councilman Kinney. Second by Councilman Hudson. Any opposition? Motion carries. 128 authorizing mayor president to execute a supplemental agreement for professional engineering services with professional engineering consultants corporation for services associated with the movie our project groom road la 19 the plank road and amount not to exceed fifty one thousand one hundred sixty six dollars and fifty five cents bringing the total contract amount not to exceed one million five hundred thirty one thousand seven hundred fifty three dollars and eighteen cents by the transportation and drainage director anyone here wishing to speak on this item yes

Uh, on all supplemental agreements, I would just please ask the council that in the legislation or the council members. That the citizens know what the additional funds being awarded or for, um, you know, there's this strategy that is sometimes used. Where, um. A contractor will put in a low bid in order to get the bid and then come back and ask for supplements. So, I'm just asking that y'all take a real good look at what the additional monies. That they're asking for and make sure that they're needed and hold our contractors to a little higher standard of being able to do the work for the amount that they're originally contracted for. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak on this item? So now we'll go to Council. Council McKinney.

Hey Fred, you just want to come up real quickly in response to Ms. Penny's concern?

Yes. First, and I do don't disagree with this penny's comment, but I will say that this is not a contractor engineer. It's an engineer project that we have to go through the council, get approval on all the items is the steps that we're doing. And when I do submit an item for the agenda for the council to be looked at, we also have an attached sheet. That's also. As far from a public records request to be sure that people know this is what we're asking for under this particular service. Uh, with the engineer, there was some areas up there close to. Uh, highway 19 and also groom road that we had some issues about right away. There was some ways that we could look at trying to address the right away narrow down. We wanted to see, because otherwise we'd have an additional expenditure to deal with. This is certainly far less cost for what we want to do to get the plans done. So we can finish up the project in general, but. And I would state that we we make we make an effort to be sure that everybody knows what's going on but on the agenda items We also have a fact sheet which is just like it is shown like that It tells us what's going on what we're doing for and if there's any questions certainly I'll be glad to answer that All right.

Thank you Fred motion to approve motion by councilman Kenny second by councilwoman Coleman there any opposition motion carries 129, rescinding and directing clerk of court to cancel a notice to attend recorded on October 13th, 2025 in the matter of City of Baton Rouge versus John Christopher Pilly and Clinton T. Francis, 5836 Byron Street. The reason for rescission is the property is being sold and renovated. This is by Councilwoman Harris. Anyone wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. Motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilwoman Amorosa. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. All right, adjudicated properties, we take 130 through 146 together. Lot 342, subdivision Greendale, Council District 5, Hearst, in my father's house. Lot six and seven, square 12, subdivision Progress Park, Council District 10 Coleman, high bidder Plank Road, CLBT Inc., $500. Lot 19, subdivision Swart Edition, Council District 10 Coleman, high bidder Wayne Lawrence, $2,800. Lot 15, square two, subdivision Richmond Park, Council District 10 Coleman, high bidder Nicholas Stewart and Diana Oliver, $100. Lot 10, square six, subdivision Scott, Council District 10 Coleman, high bidder Lafayette & Company, $100. Lot C, Subdivision Sherwood Village Condominiums, Council District 6, Dunn Jr., High Bidder Equity Real Estate, $11,500. Lot 4, Square 35, Subdivision Scotland Edition, Council District 2, Kinney, High Bidder Whitmore, Whitmore Enterprises, LLC, $7,000. Lot 3, Subdivision Baldrige Place, Council District 7, Harris, High Bidder Lafayette Company, $3,000. Lot 3, Square F, subdivision Crawford Edition, Council District 7, Harris, High Bidder, Lafayette & Company, $1,000. Lot 12, subdivision Victoria Gardens, Council District 7, Harris, High Bidder, Lafayette & Company, $4,000. Square 30, subdivision South Downs, Council District 12, Rocca, High Bidder, Norco Logistics Solutions, $2,300. Lot 25, Square 12, Subdivision Bank, Council District 2, Kinney. High bidder, Kevin Cook, $7,100. Lot 8, Square 5, Subdivision Scotland Heights, Council District 2, Kinney. High bidder, Kenneth Lawrence, $62,000. Lot 54, Subdivision Deer Park, Council District 1, Noel. High bidder, Joseph Jean-Pierre, Jr., $700.00. Lot 285, Subdivision Crystal Place, Council District 4, Moak. High bidder, David Waboru, $1,600. Lot 7, Square 28, Subdivision South Baton Rouge, Council District 10, Coleman, Moda-Own. Lot 76, Square 12, Subdivision South Baton Rouge, Council District 10, Coleman, Moda-Own. Anyone here wishing to speak on items 130 through 146? Seeing none, go to Council, Council McKinney.

Hey, defer 142 for 30 days.

Your motion is to approve with deferral of 142 for 30 days?

Yes, correct.

Do we have a second? Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. All right, we're going to see our separate sheet for administrative matters.

The same problem. This is it.

Okay, administrative matter emergency item. A, authorizing Mayor President to execute a professional service agreement for interstate mowing, litter, trash pickup, and spraying with H&O Investments LLC for an amount not to exceed $615,752.10 by development director and maintenance director. Reasons being requested as administrative matters to ensure a timely and consistent mowing of the interstate. I need a motion to waive the rules. Do I have a motion to waive the rules? Motion by Councilman Goday. We're going to have a public hearing on the motion to waive the rules. Anyone wishing to speak on the motion to waive the rules? Seeing none, we'll go to Council. Councilman Dunn, Jr.?

Yes, I need to. Rachel, Staff, Parish Attorney.

This is just on the motion to waive the rules.

Okay, I need to have a quick conversation about process before I decide if I'm objecting that. Is the time to do that now or afterwards?

You can ask a question about the process of adding this to the agenda tonight, not process relative to the substance of what's being asked.

All right, I'll wait.

Okay, we have a motion by Councilman Goday, second by Councilman Hudson to waive the rules. Any objection on a motion to waive the rules? All right, now we have a public hearing on the item. Anyone here wishing to speak on the item? Seeing none, we'll go to council.

Councilman Dunn Jr. Parish attorney Rachel, whoever else is involved with this item. Yes, sir, so there's been some concerns brought to my attention and several of my colleagues attention. With this item for as a public notice. For us, talk to me about the process. Did you do a public notice advertisement of this contract and opportunity?

After consulting with the parish attorney's office, um, there has been an opinion that. Grass cutting is not a public work and that way we can we can we can contract through and a professional service agreement, which does not require a public bid. So, out of, um. Trying to be financially responsible with the parish funds, we solicited quotes from over 140 contractors in order to. Get to this number.

