>> IF YOU CAN TAKE YOUR SEATS,
[00:00:02]
WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OUR PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS PORTION OF THE PROGRAM.[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS (Part 1 of 2)]
JUST A FEW TO GET TO THIS MORNING, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET STARTED JUST ABOUT RIGHT AT 10 O'CLOCK.WE'LL BEGIN WITH, I BELIEVE THE PARISH PRESIDENT THIS MORNING, WHO'S GOT SOME SERVICE PINS TO GIVE OUT THIS MORNING AND A PROCLAMATION.
>> GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE SOME HONORED GUESTS WITH US HERE IN THE CHAMBER TODAY, BUT THEY ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE YMC OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS AND ONE OF THE AWARDS THEY GIVE OUT EVERY YEAR.
SO IF WE COULD HAVE GORDON WATCH COME UP FROM THE YMCA ALONG WITH PETER AND LISA MANSFIELD.
DO YOU WANT THE STUDENTS TO COME UP NOW OR LATER? OR WE CAN GET THEM UP LATER FOR A PICTURE.
>> OKAY. YOU WANT TO DO THAT? SO IF COUNCILWOMAN ARITA BOHANNAN IS HERE, I WOULD INVITE HER UP, BUT SHE'S ON HER WAY DOWN.
LISA AND PETER MANSFIELD ARE THE 2024 RECIPIENTS OF THE YMC OF GRADE NEW ORLEANS SEAN SALVO AWARD, WHICH IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY AT THE HATS & HORSES GALA THAT YOU HAVE.
THE AWARD IS BASICALLY NAMED AFTER HIM BECAUSE IT HONORS EXCEPTIONAL CHAMPIONS WHO LEAD BY EXAMPLE IN ADVOCACY AND SERVICE AND EMBRACE CHILDREN OF EVERY BACKGROUND.
SO LISA AND PETER MANSFIELD, WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE AWARD THAT YOU WERE GIVEN THIS YEAR, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE YMCA OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS SEAN SALVO AWARD HONORS EXCEPTIONAL CHAMPIONS WHO LEAD BY EXAMPLE IN ADVOCACY AND SERVICE AND EMBRACE CHILDREN OF EVERY BACKGROUND, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DIVERSE ABILITIES.
WHEREAS THIS AWARD IS NAMED IN HONOR OF SEAN SALVO WHO DIED UNEXPECTEDLY AT EIGHT-YEARS-OLD ON JULY 1ST, 2018.
SEAN LOVED LIFE AND HE IS MISSED BY SO MANY, INCLUDING THE STAFF OF THE BELLE CHASSE YMCA, WHERE HE WAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUMMER CAMPER.
WHEREAS SEAN WAS AN AWESOME KID WHO WAS FULL OF CURIOSITY AND HAPPINESS DESPITE THE MANY STRUGGLES HE FACED ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.
TODAY, HIS MEMORY LIVES ON THROUGH THE SEAN SALVO AWARD.
WHEREAS LISA AND PETER MANSFIELD ARE THE 2024 SEAN SALVO AWARD RECIPIENTS.
LISA IS A FACULTY MEMBER AND JOB COACH AT ST. MICHAEL SPECIAL SCHOOL, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 1965 TO SERVE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
SHE IS ACTIVE IN THE PARENTS ORGANIZATION AT ST. ANNE SCHOOL, HAVING SERVED IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE SCHOOLS GIRL SCOUT TROOP AND FAIR COMMITTEES.
WHEREAS PETER IS AN ASSISTANT US ATTORNEY. I DID NOT KNOW THAT.
WE KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGH PIANO LESSONS, PETER, BUT WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE DID, AND A BOARD MEMBER OF THE EAST JEFFERSON YMCA, GG PLAYHOUSE, DOWN SYNDROME ACHIEVEMENT CENTER AND THE NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER OF THE FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION.
HE CAN, ON OCCASION, BE FOUND PULLING A MARDI GRAS FLOAT IN THE ANNUAL CUB SCOUT PARADE AS A DEN LEADER FOR CUB SCOUT PARK AND HAS PLAYED GUITAR IN THE MUSIC MINISTRY AT ST. ANN CHURCH FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
WHY IS NOT YOUR PIANO PLAYING ABILITIES IN THIS PROCLAMATION? HE'S BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE HE DOES PIANO RECITAL WITH HIS CHILDREN AND THEY PLAY DUETS, AND THAT'S HOW WE KNOW EACH OTHER.
I'M STILL AWED BY YOUR PERFORMANCE.
WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH, THANKS THE MANSFIELD FAMILY FOR MAKING A PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND DEDICATION TO ENSURE CHILDREN ALL ABILITIES ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CYNTHIA LEE SHENG PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, DO HEREBY COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE LISA AND PETER MANSFIELD FOR BEING NAMED THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2024 SEAN SALVO AWARD.
[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE SOME OF YOUR STUDENTS HERE AS WELL.
BUT WHY DON'T YOU ALL SPEAK AND THEN YOU CAN INVITE PROBABLY YOUR FAN CLUB UP.
>> WE JUST WANT TO THANK THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL AND THE EAST JEFFERSON YMCA FOR THIS GREAT HONOR THIS YEAR.
THE YMCA REALLY IS AN EXTENDED PART OF PETER NIGHT'S FAMILY.
ALL FIVE OF OUR CHILDREN, INCLUDING OUR SON WITH DOWN SYNDROME HAVE DONE SWIM LESSONS AT THE Y, AND IT REALLY IS A JOY FOR US TO BE PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION.
I ALSO TOLD MY STUDENTS THIS MORNING, I WILL GO ANYWHERE AND TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT ST.
MICHAEL SPECIAL SCHOOL AND THE EXPLORATION ACADEMY, WHICH IS OUR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM.
BUT IT'S REALLY THE STUDENTS THAT COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND VOLUNTEER IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO BUILD SKILLS THAT THEY NEED FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND SEVERAL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY ACTUALLY ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED.
I AM SO PROUD OF THEM AND I ACCEPT ON BEHALF OF ST. MICHAEL SPECIAL SCHOOL AND THE EXPLORATION ACADEMY.
I>> DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD OTHER THAN TO THANK GORDON WADGE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YMCA OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, KERRI DIAZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EAST JEFFERSON YMCA, WHERE WE'VE BEEN MEMBERS FOR 15 OR 16 YEARS.
AS LISA MENTIONED, OUR INTRODUCTION TO
[00:05:03]
THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY WAS THE BIRTH OF OUR YOUNGEST SON, PAUL.WHEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED IN THE DELIVERY ROOM WITH A GENETIC CONDITION, IT QUITE FRANKLY WAS A BIT DISORIENTING, CONFUSING AND WE WEREN'T REALLY SURE WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO, BUT IT'S NONPROFITS LIKE THE YMCA THAT HAVE CREATED A HOME FOR US.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AS A COUNSEL TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR NONPROFITS LIKE THE YMCA AND OTHER SIMILARLY SITUATED ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY DO GREAT THINGS, ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS, AND THEY ARE HERE TO SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
LIKEWISE, LISA AND I PARTICIPATE IN THE EARLY STEPS PROGRAM AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY AS WELL.
SO AS CONSTITUENTS, WE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THOSE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES.
GOVERNMENT HAS ITS OWN ROLE TO PLAY.
AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU AS A COUNSEL, SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU-ALL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> WE WANT THE STUDENTS TO COME UP FOR THE PICTURE, ALONG WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? YOU WANT TO HOLD THIS? LET HALF OF ALL OF YOU-ALL COME OVER HERE.
>> OF COURSE YOU IN HERE AGAIN. I'M SQUEEZING ON THERE.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. I SHOULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HAVE YOU HEARD HIM PLAY PIANO?
>> I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT FOR MISS JUDY WALKER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, SO YOU NEED TO DISTINGUISHED ALONG HER.
>> I WAS JUST THERE THE OTHER DAY.
>> WHAT WE ALWAYS SAY IS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, I BELIEVE, ARE OUR BIGGEST ASSET IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND THE LONGER AN EMPLOYEE STAYS, THEY JUST GET BETTER WITH TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPOSED TO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THEN AS TIME GOES ON, THAT EXPERIENCE JUST HELPS THEM BE BETTER AT THEIR JOB.
WE HONOR THAT EXPERIENCE WITH OUR PIN AND TODAY, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GETTING THEIR PIN FOR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, SO WE DO WANT TO HONOR THEM.
I GUESS THE BEST WAY IS, AS I START READING ABOUT YOU, YOU CAN JUST COME UP.
WE'LL START WITH VICTORIA LANDRIEU WITH FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.
VICTORIA STARTED IN OUR PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN JANUARY 2019 AS AN ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY I.
SHE WAS PROMOTED TO OUR COMPLIANCE AND ETHICS OFFICER IN MAY 22, WHERE SHE IS CRITICAL TO MAKING SURE PARISH EMPLOYEES ADHERES TO LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES.
VICTORIA CONSISTENTLY GOES THE EXTRA MILE.
SHE VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE AS THE PARISH'S PARLIAMENTARIAN, THAT'S WHY SHE SITS HERE ALL MEETING AND PAYS ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING GOING ON.
HER LEGAL RESEARCH IS OUTSTANDING AND HER ETHICS CLASSES ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSITY FOR US AND VERY EDUCATIONAL. THANK YOU, VICTORIA.
RACHEL, YOU CAN PIN WHILE WE GO.
RYAN FAVRET, 10 YEARS OF SERVICE.
MANY OF YOU KNOW RYAN IF YOU'VE BEEN AROUND AT THE ALARIO CENTER SINCE JANUARY 2014, WHERE HE STARTED AS A MARKETING SALES ASSOCIATE.
HE WAS THEN PROMOTED TO THE MARKETING MANAGER ASSISTANT IN MARCH OF 25 AND MARKETING MANAGER IN FEBRUARY 2020.
IN SEPTEMBER OF '22, RYAN WAS PROMOTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALARIO CENTER.
RYAN HAS ESTABLISHED A STRONG RAPPORT WITH CLIENTS BY ASSISTING IN COORDINATING AND PROMOTING EVENTS.
HE EXPLORES FRESH AVENUES FOR UTILIZING THE ALARIO CENTER, A STRATEGY THAT HAS NOTABLY BOLSTERED BOOKINGS IN OUR POST-COVID WORLD.
STAY UP HERE, GUYS WE GOT TO TAKE A PICTURE.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE ALARIO CENTER HOSTS MANY SUCCESSFUL EVENTS, AND RYAN HAS HELPED BRING SPORTS TOURISM TO THE NEXT LEVEL TO ATTRACT ANNUAL EVENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE CORNHOLE LEAGUE EVENT THAT WE HOSTED FIRST LAST YEAR, AND THEY'RE BACK THIS WEEK.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE LEFT THE EVENT LAST YEAR, I'M LIKE, RYAN, WE NEED TO GET THEM BACK.
THIS YEAR, THEY PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HOTEL ROOM, SO KUDOS TO YOU, AND THEY'RE BACK AGAIN, AND THEY HAD A GREAT TIME LAST YEAR.
SO JUST ONE OF THE MANY EXAMPLES OF WHAT RYAN DOES FOR US.
TARA HAZELBAKER, 10 YEARS OF SERVICE.
TARA WAS HIRED IN JANUARY 2014 AS THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING AND THEN MOVED TO OUR INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT IN JULY 2017, WHERE SHE IS NOW THE DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL AUDIT.
IN HER CURRENT ROLE, TARA IS INSTRUMENTAL IN PROMOTING HONEST, EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, ECONOMICAL, AND FULLY ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT.
SHE IS ALWAYS SO HELPFUL TO WORK WITH AND PLAYS
[00:10:03]
A CRITICAL ROLE FOR THE SUCCESS OF ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.TARA, WE SHARE THE LOVING NUMBERS, AND SHE DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB FOR US IN INTERNAL AUDIT.
THANK YOU, TARA. PAT FERTITTA.
PAT, PATRICIA. BEAUTIFUL PAT, 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
PAT WORKS ALONGSIDE ME EVERY DAY, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN OUR OFFICE.
IF YOU CALL OUR OFFICE, GOOD CHANCE IS THAT PAT WILL BE ANSWERING THE PHONE HELPING YOU, AND SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ME SINCE COUNSEL AT LARGE IN DIVISION B.
SHE WAS HIRED IN JANUARY 2004 AS SECRETARY FOR COUNCIL DISTRICT 4.
PROMOTED TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE AID IN JULY OF 2010.
THEN SHE MOVED TO THE COUNCIL AT LARGE DIVISION B IN JANUARY 2012 AS A SECRETARY AND THEN IN DECEMBER 2015 AS A CLERK.
WHEN I BECAME PARISH PRESIDENT IN 2020, SHE MOVED BRIEFLY TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICES AND AID BEFORE SHE CAME BACK DIRECTLY TO ME.
IF ANYBODY KNOWS PAT, SHE IS THE EPITOME OF POSITIVITY, ALWAYS A SMILE, ALWAYS POSITIVE, JUST A GREAT ASSET.
HEALTHY FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH THAT PAT IS AROUND EVERY DAY.
KATHERINE COSTANZA, 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.
KATHERINE WAS HIRED IN JANUARY '99 AS A PLANNER TOO IN OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT BEFORE MOVING TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SUPERVISOR IN NOVEMBER OF 2000.
SHE WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS IN JULY OF 2006 AND PROMOTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
KATHERINE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN NEGOTIATING A LANDFILL MANAGEMENT DEAL THROUGH 2038 WITH RIVER BIRCH, THAT WOULD SAVE THE PARISH ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION PER YEAR WHILE ENSURING THAT THE LANDFILL WILL HAVE A STATE-OF-THE-ART GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM.
UNDER KATHERINE'S MANAGEMENT, THE REMOVAL OF APPROXIMATELY 300,000 CUBIC YARDS OF DEBRIS FROM PARISH RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES GENERATED BY HURRICANE IDA WAS COMPLETED IN APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AND SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED FOR REIMBURSEMENT COSTS FOR FEMA, WHICH IS A HUGE DEAL IN OUR WORLD.
THANK YOU, KATHERINE, FOR ALL YOU DO, AND WITH ALL OF OUR EMERGENCIES, I KNOW YOU'VE CONTINUED TO BE BUSY FOR US. THESE ARE OUR PINS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE WITH OUR INCREDIBLE EMPLOYEES.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.
[APPLAUSE] SPLIT UP. [BACKGROUND]
>> GOOD MORNING. FOR MY FIRST-EVER PROCLAMATION, IT JUST COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BETTER SITUATION FOR ME.
LADIES, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP. COME ON UP.
THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY, BY SOME STRANGE COINCIDENCE, WAS ON MY RADAR THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK.
ONCE WAS AT THE COUNCIL MEETING WHEN ALMARILLO MENTIONED THEM.
BUT BEFORE THAT, I HAD ALREADY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH [INAUDIBLE] WHO HAD TALKED ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY DID AT THAT LIBRARY, AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF THINGS AND EXPLAINING TO ME WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY.
IF YOU KNOW HER, SHE HAS IMPECCABLE TASTE, SO FOR HER TO GIVE THESE COMPLIMENTS WAS VERY TELLING.
THEN THE THIRD PERSON WAS SAMANTHA MCCANN, WHO KNOWS I'M IN A BOOK CLUB.
IN THAT CLUB, SHE SAID, YOU SHOULD GO TO THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY.
[00:15:01]
THEY WILL HELP YOU SET IT UP ON YOUR PHONE.THEY WERE SO GREAT, AND WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY IN THE AUDIO LIBRARY.
THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK, I HAD RECEIVED COMPLIMENTS ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR BRANCH, WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE.
FIRST, WE HAVE CHRISTIAN GRUBER, THE BRANCH MANAGER.
SHE HAS HER MASTER'S IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE DEGREE, AND SHE HAS BEEN THE BRANCH MANAGER JUST THIS YEAR I THINK IN 2024.
BUT SHE'S BEEN WITH THE LIBRARY SYSTEM SINCE 2016.
SHE'S THE ASSISTANT BRANCH MANAGER, 24 YEARS, 11 WITH THIS LIBRARY.
EMILY BENNETT, WHO'S ONE OF THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATES JOINING US IN 2023.
JOHN GAFFNEY, ALSO AN ASSOCIATE BEGINNING IN 2023, JUANITA JOHNSON, WHO BEGAN HER WORK IN 2002, AND LINDA KLEINSCHMIDT SCHMIDT, WHO IS ALSO AN ASSOCIATE WHO BEGAN WORKING IN 2023.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.
THIS IS THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZED IN THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY STAFF FOR THE DEDICATION EXPERTISE AND OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL WORK.
WHEREAS THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY WAS BUILT IN 1984 AND WAS EXTENSIVELY RENOVATED IN 2023, THIS LARGE BRANCH IS JUST OVER 10,000 SQUARE FEET.
WHEREAS THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY OFFERS THE MEETING ROOM, SIX STUDY ROOMS, PUBLIC COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET ACCESS, AND FREE WIFI ACCESS, A COLLECTION OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES, CDS, DVDS, AND A COLLECTION OF SPANISH LANGUAGE BOOKS, AS WELL AS A NEW EXPANDED LIBRARY OF SERVICES KNOWN AS THE LIBRARY OF THINGS.
THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY OFFERS STORY HOURS FOR CHILDREN AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND TEENS EVERY WEEK, AS WELL AS CITIZENSHIP AND ESL CLASSES.
WHEREAS THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY PROVIDES ITSELF PRIDES ITSELF ON AN AMAZING STAFF THAT WORKS HARD TO HELP EVERYONE THAT COMES THROUGH THE DOORS, THAT SERVICE THEY PROVIDE IS EXEMPLARY OF WHAT JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY DEPARTMENT STRIVES FOR AT EACH AND EVERY OF THEIR BRANCHES.
WHEREAS MANY PATRONS OF THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY HAVE EXPRESSED PRAISE OF THE LIBRARY STAFF.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, LAURI PEWAGA, JUANITA JOHNSON, LINDA KLEINSCHMIDT SCHMIDT, EMILY BENNETT, JOHN GAFFNEY, AND CHRISTIAN GRUBER THE BRANCH MANAGER, HAVE BEEN LAUDED FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, KINDNESS, HELPFULNESS, AND ATTENTION GIVEN TO PATRONS OF THE LIBRARY.
WHEREAS THE KENNER RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED GLOWING REVIEWS AND NOTED THEIR GREAT EXPERIENCES WITH THIS AMAZING PERSONNEL AT THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY.
WHEREAS A TEACHER WHO HAS BEEN VISITING THE LIBRARIES ACROSS THE METRO AREA, EXPRESSED HER PRAISE OF THE STAFF AND FACILITY, STATING THAT HER VISIT TO THE LIBRARY WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF HER MONTH.
SHE SAID THE RESOURCES AND TEAM WERE GREAT, PATIENT, KIND, AND VERY HELPFUL, AND THEY WENT BEYOND BASICS ALL WITH SMILES.
SHE CALLED THEM THE DREAM TEAM.
SHE APPRECIATED THEIR ASSISTANCE AND SUGGESTIONS TO HELP CREATE MEMORABLE LESSONS FOR HER STUDENTS.
IT WAS WORTH HER DRIVE TO NEW ORLEANS, SHE PLAUDED.
WHEREAS, ON TUESDAY, APRIL 9 WAS THE NATIONAL LIBRARY WORKERS DAY, A DAY TO RECOGNIZE LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP IN TRANSFORMING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATION, EXPERTISE, AND OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL WORK IN TRANSFORMING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH AND WISHES EACH OF THEM SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS IN THE SERVICE OF JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS. CONGRATULATIONS.
IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FOR A PICTURE.
>> I KNOW. THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING TO BALANCE.
BRANCH MANAGER, COME ON HERE, RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE.
SCOOCH. [BACKGROUND] LET'S ALL SQUEEZE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, [BACKGROUND] SO THAT WE HAVE THE STAFF IN THE MIDDLE.
>> YOU GUYS ARE THE STARS, NOT US.
>> EVERYBODY. LOOK THIS WAY, ON 3,1, 2, 3.
LET'S TAKE ANOTHER ONE ON 3,1, 2, 3. THANK YOU.
SO PROUD OF YOU ALL. [OVERLAPPING]
THANK YOU, GUYS, SO MUCH. [OVERLAPPING]
>> 37,116 WILL NOT BE DEFERRED.
[00:22:49]
WELCOME TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY,
[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
APRIL 17TH, 2024.S. YENNI BUILDING 1221, ELMWOOD PARK BOULEVARD, JEFFERSON, LOUISIANA.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US.
THIS MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON WHO WILL INTRODUCE HER GUEST, WHO WILL GIVE TODAY'S INVOCATION.
>> GOOD MORNING. OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING WILL BE DELIVERED BY ANDREW MOSKAU. HE'S OUR PASTOR.
HE'S MY PASTOR AT THE VINEYARD CHURCH OF NEW ORLEANS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY IN KENNER.
I'VE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE AFTER KATRINA, AND SO I WELCOME HIM TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE HIS TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TOO, SIR.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAND TOGETHER. WE'LL PRAY.
GRACIOUS GOD, IN YOUR GOODNESS, DRAW NEAR TO US AS WE SEEK TO DO GOOD.
OPEN OUR EYES TO SEE PEOPLE AS YOU SEE THEM.
OPEN OUR HEARTS FOR MERCY AND JUSTICE AND OPEN OUR HANDS TO DO GOOD WITH ALL THE PEOPLE AND ALL OF THE CREATION THAT YOU'VE ENTRUSTED TO US.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BILLY NUNGESSER TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE IF HE DOESN'T MIND THIS MORNING.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU HAD A MOMENT OF SILENCE YOU'D LIKE THIS MORNING.
>> I DO. MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.
I JUST HAVE SOME SAD NEWS THAT WE LOST A MEMBER OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH FAMILY, VICKI LORE.
HER MOST RECENT POSITION WAS AS AN OFFICE SUPPORT SPECIALIST IN OUR CODE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT, BUT MANY OF US WORKED WITH HER.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS WITH COUNCILMAN PAUL JOHNSON'S OFFICE.
VICKI WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON, WE JUST WANT TO KEEP HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OUR PRAYERS TODAY.
[00:25:10]
THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> PRESENT. I HAVE IT ON, YOU SHOULD BE ON. IF YOU TURN YOURS ON.
>> YOU'RE THERE. I HEAR IT. IT'S JUST LOW.
>> PRESENT. THE CLERK'S MICROPHONE IS ACTING UP ONCE AGAIN.
IT IS TWICE IN A ROW [INAUDIBLE].
>> I BLAME IT'S THE WIRE FOR THE TRACK.
>> WELL, LET'S GET THROUGH ROLL AND JUST GO A LITTLE LOUDER.
>> PARISH PRESIDENT, MS. LEE-SHENG.
>> WE'VE NOW COMPLETED THE ROLL.
