City Council - Regular Meeting

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good. Excellent. That's Oh, wonderful. I went down.

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I'm not here. That's right. Hello. Hello. How are you? Good.

What's up, All right.

What now?

Help me. Good to see you again.

I don't know what that is. Okay.

He knows. I got you. Oh, Good afternoon everyone. The street for city council meeting has now been called to order. I'm going to ask uh Councilman Green to provide the invocation and I'm going to ask um Councilman Jackson to lead us in the pledge.

Thank you Lord for this day and thank you for another opportunity that we could take care of the business of the city and of the citizens. We ask that you'd give us the wisdom and give us the understanding to take care of it. Lord, we love you today. We praise you today. We bless your name. And Lord, we ask that you would just uh allow the Holy Spirit to move into this city and all over America. There are some dark spots. Lord, we know that you can light them up and we just ask that you'd give us the courage to stand up for right. We'll give you the glory. Lord, thank you for what you've done. going to praise in advance for what you're going to do. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Everybody can face the flag and recite with me. I aliance 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. Madam clerk, will you please call the role? Councilwoman Taylor, present. Councilman Brooks here. Councilman Talifer here ma'am. Councilman Butcher here. Councilman Jackson I'm here. Councilman Green I'm here. And Councilwoman Bowman present. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the administrative conference meeting Monday January 12th, 2026 in the council meeting Tuesday, January 13, 2026. So move. Second.

So moved by Councilman Green, second by Madame Vice Chair. Any discussion? Let's vote. And this passes seven. Um before we move into the agenda, is Miss Creole here? Okay. I want to for the listening audience and the viewing audience that you are not able to see this feed uh on cable channel 6 if you have Xfinity. Um, but you can watch it on YouTube. Am I correct?

Yeah. Okay. So, you can watch it on YouTube. So, it's nothing wrong with your television. It's out on our end. Okay. Does any council member have any awards, recognition, or distinguished guest not to exceed 15 minutes?

Madam Chair, uh, I do. And also, Councilman Green, we're going to be, uh, asking our clerk to read resolution 13. A resolution recognizing Wayan Hector Jr. for outstanding academic achievement, athletic excellence, leadership, and community service and otherwise providing a respect there too. Whereas Wayan Hector Jr. son of Wayan Hector Senior and Kedro Hector was born on January 28th, 2009 and is currently 17 years old. Whereas Wean is a student at Kettle Magnet High School where he maintains a 4.429 grade point average and was named student of the month for January 2025. Whereas Wayan is an active member of Peaceful Rest Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. R. Timothy Jones senior where he serves as co-president of the children and youth ministry attends Sunday school demonstrating strong leadership and a commitment to service. Whereas his dedication to personal growth and community involvement extends beyond the church through his participation as a member of the a alpha esquire in top teens of America. Whereas wean has excelled athletically as member of the gymnastic team at cattle magnet high school competing at state and regional levels placing in the top three in 2024 and making number two in 2025 earning more than 30 medals. whereas he is also a member of the all-American cheer team at Cattle Magnan High School, further demonstrating discipline, teamwork, and excellence. And whereas we way young plans to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he aspires to be to pursue a degree in electrical engineering, continuing his path of

academic achievement and leadership. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Shreport and due regular legal and legal session convened that it hereby recognizes and commends Wayan Hector Jr. for his outstanding academic achievements, athletic success, leadership, and commitment to service and extends his best wishes for continued success in all future academic and professional endeavors. Uh, if y'all can step to the podium way on, you can come to the podium and bring your family with you.

Just like that for me.

Amen. Mr. Way on. It's so many things that I'm I'm impressed by you. Um, starting off with your your GPA um above a 4.0. Uh, you're not only making A's, you're making A+es. Um, so I commend you for that. Um, 30 medals. You have more medals than I'm old. just teasing. I got I've got a little more years than than medals, but uh but you'll get there pretty soon, but I'm just really really impressed by you. Um you're setting higher standards um for any youth um here in Shreport. We ask that all youth model themselves after you. Um you're amazing, amazing family. Um and I'm just happy. Only one bad thing is is is your address. You're located in Councilman Green's district, District F. Um, so, uh, I'm going to use my realtor skills along with Councilman Butcher. We're going to find you a a house in District E

or D right on the line. No, but you uh, you living in a great area. You got a great council person and I'm glad to share this uh, resolution with Councilman Green. I'll turn it over to him. Thank you. Uh, certainly I'd like to congratulate you. Always know that we have a tiff district in District F. So when you open your business, we'll give you some we'll take care of you. So they don't have one over there yet. So we already established. But listen, I'm so proud of you and uh I came down and got your autograph so that once you get where you going, I already have my autograph and God bless you and just keep on it. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know. Thank you.

I also have a tiff district in A. So if you want to move on over there, we got some big things planned over there. just just slide on over there for real. Congratulations on all of your achievements. They are quite honorable and you should be commended for the works that you're doing and what you will continue to do. God's blessings to you. Would you like to have a word? Oh, go ahead. Big congratulations. District G is for greatness. That's Pines Road, Queensboro. So, that's a choice also. But big congratulations.

Thank you. We're going to um ask your other supporters to come up to the podium and then we're going to come down to take a picture with you. I'm going to invite the entire council along with the mayor to get a picture with you. So, do you have any word? Any word? You got any words to say with mom? Parents, any words? Yes. Well, also one other thing to add. I'm also Wow. Well, yeah, one other thing to add to the list of accomplishments. I'm also in uh the Greater Shreport Youth Leadership Program. Going to Washington. What about Alpha Squads?

Parents, any words, u like I always mention to you, Matt, uh thank you for recognizing my son. Thank you for all y'all prayers and we're going to keep him going to strive as far as he can go. And on that grade point average, that was a old one. He's at a 4.5 right now. Go ahead. Get it right. Get it right. Also, uh, Madam Chair, also, Dr. Gory, I didn't recognize you, but I I didn't know that was you today.

You all dressed up. Okay. I got show. Wait, y'all can hold each one. Congratulations.

Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations to you. Congratulations.

We figured we had enough.

No. Okay. Right here somebody on top. Congratulations. Councilman Talero.

Thank you, Madam Chair. At this time, I'd like to uh call to the podium Versa Clark, member of the Cedar Grove Homeowners Association for presentation. Mr. Clark. And Mr. Clark, give me one second before you get started. I do want to acknowledge uh Dr. Johnson just informed me that way did win the challenge that uh Councilman Telerero and that's madam uh chair um put forward as well. So he did win $200 for women that challenge

the challenge was is that they had to know all of their elected officials. They had to know the elected officials that represented them. They had to know their senators. Um, and was that it? Every commissioners represent them. Everything that rep everything that represents every person who represents them in his uh where he lives. Outstanding. Yes,

Mr. Clark. Mayor, Madame Chair, we had a video, a short three minute video set up uh part of a presentation, but we uh had some technical difficulties. Um, I will try to I would started off saying as you can see the video, Liberty Bank is a billiondoll financial institution that has been in contingent operation for over 50 years. Uh they focus on empowering the possibilities to low to moderate income customers as well as underserved communities. Their commitment to creating personalized relationships using customer-driven products and services is a major part of their success. Their programs targeting lending, employment, and community involvement would be an asset to the city of Sri. We are fortunate at this particular time that Liberty Bank is interested in opening a branch in Sri. There are many of the programs of our projects um that are managed by Sirin Community Development or the city's economic development department that we think Liberty Bank could be an asset in an ongoing and lasting partnership. In addition to obvious business relation opportunities, Liberty recognizes that having strong communities connections are in everyone's interest. They are in interested in working with community groups to educate the young people in financial literacy. This education should start early and be ongoing. As

Liberty Bank CEO Alden J. Macdonald Jr. says, and I quote, "We don't do things the usual way. We find different ways of helping people buy a home, start a business, grow a business. So, we have to be innovators," unquote. With that said, we hope that the leadership of Shreport will welcome Liberty Bank's expansion interests in our city and we uh will start the dialogue to make this expansion happen. We are available to set up a discussion between Liberty Bank and the leadership of Sri to aid in the development of this partnership. So, how soon can um you uh we set this up? That is the question. They're interested in coming here and they would like to meet with you uh to talk about their vision for coming into city street port.

Madam Chairman, yes. So, uh Mr. Clark, where where are they out of? I I don't New Orleans. Okay. Yeah, they um they've been down in New Orleans for 50 years. And like I say, they the first ones you would have probably heard Tart McDonald Alden Sun speak about the fact that they were the first and I think at one particular time the only uh minority bank that had reached a billion dollars in assets. They still have their branch.

Yeah, I suppos Rouge. They have branches in Baton Rouge. They have branches in New Orleans. They operate out of 11 states. Um, they don't have anything in Lafayette and they don't have anything in Streetport. So, where where are y'all thinking about putting it, I guess, is what my what my question. They are looking at a several different locations. So, you know, it it will be in the Cedar Grove area, though. it. They're looking at several locations. You know, I was gonna say maybe MLK too. I don't know. Questionable.

I think they had certain criteria that they were looking at as far as that was concerned. Um, so I would think that this would be something Mr. Sabbo would be very interested in in discussing with uh and and I would be interested in I think anybody that's district that's going to be close to or around would be interested in talking about this. I've always envisioned I think you and I talked during the last bond issue uh the previous one before with with Mayor Perkins that I always thought building some type of hub in Cedar Grove around the I49 and 70th Street location to have some financial empowerment and things like that would not be a bad idea.

So um I'm I'm open I mean but I think it needs to start with Mr. say also m I think uh if I'm not mistaken a a group from this particular bank came some maybe a year or so ago uh and so I had a contact on whoever it was but they were supposed to been come coming back and we were supposed to been setting up some meetings but it didn't ever happen. I think I think that was with Mayor Perkins. Yeah. What what's the what's the contact number?

Um we'll set that up. Um right now there is a local person that works for Liberty Bank that we were dealing with and um whenever you want to to meet you can contact me and Okay. What's your number? What's your number? uh 318 621 4020. I do think that 42 420 42

I think Mr. Sabbo needs to be a part of that meeting since he's economic development to look at those particular trends of what that committee wants and that it could be multiple meetings that could be set up with council members because there's only so many council members that you can have in a meeting. So, I do believe that the connection needs to be made with Mr. Sabbo um since he's economic development along with whatever council members want to be a part of that and probably it'll be a day's meeting to go over here to meet with uh council members. So, they will be able to hear the project in its entirety. Mr. Sabo

and it could be set up from there. Sure. Mhm. Yes, ma'am.

I was just if you overheard what I said because it is an economic development project and that way you can filter through and have uh essentially all of the council members that want to attend and set up various meetings. So, they will be able to hear the presentation. they can meet with you all and look at and hear all of the parameters and set those meetings up accordingly um for what needs to be done. And so you can check with the council clerk and see what would be a very good a good date for everyone to be able to coordinate that and then that way everybody hears the same thing since we can't all be in the meeting at one time.

We'll do it. Thank you, ma'am. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Clark. Appreciate it. Do I have any any more presentations? Um, yes, madame chair. Um, is anyone from the YMCA present in the audience? Yes, sir.