Okay. Thank you. Paris attorney. So Rachel just said you guys gave her the advice that grass cutting is no longer classified in the same way it's now classified as a, what did you call it? Wait a minute, what did you say, Rachel? Not a public work, but it's a professional service. So when did the classification from grass cutting change from a public work to a professional service?

So I don't think there's any classification change. I think it is, there are two ways that you can do it. Now, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor would say that you could bid everything out if you chose to, but a service, which is what a mowing is, can, does not have to go through the public bid process. The reason that some of those things, some of the departments chose to go in that direction is because they were interested in getting quality as well as the lowest price. And I see nothing and it is my opinion that in the public bid law that requires that a mowing contract to be publicly bid.

Okay, all right. Okay. I've discussed with the administration, y'all know I had a lot to say about this last time, and I know they have been working with the OTD on having Having a put in place, it's not, you know, this body obviously has not passed the yet for the mayor to sign. So, but I know they are working to try to get more dollars and they are in good discussions with the, which I applaud. And I think that's something that was good that. I'm glad we brought up everything we did last time, because it has further those discussions in a positive manner for city parish. And I think possibly we'll do the same for other municipalities who have the interstate running through and where they're working with those municipalities to have grass cut. Just a reminder. These are we are talking about. areas that are not city-parish properties. These are state DOTD roads. They are asking us to cut their grass for them, and that's done through a cooperative endeavor agreement, which, again, is totally fine. The question that I had before was about the reimbursement rate, and again, those discussions, I think, are going well with DOTD. The one thing I will say on this contract, which I am going to support tonight. I would say, though, we need to have an amendment on it that and I'll make the motion to approve it with the amendment that no work. Commence until we have a in place, I think it would be irresponsible to start spending dollars on someone else's property with city parish. Tax dollars absent having a cooperative endeavor agreement in place. I think. If we're going to start doing that, that's a big problem and I've got some tall grass of city parish wants to come cut it, but I think everybody would have a problem with that. Just the same. So my motion is to approve. This item, but no work to commence no dollars expended until we have a cooperative endeavor agreement in place with the. Councilwoman Rocca.

Thank you so much for including me today. Ms. Rachel Lambert, can you come up to the microphone, please? Yes, ma'am. So I just wanted to be clear, absolutely clear for everyone. Did this go through a bidding process? Yes. Okay, can you explain to us a little bit about what that process looked like?

I prepared a document that was a request for quotes. Um, it had unit prices and we sent it out to approximately 140 vendors. Those that list of vendors was pulled out of munis, our financial and vendor registration system. When you register as a vendor, you can select a commodity code and there are several grass commodity codes or mowing or. Things of that nature, and so we selected those and every single person that was registered with, I think there were, like, 5 commodity codes that we pulled. They got sent an email with. The document, you know, requesting their, they submit a quote on this project.

All in accordance with public bid law correct?

This project did not have to be publicly bid, but out of an abundance of caution for, you know, being fiscally responsible.

Um, we did solicit quotes and if there are vendors that were out there that maybe missed this round, but, and would like to be on that list next time. Can you tell the public how they can get on that list, please?

You can register to be a vendor on the Baton Rouge BRLA.gov on the purchasing website. They have a link. It's, I think, vendor self-service. And if they want to email me, I can send them a link to that.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you councilman Kenny and I got question on the way in from the parking garage for this very thing So I hope that clears that up for the public out there that are curious about cutting grass. Thank you so much councilman Hudson

But let the record reflect that I am pro-grass cutting. My question though is for Ms. Smith on the amendment that has been proposed. Does that Cooperative Endeavor Agreement have to go through council approval as well? So if we have that amendment on there, are we looking at another 30 days before we can start cutting grass? What would that process be?

So in the CEA that receives money or dedicates time and effort of the city parish, over $50,000 does have to come before the city council. And so in this particular instance, yes, it would have to come back before the council if that is the caveat.

In your professional opinion, are we precluded from go ahead and start in this contract without having that agreement in place?

I think the answer to that question lies in how this contract is funded. I have not reviewed this contract, but if this contract is funded by funds that we already have as opposed to being dependent upon the CEA that we are contemplating, then I don't think that there is a problem moving forward with it. If it is dependent upon the CEA, then I think that we should not.

We have funds allocated in this year's budget to be able to support this contract without the reimbursement. Commencing, we'll call it immediately.

Gotcha.

So it would the CA would not be able to be heard until August 26th.

In that instance. I would ask that we approve tonight. I'm certainly open to feedback before I make any kind of motions or anything, but that that would be my goal is that we approve as is.

I'm going to second Mr. Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Knowles' motion.

Councilman Dunn, Jr.? Rachel Ann Parrish, attorney, again. I have a couple follow-up questions. Is this the first time we've considered or reclassified a public work as a professional service?

I do it frequently with blight projects.

Okay.

And we solicit quotes in the same manner to be fiscally responsible.

I mean, Rachel is correct. There's a very specific definition for what a public work is that falls under the public bid law.

What are some of the examples where we reconsider the public work to be a professional service?

So I would say, again, it's not a public work. So mowing the grass can be treated as something, but it does not fit the definition under the law of a public work. So it is a service. We typically have used them, put them out as annual contracts so that we make a determination based specifically on price as opposed to qualifications as well. I believe that is the reason that we've moved towards that. And I see nothing in the law, in my opinion, that would prevent us from doing that.

Okay, right. Y'all public works department at 1 time did the grass cutting. Is that not correct?

We do have individuals that cut grass.

So it is a perception that grass cutting is a public work. And I know y'all, you know, have, uh. Different ways of looking at it, but what is another. Public work service that the public worker does. That you've reconsidered as a professional service. Are you consider as a professional service?

Um, the demolition of structures, um. You know, boarding up of structures that the, you know, some of the blight abatement that we do are some of the things that I personally have.

Done through professional service agreement that I have people that do thank you just to add on to to, um, what Rachel is saying if, um. All of her uses, um, of. A professional service agreement are okay with me because those structures are not owned by the city parish So if a structure was owned by the city parish I may have a different opinion as to whether or not demolition could be public service as opposed to publicly bid So unfortunately, it's just very new

Okay, the construction of a road of a new drainage line, a pump station, sewer lines, a public building. Those are all examples. That would be public works.

So, tell me what goes through your mind and your evaluation process of when you want to consider. What we perceive as a public work to be a professional service. Why do you take that?

Consideration of. Just all of the factors, I mean, we spoke at length with specifically what factors. I don't have them off the top of my head with this 1 in particular.

Why did you choose this? Course of action, I'm actually right to right now.

We have a large need for the grass cutting right now and we so you want to expedite the process. We did yes, that was 1 of the reasons and after discussing with the parish attorney's office, what other options we did have this option was presented to us, which is why we went this route.

