City Council - Regular Meeting

20 26 2026 Madam Secretary please call roll. Miss Felter Mr. Fowl here. Mr. Lang. All right. We have a qu. Um has anyone heard from Miss Felter? Is she in route?

All right. All right. Item number one, to consider the mayor's proposed city legislative package for the 2026 reg regular legislative session and to review and report on proposals for public safety officers and to act relative to public safety operation and protection zones. Mr. Chair, um we have one bill in that package. The uh public safety zones uh is is not going to go forward. We were asked to present these uh just to give you some background on that first. We we worked hard on it. Go ahead.

So these bills aren't going to be No, the the this one the public safety officer is but not the buffer zone bill, but I can tell you what the buffer zone was about and what happened or I can just drop it since it isn't going to go forward. Yeah. Let's talk about uh you talk about both of them. Okay. So the the buffer zone bill was something that we were approached about and I don't think it was filed. I think it's just the advertisement even before pre-file. Mhm.

But my my idea about it was if when once we were approached that and this was before the Clinton incident that just happened that I had taken note that at parades uh the legislature had passed a law a couple a couple or three years ago that said firearms could be prohibited in parade routes within the route etc. They came back and amended that and stated that only if you're on the float in it can they be prohibited, which meant firearms could be held and used by everybody on the periphery of the parade. Our issue with that is anyone that carries a firearm because they have a credential to do it. anybody that open carries even. We weren't too concerned about it other than that kids in a backpack or older folks with backpacks, anybody else could be there at the parade and our officers can't distinguish good guys and bad guys. It's a problem.

This all happened before the Clinton incident and now there's been quite a few since. So you you mentioned Clinton Clinton, Louisiana had a martyr parade and a lot lot of shots fired, some injur serious injuries. It was just now just recently. Yeah. Okay.

And so, you know, we we were approached from law enforcement with it. Uh I don't want to get in everybody's politics. I'll just say I'm a I understand and believe in the Second Amendment. I like Conlaw. You do too, Malcolm. And I wrote the I worked on it and I wrote it in a way to be narrowly tailored absolute compelling interest. This is how strict it was. The chief each time there would be an event would have to declare that vent event and the reasons for it that he may needed. The buffer zone would have to be drawn. We gave a 48 hour due process hearing where anyone could come and say I want to carry a gun. I'm allowed to. Here's why. And we made it civil only where you can just be removed if you abuse it, appeal to us and come back and have your right. No criminality. When the legislature started working on it, they made it a misdemeanor. They did some things and then I think the NRA jumped in. I just wanted you to know that was never our intent. We wanted the most strictly construed bill possible because we know that cities are having a problem with this with this. Lo and behold, we had already done this. the Clinton issue happened and now two or three cities since. So our idea is not about restricting all guns at parades. It's about giving our police a tool to be able to have the cause or reasonable suspicion or cost to walk up and check things. Not not keep people who lawfully can have guns, etc. there. The NRA, I assume, takes a pretty hard view that everybody should be able to do it no matter what and you shouldn't have any bills. Uh the folks that that had approached me to do it then wanted to not do it and and I I figured

I didn't know how you you were going to work that out. Look, when when I was when I was approached, I was like, "Guys, are y'all sure you're going to take a beating on this bill from from folks? you're not going to it ain't going to be that easy. But when the other incidents happen it, you know, people started to think, well, maybe there's, look, we're not the only city. Every city would have tacked on to this legally. How do we get past those hurdles?

Well, the first part is they had a decent one before they made it where it's only the people on the actual we're not worried about people with guns that are riding the float. That's not it's it's in these buffer zones right up between the gates, etc. So, I I just wanted to come and tell y'all that's what it was. It ain't going to happen. But I believe consistent with a very strict scrutinydriven view of the Second Amendment, there was a way to do this, right? I believe that sitting here, but I don't believe you you're going to get there. The NRA is too powerful of a lobby. So, uh

and and look, I would public we're kind of proud of the world. I think if somebody's kind of into that sort of review and second amendment stuff, they would read this and go, "Wow, that was pretty. got a whole bunch of ways to protect the due process of the gun holder, believe me. But it is designed to let them see someone that they may remember, man, that guy had a gun charge years ago. Maybe we need to walk. You can't do any of that right now with the way it is. So, that's a problem. But, but if you see a person with a bulge, they can stop. No, sir.

Not not with their new ch No, sir. with the new I hadn't looked the new a a gun outline you can do nothing about because they have the right to possess it. You'd have to have independent cause that that is an actual felon in possession that you knew you had arrested and had convicted. You'd have to know him. That's James. He's a felon in possession. I'm going to get him. Other than that, you ain't as a result of the recent the recent one. So, we were just trying to ratchet. We weren't even trying to go back to where it was, Malcolm. We were trying to go back to a whole new

Second Amendment friendly way to look at this. But I get it. I'm a big boy out. There ain't any real Second Amendment friendly way to look at it right now because the gun lobby sees any tack back as a slippery slope to not letting people have firearms. And I I just don't think you you you get anywhere. I think most people who are even very staunch second amendment folks had they read this and seen the presentation would have been okay that's reasonable. We we can see that. But I don't you're not going to get there. So that's that. But that's full disclosure. That's what happened. We didn't seek it. It came to us, but we were happy to work on it. And it came from conservative law enforcement. It did not come from a liberal anti-gun lobby. This came from law enforcement to us. So, uh, we've dumped it. We're not going forward. Uh, next bill is, uh, our officers. So, this is to, uh, address quite a few things, but the the first of which would be, uh, what are the ways to that some cities have thought about addressing police officer shortages because it is a national epidemic, uh, is to have other law enforcement added as force multipliers from other agencies. Uh our first deal in it was we short of being a police officer just to help force multiply in areas where they would not be needed at a full level would be to create the CSOS which we did and they are a great help. They are now coming under the the police department at the chief's recommendation. So that's working.

Who are the CSOS? Community service officers. So they go to parks and different things. They wear a uniform. They're trained, but they are not firearm bearsers, but they are trained to go and intervene and do things that would lead to the calling of an officer where the officer doesn't have to be at security at a park. These guys can do all that. You'll see them at our parades. They do have marked vehicles. Uh you will see them in the Masonic corridor and in the wherever there's a lot of parks, you're going to see them there all the time. Seems there daily.

