City Council - Regular Meeting

If you're here to speak on an item, please fill out a card in the back. They're on both sides of the room when you walk in on the table. All you need to do is fill out the card and turn it into myself and I'll give it to the president. Thank you. How you doing? It's fun. You got the correct?

Hey. Hey. How are you? You all right? Sorry about that. Okay. I have brought them to most of the businesses along. Okay. I mean enterprise. I got to let people know. Whatever rest

anybody would like to speak, you need to fill out a card. Turn it in. going to call this meeting to order. Mr. Harvey is going to lead us in the pledge. I'll lead us in a prayer. Heavenly Father, thank you for another day of your grace and your mercy. Father God, we pray and ask that you bless down upon all the families represented here today. Father God, that you give us peace, understanding, and wisdom that we may listen with our hearts and our minds and understand with our wisdom. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen.

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. Mr. Renee upon a chairman to review the request for statements of qualifications for the most qualified architectural/engineering A&E firm 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. Charles

appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3538 Buddy Prajan softball lighting public hearings public hearing and consideration of the Lake Charles planning and zoning commission's decision to approve a request for a major conditional use permit in order to establish a runway matting facility in an existing commercial structure including variances to one allow use on a local street versus required location adjacent to and has access to an arterial or collector street and two allow resin and paint application to matting product within a mixeduse zoning district at 2925 Industrial Avenue. public hearing and consideration of the Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to approve a request for a major conditional use permit in order to construct six town home units with variance for front setback of 20 ft versus the required 25 ft within a mixeduse zoning district at the north side of the 2200 block of East Prian Lake Road. An ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter into an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 7-Eleven Falls Street, Rose Young Fontno and Frankf Fontno owners. Another demolition at 1400 North Shadic Street, Cleveland Nash and Ovar Nash owners. Another demolition at 1505 McNav Street. Tyrron Gerard Nickerson owner. Another demolition at 411 Gelpy Drive. Gerald No Middle initial Armalan senior owner. Another demolition at 317 South Louisiana Avenue. Front house only. Grace Smith, Oric Ypric, Charles Yprice, Monica Mer Russell Marshia Manker, and Gregory Mer owners. Another demolition at 2217 Broad Street. Frankie Jordan Dy owner. Another demolition at 902 Chamilleia Street. Garage only. Matthew

A. Mintosh owner. Another demolition at 1729 Broadmore Drive. Larry Jean Thomas owner. Another demolition at 3704 Brentwood Drive. Esther Jane Aquan owner subject to a tax sale to Barios Investments LLC. Another demolition at 2725 Louisiana Avenue. Holly Ryder Bruier and Zoe Gasport Ryder owners. Another demolition at 704 11th Street. JMBB Real Estate Investment Group, LLC owner. Another demolition at 102115th Street. Eva Christristiana Russell owner subject to attack sale to the state of Louisiana. Another demolition at 2110 Railroad Avenue. Andre N. Walker, Britney Anne. Walker, Denver Jerome Withers and Javon Ramsey Yokum owners. Another demolition at 21107 Clarinda Street. Julius Lee Fontno Senior and Jennifer De Fontno owners. Another demolition at 21105 Clarinda Street. Julius Lee Fontno and Jennifer Valmont Fonto owners. Ordinance is for final action. An ordinance accepting the lowest responsible bid and authorizing the city of Lake Charles enter into an agreement for project number CP 3242 Southern Sewer Loop Golf Highway Lift Station Force Main. an ordinance accepting the lowest responsive and responsible bid and authorizing the city of Lake Charles enter into agreement to purchase roadbased limestone aggregate per specifications for use by the public works department. An ordinance accepting the lowest responsive and responsible bid and authorizing the city of Lake Charles enter into an agreement to purchase 400 PSI readymix material for use by the public works department streets division. An ordinance accepting the lowest responsible bid and authorizing the city of Lake Charles Center into an agreement to purchase replacement retractable telescopic riser seating in the coliseum at the Lake Charles Event Center. An

ordinance creating the positions of chief of administration and chief of operations within the 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 enlarging the boundaries of the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana, by annexing property, generally described as south side of the 4600 block of East Cran Lake Road, containing 97 acres more or less defining with certainty and precision the territory to be included in the corporate limits of the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and otherwise providing with respect there too an ordinance assigning zoning classification of business to property generally described as south side of the 4600 block of East Prian Lake Road containing meaning 97 acres more or less defining with certainty and precision the territory to be included in the corporate limits of the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana and otherwise providing with respect there too. An ordinance assigning council manning district B to property generally described as south side of the 4600 block of East Crown Lake Road containing 97 acres more or less defining with certainty and precision the territory to be included in the corporate limits of the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and otherwise providing with respect there to an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to purchase three parcels of property from the record owner located at 1621 Broad Street, parcel number 00593001. 1, parcel number 01343244 and 1605 East Broad Street, parcel number 00599689. An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to purchase property located at 1635 East Broad Street, parcel number 00592501 from the record owner. a resolution setting date for public hearing and consideration of the Lake Charles planning and zoning commission's decision to deny request for a variance in order to construct nine new detached

town homes with lot coverage greater than 40% actual 45% within a residential zoning district at the northwest corner of West Claude Street at Ernest Street. A resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 902 North Simmon Street, John A. Parker owner subject to attack sell the state of Louisiana with the companion ordinance a resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 1509 Par Street Edward Gallion Jr. and Jules J. Gallion, owner, subject to a tax sale to the state of Louisiana with a companion ordinance, a resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 621 Bank Street, Earl Melvin, Anthony Wilts, Daniel Mo Wilts, and Monnique Michelle Wilts, owners, with a companion ordinance. A resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 21203rd Street. Cecilia Petri, owner, with a companion ordinance. A resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located 2344 C Street. Marlene Mars, Marisha Elise Marks, and Kendall Wayne Marks, owners with the companion ordinance. A resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 808 Golf Street. Melvin Rays and Yolani Rays, owner with the companion ordinance. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids for project number CP3051 2025 citywide striping package with the companion ordinance. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids for project number CP 3251 University area purple subbasin sewer rehabilitation with the companion ordinance a resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids for the purchase of water infrastructure maintenance and repair parts for use by the public works department water division with a

companion ordinance a resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids to purchase one new sewer inspection system camera and crawler for use by the public waste department wastewater division with a companion ordinance. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to assume full responsibility for providing the required local match for design engineering for construction engineering and inspection CNI and for managing and maintaining the project relative to the Pon Lake Road pedestrian bridge project. Ordinances for final action. Introduction of an ordinance accepting the best proposal received for renewal coverage and authorizing the city of Lake Charles entering to an agreement for property and casualty insurance for the city of Lake Charles effective May 22nd, 2026 through May 22nd, 2027. Introduction of an ordinance of the city of Lake Charles authorizing an expropriation of property in full fee ownership from from on and with respect to property for any and all uses necessary for the highway 14 waterloop project said property believed to be owned by Sha Shahhat halting company all pursuant to Louisiana revised statute 911 19134 at sect and providing further thereto introduction of an ordinance of the city of Lake Charles authorizing the expropriation of property and full fee ownership from on and respect to property from 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 9 col 19134 at SEC and providing further there too introduction of an ordinance author authorizing the city council of the city of Lake Charles to declare parcel number 007503832A

no municipal address as 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 the operation of equipment. Introduction of an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Sella Technical Community College to contribute funding for a flight school at the Sella Technical Community College Chenalt International Airport facilities. Introduction of an ordinance authorizing city of Lake Charles Center into a cooperate cooperative endeavor agreement with the Kaukashu 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. Introduction of an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Zetafi Beta Sorarity Incorporated of Beta Zeta Kappa Zeta chapter nonprofit organization to contribute funding towards the construction of a new facility support their Starks Next program which provides prenatal education, health resources and other support programming to young mothers as well as to act as a resiliency hub during events of natural disasters. in similar emergencies and the rest that are on here are companion ordinances.

Okay, Mr. Boo, you got anything?

Yeah, I got uh a while back and they always ask me about it. Uh to my understanding, we're going to have to get an ordinance changed to force the business on Highway 14 that's adjacent to 8th Avenue to put a wooden fence, a privacy fence up. I want to know if we got any inclination. And I know we right now we couldn't force them because they have a street in between the property business and the neighborhoods, but we would like to whatever it takes to get the ordinance changed to see if we can put that in place. I don't know the steps, but we would want to get that done because they're not listening to all the rules or all the property standards or anything we give them a chance to do. They not they not agreeing. They not doing it. So,

Mr. of that location again. Uh Miami Tire, are we 14? Miami Tire. Right that area. To force them to have to put up a a real privacy fence. I I have a question. Is Mr. Biggarius here? I have a question. the um in my district we were we had well Maryland's had to put up a privacy fence because my understanding was that there's an ordinance in place that mandates that a business abuing a property a private property has to put up a private fence. Now I'm I'm wondering what is the difference between this? Is it the street? It's a road. It's a road. It's an alley. Is it an alley?

