City Council - Regular Meeting

Somebody is just knocking it down, you know? I guess so. Sure, sure. We have to be supportive. Look, I got, I don't even have a farmer's tan. I got like, this is tan and the rest is white.

I think 11 minutes.

Thank you. roll call Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Where does your, where do your parents think you are? All they had to do was turn the TV on. Well, they had to turn it off.

Did you get in the water when I did it yesterday? I did, I did. Good, good.

Wait. Baby.

It's my grief. I'm all right.

Hey, Tom, that's the same thing I saw when Alice went down, when Vera told me, just five minutes, and he looked at her and said, I didn't know you had. And she got so upset, she ran into the bathroom crying. It was just a TV show. But Flo could always get violent.

And I don't know if I could do it the first time.

Father Paul? I just wanted you to make your way to the front. They're not should be, shouldn't be.

That's right. That's right.

Good afternoon, everyone. The Shreveport City Council meeting is now called to order. I'm going to ask Father Paul to lead us in the invocation and Councilman Butcher to lead us in the pledge.

Dear Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this day and all the creative opportunities it brings to us. Lord, as we come together, we just pray for those who have been called to the servanthood of leadership in this fine city. For Tabitha Taylor, Ursula Bowman, James Green, Alan Jackson, Jim Taliaferro, Grayson Butcher, we pray that you would uphold them and give them wisdom and understanding that they may do always what accords with your will. Pray it in Jesus' name, amen.

Amen. If you would face the flag and repeat after me.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilwoman Taylor. Present. Councilman Brooks. Councilman Talaferro. Here, ma'am. Councilman Butcher. Here. Councilman Jackson. Here. Councilman Green.

I'm here.

And Councilwoman Bowman.

Present. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the Administrative Conference City Council Combined Meeting and Special Meeting Tuesday, May 26, 2026? So moved. So moved by Councilman Green, second by Councilman Talaferro. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this passed with seven.

Does any council member have any awards, recognition, or distinguished guests not to exceed 15 minutes? I believe Councilman Jackson, you have guests.

Madam Chair, I would like to call up Alex Ray on admission to LLC. Hi there, Ms. Ray. I know you have an event you're going to explain to us coming up this weekend. Please be sure to let everybody know where it's located and whose district it's in. Thank you.

Yes, thank you for having me. I just want to acknowledge the Mayor and the full body, the Board here, City Council. Thank y'all for what y'all doing, moving Shreveport forward. Y'all doing an excellent job in y'all leadership. And I just want to come here today, as y'all know, I have an upcoming event that's going to be held in Southern Hills, Shreveport, Father's Day 5K Run the Walk, where all the fathers come together and just with their families. And we just use this event not only to highlight fathers, but also to give back to the community. And with that being said, I do want to present a check today to a nonprofit that's here in our community called Jewel House. What they do is they help youth teenager girls that's homeless and needs somewhere to stay. And one of the directors here, Ms. Walker, if she can come up. And also I want to bring one of my sponsors for the Shreveport Father's Day 5K Run and Walk. Expand if you can come up. I can't do it without my sponsors. I can't do it without the community support. And here's one of the good things about it. With it being in Southern Hills, Every city council from each neighborhood, all those in the community come to this event, and that's a great thing. That means that this is one community where we all come together to represent Shreveport. So I just want to acknowledge that, and I have a $500 check I want to present to Jewel House, and I just want to ask if the mayor of City Council Jackson, if y'all can come down and take a picture with them. Like I said, I can't do it without y'all, and I want to thank y'all for that.

I said I was coming. Once again, I want to thank you all.

Thanks, Allie. Madam Chair. Yes.

Um, I just like to announce that my water park will be open soon. And once I get the word, I'll let you all know and we will have an attraction there that you don't want to miss. Thank you.

Oh, God today. Anybody else? Mayor Zanotto, do you have any awards recognition or distinguished guests not to exceed 15 minutes?

Actually, I do. I think we've got several of our mayoral interns in the audience, if they would stand. I think we've got about 30 of them. This is just a representative view. And then I've had the pleasure today to follow up on something that I saw on Facebook last week. Ms. Crystal Chica Montez said that she'd like to shadow the mayor for a day.

