>> HI, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
[00:00:02]
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE JEFFERSON FINANCE AUTHORITY THAT HAS A PRESENTATION TO MAKE THIS MORNING.> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LAUREN RUBLE, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH FINANCE AUTHORITY.
I'M JOINED HERE WITH ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, MS. ELIZABETH STROMEYER.
TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY OUR BOARD IN RECOGNITION OF MS. CAROL WATSON SMITH.
MS. SMITH WAS APPOINTED ON DECEMBER 18TH OF 2019 BY COUNCILMAN BYRON LEE OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 3, AND SERVED FIVE YEARS AS A MEMBER OF THE JPFA BOARD UNTIL HER PASSING ON AUGUST 9TH.
MS. SMITH WAS A PASSIONATE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE JPFA BOARD, AND HER OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY WILL ALWAYS BE ADMIRED BY THOSE WHO HAD THE CHANCE TO KNOW HER.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LEE AND TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 FOR APPOINTING MISS SMITH. SHE WILL BE MISSED.
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK JPFA, JEFFERSON PARISH FINANCE AUTHORITY, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL BOARD, AND ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT MR. FRANK MUSCARELLO, WHO WAS MY APPOINTEE, AND SERVED, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE SERVED LONGER THAN HIM, AND SO WE DO KNOW THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU DO, AND WE WERE VERY SADDENED BY THE LOSS OF MR. FRANK MUSCARELLO AS WELL, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO APPOINTING SOMEONE IN HIS PLACE WHO WILL CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THAT HE DID.
>> THANK YOU-ALL. NOW IS BENJAMIN BURKE.
>> HE IS THE RACE DIRECTOR FOR THE 2025 BICENTENNIAL PARK TO PARK 10K.
THAT'S GOING TO BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT.
HE'S GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
AS THE COUNCIL CHAIR SAID, MY NAME IS BENJAMIN BURKE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW ORLEANS TRACK CLUB.
I FIRST OF LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMAN BANANO, COUNCILMAN WALKER, COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKIN, AND COUNCILMAN BANANO, FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FLOURISH AND PRESENT, AND I'M HIGHLY HONORED TO PRESENT THIS NEW EVENT THAT I'M WORKING HARD ON FOR THE PARISH, FOR THE BICENTENIAL 10 TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER AS ONE.
JUST A LITTLE RUNDOWN ABOUT THE EVENT.
THIS IS THE EVENTS CALLED THE PARK TO PARK 10K.
IT'S A 6.2 MILE ROUTE STARTING AT LA SALLE PARK AND FINISHING AT LAG AND YEAR PARK ON MARCH 22ND, 2025.
IT ALSO IS FOLLOWED BY THE BICENTENNIAL BASH POST-RACE PARTY, A FESTIVE, POST RACE CELEBRATION, FEATURING LIVE MUSIC, LOCAL CUISINE, AND FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES.
THIS ONE EVENT IS MORE THAN JUST A RACE.
IT SYMBOLIZES THE UNITY AND SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON PARISH AS WE COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE 200 YEARS OF HISTORY AND CULTURE BY SHOWCASING LOCAL BUSINESSES, CHARITIES, PUBLIC SERVICES, SCHOOLS, AND MORE.
WHETHER YOU'RE RUNNING, WALKING OR CHEERING FROM THE SIDELINES, THIS RACE HAS SOMETHING FOR YOU, TURNING STRANGERS INTO NEIGHBORS AND PROMOTING HEALTH AND FITNESS.
THIS EVENT SERVES TO ELEVATE OUR PARISH BY SUPPORTING BOTH LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY ONE STEP AT A TIME AND SHARING THE BEST OF JP.
>> CAN YOU, MR. BURKE, MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL OF OUR OFFICES, ANY INFORMATION, INCLUDING GRAPHICS AND THINGS THAT WE CAN SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT THE WORD OUT AS BEST WE CAN?
>> I ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SHOT OUT TO COUNCILMAN LUDERBERG THAT ALSO HAS SUPPORTED US FOR THE MARDI GRAS 10K-5K EVENT THAT'S HAPPENING A MONTH BEFORE ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 2025, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILY GIRL AND VISIT JP. APPRECIATE IT, SIR.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING COUNCILMAN LUDERBERG RUN THAT RACE. YOU TOO.
[00:05:03]
ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING? THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE PRE-MEETING, SO WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE MEETING ITSELF IN ABOUT NINE MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. IT IS 10:00 AM. WE'LL GET ROLLING.
THIS IS THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025.
[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
WITH THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING 200 DURBANY STREET, GRETNA, LOUISIANA, 70053.THIS MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2025. IT'S NEW YEAR.
NEW AMBITIONS, FRESH START. LET'S GO.
MADAM PRESIDENT, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, SHE HAS A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR SOMEONE SHE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FROM ONE OF OUR LONGTIME PARISH EMPLOYEES AND HEADSTART TEACHERS, MS. JERRY LYN MARTIN, WHO PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 26 AFTER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH OUR JEFF KAPP DEPARTMENT.
ACCORDING JEFF APP DIRECTOR DR. DEON NICHOLS, MS. MARTIN WAS ONE OF OUR CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN AND A TRUE ANGEL.
SHE WILL CERTAINLY BE DEARLY MISSED IN THE PARISH.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HER, HER LOVED ONES, OUR WORK FAMILY, AND ALL OF OUR HEADSTART EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS DURING THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR GUEST.
WHO WILL LEAD TODAY'S INVOCATION.
>> I'M VERY HONORED TO INTRODUCE REVEREND JOHN TALAMO JUNIOR WHO WILL LEAD US IN TODAY'S INVOCATION.
THIS IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE FATHER TALAMO WAS A DEAR FRIEND OF MY LATE FATHER, SHERIFF HARRY LEE.
HE WORKED FOR 17 YEARS WITH JPSO, AS THE CHAPLAIN, BUT NOW, REVEREND TALAMO IS THE PASTOR OF HOLY NAME OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ALGIERS, AND THE CHAPLAIN OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS IN WINDS FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, REVEREND TALAMO.
>> LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THIS MEETING AND THE BUSINESS CONDUCTED.
WE PRAY AND THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON ALL OF THE HOMELESS.
THOSE WHO THIS DAY WILL GO WITHOUT PROPER SHELTER, PROPER FOOD OR CLOTHING.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THOSE WHO ARE OUT PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS, LORD, ALSO THOSE INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED OF YOUR ASSISTANCE, THOSE IN CALIFORNIA WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM THE WILDFIRES, AND THOSE WHO ARE STILL PICKING UP THE PIECES FROM THIS TERRORIST ATTACK HERE IN OUR OWN CITY.
BLESS OUR CITIZENS, BLESS ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS.
PROTECT US ALL FROM THE EVIL ONE.
MAY THIS DAY AND THE BUSINESS CONDUCTED TODAY BE A DAY THAT GLORIFIES YOU AND YOUR ALMIGHTY WILL.
MAY GOD BLESS US ALL WITH YOUR PEACE IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
>> THANK YOU. I NOTICE, MR. JOE MARINO IS HERE FOR SOME REASON, SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE TODAY?
>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> PARISH PRESIDENT, MS. LEE SHAN.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MADAM PRESIDENT.
[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]
THE FLOOR IS YOURS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.I'LL START WITH OUR CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION.
EACH YEAR, THOUSANDS OF CHRISTMAS TREES ARE DONATED BY JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS AND DIVERTED FROM OUR LANDFILLS TO PROTECT WETLAND HABITAT WITHIN THE BARTARIA BASIN.
IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM MORE EFFICIENT, JEFFERSON PARISH TEAMS FOLLOWED RIVER BIRCH'S COLLECTION TRUCKS USING A TRACKING APP TO DOCUMENT WHERE TREES WERE EITHER COLLECTED OR DEEMED UNSUITABLE FOR PICKUP AND TO CREATE A LOG OF THE ROUTES DRIVEN.
ALSO THIS YEAR, WE ADDED TWO DROP OFF SITES FOR TREE COLLECTION AT 400 DAVID DRIVE AND MORI AND 6440 LA PALKO IN MARRERO,
[00:10:03]
WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, FOR RESIDENTS TO ACTUALLY BRING THEIR TREES TO THE DROP OFF SITE.I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY USED AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A SOFTWARE IN OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
FOR AFTER STORMS, WE HAVE TO QUICKLY DO A POST-DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS SOFTWARE ALL YEAR TO DRIVE THE ROUTES AND QUICKLY BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF HOUSES OR BUILDINGS THAT WERE DEMOLISHED OR RUINED.
WE DECIDED TO PILOT THE SOFTWARE FOR THE CHRISTMAS TREE PROGRAM, AND SO OUR TEAMS WERE FOLLOWING THE RIVER BIRCH TRUCKS USING THE SOFTWARE TO DOCUMENT THIS.
THROUGH THIS TOOL, WE WERE ABLE TO SEE IN REAL TIME THE NUMBER OF TREES THAT WERE COLLECTED AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THE TREES THAT WERE NOT COLLECTED, AND WHY? FOR INSTANCE, IF IT WAS A FLOCK TREE, WE TOOK A PICTURE OF IT WHICH SHOWED US THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TREES THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE COLLECTED HAD A TREE STAND REMAINING ON THE TREE.
THANKS TO OUR RECREATION STAFF WHO FOLLOWED BEHIND TRUCKS TO DOCUMENT THE PICK UP STATUS AS WELL AS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ECOSYSTEM AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND PLANNING.
IN TOTAL, 2,000 TREES WERE COLLECTED CURBSIDE THIS YEAR, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT WE COLLECTED LAST YEAR, IN ADDITION TO 1,700 TREES COLLECTED FROM RETAIL STORES THAT WERE UNSOLD, AND APPROXIMATELY 100 TREES COLLECTED AT THE NEW DROP OFF SITES.
THE TREE CYCLING VOLUNTEER EVENT, AND THE REASON ALL THIS TAKES PLACE IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, JANUARY 25TH.
VOLUNTEERS WILL GATHER TO PLACE THE COLLECTED TREES INTO BOATS, AND THEN INTO THE MARSH AREA NEAR THE GOOSE BAYOU IN LAFITTE.
ANYONE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, IT'S ALWAYS A FUN EVENT, AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY GOOD CAUSE, CAN REACH OUT TO JP COASTAL ZONE AT JEFFPARISH.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS VOLUNTEER EVENT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TREE COLLECTION IN GENERAL, CONTACT ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AT 504 731 4612.
I'LL MOVE ON TO OUR JEFFERSON PROTECTION AND ANIMAL WELFARE SERVICES JPAWS.
WE'RE HOSTING A NEW YEAR NEW MEOW CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JANUARY.
ALL CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTIONS ARE $10.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALLED JPAWS AT 504 349 5111.
JEFF KAP IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR EARLY HEADSTART AND HEADSTART ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 23RD, AT THE MONERO COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENT FOR LAHEP UTILITY ASSISTANTS ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 23RD AT LEMON PLAYGROUND, FROM 9:00 TO 3:30, AND ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 24TH, AT JOHNNY JACOBS PLAYGROUND, AGAIN FROM 9:00 AM TO 3:30 PM.
THIS IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION WE'RE PARTNERING WITH. I'VE SEEN THEM AT WORK.
JEFF KAP HAS ALSO ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH GG'S PLAYHOUSE, WHO WILL SERVE AS A VOLUNTEER STATION WITH OUR RSV PROGRAM.
GG'S PLAYHOUSE PROVIDES PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THIS PROGRAM WILL NOW UTILIZE OUR SENIOR VOLUNTEERS.
ONTO LIBRARY BUSINESS, OUR JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY HAS MANY PROGRAMMING EVENTS PLANNED IN JANUARY.
THE BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION DEBUTED TWO TACTILE BRAILLE AMERICAN FLAGS TO THE FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR PERMANENT DISPLAY AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY DURING A SPECIAL CEREMONY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 4TH.
ALSO LAFITTE LIBRARY CURRENTLY HOSTS AN ONGOING MONTHLY READ WITH A RANGER STORYTIME IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK AND RESERVE.
OUR EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY WILL HOST A GEN EXPO ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 15TH, FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM, WITH A LECTURE ON HOW TO CARE FOR A FAMILY TOMB, AND INFORMATION BOOTHS FROM MORE THAN 15 REGIONAL GENEALOGY GROUPS AND ARCHIVAL RESOURCES.
THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY WILL HOST A BACKYARD BREWHAHA, ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH, THIS IS VERY COOL, BEGINNING AT 9:30 AM, WITH SESSIONS LED BY EXPERTS IN RAISING CHICKENS, BEEKEEPING, AND CREATING INVITING ENVIRONMENTS FOR BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES.
MY SON IS INTERESTED IN THAT ONE.
WEST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY WILL HOST A COOKING AND COCKTAIL DEMONSTRATION ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 21ST, WITH A FOCUS ON FOOD AND DRINK CONSUMED AT THE TIME OF THE 1815 BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.
SAMPLES OF RICE CALLOUS AND A RAM TEA PUNCH WILL BE SERVED TO ADULT PATRONS.
MORE INFO IN A FULL CALENDAR EVENTS IS AVAILABLE AT JPLIBRARY.NET.
MARDI GRAS WILL OFFICIALLY KICK OFF OUR 2025 CARNIVAL SEASON BY RECOGNIZING THIS YEAR'S CRUISE ON OUR PARISH'S 200TH BIRTHDAY ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH FROM 5:00 PM TO 7:00 PM AT LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
THE KICK-OFF TO CARNIVAL BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WILL OFFICIALLY MARK THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR'S MARDI GRAS AND YEAR LONG BICENTENNIAL FESTIVITIES.
THE EVENT WILL FEATURE LIVE MUSIC BY THE JAY WALKER SECOND LINE BAND WITH
[00:15:02]
A SPECIAL PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING THE MANY CAPTAINS, KINGS, QUEENS, AND GRAND MARSHALS FOR THIS YEAR'S CARNIVAL CRUISE.THE 2025 CARNIVAL SEASON WILL INCLUDE 12 PARADES ON BOTH THE EAST BANK AND THE WEST BANK OF THE PARISH.
ALL OF THE MERRY PARADES WILL RETURN TO THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE OF STARTING ON VETERANS BOULEVARD, THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE.
VISIT THE CARNIVAL SEASON DASHBOARD ON OUR WEBSITE FOR A FULL SCHEDULE OF PARADES, ROUTES, AND MORE.
THAT WEBSITE IS WWW.JEFFPPARISH.GOV/CARNIVALSEASON.
AS I MENTIONED, THE BICENTENNIAL WILL BE KICKING OFF OUR CELEBRATION, OUR 200TH BIRTHDAY.
WE HAVE A FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2025.
>> COMMUNITY EVENTS, LOCAL INITIATIVES, AND NEW PROJECTS THAT WILL INSTILL A SENSE OF PRIDE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH ON OUR 200TH BIRTHDAY.
WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR COUNCIL OFFICES.
I KNOW ALL OF YOUR OFFICES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, OUR DEPARTMENTS, AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN MEETING FOR THE PAST YEAR TO START THIS PLANNING.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE WHO'S BEEN ATTENDING ALL OF THESE MEETINGS AND WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY INVOLVED IN THIS INITIATIVE, FIRST.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN THIS NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO BE A PART OF THIS SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY BY SPEARHEADING YOUR OWN EVENT, ACTIVITIES, AND PROGRAMMING THAT HELP MAKE OUR BICENTENNIAL A YEAR TO REMEMBER.
WE WANT THIS TO BE GRASSROOTS, EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
THE LAST THING WE WANT IS JUST A FORMAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM AND THEN IT'S OVER WITH.
WE REALLY WANT THIS TO BE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
IN PREPARATION FOR THE BICENTENNIAL, THE COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL BICENTENNIAL LOGO AND ADD RELATED EVENTS TO THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR, WHICH IS LOCATED ON OUR WEBSITE AT JEFFPARISH.GOV/JP200.
ALSO, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT IF YOU HAVE A GIFT SHOP OR YOU WANT TO USE THE LOGO IN ANY WAY TO SELL YOUR MERCHANDISE, WE WANT THE BICENTENNIAL TO ALSO HELP OUR ECONOMY.
WE'VE MADE THIS LOGO AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE TO USE IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER.
I WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO ITEMS NUMBER 106 AND 112 ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY FOR SOME NEW DIRECTORS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING ON BOARD.
I WANT TO ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION IN NAMING JONAS PERRIOTT AS OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, AND MADISON MARTIN AS OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR.
JONAS MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS OUR WATER DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SINCE 2020.
BUT PRIOR TO THAT, HE WORKED AS A HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER IN OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT SINCE 2015.
WE'RE GLAD THAT HE'S WILLING TO STEP UP AND TAKE THAT ROLE AGAIN.
MADISON, YOU WILL REMEMBER, FORMALLY SERVED AS OUR ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR FROM AUGUST 1ST, 2018 TO FEBRUARY 10TH, 2023, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO WELCOME HIM BACK TO THIS ROLE.
ALSO, JUST AS A PART OF INFORMATION, CHARLIE HUDSON HAS BEEN OUR INTERIM CHIEF AT THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE RECENTLY TOOK THE FIRE TEST AND HE WAS SELECTED AS OUR CHIEF, SO WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEM.
JONAS, MADISON, AND CHARLIE, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED, SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO YOU ARE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] THEN I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN OUR PERMITTING DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK THAT MAYBE PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE, BUT IT HAS STREAMLINED OUR PERMITTING PROCESSES, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A COMPLAINT THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON THAT I HAD BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE REALLY TOOK THIS ON, AND IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK.
I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT WE STARTED WITH RENAMING OUR BUILDING PERMITS AND CODE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS TO JUST SIMPLE NAMES OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO BETTER REFLECT THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND MAKE IT LESS CONFUSING FOR THE PUBLIC REACHING OUT TO US FOR ASSISTANCE.
BUILDING PERMITS DOES JUST THAT, BUILDING PERMITS, AND CODE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT DOES JUST THAT.
THEY MAKE PEOPLE ENFORCE THE CODE.
WE'VE REVIEWED OUR APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND MADE INTERNAL CHANGES TO BETTER STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR THE PUBLIC, SUCH AS NO LONGER REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC WORKS ASSURANCE INFRASTRUCTURE FORM.
WE RESTRUCTURED OUR DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THE BUILDING PLAN REVIEWERS COULD BETTER FOCUS ON BUILDING PERMITS.
THIS WAS VERY CRITICAL FOR US.
WE CREATED A NEW PERMIT NAVIGATOR POSITION TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS AND PLAN REVIEWERS IN COMMUNICATING ABOUT PERMITS.
WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING TO ATTRACT REVIEWERS AND INSPECTORS WITH MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION DISCIPLINES BY PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYEES WITH CERTIFICATION, MAKING OUR STAFF MORE EFFICIENT.
