City Council - Regular Meeting

How are you? You stop. And I'll get I'll get you. You ready? You come and speak.

Okay. Smart. Smart. going to call this agenda meeting to order. Lord, be with us today and we can conduct business in the city and constructive manner with us all here tonight to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all

chairman Chairman to review bids for project number CP3520 WWTP a basin 802 sewer rehabilitation. Appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3503 2025 aspar overlays and amend the budget if necessary. Appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3242 southern sewer loop golf highway loop station. Public hearings. Public hearing and consideration delay Charles County planning zoning commission decision to deny request for variance in order to construct nine new detached town homes with block coverage greater than 40% actual 45% within a residential zoning district at the northwest corner of West Claude Street at Ernest Street. An ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing city elect and Josephine owners. An ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing city of Lake Charleston agreement for demolition of a structure located at 1610 Graham Street. Alan J. Mitch owner. Ordinance ordering demolition authorizing city charg agreement for demolition construction located at 1400 North Shadow Street, Cleveland Nash and Elvar Nash owners. Another demolition at 317 South Louisiana Avenue front house only great Smith Urick Wric Monica Mer Russell Marcia Mer and Gregory Maker owners another demolition at 1528 Pine Street Hill May Hill Sie Dodson Ed Loo Jr. and Floyd Michael Leoo owners subject to attack sale to the state of Louisiana. Another demolition at 1900 Drive burned apartment home LLC owner. Another demolition at 1514 Graham Street Joseph Howard Beverly own subject to a tax sale to the state

of Louisiana. Ordinances for final action. An ordinance accepting the lowest responsible bid and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to an agreement for project number CP3242 southern Sulu Golf Highway lift station force name. The ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to an agreement with the most qualified architecture/engineering A&E firm responded to the request for statements of qualifications to perform professional services to prepare cost estimates provide engineering and design services provide construction management oversight and other additional services as needed for the design and construction of an indoor recreation facility in Lake Charles in audience creating the positions of chief of administration and chief of operations with and administrative division of the Lake Charles fire department and to provide for the qualifications, duties and responsibilities for such positions and other related matters. An ordinance accepting the lowest responsible bid and authorizing city Charles to approve for project number CP 353A. Buddy Praan softball lighting. An ordinance accepting the best proposal received for renewal coverage and authorizing city of Lake Charles to an agreement for property and casualty insurance for the city of Lake Charles effective May 22nd, 2026 through May 22nd, 2027. Authorized the city of Lake Charles Center into a cooperative develop transportation and development for child street project state and federal aid project number H016736 an ordinance of the city of Lake Charles authorizing expropriation of property for a permanent utility servitude from on and with respect to property for any and all uses necessary for the highway 14 waterl said property believed to be owned by Shahhat Holding Company. Pursuant to Louisiana revised statute 19 col 134 and

providing further there too in orders of the city of Lake Charles authorizing the expropriation of property for a permanent utility servitude from on and with respect to property for any and all uses necessary for the highway 14 waterl project said property believed to be owned by 7-Eleven corporation all pursuant to Louisiana revised statute 19 col 134 and Further there too, an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to declare parcel number 00750382A no municipal address and surplus property and further authorizing the city to enter into a ground lease agreement for the use of this surplus and movable property for the transmission and receipt of wireless communication signal including the construction of a structure and tower along with operation of equipment. An ordinance authorizing city electron entering Sella Technical Community College to contribute funding for a flight school at the Sella Technical Community College Chanel International Airport facilities. An ordinance authorizing City Lake Charles Center into a cooperative endeavor with the Kushu Parish School Board to contribute funding for the enhancements of the region 5 STEM center at the Lake Charles Boston Academy of Learning 1509 Enterprise Boulevard. An ordinance authorizing Child center to cooperative endeavor from the Zeta 5 Beta Sority Incorporated of Beta Capital Zeta Chapter nonprofit organization to contribute funding towards the construction of the new facility support their nest program which provides prenatal education, health resources and other support program to young mothers as well as to act as a resiliency hub during events of natural disasters and similar emergencies. A resolution appointing a member to the personnel board to fill the expired term of Jason Bell for a period of six years. A resolution approving the mayor's appointment of a member to the historic preservation commission. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to

advertise to receive SE bids for project number CP 3070 Oakland Drive and Ory Road sewer lift station upgrade with a companion or a resolution authorizing the city of electronics to advertise to receive Sylvia to project number CP 3400 18th Street constru reconstruction Lake Street to Creo Street phase one with the companion or a resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal to purchase public safety un uniforms for use by the Lake Charles fire department with companion ordinance. Ordinances for introduction introduction of an ordinance authorizing city of elect Charles to accept North Ridge Road, West Mir Drive, Pinnacle Road, and North Ridge Road in the in the ridge at Martinville phase three. It may be another street other than North Ridge Road because it's listed Northridge Road twice including public writerways, drainage, water and sewer lines, sewer and traffic control devices for ownership and maintenance by the city of Lake Charles. The city of Lake Charles will not take ownership of the detention pond. Introduction of an ordinance authorizing city Charles into an architectural and engineering agreement with DWS and Associates LLC for engineering services relative to project number CP 3070. Drive in or road sewer lift station upgrade. Introduction of an ordinance ordinance number 20342 of the city council the city of Lake Charles in order to clarify certain provisions of the agreement between the city and the greater St. Mary community foundation. Introduction of skip next three and go down to number 35. Introduction of an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles Center to cooperative endeavor with the Cali Parish Police Jury and a consolidated gravity drainage district number two east Kushu Parish to share in the cost of the Greenwich Terrace File

Initiative project. I have one more that's not on your agenda. It's an appeal that was filed by the United Way from a meeting that has um already passed. I'll get a formal fact sheet by tomorrow that was already part of this agenda. It just got made part of the agenda. The uh the appeal was filed 10 minutes ago. Uh so we need to put this on the agenda for introduction on May 7th and final May 6th. Final action on May 20th for to hear that appeal.

So we have to put this on this agenda. So, we want to do that first. Okay. By uh council vote, we need four votes in order to add that to the agenda uh going forward for May the 6th, May 20th. It's just set setting the hearing date, but we that's the agenda. Once we put it on the agenda, May 6, it continues on. Correct. Right. So, we need to vote to put it on for May 6. All those in favor? side by side of hands. All those in favor of adding it to the agenda.

All those opposed. All right.