Oh, did you have fun?

She is a radio personality at Kiss Country 93.7. And we started out this morning about 6.45, and she's been following me. And I don't know which of us have had the most fun. I've had a great time with her. If you don't know Chica, she's full of energy and a lot of fun to be with. So I just want to introduce her to the council.

Congratulations. Welcome to the Shreveport City Council meeting, and welcome to the interns that are present here as well. Mayor Arsenault, do you have any communications of the mayor relative to city business?

No, ma'am. Okay.

Does any member have any questions or concerns relative to property standards for Mr. Green?

I just want to tell him thank you for getting the Sheridan cut. It looks good. I went by there today, and it looks good, so thank you.

He ain't hear it. Did he hear any of these?

Did you hear what I said, Terrence?

Tell me, I got to give you time to sashay down.

I said, thank you for the Sheridan, whatever it is, on 70th Street. It looks good. All right.

Okay. Mr. Manchin's had one in Cricket Creek. There's a lot. Remember the house that burned down? We got you. Okay. Thank you.

Okay, sashay. Okay.

Thank you.

Everyone should have received a revenue collection plan and implementation report from finance. Public hearing, there is none. Madam Clerk, would there be any legislation to be added today?

No, ma'am.

Okay.

Today, we hear public comments on agenda items only. Madam Vice Chair, do we have any comments? Okay.

Yes, ma'am, we do, Madam Vice Chair, Madam Chair. First one is Sammy Mears.

Sammy Mears, 1133 South Point Parkway, Apartment 111, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71105. Today, I'd like to speak on resolutions 9A53 and 934B. I think it's a great idea for the mayor to execute a contract with the WHP Training Towers to construct a fire training tower for the Shreveport Fire Department. That would really be nice. Please vote yes today on this if you would, and it would really be appreciated. If you'd also please vote today Yes, on amending resolution number 34A of 2026, this will also be appreciated, too. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Thank you, Sam. Mr. Tim Magner.

Good afternoon. Tim Magner with the Registry Report Chamber, 400 Edwards Street, just down the block. And I just wanted to come before you today to encourage you to approve the landscape changes to the UDC that were included in the, that were approved by the MPC Board. I really want to call out and recognize the MPC staff for the process they went through. They engaged a lot of the developer community. I heard very positive things about the process and about the changes. This is a really great step forward to help improve the pace of development in our community in a responsible way. And I want to encourage you to support that. I have a letter of support that I'll provide to the clerk for all of you. And again, just want to commend the MPC staff for their efforts and you all for your efforts to help improve the business climate in our community. So thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much. That concludes public comments.

We have no executive appointments to consider today. There are no items under consent agenda for introduction or to be adopted. Madam Clerk, please proceed with regular agenda legislation.

Resolution 51, authorizing the mayor to execute a cooperative endeavor agreement with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office.

So moved.

Second. So moved by Councilman Butcher. Second by Madam Vice Chair. Any discussion?

Discussion.

Discussion. Councilman Butcher.

Yes. Chief Smith here. He's not. Okay, we can go. I was just going to ask him how things are going with it, but if he comes in between now and then, we can.

Okay.

No big deal. Thank you.

So moved by Councilman Butcher, second by Council Vice Chair. We've had discussion. Let's vote. Thank you.

And this passed with seven.

Resolution 52, authorizing the acceptance of a donation from Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Louisiana.

So moved.

Second.

So moved by Councilman Talaferro, second by Madam Vice Chair. Any discussion? Let's vote.

Councilman Green.

And this passed with seven.

Resolution 53, authorizing the mayor to execute a contract with WHP Training Towers to construct a fire training tower for the Shreveport Fire Department.

So moved. Second.

So moved by Councilman Boucher, second by Councilman Talaferro. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this passed with 7.

Resolution 54, authorizing the City of Shreveport, Louisiana, purchasing agent to reject all bids received for installation of Sportran generator bid IFB number 26-026. So moved.

Second.

So moved by Councilman Boucher, second by Councilman Talaferro. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this passed with 7.