Is that Is it alley? Tire. Oh yes. Uh a buffer fence is required between the property lines of the to a budding property. Budding budding properties. When it's ab budding a street rideaway, there's no really fencing required, but we are working with the owner to have that installed to require them to screen his storage area, which would in turn require the fencing to prevent the ingress and eress onto the alleyway. Now, is that going to be for all the properties on that? I'd have to look I'd have to look at it. Um oh yeah I'm sorry Paula's got the details on this specific one.

We was asking if could we could we put an orders in place now since we know we couldn't force them before. Can we put orders in place to make the We will have to get with the legal department, you know, to, you know, because there's nonforming uses and conforming uses and grandfathering and so we'd have to look at those individually and evaluate that on a case-by case basis. There there could be some issues with doing that.

Uh right now for Miami Tires, we do have them scheduled for hearing. They're using that backport as a storage area, so therefore they have to put up a privacy fence. Um, it doesn't have to be a wooden fence. It can be a chain link with slats. Also, um, I actually have a meeting with him. Yes, uh, tomorrow because he's purchasing another property and I want to meet with him on the requirements at that property, too. So, okay. And, uh, I know I don't want to just hop on tide companies, but that's why I get a lot of phone calls about. And now we want to address the one on Pin Lake 14

and 14. I'm getting several calls about the condition and how to is a limit to how many ties you can have on property and uh to my understanding is excessive amount. I don't know the number. I didn't go and count. But if it's something that we can do, I'm getting these calls like like daily. I know we actually have a tire ordinance in place um that regulates the amount of tires that they can keep. They can only have 20 tires displayed um in front of the shop and they have to be put up um whenever the shop closes and you can store a 100 tires in an enclosed container. Um they can be either new or used tires.

That's not including inside the store though, right? No. Okay. It doesn't include inside the store. So, inside the store, they say they have more. Oh, sure. Well, um I don't I don't know how many they can have inside the store, but I can look for you. I don't know if it addresses that, but I'll look in the ordinance. My ordinance does not address the number of tires inside the store.

The intent when the council made some modifications was that you could only have so many on the outside. And if you got beyond that, you also had to you had outside storage. You had to fence it in and cover it. so people couldn't see it, but there's also was a restriction on how many you could actually have at that location. So, um, we can get y'all that ordinance and then if y'all want to consider maybe doing an amendment to it, we could look at that as well. Okay. So, Miss Paula, could you get that copy of that ordinance to them? Yes, sir. I can. Thank you. That's it. Mr. Weatherford, I don't have anything tonight. Mr. Young,

thank you, Mr. President. uh quite a few issues this week. Um but I was able to work with planning and public works uh and property standards to get most of those resolved. So I appreciate the department's help. That's it. Mr. Fondelle, I don't have anything. Mr. Harvey. Yes, Mr. President. I hope just a few things. First thing, uh, could I get an update on the status of the agreement as far as funding and coming to a closure with the Lake Charles North with the agreement that we made? Last communication I had with their attorney, he had requested two amendments to the contract. Okay.

Um, that was probably two or three weeks ago, Mr. Harvey, and I sent we approved those two requested changes. Um, and I've not yet heard back from him about whether they were signing it and ready to move forward. So, it's kind of like the contract as they requested it is approved and so I'm waiting to hear back from them. We're ready to sign it if they are. Who who have they listed as their point of contact? Ezra Pettis. Okay. Lawyer. Gotcha.

All right. The other thing was, could I request uh that we get some uh ditch cleaning on the 6 and 700 block of North Adam Street on both the east and the west side of the street? And also dish cleaning on from the 1,000 block to the 1300 block of North Cherry Street on the east and the west side of the street. Which blocks of Cherry?

Uh 600 700 I'm sorry 1,00 uh through,300 uh block. So the 1,100 1200300 block of North Cherry on the east and the west side and 600700 block of North Adam Street. Also, uh could we look at possibly I know we getting to the end of the fiscal year, but possibly overlaying uh the 800 block of North Sally Main Street. Um, that was a street that I mentioned before where we actually had some capital outlay projects that, uh, we kind of redid the streets all the way around except for that 800 block of North Sally Main Street. Also, uh, I know Miss Paula is already working on this. Thank you, Miss Paula, for that. Um, but just wanted to bring attention to Ula's place again on Price Street. U, we've had several complaints from the adjacent neighbors. I know you guys are already working on that. Um, she's not able to be at the meeting tonight, but um, just wanted to

talk about the yellow house. Ula's Place. It's uh 1018 Price Street. Yeah. It has a couple of shotgun houses and it's called Ulis Place. Yeah. Uh the issue that we have is the house that's uh furthest to the west. Um and uh yes, we do have an active case on that one. So,

Gotcha. And then the last thing I want to bring attention to is uh Riverside Park. If we can possibly look at uh putting up security fencing. Um, as you guys know, when Riverside Park first went up, there was no one living adjacent to the property. Now we have the uh the property that's that's up and running and starting to fill up pretty fast. Well, with what's happening is we're starting to have a lot of people who are frequent in that area late at night. Um, obviously with all the city parks, I know we have uh closing hours, but there's no way to stop anyone from driving up to Riverside uh park. I don't know. We can maybe look at a gate at the entrance of Fitz and Roder Road or something just to stop people from going back there late at night. Uh but some of those neighbors are starting to complain just about some of the traffic that's happening at the late hours of the night time.

Yeah. Yeah. And and that we're looking to because we also put a signal to 11 that to have more patrols going at night because talking about loud music and and I know long time ago uh not long time ago about a year ago they had a large swinging gate that would be at the beginning of the road but it's not there anymore. Yes. It's a cattle gate. I think they took it away for the construction. See about that. All right. Um and that's all I have, Mr. President.

Okie dokie. I got a couple of things. First of all, I want to um ask my council members to support me in asking the mayor um that we go ahead on and file the extension for the sports complex. maybe get out front on it so that um you know we can prevent any delays and it'll give us time to formulate a plan or whatever the answer and requirements may be for the uh sports complex. Okay. Uh the second thing is I'd like the council to have a copy of the original plans for the enterprise extension. Is that possible for us to get that?

You say original plans the well the first phase or the upcoming phase? Mr. Mr. Harvest said no no the original phase of what we were going to do with the plans. Now Mr. Harvest stated a couple of uh meetings ago that there was an original plan for the uh enterprise extension before we went to the fourlane before the conversation came up with the fourlane. Am I saying that correctly? That was that was the plans from Josh uh with Wagner

engineers. So, if we could have a a copy of that given to each council member, really appreciate it. Um, I want to propose drawing up an ordinance for we've been having a lot of problems with, and I say problems, I I consider them problems for um planning and zoning. Uh many neighborhoods have recorded covenants or or deed restrictions that guide development and construction. However, these covenants are not always considered during the permitting process, which can lead to new construction or modifications that are inconsistent with existing neighborhoods. Now, I do understand that covenants are not applicable by law, but I think that if we start uh considering those things going forward, if we could have some sort of ordinance put in place, it would stop all of these um filings that we have to have when it comes to planning and zoning, you know, and it would uh open up the door for development to start considering the community, you know, because like in my area in Oak Park area, we had some covenants that was drawn up years ago. they've expired. And um you know, I'd like to see where we can put it publicly so the uh the contractors will know what they're dealing with before they start doing things in a particular neighborhood. Probably can't stop it, but we can put something in place that would make it a even kill if you understand what I'm saying.

Yeah. You talking about like like a restrictive covenants on how the areas are developed. Yes. And they've expired and most times they expire because the homeowners association hasn't be be filed, right? And and I I want it to be going forward, not not anything to be retroactive, right? I'm not sure I'm clear on what you're asking. I want to make sure we get Well, in some of these neighborhoods, they have covenants. Correct. And a lot of times it is my opinion that the contractors are not aware of this when they propose certain things in in those communities.

Right. So, if we had an ordinance in place that kind of made them go look or says that if you breach these um these particular covenants, then you have to regroup before you go to planning and zoning. You follow what I'm saying? So, you're I think what you're proposing is some place where you would promulgate and publish all of the Yes. covenants and restrictions in particular subdivisions and then an ordinance that would say that a contractor not only has to apply with zoning laws, he has to comply with any applicable restrictive covenants. Exactly. Okay, I got it. Can I comment on that? Yes.