WE ALSO CREATED A NEW LANDING PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT PERMITS, ALONG WITH AN ONLINE PERMIT PORTAL INTERFACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO MORE EASILY SUBMIT AND TRACK THEIR APPLICATIONS.
THE NEW INTERFACE BREAKS DOWN THE APPLICATION ITSELF INTO EASY-TO-FOLLOW SECTIONS AND SHOWS THE USER WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING AN APPLICATION IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING AN AT-A-GLAND STATUS OF ALL APPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USER ACCOUNT.
OUR BUILDING PERMIT DEPARTMENT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MORE ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO THE PUBLIC ON NAVIGATING THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK AS A RESULT OF ALL THESE EFFORTS,
[00:20:02]
AS WELL AS A STEADY IMPROVEMENT IN THE TIME IT TAKES FOR US TO ISSUE A PERMIT.ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO APPLAUD THE WORK OF OUR BUILDING PERMITS DEPARTMENT FOR OUR RECENT WIN IN IMPROVING OUR BUILDING CODE EFFECTIVENESS GRADING SCHEDULE SCORE.
WE SUBMIT INFORMATION TO THE PROPERTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA, WHO AWARDS THE PARISH A SCORE AFTER EVALUATING THE BUILDING CODES ADOPTED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ENFORCEMENT OF THESE CODES, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO MITIGATE LOSSES FROM NATURAL HAZARDS.
EFFECTIVE BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT SHOULD RESULT IN SAFER BUILDINGS, LESS DAMAGE, AND LOWER INSURER COSTS FROM CATASTROPHES.
IN 2021, UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON WAS A CLASS 5 RESIDENTIAL, CLASS 5 COMMERCIAL.
IN AUGUST 2024, WE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT WE ARE NOW A CLASS 3 RESIDENTIAL AND CLASS 4 COMMERCIAL, BOTH BETTER RATINGS.
THESE WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR ALL PERMITS ISSUED A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ON OR AFTER JANUARY 21ST, 2025.
INSURERS CAN USE THIS CLASSIFICATION FOR INSURANCE RATING AND UNDERWRITING PURPOSES, GENERALLY OFFERING LOWER PREMIUMS IN AREAS WITH BETTER PROTECTION.
THEREFORE, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS BETTER RATING WILL HELP LOWER INSURANCE COSTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL. THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK.
ALL THOSE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PROBABLY HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS.
THEN, AGAIN, ON ITEM 19 ON TODAY'S AGENDA, AMENDS CHAPTER 8, THE BUILDING CODE REGARDING PARISH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THIRD-PARTY INSPECTORS, INCLUDING STRENGTHENING THE ABILITY FOR THE PARISH TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE THE THIRD-PARTY REGISTRATIONS OF INSPECTORS WHO ARE NOT GOOD ACTORS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW REQUIRE ALL INSPECTORS, BOTH PARISH INSPECTORS AND THIRD-PARTY INSPECTORS TO DOCUMENT ON-SITE INSPECTIONS THROUGH THEIR USE OF GEOTECH PHOTOS.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ITEM NUMBER 19. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. ANYBODY WITH COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THE PARISH PRESIDENT? THANK YOU.
NOW, WE DO HAVE AN ITEM TO GET TO, WHERE WE'LL SELECT A NEW COUNCIL PERSON FOR DISTRICT 1.
WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT RIGHT AFTER THIS PUBLIC COMMENT WHEN WE OPEN THAT ITEM, SO IF YOU ARE HERE TO COMMENT ON THAT, JUST WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THE NEXT ITEM.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE NORMAL SPOT ON THE AGENDA WHERE YOU CAN APPEAR BEFORE
[PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION(S) ON AGENDA/ADDENDUM AGENDA]
THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA.YOU MUST FILL OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD AT THE BACK OF CHAMBERS AND HAND IT UP TO THE CLERK IN FRONT.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, SO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA MAY DO SO NOW.
[NOISE] SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] SPARKED A LITTLE CURIOSITY IN THE WAY WE GO AND TRUST ME, I WISH THEY COULD.
I'M REALLY HOPING TO NOT BE HERE FOR A GOOD LITTLE BIT, LET YOU WONDER WHETHER OR NOT IF YOU'D PUT A STOP SIGN ON HOME YEARS AGO, YOU MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED ME.
I CARED ABOUT THE CHARTER, I CARE ABOUT THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, NOT THE INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM I SUFFER FOR HOLDING IT, AND IN HERE, WE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF THAT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THAT, ESPECIALLY THE LIBRARY MILLAGE.
[NOISE] REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES SHALL BE APPORTIONED AMONG THE SEVERAL PARTS OF THE PARISH, ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE NUMBERS.
WE DON'T HAVE AN APPORTIONED BODY, SO I CAN RISE UP AND OBJECT TO ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU DO IN HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO READ ANY RESOLUTIONS, I DON'T WANT TO READ THESE ORDINANCES BECAUSE IF I DO, I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE UP MORE TIME.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY WANTS THESE PROCEEDINGS TO BE CARRIED ON LONGER THAN THEY ALREADY ARE.
WHAT AMOUNTS TO ESSENTIALLY A DRINKING GAME WHERE IT'S SECONDED BY SO AND SO, HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, DONE, AND WE ALL STAGGER OUT OF THE ROOM.
[NOISE] NUMBER 11 ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA IS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION.
WE'VE ALL BEEN MADE FAMILIAR WITH THE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION BECAUSE OF THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL'S ISSUE, WHICH SUFFERS TO A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION.
TRUST ME, IF THE GOVERNMENT'S DOING ANYTHING, WHATEVER IT NAMES ITSELF, IT'S PROBABLY DOING THE OPPOSITE.
NOW, THE PEOPLE THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN CHARGE OF ONE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION OR THE NEXT, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO LOOK THEM UP AND FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE LEGIT, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE RAIDING THE KITTY.
ALL OF THIS MONEY STEMS FROM POOR ASSISTANCE MONEY, AND CARES ACT MONEY.
Y'ALL TOOK ALL THIS MONEY AND PUT IT INTO YOUR LITTLE DISCRETIONARY FUND BUDGETS.
DOT AND I CROSS A T, AND EVERYTHING'S LEGAL AND LEGIT, BUT YOU'RE NOT AN APPORTIONED BODY, SO EVERYTHING ON THIS AGENDA IS SUSPECT.
I DOUBT IT. I THINK IT'S YOUR FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES BENEFIT CORPORATION FOR SURE.
WHEN AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL POINTS TO ONE OF THEM BUT CAN'T POINT TO ALL OF THEM, WE TAKE GREAT EXCEPTION WITH THAT, DON'T WE? I DO.
I DON'T NEED AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.
I NEED A REPRESENTATIVE BODY THAT WOULD PERFORM THIS FUNCTION THEMSELVES UPON THE ADMINISTRATION RATHER THAN BEING IN CAHOOTS.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF THESE THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT PERFECTLY, 102-111.
[00:25:01]
ANOTHER GRANTING OF AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WHERE IF WE DECLARE AN EMERGENCY, WE CAN NOW FILTER ALL OF OUR JUVENILE DETAINEES OUT TO CALCASIEU PARISH.GOOD LUCK IF YOU'RE A PARENT OF ONE OF THESE, THOSE DETAINEES TRYING TO SEE YOUR CHILD.
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR, THE SUPERSEDING COMMANDMENT.
WE BRING GOD INTO THIS CHAMBER.
NOW, WE GOT A CHANCE TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.
THEY'RE GOING TO THROW OUT ALL THE HOMELESS.
WE GOT A HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE, WE GOT ALL KINDS OF FEDERAL MONEY.
HOW ABOUT WE TEST OURSELVES AND SEE IF WE COULD TAKE IN THE HOMELESSNESS, THOSE WHO ARE BEING DISPATCHED FROM ORLEANS PARISH, TAKE THEM IN AND LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. SET UP A [OVERLAPPING]
>> FIGURE THIS OUT. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO EVEN BE HERE.
>> ANYONE ELSE? NOW, YOU MAY NOTICE THERE'S AN EMPTY CHAIR NEXT TO COUNCILMAN BONANO,
[PRESENTATIONS BY AND INTERVIEWS OF ALL QUALIFIED NOMINEES FOR THE VACANT OFFICE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS:]
WHERE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S BEEN NOMINATED TO FILL THE OPEN COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 SEAT, AND IT'S BEEN DETERMINED BY OUR PARISH ATTORNEY AND OUR CLERK THAT THE NOMINEE DOES INDEED MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS TO HOLD THE OFFICE IF SELECTED.WE'LL HAVE THE NOMINEE NOW COME UP AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS MR. JOE MARINO, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE UNFAMILIAR.
PLEASE JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO US, MR. MARINO, AND TALK ABOUT WHY YOU'RE QUALIFIED FOR THIS AND WHY YOU WANT THIS POSITION, AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
>> WHAT IF I SAY I'M NOT? [LAUGHTER]
>> THEN THE CHAIR WILL STAY EMPTY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M JOE MARINO.
FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO EVEN TEMPORARILY SIT IN THE SEAT OF MARION EDWARDS.
MARION EDWARDS IS SOMEBODY I TRULY ADMIRE.
HE IS THE DEFINITION OF A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT, AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE MARION EDWARDS, BUT IT'S AN HONOR FOR HIM TO CALL ME AND ASK ME IF I WOULD EVEN CONSIDER DOING THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
I KNOW MOST OF YOU PERSONALLY, BUT MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T, I'VE BEEN AN ATTORNEY SINCE 1992.
I HAVE A CRIMINAL DEFENSE PRACTICE.
I WAS A PUBLIC DEFENDER FIRST WHEN I FIRST CAME OUT OF LAW SCHOOL, AND THEN I WENT INTO SOLO PRACTICE.
I WAS A GRETNA CITY COUNCILMAN FOR THREE YEARS UNTIL THERE WAS AN OPENING IN BATON ROUGE AND THEY NEEDED SOMEONE TO STEP IN FOR THE STATE REP WHO WAS LEAVING.
I WAS GONE FOR SEVEN YEARS AND PRACTICED MAINLY IN BATON ROUGE, AND THAT WAS REALLY HARD ON MY PRACTICE AND ON MY FAMILY.
I'VE ALSO RECENTLY HAD THE HONOR OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT, ASKED ME TO SIT AS JUDGE IN DIVISION D FOR A VACANCY THERE FOR FOUR MONTHS.
BUT I'M A POLITICAL INDEPENDENT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY DESIRE TO BE INVOLVED IN PARTIES, NEVER HAVE, AND I DON'T INTEND TO.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT, NOT AS A CAREER, BUT JUST AS SOMETHING I'M WANTING TO DO BECAUSE I LIKE BEING INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY.
I AM A LIFELONG WEST BANK RESIDENT.
I'VE LIVED IN TERRY TOWN, BELLE MEADE, HARVEY, GRETNA, OLD GRETNA, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN GRETNA, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, IF I DO GET ENOUGH VOTES, BEING THE INTERIM COUNCILMAN TODAY.
>> WHEN WE WERE KIDS, EVERYBODY WANTED TO PLAY ALL-TIME QUARTERBACK.
WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING IN THE STREET, YOU'RE SLOWLY PROGRESSING TOWARDS ALL-TIME FILL-IN FOR VARIOUS POSITIONS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MARINO? COUNCILMAN BONANO.
>> MR. MARINO, EXCUSE ME, KNOWN YOU FOR A LONG TIME.
I CAN ONLY FIND ONE FAULT, AND THAT'S YOUR LAWYER. JUST KIDDING.
[LAUGHTER] JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING TO TAKE THIS POSITION.
AS YOU MENTIONED, COUNCILMAN EDWARDS, AS YOU NOTICE, WE'VE LEFT HIS NAME PLACARD THERE TODAY AND HONOR HIM.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WELL DESERVED.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT YOU AND I HAD LUNCH YESTERDAY WITH ALL THE JUDGES FROM THE 24TH AND 5TH DISTRICT, AND EACH OF THEM SUBMITTED A LIST OF QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO ASK YOU.
>> MY PREVIOUS LIFE, DID THEY GIVE YOU ANYTHING?
>> I'M JUST KIDDING YOU. NO, I WANT TO SAY THAT LOOKING AT YOUR RESUME, I CAN'T FIND A PERSON WHO'D BE MORE QUALIFIED TO FILL THIS SEAT ON AN INTERIM BASIS, AND SO YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
>> I'LL JUST SAY I KNOW WE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK AS WELL.
WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME.
I LOVE YOUR INDEPENDENT STREAK, AND YOU'RE NEVER HESITANT TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOMETHING.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD ADDITION TO OUR COUNCIL, SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
>> EITHER ON THE OTHER END, EITHER OF YOU?
>> I DON'T THINK HE WANTS ME TO SPEAK.
I KNOW HIM TOO WELL. [LAUGHTER]
[00:30:01]
>> COUNCILMAN BONANO, GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE.
>> NO, I'M EXCITED TO GET TO WORK WITH YOU.
ONE OF MY DEAR FRIENDS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU FOR MANY YEARS, AND SO I HAD A LOT OF JEALOUSY, SO NOW I GET MY OPPORTUNITY, AND I CAN BRAG ABOUT IT, SO I'M EXCITED. WELCOME TO THE TEAM.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO PASS ON THIS OPPORTUNITY, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> I'M GOING TO GET THE HONOR OF SWEARING YOU IN.
I'LL RESERVE MY REMARKS UNTIL.
>> I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS ANYBODY ELSE THAT COULD DO IT, AND HE SAID DEFINITELY.
>> IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OR ASK QUESTIONS TO COUNCILMAN MARINO? EXCUSE ME, MR. MARINO. JUMPING THE GUN.
>> WELL, IN THAT CASE, IF THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT, WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND TAKE ITEM NUMBER 65 OUT OF ORDER.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO SUSPENDING THE RULES TAKE 65 OUT OF ORDER? DO THIS NOW.
HEARING NONE, SO WE'LL TAKE 65 OUT OF ORDER, AND MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM 65.
>> A RESOLUTION APPOINTING TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT 1 TO SERVE IN AND SET OFFICE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE OFFICE IS FILLED BY THE VOTE OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE PERSON ELECTED ASSUMES OFFICE.
>> THIS MUST BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE, SO START WHERE YOU START, MADAM CLERK.
>> I JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO CALL FOR HIM.
>> FOR SOMEONE TO CALL FOR HIM TO FILL IT MAYBE.
>> I'VE BEEN WAITING THIS FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]
>> I'M GOING TO SAY THAT I'M NOW UNDEFEATED IN UNCONTESTED ELECTION.
>> FOR THE RECORD, ANYBODY WHO MAY NOT KNOW, THE INTERIM COUNCILMAN CANNOT RUN FOR THE SEAT ON A PERMANENT BASIS, SO THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION COMING UP IN MARCH.
IF THAT DOESN'T GO TO A RUNOFF, THEN YOU MAY BE THE SHORTEST SERVING INTERIM COUNCILMAN IN JEFFERSON PARISH HISTORY AS WELL.
CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE ON THAT.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, LET'S DO THE SWEARING IN NOW, AND THEN MR. MARINO WILL BE READY TO GO WHEN THE TIME COMES.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE THIS ONCE OR TWICE.
>> CHAIRMAN WALKER, JUST FOR THE AUDIENCE'S KNOWLEDGE, MR. MARINO CANNOT SIT TODAY BECAUSE THE STATE HAS TO CERTIFY HIS APPOINTMENT, SO HE WON'T BE SITTING TODAY FOR THAT REASON.
>> MR. MARINO, IT IS MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO SWEAR YOU IN.
WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME.
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT REMEMBER THIS.
I WAS IN YOUR OFFICE IN PROBABLY 1990, SOMETHING, LATE '90S.
I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME YOU RAN FOR OFFICE FOR JUDGE.
>> IT HAPPENED TO ME, TOO, MAN. IT'S OKAY.[LAUGHTER] BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE UNDEFEATED IN THE UNCONTESTED ELECTION.
CONGRATULATIONS. I DO LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU.
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I, STATE YOUR NAME.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.
>> AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.
>> AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY.
>> I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY.
>> ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME.
>> ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME.
>> ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
>> ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
>> IN TIME FOR OUR FEBRUARY 5TH MEETING, INTERIM COUNCILMAN MARINO WILL BE CERTIFIED, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SIT IN THAT CHAIR ON AN INTERIM BASIS.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. MARINO, AND WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO SUSPENDING THE RULES TO TAKE ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM 14 OUT OF ORDER ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM 14.
>> EXCUSE ME. I BELIEVE IT'S ITEM 13.
[00:35:03]
>> WHICH ONE ARE YOU TRYING TO GET TO, THE HOMELESS?
>> THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT?
>> NO, THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE 95.
>> FOURTEEN IS THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN JEFFERSON PARISH AND HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY.
>> NOT ON MY AGENDA. IT'S NOT 14 ON THE ADDENDUM.
>> FOURTEEN ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM 14.
[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS (Part 1 of 2)]
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A HOMELESS SERVICE CENTER AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $500,000.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT ABOUT THIS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THE ITEM WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS OUR FIRST STEP TOWARDS ADDRESSING OUR HOMELESS PROBLEM IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
IT'S NOT A FINAL SOLUTION, BUT IT WILL ALLOW US TO USE THIS INFORMATION WE GATHER IN THIS PROCESS, DEVELOP OUR STEPS GOING FORWARD.
CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY OF OUR CITIZENS THINK, WE JUST CAN'T BUR OUR HEADS IN THE SAND AND HOPE THAT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM JUST GOES AWAY, NOR CAN WE ARREST ALL THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED TO ME AS WELL.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE MENTALLY ILL OR DICK THAT ARE BOTH.
YET, MANY OF THEM HAVE COMMITTED PETTY CRIMES, BUT NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE PUT IN JAIL FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
THEY WILL BE BACK OUT ON THE STREETS IN A MATTER OF HOURS.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO MENTION TO YOU THAT IN THE LAST YEAR, I'VE DEALT WITH TWO DIFFERENT HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THAT REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART THAT I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS.
I WAS CONTACTED NOT BY THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, BUT BY CITIZENS WHO HAD COME AND CONTACT THE INDIVIDUAL.
THE FIRST ONE WAS A 28-YEAR-OLD WOMAN SUFFERING FROM STAGE 4 CANCER.
SHE COULDN'T WORK. SHE COULDN'T PAY HER BILLS.
SHE HAD NO FAMILY HERE, NO HELP.
SHE WAS LIVING ON THE STREETS OR GETTING TREATING FOR STAGE 4 CANCER.
THAT'S A REALITY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
FORTUNATELY, WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND OUR PARTNER AGENCIES WERE ABLE TO FIND HER HOUSING IN A HOTEL WHERE SHE STAYED UNTIL SHE ABLE TO TRANSITION TO MORE PERMANENT HOUSING.
THE SECOND PERSON WAS AN ARMY VETERAN.
THIS INDIVIDUAL FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY.
HE SPENT TWO TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ.