WE HAVE A GUEST WITH US THIS MORNING. OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS (Part 2 of 2)]
BEFORE WE GET TO THE PARISH PRESIDENT THIS MORNING, HE'S GOING TO HOP THE LINE AND SPEAK TO US FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND HE HAS A VIDEO HE'D LIKE TO PLAY BEFORE HE SPEAKS, SO WE'LL WATCH THAT FOR A MOMENT.>> I'M NORMAN ROBINSON. THE MID-BARATARIA SEDIMENT DIVERSION WILL GO DOWN AS THE GREATEST MAN-MADE DISASTER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE.
>> THIS BARATARIA DIVERSION WILL DESTROY OUR WAY OF LIFE.
>> THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HARM PLAQUEMINES PARISH.
>> THERE'LL BE REALLY NOTHING LEFT IN THE MARINE RESOURCES OF THAT AREA.
>> YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR VALUE ON A CULTURE AND HERITAGE.
>> THE MID-BARATARIA DIVERSION PROJECT WILL MAKE A VAIN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE COASTAL WETLANDS BY DIVERTING SEDIMENT AND WATER FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER INTO NEARBY MARSHES.
>> I'M BILLY NUNGESSER, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF GRAY CITY OF LOUISIANA.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DIVERSION.
BACK IN 2011, THE FIRST MEETING WAS HELD IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH WHEN I WAS PARISH PRESIDENT ABOUT THIS DIVERSION.
AT THE TIME, ITS COST WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 250 MILLION, AND WE WERE CONCERNED THAT IT WOULDN'T LOWER STORM SURGE TO PLAQUEMINES PARISH OR THE COAST OF LOUISIANA.
TODAY I'VE LEARNED NOT ONLY WILL IT NOT LOWER STORM SURGE, BUT THE INCREDIBLE HARM IT WILL DO TO OUR SEAFOOD AND FISHERIES INDUSTRY ACROSS LOUISIANA.
>> LOUISIANA IS NOTED AS BEING SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE, AND IT'S NOT FRESHWATER FISH THAT WE'RE NOTED FOR.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST FISHING IN THE WORLD INSHORE AND OFFSHORE BUT IT'S SALTWATER-BASED, AND OUR FISHING INDUSTRIES JUST CAN'T SURVIVE IN POLLUTED RIVER WATER, AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
ALL OUR ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY HERE IN ST. BERNARD PARISH, IS BASED ON OUR SALTWATER FISHING INDUSTRIES.
>> ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE PARISH AND ON THE EAST BANK SIDE OF PLAQUEMINES PARISH, THAT IS THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
WE HAVE ABOUT 20%, 30% OF THE SEAFOOD COMES OUT OF PLAQUEMINES PARISH, FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
>> OUR OYSTERS HAVE TOUCHED EVERY TABLE AND EVERY RESTAURANT THROUGHOUT THIS STATE.
IMAGINE WALKING INTO YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT AND NOT SEEING SHRIMP, FISH, OR OYSTERS ON THE MENU.
WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE? THE PEOPLE WON'T BE THERE EITHER BECAUSE THE PRODUCT IS NOT THERE.
>> THIS MASTER PLAN THAT CPRA HAS DEVELOPED HAS BEEN PUSHED DOWN THE THROATS OF THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN ST. BENARD AND PLAQUEMINES.
BOTH PARISHES HAVE VOTED AGAINST THIS DIVERSION.
BOTH PARISHES UNDERSTAND THE TRAGEDY THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS WHEN YOU'RE LOSING YOUR FISHERY.
SECOND ONLY TO ALASKA, AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE APEX PREDATOR IN OUR GULF, WHICH IS THE DOLPHIN AND YOU START LOSING THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.
>> I AM ATAKAPA-ISHAK/CHAWASHA.
MY NAME IS ROSINA PHILIPPE, AND I'M CONSUL ELDER HERE FOR THE TRIBE.
WE ARE INDIGENOUS TO THIS REGION.
MY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR COUNTLESS CENTURIES.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CONTINUING INHABITATION FOR MY PEOPLE HERE IN THIS VILLAGE.
THERE'S OTHER LIFE FORMS THAT LIVE HERE WITH US THAT WILL EITHER DIE OR MOVE OUT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WHEN THEY WERE PLANNING THIS PROJECT,
[00:30:03]
OUR LIFE WEIGHT HERE IN THIS VILLAGE WAS A CONSIDERATION AT ALL.>> AS OYSTERMEN, WE'VE BEEN ABOUT COASTAL RESTORATION.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT COASTAL RESTORATION, BUT THIS DIVERSION WILL BE NOTHING BUT COASTAL DESTRUCTION.
YOU WILL BE TAKING EVERYTHING THAT OUR PRECIOUS SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEEDS TO SURVIVE IN ITS LARVAL STAGES AND EVERYTHING AND WIPE IT OUT.
>> ONE OF MY BIGGEST ISSUES WITH CPRA IS THE POWER THAT THEY THINK THEY HAVE.
THEY THINK THEY SUPERSEDE ANY LAWS FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THEY TOTALLY DISREGARD ANY KIND OF POWER OR ANY LAWS THAT WE HAVE LOCALLY.
THEY WERE GOING TO DESTROY OUR PARISH AND THEY DON'T CARE.
>> THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM THE FAMILIES WILL ALL BE AFFECTED BY DRAMATICALLY.
THEY WILL LOSE A WAY OF LIFE, A LIVELIHOOD THEY GREW UP IN.
THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY WOULD JUST DISAPPEAR.
>> WELL, THERE'S AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THE ECOSYSTEM.
I THINK THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT THE DOLPHINS WILL BECOME EXTINCT IN THE BARATARIA BAY 10 YEARS AFTER THEY'RE OPENED UP.
>> THE CPRA AND THE CORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT STATES THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE WATER LEVELS, THEY'RE GOING TO CAUSE FLOODING ISSUES.
HOW CAN YOU TAKE MONEY FROM THE BP FINES FROM DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL THAT WAS MEANT TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT FROM THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE FROM THE BP OIL SPILL TO FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT, THE SAME ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS DAMAGED BY BP? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? THAT IS A QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED.
>> WELL, THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SAY ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.
THEY'VE REFUSED TO GET THAT TO US. THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
THEY HAVEN'T DONE THE PROPER STUDIES.
THERE'S MULTIPLE AND MANY DIFFERENT STUDIES THAT NEED TO BE DONE FOR THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE FEDERAL SIDE.
>> CPRA ALREADY ADMITS IS GOING TO KILL OUR BROWN SHRIMP, OUR SPACER TROUT, OUR REDFISH, OUR OYSTERS.
THEY'RE ALREADY ADMITTING THE DAMAGE IS GOING TO CAUSE.
THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY OPENED UP THE BONNET CARRE SPILLWAY IN 2019, HOW LONG THE WATER FLOWED FOR? THE WILDLIFE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADMITTED THAT THE FRESHWATER DESTROYED OUR FISHING YEAR THAT YEAR IN MAY AND JUNE.
>> THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PROJECT IS, IT WAS ALL DONE BY COMPUTER MODELING.
A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
>> I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M A THIRD-GENERATION OYSTER FARMER AND I'M PROUD TO SEE MY SON IN THE BUSINESS AS WELL.
I HAVE GRANDSON THAT SHOULD BE FIFTH GENERATION BUT I'M AFRAID OUR GENERATION IS GOING TO END WITH MY SON AT THE FOURTH GENERATION, AND THAT SADDENS ME DEEPLY.
>> THE STATE CPRA 50-YEAR MASTER PLAN, YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE LAND BECAUSE IT'S ALL LIVES BELOW THE WATER.
OUR PLAN WOULD BE ABLE TO DREDGE AND BUILD IN FIVE YEARS, LAND YOU CAN WALK ON, LAND THAT WILL PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ALONG OUR COASTLINE.
>> AT 11 O'CLOCK, ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, THEY GOT A WAVE OF THE MARINE MAMMAL ACT.
NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE FOR A BIG PROJECT.
INSTEAD OF STUDYING WHAT THIS DIVERSION IS GOING TO DO TO OUR SEAFOOD AND OUR FISHERIES, THEY'RE GOING TO MONITOR FIVE YEARS, AFTER THEY SPEND $3 BILLION.
WHEN YOU WANT TO KNOW UPFRONT THE HARM YOU'RE GOING TO DO, WHEN I MADE THAT COMMENT TO THE HEAD OF CPRA, I WAS TOLD IF WE DID THE STUDY, WE PROBABLY COULDN'T BUILD IT.
LOUISIANA DESERVES TO TAKE THIS MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO US TO FIX THE COAST AFTER THE BPL SPILL AND ACTUALLY SAVE THE COAST, NOT DESTROY THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY. WE DESERVE BETTER.
>> AFTER HEARING ABOUT ALL THE BAD THIS DIVERSION WILL CAUSE, HOW CAN ANYONE THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA? WE DESERVE BETTER.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DAMAGE THIS WILL CAUSE, GO TO DIRTYWATER.LOUISIANASEAFOOD.COM.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BACK TODAY.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I STOOD HERE ALONE BECAUSE MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WERE SCARED TO SPEAK OUT BUT I'LL TELL YOU TODAY AFTER MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND NEW HEAD OF CPRA, THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, THEY WANT YOU TO VOICE YOUR OPINION WHETHER YOU THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THE THREATS AND PUNISHING ARE OVER.
BUT IF YOU AND THE PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK OUT, WE'RE GOING TO WASTE 3.8 BILLION ON A DIVERSION THAT CAN'T BUILD LAND,
[00:35:04]
WE'LL DESTROY OUR SEAFOOD INDUSTRY.NO ONE CAN TELL ME ONE POSITIVE THING THIS DIVERSION WILL DO OTHER THAN MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE RICH THAT HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN RICH.
WE SPENT $300 MILLION ON A PROJECT, AND ALL THEY'VE DONE IS STICK A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND FOR A PHOTO APP AND THAT GROUNDBREAKING WAS A PRIVATE GROUNDBREAKING.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THAT? NO. ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE WERE INVITED.
YOU HEARD IN THIS VIDEO THAT WE GOT TO WAIVER THE MARINE MAMMAL ACT.
WHO WOULD SPEND $3 BILLION, MONITOR FIVE YEARS? IF WE'RE RIGHT, WE'VE WASTED OUR MONEY.
THEY GOT THAT WAIVER BECAUSE THEY KNEW IF THEY DID THE STUDY THEY COULDN'T BUILD IT BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE.
THEIR OWN EIS, THEIR OWN REPORT, IT'S 8,000 PAGES, NOT MANY PEOPLE READ IT.
IN THEIR REPORT, IT SAYS, IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY.
WELL, HOW MUCH DAMAGE? WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY CUT CORNERS.
THIS STUDY BY THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION OUT OF WASHINGTON, DC THROUGH THE ST. ANDREW INSTITUTE SAYS, IF WE BUILD THIS DIVERSIONS, DOLPHINS WILL BE EXTINCT WITHIN 50 YEARS.
IT WILL KILL 50% OF THE DOLPHINS WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
NOW, THEY SAY THEY'LL SWIM AWAY.
THE DOLPHINS ARE TERRITORIAL, THEY'RE NOT LEAVING THEIR HOME.
WHEN WE OPENED THE SPILLWAY IN 2019, WE KILLED MORE DOLPHINS IN THE BP OIL SPILL, AND YOU SEE THEM DIE WITH THOSE HORRIBLE SORES ALL OVER THEIR BODY BECAUSE IT'S NOT A FRESHWATER DIVERSION.
IT IS THE SECOND-MOST POLLUTED RIVER IN THE COUNTRY.
I ASK YOU TO READ THAT PACKET.
IF YOU BELIEVE AS I DO, WE CAN DO BETTER WITH OVER $3 BILLION, REACH OUT TO THE GOVERNOR OF CPRA AND DEMAND THAT WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE'VE GOT A SMALL WINDOW HERE TO CHANGE THE MINDS, I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR IS TRULY CONSIDERING LOOKING AT THIS AND SCALING IT BACK TO A SMALL DIVERSION.
WE'VE GOT SMALL DIVERSIONS AND THAT POLLUTED WATER GETS FILTERED THROUGH THE MARSH AND CAN DO SOME GOOD IF THEY'RE CONTROLLED AND NOT WIPE OUT OUR SEAFOOD INDUSTRY.
BUT THE BERMS AND RIDGES, THE BERM IN THAT PACKAGE YOU SAW, THAT BERM IS CERTIFIED BY THE CORAL LAWS ON FIVE FEET, AND IT ALSO IS RECOGNIZED BY FEMA AS FLOOD PROTECTION.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IF WE BUILD THOSE BERMS, RIDGES, AND ISLANDS ACROSS THE BARATAIIA BASIN, SUSTAINABLE RIDGES, YOU GOT TO FIND WHERE IT WILL LAST.
WE LOST STORM SURGE TO OUR COAST, THAT'S CONSIDERED FLOOD PROTECTION.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS YOUR INSURANCE RATES GO DOWN, THE COAST BECOMES LIVABLE.
AS I SAID IN NEW ORLEANS, WORSE THAN KATRINA, THE SEAWALL IS SINKING, THE WALL AROUND NEW ORLEANS, SEA RISE IS RISING.
IN 10 YEARS, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER HURRICANE, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET THE BILLIONS TO RAISE THAT FLOOD WALL? BUT IF WE BUILD BERMS, RIDGES, AND ISLANDS NOW IN OUR LIFETIME, WE LOST STORM SURGE AT FIVE FEET, WE JUST BOUGHT AN EXTRA 50 YEARS OF 100-YEAR PROTECTION.
WE DO IT WITH $3-SAND OUT OF THE RIVER INSTEAD OF $50 CLAY FOR LEVEES AND FLOODWALLS.
IF YOU SEE CLEAR THAT YOU JOINTLY SUPPORT IT, I'D ASK YOU AT A LATER DATE TO PASS A RESOLUTION AND SEND IT TO THE GOVERNOR INDIVIDUALLY.
IF YOU FEEL AS STRONGLY AS I DO THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.
I'LL SAY IT ONE LAST TIME, WE DON'T NEED A 50-YEAR COASTAL PLAN, WE DON'T HAVE 50 YEARS.
IN 50 YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE GRAND OFFICIAL ROAD IN BATON ROUGE AND WE CAN LONG-TERM LEASE DREDGES TODAY, AND EVERY YEAR, STORM SURGE WILL GO DOWN.
THE COAST WILL BECOME MORE LIVABLE, WE'LL GET BETTER PROTECTION, AND IT WILL LOWER OUR INSURANCE RATES WHEN THOSE MODELS START SHOWING STORM SURGE IS GOING DOWN.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> I HAVE ONE, AND I THINK SOME OTHERS DO AS WELL.
I KNOW FOR YEARS, YOU'VE BEEN THE MINORITY VOICE IN THIS.
THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, GOVERNOR EDWARDS AND THE PREVIOUS CHAIR OF THE CPRA, CHIP KLEIN, WE'RE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE RECEPTION UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, WHERE DO YOU FEEL LIKE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND THE NEW GOVERNOR HAVE GONE?
>> THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WANTS TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE PROS AND CONS, AND HE SAID IF EVERYTHING I'M SAYING IS TRUE, AND THERE IS NO UPSIDE, HE'LL LOOK AT SCALING IT BACK OR REDIRECTING LARGE PORTION OF MONEY.
I THINK IN ONE OF THE MEETINGS, SOME OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAS SAID, BILLY, WE'VE ALREADY SPENT $300 MILLION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EGG ON OUR FACE IF WE CANCEL IT NOW.
THAT'S A GOOD REASON TO SPEND ANOTHER 3 AND 1/2 BILLION.
I'M SURE, AND IN SAVING FAITH,
[00:40:02]
AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO SCALING IT BACK TO A SMALL DIVERSION AND TAKING THE MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY AND DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE THAT CAN LOWER STORM SURGE TO ALL OF OUR COASTS.BUT I DO BELIEVE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT NOW FOR THE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE AS I DO TO SPEAK OUT, MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT VIDEO WOULD NOT SPEAK OUT BEFORE BECAUSE OF FEAR OF PUNISHMENT.
I HAD 17 MILLION TAKEN OUT OF MY BUDGET LAST YEAR BECAUSE I SPOKE OUT AND WE HAVE BEEN THREATENED ABOUT PUTTING THESE REPORTS ONLINE.
YOU CAN GO TO THE SEAFOOD WEBSITE AND READ THE FULL REPORTS THE DAMAGE IT WILL DO, NOT BY ME, BY THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION THAT CANNOT BELIEVE LOUISIANA WOULD DO A PROJECT THAT WOULD DESTROY THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY.
DR. SOLANGI RUNS THE THE MARINE MAMMAL FACILITY IN MISSISSIPPI, HAS DONE ALL THESE STUDIES, AND THERE'S ONE IN YOUR PACKET THAT SHOWS ARROWS PULLING THE DIRTY WATER OUT OF THE BARATAIIA BASIN.
WITHIN FIVE YEARS, IT WILL START TO DESTROY THE SEAFOOD AND TERRABONNE BASIN.
THAT'S A NEW STUDY COMING OUT BY MISSISSIPPI STATE BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO SUE TO STOP THE ONE ON THE EAST BANK OF THE RIVER BECAUSE THEIR STUDY SHOW IT WILL WIPE OUT THE SEAFOOD ALL THE WAY TO GULFPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
>> LET ME ASK, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WE'RE NOT SCIENTISTS.
WE'VE BEEN DOING A FEW PROJECTS THAT HAVE MADE ME MORE FAMILIAR, BUT I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCE.
THE DIVERSION WOULD FLOOD WATER IN AND HOPE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH SEDIMENT IN THAT WATER TO BUILD SOMETHING.
THE ALTERNATIVE COULD BE ACTUALLY DREDGING MATERIAL, SOIL, MUD, SAND FROM A PLACE AND PUTTING IT IN ANOTHER PLACE, SO YOU'D IMMEDIATELY SEE THE LAND IF WE PUMP SEDIMENT VERSUS DO THIS DIVERSION.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE NUMBERS THEY GAVE FOR SEDIMENT THAT THE DIVERSION IS SUPPOSED TO BUILD, THERE'S NO WAY TO SOLVE CODE.
IT'S A LIE, 90% OF THE SEDIMENT IS TRAPPED BEHIND DAMS. WHEN THEY SHOW YOU A PICTURE LIKE AT MARDI GRAS PASS, THAT'S NOT NEW SEDIMENT.
THAT'S BECAUSE IT BLEW OUT THE LEVEE AND DUG AN 80-FOOT HOLD.
THAT SEDIMENT WAS WHERE IT BLEW OUT THE LEVEE, THAT'S NOT NEW SEDIMENT.
ALL THAT SEDIMENT, THE DIVERSION, WILL BE BELOW THE WATERLINE.
>> IN COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG'S DISTRICT, THERE'S A PROJECT BUILDING A LIVING SHORELINE, AND RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE DREDGES OUT THERE THAT ARE PUMPING SEDIMENT FROM THE FLOOR OF THE LAKE IN ONE PLACE AND PUTTING IT OUT TO CREATE LAND AND MARSH WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO SEE EYEBALLS ON A SEDIMENT PUMPING PROJECT, RATHER, AND SEE THE LAND THAT'S BEING CREATED AS WE SPEAK, THAT IS IN THE BUCKTOWN AREA.
THAT MIGHT BE ONE THAT PEOPLE COULD GO OUT AND LOOK AT IT.
IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO ME THAT CREATING THAT LAND THAT YOU CAN WALK ON AND SEE IS A LOT MORE SOLID AN IDEA THAN A WATER DIVERSION.
>> BY BUILDING THAT ELEVATION UP INSTEAD OF CREATING MARSH, EIGHT-FOOT DOWN TO THE MARSH, THAT STORM SURGE ROLLS UP ON IT, AND IT SURVIVES A HURRICANE, SO IT'S STILL THERE AFTERWARDS.
THE TREES WILL GROW BACK BECAUSE JUST PLAINY MARSH WASHES AWAY BEFORE A STORM.
THAT STORM SURGE REDUCTION, MOVING FORWARD, I RECOMMEND EVERY PARISH IN THEIR COASTAL PLANS, KEEP THAT IN MIND.
IF YOU CAN LOWER STORM SURGE WITH EVERY PROJECT, EVERY YEAR, YOUR INSURANCE RATES WILL GO DOWN.
EVERY TIME THEY RUN THOSE MAPS, WE'LL SEE REDUCTIONS IN STORM SURGE, NOT INCREASES, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERY PROJECT SHOULD INCLUDE.
>> INSURANCE IS SUCH AN ISSUE.
MY LAST QUESTION IS, I KNOW IN THE PAST YOU'VE HAD DR. SOLANGI AND YOU FOCUSED ON THE DOLPHINS POTENTIALLY BEING AFFECTED, AND CERTAINLY, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT.
BUT, FRANKLY, I THINK WE ALL RELATE TO THE SEAFOOD THAT WE ENJOY AND EAT, THE SHRIMP, THE CRABS, THE THINGS THAT MAKE US LOUISIANA AND NOT IDAHO. NO OFFENSE TO IDAHO.
POTATOES. [LAUGHTER] I LIKE OUR SEAFOOD BETTER.
YOU HAVE THE SEAFOOD BOARD, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA OF THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY AND WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON THE THING THAT FUELS OUR RESTAURANTS, OUR FAMILY OCCASIONS FROM THIS DIVERSION?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE REASON WE USE THE DOLPHIN, THE DOLPHIN IS THE SMARTEST ANIMAL IN THE GOLF.
WHEN IT DIES, EVERYTHING BELOW IT WILL DIE.
THEY'RE TERRITORIAL, THEY'RE NOT LEAVING, SO THAT'S WHY WE USE THAT, AND THAT'S WHY THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION STUDIED THE DOLPHIN IN THIS DIVERSION.
IF YOU LOOK AT MARDI GRAS PASS, WHEN IT BLEW OUT, EVERYTHING ON THAT EAST BANK OF THE RIVER IS DEAD.
THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF FRESH GREENERY GROWING OUT THE MARSH, BUT IT'S NOT LAND, BUT IT'S KILLED EVERYTHING OVER THERE.
[00:45:01]
THERE'S A FEW FRESHWATER FISH YOU CAN CATCH.BUT THE MARINA IS ALMOST CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE NOBODY CAN FISH OVER THERE ANYMORE.
THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I'LL SAY ONE LAST THING AND I THINK I SENT Y'ALL AN EMAIL ON THIS.
WHEN I WAS PARISH PRESIDENT, WE BUILT THE SILT AT [INAUDIBLE] TO KEEP THE SALTWATER AT BAY.
IT WORKED GREATLY. THE NEXT YEAR, MARDI GRAS PASS BLEW OUT.
EACH YEAR SINCE THEN, IT'S CREEPED UP RIVER.
NOW, MARDI GRAS PASS OVER A THIRD OF THE RIVER FLOWS THROUGH MARDI GRAS PASS.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SALTWATER.
WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE COURT AND SAID, YOU BUILD THIS DIVERSION, SALTWATER IS GOING TO BE IN NEW ORLEANS.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR ANSWER IS? THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND $25 MILLION AND STUDY IT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
TO LESSEN THE FLOW OF THE RIVER, THAT SALTWATER IS COMING FARTHER NORTH.