Okay. So, I had a issue like this recently in my district uh on one of the streets where the covenant restriction was made uh between the original homeowners. And so, I got with uh planning about it and Miss Binham said that because the restriction was with homeowners exclusively. It wasn't with the city that the city didn't have a a ball in that game. Um and that anyone who broke those covenants could be sued by the other homeowners in that neighborhood, but but the city didn't have a say in it. Is that correct or Well, that's why he is what you're asking.

I'm kind of confused about what he was asking because you are correct that generally restrictive covenants and subdivisions give rise only to private rights of action, not a claim by the city. However, I think what Mr. Marx is asking me to do seems slightly different and possibly doable. He's asking me to require that they be somehow conspicuously promulgated and then to require that the contractors before they pull a permit affirm that they're aware of the restrictive. I think that's what he's saying. That's exactly right. Got it. And I think you're correct that the city can't go enforce restrictive covenants, but we can at least require contractors to affirm that they're aware.

That's great idea. But also in in the last term I had an issue like that in O park and I was told that the only reason we couldn't enforce them was because they expire. Now once they're they're active then they have to be that neighborhood is governed by that. No, they're not the city can't enforce them. The homeowners association. Okay. Yeah. And look, just so you know, it's it's a real complex area of the law about how they expire and when they expire. So that's well beyond a discussion here because there's multiple reasons they can expire. But I think I understand what you're asking me to do. Got you.

Mr. Marks, I'm going to suggest that is a a sensitive and a different type of issue that you're bringing up. I really think it would make sense if maybe we could meet with a couple of council members in our legal department and walk through it. Uh because it's not as simple as it sounds. That's a good idea. Yeah, no problem with that.

Yeah. Um, we had an ordinance a while back about buildings that had been sitting up for a while. I think we it was like two years or three years. Those buildings had to be maintained. They had to be painted and if they put wood over the windows, they had to be painted the same color as the building. I think there's an ordinance in place that we did for that. And I think we need to review that again. not the ordinance, but make a pass throughout the city because we got some buildings that's been hanging around for a long time that's starting to get dilapidated in in different areas. And I'd like for us to revisit that to make sure that the owners are complying with that. So, would these be unoccupied buildings? They're not red tagged, but they but they're boarded up so nobody get it, but they need to they still functional,

but aesthetically they need to look right. Exactly. Right. Well, I mean, we do have an ordinance that you can only is one year and two years. I think it's one year for commercial and two for residential or vice versa. That's correct. And so presumably we we made a record that this was boarded up on a such and such date March the 15th of 2025. And so, you know, I don't know that we have it on a list that we're going to go back and check and make sure that, you know, once that time expires or we're depending on the neighbors to remember that or not, but

because we should have some that's in violation right now from the last time. So, if we can check into that. The other thing, uh, Miss Paula, you have any updates on Warren and Pring Lake? Tire shop on Warren and Pring Lake with the all the cars that they storing outside. We actually went ahead and scheduled them for hearing. Okay.

Uh, they are trying to comply with the ordinances. Um, I do know that the space in the back, we um, we originally were told that the workers parked there. It is a an improved surface. Even though you can't see the rock, there is signs that there was rock poured there at one time for parking, but um because of the inoperable vehicles that are there, we're bringing them to hearing. So, they'll have to comply either before or after the hearing. So,

and before you go, 1716 22nd Street. I reported that on se on several occasions and it's getting worse. The carport is almost down to the ground. Uh, and I haven't seen anybody come in that house maybe for pass. Well, we actually tagged it. It's supposed to be going through uh the process. We sent out the letters. So, we're waiting on um the amount of time for that notification and then we're going to put it on the agenda. And just FYI for your notes, there's a van underneath the carport, right? So, okay. All right. Any other Got one. Go ahead, Mr.

I'm sorry. I missed one. Also at the intersection of North Jake Street and Madur. Um that is the intersection right in front of Raid Molo Middle School. Um if we can put a T intersection sign there. Um I don't know if you guys are aware but most recently someone actually ran through that stop sign and hit the school. Um I know we had requested it before but if we can just come back and and um check into that. But if we can get the T intersection sign in front of the school. What was that location?

Uh the intersection of North Jake and Madora Street right in front of Ry Molo. Also at the corner of 21st and 3rd Avenue, there was a wreck knock down the yield sign yesterday. So if we could look at that. Okay, this is the portion of the meeting where we speak with the community. Is Mr. Terren Prudin here? Mr. Prudin, you donating time? Mr. Rosen Saigon Asion. Am I saying it right? Rosen R O S E N. Are you here? Those minutes can't be donated. Mr. Brown, you have six minutes.

I'm the first one. Yes, sir. You don't want to be first? Oh, I didn't. I I remember a meeting ago that you told me something about putting you last. So, I'm scared. You'll go last. I don't know what you're talking about. Okay. Check your uh check your film. All right. Yeah. All right. Harold Gillery. Yes, sir. Come to the mic, Mr. Gillery. State your name and address for the record. Good evening. My name is Harold Gillery. Address 1705 North Simmons Street, Lake Charles.

What can we do for you, Mr. I'm actually want to address the uh concern I have with getting law enforcement or some form of private security company here in the city to help me and others as promoters who do concerts and events in the city to help us with controlling any kind of situation that we may have at our venues or at a venue that we may rent because it's getting to the point to where we're seeing that promoters and club owners and people who may hold certain events. We're the good is having to suffer for the bad. And what we're wanting to see is that if there's some kind of way that the promoters, venue owners can work together with the city of Lake Charles so we can have security for the people that want to come out and have a good time and conduct themselves like productive citizens in the community, but also have the city and law enforcement to uh help us to address those issues.

Well, Mr. Gillery, I'll um I'll share with you. We had this discussion on the last council. Okay. And that is a we might need to have a meeting with the chief of police and the sheriff department because when they correct me if I'm wrong uh Mr. Stutes when when it comes to security like that that becomes a private entities issue because those security officers have to be paid to provide. Now we have a new administration. You may want to set up a meeting with the mayor and and discuss it. Mayor, you want to address that?

Yeah. Yeah. Because the the the problem that we run into, especially uh when it's uh private functions for a profit, is that the um to pull officers uh to secure those, we can't pull them out of the the regular patrols because we're short officers already. So, usually the some of those do those on their u on their their private time off and get paid privately by the by the person that does that. Uh my understanding is that uh there's there's been a reluctance to do it when it comes to uh like for instance nightclubs because because of the liability issues. I know that for instance the sheriff won't uh do any security at nightclubs within the city limits. City police are um are patrolling neighborhoods that would require pulling resources and I don't know exactly what their policy is yet on on doing private uh private events and then the marshall's office. So we'd have to get together and sit down with all three of those and see what kind of solutions we can come to. But I agree that you have a few bad apples that's that's spoiling a lot of things for a lot of people that would otherwise go out and have a good time and be law- abiding citizens. So that that is that is something that we need to prioritize and look at,

right? Because as we as we speak, we don't have to my knowledge and I stand to be corrected, we don't have a private security company in the city of Lake Charles or outside the city who would come and provide those services and be hired to do that. As well as with the outlets, alcohol beverage outlets. That's the reason from what I was told that law enforcement won't come and do security because they have a gun and if they have to enter into enter the facility then there's a situation with that. that's a liability, that type of thing. So, it puts us as promoters and club owners, that type of thing, into a pickle situation because an event may be going on really well, we're not having an issue, but because something happened on another side of town or another venue, then now we have to suffer for something that happened that had nothing to do with us. So what we're wanting to do is meet with the, you know, the local officials to see if there's some kind of way that that can be addressed because the people who's coming out to have a good time troublefree, they need to be protected and feel that it's safe for them to go out and have a good time. But to walk up to a facility that's a club, a venue or what have you, i.e. like the KPC Hall or what have you, Burton Coliseum, Civic Center, and there's no security at all and then a situation breaks out. The first thing that the common American person is looking for is security. Where is it? Then they look at why the city's not here, why the sheriff is not here, sheriff department, that kind of thing. So if there's a way that we can work that out, that'd be greatly appreciated.

Well, I'll just uh put a tidbit because this has been a pet peeve of mine. Uh Mr. Gillery, um Lake Charles is part of the parish. Correct. So if you're willing to do security clubs outside the outside the city, but in the parish, do it there. What excludes Lake Charles from it? I understand. you know, and it's the same with our city police, you know, but as the mayor said, we run in a shortage. So hopefully you can set up a meeting with the mayor and the chief and uh Stitch, the sheriff, and go from there. Right. Thank you for your time.

All right. Am I saying it right? Sadi. Sadi look like Peacock. Peacock. State your name and address for the record, please.