Resolution 55, authorizing Roderick Johnson at 160 Mayo Road to make connection to the City of Shreveport's water and sewer system.

So moved.

Second. So moved by Councilman Boucher, second by Madam Vice Chair. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this passed with seven. Resolution 34B, amending resolution number 34A of 2026.

So moved.

Second.

So moved by Councilman Boucher, second by Councilman Talaferro. Any discussion? Let's vote. And this passed with seven. Madam Clerk, would you proceed with the introduction of resolutions not to be adopted prior to June 23rd, 2026?

Resolution 56, selecting the Times as the official journal of the City of Shreveport for the period commencing July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. Resolution 57, authorizing the mayor to contract with the Downtown Development Authority of the City of Shreveport for parking system management. Resolution 58, authorizing the mayor to execute an intergovernmental cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of Shreveport and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Resolution 59, authorizing the mayor of the City of Shreveport to sign an approval letter for the assignment by Cypress Energy Partners LLC of three oil and gas leased to Apex Natural Gas. and resolution 60 authorizing the mayor to execute an acceptance of active donation between the city of Shreveport and WIBI 2 and land development LLC hereafter owner and acting herein through Justin M. Seaver manager for the water and sewer main extension and related facilities to serve Lucent Fields estate phase 3 unit C and unit D.

So moved for introduction. Second. So moved for introduction by the chair. Second by Madam Vice Chair. These items have been introduced. Madam Clerk, will you proceed with introduction of ordinances not to be adopted prior to June 23rd, 2026?

Ordinance 63, amending the 2026 Capital Improvements Budget, appropriating the funds authorized herein. And Ordinance 64, amending the 2026 Airport Enterprise Fund Budget.

So moved for introduction.

Second. So moved for introduction by Councilman Talaferro. Second by Madam Vice Chair. These items have been introduced. Madam Clerk, please proceed with ordinances on second reading and final passage.

Ordinance 56, amending the 2026 Water and Sewage Enterprise Fund budget.

So moved.

So moved by Councilman Boucher. Second by the Chair. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this passed with 7.

Ordinance 57, amending the City of Shreveport, Louisiana 2026 capital projects fund budget.

So moved. Second. So moved by the Chair, second by Councilman Talaferro. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this passed with seven. Ordinance 58, to terminate and repeal the Downtown Entertainment Economic Development Area, established by Ordinance Number 143 of 1999, and the Downtown Entertainment Economic Development Area Special Revenue Fund, established by Ordinance Number 144 of 1999, and to provide for other matters in connection therewith.

So moved. Second. So moved by Councilman Brooks, second by Madam Vice Chair. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this does pass at 7.

Ordinance 59 to repeal Division 6 of Article 5 of Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Shreveport, Louisiana, relative to the Downtown Entertainment Economic Development Area Special Revenue Fund and to provide for other matters in connection therewith.

Second. So moved by Councilman Brooks, second by Madam Vice Chair. Any discussion? Let's vote.

And this passed with seven.

Ordinance 60, amending section 94-1656 of the Code of Ordinances relative to flat rate sewage charges.

So moved. Second. So moved by the chair, second by Councilman Talaferro in the discussion. Let's vote.

And this passed with seven. ORDINANCE 61 TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REGARDING LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS AND WATER TOWER HEIGHT.

SUMMER.

SUMMER BY COUNCILMAN BROOKS, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN TALLIFERRO. ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE.

IS THAT A PHONE? AND THIS PASSES WITH SEVEN.

Ordinance 62, zoning case number 26, that's 34C, an ordinance to approve the amendment of the zoning map of the UDC with conditions by rezoning property located on the east side of Landbrook Boulevard at the intersection of Proud Road from R17 single-family residential and I2 heavy industrial zoning district to C4 heavy commercial zoning district.

Show move. So moved by Councilman Green. Second. Second by Madam Vice Chair. Any discussion? Yes, ma'am. Councilman Green.

Would you come up, please? Would you explain to the general public and to us what this is all about?