IF WE CLOSE OFF MARDI GRAS PASS, JEFFERSON PARISH WON'T HAVE SALTWATER.
YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK.
IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE LESSENING THE FLOW OF THE RIVER SO THAT SALTWATER HAS NOTHING PUSHING IT OUT. IT'S COMING UP RIVER.
THIS WILL BE A DISASTER FOR ALL THE WAY PAST NEW ORLEANS IF WE BUILD THIS DIVERSION.
INSTEAD OF ADMITTING THAT NOW, THEY WANT TO STUDY IT FOR FIVE YEARS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THERE NOW WILL BE RETIRED IN FIVE YEARS, AND THEY WON'T HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE.
>> ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. LIEUTENANT.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'LL START OUT WITH THE ALARIO CENTER.
WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR, WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE AMERICAN CORNHOLE LEAGUE WILL BE BACK IN JEFFERSON PARISH FOR A SECOND YEAR AND WE'LL BE HOSTING THEIR PRO SERIES KICKOFF BATTLE THIS WEEKEND AT THE ALARIO CENTER BEGINNING THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND RUNNING UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING.
THE EVENT WILL FEATURE OVER 400 COMPETITORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY COMPETING IN THE PRO SERIES OPEN SERIES AND TEAM PLAY.
ON SATURDAY NIGHT, THEY'LL ALSO FEATURE THE SUPER HOLE COMPETITION, MATCHING UP ACL PROS WITH EIGHT NFL PLAYERS FROM THE BILLS, PATRIOTS, SAINTS AND COWBOYS, SUCH AS THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS DEREK CARR AND JUAN JOHNSON, AS WELL AS FORMER [INAUDIBLE] AND CURRENT COWBOY BRANDON COOKS.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND, THERE WILL BE LIVE NATIONAL BROADCASTS OF THE EVENT ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK AND ESPN 2, AND THE DAILY EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST EVENTS EACH NIGHT.
FOR INFORMATION ON THE SCHEDULE AND THE PURCHASE TICKETS, PLEASE VISIT IPLAYCORNHOLE.COM.
IF I CAN JUST EXPAND ON THIS, THE REASON WHY I LOVE THIS TOURNAMENT I'M NOT A CORNHOLE PLAYER, PLAYED A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT REGULARLY IS BECAUSE THIS GENERATES TRUE TOURISTS TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
THEY'RE NOT TOURISTS HERE FOR ANY OTHER REASON AND THEN USING AMENITIES IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
THEY'RE COMING TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
THEY'RE STAYING IN HOTELS, 400 PEOPLE, IN HOTEL ROOMS, 400 POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AT RESTAURANTS, AT SHOPPING MALLS, SPENDING THEIR MONEY IN JEFFERSON PARISH SO THAT'S WHY IT IS MY THOROUGH BELIEF THAT IF WE GROW, WE HAVE POTENTIAL TO GROW IN THIS PART OF OUR ECONOMY.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE ON BOARD, YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO OUR SPORTS ASSETS TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT REGIONAL OR NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS, AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE THIS EVENT.
JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY, 3,000 SOLAR VIEWING GLASSES WERE HANDED OUT AT ALL 16 BRANCHES OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY IN ADVANCE OF THE ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8.
THIS DISTRIBUTION RESULTED IN A SIGN UP OF 573 NEW LIBRARY CARD HOLDERS AND 939 RENEWALS, 939.
JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY WILL SPONSOR A BOOTH AT THE GRAND ISLE MIGRATORY BIRD FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, APRIL 20, WITH THE DISPLAY OF BOOKS RELATED TO NATURE OBSERVATION, A FAMILY CRAFTING TABLE, AND BIRD WATCHING BACKPACK KITS, INCLUDING BINOCULARS AND FIELD GUIDES FROM THE LIBRARY OF THINGS COLLECTION.
OUR LIBRARY WILL PARTNER WITH THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF NEW ORLEANS FOR AN AWARENESS DAY FESTIVAL AT THE WESTWEGO FARMERS MARKET THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 20, WITH A BOOTH OF DISPLAYS PROVIDING OUTREACH TO AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
BRIAN CASHIO, WHO IS A SENIOR MANAGER OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AT GENERAL ELECTRIC, WILL LEAD AN EIGHT WEEK SERIES TITLED CONQUERING THE JOB APPLICATION PROCESS ON CONSECUTIVE TUESDAYS FROM APRIL 28 TO JUNE 18 AT THE LIVE OAK LIBRARY IN WAGMAN.
THEN WE JUST SAW OUR MEMBERS OF OUR NORTH KENNER LIBRARY.
THEY'RE GOING TO HOST A CITIZENSHIP CLASS ON APRIL 23, 25TH AND 30TH WITH INSTRUCTION ON THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE, THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A HISTORY TEST AND THE IMMIGRATION INTERVIEW PROCESS, WHICH WAS MY FORMER CAREER, I ADMINISTERED THIS TEST, SO WE'RE ALL COMING FULL CIRCLE.
JEFFCAP HEADSTART, THE JEFFERSON PARISH PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE JEFFERSON PARISH HEADSTART PROGRAM, WILL BE HOSTING AN INFORMATIONAL JOB FAIR.
THE JOB FAIR WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY APRIL 19, FROM 9:00-2:00 PM AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.
THE JOB FAIR IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH VARIOUS HEAD START REPRESENTATIVES, OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE CURRENT FULL TIME AND PART TIME JOBS,
[00:50:04]
AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS.FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT AT 504-364-2730.
ALSO, THIS IS REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR US THE RESIDENTIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE RESIDENT JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A NEW GRANT PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, JEDCO, THE JEFFERSON PARISH FINANCE AUTHORITY, AND WE CALL NOEL, THE NEW ORLEANS EDUCATION LEAGUE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
THE JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES US WITH AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TOWARD REIMAGINING THE HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
IT WILL PROVIDE UP TO $8,500 FOR REPAIRS AND UPDATES TO SELECTED HOMES IN TARRYTOWN, AND IT'S DESIGNED TO SPRUCE UP THE EXTERIOR APPEARANCE OF HOMES TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY MORE ATTRACTIVE TO INCOMING HOME BUYERS AND MORE ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE.
THE RESIDENTIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS A KEY ACTION ITEM CREATED THROUGH WHAT WE STARTED IN AROUND 2018 WITH THE TARRYTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT'S AVAILABLE TO OWNER OCCUPIED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES LOCATED WITHIN THE ELIGIBLE PROPERTY BOUNDARY IN TARRYTOWN.
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS INCLUDE LANDSCAPING, REPAIR OF SOFFIT AND FASCIAL OR ROTTED WOOD, EXTERIOR PAINTING REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT ITEMS, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF FRONT DOORS AND OR SHUTTERS AND WINDOWS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF DRIVEWAYS AND OR SIDEWALKS.
THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MAY 11 AT 9:00 PM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN VISIT WWW.NOELCI.ORG.
WE HAVE A BUSINESS SEMINAR CALLED START HERE.
OPENING A BUSINESS IN A COMMUNITY CAN BE A DAUNTING TASK, BUT IN JEFFERSON PARISH, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
WE'RE PARTNERING WITH JEDCO TO HOST A SEMINAR DESIGNED TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS NAVIGATE LOCAL REGULATIONS AND LAUNCH THEIR NEXT BUSINESS VENTURE AS PAINLESSLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE SEMINAR WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY, MAY 7, FROM NINE TO NOON AT THE ECO CONFERENCE CENTER IN AVONDALE.
DURING THE SEMINAR, PARISH OFFICIALS WILL PROVIDE THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO EFFECTIVELY OPEN, OPERATE AND EXPAND IN JEFFERSON PARISH WITH TOPICS INCLUDING PARISH ZONING REQUIREMENTS AND HOW TO FIND YOUR ZONING DESIGNATION, THE PERMITTING PROCESS, AND ONLINE PORTAL, EXPECTED TIMELINES FOR SECURING A PERMIT, REQUIREMENTS TO SECURE AN OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE, CODE ENFORCEMENT RULES, REPORTING AND FINES, AND HOW TO AVOID COMMON PITFALLS TO MAKE SURE YOUR PROJECT KEEPS MOVING.
THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
VISIT WWW.JEDCO.COM TO REGISTER ONLINE IN ADVANCE.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS SEEKING ELIGIBLE JEFFERSON PARISH YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16-24 FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT.
YEAR ROUND WORK EXPERIENCE, TECHNICAL TRAINING, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
YOU CAN CALL THE AMERICAN JOB CENTER AT 504-227-1283 OR 504-838-5678.
WE'RE LAUNCHING A NARCAN DISTRIBUTION SITE AT THE MERE PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT, LOCATED AT 111 NORTH CAUSEWAY STARTING NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 25.
ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18 CAN PICK UP ONE DOSE OF INTRANASAL NARCAN EVERY THURSDAY FROM 9:00 AM-4: 30.
WE'RE ALSO DISTRIBUTING NARCAN AT THE MERIO PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT, 1855 AMS BOULEVARD AND MORRO EVERY MONDAY AND TUESDAY FROM 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
FOR ANY QUESTIONS CALL 504-349-5639.
OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON PREPARATIONS FOR HURRICANE SEASON.
LAST WEEK, WE HELD OUR ANNUAL SHELTERING EXERCISE WHERE STAFF FROM OUR RECREATION, JEFFCAP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY, PRACTICE SETTING UP SHELTER AND ADDRESSING POSSIBLE NEEDS OF SHELTERS.
THIS WEEK WE'RE PARTICIPATING IN THE STATE WIDE HURRICANE EXERCISE, WHICH INCLUDES THREE DAYS OF EXERCISES, INCLUDING A FULL EOC ACTIVATION.
THESE EXERCISES ALLOW COORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES AND PRACTICE ADDRESSING COMMON ISSUES AND ENSURE SMOOTH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PARISH AND THE STATE, IF NEED BE.
THERE'LL BE A SOFT LAUNCH AND OPENING OF MOBILE MARKET AT THE JAMES C SIMMONS COMMUNITY CENTER IN WESTWEGO TOMORROW, APRIL 17 FROM 10:00 TO NOON.
THE MOBILE MARKET WILL BRING FRESH PRODUCE AND HEALTHY FOOD AT AFFORDABLE PRICES, AS WELL AS NUTRITION, EDUCATION, INCLUSIVE CARE HEALTH SERVICES, AND WICK INFORMATION TO COMMUNITY CENTER EVERY THURSDAY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN BYRON LEE, BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THIS OFF THE GROUND ON THIS.
VISIT NO-HUNGER.ORG/MOBILEMARKET FOR MORE INFORMATION.
JEFFCAP WILL HOST TWO OUTREACH EVENTS.
FIRST, THERE'LL BE A LAHI UTILITY ASSISTANT, SENIOR OUTREACH EVENTS ON THURSDAY, APRIL 18 AT THE KENNER SENIOR CENTER.
THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR SENIORS, AGES 60 AND UP AND IS LIMITED TO PROVIDING UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO THE FIRST 125 RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY.
THERE'LL BE TWO OUTREACH EVENTS THIS MONTH FOR THE SHARE THE WARMTH BLITZ, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN JEFFCAP AND ATMOS ENERGY THAT HELP
[00:55:02]
RESIDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR NATURAL GAS BILL, AND THERE'LL BE AN OUTREACH EVENT AT JOHNNY JACOBS PLAYGROUND IN MARRERO ON THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 10:00 -2:00 AND THE HISPANIC APOSTOLATE IN KENNER ON FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 10:00 -2:00.FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 504-736-6900.
OUR RECYCLING DROP OFF PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL WORKED SO HARD AT WITH GLASS HALF FULL AND REAL CYCLE WAS VERY POPULAR THIS PAST SATURDAY.
HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS SHOWED UP.
AS A REMINDER JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS WANTING TO PARTICIPATE, MAY DROP OFF ITEMS EVERY SATURDAY FROM 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM AT A DRIVE OFF SITE ON BOTH THE EAST BANK AND THE WEST BANK.
THE SITE AT DAVID DRIVE WAS VERY CONGESTED, A LOT OF TRAFFIC SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THAT EASTBANK SITE OUTSIDE THE YANI BUILDING EVERY SATURDAY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
WE THINK WE'LL HAVE MORE SPACE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROCESS PEOPLE QUICKER AND REDUCE THE WAIT TIMES OF COURSE, REMINDER THAT THE WEST BANK SITE WILL REMAIN AT 6440 6440 LAPALCO BOULEVARD IN MARRERO.
BOTH SITES COLLECT GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS.
THEY DON'T WANT MIRRORS OR BROKEN GLASS OR CERAMICS OR POTTERY.
CARDBOARD, ALUMINUM TIN, SEAL CANS AND PLASTICS WITH A NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO.
NUMBER ONE, INCLUDES SODA AND WATER BOTTLES, NUMBER TWO, INCLUDES MILK, JUICE SHAMPOO, DEODORANT CONTAINERS, AND THEN AS WELL AS MIXED PAPER.
LONG UPDATES, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE OUT ANYTHING.
>> THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. TAKE A SIP OF WATER.
>> ANYONE WITH COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THE PARISH PRESIDENT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOUR TEAM, ESPECIALLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, KATHERINE CASTANZA AND HER STAFF MEMBERS HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD ON BRINGING BACK RECYCLING DROP OFFS, AND I KNOW THEY WERE OUT THERE MANNING THE SITES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING SO QUICKLY RESPONSIVE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A LINE IN COUNCILWOMAN BHANAN'S DISTRICT AT DAVID DRIVE OF A GOOD 20 CARS DEEP ANY TIME THAT I WAS THERE SO MOVING IT TO THE YANI BUILDING, I THINK WILL HELP.
DAVID DRIVE, THOUGH, I UNDERSTAND, WILL STILL BE OPEN FOR TRASH DROP OFF, THE LARGER BULK, TRASH DROP OFF, BUT THE YANI BUILDING IS JUST THE RECYCLING SATURDAY 10:00-2:00.
I THINK THAT'LL BE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT GOING FORWARD, IT'LL PROBABLY BE AN EASIER PROCESS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DROPPING OFF RECYCLING HAVE BEEN COLLECTING IT AND SAVING IT SINCE THE END OF DECEMBER SO IT WAS A LOT.
I THINK WE'LL SEE IT BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER GOING FORWARD.
ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING
[PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION(S) ON AGENDA/ADDENDUM AGENDA]
A RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA CAN DO SO NOW.YOU MUST COMPLETE A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD AND HAND IT IN TO THE CLERK BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE RECORD.
>> [INAUDIBLE] DRIVE FIFTH DISTRICT COUNTY FOURTH DISTRICT [INAUDIBLE], JEFFERSON, 52 YEARS.
ITEM NUMBER 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 76, 79, 88, 94. FOUR DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED CHANGE ORDERS.
WE GOT PUBLIC WORKS, WE GOT PARKS AND RECREATION, JUVENILE SERVICES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
TOTAL INCREASES, $3.369 MILLION, ADDITIONAL WORK, UNFORESEEN OBSTRUCTIONS, THE USUAL.
THEN WE GOT $70,000 IN DECREASES INVOLVING TWO OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, PARKS AND RECREATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
NOW, ITEM NUMBER 19 ON THE ADAM AGENDA, THIS IS NO CHANGE ORDERS.
THIS CONCERNS A $33 MILLION PROJECT FOR THE KENNER HOUSING AUTHORITY IN KENNER.
THIS PROJECT IS TO REBUILD THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT WAS DESTROYED AFTER HURRICANE IDA AND DEMOG.
NOW, I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO PASS THIS THING AND LET'S GET THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD SO THESE PEOPLE CAN GET BACK INTO THEIR UNITS.
NOW, I ALSO ADVISE THE KENNER HOUSING AUTHORITY AT OUR LAST MEETING.
YES, I GO TO THOSE MEETINGS, TOO.
NOW, THAT THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP.
WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER, WHICH I DON'T TRUST TOO MANY PRIVATE BUSINESSES OUT HERE, PARTICULARLY THESE DEVELOPERS.
I TOLD THEM TO STAY VIGILANT, EVEN THOUGH THE KENNER HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS 51% CONTROL OVER THESE PROPERTIES.
HART IS OUT OF THE PUBLIC UNIT BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING NOW IS GOING TO BE VOUCHER CHOICE OF SECTION 8, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
BUT I TOLD THEM TO REMAIN VIGILANT WITH THIS PRIVATE FIRM BECAUSE TODAY IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOMORROW IT COULD BE UNAFFORDABLE.
BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE OUT HERE AGREED.
THEY WANT LIKE ONE THING, MORE MONEY, HAS MORE MONEY.
ANYBODY GOT ANY COMMENTS? ANY QUESTIONS? I URGE PASSAGE OF THIS. THANK YOU.
[01:00:09]
>> [INAUDIBLE] ITEM 9 HOME BOULEVARD, JUST TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY AND AWAY WE GO. THREE MINUTES.
CAN'T BE DONE, [NOISE] 130 SOMETHING ITEMS CAN'T REALLY GET THIS DONE.
I SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE HERE TO DO THIS.
IF IT WAS A REPRESENTATIVE BODY, SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE CALLED ME, POINTED OUT ALL THOSE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS THAT I WOULD OPPOSE AND YOU'D BE OPPOSING THEM ON MY BEHALF.
BUT AS THE TOKEN GESTURES GO, I GOT 12, EIGHT FROM THE ADDENDUM, 116, 110, 96, 97, 89, 72 -74, EVERY COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE.
IN LOOKING AT 116 I CAME ACROSS A NEW CROCHET INGENUITY.
THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE IF YOU TAX ANYTHING, THEN THERE'S RULES THAT APPLY TO TAXATION.
THAT'S WHY I OPPOSE EVERY TAX EXEMPTION THAT YOU PASS IN HERE, AND THIS ONE REEKS OF IT, THAT SAME KIND OF PROCESS.
A CROTCHET INGENUITY THAT THE COMBINATIONS OF DAY GIVE RISE TO.
SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE COOL, SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE LEGITIMATE, BUT WHEN IT'S PUT TO SCRUTINY, REALLY ISN'T.
OF COURSE, WE CAN'T APPORTION THIS BODY BECAUSE WE GOT TWO SENATORS SITTING WOULD BE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SO REALLY, EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE ON THIS AGENDA VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION THAT YOU'VE SWORN TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND.
BUT IF YOU LACK FOR THE UNDERSTANDING, I GOT TO QUESTION YOUR ABILITY TO FILL THAT OATH.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ST. FRANCIS.
MY FAMILY IS ALARMED, I URGE YOU TO GRANT THAT PERMISSION.
ITEM 12 IN THE DENIM AGENDA AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS ON MY WAY OVER HERE THIS MORNING IN THAT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT ACTUALLY REPRESENTS ME, THE PERSON WHO LIVES IN THE UNINCORPORATED PORTION OF EAST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH, METAIRIE BECAUSE I CAN'T COUNT ON ANYBODY REPRESENTING ME.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE DISTRICT THAT I'VE BEEN PROPORTIONALLY DISTRIBUTED TO, NOT A PORTION, BUT PROPORTIONALLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG FIVE DISTRICTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PERSON HAS TO REPRESENT HARAHAN AND WEST WE GO BEFORE.
THEY COULD EVER REPRESENT THE INCORPORATED PORTIONS OF EITHER EAST OR WEST BANK THAT THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE SERVE.
YOU GET THAT? HARAHAN AND WEST GO PAY DIFFERENT TAXATION.
YOU CAN'T REPRESENT SOMEBODY IF YOU LIVE IN A PLACE THAT'S TAXED DIFFERENTLY.
THIS WOULD BE THE DOCTRINE OF VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION, THE CAUSE FOR OUR REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
IT'S A TALE OF TWO CITIES HERE.
I TRAVEL TO WEST BANK ALL THE TIME.
THEY DON'T HAVE A PARISH PRESIDENT.
THEY ONLY HAVE ONE REPRESENTATIVE THAT ONLY SERVES THE WEST BANK.
THAT'S ON THE AGENDA. YOU'RE GOING TO REDISTRICT.
YOU'RE GOING TO RESCHEDULE ONE OF THE WEST BANK FEW MEETINGS.
THEY ALREADY KNOCKED DOWN A MEETING.
WE ONLY GOT EIGHT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RIVER HERE TO CONDUCT ANY PSEUDO OVERSIGHT UPON AN ILLEGITIMATELY FORMED BODY BUT YOU STOLE A MEETING FROM THE WEST BANK, TWO OF THEM.
NOW THEY HAD EIGHT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE ONE OF THOSE.
YOU'RE DEPRIVING THE PARISH CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLICAN FORM THEY DESERVE FIGURED OUT.
>> ANYONE ELSE? I THINK HE INTIMATED, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOU'RE GOING TO LEAD THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THE NEXT ONE.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK YOU'D BE GOOD AT THAT.
[LAUGHTER] LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED, PLEASE.
ITEMS 1 AND 2 WILL BE CANCELED.
I'M SORRY. I SEE YOU GET UP, MA'AM.
>> AGAIN, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT A COUNCIL MEETING, SO FORGIVE ME IF I'M DOING SOMETHING INCORRECT.
>> JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> BARBEY 217 OAK ROAD, MARRERO, LOUISIANA.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT AN ORDINANCE NUMBER 10, SUMMARY 26272.
>> WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM, DOES [INAUDIBLE] TO SPEAK ON IT.
>> THAT'S THE SECOND TIME I DID THAT, ISN'T IT? [LAUGHTER] SO WILL YOU LET US KNOW WHEN WE'RE SUPPOSED?
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'LL CALL FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NUMBER 10.
[LAUGHTER] THIRD TIME WILL BE THE CHARM.
[LAUGHTER] ANYONE ELSE? [NOISE] GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
I HAVE A NOTE THAT ITEMS 1 AND 2 WILL BE CANCELED ON THE ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED.
[ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED]
NUMBER 3 WILL BE DEFERRED TO OUR MAY 1ST MEETING.COUNCIL VAN VRANCKEN, YOU HAVE A MOTION REGARDING THE CANCELLATION OF ONE AND TWO AND THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 3-51.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE CANCELLATION OF ITEMS 1 AND 2 AND THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 3-51, 2024? A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 4, MADAM CLERK.
[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]
>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE PAVEMENT TESTING AND PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON.
[01:05:04]
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR SELECTION.
>> SELECTING THE COMPANY THAT EARNED THE HIGHEST SCORE, WHICH IS MATT MCDONALD, LLC.
>> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF MATT MCDONALD, LLC ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, ITEM 5, PLEASE.
>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, SERVICES OF APPLICATIONS FOR SMALL CELL TELECOMMUNICATION DEPLOYMENT ON PARISH RIGHT OF WAYS ON AND HAS NEEDED BASIS.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR SELECTION.
>> AGAIN, SELECTING THE COMPANY THAT EARNED THE HIGHEST SCORE, MS BENBOW AND ASSOCIATES.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF MS BENBOW AND ASSOCIATES ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED ITEM 6.