Hello, my name is Shade Jacob. My address Oh, I see. I'm sorry. And my address is 2224 Violet Lane, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Um, so Sunday, Sunday at Panorama, we had an R&B event. The police walked in and they shut the building down. Lake Charles police don't have the authority to shut a venue down like that. It's only the fire marshal. Am I correct? As far as I know, you're correct. So, also, wait, let me clarify that. When you say shut something down, it depends on the reason.

They said that it was for safety reasons for event that happened on the other side of town. And as I walked into the building, they already had cops all down the street. The we had Panorama. As I walked into the building, it had cops flooding the streets already. As as customers customers walked in to pay for to get into this venue, 30 minutes in, everybody got had to go home. Why? So, let me ask you a question. So, are you saying that there was a event going on inside the building? Yes. And the police came in and shut the building, shut the party down,

event down due to outside and everybody was walking in parked and was walking to the venue. They should have wrote tickets. I I can't answer that. I don't know if the mayor can, but we'd have to have all the details to it. I understand what you're saying and if it went your way, I could see why you would have a problem with that. Yes. Okay. So, why what can we do to change all this? because we keep having events in this city and we keep getting shut down all the time. I think the first thing we need to do is find out what the police reason was for shutting it down. I'm not saying you are inaccurate. I'm just saying it's too sidest. It was for a shooting and happened in Appaloosis Park.

So because there was shooting on Appaloosa Street Park, they shut down Panorama. Okay. I I don't I I couldn't tell you what you know what it is until I hear both sides of the story. Maybe I can I can address that because we had gotten reports about that. Uh apparently there was a incident at a park that was outside the city limits. There was a lot of fighting mayhem. I understand some shooting

and then once that was dispersed outside the city that that started accumulating in the uh in the front of Panorama. Uh now my understanding is that the police were out there because they were trying to make sure that that that same type of activity didn't happen in that area because you know we're very sensitive about shootings, fights, and things like that. Uh but to go into a private business uh into a private business uh that would have to either be because that was a serious public safety issue which means that the uh the police had the the the right to go in or uh the owner of that business would have asked for assistance to evacuate. So, we're looking into that. We've already met with the uh with the department. We're getting we're gathering more information, but we're going to we're going to we're drilling down pretty hard on that because that's, you know, we're we're a city that's growing. We we got a lot of entertainment, a lot of events, but we're trying to keep the city safe, but also respect the the private individuals and their ability to uh throw events and be profitable. But we have to keep the city safe, too. So, we're looking to it.

Okay. We're looking into it. Deputy Chief, do you have any information in regards to this? Deputy Chief God with Lake Charles PD. I'm afraid I haven't been fully briefed on the situation. I I know that uh Deputy Chief Moss and the chief talked about it yesterday morning. I had a speaking event at McNiss at the same time, so I missed uh the meeting. I was in a ladder meeting where it was briefly discussed and uh my understanding is that we were called there by the business. And that's the only information, excuse me, that I have.

Okay. So, I got a question. Um, what what it sounds like if they got a business going at a club, whatever, and there's an event inside and people choose to gather in a parking lot that's not necessarily associated with that business. Is that the business owner responsibility or is that the city police responsibility?

Yes. So the the the bar owner or operator or the restaurant owner operator, they're responsible for everything that happens within a twob block radius within within reason, right? Uh so if it is a foreseeable preventable problem then the the owner manager bar personnel should see to the problem before it becomes a public safety issue. So I but they they they are operating inside and and they're responsible for their property and the property that other people inside and outside. That's right. That's right. For two blocks.

Yeah. That's right. That's why if you go to other cities, uh, and I we've been tracking in other cities, uh, the the people that have these businesses, they'll actually hire police, law enforcement, or security to be there and have a presence, but they're working solely for that private entity. Our jurisdiction stops at the public sector, which is the street, sidewalks. Unless there's something that's a public safety that's going on, then we do have a right to go into private property because we have to secure the public. And those are the issues that we're looking into for this particular incident. what was the reason why uh the police went into that establishment and then what was going on on the outside that that that that caused a a public safety issue in the first place.

Yeah, I I'm not talking about that particularly. I'm just trying to understand what the gentleman was saying.

Well, I give you an example. uh if there's a a place that's operating and and there's other businesses around and people go to that business and they are operating there the people are in that that uh parking lot, they may not even be going into that establishment, but because that establishment is an attraction for them that the the laws are in place that that whoever's throwing that particular event is responsible for at least those periphery areas. So that owner, so say that particular owner is a finally becomes aware that there's a group gathering outside that's not at his establishment. Can he call the city police and ask them to de disperse them? Even cuz they're not at his establishment.

If if there's if if they're if they're if they're parked on private property and they're not doing anything that's in violation of the law, the police cannot go into that. But if there's if there like we have Nars ordinances, we have things against open containers, we have to some of those type activities are happening, then that's when you start getting into the realm where the police officers can't go into. But I think it'd be well worth it to sit down and have a discussion with these absolutely these owners to clear up exactly what the issue is. And I think I think that's a legitimate question.

Yeah. and and it's and not even just for the for the property owners, but for anybody throwing in events because we do want to we do want our city to have events and we think that that it's good for people to have that. But we also have to be very cognizant like for instance we had a a issue that happened at Cowboys and that crowd wound up congregating at the uh the lakefront and we had a shooting and a killing on the lakefront. So uh you know those things once you disperse those things migrate. I think even Opaloosa Street what what was happening there started making its way toward the the panorama because that that was an attraction. So all those kind of issues becomes a little more

for the business owner to control what happened on Appaloosis and No, not Appaloosis but within that just because he's open and they chose to Yeah, that that's kind of I know. Well, but I want to be clear. Uh it's not easy. It's not easy. Uh it's not easy. It's levels of this. What I mean by this, let's say I got a club and within the two two block radius some people are hovering, right? Hanging out. the police can come and issue tickets first because now it's on the person that's violating the law. Correct. Now, for them to turn around and go close the event down on the inside, that would have to be some level of safety issue within the building

typically. That's correct.

Yes. So, I I think that's from understanding what the young lady was saying was that they closed down an event inside based upon a security threat on the outside. And now I understand what the mayor said, people can migrate and go different places, but we can't hinder a building because there was a fight south of town and now they all migrate in this way. We need to start enforcing those levels. Hey, if you if you loing, you get a ticket, you know. So, let me tell you a couple of the things that we've been doing lately to address this problem is that we've met with some of the local bar owners to come to an understanding, especially the bar owners who are frequently running a foul of these ordinances. And uh something else that we did at the mayor's suggestion was to put together a resource guide, which we have done. I'll happily get all of you a copy if you'd like to see. It's maybe about 20 pages. Uh, but it's big print, so it's not a lot of words, but it it gives kind of a quick wrapup of the things that a bar owner, manager, operator should know uh without having to tear into the entire code of ordinances to figure out. So, it especially from a public safety and it is it's Lake Charles and city police put it together. So, it's it's big heavy on the public safety aspect. uh nuisance avoidance strategies to uh you know keep keep from getting called uh or getting calls to your establishment on a regular bas basis. You know things that aggravate your neighbors and uh just the the code of ordinances that apply to keep everybody able to enjoy themselves in their homes or in the business uh or the bar or wherever it happen.

What I don't want to see is for us to get in a situation especially in the downtown area. Let's just say hypothetically the stuff happened at Panorama. Are we going to do the same thing at the Civic Center? If there's an event going on at the Civic Center and this crowd came over to the Civic Center parking lot, are we going to go in there and shut everything down in the civic center? No, I don't I don't think we are. So, I I just hope that we we lay it down, you know, evenly across the board. Yeah, we might be getting a bit of a a bad rep on this one, too. I I believe that we were we were asked by an employee of that establishment.

And I think that's and I think that's the part that we're looking into. If if if the officers went into Panorama, what what what brought them in there? Was it some violation of the law or was it in invitation by the uh by the owner or was it just doing that on their own? Because we're not in the position to go in and start closing down private businesses if there's no violation of the law. Mr. President. Yes. Coming back to you, Mr. You want go ahead, Mr. Gill. Mr. President and Mr. Mayor, the reason why I wanted to come back up is to reiterate what I was saying earlier that if we work something out

with city law enforcement, marshals, sheriff department, then it could have been a situation to where just to speak on the panorama since that's that topic is up. If they would have had security and the promoters of that event would have paid for security, then whatever happened on Appaloosa Street, if it would have started to come this way, then law enforcement who was conducting security at the panorama would have nipped it in the bud and then they would have been able to relay a message to law enforcement who was coming to shut down the event, you know, or communicate with the owner and say, "Hey, everything's good here, so we don't have nothing to do what happened over there.