Uh also we need to vote on we have two agenda item fact sheets that we need to vote. Uh man, this is the introduction. We we're voting for introduction to add. Uh I'll just read them out. The first one is introduction of an ordinance of the city council of the city of Lake Charles amendment resolution number 313-23 to authorize the city of Lake Charles to modify the location and scope of the RCIPLDI city of Lake Charles Law LC Railroad Avenue Revital 0088 in order to transfer funding to the Gospel Community Center to construct a primary community resiliency hub in accordance with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. national objectives for the use of the funds from the CDBGRDR program. This proposal if passed and adopted by the city council city to submit a formal request to the Louisiana office of community development to amend the proposed location and scope of RCIP LDI city of Lake Charles LCR Avenue revital 0088 in order to transfer the funding to the Gossport Center to construct a primary community resilience hub. in accordance with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development National Objectives for the use of funds from the community development block grant disaster recovery program to promote community engagement and to serve as a primary disaster recovery center. If you would like to add this, please raise your hand, right hand, and vote to add it to the agenda. The next one is similar in fashion. the introduction of an ordinance of the city council of the city of Lake Charles amending resolution number 31323 to authorize the city of Lake Charles to modify the location and scope of the RCIPLDDI city of Lake Charles LC second harvest

0084 and further authorizing the purchase of a vacant lot from a Macart of Mary Roman Catholic Church to construct and own a primary community resilient hub in accordance with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Develop- velopment national objective for the use of funds from the CDBGR DR program. Uh just well you can actually explanation of proposal. This proposal, if passed and adopted by the city council, will authorize the city to submit a formal request to the Louisiana Office of Community Development to amend the proposed location and scope of RCIP LDI, City of Lake Charles, Lake Charles, Second Harvest 0084, in order to purchase a vacant lot parcel number 00751405 from Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church and to build and permanently own with no awardee of the other sub recipient, a primary community resilient hub in accordance with the US Department of Housing and Urban Develop national objectives for the use of funds from the community development block grant disaster recovery program to promote community engagement and to serve as primary disaster a primary disaster recovery center. If you would like to add this to the agenda of May 6, please vote

74. All right, the May 6 agenda is the exception of adding these three things to the agenda tonight. Okay, let's do the presentation.

Doug was gonna come up and present financial statements to you. Hi, I'm Emily McDaniel, director of finance for the city of Lake Charles. Um, I am here tonight to present the fiscal year 2025 annual financial statements. Um, you all received a copy of the annual financial statement and then the supplementary information. I just wanted to remind you, I think Mr. March, you had asked a few meetings ago about um federal funds. This document shows all federal funds that have passed through the city and so it's a good guide to show you where some of those f how some of those federal funds are being spent. So, future spit.

Yes sir. So um tonight we have our auditor Jason Gillery with Maroy Quirk and Bir who will give you the audit presentation and then following that I have Maddie Allen from the department uh from the finance department that will give you some highlights from the financial statements.

Thank you Emily and uh thank you Mayor Simeon and city council members for having us tonight. My name is Jason Gillery. I'm a director with Mort Burch local CPA firm. Uh and I'm here with my colleague Keny Dorbone. Uh we we uh conducted the audit of the city of Lake Charles financial statements as of fiscal year ended September 30th, 2025. And we're here tonight just to present the reporting package and the findings uh that we found during the audit. Uh as Emily just mentioned, uh you should have received three separate documents as part of the year end reporting package. First of all, the large white document called the annual comprehensive financial report. This is a report that is prepared by the city of Lake Charles's finance department. It is their responsibility to present it. Uh we have issued the smaller green report which is a a package of compliance reports in which we have written opinions on the city's internal control and its compliance with various laws and regulations including federal laws. And then finally we have a very small you received a small paper uh staple document which is our report on agreed upon procedures which are required by the state legislative auditor. Um so the first thing that I would draw your attention to is in the ACFR the annual comprehensive financial report which is divided into three sections an introductory section a financial section and a statistical section. Uh our report is issued on page nine of the financial section se section as the independent auditor's report and we have issued an unmodified or clean opinion on the financial statements which states that the financial statements are fairly stated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Uh we've also immediately following that report which I would like to call all your attention to is the management's discussion and analysis and this is a plain English summary of the financial

statements that anyone who is not uh wellversed in accounting can still pick up and read and gain a good understanding of what is being presented within those financial statements. So I would encourage anyone who wanted to learn more about the city's finances to look at that management business discussion analysis which I believe is on begins on page 13 or 14 of the report. Uh bey following uh that you have the financial statements and I won't talk about these financial statements because Maddiey's going to present the numbers to you guys. Uh but then finally we have be behind that is the statistical section which begins on page 125. That's a series of schedules that provides context about financial and non-financial information about Lake Charles, the surrounding area, uh things such as demographic data, financial data, and non-financial data. And it's just interesting to look at to see because it provides 10ear trends on a lot of different financial and non-financial information that you might find interesting. Um and then finally, I'll turn your attention to the the green report, which is what we have presented this, which is the uniform guidance supplementary reports. And within this green document uh we issued two separate reports. Uh the first is a independent auditor's report on internal control over financial reporting and compliance. Uh in accordance with general government auditing standards uh with this report we have issued no findings. Uh so that that is the as good as you can do. And then we've also issued a separate report uh on internal control and compliance specifically with uniform guidance which is your federal awards compliance with the various compliance requirements of federal grants. Um and once again we've issued no findings uh regarding those grants but it would be interesting for you guys to look at pages nine and 10 of this grant report. you'll see a table which lists every federal dollar spent during the fiscal year ended September 30th,

2025. So that gives you the uh the full picture of what was spent 25 for for 2025 was 34,950,790. Uh that consisted primarily of two larger programs. One is the the the disaster recovery program administered by the Department of Homeland Security which was about $10 million. And then there was a with associated with the water uh division. We have the drinking water state revolving loan fund which had about $17.7 million of draws. So about 27 million of the 35 million uh comprised of those two uh grants. And then finally, we did issue a report on the agreed upon procedures that are required by the legislative auditor. We only have one small exception uh within those uh procedures. Those do not rise to the level of a finding. These are very specific uh procedures that we follow. Uh and uh I can go into any detail that you like, but I don't want to buddy up the waters that this is not as serious as a finding. Um, and then finally, I just like to thank Emily and the entire finance department, Maddie and for all the help that they did with performing the audit and and pulling together the annual comprehensive financial report. Uh, and with that, I will conclude and turn it back over to Emily, but I'm available for any questions.

You just said it's not as serious as a finding. Yeah. But it is something wrong.