>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING FOR SOQ 24003, PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED IN QUALIFIED AS DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR PARTICIPATION IN JEFFERSON COMMUNITY ACTIONS EARLY HEAD START EXPANSION CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
SUBMITTERS UNDER THIS SOQ MUST BE QUALIFIED AS A TYPE 3 LICENSED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDER TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, HEALTH, PARENT INVOLVEMENT, AND NUTRITION SERVICES TO ENROLL THE INFANTS AND TODDLERS SIX WEEKS TO 35 MONTHS.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR SELECTION.
>> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF ALL QUALIFIED FIRMS OF MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED TO ITEM 7, PLEASE.
>> A RESOLUTION IS SELECTING FOR SOQ 24006 TO BE A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JEFFERSON COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS HEAD START BIRTH TO FIVE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR SELECTION.
>> SELECTING THE HEALTHY SCHOOL FOOD COLLABORATIVE, WHICH WAS THE ONLY RESPONDER.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF THE HEALTHY SCHOOL FOOD COLLABORATIVE ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED NUMBER 8 IS EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH WE'LL COME BACK TO AROUND NOON.
AND I HAVE A NOTE THAT ITEM 9 WILL BE DEFERRED TO OUR MAY 22ND MEETING.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM NUMBER 9.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 9-522 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, ITEM NUMBER 10 NOW WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.
[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES (Part 1 of 2)]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26272 RESUB A PARTIAL C-3-B HARVEY CANAL SUBDIVISION WS-106-22 COUNCIL DISTRICT 3, AND I WILL DEFER TO MS. MARTIN WITH THE AMENDMENTS.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
SECTION NUMBER 2 IS AMENDED TO READ THAT THE PRELIMINARY PLAT OF TILTON J DUFREN JR. DATED DECEMBER 21, 2021, REVISED OCTOBER 5, 2023, SHOWING THE SUBDIVISION OF PARCEL C-3-B, HARVEY CARNAL SUBDIVISION, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA INTO LOTS 1-27 SQUARE 1, LOTS 1-18 SQUARE 2, AND PARCEL A SOLARIUM PARK SUBDIVISION AND THE DEDICATION OF SOLARIUM LOOP, A 20-FOOT DRAINAGE SERVITUDE AND A NINE-FOOT DRAINAGE SERVITUDE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID PLAN IS HEREBY APPROVED.
SECTION NUMBER 3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS.
THAT DEVELOPMENT ON LOTS 1-27 SQUARE 1 AND LOTS 1-18 SQUARE 2 SOLARIUM PARK SUBDIVISION IS LIMITED TO THE STYLE OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES AS SHOWN ON EXHIBIT A ATTACHED HERE TO OR A SIMILAR STYLE AS DETERMINED BY THE JEFFERSON PARISH PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THE REMAINING SECTIONS ARE RE NUMBERED.
>> THAT'S ALL. ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER.
THOSE ARE JUST FOR THE AMENDMENTS. YOUR TIME'S COMING RIGHT NOW, SIR.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26272.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> ALFRED HAYES, HAYES ARCHITECTS.
I'M THE ARCHITECT ON THE PROJECT.
WE COMPLY WITH ALL THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS FOR THE RESUB AND WE FEEL THAT THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE THE WOODMERE SUBDIVISION.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ARE YOU GETTING UP TO SPEAK, SIR, OR ARE YOU JUST GETTING UP? I'M SORRY, I'M TALKING TO THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK.
I THINK YOU'RE JUST GETTING UP. ONE IN FAVOR. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
[01:10:08]
>> MY NAME IS REGINALD MCCADNEY.
I LIVE AT 4008 SOUTH WOODBINE STREET, HARBOR, LOUISIANA, AND I OPPOSE THE CONSTRUCTION.
I HAVE HERE IN MY POSSESSION A STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS THAT STATES THAT THE SUBDIVISION WILL IN FACT IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY IN THE SHORT RUN.
BUT IN THE LONG RUN, IT WILL CAUSE A DECLINE IN OUR COMMUNITY BASED ON THE INCOME.
I EMAILED THIS STUDY TO THE PARISH PRESIDENT AND EACH OF YOU.
I SENT THIS STUDY TO EACH ONE OF YOU VIA EMAIL, SO YOU SHOULD HAVE IT IN YOUR INBOXES.
BUT IT SHOWS HOW THIS STUDY WILL HAVE A DECLINE ON A HIGH INCOME AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
NOW, THIS PARTICULAR LOW INCOME DEVELOPMENT WILL WORK WELL IN A LOW INCOME AREA, WHICH I DON'T WANT TO PUT THIS ON ANYBODY.
BUT IF YOU PLACE A LOW INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN A HIGH INCOME AFRICAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT, IT WILL IN THE LONG RUN BRING THAT COMMUNITY DOWN.
ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T WISH IT ON ANY COMMUNITY.
I JUST KNOW THAT THIS STUDY WAS DONE BY REBECCA DIAMOND AND TIM MCCAY AT STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, DECEMBER 2017, AND IT STATES THAT IF YOU PLACE IT HERE, IT'S GOING TO BRING THE COMMUNITY DOWN IN THE LONG RUN.
SHORT TERM, IT WILL BOOST THINGS UP, BUT THAT WILL BE PEOPLE JUMPING SHIP.
THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO LEAVE, AND THEN IT WILL BRING THE COMMUNITY DOWN.
I DON'T SEE HOW ANYBODY CAN AFFORD TO PAY $200,000-$230,000 FOR A HOME THAT'S BUTTED UP AGAINST THE DRAINAGE DITCH.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE HARD TO COME BY.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE HOME INSURANCE, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BE HARD TO COME BY.
THE COST OF GETTING MONEY IS HARD TO COME BY,20% DOWN, THAT'S 40,000 BUCKS.
THAT'S HARD TO COME BY. EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE HARD TO COME BY.
IT'S GOING TO COST $25-$100 A MONTH.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED $100,000 A MONTH YEARLY INCOME TO LIVE ON THESE PROPERTIES.
ALL I CAN SEE IS THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO COME ALONG EVENTUALLY BECAUSE THE HOME IS ON SALE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO A MICHAEL MILKING AND BUY THEM ALL UP, BUNDLE THEM UP, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEM OUT AS LOW INCOME HOUSING, WHICH WILL COME TO YOU GUYS, THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR HANDOUT, AND THEN WE'LL BE LOOKING AT A LOW INCOME HOUSING PROJECT STARING US IN THE FACE.
THAT'S WHERE I STAND. MY NAME IS REGINALD MCCADNEY, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION?
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LESLIE TRUFAN, I LIVE AT 2021 EAST MARE STREET IN WOODMERE.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE HAVE A LARGE SUBDIVISION WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED ON, AND A NEW COMMUNITY IS NOT WHAT WE NEED, AND ESPECIALLY NOT 45 MORE HOMES. THANK YOU.
>> HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? MY NAME IS JUNE HOLLINS.
I STAY AT 3824 BIRCHFIELD DRIVE, AND I'M AGAINST IT.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE NOT GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE BACK THERE ON SECTION A 60%, 40% IS HOME OWNERS.
[01:15:01]
I WORK ON BEHALF OF MY ELDERLY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I HEAR THE STORIES, WE DIDN'T GET THE GROCERY STORE, AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO BRING THEM WAY TO OTHER AREAS.I JUST FEEL LIKE THE CRIME IS BAD.
WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE SCHOOL.
THAT CAME, AND THAT WAS A EYESORE.
IT'S A LOT OF CRIME, IT'S SPEEDING, AND IT'S JUST HURTFUL.
I'M JUST HURTING BEHIND THIS WHOLE PROJECT.
WE DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL TWO YEARS LATER.
WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRIED TO PUT A STOP TO THIS.
BUT WE FOUND OUT, BEEN GOING TO MEETING AFTER MEETING, AND IT'S JUST HURTFUL.
I'M QUITE SURE YOU CAN HEAR IT IN MY VOICE.
I'M JUST SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS WHOLE IDEA.
I AM A MEMBER OF ST. JOHN BOSCO CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WOODMERE.
THE REASON I'M FOR IT IS BECAUSE I'VE WATCHED WOODMERE FOR CLOSE TO 40 YEARS.
IT'S THE FIRST POSITIVE THING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE CANAL GOES TO ONE OF THE LARGEST OUTFLOW PUMPING SYSTEMS IN THE REGION.
I ALSO AM AFFECTED BY THAT CANAL.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE FIRST HEARINGS ABOUT NO GROCERY STORE.
ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST RECENTLY BUILT A LIBRARY OR IS BUILDING A LIBRARY IN AVONDALE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LIBRARY IN AVONDALE, BUT THERE'S ONE TWO MILES AWAY.
THERE'S A GROCERY STORE LESS THAN TWO MILES AWAY FROM WOODMERE.
DOESN'T KEEP THEM FROM GOING TO WALMART.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS I THINK IT'S A POSITIVE MOVE BECAUSE 225,000 TO $280,000 PRICE TAG ON THE HOMES, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A WALLED COMMUNITY, BUT THERE WILL BE A FENCE AROUND IT.
THE ONLY THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS GRAFFITI.
I THINK THAT THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROJECT.
I THINK HE WILL HELP PROVIDE NECESSARY PROTECTION.
I THINK THAT THE NECESSARY TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT WILL BE IN PLACE, AND THEREFORE, I AM FOR THE PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOBODY ELSE IN FAVOR.
WE HAVE MOVED PAST IN FAVOR, BUT I'LL LET YOU SPEAK, SIR, BUT WE'RE NOW IN OPPOSITION.
ANYBODY ELSE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT? SURE. NOW BACK TO THOSE OPPOSED.
>> HERE I AM AGAIN. HI. SUSAN BARVE, 217 OAK ROAD, MARIA, LOUISIANA.
I LIVE IN PLANTATION STATES, WHICH IS BASICALLY ADJACENT TO WOODMERE.
I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND I LIKE, MANY OF YOU HAVE WATCHED WOODMERE, GROW AND IN MANY WAYS DECLINE.
I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST ADDING AND I LIKE TO USE THE WORD CRAMMING 45 MORE HOUSES ON A VERY SMALL PLOT OF LAND THAT WAS MEANT TO BE COMMERCIAL, AND THAT IS WHY THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THIS TO MAKE IT INTO RESIDENTIAL, SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE RESIDENTIAL INTO THE FRONT OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT WILL BE 45 MORE HOUSES, MINIMUM TWO CAR PER HOUSE, POSSIBLY THREE, POSSIBLY FOUR.
I'M SURE NEIGHBORS IN WOODMERE CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY HOUSES BACK THERE HAVE FOUR AND FIVE CARS.
THAT'S LET'S JUST SAY A MINIMUM OF TWO, THAT'S 90 CARS LEAVING AND COMING BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD DURING RUSH HOUR THAT WOULD BE INHIBITING CURRENT RESIDENTS FROM GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN ADDITION TO THERE IS FLOODING PROBLEMS IN WOODMERE.
I KNOW WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IT AT PREVIOUS PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THE NECESSARY DRAINAGE IN, BUT THE BACK OF WOODMERE HAS NECESSARY DRAINAGE TOO, AND THEY'RE FLOODING.
[01:20:04]
IF YOU WILL, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WILL HELP THESE NEIGHBORS.I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WOODMERE, I KNOW THAT THEIR HOUSES HAVE DECREASED IN VALUE.
I KNOW THAT THROUGH THE YEARS THAT I'VE WATCHED WOODMERE AND MANY OF YOU WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE WEST BANK THAT AS WOODMERE HAS GROWN, HAS ADDED MORE HOUSES, AND I THINK THEY'RE UP TO 2,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST CRAZY FOR ONE SMALL WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY THAT IS LIMITED ON INFRASTRUCTURE, AS THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN BY INCREASING MORE HOUSING AND HOUSING UNITS IN IT, SO HAS CRIME.
PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO OUT AT NIGHT IN SOME AREAS, THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A LOT OF THE RENTALS, AND I'LL LET THOSE NEIGHBORS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
I JUST KNOW WHAT I'M TOLD AND I KNOW WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER.
I KNOW THAT WOODMERE WAS A PET PROJECT, IF YOU WILL, OF THE LATE GREAT HARRY LEE.
HE TRIED, AND HE REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT, TRYING TO MAKE IT AS GOOD OF A COMMUNITY AS HE COULD AND IT WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR HIM.
I DO WONDER IF ANY OF YOU HAVE TAKEN THE CRIME ASPECT OF ADDING MORE HOUSES INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD INTO CONSIDERATION.
I DO WONDER IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO SHERIFF LA PINTO AND GOTTEN HIS OPINION ON WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT CRAMMING 45 MORE HOUSES INTO WOODMERE AND HOW HE FEELS LIKE THAT WILL OVER THE LONG TERM AFFECT THE COMMUNITY.
ONE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT THE WAY THIS GOT THROUGH THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD AND IN FRONT OF YOU WAS VERY INAPPROPRIATE, TO SAY THE LEAST.
WE ATTENDED THREE OR FOUR MEETINGS AT THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD.
THERE WERE MANY OF US WHO ATTENDED EACH MEETING AND VOICED OUR OPINION, AND AT THE LAST MEETING BEFORE IT GOT MOVED TO YOU GUYS, MARCH 14, I BELIEVE, WAS THE DATE, MR. TURNER, THE CHAIRMAN OPENED THE MEETING AND AND SAID, I SEE A LOT OF MANY OF THE SAME FACES HERE THAT I'VE SEEN AT THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS, AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT IF ANY OF YOU ONLY HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS TO PLEASE NOT VOICE THOSE, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THOSE BEFORE AND THOSE ARE NOTED.
HE SAID WE ONLY WANT TO HEAR IF THERE ARE ANY NEW CONCERNS.
THOSE OF US IN ATTENDANCE DIDN'T HAVE ANY NEW CONCERNS AND WE RESPECTED HIS REQUEST AND DIDN'T SPEAK.
AFTER THE PROPONENTS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK, THEY ASKED, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO SAY.
NONE OF US GOT UP OUT OF RESPECT FOR MR. TURNER, THE CHAIRMAN'S REQUEST.
MR. CHAI JONES, AT THAT MOMENT, SAID I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE ALL OF YOU BACK HERE AGAIN, AND I AM SO HAPPY THAT NONE OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN OUT IN OPPOSITION.
SINCE SINCE YOU HAVEN'T, I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A SIGN THAT ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN QUELLED AND I'M GOING TO MOVE TO VOTE TO APPROVE THIS ZONING REQUEST.
HE SAID, MOVE TO VOTE, SECOND TO VOTE, AND WE WERE STUNNED.
THEN WE STARTED OF SAYING WAIT, WAIT, WE DO HAVE CONCERNS, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, AND WE WERE ASKED TO LEAVE THE CHAMBERS.
THAT IS HOW IT GOT PASSED ON TO YOU.
I DID TRY TO FIND THE MINUTES TO PRESENT THOSE TO YOU, BUT I CANNOT FIND THOSE MINUTES ONLINE, THE MINUTES OF THAT MEETING.
THOSE MEETINGS DON'T SEEM TO BE ONLINE.
BUT I ASSUME YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THEM AND YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO ADD ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR SHOULD I GO SIT DOWN?
>> THANK YOU. THERE'S A MINUTE AND 10 SECONDS LEFT.
>> I'LL TAKE THAT MINUTE AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE DEDUCTING THE PERSON WHO GOT UP AS A PROPONENT DURING THE OPPONENT'S TIME? IF THAT'S HOW I END UP HAVING THAT EXTRA MINUTE.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
[01:25:02]
ROBERT'S RULES WHEN IT COMES TO THIS KIND OF STUFF IS ADHERED TO.HAVING A PROPONENT GET UP DURING THE OPPONENT'S TIME VIOLATES THAT PROCESS.
IT DISQUALIFIES EVERYTHING WE DO HERE.
I WALKED WOODMERE, I MADE FRIENDS WITH WOODMERE, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF WOODMERE.
THERE'S 17,000 PEOPLE IN WOODMERE.
THE DESERVE THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVE ON A LEGISLATIVE BODY.
IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN WOODMERE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE A DECISION FOR WOODMERE? SEVENTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE, MORE THAN LIVE IN GRETNA.
IF THIS WAS GOING ON IN GRETNA, THAT COUNCIL PERSON RIGHT THERE WOULD BE SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF AGAINST THIS. FIGURE IT OUT.
REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLICAN FORM MATTERS.
HOW WE REPRESENT HOW WE DISTRIBUTE POWER MATTERS AND IT SHOWS RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW. DO THE RIGHT THING.
DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AS A REPRESENTATIVE BODY, OR JUST DO WHAT THE TWO SENATORS WHO ARE NOT HERE ON BEHALF OF ANYBODY, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION ARE LIKELY TO PASS.
>> THERE ARE 10 SECONDS LEFT, MA'AM, BUT I'LL LET YOU GO A LITTLE BIT LONGER SINCE I PRESUME YOU LIVE IN THE AREA.
>> YES. MY NAME IS ANDREA JAMES.
I LIVE ON 3801 ACCACIA LANE IN HARVEY, WOODMERE.
I'M AGAINST THIS PROJECT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN WOODMERE FOR 30 YEARS.
THAT'S HOW LONG I HAVE AND I'M AFRAID THAT WE HAVE THE SAME SITUATION DOWN THE ROAD WITH THESE HOMES THAT WE HAVE ON ALEX COLEMAN.
THAT IS A NIGHTMARE RIGHT THERE.
I JUST DON'T PREFER THESE HOMES IN OUR AREA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT TWO APPEARED IN FAVOR AND SIX APPEARED IN OPPOSITION, COUNCILMAN LEE?
>> YES. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH ALL PARTIES, MATTER OF FACT, YESTERDAY AND I MET WITH CONCERNED CITIZENS THREE WEEKS OR TWO OR THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT.
THIS PROCESS STARTED SOMETIMES, I THINK IN JANUARY, IN TERMS OF THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE WAS SOME ENGAGEMENT WITH PHONE CALLS THAT I RECEIVED, AND THEN THE PHONE CALLS DIED DOWN DURING THE DELIBERATIVE PROCESS.
THEN I HAD NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
I HAD MY PERSON THERE, CALVIN THOMPSON, WHO IS MY COUNCIL AIDE AT THOSE MEETINGS.
THERE WERE OPINIONS THAT VARIED ON BOTH SIDES.
WOODMERE SUBDIVISION IS A VERY IMPORTANT SUBDIVISION IN JEFFERSON PARISH, LIKE MANY ARE.
WOODMERE IS A SUBDIVISION THAT OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS HAD ITS CHALLENGES.
OVER MANY YEARS, THE CHALLENGES DIFFERED.
WE HAD OUR FIRST CRIME TASK FORCE YEARS AGO, I WOULD SAY, 16, 18 YEARS AGO IN WOODMERE BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT WE SAW THAT WERE UNTOWARD WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHALLENGES.
BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN BASED ON MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE SEEN MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
IF I WERE TO GO BACK 10 YEARS OR SO, PROPERTY VALUES FOR THOSE HOMES WHEN THEY WERE SELLING AND MANY OF THEM, THE PRICES WENT DOWN SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE RTC, RESOLUTION TRUST CORPORATION HAVING TO TAKE HOUSES BACK AND THEY WERE SELLING HOUSES TO PEOPLE AT PRICES THEN, 50% BELOW WITH MANY OF THEM WHO BOUGHT HOMES BACK THERE HAD PAID FOR.
WHEN I SAY THAT, PRICES BACK THEN WHEN WOODMERE WAS BEING BUILT WAS IN THE $80,000 RANGE AT MULTIPLE MODELS, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO OWN.
BUT THE OILFIELD INDUSTRY CRASHED, RTC TOOK OVER AND HOUSES WERE THEN SELLING BACK THERE FOR 40 TO $50,000.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMPS IN WOODMERE, THE AVERAGE PRICE NOW IS RANGING 190 AND $200,000 IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN THROUGH OSMOSIS.
IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF PROCESSES AND IT HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU HAD PEOPLE WHO TRULY CARED ABOUT THE SUBDIVISION.
THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD TO REVIEW FOR THIS TIME.
LET ME DISCUSS THE PROPERTY WHERE LET EVERYONE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROPERTY IN SUBJECT IS PROPERTY THAT IS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL.
WHAT THAT MEANS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THAT IF THE PROPERTY OWNER DECIDES THAT THEY WANT TO BUILD A STORAGE FACILITY, A STRIP MALL AND ANY OTHER TYPE OF BUSINESS, A CLINIC, DAYCARE CENTERS, ALL THAT STUFF, THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY
[01:30:03]
BUILD THOSE TYPE OF BUILDINGS ON THAT PROPERTY, BUT ALSO HAVE HOMES WITHIN THAT PARCEL OF LAND.THE PROPERTY OWNER WANTS TO DOWNGRADE IT SO WHEREAS IT CAN BE R1, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THE CURRENT ZONING IS, WHICH AGAIN, ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD ANYTHING ON THE PROPERTY JUST BEYOND THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE NOT TENABLE FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO I'VE HAD TO REVIEW THIS.
I HAD TO LOOK AT THIS, AND YESTERDAY, WHEN WE MET, I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S VIEW, WHAT IS BEST USED, BLESS YOU.
I ALSO HAD TO LOOK INTO THAT WINDOW OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE 20 YEARS FROM NOW AS WELL, BECAUSE CERTAINLY, I HAVE NO INTEREST IN SEEING THE PROPERTIES DECLINE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DO KNOW IS THAT I BELIEVE THE PRICE POINTS FOR THEIR MODELS RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 250 TO I BELIEVE 285 AT BEST, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT YESTERDAY.
YES, SIR. IT WAS 255 TO, I BELIEVE, 305.
>> TO 305. THAT PRICE POINT IS HIGHER THAN WHAT THE SELLING PRICES ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SELLING THEIR HOMES BACK THERE FOR $200,000 IS BAD.
I'M JUST SIMPLY SAYING THAT THE PRICE POINT FOR WHAT'S PROPOSED FOR THESE NEW HOUSES IS HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY'RE SELLING FOR RIGHT NOW.
THEN THE OTHER FACTOR IS THAT THE COMPS FOR THE EXISTING HOMES BEING SOLD THAT PEOPLE OWN WOULD BE LESS THAN THE COMPS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
ALL OF THAT CAME INTO MIND AS I WAS MAKING THE DECISION, PONDERING THE DECISION.
THE NEXT THING I ASKED FOR IN THE MEETING YESTERDAY WAS I DIDN'T WANT A PROPOSED CONTRACT OR DEVELOPER PROVIDING SOME PICTURES OF HOUSES THAT THEY WOULD BUILD, WITHOUT KNOWING FOR SURE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THAT.
OFTENTIMES PEOPLE, THEY PRESENT ONE THING, BUT THEY DO ANOTHER.
WHAT THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU ALL HEARD, THE AMENDMENT INCLUDED THE MODELS THAT WE ALL ARE HERE CAN SEE ON OUR SCREENS, AND I BELIEVE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE CAN SEE IT AS WELL.
THOSE MODELS WHEN I LOOKED AT THEM, THEY ARE VERY FINE HOMES, BUT I DIDN'T WANT THAT JUST TO BE JUST TO BE SOMETHING ON PAPER.