You know, we good here." but to not have security at all. As well as in the past when we did have security with law enforcement, city as well as sheriff department and sometimes marshals, it was certain stipulations that were follow, you know, uh that was on law enforcement. Whereas they were parked outside the parking lot, but when you would go up to the officer that we hired to do security and say, "Excuse me, can you get out your vehicle and tell them they can't park there, they can't hang out outside, or we don't do parking lot control." You feel what I'm saying? So it's it's issues like that to where me as a promoter, concert, you know, promoter, I'm saying to the law, I mean the police officer, so why are you here? Right?

If you can't get out the car, you can't flash your light or get on your your PA, you know, and say, "Excuse me, buddy. Can't park there. Can't park there, you know, or get out the vehicle and say either go in the venue or leave, right? That's that's not happening." So then when that became a pickle situation, then law enforcement agencies just started backing away from it because they felt that it was a liability. We as promoters and club owners in the city, we're not trying to promote violence. We're not trying to promote nonsense and mayhem and chaos. We want people to come out and patronize our events, have a good time, and go home. But when it comes to a situation where something bad happens, we get the bad rap. Right. Thank you. Correct. Mr. Bilbo. No, go ahead. You finished.

I have one more question. Go ahead. You um it's for you, sir. I don't know your name. You said your po the police came into the building and because of panorama employees, but when they walked into the building, everybody was sitting down. Nobody was rowdy. Actually, they didn't have no music on. It was at a very low tempo. No. What he said was he believed that somebody from the establishment called the police. Okay. Yeah. And they might have called about outside. Okay. Mr. Marks, if y'all just give us the opportunity to look into it, we'll report back to you. We're still trying to investigate that. I believe it's the mayor mentioned. Well,

uh, I'm not an expert at this, but my wife owned a a bar slash thing about five, six years ago, and we constantly had a complaint when we used to have sheriff department in front of me and we had no trouble, but we had to follow this two block radius. You people don't understand how far two blocks is when they're saying that you liable for a person to be and you got to control that. So then two blocks could be from here to almost no that's way further than that's two small blocks if you going street wise or lintwise. But anyway, we were told at that time that the sheriff department couldn't do it anymore and that the city police told them they couldn't do it and then the marshals say they didn't really have the personnel to handle that kind of crowd. But at that time that's when my wife started having troubles. But it should be I believe like Craig say that if we paying you anything whether you a sheriff or a police if you can go work Walmart if you can go work Migra if you can center if we're paying you and you a part of the city you should be up to it. Not saying that we can't or we just choose not to cuz every day we get stuff from the police and the sheriff. They they want raises and overtimes. Well the people trying to give you money. So we trying to give you money. Why not work it? Because if you call as a business owner, you have so many times to call the police before you get cited and have to come up from the alcohol review board saying you getting a complaint. And that complaint is whether you called or somebody else called. So if you liable from somebody two blocks away and you just calling to ask them to move, that's a legal complaint on you as a business. I don't know how many you get, but after so many, they can take your alcohol license away because you're trying to take care of what they tell you, you are

forced to take care of. But we never had a problem when we had that sheriff car sitting up front because all people want to do when they see authority, they will leave. But if they don't see it, they going to hold and pack up everywhere they go. And then if you call on it, you can be subject to getting in trouble for calling trying to prevent the issue. you can be in front of the alcohol review board for making that same call. And if you can come for the call, you should be able to come to prevent because how many cops calls they had out there at one time, I don't know the number. They say it was a numerous amount. So that mean they was accessible to that call. So why not pay somebody just to be out there?

And that's and that's a discussion that that we need to have. The thing everybody's scared of them calling because if you call too many times you going to be in front of a gallery board anyway just for you calling to say hey we need you to go take care of this and I boost the street and I'm at panorama that's a far line but when you call because you heard the trouble yourself now you could be loud you Mr. Bible yeah I'm through

Mr. Oh yes. I just wanted to bring this back. Um this is this is a part of the previous council, but I think the problem that we're really having is the fact that we never addressed the problem at hands. And to be proactive, the problem at hands was we kind of pointed the finger at everybody. LCPD said, "Hey, this should be the sheriff." The sheriff said it should be LCPD. Somebody said it should be the marshall instead of us setting a mandate and say, "Hey man, your job is to protect and serve." And I get it. is outside the city limits, inside the city limits. But if we gonna talk about entertainment, we got to have some equity in it, too. And the equity is no matter if I'm at Cowboys or Panorama, if I'm at KPC Hall, if I'm inside, if I'm in in Lake Charles and I'm governed by LCPD, the sheriff's office, whoever, as a taxpaying constituent, I should be able to hire security. And if the problem is is that if we say well nobody wants to do it then we almost gota I don't want to say force people to do it chief but at the same time I agree kind of not not being redundant on what Mr. Bilbo said but if we saying we going to work all these other events how can we pick and choose which ones we don't want to work that's not fair to the business owners it's not fair to the promoters that's not fair to the citizens that we here to protect and serve. So, I'm just saying at the end of the day, I think we started those conversations on the last council. We met with several bar owners I know along Ryan Street and different areas like that. For some reason, those places tend to not have as many issues. And so, sometimes that's where the narrative comes and it feels like it's very selective on when we have issues and where we have issues because at the end of the day, I know we've had some issues on Ryan Street. If they go to the parking lot across from some of these other venues, will we shut them down? And again, I wasn't there, so I can't speak on what actually happened, but at the same time, it seems to be a same narrative being portrayed that, hey, when it's a certain group of people, the event is going to get shut down. So, if I'm trying to make money, I'm trying to be an entertainment business or I'm trying to be a bar owner, whatever it may be, it seems like I'm subjected to certain criticism or certain, you know, my event might be shut down because of

where I'm at or what I look like. I'm not saying that's the situation, but it seems like that's what's being portrayed. And and you're right. Whatever we do, it's got to be something that's proactive for public safety, but it's got to be applied consistently across the board. And and again, I think Oh, I'm sorry. No, no, go ahead. No, go ahead.

I think again when we had that meeting, we had a series of meetings with several uh establishments. We kind of met a couple times. We even met at the civic center a couple times. Um but we never came to nothing set in stone. It was a lot of people just seeing a lot of things that sounded great, but again, it kind of quiet down in the city. Nothing was really happening. Everybody thought that everything was okay, but we never just said, "Hey, this is how we going to protect the community." And so I just feel like if we come back to the table again, let the meetings be intentional, be meaningful, but at the same time, let the constituents have some input as well. Like collaboration is key because sometimes we see things from the government side that they may not see from their side. And I I'll be the first person to say I'm not an expert um on either side, not on the law side, not on the entertainment side, but I just feel like collaboration is key. And maybe we just meet each other halfway. Um, but I understand that it's it's barriers to overcome on both sides.

And and I think you're right. I think there's the you got the uh the businesses and the promoters perspective of what they're dealing with and then you got the law enforcement what they're dealing with and you got the public sector. So, I think we do need to and it's time for that dialogue to start because we're we're a growing city uh and a lot of people need to get out and and let off some energy and and and also we need to figure out ways to when when we do have uh these types of activities happening that one place instead of letting that migrate. Uh look, I maybe we need a patty wagon or something to just shut that down, you know. But either way, there's some solutions out there. We just have to work them through.

Mr. Pand Chief, you mentioned something about a booklet. What? What was that?

So, we put together a uh a guide for alcohol serving establishments that will kind of be a quick reference for the owner, the manager, the operator, employees to just be able to look up ordinances real quick so they can find out, you know, real real fast if they could if they're going to run a foul of the law. Uh, and we just recently put that together. uh we've given them over to occupational licensing so they have copies of them. So as people come to the alcohol review board to get renewed, get their permits renewed. They'll be given them out. But I have some copies. Uh I know I know somebody in the print shop. So I'll get some extra copies made and if each of you would like a copy, I'll happily share them with you.

Appreciate that, Chief. Yeah. Maybe some of the business owners can now that they know that available they can come get it. Certainly. Certainly. our neighborhood police officers out business owners, haven't we? Mr. I think we've given a lot of those out to the business owners. We've already started giving them out. That's right. We started doing that. I think the the main issue that'll make a quick solve is that uh said you got a place of business and it's open from 12:00 in the morning till 9:00. Well, after 9:00, if you and them people parking lot without permission, you lotterying. There's no reason you be in their place of a parking lot where you hanging out in karate where they should come better come out there and give citations, right?

And you should give them a time frame when the police come out there. Are you going in or you getting off these people property?