This was a nonconforming RV park that had been there for a number of years. very popular with a lot of people, but unfortunately, it wasn't zoned properly, and so they received a citation, and we accepted an application. The vote was unanimous. We had a lot of people speak in favor of that, and I don't recall anyone in opposition at the meeting.

Okay, so everything is good. Yes, sir. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Okay. Let's vote. And this passed with 7. Madam Clerk, is there any other table legislation to be removed from the table?

No, ma'am.

We have no property standards or ABO appeals to consider today. We have no MPC or ZBA appeals to consider today. Are there any other appeals, Madam Clerk? No, ma'am. Are there any reports from officers, boards, and committees?

Madam Chair. Yes. If I could take the liberty now, I think Chief Smith came in and so did Chief Holloman from the Fire Department.

Chief Smith? Chief Holloman?

So, Chief, just a quick question. It's too late now. You're going to have buyer's remorse if you don't like it. But we approved the agreement with the helicopter. I was just going to see how things are going with that.

It is going great. They are flying two or three evenings a week. We provide them with our most critical areas where we need oversight. And they are responding. They are monitoring our radio frequency. And in many cases, they respond without us even having to call. So that is such a great benefit to us. You know, having technology and different resources to assist us in keeping our city safe is very vital, and this is just one of them. We're so proud to be in partnership with them. It's just indescribable. I've seen it.

I've seen it sometimes, but I think a lot of times it's flying so high you don't even see it.

That's right, and our community has noticed it because we hear quite often chatter in the community that there are eyes in the sky. Absolutely.

Good. Well, thank you, Chief. I appreciate it. That's all I wanted. We approved it unanimously.

Thank you all so very much. Keep it on your radar for next year now.

Well, I won't be here, but maybe they will.

Okay, thank you, sir.

Thank you. Chief Altman, from what I understand, you all had an EMS conference Shreveport hosted this year at the Convention Center. Yes, sir, we did. Tell everybody kind of what happened, and you all ended up fairly successful, correct?

Yeah, we had an EMS conference expo. We had a lot of agencies from all over the states come in. They had a lot of good lectures. It was from Tuesday through Saturday. They even had an award banquet afterwards. I think what you're referencing is what we call the Sims War. That's just kind of like some unique scenarios that we put EMS teams through. And it challenges their cognitive thinking skills, how to work together as a team. and come together with a plan to treat the individuals. So that's kind of what they did. Huge success.

Huge. We finished first, right? We had one team that finished first. That's correct. And then Ballantyne had one that finished second. Is that right? Ballantyne finished second or third, I believe, yes. That's awesome. So that's good to know that our – Our fire department finished and then our private ambulance company. And then I heard that Casey McBeth also won Administrator of the Year. I think so, yes, sir. So that's really good news. Yeah, very successful. Everybody enjoyed it. All right. Thank you, Chief. Appreciate it. No problem. Any questions? I hate you came down here that quick, but I appreciate it. No problem at all. Thank you.

Jack, I wanted to look at having a property standards meeting on June 22nd at 1 o'clock.

Okay. Okay.

Councilman Buccio, I want to get with you on a public safety meeting because I think one needs to take place. Okay. As soon as we can.

I was thinking probably next Tuesday. Not next Tuesday, but the Tuesday of the next meeting.

Okay. Madam Clerk, is there a clerk's report?

Councilman, do you want to do July, the first Tuesday of July?

Yeah. Well, no. I think at the end of June.

So, the same day.

Well, we could do the Monday. It doesn't matter.

Monday is, look, I'm looking at for property standards at one. Okay. So, if you want to, did you want to look at public safety on Tuesday?

That'd be fine.

Okay.

Happy birthday, Mama. Happy birthday. Thank you.

Whose birthday?

My mama's birthday. Happy birthday.

Happy birthday. Happy birthday.

Is there a clerk's report? Oh, that was my clerk's report. Oh, that was your report? It's a whole mess.

Mayor Cenoa, do you have any additional communications?

No, ma'am.

Does any council member have any additional communications?

I do.

Yes.

Yeah, I just kind of figured I'm going to separate you and Jay. What? Executive session, there is none. If there is nothing else, this meeting is adjourned.