Yeah, they're they're they're there all the time. They're doing a great job. The next thing is we already have quite a few postcertified. So we'll start with the charter. The charter says no law enforcement officer can police those words in the city of Alexandria unless they're postcertified. Uh the postcertification we now have Sam three four we have four firemen who are already postcertified. So they are arrest authority, gun toing authority, the whole thing. It gave us an idea that Sam has some guys. He doesn't like it because he knows we're going to pull them maybe to the department permanently. That's that's okay. He's full. They're not full. He can take it. Not full. Can't take it. So there are guys now uh in prevention especially that are really smart good guys and got they're out there and able to do this. So, it gave us the idea, let's create uh a legislative uh enactment and a council approved enactment that allows people to do a dual role. Basically, when these firemen are acting uh as police, they are under the authority solely of the chief of police, but their retirement, all of their other benefits stays with fire. And the bill is a very thoughtful, it has a full set of processes to make sure they're covered. The digest is this. To address police officer shortages, this bill establishes public safety officers in Alexandria who are specially trained and certified fire personnel allowed to perform both police and firefighting duties, thereby enhancing response flexibility and efficiency. PSOS would be overseen under existing civil service rules and required to meet comprehensive training standards for the dual role, including at minimum they have to be postcertified. Uh good thing is they're already under the same fire and police civil service board. So all that is easy because it's

the same board for any discipline. When they're under the chief, they were uh when they're acting as a police officer, they act uh at the direction only of the chief of police. When their discipline comes, it becomes a hybrid deal. There's

uh if they violate a police rule, obviously the police chief then starts the discipline uh and then it falls under Sam as the fire chief to handle it. But under their standard of their rule, but it gets handled on the discipline side of fire. And if there's any kind of discrepancy, the police chief being the police chief has absolute veto. Look, that guy can't work anymore. We don't doesn't matter if he barely did it or whatever, he's not going to be suitable. And that's how it works. Is this just for uh Alexander firefighters or are you open this up for other

Greatities? I did it as a local bill. Um we immediately were contacted a bunch of other cities think it's pretty innovative and I I think you're going to see some either tagging on and copycatting or you're going to see it next session. But uh it certainly occurs in other places in the US uh that probably don't have civil service. The unique part of ours was writing uh in those civil service protections. Um very detailed. For example, to be eligible to be a P PSO, you have to be uh in good standing with the fire department. You have to be authorized by the appointing authority to perform the police work. You have to have a full psychometric and other background like police. So fire uh they get matrix anyway already. So both fire and police already get our full psychometric evaluation. Um any extra things they would need past post we would ensure that they do and get uh they already do this. The postcy hat are already supporting our officers. This would allow more people to do it. I think we had a cut off on rank. What was the

captain level? Captain at the captain level. So you're getting What does that mean? Well, go ahead. So someone that would be uh such as a chief or district chief would not be allowed to to operate that. And the reason for that they have to go through the police academy. So by the time they age when they're at a district chief level, they may not qualify to go through the police academy. How do you feel about this legislation? It works for us. We're already doing it. He prop he he was part of proposing it to to cha to the chief and to me. Uh they're already doing it. This would make it clearer with the rules of how to handle issues that could come up.

So a captain I'm make sure I'm right. A captain's a sergeant police captain and fire is the equivalent of a sergeant and police roughly. Is that right? Roughly. Okay. So there's an age cut off. He got his top guys need to stay in the leadership they're in. But it's also they would be in an if they're at the level of that with him, they're already aging to a point where you wouldn't want to throw them into a different set of rigors and things that that these guys fresh out of an academy do. Also have some salary concerns when you're in those upper levels. All right. So in essence, these these firefighters would be beat cops. is that

they could do any they could do either one any role they'd be fully trained as police they would be the equivalent fully trained as a police officer in fact we think some of them are going to end up saying well okay maybe I'm going to think about it it's another reason not to make the rank high to not give that uh false set of incentives like man I don't know I'd like to start a career in police but I was already at this rank and fire this would be crazy to start over so we've been thoughtful about where you might come in and do that Mr. Could they I got a couple of questions. One, could they retire as a fireman and police? Yes, they would be in the fire retirement system.

Okay. The other question which we discussed is how are they going to be identifiable to the public as police officers rather than fire? Well, that's that's really just changing the uniform. Well, I mean, they will be uniformed in a that they will be clearly identified as police. Yeah. I I guess my concern is if you got a guy fighting or a person fighting a fire and then they see some crime during

No. Okay, good. Legitimate question. If you're not under designation to be used, you can't do it. But that's a great So, you can't be I'm a dual officer. I'm on a firefighting duty. Oh, I see that over there. But remember, right now there are people that are postcertified with arrest power. So if you're fighting a fire, you're postcertified and you see a crime at a level that particularly related to a fire or something else, you they can already do that. I I know for fire crimes, they can. No, they can arrest for they can arrest anything.

But I you know, but I can see a firefighter fighting a fire and you see a fire crime, that makes sense to arrest then and there, but if you see something else going on. So, but but so that's not going to h So if you're fighting a fire, you're in what's called firefight, meaning your duty is to put out a fire, you can't I if you see some other crime, a misdemeanor, something else, and you leave the firefight to do that, you're going to get in trouble for a host of other reasons. But you can do it already if you're postcertified. If you're post-certified, you could do that already. It would just be stupid, right?

Because you'd be violating a higher duty to put out the fire to do that. But if you're a firefighter who's postcertified and you're doing a firefight and you have the manpower and you see a major felony being committed, then that that is something we will train on. So, I guess my vision of this wouldn't they would not be riding a fire truck. They would come in to work. They would be assigned to the police. If the police are short that day, if they're not short, then I'll put them on a firet truck. They're not carrying a weapon on a firet truck. None of that. They are where they're put at. That's where they're going to be.

Yeah. If they're designated as PSO status, they're with police. They're subject to the police reign. So that guy comes in, if these two guys are over him, and they would be in in just about every case in every case, then they fall under them. All right. I know a lot of people a lot of firemen take have second jobs. So if they're not working working on almost Yeah. So So if they're not scheduled to work, they can be double dip in the and work the uh we we can we could work their schedule out. Yeah. Can another question. Can they do um security details like at Walmart or you know

so so they'd be eligible? We're not going to do that cuz we're going to give them first d cuz that's their bread and butter first. I was just curious. So the but the just to answer that too about I can't believe we didn't do this sooner is the real thing. I mean this is a perfect opportunity for firemen who already do other jobs. Why not have them if they're trained do the job where they're needed the most? Now mayor budgetwise how this it has no effect really.

No because of the attrition. Think about it. We're trying we're short on police. So you have all that available. Uh they come in and they just go up to that amount then go back to their pace. So it would never it would never be anything but budget positive for us. We if it's ever a budget problem doing this, it'll be a good day. All right, Mr. Green. Yes, sir. Uh Mayor and Chief, you said you had four persons u that are postcertified. I believe that's a fire prevention officers. Am I correct? That is correct. How does the union feel about this? Because once I got this electronic transmission, I went to research it and from what I'm hearing, the union is not for this. That's first I've heard of it. You

Okay. Yeah. We uh we've not heard that and there'd be no reason for them not to. They It's It's only a benefit for them. So, what document do you have, sir? Uh this came from the mayor's office. It was dated just the digest digest. So we are overseed but uh so I know when you said four so that's the fire prevention officers that's four. So if those four are occupied doing something you don't have any other police officers that are post I'm sorry firemen that are postcertified. Am I correct? That is correct. Right now right now

but remember Mr. Green the union I don't know who would say that. It doesn't make any sense. You can't be made to do like this is a choice of the person to want to be a PSO. So the the last thing the union can do is tell them you don't have the right to work. They have the right to work. So I don't know how that would make any sense. But madam reflect council lady felt rather. Yes. Thank you. All right. Uh mayor one other last thing.

Yes sir. The incentive that the city offered for police officers seemingly not has not been well received because you're having to incorporate this as a means of filling police officers. Am I could I wrong in saying that?