All right, great. Come forward, please, sir. Oh, great. Great. Um, Madam Chair, it was I think a lot of people know that uh the the YMCA is just um celebrated their 100th year in Shreport. And if anybody has done any kind of a homework on the way that this all the way this has come about it's just amazing um both in the architecture the building it but and so forth. So we wanted to uh do a resolution on behalf of the 100th birthday of the YMCA. Madame clerk would you read the resolutions for us please ma'am? a resolution recognizing the downtown shreport YMCA of Northwest Louisiana for 100 years of service. Whereas the downtown shreport YMCA of Northwest Louisiana located at 400 Magneto Street in Streetport, Louisiana is a historic landmark that has served as a cornerstone of the community for nearly a century. Whereas the YMCA began as a group in the late 1860s and was formally incorporated in 1922. Whereas in 1923, funds were raised to construct a YMCA designed by Clarence W. King in the Italian Renaissance Revival Style, which officially opened in October 25, 1925 and was later added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1982. Whereas throughout its history, the Downtown YMCA has provided residential housing for young corporate executives, retiring veterans of the World War I and World War II, and operated as a well-known cafeteria that welcome downtown workers and church goers. And whereas the downtown YMCA continues to serve the community while

preserving its historic features, offering steam rooms, sas, and whirlpool, a gymnasium, raetball courts, and crossfit room, and youth basketball. Whereas for 100 years, the Downtown Streetport YMCA has maintained a commitment to the community, remaining active in public service through programs focused on health and community awareness for generations of of residents. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Streetport in due regular and legal sessions convened that it hereby recognizes the downtown street YMCA for Northwest Louisiana for 100 years of service and wishes them continued success for generations to come. Uh, it's hard to follow Mr. Hector. So, I'll try to do my best. Um, I'm just grateful. I look around, I've got see volunteer coaches, members, people that participate in the Y. We're just glad to have an opportunity to ser serve the community and and keep Christ as our focus and our mission that we do. Mr. Tal Farah, thank you very much and the rest of the city council for having us and uh we hope to be here 100 years from now and and beyond. So, just thank you so much for the recognizing us.

I was actually going to say Hector seems like he would be turning 100 considering how much he's accomplished in 100 years, but we do look forward to being around for another hundred. All right. Great. Great. Great. Don't go don't go away. I think uh some council members have some comments making. Madam Chair, I I'd just like to say congratulations and um the Y u downtown was one of the second jobs that I had when I came to the city. In fact, I learned how to play I don't know what they call it now, but I learned how to play handball there with the uh handball courts down in the basement.

And it was a pleasant uh place to work. And even back in the day, they treated you with top class and integrity. So it it the Y is always at my heart. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. I think I think uh one of the things I find very interesting is the amount of money that was initially raised in I 1923. 1923 was 5 it was 545,000 which by today's standards would be $10 million. In how long how long did it take them to raise that? Eight days. Eight days to raise half a million dollars. Then $10 million today.

That's there. There's a plaque downtown at the downtown Y above the the air conditioner and it has what I think what led to a lot of the success where there were um committee chairs and then subcommittees. So they really accomplished it by kind of having a hierarchy and they assigned those people basically the responsibility to go out and raise the money. So they had a team that went out and just heavily campaigned for that money. They did do it in eight days.

And and the Y has always been known uh the Young Men's Christian Association has always been known for housing. I mean I think as far back as that anybody could go and anybody could stay. Didn't matter who you were. And so at one time how many beds were actually in that facility? Because I think that I think that was incredible how many there are. Well, it had 80 80 dormitories upstairs. Yes. Two stories. 80 80 dormitories, right? And and 75 cents a night at one point. So, I mean, what a bargain.

Well, I mean, it's it's like the men's locker room is huge because it used to be the cafeteria and people would live up there. We had the social room. We were just talking about some some members who met their wives at the social room at the downtown Y just this afternoon at a meeting. So, a lot of history goes through it. And so, I understand that Elvis Yes, sir. Camped out there as well. Stay there. Yeah, we found a hotel ledger that he filled out for his night stay. Outstanding. Well, we appreciate you coming down and receiving this resolution on our behalf. Um, if you'd like and madam chair, we take a quick picture. And

Madam Chair, real quick and and what I would like to thank the Y for is your continued investment in this report. It's not like you did the one investment. you've built a beautiful facility in Councilman Telfero's district and there's a beautiful facility in my district now. And uh when we were at the uh ribbon cutting and and dedication for the one in district D, uh I said, you know, this is what it's all about. It's bringing people together, a good place for people to come, for youth to come, and uh it's a safe environment and a godly environment. And uh I do appreciate y'all's investment in Streetport. We enjoy it. That's what we want to do.

My kids love swimming in that pool even though they have a pool right there. It's like we want to go to the Y. Really? Do y'all still do the massages? We We have a part-time. We don't have it full-time like we normally do and it typically happens at the Lash facility. Okay. But there are, which I have not had the privilege of going to the men's locker room, but my husband has been, and he tells me, "If you've not been to the men's downtown locker room, it's quite an experience." There are massage tables in the men's locker room, because apparently that used to be a thing. Oh, yeah. At the the downtown Y. I I was a masseuse. Oh, okay.

Stop. Stop it. Stop it. Thank you all. We appreciate it so much.

Thank you very much. Let's not go there. Morrison. We didn't have any.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate it. Welcome. Are there any other council members for presentations? Okay. Mayor Seno, do you have any awards, recognition, or distinguished guest not to exceed 15 minutes? No, ma'am. Do you have any communications of the mayor relative to city business? Only to let the council know that I met with Mr. Clark and Mr. Walker several weeks ago and expressed my full support for Liberty Bank and uh look forward to them coming to Shreport.

Okay. Um Mr. I'm sorry. I forgot about your person. Um, did you happen to come up front? As you all know, the uh master plan is being updated. So, he's here to give us some updates. Welcome back to Shreport.

Absolutely. Thank you. I'm sorry. Oh, looks like we've got the slides. I don't know if they're quite up yet. Cool. There we go. So, good to see you all again, members of Shreport City Council and Mayor Arseno and staff. Um, appreciate the opportunity to be with y'all. Um, what I think will probably be the last time for this process uh since we kicked off a little bit over two years ago. Um but I just want to say I appreciate the opportunity to um just share a quick recap of this process and the master plan um with you all since there is a item on your agenda today to consider amending the land use map and adopting the one tree port comprehensive plan. So, um I will keep this fairly brief, but just to recap again our process, the approach here. Um I know this is in your packet. It's a pretty hefty document with a lot of lot of content in there. Um some of it carried over from the great expectations plan, but others revised and updated, but want to emphasize that this plan again was an update to the great expectations master plan that this body adopted in 2010. And the overall theme kind of our approach here was that we really heard at the beginning and throughout the process that the vision is enduring from great expectations. That's a strong win for the community, but the execution was not fully there. And you know, there are some other cases, instances that led to this. I believe I shared kind of this information when I saw y'all last I think in August. Um, but you know, part of that is economic, part of that is outside of the city's direct control. Um, we know that the last master plan talked about adding 70,000 jobs, 40,000 households by 2030. Um but the reality is that with um you know changes in local economy, shale prices, um the closure of GM, you know, the local economy, the local growth trip trend went the other way and we lost folks um in the last 15 years. So um you know, with that said, the last master plan set a bold vision for growth, especially revitalization inside the city. Um but you know, honestly, the economic challenges are formidable for any city. Um and there are a lot of great steps that were taken there. Um, but we know

that, you know, there's some ways we need to pivot here to fully recognize that vision of a really thriving city. Um, and so just a couple notes here as we look towards implementation this plan. Um, a couple reminders just to put this all in context. Shreport is the center of this region and this city grows by 25,000 people during the daytime with all the jobs, all the folks that come in from the surrounding parishes and communities um to work here and, you know, shop here and so on. So again, you know, y'all drive the future of this region. And this, you know, a really exciting opportunity. Um, you know, with some of the growth trends y'all seen, population loss, you know, there's a need here to retain residents and help stem that out migration. You know, folks are really moving to areas with more jobs. They're generally moving to Dallas Fort Worth. Um, you know, see trends to Lake Charles, but they're really moving out of the metro rather than, you know, moving across the river or outside of the city. Um so again, you know, with this kind of economic change here, you know, potential prospect that um you the city might have fewer people in 2050 than it did in 1980 and 1970. Um that's a statewide trend here that Louisiana as a whole is you projected to lose, you know, population in the coming decades. You know, there's a reality here that Shreport might have fewer people than it did, but it's gonna have a lot more land area than it did. And that creates some really interesting um kind of challenges here when it comes down to city planning and making sure that we have really good um capital planning facilities. So um I'll just give you a quick recap of how the plan is organized and what is in it. Um it's a five-part master plan. First part of the introduction provides that historic context again looking at um you know where we've been in the past, how the city's grown over time and where it is projected to be heading in the future based on some of the estimates from um from the state and other agencies as well. Part two is all about that citywide vision again carrying forward that uh vision from great expectations um almost verbatim right here. Um, this

does include your future land use map, which is for you all to review and um, for staff to review when making recommendations on resoning cases, future land use changes here. Um, and really focuses again on how can it drive investment along your major corridors and also in areas that um, you include transit and our potential redevelopment areas here. Um, again, the plan has some guidance here about, you know, what what exactly does that color on the map mean? provides a little more um guidance than was in the previous master plan to help you know help get the kind of development that the city wants to see and help provide some clear expectations for um developers and others. Another element here is that that green we talked about again um how can we think about parks, trails and quality of life improvements that recognize the culture and history in the community but also improve access to open space and parks, improve community health, and build on some of the other planning work that's been done. Part three of the plan talks goes a deep dive into some planning areas we've defined in here. So um you know not specifically aligned by you know a district but by general areas of the city here in recognizing that we need different strategies for different parts of the city. There are you know whether it's a growing area um or an area that's kind of losing people. We need to think about ways we can help generate investment in these areas. So this plan is intended to help provide a roadmap and a guide for you all to consider with um how to provide investment and how to you know attract it. And again just to reinforce um you know as the city's lost um residents as folks have moved away you know the neighborhoods that have been established or historic neighborhoods mostly inside the loop been the ones hardest hit and this is where we're also seeing adjudicated property issues play issues here. Um so again the health of kind of our overall housing market is um also impacting the issues y'all are seeing and working to address with the gicated property and blight. Um neighborhood planning is you know something the plan really focuses on. It's you know again what are the next steps that we can take? What are maybe some areas that we can use in future study and help to drive

investment? And again this is really about helping to address you know a lot of vacancy issues in the community. Um, so vacant lots, adjudicated property, and think about ways to help um get those properties back to productive use, help get them back to ways that serve the community, um, and ways that also they don't provide a drain on on the tax base and on public services as well. Um, so again, each deep dive includes some of the a deep information about that land use, some important centers, corridors, the plan identifies, considerations about, for example, flood risk, you know, is it protected by the levy system or not? um is it draining across lake? Is it going to impact water quality? Are there brownfields issues we need to address here? So we it does identify um for example some key sites. It identifies maybe some important assets and links to build around and again think about um also grant applications too ways to help get outside funding. You know again we're spelling out there all these assets all these opportunities that are here. So what are some ways we can find partnerships and create some leverage? The fourth part of the plan is all about the strategy. think about how do we get the work done. Um it does set five broader broader goals here as well as a number of priorities. Um but really this plan is all about collective impact as its core. So this is recognizing that um the city does a lot of work to help implement the plan but it also relies on partnerships from the other institutions in the community, the business community, philanthropy um and community based organizations to help achieve this plan as well. The plan discusses that, anticipates that, and it also provides just a general framework for how we can all work together. Um, again, five action themes here talk about the importance of good community design, improving equity and access across all neighborhoods, improving quality of life and neighborhoods of choice. Again, that collective impact, kind of that economic development focus in here as well, but also building the governance and capacity in government plaza to help achieve this over the long run.