I WANTED IT TO BE EMBEDDED AND TIED TO THIS PROPERTY, SO WHEREAS THERE WAS NOT MUCH WIGGLE ROOM FOR NOT ONLY FOR THE DEVELOPER TO JUST GET THE LOTS APPROVED AND THEN SELL THEM OFF, BUT THAT MOVING FORWARD, IF THEY WERE TO BUILD THIS, THAT THEY WOULD BE BUILDING SOMETHING NICE THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT A GOOD LOOKING DEVELOPMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, I MOVED FOR THE APPROVAL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LEE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26272 A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
ITEM NUMBER 11, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING - AND LAND USE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ORDINANCES]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26284, AMENDING LOT 52-B SQUARE 111-B BRIDGEDALE SECTION C SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 1529 CLEARVIEW PARKWAY, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION RR3 TO C2EZ-21-23 COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
>> WITH NOW OF THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26284.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD?
>> HI, I'M MAURICIO FONSECA HERE LIVE IN CANADA AND THAT'S ONE OF MY PARTNERS AND I LOT THAT WE WANT TO PUT THAT INTO CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AFTER WE CAME OVER HERE TO THE PRELIMINARY HEARING, AND THEY EXPLAIN TO US WHY I COULDN'T GO C2.
WE ACTUALLY HAD AMENDED EVERYTHING FOR THIS HEARING TO COME ALONG TO BE A JO2.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CHANGING ON THAT.
>> THE BODY OF THE ORDINANCE AS SUBMITTED DOES READ JO2.
THE GENTLEMAN DID REQUEST THAT THE ORDINANCE BE AMENDED TO SHOW JO2 AS OPPOSED TO C2, AND THAT REQUEST WAS ACCOMMODATED.
>> YES, BECAUSE JO2 ACTUALLY PROVIDES EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A JO2 RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM US AND ONE OVER,
[01:35:02]
WHICH IS GOING TO BE A BASICALLY JUST AN OFFICE, SO WE CAN ANSWER PHONE CALLS, MAKE COPIES, AND KEEP RECORDS OF OUR STUFF FOR THE AC COMPANY THAT WE HAVE.>> THE REQUEST TO JO2 CAME IN AFTER WE HAD SUBMITTED THE CAPTION, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE CAPTION ONCE IT'S SUBMITTED, SO THAT'S WHY IT READS AS IT DOES ON THE AGENDA.
>> ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING IN FAVOR?
>> I HOPE IT DOESN'T HURT THEIR CHANCES, BUT I'M SPEAK IN FAVOR BECAUSE I HAD TO DEAL WITH CLEARVIEW ALL THE TIME.
TO SEE ANYTHING DEVELOPED THERE COMMERCIALLY RATHER THAN RESIDENTIALLY HAS GOT TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT.
GOD HELP THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE RESIDENTIALLY ALONG THAT STRETCH OF CLEARVIEW.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT TWO APPEARED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
>> I MOVED TO APPROVE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 262-84.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
IT'S NOT. IT'S GOING FORWARD. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 262-85 AMENDING LOT 52A SQUARE FIVE, ENGLESIDE HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 384 ARIS AVENUE, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R-1A TO -R-2, EZ-24-23 COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE MAKE A NOTE THAT I AM ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG YOUR MOTION.
>> IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON IT?
>> I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T. MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. I SKIPPED RIGHT OVER THAT.
ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 262-85.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME SPEAK FIRST.
>> HI. YES. I'M PAGE MCCARTHY.
WITH THE REZONING TO R2, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING TWO REALLY NICE TOWNHOMES THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I THINK IT WILL INCREASE AND IMPROVE THE VALUE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF.
IT'LL COME UP WITH THE TAXES, I THINK FOR THE TAX BASE, IF YOU HAVE TWO TOWNHOMES FOR YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR.
>> MY NAME IS CHARLES SIMANGO, CLS ARCHITECTS, 3129 EDENBORNE WE'RE HERE REPRESENTING THE OWNER FOR THE REZONING OF 384 ARIS FROM R-1A TO R-2.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE THE FIRST BLOCK OF ARIS OFF OF CANALIST STREET IS A BLICK OF SPLIT ZONING BETWEEN R1 FACING FOSIS AND R-2 ON ARIS.
WHAT'S NOT SHOWN ON THIS IS THAT THE NEXT BLOCK UP FROM CANAL STREET IS BOTH ZONE R-2 ON FOSIS AS WELL AS ARIS STREET.
THAT CONTINUES UP TOWARDS METERI ROAD.
WITH THAT SAID, IT'S MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT CHANGING THE ZONING FROM R-1A TO R-2 WOULD NOT CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING IN FAVOR.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT TWO APPEARED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
>> I WOULD NOTE THAT I SPOKE TO THE OWNER OR THE APPLICANT.
HE MENTIONED THAT HE WANTED TO BUILD A DOUBLE.
I SPECIFICALLY ASKED HIM ABOUT TOWNHOMES.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO TOWNHOME.
THE I DROVE BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD MYSELF.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS LARGELY DOUBLES.
I CALLED MY PAB APPOINTMENT AND ASKED HIM HIS THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER.
HE HAD NO HEARTBURN ABOUT IT EITHER WAY.
HE JUST WENT WITH PLANNING BECAUSE PLANNING DID WHAT THEY DID.
AFTER FULLY VETTING THIS, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO APPROVE.
>> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 12, SUMMARY NUMBER 262-85, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN VAN FRANKEN WITH COUNCILMAN WALKER ABSTAINING? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
ITEM NUMBER 13, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - VARIANCES]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 262-86 APPROVING SP-92-23, A REQUESTED VARIANCE FOR AMC CLEARVIEW LOCATED AT 4486 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LOT Y-1-A, SECTION A PONTARAIN GARDEN SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM.
WE'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 262-86.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE OPPOSED. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER
[01:40:01]
262-86 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.I HAVE A NOTE THAT 14 WILL BE DEFERRED TO OUR MAY 1ST MEETING.
>> EXCUSE ME, CHAIRMAN. WE GOT TO GO BACK TO NUMBER 10.
THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS TO NUMBER 10.
>> NUMBER 10. ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS? THEY ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE.
>> JUST TAKE THAT ONE FROM THE TOP AGAIN.
MADAM CLERK, NUMBER 10 WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.
[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES (Part 2 of 2)]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 262-72 RESUB A PARTIAL C-3-B HARVEY CANAL SUBDIVISION WS-106-22 COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
>> THAT'S THE ONLY ONE. FOR SURE.
>> I'M SORRY. IN ADDITION TO THE AMENDMENTS EARLIER, WE NEED TO ADD TWO OTHER SECTIONS THAT WERE LEFT OFF FROM THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE FROM THE LAST MEETING.
WE NEED TO ADD A NEW SECTION 4 THAT READS AS FOLLOWS, THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 33-6.5 C OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE SUBDIVISION WAIVERS, THE INSUFFICIENT BLOCK DEPTH OF A SINGLE TIER FOR PROPOSED LOTS 1-11 SQUARE ONE AND LOTS 18-27 SQUARE ONE SOLARIUM PARK SUBDIVISION.
IS HEREBY WAIVED, APPROVED, AND ACCEPTED.
THIS WAIVER WAS IN THE ORIGINAL. IT'S IN THE REPORT.
IT IS JUST, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS LEFT OUT WITH THE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS.
THEN WE NEED TO ADD A NEW SECTION 4, THAT THE PRELIMINARY PLOT OF TILDEN J DUFRESNE JUNIOR DATED DECEMBER 21, 2021, REVISED OCTOBER 5, 2023.
SHOWING THE SUBDIVISION OF PARCEL C-3-B, HARVEY CANAL SUBDIVISION, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA.
IT LOTS 1-27 SQUARE ONE, LOTS 1-18 SQUARE TWO AND PARCEL A SOLARIUM PARK SUBDIVISION, AND THE DEDICATION OF SOLARIUM LOOP, A 20 FOOT DRAINAGE SERVITUDE AND A NINE FOOT DRAINAGE SERVITUDE SHALL LAPSE ONE YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
THIS IS ALSO IN THE ORIGINAL AND IN THE REPORT.
THIS REQUEST IS FOR A PRELIMINARY PLAT ONLY.
THE DEVELOPER STILL HAS TO INSTALL THE UTILITIES.
IF HE DOES NOT DO SO IN ONE YEAR, THIS ORDINANCE WILL LAPSE.
HE DOES HAVE THE OPTION TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND REQUEST AN EXTENSION.
BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS LANGUAGE BE IN THE ORDINANCE.
AGAIN, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE OVERSIGHT.
>> AGAIN, THIS CHANGES NOTHING.
>> CORRECT. YES, SIR. IT CHANGES NOTHING.
THESE ARE JUST THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE FROM THE LAST MEETING THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT WITH THE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS.
>> COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS? AFTER THE AMENDMENTS ARE ADOPTED, RIGHT? YEAH. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
WE NOW REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 262-72.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
>> THIS IS THAT WOODMERE THING?
>> ANYONE COULD HAVE OPPOSED THAT.
ANY ONE OF YOU COULD HAVE OPPOSED IT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT STOOD UP HERE AND BLED THEIR HEARTS OUT.
HOW MANY TIMES I WATCHED ALL PASS THINGS, AMEND THINGS, AND THEN WHITEWASH OVER THE PROCESS? WHAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW TO PUBLIC COMMENT WITH REGARDS TO ALL THIS SPEAKS VOLUMES TO HOW ILLEGITIMATE THE FORM IS. IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
I DON'T CARE WHICH OF YOU STARTS THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
THE PERSON WHO'S APPROVING THIS IS TERM-LIMITED.
WE WILL NOT SUFFER ANY CONSEQUENCES.
THE WORST THING THAT A BAD GUY WITH A GUN IS A GOOD GUY WITH A GUN WHO HAS NO REGARD FOR THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GRAND DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER OR JUST THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOODMERE.
OVER-DEVELOPMENT. YOU CAN'T GET THEM A GROCERY STORE, YOU PROMISED.
YOU HAVEN'T GOT A GROCERY STORE THERE, THAT PEOPLE CAME UP HERE AND TESTIFIED TO IT.
I'VE BEEN OVER THERE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE GROCERY STORE, BUT YOU'RE ADDING MORE PEOPLE TO THAT PROJECT.
MORE PEOPLE TO THAT ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE UNDER SERVED ALREADY.
I'VE WALKED OVER THERE. I WALKED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WAS IN WOODMERE, AND IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
THIS ISN'T PERSONAL. YOU DON'T NEED TO MOCK ME WHEN I WALK AWAY FROM THIS PODIUM EITHER. ANY OF YOU.
I DON'T MATTER. I'M JUST A FOOL HERE TRYING TO REDRESS WHAT IS AN ILLEGITIMATELY FORMED COURT.
IF YOU ALL FIGURE THIS OUT, I WON'T EVER HAVE TO COME BACK EVER.
I WON'T MISS YOU AND YOU WON'T MISS ME.
WELL, MAYBE SOME OF THE DIRECTORS MIGHT MISS ME.
YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS TIME.
WHEN YOU HAD A CHANCE TO RE-ESTABLISH A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT A LEGITIMATE FORM WHERE YOU COULD MAKE THESE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN OPPOSE THEM. THANK YOU.
[01:45:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR NOT UTTERING THAT THING THAT I HEARD LAST TIME WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO PROTECT THESE PEOPLE FROM THEMSELVES.WHEN THE PEOPLE TAKE THE TIME OUT OF THEIR LIVES TO SHOW UP HERE, TO HAVE YOU ALL JUST INSULT THEM REPEATEDLY BY THIS BEHAVIOR.
YOU THINK I'M MAKING A MOCKERY OF THIS? YOU'RE MAKING A MOCKERY OF THE WHOLE THING.
THESE PEOPLE COME IN HERE AND BLEED THEIR HEARTS OUT JUST TO BE TOLD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PROTECT THEM FROM WHAT? INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT? GIVE ME A BREAK.
I COULD GO ON FOR THE WHOLE 15 MINUTES ABOUT REPUBLICAN FORM AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND YOU KNOW I COULD.
BUT I GOT TO GET UP FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE OTHER ORDINANCES AND DO THIS.
I'M GOING TO STOP RIGHT NOW. DON'T PASS THIS.
ONE OF YOU OPPOSE IT. DO WHAT THE PEOPLE ASKED YOU TO DO.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
NOW, COUNCILMAN LEE, AGAIN, YOUR MOTION.
>> BEFORE I MOVE, LET ME JUST HAVE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
>> THERE WAS A WALMART IN FRONT OF THE SUBDIVISION THAT RELOCATED LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM THE SUBDIVISION.
I NEVER PROMISED A GROCERY STORE FOR THE SUBDIVISION BECAUSE IT DIDN'T NEED ONE.
THEN THERE WAS NO PLACE TO BUILD A GROCERY STORE IN THE SUBDIVISION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26272, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
THAT TAKES US BACK NOW TO NUMBER 14. MADAM CLERK?
[OTHER ORDINANCES (Part 1 of 2)]
I HAVE A NOTE THAT WON'T BE DEFERRED UNTIL OUR MAY 1ST MEETING AS WELL.COUNCILMAN EDWARDS, YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 14.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 14 TO MAY 1ST, 2024, MOTION OF COUNCILMAN EDWARDS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
LET'S GO TO ITEM 15 PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26269, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES ARTICLE V, RELATIVE TO AMENDING SECTION 215510 REGARDING QUALIFICATION, TERM LIMITS, AND INVESTIGATIVE POWERS OF THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.
>> WE NOW HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26269.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> AL MORELLA, 4260 EAST LOYOLA DRIVE, 5TH DISTRICT COUNTY, 4TH DISTRICT [INAUDIBLE] INCORPORATED JEFFERSON 52 YEARS.
NOW, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE TERM LIMITS, BUT I NEED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS ON THE INVESTIGATIVE POWERS OF THIS OFFICE AND THE QUALIFICATIONS.
IF THEY ARE WHAT I THINK IT IS, THEN I'LL COME BACK UP HERE ON THAT SECTION OF IT AND OPPOSE IT.
NUMBER 1, THE INVESTIGATIVE POWERS.
I'M NOT FOR IF THIS IS GOING TO WATER DOWN OR WEAKEN THE INVESTIGATIVE POWERS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
>> I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO WEAKEN THE INVESTIGATIVE POWERS OR IF THIS IS GOING TO STRENGTHEN IT.
I ALSO NEED TO KNOW THE QUALIFICATIONS.
IS THIS GOING TO BE STANDARDIZED SET OF QUALIFICATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT LIKE LAST TIME WHEN OTHER APPLICANTS APPLY FOR THIS JOB AND THEY DIDN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS BODY, SO THEY WAS OFFERED TO TAKE A TEST TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY JUST DROPPED OUT OF THE PROCESS.
MISS [INAUDIBLE] AND NOW IS OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL.
I WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE STANDARDIZED AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THE INVESTIGATIVE POWERS IS GOING TO BE WEAKENED.
>> LET ME INTERRUPT YOU FOR A SECOND AND APOLOGIZE BECAUSE MY AGENDA WAS NOT NOTED FOR THE AMENDMENTS FOR THIS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.
I KNEW THERE WERE AMENDMENTS, BUT IT SLIPPED MY MIND.
WE HAVE TO TAKE THE AMENDMENTS FIRST AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THAT'S OKAY, MAN. THE ONLY PEOPLE DON'T MAKE MISTAKES ARE PEOPLE DON'T DO NOTHING.
>> I THINK WE CAN WE CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF WHAT THIS IS.
THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK AT HERE, AND WE'LL HAVE THE CLERK MAKE SOME COPIES AVAILABLE WITH WHATEVER SHE MAY HAVE LEFT IF YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
LIZ, DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED ON THIS?
>> IF NOT, WE CAN HELP WITH THE AMENDMENTS, KIM AND I. [BACKGROUND]
[01:50:10]
>> THE AMENDMENT IS GOING TO BE IN SECTION 4, THE TERM OF OFFICE THAT IT SHOULD READ.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS.
BUT THE FOUR YEAR TERMS MAY BE RENEWED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY.
THEN NO AMENDMENT SHOULD, IT'S A PARAGRAPH FOR KEEPING TWO TERM LIMITS.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS, WHICH TERM SHALL BEGIN WHEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BEGINS EMPLOYMENT WITH THE PARISH.
ONE FOR FOUR YEAR TERM MAY BE RENEWED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY, AND INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO HAS SERVED MORE THAN ONE AND ONE HALF TERMS AND TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT AS INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE SUCCEEDING TERM.
>> WHAT LIZ IS READING RIGHT NOW IS OPTIONS FOR THE TERMS?
>> CORRECT. I THINK THAT'S A CONFUSION.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING WE COULD HELP WITH THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, THE TERM LIMITS, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, ALONG WITH ME, HAVE SUBMITTED THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
I THINK FOR TODAY, WE MAY HAVE TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS INDIVIDUALLY OR ACTUALLY, THE OTHER AMENDMENTS WE HAVE AGREED TO IF THE COUNSEL AGREES TO THEM.
THE ONLY ISSUE REMAINING RIGHT NOW IS THE ISSUE OF TERM LIMITS, WHICH YOU GUYS WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER IT REMAINS AS IT IS TODAY WITH TWO TERMS, GOES TO THREE TERMS OR UNLIMITED TERMS.
>> WOULD IT BE HELPFUL TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING AND THEN MAYBE TAKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT AND CAN WE TAKE THIS SEPARATELY IF TERM IS THE ONLY THING.
>> TERM LIMITS IS THE ONLY THING SO WE CAN READ TO YOU THE AMENDMENTS TO WHAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT IS THE BODY TODAY, THE ORDINANCE TODAY PROPOSED ORDINANCE, AND READ TO YOU OUR AGREED UPON AMENDMENTS, AND IF YOU GUYS AGREE AND VOTE ON IT, THEN THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL ISSUES, BUT FOR TERM LIMITS.
>> CAN I ASK THIS JUST PROCEDURALLY BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE CONFUSING.
IF YOU ALL PRESENT A SLATE OF AMENDMENTS THAT IF AT THE END OF THAT, YOU ALL ARE AGREEABLE TO THAT, COULD WE COULD WE MOVE ON THOSE ITEMS AND APPROVE THOSE AMENDMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION WITH THIS ORDINANCE TODAY.
THEN IN A SEPARATE MOTION, WE COULD ADDRESS A POTENTIAL AMENDMENT ON TERM LIMITS ALSO TODAY, BUT THAT COULD BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY.
I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE ALL OF THEM WITH THE TERM LIMIT ISSUE.
IF WE TAKE A SLATE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT EVERYONE'S AGREEABLE TO AND PASS THAT SET OF AMENDMENTS AND REVISIT THE TERM LIMIT ISSUE AS ITS OWN POTENTIAL AMENDMENT.
WOULD THAT YOU COULD SIMPLIFY IT? I'M JUST LOOKING TO GUIDE US ON HOW TO SIMPLIFY IT.
>> YES, BECAUSE THE YOU ONLY HAVE TWO ISSUES, REALLY, THE ONES WE AGREE UPON AND THEN THE TERM LIMITS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, WITH ALL HONESTY, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SEE ANY OF THESE AND JUST SITTING HERE AND LISTENING TO THEM DOES NOT GIVE ME THE ADEQUATE TIME TO CONSIDER EACH OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO DEFER THIS ITEM AND COME BACK WITH ALL THE AMENDMENTS AT THE NEXT MEETING WHERE WE ALL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THEM.
>> BEFORE WE ACT ON THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN BOTH SIDES.
BEFORE A POTENTIAL DEFERRAL, I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN TAKE WITH US IF THIS ITEM IS INDEED DEFERRED.
>> IN SHORT ORDER, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS THE CULMINATION OF MY EFFORTS TO GET CURATIVE LANGUAGE THAT I BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
I HAVE MET WITH EACH ONE OF YOU TWICE TO EXPLAIN MY REASONS FOR THESE AMENDMENTS, AND I HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE COUNSEL FOR THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION TO EXPLAIN THEIR REASONS.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THAT WOULD OF COURSE BE COUNCILMAN LILSBERG AND COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN WHO WERE NEW.
THIS LANGUAGE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LANGUAGE RELATED TO OUR ACCESS HAS BEEN BEFORE YOU SINCE SEPTEMBER.
IT HAS NOT SUBSTANTIVELY CHANGED.
I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO DEFER IT.
IF YOU'RE INCLINED TO DEFER ACTION ON THIS ORDINANCE, WHICH I REALLY WISH THAT YOU WOULDN'T, THEN I'M GOING TO ASK FOR YOU MINIMALLY TO GO FORWARD ON MY DESIRED AMENDMENTS AS IT RELATES
[01:55:01]
TO ACCESS BECAUSE IT IS CONTINUING TO HAMPER THE ABILITIES OF THIS OFFICE TO DO ITS WORK.>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS. COUNSELWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
>> I AM FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND I THINK AS A COUNSEL, WE CAN SAY THAT TO BE TRUE.
I THINK THE BACK AND FORTH HAS BEEN HEALTHY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO MEET WITH YOU AND TO COME UP WITH A SLATE OF AMENDMENTS.
RESPECTFULLY TODAY, THERE ARE A FEW MOVING PARTS BECAUSE WHEN WE RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS ITEM THIS MORNING, THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, WHICH I UNDERSTAND ARE A CULMINATION OF YOUR COLLABORATION, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE.
BUT COUNCILMAN BANANO IS CORRECT IN THAT WE HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN ABLE THIS MORNING TO READ THESE, AND I KNOW THERE HAS THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TWO DISCUSSION SPARKED, SO IF WE DELAY, IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY REFLECTIVE OF OUR LACK OF SUPPORT ON MOVING FORWARD ON THESE.
ONE IS THE ONE YOU'VE POINTED OUT, THE TERM LIMITS.
WE AS A COUNSEL WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER WE PREFER A METHOD WHERE ANY FUTURE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS FOUR YEAR TERMS UNLIMITED, BUT THE BOARD HAS TO RENEW EVERY FOUR YEARS, OR WHETHER WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS OR WHETHER WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS. THAT IS ONE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.
THE OTHER IS AN AREA ON HERE THAT APPEARS IN THIS COPY AS GRAY.
THAT MATTER IS WHETHER TO KEEP OR EXEMPT THIS PARTICULAR LANGUAGE.
IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION, I BELIEVE THAT YOU FORWARDED TO US FOR CONSIDERATION, THE AREA 9D IS PART OF YOUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION RATHER HAD SOME CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS RELATED TO THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY DRAFT REPORT IS PROTECTED AS CONFIDENTIAL, BUT THAT A VENDOR OR SOME PARTY THAT MAY BE AFFECTED BY A REPORT HAS TO KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL, BUT ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO SEEK COUNSEL TO HELP THEM PREPARE A RESPONSE AND A DRAFT REPORT.
I THINK IT'S OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT A LEAK NOT OCCUR BECAUSE LET'S SAY THERE'S A COMPANY WHO'S BEING TARGETED OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S BEING TARGETED, THE SANCTITY OF THAT CONFIDENTIALITY IS IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO THAT PERSON'S ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A RESPONSE AND PREPARE THAT WITH AN ATTORNEY OR A TEAM OF PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD TIME TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW WHAT I FEEL, MIGHT BE A MIDDLE GROUND, BUT AGAIN, THOSE ITEMS I THINK ARE ONES THAT AGAIN, THAT ARE A DIFFERENT CONSIDERATION FOR US THIS MORNING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH OR NOT.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF YOU ALL TRYING TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE ON THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE LANGUAGE.