So, let me let me explain. So, when you have uh findings, you have what's called material weaknesses. you have significant deficiencies, you have control deficiencies, and then you have what's called exceptions to an agreement procedure. So, it's the lowest of those four levels. So, what the issue was is that there was one employee that did not get the proper sexual harassment training within 30 days of employment. That was the only issue uh that was there. So, it's a fairly minor thing we have to check for uh and we did report on it. But when you're talking about findings associated with the first reports that I did. Those are more pervasive, serious things that need to be addressed and generally communicated to larger uh government agencies.

Do we get fined for that? There's there's no consequence. Obviously, we want you to remediate and make sure that doesn't happen again, but there's no other consequences. And what we did is make sure that that employee got the proper training protocols within 30 days. Every employee goes through Okay. Well, I'll turn back over to Thank you very much. Did y'all have any additional questions on Jason presented? Okay. I'll have Maddie come up and she'll give you some highlights from the financial statements. Thank you. Good evening, council and administration citizens of Lake Charles. You work for the city? Yes, sir.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you, too. I'm Maddie. I work in the department um on the sixth floor. So tonight I'm going to report on the annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year ending September 30th, 2025. This annual report is reflective of the growth that's been stimulated by the transformational federal and state funding grants providing critical support for infrastructure and housing needs. Um in total, the city snap position is 814 million 14.4 million at the end of 2025. This represents total revenues of 204.4 million and 161.4 million in expenditures. The rest the restated net position at end of fiscal year 2024 was 771 million. Fiscal year 2024 was restated due to a new gas fee 101 that was um implemented. It required the measurement of the liability for compensated absences. Um so we adopted it and implemented it in fiscal year 25 and restated our fiscal year 24 um net position. The city's primary operating account, the general fund had a ending fund balance of 60 million. This is an increase from fiscal year 24 which had an ending fund balance of 51.4 million. Um the general fund had 98.1 million of revenues that supported the 86.6 6 million in expenditures and 4.5 million of operating and capital transfers. The general fund balance reserves must be must be maintained at no less than 30% of expenditures and operating transfers and the city has met that policy. In the general fund, the sales tax revenues increased by 5.2% property tax revenues increased by 3.1% and charges for services increased by 31%.

Sorry. Yes. No. Um the city does maintain a capital projects fund budget which has reserves of 119.7 million. These reserves are for capital projects for the current year as well as accumulations for future projects. From this fund expenditures of 51.2 million was used for projects such as the demolition and rebuild of the LCPD annex and investigation building and the construction of the southeast with water plants. Annually, the city completes a five-year capital improvement plan that serves for budgeting and planning for future capital projects. The city has four business type funds, water utility, Mauard Golf, Lake Charles Event Center, and transit. The water utility revenues increased to 16 million with operating expenses increasing to 17.6 million. Contractual services increased partial due to several large repairs due to utility strikes experienced every year. A water user rate study was recently completed and new rates will go into effect June 1st, 2026. Mor had operating revenues totaling 1.7 million and the golf course has been hosting many new tournaments including youth golf events. The addition of a driving range lighting and new club carts provide an upscale golfing destination. The event center had a 62% increase in revenues over prior year and charges for service at the event center was 1,68,566. The transit fund received 117,270 in services in revenues for services, which is a 1% decrease over prior year. In our debt service funds, the city is reporting a 83.6 million in total long-term debt for fiscal year 2025. The long-term debt includes bonded debt of

18.8 million and general long-term debt of 64.8 million for fiscal year 25 and all debt is payable from future annual appropriate corporations. The city has been authorized for an additional 20 million from the DEEQ state revolving loan fund for construction of the southern sewer loop. A draw for this loan for 99,215 for associated fees result did result in a restated position for fiscal year 2024. I would like to the administration and finance team for the trust and all their diligent work they've done in this past year to help us on behalf of all the citizens of Lake Charles.

I have a couple questions. I don't know if you could answer them or can answer. One of them is is the operational budget different from our regular budget? No, it's just different names. I mean, we might call it operational budget, general budget, right? when we present the budget to you uh in August, it is the city of Lake Charles operating and capital budget. That's the full name of it. So the next question is the capital fund reserve that she talked about. Is that different from our regular? It is the capital fund is a fund that is part of the larger financial statements. And so that is that number specific just to the capital fund. Is that what you're asking? Well, she she listed it as the capital fund reserve,

right? So for the capital fund balance for the capital fund projects the reserve in that fund right now is the 119. So that I'm saying that's a separate reserve from what we normally keep from your from your from your general fund. Yes it is separate from your general fund the event center it say we had 65% increase but the year before we lost. So is that really good? Um it is good because we are we're bringing there is activity at the event center. Um I don't know if you wanted to did you Yeah, we're ramping it up. We had Cat Williams still alive. The event center has not been a profitable venue of trying to make it at least break even.

So when is the contract due for the event center, the person that's managing it? ASM is the is the company that manages it and um it it renews I think in October of the but it's an auto renew but we we reassess it each each year just to be sure. So the council has to vote on that. Um I'd have to I'd have to look at the ordinance. I don't remember how to get it in.

But I I I want us to look into not auto renewing every time it comes up. If the council has to hear it, I want it to come back to the council. Because in my opinion, sometimes things just continue to renew, renew, renew, and we're not making it better. So, I would like for us to have the chance to revisit it every time it comes up for renewal.

Yeah, I I'll see how the contracts are set about. I know that my administration first came in, we sat down with the people from ASM and went through all the acts that they had brought in, all the the potential acts that were passing out there. And at the it was time to either renew and I told them that at the time I told them I wasn't impressed with what the performance was right and then they came back and and within a few days they started asking about cat Williams they asked about Swan Lake a lot of other things so you seeing a whole different variety but I think part of the the problems that they had before was that the Rosa hardfield was not online that came back online that fits a lot of different uh criteria so they've started bringing those acts in terms what they've been able to do and what they can do now. They've got the full compliment to work with and you've seen some of the acts. I mean, they had some people say they overbook, but we had Cat Williams, Randy Travis, we had uh at the same time we had uh this is home fest. So, we're trying to find a good balance in there where we can bring ax in especially on the weekends when we have people in and also uh generating the festivals around times when we have visitors in the city. So, I look at the offering new options and get that back to you. But I we've gotten them on a different uh I I just don't want that facility to lose money and I think we on track to get that done.

And I agree with you and as long as they can continue to do what they do, we shouldn't have a problem renewing. I just don't want it to automatically renew. Yeah, I'm not. And the automatic renewal, it automatically renews unless we stop it. So that's that and that's and what I can do is we look at bringing the board of council, we can actually get together and see if it's working. because we have a we have a time period where we can stop at the proper numbers under any circumstance. So we always have that control because it is our facility. Yes. I saw another what what were the expenditures for the event center?