Um, I talked about this before, but just to recap, you know, we're recommending four five-year priorities for um, this council administration, the city to pursue in the next five years to really help, you know, make some headway on this plan. It helps to, you know, stem population loss, but also continue to make progress here. Um, you know, really that neighborhood planning is a really important step. What are some areas we can focus on? Um, and, you know, make show some demonstration progress on here. I think this ties well into some of the work started by the block byb block initiative last year as well. Um again making sure that the master plan land use where we want to grow is linked to where we're investing in capital projects. So again you know if we're upgrading roads upgrading sewers let's make sure it supports where we want to grow and direct investment. Um again building staff community capacity. So making sure that you know staff's on the same page breakdown silos so we are all playing from the same sheet of music here. and then also launching Sierra as a professionalized redevelopment authority to help clear title, help bring these adjudicated properties back into commerce and catalyze development in these neighborhoods. Um, last but not least, part five is, you know, a pretty dense section here, but it's all about those specific goals, strategies, action items here. Um, a lot of these were carried forward or updated from the last master plan. Um, but this is really, you know, a little more technical, maybe a little bit more to help guide staff work programming and um, you maybe grant applications, but there's a lot of good content in here that we felt needed to be carried forward in here and refreshed um, because there's a good plan here for you all to work with. So, I I will close just, you know, the thing I've shared with you all a few times by now, but you know, the importance that Shreport has as this region center. So whether it's the medical center for you know multiple states and parishes, it is your educational center, it is your economic center and that is an important opportunity y'all have. Um you have the really good bones and I think we've talked about you know maybe the infrastructure could be better in some places but you know there's a history here that a lot of areas don't have.

There's culture, there's natural assets, you'll have a road network that already exists. You don't have to acquire a lot of rightway for it. Um, so you're in a different position that a lot of cities are still, you know, growing out because you have so much that's already been invested in and can be maintained. And at the end of the day, you all control your own destiny if you plan for it. And that's kind of my my closing piece here is really that um, you know, as a city council, it is, you know, this is a policy document. It is a guide to how the city can grow. And um as you all move forward with this plan and um on your priorities um hope that you'll see this as a reference and a good resource for y'all to help guide um how the city grows and changes in the coming years. But um over the past few years appreciate the opportunity to work with um you all work with um the dedicated staff and folks here in the city and the community here. And uh I'll say I was really struck the first time we had our ambassador meeting by the the entrepreneurship the can do spirit of the the community here. and it's been a pleasure getting to know the city and work with y'all past few years. So, that's um that's my my quick overview of the what's on your agenda today and um happy to answer any questions.

Thank you so much. I do have a question. Are the um browns fields outlined in this proposal or you just speak to them in general terms? Mostly spoken to in general terms. you know, in some areas such as um kind of the the historic industrial areas, um you know, it's noted that, you know, we probably need to be more thoughtful about, you know, brownfields issues here. This might be a challenge for redevelopment or future land use here. So, it's um you know, specific sites are not necessarily called out. Um but it's you noted in some areas this might be a factor that will impact. Okay. Any questions? Chair,

thank you for the information. It really is u it's really kind of daunting actually um when you kind of put it all in a short period of presentation. You said in the one of the very very first Thank you very much. He's always looking out for me. Uh in the very one of the very first uh slides that our land use is going to be greater and our population is going to be smaller. If we're grow I don't understand that if we're growing shouldn't it be we're running out of land or we have to increase our boundaries for a city.

Yeah I may have misspoken there but generally um you know the city had a much smaller footprint in 1960 1950 when we started to talk about planning here. So it was much more compact. Um you know the city limits expanded out maybe to you know almost to Moretown I think was in 1956. Um not as far south, not as far north. But um you know as the city's grown we've grown out. We've annexed new new areas. We've you know grown out further south towards where Southern Trace is now out west past um almost to the former GM facility. So the city has a lot more land area. It's a bigger city. a lot more roads, a lot more um you linear feet of water and sewer pipes to maintain. Um but there are few fewer people being served by it. Um so there used to be more people, a denser city previously. Um as the city's lost population, some areas have become less populated and others have continued to grow. Um but that is you know kind of a fundamental challenge with you know being a shrinking city is you know you have the same amount of infrastructure but fewer people to pay for it. Um so that's why you know think about where you direct growth is really important because if you keep building out um you know you don't necessarily have the the tax base to support it long term.

Thank you for the clarification. It was just a little puzzling there kind of. Thank you madam. So to put it in layman's terms, you we need to grow the inner city. That that is the general crux of the last master plan and this one as well. You know, it's really focusing on how do you drive investment into the inner city where there's already infrastructure in place where there's vacant land, but also where there's a lot of access to other services. You know, if you're working in downtown, there are a lot of areas around here that are really great to, you know, be a very easy commute to work, right? So yeah, investment in the inner city is you know really the focus of the last master plan in this one as well.

And I think that is why private public partnerships are critically important um in our inner inner city neighborhoods and urban planning for our neighborhoods are critical at that point. It is something that that we've stated for the longest time and I know that it should be a focus there because that's where your people are where your people are and driving and I don't want the individuals in those neighborhoods to leave out of their neighborhoods and go somewhere else you know and increase their capacity while theirs is lacking. So I think having that particular um to be very intentional about that is necessary.

Absolutely. That's a key recommendation. The plan again neighborhood planning is about how do you align up the land use side the zoning where you where you're permitted to build how do you put the capital investments in the place that you're providing and then how do you attract that private investment. So that's where economic development comes in. Madam Chair. Yes.

I think that we have discussed this and we had some meetings with the realtors association and then I think uh the vice chair and the chair. We had a meeting with you as well. I think one of the things that we need to really really start looking at is incentives to get uh developers to start developing in the inner city. Um and I don't know is it tax incentives on building materials? is that there's all kinds of things that this council could do to help with that and go along with what the master plan is suggesting because as long as they can go out and buy land cheaper further out, they're going to continue to sprawl out and we're going to get to a point where we can't go much further. Uh, I think that's why we're seeing, we were talking about this yesterday, the chairwoman and I were, you're seeing the development in Blanchard because they have the water system, they have all that, and now development starting there. So, I don't know who that needs to start with. Sierra, I think, is a good is a good catalyst for that. But there are so many adjudicated properties, so many city- owned properties just right over here in Allenale that, you know, 15, 20 years ago had a huge population. And now those people have migrated further south, you know, and now we have all this vacant land. So, I really don't know what committee this would be good to be in or you know who we need to work with who you know with the mayor but that we need to try to get some incentives to get these developers in because I think if you gave them the incentive to build here um and when I say here talking about in the center of the city and a little bit further out I mean I really think you're going to see some growth. I I really do because, you know, there there actually three council members right now sitting up here that probably 20 years ago wouldn't be on this council because our houses are located in areas

that have been annexed. So, um you know, I just think that's something that we really need to look at over this next year. We've got the master plan in place. We've got new leadership in the NPC. Not to say that there's anything wrong with the previous leadership, but we really need to start looking at ways to infill. Yeah, I think you could definitely look at the developers that are already here that, you know, build houses when we come inside of the inner city. We're not asking you to build a $500,000 house. That's not where what we're looking at.

We're looking at houses that's going to be attainable for for that. and how we incentivize that for sure. So I mean I appreciate the layout but I I do believe that we have to be very intentional about that which is a priority. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. I think that's it. You're not going to make your record this time. No, y'all know we weren going to make it. It's all good. We had to combine two council meetings. Does any member have any questions or concern relative to property standards for Mr. Green?

I think we filled your calendar already. Well, you do have a sweep next week. Council District A. Um we'll be at CC Anwine Park, the old CC Anwine Park at um 1740 Milm Street next Wednesday. Um the sweep will actually run from 8 to noon, but the dumpsters will be there from 8 to 4. Okay. Where you say next week? Next next Wednesday. A A like the alphabet A B C D. Madam Chair, a um yours coming.

Miss Mr. Green, it's it's a new year. Can you just recap um what are sweeps? What's the purpose of sweeps um for the listening audience?

Sure. Um we do the sweeps to try to not only show the neighborhoods how to clean up, but to get involved in cleaning up your own neighborhoods. Uh they get a chance to see that the city is an active partner with the communities. We're not there to just take the place of people cleaning up themselves. We provide dumpsters. We provide help with picking up uh everything. Public works provides uh boom trucks. Uh SPD is there. We are also we will also be addressing uh a lot of the violations that we didn't in previous years. We will be tagging cars. We will be addressing any demolitions that we have in the area. Uh any cleanups or anything like that. Uh animal control will be there as well to to help out with any kind of animal issues that you have in the communities. So, it's it's basically a deal where we all come together as a community, as a city, and we go to work. I mean, the only way we're going to be successful in this is together.

And also to let them know that even if they don't reside right there in Allenale, live in Lakeside, Lakeside Acres, any other community, you can come and dump the trash. Bring your trash. What we don't accept is um drugs, well needles, wet paint. Um they do have if you if you have your paint where you've treated it with the chemicals that will harden it, then we'll take that. Um as a matter of fact, I will check with Streetport Green because they just may take the wet paint. Okay. Um so it's pretty much everything except for your sharps materials. Mh. um your meds,

things of that nature. And I will check on the wet paint. Okay. Thank you. Y gonna be feeding. That's uh through the city. Hey, make it a competition. Do what you do. No, he ain't gonna be out there with any chicken, anything like that. Not going to do it. Thank you, sir. All right. Does any member uh everyone should have received the revenue collection plan and implementation report public hearing? There is none. Madame clerk, is there any legislation to be added today? No, ma'am.

Today we'll hear public comments on agenda items only. Madame Chair will preside on this section of the agenda. Please state your name and address for the record and you have three minutes to speak. Thank you. First one, Sammy Mirs. It's good to be back from the ice storm.

Sammy Mirs, 1133 South Point Parkway, apartment 111 Streetport, Louisiana 71105. Today I'm speaking on a resolutions 9112 and 9A13. Boy, do I pick them. Anyway, I think it's a great idea to recognize the Downtown YMCA of Northwest Louisiana for the 100 years of great service and I ask for a vote of yes on this it that it would be approved. I also think it's a great idea recognizing Jon Hector Jr. for his great outstanding academic achievement, athletic excellence, and leadership community services. Please vote yes on this too. And earlier I almost forgot to add 911. Please recognize and honor Mary Harris on her 90th birthday. If you would please please vote yes on all three of these topics. It will be very much appreciated. And I got lucky too. I got two trophy cups the other day. First internationally known and most unpredictable.

Thank you Robert Rollins. Robert Rollins, 1324 North Hearn Avenue, Sweet 301, Shriport, Louisiana 7107.

I have two items I'd like to speak about. First, on behalf of Take Five, uh they they wanted me to go over the the traffic impact study with you guys and the findings on that study. Um the study shows that during the peak hours of operation that the uh current level of service at Floren or Lucas and Ellerby Road intersection won't be affected by this development. You're looking at four vehicles during the AM peak hours, which is 7 to 9:00 a.m., five vehicles during the PM peak hours, which is 4 to 6 PM. Um, also someone mentioned that we the possibility of extending the driveway through the old Floral Lucas right away to the new new Floral Lucas. Um, there's sight distance issues out there, so that may not be possible. It'd have to be studied, but also due to the drainage in the area, it's going to be economically unfeasible for any development on a halfacre site to to incur those those costs. Um, the second item I wanted to speak about was the reszoning at West 70th and Rice Road. If we could please postpone that to the next meeting. We have a variance meeting coming up. Um, so it's possible that we withdraw this request. You all have any questions?