THAT DOES SIMPLIFY OUR EFFORTS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARITY AND JUST SOMETHING FOR THE RECORD.
IN TERMS OF TERM LIMITS, WHETHER IT'S A FOUR-YEAR TERM, AN EIGHT-YEAR TERM OR A 12 YEAR TERM, OR NO TERM LIMITS, THE FACT IS THAT EVERY FOUR YEARS ANY INSPECTOR GENERAL COME UP BEFORE THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION TO BE RENEWED, SO TO SPEAK, TO BE KEPT OR REMOVED FROM OFFICE BASED ON THEIR EVALUATION, RIGHT?
>> MR. SULLIVAN WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU ON TERM LIMITS.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT REGARDLESS OF THE TERMS, I HAVE TO COMPETE FOR MY JOB EVERY FOUR YEARS AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT IN THIS ORDINANCE READS, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE HAD AN INSPECTOR GENERAL SERVE TWO TERMS. HE WAS NOT REAPPOINTED, AND I WAS APPOINTED.
THE FACTS ARE THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT BODY WHO CHOSE TO CHANGE, AND THAT IS THERE, ALWAYS AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
AS TO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE PROVISIONS REGARDING CONFIDENTIALITY.
IF I MAY ASK FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN BRINGING FORTH THESE AMENDMENTS TO YOU, AND I KNOW THAT EACH ONE OF YOU KNOW THIS, TO YOU, IF I SAID THE LANGUAGE WAS SOLID, I DIDN'T SAY IT BECAUSE IT WAS MY OPINION.
I SAID IT BECAUSE IT'S A PREVAILING INDUSTRY STANDARD.
I DELIVERED TO YOU LETTERS FROM INSPECTORS GENERAL SERVING IN NEW ORLEANS,
[02:00:01]
THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, MIAMI, CHICAGO, AND PALM BEACH, AND THEY ALL JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.I DID NOT GIVE A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE CONCEPT OF A DRAFT REPORT, BUT IT IS A PREVAILING INDUSTRY STANDARD.
IN A LOT OF RESPECTS, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL COMMUNITY REFLECTS PRACTICES THAT REALLY ORIGINATE IN THE AUDIT COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS, IF YOU DELIVER AN AUDIT TO SOMEBODY, YOU GIVE THEM TIME TO SAY YOU GOT IT RIGHT OR YOU GOT IT WRONG.
IT IS THE SANCTITY OF THAT PROCESS.
WHAT WE HAVE ENDURED IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND I WILL SAY AT A RATE THAT EXCEEDS OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO MY OBSERVATION, IS THAT, WE HAVE HAD INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS LEAKED TO THE NEWS TO THE DISCRIMINATION OF ONE COUNCIL PERSON TO ANOTHER COUNCIL PERSON OR A VENDOR TO THE PARISH.
THE CONCEPT OF DECLARING THAT OUR DRAFT REPORTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL IS NOT FOR MY BENEFIT.
I SUFFER NO HARM WHATSOEVER IF THE DRAFT COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT RESPECTED.
THE PERSON HARMED IS WHOEVER IS GETTING THE REPORT WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT UPON ITS CONTENTS.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S GOING TO BE 30 WORKING DAYS.
THAT IS THE LANGUAGE THAT I PROPOSE THAT WAS STRICKEN.
IF YOU ADD THE WORD PUBLIC DISCLOSURE, THAT SHOULD CURE EVERYTHING, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY RELY ON THE LET ME SEE, YES, NO LESS THAN THREE LAWYERS AND TWO FORMER JUDGES FOR THE CONCEPT THAT THE WORD CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVILEGE IS NEVER INTERPRETED IN ISOLATION, AND IT IS RARELY INTERPRETED BY LOOKING AT WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY, THAT IF YOU DECLARE SOMETHING TO BE CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN A LAWYER AND A CLIENT, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE LAWYER DOESN'T NEED TO GO RETAIN AN ACCOUNTANT TO HELP YOU RESPOND OR OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP YOU RESPOND, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
IT MEANS THAT IT'S NOT TO BE PUBLICLY DISCLOSED.
IF YOU ADD CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED AND NOT SUBJECT TO "PUBLIC DISCLOSURE," THAT SHOULD ENSURE CLARITY THAT IF YOU ARE THE RECIPIENT OF A REPORT, THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SIT DOWN WITH YOUR ACCOUNTANT, WITH YOUR LAWYERS, BUT IT'S NOT JUST YOUR ACCOUNTANT AND YOUR LAWYERS, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? IT CAN BE SOMEBODY ELSE IN YOUR OFFICE, YOUR EMPLOYEE THAT YOU NEED TO DISCUSS THIS REPORT IS.
THAT IS MY RESERVATIONS ABOUT BEING OVERLY SPECIFIC ABOUT PEOPLE, BUT I HAVE NO RESERVATIONS ABOUT ADDING THE WORD PUBLIC.
LASTLY, AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP ALL OF OUR TIME, AND I UNDERSTAND WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE IN TERMS OF DEFERMENT.
I HAVE A COMMITMENT TO YOU TO BE THE BEST INSPECTOR GENERAL, BECAUSE THIS IS MY COMMUNITY.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS OFFICE OR ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WORK WHEN I CAME TO THE PARISH AS THE DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THIS OFFICE DID WHEN I WENT TO THE OFFICE.
BUT IN THE 10 YEARS THAT I'M THERE, I'VE NOT ONLY LEARNED ABOUT IT, I STUDY IT, I GO ELSEWHERE AND STUDY IT, AND I NOW TEACH PEOPLE WHO ARE INSPECTORS GENERAL ELSEWHERE.
I CAN'T MAKE YOU, BUT I CAN ASK YOU, PLEASE TRUST ME THAT I KNOW HOW TO DO THE JOB, BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T TRUST ME IN THE SHORT-TERM, WE CANNOT MAKE OVERSIGHT SUCCESSFUL HERE IN THE LONG-TERM.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN US AND THE JURISDICTIONS RELATIVE TO THE LETTERS THAT I PROVIDED YOU.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU I ASKED THOSE IGS TO TELL ME HOW THEY DO THEIR JOB.
I DIDN'T ASK THEM TO SHARE WITH ME THEIR ORDINANCE LANGUAGE OR THEIR ENABLING LANGUAGE.
I KNOW IT. I CAN READ IT, I CAN LOOK AT IT.
I'M AN ATTORNEY, I CAN FIND IT.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THEIR LANGUAGE IS NOT AS BROAD OF AN AUTHORITY AS PROVIDED FOR US IN OUR STATE LAW.
WHY AND HOW DO THEY MANAGE TO SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDE OVERSIGHT?
[02:05:02]
BECAUSE THEIR HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THEM.WE'RE HERE REALLY FOR NO OTHER REASON, AND MIND YOU, I WASN'T EVEN AN INFORMED CITIZEN WHEN THIS CONCEPT WAS BORN.
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THE PARISH COUNCIL IN 2011 FOUGHT FOR THIS BODY.
FOUGHT FOR IT PUBLICLY WITH THE VOTERS STUMPED FOR IT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I FULLY RECOGNIZE THE SURVIVAL OF THIS OFFICE STILL RESTS WITH YOUR POWER.
BUT PLEASE, LET'S MOVE AND MOVE FORWARD AND SUPPORT THIS OFFICE.
>> MICHELE, BEFORE MR. SULLIVAN GETS UP, WHERE I'M COMING FROM ON THIS, I DON'T LIKE TO GET AMENDMENTS TO ANYTHING THAT'S SIMPLE BEFORE A MEETING WHEN I HAVE TO DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AND TRY AND DIGEST SOMETHING.
THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, NO MATTER WHAT WE FEEL ABOUT YOU, I THINK WE HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT FOR TODAY AND FOR THE FUTURE, AND FUTURE INSPECTORS GENERAL THAT COME IN TO YOUR OFFICE.
BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE RESPECT YOU, HOW MUCH WE LIKE YOU, HOW MUCH WE THINK OF THE JOB THAT YOU DO, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SET FOR LATER AS WELL.
I'M OKAY WITH SITTING ON THIS FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AT THE PLACE WE ALL WANT TO BE, AND THAT THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, AND THAT WE KNOCK OUT EVERY UNCERTAINTY THAT WE MAY HAVE.
I KNOW IT'S NO REFLECTION ON WHAT YOU'VE DONE SINCE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THOSE MEETINGS.
WE'VE HAD SO MANY DISCUSSIONS ON SO MANY THINGS OVER SUCH A PERIOD OF TIME.
IT HASN'T BEEN FOR NOT, IT'S JUST BEEN TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
NOW WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO THE FINISH LINE.
I THINK I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FINISH RIGHT.
>> LOOK, BECAUSE I'M HONEST, BECAUSE I'M TRANSPARENT, IF YOU WERE SITTING UP HERE TAKING THESE ACTIONS ON THESE SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS ON ANY OTHER ORDINANCE OTHER THAN MINE, I WOULD LIKELY BE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE QUESTIONING WHETHER WE'RE BEING FAIR AND TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU WANT TO DEFER IT BECAUSE THEY'RE REAL.
THE CHANGES ARE REAL, AND I DON'T WANT FOR THERE TO BE AN ERROR, BUT I DON'T WANT ANY MORE DELAYS.
IT IS NOT ABOUT ME IN THIS MOMENT AND MY PERSONALITY, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WHEN THE OFFICE WAS LAUNCHED, IT WAS LAUNCHED WITH MODEL LEGISLATION, AND IT WAS CRITICALLY WOUNDED IN 2019.
YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO DO THIS JOB EVERY DAY, HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THIS JOB IS, BECAUSE OF THE AMENDMENTS IN 2019.
I'M TRYING TO REPAIR THAT DAMAGE BASICALLY BY REPAIRING RELATIONSHIPS.
BUT IF WE DO NOT HAVE OVERSIGHT THAT'S STRONG IN GOOD TIMES, WE WILL NOT HAVE OVERSIGHT STRONG WHEN WE NEED IT.
PLEASE, WHATEVER YOU DO, I'M AVAILABLE TO WORK ON THIS LANGUAGE, AND TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
>> COUNSEL MEMBER VAN VRANCKEN.
>> I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, AND IF I CAN HAVE DAVID CRISIL AND KIM, OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL, JUST I THINK MOVING FORWARD, THIS COPY WAS VERY HELPFUL THIS MORNING.
ALTHOUGH WE HAD SO MANY THINGS GOING ON, IT REALLY DID MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO REVIEW.
BUT IN THIS VERSION, YOU GIVE US CLEAR OPTIONS ABOUT THE TERM LIMITS.
I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION AT LEAST THAT HAS COME UP IS THAT 9D, AND MAYBE WHAT SOME OF THE OPTIONS WOULD BE ON THAT LANGUAGE, JUST SO WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THERE IS CONFIDENTIALITY IN DRAFT REPORTS, BUT ALSO ALLOWANCE FOR A TEAM, AND MAYBE IT IS JUST AS SIMPLE AS ADDING NOT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
BUT IF YOU CAN GET US BACK SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONSIDER, I THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION, AT LEAST YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, AT OUR NEXT MEETING WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SIMPLY REVIEW THOSE TWO PLACES WHERE I DO FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON SOME SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AND TERM LIMITS.
I WILL SAY, I REALLY RESPECT THE PASSION THAT I CAN TELL IS COMING FORWARD IN YOUR VOICE.
AS I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THIS MORNING AND WAS COMING TO THIS MEETING, AND KNOWING WE STILL HAD THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHAT STRUCK ME IS, THERE ARE MEMBERS ON THIS COUNCIL, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHO WERE NOT ON THE COUNCIL, WHEN OUR PARISH HAD A CLOUD OVER IT AND THERE WERE INVESTIGATIONS,
[02:10:09]
AND THERE WERE PEOPLE ULTIMATELY, WHO WENT TO JAIL.I DON'T WANT TO SEE US RETURN TO THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.
I THINK HAVING A STRONG OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IS IMPERATIVE TO KEEP US THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE ALL WILL BE PROUD OF.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO WORK THROUGH THESE LAST PIECES OF WORDING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REPAIR THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE A STRONG OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, BUT GIVING US ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN PUT FORWARD TOGETHER NEXT TIME.
>> MR. CARLING, I THINK YOU HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
MY REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL IS NO REFLECTION ON YOU OR YOUR WORK.
IT'S SIMPLY, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ECHOED, I'M NOT DOING MY JOB AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO VOTE ON SUCH IMPORTANT LEGISLATION WITHOUT ACTUALLY READING IT AND UNDERSTANDING IT.
PLEASE KNOW THAT I'M ASKING FOR YOUR PATIENCE TO ONE MORE MEETING SO WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS LANGUAGE AND CLEARLY UNDERSTAND IT.
>> THANK YOU. RECOGNIZING THAT THE MATTER IS GOING TO BE DEFERRED, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SUBSECTIONS 3 AND 4 BECAUSE THAT'S THE MATTER THAT THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION BRINGS BEFORE YOU.
ETHICS SECTIONS 3 AND 4, DEAL WITH QUALIFICATIONS, AND IT BECAME VERY APPARENT.
>> SULLIVAN, LET ME STOP YOU, JUST INTRODUCE WHO YOU WORK FOR.
>> I'M JERRY SULLIVAN, AND I AM COUNSEL FOR THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
SECTIONS 3 AND 4 CAME VERY MUCH IN PROMINENCE AT THE TIME THAT WE WERE INTERVIEWING FOR THE SECOND INSPECTOR GENERAL.
AT THE TIME MS. CHATLINE WAS INTERVIEWING, WE RECOGNIZED IN A NATIONAL SEARCH THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN SECURING PEOPLE TO COME AND EVEN APPLY FOR THE POSITION.
ONE WAS THEY HAD TO BE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL BEFORE THEY APPLIED FOR THE POSITION.
TYPICALLY, IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO WORK AS AN INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR OR TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY.
WE FOUND IN CONTACTING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, THAT IN FACT, THEY TYPICALLY DON'T GIVE THE CERTIFICATION UNTIL YOU ARE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL.
THAT WAS A DISABLING PROVISION IN THE ORDINANCE THAT TOOK A MAJORITY OF THE CANDIDATES OUT OF EVEN QUALIFICATIONS TO INTERVIEW.
THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT TO US IS WE'RE SEEKING FOR A NATIONAL CANDIDATE THAT IS THE BEST PERSON FOR JEFFERSON PARISH WAS HOW LONG CAN I HAVE THIS POSITION? KEEP IN MIND THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THE OFFICE IS A DEPARTMENT LIKE ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON.
IT IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A TERM LIMIT FOR ITS DIRECTOR.
WHAT ELSE IS UNFORTUNATE? WE ARE SEEKING NATIONAL CANDIDATES TO COME TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE ALREADY HAVE SOME PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE BY OUR GEOGRAPHY, BY OUR EDUCATION RESOURCES, BY THE PAY THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE THIS CANDIDATE.
IF WE TELL SOMEONE, YOU CAN'T BE HERE LONGER THAN EIGHT YEARS, WE'RE TELLING SOMEONE WHO HAS SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, YOU PROBABLY CAN'T KEEP YOUR CHILDREN HERE IN SCHOOL TILL THEY FINISH IF THEY HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE TERMS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO FACE THIS PROBLEM COUNTLESS TIMES IN THE FUTURE.
YOU WANT THE BEST INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THIS OFFICE.
WE WANT THE BEST INSPECTOR GENERAL.
UNLIKE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE ANNUAL REVIEWS BY THE ETHICS COMMISSION, YOU HAVE AN ANNUAL REVIEW BY A QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE.
ONE MEMBER IS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL, ONE MEMBER IS APPOINTED BY THE PARISH ADMINISTRATION, AND ONE MEMBER IS APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSION WHO REVIEW ALL OF THE WORK OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AND DETERMINE IF THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THAT COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO HAVE A NATIONAL PEER REVIEW THAT COMES IN ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS TO EXAMINE THE WORK OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND COME BACK AND REPORT NOT ONLY TO THE COMMISSION BUT TO THE PARISH ON THE QUALITY OF WORK THAT THAT INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS PERFORMED.
>> MR. SULLIVAN, LET ME JUST STOP YOU RIGHT THERE ON THAT POINT.
EVERY YEAR, IF YOU HAVE A BAD INSPECTOR GENERAL AND SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, YOU CAN REPLACE THAT PERSON ON A YEARLY BASIS.
IT'S NOT EVERY FOUR YEARS. IT COULD BE AFTER ONE YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT IF THE PERSON TURNS INTO A TRAIN WRECK, YOU CAN DISMISS THEM REGARDLESS OF ANY TERM LIMIT.
>> WELL, WHAT WE CAN DO, THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION COMES TO THE COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL IS THE BODY THAT CAN TERMINATE THAT RELATIONSHIP.
[02:15:02]
THE COMMISSION APPOINTS, BUT THE COMMISSION HAS TO SEEK THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TO TERMINATE, IT CAN BE TERMINATED AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON THAT THE COMMISSION BRINGS FORTH TO THE COUNCIL.>> BUT THAT REVIEW IS ANNUALLY.
>> THAT REVIEW IS ANNUAL, BUT NOT ONLY IS IT ANNUAL.
IF A MATTER ARISES EVEN IN THE COURSE OF THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR THAT WE BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE MADE AWARE OF, THEY WOULD BE MADE AWARE OF IMMEDIATELY AND WE WOULD REQUEST THE COUNCIL TO ACT TO REMOVE THAT.
>> THERE WAS NO RECOURSE FOR THAT PERSON REGARDLESS OF TERM LIMITS.
>> THE PROCESS YOU DESCRIBED THE COMMISSION.
>> THAT CANDIDATE, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WHO THEORETICALLY HAS THREE TERMS WOULD HAVE NO RECOURSE AT THAT POINT.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THEY THEY ARE EMPLOYABLE AT WILL, BASED UPON THE PARISH'S DECISION.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE I KNOW I STOPPED YOU THERE?
>> NO. THAT WAS IT BECAUSE THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE WHAT MATTERS MOST TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
WE SUPPORT KIM AND HER COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO ACCESS.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS WE HAVE IS OFTEN WE GET REPORTS AS THEY COME, THEY APPEAR TO BE STALE.
PART OF THE REASON THEY'RE STALE IS BECAUSE THE DELAYS WE'VE SEEN IN RESPONDING TO THE REPORTS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT KIM AND DAVID HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BECAUSE WE WANT THE TRANSPARENCY TO COME OUT A LITTLE QUICKER.
WE WANT THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO BE MADE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE OFFICE WAS TO PREVENT FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE.
THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AT THAT.
WE JUST NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE CITIZENS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL BONANO, YOUR MOTION ONCE AGAIN. JUST SPEND A MINUTE.
>> FOR ONE MEETING. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26269 TO OUR MAY 1ST, 2024 MEETING ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDER.
LET'S STOP THERE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND WE'LL COME BACK FOR EVERYTHING AFTER THAT.
MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU READ THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, PLEASE.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING THE LAWSUIT ENTITLED PERRY W. ADAMS VERSUS THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, 24 JDC NUMBER 817-179 DIVISION L AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> COUNCILMAN VAN FRANKEN, YOUR MOTION? ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN FRANKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE.
WE'RE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
EVERYBODY, WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED PERRY W. ADAMS VERSUS THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON 24 JDC NUMBER 817-179 DIVISION L AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANK AND SECONDED BY WALKER.
WE LEFT OFF AT ITEM NUMBER 16.
[OTHER ORDINANCES (Part 2 of 2)]
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THAT ONE.>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26280, AMENDING THE CODE CHAPTER 6, AMUSEMENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, ARTICLE 5, CARNIVAL, MARTI GROW, AND OTHER PARADES TO CLARIFY AND REVISE CERTAIN SAFETY STANDARDS AND OTHER PARADE REQUIREMENTS.
>> WE'RE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26280.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> I'M HOPING THIS IS GOING TO PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM JUMPING OFF A FLOAT NEXT YEAR. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO SEE THAT ON TV WHERE WE'RE EMBARRASSED AS A PARISH, WATCHING SOMEBODY JUMP OFF A FLOAT ON VETERANS. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS FOR?
>> THAT AND OTHER THINGS, YES.
>> I'M IN FAVOR. PLEASE DO IT.
>> LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT MR. HYERES WAS IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING.
ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? YES, MA'AM.
>> HI. MISSY HILDRETH, 3140 KENTUCKY AVENUE, KENNER LOUISIANA.
I'M THE CAPTAIN OF THE CREW OF EXCALIBUR.
I'M WORKING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE ROUTE CHANGE.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OF.
WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT GOING BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE WOULD BENEFIT NOT JUST THE MADRE GRAS CREWE, BUT ALSO THE CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
I REMEMBER THE REASON THAT WE ORIGINALLY REVERSED THE ROUTE AND THAT WAS SO THAT WE COULD RIDE THROUGH FAMILY GRAW GOING THROUGH CLEARVIEW PARKING LOT.
AT THE TIME, THAT WAS A FANTASTIC IDEA AND THE FIRST YEAR WAS TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL.
AFTER THAT, NOT SO MUCH, LARGELY DUE TO WEATHER, BUT NOW SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION HAS HAPPENED, THERE REALLY IS NO REAL REASON FOR US TO BE ENDING AT CLEARVIEW EXCEPT TO JUST KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE REVERSE ROUTE IS SHORTER THAN THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE, AND THIS HAS CONTINUED TO UPSET OUR RIDERS.
WE HAVE LOST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AS A RESULT OF THAT.
[02:20:04]
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT RIDERS IN MADRAS PARADES IN JEFFERSON PARISH.BY OFFERING A LONGER AND MORE COMPLETE ROUTE, IT WOULD BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL RIDERS.
IN TERMS OF THE BONNEVILLE RESIDENTS, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM AND VERY FRUSTRATING FOR THEM BECAUSE OF THE CONFINED SPACE THAT THE BANDS AND THE DANCE TEAMS HAVE TO LINE UP IN.
THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BANDS AND DANCE TEAMS HAVE ENDED UP ON THEIR LAWNS AND ON THEIR DRIVEWAYS AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATED OVER THAT.
PUTTING THEM BACK ON VETERANS WOULD DEFINITELY ALLEVIATE THIS ISSUE.
LASTLY, THE BUSINESSES FROM BONNEVILLE TO MARTIN BERMAN AND VETERANS WOULD ONCE AGAIN BE HOPEFULLY REVIVED AND SEE SOME INCREASE IN REVENUE BECAUSE OF THE PARADE.
NOW EXTENDING FROM THAT POINT, AND WE THINK THAT THAT WOULD HELP NOT JUST THOSE BUSINESSES.
OBVIOUSLY, TAX DOLLARS WOULD COME IN AND ALSO GIVE A LITTLE BIT LONGER SPACE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO ENJOY THE PARADE.
