Apr 30, 2025 Parish Council East Bank

[00:00:02]

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, IF YOU CAN TAKE YOUR SEATS, WE'LL GET STARTED IN JUST A SECOND. THE PARISH PRESIDENT HAS SOME SERVICE PINS TO GIVE OUT

[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]

SO, THERE'S ONLY TWO THINGS WILL HIT BEFORE THE MEETING. AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT IS READY. SO, SHE WILL GO FIRST WITH HER SERVICE PINS.

GOOD MORNING. IF I COULD HAVE LIZA TO JOIN ME IN CELEBRATION OF 15 YEARS WITH THE PARISH.

WHERE'S LIZA? LIZA. LIZA WAS HIRED IN APRIL 2010 AND PROMOTED TO SENIOR ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY IN DECEMBER OF 2019, AND THEN IN FEBRUARY OF 2022, SHE WAS APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, ZONING AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

IN HER TIME AS DIRECTOR, SHE'S REALLY HELPED US TRY TO STREAMLINE, STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS, RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT FROM PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND ZONING, QUALITY OF LIFE DEPARTMENT TO CODE ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS JUST A SMALL NAME CHANGE AND IT MAKES THINGS SIMPLER.

BUT IT REALLY TOOK A LOT OF A LOT OF CHANGES AND A LOT OF RESEARCH TO DO THAT.

TRANSFERRED THE DANGEROUS BUILDING ABATEMENT DIVISION, LICENSING OF HOTELS, MOTELS, SHORT TERM RENTALS, MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT, ESTABLISHMENT LICENSING AND DUMPSTER RENEWALS FROM BUILDING PERMITS TO CODE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT AS SUCH VIOLATIONS ARE MORE IN LINE WITH THAT PURPOSE.

ALSO RESTRUCTURED AND CREATED MULTIPLE POSITIONS, INCLUDING THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITION FOR A CLEAR CHAIN OF COMMAND, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMOTIONS, AND TO FACILITATE WORKFLOW, AND CREATED A NEW CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WHERE INSPECTORS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS PROPERTY MAINTENANCE HOUSING INSPECTORS.

SHE ALSO CREATED QUARTERLY CLASSES FOR INSPECTORS, WHERE SUPERVISORS DISCUSS DIFFERENT TOPICS REGARDING PROPER CITATION AND INTERACTIONS WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND, OF COURSE, STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR BUILDING VIOLATIONS AND REMEDIATION.

THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE WORK SHE CONTINUES TO DO TRULY ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE PEOPLE AND OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

IN A NUTSHELL WHAT LIZA MAKES SURE IS THAT WE BUILD AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS LOOKS AND PLEASING TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY WE LOOK GOOD, BUT THAT EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY VALUES ARE MAINTAINED.

AND THAT IS VERY, VERY CRITICAL WORK, VERY IMPORTANT WORK FOR US IN THE PARISH.

SO, LIZA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BEING SUCH A GREAT, GREAT MANAGER FOR US.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE WITH LIZA? ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO PIN HER. I WANT TO MENTION ANYBODY WATCHING THE BROADCAST.

THERE'S A TECHNICAL ISSUE RIGHT NOW. SO OUTSIDE OF CHAMBERS, YOU'RE NOT SEEING US ON THE BROADCAST, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

. IT IS MY FAVORITE COLOR. BUT IF ALL THE JCVB VISIT JEFFERSON PARISH PEEPS COULD COME ON UP.

WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION. TO CELEBRATE THE TEAM THAT DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB FOR US OF LURING PEOPLE TO COME ENJOY JEFFERSON PARISH. SO VIOLET PETERS AND ALL OF HER STAFF FROM THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU COME ON UP.

SO, THIS IS AN OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS TRAVEL INDUSTRY WEEK.

NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK, NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

SO, WE'RE SETTING THE STAGE TO CELEBRATE. SO, WHEREAS THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS A CRITICAL PART OF JEFFERSON PARISH'S ECONOMY, THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS NUMEROUS OTHER SECTORS OF OUR WORKFORCE, WHEREAS TRAVEL IS AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE FOR EVERY STATE AND DESTINATION ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, WITH A ROUGH ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 2.8 TRILLION.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I READ A FIGURE IN THE TRILLIONS BEFORE SUPPORTING 15 MILLION AMERICAN JOBS, WHEREAS TRAVEL SPENDING CREATES MORE VIBRANT AND SECURE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

[00:05:03]

WITH THOSE TAX DOLLARS, OF COURSE, SUPPORTING OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE EDUCATION, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS GO BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS IN 2023, THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY OF JEFFERSON PARISH IS CREDITED WITH SUPPORTING 20,500 JOBS, THAT'S A LOT OF FOLKS WORKING IN OUR INDUSTRY EARNING CRITICAL WAGES OF ABOUT $658 MILLION, WHEREAS TRAVEL CREATED PRICELESS EXPERIENCES FOR VISITORS WHO SPENT 2 BILLION WHILE HERE, GENERATING ABOUT $198 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.

IT'S A LOT OF DOLLARS PEOPLE IN THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.

AMERICA'S TRAVEL INDUSTRY CAN BE EVEN MORE GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE BY GROWING THE NUMBER OF INBOUND TRAVELERS IN LEISURE, BUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL VISITS, INCREASING TRAVEL TO AND WITHIN THE US BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THAT DRIVES OUR ECONOMY TO A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE AND CONNECTS PEOPLE ACROSS THE AMERICAN CONTINENT.

WHEREAS ONCE IN EVERY OR ONE, RATHER ONE IN EVERY 11 US JOBS DEPENDS ON TRAVEL, MAKING IT A CRITICAL DRIVER OF OUR ECONOMY.

AND WHEREAS TRAVEL IS AN ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY, WE MUST CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE.

GROWING TRAVEL MEANS GROWING OUR ECONOMY, GROWING BUSINESS, GROWING CONNECTION AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING.

WITH THAT SAID, NOW. THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY 4TH THROUGH THE 10TH.

SO NEXT WEEK, 2025, AS NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

AND WE URGE ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THIS INDUSTRY PLAYS IN JEFFERSON PARISH FOR NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK. FATHER PETERS, THANKS FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH YOUR TEAM.

I LOVE THAT YOUR THEME THAT YOU'RE PROMOTING IS FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.

IT'S IN TO BE OUT BECAUSE WE DO THINK OF SO MANY THINGS IN NEW ORLEANS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE PLACES YOU VISIT, LIKE CAFE DU MONDE AND JACKSON SQUARE.

BUT FOR US, IT'S ALL THE GREAT OUTDOOR ACTIVITY, THE ALLIGATOR SWAMP TOURS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE UNIQUELY JEFFERSON.

SO REALLY, Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB. PLEASE. THANK YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO SERVE JEFFERSON PARISH.

WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE COUNCIL, A PARISH PRESIDENT THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF TOURISM.

SO, ON BEHALF OF NOT ONLY MY TEAM, BUT THE OVER 20,000 JOBS IN JEFFERSON PARISH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WHAT YOU DO TO HELP GROW TOURISM EVERY DAY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

GET THE COUNCIL AND PARISH PRESIDENT TO COME ON DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU, SO WE CAN USE IT TO PROMOTE NEXT WEEK AND ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, MAYBE TO DO A LITTLE STAYCATION AND THINK OF A TRAVEL RELATED THING WE CAN DO HERE AT HOME.

.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT. PRE-MEETINGS. WE'LL GET STARTED IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WHERE DO WE PUT. YOU.

OH, OH. I WAS JUST KIDDING ABOUT. THAT'S IT. PRE-MEETING.

ENTERGY IS HERE WITH A CHECK PRESENTATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD FORGET THE MONEY WALKING INTO THE CHAMBERS.

SO, JIMMY, IF YOU WANT TO COME ON DOWN. OH, JIMMY.

SORRY I COULD FORGET YOU, JIMMY, WHEN YOU'RE. YOU'RE ALWAYS TOP OF MIND EVERY TIME THERE'S A POWER OUTAGE.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? YOU WANT US TO COME DOWN THERE?

[00:10:02]

I'M JIMMY AIKEN WITH ENTERGY LOUISIANA. WE HAVE MICHELLE BERG AND ANNA GLORIANA WITH US AS WELL.

WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE JEFFERSON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ON TO DO A SPONSORSHIP FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH BICENTENNIAL.

AND WE SAID, WHAT BETTER WAY TO GIVE BACK TO JEFFERSON PARISH THAN TO THREE ALL BIRTHDAY PARTY, RIGHT? SO YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANTED TO COME. WE WANTED TO THANK YOU.

WE'RE HAPPY TO SERVE JEFFERSON PARISH. MOST OF US LIVE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, SO IT'S NICE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN.

WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO DONATE MONEY TO YOUR PASSION PROJECTS AS WELL.

NOT JUST A BIRTHDAY PARTY, BUT THE BICENTENNIAL IS GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ONE.

.

THANK YOU TO ENERGY AND TO JEFFERSON PARISH FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A FABULOUS BIRTHDAY PARTY. AND THANKS TO HANS FOR HELPING FROM THE VERY DAY ONE.

WE WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE, AND WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE THAT WILL GO LIVE BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

IT IS JPBALL200.COM, AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG PARTY. HOPE YOU CAN ALL COME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, AS WE HEAD INTO THIS MEETING IN CHAMBERS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MONITOR, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ON ABOUT A SEVEN SECOND DELAY. THEY'RE WORKING ON FIXING THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE ANYWHERE, IT'S NORMAL. SO, IN CHAMBERS WE'RE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE STILL AT THE PODIUM WHEN THEY'RE NOT THERE. AND YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE TALKING WHEN THEY'RE NOT TALKING ANYMORE. BUT WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT. DON'T BE CONFUSED.

.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. IT IS 10 A.M. AND THIS IS THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY,

[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]

THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. THIS MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.

[00:15:05]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IT'S MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE GOOD DOCTOR, REVEREND GRANT, WHO I MET APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS AGO. AND ASIDE FROM BEING A MAN OF FAITH AND A MAN OF GOD.

HE HAS. IF YOU'VE EVER LISTENED TO HIS SERMONS, THAT WILL REALLY MOVE YOU.

BUT MOST OF ALL, HE HAS AN INFECTIOUS SMILE. SO REVEREND GRANT IS THE AS THE PASTOR AT SAINT PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH IN HISTORIC MCDONOUGHVILLE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE INVOCATION.

THANK YOU. REVEREND. BLESSED ASSURANCE. JESUS IS MINE.

OH, WHAT A FORETASTE OF GLORY DIVINE. HEIR OF SALVATION.

PURCHASE OF GOD. I'VE BEEN BORN OF HIS SPIRIT, WASHED IN HIS BLOOD.

THIS IS MY STORY. THIS IS MY SONG. I'M PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG.

SHALL WE PRAY? FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE COME TO YOU ON THIS WEDNESDAY.

WE COME WITH OUR HEARTS REPLETE WITH GRATEFULNESS AND WITH JOY.

WE COME THANKING YOU FOR THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THIS STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON.

FATHER, WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON US AS WE CONVENE THIS MEETING.

LORD, WE ASK IN JESUS NAME THAT YOU WILL CROWN EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WITH WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE. BLESS OUR PARISH PRESIDENT FOR THE GUIDE AND DIRECT THEM THAT THEY MAY GUIDE AND DIRECT US.

AND FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THIS UNIQUE PARISH.

YOU'VE BEEN GOOD TO JEFFERSON PARISH. AS WE COME TO 200 YEARS.

O GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SMILE UPON US.

AND, LORD, AS WE MEET THIS MORNING, LET US CONDUCT YOUR BUSINESS DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.

BLESS NOT JUST OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, BUT BLESS ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

FATHER, GOD BLESS US TO BE THE BEST PARISH IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

WE ASK BLESSINGS UPON US SPIRITUALLY, NUMERICALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

THESE BLESSINGS WE ASK IN JESUS' NAME. NOW LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, MEDITATIONS OF MY HEART, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, MY LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY REDEEMER.

SHALL WE ALL RESPOND BY SAYING, AMEN? AMEN. THANK YOU.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

AND I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MR.

[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]

OUR JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY HAS A LOT OF THINGS COMING UP.

OUR CITIZENSHIP CLASSES AT ROSEDALE LIBRARY ARE TAKING PLACE EVERY TUESDAY FROM 530 TO 06:30 P.M., THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW NEIGHBOR PROJECT. THESE FREE CLASSES HELP PREPARE ELIGIBLE PERMANENT RESIDENTS FOR THE U.S.

NATURALIZATION INTERVIEW AND TEST HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TEST.

SESSIONS WILL BEGIN IN JUNE AND TAKE PLACE EVERY MONDAY FROM 5:30 TO 6:30 AT ROSEDALE LIBRARY, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CREDENTIAL.

ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IS AVAILABLE AT THE TARRYTOWN LIBRARY EVERY THURSDAY FROM 1015 TO 11:30 A.M.

WE PARTNER WITH CLEAR HEAD ADULT DAYCARE FOR WEEKLY ART PROJECTS.

FAB FIT IS TAKING PLACE AT THE LAKESHORE LIBRARY ON FRIDAY, MAY 9TH FROM 3:30 TO 4:30.

THIS INCLUDES A FREE CARDIO SESSION FEATURING JAZZERCISE, ZUMBA AND OTHER DANCE MOVEMENTS SET TO POPULAR MUSIC.

ART EXPLORATIONS WITH PAINTED WITH LOVES BRITTANY LANDRY WILL BE AT THE WEST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY ON SATURDAY, MAY 17TH FROM 10 TO 11 A.M. THIS FREE KIDS ART CLASS, LED BY A JAZZ AND HERITAGE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANT RECIPIENT, IS OPEN TO AGES 9 TO 12. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN VISIT US AT WWW.JPLIBRARY.NET.

RECREATION. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE OUR JEFFERSON PARISH RECREATIONAL JPRD TEAMS WHO PLAYED IN THE LOUISIANA SOCCER OPEN CUP FOR THE BOYS' DIVISION THIS PAST WEEKEND IN BATON ROUGE. OUR 12 BOYS WERE THE CHAMPIONS, AND OUR TEN NEW BOYS WERE THE FINALISTS.

RUNNER RUNNERS UP, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS. OUR JEFFERSON PARISH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS HOSTED ITS 25TH ANNUAL STORMWATER POSTER AND ESSAY AWARD CEREMONY ON APRIL

[00:20:01]

PET WASTE. GREEN WASTE. CONSTRUCTION RUNOFF, ETC..

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE, CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AT (504) 731-4612 OR.

ALARIO CENTER IS HOSTING THE USA VOLLEYBALL'S 2025 BAYOU REGION VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS SATURDAY, MAY 3RD AND SUNDAY, MAY 4TH. THAT IS WHERE I'VE SPENT MANY YEARS MYSELF.

ADMISSION IS $10 A DAY FOR ANYONE OVER 18 YEARS OLD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN BE FOUND AT WW BAYOUREGIONVOLLEYBALL.ORG.

MY OLD FRIENDS JCAP. OUTREACH EVENTS ARE JCAP TEAM IS HOSTING A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS, INCLUDING TWO UTILITY ASSISTANCE OUTREACH EVENTS.

TODAY, APRIL 30TH FROM 10 TO 2 FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

AT BOTH THE WESTWEGO SENIOR CENTER AND LAFITTE CIVIC CENTER.

AND ON FRIDAY, MAY 16TH, FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

AT THE MOUNT CALVARY INTERNATIONAL CENTER IN MARRERO.

JCAP IS ALSO HOSTING RSVP TRAINING FOR SENIORS ON HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TODAY, APRIL 30TH FROM 10 A.M.

TO NOON HERE AT OUR YENNI BUILDING IN ROOM 405.

AND ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH, FROM TEN TO NOON AT THE MARRERO COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR HEAD START TEACHERS IN UPCOMING CLASS OF 2025.

THE HEAD START GRADUATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, MAY 22ND AT 10 A.M.

AT BELIEVER'S LIFE FAMILY CHURCH IN GRETNA. ALWAYS A GOOD TIME THAT GRADUATION JPAWS IS OUR JEFFERSON PROTECTION AND ANIMAL WELFARE SERVICES IS PARTICIPATING IN THE PAWS IN MOTION FIVE K ON SATURDAY, MAY 31ST, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BEGINNING AT 8 A.M.

ON THE LEVEE NEAR THE GRETNA FERRY TERMINAL. THIS FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT IS HOSTED BY LETO'S DREAM HOME FOUNDATION AND IS DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR OUR LOCAL ANIMAL RESCUES. MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON EVENTBRITE.

A JOB FAIR FROM THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR HEAD START PROGRAM WILL BE HOSTING THE JOB FAIR TODAY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30TH FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT OUR EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT THE PERSONNEL BOARD AT 5046364 2730.

THAT'S 504364 2730. PURCHASING DEPARTMENT IS HAVING AN INDUSTRY DAY.

WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN COUNCILMAN LEE'S SMALL BUSINESS INDUSTRY DAY AT THE CENTER ON APRIL 21ST, DIRECTOR RENEE AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MISTY CARMADELLE WERE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA TO PRESENT INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH JEFFERSON PARISH AND STAFFED AN INFORMATIONAL TABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. ON MAY 19TH, WE WILL BE HOSTING A HURRICANE EVACUATION EXERCISE WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.

THIS TIME, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, STATE AGENCIES, AND FIRST RESPONDERS TO PRACTICE AND IMPROVE OUR EVACUATION PROCESS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'LL BE PRACTICING BOTH EVACUATION SITES AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS IS WHY OUR TEAM IS SO WONDERFUL. WE'RE ALWAYS DOING NEW THINGS EVERY YEAR, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

ALARIO CENTER AND VINEYARD CHURCH. WE'RE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH THE EVACUATION PROCESS, AND THEREFORE LOOKING FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE VOLUNTEERS.

VOLUNTEERS WILL BE NEEDED FROM 9:30 A.M. TO 2 P.M., AND WE WILL NEED TO REGISTER ONLINE.

WE'LL ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE THAT ARE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS, PEOPLE WITH PETS, AND A CARRIER OR ON A LEASH, PEOPLE WITH KIDS OR BABIES AND PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY DEVICES SUCH AS WHEELCHAIRS.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP US PRACTICE ACCOMMODATING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, IF AND WHEN WE HAVE TO DO AN EVACUATION. SO, IF YOU WANT TO BE A VOLUNTEER, REGISTER AT JEFF PARISH HURRICANE EXERCISE OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (504) 349-5360. OUR MILLAGE RENEWALS.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT VOTE FOR US ON SATURDAY, MAY 3RD.

THE POLLS WILL OPEN FROM 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. THESE VILLAGES HELP FUND OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES AND LIBRARIES, AND THEY ARE CRITICAL FOR KEEPING SERVICES THAT MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

THESE ARE NOT NEW TAXES, BUT RENEWALS AT THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED RATES.

OUR TEAM HAS BEEN GOING TO AS MANY NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AS POSSIBLE LEADING UP TO THIS ELECTION.

WE ALSO HOSTED TWO INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS, ONE ON THE EAST BANK AND ONE ON THE WEST BANK PLACED SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH AND FLIERS AT ALL OUR LIBRARY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND WE'VE DONE MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND RAN A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE VILLAGES, VISIT JEFFPARISH.GOV/MILLAGES. I WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR UTILITY SERVICES ALONG WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT UPDATES. SO WE HAVE A UTILITY SERVICE GUIDE IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE WATER DEPARTMENT'S PAGE AT JEFF PARISH.GOV.

[00:25:01]

COMMON USES OF WATER CONSUMPTION. A SAMPLE BILL CALCULATOR AND VIDEO TUTORIALS ON HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU MIGHT HAVE A LEAK.

THE LEAD SERVICE LINE MAP IS ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL.

AS WE CONTINUE TO INSPECT EACH HOME, YOUR PROPERTY'S INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED.

ANY HOME THAT HAS A LEAD SERVICE LINE WILL BE NOTIFIED AND GIVEN SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS.

THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PREPARING TO LAUNCH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SERVICES BY APPOINTMENT ONLY TWICE A WEEK, ON AN ALTERNATING SCHEDULE ON BOTH THE EAST BANK AND WEST BANK, WITH AN ONLINE PORTAL TO SET UP UTILITY SERVICE APPOINTMENTS.

KIOSKS WILL BE SOON AVAILABLE IN THE LOBBIES OF OUR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ON BOTH THE EAST BANK AND WEST BANK TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILL IN ADDITION TO THOSE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THE WATER DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN MOVING CUSTOMERS TO MONTHLY BILLS AS NEW METERS ARE INSTALLED, WHICH WILL START IN UPPER JEFFERSON THIS MONTH.

THIS WILL GIVE CUSTOMERS A MONTHLY COMPARISON OF THEIR JP UTILITY SERVICES COMPARED TO THEIR OTHER UTILITY BILLS.

THE NEW METERS ARE VERY ACCURATE AND WILL DETECT VERY SMALL LEAKS.

ONCE WE PLACE YOUR METER, IF YOUR USAGE DRASTICALLY INCREASES, PLEASE INSPECT YOUR HOME FOR LEAKS, CONDUCT REPAIRS AND CONTACT UTILITY SERVICES WITH YOUR RECEIPT TO RECEIVE AN ADJUSTMENT TO YOUR BILL.

I WANT TO REALLY THANK OUR WATER DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, SYDNEY BASLEY, AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, MARK DREWS, FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY TO BRING THESE NEW SERVICES TO FRUITION.

AND AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A NEW VIDEO WE WANT TO DISPLAY THAT SHOWS RESIDENTS WHAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT AS WE BEGIN TO INSTALL THESE SMART WATER METERS.

THIS IS THE NEW BRINGING YOU UP TO DATE WITH THE NEW WATER METERS.

AND THEN AFTER THIS WATER VIDEO, WE WANT TO SHOW THE VIDEO AGAIN BECAUSE THE ELECTION IS THIS SATURDAY.

THANK YOU. THE JEFFERSON PARISH WATER DEPARTMENT PRIORITIZES QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE DRINKING WATER. AS THE NEXT STEP IN THIS EFFORT, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH PETAL VALVES TO PROVIDE NEW ADVANCED METERING TECHNOLOGY THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU BETTER MANAGE WATER.

I THINK WE NEED TO START IT OVER, START IT OVER AND PUT A MIC BY.

IT ISN'T.

I CALL A MEETING OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH WATER DEPARTMENT PRIORITIZES QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE DRINKING WATER.

AS THE NEXT STEP IN THIS EFFORT, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH PETAL VALVES TO PROVIDE NEW ADVANCED METERING TECHNOLOGY THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU BETTER MANAGE WATER CONSUMPTION AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

MOST INSTALLATIONS WILL REQUIRE A METER EXCHANGE AND TAKE PLACE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.

THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE. BALL PEDAL VALVES. A PROFESSIONAL METER INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR WILL ENSURE THE UPGRADE IS DONE EFFICIENTLY AND CORRECTLY.

YOU'LL BE NOTIFIED BY MAIL ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN EXPECT INSTALLATIONS TO BEGIN IN YOUR AREA.

YOU DON'T NEED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT OR EVEN BE HOME.

YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE ACCESS TO THE WATER METER IS SAFE AND CLEAR AND THAT PETS ARE SECURED.

MOST WATER METERS ARE LOCATED NEAR THE STREET OR SIDEWALK WILL MINIMIZE THE DISRUPTION TO YOUR WATER SERVICE.

ON AVERAGE, METER EXCHANGES SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

WATER SERVICE IS RESTORED AS SOON AS THE EXCHANGE IS COMPLETE, AND WHEN POSSIBLE, YOUR INSTALLER WILL USE AN EXTERIOR HOSE SPIGOT TO RELEASE ANY AIR TRAPPED IN THE LINE. YOUR SAFETY IS IMPORTANT.

THE PEDAL VALVES INSTALLER WILL WEAR PROPER IDENTIFICATION AND PROTECTION, AND THERE'S NO NEED TO GO INSIDE YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

AFTER INSTALLATION, YOU'LL FIND A DOOR HANGER TO CONFIRM THAT YOUR UPGRADE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

IF THE UPGRADE ISN'T ABLE TO BE MADE, A DOOR HANGER WITH NOTES ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE LEFT.

IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FLUSH YOUR LINE, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED BY THIS DOOR HANGER.

AS ALWAYS, JEFFERSON PARISH WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH HIGH QUALITY, SUSTAINABLE DRINKING WATER.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT THE JEFFERSON PARISH WATER DEPARTMENT WEBSITE AT.

THANK YOU. AND WE DO WANT TO PLAY THE VIDEO AGAIN.

I KNOW WE PLAYED IT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 3RD, 2025.

VOTERS IN JEFFERSON PARISH WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO RENEW THREE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS.

THESE VILLAGES HELP FUND THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF JEFFERSON PARISH DRAINAGE SYSTEM, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES, AND LIBRARIES.

THE VILLAGES ARE NOT NEW TAXES, BUT RENEWALS AT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED RATES APPROVED BY JEFFERSON PARISH VOTERS.

IF APPROVED AGAIN, THE DRAINAGE AND RECREATION VILLAGES WILL CONTINUE TO BE COLLECTED FOR ANOTHER PERIOD OF TEN YEARS STARTING IN 2027,

[00:30:01]

THE FIRST PROPOSITION IS A RENEWAL NOT TO EXCEED SIX MILLS THAT WILL HELP FUND THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH CONSOLIDATED DRAINAGE DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES THE ENTIRE EAST AND WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GRAND ISLE, JEFFERSON PARISH VOTERS, AND THE CONSOLIDATED DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER TWO WILL VOTE ON THE DRAINAGE MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION. THIS WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $27 MILLION PER YEAR, PROVIDING OVER 45% OF THE ENTIRE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, MAINTAINING AND OPERATING THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH.

THE SYSTEM INCLUDES 340 MILES OF DRAINAGE CANALS, DRAINAGE DITCHES, CROSS DRAINS AND CULVERTS, 1465 MILES OF STREET SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, AND THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF 72 DRAINAGE PUMP STATIONS.

RENEWAL OF THE MILLAGE WOULD PRESERVE A CRITICAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR DAY TO DAY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM, AND PROVIDE REVENUE TO HELP FUND CAPITAL NEEDS.

THE PARISH HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN.

THE DRAINAGE PUMP STATION AND CANAL SYSTEM IS THE BACKBONE KEEPING OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES FROM FLOODING.

THE CURRENT MILLAGE REPRESENTS CLOSE TO HALF THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, AND IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEM.

ALONG WITH THE FUTURE FLOOD MITIGATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THE SECOND PROPOSITION IS A RENEWAL NOT TO EXCEED TEN MILLS THAT WILL HELP FUND THE JEFFERSON PARISH RECREATION, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PLAYGROUNDS THROUGHOUT UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON PARISH, PLUS THE TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE, JEFFERSON PARISH VOTERS AND THE CONSOLIDATED JEFFERSON RECREATION AND COMMUNITY CENTER AND PLAYGROUND DISTRICT WILL VOTE ON THE RECREATION MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION, WHICH WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $35 MILLION PER YEAR, PROVIDING 93% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET TO HELP FUND THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH.

THE JEFFERSON PARISH RECREATION DEPARTMENT, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS JPRD, OFFERS A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES.

THIS INCLUDES BOTH ATHLETIC AND LEISURE PROGRAMS FOR KIDS.

ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS FOR SENIORS. ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, CAMPS, AND A WIDE RANGE OF CLASSES AND SPECIAL EVENTS AT DOZENS OF PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS LOCATED THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH.

LOSS OF THE RECREATION MILLAGE WOULD FORCE WIDESPREAD CLOSURES OF PLAYGROUNDS, PARKS, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND BRING ATHLETICS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO A HALT. THESE VILLAGES ARE VITAL TO KEEP OUR OPERATIONS OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH RECREATION DEPARTMENT UP AND RUNNING TO HELP SERVICE OUR YOUTH, SENIORS AND SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY. THE THIRD PROPOSITION IS A RENEWAL NOT TO EXCEED 6.5 MILLS THAT WILL PROVIDE ALMOST ALL OPERATING AND CAPITAL FUNDING FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING GRETNA, HARAHAN, KENNER, WESTWEGO, JEAN LAFITTE, AND GRAND ISLE.

ALL JEFFERSON PARISH VOTERS WILL VOTE ON THE LIBRARY MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION, WHICH WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $29 MILLION PER YEAR, PROVIDING 95% OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM'S OPERATING BUDGET.

NOW IN ITS 75TH YEAR OF SERVICE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY SYSTEM OPERATES 16 BRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE PARISH, WITH PLANS TO OPEN A NEW LIBRARY IN AVONDALE IN APRIL 2025.

ALL JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARIES OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY, WITH TWO LARGE REGIONAL LIBRARIES AND SEVEN BRANCHES ON EACH SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

THE SYSTEM PROVIDES TRADITIONAL SERVICES RANGING FROM BOOK LENDING, INTERNET ACCESS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO MORE INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE LIBRARY OF THINGS COLLECTION, WHICH ALLOWS CARDHOLDERS TO CHECK OUT OBJECTS RANGING FROM MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO COOKWARE.

EXPERIENCE PASSES THAT GRANTS CARDHOLDERS ACCESS TO REGIONAL MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE UPCOMING MAKERSPACE, WHICH WILL ALLOW PATRONS TO USE CRAFTING TOOLS FOR HOBBIES LIKE QUILTING AND PODCASTING, AS WELL AS 24 OVER SEVEN SERVICES SUCH AS E-BOOK, AUDIO, VIDEO STREAMING AND WI-FI.