Event total operating expenses for the event center were 5.3 million and the revenue Uh the ticketed revenue was uh 1.6 million. There was 35,000 and other which is usually interest.

It's still losing. Yes. The expenses are still in excess of the revenue.

And for the council's information, the uh the event center is always been the city's city center. So local especially local events local Whether it's Marty Gro think we a lot of times we we pretty much not but we give severe discounts because we want the public to use those facilities but particular facilities like the live nation comes in those are actually they have to rent out the facilities too. So we're trying to balance it use as a community center for locals versus it actually making some money offsetting some of the losses. Mr. If I can ask a question. When you talk about local entities using it, ticketed or non- ticketed, does that go through the management company or is that through your office?

Some of most of most of it some of it goes through the management company, but we have the override that we can tell them that for these facilities and this particular events, we want to give them some certain type of price. I know there's some public entities that utilize it for insurance reasons and stuff and the cost has gone up and I I heard some issues about it. I had some questions brought up about who really manages it. So we have ultimate ownership of it and it's just like in any other facility the city owns. It's owned by it's owned by the citizens taxpayers. We hire people to manage and run those facilities but they don't have control. Okay.

Um Mr. You may also remember that the uh event center also has a state dedicated sales tax that goes and and that's not included in that was not included in 1.6. No, sir. 1.8 million for last year. That's the three hotel tax center and I think so. Yes sir. I know for sure. W three in the event center and the golf course. It say we made money. That was revenue as well. a little closer. It came. Yeah, I think we've narrowed that. We're narrowing it down the gap on the golf. Yeah, it's better. It's almost happened over the last week.

So, have we been researching uh competitive ways to make ours I don't want to go into it right now. That's okay. Yes. Yes. Mr. Castile is constantly looking for ways to get people out to the golf course, including me. I I will say this. Uh for for the second year in a row, I Our golf course has been rated the number one golf course in our area southwest Louisiana. Yes, we have a superior product and and now we're getting more and more play the lights at night helped out a lot too and plus the food offering in the clubhouse that any other questions.

Yes sir. I just wanted to add I think the clean audit speaks volumes uh for municipality especially when the size of ours and one that is balancing not only just the regular day but disaster recovery projects, the beginnings of LC rebound and so I just want to thank Miss McDaniel for not only the diligence of her department but also overseeing accounting principles and practices in the other departments as well. Great job. Any other questions for Miss will get the the excellence award that

uh we apply for it. You apply for it when you present and then it's usually takes about six months. I think it takes a while. We get money. No sir, we just we get a little medallion for a plaque. If you don't mind, I do have to excuse myself. Yes, sir. And please uh gentlemen if you don't know that there's a reception at the hor that's on after this west side because tomorrow we have the groundbreaking for the new I 10 bridge overdue project.

All right u Mr. B is everybody leaving. I had questions in BL area. concerned about the retention on paving through the depth of it to cut the grass and he run away kids around from it and he actually gave a thing that was they had to fix down upstream first but upstream we don't have people living we got people live in this boat long They constantly trying to figure out what we going to do about the erosion of this retention pond that was set to keep the flood area. And I also got a this is an ordinance. We have ordinance in place that you you must be within 300 ft. You can't be within 300 ft of a school or church or something to for a liquor license. for a neighborhood

for a neighborhood. But the concern is to get a liquor license, you got to be within 300 ft, but you got to cover two blocks if you own it. See what I'm saying? No. But how how many blocks you got to cover if you a club owner? How much how many blocks? You you responsible for two blocks of But to get the license, you got to be 300 ft. You can't be within 300 ft. So I was asked to say, well, let's make it balance. You got to be 300 ft to get the legal license and why you should have not covered but 300 ft of your area your responsibility not the two blocks but we just talking

but I'm saying I want this read you cannot be within 300 ft of a school or something in order to get a license that's different get a license you got to cover a two block radius so I want to look at see what we can do to change that that's a large area to cover for anyone in any business. Two blocks could be two miles, you know, two blocks can be two feet, but if you get the license and I can get the license on 300 ft and it was approved, why I still got to cover a twob block radius because that, you know, just uh I was calling the night, guy told me he was closed down and he getting served because people's on his property after he shut down and clear But I was at home when that happened. So we got to have something to protect the business owner himself beside what people do after you leave. You know, I don't know. We just we ask I'm asking questions cuz when they ask me a question I'm asking. So I'm saying two block radius is kind of a far distance to have to cover. You only need to be away from something 300 ft, but you got to cover two blocks to say you accountable.

I think we need a better explanation about what that accountability means. Well, that accountability means when they just say two blocks, they don't say North and South Street or East and West Street. Two blocks and you going fifth and sixth street. That's not far from two blocks from Sixth Avenue to Fifth Avenue. It's a long way. We just let the two wide open. When you say block, I think pushing down just like everything else underneath, we should put down a foot. You're talking about two different things, right? One is a legal license, but all bars and restaurants have carry legal license, but it may not be a bar. A liquor license is is a liquor license. Yeah. Yeah. But

that that could be that that could be to a grocery store, that could be to a liquor store, that could be anything that you sell. has to cover two blocks because two block nobody stipulates what two blocks mean. But that's something you can take up. That's how that's saying who I because it don't it don't say just say two blocks. Two blocks could be the distance. So first and then I want everybody of course my girl Miss Paula. She always answer for me. Good job. Good job. Well, thank you. That's it for me today. Mr. Weber. I don't have anything to I'll echo Mr. Bilbo property Sanders coming in uh clutch the last month or so. I appreciate that.

Thank you, Mr. Fun. Um, Miss Paula, I'm bringing up about the um the guy's complaint about the um sober living on Alco 809. Yes. The thing of it is it is an unlicensed sober living if I understand

according to according to what you said if they are it's not a license it's just a registration. The council passed an ordinance to require each sober living home to register. you have a license is not required. Occupation is not required. They just have to register. So, we have information on the owner, who to contact if there's issues, but we have had extensive discussions with the legal department. So, living homes are federally protected under the Fair Housing Act. So, the only thing that we can do at this time is have them register so we have a record of where they're located.

Well, I have a question, Mr. McI. business. Why they don't have to have an occupation license? That's a legal question. I think they're a nonprofit registration. I I don't know. I can't answer that question, but we can get the answer for you. I guess I mean they have I guess you notify the owner of the home, but you notify the tenant if the tenant is entities as opposed to how many individuals are there. It's not the number of individuals is not regulated. So we require them that they register but there's no penalty if they decide not to.

