>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. WELCOME. WE'VE GOT
[00:00:03]
A FEW THINGS TO GET TO BEFORE THIS MORNING'S MEETING, SO IF YOU'LL TAKE YOUR SEATS, WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OUR PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS.[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
SINCE I SEE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME A BUNCH OF FIREFIGHTERS IN THE FRONT ROW, COUNCILMAN BONANO WANTS TO KICK THINGS OFF. WE'LL DO THAT.>> GIVE ME ONE SECOND TO GIVE MYSELF A LITTLE WARMUP.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GIVE COUNCILMAN BONANO A FEW MORE MINUTES TO GET HIS CERTIFICATES TOGETHER.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, WHO HAS A PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING.
>> WHEREAS BRETT LAWSON BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH JEFFERSON PARISH IN 2005 AS A CLERK FOR COUNCILMAN CHRISTOPHER ROBERTS, AND WHEREAS IN 2007, HE BECAME THE ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE TO COUNCILMAN CHRIS ROBERTS FOR DISTRICT 1, AND WHEREAS IN 2011, HE CONTINUED HIS SERVICE AS ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE TO COUNCILMAN CHRIS ROBERTS AND LATER TO INTERIM COUNCILMAN KEITH CONLEY FOR COUNCIL AT LARGE A.
WHEREAS IN 2020, HE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF TO COUNCILMAN RICKY TEMPLET FOR COUNCILMAN AT LARGE A.
WHEREAS IN 2024, HE BECAME THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO COUNCILMAN HANS LILJEBERG, FOR COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
SOUNDS LIKE A GUY WHO CAN'T KEEP A JOB.
[LAUGHTER] WHEREAS AFTER MORE THAN 19 YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE, ON JANUARY 31ST, 2025, BRETT J. LAWSON WAS ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION TO CHIEF OF POLICE IN HIS HOMETOWN OF GRETNA, FOLLOWING THE DECISION OF HIS FATHER, GRETNA POLICE CHIEF ARTHUR LAWSON, TO RETIRE AFTER SERVING FIVE TERMS. FOOTSTEPS OF HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, COLONEL JOSEPH MASERRA, WHO ALSO SERVED IN THE GRETNA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT HIS NEARLY TWO DECADES OF SERVICE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH, LAWSON PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN NUMEROUS PARISH PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES AIMED AT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL JEFFERSON PARISH CITIZENS, INCLUDING THE REVITALIZATION OF FIRST SITTING, ESTABLISHING A PRIMARY WORKSPACE IN GRETNA AND THE KING FISH RIVERVIEW PROJECT IN PELICAN PARK.
WHEREAS, IN HIS ROLE AS CHIEF OF STAFF, LAWSON EFFECTIVELY MANAGED A $15 MILLION BUDGET, SECURED FUNDING FOR PRO LAW ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES, SUCH AS THE MAJOR CRIMES TASK FORCE, DRAFTED LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, AND LAUNCHED SEVERAL INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.
WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO HIS DISTINGUISHED GOVERNMENT CAREER, LAWSON HAS SERVED FOR MANY YEARS IN THE GRETNA POLICE DEPARTMENT RESERVE DIVISION, RISING TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT.
WHEREAS LAWSON IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF GRETNA AND A PROUD GRADUATE OF HOLY CROSS AND LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE EARNED A DEGREE IN CRIMINOLOGY WITH A MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.
WHEREAS HE ALSO COMPLETED EXTENSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING AT THE GRETNA POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING ACADEMY, AND HOLDS MULTIPLE POLICING CERTIFICATIONS, INCLUDING FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL, AND THE EXECUTIVE PROTECTION INSTITUTE.
WHEREAS LAWSON HAS REMAINED DEEPLY ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS SERVICE ON THE JEFFERSON PARISH HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
[00:05:02]
THE GRETNA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, AND THE GRETNA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS WELL AS HIS ROLE AS ORGANIZER OF THE HIGHLY POPULAR GRETNA FEST.WHEREAS BRETT J. LAWSON HAS DEMONSTRATED DEEP RESPECT FOR AND FOSTERING STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARISH EMPLOYEES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, ENSURING THAT GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS RUN EFFICIENTLY, AND THAT JEFFERSON PARISH REMAINS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
WHEREAS THIS COUNCIL WISHES TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND BRETT J. LAWSON FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO JEFFERSON PARISH AND HIS DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, BRETT ON THE LONGEST PROCLAMATION EVER READ IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
>> VIRGINIA STAYED AWAKE THROUGH IT ALL, THOUGH, SO THAT'S GOOD.
>> GOOD THING YOU HAD THIS FRAME BECAUSE YOU WERE ABOUT TO GET KNOCKED FOR GIVING ME A PIECE OF PAPER.
THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION WHEN YOU LEAVE A PLACE THAT YOU'VE BEEN FOR 20 YEARS, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYONE HERE HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THE EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ENDURE IN MY TIME AS A CLERK, THEN AN AIDE, THEN A CHIEF OF STAFF, FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND EVEN THOSE THAT ARE NOT, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH STREETS WORKERS, SEWER WORKERS, GENERAL SERVICES, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, OUR LABORERS TO OUR ELECTED LEADERS.
THERE IS SUCH A GREAT SENSE OF LEADERSHIP IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND I'M NOW SO PROUD, SO GRATEFUL AND GLAD TO JOIN THE RANKS OF MY FRIENDS TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE GREAT CITY OF GRETNA AND JEFFERSON PARISH.
I COULDN'T BE MORE ECSTATIC ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO INHERIT WITH THE GRETNA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M ALSO EXTREMELY ECSTATIC ABOUT THE TEAM THAT I'LL INHERIT IN THE GRETNA CITY COUNCIL AND OUR WONDERFUL MAYOR.
ONE LAST THING, I NEED TO THANK MY FAMILY, AND RUTH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT, WHO'S HERE, AND VIRGINIA AND ROWAN, WHO IS AT SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS LEADING UP TO THIS.
I SAID THIS THE NIGHT THAT I WAS ELECTED WITH THAT OPPOSITION. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
SHE TOLD ME WHEN WE WERE DEBATING WHETHER THIS WAS THE RIGHT DECISION FOR OUR FAMILY, GO GET YOUR DREAM.
I CAN'T BE HAPPIER TO STAND BEFORE YOU-ALL TODAY AS GRETNA POLICE CHIEF ELECT WITH THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU-ALL HAVE EVER DONE FOR ME.
TRULY, ALL OF THE DIRECTORS HERE, DON'T EVER THINK TWICE.
YOU-ALL HAVE TAUGHT ME SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING TO CARRY WITH ME FORWARD IN THE WAY I LEAD THE CITY OF GRETNA. THANK YOU-ALL. [APPLAUSE]
>> BRETT, WAIT. STAND RIGHT IN THAT SPOT, YOU'RE JUST STANDING BECAUSE I THINK KEEP THE SHOT ON BRETT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE IMAGERY OF THE SHOT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY POWERFUL JUST TO LOOK AT THE WAY THINGS ARE SET UP IN THE CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW, LIKE YOU-ALL MIGHT HAVE DONE THAT INTENTIONALLY, BUT I DON'T THINK HE DID.
GO BACK TO BRETT SHOT IF WE CAN SO WE JUST SEE HIS FAMILY BEHIND HIM WITH RUTH AND HIS MOM AND DAD SITTING RIGHT THERE ON EITHER SIDE OF HIM.
WE'VE GOT THE PRESENT, WE'VE GOT THE FUTURE, AND WE'VE GOT THE DISTANT FUTURE WITH VIRGINIA RIGHT THERE, TOO.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WHOLE LAWSON FAMILY.
>> COLLEAGUES, WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP PHOTOGRAPHS?
>> BRETT, YOU USED TO BE QUITE THE JOKESTER.
THIS INDIVIDUAL STANDING HERE NEXT TO ME.
REMEMBER SOMEONE PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING ANGEL CAL DAY.
SHE SAID ON THIS DATE EVERY YEAR, IT'S GOING TO BE BRETT LAWSON DAY.
[00:10:04]
02, 3 AND ONE MORE.>> HERE WE GO ON THREE, 1, 2, 3.
>> THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID.
I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GIVE ME THAT PIECE OF COPY PAPER.
I'M LIKE, SERIOUSLY. WHEN I WAS HERE, WE GET PEOPLE TO HARD STOCK AT LEAST.
>> UP NEXT, COUNCILMAN BONANO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS IN AUDIENCE, I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE WITH US HERE TODAY.
THE 2024 DIVISION 2 STATE SELECT CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TEAM, THE ARCHBISHOP SHAW EAGLES.
IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT RUMMEL RADER HAS TO GIVE ACCOLADES TO SHAW, BUT THEY DESERVE IT.
I CAN FATHER STEVE UP HERE TO JOIN ME.
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE COACH TIERNEY BROUGHT A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BACK TO SHAW? HOW LONG AGO WAS IT?
I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT COACH TIERNEY BROUGHT BACK THAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE TO ARCHBISHOP SHAW AND MADE ALL OF JEFFERSON PARISH PROUD AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM TODAY FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
BE IT KNOWN THAT FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON HAS CONFERRED UPON YOU THE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT TO COACH HANK TIERNEY AND ARCHBISHOP SHAR 2024 STATE CHAMPION. THANK YOU.
>> WE COULDN'T HAVE ALL 106 PLAYERS HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
WE DO HAVE WITH US THE 14 CAPTAINS, AND I'M GOING TO CALL EACH ONE OF THEM UP TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATE, AND ONE OF THEM, I WILL NEED TO RECOGNIZE DARTINAN MILLER SR.
HE'S ALSO A COACH. HE'S THE WIDE RECEIVERS COACH.
THANK YOU, SIR. I'M GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE AFTERWARDS.
>> FIRST, DARTINAN MILLER JR. THAT'S HIS SON.
THAT'S COACH'S SON. HE'S OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AND ONE OF THE CO-CAPTAINS. THANKS. LET'S DO THIS.
WE CAN DO THIS ONE AT THE TIME.
JASPER PARKER, THE RUNNING BACK, AND ALSO CO-CAPTAIN.
[00:15:14]
GAVIN RICHARD, THE WIDE RECEIVER, CO-CAPTAIN.MIC'S NOT WORKING? I FEEL LIKE I'M A FAMILY GROW.
>> YOU DO HAVE A FOLDER. THANK YOU.
>> IS THAT EMPTY, YOU TAKE THAT ONE.
JUST A LITTLE BIT. NOW I KNOW WHO CAUSED ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT CAM TO GROW WAS YOU.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MASON WILSON, THE QUARTERBACK.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, PARISH PRESIDENT, IF YOU-ALL WILL COME DOWN, EVERYBODY, COME ON, WE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE.
THERE YOU GO. THAT'S FOR YOU FATHER STEVE,.
>> I GOT MINE RIGHT HERE. WHO'S THIS? THAT'S IT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE. HOW YOU WANT US? TOGETHER? JOE AND HANS, I WANT YOU ALL ON THIS SIDE.
>> YOU'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE JOE.
>> OKAY, EVERYBODY. HERE WE GO ON THREE, 01, 2, 3.
WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER ONE ON THREE, 1, 2, 3.
ONE MORE ON THREE, 1, 02, 3. THANK YOU.
>> WOULD YOU JOIN ME JOIN CHIEF DAN ROBINSON.
>> WELL, WE STAND BEFORE YOU HERE TODAY TO HONOR THE HARD WORK AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR FIREMEN AND FIREWOMEN.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO, BUT THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE THESE BRAVE FIREMEN FOUND OUT ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT WAS TAKING PLACE AND THEY HAD THE DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY DID WOULD ENSURE THAT IT WOULD SAVE SOME PEOPLE'S LIVES.
TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO HONOR THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COURAGEOUSNESS IN THAT MOMENT WHERE WE COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS TRAGEDY TO TAKE PLACE.
[00:20:04]
WE HONOR THEM TODAY, BUT WE HONOR CHIEF, ALL THE FIREMEN IN JEFFERSON PARISH, FOR ALL THE HALL WORK AND THE BRAVERY.I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE WHEN I'VE SEEN THEM AT WORK AND SO WE HAVE CERTIFICATES OF MERIT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THEM? FIREFIGHTER JENICA OVERTON.
BE IT KNOWN THAT FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON HAS CONFERRED THE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON YOU, JENICA OVERTON, FIREFIGHTER, AND 8 DISTRICT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
WE THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO COULD HAVE BEEN LOST.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY.
>> NICHOLAS, BECAUSE OF YOUR BRAVERY, WE STAND HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE YOU THE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT AND IT IS BEING KNOWN THAT FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, JEFFERSON PARISH HAS CONFERRED THE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON YOU.
NICHOLAS BEHE, FIREFIGHTER AND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 8.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEROIC ACTIONS ON JANUARY 24TH, 2025.
>> ASSISTANT CHIEF JASON ALLONS.
>> JASON FOR YOUR HEROIC MOMENT IN HELPING TO SAVE THE LIVES, WE CONFER THIS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON YOU, BE IT KNOW FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO JEFFERSON PARISH AND BEING A MEMBER OF THE 8TH DISTRICT.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THE HERO THAT WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AT THAT MOMENT, YOU ALL STEPPED UP, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONFER THE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT TO YOU FOR YOUR HEROICS, AS WELL AS THE HEROICS OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AND THE 8TH DISTRICT.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WILL DO.
IT READS, BE IT KNOWN THAT FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON HAS CONFERRED THIS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON YOU, JARED TREDWAY, CAPTAIN, FOR THE 8TH DISTRICT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] IF ALL MY COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE TO COME TAKE PICTURES WITH THEM, WE APPRECIATE IT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> REAL QUICK, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A BRIEF THING ON WHAT HAPPENED WHILE THESE GENTLEMEN ARE BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY.
ON JANUARY 24TH, A FIRE IN THE WOODMERE SUBDIVISION AT 36 NORTH DALE STREET WAS ON FIRE.
UPON ARRIVAL, THE FIRE CREWS FOUND THAT THE HOME HAD HEAVY SMOKE SHOWING.
FIRE DISPATCHED ALSO NOTIFIED THE INCUMBENT COMPANIES THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME PEOPLE TRAPPED.
FIREFIGHTER OVERTON AND FIREFIGHTER BEHE MADE ENTRY INTO THE HOME WITH AN QUARTER ATTACK LINE TO KNOCK BACK THE FLAMES.
THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS TO LOCATE THAT OCCUPANT.
FIREFIGHTER BEHE MADE HIS WAY INTO THE BATHROOM WHERE MISS MARIE JOSEPH WAS LOCATED.
SHE WAS IN THE BATHTUB WITH IT FULL OF WATER.
AT THE ORIGINAL TIME, WE THOUGHT SHE MAY HAVE WENT IN FOR PROTECTION, BUT APPARENTLY SHE WAS TAKING A SHOWER OR BATH AT THAT TIME.
AFTER THEY FOUND HER IN A BATH TUB, THEY CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE.
CAPTAIN TREDAWAY, AND ASSISTANT CHIEF JASON LIONS MADE THEIR WAY IN TO ASSIST WITH EXTRICATING THE OCCUPANT FROM THE TUB AND OUT THE RESIDENT.
[00:25:04]
MISS JOSEPH WAS TREATED FOR SEVERE SMOKE INHALATION AND TRANSPORTED DIRECTLY TO UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER BY WEST JEFFERSON EMS AND IS NOW UNDER MEDICAL CARE AT UMSC, BUT THE MEDICAL EXPERTS ARE HOPEFULLY, SHE WILL MAKE A FULL RECOVERY.AGAIN, GUYS, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
THREE, 1, 2, 3, AND HERE WE GO 1, 2. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. FOR THE PODIUM. LET'S LEAVE IT UP THERE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, ARE YOU READY?
OBVIOUSLY, OUR JEFFERSON PARISH EMPLOYEES ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO AND AS I ALWAYS SAY, THEY'RE ONE OF OUR GREATEST ASSETS.
TODAY, I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE FIVE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE SO THEY CAN GET THEIR FIVE YEAR SERVICE PIN.
OBVIOUSLY, THESE FOLKS ARE SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO BE PARISH PRESIDENT, THEY CAME IN WITH OUR NEW ADMINISTRATION, AND THEY WERE ALL NEW TO PARISH GOVERNMENT.
I'LL START WITH SOMEBODY YOU MAY KNOW BECAUSE SHE'S A VERY PUBLIC FACING DEPARTMENT GRETCHEN HURT, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE AND AS I READ ABOUT YOU, JUST COME UP, GRETCHEN'S WORK TO BRING OUR PI OFFICE REALLY TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
ORGANIZING HER DEPARTMENT, BRINGING ON INCREDIBLE STAFF TO STRENGTHEN HER TEAM, STREAMLINES OUR COMMUNICATION.
HER DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OUTREACH TO THE PUBLIC ON BEHALF OF OUR 43 DEPARTMENTS, OBVIOUSLY, VERY CRITICAL DURING REAL TIME COMMUNICATION FOR DISASTERS.
HER OFFICE MANAGES MEDIA RELATIONS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, CRISIS COMMUNICATION, EVENT MANAGEMENT WEBSITE, VIDEOGRAPHY, PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC DESIGN BRANDING.
WE JUST OPENED A NEW JPTV STUDIO AND SHE'S COORDINATED OUR REBRANDING OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR OUR PARISH LOGO AND FLAG, CREATED A NEW WEBSITE, INTRODUCED MULTI LANGUAGE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, INCREASES THE PARISHES PRESENT ENGAGEMENT PROCESS ALONG ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND HAS REALLY BEEN VERY MUCH ON THE FRONT OF ALL OF OUR BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS.
UNDER GRETCHEN'S LEADERSHIP, OUR PIO TEAM RECEIVED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR JPTV VIDEO CONTENT AND AS I SAID BEFORE, WE JUST RECENTLY OPENED OUR JPTV STUDIO.
CONGRATULATIONS TO GRETCHEN AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
NEXT, MARIO BAZILE IS OUR CAA OVER EXTERNAL SERVICES.
YOU WOULD ALSO KNOW HIM AS OUR FORMER DIRECTOR OF JPRD BEFORE HE GOT THAT PROMOTION.
NOW HE OVERSEES NOT ONLY RECREATION, BUT PARKS, TRANSIT, OUR J-PAUSE, WITH OUR ANIMALS, LIBRARY IN THE ALARIO CENTER.
MARIO IS A BIG VISIONARY THINKER.
HE BRINGS LEADERSHIP, STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT TO OUR PUBLIC FACING DEPARTMENTS, SUPERVISING AND COORDINATING ALL OF OUR INITIATIVES AND DRIVING KEY PROJECTS SUCH AS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, GRANT APPLICATIONS, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS. OBVIOUSLY, DURING HIS TIME AS A RECREATION DIRECTOR, WHEN I MET HIM AT THE COFFEE SHOP MANY YEARS AGO, AND I SAID, I WANT TO RE LOOK AT RECREATION.
I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER.
HE HEADED OUR RECREATION REIMAGINED INITIATIVE WHICH TACKLED HEAD ON, DECLINING YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPATION, UNDERUTILIZED FACILITIES AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE BY CREATING A FRAMEWORK FOR APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING TO BETTER SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
WHAT DID THAT DO? IT INCREASED YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPATION BY 30%.
