May 21, 2025 Parish Council West Bank

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE YOUR SEATS.

[00:00:03]

[BACKGROUND] WE'LL GET THINGS

[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]

>> I'M GOING TO ASK OUR DIRECTOR, DANNY FERRARA TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE. IS DANNY HERE? COME ON, DANNY. WELL, IN HONOR OF BUILDING SAFETY MONTH, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR BUILDING PERMITS DEPARTMENT AND OUR DIRECTOR DANNY FERRARA.

BUILDING SAFETY MONTH IS AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN CELEBRATED IN MAY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT BUILDING SAFETY, AND OUR BUILDING PERMITS DEPARTMENT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE SAFETY OF OUR BUILDINGS.

THE MISSION OF OUR BUILDING PERMITS DEPARTMENT IS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS PERTAINING TO STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN JEFFERSON PARISH IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER FOR THE OVERALL SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.

BUILDING SAFETY SHOULD NEVER BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

UNDER DANNY'S LEADERSHIP, OUR BUILDING PERMITS TEAM ENFORCES BUILDING AND TECHNICAL CODES WHICH ENSURES THE SAFETY OF OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

I WANT TO THANK OUR VARIOUS FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE CRUCIAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN REVIEWING PLANS AND DOING INSPECTION FOR FIRE SAFETY OF THE BUILDINGS.

BY WORKING TOGETHER AND SPREADING AWARENESS OF BUILDING CODES, WE CAN PROTECT THE SPACES WHERE WE LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND LEARN.

THIS IS A BITTERSWEET CELEBRATION BECAUSE AFTER 41 YEARS OF SERVICE, YOU DON'T LOOK OLD ENOUGH FOR THAT.

THE JEFFERSON PARISH, DANNY IS RETIRING 41 YEARS, THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

DANNY HAS WORKED HIS WAY UP IN OUR BUILDING PERMITS DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST 41 YEARS.

HE WAS HIRED IN 1984 AS A BUILDING INSPECTOR 1.

PROMOTED IN 1998 TO A BUILDING INSPECTOR 2, PROMOTED IN 2006 TO A BUILDING PLAN REVIEWER, PROMOTED IN 2011 TO A BUILDING PERMIT MANAGER, PROMOTED IN 2016 TO A REGULATORY MANAGER, PROMOTED IN 2021 TO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AND THEN PROMOTED IN JUNE OF 2022 TO BE OUR DIRECTOR.

I APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING UP FOR US, DANNY.

UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO BETTER STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES, INCLUDING CHANGING THE NAME OF THIS DEPARTMENT FROM INSPECTION CODE ENFORCEMENT TO BUILDING PERMITS IN 2023 TO BETTER REFLECT THE WORK THAT THIS TEAM DONE.

UNDER HIS DIRECTION, THE DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED THEIR OUTREACH TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES.

I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE ON TOP OF THIS PROCLAMATION THAT I WANT TO READ ABOUT BUILDING SAFETY PERMITS.

WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING THAT OUR GROWTH AND STRENGTH DEPENDS ON THE SAFETY OF OUR HOMES, BUILDINGS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE, BOTH IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND WHEN DISASTER STRIKE.

WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL IS A NONPROFIT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER OFFICIALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT THE HIGHEST QUALITY CODES TO PROTECT US IN THE BUILDINGS WHERE WE LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY.

WHEREAS MODERN BUILDING CODES INCLUDE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HAZARDS SUCH AS HURRICANES, SNOWSTORMS, TORNADOES, WILDLAND FIRES, FLOODS, AND EARTHQUAKES.

WHEREAS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH IS SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL TO REMIND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE OF OUR LOCAL CODE OFFICIALS WHO ASSURE US OF SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR PROSPERITY.

WHEREAS THE NATIONAL THEME FOR BUILDING SAFETY MONTH 2025 IS GAME ON, WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT BUILDING SAFETY IS A TEAM EFFORT.

WHEREAS OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND RESILIENCE OF THE BUILDINGS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH BUILDING SAFETY OFFICIALS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS, TRADES PEOPLE, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, DESIGN PROFESSIONAL, LABORERS, AND OTHERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO WORK TO ENSURE THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.

WHEREAS, EACH YEAR IN OBSERVATION OF BUILDING SAFETY MONTH, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE BUILDING, SAFETY, RESILIENCE, AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDED TO ALL OF US BY LOCAL BUILDING DEPARTMENTS AND FIRE PREVENTION BUREAUX IN PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I CYNTHIA LE SHANG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY AS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

THANK YOU, DANNY. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER]

>> THANK YOU.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU HAVING CONFIDENCE IN ME TO TAKE THIS JOB.

IT'S BEEN GREAT AND I APPRECIATE ALL SUPPORT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DANNY. COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE WITH DANNY.

IS ANYBODY IN YOUR TEAM HERE YOU WANT TO GET IN A PICTURE?

[00:05:06]

>> HERE WE GO.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

ONE MORE ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> COME BACK.

>> ARE THEY HERE NOW?

>> UP NEXT WITH CERTIFICATES OF MERIT FOR RETIRING FIREFIGHTERS, COUNCILMAN BANANO.

>> GENTLEMEN, IF I CAN HAVE ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY FROM MADE IN BRIDGE CITY, COME ON UP, INCLUDING YOUR CHIEFS.

BEING A FIRST RESPONDER IS NOT AN EASY JOB.

YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY, INCLUDING HOLIDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, AND ANNIVERSARIES.

ON TOP OF THAT, EVERY DAY YOU'RE ON THE JOB, YOU PUT YOUR LIFE AT RISK TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

WE HAVE FOUR GENTLEMEN HERE WITH US TODAY TO RECOGNIZE EACH OF ON THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE OF OVER 40 YEARS TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH SEVENTH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.

ALTOGETHER, THESE FOUR GENTLEMEN HAVE A TOTAL OF 170 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF FIRES THEY FOUGHT AND THE LIVES THEY'VE SAVED A MEDICAL CALLS AND AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS.

IT'S AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT AND AN AMAZING GROUP OF GENTLEMEN.

ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL PARISH, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THEM UPON THEIR RETIREMENT FOR THEIR SERVICE.

ERIC JONES WITH OVER 45 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AT THE BRIDGE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[APPLAUSE] DOUGLAS CARRIER WITH OVER 42 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AT THE AVONDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[APPLAUSE] ARNALDO ORTIS JUNIOR , 42 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AT THE AVONDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[APPLAUSE] JAMES BOSCH, OVER 44 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AT THE AVONDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE ONE OTHER ONE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, WHO VERNA DIAZ HAS OVER 40 YEARS OF SERVICE AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU'LL COME DOWN AND DO A GROUP PHOTO.

ADAM PARISH PRESENT?

>> HERE WE GO.

WE'LL TAKE A FEW ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE.

GET ANOTHER ONE ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE, AND ONE MORE, ONE, TWO, THREE. THANK YOU.

[00:10:02]

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> I APPRECIATE.

>> NOW ENJOY YOUR TIME.

>> FOR THE MICROPHONE.

>> ALL OF OUR EMS PEOPLE HERE THIS MORNING.

COME ON UP IF YOU'RE REPRESENTING ONE OF THE GROUPS.

WHO'VE GOT PROCLAMATIONS FOR EAST JEFFERSON, WEST JEFFERSON, WESTWEGO, GRAND ISLE, AND GRETNA PD IN HONOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK.

I'LL JUST READ ONE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE SAME WITH DIFFERENT NAMES, AND THEN WE'LL PASS THEM OUT TO EVERYBODY.

DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EVERYBODY, NOT GRAND ISLE. WE'LL GET THEM THEIRS.

WHEREAS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE, AND WHEREAS WESTWEGO PDE JEFFERSON, WEST JEFFERSON, GRAND ISLE, GRETNA PROVIDE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH HIGH QUALITY PRE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE AND ATTEND TO THEM IN THEIR GREATEST TIME OF NEED.

WHEREAS WESTWEGO EMS, AND THE REST, I'M READING FROM WESTWEGO'S PROCLAMATION, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO JEFFERSON PARISH, AND WHEREAS EMS SERVICES SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO THE RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH FOR HEROIC DEEDS AND SACRIFICES THEY'VE MADE.

WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH IS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND VISIT BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT OF THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO HELP MAKE JEFFERSON PARISH A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO PLACE PUBLIC SERVICE TO OTHERS ABOVE ALL, AND WHEREAS IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE WEEK OF MAY 18TH THROUGH 2024 AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDING SERVICES ACROSS THE PARISH.

THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET OUT. BIG HAND FOR OUR EMS REPRESENTATIVES THIS MORNING. [APPLAUSE] WHERE'S WESTWEGO?

>> YES.

>> WESTWEGO. HAVE YOU ALL HAVE ELECTED A SPOKESPERSON TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

WE'LL DO THAT IN A SECOND, TOO. WEST JEFF.

THIS WOULD BE GRETNA PD.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST. WELL, GRAND ISLE IS IN HERE, TOO.

THAT'S GRAND ISLE. E J.

THANK YOU.

NOW, REALLY LAST BUT NIT LEAST.

WHAT A MESS. THIS IS THE OVERALL PROCLAMATION, SO I'LL GIVE YOU THAT ONE AS WELL.

>> WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE PARISH FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT, AND WE'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS WEEK IS EMS WEEK, SO IF YOU SEE HIM OUT THERE WORKING, THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALL. BIG HAND FOR EMS REPRESENTATIVES THIS MORNING. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND]

>> WE'RE GOING ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE.

TAKE TWO MORE, ONE, TWO, THREE, AND ONE MORE, ONE, TWO, THREE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> I'LL GO BACK TO THE PARISH PRESIDENT WHO WILL RESUME HERS AND THEN WE'LL SIT TIGHT FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING.

[BACKGROUND]

[00:15:10]

>> ANYBODY WHO CAN FIND A SEAT, PLEASE TRY TO FIND A SEAT.

TECHNICALLY, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE PEOPLE LINE THE WALLS IN THE BACK OF CHAMBERS.

WE ALWAYS DO, BUT WE'D LIKE AS MANY PEOPLE TO FIND SEATS AS THEY CAN, PLEASE, IF THERE'S SOME OPENINGS AROUND.

>> IF I CAN HAVE COUNCILMAN DEANO BONANO JOIN ME.

WE HAVE MAYOR BILLIOT, COUNCIL MEMBERS LISA VALENCE, BOBBY UTLEY, AND BOBBY BONVILLIAN.

ALSO, MR. JOS BONATO AND MR. NICK BARONI. AM I MISSING ANYBODY? THIS IS SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING GOING ON IN WESTWEGO.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS YEAR IS JEFFERSON PARISH'S BICENTENNIAL, AND WE HAVE THE HONOR OF GETTING TO CELEBRATE OUR PARISH'S HISTORY AND CULTURE OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS.

WESTWEGO IS A VERY IMPORTANT AREA FOR OUR PARISH THAT INCLUDES SOME OF OUR BEST SEAFOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, AND HISTORY.

WESTWEGO IS ALSO HOME TO THE SHRIMP LOT, THE COMPANY CANAL, AND BAYOU SEGNETTE WITH ITS POPULATION OF ALLIGATORS.

WE WANT TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE THIS AREA WITH A NAME THAT CAPTURES ITS UNIQUENESS, HISTORY AND CULTURE, AND THAT ALSO ATTRACTS VISITORS TO THE AREA.

THE WESTWEGO CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED THIS GEOGRAPHY AS GATOR TOWN USA BY LEGISLATION PASSED THIS PAST MARCH 11TH.

NOW I'D LIKE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION WITH COUNCILMAN BONANO TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE GATOR TOWN AS PART OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE GRAND OPENING WITH A CEREMONIAL GATOR TAIL CUTTING HELD ON NATIONAL ALLIGATOR DAY NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 29TH TO CELEBRATE THIS NEWLY BRANDED AREA IN THE CITY OF WESTWEGO AND IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON.

WITH THAT, I WANT TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS IN OUR PARISH'S BICENTENNIAL YEAR, WE CELEBRATE THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WHERE THE AREA SOUTH OF THE WEST BANK EXPRESSWAY, FROM THE WEST SIDE OF LAROUSSINI STREET TO THE EAST SIDE OF LOUISIANA STREET, INCORPORATING THE SHRIMP LOT, COMPANY CANAL, AND BAYOU SEGNETTE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE CITY OF WESTWEGO.

WHEREAS MANY PEOPLE COME TO WESTWEGO SPECIFICALLY TO VISIT THIS AREA IN SEGNETTE LANDING FOR THE AUTHENTIC CREOLE AND CAJUN CUISINE.

WHEREAS VISITORS CAN ENJOY MANY ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA, LIKE CHECKING OUT THE LOCAL GATORS, STUNNING AT THE END OF BAYOU SEGNETTE, PICKING UP FRESH SEAFOOD AT THE SHRIMP LOT, AND TAKING A SWAMP TOUR TO ENJOY THE PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE.

WHEREAS IT WILL BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF WESTWEGO IF THIS AREA IS GIVEN A NAME SO THAT IT CAN EASILY BE IDENTIFIED AS A DESTINATION FOR OUR VISITORS.

WHEREAS AS A PARISH, WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE RICH CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THIS AREA IN WESTWEGO DURING OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CYNTHIA LEE SHENG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, DO HEREBY NAME THE AREA SOUTH OF THE WEST BANK EXPRESSWAY FROM THE WEST SIDE OF LAROUSSINI STREET TO THE EAST SIDE OF LOUISIANA STREET, INCORPORATING THE SHRIMP LOT, COMPANY CANAL, AND BAYOU SEGNETTE AS GATOR TOWN IN WESTWEGO.

CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCILMAN?

>> WE'RE SO PROUD TO DO THIS FOR YOU ALL THIS YEAR.

AS A PART OF OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE THE 200 YEARS OF JEFFERSON PARISH HISTORY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE FIRST TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL REDFISH RODEO IN GATOR TOWN ON AUGUST 1ST AND 2ND THROUGH THE ELITE REDFISH SERIES.

IT'S OPEN FORMAT, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ON A TOUR TO PARTICIPATE.

BUT PLEASE COME ON OUT. IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE HISTORIC WE'RE DOING.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN LOUISIANA, AS A PART OF THIS RODEO, WE'RE GOING TO RELEASE 10,000 TWO INCH REDFISH FINGERLINGS INTO THE MARSHES OF JEFFERSON PARISH ON THAT DAY. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> GO AHEAD, MAYOR.

>> I WANT TO DEFINITELY THANK THE PARISH FOR HONOR RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF WESTWEGO WITH THE GATOR TOWN.

IT BRINGS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF WESTWEGO TO SHOW WHAT WE HAVE, AND WE WANT TO DEFINITELY THANK ALL OF ALL FOR DOING THAT FOR US. THANK YOU.

>> WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN, MAKING IT A REALITY, AND IT'S FAST BECOMING A DESTINATION.

IT'S BECOMING FAMOUS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR THE MANY PEOPLE THAT WE BRING INTO WESTWEGO.

I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> THANK YOU, ALL. COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU ALL WANT TO COME ON DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE.

HOLD IT UP WITH THE MAYOR.

>> EVERYBODY, HERE WE GO. ON THREE, I'M GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE.

01, 2, 3. LET 'S DO ANOTHER. 1, 2, 3.

ONE MORE ON THREE. 1, 02, 3. THANK YOU.

[00:20:04]

>> JUST FOR A BRIEF SECOND, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I'D LIKE TO CALL UP MR. RANDY PAUSINA, WHO IS WITH THE RECREATIONAL FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE, WHO IS THE ORGANIZATION WHO WE ARE WORKING THROUGH TO RELEASE THE REDFISH.

HE'S JUST GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I'M RANDY PAUSINA WITH THE RECREATIONAL FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND IN COOPERATION WITH COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION, LAST YEAR, WE ACQUIRED THE FIRST EVER STOCKING PERMIT TO RELEASE REDFISH IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

THIS FALL, HOPEFULLY LATE AUGUST, WE'LL BE RELEASING 100,000 REDFISH STATEWIDE.

THANK YOU, JEFFERSON PARISH, FOR STANDING UP.

THE FIRST COASTAL PARISH TO STAND UP AND HELP US WITH THIS PROCESS.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE PARISH, WE'LL BE RELEASING 10,000 FISH HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, RANDY.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> YES, SIR.

>> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE PRE MEETING.

WE'LL GET STARTED IN ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES.

WE'RE NOW READY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]

WE'RE IN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING, 200 DERBIGNY STREET, GRETNA, LOUISIANA. THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THIS MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE COUNCILMAN BONANO, WHO WILL INTRODUCE HIS GUEST WITH OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M PRO TO HAVE WITH ME HERE THIS MORNING, THE PASTOR KEITH STEWMAN WITH EVENING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH IN HARVEY, WHO WILL SAY OUR OPENING INVOCATION.

PASTOR, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.

>> GOOD MORNING, LET US ALL STAND AND BOW OUR HEADS.

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, FATHER, OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

ON THIS DAY, WE COME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SON JESUS THAT PAID THE PRICE THAT WE ALL MAY HAVE A RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE.

NOW, LORD, WE ASK THAT THOU WILL STRENGTHEN PROTECT AND COVER THE JEFFERSON PARISH CITY COUNCIL, THAT THOU WOULD PROTECT ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE.

THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS AND THE GREATNESS OF THIS PARISH.

REMEMBER OUR PRESIDENTS.

REMEMBER HER FAMILY. KEEP HER MIND.

NOW, LORD, WE GIVE YOU THE PRAISE AND THE GLORY.

FATHER, WE ASK THAT THOU WOULD BE WITH US IN THESE LATTER AND PERILOUS TIMES.

DIRECT OUR LEADERS OF THIS PARISH, TAKE CARE OF THEM, AND IN THE NAME OF JESUS, CONTINUE TO BLESS US.

IN JESUS NAME, WE RESPOND BY SAYING AMEN.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

>> THANK YOU. OR REMAIN STANDING.

>> NOW YOU MAY BE SEATED. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> CHAIRMAN WALKER?

>> PRESENT.

>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN?

>> PRESENT.

>> COUNCILMAN KERNER?

>> PRESENT.

>> COUNCILMAN BONANO?

>> HERE.

>> COUNCILMAN LEE?

>> HERE.

>> COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN?

>> HERE.

>> COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG?

>> HERE.

>> PARISH PRESIDENT, MISS LEE SHENG?

>> HERE.

>> I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLL.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY GET STARTED, LET'S WELCOME OUR NEWEST COUNCILMAN TO THE DAIS.

COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT 1, TIMOTHY KERNER JUNIOR.

>> LOOK, I JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY THIS IS TRULY THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE THIS PARISH, SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT 1.

BORN AND RAISED HERE ALL MY LIFE.

I THINK THIS IS A CRITICAL POINT FOR THE WEST BANK, AND I'D LIKE TO DO ALL I CAN WITHIN DISTRICT 1 AND JEFFERSON PARISH TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO MOVE IT FORWARD, BUT ALSO TRY TO IMPROVE IT TO THE BEST IT'S EVER BEEN IN DISTRICT 1.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL OF THE PARISH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, ALL THESE WONDERFUL WORKERS YOU ALL HAVE.

I'VE WATCHED YOU ALL CLOSELY SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR, AND I TELL YOU, I AM SO HONORED TO STAND AMONG ALL AND FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

THANK YOU ALL. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY, VERY HARD WORKING COUNCILMAN REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1, AND SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE FAIR PARISH WIDE. THANK, YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN KERNER.

MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

[PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M GOING TO START OUT WITH OUR LIBRARY.

OUR JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS MANY UPCOMING EVENTS AND INITIATIVES.

[00:25:04]

THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF JUNE AND JULY, ALL 16 BRANCHES WILL HOST SPECIAL PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS, WITH MAGIC SHOWS, PUPPET PERFORMANCES, NATURE EDUCATION SESSIONS, CRAFT CLASSES, MOVIE SCREENINGS, STORYTELLING AND MORE.

PRIZES WILL BE OFFERED TO PATRONS OF ALL AGES WHO COMPLETE MILESTONES IN READING BOOKS DURING THE SUMMER SCHOOL BREAK.

TABLE READ TUESDAYS ARE UNDERWAY AT THE LAKE SHORE LIBRARY, OFFERING ASPIRING SCREENWRITERS AND ACTORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ AND CRITIQUE ORIGINAL NEW SCRIPTS.

MEMORY CAFE IS A NEW MONTHLY GATHERING DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR CAREGIVERS AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING COGNITIVE AND OR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES.

MEMORY CAFE WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY, MAY 29TH, FROM 11:00 TO NOON AT THE LAKE SHORE LIBRARY, AND ON FRIDAY, MAY 30TH, FROM 10:00 TO NOON AT THE BELLE TERRE LIBRARY.

THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY CONTINUES TO SEEK LIBRARY KEEPSAKES AND MEMORABILIA FROM PATRONS FOR THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYSTEM.

WE ARE COLLECTING VINTAGE PHOTOS AND PAST EVENT FLYERS DATING BACK TO 1949 TO HELP TELL THE STORY OF OUR LIBRARY'S IMPACT OVER TIME.

PATRONS CAN DROP OFF ITEMS AT ANY BRANCH, VISIT EAST BANK REGIONAL SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, OR SUBMIT AN ONLINE FORM AT JPLIBRARY.NET.

HURRICANE SEASON IS FAST APPROACHING US, AND WE HAD AN EVACUATION EXERCISE.

ON MONDAY, MAY 19TH, OUR JEFFERSON PARISH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED OUR ANNUAL HURRICANE EVACUATION EXERCISES FOR ALL OF OUR PARISH DEPARTMENTS, STATE AGENCIES, AND FIRST RESPONDERS TO PRACTICE AND IMPROVE OUR EVACUATION PROCESS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ACTIVATED BOTH EVACUATION SITES AT THE SAME TIME, THE ALARIO CENTER AND THE VINEYARD CHURCH.

WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WENT THROUGH THIS EVACUATION PROCESS BY INVITING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO VOLUNTEER, AND OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM MONITORED THE EXERCISES AT OUR EOC USING REAL TIME DRONE FOOTAGE.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MANY EXERCISES AND TRAININGS WE DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO BETTER PREPARE JEFFERSON PARISH FOR HURRICANE SEASON, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR EOC TEAM FOR CHANGING THAT TRAINING THIS YEAR TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE LIKE A REAL LIFE LIKE SCENARIO.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNER AGENCIES THAT WERE INVOLVED, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, OUR JPAWS, JEFFERSON PROTECTION ANIMAL AND WELFARE SERVICES, OUR PARKS & REC DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION, EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE, WEST BANK FIRE SERVICES, TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, JPSO, LCMC HEALTH, EMS, KENNER POLICE DEPARTMENT, KENNER FIRE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT, LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY, VINEYARD CHURCH OF NEW ORLEANS, AND THE CITY OF KENNER.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US ON MONDAY.

FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT AND HAZARD MITIGATION IS PARTNERING WITH PONTCHARTRAIN CONSERVANCY TO HOST THE SIXTH STORM AWARE AND PREPARE EVENT PRESENTED BY ENTERGY ON SATURDAY, MAY 31ST, FROM 9:00 TO NOON AT THE NEW CANAL LIGHTHOUSE.

