>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. GO AHEAD AND GRAB A SEAT IF YOU CAN, AND WE'LL GET ROLLING. [00:00:04] WE HAVE A FEW THINGS TO GET TO BEFORE THE MEETING TODAY. DO YOU WANT TO START OFF WITH YOUR PROCLAMATION OR YOUR PEOPLE HERE FOR RED NIGHT? OH, THEY'RE HERE. DO YOU WANT TO WAIT? IS ANYONE FROM THE RED NIGHTS HERE? WHERE ARE THE RED NIGHTS? COME ON UP TO THE FRONT. >> HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? THE MIC IS OPEN. GO AHEAD WHEN YOU'RE READY. YOU ALL ARE TALKING TO US? YEAH. GO AHEAD. >> YES SIR. GOOD MORNING. I'M PRESIDENT STEVE GUILLOT OF THE RED KNIGHTS FIREMAN'S MOTORCYCLE CLUB. WE WANTED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION THIS MORNING TO THE PARIS COUNCIL FOR THE ASSISTANCE THAT ALL GAVE. >> HANG ON ONE SECOND. LET ME TRY AND RAISE YOUR VOLUME. THERE'S A NEW AUDIO SYSTEM. >> TRY THAT. >> HOW IS THAT? >> IT'S BETTER. >> I SAID, I'M PRESIDENT STEVE GUILLOT, LOUISIANA 1 RED KNIGHTS FIREMEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB. WE JUST IN A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION WITH THE PARIS CONSUL WHO HELPED LOUISIANA 1 HOST A DIXIE RALLY THAT WE HOST IN AROUND HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH IN NEW ORLEANS EVERY FIVE YEARS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF CHAPTER LA5 THAT GIVE US A HAND. THIS YEAR HERE, IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. WE HAD 352 PEOPLE THAT CAME FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, AND APPRECIATION FOR WHICH YOU DID HELPING US PUT THIS EVENT ON. WE LIKE TO PRESENT THE PARISH COUNCIL WITH A PLAQUE IN APPRECIATION. >> THANK YOU. WE'LL COME DOWN THERE. >> [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] RIGHT UP NEXT, THE PARISH PRESIDENT. >> THERE YOU ARE. NICOLE. OCTOBER IS GLOBAL DIVERSITY AWARENESS MONTH, AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOARD WORKS DILIGENTLY TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WITHIN OUR WORKFORCE AND THROUGHOUT OUR PARISH. LEADERSHIP AND DIVERSITY GO HAND IN HAND, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR CONTINUING TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AWARENESS AND IN OUR WORKPLACE. IT'S SO VERY IMPORTANT TO GIVE EMPLOYEES A VOICE BY CREATING AN INCLUSIVE CULTURE. EVERY INITIATIVE AND ACTION UNDERTAKEN TO ADDRESS AND IMPROVE DIVERSITY INCLUSION IS A STEP TOWARD UPLIFTING AND ENRICHING OUR WORK ENVIRONMENT AND BENEFITS OUR WORKFORCE AND THE CITIZENS WE SERVE. TODAY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE [00:05:04] ON THIS BOARD TO FOSTER A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF EACH HUMAN BEING, REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY, COLOR, RACE, SEX, GENDER, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, OR LANGUAGE. I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION, AND THEN WE'LL CALL READ ONE OFF. WHEREAS OCTOBER IS GLOBAL DIVERSITY AWARENESS MONTH, AND A SPECIAL TIME TO INCREASE AWARENESS. YOU WANT TO CALL THEM UP? I KNOW THAT'S ORANGE SHIRTS. WHEREAS OCTOBER IS GLOBAL DIVERSITY AWARENESS MONTH AND A SPECIAL TIME TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY AND UNIQUENESS OF ALL ETHNICITIES AROUND THE WORLD. WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH DIVERSITY INCLUSION BOARD SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT AND VITAL COMMUNICATION SOURCE BETWEEN PARISH LEADERSHIP AND OUR EMPLOYEES WHILE ADVOCATING FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE CULTURE AND WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARIS DIVERSITY INCLUSION BOARD IS COMPRISED OF DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES WHO SERVE TO FOSTER A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF EACH HUMAN BEING REGARDLESS OF THEIR NATIONALITY, COLOR, RACE, SEX, GENDER, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, OR LANGUAGE. AND WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH DIVERSITY INCLUSION BOARD CELEBRATES THE UNIQUE ABILITIES OF OUR DIVERSE JEFFERSON PARISH WORKFORCE AND CREATES A WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS RECENT EVENTS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR EVEN GREATER AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE CULTURES AND ETHNICITIES ARE DIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN. WE ARE A STRONGER COMMUNITY WHEN WE HELP EACH OTHER. WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH DIVERSITY INCLUSION BOARD HAS BROUGHT UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF OUR EMPLOYEES. WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH DIVERSITY INCLUSION BOARD IS RECOGNIZED AND COMMENDED FOR MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN PROMOTING DIVERSITY AWARENESS AND INCLUSION IN OUR WORKPLACE. NOW, THEREFORE, CYNTHIA LEE SHENG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2025 AS DIVERSITY INCLUSION AWARENESS MONTH IN JEFFERSON PARISH. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO FOR US IN THE PARISH. I'M GOING TO LET THE NICOLE LEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M NICOLE THOMPSON, AND I'M GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT. WE HAVE DONNA EVANS, BRITNEY MAJOR, SHAKIVA TAYLOR, DARLENE WILLIAMS, ANTOINETTE DAVIS, YASMINDA HART, MAISHA GUTTER, CHARA WATKINS, JASMINE HAMPTON, DONTRELL GREEN, KATINA WEBB, AND MR. HUBERT FRANKLIN. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE. WHO WANTS TO HOLD? YOU ALL WANT TO SPLIT UP? YEAH. WE'RE ALL IN THE MIDDLE. >> LET'S GET OUR FRIENDS FROM THE JCVB HERE TO THE PODIUM. THIS PROCLAMATION CELEBRATES OYSTER MONTH. I'LL HAND THIS TO YOU AND IF YOU WANT TO SHOW IT OFF, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH RECOGNIZES THE CULTURAL, CULINARY, AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF OYSTERS TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, AND THE GULF COAST REGION, AND WHEREAS LOUISIANA IS ONE OF THE LEADING PRODUCERS OF OYSTERS IN THE US, CONTRIBUTING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE STATE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND CULINARY HERITAGE AND WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH IS HOME TO A VIBRANT COMMUNITY OF OYSTER HARVESTERS, [00:10:01] SEAFOOD MARKETS, RESTAURANTS, AND CHEFS WHO CELEBRATE AND ELEVATE THE OYSTER IN THEIR CRAFT. WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU CREATED THE LOUISIANA OYSTER TRAIL IN 2012, HIGHLIGHTING OYSTERS AS A MAJOR PART OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH VISITOR EXPERIENCE WHILE INTRODUCING AMERICA TO THE STATE'S FIRST AND ONLY OYSTER TRAIL. WHEREAS THE LOUISIANA OYSTER TRAIL IS ONE WAY THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ACTIVELY MARKETS AND SELLS THE DESTINATION BRAND EXPERIENCE, MANAGING THE NEARLY $2 BILLION HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT SUPPORTS 21,000 JOBS AND GENERATES NEARLY 200 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUE. WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU LAUNCHED THE TASTE OF THE TRAIL INITIATIVE TO SPOTLIGHT OYSTER CENTRIC CULINARY EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE PARISH, PROMOTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EDUCATING RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ON THE OYSTERS IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT. WHEREAS, FROM OYSTERS BIENVILLE TO AN OVERSTUFFED OYSTER PO BOY, THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU'S TASTE OF THE TRAIL FEATURES MANY OF OUR CHEF'S UNIQUE CULINARY DELIGHTS. WHEREAS THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER MARKS THE BEGINNING OF PEAK OYSTER SEASON AND PROVIDES AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE OYSTERS ROLE IN LOUISIANA'S IDENTITY AND PROSPERITY. WHEREAS, THE COUNCIL, IN COOPERATION WITH THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION OF VISITORS BUREAU, ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TASTE OF THE TRAIL, SUPPORT LOCAL OYSTER PRODUCERS AND RESTAURANTS, AND JOIN IN CELEBRATING THE OYSTER AS A SYMBOL OF LOUISIANA'S RICH COASTAL HERITAGE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY PROCLAIMS THAT NOVEMBER 2025 SHALL BE KNOWN AS CELEBRATE OYSTER MONTH IN JEFFERSON PARISH. CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL AND PARISH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AS WE PROMOTE JEFFERSON PARISH AS A DESTINATION TO THE WORLD. OYSTERS, AS YOU JUST READ ALL OF THE DETAILS, THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE PROMOTE. THE LOUISIANA OYSTER TRAIL IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT THE VISITORS GET EXCITED ABOUT. THEY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, AND THEY CAN'T WAIT TO COME DOWN, AND EAT ALONG THE OYSTER TRAIL BECAUSE FOOD IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE'RE KNOWN FOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION. >> EVERYONE COME GRAB A PICTURE. [BACKGROUND] IT IS DANIELA SHERWOOD HERE. YES. YOU AND WHOEVER ELSE WANTS TO APPROACH THE PODIUM. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS DANIELA SHERWOOD. I'M THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH GREAUX HEALTHY, AN IMPORTANT NEW CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION AND TREATMENT INITIATIVE WITH [INAUDIBLE] PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE THAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS A KEY ISSUE THAT IMPACTS MANY FAMILIES ACROSS LOUISIANA. LOUISIANA RANKS THIRD IN THE NATION FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY BEHIND ONLY MISSISSIPPI AND WEST VIRGINIA. 23.1% OF LOUISIANA CHILDREN AGES 6-17 SUFFER FROM THIS CHRONIC ILLNESS, 70% OF THOSE CHILDREN WILL HAVE OBESITY AS ADULTS, PUTTING THEM AT A HIGHER RISK FOR OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES AND 13 TYPES OF CANCERS. CHILDHOOD OBESITY COSTS LOUISIANA $127 MILLION IN HEALTH CARE COSTS ANNUALLY. THROUGH THE GREAUX HEALTHY INITIATIVE, WE'RE TURNING SCIENCE INTO PRACTICAL TOOLS AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT CHILDREN'S HEALTH AT HOME, IN SCHOOLS, AT THE DOCTOR, AND IN COMMUNITIES. THIS INITIATIVE WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE DEDICATION OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. JOHN KIRWAN, AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. IN THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH OVER 60 EARLY CHILDCARE CENTERS AND SCHOOLS REACHING 508 SCHOOL STAFF AND OVER 15,000 STUDENTS. WE'VE LAUNCHED A PROVIDER HUB WITH A TREATMENT TOOL KIT, CONTINUING EDUCATION WEBINARS, AND PATIENT EDUCATION. WE'RE DEVELOPING MOBILE APPS TO SUPPORT MATERNAL HEALTH, [00:15:01] FAMILY BASED LIFESTYLE CHANGES, AND MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT. WE'VE LAUNCHED PENNINGTON GENERATION, A RESEARCH STUDY TO FOLLOW FAMILIES ACROSS GENERATIONS TO LEARN ABOUT HOW HEALTH BEHAVIORS AND LIFESTYLE IMPACT HEALTH AND CHRONIC DISEASES. WE'VE ALREADY ENROLLED 40 FAMILIES FOR THE PENNINGTON GENERATION STUDY, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY TRACK UP TO 1,500 FAMILIES STATEWIDE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR STATE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO REACHING EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE WITH ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES. GROW HEALTHY AND OUR HEALTHY MOVES BUS HAVE BEGUN OUR TOUR ACROSS ALL NINE OF LOUISIANA'S HEALTH REGIONS. WE'RE VISITING EDUCATORS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS, INCLUDING YOU. WE'RE CONNECTING TO SHARE RESOURCES AND ROLL FAMILIES IN PENNINGTON GENERATION. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN OUR EFFORTS TO GROW HEALTHIER GENERATIONS FOR LOUISIANA'S FUTURE AND THAT YOU HELP SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE GREAUX HEALTHY INITIATIVE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR EFFORTS, VISIT GREAUX.ORG. THAT'S G-R-E-A-U-X HEALTHY.ORG, AND PLEASE JOIN US IN HELPING LOUISIANA'S KIDS GROW HEALTHY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TODAY. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. >> NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE WEST JEFFERSON LEVEY DISTRICT MILLAGE ELECTION THAT IS COMING UP SHORTLY. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL, MADAM PRESIDENT. MY NAME IS SCOTT BURKE. I'M BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY WEST, AND WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR UPCOMING MILLAGE, WHICH IS A RENEWAL ON NOVEMBER 15. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR, JESSE NOEL, AND HE HAS A PRESENTATION. JESSE? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM AND THE MILLAGE RENEWAL THAT'S ON THE VAL ON NOVEMBER 15. IT'S NOT A NEW TAX. IT'S A RENEWAL THAT PROVIDES OVER 45% OF THE LEVEE DISTRICTS REVENUE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT WEST BANK HOMES AND BUSINESSES BY ENSURING THE FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM FUNCTIONS AS DESIGNED. WHAT DOES OUR FLOOD PROTECTION CONSIST OF AND WHAT DO WE PROTECT? WE HAVE 80 MILES OF LEVEES AND FLOOD WALLS, 67 FLOODGATES, 35 DRAINAGE VALVES, AND THREE LARGE CLOSURE COMPLEXES THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WEST BANK AND VICINITY SYSTEM, PROTECT $41 BILLION IN PROPERTY AND 250,000 PEOPLE. HOW MUCH OF THAT SYSTEM HAS TO WORK TO SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND AGAINST A HURRICANE, 100%. STORMS LIKE KATRINA, ISAAC AND IDA TAUGHT US THAT THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES IN FLOOD PROTECTION. IT IS A PASS FAIL TEST. WE ARE DILIGENT IN WHAT WE DO. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PASS THESE TESTS? WE MUST CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE SYSTEM TO ENSURE WE MAINTAIN ITS STRENGTH AND ALSO ITS OPERABILITY. HOW DO WE MAINTAIN ITS STRENGTH? LEVY LIFTS. THIS MILLAGE PAID FOR $23 MILLION OF LEVY LIFTS THAT LIFTED OVER 18 MILES OF LEVY IN 2018. IN PARTICULAR, WE LIFTED THE BACIGNET LEVEE. THIS IS ABOUT 850 BEHIND THE WEST GO SHRIMP LOT. WE LIFTED IT TO AN ELEVATION OF 14.5 IN 2018, AS IT SITS TODAY, IT IS AT A 12. THAT IS STILL ABOVE THE 100 YEAR LEVEL, BUT WE NEED TO CHASE THAT ELEVATION BACK UP. WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO GET A LEVEE LIFT UNDERWAY WITHIN THE NEXT 6-8 MONTHS. WE HOPE TO HAVE IT UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY MAY AND GET IT BACK UP TO A 15.5, SO WE CAN GO HIGHER AND EXTEND OUT ITS ELEVATION. ADDITIONALLY, COMPLEX STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT OUR THREE LARGE COMPLEX STRUCTURES WILL CLOSE AND OPERATE CORRECTLY FOR EVERY STORM. WE HAVE THE BAOCGNET COMPLEX BEHIND THE WEST EGO SHRIMP LOCK, THE HARVEY CANAL COMPLEX UNDER THE LA PACO BRIDGE, AND THE WEST CLOSURE COMPLEX, WHICH IS DOWN SOUTH OF BELL CHASE, THAT PROTECTS THE ENTIRETY OF THE WEST BANK. MAINTAINING THESE STRUCTURES MUST HAPPEN BEFORE THE EVENT. WE CAN'T WAIT TILL THE EVENT, IF THEY BREAK DURING AN EVENT, THEY WILL NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. WE HAVE TO DO THE MAINTENANCE UPFRONT. IT'S IMPERATIVE. THEY HAVE TO WORK. THERE'S NO SECOND CHANCE. HOW DO WE PAY FOR ALL OF THIS MAINTENANCE AND LEVY LIFTS THE SUPPLEMENTAL MILLAGE THAT'S ON THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 15? WHAT IS IT? IT'S 4.75 MILLS. GENERATES ABOUT $6.5 MILLION FOR THE LEVY DISTRICT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AGAIN, THAT'S 45% OF OUR REVENUE. THE AVERAGE HOUSE ON THE WEST BANK IS ABOUT $200,000, AND THAT HOUSE PAYS ABOUT $5 A MONTH FOR THIS TAX. THE RENEWAL OF THE TAX WILL BE ON THE BALLOT, NOVEMBER 15, EARLY VOTE FIRST OF EIGHTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO TALK TO YOU TODAY. I'II ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE. >> PROBABLY CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH THAT IT IS NOT A NEW TAX. IT IS A RENEWAL. >> YES, SIR. IT IS A RENEWAL. >> ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE PRE MEETING. WE'LL GET STARTED IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES. [00:20:09] GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, [MEETING CALLED TO ORDER ] OCTOBER 22, 2025, WITH THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING 200 DURBANY STREET IN GRETN LOUISIANA. THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. THIS MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. COUNCILMAN KERNER, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR GUEST WITH TODAY'S INVOCATION. >> I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INVITING PASTOR SHANNON FOOT HERE. PASTOR SHANNON IS SUCH A GOOD MAN. DOES SUCH WONDERFUL THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. HE'S THE PASTOR AT GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH IN MARRERO. HE'S A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION. ON TOP OF THAT. HE'S ACTUALLY THE LEAD CHAPLAIN FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH DISTRICT SHERIFF'S OFFICE. BUT HE'S A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION AND VERY INVOLVED IN THAT'S OPENED UP, I THINK OVER 30 CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD. HE IS JUST SUCH A VALUABLE PERSON TO BE ON THE WEST BANK AND BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER TO GOOD, AND HE DOES SO MUCH WITH THE YOUTH. HE'S A MAN THAT WILL TRULY TELL YOU WHEN HE DISAGREES WITH YOU ON THE FUNDAMENTALS, BUT ALWAYS, NO MATTER WHAT OPEN YOU WOULD OPEN ARMS TO HIS CHURCH, FOR HIS ADVICE. HE'S CERTAINLY BEEN A PERSON THAT I LOOKED TO IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF WHEN I BECAME COUNCILMAN, AND A PERSON THAT I'M GOING TO LOOK TO OFTEN, BUT HE'S HONORABLE AND GOOD MAN AND A MAN OF GOOD, AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE PASTOR SHANNON FOOT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE AND TO INCORPORATE OUR WONDERFUL LORD INTO THESE PROCEEDINGS. I COME TO YOU TODAY WITH A SIMPLE WORD CELA. IT'S A WORD WE FIND IN THE PSALMS, AND IT SIMPLY MEANS TO PAUSE AND TO TAKE IT IN. WE TRULY HAVE BEEN BLESSED, AND WE HAVE RECEIVED WONDERFUL THINGS FROM OUR GOD IN HEAVEN, FROM WHOM ALL GOOD THINGS FLOW. EACH WEEK, I LEAD A PRAYER MEETING AT OUR CHURCH WHERE WE LIFT UP ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, INCLUDING THIS COUNCIL AND THE LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, WE PRAY IN DETAIL FOR YOU FOR YOUR FAMILIES, AS WE'RE COMMANDED IN FIRST TIMOTHY CHAPTER 2, WHERE HE SAYS, I, THEREFORE, THAT FIRST OF ALL, SUPPLICATION, PRAYER, INTERCESSION, AND GIVING OF THANKS WE MADE FOR ALL MEN FOR KINGS AND FOR ALL THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY, THAT WE MAY LEAD QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIVES AND ALL GODLINESS AND HONESTY. AS WE COME BEFORE THE LORD TODAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIMPLY TAKE TIME TODAY TO PAUSE AND TO EXPRESS YOUR PERSONAL THANKS FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE. OUR GRACIOUS FATHER. WE COME TODAY IN OBEDIENCE TO YOUR WORD AND IN GRATITUDE FOR YOUR BLESSINGS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THESE WHO HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER TODAY AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LEADERSHIP IS BOTH A PRIVILEGE AND A BURDEN. WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM TO GUIDE AND EVERY WORD SPOKEN TODAY, EACH MEASURE THAT IS DECIDED UPON IN EVERY HEART THAT IS PRESENT HERE IN THIS PLACE, MAY IT BE YIELDED TO YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE. PLEASE GRANT CLARITY WHERE THERE'S CONFUSION. WE ASK FOR COURAGE IN THE CONFLICTS AND COMPASSION, LORD, FOR EACH AND EVERYONE. REMIND US THAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT POWER, BUT IT IS ABOUT SERVICE. IT IS NOT ABOUT PRESTIGE, BUT IT'S ABOUT YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE. LORD, I PRAY YOUR BLESSING ON THIS COUNCIL TODAY, UP ON OUR PARISH, AND UPON ALL WHO CALL THIS COMMUNITY HOME. MY THEIR EFFORTS BRING PEACE, FAIRNESS, AND HOPE TO ALL THOSE THEY REPRESENT. LORD, WHEN THE CHALLENGES FEEL HEAVY, REMIND US THAT ALL THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL UPON YOUR SHOULDERS. WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF JESSE OUR LORD WITH THANKSGIVING. AMEN. >> THANK YOU. >> CHAIRMAN WALKER. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKIN. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMAN KERNER. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMAN BANANO? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMAN LEE. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMAN LOZBERG. >> HERE. >> PARIS PRESENT, MISS LI SHANE. >> HERE. >> I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLE. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MADAM PRESIDENT. [PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ] THE FLOOR IS YOURS. ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'LL START WITH OUR 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. [00:25:01] THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET AND TRANSMITTAL LETTER HAS BEEN FORMALLY HANDED TO THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION. A PUBLIC NOTICE WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL TOMORROW. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO OUR BUDGET DEPARTMENT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON THE PROPOSAL. LAFRANER PARK TRUNK OR TREAT, CONGRATS TO OUR LAFRANER PARK TEAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DON BUSTER'S CANAS ON A SUCCESSFUL TRUNK OR TREAT, WHICH TOOK PLACE THIS PAST SATURDAY. THIS YEAR'S EVENTS INCLUDED 40 TRUCKS, THE MOST EVER, AND ATTRACTED MORE THAN 1,000 ATTENDEES. THANKS TO ALL OF OUR COUNCIL OFFICES THAT PARTICIPATED, AS WELL AS OUR PARISH DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING OUR RECREATION, LIBRARY, ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT, AND DRAINAGE. JPRD WILL HOST A NIGHTMARE ON COURT STREET HALLOWEEN PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 AT 5:30 AT OUR JPRD PICKLEBALL COMPLEX IN METRE. IT WILL BE A MIXED DOUBLE SOCIAL TOURNAMENT, $20 PER TEAM, AND THE EVENT WILL INCLUDE MUSIC, FOOD TRUCKS, AND A COSTUME CONTEST, REGISTER AT JPD.COM. ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, JEFFERSON PARISH CONTINUES TO HOLD WEEKLY RECYCLING DROP OFF EVENTS FOR STORED MATERIALS EVERY SATURDAY FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M. AT 700 DAVID DRIVE ON THE EAST BANK, AND 64 40 LA PALKO BOULEVARD ON THE WEST BANK WEATHER PERMITTING. TO RECEIVE UPDATES WHEN THE RECYCLING DROP OFF SITES WILL BE CLOSED FOR WEATHER OR HOLIDAYS. VISIT JEFFPARISH.GOV SLASH RECYCLING, AND USE THE ONLINE FORM TO PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION. FIRE SERVICES AS OF OCTOBER 2 PER THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, WE'RE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE TRAINING CENTER IN BRIDGE CITY IS NOW A REGIONAL TRAINING PARTNER WITH THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY TRAINING ACADEMY. STARTING TODAY, WE'RE ALSO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A NEW RECRUIT ACADEMY WITH 33 CANDIDATES FROM TEN DEPARTMENTS FROM THE EAST AND WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH. IF THE RECRUIT CANDIDATES ARE SUCCESSFUL IN 16 WEEKS OF TRAINING, THEY'LL BE CERTIFIED IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE, HAMAT AWARENESS AND OPERATIONS, AND FIREFIGHTER ONE AND TWO. JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY UPDATES. THE FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL HOLD THEIR FALL, BIG BOOK SALE FROM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24 TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 AT THE PONCHO TRAIN CENTER, FEATURING MORE THAN 60,000 USED BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, DVDS, CDS, AND PUZZLES FOR PURCHASE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOUISIANA BAR ASSOCIATION, LAWYERS AND LIBRARIES CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 WITH VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ADVICE ON CIVIL MATTERS AT SIX OF THE BRANCH LIBRARIES DURING SELECT HOURS ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. ROSEDALE LIBRARY WILL HOST A SEMINAR ON NAVIGATING COMMUNITY RESOURCES NEXT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28 FROM 5:30-6:30 P.M. THE PROGRAM INTRODUCES PATRONS TO COURSES ON COMPUTER AND TECHNOLOGY LITERACY, RESOURCES FOR HEALTHCARE, FOOD, SHELTER, AND LEGAL COUNSEL, AND EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY INVITES TEENS AND ADULTS TO A HALLOWEEN THEMED ARSENIC AND OLD ACE TEA PARTY. ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, WHERE A GUEST LECTURER FROM L SHOES ENGLISH DEPARTMENT WILL DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF POISON IN CLASSIC LITERATURE. GALI LESSONS CONTINUE AT EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY ON TUESDAY EVENINGS WITH BOTH BEGINNER AND ADVANCE CLASSES FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIBRARY PROGRAMMING AND BRANCHES, VISIT JP LIBRARY.NET, AND ALL THE EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT CALENDAR DOPIBRARY.NET. THEN FINALLY, OUR ECOSYSTEM AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IS PARTNERING WITH THE COALITION TO RESTORE COASTAL LOUISIANA CRCL TO PLANT DUNE GRASSES ON GRAND ISLE NEXT MONTH. VOLUNTEERS ARE SOUGHT FOR NOVEMBER 20 THROUGH 22ND TO HELP PLANT 25,000 PLUGS OF GRASS ALONG A STRETCH OF BEACH NEAR A LEVEE THAT WAS BADLY DAMAGED IN HURRICANE IDA. AS SAND BLOWS ACROSS THE BEACH, THE GRASSES WILL SLOW IT DOWN AND CAUSE IT TO FALL. OVER TIME, THE SAND WILL BUILD UP AND COLLECT TO FORM A DUNE.THIS EXTRA PROTECTION BETWEEN THE LEVVE AND THE BEACH WILL ACT AS AN ADDITIONAL LINE OF STORM DEFENSE FOR GRAND AISLE AND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS PROTECTING HABITAT FOR NESTING SHOREBIRDS. CRCL WILL PROVIDE WATER, LUNCH, AND ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THE DAY, INCLUDING WORK GLOVES AND SUNSCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER VISIT CC.ORG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. ANYBODY WITH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE PARISH PRESENT? THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KERNER, A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE? >> I BELIEVE THERE'S A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ENERGY HERE. IF YOU CAN, CAN YOU COME UP? I INVITED SOMEONE FROM ENERGY TODAY TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN TERRY TOWN. TERRY TOWN'S RECEIVED A NUMBER OF OUTAGES WAY ABOVE USUAL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT DURING STORMS, NOT DURING RAIN EVENTS OR WIND EVENTS, BUT JUST ON SUNNY DAYS. IT'S HAPPENING ALL TOO OFTEN, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS HURTING BUSINESSES, AFFECTING RESIDENTS, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY, [00:30:01] REALLY EAGER AND PUSHING VERY HARD TO ADDRESS. I INVITED JEREMY UP HERE TO AIKEN TO COME AND GIVE US A LITTLE BREAKDOWN AND MAYBE ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS WE'LL RUN THAT ISSUE. >> HEY. GOOD MORNING. I SHOULD SAY EVERYONE. JIMMY AIKEN WITH ENERGY, LOUISIANA. I KNOW ALL OF YOU ALL QUITE WELL, SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY TODAY. THANK YOU, COUNSEL MCKERNER, FOR CALLING UP. OBVIOUSLY, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A LOT OF ISSUES SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN OFFICE. I'M JUST HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS IN TERRYTOWN. JUST FROM AN OUTAGE PERSPECTIVE. CLEARLY TOO MANY BLUE SKY OUTAGES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THIS AREA THAT'S IMPACTING RESIDENTS, CUSTOMER BUSINESSES, ET CETERA. OVER THE LAST, I WOULD SAY 18 MONTHS OR SO, WE'VE SEEN 22 OUTAGES IN TERRYTOWN. THIS HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS FROM LIGHTNING TO VEGETATION TO PUBLIC INFLICTED DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT TO THE ONE LOAD SHED INCIDENT THAT WE HAD IN THE SUMMER. I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OUTAGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED ON BLUE SKY DAYS. ONCE WE STARTED DIGGING MORE INTO THE AREA OF THE EQUIPMENT, WE'VE SEEN THAT THERE'S A LOT OF VEGETATION ISSUES, A LOT OF THESE POLES, WHERE WE HAVE SEEN THESE OUTAGES IN TERRYTOWN, ARE IN THE BACK OF PEOPLE'S HOMES. THESE POLES HAVE BEEN IN THE GROUND SINCE 1970, 1980. AS YOU CAN TELL, THEY HAVE SOME WEAR AND TEAR ON THEM. SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE DID A COMPREHENSIVE WALKDOWN AFTER YOU AND I SPOKE. THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE WALKDOWN THAT WE DID WAS OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM, HERITAGE AVENUE, AND TERRY PARKWAY SECTOR. THIS IS ON FEEDERS W0525 AND FEEDERS W0713. >> FROM THERE, WE IDENTIFY THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 24 POLES THAT NEEDED ATTENTION RIGHT AWAY, AS WELL AS A LOT OF VEGETATION ISSUES THAT WE HAD, THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK THERE AND ACTUALLY HAVE CLIMBING CREWS GO INTO PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS AND ACTUALLY PERFORM THE TRIMMING. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE PARTNERED WITH AT&T. FOR THESE TWO FEEDERS, WE INSTALLED TWO TRIP SAVERS ON FEEDER W0525 ON STUMP BOULEVARD AND FEEDER W0713 ON RIGHT AVENUE. WE ALSO CHANGED TWO CRITICAL POLES IN THIS AREA ON FEEDER W0525, WHICH IS ON AT 333 HERITAGE AVENUE IN 405 CRANBERRY. THOSE WERE ALSO IN THE REAR OF PEOPLE'S HOMES, SO THEREFORE, WE HAD TO DIG UP PEOPLE'S YARDS AND WHATNOT TO GET BACK THERE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE OLD BROKEN WOODEN POLES OUT. THEY MAY HAVE HAD BAD CROSS ARMS OR WHATNOT ON IT OR IN THAT HAD GOTTEN INTO VEGETATION, AND WE WERE ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE POLES, DO ACTIVE VEGETATION TRIMMING ON THERE, CLEAR OUR LINES. JUST FOR ALL, AND I KNOW I'VE SPOKEN ON SEVERAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, BUT VEGETATION HAS BEEN OUR MAIN CONCERN BACK THERE. WHEN BRANCHES GET INTO OUR LINES, THEY CAUSE DISRUPTIONS THAT MAY GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BREAKER AT THE SUBSTATION, WHICH THEN CAUSES A LARGER OUTAGE THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. JUST DOING THE VEGETATION TRIMMING ALONE HAS SAVED A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T SEE AS MANY OUTAGES AS WE HAVE. BUT ON TOP OF ALL THAT, WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH AT&T. WE CHANGED FOUR CRITICAL AT&T POLES AT AS WELL. THESE ARE A 1913 STUMP, 1917 CRANBERRY, 411 CRANBERRY, AND 422 TERRY PARKWAY. THEN ON TOP OF THE FOUR CRITICAL POLES THAT WE CHANGED, WE ALSO SET 12 NEW AT&T POLES AND TRANSFERRED THOSE POLES BECAUSE I KNOW TRANSFERS ARE A BIG THING, SO S BOHANNAN. I GOT YOU, SO WE TRANSFERRED THOSE POLES, PULLED THE STUB POLE OUT OF THE GROUND. THEREFORE, THOSE ARE ALL BRAND NEW POLES, AND WE ALSO SET 12 NEW ENERGY POLES ON FUSE 11127. WE ALSO DID SOME ACTIVE SUBSTATION WORK IN THERE, LOOKED FOR JUST ANY BREAKER ISSUES, QUICK WINS IN THERE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY A FEW OF THOSE AND REPLACE THOSE FUSES IN THAT SUBSTATION. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE OTHER FEEDER, THE 0533 FEEDER. THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE HAD. I BELIEVE WE HAD THREE OUTAGES IN FOUR DAYS BACK IN THE END OF SEPTEMBER, BEGINNING OF OCTOBER. WE IDENTIFIED 14 BAD POLES AND FIVE BAD CROSS ARMS ON THIS FEEDER. WE ALSO IDENTIFIED AGAIN, HEAVY VEGETATION CONCERNS. THEREFORE, RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THOSE POLES ARE IN DESIGN TO BE CHANGED THAT RIGHT NOW WITH OUR ENGINEERING TEAM. THAT DESIGN WORK SHOULD BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT WORK HOPEFULLY NO LATER THAN THE END OF DECEMBER. WE'VE ALSO INSTALLED THREE NEW TRIP SAVERS BEHIND CLOSES 1739. IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT, A TRIP SAVER WILL ISOLATE THE PORTION OF THE BAD CLING, SO THAT WAY YOU WON'T SEE AS MANY CUSTOMER INTERRUPTIONS AS YOU MAY SEE IF IF THERE WASN'T A TRIP SAVER, THEN YOU MAY SEE I'M JUST MAKING A NUMBER UP, BUT 1,500 CUSTOMERS OUT MINUS MAYBE 750. OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY CUSTOMERS OUT. WE ARE WORKING. [00:35:01] I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS POINT HOME. WE DO HAVE THIS BIG RESILIENCY PLAN THAT WE ARE WORKING ON. WE ARE CHANGING ADD A LOT OF POLLS. YEAR TO DATE, WE'VE CHANGED 3,000 POLLS ADD ACROSS JEFFERSONPARISH WITH ANOTHER 500 SLATED FOR NEXT YEAR AND ANOTHER 500 THE YEAR AFTER. WE UNDERSTAND THAT RELIABILITY IS KEY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT MORE AND MORE FOLKS ARE WORKING FROM HOME. ANY KIND OF DAILY DISRUPTION OF THEIR LIVES OF THEIR ABILITY TO WORK AND PERFORM IS UNACCEPTABLE IN OUR OPINION, AND SO THEREFORE, I'VE MADE A VOW, AND I THINK ALL OF YOU ALL CAN AGREE TO THIS. SINCE I'VE TAKEN OVER THIS ROLE IN TWO YEARS. I THINK WE'VE DONE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OVER THE LAST JUST TWO YEARS HERE OF REALLY TRYING TO INCREASE OUR RELIABILITY, CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF STUB HOLES IN THE GROUND, THE AMOUNT OF VEGETATION THAT'S GETTING INTO THE LINES. OBVIOUSLY, I LIVE IN JEFFERSONPARISH. A LOT OF MY CO WORKERS THAT I WORK WITH LIVE IN JEFFERSONPARISH WE UNDERSTAND POWER'S LIFE. THAT'S OUR SLOGAN. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND I'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTION. >> WELL. JEREMY, I MEAN, JIMMY I'M SORRY, KEEP CALLING TO JEREMY. FIX THE POWER OUTAGES. I'LL CALL YOU, JIMMY. BUT I KNOW A LOT OF THAT WORK WAS DONE BEFORE A MONTH AGO WHENEVER THEY HAD, I THINK, BELIEVE THREE OUTAGES OUT IN ONE WEEK. I MEAN, HOW MUCH WORK HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THOSE OUTAGES IN THAT ONE WEEK ON TWO OR SUNNY DAYS? >> SURE. LOOK, I'D ALSO I DIDN'T SAY BEFOREHAND, COUNCIL MAN KERN AND I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TOGETHER, I WOULD SAY, IN THE TERRY TOWN AREA, OBVIOUSLY, WE SPOKE AT THE TERRY TOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ABLE TO BE THERE OR NOT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR A LOT OF CONCERNS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAD A LOT OF VOITURS, PEOPLE THERE. BUT THEY WERE ALSO GOOD CONCERNS AS WELL AS ABLE TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO THE CUSTOMERS, GAUGE WHERE THEY WERE AT AND EASE THEIR MIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE WORKING. THOSE THREE OUTAGES THAT WE SAW BACK TO BACK TO BACK, TWO OF THEM WERE VEGETATION RELATED. ONE WAS A BROKEN CROSS ARM. THAT CROSS ARM HAS BEEN FIXED, AND THAT AREA RIGHT THERE, WE TRIMMED ALL THAT VEGETATION NEXT WEEK. >> DO YOU HAVE CREWS THAT'S GOING CHECK FOR VEGETATION RIGHT NOW? >> YES WE DO. >> WHEN WE SAY 22 OUTAGES IN 18 MONTHS, I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT STORMS. WHEN I HEAR THAT WE CHANGED 3,000 POLES IN JEFFERSONPARISH, AND YOU HAVE SUCH A AREA WITH 22 OUTAGES IN THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. IT RAISE CONCERNS THAT WHY ARE WE ONLY CHANGING 27 POLES IN TERRY TOWN WHEN IT'S SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE CHANGING SOME OF THE OLD POLES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRIMMING VEGETATION BEFORE IT GETS BAD. >> YOU HAVE TO REALIZE, TOO, THE POLES IN QUESTION THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED, SOME ARE GOOD, SOME ARE BAD. NO ALL OF THESE OUTAGES HAVE BEEN RELATED DIRECTLY TO POLL ISSUES. I MEAN, I'M LOOKING SIX OR LIGHTNING. IF LIGHTNING HITS ONE OF OUR LINES AND BACKS ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE SUBSTATION, THE POLL IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THAT. VEGETATION CONCERNS. OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A BIG THING. BUT ALSO TOO, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WHEN I'M KNOCKING ON PEOPLE'S DOORS, NOT ME PERSONALLY, BUT ENERGY EMPLOYEES OR CONTRACTORS ARE KNOCKING ON PEOPLE'S DOORS, AND WE'RE ASKING TO GET IN THEIR BACK YARD BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO VEGETATION TRIMMING. THERE'S A COMMITTEE FOR LIKE A TREE CANOPY IN JEFFERSONPARISH, I SIT ON THAT. THESE TREES ARE PROTECTED. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THEIR TREES CUT DOWN. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO GO AND DELIVER THE BAD NEWS THAT, HEY, THIS VEGETATION NEEDS TO BE TRIMMED. SOMETIMES THERE ARE ISSUES WHERE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED IN THE BACKYARD, AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TRAVERSE AND GET IN THE BACK YARD AND DO THAT TRIMMING, SOME PEOPLE WITH ENERGY, WHETHER IT'S A CONTRACT CREW, WHETHER IT'S AN ENERGY CREW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FIGHT THAT CONSTITUENT TO GET IN THE BACK YARD. THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE, AND SO NOW WE'RE HAVING ISSUES THERE. WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT ON A INTERNAL LEVEL. BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES RIGHT THERE, ESPECIALLY ON THE BLUE SKY OUTAGES THAT WE'VE SEEN, HEAVY VEGETATION, SO WE'RE DOING COMPREHENSIVE WALK DOWN OF THE THREE FEEDERS. I TOLD YOU THAT FEED TERRY TOWN RIGHT NOW AND I'M ASSURING YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY HIGH ON OUR RADAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING TO GET QUICK WINDS IN TERMS OF VEGETATION. I THINK WITH JUST VEGETATION ALONE, IT'S GOING TO CUT DOWN ON A LOT OF THE OUTAGES THAT YOU'VE SEEN. >> BUT THERE'S ALSO SITUATIONS WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT A LADY JUST RECENTLY WHERE SHE HAS A POLE THAT'S ALMOST ROTTEN THAT COULD FALL AT ANY MOMENT BEHIND HER HOUSE, AND I THINK SHE PUT IT IN. ENERGY WENT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. I THINK THAT IT WAS AN ELDERLY LADY, SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING HER HAIR THE ONE DAY A WEEK, AND THEY PUT IT ON BACK IN THE LIST. IT'S BEEN A MONTH, AND AND THEY HADN'T TRIED IT AGAIN. THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO CORRECT, BECAUSE THAT'S A POTENTIAL OUTAGE. I'M SURE THERE'S OBSTACLES GETTING IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS, BUT WHENEVER THERE'S A SITUATION WHERE A LADY'S ACTING FOR IT, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB, GETTING WITH HER AND TRYING TO GET IN THE BACK YARD. NOW, LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LONG MEETING, BUT I DO WANT TO IF I'M TALKING TO THE PEOPLE AT TERRY TOWN RIGHT NOW. I'M SAYING LOOK, WE MADE THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, CHANGES, WE UPGRADED, THIS, THIS, THIS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEM, YOU WILL BECOME MORE RELIABLE IN ONE MONTH IN THREE MONTHS IN [00:40:03] SIX MONTHS WHERE YOU'RE NOT GETTING THOSE CONSISTENT OUTAGES TWICE A WEEK, THREE DAYS A WEEK, AND LOOK, AT SOME THINGS UNPREVENTABLE. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT MANY OUTAGES, THEN IT MEANS THE SYSTEM'S GOT TO BE MORE RELIABLE AND THINGS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT ACROSS THE BOARD. WHAT CAN I TELL THE PEOPLE AT TERRY TOWN TODAY THAT AND THE BUSINESSES OF TERRY TOWN, HAVE TO SHUT DOWN EVERY TIME THAT'S AN OUTAGE? >> SURE. I LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU AND I SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN OFFICE, AND EVEN BEFORE THEN, BUT SINCE REALLY YOU'VE TAKEN OFFICE, WE'RE WORKING ON THESE ISSUES. YOU AND I ARE IN CONSTANT CONTACT EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> YOU'VE BEEN, JIMMY. YOU'VE BEEN INCREDIBLE. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT'S GOOD INTERNALLY TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS CHAMPION FOR JEFFERSONPARISH WITHIN ENERGY BECAUSE EVERY CONCERN THAT YOU BRING TO ME OR COUNCIL MEMBER BRINGS TO ME OR SOMEBODY FROM THE PARISH BRINGS TO ME, I TRY TO ADDRESS THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE HEAD ON. NOW, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE'RE WAITING ON OUR ENGINEERING CREWS TO DESIGN POLES, AND THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY SOME OF THESE POLES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. IF IT WASN'T DEEMED IMMINENT FAILURE, LIKE THE POLE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE OLD LADY, THAT THE ELDERLY LADY THAT HAD AN ISSUE IN HER BACK YARD WHERE THE ENERGY CREW SHOWED UP. IF IT'S NOT DEEMED IMMINENT FAILURE, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE. THEN THEY'RE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT LINE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR THOSE POLES. LIKE I SAID, CHANGING OUT OF 25, 30 POLES IN THAT AREA IS TIME CONSUMING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO CREWS THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON THERE BECAUSE ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH TROUBLE CALLS AND OTHER ISSUES THAT ARISE IN DIFFERENT AREAS. BUT I WOULD SAY FOR YOU TO LET YOUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT I'M HERE. ENERGY IS HERE. WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. I THINK I'VE ANSWERED THE BELL EVERY TIME IT'S BEEN WRONG FOR EVERYBODY, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING FOR YOU AND TERRY TOWN, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. I'M NOT TRYING TO DISRUPT ANYBODY'S DAILY LIFE. ENERGY IS NOT TRYING TO DISRUPT ANYBODY'S DAILY LIFE. I HATE TO SAY WE WANT THE METER SPINNING. I MEAN, WE WANT THE METERS ON, AND I THINK THAT'S A COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS. ANYTIME THERE'S AN OUTAGE, WE'RE ALL IMPACTED BY THAT. I WOULD SAY JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT I CAN'T GIVE YOU A DEFINITIVE TIME ON WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE FULLY RELIABLE BECAUSE I CAN'T GUARANTEE POWER EVER. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT, WE ARE MAKING CONSTANT STRIDES AND IMPROVEMENTS, NOT ONLY ON THE D LINE OR DISTRIBUTION SIDE, BUT ALSO ON THE RESILIENCY SIDE AS WELL. YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF NEW POLES GO IN THE GROUND. IT'S GETTING HARDEN. I WOULD SAY THAT JUST FROM THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE NOW, YOU WILL SEE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT. YOU SHOULDN'T SEE 22 OUTAGES IN 18 MONTHS. I'M TRYING TO ELIMINATE OR LET ME PHRASE IT. ENERGY IS TRYING TO ELIMINATE THOSE BLUE SKY OUTAGES. I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY A TIMETABLE PER SAY. I CAN'T GIVE YOU A DEFINITIVE DATE. BUT I WOULD JUST SAY, NO THAT WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THIS KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. I'VE NEVER HAD MORE GRAY HAIR IN MY LIFE. JUST KEEP ME UP. >> SOMETIMES I CALL YOU AND MIKE YOU UP AT NIGHT. >> EXACTLY. BUT I JUST WANT EVERYBODY, AND THIS GOES FOR EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL HERE. I MEAN, I ACTIVELY WORK WITH EVERYBODY HERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. YOU CAN CALL ME ANY DAY AT ANY TIME, AND I WILL ANSWER, AND IF I DON'T ANSWER, I WILL CALL YOU BACK. I CARE ABOUT MY JOB, BUT I CARE ABOUT MY COMPANY, BUT ALSO CARE ABOUT THIS PARISH. I LIVE HERE. I RAISE A FAMILY HERE. I WANT THIS PARISH TO BE THE BEST PARISH IN THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY, AND YOU HAVE MY WORD AS LONG AS I AM HERE AT ENERGY, AND I DON'T PLAN ON GOING ANYWHERE UNLESS MY BOSS SAYS OTHERWISE AND CUTS ME LOOSE. YOU HAVE MY WORD, I WILL CONTINUOUSLY WORK FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO PROVIDE BETTER QUALITY. >> JIMMY LOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY LAST REQUEST WOULD JUST BE, COULD YOU PROVIDE US A QUARTERLY REPORT OF SOME OF THE PROGRESS YOU'RE MAKING. LOOK, I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOU. YOU'VE BEEN SO GOOD, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ENERGY IS EXECUTING A PLAN AND IS WORKING TOWARDS RELIABILITY FOR TERRY TOWN. LOOK NOT FULL RELIABILITY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S GAL BUT REASONABLE RELIABILITY RELIABILITY THEY PAY FOR. JUST TWO LAST QUESTIONS BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES. BUT HILLCREST, HILLCREST AND MARRERO, THAT IS AN AREA WHERE THEY ARE SEEING VERY, VERY LONG DELAYS. WE'VE DISCUSSED IT, AND WE DISCUSSED IT DIFFICULT TO TRY TO GET A RIGHT OF PASSAGE TO GET BACK THERE AND FIX THOSE LINES IN THOSE BACK YARDS ALONG THAT STRETCH. BUT THEY'RE SEEING, WHEN THEY GO OUT, PEOPLE GET BACK ON AN HOUR, TWO HOURS, THEY'RE SOMETIMES SEEING SIX HOURS. NOW, I GET IT MAY BE DIFFICULT, BUT IS THERE ANY PLAN IN PLACE, MAYBE A PERMANENT RIGHT OF ENTRY, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE IN PLACE WORKED OUT WITH THOSE NEIGHBORS, WHEN THERE'S A POWER OUTAGE, YOU CAN GET BACK THERE. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF PERMANENT PLAN BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE LAST ONES ALWAYS TO GET PUT BACK AND IT'S NOT ONE AFTER ANOTHER. USUALLY, IT'S HOURS LATER. >> I KNOW WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS BEFORE. WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH OUR RELIABILITY TEAMS, [00:45:01] OUR ENGINEERING TEAMS BACK THERE TO SEE DISTRIBUTION TEAMS TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT CAN BE DONE IN HILLCREST. I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO SAY RIGHT NOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DECIDED ON BECAUSE THOSE TALKS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS AS SOON AS I HAVE AN UPDATE, I'LL CERTAINLY RELAY THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. THEN IF I NEED TO OBVIOUSLY GO SPEAK AT A CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING FOR THEM OR SOMETHING AND JUST LET THEM KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PLAN IS AND WHERE WE'RE AT. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THIS. >> THANK YOU, JIMMY. I JUST WANT YOU PUT THIS WHILE WE'RE IN THE PUBLIC. WE DISCUSSED ABOUT THIS AS WELL, BUT I DO WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING HARDENING THE GRID? I MEAN, IT IS FALLING YOU GETTING SOME FEDERAL GRANTS, BUT IT'S FALLING TO THE PAIRS. WHEN I SEE AREAS LIKE HILLCREST THAT HAS THESE LONG OUTAGES NOT BEING PRIORITIZED, WHEN I SEE PLACES LIKE TERRY TOWN WHERE THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEY'RE NOT IN THE FIRST PHASE OF HARDENING THE GRID. YOU SEE PLACES WITH MORE LIABILITY GETTING HARDENED FIRST. EVEN THE PLACES LIKE LAFITTE BERTA AND CROWN POINT, THAT GETS THE BRUNT OF THE STORMS WHEN SIMILAR VERY SIMILAR TO GRAND ISLE. THERE'S JUST WATER IN BETWEEN US, GETTING HARDENED, AND YOU DON'T SEE THOSE LOW LINE AREAS GETTING HARDENED. I REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, WHAT'S THE FORMULA WHEN WE CHOOSE WHO TO HARDEN? BECAUSE FOR ME, THE MOST FINANCIAL SENSE AND THE MOST REASONABLE SENSE IS TO MAKE SURE THE PLACES WE ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS, WE FIX THOSE PLACES FIRST. THAT WAY, WE BECOME MORE RESILIENT IN SOME OF OUR WEAKER SPOTS THAT ARE MORE PRONE OUTAGES. I'M NOT SEEING THAT DONE, NOT IN DISTRICT 1. I DID WANT TO JUST LOOK, WE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE THAT DISCUSSION PUBLIC BECAUSE I'M JUST OVERALL, I'M HAPPY WITH JIMMY, BUT I'M NOT HAPPY WITH HOW THEY ORDERED WHO GOES FIRST IN THAT HARDEN IN PROJECT, AND WHILE SINCE IT IS FALLING TO THE RATE PAYERS, AND YOU'RE SEEING PLACES LIKE TERRY TOWN WITH THOSE OUTAGES, PLACES LIKE HILLCREST WITH THOSE EXTENDED OUTAGES AND PLACES LIKE LIFE BERT AND CROWN POINT THAT ARE BUILDING LEVEES, RAISING HOUSES, BUT WE CAN'T GET OUR GRID HARDEN, PRIORITIZE HARDENING I JUST DOESN'T SEEM THAT THE DECISIONS ARE REASONABLE. LOOK, I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON RECORD. I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S READY TO GET BACK TO ME AND JIMMY. I WILL SAY, WE WERE READY TO USE ALL OUR RESOURCES AS A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN, TO REALLY MAKE A STANCE WITH ENERGY, AND YOU'VE BEEN SO FANTASTIC. YOU ANSWER OUR CALLS, YOU ADDRESS THINGS WITH NOT A WEEK WITHIN TWO TO THREE DAYS. YOU'VE CHANGED OUT EVERY POLE. YOU'VE MADE EVERY REPAIR. YOU HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY OF ENERGY. I MEAN, THEY SHOULD BE SO LUCKY AND THANKFUL THEY HAVE YOU. IT IS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO RESOLVING THESE ISSUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMAN BANA SYM. I DON'T WANT TO SAY I WAS ABOUT TO CUT YOUR MIC, BUT I WAS ABOUT TO CUT YOUR MIC. [BACKGROUND] >> JUST YESTERDAY, WE HAD OUR VERY FIRST UTILITY SUMMIT HANS AND I PARTICIPATED IN. I GOT TO GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR THIS BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY YOUR IDEA. WHY DON'T WE ALL JUST COME TO THE TABLE, AND YOU SAID, I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S REALLY NO MEANS FOR US ALL TO DO THAT, AND SO WE CREATED ONE. WE HOSTED THAT VERY FIRST MEETING YESTERDAY. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN, AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD INVITE COUNCILMAN KERNER WITH US NEXT TIME SO YOU CAN HEAR OF THE AMAZING AMOUNTS OF WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING THAT I WAS UNAWARE. 40 POLES A WEEK, IS A BIG TASK FOR ENERGY, BUT IT TRICKLES DOWN TO ALL YOUR PARTNERS TOO. THAT DISCUSSION YESTERDAY, I THINK WILL LEAD TO EVEN MORE DISCUSSIONS. I WAS EXCITED ABOUT IT. BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND, REGARDLESS OF THE ROUTE, IT WAS VERY STRATEGICALLY MAPPED HOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO DO THIS RESILIENCY PROGRAM. IT WASN'T I DON'T THINK INTENTIONAL TO LEAVE ANY PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS OR AREAS OUT. I JUST THINK IT'S A STRATEGIC WAY THAT YOU'RE DOING IT ACROSS THE SOUTH PART OF THE STATE, NOT JEFFERSON PARISH. IT'S A BIG UNDERTAKING THAT ENTERGY IS DOING. WE ARE APPRECIATIVE. I'M GLAD TO SEE ALL THOSE DOLLARS BEING FOCUSED HERE. GOOD WORK, AND I JUST WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YESTERDAY AND PARTICIPATING. I THINK YOU GUYS BEING AT THE TABLE BROUGHT THE OTHER PARTNERS MORE WILLINGLY. I WAS HAPPY THAT YOU GUYS WERE WILLING TO SPEARHEAD THAT WITH COUNCILMAN MISBERG AND I. >> NO. THANKS FOR HAVING US, SO. LOOK, I JUST WANT TO SAY, IF YOU CAN GIVE ME I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE FORMULA OR THE STRATEGIC PLAN FROM ANY ONE OF YOU ABOUT HOW THEY REALLY GOT IN AND CHOSE PEOPLE. IT IS EXCELLENT I WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S PEOPLE THAT CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED THAT WASN'T. NO PROBLEM. >> THANK YOU, JIMMY. I GO TO A IS ALWAYS. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER OUT IF YOU DON'T. >> I'VE BEEN GETTING A FEW RANDOM CALLS FROM PEOPLE THAT GOT DONE. I SAID THAT DAMN SCOTT WALKER GOT ME. >> NOT YET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME. I APPRECIATE IT. >> NOW TO THE DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE ON. ALL PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON ANY ITEM ON [PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION(S) ON AGENDA/ADDENDUM AGENDA] THE AGENDA ORDENA AGENDA CAN DO SO NOW REQUEST TO [00:50:02] SPEAK CARDS MUST BE FILLED OUT AND HANDED TO THE CLERK UPFRONT. YOU'LL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. YOU MUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. >> MORNING, EVERYONE, ROBIN BURKETT, JEFFERSON FIREFIGHTERS, SEVEN BUNDY COURT, KEN, LOUISIANA. I'D LIKE TO RISE TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 11 ON THE ADDENDA AGENDA, DEALING WITH THE REVIEW OF THE MILLAGES OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. WHILE CERTAINLY MY CONCERN IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. LISTEN, PUBLIC SENTIMENT, AND YOU ALL MUST HEAR IT. THEY RECOGNIZED THAT OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IS A DISASTER. IT'S ALMOST EMBARRASSING WHEN I TALKED TO THE NOT FIREFIGHTERS, BUT REGULAR CITIZENS, ABOUT WHAT WE READ IN THE PAPER ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. I ROSE BEFORE THIS COUNCIL SEVERAL MEETINGS AGO AND COMPLAINED LOUDLY ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RENEWING OUR MILLAGE JUST THREE OR FOUR SHORT YEARS AGO. ONLY TO NOW TELL YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHORT, I THINK BY 2032. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? THAT'S NOT EVEN CONSIDERING THAT FIREFIGHTERS CAN'T CONTINUE TO LIVE ON THE WAGES THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE. THERE'S A 1993 STUDY, THE MMA STUDY THAT WAS CONTRACTED BY THE PARISH THAT SAID OUR 25 MILLS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY COLLECTS, HAD TO BE MANAGED CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO BE A TIGHT CHIP. SINCE THEN, WITHOUT GOING BACK TO THE VOTERS AND ASKING THEM FOR ANYTHING, WE BUILT ANOTHER FIREHOUSE AND ADDED ALMOST 75 PERSONNEL. THAT CAN'T HAPPEN. IN REAL LIFE, IF YOU'RE A FAMILY AND YOU HAVE THREE KIDS, AND YOU'RE BARELY GETTING BY, THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS HAVE THREE MORE. WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE DID. I TOTALLY SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 11. I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME WE TRY TO GET A HANDLE ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ALL OF THE PARISH FINANCES, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO START. THANK YOU. >> LOOK CURIOSITY AND THE WAY WE GO. ITEMS NUMBER EXCUSE ME. IT'S MESS. WE GOT 45 S, 701-70-6802 AND EIGHT CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURES. BY RULE. I COULD NOT MENTION ANY OF THIS AT THE END OF THE MEETING BECAUSE THE AGENDA ITEM RELATED. SO THE FACT THAT FOR YEARS, MR. AW WAS ALLOWED TO MISCONSTRUE, MISCHARACTERIZE THESE THINGS IS KIND OF AN AFFRONT TO THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN WIELDED AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR CITIZEN. ON ITEMS 405-40-6703 AND 74, I WOULD DEMAND THAT MR. KERNER RECUSE HIMSELF AS HE'S RECEIVED OVER $17,000 RELATED TO HIS CAMPAIGN. MR. WALKER RECEIVED $4,500 RELATED TO THOSE ITEMS. I DEMAND THAT HE RECUSE HIMSELF FROM VOTING ON THOSE WITH REGARDS TO ITEMS 71 AND 82. MR. KERNER, 12,000 RECEIVED, RECUSE YOURSELF. MR. WALKER RECEIVED 5,500 RECUSE YOURSELF FROM 71 82. NUMBER 72, MR. WALKER RECEIVED THE MOST $7,000. RECUSE YOURSELF. PULL THESE ITEMS AND RECUSE YOURSELF. ITEM 7270 3704 7057 6802. 