IT EXPANDED LEISURE SERVICES PROGRAMMING, DOUBLING ENGAGEMENT AMONG ADULTS, SENIORS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND OVER 15 MILLION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO MODERNIZE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENSURE SUSTAINABLE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THAT'S WHAT RECREATION REIMAGINE BROUGHT US.
MINETTE BARRIOS, AGAIN, WAS ALSO A NEW HIRE FOR OUR TRANSIT.
SHE HAS BROUGHT OUR TRANSIT SERVICES OBVIOUSLY TO THE NEXT LEVEL, A PROACTIVE APPROACH, AND ENHANCE PUBLIC ACCESS. IS SHE HERE?
[00:30:03]
TO TRANSIT INFORMATION.MINETTE HAS INSTALLED OUTDOOR KIOSK WITH UPDATED BUS SCHEDULES AND MAPS, ENSURE THAT ALL BUS STOPS BECOME ADI COMPLIANT, REFLECTING HER COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY, AND SPEARHEADED THE SUCCESSFUL ADOPT THE STOP PROGRAM, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE MAINTENANCE AND CLEANLINESS OF BUS STOPS.
OUR TRANSIT DEPARTMENT WAS THE ONLY RECIPIENT OF THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATION'S BUSES AND BUS FACILITIES COMPETITIVE GRANT IN THE STATE IN 2022, WHICH RESULTED IN FUNDING THAT MINETTE WAS ABLE TO USE TO BUILD A STATE OF THE ART TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING RIGHT OFF OF DAVID DRIVE AND RENOVATED MAINTENANCE BUILDING WITH BACKUP GENERATORS, A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
THAT HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICAL BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER DISASTERS, HELPING WITH OUR EVACUATION PLANNING AND TRANSPORTING PEOPLE TO SHELTER LOCATIONS AND SETTING UP FARE FREE BUS SERVICES TO HELP RESIDENTS AND ACCESSES, ESPECIALLY AFTER HURRICANE IDA.
DANIELLA BAYO, I ALWAYS SAY HOW PROUD I'M THAT JEFFERSON PARISH IS THE MOST DIVERSE PARISH IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
SHE WAS BROUGHT ON AS OUR VERY FIRST CROSS CULTURAL COORDINATOR BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE REACHING ALL OF OUR NON ENGLISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.
DANIELLA HAS MANAGED TO UNITE COMMUNITY LEADERS, NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION, AND HISPANIC MEDIA OUTLETS CREATING A NETWORK THAT PROVIDES RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND INFORMATION TO ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
SHE HAS BEEN A RELIABLE SOURCE TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
SHE ALSO PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO OUR PARISH DEPARTMENTS BY ASSISTING WITH TRANSLATION SERVICES FROM EVERYTHING FROM UTILITY BILLING ISSUES TO RECREATIONAL PROGRAM ENROLLMENT.
SHE IS CRITICAL DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, COMMUNICATING WITH ALL OF OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR HISPANIC MEDIA OUTLETS WHILE ALSO TRANSLATING ALL OF OUR PRESS CONFERENCES AND PUSHING OUT NOTIFICATIONS THROUGH OUR JP NO TCS TEXT ALERT SYSTEM.
SHE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
SHE WAS AWARDED THE 2024 SERVANTS HART AWARD FROM A VOS DE LA COMUNIDAD FOR HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY, AND SHE WAS ALSO FEATURED ON THE COVER OF VIVA NOLA IN 2022.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COVER THAT WAS.
SIBYL REED IS OUR SENIOR SERVICES COORDINATOR.
A MUCH NEEDED ROLE TO HELP US CONSOLIDATE ALL OF OUR VARIOUS SENIOR PROGRAMMING BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF SENIORS OBVIOUSLY HAS CLIMBED STEADILY SINCE 1950, WE ARE AN AGING PARISH.
SIBYL STRIVES TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR SENIORS PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THROUGH WORKING WITH VARIOUS GROUPS AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THE SENIOR CENTERS, GOLDEN AGES RUN BY JPRD, AND VARIOUS SENIOR GILDS RUN BY OUR JEFFERSON COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS. JEFFERSON PARISH CURRENTLY OFFERS A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SENIORS, AND IT'S THROUGHOUT THESE DEPARTMENTS THAT SIBYL WORKS WITH RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN NAVIGATE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. HER WORK IS CRITICAL TO EXPAND OUR SENIOR SERVICES, AND SHE'S DEDICATING TO IMPROVING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, INDEPENDENCE, HEALTH, AND DIGNITY FOR OUR SENIOR POPULATION.
I'M SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU WALKING IN THE DOORS WITH ME FOR THIS PARISH PRESIDENT ROLE.
THERE'S MINETTE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO YOU WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE WITH OUR FIVE YEAR DIRECTORS, PLEASE.
[BACKGROUND] I WANT TO BE MORE BALANCE.
IT'S GOOD, WHATEVER. I SHOULDN'T BE IN THE MIDDLE.
WAIT Y'ALL SHOULD GET MORE IN THE MIDDLE.
ALL FIVE OF Y'ALL SHOULD GET TOGETHER.
>> OKAY, EVERYBODY HERE WE GO 3, 01, 2, 3, AND ONE MORE, 01, 2, 3.
>> Y'ALL LEVELED US UP. [BACKGROUND]
>> UP NEXT, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VIKING.
>> THERE YOU ARE. I DIDN'T SEE YOU IN PLAIN SIGHT.
>> JENNIFER, THE HANDHELD IS THERE IF YOU WANT TO USE IT.
[00:35:01]
A LOT TO CELEBRATE THIS MORNING IN HONOR AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES JEFFERSON PARISH WHAT IT IS.WHEN I BECAME COUNCILWOMAN AT LARGE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPOINT PEOPLE TO BOARDS.
YOU GO THROUGH THE LIST OF WHO'S SERVING AND YOU MEET WITH THEM AND DECIDE WHETHER YOU'RE MAKING CHANGES OR NOT.
WHEN I MET MR. FRANK MUSCARELLA, HE WAS SO DELIGHTFUL, AND WHAT WAS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME THE MINUTE THAT I MET HIM IS HOW MUCH PASSION HE HAD FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SO OUR JEFFERSON PARISH FINANCE AUTHORITY IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION THAT IS THERE FOR FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS.
WE HAVE SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR MEDICAL WORKERS.
I SAID, MR. FRANK, YOU SERVE AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO.
I THINK HE'S THE LONGEST SERVING BOARD MEMBER OR HE'S IN THAT RUNNING.
>> FRANK WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED ON MARCH 22, 2006, WHICH MAKES HIM THE LONGEST STANDING BOARD MEMBER 18 YEARS IN JPFA HISTORY, AND WE WERE ORGANIZED IN 1979, AND I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW PASSIONATE, HOW WONDERFUL HE WAS.
HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER WHEN WE HAD OUR MEETINGS.
HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING THE HEROES TO HOMEOWNERS PROGRAM.
HE FELT SO PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BECOME HOMEOWNERS.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK MR. FRANK'S FAMILY, HIS WIFE, GAIL, FOR BEING HERE AS WELL AS SOME MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD.
I ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM VERY MUCH, AND HE GREATLY WILL BE MISSED.
DO YOU WANT TO PRESENT THAT OR READ THAT? IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME UP, WE REALLY DO.
WE KNOW ALSO SERVING MEANS TIME AWAY FROM FAMILY SO THANK YOU FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE OF MR. FRANK BEING ABLE TO SERVE FOR SO LONG AND BE THERE FOR ALL THE MEETINGS AND SPENDING TIME CREATING.
WE'RE SO SORRY, OBVIOUSLY AT HIS LOSS, AND WE KNOW WE WILL FEEL THAT ON THE BOARD, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS THAT HE CREATED.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU HOLD IT. [LAUGHTER] BUT WE DO WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATED HIS SERVICE AND HIS DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY.
GREAT. WELL, THEN IF YOU WANT, WE CAN DO THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN FOR PICTURES, I KNOW WE EACH HAVE BOARD MEMBERS THAT SERVE IN SUCH DEDICATED FASHION, AND WE WANT TO HONOR MR. FRANK.
>> WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE. ONE, TWO, THREE.
HERE WE GO AGAIN, ONE, TWO, THREE. ONE MORE.
ONE, ONE, TWO, THREE. [BACKGROUND]
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT HE WOULD BE SO PROUD OF THIS MOMENT IF HE CAN POSSIBLY SEE US RIGHT NOW, HE'S SMILING.
I THINK THEY'RE MUCH CLOSER THAN WE KNOW SO THANK YOU.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE PRE MEETING FESTIVITY, SO WE'LL GET THINGS STARTED ON THIS WEDNESDAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
[00:40:01]
WELCOME TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING FROM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025.[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
WE'RE IN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING 200 DERBY STREET.GRETNA, LOUISIANA. THIS MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
GIVING OUR INVOCATION TODAY IS A LADY WHO'S BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE DOING A LOT ON THE WEST BANK, MENTORING AND FORMING YOUNG CHILDREN.
SISTER MICHELLE GEIGER, HAS BEEN PRINCIPAL OF OUR ACADEMY OF OUR LADY SINCE 2010.
SHE'S GOING TO LEAD OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND PLACE OURSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS, SEEKING YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE GATHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
MAY OUR DISCUSSIONS BE FILLED WITH RESPECT, OUR DECISIONS BE JUST, AND OUR ACTIONS BE GUIDED BY INTEGRITY AND COMPASSION.
GRANT US THE STRENGTH TO WORK TOGETHER IN UNITY, SETTING ASIDE PERSONAL INTERESTS FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THOSE WE SERVE.
GIVE US CLARITY OF THOUGHT AND WISDOM IN OUR DELIBERATIONS, SO THAT WE MAY LEAD WITH FAIRNESS, HUMILITY, AND A COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE.
BLESS OUR PARISH, ITS LEADERS, AND ITS RESIDENTS.
PROTECT THOSE WHO SERVE IN ALL CAPACITIES, AND MAY OUR EFFORTS BRING PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND PROGRESS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IN YOUR HOLY NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN.
WE APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR THE AUDIO DIFFICULTIES COMING FROM THE PODIUM THIS MORNING.
IT SEEMS LIKE WHICHEVER MICROPHONE WE USE, THERE'S AN ISSUE SO BEAR WITH US AS THAT HOPEFULLY CLEARS ITSELF UP AS THE MEETING GOES ON.
MADAM CLERK, BEFORE YOU CALL THE ROLE, ONE OF US IS CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY TODAY.
A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUNCILMAN HANS LILJEBERG.
>> HI, ALL. I'VE HIT ONE THAT I DON'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANYMORE BUT THANK YOU. THAT ONE, HUH? [LAUGHTER] MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> PARISH, PRESENT, MISS LEE SHANE?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. COUNCILMAN BANANO, GIVE ME A MIC CHECK ON YOURS AGAIN.
>> IT'S WORKING. BECAUSE THEY WERE TURNED ON, THEY WERE MIND OF THEIR OWN SOMETIMES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MARDI GRAS.
THERE ARE SO MANY DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THIS SEASON, VERY FUN TIME OF THE YEAR FOR US AND WE WANT TO JUST THANK ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, BUT IN ADDITION, AS WELL AS ALL THE AGENCIES THAT HELPED PUT MARDI GRAS ON FOR US, INCLUDING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE, EMS, AND ALL OF OUR FIRE SERVICES.
WE HAD A GREAT AND SUCCESSFUL FIRST WEEKEND OF FAMILY GRAS AND THE PARADES, AND I WANT TO JUST QUICKLY READ THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HELPED US PUT THIS ON CITIZENS AFFAIRS.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR FIRE SERVICES AND EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT, GENERAL SERVICES, WATER, STREETS, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SEWAGE DRAINAGE, CO COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT, PARKS AND REC, PARKWAYS, FLEET MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, BUILDING PERMITS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE PIO OFFICE, THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, J PAUSE, SECURITY AND PURCHASING.
WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THOSE EFFORTS.
OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF OUR CREWS DO SO MUCH TO BRING MARDI GRAS TO US, BUT THIS IS ALSO BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PEOPLE, AS WELL, MEANING YOUR OWN TAXPAYER PAID GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
FAMILY GRAS WAS MOVED INSIDE ON SUNDAY TO THE PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER.
WE HAD SOME FRANTIC CALLS TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WITH THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU AS WELL.
AN ADDITIONAL THANK YOU TO GENERAL SERVICES TRAFFIC ENGINEER DRAINAGE RECREATION AND OUR EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE AND HAZMAT AS WELL FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
PARADES CONTINUE THIS WEEK AND OUR PARISH OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, LUNDI GRAS AND TUESDAY, MARDI GRAS, OBVIOUSLY.
TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM ON THE WEST BANK, WE HAVE MARDI TOMORROW AT 6:30 ON THE EAST BANK, SYMPHONY AND ATLAS, SUNDAY AT 5:30 IN THE EAST BANK ATHENA, MONDAY AT 6:00 ON THE EAST BANK, CENTENARIANS, AND KINGS, AND TUESDAY ON FAT TUESDAY, AUGUST, AND THEN THE TRUCK PARADE OF ELKS OF JEFFERSONIAN.
YOU CAN VISIT JEFFPARISH.GOV/CARNIVALSEASON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ALSO, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ALL THE TEXTS RELATED TO MARDI GRAS,
[00:45:03]
YOU WANT TO TEXT JP MARDI GRAS 288 8777.MOVING ON TO OUR J PAUSE, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO UNVEILING THE FIRST OF SEVEN PET MICROCHIP SCANNING STATIONS NEXT WEEK.
ON THURSDAY, MARCH 6, WE PLAN TO UNVEIL A SCANNING STATION.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY FOR LOST PETS.
YOU CAN SCAN THEM AND IT HELPS REUNITE PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS.
MARCH 6 AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY, WE'RE GOING TO BE OFFERING FREE MICROCHIPPING BY OUR VETERINARY STAFF WHILE SUPPLIES LAST STARTING AT 11:00 AM.
MICROCHIP SCANNING LOCATIONS ARE LOCATIONS WHERE PEOPLE CAN SCAN LOST PETS FROM MICROCHIPS, SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS INITIATIVE FROM J PAUSE.
OUR LIBRARY HAS ALWAYS A FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
THE MARDI GRAS MURDER MYSTERY ROLE PLAYING EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE GROUND ISLE LIBRARY ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 AT 6:00 PM IN THE LIVE OAK LIBRARY ON SATURDAY, MARCH 1 AT 2:00 PM.
PATRONS MAY REGISTER FOR THEIR ROLES AT JPLIBRARY.NET IN THE CALENDAR SECTION.
INCOME TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE CONTINUES ON SELECT DATES AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL, WEST BANK REGIONAL, RIVER RIDGE, LIVE OAK AND TERRYTOWN LIBRARIES, COURTESY OF VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONALS FROM AARP AND VITA THROUGH APRIL 15.
ANDROID PHONES 101 FOR SENIORS IS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WITH LIMITED SMART PHONE EXPERIENCE.
PARTICIPANTS LEARN SMART PHONE TERMINOLOGY AND HAVE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH THE SENIOR GUIDE ON WEDNESDAY THROUGH APRIL FROM 9:30-11:30 AT THE WEST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.
THEN, OF COURSE, AN ADULT FICTION WRITING GROUP MEETS EVERY SATURDAY AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY FOR ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS AND CRITIQUES FROM 9:30AM-12:30 PM.
AT RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MARCH 1ST.
THIS SATURDAY JP HELPING PAUSE IS OFFERING A FREE TNR, WHICH IS TRAP NEW RETURN CLASS AT TERRYTOWN PLAYGROUND.
THE CLASS STARTS AT 10:00 AM AND STUDENTS MUST BE 18 OR OLDER AND THEY CAN SAVE A SPOT ONLINE AT JPPRT.COM.
MARDI GRAS CAMP HAS A FEW SPOTS LEFT AT TERRYTOWN PLAYGROUND.
THE EAST BANK IS ALREADY FULL.
CAMP IS MARCH 5 THROUGH SEVENTH, 07:30 AM-5:30 PM.
THE COST IS $64 REGISTER ONLINE AT JPPRT.COM.
JEFF CAP, WHICH IS OUR JEFFERSON PARISH COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, WILL HOST ANOTHER LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LIHEAP OUTREACH ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 AT THE KENNER SENIOR CENTER, FROM 10:00 AM-2:00 PM.
THEN DR. MARLIN JOSEPH, INTERNAL MEDICAL PHYSICIAN WITH OCHSNER MEDICAL CENTER WILL HAVE A ONE HOUR HEALTH TALK SEMINAR WITH OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AT THE CAROL WATSON SMITH COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 11:00 AM TO NOON ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13.
THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE WANT TO SAY TARA HAZELBAKER IS A CPA.
HER LAST DAY WITH THE PARISH WILL BE THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28.
TARA BEGAN EMPLOYMENT WITH JEFFERSON PARISH AS THE ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR ON JANUARY 2, 2014.
SHE WAS PROMOTED TO INTERNAL AUDIT DIRECTOR ON JULY 1, 2017.
SHE STEPPED IN TO SERVE AS THE INTERIM ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR ON JUNE 27, 2024 BEFORE BEING PROMOTED TO A TECHNICAL ADVISOR TO THE PARISH PRESIDENT ON AUGUST 3, 2024.
I WILL SAY THAT FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS ARE VERY HARD TO COME BY.
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS HAVING, THE CPAS ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO COME BY I CERTAINLY ASKED TARA TO COME IN AND STEP IN AND DO SOME SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR US IN THIS LAST YEAR, AND SHE CAME IN VERY BIG FOR US, LEAVING HER JOB AS INTERNAL AUDITOR TO COME HELP US.
I REALLY THANK HER VERY PERSONALLY AND WISH HER THE BEST IN NEXT CHAPTER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, AND THEN I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND.
THIS IS THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN RECENT DAYS LEADING UP TO TODAY AND THIS MORNING BEFORE THE MEETING.
IT'S TWO ISSUES THAT WE ALL DEAL WITH.
I HAD SOME LEGISLATION PREPARED FOR TODAY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH.
WE'RE PUTTING IT TO THE SIDE BECAUSE THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND FOUND THAT OUT THROUGH OUR DISCUSSIONS AND VERY INTENSE DISCUSSIONS TO BE FRANK I THINK IT WAS VERY GOOD ALL THE WAY AROUND.
WE HAVE EACH OF OUR OFFICES, AND I KNOW I CAN SPEAK FROM MY OFFICE SPECIFICALLY.
WE GET CONSTANT COMPLAINTS AND ARE BARRAGED DAILY BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BILLING ISSUES THROUGH THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO PREFACE ALL OF THIS BY SAYING THAT WE HAVE SOME AMAZING PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS PARISH AND AMAZING PEOPLE THAT WORK IN OUR DEPARTMENTS, SIDNEY, SPECIFICALLY, WHO DEALS WITH WAY MORE THAN HE SHOULD HAVE TO IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
I'M LOOKING DIRECTLY AT YOU, SIDNEY, BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I APPRECIATE THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE, AND I APPRECIATE THE FRANK DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE AND MARK DREWS AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AGING SYSTEM OUR METERS ARE OLD.
WE'RE REPLACING OUR WATER METERS WITH NEW AMI METERS, SO THINGS WILL GET MUCH MORE ACCURATE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.