Can I respond? say that the offer that we're making is but one tool and that it would be an inaccuracy to assume that because you offered more pay, we would fill up because every city is offered more pay and not filling up because the reason people aren't being policed is a very multifaceted deal. uh they don't know this yet so I won't announce it tonight but they're they're about to so we're we're going to be we'll have our lowest people starting we'll be other than state police will be the most competitive there is so it can't be just money there has to be other things and that other those other things are quality of life the safety issues with the job unfortunately the public's feelings toward law enforcement at least around the co time and a little before and after changed. I think that's getting better. But those are all challenges to being police. Uh right now, this is just another tool like CSOS. We can't sit around and wait for the moment that you would have a full compliment because the best experts in the country tell me personally, you're not going to see that. So, what I have to do is keep coming up with ways to do force multiplication technology. this idea. All these are innovations that we're proud to offer because that's what you do. You innovate.

Chief Allen, did you have some comments? Yeah, I was going to say up in Michigan, they use these public safety officers. This is not a new concept that we just come up with. This is something that we've researched and looked at and actually it would be new in Louisiana and I think as the mayor said, you're going to see more cities fall in line with it. What's when you have the capability of providing EMS, fire or police officers in one person makes it easy to fill in when you're short.

And I hate to say this, but these guys are all living it. Police officers expected to be social workers, teachers, mental health. I mean, it's it's a having some of these guys there with that level of training isn't going to hurt them. Um, if anything, I would have thought the police would have complained over anybody else because they'd want to see just that. But these are just being filled jobs by other colleagues they know already in public safety. So, it it doesn't affect them. So, nobody is affected by this except that they're relieved of of uh of shortages, which which helps us all. All right. Mayor, do do you want this body to pass a resolution, sir? In favor, sir. I do, sir.

All right. Um, how can we add that to the agenda? I think a resolution uh by unanimous consent can be added because it doesn't have to lay over, but I could be corrected by Mr. G. It can be done by unanimous consent this evening or it can be moved to the All right. Next. I'd like for the chair to put it on tonight if he would if he would for me. Mr. Follow. How do you feel about that? Well, I'm absolutely 100%. Council Lady Felt, how do you feel about that? I support that for sure. The screen since I've been asking questions. I'm asking for your suggestion or your opinion. I've got issues with it, but we'll see. Mr. Bard, how you feel about it?

I'm good. Okay. Anyone else I'm I'm missing? Okay. Could I ask Mr. Green what your issues are? again talking to people without seeing who I spoke with. Uh they're not feeling comfortable with it. So, uh we'll see how it goes. All right. That's the first I've heard of. Yeah. I mean, well, I mean, I've had people say, "Man, why didn't you do this a long time?" Like I whoever's telling you that, I'd love to hear an objective reason cuz I promise I can punch a hole in it cuz there's just no reason not to do that. I think more firemen will become postcertified.

So So J, at the end of the day, if a bunch of firemen left where we're full, remember we're full at firemen. If they left to become policemen, those guys aren't bad. They're coming in at low rank. It's kind of then we go fill up. There's a waiting list to be firemen. So there's no loss to us. This is a conveyor belt of goodness that we need to pursue. I like that metaphor. Um, did they do you care to share any particular concerns they have with this? Is there anything specifically that they're worried about or not at this time? Okay.

Okay. Moving to the other legislation there that you would like to talk about.

Yes. And look, thank you all for the the cander and thank you too, Mr. Green. I understand, you know, change people are gonna say things and there's nothing wrong with that. That's what we're here to do. So, thank you for for all of the uh discussion. Uh on the next item, this is something that uh the chair of legal has worked on himself uh with us for some time. Current law is that housing ordinances for municipalities unless they have a population of 70,000 or more can only use their ALJs. What we've been working on, Mr. Lawane, if there's a danger to public health and safety. So, there's an what's called an emergency limitation. What we would do with the proposed law is expand the authority to the city of Alexandria to additionally enforce housing ordinances zoning etc. Right? All those things like that to encompass building codes, zoning, vegetation and nuisance as other municipalities already do 70,000 or above. There are also some under 70,000s that have already been allowed and have sought the same legislation. Monroe, Slidell, Derritter in central uh Louisiana. Aadia, St. Tam, Tangipaho, and West Baton Rouge Parish have it. The cities again are Monro, Slidel, Ditter, and Central. So, all of those are much smaller. They've already done it. We would like to do the same.

So, mayor, so mayor, let's put this in layman's terms. What would this proposed legislation do? Right now, we have moved toward having the ALJ system, the administrative law judges, so that we can move more uh we can get things torn down quicker, have a due process. You've already passed all that legislation. We went through that earlier, but we're hamstrung right now because it can only be used if it's a danger to public safety, some kind of emergency situation or severe blight or severe blight. severe that's emergent. This would allow us to use those for things other than that level of concern.

Give an example. Go ahead. Well, in terms of the building codes, uh there's, you know, a lot of structures that are in disrepair in the city, but don't rise to this level of being severely blighted, an imminent danger to public. Exactly. Um so,

um there are a lot of examples of course, but but sort of intervening allows us to prevent them from getting there. That's the problem is we always have to wait until it's so bad that it's fallen down or a fire hazard. And this lets you adjudicate same way they adjudicate now except you're going in front of an ALJ. You're going in front of an officer who's trying who's doing that. A lawyer, one of the people that we've hired to to adjudicate things. Additionally, it would hopefully alleviate some of that budgetary pressure. You know, currently the city spends mostly out of its general fund to do those tearowns. By getting a judgment of blight from the ALJ, that puts the onus back on them. Well, after a longer Yeah. a much longer property or compel them through through fines to do it themselves. And

um and additionally, the zoning violations currently those get brought to city court. That's the biggest problem. Uh it can be What do you mean by that? So, they're brought to city court. It's a criminal matter in city court. So, it's against the person. So against the property, all the due process is stacked against the purse instead of in rim against the property where we can get things done a lot better. And sometimes an LLC and you're bringing a misdemeanor charging LLC. It's just sort of an awkward venue for for property matters. Yeah. Mr. Fley, any any questions, comments?

Council lady Felter, you have any questions or comments? Uh my comments are just that I I think this will help like you said speed up the process and I think it'll be a good thing to make things go smoother and I I like what the mayor said about preventing things before they get that's from the chair to have the actual bill as it's currently drafted. I didn't have that until yesterday but I thought I'd give it to Malcolm to keep. What is it? That's the actual bill that the legislative guys the house drafted from from our work. So, if Malcolm has any questions or y'all do through him, y'all can get with me and we can talk about it. But that that's what we think is going to be the bill. Mr. Green, you have any questions?

Uh, would this also include businesses? Business places? Yes, sir. Yes. It says housing ordinances, but it's it's residential and commercial with Okay. So, it's commercially included as well. That's correct. And currently Go ahead. There are quite a few business commercial entities that are horrific throughout throughout the city, not just in one or two districts, but throughout the city. Okay. And Mr. Green, your point is very salient because that's really where the issue you're you're right on the that should have been said up front.