Yes, sir. Thank you. you may want to uh hang around to the um yes to the uh appeal portion. Absolutely. Thank you. That concludes public comments. We have the following appointments to consider today and we have a motion to withdraw director water and sewer Brandon Sneed and city traffic engineer Jonathan Rap. So move. Second. So moved by Councilman Green, second by Madame Vice Chair. Any discussion? Let's vote.

Okay, this passes with seven. We have a motion to cons to confirm MPC zoning board of appeal, Eric Monroe. So move. Second. So moved by Councilman Green, second by Councilman Brooks. Any discussion? Let's vote.

This passes seven. There are no items under consent agenda or for introduction or to be adopted. Madam clerk, please proceed with regular agenda legislation. Resolution 160 authorizing the mayor to execute a cooperative endeavor agreement between the city of Shreport and the downtown development authority. And there's a motion to I mean a request for this to be postponed. So move for postponement. Second

moved by the chair, second by the vice chair. Any discussion? Let's vote. This passes with six resolution two to recognize January 2026 as human trafficking awareness month. So move second. So moved by the chair, second by the vice chair. Any discussion? Let's vote. This passes with six.

Resolution three, authorizing a mayor to execute a lease to own agreement with Striker Sales Corporation. So move. So move by Madame Vice Chair, second by Councilman Brooks. Any discussion? Let's vote

and this passes seven resolution four authorizing the mayor to execute a lease agreement between the city of Shreport and North Louisiana Criminalistic Laboratory Commission. And there's a request for this to be postponed as well. So move. Second. So move for postponement by Councilman Green, second by Councilman Butcher. Any discussion? Madam Chair? Yes. Is there is there any way we can get them here? U I know we you've said that he's in some kind of something other, but I think before we pass this and I don't want this lease to run out. I think Councilman Green's been asking for him since January.

We will we will we have asked again. We were trying to get on this guy's calendar, but apparently when a court case comes up, he's got to be gone. And I'm not really sure who else from the lab can come do this. We're going to see if there is anybody else. Well, I mean, we I we could do it on a Monday, we do it on Tuesday. Just if we could just get them here to ask the question, I would appreciate that. And then what about the end of the lease term? I mean, did we find anything out about that? As I understand it, the term the term is at the end of this month. Um, at least that I believe that's what police told me. I mean, I'm not sure that's the end of the world short term. Okay. But we do need to get this done and offer your agenda one way or the other. Right. Thank you,

Chair. I I I agree with Councilman Butcher. I'm sorry. Um because he did u make presence at the Kettle Parish Commission about the questions they had. So if he wants money from the city, he needs to come down here and talk to us as well. Okay. Okay. Counc.

Yes. Uh I think the message need to be relayed to him that when he was getting our money, he stayed in town long enough to come get the money then. So I just think he ought to take out some time. Anybody else? Let's vote. This passes seven to postpone. Resolution five authorizing a mayor of the city of Sheport to execute a lease amendment which will extend the primary term of state agency lease number 22145 with Apex Natural Glass LLC for additional two years. So move.

Second. So move by Councilman Green, second by Vice Chair. Any any discussion? Let's vote

in this passage. Seven, resolution six, granting the city council approval for the mayor to pay premiums and execute documents in connection with the purchase of insurance for the city excess workers compensation and inland marine for the period beginning January 1st, 2026. So move second. So moved by Councilman Green, second by Madame Vice Chair. Any discussion?

Let's vote.

This passes a seven. Resolution seven to amend the master plan titled great ex expectations street port cattle 2030 master plan relative to updating a future land use map to reflect current conditions to otherwise provide would respect that too. So move second. So moved by Council Green, second by Madame Vice Chair. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this passes seven. Resolution 10 authorizing the city of Streetport, Louisiana purchasing agent to reject all bids for Curtis Lane and Lakeshore Drive improve improvements GOB 24 project IFB25-073. So move second. So moved by Madame Vice Chair, second by the chair. Any discussion? Let's vote. Mr. Guard is we looking to move on this street this year.

We are going to move on it as soon as this passes. Get it back out for bid so we can try to get it awarded. And this passes seven. Resolution 11 recognizing and honoring Mary G. Harris on her 90th birthday and her contributions to the MLK community. So move second. So moved by the chair, second by the vice chair. Any discussion? Let's vote and this passes with seven resolution 12 recognizing in downtown Shreport YMCA of Northwest Louisiana for 100 years of service. So moved. Second.

So moved by Councilman Talifer, second by Councilman Ber. Any discussion? Let's vote. This passes with seven resolution 13 recognizing weighing Hector Jr. for outstanding academic achievement, athletic excellence, leadership, and community service. So move. So moved by Councilman Jackson, second by Councilman. Let's rethink possibility. Any discussion? Let's vote. Got you. This passes at seven.

Madam clerk, would you proceed with introductions of resolutions not to be adopted prior to February 24th, 2026? Resolution 8, authorizing the mayor of the city of Shreport to sign a consent of assignment by Citizen Acquisition LLC on an oil and gas lease to Silver Creek Energy, the third LLC. Resolution nine, authorizing the mayor to execute a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, Office of the State Fire Marshall and the state of Louisiana. Resolution 14, authorizing the mayor to execute an entity state agreement between the city of Shreport and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. So move to introduce these. Second.

So move for introduction by Councilman Green, second by the vice chair. These items have been introduced. Madame clerk, would you proceed with introduction of ordinances not to be adopted prior to February 24th, 2026? Ordinance one, amending the city issue for Louisiana 2026 capital projects fund budget. Ordinance 2, zoning case number 25-132C, an ordinance to approve the amendment of the zoning map of the UDC by reszoning property located on the south side of North Market Street, approximately 290 ft northwest of North Lake Drive from C2 Corridor Commercial Zoning District to C3 General Zoning District. Ordinance three, zoning case 25-142C, an ordinance to deny the amendment of the zoning map of the UDC by resoning property located on the northwest corner of Highland Avenue and Atkins Avenue from C1 neighborhood commercial zoning district to C2 corridor commercial zoning district. Ordinance four, zoning case 25-143C, an ordinance to approve the amendment of the zoning map of the UDC by resoning property located on the west side of Greenwood Lane, approximately 145 ft north of Lucenna Circle from R17 single family residential zoning district to I1 light industrial zoning district. zoning case 25-144C, an ordinance to approve the amendment of the zoning map of the UDC by reszoning property at the southeast corner of Puremont Road in Henderson Avenue from R17 Single Family Residential Zoning District to C2 corridor commercial zoning district. Ordinance 6, zoning case 25-146C, an ordinance to approve the amendment of the zoning map of the UDC by reszoning property on the southeast corner of Kings Highway and Sanford Avenue from C1 neighborhood commercial zoning district

to C2 corridor commercial zoning district to IC institutional campus zoning district. Ordinance seven, amending chapter 38 of the Streetport Code of Ordinances relative to notice of grass, weeds, and wild growth violation. Ordinance 8, amending the 2026 public safety special revenue fund budget. Ordinance 9 to amend and reenact section 2-418 of the Streetport code of ordinances relative to eligibility requirements for certification as a small disadvantaged business enterprise to update monetary thresholds align program standards with current federal and state practice. and ordinance 10, zoning case number 25-145C, an ordinance to approve the amendment of the existing IC institutional campus conditional zoning district within the zoning map of the UDC for the property located on the northwest corner of Greenwood and Prime Road to allow the use of retail sales of alcohol, beer, and wine in outdoor dining.

So move on introduction of these ordinance. Second. So move on intro uh on introduction of ordinance by Councilman Green, second by the chair. These items have been introduced. Madame clerk, please proceed with ordinances on second reading and final passage. Ordinance 157, zoning case number 25-124C, an ordinance to deny the amendment of the zoning map of the UDC by resoning property located on the northwest corner of West 70th Street and Rice Road from C4 heavy commercial zoning district to I1 light industrial zoning district. And there's a request for this to be postponed. Yes. Motion to postpone. Second.

Motion to postpone by the vice chair, second by Councilman Green. Any discussion? Let's vote. My mouse's not working. And this passes with seven. Madam clerk, is there any other table legislation to be removed from the table today? No, ma'am.

We have no property standards or AP appeals to consider today. We have the following MPC case to consider today. Case number 24 213-C appeal by Turner Ronald J. Mashota on behalf of Forbin Bluff Timber Company and Ruth Norton for 9500 block of Lob Road special use permit and site plan for the alter group take five oil change vehicle repair and drive-thru. What I supposed to say? Come on down. Come on down. Okay, attorney Edwards, do we swear them in?

No, ma'am. Okay, so we have request to speak. Yes. Um, the first request to speak is John Linton. You would let the the appellent go first.

Okay. Hello, my name is Scott Sinclair, uh 401 Edward Street, Sweet 1905, Shriport 7101. I'm here representing uh Forbing Bluff Timber, which is the appellent um in this uh in this matter. Uh Ron Machoto is also here to talk on this issue. Uh this involves a special use exception and a site plan uh for a planned uh oil change at uh at Elerby Road in Floreno Lucas which you've heard about previously uh in this meeting. Uh Mr. Mishoto is going to talk about um some of the engineering traffic danger issues that we're very concerned about and we think provide ample reason to deny this u this this exception. Uh but I wanted to talk about some of the very fundamental problems with the application itself. And um I handed out a a set of papers that you I guess you consider an old-fashioned slideshow uh because you can hold it in your hand uh in paper. But the very first problem with this application is that uh it doesn't meet the UDC requirement that only the party who owns property or controls property can file an application for a special use or for a site plan. Uh and I've given you the citation. Uh section 16.3B. Um a property owner and a person expressly authorized in writing by the property owner may file an application for a special use. Lucky Land is not the owner of this property. this the second page in your in your sheet um has a a copy of the site plan and you'll see uh that there's a pink shaded area. That is

the sole access to this property off of uh off of Lerby Road. Lucky Land does not own that pink tract and it has no written permission from the owner of that pink track to use it to gain access to their tract. It's essential. This this access or this paint tract is essential to the special exception. The sole purpose for the special exception is in order to do oil changes at this site. If you can't get a car to the site, you can't do an oil change. Um so it's it's just that simple. This is the only access uh to this property and it's critical both to the special exception and it's critical uh to the site plan. Uh the there's some question about who owns the property. The next sheet um in your uh in your package is a copy of a 1924 um right-of-way agreement by the then owner uh for the Floreno Lucas. So this was this was a right-of-way that was granted back in 1924. Um it is it is not a fee ownership. uh it is only a grant of a servitude to use that property specifically and exclusively as a public road. The use that's proposed here is not a public road. It's a private driveway. So even if and and by the way since then this property has been donated or annexed into the city. And so that's the claim by which the city may own uh some interest in this property. If they do, all they own is a servitude and can only be used uh for public as a public road. So the next thing is is going to the site plan review. One of the absolute minimum requirements for a site plan review is that uh you must confirm that you've got uh adequate and safe access