BUT IN THE INTERIM FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THERE ARE INCONSISTENCIES.
[00:50:02]
THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH ON THAT FRONT.I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR THAT OUTSIDE OF THAT, ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE THAT WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY AND WEEKLY BASIS IS FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHERE THERE ARE SOME LENGTHY DELAYS IN GETTING THINGS THROUGH THE SYSTEM, GETTING THINGS APPROVED AND GETTING THINGS DONE, WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE WAITING IN SOME CASES, IN SOME OF THE SITUATIONS WE'VE DEALT WITH FOR A YEAR OR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IT'S FRUSTRATING.
I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE AND WE ALWAYS SPOUT ABOUT HOW WE'RE A BUSINESS FRIENDLY COUNCIL AND WE'RE A BUSINESS FRIENDLY PARISH, AND SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THAT THAT'S NOT BACKED UP ALL THE WAY.
I KNOW THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND NOT EVERYBODY PLAYS BY THE RULES AND PEOPLE TRY TO PUT THINGS PAST PEOPLE SOMETIMES, BUT THERE ARE LEGITIMATE PROBLEMS THAT I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BOTH OF THOSE.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SOLVABLE IN ONE DAY, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE OF IT.
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE OUR DISCUSSIONS THESE PAST FEW DAYS AND THINK THAT WE'LL GET TO A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE DON'T HIDE FROM ANYTHING, AND WE ALWAYS CAN IMPROVE AND WE MAKE MISTAKES, AND OTHER PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES AND WE'RE HUMAN, BUT WE KNOW THE ISSUES.
I WILL SAY WHEN I CAME INTO THE PARISH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID AND WE GOT DERAILED WITH COVID WAS WE INHERITED A BROKEN WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
WE ACTUALLY WERE SPENDING MORE THAN WE WERE TAKING IN, AND WE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THE YEAR IN 2021, ASKING YOU ALL FOR A RATE INCREASE.
>> A RATE INCREASE THAT YOU SEE EVERY JANUARY, WE DIDN'T WANT TO HIT YOU ALL AT ONCE, A RATE INCREASE THAT OBVIOUSLY, THE COMPLAINTS COME UP. THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT SLIDE.
PEOPLE MIGHT GET CONFUSED IF WE WANT TO PULL THAT SLIDE DOWN. REAL QUICK.
A RATE INCREASE THAT COMPLAINTS GO UP FOR THAT JANUARY RATE INCREASE WHEN THEY GET THOSE BILLS IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, THE COMPLAINTS ALREADY GO UP THERE BECAUSE IT IS A HIGHER RATE.
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I WILL SAY WHEN I LEAVE MY TERM OF OFFICE THAT WE TACKLED, AND WE DON'T DO ENOUGH AND I TRY TO DO IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
I SPEAK ABOUT IT AT EVERY PRESENTATION I GO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT BUYS US, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF ARE WILLING TO PAY TAXES IF THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENT.
BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMING OVER 20 YEARS.
WE'VE STARTED THEM ALREADY AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH QUICKLY.
THE BLUE HOUSE INTAKE IS WHERE WE TAKE THE WATER IN AT THE RIVER.
WE CALL IT THE BLUE HOUSE, USED TO BE A BLUE HOUSE OFF OF BEHIND JEFFERSON HIGHWAY, BEHIND THAT.
THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REHABILITATED, ALREADY DONE WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE INCREASED YOUR RATES WITH.
A NEW WATER LAB, A COMPLETELY BRAND NEW STATE OF THE WATER LAB.
AGAIN, PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT. IT'S BEHIND THAT FACILITY ON JEFFERSON HIGHWAY.
WE JUST HAVE PUNCH LIST ITEMS REMAIN.
WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW PARISHES THAT HAVE OUR OWN WATER LAB.
THE P4 WATER PLANT WITH 50 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY, GOING OUT FOR CONSTRUCTION BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DECOMMISSION THE P1 AND P2 THAT WAS BUILT IN 1931, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT LOOK OF THAT BUILDING, THAT'S OUR WATER SYSTEM OVER THERE IN 1930S.
WHAT DOES AMI MEAN? AUTOMATED METER INFRASTRUCTURE, AMI, AND SOME OF YOU ALREADY HAVE IT.
WE'RE CALLING IT A SLOW START.
MANY OF US ARE ON IT TO TEST IT, TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS WORK, TO MAKE SURE THE APP WORKS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF THE OLD METERS THAT EVERYBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT, THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE, LIFT OFF THE METAL CAP, PHYSICALLY, READ IT, PUT IT INTO A HANDHELD.
EVEN MUD ON IT. THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE MUD, READ IT.
MAKE IT GO TO OUR BILLING SYSTEM.
A PERSON DOES THAT, 250 TIMES A DAY, THEY GO TO A HOUSE.
ONE PERSON GOES TO 250 HOUSES A DAY TO READ A METER.
WE KNOW IT. WE'RE ALREADY OUT THERE WITH THE NEW SYSTEM.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE US SEVERAL YEARS.
IT'S GOING TO BE GRAND ISLE, LAFITTE, WE'RE GOING TO BE FINISHING THAT, WE THINK BY MAY.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO COMMERCIAL, THEN WE'RE GOING TO ALREADY START RESIDENTIAL ON BOTH THE EAST BANK AND WEST BANK.
PEOPLE, IN A FEW MONTHS, ARE GOING TO START SEEING THESE HAPPEN.
GOING TO TAKE US A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET TO 160,000 ACCOUNTS, BUT IT IS HAPPENING NOW.
WE PUT OUR EGGS IN THE BASKET OF A NEW SYSTEM.
TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY MILLION CONSTRUCTION PIPELINE REPLACEMENT IS UNDER DESIGN.
WE ARE LITERALLY BIDDING THAT OUT, FOR THE FIRST THREE, A TOTAL OF 17.5 MILLION.
THAT'S THE FIRST NINE YEARS OF PIPE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS HAPPENING NOW.
FOUR OF THE 11 WATER TOWERS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REHABILITATED. YOU CAN SEE THAT.
IT'S VISUALLY, YOU CAN SEE, IT'S GOT THE NEW LOGO ON IT.
WE'VE DONE CAUSEWAY, DAVID DRIVE,
[00:55:02]
BRIDGE CITY, AND THE ONE AT THE PLANT TOWER.THE REST OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE BID OUT TOGETHER, THEY'RE SMALLER.
THAT BID IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN BY LATER THIS YEAR.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS YOU SEE HAPPENING BEFORE YOU.
CHENIER, GRAND ISLE, WE ALWAYS LOSE WATER FOR GRAND ISLE.
WE DID INVEST IT IN, INFRASTRUCTURE TO HAVE A BACKUP FOR LAFOURCHE.
WE'RE NOT HAVING A BARGE WATER DOWN TO GRAND ISLE ANYMORE.
WE CAN BUY OUR WATER FROM LAFOURCHE PARISH.
NONE OF THESE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT THE RATE INCREASE THAT WE ALL PAY AND IT GOES UP EVERY JANUARY.
WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE ISSUES WITH AN OLD SYSTEM.
WE RUN A UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM, THAT HAS 160,000 ACCOUNTS.
I THINK IT'S 960,000 BILLS A YEAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMPLAINTS.
WHENEVER WE DO A MISTAKE, WE ADJUST THE BILL.
WHAT YOU ALL ARE GETTING OR WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE LEAKS AND PROCESSES, BUT SIDNEY GOES OUT THERE HIMSELF TO LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S THE WATER PIECE AND WE WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF WE HAVE A MISTAKE, WE'VE GOT THE CALL TIME DOWN TO, I THINK IT'S THE MOST IS 15 MINUTES, SOMETIMES IT'S DOWN TO A MINUTE, SO MANY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WAS FRUSTRATING AS WELL.
THAT'S WATER. I WANT TO MOVE ON AND YOU JUST GOT TO BEAR WITH ME AND I KNOW WE WEREN'T PLANNING ON THIS TODAY, COUNCILMAN, I KNOW YOU AND I TALKED, BUT THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES, SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME IN YOUR COUNCIL MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW IT WASN'T ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT PERMITTING.
I WILL SAY THIS, AND IT'S COMING TO ME GRADUALLY.
SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH PERMITTING.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CALLS ABOUT COMPLAINTS OF PERMITTING.
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY KNOWS IT, YOU KNOW IT, WE KNOW IT.
AARON BROUSSARD ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO TACKLE IT.
CHARLENE ACTUALLY WORKED ON THAT COMMITTEE, SHE REMINDED ME YESTERDAY.
JOHN YOUNG'S ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO TACKLE IT WHEN LUCIEN GUNTER WAS HEAD OF JEDCO.
THEY ACTUALLY HIRED A CONTRACTING FIRM, SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO TACKLE IT. I CAME IN.
WE HAVE REVAMPED DEPARTMENTS, WE'VE RENAMED DEPARTMENTS, WE'VE ADDED POSITIONS.
WE HAVE MOVED WORK TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAVE CHECKLISTS, WE HAVE UPDATED WEBSITES.
WE HAVE DONE MANY THINGS THAT I WILL SAY HAS IMPROVED THE TIME, BUT PROBABLY HAS NOT GOTTEN TO THE CORE PROBLEM OF THE ISSUE.
WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY TO YOU TODAY IS THAT I DON'T BELIEVE WE MAKE MISTAKES, SOMETIMES WE MISS THINGS, SOMETIMES WE TAKE TOO LONG, WE'RE HUMAN.
THAT'S NOT THE REAL PROBLEM OF THE ISSUE.
IF YOU BEAR WITH ME, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT THIS PROCESS LOOKS LIKE. I NEED THE TIME.
BUT THIS IS WHY IT'S SO FRUSTRATING AND WE HEAR JUST LET THEM OPEN, AND THEY'RE COMPLAINING AND WE GET IT ALL THE TIME.
LET'S LOOK AT BUILDING REVIEW PROCESS, WHERE THE BUILDING IS GOING.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.
IS THE BUILDING IN THE RIGHT PLACE? DOES IT HAVE THE RIGHT SETBACKS? IS IT REVIEWED FOR TRAFFIC FLOW? ARE THE UTILITIES ON THE RIGHT AWAY? CAN THEY CONNECT TO THE WATER AND SEWER? IS IT A PERMITTED USE? DOES IT NEED TO BE SUBDIVIDED? THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, HOW IT'S USED, ARE THE PARKING FORMULAS CORRECT? ARE SOME OF THE PARKING SPACES GRANDFATHERED? HOW DO YOU CALCULATE THE PARKING? IT'S ALL DIFFERENT. WHAT IS THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING? IS THAT PROPER ZONING AND CODE? I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
HOLD ON TO MY CHAIR TO GET THIS OUT.
THIS IS THE ZONING CODE IN 1958. THIS IS ZONING.
THIS IS THE ZONING CODE IN 1995 AND THIS IS THE ZONING CODE TODAY.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT ZONING, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BUILDING REQUIREMENTS IN THE TECHNICAL.
THIS IS THE ZONING CODE, JUST ONE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS NOT EVEN HALF, THAT'S ZONING.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M DOING THIS IN THE RIGHT ORDER.
THAT'S PART OF ZONING, PART OF TECHNICAL, SOMETIMES THEY MESH.
IF WE DEVIATE FROM ANY OF THESE THINGS, WE RISK OUR FLOOD INSURANCE RATINGS, AND WE HAVE REALLY GOOD DISCOUNTS BECAUSE WE ARE SUCH A STRONG PARISH WITH THAT.
LOOK AT THE BUILDING, THE DOOR FRAMES, THE EXIT ARRANGEMENTS, THE FIRE SAFETY, THE OCCUPANCY.
IS THEIR CHILDREN GOING TO BE THERE? IS THE ELDERLY GOING TO BE IN THERE? HOW ARE THE WALLS SPACED? THE ROOM SIZES, THE HEIGHT OF THE CEILINGS, INGRESS, EGRESS? HOW ARE THEY GETTING UP TO THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR? IS IT ADA COMPLIANT? FIRE RESISTANCE, LANDING, STEPS, ELEVATORS.
ALL OF THESE HAVE DIFFERENT MECHANICAL CODES.
IF YOU'RE ON CLEARVIEW JEFFERSON, METAIRIE ROAD, OR ANY OTHER STATE HIGHWAY, YOU NEED DOTD APPROVAL, WHICH ADDS MUCH MORE TIME TO THE PROCESS.
FOUR MONTHS IN AND OF ITSELF, IF YOU HAVE TO GET STATE APPROVAL THROUGH DOTD.
IF IT'S BY A RIVER AND THE RIVER IS RISING, AND IF YOU'RE 1,000 FEET OF THE RIVER, THAT'S MANY MONTHS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO WAIT FOR THE RIVER TO GO DOWN.
THIS IS WHAT WE DEAL WITH. I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS.
[01:00:01]
[NOISE] THAT IS A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT.THIS IS THE BUILDING CODE 1952-1995.
YOU GOT TO BEAR WITH ME, BUT I GOT TO SHOW THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION.
I KNOW THIS IS RIDICULOUS. BUILDING CODE 1952-1995.
THIS IS THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE NOW FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
THAT'S NOT IT. EVERYTHING WAS IN THIS.
NOW IT'S THIS, PLUS BECAUSE THIS ALSO INCLUDED PLUMBING ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL, PLUS THIS IS IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAS CODE, THE MECHANICAL CODE, THE PLUMBING CODE, AND THE ELECTRICAL CODE.
ALL OF THESE TOGETHER WERE IN THIS LITTLE BOOK FROM 1952-1995.
GOING BACK, BEAR WITH ME I KNOW IT'S LONG.
>> NO, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE NEXT.
>> [LAUGHTER] GOING BACK TO ZONING.
YOU GOT LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS.
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT DOWN TO THE PLANT THAT YOU PLANT.
WHAT SPECIES? BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE SPECIES, YOU GOT TO HAVE A DIVERSITY OF SPECIES.
BY THE WAY, AS WE ALL LAUGH, GUESS WHAT? WE BROUGHT THIS ON ALL OURSELVES. A LOT OF THIS.
WE DID IT, ME INCLUDED ALL OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL. WE DID IT OURSELVES.
PARKING CHANGES IN A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, PARKING FORMULAS I MEANT, ADA COMPLIANCE, AND I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IF IT'S IN FAT CITY, BUCKTOWN, TOWN CENTER MIXED USE, DAVID DRIVE, THEY ALL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FACADE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL PUT ON THEM.
WINDOW OPENINGS, MATERIALS FOR THE WALLS.
YOU MEET ALL THOSE AND THEN YOU HAVE THESE OTHER PARASELF IMPOSED FACADE REQUIREMENTS.
WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF SIGNS, THE AREAS OF SIGNS, LOCATIONS OF SIGNS.
IS IT A MONUMENT SIGN? IS IT A CERTAIN DIFFERENCE FROM THE ROADWAY? IS IT LANDSCAPE? IS IT IN A SITE TRIANGLE OR IN A PUBLIC SERVITUDE? AGAIN, DEPENDING ON YOUR PROJECT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO, AS I MENTIONED TO THE DOT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, IF IT'S FOOD SERVICE.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, IF IT'S ASBESTOS IN THE BUILDING, IF IT'S FUEL AND GAS TANKS.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED LEVEE DISTRICT NEAR THE RIVER.
THEN ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S LAYERED IN CUMBERSOME IS MY POINT.
IF YOU HAVE A VARIANCE, YOU HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD OR METAIRIE COMMISSION OR THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD, YOU HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU ALL RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS REPRESENTS NUMBER 2-7 ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WHICH IS A LIGHT AGENDA.
ALL OF THOSE STEPS TAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME.
I WILL SAY THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.
IT IS CUMBERSOME, IT IS LAYERED.
BUT MANY GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
LOOK AT VETERANS BOULEVARD TO THE WAY IT LOOKED IN THE 1960S.
THIS IS WHAT BROUGHT US THERE.
COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN HAS TALKED TO ME ABOUT, I THINK YOU'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT, IMPROVING WILLIAMS BOULEVARD.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE REGULATIONS, YOU END UP WITH WHAT VETERANS BOULEVARD LOOKED LIKE IN THE 1960S, YOU END UP WHERE YOU KNOW WE CAN LOOK BETTER ON WILLIAMS. I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED TO ME A LOT ABOUT THAT.
YOU'RE COMING TO US AND SAYING, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? THE REGULATIONS, THE FAT CITY WE'VE WORKED ON, IT'S PEDESTRIAN CORE ORIENTED, WE WANT TO CHANGE IT.
WHY DID WE END UP LIKE THIS? BECAUSE PROPERTY IS PRECIOUS TO US AND WE HAVE HAD CONFLICTS BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES, AND BUSINESSES AND NEIGHBORS, AND WE TRY TO FIX THOSE CONFLICTS.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING ON TODAY THAT TRIES TO FIX A CONFLICT.
PROBABLY WON'T REDUCE TIME, MAY ADD TIME, BUT YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE A DIFFERENT PROBLEM BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS.
PROPERTY IS PRECIOUS TO US, AND OVER THE DECADES, WE HAVE REGULATED OURSELVES TO A RIDICULOUS LEVEL.
IT IS A HORRIBLE PROCESS FOR US AS WELL.
WHAT I SUBMIT TO YOU IS IT'S NOT SO MUCH A PEOPLE PROCESS.
BUT I TRIED, I THOUGHT IT WAS A PEOPLE PROCESS TOO.
WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK IN A DEEP DIVE OF WHAT THE REGULATIONS MEAN FOR US.
WE CAN'T CHANGE THE IRC CODE, THAT'S STATE, WE CAN'T CHANGE SOME FEDERAL CODES, BUT WE'VE PUT OUR OWN PROCESSES OF MANY COMMUNITIES DON'T MAKE PEOPLE GO BEFORE SO MANY LEGISLATIVE BODIES FOR APPROVAL.
YOU NEED SOME BECAUSE YOU NEED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND YOU NEED BOTH SIDES, BUT MAYBE SOME WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE SO MANY LEGISLATIVE APPROVALS.
I'VE LOOKED AT WHAT I CAN FROM A PERSONNEL POINT.
WE HAVE STREAMLINED IT A BIT, BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE, WHICH IS ALL OF THESE LAYERED REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
I WILL GET A TASK FORCE TOGETHER.
WE WILL HAVE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, WE'LL BRING THE CHAMBER ON BOARD, WE'LL BRING JEDCO ON BOARD, WE'LL BRING PROFESSIONALS ON BOARD, AND LET'S DO A DEEP DIVE, AND LET'S DO SOME REALLY HARD WORK, AND IT MAY TAKE LEGISLATION FROM YOU ALL TO DO IT.
BUT IF WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I'M
[01:05:01]
THE THIRD ADMINISTRATION WHO HAS GIVEN IT A TRY, THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE ON IT.IT MIGHT LOOK DIFFICULT AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE SOME REALLY TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, BUT IT'S AS HORRIBLE OF A PROCESS AS IT IS.
WHEN YOU GET THE COMPLAINTS, WE KNOW.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE THINK WE'RE NOT TRYING.
I'LL READ TO YOU, AND WE DO HAVE SERVICES.
WE HELP PEOPLE. THIS IS AN E-MAIL.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE THINGS WHERE WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM COMPLY.