If they don't have a no trespassing sign, you can park, but you should be quickly. Are you going in or you getting off these people property? If you're not going in, I'm citing you. You're not just hanging out sitting on calls playing music. If we going to make a rule, we got to abide by the rule. If you out there playing music, you had no intention on going in because you sitting out there standing outside your car with music. So if we if we do it right and punish the people who's actually doing wrong, it'd be an easier fix because you know it's like anywhere when they was when I was a young man and we hung out the civic center, it was a time frame that we could be at the civic center uh Easter Sunday, you had a time frame that you can be out there and after a certain time frame when that was over, they start giving citations. So you knew y'all what it was 8 9:00 you had to go. But if we out at Averson's or we at the old telephone place AT&T and we just parked out there, you shouldn't be there. AT&T closed the Ason's Oak clothes and we should start giving tickets,

right? And that will prevent them from even going because they going to say, "Well, they might not be there, but they going to pass by. When they pass by, they coming to sight tickets cuz you see them out there. You make around the corner, they ain't got no corn left. You're not going in." And we got to prevent the hanging, not what's going on. It's the outside stuff because most of the time these people control what's in. It's hard to control them when they outside. Thank you, Chief. Thank you, Jamal Bale. Can I Oh, Mr. Weatherford, I'm sorry. Well, we can't really I understand if if say the closed, you can have no parking between that, but that's really a private issue, correct? You can't they have to be called by the private property owner. Yeah.

Yes. But but but we can enforce if they have no trespassing sign and they call we can cited for lottery. Yeah. Okay. So that I think that makes it's difficult to do. I guess it's difficult to do because a lot of cases is when they're open because I know there's um it's happened. It used to be my district now as Matt, but I know that there's some some of the bars along Ryan Street have had that issue where they people are in the parking lot, but they have zero intent of going in the property. And I know it's difficult. Um, you know, we're enforcing the law, but

we're not private security either. So there's kind of a I don't want to say slippery slope, but there is could potentially be an issue especially when they're during open hours. You know, are they lauing or are they going to but certainly if they're there if if they're there at 4:00 in the morning and the business is closed and you got no trespassing, I think that's something that we can do. Right. Mr. Let you know you called my name, but it was mispronounced and so I don't think I I responded. But last name Chesson. No, I ain't got to you yet, Ryan. Coming up. Thank you. All right. Jamal Bell. Jamal Bell, 3200 Admiral Nitz.

Can you talk into the mic, please, sir?

Jamal Bell, 3200 Admiral Nitz, Lake Charles, Louisiana. I'm a resident of Lake Charles. And I just want to bring attention to the gap that many of us feel. Uh there's limited spaces for 20 and 40 year olds to go in our community right now. And when people ask what is there to do in Lake Charles, often the answer is the casino or night life. But I feel like we're looking for more than just going out and partying and having a good time. We're looking for opportunities to grow, connect, and you know, be seen more than just out at a bar or at a club. Uh to begin addressing this, I would love to I would love for the city to host a young professionals meet and greet so that you know, you can speak directly with your constituents as well as members to just see what's on their mind. I know that's something really simple and small, but it could also be very impactful. Uh, as well as I am the a board member for the Lake Area Regional Business Chamber. I do put on events. I would love to work with the city to put this on. So, just give me a call and uh we can work something out.

Thank you for your time.

Before you leave, I want to point something out of what you just said and I post this frequently. Tuesdays is our jam session. If you got issues, whether you're 20, 40, 60, this is the place to come and address it. I'm not saying we can't do what you're talking about because I get what you're talking about. But I want to encourage those 20 and 40 year olds to come out, voice their opinions in this setting where you can talk directly to the mayor and his administration, directly to the council, and we can resolve some issues. But it's hard for us to fight social media and all these different opinions because a lot of things that that are put out like Chief said, they're not accurate. I'm not saying in these particular cases, but a lot of times what's being said is inaccurate information. And we can't spend our whole day trying to refute every post on social media or every criticism that's put out there. So, I encourage you to be the advocate, you know, like you said, for the group you have. Make it a business coming here every Tuesday, you know, and letting us know what we need to change or what we need to work on. We'd appreciate that.

Sure. Will. Thank you. Mayor, do we have a outlet to talk with the young adults about what he was talking about other than coming to the council? Uh, no. We've we've had different things like with with business uh type things, Fusion 5, different different organizations will invite invite us to go and we have open t open talks. So, we've been pretty transparent about that. But uh and and sometimes the uh the business of the council takes up a lot of time, but I'm I'm always open when people want me to talk about how to make our city better. I think that's

especially the younger people because I think they have some very innovative ideas. I think he got a good idea that if we could somehow capture some input, I'd like to sit in and just listen at what that age group is even thinking about, let alone uh I mean uh where we have a community talk time, you know. Um I don't know exactly how to set that up, but but we've actually brought in I mean high schoolers. We'll bring in high schoolers and they'll sit in the but he's talking about from 20 to 40. I want to figure out what they thinking. But but it it don't necessarily have to be one particular issue. Yeah. Just a community talk. And

I think what the mayor is saying there is a plan a format in place what they've been doing with high schoolers that we could do with the 20 to 40 year olds. we just bring them in here and and have a a good talk about the city and and and and you know and there's some very innovative thinking going on out there that that really help I encourage you to follow up with the mayor and let me know I want to be in on that your followup. Okay. All right. Mr. Ryan Chesson.

Good afternoon council. Uh my name is Ryan Chesson. I just acquired the building at 720 Ryan Street. Um your address, name and address for the Yes. Ryan Chess on 720 Ryan Street. Okay. Sorry.

Um so I just acquired 720 Ryan Street, which was the old Crystals downtown. Um I this is now my seventh venture inside of Cali Parish storefront wise. Um I left I was two doors down at 316 Pujo and I left that about two years ago. Um saw the growth here that you guys were doing with the lakefront and um the sports complex and we wanted to be a part of it. So we acquired that. We plan to open in June. I'm not going to beat the dead horse on what happened too much on Sunday. Um, however, I left I was in the model process of remodeling my building on uh Sunday afternoon, the 9:00 hour, and I made my way down to Mr. Ecker's place at Panorama, and I was greeted by uh Colton Shakes Snider, who owns the Velvet Room. Um, I'd like to say my family is my my stepdad just retired from LCPD 25 years as captain over patrol. I respect those guys um very well. Um but I was greeted by Officer Ross and Colton and um he asked me what I had in my cup. I was walking with a styrofoam Coca-Cola cup and I said, "I've got a uh neutral seltzer in it." And he said, "Well, you're breaking the law." And I said, "Breaking the law?" I said, "I can't open carry down the road." And he said, "No, it's you can't. It's a city ordinance." And so called the mayor's office today, got that ordinance, and it it actually is one. Um, so there's a concern and and I'd like you guys to discuss it, but you've got Dave at Luna, you've got Jay, you've got Colton at Velvet Room, you got myself, you've now got Five Iron Coming, you got the sports complex. It appears that whether that be Lake Charles police or that be the city allowing constituents when they choose, whether it be Marty Gro or a pub crawl or an event that's put on that you can commute down the road with an alcoholic beverage. But when police show up, they can choose when they want to enforce that or make that the jurisdiction of, hey, we're going to You can't do that. You're breaking the law. Um, again, respect their decisions, but I think that there needs to be some type of alter to that

that ordinance. um where we can get around that. The other thing was Officer Ross, I wa I I witnessed them shut it down. There was three black females sitting outside on a chair and they were laughing. Um and it was equivalent to about six people gathering in a restaurant. And he said, "You see, it's why we're shutting it down. That's that's uh um disturbing the peace." And as a someone that's investing this money in a bar downtown, if I'm being told that that three females laughing is disturbing the piece and that they could be cited, it's extremely concerning to me investing this money here that just extreme. I I couldn't believe it. I said that's there's no piece of disturb. Um last thing, let me stop you for a second. You need some extra time.

Yes. Please uh vote to give them uh two more minutes. Please, please vote. Yeah, it's broke. All those in favor, raise your right hand. All right.

Thank you, council. Um, that's concerning to me as an investor here downtown. Um, I I think that there are ways and I believe that you guys will make it right and there are ways to do that. Um, the last thing I will say is, I don't know if you guys know, you may how many businesses are right here on a twob block radius, but it's over 35 and there's four public park well there's four parking lots. one being public where these constituents were parked on Sunday night. They were parked on public property, not on private property. Um the city police, in my opinion, if there was a problem inside, they would have went inside first. Instead, they went to the parking lots and then they shut down not only Panorama, but they shut down the neighboring business as well. My concern is if there's a problem in this parking lot, again, there's only four to support 35 businesses. If there's a problem here, are you going to shut down all 35 businesses? and why did you go to this parking lot first if the problem was inside? Um, that's something that can be handled internally. I don't owe an explanation, but as an investor, it's extremely concerning when the city is dumping this much money, 16 million at Luna Live that you're about to build a restaurant and and this is what's going on, nothing further.