Thank you. You have something.

In the conversations that I have had with departments about this, their concerns were timeliness, quality of cuts, and follow through, those kinds of things. So much more of a quality determination as opposed to a lowest price determination.

Gotcha Rachel, you said you sent the. Scope of work to 150 vendors that you pull it out of the system. So, how did you determine which ones to send it to? Because there are some vendors that are in the system that said they didn't get the information. Was there a criteria by which you selected those who received the information?

If they were registered or had a commodity code with their vendor profile in the system that went along with mowing or landscaping or something of that nature.

So you're saying anybody with that commodity code you sent it to? Absolutely.

I pulled a list straight out of Munis, copied all the email addresses, and pasted them into my email.

Okay. Thank you. Rachel, how many responses out of the 150 did we get?

Two.

Just two?

Yes, sir.

So you think if you would have made it a longer and more stringent process, we would have gotten more or less.

I, I don't know. I can't answer that question. I'm sorry.

Mr. Previously, when I was speaking, I don't know if you heard me, but I just wanna make sure, I wanna see if you agree with me that, with the amendment that I put onto this, that City Parish spending tax dollars on property that we don't own, absent a CEA, would be improper. Would you agree?

I would agree with that.

Okay. All right.

Thank you.

Councilman Hudson. If Mr. McClendon and Ms. Smith would come back up. Y'all seem to have differing opinions.

Well, yeah, maybe I should have clarified that. I think what Rachel said about if the funding is already there, maybe I'll ask Rachel to qualify that. So if the funding is already there, And I think am I right, Rachel, that that would be okay without the.

Let me add to add, you know, some clarification as to the magnitude of what this single cut that may occur before the execution of the, we're talking this is, it'll be roughly, like, 37,000 dollars.

So, Mr. McClendon, just to clarify, you concur with Miss Smith and Rachel's opinion.

Yes, sir, I, I was, I was taken the mayor's hypothetical like, like he said, if the parish went to go cut his grass. Obviously, that can't be done valid.

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. But since the money is there, the money's in the budget, we've passed the budget money's in the bank. We're good to go.

Yes, sir.

Okay, look, my recommendation is that we pass as is tonight. The grass needs to be cut today. It needs to be cut a month ago. You know, we've got grass that is stopping up drainage systems. Luckily, the storm today dodged us, but we've got, we've got issues and the grass needs to be cut. It's 1 of the essential services that municipalities should provide. I applaud the effort of everyone up here for trying to get the proper amount of dollars. um that it takes to maintain i i wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that uh dotd does not provide us ample funding to maintain their their interstate right-of-way 100 uh but at the end of the day we've budgeted this money in this calendar year the money's there uh we have the ability to start cutting the grass today and i think we think we should start cutting it today so i will make a motion to approve as is substitute motion

We have a substitute motion to approve as is. Is there a second for the substitute motion? We have a substitute motion by Councilman Hudson to approve as is. Second by Councilman Goday. Councilwoman Rocca.

So, based upon the language with the CEA and just some of their, I have so many issues with how we're contracting things right now this council as a body decided to not approve the original gas grass cutting contract due to dotd not providing adequate funds to make the grass cutting happen and instead of getting those funds to make the grass cutting happen From we have now reached back into our budget to be able to move this matter forward where we're still. Somewhat undermining this council's decision to attempt to make them pay. So, that is a little alarming to me that all this work has been done to reach the exact same solution that we tried to avoid from the beginning. Now we're talking about CEAs. Does there need to be a CEA? Does there not need to be a CEA? Our Mayor Pro Tem brought up a really good scenario in question. Can we go cut his grass since there's no CEA needed? Which I have posed the question in the past. Can a council member bind the city? and i still haven't gotten an answer from that so can i go out to a vendor in my district and say hey i need these services i need this food for an event go ahead and send that over to my district and the city the mayor's office and the mayor's team is going to pick up that tab and pay it for me and it did not come out of my budget it comes out of the general fund So with that argument, which we made last year, a council person can bind the city. A council person then can circumvent their budget. A council person then can abuse their power based upon the information that we've been given. And I disagree with that. I do not believe that I can work outside the confines of my budget. I do not believe that I can go to Building 5 and have them provide a large amount of food for a public event, and then the mayor's office have to pick up that bill. I don't believe that that is legal or that is possible. Now, here we are with the grass-cutting contract, where we made... Very well known to everyone involved that we did not agree with how this was being handled from the state level Okay, but here we are and I'm gonna Lend my two and a half minutes back to mayor Pro Tem because I think he has further points to be made No, I think you did a good job with that.

I mean that's where I still say Yeah, I understand money's in the budget for it I get that But those same things can be said, those dollars, if we had a contract on the agenda next meeting to do anything on someone else's property, any kind of work, I still say that would be improper. And so we're talking about something that is not our responsibility. And the way I framed it last time is I think because last year we were reimbursed $418,000 and the contract was $1.1 million. So we were spending $700,000 for the privilege of doing someone else's work. I said, why don't we just make a friendly phone call and give them the contractor's name and we'll stop middlemanning this to the tune of $700,000. And that's where I feel like, And I understand that's an oversimplification of what's going on and there's some nuance there. So I feel like we need to, again I think DOTD is working with us and it's not lost on me that we're talking about the state but this is the capital city and while I disagree with them saying if we do for you all then we have to do for every municipality, no. Maybe I feel greedy about it, but they should give a little bit more to the capital city that everybody sees when they come through the capital city, including all the legislature when they come in for session. So, you know, maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like they should give us a little more and a little more attention. And when somebody asks, they say, well, it's capital city. Governor wanted to see grass cut. That's fine. Let's approach it that way. I don't have a problem with that, but I don't... I just I just still feel like this is not this is not our responsibility and absent a, I'm not going to support moving forward. With with expending dollars. Even if I understand there's a public benefit to it, but that's the reason the exists. So that's all I have. I don't have any questions.

Councilman, can I clarify something? Because I think I've miscommunicated with you. Sure. I have not seen the contract for tonight. I've only reviewed it. And so my opinion was if we have funds in the budget, then we can go forward with that contract. But I should caveat it and say we cannot go forward with it on land that does not belong to us.

It's a professional service agreement for interstate mowing is how it reads. So you would say it's not appropriate then?

Again, I have not read the contract. I tried to look, but it's not there. So I have not read the contract. And so we're operating in fantasy land. But essentially, yes, I believe that we cannot go forward with it without the CEA being approved by the council. On land that isn't ours, I don't know what land is listed in the contract for tonight.

Okay.

Okay.

Wonderful.

Thank you again. I just wanted to clarify.

I appreciate the clarification.

That's a really good clarification. I'll withdraw my substitute motion.