NOTE THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED UNDER THIS ADDRESS, BUT THE ADDRESS IS WRONG, SO PLEASE CORRECT THE ADDRESS.
EACH BUILDING BEING RENOVATED, WILL HAVE ITS OWN PERMITS, SO IT'S EASIER TO SCHEDULE.
INFORMATIONAL SEPARATE PERMITS ARE REQUIRED.
WE GIVE THEM DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS OF WHAT THEY NEED TO HELP THEM COMPLY WITH ALL THIS STUFF.
WE'RE NOT MAKING THEM TRAVERSE THIS BY THEMSELVES.
WE'RE HELPING THEM. I CAN GIVE YOU THIS, THE DETAIL THAT WE HELP THEM WITH.
WE DO HOLD HANDING, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT AND I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES IT IS, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE, BUT IT'S A VERY FRUSTRATING PROCESS AND OUR FOLKS ARE FRUSTRATED AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> NO, I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE THE THOROUGH EXPLANATION AND I THINK WE'VE STARTED THE HARD CONVERSATIONS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE, AND AARON BROUSSARD TRIED IT, JOHN YOUNG TRIED IT, MIKE YENNI TRIED IT.
WE'RE TRYING IT, AND I THINK WE'RE READY TO HELP YOU DO HARD THINGS.
WE NEED TO DO HARD THINGS, WE NEED TO TACKLE THINGS AND NOT DO IT THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE, AND I THINK WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO THAT.
ON TOP OF THAT, MY ONLY ASKS, AND I THINK I CAN SAY OUR ONLY ASKS, I FEEL SAFE SPEAKING FOR EVERYBODY ON THIS IS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DEMAND METER READER ACCOUNTABILITY AND IF THAT MEANS AMENDING ALL OF THE METERS TO CONTRACT, THE THIRD PARTY THAT READS OUR METERS TO DO SOMETHING TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THEM, WE NEED TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE ASKED ABOUT THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
I THINK AT SOME POINT, WE NEED TO HAVE A FACE TO FACE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT ON THE EAST AND WEST BANK SO PEOPLE CAN GO SEE PEOPLE IN PERSON AND IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, JUST TO GET THE UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES OUT OF THE WAY.
I KNOW THERE ARE OBSTACLES, AND I KNOW THERE ARE NECESSARY OBSTACLES, BUT THE UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES THAT YOU'VE REFERENCED, AND WE SEE ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS, CLEARING THOSE OUT AND JUST MAKING THE PATH NOT SO STRESSFUL.
I HAD A BUSINESS OWNER WHO WAS IN TEARS THE OTHER DAY, JUST A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER TRYING TO GET OPEN, AND THAT'S THE STUFF THAT IF WE CAN AVOID IT.
LOOK, IT HURTS ME WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE MAKING ACCUSATIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE I KNOW THE WORK THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
I KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON THESE THINGS, AND THEY'RE NOT OUT TO SCREW PEOPLE OVER.
THEY'RE NOT OUT TO MAKE LIVES DIFFICULT.
BUT YOU'VE POINTED OUT SOME OF THE REASONS WHY IT IS DIFFICULT, SO I KNOW WE'LL GET THERE.
>> I WILL SAY, AND I KNOW TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, WE HAVE A SLIDE THAT JULIET WILL SHOW.
A LOT OF PERMITS WE APPROVE THAT DAY, OR A LOT OF PERMITS WE APPROVE WITHIN THREE DAYS.
IT'S THESE COMPLEX CASES THAT I THINK YOU GET THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT GO OVER MONTHS, AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE COMPLAINTS.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY THAT WE DO AND WE GET IT DONE ISSUED THE SAME DAY OR WITHIN THREE WORKING DAYS.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS WE'VE KNOWN THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT MONEY, WE PUT IT INTO THE CDBG-DR TO LOOK AT THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, WE NEED TO REWRITE THINGS.
WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY ALL OF THESE THINGS, IT'S THE LAW.
BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT REWRITING IT.
WE HAVE SOME MONEY ON THAT FRONT SO IT'S A GREAT TIME THAT WE PROACTIVELY CAN DO THAT AND SO I CAN GET MORE WITH YOU ON THAT.
BUT I WILL GET THE TASK FORCE TOGETHER.
AGAIN, COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR FOLKS, AND JUST DO A DEEP DIVE INTO THE LAYERS OF REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
I WILL SAY THE GOOD THING IS THAT WE GOT AN UPGRADE.
>> THIS IS THE PAIN POINTS, BUT THE PROPERTY INSURERS ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA ACKNOWLEDGES HOW STRICT WE ARE WITH BUILDING CODES BECAUSE BUILDING CODES HAVE TO BE STRONGER NOW WITH HURRICANES.
WE GOT AN UPGRADE IN OUR SCORE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOWER PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR ALL OF US.
WE DO GET BENEFIT FROM THIS AS WELL IN WHAT WE LOOK LIKE IN THE PROTECTION FOR EVERYBODY, AND IN THE CASE OF FLOOD AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE DISCOUNTS, BUT IT IS A PAINFUL PROCESS.
>> A FEW ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
>> THANK YOU FIRST. I'M LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD, AND TO A PERSON, IF I CALL BESS, IF I CALL SYDNEY.
I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH BESS YESTERDAY EVENING AT THE END OF THE DAY, PUTTING HER IN CONNECTION WITH A BUSINESS OWNER WHO SHE WAS GOING TO CALL.
YOU ALL ARE SUPER RESPONSIVE WHEN WE REACH OUT WITH AN ISSUE.
PLEASE, IT IS KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU WHO KNOW THESE CODES SO WELL AND CAN HELP WHEN WE CALL ON YOU.
IT IS COMPLEX, AND I THINK IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE COMPLEX.
I KNOW, JUST AS COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN IS EXPLORING, I'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON THE WEST BANK EXPRESSWAY.
[01:10:02]
THAT CORRIDOR IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THE WEST BANK, AND IT LOOKS MORE LIKE VETERANS DID WHEN WE WERE KIDS, PARISH PRESIDENT, THAN VETERANS LOOKS TODAY.THE TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD MAYBE ASK FOR CONSIDERATION, THE SIMPLIFICATION OF OUR CODE THAT YOU JUST INDICATED, WE HAVE SOME MONEY FOR.
I UNDERSTOOD THAT MIGHT BE A FEW YEARS AWAY.
IF WE CAN MAYBE ASSIST WITH FUNDING OR IN SOME WAY SPEEDING UP THAT PROCESS, SO CHAPTER 33 AND 40 GET SIMPLIFIED.
WE HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY IN OUR OVERLAY DISTRICT, SO THEY'RE NOT DEALING WITH A BUCK TOWN ONE AND A FAT CITY ONE.
IF WE CAN HELP YOU SPEED UP THAT PROCESS, PLEASE LET'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION SO THAT CAN HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WE'VE LEARNED, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM ENTERGY, IN A PAST STORM, I REMEMBER OUR OFFICE WOULD GET A CALL FROM A BUSINESS OR A PROPERTY OWNER OR HOMEOWNER AND SAY, THIS IS THE PARTICULAR ISSUE.
WE WOULD THEN TRANSFER THAT INFORMATION TO ENTERGY.
I REMEMBER BEING OUT ON THE STREETS AFTER A STORM, AND ONE OF THE WORK CREWS WERE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT EVERYWHERE I'M BEING DIRECTED, YOU SHOW UP.
WHAT IT EXPLAINED AND WHAT THE RESULTS WE WERE SEEING WAS, THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US AND ENTERGY WAS IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFYING SOME OF THOSE MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS, AND THEN WE COULD GET ON THEM TOGETHER.
MAYBE IN WATER AND IN OUR PLANNING AND CODE DEPARTMENTS RIGHT NOW, COULD WE MAYBE HAVE A TROUBLESHOOTER, A CONCIERGE.
I DID IT LAST WEEK WITH TREMON CHETA WHO'S PHENOMENAL IN OUR BUILDING PERMITS DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD ONE OF THOSE TRICKY ISSUES.
I SAID, TREMON, CAN YOU PLEASE BE THE TROUBLESHOOTER ON THIS? WE HAVE SUCH FABULOUS PEOPLE IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
MAYBE JUST RIGHT NOW IDENTIFYING A TROUBLESHOOTER, FOR WHEN WE HAVE THOSE MORE COMPLEX ONES THAT COME ON OUR RADAR, THAT WE CAN THEN EMPOWER THAT TROUBLESHOOTER TO SAY, YEAH, THIS ONE'S MORE COMPLEX, LET ME GET ON.
MAYBE THAT WOULD BE IN THE INTERIM SOMETHING THAT WE COULD UTILIZE TO HAVE ONE PERSON THAT WE'RE TAKING THOSE CASES TO AND THEY CAN WORK ON IT AS A SPECIAL TROUBLESHOOTER FOR THOSE COMPLEX ONES.
WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER IN THE INTERIM WHILE WE WORK ON A LONGER-TERM SOLUTION? I THINK BOTH OF THOSE THINGS MIGHT HELP. THANK YOU.
>> THE THING THAT I'VE HEARD THE MOST OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS OR SO, HAS BEEN INCONSISTENCY.
YOU HAVE SMALL BUILDERS WHO WILL COME IN, THEY WILL SUBMIT EVERYTHING ONLINE, AND THEN THEY'LL COME IN AND THEN THEY'LL BE ASKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT HAS BEEN THE MAJORITY OF WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING.
THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY LOOKING FOR SIMPLICITY, AND THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY.
I WOULD HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS TRUE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY'LL BE CALLING ME OUT OF FRUSTRATION OR CALLING MY OFFICE IF IT WASN'T TRUE.
I'M NOT SAYING IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT HAS BEEN THE MAJOR ISSUE WITH MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING IN JEFFERSON PARISH THAT I'VE HEARD OF.
>>YES, COUNCILMAN. WHAT I TELL OUR FOLKS, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS AND UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.
NOW, IF THEY NEED APPROVAL FROM STATE AGENCIES AND THE SHERIFF, LIKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS, WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO GET THE PLANS AND ASK ONE TIME FOR THE LIST OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE AND I HEAR THIS COMPLAINT, TOO, WE DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND THEN WE COME BACK AND THEN YOU ASK FOR MORE THINGS.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, A LOT OF TIMES THEY CHANGE THEIR PLANS, THEY CHANGE ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS AND THEN IT TRIGGERS SOMETHING ELSE.
WE NEED TO GET ON THAT FRONT IS TO GET THEM AS MUCH INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THEM IN ONE FELL SWOOP.
THEN THEY WORK ON THAT AND WE NOT KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THEM.
I THINK THAT'S FRUSTRATING. YES. WE AGREE.
>> ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, I GOT YOU NEXT.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION.
WE'LL KEEP EVERYBODY UPDATED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE PARISH PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON FAMILY GRAS I WAS GOING TO READ OFF A LIST OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO THANK, BUT YOU'VE DONE AN EXHAUSTIVE JOB ON THAT, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS THE LAST MEETING THAT YOU DID THAT.
IT'S BEEN SO LONG AGO. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
IT WAS MOVING AS MANY FAMILY GRAS BECOME A TRADITION IN OUR LIFETIME, AND IT'S NEAT WATCHING IT EVOLVE.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD A DELUGE ON SATURDAY.
CHEAP TRICK, THEY ONLY PLAYED I THINK THREE OR FIVE SONGS, AND THEN THEY LEFT.
[01:15:03]
THIS YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FAMILY GRAS TO THE PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER WITH YOUR HELP AND THE HELP OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU MOBILIZED.THANK YOU TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS, JPS FIRE, EMS, VALLEY PETERS WITH THE JCVB.
IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT TO PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER.
THE PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER, MAYOR GLAZER OF KENNER, CHIEF CONLEY OF KENNER, ARITA BOHANNAN, OF OUR COUNCILWOMAN FROM KENNER.
IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT AND WE DID IT.
THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE THERE, YOU SAW IT WAS WONDERFUL, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PITCHING IN AND HELPING US MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT MAKING IT EVEN A BETTER STORY IS THAT THERE WAS AN MMA FIGHT IN THE PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN START SETTING UP UNTIL 5:00 AM FOR THAT DAY'S FESTIVITIES.
>> WE MOBILIZED PEOPLE AROUND 2:00 AM TO GET READY.
IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT, BUT WE DID IT.
LOOK, AND IF YOU WERE THERE, YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARINO.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE KING FISH RIVERVIEW DEVELOPMENT.
MY OFFICE GETS CALLS ON THAT TO SAY WHERE ARE WE? IF YOU NOTICED OUTSIDE ACROSS THE STREET, YOU PROBABLY SEE THE PILINGS.
THE TEST PILINGS ARE ALREADY BEING DRIVEN.
SINCE WE'VE LAST BEEN, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT'S BEEN SELECTED FOLLOWING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OUT OF 10 APPLICANTS.
BUDGET FOR OUR PART OF THE CAPITAL OUTLAY, AND AGAIN, FOR THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.
THIS IS A CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECT.
IT'S ABOUT $28 MILLION COMPLEX THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT IN THE PARISH IS INVESTMENT IN THIS RIGHT NOW.
WE ESTIMATED ORIGINALLY TO BE 10 MILLION.
THROUGH THE CMAR PROCESS, LANDIS CONSTRUCTION, THEIR GUARANTEED MAXIMUM CONTRACT UNLESS WE MAKE CHANGE ORDERS IS 8.6 MILLION.
THEY'VE STARTED TO TEST PILINGS.
WITHIN 16 MONTHS IT WILL BE COMPLETED.
THE REST OF THE PROJECT, WHICH OUR PARISH IS PART AGAIN, THE BUILDING OF THE COMMERCIAL LEASABLE SPACE IS OUR LOCAL MATCH FOR THIS OVER $28 MILLION STATE FUNDED CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECT.
IN THE END, IT'S GOING TO HAVE YOUR GARAGE WITH EV CHARGING STATIONS.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LINEAR PARK A KIOSK AND AGAIN, COMMERCIAL LEASABLE SPACE.
THAT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY, AND 16 MONTHS FROM NOW WILL BE IN IT, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT, AND I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD, SO THERE WON'T BE ANY CONFUSION ON THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER YESTERDAY THAT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS AT 11 FEET NOW, AND OUR CONSTRUCTION AND ASPHALT DEMOLITION PILE DRIVING.
I KNOW THOSE TEST PILES. I WAS LOOKING OUT OF OUR WINDOW AT THEM YESTERDAY, BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE AT A PAUSE RIGHT NOW WHILE THE RIVER IS AT A HIGH LEVEL.
THE 16 MONTHS MAY BE IMPACTED BY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE AT A STANDSTILL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE RIVER LEVEL, SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY LACK OF CLARITY ON THAT.
>> I WAS VERY HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE WITH FAMILY GRAS ON TOUR THIS YEAR.
BUT WHAT THE COUNCILMAN IS NOT TELLING YOU IS THAT HE PARTICIPATED IN LITERALLY MOVING A MOUNTAIN.
HE DIDN'T DO IT ALONE. WE HAD ALL THE DIRECTORS.
WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE TO THANK.
THE CITY OF KENNER WAS AMAZING.
THE MAYOR DROPPING AND MOVING EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THIS WORKED OUT FOR EVERYONE, THE PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER, OF COURSE, EVEN THE VENDORS.
BUT COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG'S ENTIRE STAFF AND FAMILY WERE THERE.
IN FACT, BOTH OF OUR FAMILIES, IT WAS LIKE ALL HANDS ON DECK TO GET THIS AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING HELP LIKE YOU DID.
IT WAS MORE THAN JUST MOVING A COUPLE BANDS OVER.
THIS WAS AN ENTIRE THING WE HAD TO MOVE OVER.
THE JEFFERSON PARISH CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, CHARLY DID A GREAT JOB, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I THANK OUR STAFF BECAUSE OUR STAFF, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT EXECUTIVE STAFF.
THERE WAS EVERYONE, OUR STAFF WAS THERE HELPING AND PARTICIPATING, ESPECIALLY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE WELCOME BACK TO KENNER ANYTIME.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU LIKE IT BETTER, THAT'S OKAY WITH ME, TOO.
YOU CAN LEAVE IT THERE. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SPECIAL NOD TO COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
>> COUNCILMAN I HAVE TO LAUGH BECAUSE I SAID I WAS GETTING VOLUNTEERS AND I MEANT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT PEOPLE AND YOU QUICKLY NOMINATED YOUR FAMILY.
[01:20:02]
I WAS NEVER GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO YOUR FAMILY, BUT ON THE TEXT, YOU'RE LIKE, MY FAMILY'S READY TO HELP, AND I'M LIKE, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.>> IS THAT IT? COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN? NOTHING? [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
THAT'S EVERYTHING ON THAT PART OF THE AGENDA. NOW WE CAN MOVE TO THE ACTUAL MEETING.
NOW WE'RE TO ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR [INAUDIBLE] AGENDA? YOU CAN DO SO NOW. YOU MUST FILL OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD IN THE BACK OF CHAMBERS.
[PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION(S) ON AGENDA/ADDENDUM AGENDA]
HAND UP TO THE CLERK IN THE FRONT. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> I GET A CHANCE TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE SPEAK.
>> THE SOCKS ARE IMPRESSIVE THIS MORNING.
>> THE [INAUDIBLE]. HAPPY MARDI GRAS.
FIVE MINUTES I NEED TO DO THIS.
THREE MINUTES DOESN'T SUFFICE.
GIVE THE PEOPLE BACK THEIR TIME. DO THAT.
ITEMS 22, 26-28, 30-51, 663, 66-77, 70-71, 74-81, 83-84, 100, 69, 108-115, AND OF COURSE, 59.
[LAUGHTER] REGARDING MOST OF THOSE AGENDA ITEMS, THEY ARE ALL RELATED TO THE MONEY THAT Y'ALL HAVE TAKEN IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THESE QUID PRO QUO THINGS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WITH $53,500 INTO HIS ACCOUNT TO SUPPORT THE SET AGENDA ITEMS. NUMBER 2 AND THAT'S GOING TO COME IN WITH A READABLE HANDING OVER 50 GRAND INTO HER COFFERS TO SUPPORT THIS AGENDA, WHICH WILL BE APPROVED IN GLOBO.
I'M JUST COUNTING UP THE NUMBERS RELATED TO THE AGENDA ITEMS. I DIDN'T MAKE THE RULES.
IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. YOU CAN SPEND YOUR MONEY ANYWAY YOU WANT.
I DON'T FAULT THE SHARK FOR BEING A SHARK UNLIKE MY PREDECESSOR.
I ACTUALLY WOULD JUST APPLAUD THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK THE LEAST MONEY.
MY COUNCILMAN, MR. BONANO, NOT IN THE ROOM.
THANK YOU, MR. BONANO. YOU TOOK THE LEAST MONEY.
I EXPECT ANYBODY TO OPOSE ANYTHING THAT COME FROM SEAT.
NEXT, WOULD BE, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE PARISH PRESIDENT.
OF COURSE, SHE'S NOT GOING TO OPPOSE ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE SHE HAD MOST OF IT PUT ON THE AGENDA.
HOW MANY JUVENILES FOR 250 GRAND AM I DEALING WITH THAT AT RISK? JUVENILES ARE GOING TO BE HOME DETENTION THAT I HAVE TO SPEND 250 GRAND TO MODERATE.