IN CONCLUSION, WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN STRENGTHENING JEFFERSON PARISH MORDIGA BY VOTING TO MOVE THE ROUTE BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL ONE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHASON TALUS.
PASS KING, CARNIVAL PARTICIPANT HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND SUPPORTER OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CREWS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
FOLLOWING UP ON MS. HELDERTH COMMENTS, WE'VE LOST A LOT OF MEMBERS ON OUR OWN FLOATS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AS A RESULT OF US CHANGING FROM BONNEVILLE BACK TO CLEARVIEW.
WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT GOING BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE STARTING AT CLEARVIEW AND ENDING DOWN AT MARTIN BERMAN.
IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES FROM MARTIN BERMAN UP TO BONNEVILLE.
IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR MEMBERS, AND IT WILL HELP WITH OUR RECRUITING TO GET RIDERS TO COME BACK INTO JEFFERSON PARISH. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT THREE APPEARED IN FAVOR, CASMAN LILJEBERG'.
HANG ON A SECOND. LET ME GET YOU.
>> WE DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN CONNECTION WITH THIS ORDINANCE.
WE MET VARIOUS TIMES WITH CITIZENS AFFAIRS.
WE SENT THE DRAFT PROPOSED ORDINANCES TO ALL THE CREWS.
SOMETHINGS THEY LIKE, SOMETHINGS THEY DIDN'T LIKE, WE CAME BACK, WE WORKED BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM.
WE WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON THE ROUTE AND ON THE STAGING AREA.
JUST TO DIGRESS FOR A SECOND, WE DIDN'T ALTER THE ROUTE LAST YEAR FOR TWO REASONS.
NUMBER 1, I STARTED IN JANUARY AND MARDI GRAS WAS IN FEBRUARY.
NUMBER 2, I FELT LIKE THE ROUTE WAS CHANGED.
ANYTIME YOU DO ANYTHING, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE UPSET, PEOPLE HAD ALREADY BEEN UPSET AND GOT IT OUT OF THEIR SYSTEM.
I LEARNED THAT WE WERE VERY WRONG.
AS Y'ALL JUST SUGGESTED, THE FOLKS THAT LIVE ON BONNEVILLE UNDERSTANDABLY UPSET AT BONNEVILLE BEING THE STAGING AREA.
THEY WERE UPSET AT THE BANDS HANGING OUT IN THEIR FRONT LAWNS.
THEY WERE UPSET AT THE TRASH FROM RIDERS THROWING BOXES OFF OF FLOATS.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO WORK OUT MUCH BETTER, WHICH I KNOW THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE.
WE CAN TWEAK IT. WE HAVE MARDI GRAS' STANDARDS SO WE HAVE ALMOST A FULL YEAR TO GO IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE NEED TO TWEAK.
BUT I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> BEFORE WE VOTE ON THAT, COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANK HAD A COMMENT.
I GOT YOU NOW. GO AHEAD AND HIT IT AGAIN.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG AND OUR CITIZENS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, AND ALL OF OUR CAPTAINS.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH EFFORT AND ENERGY EACH OF OUR CREWS AND EACH OF OUR CAPTAINS PUT INTO TRYING TO REVITALIZE CARNIVAL.
THE CHANGES OCCUR OVER TIME, AND WE SHOULD NEVER GET STAGNANT.
WE NEED TO EMBRACE CHANGE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE.
WE HAVE TO FIND PATHS FORWARD.
I KNOW PARISH PRESIDENT LI SHANG WAS THE FIRST TO REALLY TARGET MARDI GRAS, TO ADD THINGS LIKE RHYTHM ON THE ROUTE, TO MAKE SOME CHANGES, TO MAKE CARNIVAL, STRONGER.
THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE A FEW YEARS BACK, WE WERE TRYING TO, AGAIN, FIND WAYS TO STRENGTHEN CARNIVAL, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
CLEARVIEW THEN WENT IN A MAJOR DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND TO TRANSFORM THAT SPACE THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD RIDE INTO AS A GRAND FINALE TO OUR PARADES, THAT'S NOW DIFFERENT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU CONTINUED CHANGES AIMED AT STRENGTHENING CARNIVAL.
THE ONE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE AND CONCERN, I DON'T KNOW IF THE LAYOUT OF WHERE THE PARADES WILL STAGE BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD THIS ROUTE ORIGINALLY AND CLEARVIEW TO MARTIN BERMAN EXISTED,
[02:25:05]
THE CLEARVIEW SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT WAS THE PLACE THAT WE LINED UP OUR FLOATS.THE ONLY CONCERN I WOULD HAVE IS WE CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
WE'LL HAVE TO STAGE THE FLOATS ON THE CLEARVIEW END SOMEWHERE IN THE STREET AND THAT I ASSUME IS GOING TO AFFECT A DIFFERENT GROUP OF BUSINESSES OR CLEARVIEW, SO I GUESS WHAT DISCUSSION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE LAYOUT OF WHERE THE PARADES WILL STAGE.
>> WE MET WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
[NOISE] THEY WERE OKAY WITH THE STAGING AREA.
THE STAGING AREA IS ACTUALLY ON HOUMA SO THAT IT DOESN'T IMPEDE TRAFFIC FLOW ON EITHER VETERANS OR ON CLEARVIEW.
ACTUALLY, YOU AND I SPOKE THIS MORNING ABOUT THE BUSINESSES.
I MEANT TO ASK CITIZENS AFFAIRS AND WE WILL TO REACH OUT TO THE BUSINESSES ON HOUMA AND ALONG THE ROUTE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY PROBLEMS THEY HAVE WITH IT OR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUE THAT MAY ARISE.
>> YEAH. BECAUSE THAT AREA AND I THINK CITIZENS AFFAIRS WAS AWARE OF THIS TOO, THE DAY THAT WE HAD THE MARDI GRAS 5K, IT DID AFFECT THOSE BUSINESSES AROUND HOUMA LIKE JOHN'S TUXEDOS AND THE STARBUCKS, THE RUBY SLIPPER, THOSE BUSINESSES.
IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT SINCE THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENGINE FOR US, THAT THOSE BUSINESSES BE CONTACTED EARLY ON BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY WILL ANTICIPATE THAT THE PARADE WILL BE LINING UP IN FRONT OF THEM AND IT WILL AFFECT THEM EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON.
>> COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, I'D LIKE TO FIRST WISH YOU THE BEST SUCCESS ON PLEASING EVERYONE.
>> WELL, I WILL SAY THAT YOU WERE ACTUALLY WRONG ABOUT SOMETHING.
MR. HYERES SPOKE IN FAVOR OF TWO THINGS FROM WHAT I MOVE TODAY.
>> SECONDLY, THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU PUT INTO THIS.
I GREW UP WITH THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE.
I LIKED THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE.
ADMITTEDLY, I'VE TOLD JENNIFER THIS I WAS UPSET WHEN THE ROUTE FLIPPED, BUT I UNDERSTOOD WHY IT FLIPPED.
I THINK MARDI GRAS HAS HAD ITS CHALLENGES, AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE FINDING OUT, AND AS WE'VE ALL SEEN, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE MORI MARDI GRAS TO MAKE IT EASIER ON OUR CREWS TO MAKE IT AN EXPERIENCE PEOPLE WANT TO BE PART OF.
I FULLY SUPPORT TODAY AND ALWAYS, JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO AND PLEASE EVERYBODY, I HOPE.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? YOUR MOTION THEN, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26280.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26288 AMENDING THE JEFFERSON PARISH CHARTER SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE ELECTORATE OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
>> WE'RE NOW OVER THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26288.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> I COULD ALMOST OFFER TO BE UP IN APPROVAL, BUT I'M BETTING THAT I'M GOING TO BE IN OPPOSITION AND SINCE NOBODY ELSE HAS WALKED UP HERE TO BE AN APPROVAL, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE MIC.
FRANKIE HYERES, 509 HOUMA BOULEVARD.
I GOT A SPECIAL PASSION FOR OUR CHARTER.
WHEN I'M LISTENING TO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND MINUTES TO MEETINGS FROM THE PLANNING BOARD TO ANY OTHER ADVISORY BOARD OR COMMITTEE OR SUCH ENTITY, CROTCHET INGENUITY, AS I'VE REFERRED TO THEM, I GOT TO CONCERN MYSELF WITH ANY CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO AMEND THIS CHARTER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN ACTUAL APPORTION BODY WHEREIN THE APPLICATION OF ONE RATIO WOULD BE INTELLIGIBLE TO THE PEOPLE AND THEREFORE BE APPROVED, RATHER THAN A CONSTRUCT, WE SHALL NEVER BE COMPREHENDED BY THEM.
THE BEST YOU CAN GET IS ACQUIESCENCE.
UNLESS IT'S PERSONALLY DAMAGING TO THEM, THEY'RE NOT SHOWING UP.
WE KNOW WHO WILL SHOW UP THOUGH.
THERE'S 16,000 PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR THE MILLAGE REQUEST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO OR TWO YEARS AGO.
THAT'S THE MAJORITY THAT PARTICIPATE OF THE ELECTORATE.
THAT'S WHO WERE GOVERNED BY IT.
MOST OF THEM ARE NOT SUBJECT TO MUCH OF THAT TAXATION THROUGH EXEMPTIONS OR FREEZING OF ASSESSMENTS.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CHARTER AMENDMENT, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT THIS ACTUAL CHARTER AMENDMENT IS.
YOU HAVEN'T READ IT TO ME, SO I CAN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO AMEND.
BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO AMEND THE CHARTER AND NOT PROVIDE FOR REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES TO BE APPORTIONED AMONG THE SEVERAL PARTS OF THIS PARISH ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE NUMBERS, IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT THAT, THAT THAT'S AN AMENDMENT WORTH PASSING, THEN I GOT TO OPPOSE ANY TOKEN GESTURE, LIP SERVICE MOVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE RIGHT HERE.
I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S ALL IT IS.
UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LEGITIMATE GOVERNING BODY OR ARE WE GOING TO SETTLE FOR SOMETHING LESS THAN CONTINUALLY PERPETUALLY.
[02:30:01]
I'M GUESSING NOBODY WANTS TO ANSWER ANY OF MY RHETORICAL QUESTIONS, SO I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT THAT I OPPOSE EVERY EFFORT TO AMEND A CORRUPTED CHARTER IN ITS FORM.>> MR. HYERES THIS FOR YOUR INFORMATION, ACCEPTS AT WILL EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR THE PARISH PRESIDENT OR PARISH COUNCILMEMBER FROM THE PARISH CLASSIFIED SERVICE, PENDING VOTER APPROVAL.
>> OH, GOD. THAT ALMOST MAKES ME WANT TO TALK MORE.
I'M GETTING HUNGRY. I'M SITTING DOWN.
I HAVE TO GET FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE IN OPPOSITION, SO I'M JUST GOING TO SIT DOWN.
YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO ANYWAY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT ANYBODY OUT HERE SAYS.
>> THAT GOES TO VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
>> NUMBER 18, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK. I'M SORRY.
ANYBODY ELSE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION? DID YOU DECIDE IF YOU WERE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION TO THAT? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
I'M SKIPPING AHEAD. COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANK, YOUR MOTION ON NUMBER 17?
>> ANY OBJECTION THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26288 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANK AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NOW NUMBER 18, PLEASE.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26289 AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO REVISE THE PAY GRADE ASSIGNMENT IN BASE HOURS PER WEEK FOR THE CLASS OF FLOOD PLAN CRS SPECIALIST.
>> WE'RE NOW OVER THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26289.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE OPPOSED?
>> FRANKIE HYERES, RISING IN OPPOSITION.
ANOTHER CROTCHET INGENUITY OF THE COMBINATIONS THEY ARE GIVEN RISE TO.
UNFORTUNATELY, IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO SUBJECT MYSELF AND EVERY OTHER PARISH TAXPAYER TO A 12.5% DONATION TO THIS PERSON'S PAY FOR EVERY DOLLAR I'M GOING TO PAY THIS PERSON, AND IT'S NOT THIS PERSON'S FAULT.
I DON'T BLAME SHARKS FOR IN SHARKS OR RATS FOR GOING AFTER CHEESE.
BUT WHEN I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY AS A TAXPAYER, 12.5 CENTS ON EVERY DOLLAR, WHICH IS TWICE WHAT I CAN GET ANY EMPLOYER TO PAY FOR MY RETIREMENT, I'LL OPPOSE EVERYTHING.
EVERY ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THE BURDEN TO TAXPAYERS, I OPPOSE.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION, COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 262-89, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM NUMBER 19, PLEASE.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 262-90, AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 147-96, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF JEFFERSON PARISH, TO REVISE THE CLASS TITLE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF RISK MANAGEMENT CLAIMS SUPERVISOR.
>> PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 262-90.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION.
>> FRANKIE HYERES IS RISING ON THE SAME PRINCIPLES AS THE JEFFERSONIAN AND LACKING FOR AN APPORTIONED BODY TO APPROVE ANYTHING, IT COMPELS ME.
THIS ONE PARTICULARLY STRIKES A LITTLE BIT OF A PAIN FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE FRIENDS IN THROUGHOUT THIS PARISH THAT I'VE HAD TO MAKE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST THREE YEARS BECAUSE I CAN'T GET A REPRESENTATIVE BODY TO DO THIS ON MY BEHALF.
I KNOW THAT WHEN IT COMES TO RISK MANAGEMENT, CLAIMS, THAT JUST BRINGS YOU RIGHT TO HAMPTON, 1705 HAMPTON WHERE THE PARISH COULDN'T DO ITS JOB, AND A CITIZEN IS STILL WAITING FOR RISK MANAGEMENT CLAIMS TO BE FIGURED OUT.
YOU OUT OF TOUCH AND YOU CAN'T GET IN TOUCH BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO REPRESENT MORE THAN ONE MASTER.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT, WE DO THE INVOCATION HERE, THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
THAT RULE OF APPORTIONMENT, THE APPLICATION OF ONE RATIO, ENSURES THIS THING.
IT'S BUILT ON THE SAME FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR, ROMANS 13, SUPERSEDING.
THAT'S TO SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND TO OUR POSTERITY.
>> ARE WE STILL ON THIS ITEMS?
>> YEAH, WE'RE STILL ON THIS ITEM, RISK MANAGEMENT.
YEAH, I'M STILL ON IT BECAUSE THIS STUFF THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT APPLIES TO ALL OF IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO ASSIGN SOMEBODY A JOB THAT THEY CAN'T KEEP.
WHEN THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH WAKE UP AND SEE THIS FACADE, THIS CHARADE FOR WHAT IT IS.
EVERY ONE OF THESE POSITIONS IS VULNERABLE.
THE WHOLE CHARTER IS GOING TO BE REDONE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT. COUNT ON ME.
>> SONIA LAHNEY 1705 HAMPTON DRIVE, YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT CLAIMS SUPERVISOR.
ARE THEY GOING TO DO THEIR JOB OR THEY'RE GOING TO HOPE TO DATES, TIMES, REPORTS BECAUSE I'VE EVEN REACHED OUT TO RISK MANAGEMENT IN 2021, AND I HAVE MY PHONE RECORDS TO BACK THAT UP.
OR THEY'RE GOING TO DO THEIR JOB AND REALLY WHETHER WHO'S AT FAULT OR WHO'S NOT GOING [NOISE] TO HONESTLY TELL THE TRUTH WHEN SOMETHING MAJOR GOES DOWN, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S THE PARISHES FAULT OF WHAT HAPPENED AND DON'T SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG, BECAUSE IF IT'D BE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT MIGHT OWN THEIR LLC OR HAVE A LICENSE,
[02:35:02]
AND THEY DO WRONG, THEY GET FINED, SUED, CLOSED DOWN.I'M TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
I'VE SEEN IT AND DONE RESEARCH ON IT.
BUT THEN WHEN THE PARISH MAKES A MISTAKE BECAUSE IN MY SITUATION, I FEEL THAT IT WAS A PARISH MANMADE MISTAKE.
BACK IN THE 80S WHEN MY HOME WAS BUILT.
I HAPPENED TO BE THE IDIOT THAT THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE IN 1996 TO MOVE MY CHILDREN INTO A HOUSE THAT I CALLED HOME.
DURING THE COVID VIRUS PANDEMIC, WE FOUND OUT WE WERE LIVING ON DISEASE.
THEN I TURNED AROUND AND I LOOKED LIKE AN IDIOT.
EVERYBODY WANTS A PAY RAISE AND THE ONLY ONES THAT I NEVER SEE A PICKET ON IS THE POLITICIAN, EVERYBODY ELSE, SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND ALL.
DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TITLE CHANGE?
>> NO, I GOT A PROBLEM WITH, WHEN IT COMES TO RISK MANAGEMENT TITLE AND SUPERVISOR, LIKE, CLAIM SUPERVISOR, MORE OR LESS CLAIMS, CLAIMS, SOMETHING I NEVER WANTED.
IT WAS HER IDEA TO GET A CLAIM. MAYBE I'M WRONG.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT POLITICS BECAUSE BEFORE I MET ANY OF Y'ALL, I WAS JUST AN ORDINARY LOVE DYE NEIGHBOR TYPE PERSON.
Y'ALL TURNED INTO SOMETHING I NEVER WAS.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT TWO APPEARED IN OPPOSITION, COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 262-90.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 262-91 AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 147-96 THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO CREATE A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF HEADSTART, HEALTH MANAGER.
>> WE NOW OVER THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 262-91.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> FRANKIE HYERES IS IN OPPOSITION AGAIN.
I GOT A HEALTH MANAGER, ANOTHER CLASS, ANOTHER TITLE, AND I'M BETTING ANOTHER PERSON I GOT TO PAY 12.5% ON EVERY DOLLAR THEY EARN TOWARDS THEIR RETIREMENT, VISA V THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT BENEFIT PROGRAM THAT MAKES ALL OF US HAVE TO PAY IN DISPROPORTIONATELY AND RECOGNIZE THIS.
IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT GOT TO RENT A HOUSE THAT ARE PAYING ALL THIS, MORE SO THAN ANY OF US.
YOU ALL OWN YOUR HOMES. I OWN MINE OUT RIGHT. I AIN'T PAYING THIS.
I'M TAX EXEMPT FOR ALMOST ALL OF IT.
I PAY NOTHING COMPARED TO EVERY RENTER.
EVERY RENTER IS THE ONE THAT'S HAVING TO PAY INTO THIS PAROCHIAL SCHOOL RETIREMENT BENEFIT PROGRAM TWICE WHAT THEY CAN GET FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR OWN RETIREMENT.
YOU GOT A PONZI SCHEME, AND THIS HEALTH MANAGER, WHOEVER'S GETTING APPOINTED TO BE IN THIS HEALTH MANAGER IS MADE A THIEF BY THIS PROGRAM, BY THIS WHOLE CONSTRUCT.
I WOULD TAKE THIS WEIGHT FROM EVERY DIRECTOR, EVERY MANAGER THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON THEM BY ENSURING A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT BY ENSURING THAT WE DIDN'T TRY TO SET UP A RETIREMENT SYSTEM THAT'S UNAFFORDABLE, AND IT IS UNAFFORDABLE.
THIS HEALTH MANAGER IS GOING TO BE TAKING A POSITION THAT MAKES THEM VULNERABLE TO LOSE EVERYTHING THAT THEY THINK THEY HAVE, EVERYTHING YOU'VE TOLD THEM THEY CAN HAVE.
YOU'RE NOT A LEGITIMATELY FOREIGN BODY.
YOU GOT NO LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY.
AS SOON AS THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH, THE SEVEN OUT OF 10 THAT DON'T SHOW UP FOR STATEWIDE ELECTIONS WAKE UP, I ONLY NEED FOUR OF THEM TO WAKE UP, AND WE RECONSTRUCT THIS WHOLE GOVERNMENT.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN POSITION, COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> AS ONE OF THE SEVEN MEMBERS UP HERE WHO HAVE NO RETIREMENT, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY RETIREMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE NONE, I WILL MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 262-91, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
NUMBER 21, THE OPERATING BUDGET, MADAM CLERK.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 262-92 AMENDING THE 2024 OPERATING BUDGET.
>> WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 262-92.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
>> FRANKIE IS RISING IN OPPOSITION AND LET ME JUST SAY.
WHY WOULD YOU NEED RETIREMENT WHEN YOU'RE GETTING PAID HALF OF WHAT A JUDGE GETS A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE. THAT'S HALF TO PAY.
HALF TO PAY FOR MY AT LARGE MEMBERSHIP. YOU DON'T NEED RETIREMENT.
I COULD RETIRE ON ONE YEAR SALARY FOR EITHER ONE OF YOU.
ONE SALARY TO GET ME PAID FOR THE REST OF MY YEAR.
THIS IS YOUR OPERATING BUDGET, ISN'T IT? I OPPOSE THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE PAY FOR EACH ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE YOU VIOLATE THE 27TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION IN DOING.
[02:40:01]
>> DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING ON THE OPERATING BUDGET ON THIS AGENDA.
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN LOOK AT ON THE AGENDA.
>> NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OPERATING BUDGET, GENERALLY SPEAKING.
YOU HAVE TO AMEND IT. TELL ME HOW YOU HAD TO AMEND IT.
I'M GUESSING YOU HAD TO TAKE MONEY FROM GAMBLING AND MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR YOU TOOK OTHER MONEY THAT WAS UNPORTIONED.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WITH THE OPERATING BUDGET EVERY SINGLE TIME.
YOU DO NOT APPORTION THIS BODY, YOU DO NOT APPORTION DIRECT TAXATION.
YOU DON'T EVEN CONFORM TO THE UNIFORMITY CLAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO SALES TAXES.
I'LL GET UP HERE EVERY SINGLE TIME AND OPPOSE THIS ON THESE GROUNDS, AND I'LL SPEAK TO IT AND ELABORATE UPON IT AS I SEE FIT.
>> MY RIGHT TO REDRESS MY GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE INFRINGED UPON BY YOU, ANY CHAIRMAN OR ANY OTHER PERSON IN THIS BODY.
>> MR. HYERES, OUR RULES DICTATE THAT YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I AM TALKING ABOUT THE OPERATING BUDGET.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OPERATING BUDGET.
>> GO AHEAD WITH YOUR SPECIFIC ITEM.
>> MY SPECIFIC ITEM IS YOUR PAY.
>> ON THE OPERATING BUDGET. SO THAT'S MY OPPOSITION.
YOU WANT TO KEEP ON PLAYING GAMES WHERE YOU GOT TO TRY AND RIDICULE AND MOCK AND INSULT THE CITIZEN.
KEEP DOING THIS. I'LL KEEP SHOWING UP BECAUSE I'M OBLIGED.
I SWORE TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION UNITED STATES.
I HAPPEN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE APPORTIONMENT CLAUSE SAYS AND THE UNIFORMITY CLAUSE.
DON'T MIND ME. I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP ON GETTING UP HERE TO DEFEND AND SUPPORT THAT CONSTITUTION.
>> IT'S FINE, MR. HYERES. I'M NOT GOING TO TRY AND TALK OVER YOU.
I'M ONLY SAYING THAT THESE SPECIFIC ITEMS HAVE TO BE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED, AND YOU CAN SPEAK ON ANYTHING AT THE END OF THE MEETING IF YOU'D LIKE.