All right, so we have a standing motion to approve with the amendment of no dollars expended and work to begin until a cooperative endeavor agreement is executed. Motion by the chair, second by Councilwoman Rocca. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. All right. Appointments. Board of Appeals. Concurring with the Mayor-President's replacement of Michael Abbas, who is not seeking reappointment. This is a three-year term. There's nobody on the current ballot. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Ms. Landry.

I would just like to make a point that his name is misspelled. His last name is L-E-V-A-S. Please make the correction. Thank you.

Noted. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak on this side? Seeing none, go to Council. Councilwoman Adams.

Mr. Pro Tem, I'd like to nominate Jeff Pollard, and I did confirm with the Mayor's Office that they are okay with that nomination.

Okay. Can somebody from the Mayor's Office come up and concur? Yes, I spoke with the Councilman Adams and we do concur. Thank you. Motion by Councilwoman Adams. We have a 2nd. Okay, 2nd, my Councilman mode. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. 148 housing authority of east baton rouge parish one appointment to fill unexpired term of chris brown term expires august 9 2030 must be a resident commissioner there's nobody on the current ballot anyone here wishing to speak on this item see no go to council yes i'd like to recommend beverly claiborne for this and she has been cleared

Um, so the person for this seat must be a housing authority user. They have to reside in property owned by housing authority or receive services from the housing authority.

Ask come on.

Jay Daniels, I'm the CEO of these backwards parish house authority. This is a resident.

Okay. Jay, can you send me her information?

Can you get the information? Yes, yes, I can get it to you.

Thank you.

Motion by Councilwoman Coleman 2nd by. Councilwoman Amarosa, is there any opposition please? Motion carries 149 complete street citizens advisory committee consideration of replacing Mark Heineck. This unexpired term ends on December 10th, 2028, self nominated citizen current ballot is Casey bonnet. Mason Ramsey and Drew Walker. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item?

I'm true Walker one of the candidates and just wanted to introduce myself and express my interest in joining this committee I have a personal connection as a former board member of bike Baton Rouge a current cyclist and runner and also in my professional experience work with disability families and individuals and so would like to be an advocate for their perspective on this committee thank you thank you anyone else wish to speak on this item

I'd like to make a motion to...

Hang on, hang on, hang on. I'm going to go to Council.

I just wanted to make a motion. Motion to Drew Walker.

Point of order. I want to make a motion to appoint Mr. Drew Walker. Drew is, Mayor Moak is a... We'll go with that. We'll keep going with that. He is the executive director of the Capital Area Autism Network. He has been doing Complete Streets work over the years through his work with Bike Baton Rouge and has been an incredible advocate for this parish. So we'd be happy to throw his name in the hat. Motion for Drew Walker.

We have a motion by councilman.

I'll top that motion, but yeah, go ahead.

2nd, my counseling remote. No, I don't know if I can support that was a way too much exercise. He described any opposition. Motion carries 1 50 complete street citizens advisory committee consideration of replacing Jake Polanski. This unexpired term ends on January 13, 2030. This is a recommendation by BRAC, now Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership. Current ballot is Jamie Blink. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? I see no one go to council. Motion by Councilwoman Rock. A second by Councilwoman Adams. Any opposition? Motion carries. Change orders 151 through 154. Mbr cap, Bacardi Perkins row connector, Louisiana Boulevard package for railroad underpass and pump station contractor dealing brown contractors LLC change order amount 24,664 dollars and 78 cents. River center arena and ballroom roof replacement contractor, lake, shore roof and construction, and change order amount 0, then changes just for time to reconcile, finish the work for final exceptions acceptance, traditional 1 time, complete punch list. New surface parking lot contractor strictly important construction change order amount 185,201 dollars. River Center, Exhibition Hall, Electrical Feeder, Contractor Buffalo Electric, change order zero dollars, the changes, time to reconcile and finish the work for final acceptance, additional time due to scheduling of work around events. Anyone here wishing to speak on items 151 through 154? Seeing none, we'll go to council.

We have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Amorosa.

Second by Councilman Mote. Any opposition? Motion carries. Final acceptance is 155-156 River Center Arena Ballroom Roof Replacement Contractor Lakeshore Roofing and Construction Inc. Final cost $1,708,549.35. River Center Exhibition Hall Electrical Feeder Contractor Buffalo Electric. Final cost $464,725. Anyone here wish to speak on these items? Seeing none, we'll go to council. Is there a motion? Motion by Councilwoman Adams. Second. Second by Mayor Moak. Any opposition? Motion carries. Acceptance of low bids, 157 through 159, Madison Avenue Sidewalks Enhancement Project, North 15th Street to North 18th Street. Low bid, Command Construction Industries, LLC, $435,542. Bluegrass Drive Improvements and Sidewalk Project Cadillac to Fortune Edition Park, low bid Pivotal Engineering LLC, $461,985.80. Goodwood Boulevard Sidewalks and Bike Paths, Airline Highway to Sharp Road, Pro Civil LLC, $1,316,635.50. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item, on these items? Seeing none, we'll go to council. We have a motion, motion by Councilwoman Adams, second by Councilwoman Amorosa. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. Item 160, there's been a request to defer this item to the August 12th meeting, presentation of the public safety plan from Office of Violence Prevention by Councilman Darrell Hurst. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, I'll go to council. We have a motion to defer to the August 12th. Motion by Councilman Dunn, Jr. Second by Councilwoman Harris. Any opposition?

Motion carries. 161, authorizing these, oh, sorry.

Items 161 through 168 are going to be declared emergency in accordance with the Ordinance 16442. They need to be declared an emergency by two-thirds. Voted by the Metropolitan Council. I need a motion to declare these items an emergency. Motion by Councilman Dunn, Jr. Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Is there any opposition on the request to declare these an emergency? Seeing none, items are going to be heard. 161, authorizing Mayor President to execute certificate evidencing the public removal of bonds for the Capital Area Finance Authority pursuant to Section 147F of the Internal Revenue Code by Council Administrative Treasurer. The reason for the emergency is ordered to approve before the closing in early August. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. We have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilwoman Adams. Any opposition? Motion carries. 162, authorization of the Mayor, President, and our Chairman of the Airport Commission to execute supplemental agreement number three to the professional services contract with Stephen Baldwin Associates. TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR THE GOVERNANCE MODEL REVIEW, ASSESSMENT AND TRANSFER IN AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $137,030 AND TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TO END DATE OF DECEMBER 31, 2026 BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR. REASON FOR THE EMERGENCY IS THE ITEM IS DEEMED AN EMERGENCY TO MEET REQUIRED DEADLINES AND WITH ONLY ONE MEETING SCHEDULED IN JULY, PROMPTED APPROVAL IS ESSENTIAL. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

I'm in opposition to this supplemental agreement. It seems like 137,000 into it. In addition to I'm not sure what the original contract amount was for for a governance model review. It seems like it's reviewing a document. For an additional 137,000 dollars. Governance model review assessment. Um, that didn't seem like any manual labor or anything and I would also like to request that on these supplemental agreements that the original contract amount be included in the agenda item. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak on this item?