JESUS. IT JUST GETS RIDICULOUS.
ANYBODY NOTICE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE FEDERAL GRANT MONEY? IT'S GETTING CLAWED BACK.
EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT ALL THEM GOOD DES THAT YOU'VE BEEN PATTING YOURSELVES ON THE BACK FOR, THEY'RE ALL COLLAPSING.
WHY? BECAUSE THE DEMOCRACY FAILS.
JUST LIKE THIS ROOM CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
BUT WHAT? LIP SERVICE, TOKEN GESTERS.
YOU SERVE TWO MASTERS WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
YOU GOT TWO DIFFERENT WATER DEPARTMENTS.
NO WONDER YOU CAN'T ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE.
YOU PASSED IT THROUGH THIS BODY THROUGH PROPAGANDA.
YOU WOULDN'T FACE THE ELECTORATE TO GET YOUR MILLAGE TO INCREASE THE WATER DEPARTMENT FEES.
NO, YOU PASSED IT THROUGH THIS LITTLE ARBITRARILY EMPOWERED BODY, TWO OF WHICH SERVE THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION ANYWAY MORE SO THAN THEY DO THE PEOPLE.
I COULD GO ON FOR A FULL FIVE MINUTES, BUT LET'S GET TO 59, LIP STICK ON A PIG.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CALL THE GULF NEXT? THE GULF OF PIXIE STICKS? GIVE ME A BREAK.
DEMOCRACY IS FAILING, AND IT'S GOING ON RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FACES.
COME ON, ANYBODY SITTING TO MY LEFT, NO PARTY.
LET'S STAND UP AND SEE THIS THING CORRECTED FOR OURSELVES.
THE GOOD SENSE OF PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE FOUND TO BE THE BEST ARMY.
WE'VE BEEN LED STRAIGHT FOR 180 PLUS YEARS INTO A JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY.
EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW GOES RIGHT BACK TO THAT TYRANNY.
A TYRANNY IF YOU IN A CONFUSION OF MULTITUDES WE ARE GUARANTEED A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
I'VE SEEN ENOUGH OF THIS DEMOCRACY AND A FEDERAL DEMOCRACY.
IF WE CAN ABOUT FACE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INTERNATIONAL [OVERLAPPING]
>> GET A CLUE AND FIGURE THIS OUT.
WE CAN CORRECT FOR IT RIGHT HERE IN THE PARISH NAME FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON.
READ THE APPORTIONMENT OPINION. FIGURE IT OUT.
>> ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR [INAUDIBLE] AGENDA.
THANK YOU. THAT TAKES US TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH WE HAVE NONE TODAY.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. I SEE YOU STAND UP, MA'AM.
>> I'M SORRY. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TRYING TO APPEAR AT ONE OF THESE.
>> YOU CAN GRAB THAT HANDHELD MICROPHONE IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> THEY MOVE IT. WELL, NEVER MIND.
>> YEAH, IT'S JUST A LITTLE LOW.
I WAS WANTING TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 6 ON THE AGENDA, SUMMARY NUMBER 26455.
>> YOU CAN SPEAK ON THAT ONE WHEN THAT ITEM COMES UP. WE'LL GET TO IT IN A SECOND.
>> I'M A LITTLE LOST. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO PROBLEM. THAT'S GOT A PUBLIC HEARING ASSOCIATED WITH IT, SO THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN COME UP AND SPEAK ON THAT.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA OR [INAUDIBLE] AGENDA? AS I WAS SAYING, NO EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY, SO THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 2, WHICH I HAVE A NOTE THAT WILL BE DEFERRED TO APRIL 9, 2025.
[01:25:04]
COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THAT REFERRAL?[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES]
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 2 TO APRIL 9 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 3, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26484, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF JEFFERSON PARISH LOTS 10 AND 11 SQUARE FIVE TRACK B, AIRLINE PARK SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 1440 AND 1446, MANSFIELD AVENUE.
MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R-1A, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R-2 TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, WZ-24-24, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM, AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26484.
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 26484, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM FOUR.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26485, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOT 45 SQUARE THREE, TRACK A, AIRLINE PARK SUBDIVISION, LOCATED AT 1236 MARSHALL DRIVE, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R-1A, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R-2 TO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, WZ-25-24 COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26485.
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 26485, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 5, PLEASE.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26486, AMENDING A SPECIAL PERMANENT USE REC-1-17
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING]
WITH REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE PROPERTY BUFFER AND SETBACK REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOLS, SIGN REGULATIONS OF THE R-1A DISTRICT.REGULATIONS FOR STADIUMS AND ATHLETIC FIELDS FOR ACADEMY OF OUR LADY, AND TO THE PARKING REGULATIONS FOR ARCHBISHOP SHAW HIGH SCHOOL, LOCATED ON LOT 6A-1 AND 6C-2 JEFFERSON, PARISH, LOUISIANA, ZONED R-1A, C-2, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT DISTRICT, GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, WITH CBZ, COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE, SPU-5-24, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26486.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
THEY'VE BEEN WAITING A WHILE TO GET UP TO THIS ONE, SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY.
>> THAT'S OKAY. JOHN DALTON, 1242 ALLO AVENUE, MARRERO.
I AM AN ARCHITECT REPRESENTING THE ACADEMY FOR OUR LADY IN THIS.
WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER APPROVING THIS SUMMARY.
THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE LOVE WORKING AND EDUCATING THE YOUNG WOMEN OF JEFFERSON PARISH AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE YOUTH, SO THIS ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE DOING THAT.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE HERE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE NO ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR.
COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR MOTION WITH SISTER MICHELLE LOOKING ON. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M NOT ABOUT TO DENY THIS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26486, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
I HAVE A NOTE THAT ITEM SIX WILL BE DEFERRED TO APRIL 9TH.
COUNCILMAN LEE YOUR MOTION ON THAT.
COUNCILMAN LEE YOUR MOTION ON SIX, THE DEFERRAL OF THAT?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM SIX, TO APRIL 9, 2025, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM SEVEN.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26473, APPROVING SP 61-24, REQUESTED A VARIANCE TO THE OFF-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS FOR WALMART SUPER CENTER, LOCATED AT 8912 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LINE 1-A-1-B SQUARE A-2, WESTGATE SUBDIVISION, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, COUNCIL DISTRICT 4.
>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26473.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26473, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM EIGHT.
[OTHER ORDINANCES]
AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 13709, THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN FOR THE UNCLASSIFIED AT-WILL EMPLOYEES[01:30:04]
OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO INCORPORATE NEW JOB CLASSIFICATIONS.>> WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26459.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE OPPOSED?
>> CHARACTERIZING AN OPPOSITION FOR ACCUMULATION OF STATUTES.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, WHAT THE PARISH PRESIDENT SPOKE TO EARLIER.
IT'S EVERY ONE OF THESE THINGS JUST ADDS ON TOP OF IT, JUST ANOTHER BUREAUCRATIC LEVEL OF I GOT TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT THIS IS EVEN ABOUT, AND WE KEEP ON GOING.
THERE'S CLEARLY13,000 OF THEM.
LAST I COUNTED THERE WERE 30,000 ORDINANCES I COULD SIFT THROUGH ARBITRARILY ENFORCED.
I DON'T OPPOSE TRYING TO CORRECT FOR OURSELVES.
WE NEED AN APPORTIONED REPRESENTATIVE BODY BEFORE ANYTHING YOU DO IS ACTUALLY EVEN LEGIT, SO I GOT TO OPPOSE MOST OF ALL OF THIS STUFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A PAY PLAN THING.
I'M PRETTY SURE YOU'RE PAYING YOURSELVES MORE THAN YOU SHOULD.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILWOMAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26459, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. THAT TAKES US TO.
ITEM NUMBER NINE, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK?
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26460, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER TWO, ARTICLE 2, DIVISION ONE SECTION 2-16.5 AND CHAPTER TWO ARTICLE 3, DIVISION ONE SECTION 2-97 REGARDING SPECIAL NON-COMPETITIVE LIMITED TERM EMPLOYEES.
>> EXCUSE ME. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26460, ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION.
>> A CASE CAN RISE IN OPPOSITION JUST TO VOICE THIS SAME PRINCIPLE.
I NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT'S FRUGAL AND SIMPLE.
THE FACT THAT I GOT TO LISTEN TO ALL THE DESCRIPTIONS OF WHERE I MIGHT FIND WHAT THIS RELATES TO, DOES MY WORK FOR ME.
I'M A JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN, A REAL REPUBLICAN.
I DIDN'T LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESENTLY.
IT LEFT ME, BUT I STILL AM GUARANTEED A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
THAT MEANS I GOT TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES APPORTIONED AMONG THE SEVERAL PARTS OF THE PARISH ACCORDING TO THE RESPECTIVE NUMBERS.
THE ONE FACING THE TOUGHEST TIME HERE IS MR. MARINO.
AND GOD BLESS ME. HE'S ONLY HERE FOR AN INTERIM, SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO REALLY FACE THE WEIGHT OF THE CONSEQUENCES.
HE'S GOT TO LIVE IN ONE OF THE FOUR DIFFERENTLY TAXED PLACES OF DISTRICT ONE.
AND IT REFLECTS IN HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT BECAUSE THE WATER METERING TAKING CARE OF GRANADA JEAN LAFITTE, UNINCORPORATED. GOOD LUCK.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
>> I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL ON THIS ITEM, AND JUST SO WE DO SIMPLY EXPLAIN IT.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO VOTERS AT THE POLLS SUPPORTING THIS CHANGE.
WE HAVE EMPLOYEES FOR A LONG TIME THAT WERE A HYBRID, AND THIS MAKES THEM STRAIGHT AT WILL.
THEY WILL BE HIRED AND FIRED BASED UPON PERFORMANCE.
I THINK THAT'S A COMMON SENSE THING.
THIS CHANGE REFLECTS THAT, AND THIS IS WHAT VOTERS AUTHORIZE THIS TO DO AT THE BALLOT BOX. MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26460, THE MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM TEN.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26487, AMENDING SECTION 2-515.27 AND 2-515.28 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 13709, THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN FOR THE UNCLASSIFIED AT-WILL EMPLOYEES OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO CHANGE THE NAME OF COORDINATOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
>> NOW FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMER NUMBER 26487.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
>> THIS ONE I CAN ACTUALLY OPPOSE ON SUBSTANCE.
THE APPLICATION WITH REGARDS TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF LEGISLATIVE POWER TO MAKE ANY OF THESE DECISIONS, THE APPLICATION OF ONE RATIO WOULD BE FOUND INTELLIGIBLE TO THEM AND THEREFORE APPROVED.
WHILE THE COMPLEX OPERATIONS OF FIVE DISTRICTS REIGNED OVER BY TWO AT LARGE MEMBERSHIPS WILL NEVER BE COMPREHENDED BY THEM.
THOUGH THEY, THE PEOPLE MAY ACQUIESCE, THEY CANNOT APPROVE, WHAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
WHEN YOU GET A TURNOUT OF 10%, 15% TRYING TO APPROVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THEY CAN'T APPROVE WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THEY'RE ACQUIESCENT. I'VE TALKED TO THEM.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CONSTRUCT IS MADE, SO THEY CAN'T APPROVE ANYTHING DONE IN HERE.
YOU CAN BRAG ABOUT, A VOTE OF ACQUIESCENCE, BUT THERE IS NO REPUBLICAN FORM APPLIED HERE.
[01:35:01]
I'M GOING TO RISE UP IN OPPOSITION AND WITH REGARDS TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S ABOUT TO GET MIXED.THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY OF THAT WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION ISN'T GOING TO TOLERATE ANY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
GET A JOB OR GO TO JAIL. THAT'S IT.
QUIT LAYING ON THE LEGS, QUIT SUPPORTING THESE APPARATUSES THAT ARE JUST A CONSTRUCT OF A DEMOCRACY.
THEY'RE ABOUT TO ALL BE ERASED, EVERY EXEMPTION, EVERY BIT OF THE CONSTRUCT THAT YOU'VE SEEN THAT WE'VE ALL ENJOYED ALL OF OUR LIVES.
THANKFULLY, I'M WATCHING IT GETTING TORN APART, TORN ASUNDER.
IT'S RIGHT HERE ON YOUR DOORSTEP.
YOU COULD GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE OR YOU CAN KEEP ON BRAGGING ABOUT THE ACQUIESCENT ELECTORATE.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26487 ON THE MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26488, AMENDING SECTION 2-761, 2-762, 2-763, AND 2-764 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, RELATIVE TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH HEADSTART ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND HEAD START PROGRAM GOVERNANCE.
>> NOW FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26488.
>> ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
>> YEAH. RISE IN OPPOSITION, FRACK HIRES.
WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS HEAD START THING FOR A LONG TIME NOW.
A COUPLE OF HUNDRED KIDS OUT OF 21,000 BENEFITING FROM THIS PROGRAM, MILLIONS, TENS OF MILLIONS IN THE STATE BUDGET AFFORDED TO IT.
THOUGH TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE BUDGET IS FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S ABOUT TO SHUT ALL THAT DOWN.
TWO-THIRDS OF OUR BUDGET, GONE.
KEEP ON PATTING YOURSELVES ON THE BACK FOR A GOOD DEED THAT'S NOTHING BUT AN ILL-GOTTEN GAIN.
YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW THE POWER TO DO THESE THINGS IS DISTRIBUTED, YOU GOT NOTHING, AND THIS GOES BACK A LONG WAY.
LAST TIME MR. AL WAS IN HERE HE TALKED ABOUT THE TRAIL OF TEARS.
THAT'S WHEN WE LOST THIS THING, TO BEGIN WITH.
WHEN WE TURNED A BLIND EYE, TO HAVING OUR JUDICIAL BRANCH SNUBBED.
THE SECOND ONE COMES IN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHICH MOST OF THIS STUFF IS ALL BEING TORN APART BY.
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS GOING TO DO AWAY WITH YOUR HEAD START.
THE FIRST MAN TO EXPLOIT, ONE OF THE FIRST PRESIDENTS AFTER THE FIRST GENERATION OF THE FOUNDERS, THE FIRST EXPLOITER OF THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER, JACKSON.
THE ONE WHO DOUBLES THAT MOST, TYLER.
FIGURE OUT WHAT THESE GUYS DID WITH OUR REPUBLIC BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE REDRESS THESE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.
REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES SHALL BE APPORTIONED.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN?
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? PARISH PRESIDENT.
I JUST HAVE ACTUALLY THIS VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.
I'VE LISTENED TO WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN HAS HAD TO SAY.
WHAT SAY YE? I MEAN, AS A PARISH, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, AND PART OF THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE THE TWO ITEMS THAT WE JUST READ AND THAT THIS GENTLEMAN OPPOSED.
MY QUESTION IS, AND THIS IS A RHETORICAL QUESTION, DO WE JUST QUIT? DO WE JUST STOP? WHAT DO WE DO? DO WE NOT CONTINUE TO SERVE AND FIGURE IT OUT? WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OMINOUS THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND GOING TO HAPPEN.
AS LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, YOU AS PARISH PRESIDENT AND AS DUTIFUL EMPLOYEES OF PARISH WHO WORK IN THESE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE OPERATING IN FEAR? WE ARE SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS ARE BEING MET TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, RIGHT? I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT YOUR OPINION WAS ON THAT.
>> [LAUGHTER] COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION.
>> I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL, CONTINUING THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26488.
ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 12, PLEASE.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26489, AMENDING CHAPTER 14, FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES IN ORDER TO ALIGN WITH THE ADOPTED STATE BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS.
>> WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26489.
ANYONE IN FAVOR? ANYONE OPPOSED?
>> ALWAYS RISING IN OPPOSITION OF ANYTHING DONE BY AN ARBITRARILY EMPOWERED GOVERNMENT.
[01:40:02]
THAT'S JUST IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DISTRICT THREE.COUNCIL MEMBER FOR EXPRESSING ANY CURIOSITY.
BELIEVE ME. I DON'T OPPOSE THE GOOD DEEDS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] STAY ON TOPIC.
>> I'M NEVER RISING IN OPPOSITION FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, WHETHER IT'S THIS AGENDA ITEM OR ANY PREVIOUS ONE.
IT'S NOT THAT I OPPOSE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH GOVERNANCE.
IT'S HOW WE ACHIEVE THE POWER TO DO SO, AND IT'S EXPRESSED.
I OPPOSE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF A JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT I'M GUARANTEED AND HAS NEVER BEEN LEGALLY TESTED.
WE'VE TURNED A BLIND EYE TO IT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO SETTLE FOR IT.
THE RULES ARE EXPRESSED AND WE ARE NOT PROHIBITED FROM RE-ESTABLISHING THE REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT IS PRESCRIBED. THAT'S IT.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26489, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
OPERATING BUDGET NUMBER 13 WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26490, AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE.
TO ALLOCATE $3,735 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE'S VIDEO POKER FUND FOR SECURITY DETAILS IN WESTMINSTER SUBDIVISION.
ALLOCATE $7,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE'S VIDEO POKER FUND TO WEST BANK PLAYGROUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ACCOUNT NUMBER 44670-4014-7451 46747012 FOR THE ACRE ROW LANIER PARK PROJECT.
ALLOCATE $5,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE'S VIDEO POKER FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT 100100010 3037699.9 FOR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT IN COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE.
ALLOCATE $4,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO'S WEST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR CEA WITH OUR LADY OF PRIME SUCKER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WESTWEGO, LOUISIANA FOR THEIR GUMBO COOK-OFF.
ALLOCATE $10,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE'S EAST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR A CEA WITH KENNER ITALIAN HERITAGE INCORPORATED.
FOR EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE STAGING OF THE 2025 ITALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL, COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE.
ALLOCATE $10,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR'S EAST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR A CEA WITH KENNER ITALIAN HERITAGE INCORPORATED, FOR EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE STAGING OF THE 2025 ITALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL, COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS.
THE MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 26490.
ANYONE IN FAVOR? ANYONE OPPOSED?
>> BECAUSE IT'S A SPARKLE OF CURIOSITY, WAY WE GO, 509 HOME BOULEVARD ON EAST BANK.
THERE ARE EIGHT DISTINCTLY DIFFERENTLY TAXED PORTIONS OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
I BELIEVE THE WEST BANK DESERVES TO BE ITS OWN PARISH, TO BE ABLE TO ELECT ITS OWN PARISH PRESIDENT, ITS OWN SHERIFF, ITS OWN TAX ASSESSOR.
IT IS DISTINGUISHABLY DIFFERENT, DISTINCTLY, BY EVERY MEASURE, A SEPARATE WATER DEPARTMENT, SEPARATE PARKS DEPARTMENT, SEPARATE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S NIMBLE IN THE WAY THEY ADDRESS FIRE PROTECTION.
THEY DO IT FOR HALF THE COST OF THE EAST BANK.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT, IT'S ABOUT OURSELVES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S AN UNINCORPORATED WEST BANK, THERE'S AN UNINCORPORATED EAST BANK, AND THERE ARE SIX MUNICIPALITIES.
THEY ARE ALL TAXED DISTINCTLY, DIFFERENTLY.