LOSS OF THE LIBRARY MILLAGE WOULD HALT NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMING, TRIGGERING SEVERE CUTS TO SERVICE.

THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY SUPPORTS ALL OF JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS.

OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR SERVICES HELP EVERYONE SUCCEED.

A LOSS OF FUNDING WOULD IMPACT EVERY RESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

SO HOW WOULD THESE RENEWALS IMPACT YOU? IF YOU OWN A HOME VALUED AT $200,000 AND YOU HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON YOUR RESIDENCE, YOU WOULD PAY $75 A YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO $6.25 PER MONTH FOR THE DRAINAGE MILLAGE, $125 A YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO $10.42 PER MONTH FOR THE RECREATION MILLAGE AND $81.25 A YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO $6.77 PER MONTH FOR THE LIBRARY MILLAGE. SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON SATURDAY, MAY 3RD.

EARLY VOTING IS FROM APRIL 19TH THROUGH APRIL 26TH.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT.

[00:35:25]

HANG ON. THERE YOU GO. A QUICK SECOND TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM THAT WORKED ON OUR LAKE TOWN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT SPECIFICALLY STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD AND DARCEL FLORENCE.

YOU KNOW, MONDAY WAS NATIONAL SUPERHERO DAY. WELL, WE HAVE SOME SUPERHEROES HERE EVERY DAY.

AND THESE LADIES HELP ME LOBBY FOR AND ACCOMPLISH THE LARGEST ALLOTMENT IN THE STATE.

AND THAT IS GOING TO OUR TOWN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

SO, THIS WEEK, THIS LAST WEEK, WE GOT OUR ACTUAL AWARD LETTER.

SO APPARENTLY, THEY ALLOTTED TO YOU, BUT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY GIVE IT TO YOU. SO, YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR. BUT THEY HELPED ME LOBBY AND FIGHT FOR IT. SO, THANK YOU, LADIES FOR YOUR HELP AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS PARISH. THANK COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN.

AND NOW I MIGHT REGRET THIS IN FIVE MINUTES, BUT COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SO I JUST.

YOU WON'T. YOU WON'T REGRET IT, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK COUNCILMAN MORENO, WHO FOR HIS SERVICE HERE. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR LAST MEETING.

SO, WE GAVE HIM A NICE PEN LIKE THIS. LIKE I'M WEARING A COUNCIL PEN.

I'M GOING TO NEED THAT AFTER THE MEETING IS OVER. BUT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME.

WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO. WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME BACK TO, TO SOME MEETINGS.

SO I HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU. AND THIS, THIS GIFT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO COME BACK.

SO, I CAN'T NOW. OH. THERE'S A ROAST TONIGHT.

THAT THAT COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG IS THE SUBJECT ON, AND I'M ONE OF THE SPEAKERS ON IT.

I WANT TO IN THAT CONTEXT, I THINK THAT'S WHY HE'S TRYING TO GIVE ME A GIFT.

AND I'M SURE IT'S A GAG GIFT IN A STARBUCKS BAG.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, I'LL WEAR IT. YOU WANT ME TO PUT THIS ON? HE'S TRYING TO EMBARRASS ME. LIKE I'M GOING TO BE EMBARRASSING HIM LATER. IT'S I THINK I THINK IT'S A NOD TO MR. MYERS, WHO'S SLEEPING IN THE FRONT ROW, NOT EVEN LOOKING AT IT. WELL, MR. MYERS OBJECT.

SILLY HAT I'M WEARING. LOOK, I'M WEARING A SILLY HAT.

NOW, I GOT TO COME TO THE MEETINGS AND TALK WITH THIS HAT ON.

YOU COULD DONATE THAT TO MR. HIRES ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG. THANK YOU.

CAN I SAY A FEW WORDS? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ON A SERIOUS NOTE, I REALLY DID ENJOY MY TIME ON, ON ON THE COUNCIL.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE LEGISLATURE AT ALL. IT'S NOT LIKE CITY GOVERNMENT AT ALL.

IT'S NOT I DON'T KNOW. I KIND OF LIKE IT. MAYBE BETTER WHEN I WAS SITTING AS JUDGE, LIKE HANS HAS DONE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE NO ONE EVER QUESTIONS WHAT YOU SAY WHEN YOU'RE THE JUDGE. YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW. WHATEVER. NO ONE EVER. EVERYONE LAUGHS AT YOUR JOKES WHEN YOU'RE THE JUDGE.

EVERYTHING YOU DO IS GOOD AND RIGHT, AND PEOPLE LAUGH AND PAT YOU ON THE BACK AND LIKE THAT.

SO. BUT THAT'S NOT THIS JOB. I WANT TO THANK.

AND JUST ONE MORE TIME. THANK AND MENTION MARION EDWARDS, WHO I AM SITTING FOR.

OKAY. IT'S A VERY BIG HONOR FOR ME TO SIT, TO HAVE HIM ASK ME TO SIT IN THIS INTERIM PROCESS WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE REPLACING HIM. AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S IN THE HALL OF FAME.

THAT JUST HAPPENED. AND I MEAN, HE'S IN AN EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT.

AND SO IT'S JUST AN HONOR FOR ME TO SAY THAT I, YOU KNOW, I WORKED WITH HIM.

AND TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED AND WHEN I'M GOING TO FINISH I SAID, I'M GOING TO DO MARION EDWARDS WORK FOR MARION EDWARDS.

AND SO WE'RE DOING A DRUG COURT BUILDING. AND ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT CALLED DRUG COURT.

IT'S CALLED SPECIALTY TREATMENT COURT. THAT'S THE CORRECT NAME FOR IT BECAUSE IT COVERS MORE THAN JUST A FEW THINGS.

AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT AS WELL.

AND MAYBE ONE OTHER PROJECT, A DRUG COURT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE PEOPLE OPTIONS OTHER THAN INCARCERATION TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THEIR LIFE AND CHANGE, YOU KNOW, CHANGE A FAMILY'S LIFE THAT'S STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT PROJECT WE HAVE THE COVID. I'M NOT.

I MEAN, THE OPIOID DOLLARS THAT WE'RE USING FOR IT, THE MONEY IS ALREADY IN PLACE.

WE'VE GOT THEY WE STARTED THE DESIGN PROCESS, ACTUALLY, NOT THE DESIGN.

WE SAT DOWN AND WE LAID OUT THE BUILDING. WHAT'S GOING TO CONTAIN IN IT, HOW IT'S GOING TO LAY OUT.

[00:40:03]

AND THEN WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE ACTUAL DESIGN PHASE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE AND I'M, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT, AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE WORKED ON THAT PROJECT AS WELL.

FOR MARION EDWARDS. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING WHICH IS THE OAKWOOD OMV OAKWOOD TEMPORARILY HOUSES THE MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO SIGN A LEASE WITH OAKWOOD ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OR WORKING WITH THE STATE TO ANCHOR THAT PLACE AND PUT IT IN THERE AND KEEP IT THERE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD FIT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY BIG FOOTPRINT AND IT'S GOING TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON THAT.

SO THE PERSON THAT COMES IN BEHIND ME IS GOING TO DO THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN THE LAST THING IS WE'RE PROBABLY HERE TO TALK A LOT ABOUT AND TOO MUCH ABOUT IS THE KINGFISHER RIVER VIEW DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THAT JUDGE EDWARDS SPECIFICALLY WANTED ME TO BE INVOLVED.

AND BECAUSE I AM INVOLVED AND I CAN SPEAK TO IT AND I WILL AND ALONG THOSE LINES I WANT TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF CHASING RABBITS.

IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO FOR THE WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH, AND WE'RE GOING TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A DESTINATION THAT DOES NOT EXIST ON THE WEST BANK.

IT IS NOT HERE. WE ARE CREATING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IT DOESN'T EXIST. AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO STIMULATE INVESTMENT AND GROWTH ON THE ENTIRE WEST BANK.

AND IT'S SUCH A GOOD PROJECT, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE, AND I'LL SAVE THE REST OF MY COMMENTS FOR IT THEN.

BUT WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO TRY TO BRING IN BUSINESSES.

YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO TRY TO BRING COMPANIES IN TO COME IN AND MOVE TO LOUISIANA.

AND YOU GOT TO HAVE FAMILIES HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO COME TO LOUISIANA.

AND WHEN ON THE STATE LEVEL, WE DO THESE ITEP PROGRAMS WHERE WE ARE LITERALLY GIVING CORPORATIONS TAX DOLLARS, WE'RE GIVING. WE'RE WAIVING THINGS LEFT AND RIGHT TO BRING IN THAT BUSINESS BECAUSE WE WANT THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE WANT THAT STIMULUS TO OUR ECONOMY. AND ON A SMALLER SCALE, IN JEFFERSON PARISH, THIS PROJECT RIGHT HERE IS GOING TO BE THAT KIND OF PROJECT FOR THE WEST BANK. WE ARE BRINGING IN A PARTNER CALLED PORT ORLEANS BREWING, AND I WANT TO SAY RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE OWED A FEW MINUTES OF TALKING ABOUT WHY WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY THEIR NAME HAS BEEN DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD, AND THEY ARE NOT WORTHY OF THAT. SO LET ME JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS COMPANY, PORT ORLEANS BREWING, THAT WE WANT TO BE PART OF OUR PROJECT. OKAY.

COUNCILMAN MORENO, WOULD YOU MIND WAITING UNTIL WE GET TO THAT ITEM? I'VE GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN. I'LL SAY IT LATER. I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I DON'T WANT THIS TO GET TOO LONG RIGHT HERE SO WE CAN.

CAN YOU GIVE ME, LIKE, ONE MINUTE? GO. 60 SECONDS.

TIME. ME. YOU SOUND LIKE MR. MORELLO. I MEAN, THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PARTNER THAT HAS A CHARITABLE ARM THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEY OPERATE WHERE THEY DO. THEY PARTNERED WITH THE GLEASON FOUNDATION, HAVE RAISED OVER $100,000 WITH THEM.

THEY ARE AN OCHSNER HEALTH COMMUNITY CHAMPION FOR THEIR DONATIONS AND FUNDRAISING TO COMMUNITIES.

DURING COVID, THEY DONATED 1500 MEALS A WEEK FOR FOUR MONTHS FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY COVID.

OKAY, THAT'S WHO WE'RE PARTNERING WITH, AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER WITH PORT ORLEANS BREWING.

THANK YOU. TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MORENO.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL.

FROM ME LET'S GO TO NOW. ANYBODY ELSE? I'M SORRY.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY. ANYBODY WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA CAN DO SO.

[PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION(S) ON AGENDA/ADDENDUM AGENDA]

I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE AS WELL. MAYOR CONSTANT OF GRETNA AND COUNCILMAN WAYNE RAO FROM THE CITY OF GRETNA.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. KIM CHATELAIN, INSPECTOR GENERAL. MISS CHATELAINE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, WE CAN CALL YOU UP AT THAT POINT IF YOU'D LIKE. IF YOU'D RATHER SPEAK AT THAT POINT IN THE MEETING.

I APPRECIATE YOUR CLARITY. THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD, WOULD I BE GETTING A CHANCE THEN TO SPEAK WHEN SHE'S SPEAKING OR AFTER SHE SPEAKS,

[00:45:02]

YOU CAN. I HAVE TO TRY AND PRETEND YOU CAN SPEAK NOW TO SAY YOU CAN SPEAK NOW.

YEAH, YEAH. YOU'RE VIOLATING SOME PROCESS HERE ANYWAY.

NO WE'RE NOT. YEAH, WHATEVER. MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR THE ATTORNEY.

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. FRANKIE HYERS, PIANO DUDE.

HE'S TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY. AND TRUST ME, I WILL GET OUT OF HERE. I'LL GO AWAY. AWAY I GO, AND YOU CAN SPEAK AT THE END OF THE MEETING ON WHAT SHE SAID. YEAH. YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, BUT NOBODY WILL BE HERE. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

I'M GONNA GET TO THAT. WE GOT PLENTY OF AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE RELATED TO THAT 81, 83, 84 TO 89, 94 TO 101. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY FELLOW NO PARTY CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED VOTER DISTRICT ONE, ANYTHING REGARDING DISTRICT ONE OUGHT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THIS ELECTION. IT'S INTERESTING THAT I SPOKE TO MY OWN COUNCIL MEMBER REGARDING THE ELECTION FROM LAST MONTH.

AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE HAVING A JOB FAIR AT EAST JEFFERSON, WHERE THERE'S TWO POLLING LOCATIONS GOING TO CREATE MORE, MORE DISTURBANCE, MORE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND JEOPARDIZE THE LEGITIMACY OF THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GET TO THE VILLAGES THAT ARE ON THIS ELECTION.

AND EVERY ONE OF THESE HAS A RELATED ITEM AGENDA THAT MADE IT VERY CONVENIENT FOR ME, BECAUSE THERE'S A SUBSCRIPTION HERE FOR $90,000 THAT'S GOING TO DO RECREATION. THERE'S ANOTHER SUBSCRIPTION FOR $37,000 FOR A LIBRARY.

I SPOKE ABOUT THIS AFTER YOU TOOK $60 MILLION OR TENS OF MILLIONS.

30 MILLION HERE, 30 MILLION THERE FROM CARES ACT MONEY TO BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY.

YOU TOOK IT THROUGH OUR FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.

YEAH. YOU KNOW WHAT THE NEWS SAID? MR. BUSTAMANTE SAID THERE WAS NO ORGANIZED OPPOSITION TO THIS MILLAGES.

AND ALL THIS MONEY I'M SPENDING THROUGH THESE THE MILLAGES, MR., AGENDAS, ITEMS, MILLAGE, MONEY IS GETTING SPENT, THE MILLAGE. AND I'M SPEAKING TO THAT DIRECTLY. AND YOU'RE INFRINGING ON MY FIRST AMENDMENT. NOW, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS HERE, AND YOU CAN INFRINGE ON MY TIME ALL YOU WANT, MR. HYERS. YOU CANNOT SPEAK ON THE MILLAGES.

YEAH, I CAN. IT'S ON THE PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW ON THE AGENDA.

YOU CAN DO IT AT THE END OF THE MEETING. THE MILLAGE IS NOT INFRINGE ON MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. DON'T ARGUE, PLEASE. YOU CAN'T SPEAK ON THE MILLAGES, MR. HYERS. I'M GOING TO TURN OFF YOUR MIC AGAIN. YOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.

WELL, OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT THAT? I CAN STILL BE HEARD. MADAM PARISH ATTORNEY. THESE MILLAGES ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THANK YOU. HE CAN SPEAK ON THIS AT THE END. YOU CAN'T SPEAK ON THE MILLAGES, MR. HYERS. MR. HYERS, PLEASE SIT DOWN. I'M NOT MAKING THE RULES.

I'M ENFORCING THE RULES. AND YOU CAN SPEAK ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA.

THAT'S ALL. IF YOU'RE NOT, PLEASE SIT DOWN OR LEAVE THE ROOM.

THEN GO AHEAD. PLEASE. NO THEY DON'T. YOU CAN SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEM.

THE SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MR. HYERS. YOUR TIME IS UP NOW. YOUR TIME'S UP. THANK YOU.

NO, I DON'T FEEL GOOD. I DON'T LIKE DOING THIS.

YOU'RE NOT ACTING LIKE MY SERVANT. YOU'RE ACTING LIKE MY MASTER. I HAVE TO ENFORCE RULES AT OUR MEETING, MR. H YERS. MR. HYERS, YOU KNOW I SIT UP HERE AND ENFORCE RULES.

THAT'S WHAT MY JOB IS. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO DO. AND YOU'RE BREAKING THE RULES, AND I HAVE TO ENFORCE THEM. THAT'S IT. IT'S SIMPLE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM? AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER ONE.

[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]

OH, I'M SORRY, MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL. ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL? A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER TWO A RESOLUTION SELECTED FROM PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR STREET PROJECTS FOR A FEE OF $500,000 OR LESS PER ASSIGNMENT, EXCLUDING ANY FEE FOR RESIDENT INSPECTION SERVICES WHO ARE NOT ONE OF THE 54 PERSONS OR FIRMS APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NUMBER 144993 DATED SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2024 COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN GOING TO MOVE ON.

ALL FOUR QUALIFIED. ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF ALL QUALIFIED ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

[00:50:02]

0493 COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SYLVAN HEALTHCARE, INC.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF SYLVAN HEALTHCARE, INC. ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, WE HAVE ONE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM WE'LL GET TO LATER.

I HAVE A NOTE THAT NUMBER FIVE WILL BE DEFERRED TO JUNE 18TH.

[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES]

THE APPLICANTS REQUESTED A DEFERRAL. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

MOVE TO DEFER ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 5 TO 618.

A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM SIX, SUMMARY NO. 26513. RESUB OF LOTS 39 AND 39 G TRACK B, COLONIAL FARM SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 39 F1 AND 39 G1. TRACK B, ES-150-24 COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.

WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26513. ANYONE IN FAVOR? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. OH. I'M SORRY.

THREE POPPED UP. Y'ALL ARE IN OPPOSITION OR IN FAVOR? OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBERS. [INAUDIBLE]. GOT ME HERE.

ME, MY WIFE AND I ARE HERE. WE LIVE AT 254 GARDEN ROAD.

OUR PROPERTY ABUTS PART OF LOT 39 G, WHICH IS ONE OF THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU.

I SEE THE APPLICANT ISN'T HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THE FACT THAT SEVERAL NEIGHBORS ARE HERE IN OPPOSITION.

THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD HAVE ALREADY REJECTED THIS REQUEST.

I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT PRIOR TO THAT POINT, THE APPLICANT WENT BEFORE THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.

THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS BALANCED ALL THE NEIGHBORS' INTERESTS AND THE APPLICANT'S INTERESTS.

THEY GAVE HIM A WAIVER ON THE RIPPLE ROAD SIDE OF THIS LOT.

THEY DENIED HIM HIS BACKYARD WAIVER OVER THAT MORE DIRECTLY IMPACTS US.

SO, THE INTERESTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN BALANCED HERE.

HE COULD HAVE APPEALED THAT HE HAD A RIGHT TO APPEAL THAT TO THE DISTRICT COURT.

HE DIDN'T. INSTEAD, HE WENT TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD.

THEY BOTH SIMILARLY REJECTED THE REQUEST THAT HE'S MAKING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN THE PAST, MY NEIGHBORS HAVE ASKED FOR VARIANCES AND WAIVERS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTED ME.

THEY EXPLAINED IT TO ME, THEY TOLD ME WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND I'VE SHOWN UP AT PROCEEDINGS LIKE THIS AND SUPPORTED THOSE REQUESTS.

OUR MAIN CONCERN IS DRAINAGE. THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL CONFIGURED LOT.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IF I KNOW COUNCILMAN BONANO IS PROBABLY SEEN IT AND IS FAMILIAR WITH IT.

THE LOT HAS A DOCUMENTED ENFORCEMENT HISTORY WITH DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. HAD THE APPLICANT COME TO US AND SAID, LOOK, HERE'S MY PROFESSIONALLY STAMPED ENGINEERING PLAN, WHICH WAS REQUIRED ON LOTS OF THIS SIZE AND EXPLAINED WHAT HIS PLAN WAS.

WE MIGHT HAVE NOT OPPOSED THIS, AT LEAST MY WIFE AND ME.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. INSTEAD, WE'VE GOTTEN, I WOULD SAY, A COMBINATION OF EITHER SILENCE OR DEFIANCE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, BECAUSE THIS DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR LOTS.

YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SPEAK ON LOT 39 F? THE 39 G REQUIREMENT CERTAINLY AFFECTS US. THEY'RE TRYING TO MOVE THAT THAT FUTURE BUILDING PAD 15FT CLOSER TO MY HOUSE.

I RELIED ON THE RULES WHEN WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE AND MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN IT AND IMPROVING OUR DRAINAGE.

AND WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU, UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THERE'S BEEN NO TRANSPARENCY AND NO INFORMATION TO ENFORCE THE ZONING RULES AS INTERPRETED BY THE PROFESSIONALS THAT YOU DELEGATE THAT AUTHORITY TO, THERE'S CERTAINLY NO REASON THERE'S NOTHING BEEN SHOWN WHY THAT SHOULD BE OVERTURNED.

AND SO THAT'S OUR REQUEST. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? HELLO. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M JULIE STOKES AND I LIVE AT 246 GARDEN, AND WE BOUGHT A HOME IN 2022.

WE MOVED IN WHEN IT WAS STILL IN CONSTRUCTION.

AND WE FOUND OUT SUBSEQUENTLY THAT THERE ARE TWO LOTS IN WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS KIND OF A DRIVEWAY ALLEY BEHIND OUR HOUSE THAT LED TO A KEYHOLE LOT HOUSE THAT WE'RE GOING

[00:55:01]

AND SO IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED HOW MUCH CONCERN THERE WAS OVER THE SITUATION, BECAUSE RIPPLE ROAD IS NOT A STREET.

IT'S A 12 FOOT WIDE DRIVEWAY THAT EXTENDS OVER 700FT.

WHEN THE PARISH AND IT'S ONLY 12FT WIDE. IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT, AND THE PARISH REQUIRES 25FT WIDE AND NO LONGER THAN 400FT DEEP, BUILDING ON THESE TWO LOTS WILL DEGRADE THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD IN TERMS OF DENSITY, AND IT GENERATES FIRE RISKS BECAUSE OF THE NARROW WIDTH OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE NARROW IMPEDING FENCES THAT STOP, I BELIEVE, FIRE TRUCKS FROM GETTING DOWN THE STREET.

AND THE BLACKTOP DRIVEWAY THAT IS THERE HAS KIND OF FORMED A DAM THAT HAS CAUSED HOUSES ON BOTH SIDES TO FLOOD.

IT SEPARATES GARDEN ROAD FROM A DITCH THAT WAS MANDATED BY THE PARISH.

AND THE DRIVEWAY IS FORCING MORE WATER THAT CAN'T, THE DITCH CAN'T HOLD ONTO DIANE STREET AS WELL.

AND THE BUILDING WITH ALL OF THE CEMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED WILL DEFINITELY ABSORB MOST OF THE POOREST GROUND BACK THERE AND CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS. THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE ON PRIVATE SEWAGE, WHICH IS GOING TO, I GUESS, NECESSITATE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM WHICH I DON'T THINK ANY OF US KNEW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR PROPERTY TO THAT WOULD BE RIGHT NEXT TO TWO SEPTIC SYSTEMS. WE'VE BEGGED THEM TO WORK WITH US. YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

LIKE WE'RE HAVING A A HARDSHIP VARIANCE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE NOT HERE.

BUT THEY BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY RECENTLY KNOWING THE LIMITATIONS OF THE PROPERTY.

SO, KIND OF HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT. AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE OPPOSITION OR THE PROPONENTS OF THE PROJECT DIDN'T COME TODAY, I WILL CUT THIS SHORT, BUT WE'RE PRETTY CONCERNED AND WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY MEET WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

ABOUT THE PLANNING DOCUMENT THAT WAS DRAWN UP.

SO AT ANY RATE, I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER.

THANK YOU. CAN I RESPOND? JULIE STOKES SERVED WITH ME IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND SHE'S NOT CUT OUT FOR THE LEGISLATURE AT ALL BECAUSE SHE'S FAR TOO REASONABLE.

I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. AND I AM TRYING TO BE REASONABLE WITH THIS, TOO.

I APPRECIATE THAT. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS LARRY STOKES. I LIVE AT 246 GARDEN ROAD WITH JULIE STOKES.

AND I'M HERE NOT. I FILLED OUT A CARD IN MY NAME.

HOWEVER, I'M HERE TO PRESENT INFORMATION FROM DR.

GEORGE KATINAS, WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR WHO WROTE AN EMAIL LETTER TO COUNCILMAN BONANO.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO READ THIS INTO THE RECORD OR IF YOU WANT TO JUST PRESENT THE INFORMATION.

BUT. OKAY. THERE ARE NINE MINUTES LEFT, SO YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.

THERE ARE NINE MINUTES LEFT FOR OPPOSITION, SO FEEL FREE TO DO WHAT YOU'D LIKE. WELL, IT'S NOT THAT LONG. THIS IS AN EMAIL FROM DR.

GEORGE KATINAS. HE SAYS DUE TO MY ALREADY FULL WORK SCHEDULE, PATIENT CARE, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE APRIL MEETING IN PERSON.

THEREFORE, I'M WRITING TO SHARE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ZONING VARIANCE TO BE PRESENTED ON APRIL 30TH REGARDING THE TWO PROPOSED PROPERTIES ON RIPPLE ROAD.

I LIVE AT 250 GARDEN ROAD. MY BACK FENCE SEPARATES MY PROPERTY FROM THE PROPOSED SITE.

AS TURNED BY THE LOT OWNER TO BE BUILT IF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE IS APPROVED.

NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER THAN HAVING A HIGH QUALITY NEW HOME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO RAISE THE VALUE OF MY PROPERTY.

THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE TWO MAJOR CONCERNS THAT I BELIEVE ARE IMPORTANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION BEFORE DECIDING HOW YOU'D VOTE ON THIS THIS VARIANCE.

THE FIRST CONCERN IS ACCESS TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES VIA RIPPLE ROAD, A TINY ROAD WHERE CURRENTLY ONLY ONE HOUSE EXISTS AT THE END OF IT.

WITH THE APPROVAL WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE ZONING VARIANCE REQUESTED, THIS TINY COUNTRY ROAD WILL HAVE AT LEAST TWO AND PROBABLY THREE HOMES.

THAT ROAD CAN BARELY FIT MY BICYCLE. AS SEEN IN THE PHOTO ATTACHED.

AND HE DID ATTACH FOR YOUR REFERENCE A PHOTO OF HIS BICYCLE LAYING ACROSS THE RIPPLE ROAD, WHICH IS 12FT WIDE. IT'S NOT A ROAD. IN THE CASE OF MEDICAL OR FIRE EMERGENCY, WHERE YOU WILL HAVE TWO FIRE TRUCKS, ONE AMBULANCE AND ONE POLICE CAR OR MORE ENTERING RIPPLE ROAD, A SINGLE LANE COUNTRY ROAD.

THERE IS NO WAY ACCESS WILL NOT BE RESTRICTED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY NEEDS WHEN AN EMERGENCY STRIKES.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL POTENTIALLY EXPOSE JEFFERSON PARISH TO LIABILITY IN CASE OF LOSS OF PROPERTY OR LIFE.

[01:00:05]

I'M CONFIDENT BY ADDING TWO AND POSSIBLY THREE HOMES TO RIPPLE ROAD WITHOUT CREATING PROPER JEFFERSON PARISH DRAINAGE.

THIS WILL ONLY WORSEN THE FLOODING ISSUE, NOT ONLY TO MY PROPERTY, BUT TO THE HOUSES ON DIANE AVENUE.

I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AS WELL. THE ZONING BOARD ALREADY REJECTED THE REQUESTED ZONING VARIANCES.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT BY REVIEWING ALL DATA POINTS AVAILABLE, YOU WILL MAKE A WELL-INFORMED DECISION BY REJECTING THE PROPOSED VARIANCE.

YOUR NO VOTE IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT VOTE FOR THE CURRENT RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH AND THEIR PROPERTIES, BUT ALSO TO AVOID EXPOSING JEFFERSON PARISH TO POTENTIAL LIABILITY IN THE CASE OF LOSS OF PROPERTY OR LIFE IN THE EMERGENCY SCENARIOS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

AND IT'S GEORGE CATINA'S, M.D. HE ALSO ATTACHED A PICTURE FOR WHICH IS IN THE EMAIL OF THE DRAINAGE DITCH, WHICH, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS NOT MUCH OF A DITCH TO COVER ALL THAT DRAINAGE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT THREE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCILMAN BONANO. MISS MARTIN, COULD YOU PUT THE DRAWING BACK UP, SHOWING THE FOUR DIFFERENT VARIANCES? SO, TO BE CLEAR, THE OWNER OF LOT 39 G COULD BUILD A HOUSE TODAY WITHOUT HAVING TO OBTAIN ANY VARIANCES FROM THE PARISH.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. THE LOT OF 39. WELL, 39 G AND PROPOSED 30 9G1.

OKAY. RIGHT. SO, THERE ARE THREE HOUSES. THERE'S A HOUSE THAT EXISTS BACK THERE WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THIS WOULD BE TO THE LEFT OF THAT. SO, I MET WITH THE APPLICANTS, HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORS, GOT EMAILS, PHONE CALLS ABOUT THIS.

I EVEN WENT OUT TO THE SITE AND WALKED IT MYSELF AND I GOTTA.

I GOTTA AGREE WITH A LOT OF THESE COMMENTS. AS A FIRST RESPONDER, I GOT HUGE CONCERNS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET ALL THE PROPER EQUIPMENT BACK THERE IN CASE OF A FIRE OR AN EMERGENCY, ESPECIALLY ONE INVOLVING MULTIPLE STRUCTURES.

ALSO, THERE'S NO FIRE HYDRANT THERE, SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO RELAY WATER FROM YOU CAN'T SEE IT ON THIS MAP FROM THE ACTUAL STREET THAT EXISTS TO THE RIGHT OF THIS MAP.

THIS IS ZONED R1-B AND PUTTING THIS MANY HOUSES IN THERE, IT ACTUALLY GOES AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF R1-B ZONING, WHICH IS AND I'M GONNA READ YOU THE ACTUAL WORDS ONE SENTENCE A DISTRICT THAT IS INTENDED FOR SINGLE FAMILY LOW DENSITY HOUSING.