We can we can bring them to hearing if they fail to register. We can bring them to the administrative hearing officer to make them register. That is our tool that we have in our toolbox. And there's no rules. They can operate with

they can operate anywhere. I'd like to I'd like to challenge that and us go back and and get with the legal department because at some point I remember us stating that you you had to have you can only have a certain amount of residents in there depending on the size of the house. Uh they couldn't be there for no length period of time just through the duration and and I'm almost positive and I could be wrong that they had to have an occupational license because that's a functioning for-profit business. We need to check with the legal department. We've had extensive discussions as well as the state legislature is looking at a licensing review process for those very homes also. So it is going through the state legislature. We can review those items as they come up. But I think this is an extensive discussion with the legal department in relation to fair housing act and there is because most they're actually doing counseling services there. Does that change?

I don't I don't think so. I can't answer that question. That's why it's a living arrangement. It's a living arrangement. They live in there and they probably going to aa or that's true. Not all.

Also, another issue with this, Mr. Bear, is it says in this letter that We couldn't get in touch with the owner. The owner is not the one running the place. It's the brother. If I'm not mistaken, there was something in that that said that the owner had to have some sort of agreement with that for the property. We I know we deemed we couldn't tell a resident what to do with their property. That's what allowed them to have the sober living in neighborhoods. But the owner had to play some part. I just can't remember what it is, but it just draws a red flag in this when it says that they they haven't been able to get in touch with the owners. That's a legal question that I can answer,

but just FYI to spend they can the residents can call the police if there's some kind of disturbance be hanging outside different things like that. And I think they have to report the u the people that's in the house if they have some sort of violation like a sex offender or something like that. It has to be I I don't see how they have to report anything that um we can't just you know we don't manage any of it and police department is not here

um so on this let's see I think Um the other uh deputy is he got the email too. The the citizen is saying that he's not getting a response when he's calling about people out at night um on this um he's saying that people are out all night and and it's causing some kind of neighborhood disturbances and he's saying that the police department hadn't been responding. So you talking about at the at the civic center? No. No. They're talking about a halfway house on 809 at Alco.

Yeah, I know you I I kind of that would be something we could uh research if they're not responding. However, that house is within inside the city limits of Lake Charleston. They call Lake Charles Police Department and we are going to respond to whether it's a disturbance, is it a theft, whether I see the other chief deputy is it uh Larry Moss or God? God is on on the email. So, um if you don't mind getting with him, we we at least need to talk to the citizen about what he's Okay.

And if I need to bring him in, then we need to bring him in. But we need to understand what his problem actually is and make sure we we're getting that information. Okay. If I may say so, Mr. Fun and Chief, I think we need to get to LE department to find out what our restrictions is because it could just fall under a citizen violation, you know, as opposed to something to do so. But he's saying he's called the police and he didn't get a response on a disturbance. So we should respond a disturbance. Right. Right. Right. Right. What do you have is does the citizen have a date time when when that occurred?

And and it could be as simple as chief deputy reaching out to the citizen. he's on the email and and and and assuring him, you know, of of a mechanism where he can register his complaint, right? I understand. But he is the complaint is that they did not respond. Yes. Okay. That's what I was asking. Do we have the date and time when that incident occurred that I don't I don't have it? You don't you don't have Okay. But he he's on the email and they got his name. needs called in a couple of times so we can we can make contact with Okay. I I I'll get with DC. Go later and let No, I'll get if you say he's on email. Yes, he's covered on email. I I'll get with him in the morning.

Okay. Thank you. All right, Mr.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Um picking back off the sober living houses. Um just for the record, I would like to add an address when we do look into it at 701 uh Sally M Street. Um that's also a sober living environment. Um the complaints that we get from constituents there is um it's a small property if I'm not mistaken it's two bedrooms and amount of people on the property I want to say it's 10. Um so of course they're having people who's kind of hanging outside hanging outside the property. Um and so the residents definitely want to ask questions about that. So whenever we get the one Mr. Fund if I can just get clarity on there just so I can convey that information to them. um the Magnolia House Event Center. Um there are several people in that area um that has is making complaints. They say they've called uh LCPD. Um they've sent several emails. So myself and Mr. Renee um but they're complaining about the noise um every time they have an event um an event there. Um obviously the music's wearing things like that. They said they're reaching out for help. Uh but the guy I'm not going to say the record, but I'll get it um to whoever needs it, but it's at the Magnolia House Advent. They say they call pretty much every time they have an event. Um whether it's a parking issue or a noise issue, but they definitely got issues there. Um several residents are still complaining that they have not received uh any documentation regarding um their property being purchased for right away for the enterprise extension. Um today there's about 14 people um that I've noted that have said they live along uh the projected uh design and they haven't received anything. So, it's kind of causing people to have a little bit of anxiety um because they don't know if their property is going to be purchased for the rightway or not. Um but I know last time um I asked the question and said I twice they said that the letters haven't been sent out um but these people are still saying they haven't received anything. So, and I still haven't received a copy of it as well. So, um if I can get a copy of it, I don't mind making a copy of it or hand delivered to the constituents. Um but I

know it was said from the city administration that um they had sent the letters out and they haven't gotten it. I want to touch base on this because I know this is about to be a hot topic uh u item probably next week. I want to still get a SWAT analysis of what the DDA does. Um the reason why I'm asking that, you're probably going to hear from some constituents tonight. Um but obviously with the upcoming United Way project, um there's many people that have taken a stance. Um, and I know that the DDA has voiced their opinion and provided methods of influence on previous projects before. So, I do want to hear from the DDA and know where do they stand on this United Way project. Um, I know that we talked about the smart code several times. Um, I know we've had situation that they were for or against. Um, but I definitely want to hear from that, but I'm still waiting on a SWAT analysis. I've met with the president, he's the current president, he still couldn't provide it. Um, I've talked with several members. Nobody seems to have it as a councilman of that area. I'm just simply asking a a SWAT analysis of what has been done in the last three years. Um I know we received some information that says our CIP paperwork is due on Friday. Um what I'm going to ask because one of the things I'm asking for in my district. Um I know I met with Mr. Simeon. I know we have to have a follow-up meeting about ditches being covered in district 8. Um but I wanted to get um Miss Emily, I know we had the brick grant a couple years ago. I know that didn't I know you provided clarity already as That wasn't funding to cover the ditches. That was just to do the research to see what ditch is needed. Could I get that before I make a determination and turn in my CIP paperwork just to see like what ditches have more merit than the other?