THIS FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT WILL PROVIDE FREE HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES AND SUPPLIES FOR THE 2025 HURRICANE SEASON.

IN ADDITION TO HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES, ATTENDEES WILL BE GIVEN FREE CLEANUP SUPPLIES PROVIDED BY THE PONTCHARTRAIN CONSERVANCY TO CLEAN NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND STORM DRAINS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STORM AWARE AND PREPARE, VISIT SCIENCEFOROURCOAST.ORG/EVENTS.

THE UTILITY SERVICES AND OUR WATER DEPARTMENT UPDATES.

THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN PERSON UTILITY SERVICES BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, WHICH NOW TAKES PLACE TWICE A WEEK ON AN ALTERNATING SCHEDULE ON BOTH THE EAST AND WEST BANK.

TO CREATE AN APPOINTMENT, VISIT THE UTILITY SERVICES DASHBOARD ON THE WATER DEPARTMENT PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE, WWW.JEFFPARISH.GOV, AND CLICK SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT.

CUSTOMERS CAN OPT TO GET A TEXT AND EMAIL NOTIFICATION AND ADD IT TO YOUR CALENDAR.

AS A REMINDER, CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE UTILITY SERVICES TEAM BY CALLING 504-736-6060 OR EMAILING JPUTILITY@JEFFPARISH.GOV.

WELL, CALL VOLUME MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE DAY OR TIME.

WE OFFER A CONVENIENT CALLBACK FEATURE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ON HOLD, AND UTILITY BILLS CAN BE PAID SECURELY ONLINE.

I WANT TO THANK THE WATER DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SIDNEY BAZLEY AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MARK DREWS FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY TO BRING THESE SERVICES TO FRUITION.

JEFF CAP IS HOSTING AN ANNUAL UTILITY ASSISTANCE OUTREACH EVENT TODAY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST, AT THE JOHNNY JACOBS PLAYGROUND FROM 10:00-2:00 FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN MANAGING THEIR ENERGY NEEDS, INCLUDING NATURAL GAS, BILL ASSISTANCE, ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES.

OUR JEFF CAP HEAD START GRADUATION IS TAKING PLACE TOMORROW, THURSDAY, MAY 22ND, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OUR 2025 HEAD START GRADUATES AND THEIR TEACHERS.

I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO CONGRATULATE OUR JEFF CAP DIRECTOR, DR. DIONNE NICHOLS-CONDOLL, FOR BEING NAMED A 2025 DRIVING FORCES RECIPIENT IN NEW ORLEANS CITY BUSINESS, A DISTINCTION HONORING IMPACTFUL LEADERS WHO ARE DRIVING CHANGE ACROSS THE REGION.

[00:30:03]

THE COST IS 200 PER CHILD, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE A FEW MORE SPOTS AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE FOUR SPOTS ON JUNE 2ND THROUGH JUNE 6TH, AND FIVE SPOTS AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 30TH TO JULY 3RD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, 504-349-5111.

>> OUR TRANSIT DEPARTMENT HAS TEAMED UP WITH OUR JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOLS TO FEATURE SOME VERY SPECIAL STUDENT ARTWORK INSPIRED BY BICENTENNIAL ON OUR TRANSIT BUSES.

JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOLS HOSTED AN ART CONTEST AND THE WINNER'S MASTERPIECE WILL BE WRAPPED AROUND A TRANSIT BUS ROLLING AROUND JEFFERSON PARISH IN THE COMING WEEKS, SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT EVENT.

ALSO THE LATEST ON OUR JEFFERSON PARISH BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, JEDCO IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISIT JEFFERSON PARISH AND RECENTLY LODGED THE JEFFERSON PARISH PASSPORT.

THIS NEW PROGRAM ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO SPEND LOCAL AND EXPERIENCE THE VAST ARRAY OF BUSINESS OFFERINGS AVAILABLE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

THE JEFFERSON PARISH PASSPORT IS A FREE, MOBILE-FRIENDLY PASS THAT INCLUDES A GROWING LIST OF JP-BASED BUSINESSES OFFERING DEALS AND DISCOUNTS UP TO 50% IN SAVINGS ALL YEAR LONG.

I COMMEND JEDCO AND VISIT JEFFERSON PARISH FOR SPEARHEADING THIS PROJECT WHICH CELEBRATES THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN THE SHAPING OF JEFFERSON PARISH'S HISTORY IN FUTURE.

WE HOPE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WILL TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS ORIGINAL DIGITAL TOOL AND SHOW OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES SOME LOVE DURING THE BICENTENNIAL.

VISIT JEDCO.ORG/JPPASSPORT TO SIGN UP.

IN ADDITION TO SECURING DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT EVERY LOCATION, THE MORE BUSINESSES THAT USERS VISIT, THE MORE POINTS YOU WILL EARN TO UNLOCK PRIZES.

ONCE A USER HAS RECEIVED ENOUGH POINTS, THEY'LL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BICENTENNIAL THEME PRIZES.

MOST NOTABLY, THREE BUSINESS CHECK-INS WILL EARN USERS A RAFFLE ENTRY FOR TWO FREE TICKETS TO THE BICENTENNIAL BALL, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE INSIDE LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER ON JUNE 14 SO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

OUR PIO OFFICE, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, WAS NAMED A 2025 RECIPIENT FOR THE 46TH ANNUAL TELLY AWARDS.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST HONOR FOR VIDEO AND TELEVISION ACROSS ALL SCREENS WITH OVER 13,000 ENTRIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE AND TOP VIDEO AND TELEVISION CONTENT PRODUCERS.

JEFFERSON PARISH RECEIVED A GOLD AWARD FOR A VIDEO TITLED A HERO AMONG US, WHICH FEATURES A 78-YEAR-OLD VIN TRAN WHO HAS LIVED IN MEURY FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND HIS ACTIVE BRAVERY THAT HELPED SAVE THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN AIRMAN IN 1969 DURING THE VIETNAM WAR THAT EARNED HIM A BRONZE STAR MEDAL OF VALOR FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

WE ALSO RECEIVED A BRONZE AWARD FOR A BICENTENNIAL VIDEO THAT OUR PIO TEAM PRODUCED, WHICH FEATURES A SONG TITLED THOMAS DIDN'T KNOW BY RICHARD SMITH AND IRMA THOMAS, AND A BRONZE AWARD FOR A VIDEO FEATURING THE EAST BEN CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT'S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO TRAIN ITS FIREFIGHTERS ABOUT A HAZARD THEY COULD POSSIBLY ENCOUNTER AT NIGHT IN LOW VISIBILITY SITUATIONS.

THESE AWARDS REPRESENT HOW OUR PIO OFFICE CONTINUES TO TAKE OUR VIDEO CONTENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

I'M SO PROUD OF OUR TEAM INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER NEIL JUANTINO, AND DEPUTY PIO JUSTIN KANELL FOR THEIR WORK ON THESE VIDEOS.

MEMORIAL DAY WILL HOLD OUR ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY THIS FRIDAY, MAY 23 AT 10:00 AM IN THE CENTER COURT OF LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER.

THIS CEREMONY IS FREE AND OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND IN PERSON.

IT'LL ALSO BE STREAMED ON LIVE TV.

ALL JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, MAY 25 IN OBSERVANCE OF THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY.

THIS INCLUDES ALL JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARIES, OUR J PAUSE ADOPTION CENTERS, THE EAST AND WEST JEFFERSON AMERICAN JOB CENTERS, AS WELL AS JPRD CLASSES AND PROGRAMS, BUT NOT INCLUDING LAFNIA PARK AND PARK DA FAME.

JEFFERSON PARISH TRANSIT WILL BE RUNNING A NORMAL WEEKDAY SERVICE ON MONDAY.

GARBAGE COLLECTION WILL TAKE PLACE AS SCHEDULED.

JEFFERSON PARISH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JPSO, LASER DIVISION AND LEGACY ENVIRONMENTAL WILL BE HOSTING A HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIAL EVENT ON SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH, 9:00 TO 12:00 IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE ALARIO CENTER, THE COLLECTION WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS TO DISPOSE OF LEFTOVER HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN CORROSIVE, TOXIC, IGNITABLE, OR REACTIVE INGREDIENTS.

PRODUCTS SUCH AS PAINTS, COMMON HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS, OIL, BATTERIES, AND PESTICIDES THAT CONTAIN POTENTIALLY HAZARD INGREDIENTS REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE WHEN YOU DISPOSE OF THEM.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT, CONTACT ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AT 504-731-4612.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I DO WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING OUR FIREFIGHTER SALARIES.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS REGARDING THE FIREFIGHTER SALARIES SO I'LL START WITH THE DISCUSSION OF OUR FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTER SALARIES.

WE AS A COMMUNITY, RECOGNIZE THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS DO VERY DANGEROUS WORK FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

THEY DO WORK THAT I WOULDN'T BE WILLING TO DO AND I BELIEVE THAT THEIR CALLING IS A VERY NOBLE ONE.

MY POINTS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ASPECT SHOULD,

[00:35:02]

THIS IS SIMPLY A DISCUSSION OF THE DATA AND THE FINANCES OF THAT DEPARTMENT.

THE TOTAL MINIMUM PAY FOR A FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTER IN JEFFERSON AND PARISH INCLUDES THE HOURLY RATE PLUS THE HOURLY SUPPLEMENTAL PAY PLUS SCHEDULED OR WILL BE CALLED GUARANTEED OVERTIME.

IF WE FILL IN THESE NUMBERS, THAT WOULD MEAN A FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTER IN JEFFERSON PARISH MAKES A $10.53 HOURLY RATE PLUS A $2.88 SUPPLEMENTAL PAY PLUS $3.50 GUARANTEED OVERTIME, BRINGING THE TRUE HOURLY RATE FOR A FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTER PAY TO $16.97.

>> PLEASE, LOOK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS.

ANYBODY MAKES COMMENTS FROM OUT THERE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ESCORTED OUT.

WE NEED TO MAINTAIN DECORUM IN THE CHAMBERS. THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THAT LEVEL OF HOURLY WAGES IS LOW FOR OUR ENTRY LEVEL FIREFIGHTERS.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 11 EMPLOYEES MAKING THIS RATE.

WE HAVE 276 EMPLOYEES IN EAST CONSOLIDATED FIRE RIGHT NOW.

ALSO THE PARISH PROVIDES 5% ANNUAL INCREASES FOR YEARS ONE THROUGH 14 AND 2% INCREASES FOR YEARS 15 THROUGH 22.

OUR LAST PAY STUDY WAS COMPLETED IN MAY OF 2021.

IT ALSO ESTABLISHES THAT WHEN COMPARED TO OUR PEERS, THE STARTING FIREFIGHTER PAY IS LOW.

TO QUOTE FROM THAT STUDY, "OVERALL, WE FOUND THE PARISH'S BASE PAY RANGERS ARE BELOW MARKET AT THE MINIMUM, MARKET COMPETITIVE AT THE MIDPOINT, AND ABOVE MARKET AT THE MAXIMUM." SINCE THE TIME OF THE LAST PAY STUDY, THE PAY PLAN WAS INCREASED BY 5% AND SUPPLEMENTAL PAY IN 2023 WAS INCREASED FROM 6,000 ANNUALLY TO 7,200 ANNUALLY.

LAST YEAR, WE COMMISSIONED ANOTHER STUDY AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THE FINAL REPORT TO BE ISSUED.

THE QUESTION IS, WHY CAN'T WE JUST FIX THIS LOW STARTING PAY? THE VOTERS APPROVED 25 MILLS.

CURRENTLY, THE MILL IS COLLECTED AT 23.76 MILLS WHICH GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $50 MILLION FOR EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD CLEARLY HAVE THE MONEY TO RAISE THAT MINIMUM BASE PAY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT IT IS JUST 11 EMPLOYEES.

HOWEVER, STATE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW US TO MAKE INDIVIDUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO POSITIONS BASED ON MARKET CONDITIONS.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN'T INCREASE THE BASE SALARY OF A STARTING FIREFIGHTER WITHOUT INCREASING THE PAY FOR OTHER FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, STATE LAW SAYS THAT A FIREFIGHTER SHALL RECEIVE A MINIMUM MONTHLY SALARY AND IT ESSENTIALLY BECOMES THE REFERENCE POINT FOR WHICH OTHER SALARIES ARE BASED.

OPERATORS MONTHLY SALARY MUST BE SET 10% ABOVE THE FIREFIGHTERS SALARY.

LIEUTENANTS MONTHLY SALARY MUST BE SET 15% ABOVE THE FIREFIGHTERS SALARY.

CAPTAINS AT 25% ABOVE, FIRE INSPECTOR AT 25% ABOVE, DISTRICT CHIEFS AT 40% ABOVE, ASSISTANT CHIEFS AT 50% ABOVE.

YOU CAN SEE WHY WE JUST CAN'T RAISE THE MINIMUM PAY FOR STARTING FIREFIGHTERS BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE STATUTE MAKE IT VERY COSTLY FOR US TO HAVE TO RAISE ALL THE OTHER POSITIONS AS WELL.

OTHER TIMES YOU WILL SEE THAT LOW HOURLY RATES HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON RECRUITING EFFORTS AND YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH A LOT OF VACANT POSITIONS.

CERTAINLY, WE HAD THAT GOING ON IN THE PARISH, ESPECIALLY IN PUBLIC WORKS, ACCOUNTING AND ENGINEERING.

IN THIS INSTANCE, THANK GOODNESS, THE LOW MINIMUM PAY FOR FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTERS HAS NOT HAD A NEGATIVE RECRUITING EFFECT ON US, AS WE HAVE A LONG LINE OF POTENTIAL FIREFIGHTERS HOPING TO BE EMPLOYED WITH JEFFERSON PARISH.

MUCH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, ESPECIALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE $10.53 CENT HOURLY BASE PAY.

WE'VE ESTABLISHED THIS IS ACTUALLY A 1697 HOURLY RATE.

WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS, I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC DESERVES AN HONEST CONVERSATION AND IT STARTS WITH DATA.

IF WE LOOK AT THE DISTRIBUTION OF SALARIES, I TOOK THE LIST OF THE ANNUAL SALARIES FOR 2024.

THIS MAY INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ONLY WORK FOR US FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, PEOPLE WHO ONLY WORK FOR US PART OF THE YEAR MAY BE RETIRED MID YEAR BUT IT WAS A QUICK WAY FOR ME TO LOOK AT A SPREADSHEET OF ALL THE 2024 SALARIES THAT WERE PAID.

I'LL READ THE SALARY DISTRIBUTION WHICH INCLUDES THE HOURLY RATE, PLUS THE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY, PLUS THE GUARANTEED OVERTIME, PLUS THE UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME, ESSENTIALLY, WHAT FIREFIGHTERS TAKE HOME AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHAT GETS DEPOSITED IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS.

SO 49 EMPLOYEES MAKE LESS THAN $50,000, 127 EMPLOYEES MAKE BETWEEN $50 AND 100,000, 95 EMPLOYEES MAKE 100-$150,000,

[00:40:03]

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE DO HAVE 11 PEOPLE MAKING THE MINIMUM RATE OF 1697 AN HOUR.

ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SCALE, WE HAVE 40% WHO MAKE OVER $100,000.

I IN NO WAY WANT TO DISCREDIT OR DIMINISH THE HARD AND DANGEROUS WORK THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS DO FOR US, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT FIREFIGHTER PAY, IT IS A DISCUSSION THAT IS COMPREHENSIVE, TRANSPARENT, AND SEEKS POLICIES THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE IN THE FUTURE.

WE OWE THIS TO THE PUBLIC, I OWE THIS TO THE PUBLIC.

IT IS THEIR FUNDS AFTER ALL.

WE AWAIT THE PAY STUDY REPORT BY SIEGEL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSIONS AFTER THE FINAL REPORT IS ISSUED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE MADAM PRESIDENT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AT THE END OF THE MEETING IS THE COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THIS ISN'T EXPECTED TO BE A VERY LONG MEETING, SO IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET TO THE END.

[NOISE] NOTHING FROM UP HERE?

>> MAYBE JUST A QUESTION ABOUT, MADAM PRESIDENT, DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED? YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE?

>> PLEASE, YOU ALL.

>> HANG ON, STEVE. I'M SORRY.

>>AS OF YESTERDAY, THE CONSULTANT WAS WAITING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM SOME OF THE AGENCIES THAT ARE BEING PUT INTO THE STUDY.

THEY ANTICIPATE THAT INFORMATION BEING RETURNED TO THEM BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.

THEN ONCE THAT'S DONE, THAT THEY ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS INCORPORATE THAT AND RELEASE THE STUDY.

THERE WAS A DRAFT THAT WAS ISSUED THAT WAS NOT COMPLETE AS IT RELATES TO THE POPULATION OF AGENCIES THAT WERE BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

BUT THE ENTIRE STUDY WILL BE DONE SOON AS THEY GET THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

>> SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MATTER OF WEEKS OR LESS.

>> HOPEFULLY, YES.

>> THANK YOU. NOW, TO CLARIFY FOR EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM, THE NEXT PART OF PUBLIC COMMENT IS FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND THE ADENUM AGENDA, RESOLUTIONS.

IF ANYBODY FROM THE FIREFIGHTER RANKS WANTS TO SPEAK, IT COMES AT THE END OF THE MEETING WHEN YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S NOT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

NOW WE'RE TO THE PART OF THE MEETING WHERE ANYBODY WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL

[PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING]

MUST FILL OUT A REQUESTS TO SPEAK CARD IN THE BACK OF CHAMBERS AND HAND OUT TO THE CLERK UP FRONT.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

THIS IS FOR THE END OF THE MEETING, MR. BURKETT. OH, YOU DO?

>> I HAVE THREE, ACTUALLY, BUT MY THREE MINUTES GETS ME THREE OR MOST OF MY THREE MINUTES GET ME EACH ONE.

I'M GOING TO SPEAK FIRST ON 19.

I'M IN 26527.

>> CAN YOU PICK UP THAT MICROPHONE ON THE SIDE? THAT PODIUM MIKE HAS GIVEN US PROBLEMS. THERE'S ONE ON YOUR LEFT OF THE PODIUM.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TURN IT ON.

>> IT SHOULD BE ON IF IT'S NOT, I'M SORRY. THAT WE LEFT IT ON.

>> THERE IT IS.

>> IF YOU'RE SPEAKING OF NUMBER 19, THE MILLAGE RATES, THERE'LL BE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM.

SO YOU CAN COME UP WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM ON NUMBER 19.

WHAT WERE YOUR OTHER ITEMS? WERE THEY ALSO ORDINANCES OR?

>> YEAH, THEY WERE 20 AND 21.

>> TWENTY ALSO HAS A PUBLIC HEARING, 21 ALSO HAS A PUBLIC HEARING.

>> I'LL COME UP WHEN YOU CALL.

>> YOU CAN COME UP WHEN THOSE ITEMS ARE READ. YES, SIR.

>> OH, BOY, BOY, BOY [APPLAUSE].

YOU KNOW HOW MAT JAS FEST AND ONE OF THESE MEN WALK UP TO ME AND THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN A FIREMAN INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO ME.

FIRST THING I DO IS BACK AWAY.

BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF THEY ENJOY WHAT I DO IN HERE.

LOOK, YOU CAN SUSPEND THE RULES AND YOU CAN PULL WHATEVER YOU WANT OUT OF ORDER AND LET THEM HAVE THEIR SAY, AND LET THEM GO BACK TO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO.

YOU COULD DO THAT, CHAIRMAN.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN TAKE ANY AGENDA.

YOU CAN LET THESE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY.

I'LL SIT DOWN AND I'LL WAIT.

NOW, I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I GOT ISSUE WITH ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

[00:45:02]

THAT'S ALL YOUR MONEY. THAT'S ALL YOUR QUID PRO QUO.

DO YOU WANT ME TO GET THROUGH THIS? YOU WANT ME TO SPEND MY THREE MINUTES ON THIS, OR DO YOU WANT TO LET THEM GO FIRST?

>> WHEN YOU'RE CHAIRMAN, YOU CAN MAKE THE RULES, BUT YOUR TIME IS TAKEN.

>> AFTER SUGGESTING THAT YOU SUSPEND THE RULES AND DO RIGHT.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> BY THE PEOPLE. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.

OF COURSE, I COULD GO INTO THAT FOR ANY NUMBER ALL KINDS OF TIME HERE.

BUT LET'S LOOK AT THIS, BECAUSE ALL THEM ITEMS THAT I JUST RATTLED OFF.

THAT'S WHAT ALL ARE OBLIGED TO BY MONEY.

THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO TAKE THE MONEY FOR YOURSELVES TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH ON TOP OF YOUR SALARIES THAT VIOLATE THE 27TH AMENDMENT.

>> CAN YOU SPEAK ON YOUR SPECIFIC ITEMS, PLEASE?

>> LET'S GO THROUGH IT. ON THIS FIRST PAGE, I GOT ITEMS 39, 40, 45, 48, 71, 78, AND 106.

NOW I GOT ITEMS 48, 47 AND 80 AND 49.

NOW, THE TOP MONEY GETTER ON THIS FIRST PAGE, THAT'D BE COUNCIL DISTRICT 4.

THE ONE THAT DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY.

THANK YOU, MR. LEE. YOU COULD OPPOSE ANY OF THESE.

WHEN THEY GO TO APPROVE THESE IN GLOBAL, YOU COULD JUST DO ON MY BEHALF, YOU COULD DO THIS.

YOU COULD JUST SAY, HEY, ON BEHALF OF A CITIZEN WHO OPPOSES THIS THING, I OPPOSE ONE OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS. INSTEAD OF DOING IT IN GLOBAL, INSTEAD OF HAVING A DRINKING CONTEST WHEN WE GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE IN GLOBAL ADOPTION, SOMEBODY WHO AIN'T GOT NO MONEY INVESTED IN THIS CAN OPPOSE IT ON MY BEHALF AND WE CAN START HAVING A GOVERNMENT THAT IS UP BUYING FOR THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S JUST PAGE 1. I GET TO PAGE 2.

I GOT ITEMS 50, 66, 68, TOP MONEY GETTER AND THIS PAGE, THAT BE THE PARISH PRESIDENT 12 GRAND.

HANS IS A CLOSE SECOND WITH 10.

LOOKS LIKE DINO IS MY MAN.

DINO, YOU COULD OPPOSE ANY ONE OF THESE ON MY BEHALF.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, ANYBODY SPEAKS ON MY BEHALF, ANYTIME, ANYTIME YOU EVER SUMMONED TO COURAGE.

I DON'T CARE WHICH DISTRICT IT IS.

I KNOW I GOT A FRIEND ON IN DISTRICT 1.

WE BROKE BREAD TOGETHER.

HE'S THE JEFFERSONIAN.

HE UNDERSTANDS WHY I'M HERE.

ANYONE OF YOU COULD JUST SIMPLY SAY SOMETHING ON MY BEHALF AS THOUGH YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT I'M SAYING OR PAID ATTENTION TO ME OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND I WILL NOT SHOW UP AT THE NEXT MEETING.

YOU'D BE RELIEVED IN MY PRESENCE FOR AT LEAST ONE MEETING.

I CAN'T DO BETTER THAN THAT.

REALLY? I'M A MAN OF MY WORD, MY COUNCILMAN KNOWS IT.