to the site for motor vehicles. If you don't consider the pink track, you can't get there because it's the only way for uh motor vehicles to get to uh to the site. Lucky Land has taken the position that the city of Shreport owns uh this pink tract and and you'll see on you can see on the um on the plan that it says Floreno Lucas Road and it says 50 ft use uh abandoned uh because it's no longer in use. Um, assuming that the city does own this property, it's prohibited by the Louisiana Constitution from donating this property to Lucky Land for use as a private drive. You'll be you'll be uh creating a constitutional violation if you if you approve this. In addition, as as I know many of you know very well, in order for the city to transfer property uh city property to someone else for someone else's use, there's a there's a you've got to pass ordinances. uh you can't just go through this special use exception process and someone ab you know magically wind up with the ability to use uh public property. So they they've not gone through the processes that they need to go through in order to use this property assuming that it does belong to the city and that's the position they're taking. So, if you approve this today, uh tomorrow when someone goes out on that piece of property to start working on this private drive, they'll be a trespasser. They don't own the property and they do not have the right uh or any written permission from the owner of the property to use that property to get to their to their site. The other things um in way the other ways in which the um the MPC did not follow their own rules is that in order to have a site plan for a special use, the MPC itself has to be the one to approve the site plan. There are lots of

instances where the executive director has the authority for site plan approval but not here. And so there are three main areas uh where that are required site plan approval and site plan approval by the MPC. Those include um uh signage, they include lighting and they include the landscape plan. There was no landscape plan, no sighting, no no lighting plan submitted uh to the MPC. And the way the MPC dealt with those things is it kicked them over to um the executive director, which they're not allowed to do. The MPC has to be the party approving uh this site plan. So if you look at the staff report, which is also in your package uh and look at the manner in which the MPC uh did this approval, they had several stipulations. One of which was that the landscape and irrigation plan would be approved by the MPC executive director. He doesn't have the authority to do that and the MPC did not have the authority to grant him that authority. Uh in addition uh one of the stipulations that a photo photometric plan approved by the MPC executive director that's the lighting plan. The MPC does not have the authority to grant that to the executive director and the executive director does not have the authority to approve that. And then finally, um there's no signage plan uh that's that's included with this and no approval by the MPC. So the last page of my presentation has our recommendations. Number one, we believe that this permit should simply be reversed and and denied because in addition to these problems, uh there's there's traffic uh safety problems uh with this site. Alternative two, if you're not going to reverse and simply deny it, uh our recommendation is that you reverse it and remand it back to the

MPC so that they can fix these problems. They can fix the ownership problem, they can fix the written permission problem, and fix the other problems that I've outlined. Thank you. Do you have any questions? Not right. I will in a minute. But

good afternoon, madame chair and city council members. Ron Mishoda, 628 Stoner Streetport. On behalf of Forbing Bluff Timber Company, along with my co-consel, Mr. Scott Sinclair, I'd like to introduce the entire record in this matter, including the 31 oppositions filed by residents at the first time we came down here for this hearing. And when uh Mr. Butcher uh uh indicated to us that he had received numerous emails in opposition to this application. I'd like those made part of the record. Also, Mr. Rollins, who is the engineer for uh Take Five, can't get about can't get around his words when asked at the one of the MPC meetings. when asked what's the traffic like there his exact words traffic is a mess. You just heard him three minutes ago or 30 minutes ago say you know traffic's okay. He can't get around those words. Traffic is a mess. It's a danger in this area and we're asking that the the city council not approve this application. What happens with if y'all approve it and they say they only have 40 cars a day and they charge $90 a uh oil change. How in the world are they going to keep this place open with 40 cars? So that's impossible. And for those reasons, this place will close in one year, two years, three years, and then if you give them this special use, we don't know what we're going to get after that. I went to their website the other day just to see what else they do besides oil changes, and they've never mentioned

any of this in any of the meetings. They do wiper blades, they do antifreeze, they do coolant. So, there's going to be more than 40 cars there. Don't be fooled by that. You can't spend the the millions of dollars they're spending on this location and only have 40 cars a day. That's ridiculous. The numbers just don't add up. And for those reasons, we're asking you to deny this application or this special exception use. Thank you. It'll go.

Okay. Good afternoon, Madame Chair, members of the council. Jeff West Morland at Wiener Weiss and Madison, 330 Marshall Street, Sweet 1000 Shriport, Louisiana. I'm here on behalf of the original applicant in this matter, the landowner, Lucky Land Company and Driven Brands, which is also known as Take Five Oil Change. Uh we also submitted a package to you uh which included all of the uh letters and applications as well as the traffic study um plans for this uh proposed use. I'd like to note uh for the record that the MPC uh unanimously approved uh this proposal. The MPC found specifically with the staff report that it met all the requirements of the UDC. Um on the overhead projector I've shown you a car count uh for this is for a three bay take five. We will be a two bay. Okay. And so the number of cars, the highest use is 11:00 a.m., six cars, and 300 p.m. Seven cars in that hour. The concerns about traffic are rush hour. Those are not even close to rush hour. And again, that's a threebay uh that's for a three bay basis based on their historical use. The staff here is going to be quite

limited. There are no repairs done on site. Mr. Mishoda was correct. They do minor little things like windshield wiper blades and fluids. No repairs, no noise issues. Uh no mechanic work. All liquids are are taken off site. There will be no environmental issues. It'll be very small uh traffic density for this site. Just real quickly to now to address Mr. Sinclair's argument about my client doesn't own or have control. The UDC keeps saying own or control. There are two parties who have control over the use of this old road. DOTD because it's within their uh controlled access of 3132 which we've received a permit from DOTD approving us to go forward. And the city of Shreveport has control over this. This is the process by which we seek that control. We go to the MPC. We go into the UDC. We get approval. If it gets appealed, it comes to you. That's the control. You grant us the control. You grant us the right. This is not a donation or a transfer of ownership of property owned by the city. So that legal argument is out the window. It's a red herring. That is not what this is. We're seeking your approval of a permit issued by the MPC. I would also point out that in 2019 without even the concessions that we have we have agreed to uh based on concerns about traffic, the city engineer approved this very plan without

two concessions that I'm going to talk about here in a minute. But in 2019, because of economics issues, that permit expired. And that's why we're back here. By the way, the appellant wasn't even involved at that time. Didn't come forward. Didn't file an appeal. Didn't didn't rile up the neighbors and ask ask for this to be denied. The traffic concerns, every concern that's been raised has been addressed by Take Five. Uh we've already talked about the car count and and the car count is not going to be during rush hour. The city engineer has already previously approved uh this plan without the concessions under an old application. What are the concessions? The first concession. Can you zoom in on this right here? Possible.

Oh, now you're gonna make me do something. I'm not Here we go. Okay. There we go. This is the entrance. This is going south on Elev Road. Okay. What what tape 5 has agreed to to address traffic concerns is a right exit only right there. You see as they're coming out, they're going to go right. They're going to be forced right. That little island there is what we might call a builtup pork chop. It is going to be uh an island with a high curb to force cars to go right. So when they come out, they are only going to go right. They're not going to cut across Elby Road traffic and they're not going to try to attempt to turn left. That's concession one. Concession two is that we agreeing to uh create a turn lane again going south for the cars to turn left into this at take five expense. Both of those things have been requested. Both of them have been agreed to by take five. I find it really interesting that the opposition wants to talk about safety and traffic safety and traffic safety. Where's their evidence? We were asked to get a traffic study last time we were in front of this body. We got one at great expense to my client. That traffic study by the only engineer who's who's put anything in the record here says that traffic is negative not negatively affected. Where is their engineer? Where is their traffic study? We can sit up here and all pontificate about the safety of traffic, but there's no evidence in the record except my client's traffic study.

So, at this point, the traffic concerns which which have been brought up have been addressed. There's been a traffic study. There's a right turn only exit and there's a left turn turning lane. Unfortunately for this application, I think we've been here four times or so. We got up behind the data center that first night and myself and these gentlemen, we sat up here for 3 hours. We never got to speak that day. But what we talked about was business in Shreveport. This is business in Shreveport. This is jobs. This is a low uh density impact that we should be approving. There might have been some people who who signed a petition, but they're not here tonight. They haven't been here at any of the other times we've been before you. And this is not about public outrage. Otherwise, they would be here. Quite frankly, it's about one land owner who doesn't want this prop this use next to their property. This application meets all the UDC requirements. The MPC unanimously approved it. We have met all traffic concerns uh and our application should be approved. I would like to also offer uh the take five graph uh placed in the record uh as well as our um December 12, 2025 letter and all of its attachments uh which were sent to uh the city council clerk previously. So, thank you for your consideration. comments. Move to public comments.

The attorney Scott Sinclair. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Did you have any more public comments? Uh, just a couple. Um, he said that this is not a donation. any not that I'm sorry he can do it this this would uh this sounds like it's probably going to be uh a rebuttal not public comment but he can do that but just know that after after he's done that then you'll want to move into public comment okay that's a good

just a couple of comments number one he said this is not a donation um that driveway will have an exclusive use it will be solely a private driveway for a for a business it's take five driveway driveway. So this whatever ownership whatever position the city has and that's uncertain. Uh this will be a donation of that to a private company for a private use. It will no longer be a public road. Um so you're you're you're not going to solve that problem. Secondly, um Mr. West Morland candidly admitted that they are not the owner and they do not have written permission from the owner and that's fatal to their application. If you go back to the UDC rules though, one of those two things is required. They don't have it.

Thank you. Thank you, John Linton.

John Linton with Alter Group. address 553 Hughes Road, Shepard, Texas. Um, I'm here on behalf of the Take Five team. I'm the architect for the project. Been with it for a good while now. Uh, like Jeff was saying, uh, he's covered most of the bases, but if I could use this projector, I'll kind of flip through my presentation that I gave to MPC. um a as he expressed, we've tried our best uh multiple public uh meetings at the hotel to try to address everybody's concerns, hear them, take note of them with the MPC, and then come back with either data or just revisions to the plans, to try to address all their their concerns as a public. And and toward the end of working with Chris Terrell, everybody felt like we had addressed that. Um, so this this was the presentation that we kind of went through as Jeff had noted on this site plan. Originally, we started with a three bay trying to max out this site and you of course just trying to do business, but you know, one of the concerns was we didn't have enough landscaping. We had eaten up most of the property. Drainage was a concern. And so we heard that uh we went back to the owners and we decided uh to work with them on just going with a tube bay. So we did much less of a footprint. Uh you'll see on the next page here in a minute. It increased our ability for landscaping a lot more for screening. I know there were concerns of noise which again was we were trying to do as much as we could to soften the edges of this. Um as far as noise goes really again the only thing they've got here is an air compressor and that is in a room. So other than just airing up some tires, that is going to be the maximum. And and as the table showed, the the peak hours of this effort is really kind of in the middle of the day, not any type of peak times in the evenings or anything like

that. So noise impact we felt was pretty low. Uh other concerns were the traffic issues, which as Jeff said and and Robert earlier, we've given data from traffic engineers. We've gone through LDOTD a couple times now to try to get this resolved and everything's shown that there's really not a concern. Now, visually, I know that there is traffic in the evenings. I've been to the site and seen it. Um, but our our traffic usage here that's should be in that packet is we're really more of a people don't leave their home specifically on the most part of when you read this to go find an oil change. They're usually out. So, we're considered a passive traffic most of the time. And so most of the traffic impact that you do see on that people are already out on the roads and so again the impact overall and I believe the reports will show this is it's little impact um plus the hours that we actually are on the roads. Um but again we've we've had engineers and LDOTD support us on that and so hopefully you guys agree this is the plan that we've uh that we came back with. Um, again, maximizing it as much as we could with landscaping to try to soften what it looks like. I know that we're very close to residential. So, really trying to be uh sensitive to that with putting as much greenery in this to where it's just not a hard site. Quick shot of the floor plan. Really a simple space uh for two cars, couple recessed places. Um no concerns really on our parts for environmental. You can see the dark gray spots. That's where like oil is stored, but it's all recessed and meant to collect any of that. So again, a very low impact clean site. And I'll have a couple photos here

in a minute of some sites that they have opened up. This is a page. This is not their standard prototype. Uh, one of the concerns from the the neighborhood was that we weren't soft enough. We didn't fit into the sort of the residential vibes of the neighborhood. So, we went ahead and we came back with a hip roof on the towers. We we went to materials. Most of the time, we're usually a stucco uh finish. and we we went to a masonry finish here to try again to connect more with the residential designs that were going on in this area. So, u this was a a change that we made through the process of hearing the public and trying to address their concerns. And this final photograph is just a couple sites. I know it's real grainy, but they do keep a very clean site. uh any used oil containers or anything like that or filters, they go into a special container in the back in the dumpster. Uh they again have all kinds of protocols in place. Uh but these were good examples of sites that have been open for years that are clean. Um we've been working for them for five years now and I have not yet any of the ones we've worked on close. Uh so again, their numbers support it. Their their business is good. Um, so I don't think they're going anywhere anytime soon. So, this concludes my presentation. Any questions?