Yes, sir. It was a it was a planning grant to do a study to determine if ditches if closing ditches was the best way to go. And so we do have that study. I thought we had sent it to you, but apparently you're asking the question. I went back and searched my email. I didn't. So, I'll make a note and we'll get that to you. All right. Thank you. And then that's a hard date for the CIP stuff on Friday. I know we received it on Gotcha. Okay. Thank you. And then the I had one more thing.

Oh, if we I know we added two items to the agenda tonight. thing I'm really concerned about is when we're changing these projects to keep in mind that we told the public that these projects were coming previously. So when we're changing these projects, I would like for us to be able to publicly convey that message to the public saying, "Hey, we're no longer doing the revitalization at Railroad Avenue. We're going to move this money to Donald Ray Stevens and Gosport Park." I just feel like the community needs to know that. Um because as a as a councilman for that area, I know I've stood in photo opportunities. that I've stood in said this was coming and this was coming only for people to feel that nothing's being done. And I know the Railroad Avenue area is a very vulnerable area. Um there's been a lot of outcry for that area. So to hear that we're potentially moving that money. I just think the city administration needs to be conveyed me able to convey the message to the public to say, "Hey, we made a decision to move funding here for this particular reason." Not saying that I don't take ownership as the councilman, but I want to know that I did not initiate that

if it passes. If it passes. Um That's the only thing I have. Mr. Have anything?

I have a couple of things. Um, one is the CIP as well. In times past, I think we had a lot longer than four days to do our CIP. And I think with the new councilman and myself, and I just knew uh to look at those and make a decision in four days, I I think we need more time than that. Herman Stevens, engineering manager. Uh the requests that were sent out were for your projects that you want included in the CIP um and a priority associated with it. Um it is not a decision for all of the CIP. That will come later once we go through our reviews. I think historically we've waited too long um to get this done and so we've built out a schedule for the rest of the year not only for CIP but also for capital budget. So, this is our way to get things on track and to get a better product to the end.

I understand that, but as a councilman to go through my district when I didn't know it was coming, it's going to take me a little time because we got to move around certain things. I understand. We'll work with you. You send them in, we'll we'll we'll get them included. Ideally, we get them in sooner the better. Gotcha. Thank you. Along with that, uh, Mr. Herm, the u the study, uh, remember the street study that that y'all done, did y'all come with the priority yet? So, that could IC?

No sir. And I do not think it's going to be ready this year. It's it's a lot of work and so we have to figure out a road management plan on how to utilize this data. Um so far it has come in handy with some um no funds. It saved us a ton of time in terms of identifying opportunities, but in terms of a full-fledged plan, it's going to take a while. Do you think that would affect I mean like let's say I pick a street and it ranks low on your priority list. Is that going to affect how we do it? Should we compare those two or or what? Um, I think as we go through CIP this year, we can probably utilize a tool um to compare some streets side by side if we need to discuss priority, but it's not ready to build a full program.

Uh, the other thing I appreciate the other thing is the sports complex. I want to be sure that we are building the sports complex to the specs that we said we were going to build it to attract national attention. If we doing anything short of uh eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, we're defeating the purpose because we cannot compete with Lafayette and the surrounding areas and we cannot attract national attention. So, I think it's it's important that when we we I seen on the agenda we're sending out for renderings or or A&E agreements, we need to keep that in mind that it has to be built to the national level or are we just shooting ourselves in the foot? Uh, the other thing is the tire place again, Warren Street and PR Lake Road. Miss Paul, I tried to give him a break, but I I ride by at night and it looks like a junkyard, you know.

Okay, you're riding by at night. That's our main issue. We don't see it at night. We see it during the day during operation. And that's and that's the thing. It looks busy during the day, but at night all those cars are still sitting out there. Right. Right. So, so my suggestion is is what Mr. Viso did for me and other residents is if you can take a few pictures for me and send them to me so that we can see what you're seeing. Got Thank you.

The other thing is emails. I want to request that if it's anything going in any city councilman's district that we make sure that we get them an email. Now, I know for me the problem probably is they're sending the emails to our city email, but I get my email in and my personal email or they could just send it through Miss Renee and she can disseminate it out. But there's a few things that I wasn't even aware was going in on my district and I found out, you know, so just going forward any emails if they could just include my personal email on it. So that's what I check every day. Okay. Any other questions or comments?

Yes, sir. I have to agree with Mr. Harvey and Mr. Pondell. The several living houses uh starting to see more of them across the city. Uh I thankfully got support from legal police department and um planning recently and had a community meeting with some neighbors in the district that were worried about one one operation

and uh they gave a lot of uh helpful. I know that our hands are tied a lot because of Fair Housing Act, but they gave some really helpful advice for uh residents that live near these homes and if I can suggest after the legal review that Mr. Harvey requested is done, uh perhaps the city could put together a guide for operators of sober living homes explaining to them what they're responsible for and the owners of the properties too um so that we could better advise residents on what to do when they're experiencing these problems. I agree. Just we didn't we just put a mandate on Airbnbs, but we don't have a mandate on living.

Well, the the what we learned in the past was that sober living houses are being established by residents that own the property. You can't tell a resident what to do with his property long as it follows within the legal guidelines. What we just did with Airbnbs property, too. Yeah. But they there's a tax that's supposed to be paid on. That's what brought that down. But the living house tax. Well, but I think the difference is is I'm not an attorney here, but it has to do with disabilities act. Yeah. Fair housing. Fair housing.

Most living homes are governed by the Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disability. So if you want to try to regulate, we might have to get with all congressional representative to to change the federal law.

Well, I mean if you if you amend the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disability Act, you could regulate through that. Now the Louis legislature is contemplating some regulations right now. If you want to speak with your representative. They're on some legislation right now. Any other questions? All right. At this time, we'll uh deal with the community. We have Mr. Anthony Thompson.

State your name and address for the record, please. Thank you for having me. My name is Anthony Thompson. My address is 2132 22nd Street here in Lake Charles. I live in Old Park District.

Uh my concern is after the hurricanes, the speed bumps were taken off the road so the big trucks could have access and not disrupt the debris and stuff picking up. Since then, only one bump has been put place back in my neighborhood. I live on the corner of that alleyway. The residents are new. People coming. They're doing way past the speed limit 15 miles per hour. We have kids that play back there. Uh I would hate to see someone get hurt. It's more of a safety issue. And the siren was replaced, but the speed bump was not.