WELL, THIS CERTAINLY ISN'T LOW DENSITY HOUSING.

AND SO, FOR THAT MATTER, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO DENY ANY OBJECTION TO THE DENIAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26513 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. SUMMARY NUMBER 2651 514 RESUB OF LOT C ONE, B FIVE AND C1BA6. SECTION 43 ELMWOOD VILLAGE CENTER SUBDIVISION INTO LOT C ONE, BA61 AND C1, BA62. SECTION 43 S165. DASH 24. COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.

WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26514. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BONANO. THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I'M SURE MR. LAURICELLA IS GOING TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT IT SOON. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A $100 MILLION PROJECT TO BUILD RETAIL AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN THAT SPACE, AND I'M LOOKING MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

SO, FOR THAT REASON, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL. DO YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY THAT FORMER SPACE, SO PEOPLE KNOW WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OLD KMART SITE THAT'S BEEN TORN DOWN.

IT'S BEEN SITTING VACANT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

HE HAD INTENDED TO DO THIS RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING OF 2020.

BUT THE PANDEMIC, AS WE ALL KNOW, ROSE THE COST OF THINGS AND ESPECIALLY ROSE THE CAUSES SIGNIFICANT RISE IN INTEREST RATES.

SO NOW HE'S READY TO MOVE FORWARD. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE FOUR YEARS AGO. THANK YOU.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 2651 FOR A MOTION TO COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM EIGHT SUMMARY NUMBER 26515. RESUB OF LOTS 48, 50, 52 AND 54 FARNUM PLACE SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 408AES-1325 COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE.

WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26515.

ANYONE IN FAVOR? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG TO APPROVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26515A MOTION TO COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. I HAVE A NOTE THAT NUMBER NINE WILL BE DEFERRED TO JUNE 18TH,

[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING - AND LAND USE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ORDINANCES]

[01:05:03]

MOVED TO DEFER ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM NINE TO JUNE 18TH ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE. ITEM NUMBER TEN, PLEASE. SUMMARY NUMBER 26517.

[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - PERMITTED USES]

WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. NOW FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26517. ANYONE IN FAVOR? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN FAVOR? I'M MICHAEL RICKS. I JUST WANTED TO JUST SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IT KIND OF PROGRESSIVELY MOVES TOWARD WHERE WE'RE ALL GOING WITH THE SIGNAGE, TAKING THIS PYLON SIGN DOWN AND BRINGING IT TO THE GROUND FOR A MONUMENT. SO, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY NICE SIGN.

AND IT'LL ALSO TAKE THE LIGHTING OUT AND HAVE SOME DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING FROM THE GROUND.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR.

COUNCILMAN BONANO. MOVE TO APPROVE. ANY OBJECTION? THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26517. ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER 11, PLEASE. SUMMARY NUMBER 26475 APPROVING SP--24 REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE REGULATIONS

[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - VARIANCES]

WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26475.

ANYONE IN FAVOR? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN FAVOR? I WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. THAT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM ME. AND I'M JUST LOOKING AT THAT. AND, YES, YOU SHOULD APPROVE THIS EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT IN DISTRICT FIVE ANYMORE. YEAH. LET'S RISE IN APPROVAL. IT'S BEEN AN EMPTY LOT FOR LONG ENOUGH.

I WALK AROUND THERE. I'D RATHER HAVE SOME DOORS TO KNOCK ON INSTEAD OF AN EMPTY LOT THAT'S JUST GATHERING TRAILERS AND BROKEN DOWN CARS.

SO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR.

COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG. MOVE TO APPROVE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26475A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

NUMBER 12, I HAVE A NOTE. WILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL MAY 21ST.

COUNCILMAN BONANO YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF 12.

MOVE TO DEFER, MISS RENFRO. I'M SORRY, MISS MARTIN.

I'M GOING TO NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND PARKS AND RECREATION TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ALL OF THE LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SOCCER FIELD.

YES, SIR. BEFORE THAT MEETING FOR NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM NUMBER 12 TO MAY 21ST? ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER 13, MADAM CLERK. SUMMARY NUMBER 26519 APPROVING SP DASH FOUR, DASH 25 FOR REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE OFF SITE PARKING REGULATIONS FOR JOEL COMMISSARY KITCHEN, LOCATED AT 3622 AIRLINE DRIVE ON LOT 57 THROUGH 59.

ALSO KNOWN AS LOT 58, A SQUARE FIVE METAIRIE TERRACE SUBDIVISION ON LOT C2, MONTE INDUSTRIAL PARK SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO. WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26519.

THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BONANO? MOVE TO APPROVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26519A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM 14 WILL DEFER TO JUNE 18TH, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF THAT ONE.

TO DEFER ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF 14 TO JUNE 18TH, 2025.

A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM 15, MADAM CLERK, SUMMARY NUMBER 26521 APPROVING SP DASH SEVEN DASH 25 FOR REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CBZ FOR A NEW INDOOR SOCCER FACILITY LOCATED AT 9021 AIRLINE DRIVE ON LOT 4A SQUARE 11 MORNINGSIDE PARK SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR. WE WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

NOW FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26521. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

HI, MY NAME IS COLE. I WORK FOR AQ STUDIOS AT 1100 POYDRAS.

[01:10:03]

THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS AREA.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT IN THIS AREA. WE PROVIDE, I MEAN, QUADRUPLE THE AMOUNT OF LANDSCAPING THAT IS REQUIRED AND, YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THE APPROVAL.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR. COUNCILWOMAN. BOHANNAN. MOVE TO APPROVE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 265211.

A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER 16. WE WILL DEFER TO MAY 21ST. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG YOUR MOTION ON THAT TO DEFER ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 16 TO MAY 21ST.

A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM 617, MADAM CLERK, SUMMARY NUMBER 26523 APPROVING SP-3-25 FOR A REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE AREA REGULATIONS AND LANDSCAPE AND BUFFER REQUIREMENTS OF THE CBZ FOR ZIA'S RESTAURANT, LOCATED AT 4436 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LOT Y1A SECTION A PONTCHARTRAIN GARDENS SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE.

WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26523.

ANYONE IN FAVOR? PLEASE COME FORWARD. HI, MY NAME IS ASHLEY RUE WITH DDG 1 GALLERIA BOULEVARD, SUITE 1506. I'M HERE TO JUST TALK ABOUT ZIA'S TODAY, AND THIS KICKS OFF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MAIN MALL OF CLEARVIEW AND MOVING THAT Z IS OUT IN THE FRONT. WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS VARIANCE TO KEEP AS MUCH PARKING AS POSSIBLE ON THE SITE, BECAUSE ONCE WE DO GET THIS MALL COMPLETELY REDEVELOPED, WE'RE GOING TO BE TIGHT ON PARKING.

AND WE ARE PLACING THE REQUIRED LANDSCAPING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY TO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TREES DUE TO THE EXISTING LIVE OAK TREES THERE.

BUT WE HAVE TRIED TO PLACE THEM ONE ADDITIONAL TREE WE WERE ABLE TO PLACE ON THE SITE IN THE PARKING FIELD TO KIND OF MAKE UP FOR THAT AND OFFSET IT, AND WE ARE INCREASING THE LANDSCAPING ON THE SITE AND OVER THE REQUIREMENT OF 10%.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG? MOVE TO APPROVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY 26523 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM 18 MADAM CLERK, SUMMARY NUMBER 26524 APPROVING SP-14-25 FOR REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE SIGN REGULATIONS OF THE CPZ FOR ROSS DAVIS RETINA LOCATED AT 2221 CLEARVIEW PARKWAY ON LOTS 25 THROUGH 28 SQUARE THREE CLEARVIEW ESTATES, SECTION B SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE.

WE WAIVE THE READING HERE AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 2652. FOR THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ROBERT ROSS AND I LIVE AT NUMBER ONE HOLY LAND DRIVE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME THE COUNCIL IS GIVING US.

TO TALK ABOUT OUR VARIANCE PROPOSAL. DR. DAVIS AND I ARE RETINA SPECIALISTS.

THERE'S ONLY 3000 OF US IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY SERVING A POPULATION OF 300 MILLION.

WE'VE BEEN SERVING EAST JEFFERSON HOSPITAL, THREE EAST JEFFERSON HOSPITAL, THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.

AND WE'VE EXAMINED ONE EYE AT A TIME, OVER 300,000 PATIENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE WERE LEAVING EAST JEFFERSON HOSPITAL, AND WE HAVE ACQUIRED A BUILDING ON 2221 CLEARVIEW PARKWAY.

AND WE ARE HUMBLY ASKED FOR A VARIANCE IN REFERENCE TO OUR SIGNAGE.

THERE ARE NEW TREATMENTS FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION, DIABETIC RETINOPATHY THAT ARE SIGHT RESTORATIVE.

WE OFFER TREATMENTS THAT ONLY A HANDFUL OF CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY CAN OFFER.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE OFFER TREATMENTS THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN OFFER.

AND THE ISSUE IS OUR PATIENTS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PATIENTS ARE LEGALLY BLIND.

2200 VISION. THAT MEANS A NORMAL PERSON COULD SEE SOMETHING 200FT AWAY.

[01:15:05]

SO, WE'RE ASKING FOR AGAIN THIS A VARIANCE THAT WOULD OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE PATIENTS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE AND THAT WE CAN OFFER THEM THESE SIGHT SAVING TREATMENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WE COULD FURTHER MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? POSITION. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR.

COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG. THANK YOU FOR THE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT PEOPLE THAT CAN'T SEE BE ABLE THAT CAN COULD BE ABLE TO SEE.

THANKS TO YOUR WORK, BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR SIGNS. SO, THERE'S A MICROPHONE TO APPROVE.

MOVE THAT MICROPHONE BY YOU IN FRONT OF YOU. ANY OBJECTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26524.

BETTER ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM 19 SUMMARY NUMBER 26525.

[OTHER ORDINANCES]

WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26525.

ANYONE IN FAVOR? PLEASE COME FORWARD. SO MUCH MOVEMENT.

ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? IS ALWAYS GOING TO RISE IN OPPOSITION FOR CONFUSION, MULTITUDES AND ACCUMULATION OF STATUTES.

WE GOT ENOUGH ORDINANCES. WE GOT ENOUGH. ALL THIS STUFF. I'D TAKE IT ALL AND DO AWAY WITH THE WHOLE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

AND NO OFFENSE TO THE PEOPLE TRYING TO DO THAT WORK. NO OFFENSE TO THE GOOD DEEDS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH ONE AMENDMENT TO AN ORDINANCE AFTER THE NEXT.

I JUST DON'T FIND ANY OF IT WORTH DOING. WHEN I GOT ILL GOTTEN GAINS PROVIDING FOR A FIVE PLUS TWO COURT.

ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK NOTE THE ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCILWOMAN. VAN VRANCKEN. SORRY. MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26525.

A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM 20, SUMMARY NUMBER 26526. AMENDING SECTION 23-17 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

RELATIVE. RELATIVE TO PROHIBITED ACTIVITY AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS.

PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26526.

THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? HEY, GUYS. CAN ALWAYS RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE CONFUSION OF MULTITUDES.

AGAIN, ONE PERSON'S PROHIBITED ACTIVITY, ANOTHER PERSON'S LIBERTY.

I SWORE TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE SECUREMENT OF LIBERTY.

TO NOT YOU OR ME, BUT TO OURSELVES AND TO OUR POSTERITY.

UNTIL I HAVE AN [INAUDIBLE] REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT, I GOT TO RISE IN OPPOSITION. ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN MOVE FOR APPROVAL. ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26526A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

I HAVE A NOTE THAT NUMBER 21 WILL BE DEFERRED TO MAY 21ST.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION TO DEFER ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM NUMBER 21 TO 521.

A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

LET'S GO TO NUMBER 22, THE OPERATING BUDGET WITH AMENDMENTS.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26528. AMENDING THE 2020 OPERATING BUDGET.

AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE. ALLOCATE $9,750 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO'S WEST BANK TOURISM FUND TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 22030276212776410220372000 FOR CEA, WITH JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU INCORPORATED FOR THE PRODUCTION AND PROMOTION OF THE ELITE FISHING SERIES.

2025 REDFISH RELEASE AN OPEN SOLO TOUR FISHING TOURNAMENT IN JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO ALLOCATE $20,000 FROM COUNCIL AT LARGE FEES PROJECT NUMBER 585140552.

ACCOUNT NUMBER 1001000667540 FOR ADVERTISING FOR PERSONNEL COUNCIL AT LARGE FEE.

AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE. ANY OBJECTION? AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR. HEARING NONE.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS. MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS? MOTION TO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR

[01:20:06]

ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? THANK YOU, GUYS. TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY.

AWAY WE GO. ANYTHING RELATED TO THE AT LARGE POSITIONS? YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO OPPOSE. I QUALIFIED AS A CANDIDATE TO END THESE POSITIONS BECAUSE THEY OUGHT TO BE RECUSING THEMSELVES ANYWAY.

WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE GOVERNMENT. I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU MENTIONED COUNCIL AT LARGE SPEAK TO THE AMENDMENT ABOUT THAT, AND THE REST OF IT IS STILL ILL GOTTEN GAINS, RIGHT? I DON'T OPPOSE THE GOOD DEED.

NEVER. I DON'T OPPOSE THE PEOPLE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOOD DEED.

I, I OPPOSE HOW WE COME TO GET SPECIFIC THE MONEY REQUIRED FROM THE TOURISM FUND.

SO, THE TOURISM FUND. I HAVE GREAT QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT MONEY IS ACQUIRED.

AND THAT'S WHY I RISE TO OPPOSE BECAUSE TAXATION, DIRECT TAXATION HAS TO BE APPORTIONED.

IT ISN'T. ONE MUNICIPALITY PAYS 25% LESS THAN EVERYBODY ELSE FOR THIS STUFF.

SO FIGURE THIS OUT. AND I QUIT SHOWING UP HERE.

I'M JUST A PIANO DUDE. I'M TIRED. THANK YOU FOR DEFERRING 21, BY THE WAY.

I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO GET UP FOR THAT. ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOT THE ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILWOMAN. VAN VRANCKEN. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. ANY OBJECTION? APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26528.

ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER 23 WITH AMENDMENTS. THE CAPITAL BUDGET SUMMARY NUMBER 26529, AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE. RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $20,000 FROM COUNCIL AT LARGE BEES PROJECT NUMBER 58514055 TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 1001000667540. FOR ADVERTISING FOR PERSONNEL COUNCIL AT LARGE.

B ALLOCATE $20,000 FROM COUNCIL AT LARGE B CITY GENERAL FUND TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 5301 0390 7126 7331 FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE ALAMEDA CONTRACT COUNCIL AT LARGE.

B AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS. I HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR HEARING NONE.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS, MOVE ON THE AMENDMENTS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS? MOTION TO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

PUBLIC HEARINGS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26529.

ANYONE IN FAVOR? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? THANK YOU. JUST OPPOSING YOU KNOW, BASICALLY APPROPRIATIONS, SPENDING THE MONEY IN A WAY THAT NOBODY CAN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE NOBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW YOU EVEN TAKEN ANY OF THIS. AND WHEN I HEAR ABOUT ALL THAT AND THIS IS GOING TO FOR STAFFING, MY GOD, I'VE GOT TO SPEND MY TAX DOLLARS TO STAFF AN AT LARGE POSITIONS, WORKERS THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST.

IT'S NOT FOR THE I OPPOSE ON THE GROUNDS OF BEING A JEFFERSONIAN THAT THAT DEMANDS A FRUGAL AND SIMPLE GOVERNMENT.

I CANNOT APPROVE WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND THIS IS JUST SILLY.

IT IS FOR THE PERSONNEL BOARD, NOT FOR THE AT LARGE OFFICE TO ADVERTISE FOR POSITIONS OF WHICH WE HAVE A LOT OF IN THIS PARISH.

ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN MOVED FOR APPROVAL.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26529 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

YES, MA'AM. ITEM 22. WE HAVE TO ADD AN AMENDMENT TO THAT ONE.

WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO 22 FOR AN AMENDMENT. ALL RIGHT.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26528, AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET.

WE NEED TO ADD THE AMENDMENT TO ALLOCATE $20,000 FROM COUNCIL AT LARGE, BE A GENERAL FUND TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 5301 0390 7126 7331 FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE ALAMEDA CONTRACT COUNCIL AT LARGE B. I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THAT AMENDMENT. MOVE FOR APPROVAL ON THE AMENDMENT. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT AMENDMENT? MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR THAT AMENDMENT. ANYONE IN FAVOR? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? THE ONLY ONE WILLING TO SHOW UP HERE AND DO ANY OF THIS, FRANKIE HYERS. IT OUGHT TO BE AN INDICATOR. MUTE MY MIC.

I CAN SPEND 15 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THIS. RIGHT? 15 MORE MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS LOOK IT UP. I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY.

I'M NOT YOUR OPPONENT. FIGURE THIS STUFF OUT.

PLEASE. PLEASE. ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE ON THAT AMENDMENT.

[01:25:03]

ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT? MOTION TO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. NOW LET'S GO TO NUMBER 20.

WHERE DID WE LEAVE? 24. 24, PLEASE. RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.

[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]

. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG? ONE. A RESOLUTION GRANTING BRIGGS BROTHERS ENTERPRISES AT 3220 34TH STREET IN METAIRIE TO PERMISSION TO CONDUCT AN OUTDOOR COMEDY AND CAJUN MUSIC EVENT ON SATURDAY, MAY 17TH, 2025, FROM 4 P.M.

UNTIL 8 P.M. ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. WHERE DID YOU START, MADAM CLERK? I WAS ASKING COUNCILMAN BONANO SOMETHING. WHO'D YOU START WITH? WHO WE ON? WE JUST HAVE TO KNOW WHO'S THE FIRST PERSON I COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.

I'M SORRY. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE. I'M SORRY. NOT OVER.

I GOT DISTRACTED FOR A MOMENT. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION FROM COUNCILMAN. LILJEBERG. ANYONE IN FAVOR? OPPOSITION. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

OH, PLEASE GIVE ME A LAUGH. GIVE ME SOMETHING TO LAUGH AT.

I HAVE A QUESTION. ARE YOU GOING TO BE SPEAKING AT THIS COMEDY EVENT? NO, I'LL DO THAT TONIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK.

NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG YOUR MOTION.

MOVE TO APPROVE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

THAT TAKES US TO CONSENT AGENDA. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN MORENO.

OH, YEAH, I THINK I HAVE ONE, RIGHT? NO, I DON'T.

IT'S NOT HERE. I KNOW I HAVE SOMETHING I'M DOING LATER.

YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. BUT YOU GOT TO NOD YOUR HEAD LIKE THIS WHEN I HAVE A YES AND NO.

THANK YOU. I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLL. ALL RIGHT.

NOW, TO CONSENT AGENDA ONE COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE ADOPTION OF ITEMS 25 THROUGH 53 -43,

[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]

ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER 54, PLEASE.

[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]

COUNCILMAN BONANO. JUST TO EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE OPPOSING THIS MATTER.

THIS LEGISLATION WOULD TAKE AWAY LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY AND PUT IT UNDER A STATEWIDE BODY OUT OF BATON ROUGE.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, WE RECENTLY PASSED OUR NEW HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE PLAN.

WELL, IF THIS PASSES, WE CAN'T PASS THAT. WE'D HAVE TO GO TO BATON ROUGE AND GET PERMISSION FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS OUR HOMELESS NEEDS.

SO, FOR THAT REASON, WE NEED TO OPPOSE THIS BILL.

AND YOU'RE MOVING TO APPROVE? TO APPROVE? YES.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION TO COUNCILWOMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM 55, PLEASE. A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AN INDIVIDUAL TO SERVE AS THE VOTING MEMBER.

REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON ON THE LOCAL INDUSTRIAL AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR SELECTION TO MOVE ON THE PARISH PRESIDENT.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF THE PARISH PRESIDENT? ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

CONGRATULATIONS. SAY THANK YOU. SURPRISE! THAT WAS A SURPRISE.

YOU JOINED SHERIFF JOE LOPINTO REPRESENTING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. CHAD NUGENT REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL BOARD. AND NOW HERE.

AND I'LL TAKE THE HEAT ON THAT ONE, BECAUSE I FORGOT TO TELL YOU THIS MORNING, BUT I TEXTED YOU ABOUT AN HOUR.

I TEXTED YOU ABOUT AN HOUR AGO AND GAVE YOU A HEADS UP.

SO, I'M SORRY IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT. IT'S MERELY A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN YOU, MR. CHANG. THAT'S ALL. I'LL REMIND YOU OF THAT.

THERE WERE A FEW OTHER THINGS GOING ON, SO IT SLIPPED MY MIND. I APOLOGIZE. WE TRUST YOU WITH THE PARISHES.

GOOD. THERE'LL BE CAKE AND ICE CREAM LATER. I'LL DO IT.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION NOW ON THE ADOPTION OF ITEMS 56 THROUGH 101, MINUS 59,

[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]

[01:30:05]

YEAH. THERE'S ANOTHER 100. ONE NEEDS TO BE AMENDED.

ENDED. I DIDN'T SAY ONE ON ONE. OH. I'M SORRY.

LET ME REREAD IT. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE GLOBAL ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 56 THROUGH 101, WHICH WILL BE AMENDED MINUS ITEM 59, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED.

ITEM 61, FROM WHICH YOU WILL ABSTAIN. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.

PULLING 99 AND PULLING 90. YES, I HAD THAT. I KNOW, I FEEL LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAD IT.

IT'S ON A SEPARATE PAGE AND I DIDN'T GET. I'M SORRY.

SO YES, I NEED TO PULL THAT UP. I HAD IT ON MY NEXT PAGE OF NOTES.

SO LET ME READ THAT ONE MORE TIME. COUNCILWOMAN.

THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS TO NOTE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE GLOBAL ADOPTION OF CONSENT AND CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 56 THROUGH 101 WILL BE AMENDED -59, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED, 61 FROM WHICH YOU WILL ABSTAIN, 99 WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS, AND 101 WHICH WILL BE AMENDED.

MOVE. ALL RIGHT. ANY OBJECTION TO THE GLOBAL ADOPTION OF ITEMS 56 THROUGH 101, MINUS 59, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED.

61 WHICH YOU'LL ABSTAIN FROM, 101 WHICH WILL BE AMENDED, AND 99 WHICH WILL PULL FOR DISCUSSION.

ANY OBJECTION TO ALL THAT? HEARING NONE. WE'LL MOVE TO 61. A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY,

[AUTHORIZE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN CONSULTANT AGREEMENTS]

COUNCILMAN BONANO YOUR MOTION. MOVE TO APPROVE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BONANO SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER, WITH COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ABSTAINING. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

THAT TAKES US TO 10 -- THAT TAKES US TO 99 NINE ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA.

[OTHER RESOLUTIONS (Part 1 of 2)]

COUNCILMAN MORENO, I MOVE TO APPROVE. EXCUSE ME.

YEAH, WE NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND. NO, I'M NOT WELL.

AND WE CAN SAY WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND THEN WE CAN GO TO THE DISCUSSION.

YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS.

TRUST ME. WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS ITEM ON THE IS THIS IS WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO, AS WE ARE, AS WE'RE AWARE, WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE SAME KINGFISH RIVERVIEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WE HAVE AND WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROJECT.

AGAIN, THIS IS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT ON THE WEST BANK THAT WE HAVE ALSO, WHICH ALSO IS A STATE CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECT.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE PARISH BUILDING AND OWNING THIS COMMERCIAL LEASABLE SPACE, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE LEASES RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE PARISH IS BUILDING THIS COMMERCIAL LEASABLE SPACE, IT'S ALSO PART OF THE 18 TO $20 MILLION GARAGE THAT THE STATE THROUGH CAPITAL OUTLAY IS GOING TO BE FUNDING. THIS IS OUR LOCAL MATCH.

ALL RIGHT. SO WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROJECT IS WE HAD A WE HAD SIGNED LEASES WITH THE TENANTS THAT WERE COMING INTO THE COMMERCIAL LEASABLE SPACE THAT WE PARTNERED WITH WHICH IS PORT ORLEANS, AND WE SIGNED LEASES AND THEY HAD AN END DATE. PART OF ONE OF THE TERMS OF THE LEASE IS SAID THAT THE END DATE, THAT WE HAVE A COMPLETION DATE OF OCTOBER OF 2025.

SO THE LEASES ARE CONTINGENT UPON THAT HAPPENING? WELL, THAT'S NOT THE TIMELINE. WHEN WE SIGNED OUR CONSTRUCTION LEASES THAT THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE READY.

IT'S GOING TO BE READY IN 2026, NOT 2025 AND OCTOBER.

SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SIGNED A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WHICH IS UNDERWAY, AND THEY ARE BUILDING THIS COMMERCIAL LEASABLE SPACE TO THESE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, WE NOW HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE LEASE TO CHANGE A TERM. AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF FIGHTING AND A LOT OF CRITICISM OF THIS LEASE.

AND SO WHAT I DID, WHEN I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHANGE A TERM IN THE LEASE, IF WE ALREADY HAVE TO AMEND THE LEASES.

[01:35:06]

THAT'S THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD THE MOST ABOUT IS THIS LEASE.

SO MANY WEEKS AGO, I SAT DOWN WITH THEM AND SAID, LET'S JUST WE'RE GOING TO AMEND THESE LEASES I NEED.

PLEASE SHARE WITH ME YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEASES.

SO, KIM CHATELAIN, JENNIFER VAN VRANCKEN AND I SAT IN MY COUNCIL OFFICE FOR THREE HOURS ON A FRIDAY, AND I MADE ALL MY NOTES ABOUT IT, AND I AND I SAID, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE PARTIES ON THE LEASE.

AND WE ARE GOING AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS.

I WANT TO GIVE THEM DIRECTLY TO THEM. I WANT THEM TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

BECAUSE HONESTLY, TO THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE AND I STILL DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WERE THE OBJECTIONS.

I JUST KNEW THAT THERE WERE OBJECTIONS. SO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THE OBJECTIONS, AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE AMENDING THE LEASE. WE HAVE THIS MEETING AND THEN THE NEXT STEP, WHICH I SAID WE WERE GOING AND.

OKAY. AND AT THAT MEETING AS WELL, AFTER I GOT THE LIST OF OBJECTIONS AND CONCERNS COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN TOLD ME THAT SHE WANTED TO, THAT WE SHOULD SHE SUGGESTED THAT WE HIRE A EXPERT ON LEASES TO LOOK AT THESE LEASES.

OKAY, SO THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THE MEETING.

AND WHAT I DID IS I TOLD, AS I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO DO, I SAID, I'M GOING TO GO SIT DOWN WITH PORT ORLEANS AND JFI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS. AND WE ARE GOING TO I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM THE CONCERN SO THAT THEY CAN WORK ON THIS.

OKAY, SO WHAT WE DID WITH SO WHAT I DID IS JFI HAD A DIFFERENT ATTORNEY THAT REPRESENTED THEM ON THE INITIAL LEASES.

OKAY. AND I WILL TELL YOU INSPECTOR CHATELAIN, LIKE I TOLD YOU I WOULD, YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT.

OKAY. YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT.

AND ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR THE PARISH IS SOMETHING THAT IS A LEGITIMATE INTEREST.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE, BUT IT'S LEGITIMATE POINTS AND I'LL GIVE YOU THAT.

SO, JFI WENT OUT AND HIRED MIKE SHERMAN, WHO HAS DONE PROBABLY IN EXCESS OF A THOUSAND COMMERCIAL LEASES TO REPRESENT JFI ON THE NEGOTIATIONS OR THE BRINGING OF THE CONCERNS AND SO THAT'S THE PERSON THAT'S NOW GOING. AND HE'S HERE TODAY AS WELL.

THAT'S WHO JFI HAS NOW. AND JEFFY IS THE JUST TO BE CLEAR, JEFFERSON FACILITIES INC.

IS THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT CORPORATION OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

IT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THEY ARE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC CORPORATION.

SO WE SAT DOWN, WE WENT THROUGH THEM AND WE MADE.

AND THEN THERE WERE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN BOTH SIDES.

AND LET ME TELL YOU AGAIN, PORT ORLEANS STEPPED UP AGAIN.

PORT ORLEANS STEPPED UP AGAIN TO BE A GOOD PARTNER.

AND WE SAID, WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED. WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES, AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE THESE CHANGES.

AND THEY SAT DOWN WITH US, AND THEY MADE SOME CONCESSIONS, AND WE'VE MADE, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE AND HOW WE ADDRESSED THEM.

AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME WAS THAT THERE WAS NO AUDIT PROVISION IN THIS LEASE.

OKAY. THE CONCERN WAS PRESENTED THAT, WELL, IF THEY'RE ONLY PAYING A PERCENTAGE OF RENT, WE DON'T HAVE THE HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE PERCENTAGE IS ACCURATE.

SO DURING THE COURSE OF THESE MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS LATER WE WERE TOLD THAT THEIR POLICY IS THEY HAVE AN OPEN BOOK POLICY. THAT WAS WHAT WAS INTENDED.

IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO SAY THAT YOU COULD INSPECT THEIR BOOKS.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING IN THE AMENDED LEASE, WE ADDED AN AUDIT PROVISION.

OKAY. THERE WAS ANOTHER CONCERN TO PROTECT THE PARISH'S INTEREST.

IT WAS ALSO ALONG THE SAME LINES OF THE PERCENTAGE LEASE.