A quick question. What's What's the signage going to be on this? What What are we talking about signwise? Uh, well, we have they have a dedicated sign group right now working on it. Most of the time it's it's what you see on the buildings, which is just their oil can ch uh sign. Um, they have some wayfinding signs on there, but again, we can reduce those down. We've got different things to try to again be sensitive to being near residential. Um they do have a group though that works on all of that. So but typically as far as signage goes they're they're typical as a pylon but we can do a monument because I think in this area from what I saw everything across the streets monument signs Kroger and and down that ways monument. Yes sir.

I'm concerned about a huge sign coming down that hill. Um I just think that that would be a a mess. Yeah. Next question is, so what hauls this spent oil away? What how do they get rid of it? Uh there's certified companies in usually in every store. How do they haul it though? They they come in an 18-wheeler. They come I mean, how do they haul it? I believe it's a box truck that comes and gets the stuff. But again, it's in a container in the back uh that's it's wheeled off, put on a truck. They bring in their restored clean clean container for the new ones to go into. But yeah, it's usually a certified third party that does it. They do not handle it themselves. And I didn't even think about this until we started talking about them

hauling this off. But there's really no way if this is an 18-wheeler is not Yes, sir. It's it's a it's going to be like a a moving van or something. Yes, sir. There's no way for it to get there because all those roads are non uh they're pl you can't run an 18-wheeler up and down LB road. So, if you're turning to the right, there would be no way for them to get in and get it. So, you're telling me that it's going to be it it is smaller than a dumpster, if that makes any sense. So, it's not going to need a big truck to come in and get it. Okay. Right. Yes, sir. What What are your proposed hours of operation? Uh, I believe it's 7 to 7 U is what they typically hit.

And, uh, Mr. West Morland mentioned jobs. How many jobs will this location create? Um I I want to say on average they have um typically two people per bay helping uh because usually there's somebody that's dealing with the customer and then there's somebody that's under the vehicle changing the oil. So you can have a room probably in this facility of probably four to six people um at one time. Four to six people at a time. Yes sir. Okay. Thank you. They have their hours too in their packet too. their hours. They have it on in their packet. Oh, good.

Councilman. Um, yes, sir. Okay. I understand all this business and I and I do business, you know, with Take Five at other locations. Yes, sir. And and I think I'm I'm not confused. I'm concerned about the the access to the facility itself. So, I'm really confused on who actually owns the property necessary to quote unquote have control, right?

Is the I mean, if that's everything else is great, but I'm confused on the controlling aspect of the entrance to the facility. I mean, I've heard of both sides of the council and it seems like

Mr. Jean, does does the the MPC have author, you know, I'm I'm confused about the authority to to grant I don't want to get I'm not going to get in trouble because I'm taking bad counsel and I'm not accusing anybody. I'm just saying I'm confused on who actually owns the ride ofway, you know, to get a driveway into this facility. I asked that question to Mr. Jean and he may have a little bit of an explanation as to because if you if you listen to Mr. West Morland's argument, us approving this would be us as a city giving them permission to use this rightway. But if you listen to Mr. Sinclair's argument, we don't have the right to do that because it's a deed restriction basically. So I need either Marcus or Mr. Gene or somebody to tell us

correct. Um I don't want to have to and I look I sympathize. Thank you all for letting us take a break at the data deal. I think y'all would have been here till 8 or 9:00. So I apologize for that. But I don't want to have to remand this back to NPC. I think that it's it's doing uh the appellet and the applicant a disservice to do that. So somebody needs to tell me what what the opinion is of of that. and and and also to add what's the liability to the city?

There's always liability to the city one way or the other. Um the uh with respect um it is outside the purview of the MPC to determine ownership issues. Um the application has to include information about ingress and egress about all points of vehicular access and entrance into and exit from um a site in a site plan. That's one of the things that's required in a site plan. But um the MPC is not in the practice of determining um like ownership per se of a particular parcel in service of that. They're just approving the site plan. And there's no there's no title search going on for any of that. First of all, secondly, when it comes to the property itself, um that's in question. First of all, that in ingress and egress has been approved by DOTD at the um in the first instance already. And secondly, you can't landlock a piece of property and they have been prohibited from access to the property from Floroi Lucas. So, they have to be able to access the property from Ellerby Road under the civil code. Unless a property is deliberately partitioned and you landlock yourself, you cannot be prohibited from getting in and off your property. So, they have to be able to access their property one way or the other. There's already a rightway there. That would be the easiest way for them to um access the property. Um I think the the language is that has to be the least injurious way to enter the property, which is which is what it is. Um, so we could go through this, you know, sort of discussion about who owns that property, but the way it ends is they get a right of way over that same piece of property in order to get in and out of the property anyway because they can't access it from Floreno Lucas. So

that's where this ends. Um, and I I I hate to have this discussion in front of the lawyers who will inevitably sue us over this issue, but that's where this ends. Madam Chair, so so this little pink part that they said belong to the city. Um and they from what I heard MPC can't tell them that they can do it. Have we told them that they could do it? Uh my understanding is that there have been per that permits have issued from the city already. um that permits have issued from DOTD already for this this access. Um that's not MPC. That's a completely separate process.

But I think that's that's an issue. But my Yeah. My question is I just heard what they said that this little pink part, right, belongs to us. That that's not entirely true. So the the argument goes like this. It was donated by an entity to the parish actually for the use of a of a public ride ofway to build a public roadway. At some point that transferred from the parish to the city I guess through when we annexation

annexed the property itself. And so in theory it was given to the parish and and we are the successor and right to the parish for that property for the purpose of a public roadway. We have not yet used it for a public roadway. So in theory it would either revert back to the donating entity or it would be um um um we we would we would uh sort of succeed in right to that piece of property in um in granting this uh in granting the permits. In theory the argument would have to be that we have somehow donated the land or given the land to the entity. That's not what it would be. It would be the same thing as I described. It's a rightaway. It's an easement. It's a way in and out of a piece of property that's otherwise landlocked. That's not a that's not a donation. That's actually commanded by the civil code. So, it's not a it's um respectfully I disagree. Respectfully, I disagree with the argument that was provided by um the applicant.

So, I'm sorry, the appellant. So, on the other side, they said on the other side of Elby, why why this why they got to come through here? What about the other side of of the property? Uh, Floro Lucas Lucas. Floro Lucas. Uh, that's been denied by the state for reasons I don't necessarily know. I don't know if if we have that information. So, the state can deny them, but we can't. It's a well, it's a someone has to say yes. And the state already said no. The state the uh Fenoy Lucas is LA 523 at that point. So, Fenoy Lucas is a state highway. So they'd have to have a curb cut. My understanding and I'll let you say I'm not going to say go ahead. There's only two access to the property. So

they got to have to get on either one way or the other. Correct. And since the state already said no reason, we can't say no. They have they have a right to a yes from somebody. And they can sue us both and get that's why I keep saying this is where it ends one way or the other. They can sue us both and get a yes from either one of us or they can sue us and get this yes. lawyer. My question is, if the state said no, then why not let them sue the state instead of us saying yes and we get sued? I mean, this is why you don't really give legal advice in public. They'll just sue us both. But I think at some point, but I

But I'm just saying I'm not talking about them suing both of us. I'm just saying the state the state said no, you can't do it. Probably will get sued if we say yes. Yes. So what law says that we have to say yes? We don't have to say yes. I'm saying that a lawsuit will be filed and they will get access to this property is what I'm saying.

Well, I would I'm going to be I'm just going to be honest with you as a councilman for that. I I want it to come off Lucas. I've had the conversation with both sides about that. I don't necessarily like where it's at right now. Um I am concerned about exiting entering. I'm I'm I'm concerned. Um I I agree with with Marcus on the ownership issue that that that probably will have to be played out in court. I and I don't want to say too much for that reason, but I have my own personal beliefs about it and Marcus and I may not just may not agree with it each other, but um you know, it's it's kind of like what Councilman Green said. Do we do we deny it and let

them fight the state? Why will the state not let us let y'all put the the entrance and exit there? My understanding is when they relocated uh Floreno Lucas, that road that runs behind this track used to be the Floreno Lucas we all use. when they relocated it, whether intentionally or unintentionally, if you drive that, there's a large hump right there where my client's property is, and they won't put an entrance either at the top of the hump or immediately next to the hump on one side or the other for safety reasons. You're coming over a blind spot. Mhm.

The only talk we've had with DOTD that they would allow us to put one on there was way further east. My client tried to buy that property to go further east. Interestingly enough, their client bought it and controls it. So, my client can't go east. Okay. Is that making sense? But let me let me ask

but but but my point to your question, Councilman, is that because of a safety issue, there's a hump there, and if you drive it, you'll see it. And so you can't get a curb cut really anywhere within the bounds of my client's property because it's it's in a hump that they created. Um, again, I I don't think intentionally. I just think that's what happened. And when we went years ago, I've been representing this owner for a long time. That is exactly what we were told. You can't get that curb cut at the top of the hump or on either side of it because it's a blind spot. They don't go

since we're talking about access. There is another option, but I don't believe that it's I I think that it's something that is not feasible. If you look at this track of land, and I don't know who in the city annexed this because everything else is out, and I tried my best to make sure this was out, but it wasn't. It's in. But if you look at a triangle that goes down like this where Floyenoid Lucas Road comes, it's a triangle and there's an old roaded here and then the new Floyenoid Lucas goes here. The bottom part belongs to Lucky Land. The middle belongs to the appelllet and then the top belongs to DOTD. the triangle. The other option would be to make a city road go through there and then enter and exit further up which for me that's the perfect scenario.

But you know we try to be business friendly here. I don't think that it's something that's attainable because the cost that I'm hearing I'll let you say and I'm not going to say it.

So what it is what he's saying is this is the old road. This is new for Lucas. And if you extended this road up, they would meet at some point. This is east. Okay. But there's a drainage ditch here, open drainage. My engineers have estimated just to run the pipe underground from from the edge of this property to here. Over $300,000. That does not include the concrete for the drive. So you would have to lay a pipe underneath, cover it with fill, and then that's so they're estimating 300,000 for that. That doesn't even count the concrete from here all the way out there. We talked about it, and I mean, you know, again, I I feel like my clients have really tried hard to address everything that's been brought to them, but that's I mean, you're talking300 to $500,000 additional infrastructure costs. So, um,

council, so the state said no, why didn't they take the state to court? Well, we're in an application process. And so, the only people that even if we took the state to court, we still got to get site plan approval on this. And so, we we are in an application process. And so we came uh this route with the application meet the requirements of UDC. Um and that's how we're here.