They don't go to council councilman done junior Michael to Farrell or Lewis would you guys and oh, I didn't see my dad was over there. You can come as well. Just give a little background about the transition from the commission and city pairs to the independent authority and give us a history of where we are and what this how this applies to that that effort.

Yeah. Thank you. Councilman Mike Edwards, director of aviation matters metropolitan airport. So. This has been a multi year process where we're transitioning the airport from a city parish department to an independent airport authority. We're in the final stages of that process now, uh, last week we submitted the application for the change of sponsorship change in airport sponsorship to the federal aviation administration. Excuse me. Um, that application, uh, requires somewhere around 50 different documents to be. Drafted executed, refined. So there was a lot of work that went into that. Um, originally we were anticipating approval. this month in july but now it's looking like it's going to be october so on schedule for that change in sponsorship at the end of october but this uh... some of the funding in this uh... supplemental agreement funds those services with steven baldwin associates Through October. Well, actually, through the end of the year, because we're going to need support services. From them after the change in sponsorship as well. Currently, they're providing an HR director for the airport under this contract. So the majority of that funding will pay the salary for the HR. Director through the end of the year as well. that individual will then become an employee of the airport authority and be our new HR director for the airport. But that is the majority of the dollar amount there, as well as the support services for the governance change in sponsorship.

Thank you, Mike. Motion to approve.

Motion by Councilman Dunn, Jr. Second by Councilwoman Coleman. Any opposition? Motion carries. I'd like to recognize former Governor John Bel Edwards, who has joined us this evening. Welcome, sir. Thank you for being with us. Item 163, authorization for the mayor, president, and or chairman of the airport commission to execute amendment number four with WHLC architecture for air test and HVAC control system upgrades at the PTR Metropolitan Airport in an amount not to exceed $77,322 by the aviation director. Reason for the emergency is deemed an emergency to meet required deadlines. And with one meeting in July prompted an approval being essential. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. Do we have a motion? Motion by Councilman Dunn, Jr. Seconded by Councilwoman Amarosa. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. 164, authorization from Mayor, President, and our Chairman of the Airport Commission to submit and execute grant application to the Federal Aviation Administration for the Ticket, Counter, and Baggage Claim, Belt, System Modernization, Design, and Construction in the amount of $11 million, an authorization to accept and execute the grant agreement, and all necessary documents in connection therewith at the appropriate time by the Aviation Director. Reason for the emergency is deemed an emergency to meet required deadlines, and with only one meeting in July, a prompted approval being essential. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll go to council. We have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Coleman, seconded by Councilwoman Harris. Any opposition? Motion carries. 165, authorization for the Mayor, President, and or Chairman of the Airport Commission to submit and execute grant application to the Federal Aviation Administration for the acquisition and installation of 19 vehicle movement area transmitters in the amount of $80,000 and authorization to accept and execute a grant amendment and all necessary documents in connection therewith at the appropriate time by the Aviation Director. This item is deemed an emergency to meet required deadlines and only one meeting in July.

Prompt approval is essential.

Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, I'll go to council. I have a motion. Motion by Councilwoman Coleman. Second by Councilwoman Amorosa. Any opposition? Motion carries. Item 166, authorizing Mayor President on behalf of the Office of Community Development to execute Amendment Number 1, Proquisition Number 6356 between City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge, and United BR LLC, increasing the contract amount for a new total not to exceed $300,000 by Community Development Director. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item?

Hello everybody, I'm Jennifer Richardson with Keep Tigertown Beautiful. I can only tell you, and if you've seen the work that United BR has done on Acadian Thruway, on Perkins Road, on College Drive, on Drusilla, the grass was this tall. and they went in there cut it all because it was so tall it was clogging all the drainage they got they hand picked so all these are sober living people they have done a job that is monumental they bagged all the grass they brought it to the dump They weeded, edged, trimmed, brought out chainsaws, cut trees that were hanging over the road. They were so proud of the work that they did, these men. It's a win-win for Baton Rouge. We're getting people to step in to help us. We need the help desperately. The money is coming from the opioid money. It's not coming from the city. So, you know, I never ask for money. I never ask for anything. We just keep doing what we do. But these sober living people, it gives them a way to stay off the streets and to stay employed. So I cannot tell you enough how what we are doing with United BR is We're cleaning up the city and we are cleaning up lives. Some of these men, it's changed their lives. I know you've seen them on TV giving their testimonies about being able to do this work. I've stopped and I've talked to them and they always have a big smile on their face. They go in at sunrise, and they leave at sunset, and they're happy to be out there, and they really need this. So I'm praying that y'all will please bless this company and these men. They really need a second chance. Thank you.

Any other health wishes to speak on this item? I think I'm going to go to Council. Councilwoman Rocca.

Absolutely. I'm so excited to speak on this item because I received an email today regarding the work that's been done on Perkins Road. So I'd like to read that to you guys. Today I was taking my usual dangerous walk on Perkins Road because I have to walk into the traffic to get around the wild shrubs and sticker bushes. Instead, I was greeted by this wonderful crew that is working for the mayor and the council. michael james b james w joe justin allen with the pivot workforce and that's just to name a few they did an outstanding job and were very dedicated i'm so grateful to the mayor and the council for providing this service thank you so much on behalf of the perkins lane hoa from elizabeth boo thomas so thank you miss elizabeth for submitting that information and thank you guys so much for the hard work that you do jennifer thank you i see you guys out there in vests sweating when most people are in their air-conditioned homes sleeping in late i really really appreciate it um unfortunately though tonight i'm going to ask to abstain from this item simply because this young man right here brody He is my husband's cousin of a cousin of a cousin. And just for the look of propriety, I will not be voting on this matter, but I hope that all of you do. I just don't want any look of impropriety. He's done a tremendous job. Again, I don't even think related, but just for the purposes of... Doing things right. I'm putting that on the record and I will be upstanding. But thank you all so very, very much for everything that you do. The hard work that you're putting in for yourselves, for our community, for everyone around is very, very much noticed and appreciated. Thank you.

Councilwoman Adams.

So we've had a little bit of a discussion or some questions tonight about what's being done in the city for people who have mental health challenges, who have addiction challenges. Can you talk about the work that y'all are doing with people who have those struggles in our community?