03,000 WAS THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO MISS BOHANAN. RECUSE YOURSELF. ITEM 75, RITA BOHANAN AND MISS KERNER, BOTH $6,000 RECEIVED RECUSE YOURSELVES. I BELIEVE ALSO THERE'S 8,500 FROM MS-MM ENGINEERING. ALL THESE ITEMS ARE BASICALLY ENGINEERING ITEMS, AND YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT ENGINEERS. WE GOT PLENTY OF THINKERS. I'D RATHER PAY THE DOERS. RITA RECEIVED ANOTHER $8,500 RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 75. SCOTT WALKER RECEIVED THE MOST, RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 76, 04,500 ADDITIONALLY FROM ECM CONSULTANTS, RECUSE YOURSELF.ITEMS NUMBER 76 82, 04,000 TO RITA, RECUSE YOURSELF AGAIN. ITEM NUMBER 82, WITH REGARDS TO LAMBERT CONSULTANT LLC. MR. KERNER, YOU'VE RECEIVED $5,000 TO RECUSE YOURSELF. NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER RECEIVED MORE THAN $2,000. WITH REGARDS TO PRINCIPAL ENGINEERING ON ITEM NUMBER 83, MR. KERNER RECEIVED $12,000 A CAMPAIGN. YOU CAN EASILY JUST RECUSE YOURSELF. IT'LL STI PASS. EVERYTHING'S GOING TO GET APPROVED IN GLOBAL I EXPECT. [00:55:02] I DON'T EXPECT ANYBODY ACTUALLY RECUSE THEMSELVES. I DON'T EXPECT ANY OF THESE ITEMS TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.MR. WALKER ON ITEM NUMBER 83, YOU RECEIVED $4,500 GO AHEAD AND RECUSE YOURSELF REGARDS TO THAT. THAT GETS THROUGH THE QUID PRO QUO. NONE OF THIS IS CUMULATIVE. NONE OF THIS IS A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION COLLECTION. MR. WALKER, THE CHAIRMAN, YOU TRIED TO INFORM MR. AL OF THIS AT ONE POINT IN HISTORY. I REMEMBER THAT. PRIVATELY, YOU SPOKE TO ME DIRECTLY ABOUT THIS. WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS NOT A COLLECTION OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS IS ITEM RELATED DISCLOSURES THAT CAN ONLY BE SPOKEN TO DURING THIS PERIOD OF THE MEETING. THERE'S NO OTHER TIME THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT. IT WAS ALLOWED FOR YEARS. MY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST GOT ON FACEBOOK. I JUST SAW THAT MESSAGE FROM YOU, WHERE YOU WERE SUGGESTING THAT I DO THIS AT THE END OF THE MEETING. NO, IT'S INAPPROPRIATE. IT VIOLATES THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES. >> AT YOUR TIME, MR. TRIER.RULES, MADAM. I'LL JUST POINT OUT, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THOSE AREN'T SPECIFIC DONATIONS FOR THOSE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THOSE ARE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS BY A FIRM THAT IS UP FOR AN AGENDA ITEM. THAT DISCLOSURE IS THERE THAT THEY HAVE DONATED TO US OVER HERE, AND THEIR ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA, AS WELL, BUT IT'S NOT FOR THAT SPECIFIC, YOU CAN WALK AWAY. I'M JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT. IT'S NOT FOR THAT SPECIFIC ITEM ON THE AGENDA. IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA. SOMEBODY GIVES $2,000 TO A CAMPAIGN TO GET A FAVORABLE VOTE ON THAT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. >> CHAIRMAN, IF I CAN. MINE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DECEPTIVE THAN WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS, BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY IS ACCUMULATING WHEN I WAS MAYOR, MY PREVIOUS RACES, AND MY LAST RACE. WHEN IT WAS FILED, I GUESS IT WAS FILED AS WE'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY CORRECT ACCOUNTING, BUT THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY MY NUMBERS AS COUNCILMAN. THIS IS MY NUMBERS OVER THE YEARS, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS NOW AND MAKE SURE IT REFLECTS TO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE'S TIMELINE IS. >> WELL, HE WALKED OUT LIKE HE USUALLY DOES. GO AHEAD. I AM KENNETH MARTIN. I'M A RESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARIS WITH TWO SONS. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE JEFFERSON PARIS COUNCIL REVERSE AN UNLAWFUL BAN AGAINST ME THAT WAS IMPOSED BY MR. HARROW BULLER. >> IS THIS ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, SIR? IT IS NOT, SIR. YOU CAN DO THIS AT THE END OF THE MEETING. THIS IS FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR THE ADDENDUM AGENDA. ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR ADDENDUM AGENDA? >> IN 9K AVENUE, HAHN, LOUISIANA. ITEM NUMBER 94, THE HIRING OF MELTWATER TO MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA AS RELATED TO JEFFERSON PARISH IN REAL TIM, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA POST ONLINE ARTICLES AND BROADCAST CLIPS FOR $6,500. WHAT IS THAT EXACTLY? IF I CAN GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT, PLEASE. >> THIS PLATFORM JUST HELPS THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE MONITOR ALL MEDIA CLIPS, ALL SOCIAL MEDIA. IT HELPS US WITH REAL TIME INFORMATION THAT'S GETTING OUT THERE. IT HELPS US MANAGE MISINFORMATION, ESPECIALLY DURING CRISES LIKE HURRICANES. WE'RE CONSTANTLY, WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT SOCIAL MEDIA AND MEDIA. THIS PLATFORM PUTS EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE. HOPEFULLY THAT HELPS. >> MOST BIG ORGANIZATIONS USE PLATFORMS LIKE THAT TO MONITOR EVERYTHING. >> NO PROBLEM. I WAS JUST WANT TO KNOW CLARITY. AND ALSO, WHERE IS THAT $6,500 COMING FROM? IS THAT GENERAL FUND? IS THAT BEING CONTRIBUTED BY MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS? SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE ASKED EARLIER. >> IT'S THROUGH OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION PACK ACCOUNT. >> PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE PA FORM. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR ADENUM AGENDA? I'M JUST WATCHING ALL THE MOVEMENT, SEEING IF ANYBODY'S COMING THIS WAY. ANYBODY COMING THIS WAY. THAT'LL WRAP UP THAT SECTION BEFORE WE MOVE ON THOUGH, COUNCILMAN LEE, YIELD THE FLOOR TO HIM FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> THIS IS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, LET ME SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE NEW BUSINESSES COME TO JEFFERSON PARISH, PARTICULARLY ON THE WEST BANK. BUT I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH STEVE HOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHEREAS I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WOULD RESOLVE ITSELF. THAT IS THAT THERE WAS A NEW RESTAURANT THAT OPENED ON MANHATTAN BOULEVARD. I THINK IT'S CALLED CHINESE KITCHEN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT THE TRAFFIC DURING CONSTRUCTION, AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS BACKING UP ALL THE WAY TO LA PALKO BOULEVARD, AND CAUSING A MAJOR SNARL FOR TRAVELERS [01:00:07] FROM BOTH WEST AND EAST ENTERING ONTO MANHATTAN BOULEVARD. THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION, AS I SAID, THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, AND I THINK THEY THEY HAVE COMPLETED THAT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR PARKING, BUT RIGHT NOW THIS RESTAURANT IS OPERATING ONLY THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH. YOU CAN ONLY PURCHASE THEIR FOOD DRIVE THROUGH, AND IT'S CAUSING TRAFFIC TO STILL BE BACKED UP, AS FAR AS LI PACO BOULEVARD. IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE IT NOW LESSENS WHAT IS A TWO LANE TWO LANE AREA ON MANHATTAN BOULEVARD TO ONE LANE. IT'S CAUSING A PROBLEM, AND I NEED TO UNDERSTAND. I NEED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT ALSO WE NEED TO HAVE A REMEDY BECAUSE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, NOT UNTIL YOU GET TO UNTIL YOU GET NEAR THE RED LIGHT AT GRETNA BOULEVARD, WILL WE HAVE THREE LANES. THERE'S THIS CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT, BECAUSE IT IS CAUSING REAL PROBLEMS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO RELY UPON DRIVING DOWN HEADING TOWARD THE EXPRESSWAY ON MANHATTAN BOULEVARD. I NEED SOMEONE TO MEET WITH US TO DISCUSS THIS TO FIND A REMEDY FOR THIS, BECAUSE IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM. >> COUNSEL, WE COULD CERTAINLY HAVE TRAFFIC ENGINEER TO MEET WITH YOUR OFFICE. THE CONSTRUCTION THAT ATMOS WAS DOING, THAT WAS AN EMERGENCY CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS DONE PRELIMINARY. THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED, BUT I AM AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON MANHATTAN MOUARD. >> COUNSEL, WE'LL HAVE SWAY DOING AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S OUT THERE. WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO EVEN IF WE HAVE TO BUILD AN EXTRA DRIVEWAY ACCESS OR SOMETHING. BUT WE'LL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH ALL WHENEVER YOU WANT BUT WE'LL GET WORKING ON THAT RIGHT. >> BECAUSE THE ISSUE, AS IT SEEMS TO ME, SINCE IT IS ONLY A DRIVE THROUGH BUSINESS RIGHT NOW. NO ONE IS PARKING ON THE PROPERTY. I THINK IT BECOMES EVEN WORSE ONCE ANYONE PARKS ON THE PROPERTY AND NOT BE ABLE TO BACK OUT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT CARS CONSTANTLY GOING IN. WE HAVE TO HAVE A REMEDY, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU ALL TO GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED BECAUSE IT'S VERY BAD. >> NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU, COUNSELMAN LEE. >> LET'S MOVE TO NOW ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED. [ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED ] I HAVE A NOTE THAT 13, FOUR AND FIVE WILL BE DEFERRED TO NOVEMBER 5, 2025. NUMBER TWO WILL BE DEFERRED TO DECEMBER 10. COUNCILWOMAN AN RANKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF ONE AND TWO? >> MOVE TO DEFER. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF 134 AND FIVE TO NOVEMBER 5, AND NUMBER TWO TO DECEMBER 10, ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, PLEASE. >> A RESOLUTION SELECTING FIRMS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL, MISCELLANEOUS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ON AN A NEEDED BASIS IN RELATION TO TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION PROJECTS LOCATED THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH. >> COUNSELMAN VAN RANKIN? >> MOVE ON ALL QUALIFIED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF ALL QUALIFIED, MOTION OF COUNSELMAN VAN RANKEN, SECONDED BY COUNSELMAN WALKER. HEARING ONE SO ORDER. NUMBER 7, PLEASE. [PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ] A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS OR FIRMS TO PROVIDE AN ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT, A SOLUTION FROM MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS, AND ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SYSTEM UNDER RFP NUMBER 0501. >> COUNCILMAN VAN BRAKEN? >> I'M GOING TO MOVE ON NEXT GEN, WHICH IS THE TOP SCORE, AND REALLY KUDOS TO JEB TATE AND OUR IT DEPARTMENT FOR MAKING THIS ADVANCEMENT. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF NEXT GEN ASSET MANAGEMENT ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN BRANKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDER. NUMBER 8, IS EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT AROUND 12 NUMBER NINE, PLEASE, MADAM CL. [SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES ] >> NUMBER 26592, RESUB OF LOTS 1920 AND 21, BLOCK A HOP AVEN SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS ONE THROUGH 12 SQUARE A, AND LOTS 13 THROUGH 29 SQUARE B, AUGUST ISLE SUBDIVISION WITH A WAIVER TO THE GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 33-2 0.35 SUBDIVISION WAIVERS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, WS 325 COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. [01:05:04] >> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM AND NOW WE EN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26592. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> JAY DUFREN REPRESENTING THE OWNER AND THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROPERTY. SINCE THE LAST MEETING, WE DID HAVE A MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I BELIEVE THAT WE ADDRESSED THEIR CONCERNS. I'M HERE IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR, COUNCILMAN BANANO. >> AS MR. DUFREN STATED, WE MET WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND THE DEVELOPERS, AND EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE NOW, SO I WILL MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26592, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BANANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. YOU HEARING NONE IN ORDER NUMBER 10, PLEASE. >> SUMMARY NUMBER 26625, RESUB OF LOT 7-A-3 AND 7-A-4, SECTION D ARMWOOD SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 7-A-5 SECTION D, AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SET SUBDIVISION, WS-10-25 COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. >> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26625. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD? >> JAY DUFREN, REPRESENTING THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, ASKED ME TO COME SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. THIS IS THE STORAGE UNIT WHICH USED TO BE A K MART. THEY'RE CHANGING THEIR PLANS AND NOW RUN EVERYTHING INTO ONE LOT, SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL. >> THANK YOU. MR. DUFREN, WOULD YOU MIND SLIDING THAT OTHER MICROPHONE THAT'S AWAY TOWARDS THE MIDDLE SO THEY MEET IN THE MIDDLE LIKE THAT? YES. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMAN KERNER? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> ANY OBJECTION APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26625. A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NUMBER 11, PLEASE. >> SUMMARY NUMBER 26626, APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT OF SUBDIVISION WITH REVISIONS TO FINAL PLAT FOR PHASE 1B, APPROVED VIA RESOLUTION NUMBER 145983 ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025, TO REMOVE BUILDING LINES FROM LOTS 99-153, AND THE RENUNCIATION OF THE 20 FOOT PUBLIC DRAINAGE SERVITUDE ALONG THE REAR LOTS OF 119-153 IN THE 20-FOOT PRIVATE DRAINAGE SERVITUDE ALONG THE REAR OF LOTS 99-118, AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT UPSET SUBDIVISION, WS-75-25 COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. >> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING HERE AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26626. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN KERNER? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26626. A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. NUMBER 12, PLEASE. >> SUMMARY NUMBER 26627, RESUB OF LOT A1 AND LOT 24, SQUARE 13, PELICAN BAY SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS A1A AND 24A SQUARE 13, AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION IN THE DEDICATION OF A 10-FOOT SIDEWALK AND UTILITY SERVITUDE, WS-77-25 COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. >> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING, AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26627. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN KERNER. >> THIS IS FOR NUMBER, SORRY. >> NUMBER 12. >> I'M GOING TO MOVE TO DEFER THIS ONE TO THE NEXT MEETING. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO DEFER, SUMMARY NUMBER 26627 TO OUR NEXT MEETING ON. >> NOVEMBER 5TH. >> NOVEMBER 5TH. A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NUMBER 13, PLEASE. >> SUMMARY NUMBER 26628, RESERVE OF PARCEL EA, ORLEANS VILLAGE CORP, SUBDIVISION AND A PORTION OF WESTWOOD DRIVE INTO LOTS 1-17 SQUARE A, LOTS 1-9 SQUARE B, LOTS 1-18 SQUARE C. KING SUBDIVISION, AND THE DEDICATION OF MOORHOUSE STREET, JASMIN STREET, AND A FIVE FOOT UTILITY SERVITUDE, WS-64-25 COUNCIL DISTRICT 3. >> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM. NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26628. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> JAY DUFREN, REPRESENTING THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, TRYING TO DEVELOP CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT IN OFF OF WESTWOOD DRIVE IN WESTMINSTER AREA. THIS IS FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS, REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL. >> ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR? ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR OF COUNCILMAN LEE. >> MOVE TO APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26628? A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NUMBER 14. [RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ] [01:10:01] >> SUMMARY NUMBER 26629, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF JEFFERSON PARISH, PARCEL EA ORLEANS VILLAGE COURT, TRACK SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT THE 7,000 BLOCK OF WESTWOOD DRIVE, MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM C2 TO 2R1A, WZ-12-25 COUNCIL DISTRICT 3. >> WE CAN WAIVE THE READING, AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26629. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED, COUNCILMAN LEE? >> I MOVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26629? A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. I HAVE A NOTE THAT [OTHER PROPERTY MATTERS ORDINANCES ] NUMBER 15 WILL BE DEFERRED TO OUR NOVEMBER 5TH MEETING. COUNCILMAN BANANO, YOUR MOTION ON THE DEFERRAL OF 15? >> MOVE TO DEFER. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE DEFERRAL OF ITEM 15 TO NOVEMBER 5TH ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BANANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NUMBER 16. [OTHER ORDINANCES ] >> SUMMARY NUMBER 26608, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO CREATE A NEW PAY GRADE. >> WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26608. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN? >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26608, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NUMBER 17 WITH AMENDMENTS, THE OPERATING BUDGET. >> SUMMARY NUMBER 26633, AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET IN THE AMENDMENTS HR. TO ALLOCATE $15,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S VIDEO POKER FUND FOR A CEA WITH LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH OF AVONDALE INCORPORATED, TO PROVIDE TUTORING AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUTH OF JEFFERSON PARISH AND A FOOD PROGRAM TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND DISABLED POPULATION THAT ARE IN NEED IN JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. ALLOCATE $1,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE'S EAST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR A CEA WITH JEFFERSON COMMUNITY BAN INCORPORATED FOR WEEKLY BAN REHEARSALS AND SEASONAL PERFORMANCES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. TRANSFER $3,079 FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ACCOUNT NUMBER 222-000-3005-7742 BACK TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S WEST BANK RIVER BOAT GAMING FUND, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3. ALLOCATE $250,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 1 FUND FOR A CEA WITH STONEBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION DISTRICT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARK IMPROVEMENTS TO INCLUDE CONVERSION OF ONE TENNIS COURT INTO TWO PICKLE BALL COURTS, A PAVILION, A WALKING TRAIL, AND A SMALL PLAYGROUND, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS? >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS, THE MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26633. ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN? >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL AS AMENDED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26633 AS AMENDED. A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NUMBER 18, MADAM CLERK. >> SUMMARY NUMBER 26634, AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET. >> WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26634. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THOSE OPPOSED. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN? >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26634, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NUMBER 19, PLEASE. [RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR ] RESOLUTION AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR? >> COUNCILMAN BANANO. >>I HAVE TWO. WOULD YOU PLEASE READ IT FOR ME? >> SIR. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO EXTEND THE TEMPORARY USE OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE AT 141 CAM BAY DRIVE IN AVONDALE, WHICH WAS APPROVED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 146355. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION. ANYONE IN FAVOR, OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BANANO? >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION? A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BANANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH OF AVONDALE INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE TUTORING AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUTH OF JEFFERSON PARISH, AND A FOOD PROGRAM TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND DISABLED POPULATION THAT ARE IN NEED IN JEFFERSON PARISH AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $35,000 TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 FOR A NEW CONTRACT CAP OF $50,000. [01:15:04] >> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR. HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION. THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BANANO. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION? BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILMAN BANANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. >> COUNCILMAN LEE? [BACKGROUND] YES, SIR. A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY 20605 RIVER ROAD TO CONDUCT ITS NEW ORLEANS GOLF CLASSIC AT 11001 LA PACO BOULEVARD IN AVONDALE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 2025, FROM 7:00 AM TO 3:00 PM. IN CONNECTION THEREWITH TO SERVE BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR TO HAVE OUTDOOR COOKING, AND TO ERECT 18 CANOPIES, PROVIDED THAT ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION. THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FOR. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE. >> APPROVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION. BROUGHT FORWARD TO MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. >> A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO SISTERS OUTREACH FOUNDATION TO ERECT TEMPORARY SIGNS ADVERTISING THEIR CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS EVENT TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2025 AT THE COVID MEMORIAL PARK AND WALKING TRAIL, 5858 WEST BANK EXPRESSWAY, MORARO. >> ANY OBJECTION THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. WE NOW OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION. THOSE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK NOTE THAT NO APPEARED. COUNCILMAN LEE. >> I MOVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION. MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. >> COUNCILMAN WALKER. >> I HAVE ONE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT, BUT I DO NEED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS WAS JUST UNDER THE GUN. WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER ISSUE ACROSS THE PARISH WITH TRAINS, UNION PACIFIC AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN, SPECIFICALLY BLOCKING CROSSINGS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. SPECIFICALLY LA BAR ROAD NEAR CAUSEWAY AND AIRLINE IN OLD METAIRIE NEAR WHERE THAT ROUSS IS, THAT CORNER BY PLANET FITNESS. WHERE WE'RE SEEING BLOCKAGES IN THE MORNING FROM 5:00 AM TILL 8:00 AM ON A REGULAR BASIS, A FEW TIMES A WEEK. THERE'S CONSTRUCTION GOING ON WHILE THE MAIN THOROUGHFARES RIDGE ROAD DRIVE IS CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. SO EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO USE THAT SPOT, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN A TRAIN BLOCKS THE CROSSING THAT IT'S EXTRA COMPLICATED. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG AND I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS. THE RAILROADS, WE'VE HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH, AND I SAID ON MONDAY, IF THERE'S NOT A RESOLUTION BY WEDNESDAY AT OUR COUNCIL MEETING THAT SOMEBODY CAN AGREE TO BETWEEN UNION PACIFIC AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN, THEN I'M GOING TO DO THIS, AND I'M GOING TO GET ON TV AND YELL ABOUT IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO BRING A SPOTLIGHT TO THE SEVERITY OF THIS. WELL, MOMENTS AGO, IT'S LIKE THEY'RE WATCHING OUR MEETING ONLINE. I GOT AN UPDATE FROM THE RAILROADS THAT SAID, I JUST NEED TO FIND THE BASICALLY, THEY'VE REACHED AN AGREEMENT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO RELEASE THE DETAILS OF THAT AGREEMENT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. IF IT'S NOT IN PLACE AND FUNCTIONAL AND NOT BEING A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE FOR PEOPLE, AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN THAT AREA BY OUR NEXT MEETING, THIS FLOOR RESOLUTION WILL BE BACK. BUT UNTIL THEN IT IS NOT. GIVE ME ONE SECOND, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID. IT WAS CANADIAN PACIFIC AND CANADIAN NATIONAL HAVE AGREED TO MY PROPOSED NIGHTTIME WINDOW, SO THEY'LL DO THESE THINGS OVERNIGHT. WORKING ON SUBMISSIONS FOR THE CHANGES. I'LL LET YOU KNOW THE PROJECTED DATE OF THE CHANGE AS I GET MORE INFO. WE JUST GOT THAT A FEW MINUTES AGO. LONG STORY SHORT, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT FLOOR RESOLUTION, BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT THEY CAME TO THIS RESOLUTION AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. >> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. >> I HAVE NONE. >> COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN? >> I HAVE ONE, MADAM CLERK IF YOU CAN READ IT? >> YES, MA'AM. A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO BREAK THROUGH T1D, TO ALLOW DJ AMPLIFIED LIVE MUSIC UNTIL 1:00 PM, PROVIDED THAT THE PARISH NOISE ORDINANCE IS OBSERVED IN ALL CASES AT THEIR UPCOMING BREAK THROUGH T1D WALK LOUISIANA AT LAFRENIERE PARK ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2025, FROM 10:00 AM UNTIL 1:00 PM. TO ALLOW FOOD TRUCKS PROVIDED THAT ALL NECESSARY PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT RESOLUTION BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT RESOLUTION. THOSE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION THAT