DINO'S LEAST INVESTED ON THIS PAGE.

TIM, YOU MADE SIX GRAND ON THIS ONE.

>> EXTRA TIME, MR. HIERS.

>> WELL, I TRY TO DO WHAT I CAN.

>> THANK YOU [NOISE].

ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON A RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA?

>> YES. IS THIS THE PROPER TIME TO SPEAK ON RESOLUTION NUMBER 146106? IT'S ITEM NUMBER 15 ON THE ADDENDUM.

>> YES.

>> MY NAME IS FRANK LORENZO, JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT, 516 TUMBLE CREEK DRIVE IN MADISONVILLE, LOUISIANA.

COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CHAIRPERSON AND JEFFERSON PARISH LEADERSHIP, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND PROUDLY SERVE AS A JEFFERSON PARISH FIREFIGHTER.

TODAY I RISE NOT IN OPPOSITION TO THE RESOLUTION ITSELF, BUT CONCERN OVER THE BROADER IMPLICATION OF HOW OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE BEING MANDATED AND FUNDING, PARTICULARLY REGARDING EMS DISPATCH AND ITS INTERSECTION WITH FIRE SUPPRESSION.

AS OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICT WILL REIMBURSE THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEARLY $6.8 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR ADMINISTRATING THE 911 COMMUNICATION AIDED DISPATCH CENTER.

THE COUNCIL IS ASSERTING THAT THIS INVESTMENT BRINGS TANGIBLE RETURN OF PUBLIC BENEFITS, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT AND PRINCIPLE.

HOWEVER, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING.

OUR DEPARTMENT OPERATES UNDER STRICT CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND THE RED BOOK, WHICH CLEARLY OUTLINE THE TYPES OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE WE'RE TASKED WITH.

DESPITE WE ARE REPEATEDLY DISPATCHED TO EMS CALLS OUTSIDE OF OUR STATUTORY SCOPE, CALLS THAT NOT SHOULD BE HANDLED SOLELY BY THE CONTRACTED EMS PROVIDER.

THROUGH A FORMAL CIVIL SERVICE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER, SUBPOENAS WERE ISSUED TO THE SHERIFF AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT, BOTH WHO FAILED TO APPEAR.

YET IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THROUGH THE CONTROL OF DISPATCH, CONTINUES TO DIRECT EMS CALLS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

OUR FIRE CHIEF HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND STATED PLAINLY, WHATEVER CALLS WE GET, WE GO ON.

THIS LEAVES OUR DEPARTMENT CAUGHT BETWEEN MANDATES AND REALITIES, DRAINING OUR PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE FIRE SUPPRESSION AND PREVENTION, THE VERY DUTIES TAXPAYERS FUND US FOR.

LCMC HEALTH, THE HOSPITAL GROUP, UNDER CONTRACT FOR EMS SERVICES REPORTED OVER $6.3 BILLION IN REVENUE,

[00:50:03]

MEANWHILE, 77% OF OUR $52 MILLION DEPARTMENT BUDGET FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES, SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO FIRE PROTECTION GOES TOWARDS OUR SALARIES.

THIS EFFECTIVELY MEANS LOCAL FIRE MILLAGE IS BEING USED TO SUBSIDIZE THE OPERATIONAL GAPS OF A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

THE QUESTION BEFORE US ISN'T ABOUT A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT.

IT'S ABOUT FAIRNESS, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF LCMC IS PROFITING WHILE OFFLOADING RESPONSIBILITY ONTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND IF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONTROLS THE DISPATCH MECHANISMS THAT MISALIGNS OUR RESPONSE SCOPE, WHY ARE LOCAL TAXPAYERS AND FIREFIGHTERS BEARING THIS BURDEN?

>> THAT'S YOUR TIME, SIR. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>> IS THIS THE TIME TO SPEAK AGAINST SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE ITEM NUMBER 7, OR DO I WAIT?

>> WAIT TILL THAT ITEM COMES UP, YES, MA'AM.

ANYONE ELSE WITH THOUGHTS ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR AGENDA AGENDA, A RESOLUTION.

YEAH, I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW BMX VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE WAITING UNTIL OR UNTIL THE CROWD DINED, AND MAYOR CONSTANT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP NOW OR WHOMEVER WANTS TO COME UP FIRST FROM THE BMX GROUP.

THE VOLUNTEERS ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING A RESOLUTION THAT ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THIS, WE'LL ASK TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND TAKE THAT RESOLUTION AT THE TOP OF THE MEETING SO THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO FROM BMX WHO FLEW IN HERE CAN GO ON HIS WAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCIL, CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT LICHEN, COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF, VISITORS AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE FROM JEFFERSON PARISH.

I WANT TO FIRST START OFF BY SAYING, THANK YOU TO OUR NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILMAN FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 FOR THE CONVERSATION WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE YESTERDAY EVENING BECAUSE IT TRULY WAS A COLLABORATION CONVERSATION, AND IT PUT THINGS IN A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FOR THIS MORNING.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE HERE A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE BASICALLY MADE THIS TRACK THE SUCCESS THAT IT IS AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS WELL AS SOMEONE WHO FLEW IN FROM USA BMX, AND I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE MICROPHONE AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT AFTER THE CONVERSATION, I BELIEVE WE'RE AT AN AMICABLE RESOLUTION, AND THAT IS TRULY WHAT WE ALL WANT IN GOVERNMENT.

IT'S WHAT MAKES GOVERNMENT SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S WHAT CREATES PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES, AND THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH DESERVE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT I WANT TO GIVE THEM THEIR TIME AND WE'VE TURNED IN ALL THE CARDS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE MEMBER OF USA BMX SPEAK AT THE END OF THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS KALLY DUFREN, AND I COME TO YOU TODAY, NOT ONLY AS A VOLUNTEER AND A TRACK OPERATOR'S WIFE, BUT AS A MOTHER OF TWO BMX RIDERS.

MY SON AND DAUGHTER HAVE BEEN RIDING SINCE THEY WERE VERY LITTLE.

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RIDDEN AT THE TRACK AS WELL.

FROM THE MOMENT WE ENTERED THE GATES, I JUST KNEW THAT THIS SPORT WAS FOR US.

I NEVER THOUGHT WHAT STARTED AS RECREATION FOR MY FAMILY WOULD TURN INTO MY HUSBAND TAKING ON THE ROLE AS TRACK OPERATOR, AND MYSELF AND CHILDREN VOLUNTEERING 24/7 AS WELL.

THE TRACK HAS INSTILLED VALUES IN MY CHILDREN, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO GRETNA BMX.

FOR THAT I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ASSISTING MY HUSBAND, THE TRACK OPERATOR CLARK DUFREN JUNIOR, IN RUNNING THE TRACK, A PLACE WE'VE CALLED OUR SECOND HOME FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS.

DID I MENTION, I'M A RESIDENT OF AS WESTWEGO.

WE SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS ENSURING THAT THE TRACK IS MAINTAINED AND IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND FAMILY FRIENDLY FACILITY FOR OUR LOCAL CHILDREN, CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND NEIGHBORING STATES AS WELL.

IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO A BMX TRACK, YOU'RE MISSING OUT.

BMX IS A SPORT LIKE NO OTHER, WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES CAN EXPERIENCE A FAMILY ORIENTED ATMOSPHERE AND SPORTSMANSHIP LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

THE BEAUTY OF BMX IS THAT IT'S AN INDIVIDUALIZED SPORT THAT APPEALS TO RIDERS FROM AGES 2-YEARS-OLD ALL THE WAY UP TO 80, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN 80-YEAR-OLD RIDER THAT FREQUENTS OUR TRACK.

[00:55:02]

AS YOU KNOW, GRETNA BMX IS A VOLUNTEER RUN FACILITY, AND OUR PARENTS AND RIDERS WORK VERY HARD OUTSIDE OF THEIR PAYING JOBS TO HELP MAINTAIN ALL THAT IS GRETNA BMX.

WE WORK TIRELESSLY TO KEEP THE TRACK RUNNING, EVEN WITH MAJOR AMENITIES LACKING FOR YEARS.

WE BATTLE WEATHER WEEKLY AS WE LIVE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA.

THIS TRULY IMPACTS WHAT WE COULD BE.

WE LOSE RIDERS IF THERE IS EVEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN.

THIS ISN'T YOUR TYPICAL BALL AND STICK SPORT.

BMX IS UNIQUE, AND WE ARE THE ONLY TRACK IN THE REGION.

RIDERS RELY ON OUR FACILITY TO TRAIN FOR NATIONAL EVENTS AND OTHERS FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

WE HAVE MANY FAMILIES THAT HAVE NEW BABIES, AND THEY ARE HAVING TO CHANGE DIAPERS IN THE BACK OF A CAR IN 90 DEGREE OR HIGHER HEAT.

OUR CONCESSION STAND IS IN A SHIPPING CONTAINER.

I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THAT THERE ARE VARIOUS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THAT NEED FUNDS AS WELL, BUT WHEN OUR FACILITY HAS PROVEN OUR WORTH TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND BEEN PROMISED AMENITIES LIKE BATHROOMS AND A CONCESSION STAND, WHICH ARE VITAL IN ANY SPORT, AND WE'VE BEEN PASSED OVER, IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING.

THIS IS A SPORT THAT BRINGS MAJOR ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE CITY AND PROMOTES VOLUNTEERISM, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, AND GOOD HEARTED FUN.

I URGE YOU TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

DON'T THINK OF YOURSELF TODAY AS A COUNCIL PERSON, PUT YOURSELF IN OUR SHOES AND IMAGINE WORKING TOWARDS A MAIN GOAL AND HAVING IT STRIPPED AWAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN. PLEASE CONSIDER.

>> THAT'S YOUR TIME, MAN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS [INAUDIBLE]

>> GRAB THAT MICROPHONE, PLEASE, MA'AM.

>> MR. KERNER, YOU'RE MY COUNCIL PERSON.

I'M ALSO A BMX GRANDMOTHER.

BMX BICYCLE MOTOR CROSS IN CASE SOME OF YOU ARE NOT AWARE.

DID YOU KNOW BMX IS AN OLYMPIC SPORT? IMAGINE A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY OR GIRL RACING ON OUR LOCAL TRACK.

THEY MIGHT END UP IN THE OLYMPICS SOMEDAY.

OUR KIDS FROM GRETNA, GO TO THE NATIONAL RACE IN TULSA, CALLED THE GRANDS.

THEY RUB SHOULDERS WITH THESE OLYMPIANS.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT? OUR GRANDSON STARTED WRITING ABOUT AGE NINE.

HE'S 15 NOW.

THE CONFIDENCE THAT HE'S GAINED.

HE'S NOT A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

HE'S NOT A BASEBALL PLAYER.

HE'S A BMX RIDER.

HE IS NOW AT 15, BEING ASKED ALONG WITH ANOTHER BMX RIDER, ACTUALLY CLARK AND KALLY SON CLARK THE 3RD, TO CONDUCT CLINICS FOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN.

AGAIN, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY? WE THINK OUR GRANDSON EVENTUALLY COULD BE A TEACHER, THE WAY HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THESE YOUNGER CHILDREN.

AGAIN, AFTER WHAT BELINDA CONSTANT HAS SAID, AND KALLY HAS SAID, I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT.

I WILL CLOSE WITH MANY OF YOU ARE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.

YOU KNOW WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE OUR YOUTH OUTLETS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

THIS 1.5 MILLION IS IMPORTANT TO THESE KIDS, THEIR FAMILIES AND JEFFERSON PARISH.

ADJACENT TO THE TRACK IS THE GRETNA CITY PARK, A WALKING PATH, BASKETBALL COURT, FIRE STATION, AND EMS. THIS AREA OFFERS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION.

LET'S KEEP INVESTING IN THE WEST BANK AND JEFFERSON PARISH, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KATE ROB.

I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF GRETNA, AND FOR THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS OF BMX GRANDFATHER.

WE HAVE TRAVELED ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY IN CANADA TO BMX RACES AND I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT GRETNA HAS A FIRST CLASS BMX TRACK,

[01:00:02]

HOWEVER, NOT JUST THE TRACK OPERATOR HIMSELF, BUT MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED MAINTAIN THE CONDITION OF THIS TRACK.

ON ANY GIVEN RACE DAY, THERE ARE 7, 8, 9 VOLUNTEERS AT THE TRACK AND THERE ARE MANY DAYS WHEN THE TRACK IS CLOSED, WHEN THERE ARE VOLUNTEERS AT THE TRACK PERFORMING MAINTENANCE.

AS A GRETNA RESIDENT, I LIKE SEEING REVENUE COMING IN TO GRETNA AND JEFFERSON PARISH.

THE GRETNA BMX HAS RIDERS FROM NOT ONLY GRETNA AND JEFFERSON PARISH, BUT FROM NEW ORLEANS, BEL CHASE, SLIDE, BATON ROUGE AREA, LAFAYETTE, OCCASIONALLY, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEN THESE RIDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES COME TO GRETNA BMX, USUALLY THREE DAYS A WEEK WEATHER PERMITTING.

THEY SPEND MONEY NOT ONLY ON THE TRACK, BUT A GAS STATIONS, RESTAURANTS, SPORTING GOOD STORES, AND CONVENIENCE STORES.

WHILE THE TRACK ITSELF IS EXCELLENT, TO HAVE BATHROOMS WITH RUNNING WATER FOR PEOPLE WHO WASH THEIR HANDS AND RINSE THEIR FACE WOULD BE A HUGE DRAW FOR MANY MORE OUT OF TOWN RIDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

YOU COULD ALSO PUT THE GRETNA BMX TRACK FACILITY ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL STAGE.

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT A NEW REQUEST FOR MONEY, BUT FOR THE TRACK, BUT A REQUEST TO KEEP THE FUNDS THAT ARE ALREADY ALLOCATED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY FAMILY MOVED TO GRETNA IN 2023 WITH A LOVE FOR RIDING DIRT BIKES.

MY DAUGHTER STARTED RIDING AN ELECTRIC BIKE RIGHT BEFORE SHE TURNED TWO.

WE WERE IN THE SEARCH OF FINDING A SAFE PLACE FOR HER TO CONTINUE TO RIDE OTHER THAN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT IS WHEN WE FOUND GRETNA BMX.

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN WE TOOK HER TO THE TRACK FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SHE SAT ON MY HUSBAND'S SHOULDERS WATCHING ALL THE RIDERS IN AWE.

WE STAYED AND WATCHED ALL THE RACES THAT NIGHT, AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED.

SHE KEPT ASKING WHEN SHE COULD GO OUT AND TRY.

AT THE TIME, SHE WAS RIDING A PEDAL BIKE, BUT WITH LITTLE CONFIDENCE BECAUSE SHE WAS USED TO AN ELECTRIC BIKE.

WHEN WE TOOK HER BACK TO GRETNA BMX FOR HER FIRST TIME TO TRY, WE WERE WELCOMED WITH WIDE ARMS AND EXCITEMENT.

SHE HAD HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT ON THE TRACK FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND SHE EXPRESSED HOW MUCH SHE ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE.

WE CONTINUED TO TAKE HER OUT TO GRETNA BMX AND REALIZED VERY QUICKLY THAT SHE HAD FOUND A PASSION ON THE TRACK.

SHE IS INVOLVED IN OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDING GYMNASTICS AND DANCE, BUT SHE ASKED EVERY DAY TO GO TO THE TRACK.

WE RECENTLY STARTED TRAVELING TO STATE AND NATIONAL RACES.

BMX IS MORE THAN A TRACK.

IT HAS GIVEN MY DAUGHTER CONFIDENCE AND PRIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WINS.

SHE MEETS FRIENDS AT EVERY TRACK WE HAVE BEEN TO.

SHE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEM AND MEET NEW ONES AT EACH RACE WE GO TO.

SHE HAS SO MUCH CONFIDENCE ON AND OFF THE TRACK NOW.

GRETNA BMX IS AN AMAZING FAMILY ORIENTED EVENT.

IT IS A SPORT FOR ALL AGES AND ANY SKILL LEVEL AND GRETNA BMX AND ITS VOLUNTEERS HAVE SHOWN THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THE OLDER RIDERS ARE ALWAYS OFFERING HELPFUL GUIDANCE TO MY DAUGHTER TO HELP HER BECOME A MORE SKILLED AND CONFIDENT RIDER.

WHEN SHE FIRST STARTED, SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST ON A PEDAL BIKE ON THE TRACK, AND THE OLDER KIDS ALWAYS OFFERED SUCH ENCOURAGEMENT THAT YOU DON'T SEE IN OTHER SPORTS ACROSS AGES.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY INCREDIBLE AND GROWING EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED AT GRETNA BMX OVER THE LAST YEAR AND HALF.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD MORNING. AFTER 43 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, WE'RE SPEAKING AS ONE.

BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

WE ARE ALSO GRANDPARENTS OF A BMX RIDER, ONE WHO HAS DREAMS OF GOING TO THE OLYMPICS.

ONE, THAT'S ALL HE SAID SINCE HE'S BEEN STARTED RIDING YEARS AGO, I WANT TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS.

WE WERE ACTUALLY ON OUR WAY TO A NATIONAL EVENT IN TENNESSEE, AND BASICALLY TURNED AROUND BECAUSE WE FELT THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT TO TALK TO YOU ALL THIS MORNING TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS TO US.

I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT'S BEEN SAID ALREADY.

I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

>> MY GRANDSON, AND THIS IS MY ADOPTED GRANDSON.

HE'S A BMXER, BUT WE ARE A FAMILY.

ANYONE THAT COMES OUT TO BMX BECOMES PART OF OUR FAMILY AS WELL.

MY GRANDSON LOST HIS FATHER IN 2018.

THE BMX TRACK HELPED HIM TO COPE WITH THAT LOSS.

IT HAS DONE THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN'T IMAGINE.

[01:05:01]

WE COME HERE THREE TIMES A WEEK, AND WE WOULD COME EVERY DAY IF IT WAS OPEN EVERY DAY.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

IT HAS GIVEN HIM SUCH OPPORTUNITY, IT IS UNREAL.

NOT ONLY HIM, PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE COMING.

YES, WE LIVE IN LACOMBE, BUT WE REPRESENT GRETNA EVERYWHERE WE GO.

OUR HOME TRACK IS GRETNA BMX, AND WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT.

WE ASK YOU, PLEASE LET THE FUNDS STAY WHERE THEY ARE.

HELP US TO GET BETTER SO THAT WE CAN BRING MORE REVENUE INTO GRETNA BY GETTING THE NATIONS AND DOING WHAT A BMXER DOES, AND RIDE PLEASE, AND THANK YOU.

>> CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME, TOO, MA'AM?

>> MY NAME IS CINDY AARONS.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH MAVROMANAS, 21 DERBY'S DRIVE, GRETNA, LOUISIANA.

I'M HOPING THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE TOO REDUNDANT, ANYWAY.

I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 29 YEARS.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN, A 24-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND TWO SONS, 21 AND 20.

I WANTED TO SPEAK TODAY TO GIVE A BIT OF AN INSIGHT AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BMX FACILITY TO OUR FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH BMX SINCE 2007.

WHILE WE'VE NEVER HAD A FORMAL POSITION AT THE TRACK, OUR FAMILY HAS VOLUNTEERED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS IN VARIOUS WAYS, DOING WHAT WE COULD TO SUPPORT THE PLACE THAT HAS GIVEN US SO MUCH.

ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN, MY HUSBAND, AND EVEN FOR A VERY SHORT TIME MYSELF, HAVE ALL RIDDEN AT THE BMX TRACK.

THIS TRULY HAS BEEN A FAMILY SPORT FOR US, AND THE TRACK HAS BEEN THE HEART OF THAT EXPERIENCE.

SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO, OUR FAMILY'S JOURNEY WITH THE MX RACING BEGAN AT THIS TRACK.

WHAT STARTED AS A THREE-DAYS-A-WEEK ACTIVITY QUICKLY BECAME A LIFE-SHAPING EXPERIENCE.

OVER THE YEARS, THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION FOR FRIENDSHIPS AND BONDS THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST AT TIME.

THE PEOPLE WE MET AT THE STARTING GATE 17 YEARS AGO ARE STILL IN OUR LIVES TODAY.

WE'VE WATCHED EACH OTHER'S CHILDREN GROW AND TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TOGETHER AND SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER THROUGH LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS.

TO ILLUSTRATE HOW DEEP THESE CONNECTIONS RUN, IN TWO WEEKS, A YOUNG LADY FROM A FAMILY WE MET AT BMX TRACK 17 YEARS AGO FROM TERRYTOWN WILL STAND BESIDE OUR DAUGHTER AS HER MAID OF HONOR IN HER WEDDING.

JUST TWO MONTHS AGO, A YOUNG MAN, MY SON MET AT THE SAME TRACK 17 YEARS AGO, AS WELL HAD MY SON STAND WITH HIM AS A GROOMSMAN IN HIS WEDDING.

THESE ARE NOT JUST RACING FRIENDS, THEY'RE FAMILY.

OUR LOCAL TRACK HAS SERVED AS MORE THAN JUST A COMPETITIVE GROUND.

IT'S BEEN A SECOND HOME, A SAFE SPACE, A MEETING PLACE FOR RIDERS AND FAMILIES FROM ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA, INCLUDE MANY FROM DISTRICT 1.

THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE NO DISTRICT'S RESOURCES SHOULD BE REDUCED OR REALLOCATED IN A WAY THAT HARMS THE PROGRESS OF IMPROVING THIS FACILITY.

THE GROWTH AND UPKEEP OF OUR TRACK SHOULD BE SEEN AS A REGIONAL INVESTMENT BENEFITING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

WHILE I MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE INS AND OUT OF POLITICS OR FUNDING ALLOCATIONS, I DO KNOW THE DEEP IMPACT THIS FACILITY HAS HAD ON COUNTLESS LIVES AND FAMILIES.

IT'S NOT JUST A RACE TRACK.

IT'S WHERE LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS WERE FORMED, CONFIDENCE WAS BUILT, AND FAMILIES WERE UNITED THROUGHOUT A SHARED LOVE OF THE SPORT.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO VISIT THE BMX TRACK IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE OR SEEN A RACE.

THE NAME GRETNA BMX MIGHT NOT FULLY CAPTURE THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND THE REGIONAL SCOPE OF THE RIDERS THAT THE BMX TRACK SERVES.

WHILE THE TRACK IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN GRETNA, THE NAME COULD CREATE AN IMPRESSION THAT IT'S MADE UP OF RIDERS MOSTLY FROM GRETNA ITSELF.

IN REALITY, THE MAJORITY OF THE BMX RIDERS COME FROM A MUCH LARGER AREA, AS SOME OF OUR OTHER LADIES HAVE STATED, IF ONLY A FRACTION OF THE RIDERS ARE FROM GRETNA.

>> THAT'S YOUR TIME, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] BEFORE YOU SPEAK, SIR, LET ME SEE IF THERE'S ANY OBJECTION TO SUSPENDING THE RULES TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE MORE TIME TO MAKE HIS COMMENTS AND SHOW HIS VIDEO, BECAUSE THE VIDEO IS GONNA TAKE ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF OR SO.

ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

>> I CAN SPEED IT UP BY SPEAKING OVER THE VIDEO.

THERE'S A VIDEO, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A FILE ON THE FLASH DRIVE AFTER THE VIDEO WITH A MAP ON IT.

GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JUSTIN TRAVIS, AND I'M WITH USA BMX, THE NATIONAL SANCTIONING ORGANIZATION FOR BMX RACING.

I WOULD LIKE TO START BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE LOCAL USA BMX TRACK AND THE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO

[01:10:02]

WE LIKE TO SAY THAT NOBODY SITS THE BENCH IN BMX.

AS AN ORGANIZATION, USA BMX EXISTS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE SPORT OF CYCLING.

[NOISE] EVERYTHING STARTED OFF ON MY HEAD.

>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THE AUDIO MELTDOWN.

LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY SOUND ANYWHERE.

THE PODIUM, I TURN BACK ON IF THAT IS UP.

TRY THE PODIUM, I TURNED THAT BACK ON.

>> MIC CHECK.

>> LET'S HOLD FOR A SECOND. THAT SOUNDS TERRIBLE.

NO. TURN THE PODIUM MIC BACK OFF.

THE HANDHELD SEEMS TO BE BACK.

>> YES.

>> PODIUM IS OFF. GO AHEAD.

CONTINUE. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> UNDERSTANDABLE. AS AN ORGANIZATION, USA BMX EXISTS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE SPORT OF CYCLING FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AND OLYMPIC LEVEL, THE NATIONAL LEVEL OF WHICH I WILL SPEAK MORE TO IN A MOMENT, THE STATE LEVEL AND THE LOCAL LEVEL WHERE WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR LOCAL CLUBS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AT RISK PROGRAMMING, COACHING, AND BMX RACING LEAGUES THAT ALL LEAD TO THE INCREASE OF POSITIVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OUTCOMES FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES WHO ALL PARTICIPATE IN RACE TOGETHER.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE, EDUCATE, AND SHOW SUPPORT OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT A COVER OVER THE JEFFERSON PARISH FACILITY KNOWN AS GRETNA BMX. THIS IS WHY I NEED THE MAP.

>> THERE IT IS.

>> HERE'S THE VIDEO. WE'LL SHOW THE VIDEO, AND THEN I'LL BRING UP THE MAP IN A MINUTE.

I SAY JEFFERSON PARISH, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE TRACK IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN GRETNA, AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE DISPLAYED MAP FROM THE FOOT TRAFFIC SOFTWARE PLACER, VISITS FROM JUST THE LAST TWO YEARS ARE COMING FROM ALL DISTRICTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH AND SOUTHERN LOUISIANA.

THIS MAP IS ONLY REFLECTIVE OF THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY-LEVEL EVENTS THAT ARE HELD AT THE BMX TRACK.

IN 2020, WE HELD A USA BMX NATIONAL EVENT AT GRETNA BMX, AND THE FORECAST WAS RAIN.

IT'S LOUISIANA. RAIN IT DID.

EVEN THOUGH THE ATTENDANCE WAS AFFECTED BY THE FORECAST, THE EVENT WAS STILL A RESOUNDING SUCCESS WITH THOUSANDS OF TOTAL ATTENDEES FROM 23 STATES IN AT LEAST THREE COUNTRIES.

THE AVERAGE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OUR NATIONAL EVENTS IS 42.1 MILLION.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FIVE EVENTS, WE HOST THE OTHER 31 NATIONAL-LEVEL EVENTS AT FACILITIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT OPERATE THE SAME LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT YOUR LOCAL CLUB RUNS HERE.

FOUR OF THOSE FIVE EVENTS ARE HELD IN THE WINTER MONTHS IN INDOOR ARENAS, IN COLD-WEATHER AREAS, SO WE CAN SERVE MEMBERS THAT ARE UNABLE TO RACE OTHERWISE.

ONE OF THOSE EVENTS TAKES PLACE IN LOUISIANA IN AN EVENT CENTER AT THE MONROE FAIRGROUNDS.

WE WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT EVENT TO A FACILITY AND A COMMUNITY THAT BENEFIT YEAR-ROUND FROM THE IMPACT OF A NATIONAL.

GRETNA BMX IS THE NUMBER 1-RANKED TRACK IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

THE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT SPOKE HERE TODAY THAT OPERATES THE FACILITY DEDICATES OVER 6,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS.

YOU CAN DOUBLE-CHECK THAT NUMBER ANNUALLY.

I CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND ANY OTHER GROUP THAT'S MORE DEDICATED THAN THAT.

THEY SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES FROM NOT ONLY JEFFERSON PARISH BUT ALL OVER THE STATE, AND THEIR EFFORTS ARE CONSTANTLY UNDERMINED BY MOTHER NATURE, YET THEY CONTINUE TO PERSIST.

YOUR SUPPORT, COMBINED WITH THEIR PERSISTENCE AND SUCCESS, HAS LED US TO GUARANTEE JEFFERSON PARISH A NATIONAL EVENT EVERY OTHER YEAR FOR 10 YEARS ONCE THIS COVER IS CONSTRUCTED.

THIS WILL BACKSTOP THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU ARE MAKING INTO YOUR COMMUNITY WITH SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WILL BENEFIT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ARE YOU ABLE TO PULL UP THAT MAP?

>> THEY'LL SEE IF THEY CAN GET THE MAP UP REAL QUICK.

>> THAT'D BE SO GREAT.

PROJECT THAT ONTO THE SCREEN, PLEASE.

[01:15:06]

>> 32ND CLIFF NOTES, PLEASE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S MUNICIPAL-LEVEL FOOT TRAFFIC SOFTWARE.

IT SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM THAT ARE GOING TO THE GEOFENCE REGION KNOWN AS GRETNA BMX.

YOU ARE RECEIVING PARTICIPATION FROM ALL OVER THE PARISH AND SOUTHERN LOUISIANA.

THERE YOU GO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE MADE IT THROUGH ALL THE NOISE AND AVV STRUGGLES.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.

[APPLAUSE]

>> A LAST CALL FOR ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM, AGENDA RESOLUTION-WISE.

ANYBODY REMAINING TO SPEAK?

>> HELLO. ALSO, 146106 C VORCAS 104 PANTHER ON DESHER HAN, LOUISIANA.

BORN AND RAISED ON 1108 NORTH TURMO DRIVE IN METURY.

LCMC HEALTH, THE HOSPITAL GROUP UNDER CONTRACT FOR EMS, REPORTED 6.3 BILLION IN REVENUE, ONLY 6.3 MILLION ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE EMS SERVICES, 77% OF THE $52 MILLION FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES THAT MY MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, AUNTS, UNCLES COUSINS PAY GOES TOWARD FIREFIGHTER SALARIES.

EFFECTIVELY MEANS LOCAL FIRE MILLAGE IS BEING USED TO SUBSIDIZE THE OPERATIONAL GAPS OF A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

THE QUESTION BEFORE US ISN'T JUST ABOUT A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT.

IT'S ABOUT FAIRNESS, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF LCMC IS PROFITING WHILE OFFLOADING RESPONSIBILITY ONTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND IF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONTROLS THE DISPATCH MECHANISM THAT MISALIGNS OUR RESPONSE SCOPE, WHY ARE LOCAL TAXPAYERS AND FIREFIGHTERS BEARING THAT BURDEN? I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE THREE ACTIONS, ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND PROTOCOLS THAT YOU AND YOUR PREDECESSORS GOVERN, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO EMS CALLS AND DUTY, AUDIT THE FLOW OF CALLS AND FUNDING TO DETERMINE IF FIRE SUPPRESSION RESOURCES ARE BEING IMPROPERLY DIVERTED TO FULFILL EMS OBLIGATIONS OUTSIDE OUR SCOPE, HOLD LCMC ACCOUNTABLE AS THE CONTRACTED EMS PROVIDER TO FULLY STAFF AND RESPOND TO MEDICAL CALLS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THEIR FINANCIAL CAPACITY.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO CORRECT THIS MISALIGNMENT, BECAUSE AT ITS CORE, THIS IS ABOUT PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR FIRE SERVICES, SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC FUNDS, AND ENSURING THAT EACH AGENCY FULFILLS THE RESPONSIBILITIES TAXPAYERS IN THE LAW HAVE ENTRUSTED TO THEM.

IT'S NOW A LITTLE BIT IMPORTANT FOR ME TO PULL UP A PHOTO.

MI SHANG WANTS TO TURN AROUND, NINE-YEAR FIREFIGHTER, $16.93 HOURLY RATE.

NINE YEARS ON THE JOB, 45% AND 5% RAISES.

NOT 11 PEOPLE.

>> LET'S STAY ON TOPIC, SIR. TOUGH TOPIC.

>> BACK CHECK.

[APPLAUSE] YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN, MR. HIERS.

MR. HIERS, YOU'VE SPOKEN. PLEASE SIT DOWN.

YOU'VE SPOKEN ALREADY, MR. HIERS.

MR. HIERS, YOU'VE SPOKEN ALREADY.

WE'RE PULLING AN AGENDA ITEM OUT OF ORDER, MR. HIERS.

THERE'S NOTHING ON THE AGENDA REGARDING FIREFIGHTERS AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY.

IT GOES AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

I'M NOT ADDRESSING YOU AWAY FROM THE PODIUM.

IF YOU'RE GETTING UP TO SPEAK ON THAT, THEN GO AHEAD, MR. HIERS.

>>THAT'S WHAT I STOOD UP FOR.

>> THEN GO AHEAD.

>> ALL DUE RESPECT TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 1, AND ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE MAYOR.

I OPPOSE THIS ACTION BECAUSE GRETNA SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEG FOR THIS NEGOTIATION.

THIS IS TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

I TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN THE FUNDS WERE DE-OBLIGATED BY HIS PREDECESSOR.

NOW WE'RE SEEING THE ACTIONS TAKEN JUST THAT I WARNED YOU OF LAST MEETING.

IT TRANSLATES TO EVERYTHING THIS REPRESENTATIVE AGGLOMERATION.

>> I WORK FOR A NONPROFIT.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ESTELLE ELEMENTARY ON BARATARIA? I PUT A PAINTED PIANO THERE.

HOW MUCH MONEY THAT GOES TO BMX WOULD OTHERWISE FUND A PAINTED PIANO, SUSTAINING THE PAINTED PIANO IN ESTELLE? HOW MUCH OF IT IS GOING TO NOT BE SPENT IN LOWER LAFITTE? CAN YOU GET A DOCK OPENED WITH A MILLION DOLLARS? I MET THOSE TRIPPERS DOWN IN LOWER LAFITTE.

DEREK TOLD ME HIS STORY.

HE'S GOT MOW LAWNS, MUCH LIKE MY FIREMAN GOT TO MOW LAWNS ON THE SIDE JUST TO MAKE A LIVING.

THEY CAN'T DO WHAT THEY ARE THERE TO DO.

THIS IS TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

[01:20:02]

I RODE BMX.

I HAD A HALF PIPE IN MY BACK YARD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

I DON'T OPPOSE ANYTHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT'S WORTH DOING, BUT IF YOU'VE STOLEN THE POWER TO DO IT, IF THE LARGE FRACTIONS THAT SHOW UP ON BEHALF OF LAFITTE, JEAN LAFITTE, BARATARIA, CROWN POINT, AND ESTELLE, IF THEY SHOW UP IN SUCH NUMBERS THAT THEY STEAL AN ELECTION FROM THE LARGER 20,000 CITIZENS OF GRETNA, THEN YOU END UP IN THIS SITUATION, SO I OPPOSE ON THESE GROUNDS.

I'M A JEFFERSONIAN. I NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT'S FRUGAL AND SIMPLE.

YOU CANNOT APPROVE WHAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

>> MR. HIERS [PHONETIC], YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO SPEAK A SECOND TIME, BUT YOU HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES, BUT I'LL LET YOU GO.

YOU HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES AT THE BEGINNING TO ADDRESS ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA.

I WAS NOT INCORRECT THERE.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I HAVE TO MOVE IT FIRST.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO SUSPENDING

[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS (Part 1 of 2)]

WE'LL READ 16, COUNCILMAN KERNER, AND THEN YOU CAN COMMENT BEFORE YOU MOVE.

>> A RESOLUTION TERMINATING THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN JEFFERSON PARISH, HOSPITAL DISTRICT NUMBER 1, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND THE CITY OF GRETNA, AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION NUMBER 141319, ADOPTED ON FEBRUARY 8TH, 2023, WHICH THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WAS EXECUTED ON APRIL 4TH, 2023, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

>> COUNCILMAN KERNER, GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE YOURSELF.

>> IS IT [INAUDIBLE]

>> IT SHOULD BE.

>> THERE IT GOES. FIRST OFF, LOOK, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATES IN BMX, IT REALLY IS INSPIRING.

IT'S SOMETHING I DO SUPPORT.

I THINK THERE'S A LACK OF CLARITY OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE.

I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.

THIS IS AN INCLUSIVE RECREATIONAL FACILITY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT PROMOTES YOUNG KIDS.

I'VE HEARD STORIES ABOUT A GUY WHOSE KID, HE WASN'T MEETING CERTAIN MILESTONES, AND THEY BROUGHT HIM TO BMX, AND THAT WAS KIND OF HIS GATEWAY, AND HE STOPPED WORRYING ABOUT HIS KID AS MUCH.

I GET IT. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

NOW, I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

THIS $1.5 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED IN 2022 IN JULY, NOT ONE DOLLAR WAS DRAWN FROM IT THUS FAR.

I DO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR THE CONVERSATION WE HAD YESTERDAY.

WE BOTH AGREED ON, AND REALLY WAS MY PLAN ALL ALONG, AND I APPRECIATE HER HEARING ME OUT AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE I WAS COMING FROM.

BECAUSE THE PATH FORWARD WE'RE GOING ON NOW IS THE RESPONSIBLE PATH FORWARD THAT PROTECTS THE BMX TRACKS PROJECT.

IT ALSO SERVES THE BROADER COMMUNITIES NEEDS, WHICH HAS BEEN LACKING.

THE $1.5 MILLION, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL BACK TODAY, BUT Y'ALL HAVE $4.9 MILLION OF CBDG FUNDS THAT ARE COMING TO THIS GRETNA BMX TRACKS.

THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL PUT IT IN TWO DIFFERENT PHASES, THIS PROJECT, SO IT DOES NOT SLOW PHASE 1 DOWN.

THEY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH TO COMPLETE PHASE 1.

WE WOULD STILL NEED ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR PHASE 2, SO WE'D STILL HAVE TO GO TO CAPITAL OUTLAY OR FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO COMPLETE THAT.

NOW, I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

NOW, I COULD EASILY FIGHT TO PULL BACK THE CBDG FUNDS, 44.9 MILLION.

THOSE CBDG FUNDS CAME ONLY BECAUSE OF THE HUMAN SUFFERING CAUSED BY HURRICANE IDA.

THERE'S A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT, ABOUT 13 MILLION, REALLY NINE MILLION WENT TO GRANT AND 4.9 MILLION WENT TO THE BMX TRACK.

NOW, THIS IS TO PREVENT HUMAN SUFFERING.

IT'S TO PREVENT THE HARDSHIP CAUSED BY HURRICANES, AND IT WAS SPENT ON A RECREATIONAL FACILITY.

IN NO WAY IS THAT THE RIGHT USE OF THOSE FUNDS? IT WAS NOT RIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED.

THAT MONEY SHOULD HAVE WENT TO THE PLACES THAT WERE DEVASTATED.

MANY OF THE FIREFIGHTERS IN HERE HAVE SEEN THE DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED, THE PLACES LIKE GRAND ISLE, LAFITTE, BARATARIA, CROWN POINT.

MANY IN GRETNA THAT CAME DOWN TO HELP US HAVE SEEN THE INCREDIBLE HARDSHIP THAT THOSE PEOPLE SUFFERED.

[01:25:03]

NOTHING IN GRAND ISLE, 86 MILLION PARISH WIDE, 13-15 MILLION THAT WENT TO DISTRICT 1.

NOT ONE DOLLAR OF THOSE FUNDS WENT TO GRAND ISLE, NOT ONE DOLLAR WENT TO THE TOWN JEAN LAFITTE, NOT ONE DOLLAR WENT TO LOWER LAFITTE, NOT ONE DOLLAR WENT TO CROWN POINT.

THE THE ONLY PLACE THAT GOT DEVASTATED THAT THIS MONEY WENT TO WAS BARATARIA, BUT WAIT, IT WAS ONLY ENOUGH TO FUND HALF THE PROJECT.

OUT OF THE LISTED FIVE PROJECTS, WITH THREE BEING IN GRETNA, ONE BEING THE [INAUDIBLE].

I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT'S DIRECTED TO IF IT'S PARISH OR MUNICIPALITY, ONE PROJECT WENT TO THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES, WITH HURRICANE ITEM MONEY AT THAT, AND IT WAS ONLY HALF FUNDED, SO THE PROJECT CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT GOING TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

HERE WE ARE. WE HAVE $6.5 MILLION OF BMX TRACK.

I RAN ON WINNING YOUNG FAMILIES BACK AND THAT'S WHY I CHOSE.

I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, I HAD EVERY RIGHT TO GO AND FIGHT THAT CBDG MONEY.

I DID BECAUSE THAT MONEY WAS MEANT FOR THE HUMAN SUFFERING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, BUT INSTEAD, I WANT TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS OF THE WEST BANK AND DISTRICT 1.

I WANT TO CONTINUE TO CREATE THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS FOR CHILDREN.

INSTEAD, I DECIDED TO NOT FIGHT THAT 4.9 MILLION.

ALTHOUGH, I DISAGREE WITH THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS.

ALTHOUGH, I THINK IT WAS A HEARTLESS THING TO DO TO SPEND IT ON ANY RECREATIONAL FACILITY, I DECIDED TO NOT FIGHT THAT, AND I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT MONEY GOES INTO YOUR BMX TRACK, WHICH WILL FUND YOUR FIRST PHASE AND THEN HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER.

NOW, WHAT I AM DOING SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO SERVE THE REST OF THE DISTRICT IS PULL BACK SOME OF THAT 1.5 MILLION.

THE PEOPLE OF GRETNA, I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THIS, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

THE MAYOR AND I BOTH ARE GOING TO GO TO CAPITAL ISLAND TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE REST OF THESE FUNDS TO NOT SLOW DOWN THE PROJECT, BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES IN DISTRICT 1.

WHEN I GOT IN THIS OFFICE, I LOOKED AT THE TOURISM FUND, ALL THE FESTIVAL MONEY.

IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN GRETNA.

ACCORDING TO THOMAS PECUN [PHONETIC], IT'S A 19% OF THE POPULATION.

I THOUGHT IT WAS AROUND 25, 30, BUT ACCORDING TO THOMAS, IT'S 19% OF POPULATION.

THE ARPA MONEY, 90% WENT TO GRETNA.

THE DISTRICT DISCRETIONARY MONEY, 81% WENT TO GRETNA.

NOW EVEN THE HURRICANE MONEY.

I'M ASKING YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I AM MAKING SURE THIS PROJECT CONTINUES, AND IT'S NOT EASY TO DO WHEN YOU SEE THOSE PEOPLE SUFFERING.

I'M KEEPING THIS MONEY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR KIDS CAN CONTINUE, AND THIS PROJECT CONTINUES FOR YOUR KIDS BECAUSE IT IS A REGIONAL, IT'S AN AMAZING THING, IT'S UNIQUE, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE BEST IN THE REGION AT SOMETHING, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I AM IN FAVOR OF.

I'M KEEPING THAT 4.9 MILLION, BUT I AM PULLING BACK THIS MONEY BECAUSE OTHER COMMUNITIES DESERVE LOVE.

EVERYONE HAS IT BECAUSE.

I WANT EVERYBODY JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS, WE COULD HAVE THE GIRL'S SOFTBALL TEAM COME AND SAY, WE NEED OUR FIELDS. WE GET REINED OUT.

WE COULD HAVE PEOPLE IN OAKDALE SAYING, [INAUDIBLE] LOTS OF DISASTER.

IT HADN'T HAD IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS COMMUNITY MEANT SO MUCH TO MY GRAND KIDS AND MY KIDS.

EVERYONE HAS IT BECAUSE.

THE LOWER LAFITTE, BARATARIA, AND CROWN POINT, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE KNOCKED ON THEIR BACKS, THEY NEED THAT $4.9 MILLION TO ENSURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT HUMAN SUFFERING, THAT THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR HOMES.

THEY HAVE A BECAUSE AS WELL.

I JUST ASK Y'ALL TO PLEASE UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M ACTUALLY DOING.

I'M ACTUALLY PRIORITIZING THE BMX TRACK.

I AM ACTUALLY HONORING THE GREAT WORK THE CITY OF GRETNA DID ON THIS BY NOT FINDING THAT 4.9 MILLION.

YOU-ALL HAVE THAT COMMITMENT.

I'M GOING TO ENSURE THAT STAYS IN THAT TRACK, BUT THIS $4.5 MILLION WILL SIT IN THE ACCOUNT UNTIL WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO ANYWAYS, GET MORE MONEY THROUGH CAPITAL OUTLAY.

LOOK, AGAIN, THIS IS NO REFLECTION OF THE CITY OFFICIALS IN GRETNA.

BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, IN LAFITTE WHEN I WAS MAYOR, IF I COULD HAVE GOT 100%, I WOULD HAVE.

A GREAT JOB TO BELINDA.

SHE'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL MAYOR, BUT THE DISTRICT 1, THE PERSON THAT SITS IN THIS SEAT, AS MUCH AS IT HAS TO BE A VOICE FOR THE CITY OF GRETNA IN EVERY RECREATIONAL FIELD, IT HAS TO BE A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE AT TERRYTOWN AND A&B SECTION THAT THEY'RE SEEING THEIR COMMUNITY SLOWLY DECLINE.

I HAVE TO BE THE VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF

[01:30:01]

I AM MAKING THE MOST RESPONSIBLE DECISION WHILE ALSO PRIORITIZING THE BMX TRACT.

I WANT YOU-ALL TO KNOW THAT. THIS DOES NOT SLOW UP THE PROJECT.

MAYOR CONSTANT AND I AND THE COUNCIL MARK MILLER, WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER, CONTINUE, THAT WE GET THE FUNDING FOR PHASE 2, BUT THE PHASE 1 WILL GO FORWARD.

THE CBDG FUND IS VERY CLOSE TO ACTUALLY GOING AHEAD, IT COULD BE ANY WEEK NOW, BUT I WANT Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND THIS $1.5 MILLION DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROJECT, BUT IT DOES ALLOW ME TO BE FAIR.

IT DOES ALLOW ME TO GO INTO COMMUNITIES THAT I PROMISED THAT I WAS GOING TO GO AND GIVE THEM REPRESENTATION THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD IN 13 YEARS. THANK YOU.

>> NOW, YOU NEED TO MOVE ON THE RESOLUTION.

>> LOOK, I AM GOING TO MOVE WITH THE COMMITMENT TO KEEP THAT $4.9 MILLION AND THAT WE WON'T SLOW DOWN THIS PROJECT, BUT I AM GOING TO MOVE ON THIS.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION NUMBER 16 ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

NOW, WE CAN GET TO ITEMS 1 AND 2 ON THE AGENDA.

[ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED]

COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF ITEMS 1 AND 2.

>> I MOVE.

>> ANY OBJECTS TO THE DEFERRAL OF ONE AND TWO TO 6/18 ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

ITEM 3, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.