Yes, ma'am. We have two different sides of what we do. We have a peer team that goes out in the community and helps get people off the street that are struggling with mental health or substance abuse, or they're just needing to get reattached to a loved one outside of this city and attach. We do a bus ticket program as well. So what we've committed to the sheriff's office and the city police and the mayor's office said, if you call us, we're going to respond within 30 minutes of that call. We're going to put boots on the ground. Now, the amazing part about it is When we put those boots on the ground, these people have gone through what these people are struggling with. It's a different, it changes things, it game changes. So for example, the guys that we had here earlier, and they worked all day, so they retired, but some of them could have gave you a testimony Those 12 guys have only been working, cleaning up the city because it needed some things done. We saw the things that needed to be done for about three weeks, going on four weeks. And they seemingly have gotten 10 people off the street while working. So while they're out there working, people that are homeless say, hey, what's going on? We had an officer approach somebody on College Drive. Our guy was out there trying to clean up the curves in between where all the weeds are. And he saw the police officer. He approached that person. and ended up getting him off the street. And so this goes on on a daily basis. So when it comes to substance abuse, what the Grove does is we have a medical detox facility so we can medically detox these people so they won't be sick. Then we have a 30-day inpatient facility. But the deal is this, 30 days isn't long enough. These people need long-term help. And part of that long-term help is housing them, working them, If you don't get them a job, they're going to go right back to the street. So what we do is after they get done with that 30-day program, they go into an IOP program, which is intensive outpatient, OP, and aftercare. And while they're doing that, we house them and there's a place for them to live. We transport them back and forth to work because that's another barrier for them. And then we employ them. And that's why it's so important. You know, everybody wants to see people off the corner, but you have to knock the barriers down to help them become a taxpayer, not a tax burden. And I say that, but lives are getting saved. We've approached about 1,600 people. Now, when I say that, we approach people numerous times before they receive help or want it. We might approach them four or five times. It's just showing love. We approach them. We continue to talk with them and work with them. And off of that, we've gotten over 320 people off the street in the year. Some of them went to mental health services. I've got the numbers. I don't have them in front of me. But some of those went to treatment, inpatient, also mental health services, or also got on a bus ticket. And we attach also on the bus ticket program, we will call and make sure they have attached services. We don't just put them on a bus. because ultimately they need the help that they need. So that's some of the things we do. On the work side, this opportunity for us is amazing because these men take pride in what they do, and they know they're giving back to their city, and it makes them feel good. We got people stopping all of me down the road saying, man, what you guys are doing is amazing. And it helps them have some pride and feel good about what they're doing. So there's a lot to it, but that's kind of a short narrative of most of what we do.

That's perfect. And I'm so sad that I did not know that those gentlemen were here. I would have loved to have visited with them and thanked them.

We had a few men that were here that was going to get up and speak. We just wanted to be, you know, with your time, we wanted to be cognizant of how long you're here. But I can show you those 12 guys. Some of them are now enrolled in ICI school. Some of them have their children back. I mean, I got a guy that pretty much well runs this company that I promise you I work. Anybody that I know whose life is back intact and he's doing amazing things. So at the end of the day, I could get 50 people up here from the program to tell you what it's doing for them.

Well, thank you for your work. I really, really appreciate you. Of course, the work you're doing, but also being here today to make sure that we fully understand what's taking place and where these dollars are going. So I can tell that y'all are making a difference in the community, and I know other people can see that as well. So thank you.

Yes, ma'am. Anybody have any other questions? Councilman Dunn, Jr.?

OCD director and administration, please, Christelle and Kelly. One for you, Kelly, one for you, Christelle. Kelly, just make the connection, because some people are hearing grass cutting and some people are hearing opioid settlement dollars, and I know some of it has been talked around, but specifically talk to the connection of the dollars going to impact those affected by opioids and how this program does that.

Yeah, thank you. That's a great question. So we're talking grass cutting, but we're really talking is job skills, right? It just so happened to be what we need the most right now and something that they could do. So this was an opportunity we were working on when we started seeing the major issues on some of our city streets that we can take care of. I said, hey, this is a great idea. This will be perfect. So it's more about job skills and preparing them for life after sober living. And so it's less about grass more about the opportunity. There's more work to be done that they're going to do as well.

Thank you. And Christelle, just the overall high-level view of where we are with our opioid settlement dollars, how much did we receive? I know some of them, and correct me if I'm wrong, was on an annual basis. Have we exhausted all of it? Can you just kind of give us an overview of where we are on that?

Yes, sir. Councilman done. I'm happy to do what I can and call Kelly back up to the microphone to give you more specifics. I will tell you that. There you are, I will tell you that to brag on our team and the rest of the people who have helped with this, we have been commended nationally. For the way we are spending our opioid dollars. We're very careful with them and problems like this. I just told Jennifer Richardson. We've got to get national attention for this. The governor's office has called us about it asked for people to come down to the capital and brief his people on how. Matt Edwards, who is not here because he doesn't like the limelight, has put together something that really is amazing. We bought someone a bus ticket today to go home. I don't even know what city they were from or where they went to, but our streets look better just like people are writing about things that look different. I think that the proof is in the pudding. I went out on Acadian Thruway It was so hot. I didn't think I was gonna be able to survive and these guys were with a shovel in the medium Doing an amazing job. So we have Tried to be very careful with what we have we have had replenishments Kelly. Where did you go? He paces Can you tell councilman done the specifics of the money?

Yeah, so to date we received 11Million 7Million is obligated and we get another tranche of money last quarter of the year. Usually September, but sometimes it takes a while. So we say last quarter.

So, 3, 4Million, that's not obligated.

You got it.

All right. Thank you. With more to come. All right.

Councilwoman Coleman.

Yes, just want to say what you want to say.

I want to just say this. When we need a big job, a big cleanup, I can get 150 to 185 sober living people come out and clean an entire side of town with us. Within two hours, I can clean up the whole city. And that's what they've been doing for the last three years with us. They are proven. Nobody works harder than them. And when they end up, they're so excited. You should see the faces. They have a purpose. And they love it. They can't wait to do it again. So please consider this. Thank you.

And so, Jennifer, we're believers, we're believers, so I want to let you know that. This is the epitome, you all, of what we ought to be doing with this population. You know, in the past, we've been putting band-aids on homeless men, homeless women, homeless folk, period. And so this is the epitome of what we ought to be doing, and that is putting folk to work. and wraparound services and not just passing out Narcan pills. And with that being said, I so move.

Motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilwoman Adams. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. 167, authorizing the Mayor-President to execute an agreement for professional legal services with Pettier, Armand, Dunkelman, Woodley, and Cromwell LLP and Fishman-Haygood LLP on a contingency basis to explore the filing of an antitrust class action suit. Said agreement shall be approved by the Office of the Parish Attorney as to form and legality by the Office of the Mayor-President and the Parish Attorney. Reason for the emergency is prescription deadline to file suit will occur prior to the next council meeting. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item?

I do, please. I would like to make an amendment to the names, a motion to amend the names of the firm. It's only going to be Fishman Haygood, the other firm that's listed before that. Fatigue, Armand, Duncommon, Woodley, and Cromwell, that was accidentally included in there, and it will only be Fishman Haygood. Do you want to come up? Former Governor John Bel Edwards is a partner in that firm, and we met last week to talk about this, so I don't know if you have anything you want to add.

I don't have anything to add, but I'm happy to answer any questions.

Anyone else wishing to speak on this item?

I would like to request that the wording of this is explore the filing of an antitrust class action suit. It doesn't say what y'all are being sued for, who's the class action. It also says contingency. I wanna make sure that that means that we, the taxpayers, are not paying any money to a law firm that already has a couple of contracts, Fishman Haygood, for one. So I just wanna be clear that there's no money being paid to these firms, and I'd also like it to be, amended or deferred because it says the parish attorney will be approved. Agreement shall be approved by the office of the parish attorney as to form and legality. I would like to see that approval by the parish attorney be done before you vote on it. Thank you.

Anyone else wishing to speak on this item? Say no and go to council. Councilwoman Adams.

Mr. Parish Attorney, John, come up. And Governor, if you'd like to come back. A couple things. Can you just tell us what this is all about?

Sure, absolutely. And understanding also that I don't want to cross over into attorney-client privilege either about some litigation to come up. Do you want to take the lead on the substance of the lawsuit?

Do you want me to? I mean, I can talk briefly. What I would... This way the council from doing is from getting into trial strategies in public, because that that's just not proper. 1 thing I can tell you the, the. The litigation that we are contemplating would not be a class action. That is a mistake on the, but we'll work that out with the parish attorney. But I can tell you, there's no class action involved in what we're proposing. Do you want to talk about it?

To answer Ms. Landry's question, yeah, not one penny of taxpayer dollars will be used. It is a strict contingency fee contract. We've got a draft of it. My contract lawyers are working on it right now. We should hope to have a draft by tomorrow.

John, can you explain contingency? Can you explain what contingency means? Governor, can you explain what contingency means? Either one of y'all, both attorneys. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Can you explain what contingency means? How do those arrangements work?

Well, you owe nothing unless there is a favorable outcome. And then what you would owe in terms of a fee would be a percentage. And that percentage is in the contract that he has. The type of litigation that we are pursuing also includes, if we're successful and it reaches a judgment, an award of attorney's fees that might obviate even that contingency fee. So that, anyway, that hopefully answers the question.

Yeah, that does, that answers it. Just one more thing, and I'll say, I mean, Councilman Rocca may wanna address this, but we approve things all the time and authorize the parish attorney to deal with the form and the legality of the documents. We actually hired him for that job.

Councilwoman Rock. Hi, Governor. Thank you for being here and explaining this to all of us. One really important vital piece to item number 167 that I think the public needs to know and understand is the reason for emergency. And with that being said, I'm gonna need you to explain a couple of legal words that I think that they need to understand. A prescription deadline to file suit work will occur prior to the next Metropolitan Council meeting. So with that being said, can you please advise some of the folks out there that may not understand what prescription is, how that applies to this particular suit without giving any attorney-client privilege information?

Yeah, well, I can do that, and I'm happy to do it, especially since it's already on the agenda. So prescription is how we in Louisiana talk about a statute of limitations. So you have a certain amount of time that you can file a suit. We want to make absolutely sure that we do that

before that deadline occurs and so we refer to that as prescription yes sir and I like to be very very clear for everyone that prescription deadline or statute of limitations that some people may refer to is quickly and rapidly approaching

Well, it's a little more nuanced than that. Someone could certainly take the position that it is, and it's a whole lot safer to be on the front side of it without anything to argue about.

Yes, sir, I absolutely understand that sentiment. Thank you so very much for this information. And I think Mr. McClendon, parish attorney McClendon, Mr. McClendon, John, can you tell me, it is your office's vital and fundamental role to pick outside contracts, is that correct?

You mean outside attorneys?

Yes, sir.

We do use several different outside. Yes, sir.

And it is my understanding and appreciation that that has been the role of the parish attorney's office for several years now, that the parish attorney's office picks the outside contracts for attorneys that handle matters that we may not be able to handle within our capacity as the parish attorney's office.

So that's correct. Yeah, I mean, you say for several years, so I've only been here three months.

Yes, sir, absolutely, and I understand that. It's in the plan of government, and it is a role of your office. I just wanted to highlight that for the people at home, that that is within the capacity. Some people may ask why there's not a public bid or how is this person selected? How do we decide on who receives these contracts? And oftentimes it is our legal team that devises a plan based upon the legal needs and finds the expert in the field to handle that particular matter. and based upon your knowledge, and I think your excellent team's knowledge, they picked the person that they felt was an expert in the field with these particular facts in mind?

That's correct, and this is, without going into too many details, this is a highly technical matter that we definitely would want somebody, the governor's firm to handle. It's gonna be a tricky matter, but it's a very good claim that we have, a very good claim, and one that we need to pursue.

Yes, sir. And so, Governor, in this situation scenario, I know that attorneys oftentimes try not to call themselves specialists or experts in any particular field. But do you have experience in this field and are able to handle this suit and your firm have the capacity to be able to represent us?

Well, the firm certainly does, and we have a number of partners and associates at our firm who've worked on a variety of antitrust matters. Thank you, sir. And I can absolutely represent that.

Yes, sir. Thank you so very much. I have no other questions. Thank you, gentlemen.

Councilman Don Jr.

Yes. I think earlier it was stated before that oftentimes us as council members, we may ask a question to ask you guys to state something on the record. Not necessarily because we don't know the answer, but we want to make sure the public understands what's going on. So, you know, you lawyers are using words like prescription and contingency and things of that nature. And I think you guys have done a good job to clarify. But just to reinforce, I think most people have an understanding of getting in a car accident and hiring an attorney and not paying that attorney until they get a settlement. And that attorney gets a percentage of that settlement. That's what's going on here in this case. But also too, John, you made some recommendations of amending some language, John. John, you made some recommendations of amending some language. I think you said make a motion, but 1 of us can make a motion. I don't think you can make 1, but can you read into the record? Yes, sir. The adjustments that need to be made and Courtney, can you just clarify a junk and clarify that this is not a substance of change that we can. Make this motion from the floor and it not be seen as a substance of change.

That's correct sir. It is not a substance of change.