IF YOU ALLOW FOR THE PORTION OF ONE OF THESE TO TAKE FROM A PORTION OF THE OTHER, IT'S ELECTION BY WAY OF VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION WHERE YOU HAVE ONE TRYING TO REPRESENT FOUR DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT PLACES, DIFFERENTLY TAXED.
SAME GOES FOR DISTRICT 4, REPRESENTING TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT PLACES, AND SO ON.
DISTRICT 2, MY DISTRICT, FOUR DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT PLACES.
WEST WE GO, HARAHAN, UNINCORPORATED EAST AND WEST BANK, JEFFERSON PARISH.
THAT'S VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION.
WE HAVE SUBSTITUTED A REAL REPRESENTATION FOR A VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION.
NOW, THE RATIO SUGGESTED FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ONE FOR EVERY 30,000.
VERY SIMPLY, WHEN IT COMES TO TAXATION, IF YOU WANT TO TAX ME, I DON'T KNOW, $10 PER SQUARE FOOT.
I LIVE IN HARAHAN, THERE'S 10,000 PEOPLE.
WELL, IMAGINE THERE'S 100,000 IN METAIRIE JUST TO MAKE THIS EASY.
YOU WANT TO TAX MY 1,000 FEET, $10 PER 1,000 FEET OR $100 PER 1,000 FEET.
[01:45:01]
I LIVE IN HARAHAN, I GET ONE REPRESENTED FOR EVERY 10,000.METAIRIE, WITH 10 REPRESENTATIVES, CAN PAY 10 TIMES AS MUCH.
I'M PAYING $100, YOU'RE PAYING $1,000 PER 1,000 FEET.
THAT ENSURES THAT WE WOULD HAVE A FRUGAL AND SIMPLE GOVERNMENT.
THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF PAYING THE COST TO BE THE BOSS.
THAT'S WHAT A REPUBLICAN FORM ENSURES.
THIS PROVIDES FOR DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, WHERE ONE SIDE OF THE PARISH ISN'T THE ENEMY TO THE OTHER, WHERE YOU DON'T SEE KENNER AND GRETNA HAVING TO GANG UP AGAINST METAIRIE.
IT'S ON DISPLAY. Y'ALL DO MY WORK FOR ME HALF OF THE TIME HERE.
WE ARE OBLIGED TO SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY, NOT TO YOU OR ME, NOT TO HIM OR HER, AND CERTAINLY NOT TO ANY THEY OR THEM, BUT TO OURSELVES AND TO OUR POSTERITY, LET'S FIGURE IT OUT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING, MS. VAN VRANCKEN.
>> I DO. IF MY UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT, IF YOU JUST PROPOSE THAT THERE WOULD BE A COUNCIL PERSON ONE FOR EVERY 10,000 PEOPLE, WE'D HAVE 45 COUNCIL PEOPLE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WORKABLE.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU.
I DID WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT, YOU SPEAK ON THIS PASSIONATELY, EVERY OPPORTUNITY AT EVERY MEETING.
IT DOES DRAG OUT THE MEETING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE FOR OTHER THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I ASKED IS, IF YOU COULD BRING US A PROPOSAL, IF YOU COULD SAY WHAT IT IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO TO APPRECIATE THE CHANGE, GIVE ME A PROPOSAL.
I'M STILL WAITING ON IT. GIVE ME A PROPOSAL, LET US LOOK AT IT.
YOUR TALKING IN THREE-MINUTE INCREMENTS IS NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING DONE.
IF YOU WANT TRUE TRANSFORMATION, PUT A PROPOSAL ON PAPER AND LET US CONSIDER IT. MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, ANOTHER ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, AGAIN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26490, MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
NOW LET'S GO TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26491, AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE: TO ALLOCATE $69,154 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 CDIA GENERAL FUND TO WEST BANK PLAYGROUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, ACCOUNT NUMBER 44670-4014-7431.146755.002 FOR FENCING FOR COVID MEMORIAL PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $7,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S VIDEO POKER TO WEST BANK PLAYGROUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TO ACCOUNT 44670-4014-7451-46747.012 FOR THE ACRE ROW LANIER PARK PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTIONS TO THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS, A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, WE'RE NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC HEARING, SUMMARY NUMBER 26491.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED?
>> THE CAST CAN DRIVE AGAIN AND DO THIS AGAIN.
I NOW APPRECIATE THE DIMINUTION OF THE THREE MINUTES THAT I MIGHT SPEND DOING THIS REPEATEDLY.
I'M NOT THE ONE HOLDING POWER, I'M JUST THE DUDE.
I'M JUST HERE TO POSE THE QUESTION AND CHALLENGE THE CONSTRUCT BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCT IS ILLEGITIMATE.
IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN IT, HOW IT ABIDES AN APPORTION BODY, HOW IT CONFORMS TO THE CONSTITUTION IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, I'LL GO HOME.
IF YOU WOULD EVEN TRY TO DO IT, I'D GO HOME FOR AT LEAST A MEETING OR TWO.
ME OFFERING A PROPOSAL, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING FOR YOU TO NITPICK APART.
I'M GUARANTEED A REPUBLICAN FORM.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CARE ENOUGH, YOU'RE THE ONE HOLDING THE POWER TO SUBMIT THE PROPOSAL.
THIS REQUIRES EITHER A CHARTER REVIEW, WHICH I'VE ALREADY TRIED TO BE A PART OF THAT.
THEY COULDN'T EVEN HOLD HALF OF THEIR MEETINGS AND HAD NO REGARD TO DO SO, DISMISSED ME WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT IT, NEVER POSTED THEIR MINUTES.
I SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL FOR A STOP SIGN AND THAT NEVER GOT ANYTHING.
I WAS RIDICULED AND MOCKED BY MY OWN COUNCIL PERSON DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
I SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO FIX THAT ISSUE.
WHAT BECAME OF THAT, I WAS MOCKED.
I WAS TOLD THERE'S A SCIENCE TO THIS.
THAT BEING SAID, [OVERLAPPING] I OPPOSE THE CAPITAL BUDGET BECAUSE WE ARE ARBITRARILY TAXED, AND THE MONEY TO DO EVERYTHING YOU PUT ON THIS AGENDA IS BEING ARBITRARILY TAKEN AND ARBITRARILY APPROPRIATED BY A BODY THAT IS NOT CONSTITUTIONALLY APPORTIONED.
I DON'T NEED TO PROPOSE ANYTHING, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
[01:50:01]
THERE ARE EIGHT DISTINCTLY DIFFERENTLY TAXED PLACES.YOU GOT TO HAVE AT LEAST EIGHT REPRESENTATIVES.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THE RATIO IS.
I SUGGESTED 10,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLAINING APPORTIONED TAXATION AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE IT, NOT SO THAT I CAN SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE 45, Y'ALL.
THOUGH IF WE PAID 45 PEOPLE $500 A YEAR INSTEAD OF $85,000 A YEAR OR $140,000 A YEAR, MAYBE WE'D HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE BODY INSTEAD OF ONE THAT MOCKED OR DISPARAGED OR DIMINUTED A CITIZEN'S RIGHT TO REDRESS THEIR GOVERNMENT, MAYBE.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, ANOTHER ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN?
>> I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
I AM GOING TO ASK PARISH ATTORNEY HURLEY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE TO BE HERE FOR BUSINESS MATTERS.
WE HAVE A PERIOD AT THE START OF OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE A PERIOD AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO LEGALLY WEIGH IN ON WHETHER THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF OUR GOVERNMENT ULTIMATELY ARE APPROPRIATE AT THE TIME WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING THE BUDGET OR OTHER ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA, OR IF THEY SHOULD BE, IN FACT, LIMITED TO THOSE TWO-PUBLIC PORTIONS OF THE AGENDA.
IF WE CAN BRING SOME CLARITY AND SHARE THAT WITH MR. HYERS, IF WE ARE APPROPRIATELY LEGALLY APPORTIONED AND PUT AN END TO THAT DISCUSSION AND TO DIRECT HIM ON WHERE HE CAN SPEAK ON THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC OF PASSION TO HIM.
THANK YOU. JUST SO WE CAN HAVE SOME CLARITY FOR HIM. THANK YOU.
>> IF MR. HYERS CAN STILL HEAR OUTSIDE, SINCE HE WALKED OUT.
THE ONLY ASK I HAVE FOR HIM IS THAT WE ACTUALLY FOCUS ON THINGS THAT ARE REGARDING THE BUDGET AND THE ACTUAL ITEM BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE CONSTRUCT OF OUR GOVERNMENT FOR YEARS NOW AND IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE, NOTHING'S CHANGING.
>> WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY? [LAUGHTER] I KNOW.
I APPRECIATE THE CIVICS LESSONS EVERY COUNCIL MEETING.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26491, A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 15, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]
>> SORRY. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN?
>> I HAVE ONE. MADAM CLERK, IF WOULDN'T MIND READING IT.
>> YES, MA'AM. A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO ARCHBISHOP CHAPELLE HIGH SCHOOL, 8800 VETERANS BOULEVARD IN METAIRIE, LOUISIANA, 70003 TO ALLOW SERVING OF BEER, WINE, LIQUOR, BEVERAGE, AND FOOD AT THEIR UPCOMING EMERALD GALA AUCTION TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH, 2025, FROM 6:00 PM UNTIL 11:30 PM AT THE SCHOOLS AND TO ALLOW LIVE MUSIC, AND THAT NO BEER, WINE, ALCOHOL WILL BE CONSUMED OR SERVED AFTER 11:30 PM ON SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH, 2025 FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING MONEY FOR ARCHBISHOP CHAPELLE HIGH SCHOOL, PROVIDED ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD AND A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG. YES, SIR.
>> UNMUTE YOURSELF UP. YOU'RE MUTED.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO ZOCALO RESTAURANT AT 2051 METAIRIE ROAD TO ERECT ONE TENT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT 2051 METAIRIE ROAD TO SELL BEER, WINE, LIQUOR, BEVERAGES, AND FOOD DURING THE ST. PATRICK'S PARADE ON MARCH 16TH, 2025, PROVIDED THAT ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD AND MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO STEPBROTHER'S BAR AND GRILL, 4971 WEST NAPOLEON AVENUE IN METAIRIE TO CONDUCT A ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH, 2025, 12:00 PM TILL 7:00 PM, ALLOWING THE SALE AND SERVING OF BEVERAGES AND BEER TO ERECT TWO CANOPIES AND TO ALLOW LIVE MUSIC UNTIL 7:00 PM, PROVIDED THAT ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION
[01:55:01]
BROUGHT FORWARD AND MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO LOFT 18 AT 3128 METAIRIE ROAD TO ERECT TWO CONCESSION STANDS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT 3128 METAIRIE ROAD, TO SERVE AND SELL BEER, LIQUOR, BEVERAGES, AND FOOD DURING THE ST. PATRICK'S PARADE ON MARCH 16TH, 2025, PROVIDED THAT ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD AND MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO HOG ALLEY LOUNGE AT 115 FOCIS STREET IN METAIRIE TO ERECT ONE TENT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR THE SALE OF BEER AND LIQUOR FOR THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, COMMENCING ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13TH THROUGH TUESDAY, MARCH 17TH, 2025, PROVIDED THAT ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD AND MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> I HAVE ONE, MADAM CLERK. WOULD YOU PLEASE READ IT?
>> YES, SIR. A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO THE JEFFERSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO CONDUCT A BLACK AND GOLD GALA AT THE OCHSNER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 5800 AIRLINE DRIVE IN METAIRIE, ON FRIDAY, MARCH 21ST, 2025 FROM 6:30 PM TO 11:00 PM, TO ALLOW THE SERVING OF BEVERAGES, FOOD, LIQUOR, WINE, AND BEER, TO ALLOW OUTDOOR COOKING AND TO ALLOW LIVE MUSIC, PROVIDED THAT ALL NECESSARY PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NO, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BONANO?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD AND MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> LAST MINUTE ADDITION. [LAUGHTER]
>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS AND ACADIANA TO OPERATE THEIR MAKING GROCERIES AT LIVE OAK MANOR VOLUNTEER FIRE AT 404 AZALEA DRIVE IN AVONDALE ON MARCH 18TH, APRIL 1ST, 15TH, 29TH, MAY 13TH, 27TH, JUNE 10TH, 24TH, JULY 8TH AND 22ND, AUGUST 5TH AND 19TH, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 16TH, AND 30TH, OCTOBER 14TH AND 28TH, NOVEMBER 11TH AND 25TH, AND DECEMBER 9TH, 23RD, 2025 FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM, AND TO ERECT ONE CANOPY, PROVIDED ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
>> HANG ON. [LAUGHTER] ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD AND MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. [NOISE]
>> YES, SIR. A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 145697, ADOPTED ON JANUARY 15TH, 2025 WHICH APPROVES A CORROBORATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON, THE BEAUTIFUL INCORPORATED, TO IMPLEMENT THE BEAUTIFICATION MASTER PLAN STUDY TO PROVIDE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS IN JEFFERSON PARISH AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 TO CORRECT THE PROJECT NUMBER IN SECTION 2.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, BROUGHT FORWARD AND MOTION BY COUNCILMAN WALKER, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THAT TAKES US TO CONSENT AGENDA 1, AND YOUR MOTION, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, ON THE IN GLOBE ADOPTION OF ITEM 16-54.
[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE IN GLOBE ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 16-54, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 55 ON THE AGENDA.
[PROMULGATE ELECTION RETURNS]
[02:00:08]
>> A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN STONEBRIDGE SUBDIVISION SPECIAL DISTRICT, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, FOR AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AN ANNUAL SECURITY ENHANCEMENT TAX AND OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
THE FOLLOWING VOTES HAD BEEN CAST IN THE DISTRICT.
THERE WAS A MAJORITY OF 311 VOTES CAST FOR THE PROPOSITION.
>> COUNCILMAN MARINO, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN MARINO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR A CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF A SPECIAL ELECTION HELD PARISH WIDE IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, AT WHICH A PROPOSITION WAS SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORATE OF THE PARISH FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH CHARTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE NUMBER 26767 ADOPTED ON APRIL 17TH, 2024.
THE FOLLOWING VOTES HAD BEEN CAST IN THE PARISH.
THERE WAS A MAJORITY OF 30,341 VOTES CAST FOR THE PROPOSITION.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
IT TAKES US TO RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
>> A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF LOUISIANA KEY ACADEMY'S APPLICATION TO THE LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY SECONDARY EDUCATION TO OPEN A TUITION-FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FOR DYSLEXIC STUDENTS IN JEFFERSON PARISH TO SERVE STUDENTS IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND SURROUNDING PARISHES.
>> YES. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT THIS IS, AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THING WE NEED IN OUR PARISH THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS A SPECIAL SCHOOL DESIGN AND RUN BY PEOPLE TRAINED IN EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA.
I JUST WANT TO REPEAT AGAIN, THAT IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT YOU THINK MAY HAVE DYSLEXIA, WANT TO HAVE THEM TESTED FOR DYSLEXIA, LOUISIANA KEY ACADEMY WILL TEST YOUR CHILD AT NO COST TO YOU.
THEIR WEBSITE IS LKASCHOOLS.COM FOR LOUISIANA KEY ACADEMY.
AGAIN, I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED THAT WE ARE IN MOTION TO BRING THIS TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN MARINO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 58, PLEASE.
>> A RESOLUTION REQUESTING AND AUTHORIZING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD TO STUDY THE TEXT OF CHAPTER 33 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE CHAPTER 40 ZONING OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH WITH THE INTENT OF AMENDING AND IMPROVING THE PROCESS RELATED TO LAND USE ACTIONS FOR MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATION PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE EARLY CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND POSTING ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SIGNAGE TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION.
>> I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL ON THIS.
AGAIN, JUST TO TOUCH ON THIS, I KNOW OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT DOES TREMENDOUS WORK.
WE'VE TOUCHED ON THAT EARLIER TODAY.
TWO OF THE COMMON THEMES THAT ALL OF US COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND OUR PARISH PRESIDENT WHEN SHE WAS A COUNCIL PERSON AS WELL.
JUST NEIGHBORS FEELING LIKE THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN NOTICE EARLY ENOUGH OR DIDN'T SEE THE SIGN.
WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES DO HAVE A REQUIRED MEETING OF A DEVELOPER OF A BIG PROJECT.
THIS IS NOT JUST EVERY HOUSE THAT COMES ALONG, BUT BIG PROJECTS THAT THEY MEET WITH NEIGHBORS PROVIDE SOME BASIC INFORMATION OF WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS EARLY IN THE PROCESS INSTEAD OF AT THE END OF THE PROCESS, AS WELL AS SOME LARGER SIGNAGE THAT MIGHT BETTER INFORM THE PUBLIC OF WHAT THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IS.
IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN GET THIS EFFICIENTLY DONE, EVEN OFFERING TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT,
[02:05:01]
IF THAT WOULD HELP YOU ALL, JUST LET US KNOW.I DO THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD FROM CITIZENS AND ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS.
THANK YOU, AND I'LL MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ADOPTION OUR RESOLUTION ON JOINT MOTION OF ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER?
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO DEFER ACTUALLY.
THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE, IN MY READ OF IT, IT'S NOT JUST CALLING FOR A STUDY.
IT'S ACTUALLY CALLING WITH A STUDY WITH THE INTENT TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS.
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY REACH OUT ABOUT POTENTIAL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER VETTED IF WE CONSULTED WITH JEDCO, DIFFERENT BUSINESS LEADERS, AND PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY DOING WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TO DO.
I MOVE TO DEFER AND GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO DIGEST IT AND ALSO CONSULT WITH PEOPLE THAT MAY BE CONCERNED WITH THE OUTCOME.
>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY FOR SURE.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD FOR YEARS.
I'M WILLING TO DEFER IT. I'D LIKE TO DEFER TO THE NEXT WEST BANK MEETING.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT I DID REACH OUT TO THOSE IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO ASK SPECIFICALLY HOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATION PROCESS HAS WORKED IN NEW ORLEANS, IF IT'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC, IF THEY'VE SEEN IT AS HELPFUL.
I DEFINITELY NEVER MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD WITHOUT REACHING OUT TO THE END USER, OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
I HAVE DONE THAT. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'VE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT IT.
HAPPY TO DEFER IT TO THE NEXT WEST BANK MEETING, AND WE CAN TAKE IT UP AND LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING WITH YOU BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
IT'S NOT IMPLEMENTING INTERIM STANDARDS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 58 TO APRIL 9TH, OUR NEXT WEST BANK MEETING ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION INSTRUCTING THE DEPARTMENTS OF ENGINEERING AND ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO IDENTIFY THE OCEANIC BASIN IN SOUTH OF GRAND ISLE HAS THE GULF OF AMERICA IN ANY NEWLY PRINTED MAPS OR DIGITAL MAPS UPLOADED ONLINE BY THE PARISH.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. COUNCILMAN MARINO AND LEE HAD REACHED OUT TO ME TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO NOT VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, SO I WILL NOTE THAT AND APPRECIATE THEIR CONVERSATION.
>> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN? [OVERLAPPING] HANG ON AND OBJECT.
>> COUNCILMAN LEE AND MARINO VOTING AGAINST, NOTING THAT AND MOVING FOR APPROVAL, OTHERWISE.
>> SHE'S MOVING FOR APPROVAL, HANG ON.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER?
>> I THINK WE MIGHT NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> WHERE ARE WE ON A MEETING? ARE WE DISCUSSING IT AT THIS POINT?