[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]

>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS OR FIRMS TO SERVE AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.

>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR SELECTION.

>> SELECTING GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS INC.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS INC ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 4.

>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING TO PROVIDE LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARD INSPECTIONS AND RELATED SERVICES FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION PROJECTS FOR THE LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARD REDUCTION GRANT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UNDER RFP NUMBER 0496.

>> I'M COMING. I'M SORRY. MY IPAD JUST WENT WONKY.

IT RESET. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR SELECTION.

>> SELECTION OF THE HIGHEST SCORED MATERIALS MANAGEMENT GROUP.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF MATERIALS MANAGEMENT GROUP ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

WE HAVE NO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS TODAY.

WE'LL GO TO NUMBER 6. MADAM CLERK.

[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES]

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26530, RE-SUB OF TRACT A, SQUARE 6, SOUTHWOOD WEST SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 1-45, SQUARE A, LOTS 1-20, SQUARE B, AND TRACT G1, SOUTHWOOD SOUTH SUBDIVISION IN THE DEDICATION OF SOUTHWOOD DRIVE AND JUNIPER DRIVE.

IN THE DEDICATION OF A 10-FOOT PRIVATE UTILITY SERVITUDE AND A 50-FOOT DRAINAGE SERVITUDE WITH WAIVERS TO THE AREA REGULATIONS AND GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 33-2.35 SUBDIVISION WAIVERS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, WS-133-24, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM, AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26530.

THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ROBERT GARRETTI [PHONETIC].

I REPRESENT THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, THE DEVELOPER, MR. MUSTAFA EL SAMAK.

MR. SAMAK IS A FOREIGN NATIONAL WHO IS ATTEMPTING TO INVEST ABOUT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN JEFFERSON PARISH IN DISTRICT 1.

THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF SOUTHWOOD DRIVE WILL CREATE APPROXIMATELY 60 LOTS.

THE PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

IT WAS APPROVED BY THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD.

THE LOTS WILL BE AT PRESENT GRADE.

ONE OF THE ISSUES AT THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD WAS AN ISSUE OF DRAINAGE AFFECTING ADJOINING PROPERTIES.

THE ENGINEERS HAVE DESIGNED THE PROJECT THAT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO DOUBLE THE DRAINAGE CAPACITY THAT THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY HOLDS.

>> WE WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER RECOMMENDING THIS PROJECT.

AND MR. KERNER, WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST MEETING.

GOAL WAS TO ATTRACT YOUNG FAMILIES.

THIS PAST WEEKEND, I DROVE DOWN TO VENICE AND BACK, AND ALL I SAW WAS OUR YOUNG POPULATION BLEEDING IN PLAQUEMINES PARIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE BRAND NEW AND THEY HAVE LAND OPPORTUNITIES.

[01:35:03]

WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT TO APPROVE THE PLANNING ADVISORY ION AND ADOPT THIS SUBDIVISION.

I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?

>> THANKS, MR. WALKER, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS WARREN HOTARD.

MY ADDRESS IS 400 FIRE THORNE DRIVE.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSAL OF THESE 65 LOTS IN THIS AREA.

THIS AREA HAS BEEN VACATED FOR YEARS, AND I HAVE LIVED ON FIRETON FOR 47 YEARS.

THREE DIFFERENT TIMES, WE HAVE FOUGHT TO BLOCK THESE HOUSES FROM BEING BUILT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OF IT.

BUT IN THIS AREA, IT'S A LARGE HIGH-LINE POWER LINE THAT WOULD RUN DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE SO-CALLED SUBDIVISION.

AND I'VE TALKED TO MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS.

I DON'T SEE ANY OF THEM HERE TODAY THAT WE ARE ALL IN FAVOR OF ABANDONING THIS PROJECT.

BUT WHAT WE ASK YOU TO DO IS TO TABLE IT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

JUST DON'T GO RUBBER STAMP THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD'S DECISION.

JUST LOOK AT IT.

HELP US OUT. WE DON'T WANT IT.

WE THINK THAT IT WILL HURT OUR FLOOD PROTECTION BACK THERE.

AND I'M JUST ASKING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE MEASURE, PLEASE, BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION?

>> A MEETING UP IN OPPOSITION.

I OPPOSE THE FOREIGN MONEY COMING IN.

AND I THINK THAT HE'S PROBABLY RIGHT.

YOU PROBABLY ALL SHOULD LOOK AT IT.

BUT OF COURSE, YOU APPOINTED THAT PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD.

DEPENDING ON WHERE THE MONEY'S GETTING BEST, I SUPPOSE THAT'S HOW THIS IS GOING TO ROLL.

BUT I OPPOSE IT. I KNOW THAT.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR TO APPEAR IN OPPOSITION, COUNCILMAN KERNER.

>> I JUST GOT A QUICK QUESTION. POWER LINES.

WHERE'S THE POWER LINES AT? THROUGH THE PROPERTY. I DON'T SEE IT.

>> YOU DON'T SEE IT ON BUT THEY'RE THERE.

THEY ARE 120 FOOT IN HEIGHT.

>> YES, PLEASE.

>> SOUTHWOOD DRIVE.

THERE IS A POWER LINE.

IS CURRENTLY DOWN THE MIDDLE OF SOUTHWOOD DRIVE AS IT EXISTS TODAY.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS EXTENDING THE STREET AND ADDING THE LOTS.

THE POWER LINE HAS BEEN THERE WHEN THE ORIGINAL SOUTHWOOD DRIVE WAS DEVELOPED, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE IN THE EXTENSION OF SOUTHWOOD.

AND THOSE ISSUES WERE CONSIDERED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND BY THE PLANNING ADVISOR.

>> THANK YOU. HELLO, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SPEAK OUT.

BUT THIS HAS PASSED PLAN AND HAS PASSED PLAN ADVISORY BOARD, AND IT DOES ALIGN WITH OVERALL VISION OF A COMMUNITY.

IT FITS IN WITH WHAT'S BEEN DONE ALL AROUND IT.

AND I AM IN FAVOR OF WINNING YOUNG FAMILIES BACK.

AND TO BE HONEST, IF I DID DECLINE IT, OR I THINK THEY'RE WITH TOTALLY IN THEIR RIGHT TO THEY HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS TO GET IT BECAUSE NOTHING STOPPING THEM, BUT THEY'RE WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO DO THIS.

SO WITH THEIR LAND, IT'S NOT BREACHING ANY RULES.

SO THAT BEING SAID, I'LL MOTION TO APPROVE IT.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26530, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26531 RESET UP LOTS H321H, 2A, AND A321, A2B, AMES FARM SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS H32 1H2C, H31, H2D, AND H32 1H2E WITH A WAIVER TO THE GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE

[01:40:07]

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26531.

THOSE IN FAVOR. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> K D FRAN HERE REPRESENTING THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.

THIS IS IN THE GAMBINO ESTATE.

THE HEIRS OF THE GABINOS, ARE TRYING TO SEPARATE THE EXISTING HOUSES FROM THE VACANT PIECE.

SO THE LARGER LOT IN THE BACK IS 13-ACRE PARCEL BEHIND A BIG LOT.

ALL OF THIS IS ZONED R ONE A.

WE WANT TO KEEP IT R ONE A.

WE'RE NOT PROPOSING A CHANGE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE.

THE PLAN IS FOR THE OWNERS TO SELL THE BIG THING TO A CONTRACTOR DEVELOPER WHO HAS BUILT SEVERAL HOUSES IN THIS VICINITY, AND THEN ON THE WEST BANK ADJUSTING PARISH, THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT AND THEY'LL ADDRESS YOU IN A FEW MINUTES ABOUT THEIR FUTURE PLANS.

THE WAIVER WE HAVE FOR THE FOUR LOTS THAT FRONT ON AMES BOULEVARD, THAT PRESUMABLY BACK UP TO THIS LARGE TRACK OF LAND, WHICH IS THE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, I GUESS.

TWO OF THOSE LOTS ARE EXISTING LOTS THAT BACK UP TO THE WOODED AREA.

THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE RESBDIVISION.

THIRD ONE IS THAT IT HAS A HOUSE ON IT THAT WE'RE MAKING A LOT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND ADJUSTING IT TO FIT THE DRIVEWAY.

AND THE FOURTH ONE IS THE OTHER HOUSE THAT FRONTS ON AMES BOULEVARD SEPARATING IT FROM THE BIG PIECE.

IN PLANNINGS REPORT, ONE OF THE THINGS I SUGGESTED WAS THIS PROBABLY SHOULD FRONT ON AMES BOULEVARD.

IF WE HAD DONE THAT, THEN I THINK THE SIDES, WE'D BE ASKING FOR 40 VARIANCES.

23 LOTS AT FRONT ON KENNER COURT THAT WOULD THEN BACK UP TO THE SIDE OF THIS PIECE AND 17 AT FRONT ON DELORS, THAT WOULD BE OR WOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF THIS TRACK.

HAVING SAID THAT, I'M NOT REALLY SURE IT MATTERS FRONT SIDE REAR BECAUSE YOU CAN'T QUITE GRAB IT ON SUCH A 13 ACRE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT.

REALLY THE NEXT PHASE IS WHERE IT COMES INTO PLAY. AND WHAT HAPPENS.

ON THAT PIECE, THE LOTS WE'RE CREATING HAS A FRONT AGE ON LEMONS, 50 FOOT RIDE, PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY BY THE STREET THAT COMES RIGHT UP TO THE PROPERTY, 50 FOOT RIGHT AWAY FROM MARIE STREET THAT COMES OFF DLOORS, AND A 50 FOOT RIGHT AWAY OF YVONNE UP AGAINST BAY D F FOR ME THAT COMES UP TO THE PROPERTY.

I HAVEN'T FINALIZED THE PLAN YET, WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO USE 12 OR THREE OF THOSE ROADS TO MAKE THE ACCESS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'LL SEE IN THE FUTURE ONCE WE CAN CREATE THIS PIECE, AND THEN SELL IT AND GET THE DEVELOPER WORKING ON HIS PLAN.

WE'RE REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR?

>> RAMON RAMOS, 34 35 BARI TORY BOULEVARD.

WE'RE TRYING TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY, THE REAR PIECE.

WE'D LIKE TO DEVELOP IT AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE MORE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR?

>> ANY TROSSPRESENT THE NINE PROPERTY.

THIS PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD BY NINE HEIRS TO SETTLE THE ESTATE ALONG WITH OTHER JEFFERSON PARISH PROPERTIES.

AND THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT.

AND LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THIS ON THIS FAMILY HAS OWNED THE PROPERTY SINCE THE 1960S AND HAS NEVER APPROACHED THE COUNCIL FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT OR TRACKS THAT WERE ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY SINCE THAT TIME.

AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO APPROVE THIS RESBDIVISION, SO THEY CAN SETTLE THIS ESTATE.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M JENNIFER BRUCI.

I DID A LITTLE DIAGRAM BECAUSE I THINK THIS BETTER EXPLAINS HOW THIS SUBDIVISION AND THIS WAIVER IS GOING TO AFFECT MY FAMILY AND MULTIPLE FAMILIES AROUND THE AREA.

THIS IS THE 12 ACRES, AND THEY ALREADY HAVE HOMES HERE HERE AND HERE.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S CURRENT ACCESS TO THESE 12 ACRES THAT WANT TO BE DEVELOPED INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE CURRENT AXIS IS ON AMES.

AMES IS A MAJOR WAY.

THEY CAN HANDLE THE TRAFFIC.

I LIVE RIGHT HERE. ON LEMONS.

LAMONS IS A QUIET STREET.

WE'RE ONLY TWO BLOCKS LONG.

WE HAVE TWO DEAD ENDS.

MOVING ACCESS FOR 12 ACRES OF DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING OVER 180 VEHICLES IF THEY'RE BUILDING ABOUT 100 HOMES, 60 TO 150, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH CAN FIT ON 12 ACRES.

THE TRACK AT FIC WILL NOW HAVE TO GO DOWN AMES, DOWN KENNER COURT, BACK HERE ON LEMONS, AND THEY'LL EITHER EXTEND IT OR ADD TO IT, HOWEVER, THERE'S NO BLUEPRINTS.

AS HE SAID, HE DOESN'T KNOW, OTHER THAN OPENING ON LAMONS WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH ANY OTHER ACCESS.

THIS GREATLY AFFECTS MY FAMILY.

I'M A MOTHER OF THREE.

[01:45:01]

WE BOUGHT HERE 19 YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS A QUIET AREA.

IT'S NOT A THROUGH STREET.

THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DOCKET SUMMARY LISTS MANY REASONS WHY THIS WAIVER AND REQUEST DOES NOT MEET WAIVER CRITERIA AND RECOMMENDED IT FOR DENIAL.

NUMBER FIVE ON THEIR LIST, SAEZ SAYS, REMOVING ACCESS FROM AM TO LAMONS WILL NOT ALLOW CONNECTIVITY FOR A NEW SUBDIVISION.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT TRAFFIC BEING UNNECESSARILY MOVED TO A VERY SMALL STREET BACK HERE INSTEAD OF STAYING ON THE MAJOR THRUWAY.

THEY CAN DIVIDE AND DEVELOP THIS LAND UNDER THE CURRENT CODE WITHOUT THIS WAIVER BEING APPROVED.

PLEASE MOTION TO DENY. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION?

>> GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ANGELA JONES.

I'VE BEEN IN JEFFERSON PARISH FOR 20 YEARS.

I CURRENTLY RESIDE CAL COURT SUBDIVISION ON THE MON DRIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MISS JEN.

I'M URGING THE COUNCIL TO DECLARE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AT 40, 624 AMES BOULEVARD, SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BUILD BELOW OUR CURRENT BUILDING STANDARDS AND SHOULD BE DEVELOPED UNDER THE CURRENT UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE WITH PROPER FRONTAGE ACCESS ON AMES BOULEVARD AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION REQUEST, ALONG WITH ITS WAIVER, SEEKS TO RECONFIGURE THE PROPERTY IN A WAY THAT DIRECTLY VIOLATES THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.

CHANGES THE LOT'S ORIENTATION TO RELY ON LEMONG DRIVE, ELIMINATING ACCESS FROM AMES BOULEVARD, THEREBY SHIFTING 100% OF TRAFFIC DOWN COR COURT TO LEMONG DRIVE.

EVERY PIECE OF HEAVY MACHINERY EQUIPMENT, CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, DUMP TRUCKS, CONCRETE TRUCKS WILL BE DIRECTED THROUGH AN ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY, DIRECTLY IMPACTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN A NEGATIVE MANNER.

THIS APPROACH NOT ONLY DISREGARDS ESTABLISHED PLANNING PRINCIPLES, BUT IT ALSO UNDERMINES THE INTEGRITY OF THE CODE ITSELF AS SUCH THIS REQUEST SHOULD BE DENIED.

IF APPROVED, THIS RECONFIGURATION WOULD RENDER THE NEWLY CREATED LOT NON COMPLIANT WITH THE FUTURE SUBDIVISION CONNECTIVITY REQUIREMENTS.

WOULD BE SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT INVITES FURTHER NON CONFORMING DEVELOPMENTS, INTRODUCING UNNECESSARY COMPLICATIONS, AND MAKING FUTURE PLANNING MORE DIFFICULT AND LESS EFFICIENT.

MOREOVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CURRENT OWNERS ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING THE NEWLY FORMED LOT TO HASSAN TO CONSTRUCTION, WHO STATED HIS INTENT AT THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING TO CONSTRUCT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

HOWEVER, HE WAS NOT TRANSPARENT WITH HIS ACTUAL PLAN FOR USAGE, NOR THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE CURRENTLY ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN EFFECT, THE COUNCIL WOULD BE APPROVING A WAIVER THAT CREATES A HARDSHIP WHERE NONE CURRENTLY EXIST, PAVING THE WAY FOR A DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY REQUIRE EVEN MORE WAIVERS DOWN THE LINE.

THIS DOES NOT REPRESENT SAFE, ORDERLY, OR REASONABLE LAND USE.

THE APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST WOULD NOT ONLY CIRCUMVENT THE STANDARD SET FORTH IN THE CODE, BUT ALSO SEND A MESSAGE.

SHORT TERM CONVENIENCE CAN OVERRIDE LONG TERM PLANNING GOAL.

I STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS REQUEST, OPPOSE DOCKET WS 2 - 25, AND HOLD UP AND UPHOLD THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, I BELIEVE THAT WAS THREE IN FAVOR TWO IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILMAN KERNER.

>> THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS SERIOUS CONCERN WITH THE LOSS OF ACCESS TO AIMS. AND I SHARE THAT CONCERN.

I'M AS IT CURRENTLY SITS, THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD APPROVE THIS UNTIL IT'S ALLEVIATED, AND THERE'S MORE CONCERN SHOWN FOR THE COMMUNITY ADJACENT TO IT.

NOW, THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU GUYS AND MAYBE GIVE YOU ALL SOME MORE TIME TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT CONTINUES TO ACCESS AND AIM.

SO IT DOESN'T CREATE A CRAZY BURDENSOME PROBLEM FOR THE COMMUNITY NEXT DOOR.

SO THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO DEFER THIS.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO DEFER ITEM NUMBER SEVEN TO WHICH MEETING? OUR NEXT WEST BANK OR OUR NEXT EAST BANK MEETING.

>> WEST BANK.

>> WHICH WILL BE JULY 23.

ANY OBJECTION TO DEFERRING NUMBER SEVEN TO JULY 23, A MOTION OF COUNSELMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNSELMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, MADAM CLERK.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26532, RESET UP LOT 17 AND PARTS OF LOTS 16 AND 18 SQUARE C, SINGER SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 16 A AND 18 A SQUARE C WITH WAIVERS TO THE AREA REGULATIONS OF THE R1, A WITH SECTION 33- 2.35 SUBDIVISION WAIVERS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, WS 147-24 COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.

[01:50:03]

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HEARING, AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26532.

IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE IN OPPOSITION?

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DAVID GREENBERG.

I REPRESENT ROBERT NICHOLS, A CONTINUOUS PROPERTY OWNER AT 6:24 AVENUE G. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF APPEARING BEFORE THIS BODY WITH COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, WHO HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF PRACTICING WITH EARLY IN OUR CAREER, THEN APPEARING BEFORE AS A DISTRICT JUDGE, AND THEN APPELLATE COURT JUDGE.

NOW HE'S MY COUNCILMAN.

VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT.

THIS PROJECT WAS RECEIVED A DOUBLE DENIAL FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANNING ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD BECAUSE THE PROJECT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE R1A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

THE WAIVER DOES NOT SATISFY THE APPROVAL CRITERIA FOR SUBDIVISION WAIVERS OF SECTION 332.35, AND THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE ENVISION JEFFERSON 2040.

I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THIS BOARD OPPOSE THIS REQUEST.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION, COUNCILMAN BANANO?

>> WELL, I CAN I CANNOT DENY THAT THIS IS CERTAINLY OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

I CAN'T AGREE WITH THE OPPOSITION ANYMORE.

FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO DENY.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DENIAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26532, A MOTION OF COUNCIL BANANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER 9, PLEASE.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26533, RESUB LOTS 40-C AND 47-A SQUARE 21 BELT BRIDGE SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 47-B SQUARE 21 BELT BRIDGE SUBDIVISION WITH A WAIVER TO THE GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 33-2.35 SUBDIVISION WAIVERS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, WS-16424 COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26533.

THOSE IN FAVOR. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> HEY, YOU, FRAN. MR. STAMICK, THE OWNER, IS OUT OF STATE FOR MEDICAL REASONS AND ASKED ME TO APPEAR ON HIS BEHALF TODAY.

HE HAS A HOUSE WHICH FRONTS ON RIVER ROAD, AND THE PROPERTY HAS AN EXISTING SHED, WHICH FRONTS 9TH STREET.

HE DOESN'T PARTICULARLY LIKE THE WAY THAT SHED LOOKS FRONT 9TH STREET AND IS TRYING TO REPLACE IT.

IF HE HAS THIS LOT 40-C, WHICH IS A NON-CONFORMING LOT [INAUDIBLE]

>> THE MIC.

>> CAN YOU BRING THE MIC A LITTLE CLOSER, PLEASE, SIR?

>> AT 40-C A NON-CONFORMING LOT WITH FRONTS ON 10TH STREET.

HE'S TRYING TO COMBINE THAT ALL INTO ONE LOT.

HIS PLAN IS TO BUILD A GARAGE FRONTING ON THAT WHAT'S NOW 40-C FRONTING 10TH STREET.

HE UNDERSTANDS HE WANTS IT TO LOOK BETTER THAN THE ONE THAT'S THERE NOW, SO HE'S GOING TO HAVE IT LOOKING LIKE A FRONT FACADE, WHERE IT MIGHT HAVE A PEDESTRIAN DOOR ON THE SIDE, SO IT LOOKS LIKE A FRONT OF A HOUSE, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A GARAGE DOOR.

THEN, AS THAT HE MOVES THE STUFF INTO THERE, EVENTUALLY, HE'LL BE TEARING DOWN THAT STORAGE SET ON 9TH STREET.

NOT REALLY PART OF HIS CURRENT PLAN, BUT ONCE HE DOES THAT, IT WOULD THEN ALLOW HIM TO RESUBDIVIDE THE LOT, AND CREATE A SEPARATE LOT ON 9 STREET.

I WOULD GET RID OF THE THROUGH LOT REQUIREMENTS.

BUT THAT'S HIS PLAN AND HE'S ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR, COUNCIL BANANO.

>> ALL FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26533, A MOTION OF COUNCIL BANANO SECONDED BY COUNCIL WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDER NUMBER 10, MADAM CLERK.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26534, RESET A PART OF THE SECTION 38 MODERN FARM SUBDIVISION, UNIT 2 INTO TRACT RB38 WITH A WAIVER TO THE AREA REGULATIONS OF THE ILF WS-153-24 COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING, AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26534.

THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> LAST ONE FOR TODAY. THIS IS ON THE RIVER BURCH LANDFILL PROPERTY.

ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF TRACK, THEY HAVE THEIR TRUCK MAINTENANCE FACILITIES.

IT'S WHERE THEY MAINTAINED THEIR GARBAGE TRUCKS THAT COME THROUGH HERE BECAUSE OF THE EXPANDING BUSINESS THEY NEEDED TO BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING IN ORDER TO GET THE PERMIT, THEY HAD TO APPLY FOR THE RESUBDIVISION TO COMBINE THIS INTO ONE LOT.

THEY ARE NOW BUILDING THAT BUILDING, SO IT'S IN PROCESS.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THE ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR, COUNCILMAN LEE.

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26534.

MOTION OF COUNCIL LEE. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, 11, PLEASE.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26535, RESERVE OF PARTIAL A1 LIVE OAK PLANTATION ESTATES, ADDITION 3 SUBDIVISION INTO PARCEL A1A, AND A1B, LIVE OAK PLANTATION ESTATES, ADDITION 3 SUBDIVISION, WS-166-24, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

>> WE CAN WEAVE THE READING, AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26535.

[01:55:02]

ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEED, COUNCILMAN LEE.

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26535, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED ITEM 12.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26536, RESET OF LOTS 45, 46, 47, AND 48 SQUARE 70 SOUTH NEW ORLEANS SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 45A, SQUARE 70, WS-172-24, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM.

NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26536.