LOOK, I'M A FIRST SPOT, I'VE BEEN A FIREFIGHTER AND A POLICEMAN.
BUT THE HORRIBLE THINGS I SAW PALE IN COMPARISON TO WHAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WENT THROUGH.
THE TERRORIST STRAPPING BOMBS ON PREGNANT WOMEN AND TRYING TO BLOW YOU UP.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU LIVE A NORMAL LIFE AT THAT.
THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS ON OUR STREET SUFFERING WITH EXTREME PTSD.
THAT'S A REALITY WE LIVE WITH.
THIS PERSON FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY, PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE FOR OUR COUNTRY, BUT YET WE TURNED OUR BACK ON HIM.
THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED OUR HELP, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS.
I HAVE TO BE CLEAR IN A COUPLE OF POINTS.
FIRST, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT NONE OF THESE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING TODAY CAN BE SPENT ON DRAINAGE, INFRASTRUCTURE, OTHER BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO SAY, WHY ARE YOU SPENDING US ON A HOMELESS? WHY AREN'T YOU FIXING OUR STREETS? THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING DOWN FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF THE OPIOID LAWSUITS.
THE SETTLEMENT REQUIRES US TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON TREATING ADDICTION AND THE RESULTS OF ADDICTION, IED, HOMELESSNESS, JOBLESSNESS, ETC.
THE SECOND THING IS, WE ARE GOING TO USE THESE DOLLARS TO ESTABLISH A HOMELESS SERVICE CENTER, NOT A SHELTER.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY AND ALL OF OUR NON-PROFITS AND THE RELIGIOUS GROUPS THAT DEAL WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE GOAL IS TO CREATE ONE POINT OF CONTACT, ONE POINT OF COORDINATION FOR ALL THE HOMELESS SERVICE CENTERS, ALL THE HOMELESS SERVICES IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WHICH IS GOING TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO MARRY THAT INDIVIDUAL TO A GROUP THAT SPECIALIZES IN THEIR CONDITION, WHETHER IT'S ADDICTION, PTSD.
EACH OF THESE NON-PROFITS AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS DEAL WITH A DIFFERENT SEGMENT OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
THAT'S WHY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS.
THIS SERVICE CENTER WILL NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
IT'S AN EXISTING FACILITY THAT PROVIDES THESE SERVICES TODAY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
NOBODY EVEN KNOWS THEY'RE THERE. I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE THERE.
YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE JUST TO WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THESE DOLLARS TO BRING IN MORE SOCIAL WORKERS, MORE COUNSELORS, BY TRANSPORTATION VANS, ETC.
THEY HAVE TO BE VETTED BY ONE OF THESE SOCIAL WORKERS IN ORDER TO GET OUR PROGRAM.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY HAVE TO AGREE TO BE TREATED.
THEY JUST CAN'T GO THERE AND SAY, HEY, I'M JUST HERE.
I WANT TO WASH MY CLOTHS, TAKE A SHOWER.
NO. YOU HAVE TO AGREE TO GET HELP TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THIS PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS.
HOPEFULLY, THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BACK TO BEING A NORMAL FUNCTIONING MEMBER OF SOCIETY. I'D LIKE TO INVITE.
DR. SUSAN CICERO AND OUR OWN SARAH BABCOCK UP TO THE MICROPHONE FOR A MINUTE.
[00:40:06]
ALSO, ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE COMING DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT ARE EARMARKED FOR TREATING THE HOMELESS.THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO US, TOO.
WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IS THE RESULT OF MANY MEETINGS WITH THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE WE CREATED LAST YEAR, AND I WANT TO THANK EACH OF THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE MEMBERS FOR ALL OF THAT TIME THEY SPENT THROUGH THESE NUMEROUS MEETINGS.
BUT I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK SARAH AND DR. CICERO FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT.
WE WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE TODAY WITHOUT THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
THESE LADIES SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS THROUGH THE LAST YEAR, AND IT'S THROUGH THEIR WORK THAT WE'RE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
I WANT TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO DR. CICERO AND SARAH BABCOCK TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK THEM ANY QUESTIONS AS THEY SHOULD HAVE ANY.
>> THANK YOU. AS HE MENTIONED, THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS, LOOKED AT OUR CURRENT HOMELESS POPULATION, LOOKED AT OUR DATA, HEARD FROM A LOT OF EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEN WE ALSO LOOKED AT NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TRIED TO DETERMINE WHICH SOLUTIONS WE FELT WOULD FIT OUR COMMUNITY BEST.
THE INITIAL START OF THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE, AS THE COUNCILMEMBER MENTIONED, A HOMELESS SERVICE CENTER THAT'S OPEN DAYTIME HOURS TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM A FEW OTHER SOURCES THAT WILL LEAD TO MORE OUTREACH WORKERS, MORE CASE MANAGERS, LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT, AND WHAT WE ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS A CENTRALIZED ONE PHONE NUMBER ONE INTAKE PROCESS.
EVERY DAY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR OFFICE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, JPHSA, WE GET CALLS ACROSS THE BOARD.
THERE'S A HOMELESS PERSON ON THE STREET CORNER.
I'M LOOKING FOR SERVICES FOR MYSELF, FOR A FAMILY MEMBER, FOR A FRIEND.
THERE'LL NOW BE ONE CENTRALIZED PHONE NUMBER FOR ONE INTAKE, AND THAT WAY, WE CAN BETTER COLLECT THE DATA, AND WE CAN BETTER CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE CORRECT SERVICE THAT THEY NEED IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
WHILE WE LAUNCH THIS PART OF THE PROJECT OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW TO IMPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOING FORWARD.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER BIG PICTURE THINGS THE PARISH NEEDS TO DO TO REALLY ADDRESS PERMANENT HOUSING AND TO MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY? YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE HOMELESS SERVICE CENTER?
>> NOW, AS SARAH STATED, THE HOMELESS SERVICE CENTER WILL BE A LOCATION THAT A VARIETY OF SERVICES ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN.
COUNCILMAN BONANO TOUCHED UPON SOME OF THOSE SERVICES.
IT'LL BE A PLACE FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND GET THE BASICS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
FOR EXAMPLE, I NEED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH MY CASE MANAGER.
I NEED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH MY SOCIAL WORKER SO I CAN GET MY MEDICATIONS SO THAT I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO GO FOR A JOB INTERVIEW AND GET A JOB.
I NEED TO BE ABLE TO WASH MY CLOTHES.
I NEED TO BE ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO COOK FOR MYSELF.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE IN THIS ONE LOCATION.
IT'S BASICALLY LIKE A LIFE SKILLS CENTER.
THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BE BACK IN SOCIETY.
THINGS LIKE HOW DO I ACCESS SERVICES, SO I CAN PROVE WHO I AM? YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ADDRESS TO BE ABLE TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
YOU NEED A DRIVER'S LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO GET A JOB.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS, YOU CAN'T GET IT.
IT'S THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG THING.
HAVING PEOPLE THERE TO DO THAT SO THAT ALL THE PIECES AND PLACES CAN FALL IN LINE.
WE NEED A MULTIFACETED SOLUTION THAT WILL TACKLE IT FROM BEGINNING TO END, AND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME IN THERE, AND IF THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS, WE CAN PICK UP THERE.
IF THEY NEED TO START AT THE BEGINNING WITH A DRIVER'S LICENSE, WE START THERE, CONNECTING THEM WITH PEOPLE ALL IN ONE PLACE, SO THAT MY FOLKS THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREETS DOING HOMELESS OUTREACH EVERY DAY, KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND ARE ABLE TO CAPTURE THEM.
LIKE COUNCILMAN BONANO SAID, IT'S AN EXISTING LOCATION.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
MY AGENCY HAS WORKED WITH THEM FOR PROBABLY CLOSE TO THOSE 20 YEARS.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ENTRUSTING MYSELF AND MY AGENCY TO CARRY THIS OUT.
WE WILL DO THIS WITH THE ZEST AND ENTHUSIASM THAT WE DO EVERYTHING ELSE WITH OUR SERVICES BECAUSE THE TRUST OF THE COUNCIL AND MADAM PRESIDENT AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY MEANS A LOT TO US. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THIS AND INSIDE WITH ALL OF OUR OFFICES AND THE MEETINGS THAT YOU'VE HAD.
I KNOW A LOT HAS GONE INTO THIS AND APPRECIATE THE WORK COUNCILMAN BONANO HAS DONE ON THIS AS WELL.
FOR CONTEXT, WHAT IS OUR CURRENT HOMELESS POPULATION IN JEFFERSON PARISH ROUGHLY?
[00:45:04]
>> THE NUMBERS WISE, YOU MEAN?
>> APPROXIMATELY 300 INDIVIDUALS.
>> THAT'S BEEN EXACERBATED SINCE COVID.
IT WAS A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER PRE-COVID, CORRECT?
>> YES. IT TRIPLED SINCE COVID.
AND RIGHT AFTER WHEN WE WERE SOMEWHAT BACK TO NORMAL, IT WAS EVEN HIGHER WAS PROBABLY CLOSER TO 400.
BUT MY AGENCY USED A LOT OF OUR MILLAGE FUNDING TO INCREASE HOMELESS OUTREACH SO THAT WE HAD MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY, BEING ABLE TO TAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS AND GO WITHIN A DAY OR TWO, MINUS, OF COURSE, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO GET FOLKS OFF THE STREETS FOR THE FREEZE OR FOR A HURRICANE.
BUT OUR FOLKS RESPOND QUICKLY, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
THEY TRY TO GET FOLKS OFF THE STREETS IN SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. THE NUMBERS GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT CHANGES EVERY DAY, AND WE GET NEWLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY.
IT'S NOT THE SAME PEOPLE ALL DAY EVERY DAY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A PORTION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN HOMELESS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WE GET A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NEW TO US.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR ABOUT ON A DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY BASIS.
WE GET EMAILS. WE GET PHONE CALLS IN OUR OFFICES ALL THE TIME.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT WHILE IT'S NOT A PROBLEM LIKE SOME NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES HAVE WITH THEIR HOMELESS POPULATION, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS GROWN IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND.
IT'S A PROBLEM WE NEED TO ADDRESS, AND IT'S ONE THAT WE'RE TACKLING HEAD ON.
A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTION, WHAT'S THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE DOING CAUSE WE STARTED THAT WHAT MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHY AREN'T WE SEEING ANY RESULTS? WE GO TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS. WHY HASN'T THIS HAPPENED? WHY HASN'T THAT HAPPENED? NUMBER 1, IT'S GOVERNMENT.
NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS SUPER FAST.
NUMBER 2, THE WORK IS HAPPENING, AS IS EVIDENCED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY, AND IT JUST TAKES TIME TO FLESH EVERYTHING OUT AND DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.
I HOPE THIS REASSURES PEOPLE WHO ARE UNSURE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A PARISH TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND GIVES THEM A COMFORT LEVEL TO KNOW THAT THINGS ARE BEING DONE.
WE'RE MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
>> WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE AND NOT WAIT UNTIL IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET AHEAD OF IT.
>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. I THOUGHT YOU'RE DONE, I'M SORRY.
>> AGAIN, NO, I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU, BECAUSE JPHSA IS ABOUT THE MOST BELOW THE RADAR ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THIS ON IN COORDINATION WITH THE PARISH AND KUDOS TO COUNCILMAN BONANO AND HIS HOMELESS TASK FORCE, WHO I KNOW, PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO WHAT APPROACH WOULD BE THE BEST FIT FOR JEFFERSON PARISH, AND I REALLY DO THINK THIS IS A GOOD ONE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS.
I RECENTLY HAD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WITH A MAJOR ISSUE, AND MS. BABCOCK WAS THERE.
SHE WAS THERE WITH ME AND TRYING TO HELP YOU KNOW I WAS A GREAT REMINDER THAT MANY OF US ARE JUST ONE TINY MISTAKE AWAY FROM BEING ON THE STREETS, AND YOU SAVED A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT WEEKEND, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR COMPASSION.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEAD.
YOU GUYS SET TO DO THIS WITH YOUR CAREERS. YOU LOVE IT.
BUT FOR COUNCILMAN BONANO TO STEP IN AND I DON'T KNOW, THANK YOU FOR DRIVING THIS TRAIN.
YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. IT'S AN INNOVATIVE CREATIVE SOLUTION.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT BE A SUCCESS.
>> COUNCILMAN BONANO HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.
NOW WE'RE LIFELONG FRIENDS. [LAUGHTER]
>> I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU LADIES AND THE WHOLE TASK FORCE.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP.
AS YOU KNOW, THE FIRST OPIOID LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED, AND WE WILL HAVE FUNDING FROM IT FOR THE NEXT 18 YEARS.
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL LAWSUITS TO BE SETTLED, OPIOID LAWSUITS.
WE HOPE TO USE THESE DOLLARS IN THE FUTURE TO RAMP UP THIS EFFORT, TO DO EVEN MORE TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR MOTION ON THIS.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING COUNCILMAN, I'M SORRY.
>> WELL, I LIKE TO THANK YOU AGAIN, DEANO, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR STEAD FASTNESS WITH THIS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
WHAT YOU ALL HAVE NOT MENTIONED WITH SOME OF THE PROCESSES THAT YOU ALL WILL USE TO GET SOME OF THE PEOPLE OR CONVINCE SOME OF THE PEOPLE TO MOVE FROM THE STREETS.
YOU ALL WILL HAVE VANS, I BELIEVE.
>> WE'LL HAVE SOME VANS AND THEN MY EXISTING HOMELESS OUTREACH STAFF THAT ARE WONDERFUL AND DEDICATED THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREETS, AS WE SPEAK, THEY KNOW JUST ABOUT EVERY HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL IN THE PARISH, AND SO THEY'LL START WORKING ON THAT AS SOON AS WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IN PERSON, WHERE THEY ARE MEETING THESE INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY'RE AT.
>> WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION HAVE MENTAL ISSUES, AND I KNOW THAT WE WON'T CONVINCE EVERYONE TO COME OFF THE STREETS.
BUT THE MERE FACT THAT WE'RE DOING THIS,
[00:50:01]
AND WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR A GREATER UNDERSTANDING NOT ONLY FROM FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE STREETS.FOR THOSE WHO HAVE I'VE SEEN HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE DOGS.
WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE PROTOCOL FOR THAT?
THEY'LL BE NO SEPARATION ANXIETY.
>> BUT THAT'S A HUGE THING, COUNCILMAN.
>> YEAH, FROM THEIR COMFORT, AND THAT INCLUDES THEIR PETS.
CURRENTLY, DURING FREEZE TIMES AND HURRICANE TIMES, WHEN WE ROUND UP EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO COME OFF THE STREETS AND GET A HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT DURING FREEZE TIME, DURING HURRICANES TIME.
THAT'S PART OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE PLACES THAT WE USE.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BRING YOUR PETS.
I DON'T WANT TO PART WITH MINE. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARINO, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
[ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED]
HAVE A NOTE THAT ITEMS 2 AND 3 WILL BE DEFERRED TO FEBRUARY 26TH, OUR NEXT WEST BANK MEETING.COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF 2 AND 3.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEMS 2 AND 3 TO 2/26/'25 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]
>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING PERMITS TO PROVIDE THIRD PARTY INSPECTION SERVICES ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS UNDER RFP NUMBER 0492.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR SELECTION?
>> THE HIGHEST SCORED AND ONLY QUALIFIED RESPONDER IS SAFE BUILT LOUISIANA.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF SAFE BUILT LOUISIANA ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE AND SO ORDERED, ITEM 5.
>> A RESOLUTION SELECTED TO PROVIDE IN PERSON HOME INCARCERATION, MONITORING, AND TRACKING SERVICES TO AT RISK JUVENILES WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM DETENTION AND REQUIRED TRACKING AND MONITORING TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR CONDITION OF RELEASE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES UNDER RFP NUMBER 0491.
>> SELECTING SPARTAN SECURITY, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST SCORED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF SPARTAN SECURITY ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS TO GET TO AT NOON.
WE'LL COME BACK TO 6, 7, 8, AND 9.
IT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 10, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.
[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26450, RESUB OF LOTS 26, 27, 28, AND 29 SQUARE 82 SOUTH NEW ORLEANS SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 26A AND 28A SQUARE 82 WS-41-24 COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM, AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26450.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE OPPOSED. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26450 AND MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM NUMBER 11.
WE'RE GOING TO DEFER TO FEBRUARY 26TH.
THE COUNCILMAN LEE YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 11?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 11 TO FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 12.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING - AND LAND USE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ORDINANCES]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26452, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF JEFFERSON PARISH, PART OF LOTS 11 AND 12, PART OF PROPOSED LOT 11-A SQUARE B, J ZINGER SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 547 BARATARIA BOULEVARD, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM C2CPZ GENERAL COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE DISTRICT TO R1A, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, WZ-22-24, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
>> I'LL WAIVE THE READING HERE AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26452.
I'M CHRISTINE JUSTICE, 414 AVENUE L MARRERO, LOUISIANA.
I'M THE APPLICANT ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER IN LAW.
HE HAS THE PROPERTY ON AVENUE G, AND WE ARE IN FAVOR.
THERE ARE OTHER INDIVIDUALS HERE IN FAVOR AS WELL.
>> BRUCE JUSTICE, I OWN 534 AVENUE G AND PART OWNER OF 547 BARATARIA BOULEVARD.
I JUST ASKED THAT IT BE APPROVED.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT TWO SPOKE IN FAVOR.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
NONE OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN BONANO.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26452 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 13.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - AMEND 3813/TEXT CHANGE]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26453, AMENDING CHAPTER 33 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON,
[00:55:02]
SECTION 33-3, 45.4 AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS AS WELL.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26453. THOSE IN FAVOR.
COME FORWARD, PLEASE. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION. IN FAVOR?
>> YES. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JEFF KEEVER WITH AVONDALE GLOBAL GATEWAY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION IN ORDER TO MAKE THE AVONDALE GLOBAL GATEWAY SITE ONE CONTIGUOUS, LARGE INDUSTRIAL FACILITY TO BE PROPERLY DEVELOPED WITH TENANTS, AND THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT IN A MORE EXPEDITIOUS AND DIRECT MANNER AS WE GO FORWARD.
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, JERRY BOLOGNA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF JEDCO.
I DID WANT TO JUST RISE BRIEFLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BECAUSE THIS MEASURE REALLY TREATS THIS PROPERTY AS WE ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED IT WHEN THE SHIPYARD CLOSED.
THAT IS TO TREAT THIS AS ONE FULL DEVELOPMENT SITE.
IT'S GOING TO GIVE US THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY TO ATTRACT LARGE INVESTORS AND EMPLOYEE CREATORS.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE ELSE IN FAVOR.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT TWO APPEARED IN FAVOR, ANY ONE OPPOSITION.
NONE OPPOSED. COUNCILMAN BONANO?
>> COMPEL, JUST TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THAT THERE'S A DOUBLE DENIAL ON THIS.