And I can help you out with Mr. Thompson. Uh Mr. Herman up. You and Miss Wendy want to come so I can explain to you what's going on with you. the the speed bumps were replaced, but the M Mr. Thompson brought up a valid point when I went out there and looked at it. The first issue, correct me when I'm wrong, is when you turn off of Fifth Avenue onto the alley, the speed bump was so far back, so they had time to pick up speed in the alley.

So then we had one we had one moved, it moved closer toward the end. So now when you turn in the attic, you hit that speed bump first. So it slows you down. But now the other speed bumps are so far away creating the same problem. So I think what Mr. Thompson is asking is that we can take them and evenly proportion them in that alley. So you don't have enough time to get the speed up. Okay. Um I wasn't personally involved. That was handled by the streets division, but I'll get with Wendy Robinson, public works director, and I'll make sure she's aware of the issue and um and we'll be in touch. And if you need to get in contact with me, just give me a call. I'll show you. It's not a problem. We'll drive the streets. understand the situation. Um, and we'll get back with you. Okay. Thank you.

Good, Mr. Tom. Good. All right. Thank you. Dominique Darbone. State your name and address for the record, please.

Dominique Darbone, 313 West Oak Lane, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Gentlemen, I'm going to be brief because I will be here next Wednesday for something related. But I wanted to take a moment to speak to you um about trees. Some of you were here two years ago whenever actually most of you were here two years ago um whenever I started on a journey of organizing with my neighborhood to save a tree. Um, I will be here in two weeks, I'm sorry, next week to try and defend that tree again because all of our efforts, um, I don't want to say that they were in vain, but we're we're not where we want to be on that. So, I have been speaking with my new councilman, u, Mr. Matt Young and also a lot of other community members. And I would like to just talk to you gentlemen for a moment about um the need for an ordinance in our city to protect native and legacy trees in our community. Um that may not seem like something that is very important to you. It might seem like something frivolous, but legacy trees like live oaks and other mature native trees like cyprress, they take a long time to grow. And once they're gone, you can't get them back. A tree that takes 50 years to reach maturity and can live to be over 500 years old is special. You can't really put a price tag on something like that. And um we've lost a lot of our trees and our community um in my lifetime because of the storms. And whatever you believe, I think it's pretty clear that the weather is changing. And although we're having an icebreak right now, and I don't want to jinx that, we can be sure that our community is going to continue to face severe weather and we're going to continue to lose trees. I've spoken with our parks department and some other folks um and I hope that we can come together to have more initiatives to

plant trees in our community so that we can set up our future generations in in a better situation than what we are currently. But I really am asking for your support in the future as um Mr. Young and I and some other community members work on this ordinance. I'm asking for your support. I have spoken with constituents in just about every district and in this process and everyone loves our trees and our community. Our citizens love our trees and they would like for them to be protected. Um I know that we don't tell private property owners what to do. I've heard that a lot. But I think we can at least set some standards to make it a little more difficult for people to just come in and cut down mature trees for um McMansions that are are not going to make it. And my last thing I will say very quickly is um I don't know if you guys remember, but where the urology center was, there was like a 300-year-old oak tree and it was cut down to build. It was either was it the urology center? Okay. Yeah. Yeah, it was cut down to build the urology center and the urology center lasted 15 years. Maybe storm took it out. Now it's a big empty lot where a gorgeous tree used to sit. So we we need to do something about that, gentlemen. And I hope that when Mr. Young submits an ordinance in the future um with things that my friends and I have worked on to help place some protection on the trees in our community that you all supported. And um if any of you would like to contact me personally um about this, I would be more than happy to speak with you and I will see you all next week. Thank you,

Mr. D. Yes, sir. Just for my you referring to number four, that's going to be the issue that you're speaking on, right? I'm not sure today I'm really just asking you to consider an ordinance in the future, but next week it will be for the Earnest and Claw development. Yes, sir. Councilman to to Yes, sir. Thank you very much. And for that, it's going to be the variance. No. Um, that's what we'll be coming up against, which is not the development itself. Okay. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you, ma'am. Amy Abear. State your name and address for the record. It's Amy Herbert. Oh, excuse me.

Yeah. I'm married and divorced a man from North Louisiana. They say Herbert up there. So, I'm Amy Herbert. I live at 2210 Ernest Street. I went to Washington. Did you?

Um, I'm piggybacking off of what Dominique just spoke to you guys about. Um, I'll be here next week as well to talk about that Ernest and Westclaude um thing, but we came together with some other folks and put together a loose organi organization. and it's called Southwest Louisiana Save the Tree and it was for this express purpose for saving this one tree since that time. That's been a couple of years now. That has grown to be something bigger and we realize that um we know that Hurricane Laura took out 10% or more of our tree canopy here in Lake Charles. It's just in our city. If you've noticed over the last few years it gets a little hot outside, more hot than you remember it being just a few years ago. It's because of that intense tree loss. Not just from the hurricane, but also the panic cutting that happened just after. We were all scared. We were worried about our homes. Get rid of the trees. Now we're paying the price for that. Um, we also know that our electricity prices are going up exorbitantly. Not just because of the tree loss, but in part because of that. Our houses are hotter. We have to pay more money to keep them cool. and it's uh kind of screwed up our quality of life to a degree. It's hotter to walk around outside. I like to walk my neighborhood and I like the shade of the trees kind of protecting us all a little bit from that. Um I noticed on Lake Street the big mid city loft development that's taking place there. the hri um community that is being built there, their developers, their contractors, and everybody who's worked on that pro project went through that entire piece of land and looked at every tree and identified healthy native trees. That's why when you drive down Lake Street, you see those big fences just kind of randomly circling trees. Those are meant to protect those. They designed that entire property around

those healthy, mature trees so that they would stay intact. That was a choice they made. They weren't compelled to do that by the city. They did that on their own. And I think that tells us a lot about what they value as a mid city loft community or developer, whoever's hri um construction who's doing that. So I think that's a good jumping off point. Um our plan is to present an ordinance or protecting native and heritage trees in our area. We're working with other organizations in the state to produce a best practices, things that have been done in Baton Rouge, in New Orleans, and across the nation to protect uh legacy oaks and other native trees.

I saw that. Yes, sir. I get that a lot at work. Um and so, just in closing, uh we we don't want to tell contractors what to do. We don't want people what to do on their property, but we do want to say there is a price to pay if you do want to develop land in Lake Charles, and that is to value the things that we value as well. Part of that has to do with our trees, things that are going to outlast everybody sitting in this room and maybe the room, too. Yes, ma'am. And that's all I got. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.