Yeah. And and I'll if I may add a a large reason why the uh community development department hasn't brought those many of those commercial buildings to be condemned by the city is the is a budgetary issue. Yeah. Just quite a bit more expensive to tear down either because of the way you're property Mr. Green like you're pointing out instead of having to the person in a court and doing all that this the incentives change. People want to get this done. Mr. Bori any comments? Um, do you want a resolution in favor of this? Mr. Chair, we would ask that you uh present that so that we could get it done today if we can. We'll see if the votes are there. All right. Any other matters?

No, sir. This meeting is a journ.

Good afternoon. The economic workshop economic workforce and planning development committees agenda February the 10th 2026 chairman Jules Green Chuck Powers on the committee and Mal chair are you find to hear from Mr. Christopher Massingale Massingale, president CEO of the Louisiana Central.

Good evening everybody. Thank you very much for the invitation council to have an opportunity to come introduce myself to you and reintroduce Louisiana Central. uh been on the ground now 113 working days mayor and it feels like a whirlwind and I want to say thank you to uh this community for welcoming me being so uh warm. It's great to to be here. Our charge is great but the opportunity I think is even greater. I'm excited about what I'm learning. I'm excited about what I'm doing. I'm excited about the task in front of us. I'm excited that I've been given the opportunity by my Lord and Savior to continue to do this work. It's very important to me and what we do helps pro improve communities, build lives, and create jobs. That's what we're all about. Uh the last 113 something days certainly uh has given me even greater focus. One of the reasons that I'm here is to reboot how we've been doing economic development not only in Rapage Parish, Alexandria and Pineville, but across the 10 parish region. This is a region in my belief that has tremendous opportunity. Uh this is a community that I believe that has tremendous opportunity. uh in the course of us initiating what I called our economic development road show going to all 10 parishes having a course of an opportunity really for me to to learn. It's been several years since I've had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time in central Louisiana. Uh I had the opportunity uh in the years past to serve as the federal co-chairman in the Obama administration uh running the Delta Regional Authority and I spent quite a bit of time during those eight years in central Louisiana and so it's great to get reconnected with these communities uh with our people here uh and I'm really grateful for that. you know, in

the course of that almost uh 25 to 100 miles, 70 different stops, when I launched our road show and kind of my vision of how we're going to reboot Louisiana Central at the RA Rapides Foundation annual meeting, one of the things that I put out there is like, look, in a 100 days, we're going to we're going to meet with a 100 business and stakeholders and leaders in a 100 days. Well, I'm proud to tell you that we've met with over 700

in 113 working days. Uh Kesha part of our team. She's been part of the coordinating uh team for the road show and does some tremendous work for us. Kesha, thank you for joining me here at the council tonight. I just want to really give you a sense of what I'm doing, what we're trying to accomplish, some highlevel stuff, and then obviously if you want to talk to me about strategy or things of that nature, we're certainly open to that. But the biggest reason that I'm so proud to have the opportunity to come and introduce myself to the council is to let you know that I'm here, that I've been learning, that I've been studying, that over the course of these 3,500 miles and these 70 stops and and over 700 uh engagement opportunities. It's given me an opportunity to get a real feel for the region. It's given me an opportunity to get reestablished and grounded here in Alexandria because Alexandria Rapage Parish is really our economic anchor for the whole region. This community supports over 7 billion dollars of our GDP. 64,000 jobs, over 163,000 people contribute to the economy of this area, helping to support a 15 billion dollar economy when you put all 10 parishes together. And I have learned a lot. Uh it still surprises me uh how negative we are on ourselves. Um, I can't begin to tell you how many times people stop me during during the transition, even when I've I've gotten here to say, "You're you're moving where you're doing what? You know where you're going?" To the point it actually started upsetting me. Councilman, I'm like, "Hold on a second.

Wait a minute. You must be talking about the same place I'm going because I don't subscribe to that way of thinking. See, I do my homework before I go anywhere. And Lord opened this door for me. I stepped into it and I am proud to be here because I know the opportunities that we're all working to achieve. And I really believe in this idea of picture it. Picture opportunity through growth. Picture the new investments that we can tap into just in the last 16 months. 73 billion dollar worth of new capital investment at the state level. Over 10,000 new jobs where I'm here to commit to you all that it's our turn

in central Louisiana in Rapids Parish and Alexandria. And I am laser focused on that. I have a bias towards action. I am goaloriented. I am mission focused and I am resultsdriven. And we kicked off this new assignment with doing a full economic analysis of the region setting forth a new strategy and a new roadmap for us to do the work we do in economic development. But we can't do it in a silo. The reality in economic development today, particularly in today's landscape, it really is about being holistic. It really is about having alignment with our local elected officials and our community leaders and our business leaders and our stakeholders. Making sure that we know where we're going and we're going there together. making sure we have cohesion with that vision because the reality is is that this is look it's a tough environment for economic development these days. People oppose everything. I kill butterflies. I destroy roads. I'm removing opportunities when the reality is actually completely opposite. The work that we do in economic development is setting the conditions for the private sector to invest to create more opportunities, stronger communities, better infrastructure, better schools, better quality of life because of the investments that we're doing. I can share with you just in the hundred and something days and the majority of these three or four projects that we've been involved in that I've been involved in over $200 million

almost 70s something jobs they're coming here that's just in the last 100 days we're working some major major projects and we're so close but I tell you that because it's still about understanding where we're going. I'm a big believer in doing your homework. I'm a big believer in making sure that you're holding yourself accountable. And we are accountable in economic development. You are my stakeholders. You are my constituents. I work for you all in this community. My mission is very clear to do everything we can to create the right kind of environment so we can increase the kind of opportunities in the investments to create jobs. Keep the jobs that we have because that's number one. Keep the jobs that we have. Work with our community leaders. Work with our business leaders, our small businesses. In fact, here's another little piece that's very important. 80% of all of our businesses in our footprint have less than 30 employees. 80%. So, small businesses are critically important, making sure that we're doubling down and providing them the support. And that's what this strategic plan is focused on. My whole focus with the reboot of Louisiana Central is centered around four key pillars. First and foremost, it's about elevating the organization, making sure we're retooling, making sure that we're collecting the resources that we can elevate the kind of execution of our plan that you all demand, that you expect, and quite frankly, you deserve. Making sure we are facilitating economic development in modern best practices. making sure that we're taking what we've

learned and applying that to today's economic landscape that we are a 21st century economic development organization that's providing the full array of services. I may be focused on the region but our economic anchor is right here in Alexandria and Rap Parish. Our plan also supports that. Our organization is going to support that. making sure we continue to add the technical expertise and the subject matter expertise as a boardcertified economic developer that our team can deliver. So, Mr. President, when you call on us to help with projects, when you call on us to help us to help with initiatives, Mr. Mayor, we have the ability to follow through on that. It's a tall order. We've got a lot of work to do ahead of us. We are rebooting this organization and elevating the way that we have organizational excellence. That's number one. Number two, we have to elevate our strategies. Doing things the old way is no longer going to keep us competitive. The economic lands the land landscape has changed globally at the state level and certainly at the local level and it's about maintaining our level of competitiveness. So we have to modernize how we do business. We have to elevate our strategies in new ways and we have to engage in new ways which means that we have to have stronger partnerships, collaborations and engagement. That's the third pillar. Making sure that you can call on us as a trusted adviser. There are 16 practice areas of economic development. We can't be all things to all people, but we have an ethical and practical duty to make sure that we're creating the organization, building the relationships, and having the expertise to follow through on these collaborations, partnerships. So, we're going to be elevating our partnerships, engagements. I want you to know me. I want you to understand where I'm coming