BUT THAT IS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES IN GOVERNMENT, WE WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING IN BLACK AND WHITE, BUT NOTHING IN GOVERNMENT IS BLACK AND WHITE.
THERE ARE OFTENTIMES GRAY AREAS, AND WE ALWAYS WANT THE LITTLE THINGS TO FIT IN THEIR NEAT LITTLE BOXES, BUT THIS ONE DOESN'T.
AVONDALE ITSELF IS ITS OWN INDUSTRIAL ZONING BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUENESS OF IT.
THE REASON WHY IT'S A DOUBLE.AISLE IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A CURRENT RULE THAT YOU CANNOT BUILD OR RENOVATE A BUILDING THAT CROSSES TWO LOT LINES.
WELL, AVONDALE WAS BUILT A LONG TIME AGO, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS BUILDINGS ON THE SITE THAT CROSS LOT LINES, AND THE LOTS AREN'T ALL OWNED BY AVONDALE.
ONE MAYBE OWNED BY AVONDALE AND LEASED BY AVONDALE.
I'VE SAT IN MANY MEETINGS WITH HOST NOW AVONDALE GLOBAL GATEWAY WITH POTENTIAL TENANTS, WHERE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
IT'S A ROADBLOCK FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AT A SITE.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THAT WE TAKE THIS NEW CONDITION AND ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN THERE IN ORDER FOR AVONDALE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'S WHY IT HAS ITS OWN ZONING IS BECAUSE IT IS UNIQUE.
IT IS FOR THAT REASON, AND FOR THE FUTURE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PARISH, THAT I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26453, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HERE NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 14.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - VARIANCES]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26454, APPROVING SP-56-24, REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS OF THE C-2CBZ, GENERAL COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE FOR A SEVEN BREW COFFEE LOCATED AT 1645 BARATARIA BOULEVARD ON LOT 4E BELL PLANTATION SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26454.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS RUSSELL BEDFORD.
I'M THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THIS AREA OF SEVEN COFFEE.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS VARIANCE.
THE INTENTION OF THE ORDINANCE IS TO KEEP THE SITE LOOKING BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S FOR A FLOWER BED UNDERNEATH OUR MENU BOARDS.
OUR MENU BOARDS ARE COMPLETELY COVERED FROM THE SUNLIGHT, AND SO ANY FLOWER BEDS THAT WOULD BE PUT UNDER THERE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO NO SUNLIGHT, AND WHICH WOULD CAUSE DEAD PLANTS AND BE AGAINST THE IDEA OF THE ORDINANCE.
KEEP THE SITE LOOKING PREY. JUST SUPPORTING MY FAVOR FOR THIS ONE.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLINTON OF THE ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR.
COUNCILMAN BONANO. MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26454, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
NUMBER 15 WILL BE DEFERRED TO FEBRUARY 26TH, COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF 15.
COUNCILMAN LEE? YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF 15?
>> [LAUGHTER] ALWAYS BLAME IT ON DEANO. ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 15 TO FEBRUARY 26TH, ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26456, APPROVING SP-73-24, A REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE PARKING REGULATIONS OF THE OFFSET OFF STREET PARKING LOADING AND
[01:00:01]
CLEAR VISION AREA REGULATIONS FOR WOODMERE PLAYGROUND LOCATED AT 4,100 GLEN MERE DRIVE, ON LOT 113-WP-DEST HANDS DIVISION SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26456.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE.
>> ANY OBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF 26456 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 17.
[OTHER PROPERTY MATTERS ORDINANCES]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26457, REVOKING AND DECLARING A PORTION OF LOT A1 SQUARE 13 PELICAN BASED SUBDIVISION, ADJACENT TO LOT 24 SQUARE 134905 AMES BOULEVARD MORO, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZING A SALE TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS FOR THE APPRAISED VALUE OF $7,600, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.
>> WE'RE NOW WITH A PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26457.
ANY ONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, GO TO NO ONE APPEARED, COUNCILMAN BONANO.
>> ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT 01 AND THE FORMER COUNSEL MARION EDWARDS, I MOVED FOR APPROVAL.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26457 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
NUMBER 18, WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.
[OTHER ORDINANCES]
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26443, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, ARTICLE 5, RELATIVE TO AMENDING SECTION 2-155.10 REGARDING APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY AND INVESTIGATIVE POWERS OF THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR?
>> YOU DO HAVE TO READ THEM. LET'S HEAR THE AMENDMENTS, MADAM CLERK, BEFORE I ASK IF THERE'S ANY OBJECTION.
>> IN SECTION H, WE'RE ADDING EMPLOYEES OF STATE GOVERNMENT, ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OR CHANGING TO READ EMPLOYEES OF AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND WHO ARE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED A CERTIFIED INSPECTOR GENERAL EVALUATOR, CIGE, A NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING RESTRICTION, AND INSPECTOR GENERAL, WHO IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF A STATE BAR AND WHO HOLDS TWO OR MORE RECOMMENDED CERTIFICATIONS, MAY OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AS A CERTIFIED INSPECTOR GENERAL WITHIN ONE YEAR OF APPOINTMENT.
REMOVING A FORMER OR CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS MAY NOT BE APPOINTED INSPECTOR GENERAL WITHIN FIVE YEARS, FOLLOWING THAT INDIVIDUAL'S PERIOD OF SERVICE.
AN INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM EMPLOYMENT IN PARISH OF GOVERNMENT FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, FOLLOWING THAT INDIVIDUAL'S PERIOD OF SERVICE IN THE OIG, BUT IS NOT PROHIBITED FROM RE-EMPLOYMENT IN THE OIG.
IN SECTION 9, REPORTING THE RESULTS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FINDINGS, IN SECTION B, ADDING INCLUDING EARLY COMMUNICATIONS OR LETTERS, ADD RECOMMENDATION IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUBSECTION C HERE IN.
IN SECTION C, REMOVED TO INCLUDE THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF ANY PARISH DEPARTMENT, AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, THE PARISH PRESIDENT, THE PARISH COUNCIL, OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OR PERSON IN CHARGE OF ANY PARISH DEPARTMENT.
SECTION D REMOVED THE WHOLE SECTION.
CHANGE SECTION E TO SECTION D, CHANGE SECTION F TO SECTION E. IN SECTION 11, AUTHORITY Z SHOULD READ, AN INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL REFRAIN FROM PUBLIC SPEECH THAT HAS SUBSTANTIALLY LIKELIHOOD OF MATERIALLY A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OR POTENTIAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL REFRAIN FROM PUBLICLY COMMENTING ON REPORTS, EARLY COMMUNICATION OR LETTERS PRIOR TO THEIR CONCLUSIONS THAT MAY COMMUNICATE STATUS AND ANTICIPATED DATE OF PUBLICATION, AND TO REMOVE ONE ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING RELATIVE TO MEDIA AND PUBLIC STATEMENT SECTION.
THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> NOW, ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR.
HEARING NONE, COUNCILMAN HAVE BEEN RANKING YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS, ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26443.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> MORNING MEMBERS. LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN, FOR YOUR DEFERRAL OF THIS ITEM FROM DECEMBER TO JANUARY, WE'RE IN A NEW YEAR, APPARENTLY, MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CHRISTMAS AND NOT JUST AT CHRISTMAS TIME.
MIRACLES WAS ACTUALLY A WORD OF SOMEBODY ELSE WHO LOOKED AT THE OLD AMENDMENTS, LOOKED AT THESE AND SAID, WHAT MIRACLE DID HAPPEN? I WOULD SAY THAT THE MIRACLE HAPPENED IN CONVERSATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS.
I GUESS, WITH THAT, MY OWN COMMITMENT NOT TO COMMENT OR COMMUNICATE FOR FIVE WEEKS, WHICH I KEPT.
I KEPT MY COMMITMENT TO REACH OUT,
[01:05:01]
AND THIS IS THE RESULT OF IT.I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARTICIPATION AND THE EFFORTS WHEN WE LAST MET IN DECEMBER.
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN IS COMMITTED TO HER CONVICTIONS, BUT SHE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG IS VERY TALENTED AT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND MOVING THINGS.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMAN DEANO BONANO, WHILE I DID NOT SEE HIM IN A ROOM.
I HEARD HIS VOICE, AS WELL AS I DID SEE COUNCILMAN WALKER, AND I'M SORRY FOR COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND COUNCILMAN LEE THAT I DID NOT GET TO SPEAK WITH YOU PERSONALLY ABOUT THIS.
WORDS HAVE MEANING. I JUST WANT TO CALL OUT THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY HAS BEEN CAST AS A WATERING DOWN OF WHAT WAS IN DECEMBER.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU AMENDMENTS.
I APPRECIATE YOU ADOPTING THOSE AMENDMENTS, WHICH YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IN MY MIND IS A CLARIFICATION OF THE ORDINANCE.
IT IS A REPAIR OF THE ORDINANCE, AND IT IS A STRENGTHENING OF THE ORDINANCE.
WHEN THIS OFFICE WAS STOOD UP, IT WAS STOOD UP ON MODEL LEGISLATION, AND WE HAVE HAD STRUGGLES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS TO HOLD ON TO THE PRINCIPLES THAT WERE FIRST SET OUT.
IT WAS HUGELY DAMAGED IN 2019.
WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TODAY.
I THINK I SPEAK TO THE CLARIFICATION IN TERMS OF THAT WE ARE RESETTING EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE SPEECH THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE OFFICE, INCLUDING MYSELF.
WE ARE REPAIRING THE TIMELINESS OF OUR REPORTS BY ROLLING IN TOGETHER AND CONSOLIDATING THE RESPONSE PERIOD TO 30 WORKING DAYS THAT IS LITERALLY ROLLING THE CLOCK BACK TO WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY WHEN THIS OFFICE WAS STOOD UP.
IT IS REPAIRING DAMAGE THAT HAPPENED IN 2019, AND IT IS STRENGTHENING THE OFFICE BY CHANGING THE QUALIFICATIONS.
AS I STAND HERE TODAY BEFORE YOU TAKE A VOTE ON THESE AMENDMENTS, IF I WAS TO DISAPPEAR TOMORROW, I'M TELLING YOU THAT THE COMBINED IMPACT OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AND AMENDMENTS MADE BY PRIOR COUNCILS RENDERS ONLY ONE PERSON IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WHO COULD QUALIFY TO EVEN APPLY FOR THIS JOB, ASSUMING THAT THE PERSON WOULD.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THESE AMENDMENTS, YOU WILL BE EXPANDING THE POOL OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, AND THAT IS STRENGTHENING THE OFFICE AND ENSURING ITS VIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND GOING FORWARD, TO HEARKEN BACK TO CHAIRMAN WALKER.
IT'S A NEW YEAR, NEW AMBITIONS, FRESH START.
I ASK FOR YOUR POSITIVE VOTE ON THESE AMENDMENTS.
ONCE AGAIN, I CANNOT EXTEND TO YOU MY GRATITUDE WITH ENOUGH WORDS TO SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING A PAUSE IN DECEMBER.
THANK YOU FOR SITTING DOWN, AND THIS IS PROOF WHEN WE TALK, WE CAN MAKE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN.
>> COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN, I KNOW YOU AND COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS FIRST.
WE ALL HAD THE SAME ULTIMATE GOAL, AND THAT IS TO MAKE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE, BUT ALSO SAID WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
BEFORE WITH NO MEDIA POLICY, THE IG WAS LEFT AT HER OWN DEVICES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT MEANT.
THIS IS A STRENGTHENING OF THAT ORDINANCE IN THAT NOW WE ALL CAN AGREE WHAT THE LANGUAGE MEANS.
IT IS A GREAT DEAL OF COMPROMISE THAT WENT INTO THIS, HOURS AND HOURS OF CONVERSATION, CONSULTATION WITH DAN CELINO, I'D LIKE TO THANK HIM, FROM LILA UNIVERSITY.
HE'S ONE OF THE LEADING EXPERTS IN ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE, AND HE SPENT MANY HOURS PROBABLY READING OUR REVISIONS AT NO CHARGE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT JEFFERSON PARISH COULD BE THE BEST THAT IT COULD BE.
THIS IS A RESULT OF A GREAT DEAL OF COMPROMISE, AND I'M PLEASED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT TOGETHER.
AS MR. BURKE SAID EARLIER, WITH THE PARK TO PARK RACE, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW JEFFERSON PARISH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALWAYS COMES TOGETHER.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY.
THIS IS OUR COUNCIL COMING TOGETHER WITH THE IG'S OFFICE AND REACHING A COMPROMISE AS TO WHAT AND HOW THAT OFFICE OPERATES IN THE FUTURE. I'M EXCITED.
I WANT TO THANK MISS SHADELIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WORK WITH US AND TO HELP REACH A COMPROMISE AND MY COLLEAGUES, TOO.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, OBVIOUSLY WAS A HUGE IMPACT IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS COMPROMISE WAS REACHED.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION.
I'M GLAD TODAY THAT THIS WILL BRING SOME RESOLUTION AND SOME CLOSURE.
>> THANK YOU. THIS REALLY WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK AND WENT INTO THIS.
I THINK EARLY ON, THERE WAS A LOT OF INFIGHTING, A LOT OF MISTAKES WERE MADE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AS HAS BEEN SAID, JEFFERSON PARISH DOESN'T ORDINARILY DO THAT AND WE DID COME TOGETHER ULTIMATELY.
INSPECTOR GENERAL SHADELIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND MEETING THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS.
[01:10:02]
COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN.YOU PUT WAS THIS WAS A TREMENDOUS LIFT.
AGAIN, I WOULD ECHO YOUR THANKS TO PROFESSOR CELINO.
HE WAS A TREMENDOUS HELP TO US.
WE WERE CRITICIZED EARLY ON AS, TRYING TO WATER DOWN THE ORDINANCE AND TO HAMPER OVERSIGHT, TRANSPARENCY, OR SILENCE THE IG.
I MEAN, WE FELT WE HAD A PROBLEM. WE TRIED TO FIX IT.
WE DID WHAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
GOT TOGETHER WITH THE IG, SAT DOWN, WORKED IT OUT, AND I THINK NOW WE HAVE A BETTER ORDINANCE ON THE BOOK.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS LIFT.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN..
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE APPRECIATION BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS THE RESULT OF GOOD COMMUNICATION AND ALL OF US GETTING TOGETHER, ALL OF US EXPRESSING OUR THOUGHTS, APPROACHES, BEING WILLING TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR PARISH.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD MODEL FOR A FRESH START FOR 2025, AND THE REALLY GOOD THINGS WE CAN DO WHEN WE COME TOGETHER.
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR GETTING HERE.
>> AS I OFTEN SAY, WORKING TOGETHER WORKS.
HERE WE ARE AND THIS IS A AWESOME MOMENT.
>> I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO START 2025.
LOOK, I WAS ONE OF THE ONES LAST YEAR WHO PUSHED PRETTY HARD TO DEFER THIS FROM THE LAST MEETING.
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN WAS ON THE RECORD AT THAT MEETING, SAYING SHE WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT IT.
I WAS HOPING WE WOULD GET HERE.
WE WENT FROM A PLACE OF CONTENTION TO A PLACE OF AGREEMENT AND RECONCILIATION AND REALLY HEARD EACH OTHER'S CONCERNS.
I WAS IN A MEETING WITH COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG AND COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF FRANK DISCUSSION, A LOT OF DIRECT QUESTIONS, AND A LOT OF THINGS PUT OUT ON THE TABLE.
WE ENDED UP WHERE WE ENDED UP, AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING.
I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, IF IT, IN ANY WAY, LIMITED THE WAY THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL COULD DO HER JOB OR HIS JOB DOWN THE ROAD, WHOEVER IT MAY BE.
WE'RE AT A PLACE WHERE THAT THIS ORDINANCE NOW, THE REVISED ORDINANCE WITH THE AMENDMENTS DOES NOT AFFECT THAT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. IN THE PAST, IT WOULD HAVE.
COMPROMISE IS A GOOD THING. CONVERSATION IS A GOOD THING.
THANK YOU, MISS SHADELIN, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN AND COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DID, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU PUT IN MORE HOURS COMBINED THAN THE FEW MEETINGS I WAS IN TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD IN 2025.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING COUNCILMAN BONANO?
>> REAL BRIEFLY. THE MEDIA HAS PAINTED THIS AS AN ATTEMPT TO WATER DOWN AND PREVENT THE IG FROM BEING ABLE TO COMMENT.
I WOULD JUST ASK THE MEDIA TO CORRECT THAT NARRATIVE, AS YOU HEARD MISS SHADELIN HERSELF SAY, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE.
IT'S ABOUT ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR CLEARER COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE IG REGARDING INFORMATION AND INVESTIGATIONS THAT SHE'S CONDUCTING.
I WANT TO THANK MISS SHADELIN AND MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN AND COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, FOR THAT HARD WORKINNESS.
I SAT IN A ROOM WITH HIM, BUT I HAD VERY LITTLE TO SAY, BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY NON ATTORNEY IN THE ROOM, SO I THOUGHT BETTER ABOUT COMMENTING, BUT THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT MANY ATTORNEYS IN THE ROOM, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH AIR LEFT.
LOOK, ONE THING TO POINT OUT, TOO, IS THAT I WAS AT THE HARAHAN CHRISTMAS PARADE, AND SOMEBODY CAME UP TO ME, ASKED FOR THROWING CUPS OUT AND YELLED AT ME ON THE STREET FOR NOT BEING ON BOARD WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR SOMETHING WE HAD NOT VOTED ON YET.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING THAT WE'D APPRECIATE BEING CLEARED UP, THAT NOTHING HAD HAPPENED YET AND THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS.
I SAID THAT I HADN'T VOTED AGAINST ANYTHING OR VOTED FOR ANYTHING THAT WOULD INHIBIT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S ABILITY TO DO HER JOB.
THAT PERSON DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO? I THINK I HOPE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE'RE AT A MUCH BETTER PLACE NOW THAN WE WERE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
ON THAT NOTE, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, YOUR MOTION.
>> I'M NOT INTENTIONALLY FORGETTING ABOUT YOU, MR. HIERS.
>> NOT FORGETTING ABOUT YOU OR THE PUBLIC.
I JUST JUMPED AHEAD. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26443.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> IN FAVOR. I'LL RISE IN FAVOR OF IT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN I'M GOING TO RISE FOR 15 MINUTES AGAINST THIS.
MY GOD. PAT YOURSELVES ON THE BACK.
HOW MUCH TIME DO WE JUST SPEND PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK FOR COMING TOGETHER? THAT'S NOT THE FUNCTION OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU-ALL WATERING IT DOWN. THAT IS WHAT YOU DID.
YOU LIMITED THEIR ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC. I APPRECIATE IT.
I'M IN FAVOR OF LIMITING THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC OR ACCESS TO THE MEDIA.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT. YOU KNOW WHY?