Fish Jarbone. All right, Paul Gary, state your name and address for the record, please. Yes, sir. All right, I got to repeat the truck. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Every time you come up there. But anyway, uh guys, state your name and address for the record. 2205 Highway 14601 if you want to know that too. Okay, but the other deal is the reason I'm here. I got one of them is complaint. Tom is my represent. Hey, thanks for that lighting you got turned on the department. I appreciate that. Thank you.

The other deal I'm here for on the Hillrest Park that is a historical park and I like what the work they done with that grant they got enhanced. That's going to be one of the best parks in our community on the way but we need a bathroom out there excess. I don't know that's in the works that's planned. I talked with some people in the recreation department. They had is on the window but I don't hear nobody talking about we outside of B in that area. And the other thing is I'm revisiting April 15th. I don't appreciate what y'all done. Our community I feel totally disrespected

as a community where y'all come in with it being a major condition of change with the various you can't make no hardship to get a hardship. And that's what they done. And I brought that up the last time to me. I should have had a kind of word to hand out the way the setup was set up over here.

Had all the employees. I never said done like that. It was set up. And I know it's not the meeting here. You already made decision behind the door. But when it come to the people, we got to make better decision. And I already know with the B program, I seen that mission on the board as well. I'm worried about, you know, y'all destroy the community. Government and and refineries and corporation destroying our neighborhoods. You got to respect the people with the people. If it's not conducive to fit in the community, shouldn't be there. I don't care what they do. If it don't fit the community, then the property values already low in that area. When you continue putting that Oh, Craig, you had a question the last time on Industrial Drive. See, we was in a parish at one time

before they brought into the city. Matter of fact, Dunham Price was right there on 14 years ago. So, it was industrial car and we got to respond to it as government and the community too as well. All I'm asking, y'all have a big fight with us from I'm looking at what's going to happen to terrorists

cuz it took a lot of people out community that took money out the community. It broke down our voting strength. I look at the big picture. That's what I see. And as far as that initiative, I wonder how they got away doing it from the state because they used it for, you know, not man-made. See that cotton is manmade. The government that get over and we paying drainage and flooding. Why you got to move people out when they should have fixed that drainage? And hey, I know the waterways. Black Bay to the south. We over here Missouri got kic. We got to do better better business than we do. And I'm going tell you now you have to fight for me from now on out cuz at the same time on seventh Avenue the same district now but that's old park but not green ter park. It's one district. So whatever affects the district as a whole affects everybody no matter where you at. That's how I look at it. that we deserve respect and we going to demand from now on out. Thank y'all for your time.

Thank you, Mr. Gary, Chad, Stacy, Council M. Can I speak? There's three of us. Can I see? Oh, all y'all on the same court, sir. They want to donate the time to you. Yes. Okay. Come on. Uh, we got Jason Gunter, Chad Stacy, and Billy Kerry. Okay. Jason Gunnar 1152 Bud Bennett Queen of Louisiana. Um I'm here today. Uh by the way, we are doing a project for the hri. We are the contractor doing that job for all the infrastructure in that area. Okay.

Uh I'm here today. We we came to the last meeting on a project on the uh South Sewer Loop project and Gulf Highway lift station project number uh 3242. I think the Mr. G the number has changed. It'll be number I think 12 coming up just for the council so you can relate to what I'm talking number 12. Okay. Yeah, it was 20 at the last.

Yeah. I'm here to try to figure out um so at so we trying to figure out where the award is at on this project. We were low biders on this project. We uh we were told that it was deferred uh from from our last meeting and we're just trying to figure out where where we at in that award process. You asked the question now you want to finish your statement and then you can ask

well I can finish the statement. Um so I don't know if any everyone is familiar with it but uh there was a there was a bid process take place during this uh for this project. We were the low bidder. We uh we were we had a uh we were asked for supplemental information from the engineer. We supplied the supple information. I had a meeting with the with the engineer. Uh couldn't get any feedback on it. Said he went to the uh to the attorneys this uh the city's attorneys and uh since then we we have heard that we were um possibly going to be determined as not responsible for this project. being that our bid may be thrown out. So, I don't uh we're, you know, I'm still trying to figure this out. We've never been through this situation before. Uh we've been in business for 26 27 years now. We've done a lot of underground projects. We've done a lot of projects in the community here for the last 27 years. We've done a lot of projects at Fort Poke. We've had major contracts up there doing underground pipeline work, uh sewer, water, uh vertical contracts, airport, uh you name it, we've done it. We we've carried contracts out there from Idiq contracts from $30 million to $50 million and we're not getting any information on this pro on this bid process and kind of trying to figure out why and where we're at on this process and where we go from here.

Well, I I'll tell you this uh Mr. Gunter uh from the last time you came

Mr. President if if the matter is up for final next week we can't discuss it. We can't discuss the particulars, but we can discuss what he's talking about, his complaint. And I'm just letting you know, I have a request out to gather the bids so we can see if what you're saying is in fact true. But like the uh the city attorney said, we can't get into the specifics of it because we we're still going unless somebody else has some new information. We're still going on what they told us last week that it was deferred because some other things needed to be done and now it's back on the agenda. We don't know yet what those details are or what's been done uh about that issue,

but we can't discuss that now in this meeting, but you have your complaint on record and we encourage you to come back next week and talk to this. You will be able to address this specifically because we'll have some answers for you at that time. Okay. So, from my understanding, you still don't have the bid results? No, I don't I don't have no one no one on the council has the bid results for this project. Is that is that is that a typical Well, generally it's not I wouldn't say it's not it's typical, but generally we get the bids when we request them. You know, sometimes we don't have the need to request it because we don't have an issue like this coming up.

But being that you came last week, I requested that it be sent to the council and I'm sure it's going to be sent prior to us coming back next Wednesday. Okay. So, just so just so I understand. So, what is the process after this point tonight? It goes to the meeting on the the 6th. Yes, the 6 is going to be heard. I I don't know what item number it is. Number 12, I want to say. Yes, item number 12 is going to be heard next Wednesday. You'll be able to come and address that particular issue at that time. And we'll have a fact sheet as well with information about the bid. Okay. Yeah. You have to fill out a card next week when you come. Correct. put that number on it to speak to address that.

So there's there's a determination of the the award done that night. Well, should be when we come in, we'll vote on it. We'll have the information of what the uh the administration will give us. As an example, they may say XYZ was deemed to be the lowest responsible bidder. We read the fact sheet. We have discussion. We listen to what the people have to say and then we vote on it. Okay. So that'll take place next Wednesday. Perfect. Okay, thank you. All right, appreciate any other comments.

This meeting is a journal. It was nice.