from. I want you to be able to call me at 10 o'clock, 12 o'clock at night. I'm going to give you my cell number. I want you to call me anytime, feel you have full access to me because I want to be that kind of partner with the city of Alexandria. You are our economic core. We want to see Alexandria be successful and I believe that there are a lot of amazing things coming and happening right here in Alexandria that is going to even stimulate that even more. Fourth and final, it's about telling our own story. We need to be the ones to talk about how amazing it is to be in central Louisiana and in Alexandria. One of the things that we've learned in the last 100 days of doing our research and we did a series of things about this. We did a major economic development deep dive. We peeled the onion back. What does our economy look like? What drives our economy? What are the things that are the headwinds? What are the real opportunities? What's our industry sector? What are our economic development assets? But one of the things that we did in this exercise is we also take a look if hey how do we feel what is our impression what is our sense of reality when it comes to the quality of life economic opportunities in the future for our community and we're going to work on that. We're going to work on telling the story and stop letting other people outside of our community tell our story. This is an amazing place with amazing people and I will be willing to step up with council, mayor, our state reps, our state senators, our community leaders anytime, anywhere to push back against this narrative that you can't come here and succeed. You can't invest here. You can raise a family here. You can go to church here. You can get an education here and be successful. and we have the

proof to show you. So, if you're going to fly in at the cover of darkness, come with your video camera, go to some of our worst neighborhoods and look at only one side of the street and then put it on posted on your blog for the world to see because you've parachuted in and you want to create a certain narrative. I got news for those people. I wish they would call me because part of my responsibility is not only to be your chief economic development adviser, but also your chief marketer, your chief advocate, just like you do every day, just like the mayor does being the chief executive officer for the city. I'm prepared to do that. And I'm going to do that because no longer am I going to accept this mindset of like, do you know where you're moving? Where why are you going there? I chose to come here. I believe in what I do for a living. My faith is important to me because it helps actually drive what I do for a living. I believe in this community. I believe in what we do for a living. And we're going to start telling our own story about how unique our people are, how special our culture is, the unique opportunities that we have in front of us, the amazing opportunities that people are providing right here. It is real easy to have a profession here, to raise a family here, and to be able to be successful in business, in your faith, and with your family. And we are very committed to those elements of economic development. So, I don't want to take a whole lot of time. I'm sure there's things you want to ask me about, but I want you to know we're at the very end of this stage. We've completed the draft plan. We're going to be, in fact, I'm taking it to my board this Friday, and we're going to be launching our plan for the region for Repage Parish in in March, and we're going to have a series of executable uh examples of what we're doing. And I can't wait to talk to you about that

plan. I'm very encouraged about the future. I'm encouraged about what this community is bringing to bear, and I'm comm community and I'm committed to this opportunity. So, Mr. President, thank you for uh the the opportunity, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the opportunity. Uh thank you kindly for coming today and making your presentation. Mr. Master Gill, you moved from Slide Hill, am I correct? That's correct. Yes, sir. That's exactly St. Tam Parish. Yes. Which where I was the last seven years and I've spoke with House of Representatives uh in central Louisiana and South Louisiana speak highly of you. Straightforward person.

Uh Miss Bernardo speaks highly of you who's over Gator. She's sitting in the corner in the back there. And uh so uh we look forward to bigger and better things. We're glad you're taking the stern leadership to bring better economic development to central Louisiana. And again, I thank you on behalf of this committee, this council and the city of Alexandria. Anyone else on the council like to say something? Just with with all the thoughts that you put out there, I think if you'll develop just a little bit of a positive attitude. Yes, sir. Dearly noted, Councilman, you're welcome, sir. Thank you for the opportunity.

All right, Mr. M. Massing, is there anything the city needs to do that it's that we're not doing? Oh, we can we can always be doing more, right? It's the the whole purpose of my strategic plan is this vision, this idea about elevating, right? We want to we want to elevate everything that we're doing.

And and when will you make this presentation? I'm taking our strategic plan to my board on Friday and then we hope to be in a position to launch the plan our economic development plan and that includes the retooling how we're going after major economic development focuses area are areas uh and that's you actually actually bring up a very good a very good point economic development and community development the worlds collide right there's actually another part of that stool it's the third part of that and that's workforce development and they're all in tandem affordable housing is also in that

it it's it's under that it it's very important uh and you can never take your eye off of it, right? Communities are constantly evolving. We have to address these issues on a regular on a regular basis because we know we do have headwinds, right? We we can't just put our head in the sand and not recognize that. But there's also some positive signs that that the trend is turning.

I guess I guess my question is when will I guess when when will you come back to make a formal presentation to us? Uh I'm hoping that we're going to be in a position of execution starting in in March. So give us a little bit of time. Now that plan is going to be high level with various components of what we're doing. Uh a big part of it is is focusing in on our industry sectors. This plan is going to be much more calibrated on economic development, not as much on the community development. The community development pieces is more localbased. It's placebased. It's place centric. uh we have a role in helping to advise on that to provide some of our expertise. Uh but the execution of community development is really at the community level.

I agree with you. I'm going after uh the the big opportunities. A lot of people are concerned because we see certain businesses closing in our city. Yes, sir. And it's it's very concerning to certain people. So, uh number one, I think we need to do some rebranding to let folks know that the sky isn't falling. Yes, sir. What we're seeing right now is some markets readjusting. That's exactly really due to forces that we have no control over that above us. That's right. I mean, can can you speak on that? No, I think you're absolutely right. I mean, when let's let's take for example retail, right? This is an area that's a retail hub. Uh and the reality is is that retail really is much more at the macro level.

And now what does that mean for lay persons? So that what that means is is national trends have a big impact on what happens at the local level, particularly with retail, right? You're looking at retail because you're you're looking at the sales tax collections. Well, I mean, we've actually seen some pretty significant positive signs on sales tax collection, but local retail ultimately will reflect what's happening at the national level. That's just how and and for those watching, when you say on the national level, what do you what do you mean by that? Let's let's unpeel that a bit.

Yeah, it's a it's uh so when you're when you're seeing big trends, right, with consumer spending, uh that will have a trickle down effect. It will ultimately impact a local economy. And so when you have big shifts in the markets, when you see big changes in patterns with people's spend patterns, are there expendable spending? Those things happen. We saw that particularly postco with e-commerce. Well, then you saw nationally a rush to create a lot more distribution facilities. There was a time for, you know, really two years after CO man, everybody in economic development wanted to get in the logistics and distribution business. Well, the reality is is that yeah, it sounds good, but do you have the right geographical location? Do you have the right infrastructure for that? Do you have the right landscape that can support that? aka all these what we call the bombers Amazon distribution facilities of a million square feet. Well, yeah, we can actually still support logistics and distribution in this in in fact we can support it right here in Alexandria. But the reality is is that it's right sizing. I think you said a minute ago in the other committee things are right sizing a lot of those sectors particularly in retail because of the Amazon effect because of postcoid we got rid of brick and mortal mortar. Well, the reality is is that we're actually seeing now an uptick in that again.