[01:15:02]
BECAUSE THAT MIGHT DRIVE THE MEDIA TO THE ACTUAL PUBLIC.YOU MIGHT COME SPEAK TO SOMEBODY WHO'S ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING? YOU MIGHT SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC THAT'S ACTUALLY WATCHING THIS CAHOOTS CARRY ON.
THEY PAT THEMSELVES ON THEIR BACK FOR A TOKEN GESTURE.
THAT'S THE BEST THE INSPECTOR GENERAL DOES.
I APPRECIATE A TOKEN GESTURE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU QUELLING SOME OF THIS INFIGHTING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CABAL.
I END UP WITH THE POWERS OF GRETNA AND THE POWERS OF KENNER, HAVING TO MUSTER THEMSELVES AGAINST THE POWERS OF SOME ARBITRARY GHOST IN OLD MARI, I GUESS.
I'M IN FAVOR OF GIVING SOME CLARITY TO THAT.
IF YOU ALL CAN RECONCILE YOURSELVES AND LIMIT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND SOMEHOW MAKE THE SO IT'S NOT SO OBVIOUS A CAHOOTS, OR OBVIOUS, SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT'S APPORTIONED.
THIS DOESN'T EVEN QUALIFY AS A DEMOCRACY.
TWO DISTRICTS HOLD FOUR CONTROLLING VOTES.
AT LARGE MEMBERSHIPS REPRESENT THE ADMINISTRATION, NOT ANY PORTION OF THE DISTRICTS.
NOTHING YOU DO IN HERE IS LEGITIMATE.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT WHOLE OFFICE BEING ALLOWED TO JUST RANDOMLY GO ABOUT THINGS POLITICALLY AS THEY MAY SO CHOOSE FROM ONE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO NEXT, I APPRECIATE YOU LIMITING THEIR ABILITY TO DO THAT WITH THIS ORDINANCE.
>> WELL, CLAYTON CANTELSI, AS I'M NOT AS IN FAVOR OR NOT BECAUSE I JUST CAME IN AND DIDN'T HEAR.
NOW, I HEARD MONDAY NIGHT AT THE MEETING SIMILAR WHAT HANS AND JENNIFER SPOKE ABOUT THE MEETING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS JUST PASSED.
BUT IF YOU CAN CLARIFY THAT REAL QUICK TO ME, AND THEN I COULD TELL YOU, I DO HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS ON POSSIBLY CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND NO DISRESPECT TO MISS VAN VRANCKEN, GREAT.
BUT I THINK YOU SAID THERE'S WAS FRIENDSHIP BEFORE.
I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED THERE BECAUSE POSSIBLY, AND I WAS JUST SPEAKING TO SOMEBODY OUT IN THE PARKING LOT ABOUT THAT FRIENDSHIP, THERE COULD BE SOME FAVORITISM.
>> THIS IS JUST AN OPINION, NO DISRESPECT THERE.
AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA, AS A PERSON THAT CONTRIBUTES TO MULTIPLE RADIO SHOWS ACROSS THE STATE AND HAVE MY OWN RADIO SHOW.
I DO THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH HER AND DISCUSS ISSUES ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PARISH, BECAUSE WE NEED TO KEEP OPEN COMMUNICATION.
IF YOU STOP THE MEDIA, THEN WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? THEN WE BECOME A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY, AND IT HAPPENS WHAT THEY DID TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT.
WE NEED OPEN COMMUNICATION AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA SPEAKING.
ONLY THING IS JUST SOME CLARIFICATION THERE.
I UNDERSTAND, AND THERE'S JUST NO DISRESPECT BETWEEN YOU OR MISS SHADELIN THERE, BUT THAT'S JUST A CONCERN THAT THE PUBLIC HAS AS THAT FRIENDSHIP, AND SO SOMETHING THAT MAY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL RESPOND SINCE MR. CANGELOSI WAS REFERENCING A MEETING MONDAY NIGHT.
BOTH COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG AND I ATTENDED.
THERE WAS A CITIZENS GROUP THAT HAD CONCERN ABOUT THE FIRST VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE.
WHAT WE DID WAS WE WENT THROUGH THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS IN THE FIRST VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE OFFERED IN DECEMBER, THAT THE PERCEPTION WAS WOULD HAVE LIMITED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S INDEPENDENCE AND INTERACTION WITH THE MEDIA AND WITH THE PUBLIC.
AFTER WE WENT THROUGH THAT, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG CLARIFIED THAT THOSE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN PROPOSED WERE BEING REMOVED, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SAW TODAY.
MUCH OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ON THERE IN DECEMBER WAS REMOVED, AND A DIFFERENT FOCUS CAME TO BE.
AND I THINK ONE THAT WAS A POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT, BECAUSE WHAT YOU SAW IN THIS AMENDED VERSION, IS THAT ANYONE TOUCHED BY A PRODUCT OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, WHETHER IT'S A REPORT OR A LETTER OR SOME OTHER VEHICLE HAS TO GET 30 DAYS TO GET A COPY OF IT AND TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND.
AND I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THAT IN THE PAST.
IN FACT, WE EVEN HAD LITIGATION OVER THAT IN THE PAST.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IMPROVEMENT TO HAVE ON PAPER.
ALSO BROADENING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A FUTURE INSPECTOR GENERAL, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING I ACTUALLY HAD PROPOSED LAST YEAR, 2024.
I THINK THAT IS A POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT.
[01:20:02]
AGAIN, AS A WAY OF FOLLOW UP, I THINK WE'VE LANDED IN A GOOD PLACE.IT WAS ONE FROM A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND INPUT.
AS TO THE FACT THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND I KNOW EACH OTHER, RESPECT EACH OTHER AND OUR FRIENDS.
IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE SMALLER THE GOVERNMENT, I THINK, THE MORE SO THIS IS TRUE.
YOU ARE GOING TO KNOW PEOPLE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE ETHICS RULES THAT GUIDE WHEN SOMEONE YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE YOU'RE RELATED TO, WHEN THERE'S SOME INTERACTION, YOU PUT IT ON THE RECORD.
YOU BRING IT INTO THE SUNLIGHT.
YOU SAY THIS IS THE CASE, AND YOU RECUSE YOURSELF OR ABSTAIN, WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE AND THAT'S WHAT ETHICS RULES ARE THERE FOR.
WHEN INSPECTOR GENERAL SHADELIN FIRST CAME TO PARISH GOVERNMENT, SHE SERVED AS THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSIONER FOR JEFFERSON PARISH, AND SHE CAME IN AT A TIME WHEN WE HAD A LOT TO CLEAN UP IN THE PARISH.
I CAME IN AS A CAA, THEN DEPUTY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, THEN CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
WE WERE DOING A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER TO CLEAN UP GOVERNMENT, TO REMOVE CREDIT CARDS AND TEAR THEM UP, AND PUT PROCEDURES IN PLACE, PUT A POLICY MANUAL IN PLACE.
WE'RE COLLEAGUES, WE'RE FRIENDS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO GOOD GOVERNMENT.
I PUT THAT OUT THERE PUBLICLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO BEYOND THAT AND SHE IS A PROFESSIONAL.
WE HAVE DISAGREED BEFORE AS PROFESSIONALS AND SO I'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF ETHICS AND THOSE THAT GUIDE US AND BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AS I CAN BE.
IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS, I'M OPEN TO THEM.
BUT I WANT TO CREDIT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE HAS TALKED OVER THE LAST MONTH AND GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVES OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC.
THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY, AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON COLLABORATIVELY AS A COUNCIL.
WHEN WE HAD A MEETING MONDAY NIGHT, THERE'S NOT A WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO FIND OUT, EXCEPT FOR BEING AT THIS MEETING WHAT THE AMENDMENTS TO SOMETHING ARE.
MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON.
WE'RE POSTING WITH OUR AGENDA, WHEN SOMETHING'S DEFERRED, AND WHEN THE PUBLIC HAS CONCERN ABOUT IT, IT MIGHT BE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PUBLISH WHAT THOSE AMENDMENTS WOULD BE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE OR A DAY IN ADVANCE, SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOG ON FROM HOME.
LOOK AT THOSE AMENDMENTS, SEE WHAT WAS CHANGING, AND BE ABLE TO COME HERE WITH MORE INFORMATION.
MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN COLLABORATIVELY WORK ON TOGETHER, AND I COMMIT TO DOING THAT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC.
>> ACTUALLY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.
TO GO TO A MEETING AND ALLEGE TO THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION THAT THAT WAS THE CASE WAS MISLEADING.
YOU CAN READ THE LANGUAGE ITSELF.
YOU DON'T WANT AN IG THAT CAN SPEAK DISPARAGINGLY.
WHAT THE NEW LANGUAGE DOES IS TIGHTEN UP ALL THAT LANGUAGE AND MAKE IT A CONCISE STATEMENT INSTEAD OF HAVING SEVERAL SUBPARTS.
BUT IT REACHES THE SAME OUTCOME.
THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT WE DON'T WANT AN IG PRIOR TO HER BEING FINISHED WITH HER REPORT AND PRIOR TO DOING A FULL INVESTIGATION, RELEASING STATEMENTS THAT CAN BE MISLEADING TO THE PUBLIC UNINTENTIONALLY EVEN.
WHAT WE WANT IS AN IG THAT FULLY VETS HER REPORT BEFORE SHE RELEASES THE PUBLIC STATEMENT.
NOW, WE CAN BICKER ABOUT THE LANGUAGE AND HOW MANY YEARS AND ALL THAT STUFF, WHICH WE DID.
WE WENT HOURS TOGETHER ARGUING ABOUT THAT AND REACHING A SOLUTION.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE SECOND DRAFT IS WATERED DOWN AT ALL.
I THINK THAT THE LANGUAGE IS JUST TIGHTENED UP, WHICH IS GREAT, BECAUSE THEN IT'S EASY FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND.
WE CAN'T ACCUSE HER OF DOING SOMETHING WRONG IF IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY IN THE ORDINANCE THAT SHE'S DOING SOMETHING WRONG.
SHE'S LEFT TO GO FIGURE IT OUT ON HER OWN.
THIS PUTS A MEDIA POLICY IN PLACE SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HER, AND SHE KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US.
THE OTHER THING IT DID IS IT TIGHTENED UP SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT GAVE DEPENDING ON WHO YOU WERE A LONGER OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO HER REPORT OR A SHORTENED THAT.
WE MADE THEM ALL THE SAME TIMELINE.
WE WERE ABLE TO DELETE A PARAGRAPH DOING THAT.
WE REALLY DID A GREAT DEAL OF TIGHTENING UP THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE AND EXPANDING THE QUALIFICATIONS SO IT'S BIGGER THAN AN ATTEMPT TO SILENCE THE IG.
WHAT WE WANTED WAS A MEDIA POLICY SO THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, THE ECC IS DECIDING TONIGHT, THEY'RE APPOINTING A LAWYER THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THIS RELATIONSHIP,
[01:25:04]
WHETHER OR NOT SHE ACTED APPROPRIATELY IN THE LAST REPORT.FOR THIS COUNCIL, IT'S LIKE, HOW DO WE FIX IT SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, WE ALL KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM EACH OTHER.
THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES.
IT TIGHTENS IT UP SO THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE MEDIA POLICY IS AND WHAT THE MEDIA RULES ARE.
BUT NEITHER ONE WE'RE AN ATTEMPT TO WATER DOWN HER OFFICE OR WATER DOWN HER ABILITY TO SPEAK. WE WANT HER TO SPEAK.
WE WANT HER TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S IN HER REPORT.
WE JUST DON'T WANT HER TO DO IT BEFORE SHE'S DONE DOING THE REPORT.
>> ONE BRIEF THING. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OUT THERE, ASAP.
WHEN WE SPOKE MONDAY NIGHT AT THAT MEETING, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE [LAUGHTER] WERE DONE WITH OUR AMENDMENTS.
WE WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS THING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND TO GET THIS DONE.
IF IT WAS DONE, IT WAS LIKE HOT OFF THE PRESS DONE.
I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN TUESDAY MORNING WHEN IT WAS, WE GOT THE FINAL ORDER THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY LIKE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS OKAY.
THE COUNCIL WAS OKAY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A FINAL DRAFT MONDAY NIGHT.
>> NO, I THINK WE SENT IT TO LIZ MIDMORNING TUESDAY, PROBABLY.
>> IS ANYBODY ELSE GOING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR.
WELL, HE'S ALREADY SPOKEN. I KNOW.
MR. HIERS AND MR. CANGELOSI MAYBE IN FAVOR, MAYBE NOT.
I DON'T KNOW. NOW, ANYONE IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> HIERS RISING IN OPPOSITION.
MY BIGGEST OPPOSITION IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS DONE BY AN UNAPPORTIONED BODY.
AT THE LAST MEETING, SOMEBODY BRILLIANT UP THERE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE GOT SO AND SO'S A LAWYER AND SO AND SO'S A LAWYER.
MAYBE WE GOT TOO MANY LAWYERS IN HERE.
MAYBE IF WE HAD 21 CIVIC ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS HOLDING THOSE SEATS, I WOULDN'T NEED AN INSPECTOR GENERAL.
THE REASON WHY THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL EXISTS BECAUSE IT'S A NEW PHENOMENA.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD AT PARISH OR COUNTY LEVEL GOVERNMENT.
NO, THAT'S YOUR JOB, IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IS TO HOLD THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE.
THAT'S THE WAY A CHECKS AND BALANCE WORKS.
THAT'S THE WAY REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT WORKS.
WE GOT OVER 400,000 PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH.
WE WOULD BE THE THIRD, FOURTH, LARGEST STATE IN THE UNION WHEN THE PRINCIPLES I'M TALKING ABOUT WERE RATIFIED AND GIVEN PRECEDENT.
REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES SHALL BE APPORTIONED.
THERE'S A REAL BIG REASON WHY THAT PRINCIPLE IS THERE.
I DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR AN INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO'S INEVITABLY GOING TO BE IN CAHOOTS OR BECOME BEST FRIENDS WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S HOLDING MORE POWER THAN THEY SHOULD.
THAT LARGE MEMBERSHIPS ARE SENATORS SITTING AMONGST REPRESENTATIVES.
THEY REPRESENT THE ADMINISTRATION, THE STATE AT LARGE.
YOU CAN'T BE APPORTIONED, AND YOU HAVE NO CONCERN FOR THE CITIZENS.
YOU CAN'T. IT'S IN YOUR JOB DUTIES OF YOUR CHIEFS OF STAFF.
YOU CAN FEIGN IT, SO WE GET TO FAKE IT IN HERE.
YOU CAN TELL ME ABOUT HOW SOMEONE'S NOT TRYING TO KEEP THIS SO AND SO.
THERE'S TRUTH IN EVERYTHING YOU SAY, JUST A SLIVER OF TRUTH.
BUT IT'S ALL ACCUMULATIONS OF STATUTES.
YOU THINK I'M GOING TO GO AND ATTEND AN ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION? THE ONLY REASON I HAVE TO HAVE AN ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION IS BECAUSE I'VE PUT TOO MUCH POWER AND TOO FEW HANDS ARBITRARILY.
IF YOU TAKE FROM ONE PORTION OF THE PARISH THAT'S TAXED DIFFERENTLY, THEIR ELECTION, TAKE A FRACTION OF HARAHAN AND A FRACTION OF UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON PARISH AND HAVE ONE PERSON TRYING TO REPRESENT BOTH OF THEM, YOU STEAL FROM ONE OF THEM THEIR ELECTION, AND YOU SUBSTITUTE A VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION FOR WHAT WOULD BE A REAL REPRESENTATION.
THE DOCTRINE OF VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION, EVERYBODY, REMEMBER WHAT THAT BROUGHT FORTH THE DOCTRINE OF VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION, NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT WE'VE SETTLED FOR HERE.
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL THE STATUTES THAT ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION COULD MANUFACTURE, WHICH IS BASICALLY DONE SO THAT ANYBODY WHO'S GOT ACCESS TO POWER AND INFLUENCE CAN GET AWAY WITH FUNNELING MONEY TO ANYWHERE YOU WANT.
I'VE CAMPAIGNED ALONGSIDE YOU ALL.
I UNDERSTAND HOW EASY IT IS TO TAKE THOSE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS AND TURN THEM INTO ANYTHING YOU WANT.
THERE'S JUST GETTING AWAY WITH THEFT AND THIEVERY IN A DEN OF THIEVES.
SHOULD I BE REMOVED, BECAUSE I MENTIONED THE WORD THEFT? SHOULD MY FIRST AMENDMENT BE TRAMPLED UPON IN THIS CHAMBER AGAIN?
[01:30:03]
I OPPOSE THIS BECAUSE IT'S LIP SERVICE.IF YOU ALL COULD AGREE ON IT SO EASILY, CLEARLY IT'S A CAHOOTS.
YOU MADE THE OFFICE MORE EASILY ATTAINABLE, GREAT.
NOW THE PUBLIC WILL PAY LESS CONCERN TO THE SHENANIGANS GOING ON HERE, LESS CONCERN TO HOW YOU APPROPRIATE POOR ASSISTANCE MONEY, PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, CARES ACT MONEY, INTO YOUR PET PROJECTS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
EVERY COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT, EVERY PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, ANOTHER CROTCHET, WHICH INGENUITY HAS INVENTED IN THE COMBINATIONS OF THE DAY HAVE GIVEN STRENGTH TO CARRY.
ME, I'D PREFER REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT, WHERE I COULD COUNT ON A REPRESENTATIVE GETTING AHOLD OF ME AND TELLING ME WHAT I MIGHT CARE ABOUT THAT'S ON THIS AGENDA AND HAVE THEM SPEAK ON MY BEHALF INSTEAD OF AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
IF YOU WANT TO TRAMPLE ON MY FIRST AMENDMENT, PLEASE DO SO.
I'VE GOT 15 MINUTES TO OPPOSE THIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL GROUND.
>> YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING ON THE MATTER.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTATION, SIR.
THE MATTER BEFORE US IS THE AMENDMENT OF THE ORDINANCE DEALING WITH THE IG.
I TAKE OFFENSE TO THE CONSTRUCT OF THIS BODY, THE CONSTRUCT OF THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION THAT'S APPOINTED BY THIS BODY, WHO HAS TWO AT LARGE MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT AN ADMINISTRATION, THEREBY PERVERTING ANY OUTCOME WE COULD HOPE FOR AS A PUBLIC.
I'M A JEFFERSONIAN, A REAL REPUBLICAN.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A FRUGAL AND SIMPLE GOVERNMENT.
WE LACK FOR IT, AND SETTLING FOREIGN OFFICE IN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
THAT JUST KEEPS US FURTHER FROM DOING OUR OWN CIVIC DUTY.
YOU DEFER TO IT SO THAT YOU CAN PRETEND THAT YOU'VE BEEN HELD TO ACCOUNT.
IT'S A FARCE. YOU'RE AN ILLEGITIMATELY FOREIGN BODY. FIGURE IT OUT.
>> HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE, CHAIRMAN?
>> NINE MINUTES AND 42 SECONDS.