Uh Councilman, this your district I I I don't I don't think that we ought to be the only one in a lawsuit. I just think the state they they got lawyers. So I just think first you you I think they went to the state if the state said no. If they want it bad enough, I think they should have sued the state to say say what he just said in the law that what the law what the law requires that you got to give asset. Well, the state is here and we are in the state. And I just think that before we say okay and get sued by oursel, I I'd rather be in the in the case with the state as well as with us versus us just saying yes and we get sued and we pay the bill by ourselves.

Councilman, I think that is for me, we'll follow your lead as it relates to this. It's it's so many unknowns in here for me and not enough clarity when you talk about ownership, who owns this, you know, the part of the city owns this. It's like all these different variables that are right here. And uh according to attorney West Morland, then they have to get site approval. There's the application. Have all of these different components. And to be honest with you, I don't try to play a lawyer, but I'm confused. Well, and then on the other hands, the person that bought the land down the street, it would have been, I mean, a miracle just to make friends with whoever that is and say, "Hey, you know, let's just be friends and just give me a a ride away and it's done."

Yeah, I know. But I I just think look and and typically this is this is a um this is a difficult one for me because I want the industry and the jobs in district D. It is but you know I spent um I think Gary will attest to this. I spent 25 years of my life as a fireman out there and I've worked numerous accidents at that intersection over the years. Um, did you know that, Gary? Gary know everything. Do we need to call up Miss Sellers? Yeah, confirm that.

But, um, it is concerning to me and I can't take that hat off with this even though I'm looking at it from a from a I will say that um, the applicant has agreed to put in a turn lane, right, leaving only, but I am still somewhat concerned. My my initial knee-jerk would be I really would like for the state to approve it to come out on Floyd Hooks Road. So I I agree with you Councilman Green Talifer in this in this situation. Ownership should be the last thing that we're debating. Great,

which seems to be kind of a hinge point for me. And then having having being told. Okay. So the parish had the property. The property was absorbed somewhere by the city through annexation

through annexation. So in that but the property was designated as a use for public roadway. Did we assume ownership of the property based on its intent to be used as a public roadway and nothing else? Is there some documentation that says this is what it's going to be intended to be used for as it was for the parish? If it is, this is not a public roadway and therefore I'm still um I'm still stuck on the ownership aspect of it because if we took the property from the parish with the intent that the parish had as being used for a private roadway, are we are we bound to agree to the same terms or the same I guess um use that it was initially with the parish? You do not have to reach the ownership issue. The ownership issue is not a matter upon which the MPC reached this conclusion. That's not something that the MPC considered. They consider the the ingress and egress in your site plan. Full stop. They did not make a determination about ownership. And this is a review of the NPC decision. NPC did not make a decision about ownership. You do not have to make a decision about ownership.

But why? So then why are we talking about control? Correct. If there's if there's no may I'm just hard-headed I guess. If there's no issue about ownership, then there's no issue about control. So why is it even mentioned in in any of the debate? Because that's what the applicant that's what the appellant chose to base their appeal upon. But it's but but it says in the spur I mean is 16.3 I mean is it should we take that it says it I mean it says control and so I understand the argument. So the the the you know so if I control it I own it.

So the way that this uh showed up is as a question of whether or not the application was complete. Go ahead. The way this came up, maybe they have the answer. I'm not sure.

Sounds like they do. The way this the way this came up is that um it came up as an as an argument that the application was not complete. That's how it was raised. The argument about whether or not the application is complete is a is a decision that's determined by the executive director of the MPC. It's not really reviewable by the MPC. And then the MPC once the application is in front of them makes a determination based upon the application. They did not make a determination on ownership. And because they did not make a determination on ownership, it's not really properly before this body. The reason should they should they have made a determination on ownership?

I don't I don't think so because there's no Here's why. There's no title opinion. There's no there's no requirement for a title opinion. There's no requirement for a deed. There's no requirement for a title search. None of that happens at the MPC level. And so you can't really make a determination about ownership unless somebody goes through that process. So that's not what's properly before the NPC. What they determine is whether or not there's sufficient ingress and egress to the property based upon property that is controlled or available to the land. Now, um it's an ongoing process. It's a planning process. There's as as we've all discussed, there's been uh different iterations of what that site plan looks like. There's been all kinds of concessions and those sorts of things. But in terms of determining who owns what, that's not properly before this body and it wasn't properly before the MPC.

So who I'm sorry, Madam Chair. Yeah. So who issues a special use permit? MPC based on what? Based on the application based on what I mean it's but what is the UDC? There's there's seven there's seven criteria that are that are listed here in the packet. Okay. If I can pull it up for you, I can read off those seven criteria. Yeah, I'll take us to more. Hold on. Councilman Jackson.

So, it's customary for us to follow the lead of council person that's in. So, we're complicating things, I believe, too much. The group, there's a group here that wants take five. There's a group here that does not want take five. At the end of the day, it's just that simple. Uh, Councilman Butcher, we want you to be as comfortable as possible on whether Tech 5 should exist in your district or not based on whatever you feel comfortable with. He has already said for the record he would like to see it exit on Floydon Lucas. So for take five, what does that look like? Is that even a possibility? You mentioned the cost that it would take to to exit on Fon Lucas. If that is the is that I know the state said no, but they can sue the state for an for a yes, especially if we say no. If if that is not the the preference of if that's not even an option for you even in the lawsuit, um you may not have to vote in order for Take Five to exist. I'm just I'm just saying that for the record. So

from a perspective doing Where did my paper go? Uh doing what I just showed you. No, it's not it's not economically feasible. Council butcher more than Lucas is is not an option. Well, I mean the project for my client just could not go through if we had to pay for that. And so y'all wouldn't even sue the state because that's not what y'all even want. Y'all don't even want to exit on. Yeah. I mean, you're happy that the state said no. If any of y'all been involved with lawsuit involving DOTD, it's the last thing in the world we want to do. It goes on.

And we're not we're not suing the city either. at least that's not how now this could get appealed to a district court by either side. City would be involved in that. Um uh and so would the MPC. Um but that's not us suing the city. That's just the appellet procedure.

Um but but to your original question, I I've been told by my client that if we had to pay for that there's and and the other part and I've told this to Mr. butcher is that to go try to haggle with the DOTD to to to get them to give us that we're talking about another year at least and we've been through years of this. So, um I I now I think it's the first time I've heard tonight that if the city wanted to build that that changes things, but that's a lot of money for the city. So, I understand that. Oh,

and and and you're back into an issue that got very confident uh controversial up in North Kau where the parish paid for essentially a driveway for a business and and a lot of people didn't like that.

Um but for us, if we had to pay for it, it just it it can't be done. Um, Attorney Edwards, I think the question for me is you represent us as c as council members. I know, um, Councilman Butcher have been talking to you. So, I think right now we're going all around the circle, which I think, and I'm going ask you to say it for the record, in your opinion, is everything on paper legal? Yes. And it was it passed um MPC I think with one no vote the first time. It passed MPC unanimously the second time.

Okay.

And and and briefly the the seven criteria that MPC uses to eval evaluate these are number one the compatibility with exist existing use and zoning of nearby property. Number two the extent to which the proposed amendment promotes public health safety and welfare. Three, the suitability of the property for the purposes for which it's presently zoned. Four, the consistency of the proposed amendment with the master plan. Five, that the proposed amendment will benefit the city of Shreport as a whole and not just the applicant, property owners or neighbors. Six, the extent to which the proposed amendment creates nonconformities. And seven, the trend of development, if any, in general, of the area of the property in question. Those are the criteria that MPC uses to evaluate these matters.

Thank you, sir.

Um I I go back to my original point and of course I heard the attorney say, "Well, if we sue the state, then it that'll put us off for a year." Of course, the way I think a delay is not a denial. So even if it put off for a year, if you want it bad enough, then a year is not that long. It's Councilman Ba's district. But on other hands, my suggestion is win with the state and then we don't even have to get involved in just go whatever attorneys they have. just win with the state instead of saying, "Well, the state is a hassle and y'all easy, so let's just um deal with the city because, you know, the city need to go on and do this." But the state, you say, "Well, they too much of a hassle. So, we don't want to spend the resources and we don't want I don't want to spend any money going to court." I think the state should spend the money, but I I just think it's Councilman B's district. I just think go win with the state. Not say that the state is a DOT. You don't want to deal with them. I mean, people deal with them every day. We went through a situation down on uh 70th Street. Uh I know somebody else paid for it. We didn't have to pay for it, but they finally got it right. So, you know, deal with the state, then our last resort is to come to the city. That's how I see it. That's

Councilman Green. I just want to clarify because I don't want the record to be incorrect. I I wasn't saying the one year would be to sue the the state. I'm just saying it just to apply with the state to get that application would would take at least a year. I wasn't implying that that a lawsuit would be filed that it would be done in a year. So, I just want to make sure that I'm so correct. Can I ask this before you, Councilman Butcher? What is the special use permit for

Mr. Jean? So, the special use permit is for a drive-thru facility and for um Yes, it's a uh a vehicle repair minor and for a drive-thru facility. That's the actual use. So, it's a use what's what the request is for a use. That's what's in was in front of the MPC and they granted that with stipulations.

So he the attorney said there are two permits or one this is one permit. Okay. The issues the issues that are in front of were in front of them is basically whether these uses would be allowed on that property. Okay. So what a site approval does if I heard attorney West Morland correctly. What site approval are they waiting on? What we use the site plan for is a tool to mitigate any issues with the use so that it would be acceptable at that location.

That's what the it's a tool. It's just a something that we use to look at all the issues and decide whether the use is should be allowed on that property or not. So that's not approved. Yes. Yes, it's not approved or yes. No. Yes, it is. It was approved along with it. Okay. And the last vote was unanimous. Okay. Real quick while you were up here, Mr. Jean. Yes.

Um if we approve this and the argument um I think it was Mr. Sinclair made um or maybe Mr. Mishoda, this thing closes down. What could be there? What does this transfer? Because I I agree. I I get my oil change at Take Five. I mean, I have for years. They do they do have a very nice, clean facility, but what's to say that this thing doesn't make it? Um, what what are we what are we going to be stuck with on that corner?

Well, I don't have the full list of all of the uses that you could have. It it's on the C2, which is quite a number. You know, restaurants and lots of different uses could be there. Um, obviously if it was a use that had a higher traffic count, we would have to look at that those issues again. If it was something that was fairly benign, uh, if it's, let's say, it was an office or something like that that went in there, that would be easier to deal with traffic.

What if I wanted to buy it and work on chainsaws and crank chainsaws up all day long and they're working on chainsaws and small engines and stuff like that? Is that permitted in there? No, that's not uh vehicle repair minor, which is what was in front of it. I believe a chainsaw shop uh would I mean, I'm just using that as an example. I know. Yeah, but

more of the the intensive uses that begin to get into noise and traffic and all those other issues require special use permits. most of the C2 in the hierarchy. You got C1, which is like office use, really neighborhood friendly. Then it goes up another scale to C2. That's what this property zone. And then you go to C3 to C4. C4 is the really heavy uses. So this is much less use than what the real um impacting environmental impacts, the noise, particulate or anything of that nature that begins to happen as you go up in class. And this is more near the near the neighborhood level. Okay. Thank you.