So, we're seeing people want to have a place to go in and touch it and feel it and try it on. I I know I know in District One on Bolton Avenue, a dollar store closed and it and it's really hurting some of the residents, but I want to believe that's a national trend. It is. And and Dollar General is actually leading that because they are right sizing. uh they were for almost 12 13 years they were on this massive growth. You would have a dollar store and a family dollar and and all the dollar

insert the other one. They would be in a mile square of each other particularly in rural America. We saw a major expansion in rural America where now we're seeing those actually constrict. You're seeing less of those being built and you're actually seeing closers now. So now you're left with another empty building. I would like for us to find a way to put someone in that building because the people honestly What location is that again? It's on Bolton Avenue. Uh there's a Bolton and Lee. Yes, that store hadn't closed. No, there was a dollar store that that that closed. That's uh across from our Bolton Avenue Community Center, but that that was a family dollar.

A family dollar family dollar. Yeah. Dollar still open. But it's all Yeah. And they merge. They they missed. Thank you for the public. Make sure we family dollar. I just want to make sure we close understand. But family dollar family dollar family dollar. Yeah. And they obviously merged with the dollar tree. Okay. So now you're you're actually seeing in some markets both stores are in one building. Okay. That's a new I have noticed the orange and the green. Red. Yeah, that's right. Red and green. Okay. Okay. All right. All right. All right. Sorry about that. Please, please, please. All right. Thank you very much, sir. Thank you. Any questions for him? Yes, sir. Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

All right, Mr. Mass. Again, we appreciate you coming out today and giving us your uh introducing yourself to some and uh others and we appreciate what you're doing. We look forward to moving the city forward. This meeting, nothing else is a journ.

The Alexandria City Council meeting is called to order February 10th, 2026. The Alexandria City Council meeting and council committee meetings are broadcast live and may be viewed live by the public on Optum cable channel 4 and a rebroadcast may be viewed on Optum cable channel 4 in the city of Alexandria website. Um, Councilman Green, will you do the invoc invocation and Miss Councilwoman Felter the pledge of allegiance?

Thank you. Let's pray. Father God, we come once again. Thank you for this day, a brand new day. Father God, we ask that you bind our minds to work to the betterment of this city, this parish, the state, and our country. Father God, we just ask that you do all these things in your son name. Amen. Amen. Join me for the pledge. I pledge algiance 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.

Approval of the minutes taken from the roll call. Mr. Johnson here. Miss Belter here. Mr. Green present. Mr. Fowler I'm here. Mr. Velar here. Mr. Lang here. Miss Par here. Madam President, you have a approval of a minutes taken from the regular meeting held on January the 13th, 2026. an emergency meeting held on January the 23rd, 2026. A motion, please. A second. Second. Any public comments? If it is not in the written minutes, these will not be discussed or comment only those that are in the minutes. If you have any questions pertain pertaining to any items on the agenda, please contact administration before after this meeting.

Mr. White. Thank you, Madam President. Make sure it's on the agenda now for the meeting. It's on the only thing is Madam President. Yes, sir. Huh?

I'm gonna say Mr. Cornelius Lawson and White. I live at 363810th Street in Alexandria, Louisiana, Zip 71302. My phone number is area code 3184466934. Um, on the Did was the public given notice? cuz I was wondering how how y'all did these emergency meetings. Were there anybody was there anybody present citizens? Oh, there well, how were they notified? That's what I'm trying to find cuz I didn't Did you go to the news channel 5 or was it announced on channel 4 or Well, I received the email. That's how I knew about the meeting. Okay.

And you're talking about the emergency meeting. the emergency meeting and y'all cancelled the Tuesday meeting, right? Correct. Because of the weather, which is understandable. Yes. But like I said, I I was just wondering how are or is there a process to where the citizens can know cuz that's what I wasn't here cuz I didn't know about it. There's a pre procedure for calling an emergency meeting in the charter and we followed it exactly. But you still hadn't told me how do you notify the newspaper? Do you notify social media? Do you I understand you got an email and that's fine, but how did the other So, you said there were citizens here, right?

There's an email that goes out and also in that email, the media is included in the email. Okay. All right. Well, like I said, I I didn't know anything about it and um I I just wish there was, you know, maybe a newspaper or anything. That's all. And there's also a posting that be on the um what is there a time limit for these posting event? It can be 1 hour. You can just post a notice saying I thought y'all had 24 hours or 48 hours. Not for emergency meeting. Not for the emergency. That's all I needed to know. Keyword emergency. Thank you. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried.

F. Consent calendar number one. Introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low bid submitted for bug fuel vehicles and equipment. Number two, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the lowest proposal received from fresh impression cleaning crew for janitori testing buildings. Number three, introduction of an ordinance to accept the recommendation of the city attorney and to authorize the city attorney to settle and compromise the matter. Vanessa Morino versus City of Alexandria docket number 278645F 9 jurist District Court and other matters related there too. Number four, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute professional service agreement with performance protocol to provide leadership training and recruitment resources for Alexandria Police Department.

Need a motion. Please move a second. Motion by Councilman Velour, second by Councilman Fowler. Any items to committee? U Madame um President, item number three will be going into executive session at the next council meeting. Okay. You ready for the resolution? Resolution number five, resolution authorizing advertisement for BS for operating supplies for the WA wastewater department. Motion, please. Move. Second. Second. Motion by Councilman Void, second by Councilman Fowler. Um, public discussion, public comments. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carried. Number six, resolution authorizing advertisement for bid for bids for cast, duct, tile, iron, and related accessories. Motion, please. Second. Motion by Councilwoman Felter. Second by Councilman Johnson. Public comments, discussion. All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carried. Number seven, resolution authorizing advertisement for biz for operating supplies for the gas department. Motion, please. Move. Second. Second. Motion by Councilman Malloy, second by Councilman Fowler. Public comments, discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number eight, resolution accepting the roadway drainage and utility improvements for the reserve at North Park phase one subdivision. Motion, please. Move. Second. Motion by Councilman Baloy. Second by Councilman Fowler. Public comments, discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Number nine, resolution to co-sponsor the Lauren von 5K to be held in April 2026. Motion, please move. Second. Second. Um motion by Councilman Valid, second by Councilwoman Felter. Public comments, discussion. All in favor? I any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 10, resolution to co-sponsor of Roses for Indian Saell Walk and Health Fair at Franco Hunter Park in April 2026. Motion, please move. Second, please. Second. Motion by Council Member Lloyd, second by Councilman Johnson. Public comments, Mr. White. Thank you, Madam President. Appreciate you.

Again, everybody, I'm Mr. Cornelius Lawson White Jr. I live at 363810th Street, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302. My phone number is area code 3184466934. I know I knew Miss Rosa Matuire and she did a great thing with this sickle sale. I'm glad that they're keeping it alive and everything and uh I really do commend y'all on that. So, thank you. That's a really good thing. Thank you. Miss Horton, did you want to say anything or you're good? Thank you all. Yeah. Okay. All right. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried.