Okay, can you read the exact edit or change that needs to be made that we need to consider to approve?

Yes, sir. On the 2nd line, we would delete the names. Don't come in Woodley and crumb. Well, L. L. P. And take out the word and to make it grammatically correct and also on the next line, we would take out the word governor correct me the class action would not be a class action. That would be the only changes.

If we have, if the council administrator has that notated, I'll make a motion to approve as amended.

We have a motion by Councilman Dunn, Jr., second by Councilwoman Rocca. Any opposition? Motion carries. Thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you very much.

Item 168, acknowledgement of historical school use absence of recorded conveyance and consent to continued use and lease of property described as Olive Square 61, lots one through 10 in Burgard Town Subdivision, section 49, T7S R1W, bounded by Mayflower Street, formerly known as Asia Street, St. Joseph Street, Maximilian Street, and South Boulevard, Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, bearing the municipal address of 802 Mayflower Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman. The reason for the emergency is to facilitate property development. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? Ms. Landry.

I'm almost done. And so are y'all. OK. I understand and I want to clarify that this is East Baton Rouge Parish owned property, correct? This is a building and a piece of property owned by East Baton Rouge Parish. My question is, it says for school purposes. If this parcel is zoned for a school, I want to know, make sure that it is zoned for a school. I'd also like to know what type of school this is school purposes, what entity will be managing this school and is it part of the East Baton Rouge public school system given that it's an East Baton Rouge Parish owned property and as it says there's an absence of recorded conveyance and the lease of the property as this is worded it says that some entity which is not identified in this agenda item is leasing this city parish owned property for a school so until y'all can answer those questions and put this identified correct correctly I would like for you to defer this item, okay, so that the taxpayers understand exactly how our, because this is our property, is being used. Thank you.

Anyone else wishing to speak on this item? I'm going to go to council. Councilman Dunn Jr.

Thank you. I'm going to invite the representatives from the entity up as well as the representatives from the school system up. As I understand it, this transaction took place some time ago, but proper documentation was not prepared or couldn't find or was lost, and this is trying to clean up some language. That's my understanding, but you guys correct me if I'm wrong and just clarify for the record.

Thank you, Councilman Dunn. I'm Dennis Blunt on behalf of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. Historically, this property from the 1930s, as I appreciate it. 1907. 1907, has been used as a school. The challenge is, at some point, there was a conveyance of the property from the parish to the East Benridge Parish School Board.

Dennis, break down what conveyance means. We just talked about that.

The title to the property went from the parish to EBR school system, but there is no recorded document that shows the change in title from the property. The challenge now is EBR school system wants to lease the property to a charter entity to continue the use of the property as a school. Uh, that entity needs to borrow money for financing to, uh, renovate and build a school on the property. And you can't do that unless you can show clear title. It's impossible to show clear title for something that back to the. early nineteen hundreds simply was not put on the property records and for purposes of this we just want the city parish to acknowledge the historic use of the property and that will satisfy all entities both with purposes of of you know showing title and to allow them financing to complete financing of renovations to the property

Thank you. And if you will just state your name and identify the entity you represent, which is the one in consideration here.

Yes. So my name is Sarah Schnauter. I'm the CEO and founder of Harvest Common School. We are type one charters. We are proud to be an EBR school. And we operate a entity that uses a partnership with Southern University. We're an agricultural school. If you visit us, we are proud to show you all of our, we actually have some animals down there. We have big garden beds. We have a lot of hands-on learning opportunities for our kids. We have small class sizes and a large special education population that we're very, very proud of. And we've put a lot into the building to bring it up from 1949, when it opened as it is, to a beautiful space that we would like to open up on August 5th.

Thank you. Gwen, Adam, would you guys like to add anything?

Thank you, Cleve. The only thing I can add is that we have property that's sitting vacant, and we want to be good stewards of the community to make sure that we're not using taxpayers' dollars to cut grass with no students in it. So we heard a lot about cutting grass, and so we would just be appreciative is that we can have grace harvest in there so they can do the renovations that they need to have students in a conducting environment for learning.

Thank you. Gwen, you want to add anything?

Gwen Shamlin, General Counsel. Not much to add. I do want to clarify, a Type 1 charter is a district-authorized charter school, and so it's one of our board-authorized charters. The board has already approved a long-term lease with them, conditioned upon the council's action tonight, and the board has also approved that charter. So they've already begun operations as of July 1. They're ready to begin taking kids in. Immediately right and so we would appreciate the council taking action to allow us to move forward tonight. Thank you.

Thank you guys. So, just to recap the transfer a transaction of this property from the city pairs to the school system happened some time ago, but there's no documentation proving that this is simply cleaning that language up. So there can be a document that stays that. So, the current. Lease are of the property can get financing to do what they need to do. Is that correct?

That's correct.

Thank you.

Thank you. Councilman gentlemen, I just want to kind of come right off of that and have further clarification on it with it being. almost 100 years ago that the conveyance occurred, and that East Baton Rouge public school system has been operating out of that property. Is that a, as I understand it, or can appreciate it, that it's not uncommon to not have records from that far back, and this is something that I think if we looked, there's, there's a lot of that that occurs and our acknowledgement is just really what's being. Needed in this situation. That's correct.

It happens with it being that far that long ago. To have property records maintained immaculately to show, you know, job and title of, you know, this bounds to this bounds on every piece of property is. Really, really challenging. So, you know, does it happen often? I can't say how often, but does it happen? Yes, it does.

We have quite a few adjudicated properties every meeting that run into issues where it's hard to find title information and proper conveyance. Far more recent than going back almost 100 years. So I appreciate y'all bringing this to us and us being able to assist. Thank you. Councilwoman Coleman.

Yes, sir. And so just to let the public know this used to be South Boulevard, everyone school. And so now it's harvest common school. And yes, the fact that you have animals and the gardens and all of that, I just took. at least a hundred children to Muse Three Farms. And they learned so much from being there. And so you to be commended for what you are doing. And yeah, and this is in my neighborhood. So I understand about the old and not knowing and whatever, but on all of that, I motion that this, yeah, yeah.

We have a motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilwoman Harris. Is there any opposition? Motion carries. We've got a request to reconsider item 86. There was a gentleman here. Thank y'all. We had a gentleman here who was wishing to speak to Councilman Hurst, got with his aide, and they are recommended 90 days. I need a motion to reconsider item 86. Motion by Councilman Dunn, Jr. Second by Councilwoman Rocca. Any opposition to reconsider? all right so item 86 request is now uh for 90 days is uh we have a motion motion by councilman dunn jr second my councilwoman rock any opposition motion carries councilwoman amarosa thank you thank you welcome back everybody thank you for continuing service god bless