>> YOU'D LIKE TO BE SPARED? THANK YOU.
>> TAKE YOUR TIME. DO WHAT YOU'D LIKE.
>> JUST RECORD THAT AND PLAY IT FOR EVERY MATTER WE BRING UP BEFORE US, BECAUSE, MR. CHAIRMAN, OUR RULES REQUIRE YOU TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MATTER BEFORE US.
>> HE WAS SPEAKING ON IT, IN MY ESTIMATION, BROADLY SPEAKING ON IT, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO STOP HIM FROM SPEAKING.
I WASN'T GOING TO DO THAT TODAY.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY ONE THING, SINCE YOU'VE ATTACKED MY JOB AND MY OFFICE TWICE AND COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN'S TODAY, THAT WE IN SOME WAY, REPRESENT THE ADMINISTRATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM, BECAUSE MY OFFICE, YES, THERE ARE FIVE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE. HANG ON.
MY OFFICE DEALS WITH ISSUES ACROSS THIS PARISH EVERY DAY, AND WE ARE NOT WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE COMPLICIT IN ANYTHING THE ADMINISTRATION DOES, AS YOU'VE SUGGESTED BEFORE.
WE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE ARM, THEY ARE THE ADMINISTRATIVE ARM, AND WE WORK ON WHAT WE WORK ON.
THEY WORK WITH WHAT THEY WORK ON, AND FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO ANYTHING.
FOR THE PARISH PRESIDENT TO DO ANYTHING, IT COMES THROUGH THIS COUNCIL.
BUT TO SUGGEST THAT WE ARE WORKING AS THE ADMINISTRATION IN OUR OFFICE IS FALSE, AND IT'S NOT ACCURATE.
YOU'VE CONTACTED MY OFFICE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ISSUES.
>> JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND. THIS ISN'T A PERSONAL ATTACK ON YOU.
>> NO, IT DIDN'T SEEM PERSONAL AT ALL.
>> THE REASON WHY I DRAW THAT CONCLUSION IS BY SIMPLY LOOKING AT THE CHIEF OF STAFF'S JOB DUTIES.
THE CHIEF OF STAFF'S JOB DUTY SPEAK TO WHAT YOU ARE AFFILIATED, WHAT YOUR OBLIGATIONS ARE.
FOR THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE VERY LAST OBLIGATION THEY HAVE IS TO MERELY BE A POINT OF CONTACT TO THE CITIZENS.
THEY'RE NOT OBLIGED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS, AND FOR THE AT LARGE MEMBERS, YOU HAVE NO OBLIGATIONS TO THE CITIZENS WHATSOEVER.
>> YES, WE DO. MY CHIEF OF STAFF WORKS FOR ME.
>> CHIEF OF STAFF HAVE NO LISTED JOB DUTY THAT OBLIGES THEM TO THE CITIZENS.
ALL OF OUR CHIEFS OF STAFF WORK FOR US.
I WILL READ. WE HELPED WRITE IT. WE KNOW WHAT IT IS.
CHIEF OF STAFF DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE A FEW YEARS AGO. WE HELPED WRITE THAT.
NOT WE, THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL BEFORE I GOT HERE, INTRODUCED THAT POSITION, AND HELPED WRITE THAT.
SO WE KNOW WHAT IT SAYS AND WHAT IT MEANS.
ANYWAY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK?
>> ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION, MADAM CLERK.
TWO MAYBES AND ONE OPPOSED, TWO OF WHICH ARE THE SAME PERSON.
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, YOUR MOTION.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26443, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY WHO'S UNCLEAR ABOUT THIS TO PLEASE READ ALL THOSE AMENDMENTS TO THIS BECAUSE IT SPELLS IT OUT VERY CLEARLY, AND IT PAINTS A VERY GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT THE OFFICE CAN NOW DO AND CAN'T DO.
[01:35:04]
ITEM NUMBER 19, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26444, AMENDING THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES, INCLUDING THE REVISION, ADDITION, AND DELETION OF CERTAIN SECTIONS IN CHAPTER 8, BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS TO CLARIFY PREREQUISITES AND PROCEDURES FOR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION RELATED INSPECTIONS IN JEFFERSON PARISH, INCLUDING THE USE, REGISTRATION, AND REGULATIONS OF THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS, AND AMENDING CHAPTERS 8, BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS, 14 FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE, AND 27 WATER SEWAGE AND DRAINAGE TO REVISE THE TITLES.
THE TITLE OF TRADES INSPECTOR 3 TO NEW CLASS TITLE OF SUPERVISOR FOR THE VARIOUS TRADES AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
>> WE'RE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26444.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26444, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
THAT TAKES US TO ITEM 20 WITH AMENDMENTS.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26445, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH BY ADDING SECTION 20-48, 20-49, AND 20-50, RELATIVE TO PROHIBITED CAMPING ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE ADDING SECTION 20-50 ENFORCEMENT C TO READ A COPY OF EVERY SUMMONS ISSUED UNDER THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE SERVED ON THE JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY, SECTION 20-50 ENFORCEMENT TO CHANGE THE WORD SHALL TO MAY IN SECTION D1, 02, AND 3. THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOU MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26445.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
>> BEFORE I MOVE, I'D LIKE TO JUST NOTE, AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK WENT INTO.
WE STARTED THIS PROCESS ALMOST A YEAR AGO WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO OFFICE, AND WE WE HAD MANY MEETINGS WITH THE SHERIFF, MANY MEETINGS WITH THE DA'S OFFICE.
SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR HELP WITH THIS.
WE MET WITH COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE WORKING IN TANDEM WITH THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE.
NOBODY WANTS TO SEE AN EPIDEMIC OF CAMPING IN THE PARISH.
I THINK WE'VE COME TO A GOOD PLACE.
WE HAD OUR ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT THE DA'S OFFICE AGREED WITH THAT THE SHERIFF AGREED WITH.
THE PARISH ATTORNEY WAS A TREMENDOUS HELP IN DRAFTING THIS ORDINANCE.
THE LAST THING WE DID WAS APPEAR BEFORE THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE, RUN IT BY THEM.
THE AMENDMENTS YOU SEE TODAY CAME DIRECTLY FROM THAT MEETING.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP OUR PARISH AND THAT'S FRANKLY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE CAMP IN PUBLIC, THAT MIGHT NEED HELP.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND I MOVE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG. ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMER NUMBER 26445, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM NUMBER 21, PLEASE.
>> WE DIDN'T OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> I'M SORRY. NO, I DID OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DID THAT AND THEN I WENT TO COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG. NOBODY APPEARED.
YEAH. I'LL MAKE MY OWN MISTAKES.
DON'T MAKE MISTAKES FOR ME. ITEM 21, PLEASE.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26458, DECREASING THE SPEED LIMIT FROM 35 MILES PER HOUR TO 30 MILES PER HOUR TO CANAL STREET FROM THE INTERSECTION OF CANAL STREET AND SOUTH I-10 SERVICE ROAD TO THE TERMINUS OF CANAL STREET AT THE 17TH STREET CANAL, MATAIRIE, LOUISIANA, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
>> WE NOW TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26458.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> FRANKIE HIRES RISING IN FAVOR.
COUSIN'S RIGHT OVER THERE, RIGHT OFF OF SYDNEY.
I'VE CAMPUS OVER THERE, OFTENTIMES, RECKLESS DRIVING, ANYTHING YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS WITH REGARDS TO RECKLESS DRIVING, WHICH HAS BEEN RAMPANT THROUGHOUT THE PARISH AND GETTING NOTHING BUT WORSE OVER THE LAST 10-15 YEARS, I CAN APPRECIATE AND RISE IN FAVOR OF.
SO THANK YOU FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE, DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY FOR THE FOLKS LIVING OFF OF CANAL AND 17TH STREET CANAL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK NOTE THE ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
[01:40:01]
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26458.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 22.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26461, AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 12, ELECTIONS OF THE JEFFERSON POWERS CODE OF ORDINANCES TO MERGE PRECINCTS, K018 AND K019 AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE ELECTION CODE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 4.
>> PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26461.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26461.
MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM 23, THE OPERATING BUDGET WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26462, AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET IN THE AMENDMENTS ARE.
ALLOCATE $15,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S VIDEO POKER FUND FOR CEA WITH THE JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD TO PROVIDE UNIFORMS FOR HIGGINS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
ALLOCATE $30,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S EAST BANK TOURISM FUND TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S ACCOUNT NUMBER 100 100-021-7321 FOR AN AGREEMENT WITH CO-ED PARTNERS LLC TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION FOR THE LA SAL TRACK COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
ALLOCATE $19,500 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S WEST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR A CEA WITH THE MYSTIC CREW OF MUSIC TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL BANDS TO PARTICIPATE IN 2025 CREW OF MUSIC CARNIVAL PARADE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
ALLOCATE $20,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S WEST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR A CEA WITH THE MYSTIC CREW OF NAD TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL BANDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2025 CREW OF NATI CARNIVAL PARADE, COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE.
ALLOCATE $50,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S WEST BANK TOURISM FUND TO LEGAL SERVICES ACCOUNT NUMBER 100 100-021-7321 FOR AN AGREEMENT WITH BRAZIL, SACHI AND WILSON, LLP, TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW CHURCH HILL NINE MILE POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND ASSOCIATED GUIDANCE CONCERNING TAX INCENTIVE FINANCING COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 TO REMOVE THE $4,500,000 FROM ACCOUNT 96010962179114585060101000 AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS AND THE MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26462.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
>> I TRY TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY IN THE WAY WE GO.
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8, CLAUSE WHAT? TOURISM FUND, HOSPITALITY, TOURISM INDUSTRY, TAXED DIFFERENTLY ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER THAN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.
VIOLATING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8, CLAUSE 1, CONSTITUTION.
YOU SWORE TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND.
I WATCHED IT HAPPEN HERE IN LIVE ACTION.
BUT IT'S ONLY AS FAR AS YOU UNDERSTAND AND HAVE AN ABILITY.
SO IF WE JUST TURN A BLIND EYE TO SOME OF THESE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES, START PLAYING A HOUSE GAME AND LET IT GO ON LONG ENOUGH.
THEN WE END UP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY SOME OF THAT STUFF I LOVE.
SOME OF THAT STUFF I'D HATE TO HAVE TO OPPOSE.
ANOTHER STUFF IN THERE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DEFINITELY JUST A CAHOOTS, LIKE, INSIDE TRADING KIND OF DEAL AND ALL OF IT'S COMING FROM DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.
THIS WHOLE THING ONLY EXISTS BECAUSE THERE'S SEVEN OF YOU, 72 OF YOU TRYING TO REPRESENT THE WHOLE.
THIS IS NOT THE REPUBLICAN FORUM, I'M GUARANTEED.
THERE ARE EIGHT PARTS, DISTINCTIVE PARTS TO THE PARISH.
REALLY, THE WEST BANK SHOULD BE ITS OWN PARISH AND IT SHOWS UP WHEN I GOT TO HAVE GRETNA GANG UP WITH CANADA SOMEHOW UNDO THE WORKS OF ANOTHER PART OF THE PARISH.
WE'VE CREATED HOT BLOOD BETWEEN NEIGHBORS, AND IT EVEN SHOWS IN HERE WHERE EVERYBODY'S GETTING PAID.
WE DON'T HAVE A GOVERNMENT OF THE MAJORITY, WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT OF THE MAJORITY THAT PARTICIPATE, AND YOU'VE GOT 17,000 PEOPLE BACK IN THIS CAHOOTS. THAT'S IT.
17,000 PEOPLE OUT OF 280,000 REGISTERED VOTERS.
YOUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
YOU-ALL ARE SITTING IN THE POSITIONS OF POWER.
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. THE RULES AREN'T COMPLICATED AT ALL.
IN FACT, THEY'RE JUST TOO SIMPLE FOR AN ATTORNEY, MAYBE.
I DON'T KNOW. YOU-ALL CAN DO THIS.
SAME TAXATION RATE. WHEN IT COMES TO SALES, TAXES HAS TO BE UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE BODY.
[01:45:01]
THAT'S THE RULE. I DIDN'T MAKE IT UP.>> MADAM PARISH ATTORNEY, IS THERE ANYTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT THE WAY WE'RE COLLECTING TAXES BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST BANK?
>> DIDN'T THINK SO. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THE ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26462 AND MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
ITEM NUMBER 24 WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE. THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26463, AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE.
ALLOCATE $265,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 CDIA GENERAL FUND TO PUBLIC WORKS CAPITAL PROJECT ACCOUNT NUMBER 445604008745445645003 FOR THE CYPRES STREET RIGHT AWAY PARKING LOTS PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
ALLOCATE $400,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 5'S HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 2 HEALTH AND WELFARE FUND TO COASTAL PROJECT SUPPORT BONA SHORE RECLAMATION PROJECT 51113005 COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
TRANSFER $86,922 FROM BINNACLE BIRDS NEST PAVILION, PROJECT 13134001 TO COASTAL PROJECT SUPPORT BONNIE SHORE RECLAMATION, PROJECT 51113005 COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENT.
TO REMOVE 4,500,000 FROM ACCOUNT NUMBER 45820000591196010, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION THE AMENDMENTS ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26463.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED.
>> KEEP AT JUST TRYING TO SPARK THIS CURIOSITY.
I'M GLAD THAT MUSTERED A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU'RE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS.
IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ENOUGH TO ASK THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO BACK YOU TO BACK YOUR ACTIONS, YOU'VE ALREADY EXPLAINED AND EXPOSED YOURSELF FOR BEING IN CAHOOTS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THIS.
IF YOU KEEP ON CONFIRMING WHAT I'M ASSERTING HERE AND IF YOU LACK FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT REQUIRED TO EXERCISE YOUR CONTROL WITH THE WHOLESOME DISCRETION, I'M ADVISED THAT THE SOLUTION, THE REMEDY IS NOT TO TAKE IT FROM YOU, BUT TO CONTINUE INFORMING YOUR DISCRETION AND THIS WILL BE THE TRUE CORRECTIVE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL ABUSES OF POWER AND IN HERE, THEY ARE MANY AND ABUNDANT AND GROSS, BECAUSE YOU'VE EXERCISED SOME CROTCHET THAT LEGAL INGENUITY HAS INVENTED, AND THE COMBINATIONS THEY GAVE STRENGTH TO CARRY, THAT'S NO SHOCK TO ME.
RECONCILE THEM WITH WHAT THE CONSTITUTION ACTUALLY SAYS, PRESCRIBES AND WAS GIVEN PRECEDENT, AND I'LL GO HOME. RECONCILE THEM.
EXPLAIN IT TO ME AS THOUGH YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS REGARDING REPRESENTATION AND TAXATION, THAT REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES SHALL BE APPORTIONED AMONG THE SEVERAL PARTS OF THE PARISH, ACCORDING TO RESPECTIVE NUMBERS, THAT EACH SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE, BUT NONE MORE THAN ONE FOR EVERY SO MANY PEOPLE.
EXPLAIN THAT TO ME AS THOUGH YOU'VE UNDERSTOOD THAT AND HOW IT APPLIES TO WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON IN HERE, AND I NO LONGER NEED TO SHOW UP.
BUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN CALL OUT TO A PARISH ATTORNEY TO DO YOUR BIDDING FOR YOU, WHO'S PAID BY THE ADMINISTRATION, WHO'S PAID BY ME, BUT NOT TAKE MY SIDE IN THE QUESTION, NOT ASK A PARISH ATTORNEY.
SEE, THE QUESTION FOR THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS, PARISH ATTORNEY, WHAT WITH THIS LEGAL THING THAT WE'VE CONCOCTED HERE, WHY DOESN'T THAT SEEM TO GIVE WITH THE CONSTITUTION HE'S TALKING ABOUT AND THEN SHE CAN EXPLAIN IT TO YOU OR SHE CAN'T.
IF SHE CAN'T, THEN YOUR OBLIGATION TO THAT CONSTITUTION SUPERSEDES ANY COMMITMENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION YOU SHOULD HAVE AND EVEN A SENATOR, EVEN A SENATOR SHOULD CARE MORE ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF THEIR STATE AND THE MACHINATIONS OF AN ADMINISTRATION.
BUT YOU'RE NOT OBLIGED IN THIS MANNER HERE.
YOU CAN DO THIS ANY WAY YOU WANT.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A DEMOCRACY IN HERE.
YOU'VE GOT A MINORITY RULE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, WHERE I EITHER SEE THE FORCES OF KENA AND GRETNA OPPOSING THE FORCES OF OLD METERI OR VICE VERSA.
THERE'S ONLY ONE REPRESENTATIVE AND HE'S NOT EVEN HERE TODAY.
ONLY ONE REPRESENTATIVE OBLIGES TO THE WEST BANK, AND THAT SEAT ISN'T EVEN FILLED.
ONLY ONE OF YOU, 191,000 PEOPLE HERE ON THE WEST BANK, SUFFER FOR A VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION WHERE THEY OUGHT TO HAVE A REAL REPRESENTATION AND THEN THE TAXATION WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE FOR ME. FIGURE IT OUT.
[01:50:05]
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> I'M SORRY. ON APPEARED IN OPPOSITION, MADAM CLERK.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26463, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
SINCE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF THESE, WHY DON'T WE BREAK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION RIGHT NOW?
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
I THINK EVERYBODY'S HERE AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT.WE'LL COME BACK AND START WITH RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
PLEASE READ THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION, PREPARATION, FILING, AND HANDLING OF SUCH INJUNCTIVE, DECLARATORY OR OTHER ACTIONS OR IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH COASTAL ZONE LAWS, STATUTES, AND REGULATIONS FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION IN THE ADOPTION OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN EN R CONSECUTIVE BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING THE LAWSUIT ENTITLED SHARON OSMAN VERSUS EAST JEFFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL IN ABC INSURANCE COMPANY 24 JDC NUMBER 814-917 DIVISION H AND TO PROVIDE RELATED MATTERS.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION IN THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO JEFFERSON PARISH CLAIM FOR AN INSURED LOSS AT 03,600 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A LAWSUIT ENTITLED ELIJAH TOUPS AND JACOB WATSON VERSUS CYNTHIA LEE, 24 JDC NUMBER E25-103 DIVISION L AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE.
WE'RE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MADAM CLERK, WHAT PAGE DO WE LEAVE OFF ON? TWENTY SEVEN.
>> YOU HAVE ALL THE RESOLUTIONS.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTIONS.
LET ME UNMUTE YOU. I'LL TRY IT.
GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE YOURSELF NOW.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED SHARON OSMAN VERSUS EAST JEFFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL AND ABC INSURANCE COMPANY 24 JDC NUMBER 814-917 DIVISION 8 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION.
MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY CONCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT RELATED TO JEFFERSON PARISH CLAIM FOR INSURED LOSS AT 3,600 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION? ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT, A LAWSUIT ENTITLED ELIJAH TOUPS AND JACOB WATSON VERSUS CYNTHIA LEE, 24 JDC NUMBER A25-103 DIVISION L AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCIL WALKER.
HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. THAT BRINGS US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 25,
[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]
RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> I HAVE NONE FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
>> COUNCIL LILJEBERG HAS GIVEN THEM AWAY LIKE CANDY.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING MATAIRIE PARK COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, 300 PARK ROAD, MATAIRIE.
PERMISSION TO HAVE THEIR PARENTS ASSOCIATION, CITY NIGHT GALA ON SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND, 2025 FROM 6:00 PM UNTIL 11:59 PM.
>> ANY OBJECTION THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE.
NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BEFORE THE MOTION BY COUNCIL LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCIL WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
[01:55:01]
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU INCORPORATED 1221 ELMWOOD PARK BOULEVARD SUIT 411 [INAUDIBLE] TO CONDUCT A FAMILY GRO AT THE MARTIN GROVE PLAZA 3,300 BLOCK ON OF VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ACROSS FROM LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER IN MATAIRIE.
ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST, 2025, THROUGH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD, 2025, FROM 4:00 PM UNTIL 10:00 PM.
>> ANY OBJECTION, 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 APPEARED. COUNCIL LILJEBERG.
ANY OBJECTION ADOPTED THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD TO A MOTION BY COUNCIL LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCIL WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING ST. ANGELA MARIE T 835 MELODY DRIVE MATAIRIE.
PERMISSION TO CONDUCT A BEER AND CATHOLIC CULTURE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH, 2025 FROM 6:00 PM UNTIL 8:00 PM.
>> ANY OBJECTION, THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCIL LILJEBERG.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
BUT FORWARD A MOTION BY COUNCIL LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCIL WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION, GRANTING PERMISSION TO SUZIE Q, SOUTHERN SNOW, LLC, TO OPERATE ONE FOOD TRUCK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT 3609 VETERANS BOULEVARD AND MATAIRIE FOR THE SALE OF FOOD AND BEVERAGES DURING THE CARNIVAL SEASON, COMMENCING ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST, 2025, AND ENDING ON MARTIN GROVE DAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2025, PROVIDED ALL NECESSARY PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE.
WE'RE NOW FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NOONE APPEARED. COUNCIL LILJEBERG.
ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION? BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCIL LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCIL WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTED PERMISSION TO NEW ORLEANS TRACK CLUB 3405 VETERANS BOULEVARD IN MATAIRIE TO HOLD A MARTY GOULD 10K5K ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2025, FROM 8:00 AM UNTIL 10:30 AM.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE.
WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NONE APPEAR. COUNCIL LILJEBERG.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCIL LILJEBERG, SECOND BY COUNCIL WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MS. DETRIE SMITH JONES TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH FINANCE AUTHORITY AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
>> ANY OBJECTION THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION RESOLUTION? BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCIL LEE, SECOND BY COUNCIL WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND THE MYSTIC KREWE OF MUSIC, WHICH PROVIDED FUNDING AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $19,500 TOWARDS EXPENSES FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL BANDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2024 MYSTIC KREWE OF MUSIC CARNIVAL PARADE IN MARRERO.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $19,500 TOWARDS EXPENSES FOR ELEMENTARY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BANDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2025 MYSTIC KREWE OF MUSIC CARNIVAL PARADE, THEREBY INCREASING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE AGREEMENT TO $39,000 AND TO EXTEND THE TERM FOR ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR THROUGH JANUARY 30TH, 2026.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING, NO, AND I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANY ONE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION THAT RESOLUTION? BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND KREWE OF NANDI, WHICH PROVIDED FUNDING AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $20,000 TOWARDS EXPENSES FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BANDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2024 KREWE OF NANDI CARNIVAL PARADE IN MARRERO TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $20,000 TOWARDS EXPENSES FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BANDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2025 CREW OF NANDI CARNIVAL PARADE MARRERO, THEREBY INCREASING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE AGREEMENT FROM $20,000-$40,000 AND TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT FOR ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR THROUGH MARCH 5TH, 2026.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE.
NOW FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE.
>> ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LEE? SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
[02:00:02]
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO SUZIE Q, SOUTHERN SNOW, LLC TO ERECT ONE CONCESSION STAND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT 6229 WEST BANK EXPRESSWAY, IN MARRERO, FOR THE SALE OF FOOD AND BEVERAGES DURING THE CARNIVAL SEASON COMMENCING ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST, 2025, AND ENDING ON MARTY GOULD DAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2025, PROVIDED ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE.
WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING A FIRM FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS, ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 141514, ADOPTED ON MARCH 15TH, 2023, TO PROVIDE MISCELLANEOUS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES RELATED TO TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION WHICH SERVICES ARE NEEDED TO CREATE A NEW ZONING CLASSIFICATION CALLED RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE THAT WILL PROHIBIT DISPOSAL AND PROMOTE RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS, INCLUDING ACTIVITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURES TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS.
>> ANY OBJECTION THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, AND NOW WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE?
>> APTIM ENVIRONMENTAL WITH GIS. THAT IS ALL.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF APTIM ENVIRONMENTAL AND GIS.
APTIM ENVIRONMENTAL IS THE MAIN GIS OF THE SUB.
BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LEE SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING CERTAIN STREETS AND UTILITIES IN GLEN DELLA SUBDIVISION FOR MAINTENANCE BY THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLANS BY [INAUDIBLE] SURVEY AN ENGINEERING INCORPORATED DATED OCTOBER 9TH, 2023, AND STAND TO RECORD DRAWINGS ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024.
>> YOU SAID THIS'S GOT TO BE THE LAST ONE, IS THAT TRUE? ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILLMAN LEE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILLMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> CONSENT AGENDA 1. WE'LL GO WITH
[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN'S MOTION ON THE ENGLOBE ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 26 THROUGH 62-27, FROM WHICH I WILL ABSTAIN.>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ENGLOBE ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 26 THROUGH 62-27, FROM WHICH I'M ABSTAINING ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 27.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVAL OF THE 2024 AND 2025 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PERMITS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN WITH COUNCILMAN WALKER ABSTAINING.
HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. 63, PLEASE.
I'M GETTING THERE. WHICH IS CONSENT AGENDA 2.
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]
YOUR MOTION, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, ON THE ENGLOBE ADOPTION OF ITEM 63 THROUGH 133-63, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED, 66, WHICH IS A SELECTION, 65, WHICH WAS TAKEN OUT OF ORDER, 76 FROM WHICH COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN WILL ABSTAIN, 93, WHICH WILL BE AMENDED, AND 115, WHICH WILL BE AMENDED.>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ENGLOBE ADOPTION OF ITEM 63 THROUGH 133-63, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED, 66, WHICH IS A SELECTION, 65, WHICH WAS TAKEN OUT OF ORDER, 76 FROM WHICH COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN WILL ABSTAIN, 93, WHICH WILL BE AMENDED, AND 115, WHICH WILL ALSO BE AMENDED? MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. GOT ALL RIGHT?
>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS, ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 144664, ADOPTED AUGUST 7TH, 2024, FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR SEWAGE PROJECTS, WHICH SERVICES WILL BE REQUIRED FOR PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES FOR THE EAST BANK WTP BELL PRESS ODOR CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS, A CIP PROJECT NUMBER 5126 COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF SHRED KIRKENDALL AND ASSOCIATES.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
[02:05:02]
THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 76.>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND SHER HARDY SHERMAN WILLIAMS, LLP, TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES IN THE MATTER OF RUSS LAWN PARK CEMETERY INCORPORATED VERSUS PARISH OF JEFFERSON, 24 JDC NUMBER 836-691 DIVISION AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? MOTION OF COUNCIL LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER WITH COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ABSTAINING.
I'M GETTING THERE WITH AMENDMENTS.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CHAIRPERSON OR IN THEIR ABSENCE, THE VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE VENDOR BROAD BLAST, INCORPORATED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE EVERBRIGHT ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM WITH A TERM OF ONE YEAR BEGINNING FEBRUARY 2ND, 2025, AND ENDING FEBRUARY 1ST, 2026, FOR A COST NOT TO EXCEED $124,541.87.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO CHANGE THE VENDOR'S NAME IN THE PREAMBLE, THE FOURTH WHEREAS IN SECTION 1 TO EVERBRIDGE INCORPORATED. THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENT BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
YOUR MOTION, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, ON THE RESOLUTION.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? AS AMENDED ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED THAT TAKES US UP TO ITEM 115.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A THREE-YEAR EXTENDED PAYMENT TERMS ARTICLE WITH CMA TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE NECESSARY SOFTWARE, MAINTENANCE, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO MEET THE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SYSTEM NEEDS OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FOR A COST NOT TO EXCEED $205,675.61.
THE AMENDMENT IS TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT TO $211,855.61 IN THE PREAMBLE IN SECTION 2.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, A MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS.
MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, YOUR MOTION.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS (Part 2 of 2)]
134 NOW ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA.>> YOUR MOTION, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ON THE ENGLOBE ADOPTION OF ITEMS 1-17-14, WHICH IS TAKEN OUT OF ORDER.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS 1-17-14, WHICH IS TAKEN OUT OF ORDER ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
LET'S MOVE TO ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM 18 AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS WITH AMENDMENTS, MADAM CLERK?
>> A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND BRAZIL, SACHI AND WILSON, LLP, TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW CHURCH HILL 9 MILE POINT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, AND ASSOCIATED GUIDANCE CONCERNING TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN SECTION 3 TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT TO $50,000 INSTEAD OF $250,000.
>> 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 OF MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
YOUR MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION RESOLUTION AS AMENDED A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. LET'S GO TO 135.
[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT, PIGGYBACK PURCHASED BETWEEN JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN PARTS, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR UNDER NEW ORLEANS CONTRACT NUMBERS K24-810, RESPECTIVELY AWARDED TO CASCO FOR THE EASTMANK CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL SERVICE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, NOT TO EXCEED $100,000.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, 136, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. JOSLINE FRANK TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC INCENTIVE FUND EVALUATION COMMITTEE HAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PORT DISTRICT JEDCO APPOINTMENT.
TO COMMEND MS. MYRA PENDANT PADA.
THANK YOU FOR HER SERVICE AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
[02:10:03]
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION? MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 137.
>> A RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN CONSOLIDATED DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER 2 OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, THE DISTRICT, FOR AUTHORITY TO RENEW THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AN AD VALOREM TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, MAINTAINING OR OPERATING THE DRAINAGE WORKS WITHIN AND FOR THE DISTRICTS, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE LOUISIANA STATE BIND COMMISSION AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED ELECTION AND PROVIDE FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE AFORESAID ELECTION.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED, 138, PLEASE.
>> A RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN CONSOLIDATED JEFFERSON RECREATION AND COMMUNITY CENTER IN PLAYGROUND DISTRICT OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, THE DISTRICT FOR AUTHORITY TO RENEW THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AN AD VALOREM TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, MAINTAINING, AND OPERATING RECREATION AND OTHER FACILITIES 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 ELECTION AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE AFORESAID ELECTION.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND THE MATAIRIE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, WHICH ALLOWED MBDD TO PERFORM ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING, ABATEMENT AND DEMOLITION OF DERELICT STRUCTURE ON PARISH OWNED LAND LOCATED AT 3708 DIVISION STREET AND 3800 AND 3828 HESSMER AVENUE, MATAIRIE LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, TO PROVIDE MBDD WITH $175,000 TO COMPLETE THE TESTING, ABATEMENT, AND DEMOLITION OF THE PROPERTIES.
>> HANS LILJEBERG. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PAYMENT AND LURE OF TAX INCENTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PORT DISTRICT AT 1450 L&H HOLDINGS, LLC, 1009 MCDERMOTT HOLDINGS, LLC, AND 1001 MCDERMOTT, LLC RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MANUFACTURING AND TRAINING FACILITY.
THE BENEFITS OF 1450 L&H HOLDINGS, LLC, 1009 MCDERMOTT HOLDINGS, LLC, AND 1001 MCDERMOTT, LLC, AND THE AFFILIATES IN MATAIRIE, JEFFERSON PARISH, RESENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 144461, ADOPTED ON JUNE 12TH, 2024, AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> IF IT MATTERS, MADAM CLERK, YOU MENTIONED L&H HOLDINGS TWICE INSTEAD OF L&A, SO JUST TO CLARIFY THAT ON THE NAME. COUNCILMAN BONANO.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26464, AMENDING SECTION 2-891 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH, RELATIVE TO ADDING HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM THE JEFFERSON PARISH PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
>> PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN ON THIS ITEM, 26464.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED, COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF 26464, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
NO NEW BUSINESS TO REPORT, NO STATUS REPORT.
NOW, PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS MAY DO SO.
[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.MUST TURN IN YOUR REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
THIS IS ITEMS NOT RELATED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
>> PUT YOUR MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT DOWN, PLEASE? NOT MUCH.
OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET ME TURN IT ON.
THAT IS PROBABLY WHY I DON'T HEAR YOU.
>> JAMES TATE, RESIDENT OF HARVEY, LOUISIANA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO START WITH THIS.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I GAVE A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON ABOUT 27 IMPORTANT THINGS TO OUR CONSTITUTION.
[02:15:04]
TODAY, I WANT TO QUOTE OLIVER WINDOW HOLMES.HE ONCE SAID, "TAXES ARE THE PRICES WE PAY FOR LIVING A CIVILIZED SOCIETY." I'M LISTENING TO HOW YOU GUYS ARE APPORTIONING OUR MONEY, WHICH I DON'T HAVE A BIG DEAL WITH IT, EXCEPT THE ONE THING THAT THERE WAS A STUDY DONE THAT WAS PUBLISHED MARCH 2024 THAT YOU GUYS HAD COMMISSIONED FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF FIRE SERVICES IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
WHY DO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENTS? MY FIRST QUESTION.
PRIMARILY HAVE A MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE HAD ACCESS TO THIS STUDY, AND I'M NO EXPERT, BUT THE STUDY SAYING WE PRETTY MUCH NEED TO CONSOLIDATE.
WHY IS THAT NOT A HIGH PRIORITY? BECAUSE IF YOU TURN THE NEWS ON, YOU'LL SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA.
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE HAD DROUGHTS.
IT DOESN'T TAKE OR IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A DISASTER FOR US TO REALIZE, WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY, WHEREAS MOST IMPORTANT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I'M COMING TO URGE YOU AGAIN, LIKE I DID LAST TIME, TO PLEASE ADDRESS THIS BEFORE IT BECOMES AN EMERGENCY.
>> YEAH, I'D LIKE SOME PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON THIS WHO ARE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN I AM, BUT I KNOW WHAT I'VE PICKED UP ALONG THE WAY IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY MOVING PARKS TO THIS. YEAH.
>> WELL, IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARKS HERE AND A LOT OF OBSTACLES IN THE WAY THAT NEED TO BE CLEARED, COUNCIL BONANO.
CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT?
>> YEAH, IT'S NOT A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS.
WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION WE'RE IN TODAY BECAUSE OF A HISTORY.
WE STARTED OFF AS A RURAL PARISH WHERE WE RELIED ON VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE FIRE SERVICES.
ON THE EAST BANK, THEY CONSOLIDATED.
AS YOU STATED, THE CITIES ALL HAVE THEIR OWN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
>> I KNOW THE HISTORY. I DON'T NEED THE HISTORY.
>> NO, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT.
LET ME SPEAK, PLEASE. I HAVE THE FLOOR NAIL.
MOVING FORWARD, WE ALL REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER WITH FIRE SERVICES ON THE WEST BANK ESPECIALLY FROM MANPOWER.
THAT'S WHY WE CONDUCTED THIS STUDY, BUT IT'S NOT A OVERNIGHT FLIP OF THE SWITCH.
IF ANYBODY THINKS WE CAN DO THIS IN A YEAR, THEY'RE KIDDING THEMSELVES.
THERE'S A LOT OF LAWS THAT HAVE TO BE CHANGED.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST US TO DO THIS.
I GOT A FEELING, KNOWING THE NUMBERS THAT I DO AFTER BEING IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR 37 YEARS, IT'S GOING TO COST US A HELL OF A LOT MORE THAN WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING THE TAXES.
THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.
THAT'S THE NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS THE ACTUAL COST TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE CONSULTANTS, BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN A YEAR BECAUSE A LOT HAS TO BE CHANGED.
THERE'S A LOT OF LAWS HAVE TO BE CHANGED.
REALIZE THE PEOPLE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS.
YOU HAVE TO VOTE TO CONSOLIDATE, AND YOU GOT TO VOTE TO IMPOSE A NEW TAX.
THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS HAVE TO HAPPEN.
THEN THERE'S AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
YOU JUST CAN'T FLIP A SWITCH ONE.
THEY SAY, OKAY, EVERYBODY'S NAIL CONSOLIDATED.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY. YOU GOT TO HIRE PEOPLE.
YOU GOT TO CLOSE FIRE STATIONS.
YOU GOT TO BUILD NEW FIRE STATIONS.
YOU GOT TO GET RID OF SOME EQUIPMENT AND BUY SOME NEW EQUIPMENT, AND YOU GOT TO REDEPLOY THAT EQUIPMENT TO THE AREAS WHERE THE CONSULTANT HAS RECOMMENDED.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN A YEAR'S TIME.
I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND LIE TO ANYBODY AND TELL THEM THAT IS.
>> THANK YOU, SIR, BUT THAT WAS NOT MY QUESTION.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? [LAUGHTER]
>> WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO START?
>> SIR, THE STUDY IS THE STARTING PROCESS.
>> BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE HAS BEEN OUT SINCE MARCH 2024.
>> NO, SIR, THAT WAS THE DRAFT.
THE STUDY WAS JUST RECENTLY RELEASED IN THE LAST 30 DAYS, THE COMPLETED STUDY.
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE STUDY.
>> MY NEXT QUESTION, THEN, SINCE WE'VE GOT A JOURNEY OF 100 MILES.
WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP?
>> WE'RE DOING IT NOW, SIR, I JUST TOLD YOU, THE NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST US.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN BREAKING THIS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO.
>> LET ME ALSO JUST SAY, BECAUSE I APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE AND MAKING IT A PRIORITY.
I'VE HEARD AN UPTICK IN DISCUSSION ABOUT IT ON THE WEST BANK.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE NOW VERY OPEN TO THE IDEA OF CONSOLIDATION THAT HAD NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.
I THINK WE NOW KNOW THAT IS THE GOAL TO CONSOLIDATE HAVE THE STUDY THAT LOOKS AT CONSOLIDATION.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE THAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS EXACTLY AS WE NEEDED TO BE.
[02:20:03]
THEN MY UNDERSTANDING AND DIRECTOR ROBERTSON, CAN SAY IF THIS IS DIFFERENT.BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE NEXT STEPS, NOW THAT WE HAVE A FINAL STUDY, THE NEXT STEP IS, HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT IT? THE THIRD, WHAT'S THE COST AND HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT? WE ARE NOW READING THAT STUDY.