Thank you, Mr. Chesaw. Thank you. Any any questions for Mr. Ches? Appreciate you. Thank you. Miles Brown.

How much time? 6 minutes. You sure? Cuz they had a guy that 6 minutes. I called the name and it wasn't You didn't read it properly. Okay, Mr. Brown, start your six minutes. I'm going give you It's not five minutes. Start your time and I'm going give you what you need.

All right. It's amazing how I get treated like this. Miles Brown 10204th Avenue. Um, first foremost, I do want to thank you, Council President, for uh giving me the advice on doing the Freedom Information Act on the Sports Complex. I got some very good information, some answers that I was uh trying to get. Um, I also looked at the uh documents that you referenced about the Fitz and Rider and the application. So, I was able to see that and it was very well detailed. But also, uh, what I do find amazing too is I brought this up two weeks ago and then here you are, uh, just recently asking the council to do an extension on the sports complex. So, I don't know what came from that, but I did bring up those sentiments and I just find it amazing. But I also want to say that from the city, I got some information on the uh, sports complex as far as on Lakeshore Drive. And uh correct me if I'm wrong, but I got this saying that they're still waiting approval for the application on the sports complex on one leg short drive. Now, if that's the case, this is not uh consistent what was said in prior meetings about it being approved verbally. So, is there someone that can uh for clarity purposes on give me exactly what's the status of the sports complex being approved on One Lakeshore Drive? I think we've already we we've addressed that over and over again. The Office of Community Development, which is the the state uh persons that grant the monies out have said that the they that the um the new location, they are okay with it, but they want to approve all the projects at once. So, if you're looking for a written approval, they're not going to do it one by one. But they did tell us that the the relocation was acceptable.

Okay. So based off of what what we're just saying, there's nothing in writing that says it right now that's been approved. It's just off of someone's word. Well, if the state is the ones that's granting the money, I mean, I think their word is good as gold as far as I'm concerned.

Yeah. But they just and and here's I have a solution to that because I know you've been asking for some documentation for a while and I get that that y'all want to do u y'all wait till they give all the things at once. But to me, uh, to me to make this all, uh, good, is there something that y'all can get like a send them like a email just confirming that it's been verbally approved? I saw the city would have to do just to email whoever said it's been verbally approved, say, "Hey, uh, can you confirm the conversation that the sports complex is approved on one Lakeshore Drive?" Would that be difficult for the city to do?

Mr. R, I could tell you the the state the they do not operate that way. I mean, they've made it pretty clear that they're they're not going to jump through hoops for anybody that that they're going to make one that's a total of $58 million that's sitting out there. They're going to approve 58 million. They're not going to approve one project at a time. Yeah. I I just asked if you could just email. That's all. Just just confirm the conversation. They may not answer, but at least you email them asking. Not going to do that. Oh, okay. That's fine.

I'm not going to do that. Just curious. They make it a lot easier. um when you do a loan application, they just give you a confirmation. They may not give you the loan, but at least you have some confirmation in the meantime. I just figured it would be easy just to do that. Um but that's pretty much what I had on that particular issue. Um, next thing I wanted to bring up, I uh noticed for quite some time with the city of Lake Charles, what seems to happen is that you identify a problem, people like to deny it, try to discredit you or make condescending remarks, and then once they realize behind closed doors what you're saying is true, they'll finally fix it, but then all of a sudden they'll go back to doing the same thing that you had a problem with. So, um, here's I have an issue now where a few weeks ago I commended the legal department for, uh, making improvements on public records, but it seems like it's going back to what it was and actually a little bit worse. So, if you don't mind, can you pull up the video, video one, please, that I uh, gave you on the jump drive. And also, I I got copies for you. So, if you don't mind, Mr. Bilbo, if you can have a copy and just give the rest to your members on the council. It has volume, so you know, there's just there's certain laws to it where it needs to that's what I'm saying. If they make a copy that way saying acknowledge, look, we have it. That way, if anytime it gets lost or or missed or anything, we can say, look, here's the copy. here's the receipt that y'all got it. That way we can see, okay, why is it taken over five business days or why has been, you know, there's just there's certain laws to it where it needs to be some type of acknowledgement. That way we can be both on the same page.

An acknowledgement is not required by the law, but that's all part of what I'm looking into. Okay. Yeah. Well, not really, but we just going to go with what he had to say then. Two weeks later.

All right. I was looking for it. It's three business. Acknowledge. Acknowledge.

Yeah. So, you see, your city attorney likes to make up these things and then y'all believe them. But then a lot of times I got to keep a straight face and be like, "Well, this is what we paying for." And here we are now where I'm still not getting acknowledgments on my request even though that's state laws and they need to be abided by. And it's not only just that. I'm also also getting where my requests are getting rejected. Now we already understand that you have to have it legible. It has to be discernible. It has to be in English. But there's no state law that requires you to put it on a certain form. That is a policy within the state uh the city of Lake Charles. Now I don't know why the city of Lake Charles keeps doing this. I've gone on my way to explain to the legal department, but no one seems competent enough to understand these laws. But whenever I try to bring them up, I'm seen as the bad guy. But I'm just trying to ask you as council that all took an oath to the constitution that first amendment rights are being violated. So what needs to get done for your city attorney to get educated on making sure that my requests are not getting denied?

You saying your requests are being denied? Yes. What's the reason on the uh the supply? I I have I have no idea because all I'm doing I'm putting on I'm typing it up. I'm even writing it in legible in English. There's no explanation when they deny it. They're just denying it. They're saying that we're not you have to put it on a particular form and that's not state law. You can say but you just said if the city wanted to require that the city could. That's a policy. Policy is not law. Okay. But if the city requires it that that's what it does, right? Policy is not law sir. So in state laws, state laws allow you to put it on any form as long as it's legible and discernable. So whether you guys may want to put it on the particular form that you want, that is your preference. But your preference do not trump people's rights.

Okay. Let me ask you something, Mr. Brown. If you really want this information, what is so hard about putting it on the form? Because I would like to exercise the right. So you just want to put it on a different paper. I would like to exercise the right. Yes. Okay. So, just like when someone says you can't film in here, guess what? People have the right to film in here. Okay. And you're going to show it.

And that's the same way. Yeah. I've been trying to show it to the legal department, but no one sees competent. I've even tried to contact his law office cuz they tell me to call the law office instead of going to the legal department, and no one answers. So, I have to come up here and I have to come up here with a straight face and pretend like I already don't know the answer. But, I do know the answer. But I have to in front of you to show you that my rights are being violated or other people's rights are being violated. There's nothing in the law that states that you have to put it on that particular form as long as it's legible and discernment. Do you have the paper? That's the paper that you was denied. Well, no. This is just an example just showing it's coming from your city attorney saying there's no particular form. What paper? What were you denied on? I'd like to have

multiple requests. Yeah. I have I can send it to all your emails. Okay. If you don't mind and I think I do have most of your emails, so that's not an issue. and I could just send it to you. And um last but not least, um like I said, I've noticed quite some time where uh you know, wait, hold on. How much time was that? You've been past all what you had. Okay. Just I just want to make sure, but I'm going to give you some more time to finish.

Yeah, cuz this is the last thing. I noticed quite some time, you know, I have to come up here with a straight face and people want to make condescending remarks, people want to interrupt me, all kind of stuff like that. make up lies. But I just want to say um you know it's not until behind closed doors people say realize what I'm saying is true. But it's starting to become a trickle down effect where when they see some of you say little disrespectful things, condescending remarks, it trickles down to other employees. And I've noticed even just last week I had a city official. I was trying to bring up something to him and he had to use vulgar comments at me. That was me all because and I told you then

interrupt me. I I can interrupt you. I'm not I don't know if they scared of you. I told you then I didn't care what you were saying and I was having a conversation with somebody. You are rude. You believe that everybody have to abide by you and listen to this all day long. When I walk out this office, I'm Tommy Bilbo. And Tommy Bilbo told you that day I didn't care what you were saying. Mr. Bilbo. No, I told him I didn't care what he was saying. You can you can film me. I don't care what you saying sitting here. I don't care what you're saying. Okay. So you can whoever you want, they can listen. Man, you a joke. Mr. Bilbo. Okay, Mr. Bilbo. Man, I'm tired of listening to this dude. Go ahead. Finish. All right. Well, I guess that kind of proves you I prove my point.

Mr. Brown, talk to M Mr. Brown, I'm asking you to finish your statement. I'm trying, but he keeps interrupting me, so I interrupt you. Okay. Okay. Mr. Bilbo, let Mr. Bilbo Mr. Bilbo, let him finish. Let him finish, please. So since there's unprofessionalism, incompetence, and lack of accountability. Hold on. Stop. I'mma stop you right here, Mr. Brown. Yes.