THEY SAID IF YOU DO NOT OPERATE, IF THEY DO NOT OPERATE, WE WILL GET EITHER 3 OR 6% OF ZERO.

AND THEY COULD SIT ON THE PROPERTY, AND THEY COULD SIT IN ON IT AND WE WOULD BE SHUT OUT OF ANY LEASE MONEY.

[01:40:02]

YOU HAVE TO REMAIN OPEN. SO, IN THIS AMENDED LEASE THAT IS AN AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT.

THERE IS A NEW DARK PROVISION THAT SAYS THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT IF THEY OPERATE FROM OR IF THEY DO NOT OPERATE FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, WE CAN CONSIDER THAT A BREACH AND WE CAN CONSIDER THAT A REASON TO EXIT THE LEASE.

AND WE PUT AND WE PUT EXCEPTIONS, OBVIOUSLY, IN ABOUT IF IT'S A NATURAL DISASTER OR IF THE LANDLORD AGREES TO ALLOW YOU TO CLOSE TO DO RENOVATIONS, THAT'S NOT A DARK THAT'S NOT GOING TO VIOLATE THE NO DARK PROVISION.

THEN THERE WAS AND ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, WE WERE ALSO A CONCERN WAS, WHICH IS, I THINK, RELATED TO THE NO DARK PROVISION. WHAT IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING? THERE'S NO MINIMUM RENT WITH ANOTHER CONCERN.

SO IN THE AMENDED LEASE, WE HAVE A MINIMUM ANNUAL RENT THAT IS GENERATED TO START IN YEAR FOUR THROUGH TEN.

AND THAT IS INCLUDED IN THERE. AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM SITTING IN THE ROOMS AND LISTENING TO THESE CONVERSATIONS, PORT ORLEANS SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT OBJECT TO US PUTTING A MINIMUM ANNUAL RENT IN.

AND THEY ARE ALSO POINTING OUT THAT WE ARE NOT PUTTING A MAXIMUM.

WE'RE NOT PUTTING A CAP. OKAY. THEY'LL AGREE TO A MINIMUM, BUT WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM A CAP.

SO, AT OUR 6% OR WHATEVER OUR PERCENTAGE OF RENT IS, IF THEIR REVENUES CONTINUE TO GO UP, UP, UP, WE WILL SHARE IN THE BENEFIT OF THE RENT WILL BE HIGHER AND HIGHER THAN ANYONE MIGHT HAVE EVEN EXPECTED.

WE DID NOT GIVE THEM A CAP AND WE GAVE THEM A MINIMUM.

OKAY. AND ALSO WHAT WE. AND SO THAT'S IN THE AMENDED LEASE.

AND ALSO IN THE AMENDED LEASE, THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO ME THAT SAID THE GROSS REVENUE SECTION IS CONFUSING.

IT'S NOT WORDED CORRECTLY. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO CALCULATE IT.

AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF THINGS IN THERE THAT MAYBE DON'T BELONG IN THERE THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED.

THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT SAID THERE WERE DIFFERENT DISCOUNTS AND THINGS.

AND ONE LINE THE WORD SAID SALES. AND BOTH INSPECTOR CHAD LANE AND I BOTH AGREED.

THAT'S PROBABLY A TYPO. THEY DID NOT MEAN TO EXCLUDE SALES FROM GROSS REVENUE CALCULATIONS.

IT ACTUALLY WAS. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SALES TAX.

BUT THAT WAS A CONCERN ON THIS GROSS REVENUE.

AND THERE WAS ANOTHER THING THAT WAS IN THE LEASE THAT WAS NOT BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, BUT IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY THE ATTORNEY THAT JFI HIRED, WHICH WAS, THERE WAS A THING IN THAT LEASE THAT SAYS CAP COST THERE'S A CAP COST REDUCTION PRO RATA ACROSS THE COURSE OF THE LEASE.

SO, WHAT THAT SAID WAS, IS THAT WE HAD THIS WAS NEGOTIATED INTO THE LEASE THAT PORT ORLEANS COULD TAKE WHATEVER CAPITAL INVESTMENT THEY MAKE AND DIVIDE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LEASE AND DEDUCT THAT FROM THE GROSS RENT.

IT'S A IT'S A RENT OFFSET. IT WAS GOING TO BE IT COULD BE IF YOU INVESTED $2 MILLION, THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO APPROXIMATELY 17,000 A MONTH RENT OFFSET. THAT COMES OFF THE TOP BEFORE WE CALCULATE.

THAT WAS POINTED OUT TO US THROUGH MIKE SHERMAN TO SAY THAT THAT SHOULDN'T BE DEDUCTED FROM GROSS, THAT THAT'S AN EXPENSE FOR THIS WE SHOULD ASK THEM TO TAKE THAT BACK.

AND THEY DID. THEY DID. WE ALSO PUT IN THERE TO MAKE SURE IN THE AMENDED LEASE THAT THIS BUSINESS SUGGESTED THAT TO TO THE TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE THAT THEY OPERATE 3000 HOURS A YEAR.

OKAY. THAT'S EIGHT HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

OKAY. SO, WE PUT A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO OPERATE, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PAY US MINIMUMS, THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A MAXIMUM. AND THAT SAFEGUARDS THAT WERE ADDED TO THIS AGREEMENT THAT WE DID.

PERMITTED USE WAS ANOTHER THING THAT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME.

THEY SAID IN THE PERMITTED USES SECTION, IT SAID THAT IT'S THAT THE BREWPUB LEASE COULD BE USED AS A BREWPUB AND A MICROBREWERY.

AND BUT THEN AT THE END IT SAID OR ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER PURPOSE.

SO DID THE RESTAURANT LEASE. IT SAID ANY OTHER PURPOSE AT THE END.

AND THAT WAS NOT THAT WAS POINTED OUT AS SOMETHING THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT YOU COULD SIGN A LEASE TO BE A BREWPUB BUT DO SOMETHING ELSE.

SO, IN THE AMENDED LEASE, THE BREWPUB IS GOING TO BE A BREWPUB.

THE RESTAURANT IS GOING TO BE A RESTAURANT. AND THAT'S, THAT'S THERE.

[01:45:01]

SO, ONE, THERE'S ALREADY THE RIGHT IN. RIGHT NEXT TO THE RESTAURANT IS THE LINEAR PARK WHICH THE PARISH IS PROVIDING, AS IS 100% PUBLIC BENEFIT PUBLIC USE.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TWO LEASES. NOW, THERE'S A SECTION IN THE LEASE IN THE AMENDED LEASE ON PUBLIC USE.

AND WHEN WE BROUGHT THAT, WHEN THAT WAS PRESENTED TO PORT ORLEANS, PORT ORLEANS SAYS WE'RE DOING THAT ANYWAY.

WHEN IN ALL OF THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE RESTAURANT, THERE IS A SPACE WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE A CONFERENCE ROOM THAT IS DESIGNED FOR THAT PURPOSE FOR NONPROFITS PARISH, YOU CAN USE THAT FACILITY THAT IS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE AGREEMENT.

BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WAS NOT IN WRITING.

SO WE PUT IT IN WRITING AND IT'S IN BOTH LEASES.

SO THOSE ARE THE THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST POINTS IN THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE WENT THROUGH.

AND AGAIN, WE ARE AT THIS POINT VERY HAPPY AND PROUD THAT PORT ORLEANS IS STILL IN THIS PROCESS WITH US.

THAT AND WE DID NOT SUBSTANTIALLY ALTER ANY OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

THAT IS ALREADY THAT WAS ALREADY SIGNED PREVIOUSLY.

SO, IF ANYONE HAS A QUESTION OR AT SOME POINT YOU KNOW, WE ALSO I ALSO ASKED MIKE SHERMAN TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR, YOU KNOW, I'LL ASK HIM QUESTIONS AS WELL, BECAUSE WHERE I THINK WE ARE DROPPING THE BALL IN THIS DISCUSSION IS WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS LIKE IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

WE'RE NOT WE ARE HYPER FOCUSED ON SOME LANGUAGE IN TERMS IN A LEASE THAT IS PART OF A VERY BIG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

AND THIS IS THE ANCHOR TENANT THAT WE HAVE ASKED TO COME IN AND GO INTO AN ENVIRONMENT THAT DOES NOT HAVE A MARKET.

THERE IS NO WHEN WHEN YOU HAVE A MARKET RATE THAT'S BASED UPON A COMPARABLE OR SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT AND SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING ON THE WEST BANK, THERE IS NOTHING COMPARABLE ON THE WEST BANK TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS THAT IS EQUALLY IN THE SAME.

AND ANOTHER DIFFERENCE THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT, THAT WE KEEP LOSING IS THAT THE PARISH IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF JUST BEING OUT TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE OWN.

OKAY. DON'T FORGET THAT WE OWN IT. OKAY. DON'T FORGET THAT THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON TOOK THE ARPA MONEY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT WHETHER IT WENT TO PAYROLL FIRST.

BUT THE DISTRICT ONE ECONOMIC STIMULUS MONEY WENT TO AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE ON THE WEST BANK IN THE DISTRICT. AND THAT MONEY IS GOING TO GENERATE A HUGE RETURN TO US.

AND THE PARISH DOESN'T WANT TO JUST MATCH. THE PARISH'S GOAL IS NOT JUST MAXIMIZING HOW MUCH DOLLARS CAN WE GET? OKAY, THE PARISH HAS A CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL, AND WE ARE TURNING SOMETHING INTO A DESTINATION AND SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO BRING. MORE BUSINESSES AROUND IT ARE GOING TO COME.

MORE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF IT, AND IT'S A WALKABLE SPACE, AND IT'S EVEN INSIDE OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE AREA.

IT SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT THESE WALKABLE MIXED USE CORRIDORS, AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS YOUNG FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE INTO OUR WEST BANK COMMUNITY. SO, THIS LEASE NOW HAS BEEN AMENDED, AND WE'VE ADDED A LOT MORE THINGS TO IT, AND WE ARE READY TO KEEP GOING FORWARD. AND I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO HEAR FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL JUST LIKE I DID BEFORE.

BUT, OH WAIT, I'LL SAVE MY REST OF MY COMMENTS FOR LATER.

SO THAT IS WHY I AM BRINGING BEFORE THIS COUNCIL.

AND AM I TRYING TO RUSH THIS THROUGH REAL QUICK, RAM THIS THROUGH REAL QUICK? NO. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.

OKAY, THIS PROJECT IS WELL INTO MOTION GOING INTO ITS FOURTH YEAR OF FUNDING IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE INTEREST OF JEFFERSON PARISH ARE FULLY PROTECTED WITHIN THIS LEASE.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY STRONG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

AND THE PARISH IS GOING TO BE THIS IS A WEST BANK PROJECT.

AND AGAIN, IT'S IN THE CITY OF GRETNA. AND LISTEN, I'M NEVER GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR IT BEING IN THE CITY OF GRETNA OR THAT SAYING THAT IT'S

[01:50:06]

OKAY. AND IT'S THE WEST BANK. SO THAT'S WHY I KEEP FIGHTING AND ARGUING AS MUCH AS I'M DOING AND WORKING OVERTIME TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN DERIVE THE BENEFIT OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL PROJECT.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO IN A MOMENT, WE'LL BRING UP THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ANY QUESTIONS FROM MIKE SHERMAN.

FIRST, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU, COUNCILMAN MORENO.

ACTUALLY, COMMENT. I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMAN MORENO AND I'M GOING TO DEFER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, BUT I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMAN MORENO FIRST FOR MEETING WITH US FOR A PERIOD OF THREE HOURS.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A PAST YEAR WHERE I HAVE TO SAY, I FEEL A LITTLE BEAT UP OVER THE FACT THAT THESE LEASES WERE APPROVED IN 2023 OVER QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME. AND SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ASK QUESTIONS AND RAISE QUESTIONS. SO LET ME JUST SAY I APPRECIATE FINALLY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND TO HAVE YOU LISTEN.

THAT SAID, I THINK THE CORRECTIONS THAT YOU JUST PUT ON THE RECORD GIVE CREDENCE TO THE FACT THAT THE ORIGINAL LEASES HAD THOSE DEFICIENCIES. THINGS LIKE WE GET 3% OF NO SALES, WHICH MEANS 3% OF ZERO.

THERE WERE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE LEASES.

AND SO IT HAS BEEN A ROUGH YEAR, AND I APPRECIATE YOU SITTING DOWN IN THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION.

I WILL SAY ONE THING JUST OFF THE TAIL END OF YOUR COMMENTS, AND THEN I'LL ALLOW THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO SPEAK AND RESERVE OTHER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. CERTAINLY.

I HAVE SOME FOR ATTORNEY MIKE SHERMAN. ONE OF THE VERY LAST THINGS YOU JUST SAID IS THAT DO NOT FORGET THAT WE OWN IT. DO NOT FORGET THAT WE, THE PARISH, OWN IT.

WHILE I APPRECIATE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, IF YOU GO TO THE VERY FIRST LINE, THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE OF THIS NEW PROPOSED LEASE, IT SAYS WHEREAS LESSOR IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, THE LESSOR IS JFI.

SO, IN TELLING ME, PLEASE DO NOT FORGET JEFFERSON PARISH OWNS THIS BUILDING.

I GO TO A PROPOSED LEASE WHERE LINE ONE FIRST SENTENCE LESSOR IS THE OWNER.

THAT'S NOT FACTUALLY CORRECT. SO, IF I HAVE QUESTIONS TODAY, I DO NOT WANT THEM TO BE TAKEN IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING ANTI-PROGRESS, ANTI-GRETNA, ANTI-ANYTHING. I HAVE A JOB TO DO.

THIS PROPOSED LEASE IS BEFORE US TODAY AND SO WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO VET IT.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THE FUNDING USED IS BEING USED APPROPRIATELY BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR MONEY, IT'S THE PUBLIC'S MONEY. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AT THE TERMS IN HERE AND ALSO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FAIR AND THEY'RE STANDARD WITH THE MARKET, BECAUSE IF WE, THE PARISH, ARE GIVING A SWEETHEART DEAL, IT'S NOT PRIVATE MONEY.

IT'S A PUBLIC PROHIBITED DONATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S SO ONE SIDED THAT WE'RE GIVING OUR PUBLIC TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO THE BENEFIT OF A PRIVATE COMPANY.

SO WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT STANDARDS. SO I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION.

AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS REQUESTED A DEFERRAL OF THIS ITEM AND WE'VE GOT ISSUES IN LINE ONE, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST OF EACH MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL A CONTINUED SPIRIT OF COOPERATION SO THAT WE GET THE BEST LEASE FOR THIS PROPERTY, THE BEST LEASE FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL HERE FOR. I'LL YIELD TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

MISS CHATELAINE. WELL, AS SHE'S COMING UP, I WILL RESPOND.

I APPRECIATE SITTING DOWN WITH YOU AND SPEAKING WITH YOU AS WELL.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALSO TELLING ME DURING THE MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THAT THAT THERE'S AN ERROR ON THE WHEREAS.

BUT I'LL ALSO POINT OUT TO YOU THAT THE WHEREAS SECTION IS NOT A BINDING PART OF THIS AGREEMENT, THESE ARE THE WHEREAS SECTION, THIS IS THE PREAMBLE.

SO, DOES THAT MAKE ANY PARTICULAR PIECE OF THIS NOT VALID AND NOT A GOOD LEASE? IT DOES NOT. OKAY. LET'S RESERVE THE REST FOR A FEW MINUTES, MISS CHATELAINE.

[01:55:01]

I HAD ENOUGH INFORMATION TO KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT HAS A LOT OF PUZZLE PIECES, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE ASPECT OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE STATE.

AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC LETTER WAS TO CAUSE PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER LEFT HAND, RIGHT HAND, LEFT FOOT, RIGHT FOOT, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE PIECES COME TOGETHER SO THAT ALL RISKS ARE CONSIDERED IN ALL OBLIGATIONS ARE APPROPRIATELY FRAMED. FRAMED.

THAT WAS IT. THAT WAS THE GOAL. AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE RELEASE HAPPENED AFTER THE RELEASE? OKAY, FINE. CONCERNS WERE RAISED AT THAT TIME IN THAT LETTER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE HAD ASSURANCE THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE EXPOSURE TO ADDITIONAL MONIES, THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A HANDLE ON THE HARD COSTS THAT WE HAD THAT WERE KNOWN, AND THE HARD COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR OBLIGATIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING TO THIS TO BE TENANT, BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO PART OF THIS LEASE. AT YOUR MARCH 19TH MEETING.

REALLY HAVE COME TO RESPECT COUNCILMAN MORENO.

BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, LIKE HE GAVE ME A GOOD MEETING.

AT THAT MEETING OVER CAPITAL PROJECTS. BUT AT THAT MEETING, I WAS FULLY TRANSPARENT AND SAID, WE HAVE THREE THINGS THAT WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN, TWO AUDITS AND AN EVALUATION OF THE LEASE TRANSACTION.

THAT WAS THE NEXT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT WE DEVOTED OUR RESOURCES TO.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF RELEASING THAT PUBLIC LETTER, THAT WAS THE FIRST ISSUE.

IT'S NOT THE LAST ISSUE; IT WAS THE NEXT ISSUE.

AND BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT IN MY OWN EXPERTISE, ALTHOUGH I THINK I FAIRLY DID A DECENT JOB IN MY MEETING WITH COUNCILMAN MORENO, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE RETAINED AN EXPERT TO PUT CRITICAL EYES AND OBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVE TO THIS LEASE. AND WE TOOK OUR TIME, AND WE DID OUR WORK.

AND YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS A 42 PAGE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT WITH AN ACCOMPANYING EXPERT REPORT FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. AND I DON'T EVEN REPRESENT TO YOU THAT THOSE 50 SOMETHING PAGES PRESENT EVERYTHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IT'S 50 SOMETHING PAGES OF WHAT I KNOW SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

AND NOT TO SAY THAT THERE IS NOT MORE. ARE WE COMMENTING RIGHT NOW ON THE PUBLIC ON THE LETTER THAT'S NOT RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC, ARE YOU? ABSOLUTELY NOT. COUNCILMAN NOT. I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT, BECAUSE MY PARAMETERS ARE THAT I MAY NOT COMMENT ON WHAT IS NOT PUBLIC, BUT THAT I MIGHT REPORT ON THE STATUS OF ANY ISSUE.

SO THE STATUS IS IT IS OUT IN DRAFT. THAT'S THE STATUS.

AND THAT WAS THE STATUS. WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.

IT WAS THE REASON THAT I WROTE TO YOU ASKING THAT THIS ITEM BE DEFERRED AND COMMUNICATED TO YOU THE STATUS BECAUSE YOUR ACTIONS TODAY, SHOULD YOU VOTE ON THIS LEASE, WILL PRETERMIT AND BASICALLY RENDER MOOT THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOUR MONTHS FOR YOU, BUT NOT JUST FOR YOU, FOR THE PUBLIC, FOR THE PARISH.

I DID NOT MAKE THIS TIMELINE. THE TIMELINE WAS MADE WHEN THE AMENDED LEASE WAS ADDED TO THE AGENDA.

BUT DESPITE THAT TIMELINE, WE HAVE DELIVERED TO YOU THE PRODUCT THAT I TOLD YOU WE WERE WORKING ON IN MARCH.

I'VE ARTICULATED THAT THE LEASE YOU HAVE, AS AMENDED, DOES NOT RESOLVE THE CONCERNS.

I'VE LOOKED AT THE LEASE AS BEST AS I CAN IN THE TIMELINE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN.

[02:00:06]

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO ACHIEVE, AND I FIND THOSE ASPIRATIONS LAUDABLE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE INTENTIONS REGARDING THE PROJECT.

IT IS IN SOME WAYS NO MORE COMPLICATED THAN HOPE FOR THE BEST.

BUT YOU PLAN FOR THE WORST. AND ONCE YOU APPROVE THIS LEASE AS WELL, MORE THAN ONE OF YOU KNOW. THE LEASE BECOMES THE LAW BETWEEN THE PARTIES. SO, IF WE ARE HOPING FOR THE BEST AND NOT PLANNING FOR THE WORST.

I DO NOT THINK WE'RE DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS FAIR TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC DOLLARS.

THAT IS MY COME FROM, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC OWES FROM US SPECIFICITY WHETHER OR NOT IT'S INCONVENIENT. WORDS HAVE MEANING.

YOU'RE NOT APPROVING A LEASE WITH PORT ORLEANS.

YOU'RE NOT APPROVING A LEASE WITH PORT ORLEANS BREWING.

PORT ORLEANS BREWING OPERATES A BREWERY ON TCHOUPITOULAS.

I HAVE NOW GONE. THEIR TACOS ARE AMAZING. I'VE SEEN THEIR BEER ON THE MENU AT BAR CAR, BY THE WAY.

IF YOU WANT TO TASTE IT, IT'S THERE. BUT WE'RE NOT.

YOU'RE NOT WORKING ON A LEASE WITH PORT ORLEANS.

YOU'RE WORKING ON A LEASE WITH POB, GRETNA BEER AND PUB RESTAURANT GRETNA AND PORT ORLEANS BREWING COMPANY'S NAME APPEARS NOWHERE IN ANY OF THE LEASES YOU'VE APPROVED, OR THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER. YOU'RE APPROVING LEASES WITH COMPANIES WITH NO ASSETS AND NO EXPERIENCE.

THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND YOU CAN PROVIDE THE PUBLIC ABSOLUTELY NO ASSURANCE WHATSOEVER THAT WHEN THIS BUILDING IS BUILT, THAT PORT ORLEANS OR ANYBODY CARRYING THEIR LOGO IS MOVING INTO THAT BUILDING, BECAUSE THE LEASES THAT YOU HAVE PERMIT THE ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF JFI AND WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL.

IS THAT IN YOUR LETTER THAT YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT? THAT IS THE LEASE YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY. IS THAT IN YOUR LETTER THAT COMMENTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING RIGHT NOW? I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THE DRAFT.

I'M TELLING YOU, YOU HAVE A LEASE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S DOING. YOU MADE COMMENTS ABOUT CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE PUBLIC TOMORROW.

YOU WERE NOT ON THIS COUNCIL IN OCTOBER OF 2023.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOUR COMMENTS TODAY ARE NOT SO VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE COMMENTS MADE IN 2023.

WE YOU YOU HAD TO PASS THE LEASE. THAT WAS A SPECIAL MEETING.

YOU HAD TO PASS THE LEASE. AND THERE WAS A SUFFICIENT MAJORITY WHO SAID WE MUST PASS THE LEASE.

WE HAVE TO PASS THE LEASE TODAY. WE CAN'T PASS THE LEASE TOMORROW.

EVERYTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF WE DON'T PASS THE LEASE TODAY.

AND THAT WAS OCTOBER OF 2023. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THE BUILDING WASN'T BUILT. THE CONTRACTS WEREN'T SIGNED AND NOTHING BAD HAPPENED IN TERMS OF THAT LEASE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW,

[02:05:02]

AND IF THERE'S NOT FOUR OF YOU, IF YOU REALLY DON'T THINK THERE'S FOUR OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO APPROVE THIS LEASE THE NEXT MEETING, OR WHO CAN APPROVE THIS LEASE NEXT MEETING, THEN THAT'S A REASON FOR YOU NOT TO VOTE FOR THIS MEETING.

BUT WHETHER YOU VOTE ON THIS TODAY, YOU LOCK US IN.

IF YOU DEFER IT, YOU DO NOT PERMIT THE ACCEPTANCE OF IT AT THE NEXT MEETING.

ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS A DEFERRAL TO PROVIDE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT, A REPORT THAT WAS ANNOUNCED AS UNDERWAY IN MARCH.

THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO REPORTS IS OF VALUE.

YOU HAVE ARTICULATED THAT YOU WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND IS HERE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFER IS ON THE TABLE. I ASK YOU, PLEASE DEFER AND COUNCILMAN MORENO, I THANK YOU.

I SAID IT, THEN I'LL SAY IT PUBLICLY. HE DID REACH OUT.

HE SET THE MEETING. WE MET FOR THREE HOURS. WE DISCUSSED THE LEASE.

NO DISRESPECT TO ANYBODY ELSE, BUT IN THE 13 YEARS THAT THE OFFICE HAS BEEN OPEN, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO'VE REACHED OUT AND BEEN WILLING TO SIT DOWN FOR THREE HOURS ON A FRIDAY, ON A FRIDAY AND WORK IT OUT.

OKAY, SO THIS IS NOT MY COMMENTS ARE NOT TO DISMISS OR DISREGARD YOUR WILLINGNESS. THEY ARE NOT TO DISRESPECT YOU. IT WAS THREE HOURS, BUT IF I CAN PRODUCE 42 PAGES, THE PROBLEMS WERE WAY MORE THAN WHAT COULD BE WORKED OUT IN THREE HOURS.

MY INTENTION WAS TO WORK WITH YOU, AND THAT WASN'T THE LAST TIME THAT WE WOULD WORK TOGETHER.

I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE MORE SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATIONS.

THAT YOU DON'T OWE ME ANY OBLIGATION TO HAVE THOSE SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATIONS.

WE AGREE ON THAT. WE AGREE THAT THE POLICY DECISIONS DON'T INVOLVE WHO DOES THE IG WANT TO AGREE WITH THE POLICY DECISION? THAT'S NOT REALLY THAT'S OUT OF YOUR LANE. AND WE AGREE ON THAT.

I AM ABSOLUTELY CONCEDING YOU OWED ME NO OBLIGATION TO SIT DOWN ONCE OR TWICE.

I AM MERELY PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGING AND THANKING YOU FOR THE TIME THAT WE DID.

AND LET ME JUST SAY, AND I'M TRYING TO KEEP THE TONE ON A CIVIL LEVEL.

I THANK YOU, AND IT'S HARD. I KNOW, AND I THANK YOU AND BUT LET ME JUST SAY MY, YOU KNOW, LET ME JUST SAY IT QUIETLY. OKAY. WELL, THEN THE REASON THAT THIS ALL STARTED, THE REASON THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS CONTROVERSY IS BECAUSE BEFORE YOU DROPPED YOUR 35 PAGE LETTER, YOU DID NOT ATTEMPT TO ASK ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKED ON IT TO GO OVER IT WITH YOU.

YOU DID NOT ASK ANY OF THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING ME, TO SAY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS OCCURRED OR I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS. YOU DROPPED A 35 PAGE PUBLIC LETTER RIGHT BEFORE A COUNCIL MEETING, AND YOU DID NOT EXPECT THE BACKLASH THAT CAME AND THERE'S A LOT OF BACKLASH BECAUSE AT THAT MEETING, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU ISSUED THIS 35 PAGE LETTER WITHOUT EVER INVESTIGATING ANYTHING MORE THAN DOCUMENTS.

AND SO, THIS DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN. IF YOU HAD CALLED ME LIKE WHEN I CALLED YOU TO SAY, CAN YOU SIT DOWN WITH ME AND WALK ME THROUGH THIS, I HAVE QUESTIONS. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

AND THIS IS WHAT LIT THE FIRESTORM. OKAY. THIS ALL RIGHT.

AND I'M STILL NOT HAPPY THAT EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN REPEATEDLY TELLING YOU THAT THERE ARE ERRORS IN YOUR LETTER, IN YOUR LETTER THAT YOU HAVEN'T PUBLICLY EVEN ADMITTED THESE THINGS, OR WHERE IS THE REPORT THAT FOLLOWS THIS? BECAUSE YOU STARTED A. THIS REPORT CONTAINS IS THE HEADED A PUBLIC LETTER ON DONATING PUBLIC FUNDS AND PROPERTY. THERE WAS NO PUBLIC. THERE WAS NO PUBLIC FUNDS OR PROPERTY DONATED.

[02:10:08]

THE SECOND PART OF YOUR HEADING IS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS WITHOUT PUBLIC BIDS AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

YOU HAVE STILL NOT MENTIONED BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR LETTER IS YOU WERE SAYING IF THIS WAS A PUBLIC IF THIS WAS A LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS, BUT YOU HAVE STILL NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IN WRITING ANYWHERE THAT JEFFERSON PARISH CAN LEGALLY USE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW.

THE ECONOMIC CORPORATION CAN OPERATE AND DO CERTAIN THINGS AS OPERATED BY LAW.

AND WHEN YOU USE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO DO A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK PROJECT, YOU ARE NOT EVADING OR VIOLATING PUBLIC BID. OKAY.

AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. EVERY STEP IN THE PROCESS WHERE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FUNCTIONED ACCORDING TO LAW, THEY WERE WITHIN THE LAW. YOU HAVE ERRORS THAT SAY, IF WE WANT TO READ A SENTENCE SUMMARY.

THE PARISH IS POISED TO EXPEND 26.5 MILLION ON THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS WITHOUT FOLLOWING PUBLIC BID LAWS.

THAT'S JUST PATENTLY WRONG AND FALSE AND NOT CORRECT.

AND YOU DID MENTION AND AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN HERE THAT THAT CAUSED YOU CONCERN.

I'M NOT I'M CONCEDING. I WAS EVEN TOLD DON'T GO MEET WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND DON'T MAKE ANY CHANGES THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE SUGGESTED BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, SEE, WE WERE RIGHT AND I DON'T CARE.

I DON'T CARE WHO IS RIGHT. YOU BOTH CAN BE RIGHT AND CONGRATULATIONS.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE PART OF THIS, PART OF THIS 35 PAGES WAS ABOUT A LEASE.