Number 11. Resolution to adopt the 2025 municipal water pollution prevention audit. Motion, please. Move. Second. Second. Motion by Councilman Malloy, second by Councilman Fowler. Public comments, discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 12, resolution to co-sponsor the United Way of Central Louisiana Prisoner Re-entry Initiative of Alexandria at Bolton Avenue Community Center in April 2026. Motion, please. Motion. Second. Second. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Green. Um, public comments, discussion. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion car. You have one. I had signed up for that. There should have been. You signed up for number 13. Number 13. Resolution authorizing advertisement for bids for construction. 12. That was the mistake. That's that's 12, not 13, baby. I missed. So that was again uh my name is Mr. Lawson White Jr. I live at 3638 10th Street in Alexandria, Louisiana. We done voted. Um, Miss Well, can I speak on that just for one quick minute? Mr. White, you don't supposed to because and we can't.

It's okay. It's just that I thought it would be good that. But I put in there 13, so that wasn't my fault. You wrote it. You wrote it though. It's a 13 12. No, we don't have one in there. Yes, sir. We don't have one for 12. You can do it next year when it come back up. Number 13. Number 13. Resolution authorizing advertisement for be for construction and maintenance material. Motion, please move. Second. Second. Motion by Council Member Malloy. Second by Councilman Johnson. Public comments. Discussion. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 14, resolution to co-sponsor the Westside Habilitation Center kickball tournament for individual with development disabilities in March 2026. Motion, please move. Second. Second. Motion by Council Member Lloyd, second by Councilwoman Felter. Public comments, discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Number 15, resolution setting a public hearing to be held on March the 24th, 2026 to consider condemnation of 20 six structures within the city. Motion, please. Second. Second.

Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Green. Public comments, discussion. All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carried. Horn ordinances for final adoption. Second. Can we uh add those resolutions now at the end now? You done now? I move that we add those uh favorable uh resolutions. Uh we got two of them. The first one was for the uh the police department and the fire department coexisting.

Can you give us the exact read? Yeah, I don't know that that a resolution in support of to urge adoption of legislation concerning public safety officers

to to provide for post-certified public safety officers in the city of Alexandria providing that they be employed principally by either the to provide that they are employed uh by the fire department uh or police department to provide for their temporary service for uh as firemen for the police and uh to provide for anything to do with retirement seniority etc. As we discussed, they would all be handled through their respective division. So the firemen, it wouldn't affect their retirement and fire or anything else and we'll present a resolution to you according to that. Okay. First, we need a motion and a second to add it to the agenda. We're going to have to do a roll call vote after we add it to agenda. added to the agenda if I second if I may.

Okay. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by We need a roll call vote to add it to the agenda. Have a motion. We got the motion second. Yeah. So, we need a second by um G. Mr. Fowler. Yes. Mr. Bard. Yes. Mr. Lang. Yes. Merry. Yes. Mr. Johnson. Yes. Miss Fel. Yes. Mr. Graham. Yes. Okay. Now we need a motion and a second to move the resolution. Second motion by Councilman File, a second by Councilman Balor to move the um resolution. There was discussion

public comments. Public comments. Yes, I' I'd like to make public comment.

Um my name again is Mr. Cornelius Lawson White Jr. I live at 363810th Street in Alexandria, Louisiana. My zip 71302 and my phone number is area code 318-4466934. The only thing is with this now, you taking people from the fire department that are certified to carry weapons and stuff like that and moving them to the police department. So, what union is representing them? Is it the police or the fire or both? the unions representing them. And um I know you said this this been tried I guess all over the country and stuff. Um when I was a military police officer under Ned Randolph, the MPs were called in to uh help uh police Alexandria. So I don't know why you can't I know Gary you shake your head and stuff like that, but it was done years ago. It can be done now.

It can be long. It can be. All right, Mr. But all I'm saying is you've got a pane of military police over there. I don't know how y'all work with the city marshalss or the sheriff's department. And that Well, I'm just But it don't have anything to do what we're talking about. It does because No, sir. It doesn't. You going to use firefighters that are certified with weapons, move them over to the police department, but then what? They can move back to the fire department. Yes. So they can move back and forth. Now, their wages, are they going to be the same as the firefighter or the police? I know they said y'all said they're going to retire as firefighters. Correct.

U Mr. Mayor, would you answer that question for Mr. White so that his he can comment? It's not it's not Cornelius's crossexamination session. All of this was explained in front of him. He heard it, but no questions were asked, so I couldn't ask any questions. Mayor, Mr. White. This is when someone has the floor, they're talking and then you I'm sorry. I excuse me. So when the president asks a question, she's the controller of this room. Yes. When she's asking me a question, I have to answer. You can't talk or over. Understood. Understood, sir. So it was all explained

uh in front of Mr. White and I think he well understands it. Uh the the pay and all of that was also explained in detail. Unions have nothing. They don't they have nothing to do with what we're talking about. So it's very simple and it's not certified to carry weapons as he keep you have to be postcertified in the equivalent of a police officer

to do this. So not all firemen can do it. You can't just go get a certification about a weapon. You have to be postcertified and go through the police academy. So you could function as either to do this. there will be additional training to make sure that you're trained to be able to do this uh liazing between the two and that's how it'll work. It's it's I'm not sure what the other questions are, but it's good for the police department and good for the fire department. So, Mr. White, there's your answer. Okay. People that applies to this up. No, no. I For one thing, y'all supposed to stop. Stop right now.

Hold up. Y'all supposed to stop time. How How can I respond? If so, you're saying he can take my time? I'm asking you. Yes, he can. He gave No, he gave you the answer that you asked for. Well, no, he did not. Not really. Yes, he did, Mr. White. I know. To you, he gave the answer. He asked about the union and he said no. And then what other um So, but so then they're not a part of either union. And these are irrelevant. This is not relevant to you. It's not your relevant to the officers because Mr. Mr. White, you can't you can't speak on behalf of the officers. They have to be the ones to speak on their behalf. Now,

your time is up. But let me ask you one more question. I understand. No more question is going. If he's talking, I don't have a right to talk. Mr. White, is that what you're saying? No, that's not what I'm saying. Yes, you are. because the timer should have been stopped as soon as he started talking. Okay? Shouldn't it? Okay. So, just just for the record, this is a comment. It's public comment. It's not public engage, interrupt, disrupt, and question. Mr. White, thank you.

Okay. Can I make a comment? You can. You So, uh, I work with the US Marshalss They're not. They have a Pacific duty. I worked over there. Everybody know I worked with the US Marshals for a while. They have That's the US Marshall. I'm talking about the military. That's totally different. You brought up totally different. You bought US Marshals. You bought them. You bought them up. I said military police. I didn't mess calm down. Military police when they You was a military police when you went in. You did not get qualified to be roam around a city. You did not have that qualification to be roaming around in city. I'm telling you, we worked under Ned Randolph. We worked with military. All right, Mr. White, please. Okay.