>> RIGHT. THIS ONE JUMPED OUT AT ME.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT NOW FOR A WHILE, NOT JUST HERE IN THE STATE LEVEL.
THIS IS WHAT I SEE THAT HAPPENING A LOT IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT IN BATON ROUGE THAT'S TRICKLE DOWN FROM WASHINGTON, DC, AND IT'S PARTISAN POLITICS AND IT'S DIVISIVE.
IT'S DIVISIVE AND IT'S DESTRUCTIVE, AND IT'S DESIGNED TO PUT ONE SIDE VERSUS THE OTHER TO FORCE A CONFLICT.
IT'S VERY GOOD WHEN IT COMES TO DOING THINGS LIKE FUNDRAISING, TO GO BACK TO YOUR POLITICAL PARTY, WHATEVER IT IS, AND SAY, EITHER PUT THIS FORWARD OR I KILLED THIS.
THIS IS NOT NECESSARY TO BEGIN WITH, ONE.
TWO, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING DOWN A ROAD IN PARISH GOVERNMENT THAT JEFFERSON PARISH DOES NOT USUALLY TREAD.
I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF THE MEETINGS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE USUALLY DO IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A ROAD THAT WE NEED TO START GOING DOWN.
I THINK IT'S MORE HARMFUL THAN ANY GOOD THAT COULD POSSIBLY COME FROM DOING THIS, AND THAT'S MY OPPOSITION.
>> DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK?
>> WELL, FOR ME, [NOISE] WE CAN'T REWRITE HISTORY.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND WE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, SHOULD NOT BE ENGAGING IN PARTISAN [NOISE] DIVISIVE FEDERAL POLICIES AND POLITICS.
WE DO TOO WELL WORKING TOGETHER, REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS.
I DON'T SEE THIS AS NECESSARY, AND I DON'T WANT TO SET THE PRECEDENT OF PARISH GOVERNMENT ENGAGING IN FEDERAL POLITICS GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
>> YES. WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS,
[02:10:01]
I WAS BLOWN AWAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND IT AND ONCE I GOT A CHANCE TO READ IT, I WAS EVEN MORE PERPLEXED BECAUSE THIS IS A FEDERAL MATTER.THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE IDEAL TO NAME IT TO CHANGE THE NAME.
BUT IT'S A FEDERAL DECISION THAT HE COULD MAKE AS PRESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES.
I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL NOW, THIS IS MY FOURTH TERM, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
SO I CAN'T SUPPORT IT AND I SHARED IT WITH MY COLLEAGUE THAT I COULD NOT SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I THINK IT CREATES A RABBIT HOLE THAT WE'LL BE GOING UNDER THAT WE WILL BE TAKING POSITIONS THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING.
I HEARD THE PARISH PRESIDENT MENTIONED THAT WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN LOUISIANA.
I LOOK AT YOUR ADMINISTRATION, I LOOK AT THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE ON BOTH THE EAST BANK AND THE WEST BANK.
OF ALL THE TEXT MESSAGES OR EMAILS AND CALLS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, I HAVEN'T HAD ONE PERSON WHO'VE CALLED MY OFFICE SINCE THIS WAS FIRST POSTED IN THE NEWSPAPER OR ONLINE WHO LOOKS AT THIS AS BEING ANYTHING POSITIVE.
I THINK THAT FOR SOME, IT MAY FEEL GOOD, BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT GOING DOWN, WHAT I BELIEVE IS A RABBIT HOLE, IS GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC.
IF WE START THIS, WHERE DOES IT STOP? I'M JUST NOT INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT HAPPEN.
ONCE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO TAKE THIS UP AND THEY'RE GOING TO CARRY THE BANNER, AND THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
I DON'T HAVE NO OPPOSITION TO THAT, BUT AS A COUNCIL, I DON'T THINK THAT'S OUR ROLE.
THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS THIS.
IT SETS A BAD PRECEDENT, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MYRIAD OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON NATIONWIDE RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT DOGE IS DOING TO OUR RETIREES, OUR FEDERAL WORKERS, AND THAT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, THAT'S PEOPLE HERE.
WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THIS THING BASED ON, AS WHAT TIP O'NEILL ONCE SAID, ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.
I DON'T WANT TO DELVE INTO WASHINGTON POLITICS.
I DON'T WANT TO DELVE INTO ANYTHING THAT I THINK IS HARMFUL AND THAT'S NOT BENEFICIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AS SHE SAID THAT I AM GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT AND I'M REMAINING FIRM ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT CREATES A BAD PRECEDENT.
THE OTHER LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THIS, AND MAYBE SOMEBODY CAN ANSWER THIS, BUT WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THAT WE CREATED MAPS OR PRINTED MAPS? I DON'T THINK WE DO THAT.
I THINK WE USE OUTSIDE FIRMS, WHO WHENEVER WE NEED THOSE MAPS, WE PROCURE THAT FROM A THIRD PARTY.
>> THEY ACTUALLY PRINT THEM, I THINK IN ENGINEERING.
>> I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
>> TO ANSWER THAT GOOD QUESTION.
ANGELA DESOTO, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING.
THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PRINTS AND LAMINATES ALL OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT MAPS THAT YOU SEE, ALL OF THE DRAINAGE MAPS SHOWING THE PUMP STATIONS, DRAIN LINES, ETC, THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.
WE HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO DO THAT IN-HOUSE AND REGULARLY DO SO.
>> OKAY. SO YOU ALL CAN CHANGE THE MAP NAME FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO TO GULF OF AMERICA?
>> WE LOOKED. OUR CURRENT MAPS DO NOT HAVE THE GULF OF MEXICO, LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN, OR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER LABELED ON THEM AS OF RIGHT NOW.
NONE OF THE MAJOR WATERWAYS ARE ACTUALLY LABELED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT DOESN'T EXIST RIGHT NOW?
>> GO TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE, JEB.
>> THE BASE MAPS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEY COME FROM RATES TO SERVICE WE SUBSCRIBE TO.
THEY'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS NOW ABOUT UPDATING IT, AND I BELIEVE THE NEW UPDATED BASE LAYER MAPS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO US LATER THIS MONTH IF WE CHOOSE TO ADOPT THEM.
>> CAN YOU SAY WHO YOU ARE FOR THE PEOPLE?
>> SORRY, JEB TATE, DIRECTOR OF IT AND GIS.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK BEFORE WE GO BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?
>> I DO. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT.
I'M A GOD FAMILY COUNTRY REPUBLICAN.
HAVE BEEN MY ENTIRE LIFE SINCE I REGISTERED TO VOTE.
I FIND THIS MEASURE IS LARGELY SYMBOLIC, AS COUNCILMAN LEE SAID.
IT'S NOT THAT I'M OPPOSED TO IT.
IT'S JUST THAT I THINK THAT THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO PULL TOGETHER AND PULL THE ROPE IN THE SAME DIRECTION FOR THE GOOD OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
[02:15:05]
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DIVIDE US, I DON'T THINK IS GOOD.I'D RATHER US ALL GET TOGETHER, PULL THE ROPE TOGETHER, DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
>> AS A COUNCIL PERSON, WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON OUR LOCAL ISSUES, INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
YESTERDAY, MY TEAM AND ABOUT 10 VOLUNTEERS FROM JEDCO, THE PARISH, THE CITY OF KENNER, TELEMUNDO, ALL GATHERED TO LITERALLY CANVASS DOOR TO DOOR, WILLIAMS BOULEVARD, BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO RESHAPE THE WAY THAT LOOKS.
I MET WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, I MET WITH RESTAURATEURS, I MET WITH AGENTS OF REAL ESTATE, INSURANCE, TWO DOCTORS, THEY ASKED ME ABOUT THE FLOODING IN KENNER.
THEY ASKED ME ABOUT LITTERING.
THEY ASKED ME ABOUT STREET WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
NO ONE ASKED ME MY PARTY AFFILIATION AND NO ONE ASKED ME ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD CALL THE GULF OF MEXICO OR AMERICA.
NOT ONE. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.
THEY CARE ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
>> MY DISTRICT ACTUALLY HAS SOME REAL CHALLENGES.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE REAL POTENTIAL.
BY SHEER WILL, WE ARE CHANGING THINGS SO DRAMATICALLY THERE THAT I ACTUALLY HEAR OPTIMISM IN THEIR VOICE WHEN I'M ASKING THEM TO REMOVE THEIR VERY EXPENSIVE SIGNS SO THAT WE CAN BE A BETTER COMMUNITY.
I DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY IN MY SCHEDULE OR THE DESIRE TO INVOLVE MYSELF IN SOMETHING THAT IS LITERALLY BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THIS PARISH JUST TO SCORE PARTY POINTS.
WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO NAME AN INTERNATIONAL BODY OF WATER.
THIS RESOLUTION CALLS US TO CHANGE MAPS THAT WE REALLY DON'T EVEN PRODUCE FOR THE PUBLIC.
WHILE I RESPECT THE RIGHT OF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER TO BRING A RESOLUTION THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, I THINK RENAMING THE GULF OF MEXICO IS CERTAINLY A NATIONAL ISSUE, NOT LOCAL.
IT COULD RESULT IN PULLING US INTO LAWSUITS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY BEING PULLED INTO, AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY CALL THAT BODY OF WATER.
I REFUSE TO ENGAGE IN A RESOLUTION THAT'S SOLE INTENT IS TO PROVE ONE PARTY'S LEVERAGE OVER THE OTHER.
WHILE I'M A PROUD REPUBLICAN SINCE I WAS 18, I CAN'T SUPPORT A RESOLUTION THAT HAS ZERO EFFECT EXCEPT TO PROVE THAT I'M REPUBLICAN.
WE ARE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE PARISH IN THE STATE.
WE ARE THE MOST REVENUE-PRODUCING PARISH.
WE ARE DIVERSE. WE ARE STRONG.
WE HAVE INDEPENDENTS LIKE JOE MARINO.
WE HAVE DEMOCRATS LIKE BYRON LEE LEADING THE CHARGE.
I REFUSE TO LET NATIONAL POLITICS IMPACT ANY PERFORMANCE IN THIS PARISH.
OUR COUNCIL'S TIME AND RESOURCES ARE BEST SPENT FOCUSED HERE LOCALLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BELIEVING IN MY PARTY OR SUPPORTING MY PARTY.
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE DAILY LIVES OF JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE ONES IN MY DISTRICT.
>> I'LL WRAP IT UP ON OUR END WITH THIS.
I RESPECT WHERE COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN IS COMING FROM.
THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS, I REPRESENT THIS PARISH, REPUBLICANS, AND DEMOCRATS, WHEN PEOPLE CALL MY OFFICE AND EMAIL MY OFFICE.
I NEVER ASK HOW THEY VOTED IN AN ELECTION, AND I DON'T CARE.
ON A DAILY BASIS, BEING A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN DOESN'T AFFECT WHAT I DO.
IT GUIDES PRINCIPLES, BUT IT DOESN'T AFFECT HOW I OPERATE IN MY OFFICE.
REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, I'M HERE TO SERVE, AND I'D RATHER NOT GET IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ISSUE THAT IS INHERENTLY DIVISIVE IN EVERY BIT OF CORRESPONDENCE.
I'VE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS FROM YESTERDAY WHEN THIS NEWS FIRST CAME OUT UNTIL CURRENT TIME, RIGHT NOW, AS EMAILS ARE STILL COMING IN, NOT ONE HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE.
I FEEL THE SAME AS MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
>> LET ME FIRST SAY, I RESPECT THOSE OF YOU WHO REACHED OUT YESTERDAY FOR DISCUSSION.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE GOOD RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMAN LEE, YOU ACTUALLY REPRESENT OR MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WITH RONALD REAGAN AND TIP O'NEIL COULD HAVE A BEER TOGETHER, AND BE TWO IRISHMEN, AS THEY SAID, AND TALK AND NOT HAVE IT BE PARTISAN.
THIS TRULY, I CAN SAY, IS NOT SOMETHING AND DOES NOT READ TO ME AS PARTISAN, BUT I DO APPRECIATE WHERE EACH OF YOU ARE COMING FROM.
WE ARE CELEBRATING AS A PARISH.
JEFFERSON PARISH IS CELEBRATING ITS 200TH ANNIVERSARY.
WE HAVE FOCUSED ON EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD ABOUT JEFFERSON PARISH.
OUR NATION IS GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE NEXT YEAR.
IT'S 250TH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THE 250TH,
[02:20:01]
BUT THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR COUNTRY.I REMEMBER THE SPIRIT OF 1976 AND THE NATIONAL PRIDE AND THE UNITY THAT OUR COUNTRY HAD AT THAT TIME.
I'M DELIGHTED THAT PART OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE IN EXECUTIVE ACTION IS TALKING ABOUT CELEBRATING ALL THAT IS GOOD AND GREAT ABOUT AMERICA, AND HE NOTES THE GULF OF AMERICA.
WHAT HE SPECIFICALLY SAID IS 14% OF WHAT FUELS OUR NATION COMES FROM OUR GULF.
THE FRESHEST BEST SEAFOOD IN THE WORLD COMES FROM OUR GULF, AND WE HAVE SO MANY HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT MAKE THEIR LIVES IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY.
OUR PORT IS AN IMPORTANT PART, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THE GULF.
THIS ONLY APPLIES TO THE FIRST MILES OFF OF OUR COAST, THE FIRST 14 MILES, AS THE PRESIDENT'S LIMITS ARE TO THAT AS WELL.
THIS DOES NOT COST A CENT BECAUSE IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS, WE ARE NOT ASKING TO REPRINT ALREADY PRINTED MAPS, JUST ON FUTURE MAPS.
AGAIN, THIS ONE, TO ME, IS ABOUT CELEBRATING WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT OUR PARISH, WHICH TOUCHES THE GULF, IS NOT INTENDED TO BE PARTISAN, AND I ACTUALLY REALLY ENJOY LOCAL POLITICS BECAUSE IT'S NOT PARTISAN.
I AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT ON SOME ISSUES.
I DISAGREE WITH HIM ON OTHER ISSUES LIKE ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY.
THIS WAS NOT INTENDED AS PARTISAN, JUST MERELY TO REFLECT WHAT I THINK REALLY IS A CELEBRATION OF WHAT IS THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR PARISH AND OUR GULF.
I DO APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.
I ACTUALLY TOLD THE REPORTER WHO WROTE THE STORY, WE HAVE FAR MORE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES ON THIS AGENDA, AND I POINTED OUT SEVERAL THAT I ACTUALLY SUGGESTED WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER NEWS STORIES OF SUBSTANCE, AND SHE KNOWS THAT IS CORRECT AS WELL.
IT WAS NOT MY INTENTION TO HAVE THE FOCUS ON THIS WHEN WE HAD FOCUS ON MORE SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS, AND I VOICED THAT FROM THE OUTSET.
WE DID HAVE SOME CALLS OF SUPPORT.
MY STAFF HAS BEEN UPDATING ME.
>> [LAUGHTER] COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOU MENTIONED A ROLL CALL VOTE.
DO YOU HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT OR WE NEED A SECOND? DO YOU NEED A MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE AFTER MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BONANO?
>> SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEE. MADAM CLERK.
>> AGAIN, I RESPECT EACH OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND THE DISCUSSION.
>> THAT TAKES US TO CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEMS 60 THROUGH 121, MINUS ITEMS 92.
99, AND 101, WHICH WILL BE AMENDED.
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]
YOUR MOTION ON THOSE, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN?>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM 60 THROUGH 121, MINUS 92, 99, AND 101, WHICH WILL BE AMENDED.
MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, GO TO ITEM NUMBER 92, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF 3133 EDEN BOURNE AVENUE,
[OTHER RESOLUTIONS (Part 1 of 2)]
MATORY LOT 37 THROUGH 42 SQUARE 356, HESMER FARM SUBDIVISION FROM GLORIA FRANCO ENTERPRISES, LLC, FOR USES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTINUED REVITALIZATION OF FAT CITY AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENT BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCIL LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENT?
>> I'M SORRY, I GOT TO READ THE AMENDMENTS.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU DID READ THE AMENDMENT. MY APOLOGIES.
>> THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN SECTION 3, THE ACCOUNT NUMBER SHOULD READ 2131 0119 5139 7710 1313 5013, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCIL LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS.
A MOTION OF COUNCIL LILJEBERG,.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, MOTION OF COUNCIL LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
ITEM NUMBER 99, PLEASE, WITH AMENDMENTS.
>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF LOT 6A1 FASANDE TRACK MEASURING APPROXIMATELY 15.3553 ACRES HAS SHOWN ON A SURVEY BY DUFRENE SURVEYING AND ENGINEERING INCORPORATED, DATED DECEMBER 19TH, 2024,
[02:25:01]
BEARING MUNICIPAL ADDRESS 1116 THROUGH 1150, BARATARIA BOULEVARD, MORARO FOR THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PARK FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, IN THE AMENDMENTS ARE THAT THE ACCOUNT NUMBERS IN SECTION 3 SHOULD READ 45850-4085-771058517003 LAND, 45850-4085-771058517004 LAND.
THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS TO BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS. THE MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
YOUR MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED. MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
ITEM 101 WITH AMENDMENTS, MADAM CLERK.
>> RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A COVERED AND ENCLOSED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY, CONNECTING THE BUILDINGS ON LOT Y2C AND Y21A, BELL PLANTATION SUBDIVISION 1050 MEDICAL CENTER BOULEVARD IN MORARO, LOUISIANA, 70072, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
THE AMENDMENT IS TO ADD SECTION 40-2377 IN SECTION 1.
THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS TO BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCIL BONANO, YOU MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS? A MOTION FROM COUNCIL BONANO.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE. COUNCILMAN BONANO OR YOUR MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED? MOTION OF COUNCIL BONANO. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
ITEM 122 IN THE ADDENDUM AGENDA.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE GLOBE ADOPTION OF ITEMS 1 THROUGH 21,
[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS]
MINUS 13, WHICH WE'LL PULL FOR DISCUSSION?>> ANY OBJECTS TO THE ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS 1 THROUGH 21, MINUS 13, WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT EARLY VOTING LOCATION AT EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY IN JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. BEFORE WE MOVE ON THIS, I WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT AND HISTORY ON THIS.
THIS WAS A LONG TIME IN THE WORKS.
IT LOOKS A SHORT RESOLUTION THAT DOESN'T SAY MUCH, BUT STARTING IN ABOUT 2020 WITH THAT ELECTION WHEN THERE WERE LINES OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.
I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE VOTED IN THAT ELECTION.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE, BIG EARLY VOTE TURNOUT, BUT PEOPLE WERE UNDER TENSE AND PEOPLE WERE COMING UP ELEVATORS IN THE BUILDING.
IT WAS JUST A REALLY WEIRD TIME TO BE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY IN THE HEAT, HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO WERE DEALING WITH HEAT AND SOME ISSUES OUTSIDE, TO BE HONEST.
WE GOT TOGETHER WITH THE REGISTRAR AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AND IT LITERALLY TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET A COUPLE OF NEW EARLY VOTING SITES APPROVED, BECAUSE THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT WAS, LET'S GIVE PEOPLE AN EASIER WAY TO VOTE IN OUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ON THE EAST BANK AND THE WEST BANK, AND NOT MAKE THEM COME TO A GOVERNMENT BUILDING, WHERE THEY HAVE TO WAIT IN LONG LINES AND JUST MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN EFFICIENT PROCESS.