BUT FOR THIS PART, IT NEEDS TO BE WHAT THE AGENDA ITEM IS.
I'VE GIVEN YOU PLENTY OF LEEWAY, BUT YOU'RE VEERING WAY TOO FAR OFF COURSE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR. SORRY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26292 AND MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
LET'S MOVE TO NUMBER 22, PLEASE WITH AMENDMENTS, THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26293, AMENDING THE 2024 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ALLOCATE $150,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, CDIA GENERAL FUND TO THE CIVICS AND SENIOR CENTER IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR REPAIRS AT THE HAZELHURST COMMUNITY CENTER, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $150,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, CDIA GENERAL FUND TO THE CIVIC AND SENIOR CENTER IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR REPAIRS AT THE HAZELHURST COMMUNITY CENTER.
ALLOCATE $100,000 FROM CONSOLIDATED PLAYGROUND DISTRICT NUMBER 1, SUB NUMBER 1, FUND FOR CONSTRUCTION AT PARK DAVE F MILLS INFORMATION CENTER COUNCIL DISTRICT 1, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, AND YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
WE'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26293.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD? ANYONE OPPOSED?
>> FRANK IS RISING IN OPPOSITION. YET AGAIN.
AMAZING. WE GOT AMENDMENTS DIVULGED.
I DON'T HAVE TO GO DOING YOUR WORK FOR YOU.
I COULD JUST TALK ABOUT THESE AMENDMENTS RIGHT HERE.
>> THE GOOD DEEDS, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE MONEY FROM ONE BUDGETARY PROCESS AND DELIVER TO ANOTHER BUDGETARY PROCESS.
IT'S ILLEGITIMATE. IN YOUR FORM AND CONSTRUCT, YOU CAN'T LEGITIMATELY DO THESE THINGS.
YOU DON'T GET THE MONEY LEGITIMATELY.
YOU DON'T APPLY LEVY AND COLLECT TAXES THROUGH AN APORTION PROCESS.
DISPROPORTIONATELY BURDENING RENTERS.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW GOOD THESE DEEDS ARE, IF YOU'VE HAD TO STEAL THE POWER AND THUSLY STEAL THE MONEY TO GET THEM DONE.
THEY AMOUNT TO NOTHING BUT AN ILL GOTTEN GAIN.
IT'S NOT FOR ME. I'M NOT DOING THIS FOR MYSELF.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO IN HERE, NO MATTER HOW LONG THIS PERSISTS, I'M GOING TO BE BETTER OFF THAN WHERE I COULD HAVE OTHERWISE LIVED.
I WILL DIE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A BETTER PLACE LEFT.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEAR IN OPPOSITION, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26293 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
IT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 23.
[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]
RESOLUTION AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, MADAM CLERK.
[02:45:02]
>> LESS THAN HIS NUMBER OF KIDS.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING RD ENTERTAINMENT LLC DOING BUSINESS AS BIG EASY CIGARS 46 50 WEST ESPLANADE AVENUE IN METAIRIE, PERMISSION TO CONDUCT A BATTLE GROUND SPECIAL EVENT ON THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024 THROUGH SATURDAY APRIL 13, 2024 FROM 11:00 A.M UNTIL 12:00 P.M.
>> ANY OBJECTION THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING DOCKET NUMBER OM-1-24 TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RESIDENT AND ACCESSORY STRUCK WITH A LEGISLATIVE EXCEPTION FOR THE MASSING ANGLE REQUIREMENT IN THE OLD METAIRIE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION DISTRICT AT 2:09 AVENUE E ON LOT A SQUARE 12 ZONED R1B SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, OMNCD.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR.
HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD IN A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO FILIPE'S 2004 METAIRIE ROAD TO HOLD A CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 5TH, 2024 FROM 3:00 P.M. UNTIL 9:00 P.M. AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO CM&G RESTAURANT GROUP, LLC 2051 METAIRIE ROAD TO HOLD A CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 FROM 3:00 P.M. UNTIL 10:00 P.M AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR.
HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING ST. LOUIS KING OF FRANCE, 1609 CARLETON AVENUE TO HOLD THEIR BUCKTOWN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL FROM FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2024, FROM 6:00 P.M. UNTIL 10:00 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024, FROM 11:00 A.M. UNTIL 10:00 P.M AND SUNDAY APRIL 21, 2024 FROM 11:00 A.M. UNTIL 6:00 P.M AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE.
WE'RE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION.
PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
A MOTION BROUGHT FORWARD IN A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE ANY.
>> I HAVE ONE, MA'AM, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ IT?
>> YES SIR. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RIVER RIDGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION TO PLACE TEMPORARY SIGNS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO ADVERTISE THEIR GENERAL MEETING ON MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BANANO?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD IN A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BANANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE ANY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. TAKE US TO CONSENT AGENDA 1,
[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]
AND COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE IN-GLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 24-61.>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE IN-GLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 24-61, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 62, PLEASE. THAT'S CONSENT AGENDA 2.
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]
WE HAVE A FEW NUMBERS HERE. LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT, MADAM CLERK.COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 62 THROUGH 120 - 64, WHICH IS TO BE CANCELED, 67, WHICH IS A SELECTION WILL PULL ITEM 83 FOR COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN TO ABSTAIN
[02:50:06]
FROM ITEMS 90 AND 95 WILL BE AMENDED AND 109 WILL BE DEFERRED TO MAY 1ST.>> ONE HUNDRED AND SIX TO BE AMENDED.
>> ONE HUNDRED AND SIX TO BE AMENDED AS WELL.
YOUR MOTION ON THAT, COUNCILWOMAN?
>> I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. IT'S A LOT OF NUMBERS.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT AGAIN TOO.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF ITEM 62 THROUGH 120 - 64, WHICH IS TO BE CANCELED, 67, WHICH IS A SELECTION.
ITEM 83 WILL BE PULLED FOR COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN TO ABSTAIN.
ITEMS NUMBER 90 AND 95 WILL BE AMENDED AND 106 WILL BE AMENDED AS WELL, 109 WILL BE DEFERRED TO MAY 1ST, THAT ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NOT SO ORDER. THAT TAKES US NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 67.
>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING AN ENGINEERING FIRM FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS, ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 139780, ADOPTED JUNE 15TH, 2022 FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR SEWAGE PROJECTS WHICH SERVICES WILL BE REQUIRED FOR PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES FOR THE INFLITATION AND INFLOW REHABILITATION PROJECT COUNCIL DISTRICT 1, SCIP PROJECT NUMBER D3565 COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.
>> COUNCILMAN EDWARDS, YOUR SELECTION?
>> I SELECT PIVOTAL ENGINEERING.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF PIVOTAL ENGINEERING ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN EDWARDS SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 83 NOW.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY, WHICH AUTHORIZES AN EXTENSION OF THE AGREEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS UNTIL JANUARY 7TH, 2025 OR UNTIL JEFFERSON PARISH HAS ADVERTISED A NEW RFP, COMPLETED THE RFP EVALUATION PROCESS, AND EXECUTED A NEW CONTRACT, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $9,791.67 MONTHLY UNTIL TERMINATED.
>> COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER WITH COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ABSTAINING? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
ITEM NUMBER 90 PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND CRESCENT CITY FITNESS FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,000 TO ASSIST IN CREATING, SPONSORING, AND PROMOTING NEW EVENTS IN JEFFERSON PARISH TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TOURISM.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE VENDOR TO READ CRESCENT CITY CLASSIC FOUNDATION INCORPORATED IN THE PREAMBLE, FOURTH WARES AND SECTION 1 AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED ON A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
ITEM 95, PLEASE WITH AMENDMENTS, MADAM CLERK?
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE OF $50,000 TO THE CONTRACT CAP OF JEFFERSON PARISH, CONTRACT NUMBER 55-D2342 FOR THE HAS NEED TO PURCHASE OF SAFETY SUPPLIES BY THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND ALL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF JEFFERSON PARISH, MAKING A NEW CONTRACT CAP OF $132,500 UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ADD THE VENDOR'S NAME IN THE PREAMBLE IN SECTION 1, WHICH IS SOUTHEAST SAFETY AND SUPPLY, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED ON A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
THAT TAKES US TO ITEM 106, PLEASE.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CORROBORATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND THE CITY OF GRETNA TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE GRETNA POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE MAJOR CRIMES TASK FORCE FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $1 MILLION AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO CHANGE THE ONE YEAR TO FOUR YEARS IN THE PREAMBLE, AND IN SECTION 2, A NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER SHOULD READ 10010-0850-7680-262, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENT BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILMAN EDWARDS, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> CLARIFY THAT ACCOUNT NUMBER IS THE GENERAL FUND, CORRECT? ANY CONCERN FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE MILLION DOLLARS WOULD COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF ITEM 106 AS AMENDED ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN EDWARDS,
[02:55:06]
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.THAT TAKES US TO ITEM 121 AND SOME ENGLOBO ITEMS,
[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS]
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS 1 THROUGH 17.>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS 1 THROUGH 17 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
THAT TAKES US UP TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN ITEM 18. MADAM CLERK?
[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PAYMENT AND LURE OF TAX INCENTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PORT DISTRICT AND LATRAM LLC RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MANUFACTURING AND ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES, INCLUDING ITS AFFILIATES IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO FOREGOING.
>> COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PAYMENT IN LAW OF TAX INCENTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PORT DISTRICT AND KHA AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES LP RELATING TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTIRE KENNER HOUSING AUTHORITY, PUBLIC HOUSING PORTFOLIO CONSISTING OF SINGLE FAMILY DUPLEX AND MULTIFAMILY UNITS ACROSS APPROXIMATELY 31 SEPARATE PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF KENNER AND INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 121 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, ALL OF WHICH ARE TO BE OWNED BY KHA AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES LP AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO FOREGOING.
>> COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN STONE BRIDGE SUBDIVISION SPECIAL DISTRICT OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, FOR AUTHORITY TO LEVY AND COLLECT AN ANNUAL SECURITY ENHANCEMENT TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING, ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING AND APPROVING OR LEASING, MAINTAINING AND OPERATING MACHINERY, AND EQUIPMENT AND OTHER FACILITIES TO BE USED IN PAYING OTHER EXPENSES IN CURED OR CONTRACTING FOR SERVICES TO BE RENDERED IN CONNECTION WITH PROVIDING SECURITY ENHANCEMENT SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION, AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED SELECTION AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH.
>> COUNCILMAN EDWARDS, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN EDWARDS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
NO NEW BUSINESS, NO STATUS REPORTS.
NOW, PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS.
[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]
ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA CAN DO SO NOW YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> AL MORELLA 4260, SO YOU DRIVE FIFTH DISTRICT COUNTY FOURTH DISTRICT UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON 52 YEARS.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, $248,192.25. TOP FIVE BENEFACTORS.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, COUNCILMAN LEE, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, COUNCILMAN WALKER, AND COUNCILMAN EDWARDS.
NOW, I WANT TO DIRECT THIS TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN BATON ROUGE.
I'M IN FAVOR OF HOUSE BILL 121 AND HOUSE BILL 777, BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS TO MY REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE VILIO AND MY STATE SENATOR KIRK TALBOT.
I EXPECT YOU TWO TO OPPOSE ANY ATTEMPT TO WATER DOWN OR WEAKEN THOSE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST LAWS.
I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING OUT VERY CLOSELY.
NOW, I'LL SEE THAT COUNCIL STILL NO LEGISLATION TO REINSTATE THAT FIVE-MINUTE RULE.
YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DISRESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK WITHOUT PAY TO COME DOWN HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES JUST NEAR AND DEAR TO THEM.
IT'S SHAMEFUL ON YOUR PART AND DISRESPECTFUL.
I'M GOING TO BRING IT UP AT EVERY MEETING UNTIL THAT FIVE-MINUTE RULE IS REINSTATED.
IF THERE WAS NEVER A FIVE-MINUTE RULE AND IT WAS ALWAYS THREE MINUTES, THERE WOULDN'T BE NO BEEF.
BUT IT WAS FIVE MINUTES FOR DECADES AND ONE OF THE FORMER COUNCILMAN, I GUESS THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HE'S A FORMER COUNCILMAN, DECIDED TO KNOCK IT DOWN.
I WANT THAT FIVE MINUTES REINSTATED.
IT'S GOING TO BE A TOPIC GET EVERY COUNCIL MEETING UNTIL IT IS.
[03:00:04]
I WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT, AND I'M GOING TO DO IT AGAIN AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.WE HAVE A BIG EVENT COMING UP IN KENNER.
THE MOVING VIETNAM WALL WILL BE ON DISPLAY THE WEEKEND OF MAY 17TH-19TH.
WE WILL HAVE OUR MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE FOR THE MOVING WALL ON THE 17TH.
A CARAVAN OF MOTORCYCLES WILL BE ASSEMBLED IN THE PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER PARKING LOT.
WE'LL ROLL OUT, PROCEED DOWN WILLIAMS BOULEVARD TO VETERANS PARK AT 1801 WILLIAMS BOULEVARD IN THE BACK OF THE OLD CITY HALL.
ON THE 19TH IS WHEN WE WILL HAVE OUR MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY FOR MEMORIAL DAY.
>> NBC YOUR NETWORK, COUNCILMAN WALKER.
THEY SEEM TO WANT TO DO EVERYTHING BY EMAIL.
UNLIKE THE COMPETITION OUT THERE, THEY DON'T DO EVERYTHING BY EMAIL.
I INVITED THEM TO COME ON OUT THERE AND COVER THE BIGGIE BAND IN KENNER.
I SAID, SEE YOU AND I DON'T WANT TO BE.
NOW, ONE MORE THING REAL QUICK, COUNCILMAN WALKER, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, I WANT TO DIRECT THIS TO YOU.
>> YOU'RE OUT OF TIME MR ELSEWORTH, WRAP IT UP.
>> YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON THE BELMONT, BUT I NEED YOU TO GET WITH COUNCILMAN VRANCKEN IN KENNER AND GO AFTER MUHARAY DRIVE.
>> ANYBODY GOT ANY COMMENTS, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> ONLY GOING TO LAST 1705 HAMPTON DRIVER.
LET ME GET MY LAST THREE MINUTES OF FAME.
JEFF LANDRY, I'M COMING OUT TO THE STATE CAPITOL.
I HEARD IT IS A TOURIST ATTRACTION, WELL I'M GOING TO ATTRACT A LOT OF TOURISTS.
DEB VILIO, SHE'S ALL UP IN THIS.
BOY, I HOPE SHE SURE TOLD YOU THE LATEST ON WHAT SHE WAS DOING BEFORE SHE BECAME INTO THE CABINET.
DID YOU-ALL EVER WRITE YOURSELF UP? I NEVER GOT A WRITTEN SINCE 1996 IN 2021, WHEN ALL YOU-ALL STUFF THAT YOU-ALL BEEN NEGLECTING WAS COMING OUT FOR YEARS.
THAT WAS YOU-ALL PIPE MISSING, THAT YOU-ALL TRIED TO COVER IT UP.
FROM YEARS AGO, WHERE YOUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT SCREWED UP ON MY HOUSE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A MAIN FILTERING SYSTEM OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU-ALL USE CONVICTED FELON.
BILL HARBERT OF RAM JAY TO GET THE CONTRACT TO COVER UP THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEGLECT OF THE STALL COVERED DRAINAGE CANAL THAT WAS DESIGNED IN THE '80S FOR FUTURE DRAINAGE THAT WASN'T DRAINING FOR YEARS.
BUT SINCE SONIA COME TO LIGHT AND BACKED UP IN MY SHOWER SEWAGE OF ALL MY NEIGHBORS THAT WE WERE LIVING ON, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SONIA IS.
WHEN IT'S OVER WHEN I'M GOING TO SHOW WHO'S CRAZY AND WHO'S NOT, IF I HAVE TO MAKE MYSELF LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT, IT WON'T BE MY FIRST TIME BECAUSE LOOK AT YOU-ALL, SUITS AND SKIRTS, YOU-ALL LOOKING ALMIGHTY FINE, HAIR DONE, NAILS DONE.
BUT YOU SIT THERE AND PRAY TO GOD IN 2.2 SECONDS, YOU BECOME A HYPOCRITE.
ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS YOURSELF.
ALL YOUR MONEY YOU GOT, YOU CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
I'M GOING TO LOSE MY HOUSE IN FRONT OF YOU-ALL
>> BRICK HYERES, 509 HOME BOULEVARD.
I'M TRYING TO SPARK SOME CURIOSITY.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW WE EMPOWER IS FAR GREATER THAN WHO.
NONE OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE HERE.
HALF OF YOU-ALL ARE LAME DUCKS.
YOU AIN'T LOOKING TO GET RE-ELECTED.
ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO BE A CHAIRMAN THAT'S MY PRESIDENT ELECT.
MY COUNCIL PERSON IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT CHAIRMAN OR DIVISION B GUY.
IT'S SO PREDICTABLE, SAD AND PATHETIC AND LAUGHABLE, IT'S REALLY LAUGHABLE.
>> LAY OUT THE WHOLE NEXT TIME.
>> IT'S BETTER TO BE LAUGHED AT THAN BEAT UP OR ARRESTED, AND I STAND BY IT.
I DON'T MIND YOU LAUGHING AT ME.
WHEN YOU MOCK SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT DON'T SEE THIS COMING, THEY'RE NOT REALLY PRIVY TO HOW YOU-ALL ROLL.
THAT SHOULD BE A SOURCE OF EMBARRASSMENT FOR YOU.
YOU WANT TO LET IT ROLL, KEEP GOING.
YOU DESERVE TO DO BETTER BY YOURSELVES AND BY YOUR POSTERITY.
YOU GOT A LEGACY. I'M TRYING TO HELP EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, AND I SHOW UP JUST TO DO THAT.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF YOU WHO YOU ARE PERSONALLY, BUT ALL OF YOU GOT KIDS AND GRANDKIDS, NIECES AND NEPHEWS, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK ON THIS.
THIS INEPTITUDE, THIS MALFEASANCE, THIS NEGLECT, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PERSIST IN SOMETHING THAT'S ILLEGITIMATE.
[03:05:05]
YOU CAN'T APPORTION AN AT LARGE MEMBERSHIP.AFTER IT WAS EXPLOITED FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES BY THE SOUTH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUTLAWED THAT IN 1842.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE TURNED OUR BACK ON THE WORD APPORTIONMENT.
WE HAVEN'T APPLIED A SINGLE RATIO TO THE PARTS OF A WHOLE SINCE.
WE'VE BEEN RIDING A PENDULUM THAT AMOUNTS TO A POOP SHOW.
FROM SUCCESSION TO ABOLITION, THE COSTLY CIVIL WAR, RECONSTRUCTION JIM CROW, IT JUST CONTINUES TO BE AN EITHER OR.
HOW WE EMPOWER IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHO WE EMPOWER.
WHEN THE PARISH SEES THIS, WHEN THE CITIZENS SEE THIS FOR WHAT IT IS, YOU CAN EITHER BE THE BODY THAT RUBBER STAMPED THE SAME O, SAME O, OR YOU COULD TAKE A STEP.
THERE'S A CHARTER REVIEW GOING TO COME UP DURING YOUR TIME.
WE COULD CALL FOR A CHARTER REVIEW RIGHT NOW.
WE COULD REAPPORTION THIS BODY.
YOU WANT SEVEN MEMBERS? WE COULD HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS.
YOU COULD GROUP THE WHOLE UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON PARISH AND THEN GIVE EACH ONE OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AS THEY SHOULD HAVE IN A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT GUARANTEED, ARTICLE 4, SECTION IV.
I'M JUST HERE ABOUT THAT CONSTITUTION.
WE'RE GOING TO GET TO UNDERSTANDING IT, AND THEN I'M GOING TO EXPECT YOUR ABILITIES TO IMPROVE.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, FOR YOUR TIME AND DISCRETION.
YOU DO NOT EVER HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO THIS FOOL FOR ANYTHING YOU FEEL YOU MUST DO. I APPRECIATE YOU.
>> LOOK FOR REFERENCE, MR. HYERES, THE PROPOSITION THAT'S GOING TO GO BEFORE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER WAS FROM THE CHARTER REVIEW LAST YEAR.
IT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS RECOMMENDED BY THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY.
>> WE COULD NOT ACCESS THE MINUTES TO THOSE MEETINGS.
I WISH I COULD HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THAT BOARD WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE, BUT THEY WEREN'T.
I APPRECIATE IT, BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP ME.
>> ANYONE ELSE? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION INTO SUMMARY. THAT LOOKS LIKE A LOT.
[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]
>> THE FIRST I'M GOING TO READ IS GOING TO REQUIRE UNANIMOUS VOTE.
AN ORDINANCE DECLARING LOTS 12, 13, AND 14 SQUARE 3, HESSMER PARK DIVISION STREET METAIRIE NO LONGER NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES AND AUTHORIZING AN EXCHANGE OF SAID LOTS WITH JEFFERSON PARISH LAW ENFORCEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 1 FOR LOTS 37, 38, AND 39 SQUARE 3, HESSMER PARK SUBDIVISION, HESSMER AVENUE, METAIRIE AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT ORDINANCE BEING READ INTO SUMMARY ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> RESUB OF PARTIAL 6A4C AND 6A4D BELL PLANTATION SUBDIVISION.
RESUB PART OF LOTS 5 AND 6, AKBAR PLANTATION SUBDIVISION, RESUB OF LOTS A AND B SQUARE 41K, SOUTH KENNER SUBDIVISION, RESUB OF LOT 5 SQUARE 61 AND APPORTION OF REVOKED THE SOTO PLACE ELMWOOD SUBDIVISION.
A REQUESTED VARIANCE FOR A HOME TWO-SUITS LOCATED AT 2611 HESSMER AVENUE ON LOT 150 A1 HESSMER FARM SUBDIVISION.
SP 7023, THE WATERS AT PROMENADE AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED IN 4900 BLOCK OF PROMENADE BOULEVARD ON PARTIAL 6A4C AND 6A4D BELL PLANTATION SUBDIVISION.
AMENDING THE SPECIAL PERMANENT USE AT 2700 US HIGHWAY 90 WEST ON LOT 2A SOUTHEAST LAND DISTRICT.
THE SPECIAL PERMANENT USE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MATRIX TANK TERMINALS, AVONDALE FACILITY LOCATED AT 2750 US HIGHWAY 90.
APPROVING THE REQUEST TO AMEND THE MASTER PLAN OF A SPECIAL PERMANENT USE FOR METAIRIE PARK COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL AT 300 PARK ROAD ON LOT CD1 AND CD2, GULF VIEW SUBDIVISION.
TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796 TO CREATE A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF HUMAN RESOURCE ADMINISTRATOR.
TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796 TO REVISE THE CLASS TITLE AND BASE HOURS PER WEEK FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF ALARIO CENTER OPERATIONS MANAGER.
AMENDING SECTION 2875.9A TO PROVIDE THAT TWO APPOINTEES TO THE JEDCO BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2024 OPERATING BUDGET, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2024 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE ORDINANCES READ INTO THE SUMMARY, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO ADJOURN BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.