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNSEL BANANO?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26536, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BANANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, ITEM 13.

[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING]

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26538, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOT 321C2, AMES FORM SUBDIVISION, LOWER STALL PLANTATION, LOCATED AT 4,900 BLOCK OF LEO KERNER PARKWAY, LAFITTE LA ROSE HIGHWAY, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R1B, CBZ TO C2, WZ-30-24, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING, AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 26538.

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> MY NAME IS MARY WATERHOUSE.

I LIVE AT 20701 CEDAR LAWN DRIVE IN MONERA.

THIS IS MY WIFE, DAWN.

WE CURRENTLY OPERATE A LANDSCAPE BUSINESS ON MANHATTAN BOULEVARD SINCE 1992.

WE GREW THE UP PLACE, AND WE WANT TO RELOCATE TO THIS NEW LOCATION, AND WE ASK HIM TO APPROVE OF THE CHANGE OF ZONE.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? IS THAT ALL? YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, DID YOU? ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION.

MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR OR TWO IN FAVOR. COUNCILMAN KERNER.

>> MORE, I'D LIKE TO DEFER THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING.

I WANT TO DISCUSS IT WITH YOU A BIT PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE ADVISORY DEPARTMENT.

BOTH BOARD, BOTH DENIED IT.

I WANT TO SPEAK WITH THEM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY.

LOOK, THAT'S A CHERISHED PART OF MORERO RIGHT THERE THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

LET'S PUSH IT BACK ONE MEETING AND LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

>> NEXT, EAST BANK OF WEST BANK.

>> LET'S DO EAST BANK.

>> EIGHTEEN.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 13 TO JUNE 18TH, OR NEXT EAST BANK MEETING ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

ITEM 14, PLEASE.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26539, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, LOT 9 BLOCK 10 LA MONICO ADDITION LOCATED AT 6:24 OAK STREET, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM C1CPZ TO R1A, WZ-32-24 COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING, AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY UBER 26539.

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCIL BANANO?

>> MOVE TO APPROVE.

ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26539, A MOTION OF COUNCIL ON BANANO SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. ITEM 15, PLEASE.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26540, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, LOT 28-A SQUARE 36 HARVEY CANAL SUBDIVISION, LOCATED AT 14:30 ESTER STREET, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R1A TO R2 WZ-29-24 COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

>> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26540.

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE?

>> DENY.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DENIAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26540, MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, TO HAVE A NOTE THAT 16 WILL BE DEFERRED TO OUR JUNE 18TH, 2025 MEETING.

COUNCILMAN BANANO, YOUR MOTION ON THAT DEFERRAL?

>> THE DEFERRAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF 16 TO JUNE 18TH, 2025, A MOTION OF COUNSELMAN BANANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 17, MADAM CLERK.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26522, APPROVING SP-95-24 FOR REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE YARD REGULATIONS,

[02:00:02]

>> IS IT NOT ON ALL. SORRY, I MUTED THE WRONG ONE.

IS THAT IT? THERE, YEAH.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL CHAIRMAN.

THE AMENDMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS IN THE SECOND WARE ASK SECTION.

THE REFERENCES TO THE APPROVED DEVELOPMENT DRAWINGS ARE UPDATED TO INCLUDE A DIFFERENT DATE FOR SEVERAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT DRAWINGS THAT WERE RECENTLY AMENDED TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS AT THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD.

THAT NEW DATE IS 5, 16, 2025.

IN THE THIRD WARE ASK SECTION, THE REFERENCES TO THE COVERED PARKING ALONG NARCISSA STREET AND IN THE CARLETON AVENUE SIDE REAR YARD.

THOSE REFERENCES ARE REMOVED AS THOSE VARIANCES HAVE ALSO BEEN REMOVED.

VARIANCES TO THE LANDSCAPING REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED REGARDING A THREE-FOOT-WIDE PARKING ISLAND WITH 8 CLASS A TREES.

THAT IS THE REQUIREMENT.

THAT IS WHAT IS BEING PROVIDED WHERE FIVE FEET OF WIDTH AND 10 CLASS A TREES ARE REQUIRED.

ADDITIONALLY, WE REQUIRE TWO-FOOT-WIDE PARKING CAPS WITH SIX CLASS A TREES.

THE APPLICANT IS PROVIDING FIVE FOOT OF WIDTH AND 11 CLASS A TREES.

THOSE VARIANCES HAVE BEEN ADDED BECAUSE ADDITIONAL PARKING WAS ADDED TO THIS SITE TO ADDRESS THE PARKING VARIANCE, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY 47 SPACES.

IT HAS NOW BEEN LOWERED TO EIGHT SPACES.

THE SECTION 1 HAS BEEN AMENDED AGAIN TO CHANGE THE DATE FOR THOSE DEVELOPMENT DRAWINGS TO 5, 16, 2025, THAT WERE AMENDED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES RAISED AT THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD. THOSE ARE ALL THE AMENDMENTS.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE,COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?

>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS, THE MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE.

WE'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26522.

ANYONE IN FAVOR. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TUCKER CRAWFORD WITH ALBERT ARCHITECTURE.

WE'RE THE ARCHITECTS FOR THE PROJECT.

I WANT TO THANK THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER LIBERG, AND THE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED.

WE'RE READY TO GET THIS PROJECT STARTED.

IT'S BEEN IDLE FOR A LONG TIME, AND READY TO GET IT BACK INTO COMMERCE. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL LIZBERG, YOUR MOTION? ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26522 AS AMENDED, A MOTION OF COUNCIL LIZBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, 18, PLEASE.

[OTHER PROPERTY MATTERS ORDINANCES]

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26542, REVOKING AND DECLARING A 10-FOOT WALKWAY BETWEEN LOT 321 AND 322 THAT'S NA PLAZA SUBDIVISION, SECTION NUMBER 3, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR ANY PUBLIC PURPOSE, AUTHORIZING ITS SALE TO AN ADJACENT OWNER, COUNCIL DISTRICT 4.

>> NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26542.

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26542 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, ITEM 19, PLEASE.

[OTHER ORDINANCES]

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26527 TO ADOPT MILITAR RATES TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSORS TAX ROLES FOR THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR THE YEAR 2025, BASED ON THE 2025 JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSMENT ROLE.

WE'RE NOW WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26527. THOSE IN FAVOR.

PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE. ROBERT BURKETT SEVEN BUNDY CORD, KEN, LOUISIANA.

I'M AWARE OF THE HISTORICAL STANCE THE COUNCIL NORMALLY TAKES ON REASSESSMENT AND MILLAGES WHERE THE FIRE MILLAGE WILL GO DOWN TO 23 OR STAY AT 23, 76.

YOU KNOW, IT LEAVES BASICALLY A 2.6 MILLION DOLLAR THAT WE'RE ELIGIBLE TO COLLECT ON YOUR VOTE THAT WE'RE LEAVING ON THE TABLE.

FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN PLEADING FOR INCREASES IN PAY FOR SIX YEARS NOW.

WE, WHOEVER PLAN TO RENEW THAT MILLAGE 2.5,

[02:05:01]

CERTAINLY DIDN'T GIVE IT A LOT OF THOUGHT.

IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE $13,000,000 SHORT BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT MILLAGE, AND I THINK THEY SAID IN 2032, I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO STOP THAT HEMORRHAGING, IF YOU WILL.

JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, DECADES AGO, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY WENT TO 25 MILLS, IT WAS SUFFICIENT TO DO AND COVER THE COSTS OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE RUN.

SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE ADDED ABOUT 75 PERSONNEL AND ONE FIRE STATION, WITHOUT EVER CONSIDERING THAT 25 MILLS WOULD NEVER MAKE THAT.

THE 13-POINT SOME CHANGE MILLION THAT'S PROJECT THAT ARE BEING PROJECTED TO YOU THAT THAT MILLAGE IS GOING TO BE SHORT, NOT MY NUMBERS.

COMES FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO RENEW THAT MILLAGE, NOT TO BE REDUNDANT.

JUST THREE YEARS AGO WAS ILL CONCEIVED IN A MISTAKE.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER YOUR NORMAL POSITION AND LET'S START CLOSING THAT HOLE AND THAT PROJECTED SHORTAGE LONG BEFORE WE EVEN ADDRESS PAY RAISES.

THANK YOU. I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION?

>> AT LEAST 10.

>> 12:37. GRAB THE MIC, PLEASE.

>> TWELVE MINUTES AND 37 SECONDS TO TALK ABOUT MILLAGES.

WOULDN'T LET ME HAVE A WORD ABOUT IT IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE AGENDA ITEMS THEY'RE SPENT UPON AND TRUST ME THEY'RE RELEVANT AND THEY'RE GERMANE.

MILLAGES IS HOW WE PAY FOR THINGS IN A WAY THAT'S DEDICATED THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO STEAL FROM AS EASILY.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN JUST MAKE UP SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S RELATED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SPEND A TON OF MONEY ON THAT AND THEN THE FIRE CHIEFS GOT TO COME AND BEG FOR THEIR CHANGE, ASSISTANT CHIEFS GOT TO COME AND BEG.

GOT TO SPEAK TO ANY OF YOU FOR THEIR MONEY THAT COMES FROM THEIR MILLAGES.

I'M TOLD ABOUT THIS.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT ANY OF THIS.

IF I HAD A REPRESENTATIVE BODY THAT WAS APPORTIONED, I DIDN'T HAVE TWO SENATORS SITTING IN CAHOOTS WITH THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT'S NOW FORMED, SERVING A VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION IN ARBITRARY TAXATION.

SEE, MILLAGES ARE IMPOSED ARBITRARILY FROM ONE MUNICIPALITY TO THE NEXT.

GRETNA GETS TWO BIG OLD PROPERTY TAX BILLS.

GRAND TOWN LAFITTE, TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE, THEY DON'T GET THE SAME PROPERTY TAX BILLS, DO THEY? THAT'S WHY YOU WON 'CAUSE THE PEOPLE OF JEAN LAFITTE TIRED OF PLAYING THIRD, FOURTH FIDDLE, AS ARE THE PEOPLE OF ESTELA, AND THE FIREMEN ON THE WHOLE WEST BANK, THE WHOLE WEST BANK, SUBJECT TO VOLUNTEER FIREMEN SO NONE OF THEM CAN EVER SPEAK WITHOUT HAVING TO RISK LOSING THEIR JOBS.

I'VE WATCHED Y'ALL EXPLAIN THAT TO THEM. THIS IS AN INSULT.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS PARISH POSSIBLE TO LIVE IN, THE PEOPLE.

WHEN THE PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE AND RELATE MILLAGES, A MILLAGE VOTE, TO ANY AGENDA ITEM THAT IT'S GETTING SPENT UPON, AND YOU WANT TO INFRINGE ON MY FIRST AMENDMENT.

I'M JUST A PUBLIC CITIZEN, TRYING TO DO THIS THING, TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

IT'S YOUR OBLIGATION TO DO THIS. YOU'RE THE ONES EMPOWERED.

I'M JUST A DUDE, HERE TO SEE MY RUG REDRESSED.

YOU KNOW WHAT MY RUG IS? THE REPUBLICAN FORM I'M GUARANTEED WHERE IN REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES, MILLAGES ARE APPORTIONED.

THAT MEANS THEY'RE DONE IN A WAY WE CAN UNDERSTAND.

THAT MEANS THE TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE.

TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE WITH A 1,000 PEOPLE, 01,800 PEOPLE, I BELIEVE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

EIGHTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE, MAYBE 1,900 PEOPLE.

NOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT 2020 CENSUS.

FORGIVE ME. I HOPE YOU'RE DOING BETTER.

THE POINT IS THAT THEIR PROPERTY TAXES HAVE TO RELATE TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVE POWER AND ITS EACH MUNICIPALITY WERE GIVEN ONE REPRESENTATIVE, YOU HAVE A LOT MORE POWER THAN YOU'D BE SUBJECT TO IN TAXATION.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR, YOU WANT TO CHARGE [INAUDIBLE], TOWN LAFITTE BE SUBJECT TO JUST TWO DOLLARS PER ACRE PER FOOT.

THERE'S A REASON WHY THE PEOPLE APPROVED THESE MILLAGES IN LESSER NUMBERS FOR Y'ALL, AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK HARD.

I WON FIVE OR SIX PRECINCTS.

THEY REJECTED YOUR MILLAGE IN FIVE OR SIX PRECINCTS, AND THESE NUMBERS, YOU GOING FROM 70%, NOW YOU'RE DOWN INTO THE 60S, DOWN IN THE 60S.

EVEN THOUGH YOU PULLED YOUR JOB FAIR OFF AT MY PRECINCT,

[02:10:01]

>> I THINK YOU'RE DRIFTING MR. HIERS FROM THE MILLAGES.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE VOTE FOR THE MILLAGES THAT YOU'RE ADOPTING RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE ADOPTING THE MILLAGE VOTE THAT JUST HAPPENED.

BECAUSE YOU ALL LET A JOB FAIR GET SCHEDULED AT EJ, MY VOTERS HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THERE.

THEY STILL SHOWED UP AT 6.1% BETTER THAN THEIR NEIGHBORING PRECINCTS.

THESE ARE THE ADVERSITY THAT WE WERE GIVEN.

I'M OPPOSING THIS MILLAGE.

I'M OPPOSING THE ADOPTION OF IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT IT.

JUST LIKE THE FIREMEN SAID, YOU CAN REJECT THIS AND ADOPT A FIREMAN MILLAGE.

PUT THAT ON A BALLOT. VOTE FOR THAT.

>> FOR THE RECORD, THESE WEREN'T JUST VOTED ON.

THESE WERE VOTED ON A WHILE AGO.

THEY'RE JUST BEING IMPLEMENTED NOW.

>> ADOPTION OF THE MILLAGES EXTENDED.

>> YES, I'M AWARE, BUT THEY WEREN'T JUST VOTED ON.

>> AND?

>> I'M TELLING YOU THEY WEREN'T JUST VOTED ON.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT THESE ARE ALL VOTED ON.

>> ARE YOU INTERRUPTING ME FOR A GOOD REASON?

>> I'M CLARIFYING, MR. HIERS.

>> WHY? I THOUGHT MY TIME TO JUST BE OPPOSING.

>> JUST STAY ON TOPIC, MR. HIERS.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE RENEWED, MILLAGES THAT ARE RENEWED AND YOU'VE GOT TO INTERRUPT ME TO MAKE SURE I'M ON TOPIC?

>> YES. BECAUSE YOU'RE DRIFTING DANGEROUSLY AWAY LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO.

>> THAT TAKES REPRESENTATION.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR HOW THEY'RE DONE?

>> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT TODAY, MR. HIERS.

>> WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ADOPTION OF MILLAGES IS?

>> IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE EIGHT MILLAGES OR ANY OF THOSE, THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT.

>> THE WHOLE MILLAGES ARE BEING IMPOSED ARBITRARILY.

>> THEN STAY ON TOPIC, PLEASE.

>> YOU ARE OBLIGED TO A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

I WOULDN'T HAVE TO GET HERE. IN FACT, AGAIN, IF ANYBODY'S.

>> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT ANYMORE.

YOU CAN'T SPEAK ON THAT, REMEMBER? THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY OUR PARISH ATTORNEY.

>> NOT ESTABLISHED BY ANY [INAUDIBLE].

>> IT IS.

>> MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR PARISH ATTORNEY.

BEFORE YOU REFER TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

>> MR. HIERS, PLEASE? CAN YOU TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH OR WE'RE GOING TO END IT AGAIN.

YOU HAVE 12 MINUTES ABOUT LET YOU CONTINUE, SO PLEASE SETTLE DOWN.

>> I DID STAY ON TOPIC.

>> GO.

>> YEAH?

>> YES.

>> SURE?

>> IF YOU STAY ON TOPIC.

THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M HERE IS TO KEEP YOU ON TOPIC.

>> THE MILLAGES, DO THEY KNOW, THE PROPERTY TAXES.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE DIRECT TAXES?

>> YES, MR. HIERS. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT MILLAGES ARE, MR. HIERS.

CONTINUE, PLEASE. THIS ISN'T A Q&A. GO AHEAD.

>> DESCRIBES THAT THEY GOT TO BE APPORTIONED.

HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS? CAN'T YOU JUST SAY IT ON MY BEHALF AND LET ME GO? I'M JUST SAY IT ON MY BEHALF AND LET ME GO.

>> THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE, I'M SURE.

>> IT WOULD.

>> MR. HIERS, YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN DECORUM IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE, OR YOU'LL BE GONE JUST LIKE BEFORE, PLEASE.

JUST BRING IT CLOSE, PLEASE. SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE.

>> MY NAME IS JAMES TATE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED, SO I MAY ASK SOME QUESTIONS FIRST.

I'M OPPOSED BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE REDUCING A MILLAGE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THESE MILLAGES WERE VOTED ON AT THESE RATES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED SO THEY COULD BE ROLLED FORWARD.

THEY'RE NOT BEING REDUCED, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

>> I'D LIKE TO SPEAK.

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT ROLLED FORWARD TO THE FULLEST THAT THEY WERE VOTED ON.

>> I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF RAISING THEM, INCREASING THEM.

WE JUST APPROVED AT LEAST TWO SUBDIVISIONS. THAT MEANS MORE PEOPLE.

THAT MEANS MORE DEMAND ON CURRENT SERVICES.

WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE SERVICES NOW.

IN MY OPINION, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE HAVE ONE PARISH GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT BE FOR CONSOLIDATED MUNICIPAL OR NOT.

KENNER, WESTWEGO, HARVEY, WE'RE ALL JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENT.

BUT WE SEEM TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE FIRE STANDARDS, PREDOMINANTLY ONE ON THE WEST BANK AND ONE ON THE EAST BANK, WHERE ONE IS PREDOMINANTLY MUNICIPAL, AND THE OTHER SEEMS TO BE VOLUNTEER, AND THEY'RE AGING AND THEY'RE BECOMING LESS ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE GROWTH OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE, MR. BONANO, REFERRED TO A STUDY THAT HE SUGGESTED IT WAS A DRAFT.

I WENT TO THE PARISH GOVERNMENT AND FOUND OUT THERE'S NO SUCH DRAFT.

THERE WAS A STUDY. I DON'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STUDY 'CAUSE THE STUDY IS CRAP. IT'S SIMPLE.

WE HAVE ONE PARISH GOVERNMENT.

WE SHOULD HAVE ONE STANDARD FOR FIRE PROTECTION.

AM I INCORRECT ON THAT? THAT'S KIND OF A QUESTION.

THAT'S MY OPINION, BUT IT'S ALSO A QUESTION.

SHOULD WE HAVE THE SAME STANDARD OF FIRE PROTECTION JEFFERSON PARISH WIDE?

[02:15:06]

I'M DEMANDING THAT WE DO.

IF WE NEED TO INCREASE THIS MILLAGE AND SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE PROTECTING US, DO IT.

PLEASE DO IT.

[APPLAUSE]

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT THREE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILWOMAN VRANCKEN?

>> I'M GOING TO ASK. MR. TATE HAS BEEN HERE QUITE A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND HE IS ACTUALLY SPEAKING JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES ABOUT THE STUDY RELATED TO POTENTIAL CONSOLIDATION OF THE WEST BANK VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICES.

I KNOW EVERY MEETING WE GO TO ON THE WEST BANK, THIS ISSUE DOES COME UP SO I WOULD ASK IF THE ADMINISTRATION CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE CONSOLIDATION STUDY AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS.

I THINK THAT'S THE MOST FREQUENT QUESTION WE GET. NOT AT THIS TIME.

IF YOU ALL WOULD PREPARE THAT IN THE FUTURE FOR THE NEXT WEST BANK MEETING, I DO THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, OKAY, NOW THAT THERE'S THIS THOUGHT OUT THERE, HOW WILL IT MOVE FORWARD? CHIEF, I KNOW DIRECTOR ROBERTSON HAS BEEN AT MANY OF THOSE SAME MEETINGS SO I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AT THE NEXT WEST BANK MEETING TO HAVE SOME UPDATE SO OUR RESIDENTS WILL KNOW WHAT'S THE PATH FORWARD OR THE POTENTIAL PATHS FORWARD, JUST SO WE HAVE GOOD INFORMATION.

AS TO THE MILLAGES TODAY, I AM GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THESE MILLAGES.

WE, I THINK, FUNCTION VERY WELL AS A GOVERNMENT TO ASK VOTERS EVERY 10 YEARS.

THIS IS THE RENEWAL WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR.

WE TRY TO EFFICIENTLY USE THESE MILLAGES IN LINE WITH WHAT THEY'RE INTENDED FOR AND SO I'M GOING TO MOVE TO APPROVE THESE AS WE TRADITIONALLY DO, AND AS THE VOTERS HAVE ASKED US TO DO.

I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE STUDY COMING BACK, AS COO LACHUTE HAS INDICATED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO KNOW WHERE DO WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE ISSUE OF OUR FIREFIGHTER PAY? BECAUSE IT IS ONE THAT IS CERTAINLY OF CONCERN I KNOW TO ALL OF US.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26527.

A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER 20, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26543, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 4074, THE PERSONNEL RULES FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO REVISE RULE 4 AND RULE 9.

>> I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26543.

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?

>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, AGAIN, EVERYONE.

ROBERT BURKETT, JEFFERSON FIREFIGHTER, 7 [INAUDIBLE], KENNER, LOUISIANA.

WHILE THIS PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE FIREFIGHTERS, THIS IS THROUGH THE PERSONNEL BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION. PEOPLE ARE RIGHT.

THIS IS A POLICY ON THE LEAVE PROVISIONS AND PAY PROVISIONS ON THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE GOING TO BE HELD BACK IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A SNOW DAY OR A RAIN DAY, THAT'S ONE THING.

BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A HURRICANE, THE FOLKS THAT WRITE THESE POLICIES ARE NOT THE ONES THAT HAVE TO LIVE THEM.

I KNOW FROM THE FIRESIDE, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO US, AND THIS IS REALLY FOR JUST INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.

FROM THE FIRE SIDE IT SEEMS LIKE ALL ANYONE WHO'S THE BEAN COUNTERS, IF YOU WILL, CARE ABOUT IS THAT THE CITIZENS ARE COVERED, AND CERTAINLY THAT'S A CONCERN OF OURS.

BUT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT.

DURING SOME OF THE MAJOR HURRICANES, MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE TWO SEPARATE POLICIES.

BUT DURING MAJOR HURRICANES, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO GET LEFT BEHIND FROM THEIR FAMILIES, WHO ARE GONE OUT OF TOWN AND ARE SERVING THE PARISH IN THEIR CAPACITIES IN MY INSTANCE, IN THE FIRE CAPACITIES AND DISPATCH CAPACITIES.

SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE FEMALES, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT THE PARISH IS CONCERNED ABOUT, WELL, IS IF WE SEND YOU HOME WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU ON EMERGENCY LEAVE,

[02:20:02]

BUT YOU'RE GETTING SENT HOME INTO A DARK NEIGHBORHOOD, IN A DARK HOUSE WITH YOUR FAMILY UNAVAILABLE.

THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR US, BUT BOOT YOU OUT OF HERE.