WE CAME UP WITH THESE TWO EARLY VOTING SITES THAT TOOK FOREVER TO GET DONE, THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY, AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN MORARO WAS THE WEST BANK SITE.
RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT, THE EAST BANK SITE IS BECOMING A PERMANENT SITE, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.
THAT SITE, AFTER WE IMPLEMENTED THAT, FOR THE FIRST ELECTION IT WAS USED FOR IN 2023, IT'S THE MOST USED EARLY VOTING SITE IN THE PARISH.
NINETEEN PERCENT OF THE EARLY VOTE IN 2023, 21%, IN ANOTHER ELECTION IN 2023, 20 AND 33% IN 2024, IN TWO ELECTIONS, AND IN 2024 LATER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 24%, AND 28% OF THE EARLY VOTE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
THAT SITE HAS BEEN LARGELY SUCCESSFUL.
THE WEST BANK IS GOING TO GO TO CONTINUE TO LOCK DOWN THAT PERMANENT SITE ON THE WEST BANK, BUT IT'S NOT THERE JUST YET.
BUT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG JUMPED INTO THE PARTY LATE ON THIS.
IT'S IN HIS DISTRICT, AND I KNOW HE'S SEEN THE BIG SUCCESSES THAT IT'S HAD, AND HE'S ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR A YEAR.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN WAS HERE BEFORE THAT, WHEN WE DOVE INTO THIS ISSUE.
IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL, AND IT'S A GREAT THING FOR JEFFERSON PARISH TO HAVE THIS AS A PERMANENT SITE BECAUSE ALL THE REVIEWS WE GOT FROM IT WERE IT WAS EASY, IT WAS QUICK.
[02:30:04]
WE WERE IN AND OUT, AND THAT'S THE GOAL.THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO HAPPEN INITIALLY.
WHEN YOU GET LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED, THINGS TAKE TIME.
BUT WE'RE HERE, AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE HERE.
I THINK WE WERE GOING TO PRESENT THIS AS A JOINT RESOLUTION WITH EVERYBODY HERE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS PLAYED A PART IN THIS AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S WORK ON IT.
WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE. YOU WANT TO MOVE? IT'S GOT YOU ON HERE, BUT I'LL MOVE.
I MOVE FOR A JOINT MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION OR A JOINT MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
HEARING NOT, SO ORDERED. THANK YOU.
I SHOULD HAVE ASKED IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTED TO SPEAK ON THAT AND SAY ANYTHING?
MY OLDEST DAUGHTER HAD A BABY LAST WEEK, AND I'M A GRANDFATHER.
I FORGOT TO SAY THAT EARLIER. THANK YOU.
>> THAT MAKES TWO OF US. I'M THE FIRST TIME GRANDPA LAST WEEK TOO.
>> HOPEFULLY, IT'LL BE EASY FOR THEM TO VOTE WHEN THEY'RE OF AGE.
THAT'S IT FOR THE ADDENDUM AGENDA HERE, AND WE'RE JUST INFORMED THAT WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO ITEM 110 TO CANCEL BY WORD OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
[OTHER RESOLUTIONS (Part 2 of 2)]
WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND CANCEL ITEM 110.>> THERE'S A MOTION IN A SECOND.
>> CAN I GET A MOTION TO CANCEL ITEM NUMBER 110, PLEASE?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE CANCELLATION OF ITEM 110, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.
NOW LET'S JUMP BACK TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS AFTER THE ADDENDUM AGENDA.
[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE JEFFERSON PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICT AND CRESCENT MULTIMEDIA SOLUTIONS TO UPGRADE THE AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT IN 911 CENTER LOCATED AT 910 THIRD STREET IN GRETNA, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $603,120 THROUGH STATE CONTRACT NUMBER 440-003-1382.
>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE JEFFERSON PARISH HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE POLICY.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION. MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE JEFFERSON PARISH HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT HARASSMENT POLICY.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. TWENTY-FIVE.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE JEFFERSON PARISH HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS DISBURSEMENT POLICY.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, ITEM 26.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE JEFFERSON PARISH HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS FRAUD POLICY.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION.
MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE. ITEM 27.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE JEFFERSON PARISH HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT'S PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION POLICY.
>> DIDN'T EVEN WAIT FOR ME THAT TIME. [LAUGHTER]. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION THAT RESOLUTION, MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
HE'S READY TO GO. ITEM 123, PLEASE.
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND METAIRIE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO ASSIST WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENDEAVORS.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION THAT RESOLUTION, MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
>> A RESOLUTION TO AMEND RESOLUTION NUMBER 145851, WHICH PROVIDES FOR AN INCREASE TO THE MONTHLY CONTRACT CONSIDERATION PAYABLE PURSUANT TO THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 5 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND TERRYTOWN FIFTH DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO SPECIFY THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE INCREASE.
>> COUNCILMAN MARINO. MOVE TO APPROVE.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION THAT RESOLUTION.
A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN MARINO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE SO ORDERED, ITEM 125.
>> A RESOLUTION TO AMEND RESOLUTION NUMBERS 145853, 145854, 145855, 145856 AND 145857.
WHICH PROVIDE FOR INCREASES TO THE MONTHLY CONTRACT CONSIDERATION PAYABLE TO
[02:35:01]
VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES PURSUANT TO FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS WITH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN ORDER TO SPECIFY THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE INCREASE.COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN LEE.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ADOPTION RESOLUTION, MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM 126.
>> A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 145730, ADOPTED ON THE 15TH DAY OF JANUARY 2025, AGREEMENT WITH BREAZEALE, SACHSE & WILSON, LLP, TO CORRECT THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT IN SECTION 3.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE RESOLUTION, MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE SO ORDERED 127, PLEASE.
>> A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BID OF [INAUDIBLE] CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED, UNDER BID PROPOSAL NUMBER 50-00146972 TO FURNISH LABOR, MATERIALS, AND EQUIPMENT TO SUPPLY AND INSTALL, PRE FABRICATED, MANUFACTURED.
BUILDING HAS A TEMPORARY FACILITY TO HOUSE FIRE STATION NUMBER 13, LOCATED AT 4642 CALUMET STREET IN METAIRIE AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE DESIGNATION OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR AS AGENT OF A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY AND SALES TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATE AT A BID TABULATION PRICE OF $172,836.75 FOR THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL SERVICE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA.
MAXIMUM EXPENDITURES FOR THIS CONTRACT SHALL NOT EXCEED $172,836.75.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED 128 WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.
>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26492, TO DETERMINE THE ANNUAL AND MONTHLY BASELINE COLLECTION RATE AND PROVIDE FOR THE DEDICATION AND PLEDGE OF INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN SALES TAX OF THE LAFRENIERE AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, LOUISIANA.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN SECTION 2 TO CHANGE 132,705 TO 30,916 TO CHANGE $11,059 TO 2,576.
TO CHANGE SECTION 4-3, CHANGE SECTION 5-4, CHANGE SECTION 6-5, AND THE EXHIBIT A TO CHANGE $132,705 TO $30,916 AND TO CHANGE $11,059 TO 2,576, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS OR MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE.
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26492.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD, THOSE OPPOSED.
MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN YOUR MOTION?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26492 A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
NO NEW BUSINESS, NO STATUS REPORTS THAT TAKES US TWO PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS, ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA, ITEMS NOT RELATED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.YOU MUST FILL OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK AND HAND IT TO THE CLERK AT THE FRONT OF CHAMBERS.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MY ADDRESS IS 2109 SOUTHERN COLOMBO PLACE HARVEY, LOUISIANA.
>> CAN YOU LEAN INTO THE MICE JUST A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. LAST MEETING, I CAME IN TO FIND THE STATUS OF CONSOLIDATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MR. BONANO SPOKE TO ME AND ASKED ME TO BE PATIENT.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN BECAUSE BASICALLY SEE IF CAN I SLOW THIS DOWN.
A FAMOUS MAN ONCE SAID, "TAXES ARE THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LIVING IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY." HE WAS A REPUBLICAN.
IF IT COST US MORE TO LIVE IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY, FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED TO BE ORDERLY AND SAFE.
TO ME THAT SHOULD BE A PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THIS GOVERNMENTAL BODY.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE WEST BANK.
[02:40:02]
WELL ON, THE WEST BANK TOO BUT WE HAVE A GREAT ONE ON THE EAST BANK.THEY'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUR EMPLOYEES.
WEST BANK, THEY'RE PRIMARILY VOLUNTEER AND THEY'RE GREAT.
BUT THEY'RE GETTING OLD LIKE ME AND THEY'RE GETTING LESS OF THEM.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE DIES BECAUSE WE LOST AN ELDERLY LADY IN AVONDALE SHORTLY.
WE DON'T NEED TO LOSE ANYMORE.
BUT IF WE CAN'T KEEP US SAFE, I SEE HOW WELL YOU GUYS WORKED TOGETHER THIS MORNING.
COOPERATION. GET TOGETHER AND GET THIS DONE BECAUSE SOME OF US MAY NOT HAVE THE TIME WE THINK WE HAVE.
I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO BE AND LIKE I SAID, COUNCILMAN BONANO HAS TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT AND I TALKED TO HIS OFFICE BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE TIME. THANK YOU.
>> LET ME JUST MENTION THAT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
MUCH LIKE THE PARISH PRESIDENT STARTED OUR MEETING WITH LOTS OF PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW COMPLEX SOME ISSUES ARE.
I READ THE REPORT ON THE CONSOLIDATION AND I DID NOTICE TWO THINGS THAT CONCERN ME AND I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THIS QUICKLY.
NOT ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENTS HAD SUBMITTED FEEDBACK, AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM ALL OF THEM ABOUT THEIR THOUGHT.
WE ALSO DID NOT HAVE A LETTER FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO AUTHORIZE PIAL TO WEIGH IN, AND THAT IS THE INSURANCE AGENCY THAT REALLY GUIDES US ON, I KNOW THE EAST BANK, AND SO I DO WANT TO HEAR THEIR CONSIDERATIONS.
AS FOR THE MONEY, IT WILL COST MORE.
AS COUNCILMAN BONANO, WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS AND HE EXPLAINED THE NEXT STEPS ARE, ONCE WE GET TO THE YES, WE WANT TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON CONSOLIDATION, WE THEN NEED TO FIGURE OUT, HOW DO WE DO IT? HOW DO WE UNWIND THE ASSETS THAT BELONG TO ALL OF THESE LITTLE DEPARTMENTS? THEN WHAT'S THE OVERALL COST TO IMPLEMENT? EVEN IF WE WANTED TO PULL THE TRIGGER TOMORROW, WE HAVE THAT LEGAL ISSUE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND WE HAVE WHAT WILL IT COST? IT'S NOT A SIMPLE ONE AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE TIME BUT WE'LL TRY TO DO IT AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING?
>> YOU STILL HAVE TIME, YOU HAVE 50 SECONDS.
>> OKAY. OLIVER WINDER HOLMES WAS THE GUY WHO SAID, TAXES ARE THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LIVING IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY.
NOW, THE WAY THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING NATIONALLY TO HERE WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING LESS FUNDS, SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY MAYBE.
I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE BUT I'M STARTING TO GET INTO HOW PARISH GOVERNMENT WORKS.
THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND MOST OF THE FUNDS WE GET ARE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET LESS FUNDS.
I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE REST OF MY CITIZENS BUT I'M WILLING TO PAY MORE TO BE SAFE.
THAT SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR OF HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR MY GRANDSON TO BE SAFE IN HIS HOME.
I'M SORRY BUT THAT'S JUST HOW PASSIONATE I AM ABOUT, I USED TO BE A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN MYSELF.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S YOUR TIME, SIR.
MR. LACHUTE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOUR HAND.
>> IT'S ITEM NUMBER 10, MOVE IT UP TO NUMBER 8 BUT IT NEEDS TO MOVE.
>> YEAH. JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
WE DID SEND THAT LETTER TO MR. RABE BACK IN MARCH OF 2024.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. IT WASN'T NOTED IN THE REPORT IF IT CAME AFTERWARD SO THANK YOU.
>> I HEARD MY NAME BUT I KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM.
I'D SEE YOU THERE, DON, SORRY.
>> CHIEF ROBERTSON WITH JEFFERSON PARIS FIRE SERVICES.
WE HAVE AND I SPOKE TO COUNCILMAN BONANO YESTERDAY.
WE ARE PLANNING ON HAVING A MEETING OF WHAT THE GENTLEMAN JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
AND WE ALSO ARE IN THE PROCESS.
WE'VE MET WITH THE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS TO GET THEIR INPUT AND WE ARE MEETING WITH THE LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES TO GET THEIR INPUT IN REFERENCE TO THE CONSOLIDATION.
I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE THAT A NOTE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] 509 I JUST TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY AWAY WE GO.
REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES SHALL BE APPORTIONED AMONG THE SEVERAL PARTS OF THE PARISH ACCORDING TO THE RESPECTIVE NUMBERS, EACH SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE, NONE MORE THAN ONE FOR EVERY SO MANY PEOPLE.
IT COULD BE 75, 80,000, AND THEN YOU'D HAVE EIGHT REPRESENTATIVES. I'M JUST A DUDE.
I WAS MOVING PIANOS YESTERDAY, I'LL BE MOVING PIANOS TOMORROW.
I'LL BE LAYING A FLOOR FOR SOMEBODY ELSE AND RUNNING SOME WIRE FOR SOMEBODY DOWN THE ROAD.
[02:45:01]
HE USED TO WORK FOR YOUR BROTHER.CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRANDPARENTS.
CONGRATULATIONS. SINCERELY KNOCK ON WOOD, I DON'T JOIN YOU ANY TIME SOON.
IT'S ABOUT OUR POSTERITY I ONLY GET UP HERE.
I'M IN HERE FOR 2.5-3 HOURS I'M NOT COMPENSATED.
Y'ALL GETTING WELL PAID TO BE HERE, VERY WELL PAID.
WE REPEAL THE CHARTER WE GOT A 15 MEMBER SINGLE POLICE JURY IN HERE PAID LIKE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
EACH ONE OF YOU HAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT GETTING PAID A $100,000 A YEAR, EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A CHIEF OF STAFF GETTING PAID $100,000 A YEAR BUT I'M SUPPOSED TO WRITE THE PROPOSAL.
I'M THE DUDE, I'M JUST THE DUDE.
JUST SHOWING UP HERE TO TRY AND DO A CIVIC DUTY.
I'VE GOT TO HAVE MY OWN WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVES TAKE ACTION, EMPLOY A PARISH ATTORNEY AGAINST THE RIGHT TO REDRESS THEIR GOVERNANCE FOR GRIEVANCE.
FOR A CITIZENS RIGHT TO REDRESS THEIR GOVERNANCE OVER GRIEVANCES, MY OWN WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVES WOULD RATHER TURN THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGAINST THE CITIZEN.
IT'S EMBARRASSING BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL BY THIS BEHAVIOR.
I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE SEEN ALL DO THIS FOR A GOOD LONG BIT.
A FEW OF YOU OVER THESE YEARS HAVE HAD THE COURAGE TO ACTUALLY BE SUPPORTIVE OF ME.
WHEN YOU ASK, I WANT YOUR TAKE ON IT.
WHAT'S THIS GUY SAYING, PARISH, PRESIDENT? GUESS WHAT? SHE'S ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO THAT HAD THE COURAGE TO APPROACH ME AFTER REPUBLICANS WOMEN'S MEETING TO ENCOURAGE ME, TO SUPPORT ME.
TO LET ME KNOW THAT WHAT I WAS TALKING WITH REGARDS TO REPRESENTATION AND TAXATION MATTERED AND WAS IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW WHO ELSE DID THAT THE NEXT DAY AT THE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEETING IN ORLEANS PARISH, JUDGE.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL IS.
LAWYERS KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S LEGAL, JUDGES UNDERSTAND WHAT'S CONSTITUTIONAL.
THAT'S WHY YOU WON'T FIND THE JUDGE TAKING ACTION AGAINST ME, BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS THAT WHAT'S CONSTITUTIONAL CAN BE EXPLAINED.
WHAT'S LEGAL REQUIRES ATTORNEYS.
I AM NOT YOUR OPPONENT, I'M JUST THE DUDE.
JUST HERE TO SEE SOME REPUBLICAN FORM AS GUARANTEED.
A LITTLE BIT OF THE LOVE THY NEIGHBOR, THE LIBERTY SECURED TO OURSELVES, THAT STUFF.
WE GOT PRINCIPLES THEY'VE BEEN SACRIFICED FOR ALLEGIANCES.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS BODY LOOK AT ITSELF MORE CLEARLY.
STEP BACK, CONSIDER CORRECTING FOR OURSELVES.
WE CAN DO THIS. THERE'S CURIOSITY IN THIS ROOM, I CAN SMELL IT.
>> ANYONE ELSE? ITEM IS NOT APPEARING ON THE AGENDA.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE SUMMARY.
>> AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT OF
[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]
SUBDIVISION A PART OF LOTS 5 AND 6 SQUARE FEET, METAIRIE CLUB GARDEN SUBDIVISION AND TRACK M1A INTO LOT 6A SQUARE P AND TRACK M1A2.I'M SORRY, AN ORDINANCE SUBMITTED TO REQUEST TO AMEND THE MASTER PLAN OF SPECIAL PERMANENT USE LAST APPROVED UNDER DOCKET NUMBER CU-3-24 TO INSTALL A NEW SCOREBOARD WITH A VARIANCE TO THE SIZE OF THE SCOREBOARD AT 300 PARK ROAD ON LOT CD1 AND CD2 GULF VIEW SUBDIVISION.
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE AREA REGULATIONS AND THE LANDSCAPE AND BUFFER REQUIREMENTS OF THE CBZ FOR THE MARY J.
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT LOCATED AT 114 TRANSCONTINENTAL DRIVE ON LOT 9 SQUARE 7 BRIDGE DALE SUBDIVISION.
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT REGULATIONS FOR A WAREHOUSE LOCATED AT 3,600 ROBERTSON STREET ON LOT C-7-A.
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE AREA REGULATIONS AND LANDSCAPE AND BUFFER REQUIREMENTS OF THE CBC FOR CHICK-FIL-A LOCATED AT 3870 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LOT 1R SQUARE 7 DANNY SUBDIVISION.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REVISING CHAPTER 8 AND CHAPTER 19, REQUIRING GRAFFITI DEFACEMENT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE TO CREATE THE NEW JOB CLASSIFICATIONS AND APPLY FOOTNOTE 7 FOR UTILITY SERVICES TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, UTILITY SERVICE TECHNICIAN, UTILITY SERVICES TECHNICIAN COORDINATOR, AND UTILITY SERVICES TECHNICIAN SUPERVISOR, AND DELETE THE CLASSIFICATION WATER SERVICE INSPECTOR 1, 02, 3, AND WATER SERVICE INSPECTOR SUPERVISOR.
[02:50:01]
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE TO REVIVE THE CLASS TITLE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF ALARIO CENTER EVENTS COORDINATOR.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL, AND THAT'S ALL THE ORDINANCES I HAVE TO READ. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCES READ IN THE SUMMARY, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY AND HAPPY MARDI GRAS. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.