AND NOW WE'VE SWITCHED GEARS TO YOUR JUST DOING AN INVESTIGATION ON THE LEASE.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST DROPPED A NEW REPORT ON.

WHERE IS THIS REPORT? WHERE IS THIS THIS REPORT THAT SAYS COUNCILMAN MORENO IS RIGHT.

WE DID NOT KNOW DONATE ANY PUBLIC FUNDS. THAT COUNCILMAN MORENO SAID IT WAS A CMAR PROJECT, AND IT DIDN'T VIOLATE THE LAW. AND IT DID NOT.

I MEAN, WHERE IS THAT PART AND WHERE AND WHY ARE WE ONLY FOCUSING ON THINGS? SO, IT'S VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME AND I'M TRYING TO TONE BACK DOWN.

IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME THAT AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, WE HAVE TO BECAUSE THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WHICH DOES FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE, WANTS TO DROP ANOTHER PIECE OF SOMETHING FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT WE CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT IT'S NOT RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC YET, BUT THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL DOES NOT MAKE POLICY DECISIONS.

YOU HAVE STATED AT THE LAST MEETING OR ONE OF THE EARLIEST MEETINGS WITH COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.

YOU SAID WE DID A SIMILAR PROJECT, AND YOU SAID, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PARISH WOULD DO A SIMILAR PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO DOING THE MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT, LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER PROCESS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DID THAT, AND THE RESPONSE THAT YOU HEARD WAS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S A POLICY DECISION AS TO HOW THEY WILL CHOOSE TO DO BUSINESS.

AND SO I KEEP THINKING, YOU ARE SO CLEARLY CROSSING THE LINE OVER INTO IF YOU WANT TO BE A COUNCIL PERSON, RUN FOR THAT OFFICE, IF OR THE PARISH PRESIDENT.

BUT WE ARE NOT IN THE LAND OF FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE ANYMORE.

WE ARE IN INTERFERENCE, INTERFERENCE, INTERFERENCE.

AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME. SO, I'M GOING TO.

I'LL END WITH THAT. ALL RIGHT. LET ME MOVE OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN.

BOHANNAN. MAY I BE EXCUSED? I JUST BEFORE COUNCILWOMAN BEGINS TO SPEAK.

I APPRECIATE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS. I CAN FEEL FRUSTRATED MYSELF SOMETIMES.

I DID COME UP TO ASK FOR A DEFERRAL ON ITEM 99.

I WILL NOT COMMENT ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN ITEM 99.

I'M WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH ANY ONE OF YOU AT ANY TIME FOR A MEETING TO RECEIVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE ISSUED.

THANK YOU. LET'S SEE IF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN HAD ANYTHING FOR YOU. MISS CHATELAINE, BEFORE YOU LEAVE. OKAY.

MR. SHERMAN, I THINK YOU'RE NEXT. MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE MR. CHAIRMAN SPEAKS, CAN I ASK MR. MORENO A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT HE JUST SPOKE ABOUT? SURE. A POINT OF CLARITY. SO, MR. MORENO, THE LEAST THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED, HAS THAT BEEN EXECUTED? THERE WAS NO NEED TO CORRECT OR ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED BY MISS VAN VRANCKEN AND THE IG.

CORRECT. THE ONLY IMMEDIATE AND PRESSING NEED IS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY DIDN'T HAVE THE COMPLETION DATE WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN,

[02:15:07]

THAT WAS THE ONLY THING YOU NEEDED TO DO. AND YES, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN OR MR. SHERMAN, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK, OR DO YOU WANT TO HAVE QUESTIONS SENT YOUR WAY? MR. SHERMAN, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST? SURE.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WITH A PRELIMINARY REMARK.

I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE MISSY QUIGLEY, WHO WORKED ON THIS MATTER.

I WANT TO THANK JFI FOR RETAINING US AND BE VERY CLEAR.

THEIR DIRECTION WAS TO REVIEW THE LEASE, AND IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO AMEND AND RESTATE IT AND IMPROVE IT WITH ADDITIONAL LANDLORD PROTECTIONS, LET'S DO THAT SO THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO. THE VERY FIRST THING HE DID WAS GO SPEAK WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND PROVIDE US WITH THE BENEFIT AND COUNCIL MEMBER VAN VRANCKEN YOUR COMMENTS, SO THAT WE HAD THE BENEFIT OF THOSE COMMENTS.

SO MAYBE 2 OR 3 PRELIMINARY COMMENTS. THEN MISSY AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN REVIEWING THE LEASE.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US WAS TO IDENTIFY THE PUBLIC PURPOSE SO THAT WE COULD ENSURE THAT THE LEASE DURING THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT PROCESS REFLECTED BEST PRACTICES AND MARKET CONDITIONS.

WITHIN THAT REVIEW, WHAT WE IDENTIFIED WAS ACTUALLY THE PUBLIC PURPOSE HERE IS DERIVED FROM MULTIPLE MASTER PLANNING AND PARISH PLANNING EFFORTS OVER A DECADE LONG PERIOD, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO THE WEST BANK, TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WOULD ALIGN WITH A LIVABLE, WALKABLE, PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED COMMUNITY WITH MIXED USE CORRIDORS, AND THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD BE AN ANCHOR PROJECT IN FULFILLMENT OF THOSE VISIONS, WE THOUGHT THE LEAST NEEDED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL STATEMENT WITH REGARD TO THE PUBLIC PURPOSE.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY ABOUT PUBLIC USE THAT MADE ITS WAY INTO THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT.

THE APPROACH. ACTUALLY, I LIKE THE WORDS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, HOPE FOR THE BEST, BUT PLAN FOR THE WORST.

THAT IS ACTUALLY THE APPROACH ON THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT.

THIS WAS NOT A MATERIAL CHANGE TO THE LEASE, BUT IN ADDITION OF LANDLORD PROTECTIONS AND PUBLIC PROTECTIONS, DEFINING GROSS REVENUES MORE BROADLY, ELIMINATING UNCAPPED LIABILITIES LIKE THE CAPITAL COST REDUCTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO SUGGESTED, PUTTING MORE REQUIREMENTS ON THE TENANT AND STATING COMMITMENTS THAT THE TENANT MADE INTO THE LEASE.

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THOSE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THE CHIEF REMEDY THAT THE PARISH HAS THROUGH JRI AND JFI IS TAKING THE BUILDING BACK IF THERE'S A MATERIAL BREACH. THESE ARE SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITIES THAT ARE ENGAGING IN THE LEASES COUNTERPARTIES.

SO, THE PRINCIPAL REMEDY THAT EXISTS IN THIS LEASE, IF THE PUBLIC PURPOSE AND THE LEASE REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT FULFILLED, IS TAKING THE BUILDING BACK AND FINDING SOMEONE ELSE.

SO, I'M HAPPY TO STAND UP HERE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT FEAR OF CONTRADICTION, AND THIS IS ONE COMMENT EVERYONE WILL AGREE UPON, IS THAT THIS LEASE BEFORE YOU, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED, IS AN IMPROVED LEASE.

IT CURED SOME OF THE ISSUES RAISED. IT HAS BETTER LANDLORD PROTECTIONS, BETTER PUBLIC PROTECTIONS, AND THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO AMEND THE LEASE IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL ITEMS IDENTIFIED.

BUT WHAT WE CAN STAND UP HERE AND SAY IS THIS PROTECTS THE PUBLIC PURPOSE RESPONDS TO THE ITEMS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED TO US, ADDITIONAL ITEMS WE FOUND AND PUTS THE PARISH, JRI, AND OUR CLIENT JFI IN A BETTER POSITION TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS FULFILLED.

I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT IS THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING A LEASE ON A REGULAR CORNER WITH A PRIVATE. MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING A LEASE WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT OWNS A PIECE OF LAND THAT'S GOING TO BUILD SOMETHING AND HAVE A TENANT VERSUS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE OR WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT THAT THAT ASPECT OF IT? YEAH, I THINK THE FIRST GOAL IN ANY LEASE IS TO IDENTIFY THE GOALS OF THE LANDLORD.

IF IT'S CANAL PLACE OR RIVERWALK, WHICH YOU REPRESENT, WORKING ON SPANISH PLAZA REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY PUBLIC. IS THIS AN ANCHOR TENANT THAT WILL HAVE STIMULATIVE EFFECTS ON THE REST OF THE COMMERCIAL ASSET, OR IN THIS CASE, IN THE PUBLIC CONTEXT? ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS AND STIMULATIVE EFFECTS ON THE WEST BANK AND THE ENVIRONS OF THE PROJECT.

[02:20:01]

IS THIS GETTING A WALMART THAT THE LANDLORD CAN THEN MAKE MONEY OFF THE SHADOW ANCHOR CENTER? EVERYTHING NEXT TO IT? OR IS THIS THE BE ALL END ALL WHERE MAXIMIZING PROFIT IS THE CHIEF OR ONLY CONCERN? SO, DEFINING THE GOAL AND PURPOSE OF A LEASE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE PARISH IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF COMPETING WITH LAKESIDE, RIVERWALK, CANAL PLACE OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

THE PARISH IS IN THE BUSINESS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO, MAKING SURE TWO THINGS ARE ACCOMPLISHED. THE PUBLIC PURPOSE WAS PROTECTED AND SECONDLY, THAT THE LEASE REFLECTS THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF FAIR MARKET VALUE.

HERE, A VERY COMMON MECHANISM OF PERCENTAGE RENT WAS USED SO THAT THE LANDLORD COULD ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFUL.

SO, THE CHIEF DIFFERENCE HERE, IF WE WERE REPRESENTING A PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL CLIENT, IS THEY TARGET RETURN ON INVESTMENT AS THE SOLE DETERMINANT.

AND HERE THERE ARE CIVIC BENEFITS AS PART OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

I'LL TELL YOU ONE OTHER EXERCISE WHICH I THINK IS RELEVANT TO YOUR QUESTION. WHEN YOU CALCULATE RETURN ON CAPITAL INVESTED, IT'S ALWAYS NET OF INCENTIVES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR CONTEXT.

SO, YOU NET OUT INCENTIVES. THERE'S NO PARISH MONEY GOING INTO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT.

SO, THE OWNER AS THE PARISH JRI, JFI ARE UTILIZING FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS.

SO, WHETHER FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS SHOULD BE USED FOR ANY PROJECT IS, OF COURSE, THE COUNCIL'S DETERMINATION.

SO, IN CALCULATING RETURN ON INVESTMENT, A PRIVATE SECTOR REAL ESTATE OWNER WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT METRIC THAN A PUBLIC SECTOR OWNER. AND THAT'S A FACT. IN ANY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE.

AN INCENTIVE TO BRING IN AN ANCHOR OR BRING IN A PARTNER IS HOW IS THAT HOW IS THAT UTILIZED? WELL, LET'S LET ME JUST REPHRASE IT. THERE WAS NO TENANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE LEASE WHERE THAT'S A NORMAL THING, RIGHT? IT'S CALLED TI. WHERE AND THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN THIS TYPE OF LEASE, RIGHT? THERE'S NO TENANT IMPROVEMENT ALLOWANCE IN THIS LEASE.

THE THREE FACTORS ABOUT THE LEASE ARE. THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING WHEN IT'S DELIVERED TO THE TENANT IS IN A VERY ADVANCED STAGE.

IT IS IT IS BEYOND A WHITE BOX. THE TENANT WILL LIKELY BE SPENDING IN EXCESS OF $2 MILLION DOLLARS ON ITS BUILD OUT OF ITS OWN FUNDS.

THERE IS NO PARISH PROVIDED TENANT BUILD OUT ALLOWANCE, AND THERE IS NO OFFSET NOW FOR ANY AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT THEY PUT IN OTHER THAN THEIR INITIAL THREE YEAR PERIOD, WHERE THEY HAVE A LOWER PERCENTAGE.

THAT IS THEIR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO REGAIN ANY CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

IS THAT FAIR? YEAH, WE WE FELT THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHIEF THINGS TO ELIMINATE WAS AN UNCAPPED LIABILITY OF A CAPITAL COST REDUCTION AS AN OFFSET TO GROSS REVENUES, WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE RENT. SO THAT IS OUT.

THERE'S NOW A 36 MONTH PERIOD VERSUS 30 ON A 3% RENT BEFORE IT BUMPS UP TO 6%.

IT'S A VERY STANDARD COMMERCIAL TERM TO HAVE A DIFFERENT RENT PERCENTAGE RENT IN THE EARLY YEARS OF A LEASE UNTIL THE PROJECT REACHES STABILIZATION.

AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MARKET. IS THERE A COMPARABLE PROJECT OR A COMPARABLE SPACE OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON THE WEST BANK? THE ENTIRE WEST BANK? NO, CERTAINLY NOT. SO I WOULD SAY TWO COMMENTS.

RELATIVE TO THE MARKET, THE RESTAURANT MARKET IS MORE DEFINED FOR THE TACO SHOP, WHICH IS ABOUT 2800 USABLE FEET ON A MICROBREWERY OR BREWPUB. THERE IS NO DEFINED MARKET ON THE WEST BANK.

MANY OF THESE GO INTO FOURTH, FIFTH AND BEYOND GENERATION WAREHOUSE SPACES.

WHAT MAKES THIS PROJECT UNIQUE IS THAT THE MICROBREWERY, WITH THE RESTAURANT AND THE DESIGN OF IT, WITH SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF PUBLIC SPACE, SUBSTANTIAL OPEN SPACE, PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO CONGREGATE.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY TRAPLE AND PIER WITH JFI, WITH INPUT TO HAVE A STIMULATIVE EFFECT ON THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR AND THE MIXED USE CORRIDOR. SO THE DESIGN OF THIS AS A PUBLIC STRUCTURE IS CUSTOM TO THE MASTER PLANNING AND DESIGN GOALS AND EXCEEDS WHAT COULD BE A MINIMAL WAREHOUSE ADAPTIVE REUSE.

IF YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO PUT MICROBREWERY EQUIPMENT SOMEWHERE.

OKAY. AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE QUESTIONS.

BUT WITH REGARDS TO THE MINIMUM ANNUAL RENT, I MEAN, THE MINIMUM ANNUAL, THE MAG, THE MINIMUM GUARANTEE THEY DID EXPRESS THAT THEY WERE, THAT THEY COULD HAVE ASKED FOR A CAP.

[02:25:02]

YEAH. SO, ON A PERCENTAGE RENT DEAL, THERE WOULD NOT BE A MAXIMUM.

THE LANDLORD WOULD SHARE IN THE BENEFITS. A MAG ENSURES A MINIMUM ANNUAL GUARANTEE, A MINIMUM RETURN.

I THINK IN TERMS OF AREAS OF DEVIATION FROM COMMERCIAL LEASES TO A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEASE WOULD BE TARGETING A MAG.

WHAT TYPE OF GUARANTEES ARE PROVIDED? WHAT TYPE OF UPSIDE THERE IS? WHAT ARE THE TENANT BUILD OUT ALLOWANCES. SO THE MAG NEGOTIATION WHEN YOU'RE AMENDING AND RESTATING A LEASE, I'LL PUT IT BLUNTLY, YOU'RE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION TO DEMAND HIGH MAGS, BUT WE APPRECIATE THAT THE MAG WAS ADDED.

FRANKLY, IF THINGS ARE GOING SOUTH AND THE MAG IS BEING PAID, THERE'S A LARGER PROBLEM WITH THE ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY OF THE PROJECT.

IT SHOULD BE DOING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE REVENUE THAN THE MAG.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN. MR. CHAIRMAN, I ACTUALLY HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO, I'M SORRY, TO ANSWER.

JFI IS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, RIGHT? SO, JRI IS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION.

JFI IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. SO DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF STATE LAW.

THESE ARE TOOLS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN TO PARISHES AND CITIES TO ALLOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH MORE FLEXIBILITY THAN THE DEFAULT PROVISIONS THAT APPLY TO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.

SO, IT'S STILL A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, RIGHT? IT'S A STATE CHARTERED. IT'S A JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL CHARTERED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

OKAY. SO, WHEN THE LEASE SAYS THAT BASIC AND COUNCILMAN MORENO SAYS THAT THE PARISH OWNS IT, WE STILL OWN IT. CORRECT. OKAY. THE PARISH CHARTER.

JFI. RIGHT. SO IT'S STILL OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THIS TO SOME MYSTERY. PRIVATE NONPROFIT.

CORRECT. THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT HOW THE PORT OF ORLEANS IS PART OF THIS PROJECT, AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL MADE A COMMENT THAT NONE OF THOSE LLCS ARE IN THIS PROJECT. THERE'S NO MENTION OF THAT PROJECT.

IS IT REALLY COMMON FOR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS TO OPEN LLC SPECIFIC TO THAT LOCATION AND STILL BE PART OF THE BIG SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, PARENT COMPANY. INCREDIBLY COMMON. SO ALMOST EVERY NEW REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE A SPECIAL PURPOSE OR SINGLE PURPOSE, LLC. THAT'S INCREDIBLY COMMON.

WHEN YOU'RE IN A POSITION OF MARKET POWER. AS A LANDLORD, YOU WOULD BE DEMANDING ADDITIONAL GUARANTEES, PERSONAL GUARANTEES, CORPORATE GUARANTEES, SO THAT IF THE ACTUAL ENTITY ON THE LEASE IS NOT THE PARENT ENTITY, YOU WOULD HAVE SOME RECOURSE AGAINST THE AFFILIATE OR PARENT ENTITIES.

WE DON'T HAVE THOSE GUARANTEES HERE, BUT THE STRUCTURE, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION OF A SPECIAL PURPOSE, LLC IS IN FACT A VERY STANDARD STRUCTURE IN REAL ESTATE LEASES.

AND I WOULD I WOULD SUGGEST TO THE COUNCIL THAT IN THE EVENT OF A DEFAULT, THE REAL REMEDY FOR THE PARISH. JRI AND JFI IS NOT GOING TO BE SOME LAWSUIT WITH A SIGNIFICANT MONEY JUDGMENT.

IT IS GOING TO BE RETAKING THE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE DEFAULT.

SO I GUESS MY POINT IS THAT FOR THEM TO DO THAT AND TO STRUCTURE THEIR COMPANY LIKE NEARLY EVERY COMPANY DOES, THERE'S NOTHING NEFARIOUS IN THE WAY THAT THEY DID THAT. IT'S VERY COMMON PRACTICE TO OPEN A SEPARATE LLC FOR A SINGLE PURPOSE, LLC FOR THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION. IT'S DONE ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME THE SPECIAL PURPOSE LLC IS STANDARD.

WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A PARENT GUARANTEE IS THE ISSUE.

AND THEN I WANTED TO ASK YOU, YOUR FIRM IS BASICALLY IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE PARISHES EXPERTS.

WE REGULARLY APPOINT YOU FOR LAND ISSUES, COMMERCIAL ISSUES.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO, WE REPRESENT CLIENTS BEFORE THE PARISH.

WE DO NOT REPRESENT THE PARISH. SO WE WERE HERE ON CHICK-FIL-A.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. FLOOR AND DECOR. JUST A MONTH BEFORE THAT.

STARBUCKS A NO MOTOR, A TON OF CLIENTS. BUT WE DO NOT REPRESENT THE PARISH AS A CLIENT.

BUT YOU'RE. I MEAN, YOU'RE CONSIDERED A COMMERCIAL EXPERT, RIGHT? YEAH, WE'RE A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FIRM.

WE'RE A BOUTIQUE OR A REAL ESTATE BOUTIQUE PRACTICE FIRM.

MULTIFAMILY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. INDUSTRIAL.

WE COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL ON A NUMBER OF CLIENTS VERY REGULARLY.

[02:30:04]

ONE WAS THE PUBLIC PROTECTED FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE AND THAT THE LEASE WAS FAIR MARKET VALUE.

AND YOUR EXPERT OPINION. DOES THIS LEASE ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS? YEAH. THE FAIR MARKET THE LEAST IS IS IMPROVED FROM WHAT WAS WHAT IS CURRENTLY EXISTING.

SO, IF THOSE ARE THE TWO GOALS, IT IS AN IMPROVED LEASE THROUGH THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT.

THE PERCENTAGE RENT PROVIDES THE BENEFIT OF A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PAYING MORE IN RENT AND PROVIDING AN UPSIDE. THE MAG IS THE ONLY PROTECTION AGAINST A DOWNSIDE.

IF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DOES NOT PERFORM ON A PERCENTAGE RENT CLAUSE.

IT IS MY OPINION THAT WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY IN A MARKET ON THE WEST BANK IN THAT LOCATION WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF. DOWNWARD MARKET PRESSURE, AND THE PARISH IS NOT IN A DOMINANT POSITION IN THIS LEASE NEGOTIATION, NOR WAS JFI. I SAY THAT TO SHARE. I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU'RE DOING THE PROJECT, TO CREATE A STIMULUS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONS.

SO THIS IS NOT PUTTING SOME. IF YOU ARE ON METAIRIE ROAD, IF YOU'RE ON VETERANS, YOU WOULD BE IN IN A POSITION OF TREMENDOUS MARKET POWER WITH MANY OF THE WEST BANK PROPERTY OWNERS.

IT IS A MORE DIFFICULT PROSPECT TO LEASE SPACE AND GET HIGH QUALITY TENANTS.

SO, THE MARKET RENT STRUCTURE ON THE WEST BANK IS SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW OTHER PARTS OF THE PARISH, WHICH I THINK IS ONE OF THE REASONS YOU'RE DOING THIS PROJECT AS A PARISH, WHICH IS TO TRY TO HAVE STIMULATIVE EFFECTS ON THE WEST BANK ECONOMY.

SO WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT MARKET RENT, THERE'S TWO ANSWERS TO THAT.

THIS IS AN IMPROVED LEASE FROM WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS IN A MARKET THAT HAS TREMENDOUS WEAKNESS.

AND THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE AS DEFINED BY THE PARISH, IS ONE THAT HAS CIVIC BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO IT.

THE QUESTION THAT WAS NOT ASKED WAS, HOW DOES THE PARISH MAKE THE MOST MONEY OFF THIS SURFACE PARKING LOT? CLEARLY, THE PARISH HAD TO ASK THE QUESTION WHEN WE'RE PUTTING THESE ARPA FUNDS, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS WHAT CAN CREATE THE MOST IMPACTFUL DEVELOPMENT, THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE CHOSEN BY THE PARISH IN FUNDING? THIS PROJECT WAS AN ASSET CLASS THAT IS NOT THE HIGHEST RENT PAYER IN MICROBREWERIES.

THE RESTAURANT MARKET IS MORE DEFINED WHEN YOU GET INTO THE MICROBREWERY MARKET.

IT HAS BEEN IN MASTER PLANS, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, GOING BACK PROBABLY UPWARDS OF A DECADE, I'D HAVE TO CONFIRM HOW MANY YEARS. BUT YOU HAVE CHOSEN AN ASSET CLASS THAT IS NOT AT THE TOP OF THE MARKET IF FINANCIAL RETURN WAS YOUR ONLY METRIC. SO BY USING A PERCENTAGE RENT ON BOTH LEASES, YOU SHARE IN THE UPSIDE.

AND THIS IS WITHIN THE RANGE. SO IS THE SHORT ANSWER.

YES, YES. I WANT TO PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT, BUT THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.

IT TAKES ME TWO HOURS TO WATCH 60 MINUTES. WE'RE LAWYERS.

THAT'S IT. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MR. SHERMAN? ALL RIGHT. SO, I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN DOES.

I WANTED TO ASK EVERYBODY ELSE FIRST, SO DON'T SIT DOWN. MR. CHAIRMAN, ONE MORE TIME, BUT WE'LL LET COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ASK HER QUESTIONS OR MAKE HER COMMENTS, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE VOTE. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, IF NOBODY HAS ANY OBJECTION TO THAT.

SO GO AHEAD. COUNCILWOMAN. VAN VRANCKEN. YEAH. AND I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, MIKE.

THEY'LL LIKELY BE LENGTHY. SO ON YOUR WEBSITE.

YOU ARE BILLED AS A LAND USE LAW AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS.

AND I KNOW ANY TIME I'VE DEALT WITH YOU IN THIS COUNCIL, IT IS IN THAT PLANNING LAND USE REALM AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, LIKE WITH WHAT WAS IT, CVS OR WALGREENS ON WEST ESPLANADE, CVS.

YEAH. TRANSACTIONAL ATTORNEYS ARE DIFFERENT. TRANSACTIONAL ATTORNEYS ARE THE ONES THAT MIGHT CRAFT DOCUMENTS THIS THICK FOR LIKE A HOTEL DEVELOPMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO WHY, I GUESS IF YOU, IF YOU BILL YOURSELF ON THE WEBSITE THAT YOU HAVE AS A LAND USE LAW AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TYPE, WHY WOULD YOU BILL YOURSELF IN THIS SCENARIO AS A TRANSACTIONAL ATTORNEY?

[02:35:02]

I WAS CONSISTENT IN HOW I, I THINK THOSE ARE THE TERMS I USED.

A LAND USE IS A COMPONENT. IT'S THE MOST PUBLIC COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DO, THE LAND USE SIDE OF OUR LAW FIRM IS WHAT MAKES THE NEWS.

BECAUSE WHEN A PROJECT IS COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THERE'S CAMERAS, THERE'S NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, IT'S A CHICK-FIL-A, IT'S A RACETRACK, IT'S A MOTORSPORTS PARK. IT'S A MALL.

BUT WE ARE FULL SERVICE. I'VE PARTICIPATED IN OVER 1000 COMMERCIAL LEASES IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.

THE NUMBER IS LARGER. THAT WAS OUR ROUGH ESTIMATE.

WHETHER IT'S THE TRANSACTIONAL WORK OF A 312 PAGE CMBS LOAN, WHETHER IT'S A WORKOUT OF A $164 MILLION LOAN THAT'S IN DEFAULT TO A HOTEL WE ARE FULL SERVICE TRANSACTIONAL.

IT'S NOT THE SEXIEST PART OF WHAT MAKES THE NEWS WHEN YOU RENEGOTIATE A LEASE OR A CONTRACT.

THE LAND USE IS WHAT WE'RE CERTAINLY MOST WELL KNOWN FOR, BUT WE ARE FULL SERVICE, INCLUDING A TITLE COMPANY.

OKAY. BECAUSE I HAVE ADVOCATED AND HAVE AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA SEEKING A TRANSACTIONAL ATTORNEY.

SO, I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER THAT YOU'VE GIVEN.

WHO RETAINED YOU OFFICIALLY? BECAUSE ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAS BOTHERED ME SINCE THE START OF THIS DISCUSSION A FEW YEARS AGO NOW, IS THAT THE PARISH? JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT, THE, YOU KNOW, THE PARISH PRESIDENT, THE COUNCIL WE HAVE NOT RETAINED THUS FAR ANYONE TO LOOK AT THIS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. SO WHO HIRED YOU? AND WITH WHAT EYES WERE YOU LOOKING AT THIS DOCUMENT? SURE. SO, JFI IS OUR CLIENT. JFI HAS RETAINED US.

MY COLLEAGUE MISSY QUIGLEY AND I'LL SAY ONE INTERESTING THING ABOUT OUR LAW FIRM AND SOMETHING THAT'S A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIDE.

I THINK WE TAKE GREAT. WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN PARTICIPATING IN MATTERS THAT MOVE THE ECONOMY OF THIS REGION FORWARD AND ARE IMPACTFUL.

SO MOST OF THE ATTORNEYS AT OUR FIRM HAVE BOTH A GOVERNMENTAL BACKGROUND AND A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BACKGROUND.

SO MISSY WAS A CITY ATTORNEY FOR A DECADE. MY COLLEAGUE MILES WAS IN CITY HALL AS WELL.

WE HAVE A TITLE COMPANY, SO WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BOTH THE PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND AND THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE.

SO, OUR SIMPLE TASK WAS TO LOOK AT THE EXISTING SIGNED LEASE, UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS IN ADDITION TO CONCERNS WE HAD WITH THE GOAL OF TRYING TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING LEASE.

SO, I KNOW IN THE THREE HOUR MEETING THAT COUNCILMAN MARINO AND I HAD WITH INSPECTOR GENERAL CHATELAIN, WE DID GO THROUGH A LOT, BUT CERTAINLY NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.

AND NOW THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS INDICATED WITHOUT SPECIFICITY, BUT THAT A DRAFT REPORT HAS BEEN ISSUED, THAT IS SOME 50 PAGES. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT YOU HAVE ADDRESSED ALL OF THE CONCERNS IN 50 PAGES VERSUS THOSE CONVEYED, YOU KNOW, IN THREE HOURS. SURE. SO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS AN AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE THAT IS IMPROVED. CAN I INTERRUPT JUST FOR A SECOND? WHAT YOU'RE ASKING HIM TO DO IS START TO COMMENT ON THE LETTER AND SEE IF HE AGREES WITH THE LETTER.

WITH WHAT? SHE JUST. I MEAN, I THINK YOU'RE WADING INTO THE AREA THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY.

I DON'T THINK HE HAS ACCESS TO THE LETTER AND HAS SEEN THE LETTER, BUT LET'S LET HER LET'S LET HER FINISH.

STAY WITHIN THE GUIDELINES UNINTERRUPTED. I'M GOING TO PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE REASON TO ASK FOR DEFERRAL.

BECAUSE IF WE LAST NIGHT AND I'LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU, I HAVEN'T READ IT, I DIDN'T HAVE TIME LAST NIGHT TO READ A 50 PAGE LETTER.