I ACTUALLY JUST ASKED MY OFFICE TO PRINT OUT A COPY, SO I CAN START READING OVER IT, HIGHLIGHTING IT, MAKE SURE I'M UP TO SPEED ON IT.
THEN HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT IT? HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT? WE'RE TAKING THOSE STEPS NOW.
>> ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO IS MAKING SURE THAT THE GUYS WHO'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME ON THE WEST BANK, WHEN CONSOLIDATION HAPPENS THAT THEY'RE WELL TAKEN CARE OF, AND THAT THE YOUNGER GUYS WHO ARE COMING UP AREN'T JUST THE BENEFICIARIES, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE FOR THE YOUNGER PEOPLE COMING INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL ON THE WEST BANK, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE GUYS WHO HAVE PUT IN 20,30 YEARS ARE PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF AND THE RETIREMENTS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR.
THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE COST AND EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS THIS GOES FORWARD.
>> ONE MORE COMMENT. YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IN TERRY TOWN, WHERE THERE'S A MOSTLY VOLUNTEER.
ONLY ONE VOLUNTEER SHOWED UP AT A HOUSE THAT BURNED DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT INCIDENT.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF THING WE DON'T NEED TO SEE HAPPEN MORE OFTEN BEFORE SOMETHING GETS DONE.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK MY MIND AS A CITIZEN AND ASK YOU TO LIGHT A FIRE UNDER SOMEBODY.
>> DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF US DISAGREE WITH YOU.
WE AGREE. DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, DON, ANTHONY? I DON'T WANT TO GO PAST YOU WITHOUT ASKING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CLAYTON KENDRELL CEO.
I WANT TO REITERATE SOME THINGS I SPOKE ABOUT MONDAY AT THE LRA MEETING, AND BROUGHT IT UP TO HANS AND JENNIFER.
TWO OF THE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND AS NOT ONLY A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA, AS A CIVIC ACTIVIST, I AM ALSO A BUSINESSMAN IN THE PARISH.
ONE OF THE THINGS I SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN BUCKTOWN.
I APPLAUD YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND DOING, BUT WE NEED MORE THINGS IN THIS PARISH.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE, WE'RE COMPETING WITH NEW ORLEANS.
WHEN A LOT OF TOURISTS COME TO NEW ORLEANS NOT TO JUST WANT TO GO TO THE FRENCH QUARTER.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE SOME OF THE SWAMP LANDS THAT ORLEANS PARISH DON'T HAVE.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT ACTIVITIES OF WHAT'S GOING TO DO HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
ONE OF THE THINGS I BROUGHT UP IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER BUSINESSES IS WHY WE DON'T HAVE DINNER THEATERS HERE IN THE PARISH.
IT'S A TOURIST TRACTION HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
TAX DOLLAR IS IMPLEMENTED THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TO JEFFERSON PARISH AND SPEND MONEY HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ARE CASINOS AND BALLROOMS. I DON'T DO EITHER.
>> I'M LOOKING FOR ACTIVITIES, AND WE WONDER WHY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE BREAKING WINDOWS AND BREAKING IN AND SHOOTING EACH OTHER UP.
NOW, WE HAVE A WHOLE LAKEFRONT FROM KENA TO MATAIRIE TO THE NEW ORLEANS LINE THAT WE CAN BE DOING THINGS WITH, THAT WE CAN PUT VOLLEYBALL PARKS AND HAVE TOURNAMENTS, WE CAN HAVE GOLF PART TRACKS, WHICH I THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE WEST BANK HERE, BUT WE NEED MORE THINGS TO DO IN THIS PARISH.
NOW, THE SECOND THING I BROUGHT UP IS A CONVENTION CENTER IN THIS PARISH.
WE WANTED TO BRING DONALD TRUMP AND HAVE THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION HERE, BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WANTED TO DO THAT.
BUT THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TRUMP HERE IN THE CITY.
BUT YET, OF COURSE, IT'S A PRIME EXAMPLE THAT WE COULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT HERE TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE HERE, WE HAVE THE LAND HERE, WHY WE DON'T HAVE A CONVENTION CENTER, THE WHOLE MAJOR CONVENTIONS IN THIS CITY IN THIS PARISH TO TAKE IN THE REVENUE WHEN ORLEANS PARISH IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB? THE LAST PART IS TERRORISM.
OF COURSE, WHAT HAPPENED ON NEW YEAR'S EVE DAY IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THERE'S SOME THINGS, AND THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT I STILL HAVE OF WHY AND HOW THAT HAPPENED.
WE HAVE MARDI GRAS HERE AND SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES AND I BROUGHT THIS UP IS MARDI GRAS COMING UP IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.
I AS A PERSON WHO RODE IN ONE OF THE MARDI GRAS PARADES AND THE ST. PATRICK STATE PARADE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT I'M AROUND WITH, BUT ALSO THE ATTENDEES THAT ARE ATTENDING THAT ARE SAFE.
JENNIFER, THANK HANS, ONE OF YOU GUYS SAID WE CAN'T STOP.
>> THAT'S YOUR TIME, MR. GUENDOZI.
>> BUT WHAT CAN WE DO IN THIS PARISH AS AN ORDINANCE TO FIX?
[02:25:01]
WE NEED TO FIX AND STOP AND PREVENT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?>> THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
AND I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF MEETINGS SINCE THEN, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF PLAN REVISIONS AND PLAN STUDYING AND LOOKING AT THINGS ALONG OUR PARADE ROUTES AND MAKING SURE WE'RE AS LOCK DOWN AS WE CAN BE, BUT YOU CAN'T LOCK DOWN EVERYTHING ON A PARADE ROUTE.
BUT BELIEVE ME., JPSO IS IN TUNE WITH IT AND ENGAGED AND DOING EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFE FOR METERS, MARDI GRAS PARADES, AND THE WEST BANK PARADES AS WELL.
>> YES, BECAUSE THOSE PARADES ARE IN MY BACKYARD.
DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SAFE AND THE PEOPLE THAT ATTEND THAT ARE SAFE.
REST ASSURED, JPSO, THE PARISH, WE ARE ON TOP OF IT.
>> BRIAN MILLER, FIRE CHIEF FROM THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.
ONLY REASON WHY I GOT UP HERE WAS BECAUSE THE GENTLEMAN DID.
THE REASON WHY IS, AS USUAL, WHEN I COME HERE, IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE RUMORS RUNNING RAMPANT, AND THOSE THAT THINK THEY KNOW DON'T KNOW AND WANT TO SAY SO.
TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT, COUNCILMAN BERNARDO, THANK YOU, CAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE OF A MEETING WE HAD IN WAGAMAN, WHERE MISS VAN VRANCKEN APPEARED TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAD AND SOME OF THE CITIZENS.
MY INTENTION IS TO DO NOTHING BUT HELP EDUCATE MY CITIZENS WHERE I SERVE.
WHEN WE CHOSE TO TAKE THESE POSITIONS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OR FIRE CHIEFS, IT'S NOT THAT I'M A LEADER. I'M A SERVER.
I SERVE MY COMMUNITY AND THE HEROES THAT RIDE ON THOSE TRUCKS.
I'M NOT FOR THIS CONSOLIDATION, BUT I AM DEFINITELY FOR CONSOLIDATION IF WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO COME TO THE TABLE.
YOU AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, US AS FIRE CHIEFS.
LISTEN, I'M WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT WHEN CONSOLIDATION GOES THROUGH, I WILL BE THE FIRST FIRE CHIEF YOU GET RID OF.
I'M OKAY WITH THAT. AS LONG AS IT BENEFITS OUR PEOPLE, GREAT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
I WOULD ASK MR. LEE AS MY DIRECT COUNCILMAN FROM WHERE I SERVE TO BE A PART AND COME OUT TO IT MAYBE NEXT TIME.
I KNOW YOU'RE A BUSY MAN, NOT TAKING ANYTHING FROM YOU, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE MR. LYONS COME OUT TOO BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S GOT A FUTURE ASPIRATION.
THAT WAY, HE'S AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, THAT'S ALL WE WANT.
TO GO FROM 19 GUYS RIGHT NOW TODAY TO NINE DOESN'T SEEM SUFFICIENT TO ME.
I AM ONE THAT DOES BELIEVE THIS.
I'M A EAST BANKER. I HAVE GOOD PROTECTION.
WHY DO WE NOT LOOK ON THE WEST SIDE OF WEST GO TO THE ST. CHARLES LINE LIKE WE DO FOR EVERY OTHER PART OF THIS PARISH? THOSE PEOPLE DESERVE THE SAME PROTECTION AND SERVICE AS ANYBODY ELSE.
THAT'S ALL I ASK FOR. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER.
>> DON'T WORRY, CHIEF. WE GOT A SPOT ON A PUMPER FOR YOU.
>> OH, NO, 57 PUMPER. THANK YOU.
>> WHEN I WAS IN THE FIRE SERVICE, WE HAD A SAYING ABOUT THE RUMOR MILL AND THE FIRE SERVICE.
TELL A FRIEND, TELL A STRANGER, TELL A FIREMAN.
>> MY LINE WAS ALWAYS TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, TELE FIREMAN.
>> BUT WHEN THESE CHANGES COME, I HOPE YOU AREN'T ONE WHO LEAVES.
LET ME SAY THAT AND THEN ALSO, THE ONE THING THAT I'M AWARE OF HAVING TALKED TO SOME OF THE FIREMEN IN THAT AREA IS THAT EVERYBODY DOESN'T AGREE TO CONSOLIDATION.
>> CORRECT. BUT I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THE UNEDUCATION TO WHAT IT TAKES.
I KNOW AS JUST ONE PERSON HERE AS A CITIZEN, AND I'VE SERVED AS A POLICEMAN, I SERVED AS A FIREMAN.
WHY DO WE KEEP GOING AND GETTING A CONSULTANT THAT'S NOT FROM THIS AREA.
I'M PAID AS A FIRE CHIEF, NOT HIGHLY, BUT I'M PAID AS A FIRE CHIEF.
WHY NOT TAKE THE CHIEFS THAT WE HAVE ON THE WEST BANK THAT HAVE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND TIME ON THE JOB AND USE THEM TO HELP US FORM THAT CONSOLIDATION.
>> I'M NOT AGAINST THE MAN THAT DID IT.
HE WAS PROBABLY GREAT WHEREVER HE'S FROM? HE'S JUST NOT FROM JEFFERSON?
>> HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT APPLIED. THAT'S THE ANSWER.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THE CHIEFS ARE GOING TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS NEXT START OF THE PROCESS? WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM.
[02:30:01]
>> SPARKED A LITTLE CURIOSITY THE WAY WE GO.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALREADY DID THIS, BUT IF NOT, THEN I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS DONE.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR NICOLE PEREZ, MATAIRIE CITIZEN WHO LOST HER LIFE NEW YEAR'S DAY.
I HOPED FOR A BETTER NEW YEAR.
PUBLIC SAFETY, DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY.
THESE THINGS ARE WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT GOVERNANCE.
THESE ARE WHY WE DEFER TO GOVERNANCE AT ALL.
COMMON DEFENSE. FOR THE OFFICERS THAT WERE DEPLOYED THAT EVENING, OH, MAN.
I WORK ALONGSIDE FIRST RESPONDERS OFTEN.
AND I HAVE, GOING BACK THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, WORK SECURITY IN A BAR.
THERE'S A PLAN FOR WHEN THESE OCCASIONS OCCUR.
I GUARANTEE YOU THERE WAS NO PLAN TO HAVE TEN OFFICERS ON ONE CORNER.
THERE WAS NO PLAN THAT SAID LET'S HAVE FOUR TROOPERS AND SIX OTHER OFFICERS DEPLOYED ON ONE CORNER.
ST. PETER ORLEANS, WHICHEVER CORNER THEY WERE ON.
I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WAS NOT THE PLAN.
THERE IS NO PLAN WHERE YOU FOCUS SO MUCH OF YOUR RESOURCE ON ONE SPOT THAT'S AWAY FROM WHERE THE THREAT MIGHT BEGIN.
THE OFFERS THE OFFICERS THAT WERE DEPLOYED THAT EVENING, I OFFERS MY UNDERSTANDING, MY COMPASSION, WHAT FORGIVENESS I COULD AS A CITIZEN FOR NOT MAKING SURE THAT THEIR LEADERS, THE CAPTAINS OF THE STATE TROOP, TROOP NOLA, THE CAPTAIN OF THE NOPD, I'M NOT INCLINED TO DEMAND RESIGNATIONS.
BUT IF I WERE IN ANY OF YOUR POSITIONS, IF I WAS A COUNCILMAN, IF I WAS A COUNCILPERSON AT LARGE, IF I WAS A MAYOR, IF I WAS ONE OF THOSE CAPTAINS, IF I WAS THE GOVERNOR WHO STUCK MY FINGERS IN THE FRENCH QUARTER, THE LEAST I WOULD DO OUT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IS TO OFFER MY RESIGNATION TO ADMIT THAT I FAILED AS A LEADER TO FULFILL MY OBLIGATIONS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.
I'D PRAY FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION, WE CAN DO BETTER.
BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE SOLDIER, EXAGGERATE A VILLAIN, PRETEND THAT SOMETHING'S UNIMAGINABLE, SOMEHOW DIMINISH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THOSE THAT WE EMPOWER TO DO THIS, WE DIMINISH THEIR CAPACITY TO DO THE JOB.
IF YOU AS LEADERS AREN'T WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, GOT TO HELP US ALL.
I PAY THESE FIRST RESPONDERS MORE THAN ANY OF YOU GET, AND EACH ONE OF YOU IS GETTING OVER FIVE GRAND A DAY TO BE HERE.
YOU'RE GETTING PAID MORE THAN $5,000 TO BE HERE. YE, I DID THE MATH.
YOU CUT OUT TWO MEETINGS A MONTH.
YOU'RE 16 PLUS PERCENT, 16.6% LESS.
>> THAT'S YOUR TIME, MR. HIERS.
AT LARGE IS GETTING I GUESS WE ONLY WORK ON MEETING DAYS.
>> WE ONLY WORK ON MEETING OR BECAUSE WE ONLY WORK ON MEETING DAYS, Y'ALL.
ANYBODY ELSE? ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS. ALL RIGHT.
>> REALLY QUICK. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, WE ARE MOURNING THE LOSS OF A VERY PROMINENT KINER CITIZEN, SELLY MALINA WHO WAS A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST IN THE HIGHEST ORDER.
SHE FOUNDED A COUPLE OF FACEBOOK PAGES, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE NO BIG DEAL, BUT HER PAGES WERE SHARED AND APPRECIATED BY MANY.
SHE ENCOURAGED A LOT OF DEBATE, AND WE WILL SORELY MISS HER.
SHE JUST LOST HER BATTLE TO CANCER.
OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO HER AND HER TWO SONS AND HER HUSBAND.
THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO SAY IS ABOUT TRIPABLE, WHO KNOWS IS IN THE BACK.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON AN AMAZINGLY SUCCESSFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON.
EVERY YEAR, HE CONTINUES TO SHOCK AND SURPRISE US.
SO THANK YOU, TRIP FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION TO SUMMARY.
[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]
SHE JUST SAID WE HAVE A LOT. [LAUGHTER]>> THE FIRST ONE I'M GOING TO READ IS GOING TO REQUIRE UNANIMOUS VOTE.
AN ORDINANCE RENAMING SEMINOLE COURT, WEST WEGO, LOUISIANA, FROM ITS INTERSECTION AT GEORGE STREET TO ITS INTERSECTION AT CORETTA DRIVE, HAS JUDGE EUGENE FITCHU LANE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT ORDINANCE RENDERED TO SUMMARY, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN RANK IN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE TO ORDER.
>> AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 26893 TO UPDATE THE REFERENCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT DRAWINGS.
IN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY PLAT OF SUBDIVISION OF LOT 171819 SQUARE 102,
[02:35:08]
HARLEM SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 17A, SQUARE 102, AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF LOT 14 SQUARE 39 PONTCHARTIAN GARDEN SUBDIVISION UNIT 2 LOCATED AT 3120 TRANSCONTINENTAL DRIVE, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM RR 33 AND FOUR FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO C1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF LOT 18 AND 19, HARLEM SUBDIVISION SQUARE 102, LOCATED AT 3200 WEST MEDARY AVENUE, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R1A, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO GO2 GENERAL OFFICE DISTRICT, CPZ, COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 20 OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS IN CHAPTER 33 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO UPDATE REFERENCES FOR THE POSITION OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE CBC COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OLVERAY ZONE REGULATIONS FOR JEFFERSON IN LOCATED AT 3407 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY ON LOT X-1-8^2, CLAIBORNE GATEWAY SUBDIVISION.
AN ORDINANCE SUBMITTED APPROVING AND REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS OF THE IL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN OFFICE WAREHOUSE REPAIR SHOP AT 6033 BEVAN STREET ON LOT 1FB5A ELMWOOD INDUSTRIAL PARK.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 26907 TO UPDATE THE REFERENCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT DRAWINGS APPROVED UNDER DOCKET NUMBER SP 5123.
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE OFF STREET PARKING REGULATIONS FOR WALMART SUPER CENTER LOCATED AT 8912 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD, ON LOT 1A1B, SQUARE A2, WESTGATE SUBDIVISION, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS OF CBZ COMMERCIAL PARK, OVERLAY ZONE FOR SEPARTOS, LOCATED AT 5010 VETERANS BOULEVARD ON LOT A1, SQUARE 42 PONTCHARTIAN GARDEN SUBDIVISION.
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE CPZ COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE, REGULATIONS AND THE R3 AREA REGULATIONS FOR A NEW FOUR FAMILY DWELLING LOCATED AT 216 MANSON AVENUE, ON LOT 36A SQUARE 3.
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE SIGN REGULATIONS OF THE ZBC, COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE FOR AUTO ZONE LOCATED AT 4630 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LOT B1 SQUARE 42 PONTCHARTIAN GARDEN SUBDIVISION SECTION A.
AN ORDINANCE DECLARING VARIOUS ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SAID PROPERTIES.
AN ORDINANCE RENAMING EISENHOWER AVENUE FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH AIRLINE DRIVE, NORTH TO CHANGE TO MIKE MILEY PLAYGROUND IN MATAIRIE HAS PICKLE BALL COURT.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 2-8759A OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES CHANGING THE NOMINATING ORGANIZATION FOR COMMISSIONER G FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PORT DISTRICT TO LOUISIANA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
THE NEXT ONE I'M GOING TO READ IS GOING TO HAVE A CORRECTION IN THE CAPTION.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE MATAIRIE TOWERS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THE BENEFITS OF THE RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR TOWER RESIDENCES OF OLD MATAIRIE AT 401 MATAIRIE ROAD.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET, AND ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THAT'S ALL THE ORDINANCES I HAVE TO READ.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE ORDINANCES READY TO SUMMARY A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTION TO ADJOURNED BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT.
NOT AS MANY ARE PRESENT. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. HAY GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.