Under Ned Randolph. Thank you, Mr. White. We're reading. So, under the charter, just so you're saying correctly, Mr. Under the charter, you have to be postcertified, which is a specific PO S to carry a gun in police in the city. There are only the military can only police in the city in two sets of circumstances and there has not been that called in the city of Alexandria. Okay. Discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Yeah. Second resolution.

Second resolution would be a resolution that urge support and adoption of legislation relative to expanding the authority of hearing officers to enforce city ordinances and codes semicolon related blight properties and moving matters on the code enforcement and property compliance issues. Oops. Move second. Motion by Councilman Valoy, second by Councilman Fowler. Um public comments. Yes, ma'am. No, no, no, no. Yes, sir. I do have a right to make public comment. She just said and listen at me, Mr. White. And this is going to be about that issue. Listen at me.

Yes, ma'am. Public comment, not question. Public comment. Okay. Well, my public comment is that I'm against it because somebody can pick out just somebody's property and say it's blighted and then they go to blight court and all like that. Now y'all approved all of this stuff and people you know poor people it hasn't been voted on yet that we can talk about this madam president comment no she said public Mr. is not the time. You have to vote on it. Wait, he just she just said she made a mistake.

Madam President, we need to beat me down again, MAYOR. IS THAT IT? We need Would you excuse him if I'm here, please? Mr. White, I've never touched Mr. White, but you ordered them. Mr. White, and that's why you lost. Mayor, don't do that. Mr. White, that's it. That's enough. Not much more, guys. That's enough. That's enough. Madame President, we need a roll call vote to add this item to the agenda. Mr. Bard, yes. Mr. Laane, yes. Miss Perry, yes. Mr. Johnson, yes.

Miss Felter, yes. And I have a comment with my Yes. No comment. No comment. Okay. Yes. Then yes and no comment. Mr. Green. Yes, Mr. Fowler. It's unanimous. Matters added to the agenda, Mr. President. Okay. Now, we need a motion and a second to adopt the resolution.

Motion by um Councilman Fowler, second I'm sorry, motion by Councilman Malloy, second by Councilman Fowler to move the item to the agenda. Okay, then we need to take a vote. Public comments on the item added to the agenda. It's been added to the agenda. So now we need public comments. If there's no public comments, we need to any discussion then we need to take a vote on it. Until you recognize, you're good. You good? You can ask her to recognize you. If she does, you're fine. That's all you got to do. We got it, mayor. And I'm not afraid to You're free, Mr. white to make your comments. Okay. Thank you, ma'am.

Again, I am Mr. Cornelius Lawson White Jr. I live at 363810th Street. My zip is 71302 and my phone number is area code 3184466934. Again, like I said, I'm opposed to this because this can be used against poor citizens and stuff. There's been blighted property. There's commercial buildings all over the neighborhood. FNF grocery store and all them places should have been down. But you got poor people, they can't afford to fix nothing or nothing like that. You know, we're poor around here. Now you rich people, you know, y'all can fix up things and y'all can do things and all like that, but the poor, nobody speaks for the poor or divorceless. You know, some people getting double bills and stuff. Nobody's talking about that.

That's not what I got you. I got you, madam. Thank you. All in favor? Discussion. Discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Here we age. Ordinances for final adoption subject to public hearing. Number 16, to consider final adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to declare certain items surplus and no longer needed or used by city departments to be sold at a public auction scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026. Need a motion, please. Move. Second.

Second. Motion by um Councilman Fowler, second by Councilwoman Felter. Public comments, discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. I would like to say something before we end this meeting. This is a city council meeting. This is for the public. This is for the citizens. Mr. white. I'm going to respect you, but you're going to have to respect us as well. Yes, ma'am. I ask that of you. I'm I'm not going to disrespect you. Yes, ma'am.

But you need to know that you have to respect all of us as a whole because I have a problem with you. Oh, I know. I know. I know you don't. But it is a way to conduct yourself as well. But I want you to know that I respect you. So you have to give that respect back. Yes, ma'am. Um I ask you once again not to mention the beat down. I know we didn't I know. No, sir. Just listen at me. I have I have a right to just listen at me. Okay, that was wrong. I was told to shut up by Jim F.

Okay, but I just want you to know we're going to have to respect each other. And on that note, I also I would like to thank the city workers of Alexandria from when we had the ice. Um, I'd like to thank Mr. Caffrey and his crew. I like to thank Mr. Dante Howard and all the other city workers that we went to see at the compound that was really working during this time. Um we have some great city workers and we're thankful for them and um I would like to acknowledge them and let them know that um thanks for all that they did those days away from their family. So thanks to the um city work and in addition to that I'd like to thank the mayor because he was on board with everything that was going on. He worked really tirelessly at the uh Salvation Army getting that set up, helped it keep running and uh it was very meaning for the folks that were able to use it and all of the city workers as you said fantastic job and we were lucky. We were very lucky.

We was blessed.

Well, I appreciate all of you too. Just if I could borrow someone's point of personal privilege, I would say that Madame President, Gary, many all you all went and visited them. You have no idea what that meant to them. Or maybe you do, but you just can't imagine what y'all going to the Salvation Army meant. Those guys stood up. Think about the criticisms from years past and how it was really immaculate the way that they ran it and resourced it. The community came forward and helped them immensely. Uh I tried to keep all of you informed. We did it, you know, I kept everything sort of letting y'all know. I let Cynthia know sometimes more just to make sure if we felt like it was something that needed to be disseminated, we did. I thought it was a very good process. And I'll remind you that you made some decisions uh that led to the reason we had some good results. The main one being you spent and allowed us to spend two and a half years cleaning out the backs and rights of way in yards. Everybody's not always happy when they get trimmed. They may be trimmed a little more, but all of that mattered when the ice hit. you had way less downlines in the heavily wooded areas of the city, guard district, etc. And it was because of that. That's something that can be done that was preventive. And one last point, so again, thank all of you for how you handled the storm. A last point is, uh, Clarence Andrew Stoer, uh, born January 23, 1957, who passed February 8th, 2026. Y'all know him as Andy Store, was the city's, uh, adjustment. He did all the city's insurance adjusting for all the claims, comp and everything forever. Worked at Hammerman and Gainor, which was a a minority contractor that we've had, one of the largest, uh, that we've had for for years, many years. Holds the contract to do all those adjustments. He passed away. And so, uh, he's going to have some things out in Kinder, Louisiana on Wednesday, tomorrow. If any of you need me to give you that, I'll send you a

text on it. But I just wanted to acknowledge this guy worked for the city forever and a day. And also, mayor, um I do want to thank you. You did through the um through the storm. You did communicate with me. We communicated and I appreciate that. And um we worked as a team. So that's how we have to learn and that's how we have to be at all times. Madam Madam President,

um in lie of Mr. Daryl Johnson who was the working engineers department of the city of Alexandria for 25 plus years. Uh his service is tomorrow at second Bethlehem at 11:00. Um we're asking for prayers for his family and his children and uh his daughter Crystal Wimbley worked in the planning department for quite a while. So again um that's the Donald Johnson family. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Green. I'm so sorry I miss I meant to say that one too. It'll be icy up here. Yeah. Thank you.