SO IF THE TASK BEFORE US TODAY IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS LEASE NOW, OR TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE 50 PAGES FOCUSED ON THE FIRST TWO LEASES, NOT THE ONES TODAY, BUT THE FIRST TWO LEASES TO GIVE US A FULL PICTURE OF THE PROBLEMS. THEN IT SPEAKS TO, I GUESS, THE CONFIDENCE OF WHY NOT DEFER? BECAUSE IF WE HAVE 50 PAGES TO THINK ABOUT THOSE ORIGINAL LEASES, BECAUSE THIS IS A REINSTATEMENT.

SO THOSE ORIGINAL LEASES ARE RELEVANT TO. SO, I WOULD ANSWER TWO WAYS.

THIS ALL THE CHANGES MADE HERE MOVE THE LEASE IN THE FAVOR OF THE PUBLIC.

THIS CURES MANY OF THE ISSUES RAISED AND ADDRESSES MANY OF THE OTHERS.

SO, MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS LEASE TODAY GIVES UP NO LEVERAGE AND MOVES THE LEASE IN A DIRECTION THAT IS WITH ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROTECTIONS. LANDLORD PROTECTIONS.

OKAY. IF THERE'S STILL SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE IN THE LEASE FOR THE PARISH.

JRI, JFI I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD BE IN THE INTEREST OF JFI MY CLIENT, BUT ALSO THE PARISH.

[02:40:07]

AND I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIGEST THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S LETTER.

AND IF A SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT IS WARRANTED, BASED UPON THAT ADDITIONAL INPUT, WE WOULD GLADLY HAVE FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS ON BEHALF OF JFI.

BUT THEY'VE TOLD ME IS THEY WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS THAT CAN BE ADDED AND ADDITIONAL LEVERAGE THAT WE CAN BRING TO IMPROVE THE DEAL, WE'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT. BUT TODAY'S LEASE MOVES IT FORWARD IN A MEANINGFUL WAY WITHOUT GIVING UP LEVERAGE.

SO, YOU JUST STATED, AND THIS IS A POINT OF GREAT CONCERN, MAYBE THE GREATEST CONCERN THAT I HAVE ABOUT MOVING FORWARD TODAY.

YOU JUST STATED THAT IF WE MOVE FORWARD TODAY, WE DON'T LOSE ANY LEVERAGE.

THE, THE ONLY LEVERAGE POINT THAT CHANGES PUBLICLY TODAY.

I THINK THIS IS FINE TO SAY IS THE DELIVERY DATE MOVES FROM OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR TO JANUARY OF 27.

THAT'S ONLY ONE OF THE MANY LEVERAGE POINTS THE PARISH HAS.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE LEGALLY IN THE INTEREST OF JFI TO DISCUSS PUBLICLY THOSE ADDITIONAL LEVERAGE POINTS, BUT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE IF THERE'S A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS.

WHAT WOULD THE LEVERAGE BE? BECAUSE MY APPRECIATION OF WHAT COUNCILMAN BONANO JUST ASKED COUNCILMAN MORENO, WAS THE REASON WE HAVE THESE LEASES BEFORE US TODAY IS BECAUSE THE ONE VULNERABILITY THAT HAD TO BE CORRECTED IS THAT WE RIGHT NOW HAVE A DATE THAT SAYS WE WILL GIVE THEM A BUILDING BY OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.

IF THAT IS THE LEVERAGE POINT THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT, THAN IF WE CURE THAT TODAY, THAT ONE AND ONLY POINT OF LEVERAGE GOES AWAY, AND WE ARE BOUND BY A 25 YEAR AGREEMENT, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. THAT WAS ONLY ONE LEVERAGE POINT THAT WAS UTILIZED TO TRIGGER THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT.

WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, WHICH WAS VERY PLEASING AND SURPRISINGLY SHOCKING AND I APPRECIATE IT.

SO I'LL STATE IT ON THE RECORD. AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO MET WITH PORT ORLEANS AND WE ENTERED INTO A DISCUSSION.

THESE ARE ONE SIDED CHANGES IN THE FAVOR OF THE PARISH JRI AND JFI LARGELY ONE SIDED CHANGES.

WE HAD A VERY COOPERATIVE TENANT WHO SHARED THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

SO, WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ADDITIONAL LANDLORD PROTECTIONS.

THIS THIS TENANT WAS COOPERATIVE. AND I WANT TO THANK THEIR COUNCIL FOR BEING COOPERATIVE IN TRYING TO FULFILL THAT UNDERSTANDING.

WE WERE PUTTING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN LIGHT OF CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED.

SO, IF THE QUESTION TODAY IS, DOES THIS LEASE ADDRESS CONCERNS AND IMPROVE THE EXISTING SITUATION? IT DOES. IF THE QUESTION IS ARE WE USING UP OUR ONLY LEVERAGE POINT? WE ARE NOT. AND IF THE FINAL QUESTION IS IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE RAISED BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER AMENDMENT? I'M CERTAINLY THERE WOULD. SO, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU STATED, AND I THINK QUOTED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS SAYING IS YOU HOPE FOR THE BEST AND PLAN FOR THE WORST. SO PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS PLAN FOR THE WORST.

CORRECT? YES. OKAY. SO, WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT IN THE VERY FIRST LINE OF THIS LEASE, IN THE VERY FIRST, WHEREAS IT INCORRECTLY SAYS THAT JFI IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY THE PARISH.

BUT I WAS, YOU KNOW, POOH POOHED LIKE, THAT'S A WHEREAS IT DOESN'T MATTER.

SO, IF YOU GO FURTHER DOWN THE WHEREASES, THERE'S A WHEREAS THAT STATES THAT THE.

LET ME SEE WHICH ONE IT IS LESSIE PAULINE'S BREWING BEER.

RATHER INTENDS TO MAKE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN EXCESS OF $2 MILLION.

SO IT'S A, WHEREAS IT'S A FLUFF LESSEE. PORT ORLEANS GRETNA BEER INTENDS TO MAKE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN EXCESS OF $2 MILLION. CORRECT. NOW, LOOK, I INTEND TO LOSE 20 POUNDS, AND I INTEND TO WIN THE LOTTERY.

WHERE IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THE DELIVERABLES FOR THE $2 MILLION? BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN WE LEASED WEST JEFFERSON HOSPITAL AND WHEN WE SOLD EAST JEFFERSON HOSPITAL, WE HAD A LENGTHY DOCUMENT WITH DELIVERABLES THAT DETAILED WHAT LCMC WOULD DO, SPECIFICALLY THE KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS THEY WOULD MAKE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS OF INVESTMENT THAT THEY WOULD MAKE.

AND THEN THAT ALLOWS US TO HOLD LCMC ACCOUNTABLE SO THAT WE CAN SAY IN THE CONTRACT, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT THIS MUCH INTO THE PROPERTY IN

[02:45:04]

SO UNLESS I'M MISSING IT, THE ONLY REFERENCE IN THIS DOCUMENT TO INVESTMENT BY PORT ORLEANS BREWING OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE KEEP USING THE $2 MILLION FIGURE.

THE $2 MILLION IS A WHEREAS INTENTION. BUT WHERE ARE THE DELIVERABLES THAT WE CAN, AS A GOVERNMENT, GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT $2 MILLION OR PLUS INVESTMENT HAS BEEN MADE INTO THIS FACILITY.

SO, THE OUTCOME OF THIS LEASE THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE IS THE ACTIVATION OF THE SPACE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE RESTAURANT AND MICROBREWERY, AND AN AUDITING PROVISION BASED UPON THE PERCENTAGE RENT OF GROSS REVENUE.

THE OUTCOME OF THIS LEASE IS NOT A CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO THIS FACILITY THAT'S BEING BUILT BY PORT ORLEANS. SO, THE LEASE DOES NOT MANDATE AS AN OUTCOME THE REQUIREMENT OF A CAPITAL INVESTMENT. THE LEASE MANDATES THE OPERATION OF THE SPACE IN CONFORMITY WITH A SPECIFIC USE, AND THEN A REVENUE WHICH GENERATES A PERCENTAGE RENT THAT IS NON-BINDING WHEREAS CLAUSE WITH RESPECT TO THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT. SO, AN AUDITING OF THAT PROVISION DOES NOT REVEAL OR INFORM THE OUTCOME OF THE OPERATION OR THE OUTCOME OF THE PERCENTAGE RENT.

BASED UPON THE TRAPLINE PIER PLANS THAT THE PROPERTY'S BEING CONSTRUCTED TO THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT REPRESENTS WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED OF THE TENANT TO BUY MARKET CONDITIONS, NOT BUY A LEASE MANDATE.

IS THAT A LOT OF LAWYER SPEAK FOR THERE'S NO DELIVERABLE.

THERE'S NO THERE'S NO DEMAND OF THEM TO MAKE ANY KIND OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF $2 MILLION.

THAT IS AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF WHAT THE LEASE REQUIRES AND WHAT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE.

OKAY, SO I DON'T ACTUALLY THEY'RE NOT OBLIGATED.

THIS ENTITY IS NOT ACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO INVEST $2 MILLION.

AND EVEN SHOULD I AUDIT THEM, IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE OBLIGATION.

AUDITING A CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS NOT THE REQUIREMENT ON THE TENANT RIGHT.

THE OPERATION OF THE SPACE IN CONFORMITY WITH SPECIFIED USES IS THE REQUIREMENT ON THE TENANT.

SO WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO INVEST $2 MILLION, $2.5 MILLION.

THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO DO THAT. AND THAT WOULD JUST BE SIMPLY UP TO THEM TO DO SO IN A TRADITIONAL LEASE.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE LANDLORD IS THE OUTCOME OF WHAT'S OCCURRING ON THE SITE, AND THAT WAS THE FOCUS.

AND IN CONFORMITY, I LIKE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S LINE.

HOPE FOR THE BEST. PREPARE FOR THE WORST. TO OPERATE THIS FACILITY, THERE IS A CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED BY THE TENANT, AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE LANDLORD IS ONLY COMMITTING, THE LANDLORDS ONLY COMMITTING TO WHAT'S IN THE PLANS AND AT THE TERMINATION OF THE PLANS, THE FINISHED CONDITION IN THOSE PLANS LEAVES A GAP OF WHAT THE TENANT NEEDS TO INVEST TO MAKE THIS SPACE OCCUPIABLE, MARKET IT, OPERATE IT, STAFF IT. SO THERE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT IN THIS LEASE.

THIS ADDITION TO THE LEASE SPECIFIES THE INTENTION OF THE TENANT IN CONFORMITY WITH THE ANTICIPATED CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT IS THE PARISH DOING AND WHAT'S THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT THAT THE TENANT IS DOING.

AND WITH THIS DIALOG, I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT THE PARISH IS COMMITTING TO DELIVERABLES IN A CONTRACT AND NOTHING FURTHER, AND THE TENANT WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT FURTHER THAN THAT TO MAKE IT OPERATIONAL.

SO I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER.

IT IT IS WHAT IS THE PARISH BRINGING AND WHAT IS THE PARISH COMMITTING TO AND WHAT IS THE TENANT COMMITTING TO? SO ON THE TENANT SIDE, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF $2 MILLION, BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO FILL IN THE GAP OF WHATEVER WE, THE PARISH, DON'T PROVIDE. SO, IT'S SORT OF BY WHATEVER WE DON'T PAY FOR, FIRST THEY'LL HAVE TO PROVIDE.

AND SO, IN THIS SCENARIO WE THE OWNER WE THE I MEAN THIS IS DIFFERENT THOUGH JFI.

[02:50:02]

CORRECT. THAT'S OFTEN WHAT YOU SAY A WHITE BOX LEASE.

WE BUILD THE BUILDING, WE CREATE THE WALLS, WE CREATE THE FLOOR.

AND THEN YOU, THE LESSEE, THE TENANT, YOU TAKE IT FROM THERE.

THAT'S A WHITE BOX, RIGHT? YEAH. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THIS IS NOT A WHITE BOX LEASE. NO. OKAY. SO, ORIGINALLY WHEN WE KEPT SAYING OR THE TERM KEPT BEING THROWN OUT THERE, THAT THIS IS A COMMERCIAL LEASABLE SPACE THAT OFTEN WOULD MAKE SOMEONE THINK OF A WHITE BOX.

SO, WE, THE PARISH, WOULD BUILD THE BUILDING, WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE PARKING, WE WOULD CREATE THE WALLS IN THE FLOOR AND THEN LESSEE WOULD TAKE IT FROM THERE. THAT IS NOT THIS.

AND SO YOU SAID AND I AGREE. AND THIS IS WHERE I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THE PUBLIC FUNDS ARE BUILDING THE BUILDING.

WE'RE BUILDING THE WALLS, WE'RE BUILDING THE FLOORS, BUT WE'RE ALSO PAYING FOR THE BREWERY EQUIPMENT.

WE'RE PAYING FOR THE HOOD AND EXHAUST SYSTEMS, WHICH ANYONE IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY KNOWS ARE EXPENSIVE OR NOT INEXPENSIVE. WE'RE PAYING FOR THE WALK IN COOLERS.

SO ESSENTIALLY, IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT EXIST, IF THE PARISH IS TAKING ON ALL OF THE EXPENSIVE THINGS, THE BUILDING, THE SYSTEMS IN ADDITION TO JUST THE WALLS IN THE FLOOR.

WE ARE NOW PAYING FOR THE BREWING EQUIPMENT, WHICH I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW THE COST OF ANY OF THAT.

AND WE'RE PAYING FOR WALK IN COOLERS, WHICH I DO KNOW ARE MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

AND WE ARE PAYING FOR EXHAUSTS AND SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. OFTEN THAT WOULD BE THE RESTAURANT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

SO, WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THE DOCUMENTS THAT EXIST HAVE THE PARISH PICKING UP THE TAB ON THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND COSTLY ELEMENTS OF THIS PROJECT, LEAVING LESS FOR THE LESSEE TO COME TO THE TABLE ON? THAT'S THE STRUCTURE OF THE LEASE THAT THE PARISH INVESTS IN.

WHITE BOX PLUS RIGHT BEYOND WHITE BOX. IT IS A BEYOND WHITE BOX DELIVERED CONDITION AS PART OF A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

THE TENANT COMES IN WITH THE FINAL INVESTMENT, WHICH WILL LIKELY EXCEED $2 MILLION, BUT THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION.

SO, WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THAT TERM, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, THOUGH, IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE TENANT IS DOING AND WHAT THE WHAT THE PARISH IS DOING, WHAT JRI IS DOING, WHAT GE IS DOING. AND I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE IN THIS LEASE SO THE PUBLIC COULD HAVE A TRANSPARENT VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS TRANSACTION.

AMEN TO THAT. AND IT IS REALLY A POLITICAL DECISION, NOT A LEGAL DECISION.

HOW THE PARISH WANTS TO EXPEND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.

WHAT I WANT TO DRAW A VERY BIG DISTINCTION ON, BECAUSE THIS IS A QUESTION THAT'S BEEN ASKED TO ME BY SEVERAL FOLKS.

WOULD ONE OF YOUR COMMERCIAL CLIENTS DO THIS DEAL? THE REASON? IT'S A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE PARISH CHARTERED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, IS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE PRIVATE SECTOR COULD NOT DO A STIMULATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TYPE WITH THIS CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN THIS AREA. THE REASONS FOR DOING THIS PROJECT ARE THE STIMULATIVE EFFECTS.

I WOULD ACTUALLY GO FURTHER AND ARGUE IF THIS WAS A SMASHING HOME RUN OF A OPERATION WHERE THE PARISH WAS GETTING TREMENDOUS RENT, BUT THERE WERE NOT STIMULATIVE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONS ON THE WEST BANK, FULFILLING THE GOALS IN THE MASTER PLANNING AND PARISH PLANNING DOCUMENTS, THAT THE PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS BECAUSE THE PARISH'S MOTIVATION FOR DOING THIS WAS NOT THE SAME AS A COMMERCIAL LANDLORD, WHICH IS JUST TO MAKE MONEY. SO WHEN WE DO THIS, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS LEASE, WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT BOTH SIDES.

IS THE PARISH GETTING THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF WHAT IT IS OFFERING TO THE TENANT.

AND THEN SEPARATELY ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND PUBLIC PURPOSE.

IS THE PARISH FULFILLING THAT PUBLIC PURPOSE? AND THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT ARE REALLY THINGS I CAN'T COMMENT ON BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE THE ELECTED BODY.

BUT EVERY DAY THAT WE MAKE A REQUEST FOR AN INCENTIVE FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT,

[02:55:04]

AND SO, I REALLY WOULDN'T AGREE WITH THAT. WELL, THAT'S WHAT YOUR WEBSITE SAYS.

WHAT YOU JUST ESSENTIALLY SAID IS THAT A PRIVATE DEVELOPER WOULD NOT DO THIS DEAL, BUT ONLY THE PUBLIC DOLLARS, THE PUBLIC SECTOR TAX DOLLARS WOULD DO THIS DEAL.

BECAUSE THIS DEAL, WHAT INVOLVES SO MUCH RISK AND THE NUMBERS DON'T PENCIL OUT.

YOU DID JUST SAY THAT A PRIVATE SECTOR PERSON WOULD NOT DO THIS DEAL.

THIS IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, PERIOD.

AND I SAY THAT EVERY TIME ANYONE ASKS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, IT IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP. IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.

THE PARISH IS NOT STEPPING INTO A PRIVATE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING MONEY.

THE PARISH IS ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT TO TRY TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT HAPPEN THAT OTHERWISE COULD NOT HAPPEN.

AND THAT WAS, IN FACT, ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS CREATING THESE STIMULATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS.

IN FACT, MANY TIMES THE PARISH OR THE STATE WILL GIVE GRANTS TO PROJECTS THAT THEY WANT TO GENERATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS.

HERE THERE IS NO GRANT. THE PARISH ACTUALLY OWNS THE STRUCTURE THE PARISH IS USING THAT TO OFFSET AS A LOCAL MATCH, A MUCH LARGER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WILL PROVIDE PARKING IN A DRAINAGE AND ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND IS DOING IT WITH NO LOCAL FUNDS AS THE PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF THE PROJECT.

SO, THAT'S A LONG WAY BECAUSE THAT ANSWER NEEDS CONTEXT.

THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP. THE LAW PROVIDES FOR THAT.

AND THAT'S THE LENS IT MUST BE LOOKED AT THROUGH.

OKAY. AND YOU'RE RIGHT. THAT IS A DECISION ULTIMATELY FOR THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON THIS PODIUM AS TO WHETHER WE SEE THIS AS A WISE USE OF FUNDING OR NOT. JUST A FEW OTHER QUESTIONS, BECAUSE A FEW OF THEM GO TO THE SOUNDNESS OF THIS LEASE.

BECAUSE IF WE ARE TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY, WE ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WILL BE THE DOCUMENT THAT BINDS US.

AND IS IT IN A FORM THAT'S REALLY READY TO MOVE FORWARD? AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD POINTED OUT WAS FACTUALLY, IT'S NOT ACCURATE RIGHT OFF THE TOP IN SAYING THAT JFI IS THE OWNER WHEN IT IS NOT. AND IT ALSO SAYS THE PROPERTY AND SUCH IS NOT OBLIGATED IN ANY WAY OR HAVE MORTGAGES ON IT.

ON IT. IT'S NOT FREE AND CLEAR. SO THAT'S NOT FACTUAL.

BUT LET ME PUT IT. THIS IS A LOT OF TERMINOLOGY THAT AVERAGE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT RELATE TO.

SO LET ME BRING THIS LEASE TO SOME LEVEL THAT ALL OF US HAVE RELATED TO.

AND THAT'S YOUR, YOU'RE LEASING AN APARTMENT, RIGHT? NORMALLY WHEN YOU'RE LEASING AN APARTMENT, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR RENT IS WHEN IT'S DUE.

AND YOU PUT DOWN A SECURITY DEPOSIT. AND SO, THIS DOES NOT HAVE A SECURITY DEPOSIT, THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT IS A NORM IN DEVELOPMENT, AND IT DOES NOT HAVE A DATE WHEN THE RENT IS DUE.

SO, THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN A SECURITY DEPOSIT.

THERE'S A MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT BEING MADE BY THE TENANT HERE.

NOW I'M GOING TO CORRECT YOU BECAUSE YOU JUST ESTABLISHED ON THE RECORD THAT THERE IS NO DELIVERABLE REQUIRING A CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO OCCUPY THE SPACE WITHOUT A MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT BY THE TENANT, EXCEPT IF THE PARISH IS PUTTING THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN.

THAT WOULD HAVE TO THEN COME BACK TO THE PARISH FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

OKAY. WELL, LET'S GO TO THIS. LET'S JUST GO TO THE BASIC TERMS. BASIC. HOW GOOD IS THIS CONTRACT WE'RE ABOUT TO PASS? THE THERE IS NO BASE RENT. THERE'S PERCENTAGE OF GROSS, BUT THERE'S NO BASE RENT.

SO FOR OWNING THE LAND, THERE IS A MAG THAT STARTS IN MONTH 37.

[03:00:02]

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. BASE RENT IS NORMALLY WHAT YOU OWE UPON OCCUPYING A SPACE, BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE SPACE AND YOU'RE OCCUPYING THE LAND, AND THEN THERE'S A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS REVENUE, THE MINIMUM OR THE MAG IS ONLY A BACKSTOP FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF GROSS REVENUE.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. IT'S NOT A BASE RENT BECAUSE IF YOU HIT THE PERCENTAGE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO OWE A BASE RENT.

THIS IS A VERY STANDARD COMMERCIAL TERM. THE MAG ACTS AS A BASE RENT ANNUALLY.

THE THIS IS NOT WHERE THERE IS A SEPARATE PERCENTAGE RENT ABOVE A BENCHMARK.

THIS IS A STRAIGHT PERCENTAGE RENT LEASE WITH A PUBLIC PROTECTION ADDED OF A MINIMUM ANNUAL GUARANTEE.

LET ME KEEP IT REAL BASIC. THEN THIS LEASE AT ITS START HAS A FACTUAL ERROR ABOUT WHO OWNS THE BUILDING IN THE PROPERTY, AND THEN IT MOVES ON AND DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A DUE DATE FOR RENT.

IT DOES. IT'S IMPLICIT IN THERE. NO NO NO. WHERE IS IT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN IMPLICIT? WE ALL HAVE DUE DATES ON RENT, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DATE, YOU CAN'T START CALCULATING WHEN IT'S LATE. THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THERE.

I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THE LANGUAGE. IF YOU COULD POINT IT OUT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THERE IS NO DUE DATE IN THIS LEASE.

THERE'S A MONTHLY RENT PAYMENT IN THIS LEASE, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE A DUE DATE.

SPECIFICALLY, ANY LEASE I'VE EVER SIGNED, EVEN AS A TENANT TO AN APARTMENT, SAYS IT'S DUE ON THE FIRST.

IT'S DUE ON THE 15TH. THIS DOESN'T HAVE A DUE DATE.

SO, IF IMPLIED IN HERE IS JUST AT THE VERY LAST DAY OF THE MONTH YOU OWE IT OR IT STARTS BEING LATE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN AN IMPLIED. THERE'S ALSO AN AUDIT PROVISION ON A RECONCILIATION IN THE LEASE AS WELL.

THERE'S, OKAY, BUT THERE IS NO DUE DATE FOR RENT.

AND I THINK THAT'S A BASIC WHICH GIVES ME CONCERN.

I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTIONS WOULD BE FOR THE PARISH ATTORNEY, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE YOUR TASK, MIKE, WAS TO LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF PROTECTION TO THE PARISH.

CORRECT. MY, SO JFI IS A PARISH CHARTERED ENTITY, BUT IS A SEPARATE JURIDICAL ENTITY FROM THE PARISH.

AND SO YOU WERE LOOKING AT IT FOR JFI, BUT NOT IN TERMS OF PROTECTING THE PARISH FROM LIABILITY OR EXPOSURE. THE GREATER PARISH OF JEFFERSON ONLY.

JFI. SO, BY PROTECTING THE LANDLORD, WE ARE NOT REPRESENTING THE PARISH.

RIGHT. THAT'S THE PARISH ATTORNEY, NOT US. YES.

BUT BY PROTECTING THE LANDLORD, THE LANDLORD IS ALIGNED BECAUSE THE LANDLORD WAS GIVEN THESE REAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FROM THE PARISH THROUGH JRI TO JFI. SO, IF THERE'S A QUESTION RELATIVE TO THE PARISH THAT SHOULD BE ASKED TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

BUT JFI'S INTERESTS ARE IN FACT ALIGNED WITH REGARD TO LANDLORD PROTECTIONS WITH THE PARISH.

BUT IT IS A SEPARATE JURIDICAL ENTITY. THEY'RE SEPARATE.

SO, JFI ONLY HAS WHAT WE GIVE IT. JFI ONLY HAS THE ABILITY TO USE THE LAND THAT WE, THE PARISH OWN.

JFI ONLY HAS THE $10 MILLION THAT WE HAVE GIVEN IT.

JFI DOESN'T HAVE OTHER ASSETS OR RESOURCES THAT THE PARISH DOESN'T GRANT IT.

AND SO, MY CONCERN IS THE LIABILITY ULTIMATELY OF THE PARISH.

AND SO, YOU HAVE CLARIFIED THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT IT FOR JFI, AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY WOULD LOOK AT IT FOR THE PARISH AT LARGE, THE GREATER PARISH BEYOND JFI. AND WHAT WE GIVE IT IS THAT TO ME OR TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

WELL, THAT WAS WHAT YOU JUST SAID, CORRECT. YOU PHRASED IT DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT IS A SIMILAR POINT.

I THINK YOU'RE MAKING THE, I THINK THE BETTER ANSWER.

JUST PROVIDING CONTEXT IS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS CREATED LAWS FOR PARISHES TO USE BY CREATING PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS.

I THINK THE INSPECTOR GENERAL POINTED TO AN EXAMPLE THAT I ALSO POINTED TO IN MY INITIAL MEETINGS WITH JFI OF LIKE THE NEW ORLEANS BUILDING CORPORATION, WHICH HANDLES THE WORLD TRADE CENTER PROPERTY THE CITY OWNS ON BOURBON STREET AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ASSETS.

AND THESE WERE CREATED SPECIFICALLY BY THE LEGISLATURE, SO THAT THE PARISH WOULD HAVE A MECHANISM AND A MEANS WHEN ENTERING INTO REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS TO HAVE ADDITIONAL ABILITIES, AUTHORITIES, AND EFFICIENCIES.

THE LAST QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS BECAUSE YOU DEAL IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, RATHER IN COMMERCIAL LEASES AND SUCH. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE MARKET, WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE ARE BUILDING BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW, FIRST OF ALL, IT IS A RISKY TIME. SO, IT IS A DIFFICULT TIME TO BE GOING INTO BUSINESS, AS YOU STATED.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE IF YOU WERE BUILDING A BUILDING WITH A CLIENT RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE COST PER SQUARE FOOT THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO PAY?

[03:05:09]

AND FOLKS WHO ARE LESS VULNERABLE TO THE VICISSITUDES OF THE MARKET FOR LANDLORDS OR, AND FEE DEVELOPERS WE'RE SEEING VASTLY DIFFERENT TRANSACTIONS TAKING PLACE THAN WE WERE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR AND CERTAINLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

SO, WE'RE IN A PERIOD OF TREMENDOUS MARKET INSTABILITY IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, 200, $250 A SQUARE FOOT.

THAT'S THE BALLPARK I'VE GOTTEN FROM DEVELOPERS.

SO, IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. NO, I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION, BUT YOU'RE ASKING FOR GIVE ME A BALLPARK.

BALLPARK. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SEVEN NUMBERS.

WE HAVE A PROJECT; WE ARE WORKING ON YESTERDAY THAT IS NEARLY $1,000 A FOOT FOR A WELL-KNOWN KNOWN LOCAL REAL ESTATE COMPANY.

WE HAVE YOU KNOW, EVEN THE HOUSING DEVELOPERS ARE NOW NORTH OF $200 A FOOT.

IT'S JUST EVERYTHING IS VERY DIFFERENT BASED UPON THE TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION, THE TYPE OF DESIGN ON THIS PARTICULAR STRUCTURE, WHICH I THINK IS RELEVANT TO THE CONVERSATION TODAY.

THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. THIS ALL HAPPENED BEFORE WE WERE INVOLVED.

BUT I UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

THE DESIGN OF THE STRUCTURE WAS NOT DONE IN A WAY TO FIND TO VALUE, ENGINEER IT TO BE THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST. IT WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE THE MOST IMPACT IN, IN PROPORTION TO THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.

THE DESIGN OF THE STRUCTURE, THE OPEN SPACES, THE AREAS FOR CONGREGATION.

THE DESIGN OF THIS WAS A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

THIS WAS NOT SOMEONE TRYING TO STICK A MICROBREWERY IN A FIFTH GENERATION WAREHOUSE OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

THIS IS DONE TO ANCHOR A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.

SO THIS IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE PROJECT AT ALL FOR 20,000FT².

IT'S GOING TO BE UPWARDS OF $10 MILLION. SO THAT'S EXACTLY THE FIGURE.

IT'S A $10 MILLION FIGURE. AND LOOKING AT THE PLANS ATTACHED TO THIS DRAFT LEASE IT'S ABOUT 11,000FT² UNDER ROOF, AND IT'S ABOUT ANOTHER 8000FT² OF COMMON SPACE OUTSIDE WHERE I'M BUYING FIRE PITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE POINT IS, I REALIZE YOU'VE BEEN HIRED AS AN ADVOCATE FOR JFI.

THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS WHEN I TALK TO BUSINESSES ACROSS THIS PARISH AND THEY TELL ME IN BUSINESS.

I GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH ONE EARLIER THIS MORNING.

200 TO $250 A SQUARE FOOT IS THE BALLPARK OF WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

NOT ANYMORE. I KNOW YOU SAID 250 TO MUCH MORE THAN THAT, BUT I'M TELLING YOU THE FEEDBACK THAT I HAVE GOTTEN FROM BUSINESSPEOPLE .

AND SO, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF I ASK BUSINESSPEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DEVELOP THINGS FOR A LIVING, AND THEY SAY YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO PAY 200 TO 250 A SQUARE FOOT.

AND THAT IS WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH THEIR OWN MONEY.

LOOKING AT THE LEASE YOU'VE GIVEN ME; THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON IS GOING TO PAY $900 A SQUARE FOOT.

AND SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE, WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, NOT YOU AS THE ATTORNEY, BUT WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE IN THE TERRITORY OF WASTE.

WHEN OUR BUSINESSPEOPLE IN THE PARISH SAY, I EXPECT TO BUILD FOR 200, 250 A SQUARE FOOT, AND YOU, THE PARISH, ARE BUILDING A BUILDING AT 900 A SQUARE FOOT.

AND IT'S NOT A QUESTION, REALLY. IT'S I'M STATING WHAT I'VE SPOKEN TO BUSINESSPEOPLE ABOUT 200 TO 50 A SQUARE FOOT IS A FAR CRY FROM 900. AND WHEN YOU JUST PUT YOURSELF ON RECORD SAYING, WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF VALUE ENGINEERING THIS PROJECT, THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE EFFICIENT WITH THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE MINDFUL OF THE MARKET WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WOW. I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT IS WHAT PUBLIC MONEY SHOULD BE DOING.

[03:10:05]

AND IF I CAN TALK TO A BUSINESSPERSON ON THE MORNING THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON A LEASE, AND THEY SAY I WOULD ONLY WITH MY MONEY BILLED FOR 200 TO 250 A SQUARE FOOT, AND WE ARE BUILDING FOR NINE.

AND WE HAVE ADMITTED ON THE RECORD THAT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN VALUE ENGINEERING WITH PUBLIC FUNDS.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE EFFICIENT WITH DOLLARS THAT SHOULD CAUSE US CONCERN.

AND EVEN IN A CMAR, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS PURSUING A CMAR IN FAT CITY, WE SPECIFICALLY BROUGHT IN SOMEONE WHO COULD VALUE ENGINEER BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE ARE PUBLIC FUNDS. SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT YOUR QUESTION TO ANSWER AS AN ATTORNEY.

IT JUST CONCERNS ME WHEN THE THING ATTACHED TO THIS LEASE GIVES ME SQUARE FOOTAGE, THAT WHEN I PUT THE $10 MILLION WE'RE INVESTING TO THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND GET A ROUGH $900 A SQUARE FOOT. CERTAINLY, THE NEWS MEDIA AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN GO OUT THERE IN THE MARKET AND FACT CHECK WHAT THE COMMON RATE IS. AND I'M GOING TO BET RIGHT NOW WHEN LOOKING AT PROJECTS, SURE, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND SOME IN THIS REALM, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY ARE GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THIS EXPENSE.

AND SO, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I HAVE THE CONCERN ABOUT US BEING WASTEFUL BY NOT VALUE ENGINEERING WITH PUBLIC FUNDS.

THE OTHER THAT I HAVE A CONCERN WITH AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS IF I AM BUYING PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND THINGS THAT ARE EXPENSIVE IN NATURE AND I'M SPARING NO EXPENSE, AND I'M DOING THIS AT THE BENEFIT OF A PRIVATE ENTITY, THEN WE'RE IN THE TERRITORY OF A PROHIBITED DONATION.

AND SO, WHEN I LOOK UP PROHIBITED DONATION AND AN EXAMPLE OF IT, EVEN JUST ON MY PHONE, THE DEFINITION EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED USES INCLUDE DONATING PUBLIC FUNDS TO SUPPORT PRIVATE BUSINESSES.

AND SO, IF MY PUBLIC FUNDS ARE GIVING A PRIVATE BUSINESS A WOW, FANCY, BOUGIE 900 SQUARE FOOT, WHEN YOU CAN DO IT FOR TWO, THEN I'M NOT SURE THAT'S NOT A PROHIBITED USE.

AND WHEN I'M NOT GETTING A BASE RENT FOR THE LAND THAT I OWN AND THE BUILDING THAT I BUILD, AND I GET ZERO FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS BECAUSE THE BACKSTOP DOESN'T EVEN KICK IN UNTIL FOUR YEARS LATER.

IT CAUSES ME GREAT CONCERN ABOUT ARE WE GIVING A PROHIBITED DONATION TO A BUSINESS? WHAT I HEAR FROM EVERY BUSINESS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS FOR ME? BECAUSE I WANT A BUSINESS WHERE YOU BUY MY WALK IN COOLERS AND YOU BUY MY BREWING EQUIPMENT AND YOU GIVE ME ZERO BASE RENT AND YOU BUY ME THE BEST THAT MONEY CAN BUY AT $900 A SQUARE FOOT, AND I DON'T HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY INSURANCE BECAUSE THE BUILDING IS OWNED PUBLICLY AND I DON'T HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE THE BUILDING IS OWNED PUBLICLY, AND THERE'S NOT EVEN A PROVISION OUR PARISH ATTORNEY WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT FOR OBLIGATING CASUALTY INSURANCE.

SO I AM CONCERNED THAT WITHOUT CASUALTY INSURANCE BEING REQUIRED OF THIS COMPANY, THAT I'M BUILDING A PRETTY BOUGIE BUSINESS FOR, THAT WE ARE AT RISK. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, MIKE, THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB.

THAT WILL BE OUR PARISH ATTORNEY'S JOB. TO ANSWER WHY BASIC ELEMENTS OF PLAN FOR THE WORST ARE MISSING FROM THIS LEASE. I'LL JUST CLARIFY THE RECORD.

I HAVE NO INTEREST IN RESPONDING ON THE POLITICAL.

THAT'S FOR THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE. I'LL JUST WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD ON THREE ITEMS. FIRST OF ALL, VALUE ENGINEERING WAS TAKING PLACE.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC GOALS OF THE PROJECT, THE COMMENT IS THAT THIS IS NOT A FIFTH GENERATION WAREHOUSE BEING ADAPTED FOR A MICROBREWERY. THIS IS THE FULFILLMENT OF WHAT GOES BACK OVER A DECADE OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE AS THE TYPE OF STIMULATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO FOSTER A LIVE WORK, PLAY, MIXED USE COMMUNITY, THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

THE SECOND THING, THE OUTCOME THAT SHOULD BE EVALUATED IS WHETHER IT'S A LEGAL LEASE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE AND WHETHER IT FULFILLS THE PUBLIC PURPOSE. AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IT THROUGH THAT LENS.

WE WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE VIDEOS WHEN THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY, MULTIPLE TIMES APPROVED THIS PROJECT.

THEY WERE APPROVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

WHEN THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS PROJECT, THEY WERE APPROVING A PUBLIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

[03:15:02]

SO I DO HOPE THAT AS YOU'RE DEBATING THIS TODAY, THAT THE PUBLIC PRIVATE NATURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NATURE.

FINAL COMMENT I'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE AN INTEREST IN BEING A PROXY FOR A POLITICAL DISCUSSION.

I'D LIKE TO STATE TO THE LEGAL DISCUSSION, BUT THIS IS THE FINAL COMMENT, AND THIS IS THE QUESTION I HOPE YOU'D ASK YOURSELVES.

WE STARTED WITH A LEASE. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT.

TO IMPROVE IT IN NO WAY PROHIBITS US FROM HAVING FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE LEASE IF THE COUNCIL SO DESIRES AND SO DESIRES.

SO, I THINK THE QUESTION FOR TODAY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE TWO OPTIONS ARE A DEFERRAL THAT THE OIG HAS REQUESTED, OR AN APPROVAL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO HAS MOVED.

IF THE METRIC IS DOES THIS LEASE IMPROVE UPON THE PARISHES AND JUDGES STANDING FROM THE EXISTING LEASE.

IT WOULD BE WITH UNANIMITY THAT THE ANSWER IS THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT.

NO ONE COULD SAY ANYTHING OTHERWISE. IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS BASED UPON NEW CONCERNS RAISED BY THE OIG OR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ADDRESS THOSE IN THE DUE COURSE.

I'D LIKE TO ALLOW YOU ALL TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT, IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE.

LET ME DO TWO THINGS AND THEN I YIELD. ONE, IT'S DISAPPOINTING.

I UNDERSTAND YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU'D LIKE TO STICK TO THE LEGAL, BUT WHAT YOU JUST DID WAS POLITICALLY COMMENT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU WENT BACK TO SAY THAT BEFORE, SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WERE EVEN ON THIS PANEL, THAT WE VOTED ON THIS MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS PROJECT STARTED AS A $40,000 IMPROVEMENT OF A PARKING LOT.

AND SO I OBJECT TO THE FACT THAT YOU JUST WADED INTO THE POLITICAL BY INSINUATING THAT SOMEHOW THIS PROJECT, AS IT'S PRESENTED TODAY, HAS BEEN PRESENTED SEVEN TIMES BECAUSE IT DID NOT.

AND THE POLITICAL NATURE OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT, MIKE, IS THAT AND AGAIN, I HAVE PROPOSED ON THIS AGENDA THAT WE, THE PARISH, PUT OUT FOR SOLICITATION THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TO RESPOND.

AND THAT COULD INCLUDE YOU, BUT PUBLICLY, TRANSPARENTLY SEEKING TO ENGAGE AN ATTORNEY AND TO SAY THAT YOU ARE SOMEHOW NOT POLITICAL WHEN YOU HAVE DONE WORK FOR THE CITY OF GRETNA, FOR ARTHUR LAWSON, IT IS POLITICAL THAT JFI ENGAGED YOU, WHO SELECTED YOU? WHO SELECTED YOU? I MEAN, IT'S DISINGENUOUS, I GUESS I WANT TO CORRECT ON THE RECORD.

YOU WERE NOT. NO. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE THE PARISH, WE NORMALLY ENGAGE PEOPLE THROUGH PUBLIC SOLICITATIONS WHERE WE SAY, EVERYONE IN THIS BUSINESS, SEND ME YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND WE WILL CHOOSE ONE OF YOU.

THAT IS NOT HOW YOU WERE ENGAGED. AND SO FOR I OBJECT TO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE INSINUATING YOU'RE NOT POLITICAL.

I'M NOT POLITICAL. OKAY. YOU WERE ENGAGED. I NEVER REPRESENTED ARTHUR LAWSON.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S COME FROM. THAT'S NOT REPRESENTING THE CITY OF GRETNA FOR SURE, BECAUSE I'VE DEALT WITH YOU ON THOSE PROJECTS.

I'VE NEVER REPRESENTED THE CITY OF GRETNA, EVER.

OKAY. WELL, AGAIN, I'D LIKE THE RECORD CORRECTED BECAUSE THAT'S.

THAT WAS AN AD HOMINEM ATTACK TOWARDS ME. I'M SURE I WANT TO STAY ON THE LEGAL, BUT AND I HAVE YOUR COMMENT, YOUR COMMENT ON HOW THIS COUNCIL VOTED SEVEN TIMES.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL NATURE THAT YOU'RE COMMENTING ON? THIS IS THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS THIS.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR YOU. SO, I WANT TO KEEP THIS VERY LEGAL AND VERY PROFESSIONAL.

THERE IS A QUESTION RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF THIS LEASE THAT WAS IN EFFECT WHEN WE WERE RETAINED BY JFI.

WE WERE RETAINED BY JFI. I WOULD NEVER RESPOND TO THIS PARISH BECAUSE I'D HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I REPRESENT JFI. I'VE NEVER REPRESENTED MR. LAWSON.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT. AND I'VE NEVER REPRESENTED THE CITY OF GRETNA.

I PRIMARILY APPEAR BEFORE THOSE BODIES. IF I HAVE A LAND USE CLIENT OR A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CLIENT.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT HOW THIS COUNCIL VOTED? IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HOW THIS COUNCIL VOTED SO THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY WHAT THE PUBLIC PURPOSE WAS IN THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY DIRECTING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS FOR THIS GOVERNMENT CENTER PROJECT ON THE WEST BANK. SO, BY REVIEWING THOSE VIDEOS AND UNDERSTANDING THE DISCUSSION, THE TASK FORCE THAT THE PARISH CREATED, THE PROCESS, THE PARISH WENT THROUGH THE TRANSPARENT PUBLIC PROCESS THAT THE PARISH WENT THROUGH.

I HAVE NO INTEREST IN HOW THE PARISH DECIDES HOW TO SPEND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.

[03:20:05]

BUT THE PARISH UNANIMOUSLY DID THAT, AND I WANTED TO KNOW IN THIS LEASE THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO AMEND AND RESTATE TO ADD LANDLORD PROTECTIONS, WHY IS IT THAT WE'RE PROTECTING? AND IT'S THE PUBLIC PURPOSE THAT WAS OUTLINED BY THE PARISH IN ALLOCATING THESE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT UP THE COMMENT COUNCIL MEMBER.

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN ENGAGING IN A POLITICAL DISCUSSION, JUST A LEGAL DISCUSSION.

BUT IT IS RELEVANT HOW THE PARISH COUNCIL VOTED AND WHY THE PARISH COUNCIL VOTED IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING AND I WANT, I WANT TO MISTAKE ONE MORE THING FOR THE RECORD, AND I WANT TO APPLAUD JFI ON THIS COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO AND ALL OF YOU ON THIS.

THERE'S NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT WHEN PARISHES CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY AS HAPPENED HERE, SO THAT THIS DEBATE COULD HAPPEN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A GOOD USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A GOOD USE OF PARISH MONEY.

WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF A COMMITMENT AT THE JFI LEVEL AND CLEARLY AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL, TO ADD TRANSPARENCY TO THIS PROCESS. WE'RE NOW OVER HALF A DOZEN TIMES THIS HAS APPEARED ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.

I'M HERE ON THE LEGAL ISSUE, AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS MY CONCLUDING POINT.

THIS IS A BETTER LEASE TODAY, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED, THAN THE ORIGINAL LEASE THAT ADDRESSES MANY OF THE CONCERNS RAISED.

I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY, AND CERTAINLY ON BEHALF OF JFI WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS IF THEY'RE WARRANTED. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. LET ME JUST ASK THE PARISH ATTORNEY THEN.

HAVE YOU REVIEWED THE MEASURES IN THIS AS IT RELATES TO INDEMNITY? DOES IT HAVE OUR STANDARD LANGUAGE IN IT? WHY ARE WE NOT REQUIRING CASUALTY INSURANCE? WHY? WHY? GIVE ME THE LEVEL, I GUESS, OF YOUR REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT JEFFERSON PARISH IS PROTECTED AND THAT OUR RISK IS MINIMIZED. WELL, I WILL SAY THAT I LOOK AT IT AS WELL AS THE DIRECTOR OF RISK MANAGEMENT.

AND ON PAGE FIVE, WE ARE REQUIRING OUR GENERAL COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY, EXCESS LIABILITY PROPERTY INSURANCE.

WE HAVE INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS. WE HAVE DEFAULT REMEDIES.

I WILL SAY THAT I AM NOT A REAL ESTATE LAWYER.

I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE IN THAT ASPECT OF THE LAW.

BUT INSOFAR AS WHAT WE GENERALLY REQUIRE OF OUR LESSEES AND OUR VENDORS, ALL OF THOSE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ARE IN THE LEASE.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS LEASE THAT IS OMITTED FROM WHAT WE NORMALLY PUT IN OUR LEASES AS PROTECTIVE AND RISK REDUCING? I'M NOT I'M NOT THAT I SEE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, I AM NOT A I'M NOT A COMMERCIAL LEASE LAWYER.

NO, I'M ASKING JUST IN TERMS OF OUR CONTRACTS, THE THINGS THAT WE PUT IN STANDARD TO PROTECT THE PARISH AND TO REDUCE OUR RISK.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS NOT IN HERE THAT WE WOULD DEMAND OF ANY OTHER PERSON CONTRACTING WITH THE PARISH? IT HAS OUR STANDARD INSURANCE AND OUR INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS.

THERE'S AN INSPECTOR GENERAL PROVISION. IT HAS ALL OF OUR GENERAL PROVISIONS.

I CAN SPEAK TO THAT, BUT NOT AS TO THE ACTUAL TERMS OF THE LEASE.

I GUESS THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY. I KNOW WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MORENO TO MOVE ON THIS.

WE ALSO HAVE A DEFERRAL REQUEST FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY WE WOULD NOT GIVE THE COURTESY OF ONE DEFERRAL TO THE MONTH OF MAY FOR AN INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT THAT NONE OF US HAVE READ.

TO HAVE SOME CONTEXT AND MOVE FORWARD ON A LEASE THAT WILL BIND US FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS.

RESPECTFULLY. COUNCILMAN MORENO, WHEN YOU'LL BE GONE IN THREE DAYS.

I JUST FIND IT CONCERNING. I'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THIS IF YOU WANT ME TO.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN. BUT I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN MOVING TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN MORENO CAN I MAKE A MOTION FOR TWO SMALL AMENDMENTS SO WE CAN MOVE PAST THIS WHERE WE CAN CLARIFY AT THE TOP OF THE FIRST.

WHEREAS WHO THE OWNER IS AND JUST PUT A DUE DATE IN BY THE 15TH OF THE MONTH.

CAN WE EVEN IF IT'S NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE THE CONTRACT STATES THAT'S IT'S COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE.

THE CONTRACT STATES MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS OF RENT BEGIN AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE TERM.

BUT TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR, WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S IN THERE AND THAT'S FINE.

[03:25:07]

AND JFI IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AUTHORIZED BY LAW.

I MEAN, GO AHEAD. YEAH. WHATEVER THE LEGALESE IS THAT MAKES THAT.

YEAH, THAT THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, I DON'T MIND I MEAN, CAN I AMEND THIS RIGHT NOW ON THE FLOOR? IS THAT? WHAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO? YEAH. THAT'S FINE.

YEAH. SO, I'LL, I'D LIKE TO MOTION WITH HIS APPROVAL MOTION ON THE FLOOR, I CAN MOTION FOR THE AMENDMENT WITH HIS APPROVAL.

MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SO, THIS IS FOR THE AMENDMENT OR FOR THE SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED AS AMENDED ONCE WE MOVE TO THE APPROVAL.

SO FIRST, THE AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. RIGHT? YES.

OKAY. SO, I'D LIKE TO OFFER THE TWO AMENDMENTS THEN FOR THE FIRST WHEREAS AND FOR THE RENT DUE BY THE 15TH OF THE MONTH ON EACH LEASE, THERE'S TWO ON BOTH. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING OFFERED BY COUNCIL MEMBER? WELL, IS THERE A SECOND FOR THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING OFFERED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEE, ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS? HEARING? NONE SO ORDERED. SO NOW WE CAN GO BACK TO THE AMENDED LEASE THAT WE I MEAN, THE AMENDED RESOLUTION THAT WE JUST DID I MOVE AGAIN TO APPROVE. I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE, BECAUSE MY APPRECIATION IS BY MOVING FORWARD TO APPROVE THIS, WE ARE REJECTING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REQUEST TO DEFER FOR ONE MEETING.

EXACTLY. MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN I MAKE A STATEMENT? YES, SIR. SO, IT'S THE SPEAKER. MAKE IT SHORT.

YEAH, WELL, IT'S DISTURBING TO ME THAT MR. MARINO WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO MAKE CHANGES TO THIS LEASE THAT WERE REQUESTED BY THE IG AND MISS VAN VRANCKEN, AND YET WE'RE GOING TO SIT HERE TODAY AND MOVE THE GOALPOSTS ONCE AGAIN WITH NEW OBJECTIONS.

LISTEN, DESPITE WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER, IT'S JUST I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CONTINUATION OF A VENGEANCE TOUR AGAINST THE CITY OF GRETNA, AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WASTED WAY TOO MUCH OF THIS COUNCIL'S TIME ON THIS ISSUE.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO DOING WHAT THE PEOPLE ELECTED US TO DO.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. SO, I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE ELECTED US TO LISTEN TO THE IG WHO'S ASKING FOR A ONE MEETING DEFERRAL.

IN YOUR ALLEGATION THAT I'M SOMEHOW AGAINST THIS PROJECT; I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY THAT IS NOT TRUE.

A YEAR AGO, I PUT ON THE RECORD CONCERNS ABOUT LEASES AND WAS PROVEN TRUE TODAY WHEN WE HAD DRAMATIC AMENDMENTS TO LEASES BECAUSE THEY WERE BAD, AS I SAID THEY WERE INITIALLY.

TODAY WE HAVE TWO NEW LEASES TO REVIEW. SO WHILE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THAT COUNCILMAN MARINO HAS ADDED ARE IN FACT DIFFERENT THAN OUR ORIGINAL LEASES AND IN SOME TIMES IMPROVEMENTS, WE HAVE TWO NEW LEASES TODAY BEFORE US THAT CONTAIN A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER DEFICIENCIES. I POINTED OUT TWO OF THEM OUT, WHICH YOU ALL ARE CORRECTING ON THE FLOOR.

I CERTAINLY COULDN'T PUT EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ON THE RECORD TODAY.

SO, THE TWO THAT I MENTIONED, YOU ADMIT NEED TO BE CORRECTED.

AND SO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RUSH TO MOVE FORWARD ON TWO LEASES AND OH, BY THE WAY, I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT THE LEGALITY IS BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS EVERYTHING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL CONSIDER.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET A CLEAN COPY AND A RED LINE COPY.

AND THERE WAS NO RED LINE COPY OF THIS LEASE SO THAT YOU COULD EVEN REVIEW THE CHANGES BEING MADE.

SO AGAIN, WHILE I'M I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MOVE FORWARD AND PUT THIS CONTENTIOUS TOPIC BEHIND US, I DON'T THINK THAT EQUATES TO IGNORING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT PEOPLE HAVE A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN IGNORING A ONE MEETING REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL, AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THERE COULD BE OTHER THINGS IN THESE NEW LEASES THAT ARE A PROBLEM NOTED. MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY I? YES. YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A CONTENTIOUS MATTER. THIS HAS BECOME A CONTENTIOUS MATTER.

AND IT'S I KNOW YOUR COUNCILWOMAN CONTENTION.

I MEAN, THIS IS CONTENTIOUS BECAUSE OF YOU. YOU HAVE SAID SEVERAL TIMES TODAY THAT AS A COUNCIL PERSON, AS A COUNCIL PERSON, AS A, I MEAN, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I'M CONCERNED WITH THIS. AND AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THE PROBLEM IS YOU EXPRESS THOSE CONCERNS TODAY WHEN WE'RE ASKED TO VOTE ON LEASES.

YOU WANT TO ARGUE ABOUT WHAT THE COST OF THIS BUILDING, IT COSTS MORE FOR GOVERNMENT TO BUILD ANYTHING. IT JUST DOES.

AND YOU WANT TO ARGUE ABOUT THAT TODAY. THE PROBLEM IS YOU VOTED FOR THAT SEVEN TIMES ALREADY.

THAT'S NOT BEFORE US TODAY. THE COST OF THIS BUILDING, IT'S NOT BEFORE US.

[03:30:03]

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A RENEGOTIATION OF A LEASE THAT THE TIME TO VOICE.

SOME CONCERN WAS WHEN WE ENTERED THE LEASE THE FIRST TIME.

LUCKILY, THEY WERE COURTEOUS ENOUGH TO COME BACK AND RENEGOTIATE WITH US THE $2 MILLION THAT YOU'VE SAID REPEATEDLY THEY'RE NOT FORCED TO INVEST.

I HAVE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF THEIR OTHER LOCATIONS.

ONE OF THEM IS RUMBA IN METAIRIE, WHERE IT'S HARD TO GET A RESERVATION BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A HOT PLACE RIGHT NOW.

THESE ALL OF THEIR PLACES HAVE CHAIRS, TABLES, DINING, DECOR.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INVEST AND TO PRETEND LIKE YOU CAN GO TO THEIR NEW BREWPUB WITHOUT SITTING IN A CHAIR IS RIDICULOUS.

THEY'RE GOING TO INVEST. AND FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE LEASE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARINO, FOR AGREEING TO CHANGE IT. BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT THE COMMENCEMENT DATE. AND YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S NO DUE DATE? THE COMMENCEMENT DATE? IT'S DUE EVERY 30 DAYS FROM THE COMMENCEMENT DATE. I MEAN, AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO DID A COMMERCIAL LEASE UP HERE? I MEAN, IT'S DUE THE DAY YOU SIGN IT. AND THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM HAVING TO DO THE PRO RATA SHARE AND CALCULATE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO OWE AND NOT HAVE A FULL MONTH RENT.

THIS IS BASIC BUSINESS, GUYS. THERE'S NOTHING WEIRD HERE.

I MEAN, I COUNCILMAN MARINO, I SUPPORT YOU TODAY.

I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO DELAY. SO THERE WAS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE.

ROLL CALL. VOTE. THE AMENDMENTS WERE VOTED ON.

SO, THE AMENDMENTS. YEAH, WE VOTED ON THE AMENDMENTS.

YES. YEAH, WE DID. YEAH. ROLL CALL VOTE OR NOTE ME AS VOTING AGAINST.

I DON'T SEE THE NEED TO DISRESPECT. I'D LIKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

OKAY. MOTION TO APPROVE. ROLL CALL. VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 99, PLEASE.

MADAM CLERK. AMENDMENTS AND MINUTES. THE PUBLIC DON'T GET TO SAY NOTHING.

YOU CAN SAY IT AT THE END OF THE MEETING. MR. HYERS, AS I SAID EARLIER. THERE'S NO PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM, AND THERE'S STILL NO PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS A ROLL CALL.

VOTE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 99, AS AMENDED.

.

MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. AND LOOK ON A PERSONAL NOTE, COUNCILMAN MORENO.

THANK, I'VE APPRECIATED YOU BEING ON THE COUNCIL FOR THESE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND I APPRECIATE THE HOURS LONG PHONE CALLS THAT WE HAD, INCLUDING LAST NIGHT UP UNTIL 1030 AT NIGHT, ALMOST 11:00. I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED ALONG THE WAY.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS THAT WERE AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES LATE FOR. YEAH,

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

ITEM NUMBER FOUR. CORRECT. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR TANYA ASHE, CCMSI, CLAIM NUMBER 290828 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. QUIET IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE, UNTIL WE ADJOURN FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION. MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. WE'RE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LEGAL MATTER CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR TANYA ASH CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 2099J290828. AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION? RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

WE RESUME AT ITEM 101, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK, WITH AN AMENDMENT.

[OTHER RESOLUTIONS (Part 2 of 2)]

[03:35:02]

IT CHANGES THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE FUNDS CAN BE USED, FROM UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO OPERATION EXPENSES AT $50,000 PER YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS, TOTALING $200,000 AND $150,000 FOR ROOF REPAIRS.

AND IT DELETES THE SECOND WHEREAS CLAUSE ON THE CEA AGREEMENT.

IT AMENDS THE PREAMBLE TO MATCH THE CHANGES TO THE PREAMBLE OF THE RESOLUTION.

AMEND SECTION ONE SERVICE DELIVERABLES TO REFLECT THE CHANGES TO THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE FUNDS CAN BE USED TO OPERATIONS AT 50,000 PER YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS, TOTALING 200,000 AND 150,000 FOR ROOF REPAIRS, AND RESTATES THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND FITNESS BENEFITS OF THE FARMER'S MARKET. AMENDS SECTION TWO PAYMENT TO REDUCE THE CAP FROM 750,000 TO 350,000.

AMENDS SECTION THREE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THE TERM FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS.

AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO BRINGING A, LET ME START THAT AGAIN.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO BRINGING AMENDMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE.

COUNCILMAN MARINO, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS? YES.

I'M GOING TO MOVE TO APPROVE AFTER I DISCUSS WHAT IT IS.

OR I'M MOVING TO APPROVE IT. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THIS IS COUNCILMAN EDWARDS LAST YEAR APPROPRIATED $750,000 FOR THE GRETNA FARMERS MARKET, AND NO, CEA WAS DONE. SO, THE MONEY WENT TO THE ACCOUNT, AND IT DID NOT MOVE.

WHAT I'VE DECIDED TO DO WITH THIS, AFTER LISTENING TO A GOOD BIT OF COMMENTS AND THINGS ABOUT THAT, I SHOULD BE LEAVING MONEY BEHIND FOR THE NEXT COUNCILMAN, I, OR COUNCILWOMAN.

I NEVER INTENDED TO DO ANYTHING BUT THAT. SO, WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW IS I'M.

I'M PULLING BACK THE REQUESTS. I'M TAKING THE REQUESTS FROM 750,000 FOR THE MARKET.

DOWN TO 350,000 FOR THE MARKET. THE CHANGE IS, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE MONEY WILL GO TO OPERATIONS, WHICH IS I'VE SPOKEN TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY. THERE'S CONSISTENT WITHIN THE USE OF THE HOSPITAL FUNDS AND ONLY 150,000 TOWARDS THE ROOF. AND SO, WHAT I'M LITERALLY DOING IS LEAVING $400,000 SITTING IN THAT ACCOUNT THAT WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME CAN MAKE A DECISION TO ALLOCATE IT TO THE SAME SOURCE THAT MARION EDWARDS DID OR PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE AMENDED. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM 101, AS AMENDED, ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN MORENO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

NOW WE ARE AT ITEM 102, WHICH IS. THE ADDENDUM AGENDA COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE GLOBAL

[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS]

ALL RIGHT. LET ME READ THAT AGAIN. YOUR MOTION COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ON THE ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH 25 -11, WHICH WILL PULL FOR DISCUSSION, 12 FOR DISCUSSION 13 WHICH WILL BE AMENDED, AND 19.