You put another silver star over there. I guess you can have like a drive-thru for it. Anything else, Mr. Ma'am? Madam Chair, Mr. Jean. Yes. In in rendering a decision such as this, what does what documentation or or what information does the MPC use? What's the UDC for? regarding the MPC making a decision on this case.

When we look at all of the sections of the UDC that apply to that uh whether that be uh well where we look beyond the UDC in some respects is that we also work with others to like storm water management and storm water detention. We work with the city on that. So that's chapter 34 of the ordinance. But the UDC talks about everything from from the way that the the parking layout is, the width of the driveways, how wide the spaces are, how wide your sidewalk has to be, uh what what you have to have in regard to the landscaping. Uh when in this level, we look to make sure that you have the space to put the landscaping that's required and not so much the planting.

Okay. So in their consideration under a UDC code and the one specifically cited in the arguments, the MPC would make a decision based on the UDC the 16.3 special use permit and they would take in consideration of who is control and who owns the property. Correct. Yes. Okay. Because it says that right here. Right. But okay, but but the property that that we that we're dealing with, we have all the ownership information on that

because there's question there's been questions raised about ingress and egress, but that's not what was submitted to us. It was the property itself. Let's say for example, any driveway has to go through some sort of public process to get to it. It has a has an apron and then it goes into the driveway. We we're not reviewing that part gets reviewed by by traffic engineers with the state if if ifical applicable or it's the city. So we didn't even look at that to say that that we did not follow procedure that was not required when we look at our maps. This shows as a rightaway not as private property.

Okay, that I understand now. So it is traffic engineering andor the state that determines ownership. you know, we don't even deal with the ownership issue. I do understand that you don't deal with it, but you said that traffic engineering andor the state determines who owns the property. So, no, no, I that that that's not what I was saying. All right. They determine what happens as far as ingress and egress. They review that. We count on them on that. All right. The ownership never was an issue with us because it shows up on the map as a rightaway.

It shows up on the map as a rightaway. It's not a parcel of land, but it show Okay. So, it shows up on on the map as a as a right of way. Yes. It doesn't show up as a separate piece of real estate property that's owned privately, but we own the real estate property. I'm not going to get into ownership issues because I'm not an expert in that.

Okay. I'm sorry, but that's where I'm confused is that if the commission owned the property and the commission basically gave the property to us based on redistricting and the said property is to be used for public road purposes only. Is that's where my confusion is. is it's a it's not a public road. And if it's apples and apples from the time the commission got it to the time the city has it, shouldn't it still be apples and apples? And shouldn't it still be property to be used for public road purposes only?

And I am not don't have the expertise to answer that question. That's a legal question. I just don't get it. I I think that we annexed it probably when we annexed El Road Estates which was in the late 80s. So, um you know I don't know and I don't know if we're really I think that what I keep going back to though with this ownership now that we've I've read what it says. If if I have a house here and I have a business that wants to go here and they don't have any access to my business, can they run their driveway across my land? Is that what you're kind of saying, Jim?

I don't have any way to get Yes. It's it's tragic that I don't have any way to get to my business or my home, but then again, I'm I can't violate somebody's right of ownership to do because I think it's a good idea. Um, and again, maybe um, you know, maybe I'm just not seeing what everybody else So, what are our cho What are our choices here? What are our choices? What What do you We either we uphold what the NPC did and how does that vote go? you can uh vote to deny the appeal which means that they can go ahead and start construction as the plans.

Yes. If you if you vote to deny the appeal, they can uh take five can keep it um keep developing towards the property. You can uh vote to uphold the appeal, which would mean that um it just dies here, or you can remand, or you can approve with special considerations or stipulations if this four options if this is or you can always postpone. You got five options.

No, we're not postponing. If um if if we remand back to MPC to clear up the questions that I think Councilman Green, Councilman Talifero, I think even the chairwoman have and and vice chair will the ownership of the property. Will that be brought up if we remand it back to you? That's not that that's not their job. That's not what we do. And so so the I'm sorry, Madam Chair. So the clarify something. Yeah, sure.

I'm in and I think Mr. Jean will agree with me. Um, if you look at the very first page that I provided you, this is how the application process is initiated. It says B, initiation. A property owner, and Mr. Jean will agree with me that that when you file this application, if you're the property owner, you have to produce a deed. I don't just get to walk in and say, I'm it. I've got to produce a deed. Here's the second thing. or a person expressly authorized in writing by the property owner because those are facts.

So, they need to bring in two things. They need to bring in a deed for their property and they need to bring in written permission from the owner of the access tract and they don't have that. It's that simple.

I'd also like to see the record as to where they you ask the state about this driveway and the state turn you down. I I'd just like to see uh the rationale as to why the state said no. Uh Council Bucha, he's talked to me about that Flor Lucas part forever. And so I'd just like to know what's the record on why the state says no because I mean his plan about them driving through the state through that part of Floren Lucas was great to me. So, I just like to know what how did how did the state who talked to the state and why the state said no,

who put it in writing and I think for us it is based upon the facts of that we know who the property owner is, who submitted that and all of the supporting documentation to do it.

So, for me, I can't I can't do the guessing game. this person right here may have it or this person right here may have it or this may person right here then you have that I need to see something in writing that says who is this I don't want to say why I think or you know no because you go into the court of law they're going to say present me the facts and it's not going to be what I think what I assume it's not going to be any of those things they're going to look at the application they're going to see what I what you all's procedure is and they're going to want you to produce those facts to say A, B, and C. And I that's where I am as the council person with Mr. Talifero. This is what it says. This is what the rules of procedure are and it is. So I I can't vote Councilman to move forward on this project.

So let me let me say this real quick. Um, I'm going into my eighth year doing this and this has been one of the most difficult ones and it's it's due to the fact that there have been complaints from the citizens and um, if that were the only issue, I don't think that I would have enough in my mind to uphold the appeal. That's just not enough for me to uphold the appeal. the other issues with the traffic, the coming in and out. Um, that's kind of where I'm at that I'm having a little bit of trouble with. And now, and and I think that's why this is such a good process because we all have talked this through and generally we do go with the with the councilman's

opinion, but if this is appealed, our entire decision is going to be the one that's going to go to court. And so I just think with the questions that my colleagues have raised, um I think that uh I think that I'm going to go ahead and make the motion to uh uphold the appeal. And what does that mean in plain language? I guess it means that I won't that that I'm siding with the with the appellant. What does that mean in plain language? You're not lawyers. We play like we want. Really not.

The special use permit would be denied. The zoning would remain C2 with no special use allowed for u minor vehicle repair. Let me ask you this one other question before I'm I hadn't said that was my motion. I said that was going to be my motion. If if we remand it back to the MPC. So So if we deny this if if I mean if we go with saying okay you're going to have to stay you're not going to get the special use permit. Can they reapply once they get all this stuff together and we know the ownership and they apply properly? Can they apply or should I remand it back to NPC for those things to be done so we don't kill it?

Uh yes, they can always reapply for a different you they can apply for a different use. They can uh amend their application. Those sorts of things. Yeah. Okay. Or it wouldn't be an amended application. It would be a new application and the process would start over from scratch. All right, Madam Chair. Yes. Okay. So my pro look I am all about new business and I think we all are. I know we are. Um so if we rem I think in remanding it back to the MPC where Mr. Jean says they don't even have any authority to to determine control.

I think that where for me that is the only hangup. I don't know who owns the the entrance that the property that gains them access to a to their potential building or the potential business. So, but I would like to not I I would not like to kill this, but I would like to know where in this process do I get traffic engineering andor the state to determine what I believe is uh ownership because it says that it's for public what Grayson, what does it say? the the act of donation said that and it was an act of donation I'm assuming it says that uh dedicate to public use for public road and then it goes down it says uh that said property to be used for public road purposes only

so who make yeah I just need if someone's going to make a who's going to come to the table that's going to make that decision for the ownership the control aspect of it So I think at that particular point since they can't do it again rep uh remanding it back to them it's not going to it's going to be null and void right

that's this is more so for the clarity for the council and being in since this is what is brought before us that we have who owns what what the city's role whoever else uh lucky or whatever the uh company's name is I think I have to do that in clarity with proper documentation, you know, because it is like us knowing that we're not clear on this and then saying, "Okay, yeah, they can go ahead on and proceed and do everything else and we don't know who shot John this right here, what's going on?" Because that's not their role. But madam chair just I'm sorry but in in the the bigger I think the bigger scheme of thing for me is that when is the is the transfer of ownership from the parish to the city for a specific purpose. That's where I have that's where I get

I get caught up in that because it says public roadway. Councilman Jackson, I don't know what determines a public roadway um in this particular situation. Councilman Jackson. Um,

I think the council is seeking more answers to make an informed decision, but I don't think the answer changes what the appellet wants. I think the appellet does not want take five there. Period. No matter how many answers we seek, they they had to find a reason to appeal. And I don't think their minds is going to change. I don't think the minds of your citizens who don't want it is not going to change no matter what clarity and answers we get. Take five wants to be here regardless of the answer we get. You know, so at the end of the day, it still comes down to we're in the weeds about technicality. You know, can we deny based on this? They didn't sign their name at the bottom of the of the paper or they didn't do this or they didn't do that. We're looking in technology, but it's still just as simple. Is it good for your district? Well, will they start picketing outside your house if you vote to put it there? That it just comes down to to that to that that that simple question. And we like to follow your lead on that because you're the representative of of that area.

Look, here's here's my I said it once, I'll say it again. I um if these issues had not been there, I personally and my wife has filled my ear about this on more than one occasion, her feelings on it. Uh that's my number one constituent. Uh got to go home. But I can't um at this point with the questions that have been raised by the majority of the council, we are a collective body. I can't approve it now. So, I think we need to just uh I'm going to call for the vote. My motion is to uh to upole the appeal. Appole the appeal.

And we vote yes. We have a second first. Second. Second. So, Edward, we vote yes to uphold the appeal. You vote yes to uphold the appeal. Motion to uphold the appeal. um by Councilman Green, second by Councilman Butcher. We've had a whole bunch of discussion, but I have to ask the question. Is there any more discussion? One more. This is almost long as the data center. I I got one question, Madam Chair, then we can vote. So, Councilman Butcher, your pleasure is to go with appeal, right? I think at this point it is just due to the due to the other aspects that have been presented today.

Okay. Um Okay. So, I'm gonna call for the vote now. I want to go on the record just real quick saying that uh I'm very pro business. Uh I want businesses in my district, but I you know the questions that the the majority of the council have raised about this have made me think. So, I think we're ready to vote. No, you can't. We're getting ready to vote. So, Okay. Anything else? Let's vote.

That passes with seven. Are there any other appeals, Madam Clerk? No, ma'am. Uh, are there any reports from officers, boards, and committees? Are there any reports from boards offices and committees? Uh let's uh let's let's pencil in the Monday of the next council me uh um can't do that. Can't do that. What about Tuesday? I got public safety. I mean I not public safety. You got private standard. What about Tuesday? That's fine.

Let's do uh 24. You can do the 24 for for I'm I'm talking about charter review. Oh. Oh, no. Can't do that meeting on that day. Um, let's just discuss it. No, no big deal. I'll do Okay, we'll get back together on that. Yeah, Marrison is not here for any additional comments. Does any other council member have any additional communication? No, I'm good. Executive session, there is none. If there is nothing else, this meeting is a job.