You sit up here and you criticize us and you demean us. The same thing you coming up here complaining about, you do on a weekly basis. Now, I'm going respect you because you're a constituent, and I'm letting you talk, but don't do the same things that you're complaining about. You done sat up here and said the law, the attorney is incompetent. You said we're incompetent. Those are the words you used. Am I correct? I just used incompetent one time. It doesn't matter. One covers it all. I'm asking you use it more than once. The same thing you want from us, give to us. Yes, council president. All right. So, the last question I have is since some of these things will continue to keep happening. Is there a process for citizens to file complaints on city employees and city uh officials? Yes, it is.

And what is that process? You have to go to the legal department and file your complaint. It's not the HR department. Not human resources. Human resources for employees that work here. Okay, that's what I'm asking. And I say you you want to file on us. You are complain. Go to the the legal department. File the complaint. It's not the human resources department I go to. Go to the legal department and file the complaint. Is anyone can confirm that it's the legal department and not the HR? Just out of curiosity because I was told something different. So that's why I'm just trying to confirm. I if you have a internal complaint, we go to HR. Okay.

If you're filing an exterior complaint against somebody, let's say you filing a complaint against me, I would urge you to go to the legal department. Is there another place, Mr. Stes, that he can file? No, he can file the legal department. Okay, that's fine. I appreciate y'all time and y'all have a good day. Any other questions or comments? This meeting is ajourned. Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. No, the meeting is not adjourned. Mr. I I don't want to dispand Mr. Michael McGawan. There was one other card. Please come up. Watch out, Mr. Mr. McGowan. I'm sorry about that. That's all right. That's right. State your name and address for

Michael McGawan, 306 Bour Street. And actually, this is like a perfect time off of what we just come off of of what I come up here to talk about. Um, I believe in respect, relationships, representation. We don't have that right now. I feel like we're losing that. And what I wanted to talk about was with the police situation was is that we don't have a lot of representation in Lake Charles for people that look like myself. And because we don't have the representation, we lose respect, right?

We don't have respect. We don't have the relationships. If we don't have the representation, we need officers in the community building the relationships. And that's what they're lacking right now. Because when you have relationships with people, then you get respect, right? How many of y'all have relationship with this man right here? Probably don't have a relationship with him. You don't probably don't know a lot about him, a lot about what he does, where he lives, where he come from. He probably don't know a lot about you, where you've been, where you come from. So then we lose respect for each other. We're living in a time right now where respect is at an all-time low. We all see that every single day. And we all want respect, right? You want to respect as an individual, as a man. You can't be condescending to people, but then demand respect. You get what you give.

I always did believe that if you want somebody to treat you right, start by treating them right. Then they'll treat you right. And if they don't, at least you taught them something and maybe seeing it repeatedly, they'll become accustomed to treating people with respect. We're losing respect for each other. And it's just getting ridiculous. We need our police officers in these neighborhoods talking to these kids, meeting these kids, explaining who they are, building relationships with them. So then when they see them out there in the parking lot, I can say, "Hey, Donna. Hey, Donnie. Hey, Donovan. Hey, whoever it is, you know, so that we can build those relationships. We're not we're losing that right now. And I think that that's the problem. The underlying issue is that the officers, if we don't have enough of them, we need them out there in the community building these relationships with these kids so that when they see them in the streets, they can have some empathy and we don't have that right now. He was talking about he asked him what he was drinking. I've seen it all the time. We see people walking around doing Marty Gro, Chuck Fest, alcohol in the hand. But then another event goes on and we don't want that out there. Oh, now it's a city ordinance because then it feels like you're targeting people. You're targeting groups of people and that's the problem. So I think if we can't get more officers out there, we can't hire them. Let's at least get them to start going to some of these schools, have building relationship with these kids, going to some of these events, you know, maybe offduty officers and just talking to the community so that when we have incidents, it doesn't feel like our kids or teenage, our youth are being targeted. They already feel like they don't have anything to do and they don't have anything to do. My mom always told me, uh, idle hands or the devil's workshop, you don't have no time to let down. You can't go anywhere.

You need extra minute. Yes. I appreciate it. Please vote.

You need some You need somewhere where you can go and let down your hair, blow off some steam, you know, after you've had a bad day. You don't have that nowhere. You know, they can't go anywhere. So then when they get out and they've been cooped up for so long, they got all this energy, things happen. And I think that that's what we're doing. We need to create a safe space for these kids to go create events that's outside of going to the bars, going to the clubs, do some things. We just had, who was it? the um Gary Owens. It was a very diverse crowd that was there. No incidents, but then we don't have anything else that is like that that brings a diverse crowd. I don't want to go see um some country sing. I'm not a country guy. You know, some people aren't rap guys, some people aren't hip-hop, R&B people, but we're not doing something that represents everybody. I want to feel like I've come home. I've been in LA for 22 years. My dad had a stroke. I'm back here taking care of him, but we don't have anything to do here. here. I'm stuck at home just with my wife just watching TV all day cuz there's nothing to do, no culture, nowhere. And so we need to build that space to where everybody is represented. We all have relationships with both sides of the community. Then we can build that respect for each other because that's what we're losing. We don't know each other. And I think that if we can get back to having community things that feel diverse, that feel like we want everybody to be included, I think we'll start bringing down some of this temperature that we see out there, you know? So when you see me in the community, my name is Michael McGawan. Speak to me. Introduce yourself. I want to know something about you. So then when I see you in the community, that's so and so. So we can stop these buys. Jay Edgar was here earlier. Great guy. But if a lot of people saw Jay Edgar that look like me, they would think he's probably racist or he don't like black people or he don't like

men is expired and he's a great guy, you know. So, we just need to do better with relationships and and meet each other in the middle. Relationships and um representation is what I want people should focus on. Appreciate you, Mr. McG. Thank you. Anybody else got anything? All right, just real quick back on um I think you made some good comments. Some of I think it's societal too. Mhm.

Um, people spend Well, this is in a pin spend way too much time on this and I do too. I mean, I'm 62, almost 62. I probably, but I I think I'm out and about and I'm accessible to people. But, um, it is a catch 22. I understand that. But back back on the the issue with bars and the part, I think that that we need to do something there. I don't know what exactly that is, but um I know a lot of cases disturbing the peace. I mean, I had someone talk about a bar where there's, you know, indiscrim They're not people shooting people because we're not going there and picking up bodies, but I assume they're shooting guns in the air and stuff like that. And that certainly is disturbing the piece. Um, and I know we're short-handed, but but a lot of those things do fester and cause issues. But but I think it's it's it's pretty burdensome, especially say in a downtown area. How can someone I'll tell you that owns Panorama be responsible for something that happens down at OBS and vice versa? I mean, some people just have to take responsibility for their actions,

right?

And it's it's it's I understand it's difficult, but it's it's very I had forgotten that we had that perimeter. And like Mr. Bilbo said, especially in a compact area like downtown, I know that there's communities that have, you know, within a certain say in the downtown district, I don't know what those boundaries are. Yeah, that that it's okay to have open container because I mean you may take a beer from hey I did it when I was young you know you may take a beer and go you know walk from Lunas to Panorama you know and I think those are some of the things that we can understand the glass container a lot of places you need to put in a cup because the cup's not dangerous right

you start breaking beer bottles not not over people I'm just talking you just put them down on the ground, they break and people cut their feet. So, yeah, I think there's some things that we can do. Um, and I know we do community policing. I don't know if every chief can talk to that, but I knew that I do know that we do community policing and we have neighborhood watches and I know that's one avenue. I think we do have officers that go in the schools and and I know we have they do

resource officers. I don't know all what they they do. Um, and Mr. Maybe Mr. Harvey, I'm sure he knows I know he knows a lot more about that than I do. So, I do think we have officers present in the schools and I assume that part of that is to develop that relationship because um, but I think there were some good ideas brought up here and I think the police um, probably feel the same way. It's just that with being short-handed, it's just difficult to do some of the things that you would like to do when you're putting out fires all the time. So,

yeah, I agree. We we do a lot of the things that that the gentleman spoke of and and we used to do a lot more of them. We just don't have quite the the people that we used to. We used to have 15 community police officers in our in our neighborhood patrol section and now we have one. So, we're just it's a it's a different environment now as well, but we're we're still trying to do all the things that uh that he's that he brought up. Uh but we're also not going out and and randomly shutting down bars either. We're not watching social media to wait for somebody to have an event. If if we're there, it's because your fund violated someone else's rights and they asked us to be there to help to help control the situation. So, we're not just randomly showing up at your party. We're there because somebody called us to be there.

Mr. Weatherford, I'm done. Anybody else? Thanks again, Chief. This meeting is ajourned again. We're about