WHAT'S 19? IS THAT? DID I MISS? RIGHT. IS IT NOT 12.

AND IT'S 19 INSTEAD. IS ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT 1221? NO, I AM 12. YEAH. PULL 12. PULL 12. BUT I THINK COUNCILMAN BONANO RIGHT.

WANTED 19 OKAY. 1913 YES. 13 IS NOT PART OF GLOBO, BUT THE REST IS NEW AND DOESN'T MATCH WITH SOME OF MY NOTES.

SO NUMBER 11, WE'RE PULLING TO DISCUSS. I'M NOT READING THIS YET.

I'M JUST GETTING CLARIFICATION. NUMBER 11, WE'RE PULLING TO DISCUSS NUMBER 19.

WE'RE PULLING FOR DISCUSSION. AND NUMBER 12, ARE WE DOING ANYTHING WITH NUMBER 12? OKAY. 12. YEAH. AND YOU WANT TO DISCUSS 12? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. 21 AND 21 DEFER. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. YOUR MOTION ON THE GLOBAL ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH 25 -11, WHICH WE'LL PULL FOR DISCUSSION 12, WHICH WILL PULL FOR DISCUSSION 13, WHICH WILL BE AMENDED, 19 WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS IN 21, WHICH WILL DEFER TO THE NEXT EAST BANK MEETING JUST TILL MAY.

[03:40:03]

GO AHEAD. MOVE. YOU GOT THAT LIST? HE SAID THE NEXT MEETING.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH 25 -11, WHICH WILL PULL FOR DISCUSSION? 12 WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS.

13 WHICH WILL BE AMENDED? 19 WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS.

DID I SAY 12? 12 WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS. AND 21, WHICH WILL BE DEFERRED.

YOUR MOTION ON THAT COUNCILWOMAN MOVE AS YOU STATED.

OKAY. HEARING NO OBJECTION. SO ORDERED. THAT TAKES US NOW TO ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11, A RESOLUTION REQUESTING AND DIRECTING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL AT ITS MAY 2025 MEETING, TO SOLICIT STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, TO REVIEW AND ADVISE JEFFERSON PARISH ON PROPOSED REVISED VERSIONS OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LEASES RELATED TO THE KINGFISH.

RIVERVIEW DEVELOPMENT, SPECIFICALLY TO ASSESS RISK TO THE PARISH, SEPARATE FROM JEFFERSON FACILITIES INCORPORATED FOR FINANCIAL EXPOSURE AND ONGOING FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS, AND TO NEGOTIATE TERMS MOST FAVORABLE TO THE PARISH.

SO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. THIS ITEM, AS I REFERENCED EARLIER, IS TO HAVE SOMEONE HIRED SPECIFICALLY TO THE PARISH AND GOING OUT PUBLICLY ASKING THAT THE PARISH ATTORNEY DRAFT SOMETHING THAT'S AN SOC, A SOLICITATION, SO THAT WE, THE PARISH, CAN PUBLICLY ASK FOR AN EXPERT WITH COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONAL EXPERIENCE TO LOOK AT THE LEASES.

NOW, THE LEASES THAT WE PASSED EARLIER IN THIS MEETING BECAUSE, AS WAS INDICATED, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE FURTHER AMENDMENT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE EYEBALL IT FROM THE PARISH'S PERSPECTIVE. LOOKING AT THE TAXPAYERS' INTERESTS AND OUR INTERESTS AND SUGGESTING ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THOSE LEASES THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE MADE. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 11 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? YES. COUNCILMAN MARINO.

I OBJECT. THAT'S A ROLL CALL VOTE. YOU OBJECT TO SOLICITING AN EXPERT TO LOOK AT THE LEASES WE JUST PASSED FOR FURTHER RISK? YES. OKAY. LET'S DO A ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. VOTE REQUESTED.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT ROLL CALL? VOTE REQUEST. OH, SORRY.

LET ME UNMUTE EVERYBODY. I HAD Y'ALL MUTED. GO AHEAD.

SO, YOU WERE ASKING FOR A SECOND ON WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

YES, I'LL SECOND IT. YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE MOTION.

YOU SECONDED THE MOTION. THE SECOND SECONDING THE MOTION FOR THE ROLL CALL VOTE.

BUT THERE HAS TO BE A SECOND TO MOVE TO APPROVE.

RIGHT. HE OBJECTED TO THE MOTION TO APPROVE. I THOUGHT WHEN YOU OBJECT TO THE MOTION TO APPROVE THAT, THAT AUTOMATICALLY HAS A ROLL CALL. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

MOTION TO CALL A ROLL CALL. YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.

BONANO SECONDED FOR HIS, NO ON HIS ROLL CALL, BUT WAS THERE A SECOND ON THE RESOLUTION TO EVEN BRING IT BEFORE A VOTE? YEAH, I SECONDED IT. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

THIS IS A ROLL CALL. VOTE FOR ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11.

CALL]. I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANOTHER SET OF EYES ON THIS.

THE MOTION FAILS. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER 12. NUMBER 12, PLEASE.

A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE FOR THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OF 431 HOLMES BOULEVARD, TARRYTOWN, TEXAS STREET, RIGHT AWAY TO THE GRETNA GOVERNMENT COMPLEX PARKING GARAGE.

PROJECT NUMBER 45325106. IN THE ORDINANCE THAT AUTHORIZES THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.

COUNCILMAN MARINO. SO, I ASK THAT WE PULL IT SO THAT I CAN EXPLAIN THAT I'M GOING TO KILL IT.

TAKE IT BACK. ORIGINALLY, I INTENDED TO TAKE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THE PARISH OWNED, AND WHEN IT WAS SOLD TO TAKE THE PROCEEDS,

[03:45:06]

AND I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW IT. SO WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO CANCEL.

MOVE TO CANCEL. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, DINO.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO CANCEL ITEM NUMBER 12 BY COUNCILMAN MORENO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN BONANO? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. NUMBER 13 WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE POWERS OF JEFFERSON AND ALAMEDA CORPORATION, WHICH INSTITUTES THE CAPTURING AND SUBMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS AT UNIFORM AND IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, ADJUSTING THE BILLING RATES AND INCREASES THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT EXPENDITURE AMOUNT TO $4 MILLION IN THE AMENDMENTS ARE.

IN THE PREAMBLE. IN SECTION ONE, IT SHOULD READ A RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND ALAMEDA CORPORATION, WHICH CONSTITUTES THE CAPTURING AND SUBMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS AS UNIFORM AND IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND ADJUSTS THE BILLING RATES. AND THE THIRD WHEREAS ON THE RESOLUTION AND AGREEMENT IT SHOULD READ WHEREAS THE PARTIES DESIRE TO AMEND THE AGREEMENT IN ORDER TO INSTITUTE THE CAPTURING AND SUBMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS, INCLUDE UNIFORM AND IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, AND TO ADJUST THE BILLING RATES AND ADD A FOURTH, WHEREAS ON THE RESOLUTION AND THE AGREEMENT, WHEREAS THE MAXIMUM EXPENDITURE AMOUNT FOR THIS AGREEMENT SHALL REMAIN AT $1 MILLION PER YEAR. AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE. AND I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS ON HERE BECAUSE OF THE $4 MILLION MISPRINT, IN A WAY ON THE ACTUAL AGENDA, THIS WAS GOING BACK A FEW MEETINGS, AN EFFORT TO HOLD OUR METER READERS A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY'RE READING THE METERS ACROSS THE PARISH AND MAKE SURE THAT THE METERS THAT WERE SAYING ARE BEING TOUCHED, ARE BEING TOUCHED AND SEEN. SO, THIS FORCES THE METER READERS NOW WHEN THEY ARE FLAGGED AT AN ADDRESS, WHEN A METER READS A CERTAIN THRESHOLD HIGHER OR LOWER, IT WILL ALERT THE METER READERS AS IT ALREADY DOES.

BUT RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SKIP PAST THAT ALERT, AND THAT TRIGGERS OUR WATER DEPARTMENT TO THEN GO OUT AND CHECK THE METER.

SO NOW THIS WILL FORCE THEM TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT METER THEY CANNOT READ, OR THEY READ THAT'S IRREGULAR.

THEY CANNOT, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BYPASS THAT ALERT ANYMORE.

AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT PICTURE AND SAVE OUR WATER DEPARTMENT.

THE TROUBLE OF GOING OUT THERE ON THAT TRIP TO READ AND ASSESS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE METER.

SO IT HOLDS THE METER READERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE. IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF STRAIN OFF OUR WATER DEPARTMENT. AND THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE PRICE TO THE PARISH IS 27.4 CENTS PER METER. PHOTOGRAPHED ADDITIONAL TO THE $0.20 THAT ARE ALREADY CHARGED.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE INCURRED BY THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A FEE THAT GOES UP ON WATER BILLS.

IT'S BEING PAID FOR BY $20,000 PER YEAR FROM MY OFFICE TO START, AND PRESUMABLY THAT WILL GO DOWN.

BY OUR CALCULATIONS, WE SHOULD SEE AROUND $16,000.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS YEAR, AND AS MORE OF THE NEW METERS ARE INSTALLED, WE SHOULD SEE FEWER METER READS, OBVIOUSLY, AND THAT COST WOULD PRESUMABLY GO DOWN OVER TIME.

SO THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THE WHOLE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENT.

IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE PARISH PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN PERSON METER READINGS ON THE EAST AND WEST BANKS.

ONCE AGAIN, FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEBODY IN PERSON.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE CHRONICLED THIS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE FACE IN THE PARISH. IT'S A PROBLEM WE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY IN OUR OFFICES. PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THAT THE METERS AREN'T REALLY BEING READ AND THEY'RE NOT BEING DONE PROPERLY.

SO, THIS WILL AT LEAST IF SOMEBODY HAS A QUESTION, GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO ASK FOR THAT PHOTO.

AND WE CAN SAY, HERE'S THE PROOF, HERE'S YOUR METER AND HERE'S HOW IT WAS READ AND HERE'S THAT READING WAS.

SO THAT'S THE EXPLANATION FOR THAT. AND THAT CAP NUMBER IS NOT GOING UP.

IT'LL BE AT MOST $60,000 OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

ADDITIONALLY ON THAT WITHIN THAT, WITHIN THAT PREVIOUS CAP.

SO WITH THAT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS AND COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS, OR I CAN MOVE ON THE AMENDMENTS. MOVE ON THE AMENDMENTS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS? MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

SO NOW, ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

[03:50:08]

NUMBER 19. AND WE'RE GOING TO DEFER THAT TO MAY 21ST.

NO, NO, NO. OH, OKAY. IT WAS GOING TO BE DEFERRED BUT NOW IT'S NOT.

OKAY. NUMBER 19 PLEASE. A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND AVONDALE GLOBAL GATEWAY, LLC TO PROVIDE FOR THE WESTERN CONNECTION RAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT WILL INCLUDE EFFICIENCY DESIGNING AND EXECUTING A TRACK LAYOUT, AND OPERATING PLANS TO MAXIMIZE RAIL VOLUME, TO FURTHER DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND REDUCE CONFLICT WITH PASSENGER AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED HUNDRED AND $50,000.

COUNCILWOMAN. I'M SORRY. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.

I'D LIKE TO COMMENT, MR. CHAIRMAN. YES, SIR. I THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO DISCUSS THIS MEASURE TODAY, SINCE WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME ABOUT WASTING SO MUCH TIME DISCUSSING WASTING PARISH DOLLARS.

THIS CEA WOULD GIVE AVONDALE MARINE $250,000 TO BUILD A RAIL SPUR THAT'S NECESSARY FOR A POTENTIAL CLIENT THAT IS COMING TO AVONDALE.

SPUR WOULD COST $13 MILLION. THE CLIENT IS A BRAZILIAN COMPANY WHO WOULD COME TO AVONDALE AND BE A GREAT ASSET FOR JEFFERSON PARISH, BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING YET BECAUSE WE'RE JUST ONE OF THE FINALISTS FOR THIS PROJECT.

AVONDALE HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED BY THE BRAZILIAN COMPANY.

THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS PROCESS IS THEY'RE GOING TO TEST.

THEY'RE GOING TO SEND A LOAD OF A SHIPLOAD OF MATERIAL TO AVONDALE, TEST HOW WELL THEY LOAD AND UNLOAD IT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE SAME WITH THE OTHER FINALISTS. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH AVONDALE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND $13 MILLION TO BUILD A RAIL SPUR IF THEY IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY'RE NOT SELECTED BY THE BRAZILIAN COMPANY.

SO, THIS IS VERY PREMATURE AND UNNECESSARY. I WILL BE THE FIRST PERSON TO GO RUN INTO JDCO, TO LED, TO ALL THE SOURCES POSSIBLE TO FUND THIS, IF IN FACT WE ARE SELECTED.

BUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME MY COLLEAGUE HAS PASSED THE CAA IN MY DISTRICT FOR PROJECT THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR DISTRICT FIVE BACK TWO YEARS AGO WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE AGAIN, SHE PUT A CEA ON THE AGENDA TO GIVE THE CITY OF WESTWEGO $100,000 FOR A PROJECT THAT I DID NOT SUPPORT.

AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, GUESS WHAT? THAT PROJECT WAS NEVER BUILT.

IN FACT, THAT CEA IS GOING TO EXPIRE ON MAY 9TH.

AND MY DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, THE DISTRICT FIVE COUNCILMAN, HE WILL NOT RENEW THAT AGREEMENT.

WHY? BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS RIGHT TO TAKE METAIRIE MONEY AND GIVE IT TO WESTWEGO.

HE'S GOING TO TAKE THAT MONEY BACK AND USE IT IN METAIRIE WHERE IT SHOULD BE SPENT.

AND SO, FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, I'D LIKE TO OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO CANCEL THIS ITEM.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. AGAIN, THAT'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION.

NOT ABOUT THIS. SO, I FEEL LIKE AGAIN, THAT'S VERY PERSONAL.

LET ME JUST, I GUESS, TAKE FACTUALLY WHAT YOU HAVE SAID.

WHEN I SAT IN THE DISTRICT FIVE SEAT, THE 100,000 THAT I WAS MOVING TO WESTWEGO WAS ACTUALLY RETURNING 100,000 THAT HAD BEEN MOVED FROM DISTRICT TWO TO DISTRICT FIVE. SO, 100,000 WENT FROM DISTRICT 2 TO 5.

I MOVED 100,000 BACK. SO THOSE ARE THE FACTS.

I'VE NEVER. NO, IT WASN'T YOU. COUNCILMAN. IT WAS COUNCILMAN PAUL JOHNSTON TO WORK ON THE BUCKTOWN BOARDWALK.

AND SO THE FACTS ARE, COUNCILMAN JOHNSON CONTRIBUTE $100,000 TO GET THE BOARDWALK ROLLING.

AND I CONTRIBUTED THE 100,000 BACK. SO THAT'S THE FACTS OF THAT ONE.

THE SECOND ONE IS THE ELEVATED EXPRESSWAY ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY, I SHOULD SAY, IN WESTWEGO.

WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG JUST RECENTLY, AND COUNCILWOMAN LISA VALENCE AND THE MAYOR WHO SAID THAT PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD. AND THAT PROJECT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED.

AND THEY WERE ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME ON THE $100,000 BECAUSE IT WILL BE HELPFUL.

AND THE COUNCILMAN INDICATED THAT HE WOULDN'T BE EXTENDING THAT, WHICH IS HIS PREROGATIVE.

BUT THAT PROJECT ACTUALLY IS MOVING FORWARD TO CONSTRUCTION.

AND SO, THEY WILL BE IN NEED OF THAT 100,000 WHEN THAT PROJECT IS IN CONSTRUCTION.

AS TO AVONDALE, AS AN AT LARGE MEMBER, I DON'T HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I ONLY HAVE 200,000 OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS THAT ARE MEANT TO BE SPURRED TO INCREASE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER USE THAN AVONDALE, WHO AT AN ELMWOOD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEETING.

[03:55:01]

BUT IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN WE DO A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF SOMETHING MOVING FORWARD IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS IS A SHOW OF SUPPORT, COMMITTING $250,000 OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MONEY AS A SHOW OF SUPPORT FROM JEFFERSON PARISH AND MY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING TO POTENTIALLY DRAW DOWN ON 9 MILLION OF OTHER PLEDGED FUNDING AND AVONDALE'S INVESTMENT.

SO OUR $250,000 PLEDGE MAY RESULT IN A $13 MILLION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

AND THAT IS HOW I LIKE TO DO THINGS, TO TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT MONEY THAT THEN MAXIMIZES THAT INVESTMENT FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.

SO I'M COMFORTABLE MAKING THIS PLEDGE TO AVONDALE THAT I AM PERFECTLY WILLING TO PUT UP THE FUNDS THAT I AM SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR IN DIVISION A, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE WOULD OBJECT TO HOW I'M USING THESE FUNDS AND PLEDGING THESE FUNDS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF AVONDALE AS ONE OF THE GREATEST INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS IN OUR PARISH.

SO I'D LIKE TO ASK TO RECONSIDER, IF YOU'D LIKE.

I WILL MOVE TO DEFER IT SO THAT WE CAN CONSIDER THIS AND HAVE SOME SOME FURTHER DISCUSSIONS AND BOTH BE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT WE WOULD SEND AVONDALE ANYTHING OTHER THAN WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF AVONDALE GROWING AND THRIVING. SO, LET'S DEFER IT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME PERSONAL CONVERSATION OUTSIDE OF THIS.

WELL, IT WOULD BE NICE WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S DISTRICT TO TELL THEM, HEY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON THIS INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING THINGS ON THE AGENDA WITHOUT ANYONE'S KNOWLEDGE.

I THINK THAT IF ANYONE WERE TO DO A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, THOUGH, THAT NOT IS NOT NECESSARY, THEY WILL FIND EMAIL COMMUNICATION FROM ME TO YOU ON THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS A CALENDAR INVITATION FROM MY OFFICE TO YOUR OFFICE FOR US TO TOUR AVONDALE TOGETHER. AND SO I THINK THAT WILL SOLIDIFY THAT I HAVE COMMUNICATED AND REACHED OUT TO YOU, AND THAT IS A PUBLIC RECORD. DESPITE YOUR FUSSING AT ME.

IT'S. IT IS PART OF THE RECORD. YOU SEE THIS LETTER RIGHT HERE? THE ONE YOU SENT OUT WITHOUT EVEN COPYING ME OR ANYONE ELSE.

IT'S A LETTER OF SUPPORT. THAT'S HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT. NOT FROM YOU. SO, LET'S KEEP THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

I SENT THIS TO YOU AND SAID, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT? I'LL CHALLENGE ANYONE TO MAKE THAT REQUEST. AND YOU'LL SEE THE CALENDAR INVITE AND THE EMAIL THAT I SENT YOU.

THIS IS CHILDISH. OKAY, SO WHERE ARE WE GOING? ARE WE GOING TO MOVE TO CANCEL, OR ARE WE GOING TO MOVE TO DEFER? LET'S DEFER IT, BECAUSE I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE AVONDALE AN IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPORTIVE.

LET'S DEFER IT TO NEXT MEETING. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO DEFER TO OUR NEXT MEETING ON MAY 21ST BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US TO NUMBER 21, WHICH THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DEFER.

WE DEFERRED IT. OKAY. YEAH. GOOD. WE'RE PAST THOSE.

THE ONES THAT OFFERED SO MUCH CONFUSION. NOW WE'RE ON NUMBER.

MADAM CLERK, I DON'T EVEN KNOW 103. OKAY. THANK YOU.

[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]

COUNCIL. DISTRICT. DISTRICT FIVE. COUNCILMAN.

LILJEBERG. MOVE TO APPROVE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION TO COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

NO NEW BUSINESS, NO STATUS REPORTS. SO ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS CAN DO SO NOW.

[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]

[04:00:05]

LET ME GIVE YOU. I DON'T EVEN NEED IT. GO AHEAD. THE THING OF IT IS, IS I'M A HOST.

I MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD TIME. THIS WAS NOT A GOOD TIME.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS AIN'T NO GOOD TIME. LISTEN, Y'ALL PLAY PATTY CAKE LIKE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

A ROOM FULL OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS GOT THEIR HANDS IN COOKIE JARS.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA. KEEP IT RESPECTFUL, MR. HYERS, PLEASE. I AM BEING RESPECTFUL.

OH I AM. AND I'M TIRED OF BEING INTERRUPTED. I'M TIRED OF HAVING MY FIRST AMENDMENT INFRINGED UPON.

I'M TIRED OF YOU BREAKING THE RULES IN THIS CHAMBER.

I HAVEN'T BROKEN ANY RULES. OH, YES YOU HAVE YOUR MINUTE AGENDA ITEM.

YOU GOT TO REOPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC FOR REDRESS.

YES, YOU DO. IT'S A STATE LAW AND NOT EVEN THAT.

GIVE ME MY FIVE MINUTES. TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME AND PUT IT ON THE FRONT END OF THIS MEETING.

SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR THE PUBLIC. LET ME PAUSE YOU.

I'M JUST A CITIZEN STOP YOU TO PAUSE MY TIME.

STOP YOUR CLOCK. BECAUSE I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.

THAT ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS AN AGENDA ITEM OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.

SO, WHETHER IT'S AMENDED OR NOT, THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE ALLOWED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. ARE YOU GOING TO STOP OR ARE YOU GOING TO LET ME SPEAK? I DON'T DO THIS TO YOU. I ASKED YOU IF I COULD SPEAK.

I'M NOT! MR. HYERS, LOOK, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO TRY.

JUST DO YOUR TIME, I DON'T CARE. DON'T. DON'T TRY.

DON'T TRY TO APPEASE ME. DON'T TRY TO PLACATE ME.

JUST GIVE ME MY TIME. UNINTERRUPTED. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES MATTERS.

YOU PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO A REPUBLIC. WHY DON'T YOU ALL FIGURE THIS OUT? AND IF YOU THINK ANYBODY IN HERE, ANY BIG SUIT IN HERE, IF PUBLICLY IN THIS ROOM, I CAN TALK TO YOU AND SOMEHOW MENTION THAT MAYBE YOUR TIME IS MORE VALUABLE THAN MINE, AND YOU CAN CONFIRM THAT PUBLICLY.

YOU REALLY MISS OUT ON WHAT YOUR JOB IS. THERE IS NOBODY'S TIME IN HERE MORE VALUABLE THAN MINE.

NOT ANYBODY'S. NOBODY'S. I'M PAYING FOR EVERYBODY IN HERE.

I'M A TAXPAYER. YOU ALL ARE MY PUBLIC SERVANTS.

YOU ALL OUGHT TO BEHAVE LIKE IT. WE DESERVE BETTER.

YOU YOURSELVES. ALL OF OURSELVES DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT WAS CONDUCTED IN HERE TODAY.

WE REALLY DO. I APPRECIATE MY COUNCIL MEMBER.

YOU MAKE SOME GOOD POINTS. BUT THIS LITTLE THING, THIS LITTLE PATTYCAKE, THIS LITTLE GRETNA.

KENNER VERSUS OLD METAIRIE. YOU ALL MAKE MY POINT FOR ME.

AND WHEN YOU MUTE MY MIC, WHEN YOU KICK ME OUT OF THIS BUILDING.

YOU'RE DOING MY WORK FOR ME. I'VE GOTTEN EVERYTHING FROM YOU.

ALL THAT I EVER COULD HAVE WANTED. WHAT YOU DESERVE IS AN APPORTIONED BODY.

WHAT YOU DESERVE IS A PRINCIPLED REPRESENTATION, THE PRINCIPLED TAXATION.

SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT VILLAGES, WE SHOULD FIGURE THIS OUT, RIGHT? BECAUSE VILLAGES ARE PROPERTY TAXES AND THEY'RE TO BE APPORTIONED.

LAFAYETTE DOESN'T PAY ANY PROPERTY TAX. THEY GET ONE PROPERTY TAX BILL.

YOU THINK THAT'S RIGHT? YOU THINK THE PEOPLE IN GRETNA FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT? YOU THINK THE PEOPLE IN THE UNINCORPORATED PORTIONS OF DISTRICT ONE APPRECIATE THAT? I'M GOING OVER THERE RIGHT NOW. I WALKED INTO THE CHAMBER ON THE WEST BANK THINKING Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE BEEN SHOWN A MOVIE THIS MORNING, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THE MEETING WAS OVER THERE.

WHEN WE COME TO KNOW THINGS, WE QUIT LEARNING.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. FIGURE THIS OUT. GOODBYE.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION.

[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]

THE FIRST ONE IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 26756, DECLARING LOT SIX, SQUARE SIX AT 220 LAVOISIER STREET, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE, AND AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE SALE OF SAID PROPERTY TO AMEND THE ACCOUNT NUMBER FOR THE PROCEEDS OF SAID SALE. COUNCILMAN MORENO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ON THIS BEFORE WE DO.

I DO. BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO A UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL OR ANY OF THAT.

220 LAVOISIER IS THE SAME AS 431 HOMES THAT'S PROPERTY OF THE PARISH OWNS THAT'S GOING TO BE SOLD.

IT'S GOING TO BRING IN ABOUT 240,000. I WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDING TO PUT THAT ALSO WITH THE GRETNA GOVERNMENT COMPLEX.

I AM NOT DOING THAT. I'M WITHDRAWING THIS AS WELL.

SO, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE KEEPING TRACK, I'M NOW UP TO ABOUT $700,000 THAT I'M LEAVING TODAY.

THANK YOU. WITHDRAW, PLEASE. WE DON'T NEED TO MOVE.

DO WE NEED TO MOVE TO CANCEL THAT? NO, IT'S NOT ON.

ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU MAKE A MOTION TO CANCEL? MOTION TO CANCEL? ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO CANCEL THAT ITEM BY COUNCILMAN MARINO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

OKAY. THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

VOTE ALSO TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 13709, THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN TO REVISE THE PAY GRADE FOR THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING.

ANY OBJECTION TO THAT ORDINANCE? READ INTO SUMMARY.

[04:05:04]

ANY OBJECTION TO THAT ORDINANCE BEING READ INTO SUMMARY. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP LOT H. 321 C2 AMES FORM SUBDIVISION LOWERS STYLE PLANTATION AT 4900 BLOCK OF LEO KERNER PARKWAY, LAFAYETTE, LA. ROSE HIGHWAY.

AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R1, CPC TO C2, APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE AREA AND LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS OF THE C1. CBZ FOR STORE CONVENIENCE.

LOCATED AT 2540 LEO KERNER LAFITTE PARKWAY ON LOT 28, SUNRISE ACRES SUBDIVISION.

APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT OF SUBDIVISION OF TRACK A, SQUARE SIX SOUTHWOOD WEST SUBDIVISION INTO LOT ONE DASH 45 SQUARE A LOTS ONE DASH 20 SQUARE B AND TRACT G1 SOUTHWOOD SOUTH SUBDIVISION APPROVING OF LOTS H-3 21, DASH H, DASH TWO A AND H 321 H2B AMES FARM SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS H 321, H2C, H 321, H2D AND H 321, H2E.

APPROVING OF LOT 17 AND PARTS OF LOT 16 AND 18 SQUARE C INTO LOT 16 A AND 18 A, SQUARE C, LOTS 40 DASH C AND 47 A SQUARE 21 BELLBRIDGE SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 47 B SQUARE 21 BELLBRIDGE SUBDIVISION, LOT NUMBER SEVEN, BLOCK TEN, LOCATED AT 624 OAK STREET.

AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION C-1 CBZ TO R1-A.

LIVE OAK PLANTATION ESTATES ADDITION THREE SUBDIVISION INTO A-1A AND A-1B LIVE OAK PLANTATION ESTATES ADDITION THREE SUBDIVISION APPROVING OF PART OF SECTION 38, MODERN FARM SUBDIVISION.

UNIT TWO AND TWO. TRACK RB 38. UNIT TWO APPROVING OF SUBDIVISION OF LOTS 45, 46, 47 AND 48. SQUARE 70 SOUTH NEW ORLEANS INTO LOTS 45 A SQUARE 70 WHERE IT WAS LAST TIME APPROVING OF LOTS D103B AMES FARM SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS ONE THROUGH 14 SQUARE A AND LOTS 15 THROUGH 26 SQUARE B, LOT 28 A SQUARE 36 HARVEY CANAL SUBDIVISION, LOCATED AT 1430 ESTHER STREET.

MORE PARTICULARLY, AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R1 TO R2.

AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 4074, THE PERSONNEL RULES FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE TO REVISE RULE 4009.

REVOKING AND DECLARING A TEN FOOT WALKWAY BETWEEN LOTS 321 AND 322 BETHANY PLAZA SUBDIVISION.

SECTION NUMBER THREE. NO LONGER NEEDED FOR ANY PUBLIC PURPOSE.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET.

AND THAT'S ALL THE ORDINANCES. I HAVE TO READ ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE ORDINANCES.

READ INTO SUMMARY A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

COUNCILMAN MORENO. BEST OF LUCK IN ADVANCE ON YOUR NEXT INTERIM POSITION, WHEREVER IT MAY BE.

TAKE CARE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO ADJOURN BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.