WE NEED TO MAKE PROVISIONS, I BELIEVE, ASIDE FROM THIS PROVISION THAT COVERS PAY TO SEE TO IT THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO STAY BEHIND IN EMERGENCIES ARE PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF DURING THE ENTIRE EVENT, AND NOT JUST WHEN IT SERVES THE PUBLIC NEED.

ONCE THEY'RE LEFT BEHIND, THEY'RE TRAPPED AND SO INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, I THINK THOSE, THAT ADDITIONAL ADDENDUM, IF YOU WILL, AND I WOULD ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN.

I HAD FEMALE DISPATCHERS SENT HOME AFTER THEIR SHIFTS AT FIRE ALARM INTO A DARK, DESERTED NEIGHBORHOOD WITH NO LIGHTS, NO UTILITIES, NO PROTECTION, NO FAMILY, AND WE TOOK CARE OF THOSE FOLKS OURSELVES.

OTHER PARISH EMPLOYEES WHO DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS ARE LEFT ON THEIR OWN AND I THINK WE OWE MORE THAN THAT. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION?

>> MICK HIERS WILL RISE IN OPPOSITION WHEN YOU JUST PASSING MORE RULES.

JUST ANOTHER ACCUMULATION OF STATUTES.

HIS ADVICE IS OFFICIAL ADVICE TO THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE SAYS, NO INVASIONS OF THE CONSTITUTE SO FUNDAMENTALLY DANGEROUS AS THE TRICKS PLAYED ON THEIR OWN NUMBERS, APPORTIONMENT, AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES RESPECTING THEMSELVES AND THEIR LEGAL QUALIFICATIONS TO LEGISLATE FOR THE UNION.

IF YOU'RE NOT APPORTIONED, FIRST OFF, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING LEGITIMATELY.

I'VE SAID IT TIME AND AGAIN, SO YOU'RE GOING TO PASS THESE RULES, AND IT'S A REASON WHY FIREMEN GOING TO COME UP HERE AND CHALLENGE THIS BECAUSE THEY SUFFERED THIS.

THEY SUFFERED THE WORST UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THIS LEGISLATION, THIS RULE MAKING, AND ENFORCING, SO YOU END UP WITH WEST BANK FIREMEN GETTING CHEATED, MORE SO THAN EAST BANK FIREMEN.

HOT BLOOD BETWEEN NEIGHBORS.

ALL OF THIS WAS WORN IF WE DIDN'T HAVE APPORTIONED REPRESENTATION.

IT'S REPEATED TIME AND AGAIN, WHETHER I'M ARGUING ABOUT A BREW PUB OR SOME MEDIOCRE RULE CHANGE.

THERE'S UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT APPORTIONED, AND IT'S GOING TO ALWAYS WORK OUT WORSE FOR THE CITIZENS.

RECONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS, APPORTION THE BODY, REFUSE YOURSELVES AS THAT LARGE MEMBERS.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION?

>> JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT MR. BURKETT SAID.

WE SPOKE EARLIER RIGHT HERE ABOUT HAVING HONEST AND TRUTHFUL CONVERSATIONS.

GOING BACK TO HURRICANE IDA, MY WIFE, MY TWO SONS AND OUR DOG HAD TO GO TO MOBILE.

I STAYED HERE FOR 13 OUT OF 14 DAYS STRAIGHT, WORKING OVERTIME.

AS THE CAMERA CAN PICK UP, IF MI SHANG WANTS TO TURN AROUND, I WAS GETTING $12.70 AN HOUR, WHICH MEANS WITH MY OVERTIME RATE, I WAS PROBABLY GETTING JUST SHY OF $19 AN HOUR SO PLEASE STOP LYING TO THE PUBLIC SAYING THAT 11 GUYS ARE MAKING 16 WHATEVER YOU SAID.

IT LITERALLY TAKES US EIGHT YEARS TO GET TO THAT RATE.

FAKE NEWS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION.

MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT THREE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.

PLEASE, WHEN YOU ALL COME UP LATER, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT RESPECTFUL, NO MATTER YOUR OPINIONS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON PEOPLE.

THE PARISH PRESIDENT DIDN'T PERSONALLY ATTACK ANYBODY, SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL AND RESPECTFUL, PLEASE.

LOOK, THERE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO PLAY THE NUMBERS.

LOOK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO A DEBATE ABOUT IT, BUT NOBODY IS UP HERE LYING ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

PLEASE, WE'LL GET TO WHERE YOU ALL WANT TO BE SHORTLY.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION.

>> YOU WANT TO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A MEASURE THAT IS ALLOWING FOR FLEXIBILITY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE TREMENDOUS EMPLOYEES WHO DO HAVE TO STAY DURING EMERGENCIES, AND THIS ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBILITY AS THEY PREPARE FOR THOSE EMERGENCIES TO BE FAIRLY COMPENSATED BEFORE THE OFFICIAL CLOSURES HAPPEN.

THERE'S A LOT OF PREP WORK THAT GOES INTO PROTECTING OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR PROPERTIES IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

[02:25:02]

>> JUST A QUICK COMMENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

>> BRING CLOSER, PLEASE, JOHN.

>> JOHN DUMAS PERSONNEL DIRECTOR, WE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO RECOMMEND THESE AMENDMENTS TO THE PERSONNEL BOARD TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'VE SAID, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, PREPARE AHEAD OF AN EVENT AND PREPARE MORE OVERLY BEFORE AN OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY IS MADE.

THIS DOES GIVE US THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS STORM EVENTS AHEAD OF TIME.

AS EACH EVENT OCCURS, IT'S A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY ON THE BACK END FOR US.

THIS WAS PART OF SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD AFTER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A SNOWSTORM IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

>> THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. YOUR MOTION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26543, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

ITEM NUMBER 21, PLEASE.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26544, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 13709 THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN TO REVISE THE PAY GRADE FOR THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING.

>> WE NOW HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26544.

THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED.

>> I'M IN FAVOR

>> OH, YOU'RE IN FAVOR. OKAY. I'M SORRY.

>> DON'T CHANGE THE RULE [INAUDIBLE] THE LITTLE THING HERE. ROBERT BURKETT AGAIN.

MY REASON FOR RISING IS WE SEE THAT THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN GETS AMENDED.

IT'S BEEN AMENDED, I THINK, 21 TIMES IN THREE YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL GOT THAT MANY STUDIES DONE LIKE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET THIS DONE, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN.

IT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY REGULAR.

BUT WHAT THIS PROVIDES, AS YOU PROBABLY ALL KNOW, AND THIS WAS THE POINT FOR ME RISING, IS IT MOVES THE SALARY TO THE DIRECTOR TO $74 AN HOUR.

I THINK HE FULLY DESERVES IT.

WHAT INSULTS ME IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN MY PROPOSAL TO THE ADMINISTRATION MOVES MY ASSISTANT CHIEF TO $69 AN HOUR, THEN THAT GENTLEMAN HAS TO HAVE 32 YEARS OF SERVICE TO GET THAT JOB, ENOUGH REQUIRED EDUCATION TO GET SEVERAL MASTER'S DEGREE, AND WE'RE ONLY ASKING THAT HE GET $69 AN HOUR ON A PROPOSAL THAT I SUBMITTED.

BUT BECAUSE HE WORKS 56.5 HOURS A WEEK, AND WE HAVE TO COMPENSATE HIM FOR THAT AND THE CHILDISH, I GUESS, JEALOUSY, THAT HE MAKES TOO MUCH MONEY, IT'S ONLY BECAUSE OF THE HOURS THAT HE WORKS.

THIS GENTLEMAN'S ONLY GOING TO WORK 35-40, SO HIS MAGIC NUMBER DOESN'T APPLY.

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF WEST BANK FIRE SERVICES MAKES $90 AN HOUR AND HAS NO SUPPRESSION RESPONSIBILITIES WHATSOEVER AND A TAKE-HOME CAR.

BUT THE ASSISTANT CHIEF ON THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED, WHO HAS TO HAVE THE ANSWER IF THE WHOLE WORLD IS ON FIRE, HAS NO ONE TO GO ASK, WOULD ONLY BE LIMITED TO 69, BUT HE MAKES TOO MUCH.

MY PROPOSAL IS OUTRAGEOUS.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT.

I THINK $74 AN HOUR IS ABSOLUTELY OKAY FOR THIS GENTLEMAN FOR THE EDUCATION THAT HE HAS, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT THE DIFFERENTIALS IN PAY, THAT FIRE EMPLOYEES DON'T WORK 35 HOURS A WEEK, THEY WORK 56.5.

IF THIS GENTLEMAN WORKED 56.5 HOURS A WEEK, HE'D MAKE $217,500 A YEAR.

THAT WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR THE PETTINESS IN THIS PARISH OF HOW MUCH YOU'RE ALLOWED TO MAKE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT FIREFIGHTERS TO EARN THOSE WAGES, WE HAD AN MMA STUDY THAT THIS PARISH CONDUCTED IN 1994, THAT SAID THAT OUR OVERTIME THAT WE WORK WAS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE.

IF YOU WANT TO SPEND MILLIONS MORE AND SEND THESE FOLKS HOME ON A 40-HOUR WEEK AND BRING IN TWO MORE PLATOONS, LET'S DO IT, BUT DON'T MAKE THE FIREFIGHTERS PAY THEIR OWN WAGES ON THEIR OVERTIME BECAUSE THEY'RE SAVING THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR?

>> MITCHELL ABOSS, 79 O K AVENUE.

LIKE PRESIDENT BRACKETT SAID, I AM NOT OPPOSED AT ALL TO THAT EMPLOYEE GETTING THOSE WAGES,

[02:30:01]

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE SHENG ADMINISTRATION, HOW MANY PAY STUDIES DID THEY DO TO COME UP WITH A CHANGE IN THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN OVER 20 TIMES DURING HER ADMINISTRATION.

THEY'RE NOW ON MULTIPLE PAY STUDIES FOR US, TWO, POSSIBLY THREE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO MAKE HER AND HER ADMINISTRATION REALIZE THAT 1053 WILL NOT CUT IT FOR JPFD. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? [APPLAUSE].

>> THIS IS WHY I GET WORRIED WHEN I HAVE TO MEET A FIREMAN.

LOOK, I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH ANYBODY GETS PAID.

YOU ALL KNOW THAT. WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING TAXPAYERS AND HOW YOU GET THE POWER TO DO ANY OF THIS STUFF.

I'VE OPPOSED EVERY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PAY PLAN REVISION, I'M PRETTY SURE.

IF I MISSED ONE, YOU KNOW I OPPOSE THEM, AND ANYONE ELSE COULD ALWAYS SAY THAT ON MY BEHALF IF I MISS A MEETING.

Y'ALL KNOW I'M GOING TO OPPOSE ANY DIRECTOR'S EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN REVISION, ADDITION TO, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHY? BECAUSE I CAN'T GET MY BASE PAY COVERED FOR THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THERE'S AN INVERSION PROCESS HERE.

YOU GOT THAT WAGE COMPRESSION THING THAT YOU DO, WHERE YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY THE PEOPLE WORKING FOR A LIVING WITHOUT GIVING THE PEOPLE PUSHING PAPER FOR A LIVING A BIG OLD FAT TON OF MONEY.

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH. I'VE HAD ENOUGH.

FIGURE THIS OUT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAD TO PAY THE COST TO BE THE BOSS LIKE THE 27TH AMENDMENT, IF YOU WANTED TO GIVE YOURSELVES A RAISE, YOU'D HAVE TO FACE THE ELECTORATE.

THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.

IF YOU'RE IN A LEGISLATIVE POSITION, THAT HAS TO BE APPLIED.

BUT IT'S NOT HERE. YOU GET PAID BY A JUDGE'S SALARY.

IN FACT, MY FAVORITE JUDGE ON THE BENCH TOOK A PAY CUT, HALF HIS PAY TO PLAY WITH TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THEN SHUFFLE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEAR THIS WEIGHT, NONE OF YOU SHOULD.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS GOT TO PUT IN SEVEN YEARS.

YOU GOT SOMEBODY ELSE, ANOTHER BEST FRIEND, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT INTO A SEVEN-YEAR POSITION, SO THEY GET VESTED INTO THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT BENEFIT FUND TO THE TUNE OF 20%, THEN THEY CAN RETIRE AT 65, TAKE ANOTHER 20 GRAND.

HOW MUCH IS DIRECTOR GETTING PAID? $74 AN HOUR? HOW MUCH MONEY AM I GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO SUPPORT A PENSION SYSTEM THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE BECAUSE OF THIS REVISION? DO YOU WANT TO GET INTO THOSE DETAILS? I GOT 15 MINUTES.

YOU WANT TO TRY AND ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS THAT ARE GERMANE TO THIS? I'M BETTING NOT. I'M BETTING THAT SINCE YOU DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND TO ANYBODY EVER UNLESS YOU WANT TO INFRINGE ON MY FIRST AMENDMENT, THAT'S THE ONLY TIME YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME. THANK YOU.

>> MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT TWO APPEARED IN FAVOR, ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION, IF THERE'S NOBODY ELSE OPPOSED.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION.

>> I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING POSITION.

IT IS ONE THAT THE PARISH HAS HAD SOME DIFFICULTY IN ATTRACTING SOMEONE TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING.

WE DO HAVE A BILLION BUDGET.

WE NEED SOMEONE IN THIS POSITION WHO CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR MONEY IS BEING SAFEGUARDED.

I WILL SAY, DIRECTOR BRACKETT INDICATED THAT OUR DIRECTORS WORK 30-35 HOURS A WEEK.

I DO NOT KNOW A DIRECTOR WHO HAS EVER SERVED THIS PARISH THAT WORKS THAT LITTLE.

DIRECTORS WORK ENDLESS HOURS, AND THEY ARE NOT PAID HOURLY.

THEY ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THEY WORK AT LEAST A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF HOURS.

THEN BEYOND THAT, I'M LOOKING OUT AT THE DIRECTORS WE HAVE HERE, THEY WORK ENDLESS HOURS FOR A FLAT SALARY.

I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT WE HAVE THE QUALITY OF DIRECTORS IN OUR PARISH THAT WE DO.

I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26544 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM NUMBER 22, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26545, AMENDING SECTION 20-150 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH, RELATIVE TO THE DISCHARGE OF WEAPONS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF NUISANCE WILDLIFE.

>> WE'RE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26545.

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26545 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, ITEM 23 WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26546, AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET IN THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ALLOCATE $7,500 FROM

[02:35:08]

ALLOCATE $500 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 5'S OFF-TRACK BETTING FUND FOR A CEA WITH RS WALKER AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED, DOING BUSINESS AS FLEET FEET METAIRIE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE GLOBAL RUNNING DAY IN JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.

TO ALLOCATE $3,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S WEST BANK RIVER BOAT GAMING FUND FOR CEA WITH MISSION STAR INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE A SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR THE YOUTH OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

ALLOCATE $25,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S WEST BANK HEALTH AND FITNESS FUND TO RECREATION ACCOUNT NUMBER 21830-25327349.1 FOR THE YMCA SWIM PROGRAM, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

WE'RE MOVING THE AMENDMENT TO DE-OBLIGATE A $4,500,000 TRANSFER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 CDIA FUND TO THE OPIOID LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT 24TH JDC DRUG COURT PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDER.

NOW FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26546.

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE OPPOSED?

>> I WAS TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY IN THE WAY WE GO, AND ACTUALLY I COULD DO BOTH.

COME IN FAVOR OF ACTUALLY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S DE-OBLIGATION.

I LOVE THAT WORD, DE-OBLIGATION.

LET'S DE-OBLIGATE ALL OF THIS STUFF AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT ABIDES THE CONSTITUTION. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, HANS? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1? I KNOW YOU GET INCLUDED IN ON THIS.

AGAIN, I'LL MAKE THE OFFER.

YOU JUST SAY ANYTHING AS THOUGH IT CAME FROM ME ON MY BEHALF, ANY ONE OF YOU, AND I'LL TAKE TWO MEETINGS OFF.

THIS OFFER AIN'T GOING TO LAST, SO YOU GET ON IT.

WITH REGARDS TO THE OPERATING BUDGET, Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE BREAKING INTO ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8, CLAUSE 1, WHEREIN THEY GOT TO BE UNIFORM.

THIS IS HOSPITALITY TAXATION.

IT'S HALF A PERCENT LESS ON THE WEST BANK HERE THAN IT IS ON THE EAST BANK, AND THIS SOWS HOT BLOOD BETWEEN NEIGHBORS.

THIS UNDERMINES DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY.

NOW, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER GOOD WORK YOU WANT, BUT IT'S AN ILL-GOTTEN GAIN.

IT'S FRUIT FROM A POISONED TREE.

IF ALL FIGURED THIS OUT, I DON'T EVER HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26546 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

THAT TAKES US TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET WITH AMENDMENTS.

ITEM NUMBER 24, PLEASE. ONE MOMENT.

>> OPERATING BUDGET INCENTIVES ON CAPITAL.

>> WE'RE GOOD? ITEM NUMBER 24 WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE.

>> SUMMARY NUMBER 26547, AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET IN THE AMENDMENTS ARE; TO ALLOCATE $3,716 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 5'S CDIA GENERAL FUND TO THE E [INAUDIBLE] CITY PROJECT NUMBER 45325501 TO PAY INVOICES FOR 3,800 HESMER AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.

TO DE-OBLIGATE $215,000 FROM THE RIVER RIDGE HEADSTART CENTER RENOVATION PROJECT NUMBER 45325702 COUNCIL AT LARGE B.

TO RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $7,500 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 4'S OFF TRACK VETTING ACCOUNT TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 451104031745151113006 FOR THE KENNER AMPHITHEATER LEASE AREA,

[02:40:08]

TO RECOGNIZE THE REMOVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO DE-OBLIGATE A $4,500,000 TRANSFER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 CDIA FUNDS TO THE OPIOID LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT, 24TH JDC DRUG COURT PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

TO ALLOCATE $250,000 FROM LOUISIANA ACT 776 OF THE 2024 FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY CENTER COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS?

>> FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS? THE MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED NOW WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26547.

THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> [INAUDIBLE] I FAVOR THE OPPOSITION BECAUSE Y'ALL OBLIGATING MONEY AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THE FACT THAT HEADSTART GOT THE OBLIGATED MONEY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU [INAUDIBLE] FOR DIVISION B. I DON'T KNOW.

ALL KINDS OF CREDIT AND ALL KINDS OF BACK PATTING HAS BEEN DONE FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR HEADSTART.

I INVESTIGATED AND IT'S NOT REALLY A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT FAR AS I CAN TELL.

MOST OF THE SCHOOLS DON'T RATE BETTER THAN A C.

IT'S PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR COMPARED TO WHAT WE PUT INTO THAT FUND BECAUSE IT'S A STATE FUND THAT GETS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE'RE BASICALLY BARELY TAKING BACK 600,000.

WHEN WE PUT THE MOST MONEY INTO THAT, WE'RE THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE STATE TROUGH FAR AND AWAY.

OUR NEIGHBORS, NEW ORLEANS ARE THE SECOND BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR.

BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET? THAT'S TOO MUCH. BOB, THAT'S TOO MUCH.

WE GOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE A FRUGAL AND SIMPLE GOVERNMENT.

THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD STUFF HEARING ABOUT THE DE-OBLIGATION FROM THIS AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN WOODMERE.

I KNOW THESE PEOPLE. I KNOCKED ON ALL THESE DOORS.

I KNOW SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

I APPLAUD MOST OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, AGAIN, IT'S AN ILL GOTTEN GAIN ISSUE.

ANYBODY ELSE TO [INAUDIBLE].

>> ANYBODY ELSE IN FAVOR BEFORE HE OPPOSES?

>> THIS IS WHERE I COME IN, FRANKLY I WON'T OPPOSE, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT APPORTIONED, YOU CAN'T APPROVE WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YOU GOT HAVE A LEGITIMATE APPORTION TO REPRESENT THE BODY TO DO ANY OF THIS STUFF.

EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY COULD BE NOTIFIED.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR PAY PROVISIONS.

WE'LL GET THE FIREMAN PAID AS SOON AS ENOUGH PEOPLE WAKE UP, FIGURE THIS OUT. WE GOT IT.

>> ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT THE SAME PERSON APPEARED IN FAVOR AND OPPOSITION.

AND FOR REFERENCE THAT $215,000 WAS FOR A PROJECT THREE YEARS AGO THE MONEY WAS DEDICATED TO.

PROJECT DIDN'T MATERIALIZE LIKE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD, SO THERE'LL BE MORE MONEY GOING OUT LATER FOR A DIFFERENT PROJECT.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26547 ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

LET'S GO TO RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR,

[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]

CALL THE ROLL, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE.

>> COUNCILMAN LEE.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY.

>> COUNCILMAN WALKER?

>> NONE.

>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.

>> NONE.

>> COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN.

>> NONE.

>> COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.

>> LET'S SEE.

>> WOW. BUT WAIT.

>> COUNCILMAN KERNER.

>> I HAVE TWO. [LAUGHTER] CAN YOU READ THEM OUT?

>> YES.

>> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO THE TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE TO ERECT TEMPORARY SIGNS ADVERTISING THEIR 2025 SEAFOOD FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON MAY 30TH THROUGH JUNE 1ST, 2025.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION MAY BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR.

HEARING NONE, WE'LL NOTE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.

ANYONE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> I LOVE THAT FESTIVAL, PLEASE. I'M IN FAVOR.

>> GET ON FOR THREE MINUTES.

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

ANY OBJECTION TO COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION?

>> I MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION.

COUNCILMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND TERRYTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED.

TO AMEND THE AGREEMENT TO EXPAND THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE THE PROMOTION OF YOUTH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AT JEFFERSON PARISH PLAYGROUND AT NO ADDITIONAL COST AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION.

ANYONE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSITION PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN KERNER.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD IN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KERNER,

[02:45:01]

>> COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN AND I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLE.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

LET'S GO TO CONSENT AGENDA 1,

[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 26-68? MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]

CONSENT AGENDA 2. MADAM CLERK.

>> A RESOLUTION SELECTING AN ENGINEERING FIRM FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS ESTABLISHED ON UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 144993, ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2024, AND RESOLUTION NUMBER 146267, ADOPTED ON APRIL 30TH, 2025, 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.

TO PERFORM DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR BUCKTOWN HARBOR, PARKING AND PATHWAYS, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.

>> COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.

>> SELECTED [INAUDIBLE].

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF DIGITAL ENGINEERING, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

TAKES US TO CONSENT AGENDA 2 AND COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN,

[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]

>> MOVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF ITEM 70-123 MINUS 73 AND 108, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED? A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, LET'S GO TO ITEM 124, PLEASE.

[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS (Part 2 of 2) ]

COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF THOSE?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS 1-13? A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

LET'S GO TO ITEM 14 ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA, SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT BETWEEN INTRO, DAW LIFE AND SAFETY INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE VIPER AS A SERVICE IN THE JEFFERSON PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICT.

>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. ITEM 15.

>> A RESOLUTION RESENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 146106 ADOPTED ON MARCH 19TH, 2025 AND APPROVING A NEW COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE JEFFERSON PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICT AND JOSEPH P. LOPINTO III IN HIS CAPACITY AS SHERIFF OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO REIMBURSE SALARY EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE 911 COMMUNICATION AD DISPATCH CENTER OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICTS.

>> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN YOUR MOTION?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

WE ALREADY DID 16 AND WE HAVE A NOTE TO DEFER NUMBER 17 TO JUNE 18TH.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM NUMBER 17, COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR MOTION FIRST?

>> MOVE TO DEFER.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM NUMBER 17 TO JUNE 18TH? MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

NUMBER 125 NOW, MADAM CLERK.

[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]

>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INCREASE TO THE MONTHLY CONTRACT CONSIDERATION PAYABLE TO MARRERO REGUSA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER 3 FROM $214,000 PER MONTH TO $234,000 PER MONTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 8 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE MARRERO REGUSA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER 3, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

>> COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION?

>> I MOVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

126, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.

>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INCREASE TO THE MONTHLY CONTRACT CONSIDERATION PAYABLE TO MARRERO ESTELLE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER 1 FROM $214,000 PER MONTH TO $234,000 PER MONTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 8 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE MARRERO ESTELLE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER 1, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

[02:50:03]

>> COUNCILMAN LEE.

>> I MOVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN LEE SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.127.

>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INCREASE IN THE MONTHLY CONTRACT CONSIDERATION PAYABLE TO MARRERO HARVEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER 1 FROM $214,000 PER MONTH TO $234,000 PER MONTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 8 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE MARRERO HARVEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER 1, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

>> COUNCILMAN BONANO.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED, NO NEW BUSINESS, NO STATUS REPORTS.

[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]

YOU MUST FILL OUT A REQUEST SPEAK CARD AT THE BACK OF CHAMBERS, HAND IT UP TO THE CLERK IN FRONT.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS NOT RELATED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU MAY STEP TO THE PODIUM.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. BRIAN MILLER, FROM KENNER, FIRE CHIEF [INAUDIBLE].

I REALLY DIDN'T PLAN ON GETTING UP AND TALKING.

BUT I KNOW THROUGH THE CAMERA AND THE TEXT MESSAGES I'VE BEEN GETTING WHILE I'M HERE, I'VE BEEN ASKED BY SEVERAL WEST BANK FIREMEN WHY I STOOD WHILE THESE HEROES STOOD.

I STOOD NOT BECAUSE I'M A MEMBER OF LOCAL 1334; AM I RIGHT? IS THAT THE NUMBER? IT'S NOT THAT I'M A MEMBER OF THEIR UNION.

I'M A MEMBER OF THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

I'M A FIREMAN.

I'M A FIRE CHIEF.

ME AND MR. BURKETT HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

I'VE LEARNED SOME THINGS FROM THE MAN.

HE'S BEEN DOING THIS A LOT LONGER THAN ME AND WE MIGHT NOT SEE EYE TO EYE AND HOW TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

THAT'S A GIVEN. BUT WHAT WE DO AGREE ON IS THAT, LIKE HIM AND LIKE MYSELF, WE CARE FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR MEN THAT DO THIS JOB.

WHAT I'VE HEARD HERE TODAY THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXAMPLES WAS THE WORD COMMUNICATION.

SOME WERE AGAINST COMMUNICATION THE WAY IT WAS BEING DONE, SOME WERE FOR COMMUNICATION IN ANOTHER WAY.

PARISH PRESIDENT, I HAVE BEEN A FRIEND OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MY WHOLE LIFE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO BE THAT FRIEND, BUT WHAT WE NEED IS PEOPLE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS OBVIOUSLY WORKED.

DO WE AGREE? BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, I WANT TO TELL EACH ONE OF YOU Y'ALL GOT A SOCIAL MEDIA.

I'VE SEEN IT, SO IT WORKS AND IT'S DRAWING ATTENTION.

BUT RATHER THAN ME, THESE HEROES HAVING TO CONTINUE, WHICH I GOT TO TELL YOU. THANK YOU ALL.

I'M HONORED TO TURN AROUND AND SEE THAT YOU WOULD STAND WITH ME, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

AS AN INDUSTRY, NOT AN EAST BANK, NOT A WEST BANK, BUT AS A PARISH WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER TO GET ONE GOAL ACCOMPLISHED, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

THEIR FIRE IS NO MORE HOTTER THAN MINE.

THEIR WATER IS NO MORE WETTER THAN MINE.

WE DO THE SAME THING.

I THINK SOMETIMES WE DO IT WITH A LITTLE LESS MANPOWER, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

FOR THE MAN THAT STOOD UP HERE AND ASKED ABOUT IT, THE TERM ON OUR FIRE STATION SAYS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE HEROES THAT ARE ON THOSE TRUCKS ARE JUST LIKE THESE HEROES THEY ARE PAID STAFF.

WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATION.

MY ADMINISTRATION IS NICE.

THEY ALLOW ME AND MY GUYS TO COME HERE.

THERE'S TOO MANY ADMINISTRATORS ON THE WEST BANK THAT THREATEN THEIR INDIVIDUALS FROM HAVING THE RIGHT AND THE FREEDOM TO COME HERE AND STAND FOR THEMSELVES.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE.

MY COMMENT, MS. PRESIDENT IS, LET'S NOT DO THIS WHERE WE ALWAYS HAVE TO DO IT AT A COUNCIL MEETING.

>> THAT'S YOUR TIME. WRAP QUICK.

>> THANK YOU. LET'S NOT DO THIS WHERE WE'RE DOING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

LET'S COME TO THE TABLE ALL OF US.

I KNOW Y'ALL CAN'T ALL MEET AT THE SAME TIME BUT MAYBE WE CAN GET TWO OR THREE AT A TIME AND TALK.

LET'S SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR PARISH. THIS IS A GREAT ONE.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

[02:55:05]

>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, ROBERT BURKETT. I APPRECIATE IT.

MUCH WAS SAID EARLIER IN THE MEETING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T AFFORD AND WHAT FIREMEN DO AND DON'T EARN.

I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE AS I MEET WITH EACH ONE OF THE COUNCIL, YOU GIVE ME INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD.

SOME OF IT'S TRUE.

SOME OF IT'S COMPLETELY ERRONEOUS.

I REALIZE PARISH ADMINISTRATORS NEVER WORKED A DAY IN A FIRE STATION, DON'T REALLY KNOW THE INS AND OUT OF WHAT WE DO.

WE DO THE VERY BEST THAT WE CAN.

I'VE ALWAYS OFFERED TO EVERY COUNCILMAN, EVERY PARISH PRESIDENT, I THINK I'VE GONE THROUGH 11 NOW, THAT I'M AVAILABLE 24/7 TO GIVE YOU MY HONEST ANSWER.

I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT I'LL CERTAINLY TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW.

WHEN MS. SHENG TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT STARTING FIREFIGHTERS GET SUPPLEMENTAL PAY.

NO, I DON'T DISPUTE THAT, BUT SO DO THE FIREFIGHTERS ALL OVER THE STATE.

NONE OF THEM BEING PAID AS LOW AS 10.53 AN HOUR.

FIREFIGHTERS GET ANNUAL RAISES.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.

DO ALL OF THEM ALL OVER THIS STATE.

OVERTIME, I TOLD YOU WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK IT.

THE MMA STUDY, I THINK, MR. COULON [PHONETIC], WHO WAS IN THE AUDIENCE EARLIER, HAD THAT STUDY COMMISSIONED.

IT SAID THE WAY THAT WE DO IT IS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE AND COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROVIDE 24-HOUR SERVICE.

WE CAN'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE IT GIVES US EXTRA MONEY ON OUR PAYCHECKS.

BECAUSE WE WORKED THOSE FIFTY-SIX-AND-A-HALF HOURS A WEEK.

YOU WOULDN'T SEE THE SHERIFF TELL HIS STARTING DEPUTIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY MAKING I THINK RIGHT AT 24 AN HOUR, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT MUCH BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE SO MUCH MONEY IN DETAIL WORK, SO I'M GOING TO REDUCE WHAT YOU CAN MAKE BECAUSE IT WOULD HURT MY FEELINGS.

NO. ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN ON A DEPARTMENT THAT PROTECT OUR CITIZENS BE PAID FAIRLY AND ADEQUATELY AND COMPENSATED FOR THE HOURS THAT THEY WORK.

WE WOULD NEED ALMOST A THREE DOLLAR AN HOUR INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD JUST TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE IN HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS PER FAMILY.

NEW ORLEANS PAYS HALF OF WHAT WE PAY, KENNER PAYS HALF OF WHAT WE PAY.

>> YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.

>> WE PAY $1,200 A MONTH FOR A FAMILY.

IT'S ONLY SIX IN NEW ORLEANS AND KENNER.

THESE GUYS HAVE TO TAKE THAT OUT THEIR PAYCHECKS.

IT'S ABOUT A THREE DOLLAR AN HOUR INCREASE WE NEED JUST A BREAK EVEN.

NEW ORLEANS MAKES 15.6 TO START.

KENNER, I THINK, MAKES 13 AND CHANGE, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON MORE.

THE POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE 63 PARISHES ARE SUBJECTED TO THE SAME LAWS THAT MS. SHENG TALKED ABOUT, WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE PAY DIFFERENTIALS.

WE'RE NOT UNIQUE IN THIS.

>> NET TIME, MR. BURKETT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AGAIN, IF I CAN GIVE YOU ANY INFORMATION, I WILL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME [APPLAUSE]

>> HEY, ROB, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. MY NAME IS NATHAN KANSANIA [PHONETIC].

MY ADDRESS IS 304, MARK DRIVE, COVINGTON, LOUISIANA.

I WANTED TO GIVE MY THREE MINUTES TO YOU, BOB.

>> YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

>> CAN I GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE?

>> WHOEVER GOES TO THE MIC GET THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY.

>> JUST SO THAT WE'RE CLEAR, $1,200 A MONTH IS WHAT I'M PAYING TO INSURE MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN.

WITH NINE YEARS ON THE JOB, THAT'S EIGHT YEARS ON THE JOB, EIGHT TIMES I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE 5% RAISE THAT SHE REFERRED TO.

MY PAYCHECKS RIGHT NOW ARE $1,100, AND I'M PAYING 600 A PAYCHECK INTO HEALTH INSURANCE.

IF YOU GO BACK TO 2016, I WAS PAYING $341 A PAYCHECK FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, SO I'VE HAD A 75% INCREASE ON MY HEALTH INSURANCE IN NINE YEARS ON THIS JOB.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT YOUR 5%.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE KILLING ME ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE, $1,100 FOR NINE YEARS ON THE JOB, I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD A HOUSE, A MORTGAGE IN JEFFERSON PARISH OFF THAT SALARY.

YOU KNOW WHAT? I CAN WORK ANOTHER JOB. YOU KNOW WHAT? I DO.

I ACTUALLY WORK TWO MORE JOBS BECAUSE WE ALL DO, BECAUSE WE'RE HARD WORKING BLUE-COLLARED AMERICANS, REAL MEN, REAL WOMEN.

GO LOOK AT WHAT JOHN YOUNG WAS MAKING OR MIKE YANNY

[03:00:03]

YOU'VE GOTTEN QUITE THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE SINCE THE LAST TIME MY RAISE WAS DONE.

QUITE THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BASH YOU.

WE ARE UPSET, RIGHTFULLY SO.

ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT YOU TELL THE TRUTH.

DON'T SIT HERE AND SAY THE SEGEL GROUP IS ALMOST DONE.

NO. WE HAD A AGREEMENT ON WHAT WOULD BE IN THAT PAY STUDY.

WHEN THE NUMBERS CAME BACK, YOU AND MR. LACHUTE DIDN'T LIKE THOSE NUMBERS, SO NOW WE'RE FIDGETING THAT PAY STUDY, WHICH IS WHY IT STILL HASN'T BEEN GIVEN TO US TO MAKE THE NUMBERS LOOK BETTER FOR YOU.

I GOT NEWS FOR YOU. WE'RE LIVE RIGHT NOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

EVERYONE'S WATCHING THIS.

EVERYONE SEES YOUR FACE, THEY SEE WHAT WE'RE ALL SAYING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP.

WE KNOW WE'RE RIGHT, YOU WILL PAY US FAIR LIVABLE WAGES. THANK YOU.

>> WAIT.

>> SIR, YOU DIDN'T SAY YOUR NAME.

CAN YOU JUST SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? I'M SORRY. JUST REMEMBER TO SAY YOUR NAME WHEN YOU WALK UP TO MIC, PLEASE.

>> THANK YOU. OFFICIALLY, YOU JUST NEED YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. THANK YOU.

>> [INAUDIBLE] 79 O K AVENUE.

MS. SHENG HAD A WONDERFUL SPEECH EARLIER.

THE PROBLEM IS IT WAS FLAWED ALL OVER.

MS. SHENG, I HAVE A PAYCHECK FOR ONE OF OUR BRAND NEW FIREFIGHTERS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TURN AROUND AND SEE IT.

IT'S 10.53. IT'S NOT $16 AN HOUR, LIKE SHE SAYS.

MS. SHENG ALSO QUOTED 33 1992, WHICH STATES THE DIFFERENTIALS BETWEEN OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

SHE SHOULD PROBABLY READ THE ONE PARAGRAPH ABOVE THAT THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT INCLUDE STATE PAYING THOSE WAGES.

UNFORTUNATELY, MS. SHENG DID THAT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE REOCCURRING THEME OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, JUST TO ALTER THINGS WHEN IT DOESN'T FIT THEIR NARRATIVE.

LET ME TELL YOU THE EXACT TIMELINE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS PAY STUDY.

IN DECEMBER OF 2024, WE MET WITH THE SHENG ADMINISTRATION, HER ADMINISTRATORS, AND AGREED UPON WHAT DEPARTMENTS WERE TO BE INCLUDED.

THE ADMINISTRATION AGREED TO KICK OUT TWO OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FIT THE EXTRA [INAUDIBLE] WE WERE LOOKING FOR BY US AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

LET'S FAST FORWARD. I'M SORRY, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET MY TIMELINE CORRECT.

THE PAY STUDY DRAFT CAME OUT IN MARCH.

IT SAID WE NEEDED A 40% PLUS INCREASE FOR FIREFIGHTER PAY, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE FOR EVERY OTHER POSITION ACROSS THE BOARD, WHICH WAS THE MEDIAN AVERAGE FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS INCLUDED.

LO AND BEHOLD, THE SEGEL GROUP TOLD US THAT MR. LACHUTE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND PUT THOSE ORIGINAL DEPARTMENTS BACK IN, A CLEAR VIOLATION OF WHAT WAS AGREED WITH US.

NOW, IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT, MS. SHENG AND MR. LACHUTE WOULD BE SCREAMING OVER THE HILLS THAT WE BROKE OUR COMMITMENT, WE BROKE OUR CONTRACT.

WE DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING. THEY DID.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP WITH, I'M SORRY.

THESE MEN WORK TOO HARD.

THEY WORK SECOND AND THIRD JOBS JUST TO FEED THEIR FAMILY, AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> RANKIE HIRES [PHONETIC].

JUST TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY IN THE WAY WE GO.

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE IN RIVER RIDGE, CONSOLING A 90-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO LOST HIS 36-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER YESTERDAY.

I'M GOING TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE ALL OF US FOR MY BEST FRIEND, PETER.

THIS REALLY SUCKS.

TWENTY-THREE YEARS AGO I BURIED MY WIFE, AND I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS PARISH HAS BEEN DROPPING OFF A CLIFF FOR SIX YEARS NOW.

IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND GIVE THE PUBLIC THEIR TIME FIRST, IT BECOMES SHAMEFUL AT A CERTAIN POINT.

I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.

I'M TIRED OF DOING THE SAME THING.

THE FACT THAT THEY GOT TO WORRY ABOUT COMING IN HERE AND TALKING TO YOU, THE FACT THAT THEIR CHIEFS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GETTING FUNDED, IT'S ALL INDICATIVE OF THE VERY SAME THING I COME IN HERE FOR EVERY SINGLE TIME.

THERE'S TOO MUCH POWER IN TOO FEW HANDS, AND THERE'S A CONFUSION OF MULTITUDES.

WE HAVE TWO OF THE WORST THINGS, THE TWO THINGS THAT A REPUBLIC WAS SUPPOSED TO SPARE US FROM.

YOU'RE OBLIGED TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

I STOOD IN THIS LINE TO OPPOSE THAT BREW PUB ISSUE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

[03:05:01]

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN, AS A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL, THAT HE COULD SURRENDER HIS TIME TO ANOTHER CITIZEN.

IT CAN BE DONE. IT'S ROBERT'S RULES.

IT'S WHY THEY ASKED TO DO IT.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE RULE.

YOU COULD DO THIS. EVEN IF IT WEREN'T YOUR RULE, YOU COULD MAKE IT SO, AND YOU SHOULD.

BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE NO PROBLEM SPEAKING TO YOU, AT YOU, ENGAGING YOU.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SO CONFIDENT.

SOME PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO MASTER THIS KIND OF FORTITUDE.

ME, I'M JUST BORN A FOOL.

I'M JUST THE DUDE TRYING TO GET THIS RUG WE'RE ADDRESSED.

NOW, NONE OF YOU PEED ON MY RUG, BUT TRUST ME, MY RUGS PEED ON.

[INAUDIBLE] IS THE ONE WHO PEED ON MY RUG.

IT'S OUR CUMULATIVE COLLECTIVE NEGLECT AND OCCASIONAL OPPORTUNISM.

THAT'S WHO'S PEED ON OUR RUG, BUT YOU ARE EMPOWERED TO FIX THIS.

YOU, THE COLLECTIVE, NOT ANY OF YOU PERSONALLY, ARE THE MR. BIG LEBOWSKI.

YOU'RE THE ONES EMPOWERED TO DO THIS.

I'M JUST A DUDE. FIGURE IT OUT.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? WITH 16 CARDS, I THOUGHT MORE OF YOU-ALL WERE SPEAKING.

IF YOU SIGNED UP, IT'S YOUR FORUM.

>> THESE GUYS KNOW I CAN'T KEEP THEM [INAUDIBLE] YOU GUYS KNOW I CAN'T KEEP [INAUDIBLE] THE ONLY REASON THERE'S NOT 360 PEOPLE HERE IS BECAUSE THE GRASS WOULDN'T BE GETTING CUT, FENCES WOULDN'T GO UP, POOLS WOULDN'T BE CLEAN, CONSTRUCTION WOULDN'T GO ON, BABIES WOULDN'T BE WATCHED, ETC.

THE COMMUNITY HURTS WHEN THESE GUYS HURT.

I DON'T HAVE FACEBOOK. THANK GOD, I DON'T.

I'D RATHER READ THE BIBLE THAN LOOK AT FACEBOOK.

I WANT THE TRUTH.

THERE SHOULD NOT BE THIS BIG DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

MR. BOB, OUR PRESIDENT, AND HIS CREW HAS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS TRYING TO MAKE AMENDS FOR WHAT HASN'T BEEN DONE IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.

MY SON, WHO'S GOT FIVE YEARS ON, WAS ABOUT FIVE-YEARS-OLD LAST TIME.

HE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT WHEN DADDY WAS COMING HOME BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING SIGNS UP AND HANDING OUT LITERATURE.

NOW HE'S TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING BEING A FIREMAN BECAUSE, GOD FORBID, HIS DAD DID IT.

HE WASN'T A COLLEGE GUY, BUT HE'LL RUN CIRCLES AROUND.

I HOPE I SPEAK FOR ALL OF THESE GUYS.

THEY STILL HAVE TO GO CLEAN THE POOLS, PUT THE FENCES UP, AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND DO WHAT THEY GOT TO DO, BUT THEY LOVE BEING FIREMEN, AND WHAT YOU-ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IS STILL BE PROUD THEY WEAR THE BADGE. THANK YOU.

>> SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

>> DENNIS, TY MERE, 01,300, SHIRLEY DRIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FRANK LORENZO, JEFFERSON PARISH, 516 TUMBLE CREEK DRIVE, MADISONVILLE, LOUISIANA.

I ASK OF THIS BOARD BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL DICTATES OUR RULES AND GOVERNS OUR RULES THAT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW IN THIS FORUM, WE ARE NOT EMS SERVICE.

WE'RE NOT EQUIPPED TO HELP.

THESE DUTIES ARE BEING DELEGATED TO US.

WE SEE ENOUGH STUFF WITH FIRES, WITH ACCIDENTS TO WHERE WHEN WE COME IN, WE CAN HOLD THEIR HANDS AND WATCH THEM DIE, AND THAT'S NOT A FAIR BURDEN TO US.

I WENT THROUGH THE MEASURES OF FILING A GRIEVANCE WITHIN A DEPARTMENT, THAT THE DEPARTMENT FAILED.

I FILED AN INVESTIGATION WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD WHERE MS. SHENG AND MR. LOPINTO TRIED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT MEETING TO DISCLOSE THINGS.

WHILE WE'RE HERE IN THE PUBLIC FORUM, WE ARE NOT EMS PERSONNEL.

WE ARE NOT TRAINED PROPERLY.

WE CANNOT HELP, AND IT'S NOT FAIR FOR US TO BE CALLED ON THOSE CALLS TO SIT THERE HELPLESSLY WHERE THE PUBLIC THINK THAT THEY'RE GETTING HELP.

WE CANNOT. WE CAN WATCH YOUR HEART STOP AND PUT AN AED ON YOU.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE CAN'T HELP.

I WISH THAT Y'ALL WOULD COME FORWARD AND MAKE THE DIFFERENCE TO MAKE THE EMS STAND UP AND DO THEIR JOBS.

EMS DOESN'T NEVER PICK UP THE HOSE.

LOOK, IT'S NOTHING AGAINST THE EMS FOLKS OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

WHEN A ROBBERY IS TAKING PLACE, THEY DON'T CALL US.

WHEN WE GET CALLS, EMS DOESN'T PICK UP THE FIRE HOSE.

WHY ARE WE SUBSIDIZING THIS BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY? FORGET THE MONEY.

I DON'T LIKE PERSONALLY GOING HOME TO MY DAUGHTER WHEN I GET

[03:10:04]

WHY IS THAT FAIR TO US?

>> IF THAT'S ALL, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ

[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]

>> THREE SUB OF LOTS 22-A AND 14 SQUARE NUMBER 2, LAY DRIVE SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 22-C SQUARE NUMBER 2.

AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP LOT 14 SQUARE 4, AIRLINE PARK WEST SUBDIVISION, AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R1A TO R2.

AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF LOT VC SQUARES 1 AND 2, [INAUDIBLE] PARK SUBDIVISION, LOCATED AT 349 DIVISION STREET, AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM FC3 TO C1.

AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, LOTS 29A AND 29B, 708 AURORA AVENUE, AND LOTS 28A AND 28B, 710 AURORA AVENUE, SQUARE 42 BONNABEL PLACE SUBDIVISION, LOCATED AT 7:AND 710, AURORA AVENUE.

APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE LANDSCAPING AND AREA REGULATIONS OF THE MUCD FOR A MURPHY OIL GAS STATION AND CONVENIENCE STORE LOCATED AT 4822, LAPALCO BOULEVARD ON LOT 6A, 3A, 1B BELLE PLANTATION SUBDIVISION.

AMENDING CHAPTER 4, SECTION 32 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATIVE TO REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGE PERMITS.

AMENDING CHAPTER 18, SECTION 18-4, REGARDING THE NAMING OF LIBRARY FACILITIES, 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 THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCES? READ IN THE SUMMARY, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO ADJOURN BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.