RESOLUTION, BROUGHT FORWARD A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. >> COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG. >> I HAVE NONE. >> COUNCILMAN KERNER. >> I HAVE NONE. >> I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. CONSENT AGENDA 1 NOW. [CONSENT AGENDA ONE ] [01:20:01] COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF ITEMS 20-69 MINUS 25 AND 53, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED? >> MOVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 20-69, MINUS 25 AND 53, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER 70 AND CONSENT AGENDA 2, PLEASE. [CONSENT AGENDA TWO ] HANG ON. THOSE ARE ITEM 70-122. YOUR MOTION ON THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF THOSE, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN? >> MOVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF ITEM 70-122, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. LET'S GO TO 123 NOW. I'M GETTING THERE. >> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND LOUISIANA CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A SPRINT RAPID RESPONSE EMERGENCY VEHICLE FOR WEST JEFFERSON MEDICAL CENTER, TO ENHANCE EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH, MORE PARTICULARLY TO BARATARIA, CROWN POINT, UNINCORPORATED LAFITTE, IN THE TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $60,000, AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN THE PREAMBLE FOURTH WHEREAS IN SECTION ONE TO CHANGE LOUISIANA CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER TO WEST JEFFERSON HOLDINGS, LLC, AND IN SECTION 2 TO CHANGE THE ACCOUNT NUMBER TO READ IN 960109621768041160101000. THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE. >> ANY OBJECTION AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE. COUNCIL M KERNER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS? >> A MOVE TO APPROVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE AMENDMENTS OR A MOTION OF COUNCIL M KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NOW, YOUR MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED, A MOTION OF COUNCIL M KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED ADENDUM AGENDA ITEM 1, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK. [ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS ] >> A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING SURVEYING SERVICES ON AN ANATED BASIS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR PROJECTS IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS WITH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE FEES OF $500,000 PER YEAR. >> COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR SELECTION. >> MOVE ON. ALL QUALIFIED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE SELECTION OF ALL QUALIFIED ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NEXT RESOLUTIONS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS. COUNCILMAN AN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE GLOBAL ADOPTION OF ITEMS TWO THROUGH 24 MINUS 10, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED AND 111-215-1921, WHICH WILL BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION. >> MOVE. >> CHAIRMAN. YOU GOT AN AMENDMENT TO NUMBER 15 NOW. >> YES, WE DO. I FORGOT ABOUT THAT. I'M SORRY. I'LL READ IT AGAIN. YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE GLOBE ADOPTION, COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN, OF ITEMS TWO THROUGH 24-10, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED. ITEMS 11, 12, 15, 19 AND 21, WHICH WILL BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION WITH AN AMENDMENT ON NUMBER 15. >> GOOD. MOVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ADENDUM AGENDA ITEMS TWO THROUGH 24, MINUS 10, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED. ITEMS 11, 12, 15, 19 AND 21, WHICH WILL BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, AND 15, WHICH WILL BE AMENDED DURING THAT DISCUSSION. ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. LET'S GO TO NUMBER 11. >> A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO PREPARE A MILLAGE PROJECTION DOCUMENT FOR EACH MILLAGE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THOSE DEPARTMENTS ANTICIPATED TO EXPERIENCE A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE PRIOR TO THE ENDS OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE MILLAGE AS THIS INFORMATION IS CRITICAL FOR CONSIDERATION PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS? >> COUNCILMAN VAN VRANCKEN. >> THE THOUGHT BEHIND THIS IS WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET SEASON. WE JUST GOT OUR 2026 BUDGET DELIVERED TO US YESTERDAY. IN ANOTHER ANALYSIS, WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT SEVERAL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE PROJECTED TO RUN IN THE RED. WHAT I'M ASKING IS THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT TO PRODUCE THAT ANALYSIS. IT'S ONE SHEET. IT'S A FORMULA THAT WE HAVE INTERNALLY THAT CAN BE PRODUCED TO SHOW OUR MILLAGE DEPARTMENTS, AND IF WE ARE HEADED INTO THE RED ON SOME OF THOSE OVER THE LIFE OF THOSE 10 YEARS, THEN WHAT THIS WOULD ALLOW IS FOR US ALL TO KNOW THAT AND BE AWARE, AND START ADDRESSING THAT, START PULLING BACK SOME OF OUR SPENDING BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY CAN'T EXHAUST OUR MILLAGE FUNDS BEFORE WE GET TO THE END OF THE LIFE CYCLE. IT'S ASKING FOR THOSE REPORTS TO BE PRODUCED BY BUDGET. [01:25:01] >> COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN? >> I HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH. I KNOW RIGHT NOW WE'RE UNDER SOME PRESSURE TO COMPLETE OUR AUDIT, AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT'S DONE BY MARCH OF NEXT YEAR. I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALSO TRANSFERRING FROM AN OLD SOFTWARE, AN OLD ARCHAIC SOFTWARE, IT SOUNDS LIKE TO A NEW ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE. INPUTTING THE HISTORICAL DATA, TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH OUR REGULAR MONTH TO MONTH STUFF HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE. MY QUESTION IS, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO THIS. ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WORRY THAT WE'RE DOING IT BEFORE THE AUDIT MIGHT CAUSE SOME DELAY IN YOUR OFFICES. THAT'S MY QUESTION. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN JUST INPUT AND PRINT OUT FOR US, OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE RESEARCH? RIGHT NOW MY DISTRICT HAS SOME MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. OUR BOND RATING AND ALL THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME RIGHT NOW. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE VOTED TO APPROVE THIS NOW, RATHER THAN DELAYING IT OR SAYING MAYBE OVER THE COURSE OF IN THE SUMMER OR SOMETHING, AFTER THE AUDIT IS COMPLETE, WILL THIS CAUSE ANY DELAYS IN YOUR OFFICE OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN EASILY JUST PRINT OUT FOR? >> LET ME START FIRST, AND THEN I'LL HAVE VICTOR FILL IN. CERTAINLY, OUR 2023 AUDIT WAS FILED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO SEPTEMBER 30TH. OUR FOCUS NOW AND WE JUST PLAN TO USE THE SAME TEAM AND ROLL IN. THEY'RE REALLY ON A GOOD PACE. OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON THE 2024 FILING OF THE AUDIT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF NEWS ARTICLES, AND THERE'S A LOT OF BIG WORDS THROWN AROUND, I THINK, TO CAUSE FEAR AND TO CAUSE ALARM. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE HOW WE GOT IN THIS SITUATION. THIS YEAR, WE DON'T HAVE A LACK OF MONEY, AND BY LAW, WE'RE REQUIRED TO GIVE YOU A BALANCED BUDGET. THAT'S OUR LAW, AND WE ABIDE BY THAT LAW. YOU AMEND THE BUDGET, EVERY COUNCIL MEETING WE'RE HERE WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET. I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE. PRIOR TO MY COMING INTO OFFICE, WE WOULD HANDLE ABOUT $33 MILLION A YEAR, IN GRANT MONEY IN TERMS OF GETTING THE GRANTS, ALL GRANTS, AND HANDLING ALL THE NECESSARY TRAILING WORK FOR HANDLING THOSE GRANTS. YOU HAVE TO RESPOND TO THOSE FEDERAL AGENCIES A LOT, STATE AGENCIES A LOT. IT'S JUST A LOT MORE MANPOWER. WITH SO MANY EMERGENCIES THAT WE HAD DURING OUR TERM OF OFFICE, SINCE 2020, WE HAVE TAKEN IN A LOT MORE GRANT MONEY, A LOT, TO THE TUNE OF 586 MILLION OVER SINCE 2020, AND WE JUST SIMPLY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THAT WORK AT THE SAME TIME WHERE WE HAD LOWER STAFF IN THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION, WHICH IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM. THERE WERE ARTICLES IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYING THE LACK OF FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS IS GOING TO CAUSE MUNICIPALITIES TO, NOT GET THEIR FINANCIAL AUDITS ON TIME, ALSO CAUSING A WITHDRAWAL OF A BOND RATING. IT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE FINANCIAL WORLD. WE CERTAINLY GOT CAUGHT IN THAT, BUT EVEN WORSE BECAUSE WE HAD TAKEN IN SO MUCH GRANT MONEY, 586 MILLION. THAT'S HOW WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS SITUATION. IT IS NOT THE SAME SITUATION AS OVERSPENDING OR SPENDING MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE. IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SITUATION. WE HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY. WE JUST CAN'T PROCESS IT. A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE MONEY, ALL OF OUR MONEY IS DEDICATED. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE BUDGET, OUR MONEY IS VERY DEDICATED. UNLIKE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, UNLIKE OTHER GOVERNMENTS, HOW MUCH OF OUR MONEY IS DEDICATED, 80 TO 90%? 80 VAST MAJORITY. WHERE IF YOU TAKE SEWAGE MONEY AND YOU TAKE MONEY FROM PROPERTY TAXES ON SEWAGE, IT MUST BE SPENT ON SEWAGE. WE CAN'T MOVE IT TO SOMETHING ELSE. IT ALLOWS FOR VERY TRANSPARENT WAY OF FISCAL GOVERNMENT, OF OPERATING GOVERNMENT. BUT ALSO, AND YOU ALL STRUGGLE WITH IT, AS WE ALL DO, IF WE HAVE A BIG PROJECT, WE HAVE TO TRY TO COBBLE TOGETHER MONEY IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL STRUGGLE WITH, BECAUSE, AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE BIG DEBATES EVERY YEAR ON WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF MONEY IS ALREADY DEDICATED TO THE PURPOSE. OUR FOCUS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE ON COMPLETING OUR 2024 AUDIT TO GET US ON TRACK. WE ARE HAPPY TO GET YOU THE INFORMATION. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN GET IT. I WOULD HATE TO SEE HAVE YOU ALL HAVE TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET BEFORE YEAR END, AND I KNOW WE JUST GAVE IT TO YOU. THERE IS A TIME CONSTRAINT THERE. THIS WOULD BE A MUCH ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD IN THAT TIME CONSTRAINT. THAT'S ALL I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE STILL ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE 2024 AUDIT, BUT ALSO STILL GET YOU ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED, AND I'LL LET VICTOR ADD ON TO THAT. >> YOU'RE ON VICTOR. YOU JUST MUTED IT. [01:30:03] >> WHAT'S THAT? >> THANK YOU. YES. CERTAINLY TAKES A GOOD BIT OF TIME TO PREPARE THAT INFORMATION. WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION INTO COUNCIL THAT THEY NEED TO TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS IN THE DISCUSSION AT THE BUDGET. >> CAN I CLARIFY. I APPRECIATE WHEN I WAS ON THE ADMINISTRATION SIDE OF THINGS, WE HAVE A FORMULA, AND YOU TYPED SOME NUMBERS INTO THAT FORMULA, AND THEN IT PRINTS OUT THIS ONE PAGE REPORT. MY APPRECIATION IS THAT IS DONE EXCLUSIVELY BY BUDGET. OUR BUDGET DEPARTMENT CAN PRODUCE THAT ON A PARALLEL TRACK. DELOIT IS HANDLING THE AUDIT AND MAKING SURE THE PAST DUE AUDITS ARE BEING FINALIZED, BECAUSE MY CONCERN LIKE COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN, IS FIRST OF ALL TO GET OUR BOND RATING BACK AND GET OUR AUDITS FILED. THAT'S WHY I CONFIRMED YESTERDAY AND PLEASE CONFIRM AGAIN THAT DELOIT, IS WORKING ON THE AUDIT BACKLOG AND FILING BY MARCH OF NEXT YEAR BUDGET HAS A FORMULA AND CAN PRODUCE THOSE DOCUMENTS BECAUSE OUR BUDGET PERSONNEL ARE ACTUALLY NOT WORKING ON THE AUDIT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE PAYING DELOIT TO WORK ON THE AUDIT. >> DELOIT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO US. WE CERTAINLY NEED THEIR ASSISTANCE AND HELP WITH PRODUCING THE AUDIT WORK. BUT OUR STAFF IS WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH DELOIT. WE ARE UTILIZING THEIR SERVICES, BUT WE CERTAINLY DO WORK WITH THEM. IT DOESN'T ALLEVIATE US FROM THAT OBLIGATION. >> DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE ON HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO PLUG THESE NUMBERS IN? >> WE HAVE DONE A FEW OF THEM FOR EMPEROR EISNER, WHO WAS TASKED WITH. THOSE CAN BE UPDATED TO REFLECT THE CURRENT INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO WHAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE 2026 BUDGET. THERE ARE ABOUT 28 MILLAGES. SOME OF THEM, MAYBE WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO DO BECAUSE THE NATURE OF THEIR EXPENDITURES. BUT, MAYBE WE CAN FOCUS ON SPECIFIC ONES THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE UP FRONT. >> LET ME ASK THIS. YOU JUST PRODUCED A BUDGET FOR US, A 2026 BUDGET FOR US THAT WILL CAPTURE ALL SPENDING FOR 2026 THAT IS PROPOSED. DID THE ADMINISTRATION NOT RUN AN ANALYSIS ON THE FRONT END OF PROPOSING THE BUDGET ABOUT WHICH DEPARTMENTS WOULD GO IN THE RED? >> WE PROVIDE DEPARTMENTS THEIR BUDGET PACKETS, AND THEY MAKE A PROPOSAL. BASED ON THEIR PROPOSAL, WE ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THAT PROJECT FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. WE CANNOT PROPOSE A DEFICIT SPEND. >> YOU DIDN'T RUN REPORTS FOR WHERE WE'RE HEADED IN THE RED TO CALCULATE THAT INTO OUR 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET? >> CERTAINLY, WE CONSIDER, THE OUTLOOK GOING FORWARD. DO WE RUN A FULL ANALYSIS ON EVERY FUND? NO, WE DON'T DO THAT. WHEN DEPARTMENTS PROPOSE, AS LONG AS IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE AVAILABLE FUNDS WE HAVE AND DOESN'T PROJECT AT THE OPPOSITE. SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS, AND WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND BLOCK THOSE REQUESTS BACK. >> IF I COULD FOLLOW UP. THAT'S COMMON. BECAUSE OUR BUDGET IS BASED ON PROJECTIONS AND HISTORICAL DATA THAT WE HAVE. THE BUDGET THAT YOU GUYS PROPOSED IS BALANCED. THERE'S NOT ANY DEFICITS THAT I SAW IN THERE. BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION IS REALLY MORE IF YOU COULD SIMPLIFY IT FOR US, IS DOING THIS REPORT RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THAT WE JUST PAID SOMEONE ELSE TO DO SO WE HAVE THE FOUR MAJOR ONES THAT I THINK COUNCILMAN BONANO HAD REQUESTED AND COUNCILMAN WALKER. THE FOUR MAJOR DEPARTMENTS WE'VE ALREADY DONE. WE HAVE BRAND NEW PROJECTIONS GOING INTO 2029, I THINK THEY WERE, OR THE LIFE OF THE MILLAGE, I GUESS THEY WERE. WE'RE DOING THIS FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT DELAY. I KNOW WE HAVE THE AUDIT COMING UP. THAT'S ONE PART OF THE EQUATION. I KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR STAFF IS HELPING THEM IN PREPARING THAT AUDIT BECAUSE, YOU HAVE TO ASSIST DELOIT IN DOING IT. THEY CAN'T JUST DO IT ON THEIR OWN. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THE GOAL FROM OUR MEETINGS IS TO KEEP UP WITH OUR REGULAR MONTHLY ANNUAL OBLIGATIONS SO THAT GOING INTO 2027, WE'RE NOT IN THE SAME SITUATION THAT WE'RE DRIVING OUR OWN TRAIN AT THAT POINT WITHOUT DELOIT. MY QUESTION IS, ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH OUR REGULAR MONTHLY STUFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING THIS AUDIT, [01:35:01] WILL DOING THIS DELAY YOU AT ALL? IT'S YES, OR, IT WON'T. BECAUSE IF IT WON'T, THEN IT'S NO BIG DEAL. >>> IT CERTAINLY ADDS TO THE WORKLOAD. YES. BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE THE COUNCIL FOR WHATEVER REQUESTS OF INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED AND WE'LL TAKE THE NECESSARY TIME TO PREPARE THE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE IT AS SOON AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. >> VICTOR LET ME ADD THIS TOO. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL WANTS TO BE PART OF A DELAY OR CAUSE A DELAY MOVING TOWARDS COMPLETING THIS AUDIT ON TIME, AND THEN THE 2025 AUDIT AS WELL. MY QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION WOULD BE, AND MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE. COUNCILMAN BOHANNAN JUST MENTIONED IT THAT COUNCILMAN BONANO AND I INTRODUCED THAT MEASURE LAST YEAR TO HAVE EISNER AMPER LOOK AT SPECIFIC MILLAGES THAT WE PICKED THAT WE THOUGHT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE LOOKED AT FOR MILLAGE REDEDICATION MAYBE LOOK AT THE MONEY WE HAVE AND SPEND IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS. TURNS OUT, WE FOUND OUT THAT THOSE MILLAGES ARE NOT VERY PLENTIFUL, MONEY WISE, AND AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF LOOKING AT THAT WAS FINDING THOSE DEPARTMENTS IN THE RED IN THE COMING YEARS. BUT AS YOU'VE SAID, IT'S BALANCED FOR 2026. IT'LL BE BALANCED BEYOND THAT. AT SOME POINT, WE MAY HAVE AN ISSUE, BUT WE'RE BALANCING IT FOR 2026 AND LOOKING AHEAD. DOES DOING ANYTHING THAT NUMBER 11 SUGGESTS I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, DOES EISNER AMPER AND THE FOOTHOLD THEY HAVE IN THIS? CAN THEY DO THIS ANY FASTER WITHOUT INCONVENIENCING OR SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS, OR IS IT BASICALLY GOING TO THE SAME PLACE AND COMING OUT THE SAME WAY? >> ABSOLUTELY. THEY ASK US FOR THE INFORMATION, AND, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME TO PREPARE IT, PROVIDE IT, AND THEN THEY DO THEIR ANALYSIS. YES, IT'S US HAVING TO DO THAT WORK. >> IS THERE ANY DUPLICATION IN THIS BETWEEN NUMBER 11 AND WHAT EISNER AMPER IS DOING? I MEAN, CAN WE SAY DIRECT EISNER AMPER TO LOOK AT WHATEVER WE WENT LOOKED AT AND GET IT IN THE SAME TIME FRAME THAT WE WOULD NUMBER 11, OR WOULD NUMBER 11 SLOW THINGS DOWN MORE SPEED THINGS UP. >> I SAID, ANY ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD IS CERTAINLY, WE HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MEET OUR GOALS AND OUR DEADLINES? >> WILL IT CAUSE YOU TO MISS A DEADLINE. >> IT'S HARD TO SAY. CERTAINLY [OVERLAPPING]. >> YOU ESTIMATE IT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO MISS A DEADLINE? >> IT'S ADDITIONAL WORK. >> IT'S CERTAINLY ADDITIONAL WORK, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY SHIFT OUR RESOURCES TO ACCOMMODATE WHATEVER YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR DECISION ON THE 2026. >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT IF IT'S TIED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE 2026 BUDGET, WHICH IT DOESN'T REALLY, THE 2020 THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS BALANCED. IT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE. I WILL SAY THIS. THE FORECAST, AS YOU'VE HEARD US SAY. LET'S SAY FOR TRANSIT, WE KNOW WE'RE ON A FISCAL CLIFF FOR TRANSIT. WE KNOW THAT THE TRANSIT MONEY WILL NOT SUPPORT THE AMOUNT OF ROUTES THAT WE RUN NOW. WE ALSO KNOW WE'RE RUNNING ROUTES WITH ONE AND TWO PEOPLE ON IT. WE'RE LOOKING AT PROPOSED CHANGES TO SAVE MONEY AND ALSO MAYBE EVEN GIVE BETTER SERVICE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. MANY OF THE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS THAT CAN BE MADE BEFORE SOMETHING RUNS OUT YEARS AHEAD WILL HAPPEN, AND IT WILL CORRECT THE NUMBER. A FORECAST TODAY OF WHATEVER TRANSITS DO ISN'T NECESSARILY SUCH A TERRIBLE THING. IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SHORT, IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE TIME TO MAKE CHANGES TO IT. TRANSIT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE GONE. WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO ON TRANSIT, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CANNOT KEEP THE SAME SERVICES WITH THE MONEY THAT OUR TAXPAYERS GIVE US TO SPEND. IF YOU RAN THAT NUMBER NOW, IT WILL SHOW A DEFICIT, BUT WE HAVE PLANS TO FIX THAT BY THE TIME THAT MILEAGE EXPIRES. >> WHICH IS WHAT? WHEN WE MET WITH PHILIP RIBO, HE HAD EXPLAINED TO US, TOO. THIS IS JUST REMINDING EVERYONE THAT THEY NEED A [INAUDIBLE]. BUT ALSO, IN MY OPINION, THAT'S A FUNCTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MANAGE THESE DEPARTMENTS, MAKE SURE THAT THE BUDGET IS PROPOSED AND OPERATING WITHIN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAVE. >> WE'RE DOING IT NO DIFFERENT THAN PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE DONE. WE DIDN'T COME IN OFFICE AND CHANGE THINGS. THIS IS THE SAME PROCEDURES WE HAVE HAD FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE. WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE AS PARISH PRESIDENT, THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION DID NOT GIVE ME A LIST OF MILEAGES THAT WERE RUNNING UP BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GIVE A PROPOSED BUDGET EVERY YEAR. WE DON'T GET FAR PAST IT. WE DON'T GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE I THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO, IT'S IN THE TOP OF THE PAPERS OF THE SITUATION NEW ORLEANS IS IN. [01:40:01] WE'RE NOT IN THAT SITUATION. IT'S NOT THE SAME, AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO TRY TO SAY OUR BOND RATING WITHDRAWAL IS SIMILAR TO THAT SITUATION. IT'S NOT. >> GENTLEMEN. >> MAYBE WE BE AGREEABLE TO DOING THIS AMENDING IT? >> I'D LIKE TO SAY [OVERLAPPING]. >> NINETY DAYS AFTER THE BUDGET OR AFTER THE AUDIT IS DONE? >> I THINK BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT AMENDMENTS. LET'S LET COUNCIL LILJEBERG AND COUNCILMAN MCCONOR WEIGH IN, AND IF COUNCIL BONANO OR COUNCIL LEE AS WELL, THEN WE'LL GET EVERYBODY THOUGHTS OUT. THEN WE'LL LOOK AHEAD. >> I THINK OUR SINGULAR FOCUS RIGHT NOW. I'VE HEARD THE QUESTION ASKED. I'M NOT SURE IF AT LEAST, I DIDN'T CATCH THE ANSWER. OUR SINGULAR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE TO GET OUR BOND RATING STRAIGHT. PERIOD. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OUT THERE: IS THIS GOING TO DELAY THAT? THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION. >> THIS IS ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD. WE ALL WANT TO HAVE THE INFORMATION, BUT I THINK THE FRONT BURNER ISSUE FOR US, AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN, IS TO CATCH UP ON SUBMITTING OUR FINANCIAL AUDIT AND GOING BACK TO THE BOND RATING AGENCIES AND GETTING OUR BOND RATINGS. >> THE ANSWER IS, YES. >> THAT'S GOT TO BE OUR FOCUS. THAT'S WHAT WE SAY AS A TEAM. IT'S GOT TO BE OUR FOCUS. BUT THIS INFORMATION STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT TO GIVE US A TIME FRAME TO DOING IT, I THINK IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. IF YOU COULD JUST LOOK AT MAYBE LETTING US DOING IT WHEN WE CAN AND NOT TYING IT TO THE PASSAGE OF THE NEXT BUDGET, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY TIE TO IT, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF YOU HAVING THIS INFORMATION. BUT LET US DO IT. IF WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A HARD STOP ON A DEADLINE THAT WE HAVE TO GET IT TO YOU. I THINK THAT RELIEVES A LOT OF THE PRESSURE. >> COUNCIL MCCONOR, WEIGH IN. >> VICTOR, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THIS WOULD DELAY. THE MILLAGES RATES ARE SET, THE TAX ROLLS ARE SET, THE HISTORIC COLLECTION RATES HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE THAT TIME-CONSUMING. I REALLY DON'T. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS CAN GATHER PRETTY QUICKLY, AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE PAYING DELOITTE. YOU WOULD THINK BUDGET WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE US THIS INFORMATION. GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION WITH THE BUDGET AND THE POSITION WE'RE IN NOW, I AGREE. IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM NEW ORLEANS. I THINK WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER FINANCIAL SITUATION, EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER THING MAY LEAD PEOPLE TO THINK OTHERWISE. BUT EISNERAMPER HAS IDENTIFIED SOME THINGS THAT ARE CONCERNING. I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT WE PLAN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF TOMORROW TODAY. I THINK THE REASON WHY WE'RE IN THE POSITION WE ARE IS BECAUSE WE MAYBE DIDN'T GET INVOLVED EARLY ENOUGH. I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THE PARISH COUNCIL MAKES IT INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BUDGET DECISIONS. LOOK, I JUST DON'T SEE LOOKING AT WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, THE BLACK AND WHITE NUMBERS, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS WOULD DELAY ANY OF THE AUDIT, AND I CERTAINLY THINK WE'RE MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS EVERY SINGLE MEETING. I THINK THE SOONER WE GET THAT CLARITY OF WHAT THE FUTURE PROJECTIONS ARE, THE BETTER. IF WE GO TO EISNERAMPER, IT'S JUST GOING TO COST THE PARISH ADDITIONAL MONEY TO BE DOING THE JOB THAT THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT, THAT THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE DOING. THE SAME THING WE'RE DOING IN DELOITTE. I LOVE THAT WE GOT EISNERAMPER TO DO THOSE FOUR DEPARTMENTS. I THINK IT WAS VERY SMART TO PUT THE PROFESSION ON, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON. BUT NOW THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME THINGS THAT I THINK I TRUST ADMINISTRATION TO BE ON TOP OF, BUT I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HAVE THAT CLARITY WHEN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS. I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS A BAD THING. I DON'T SEE HOW WE ALL SHOULDN'T WANT THIS CLARITY IN THESE FUTURE PROJECTIONS. AGAIN, WITH THE MILLAGE RATE SET, THE TAX ROLL SET, THE HISTORIC COLLECTION RATE CONSTANTLY BEING CONSISTENT, HOW IS THIS TOO MUCH FOR THE DEPARTMENT, OR WOULD DELAY ANYTHING? I DON'T SEE THAT. PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. >> CERTAINLY. >> YOU MUTED IT YOURSELF AGAIN, VICTOR. I JUST HAVE IT OPEN. >> WITHOUT A DELAY OF THE AUDIT, YOU'RE CONFIDENT >> WE CERTAINLY WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE THE INFORMATION. IT DOES TAKE TIME. WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A MILLAGE CYCLE, IT'S 10 YEARS, AND WE NEED TO PRODUCE THE FINANCIAL DATA OVER THAT PERIOD AND USE THAT HISTORY TO SET A PROJECTION, AND WE APPLY THAT PROJECTION GOING FORWARD. SIMPLY CAN'T JUST CALCULATE. THAT'S NOT JUST A CALCULATION [OVERLAPPING]. >> BUT THE NUMBERS TO CALCULATE [OVERLAPPING]. >> WE NEED TO CONTACT DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING THAT MAY BE UPCOMING OR [OVERLAPPING]. THERE IS A LEVEL OF COORDINATION, AND THERE'S SOME TIME THAT IT TAKES TO DEVELOP. >> YOU BELIEVE PUTTING SOME PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT WORKING ON THIS, WE ALL WORK MANY HOURS EVERY SINGLE DAY, WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO DELAY THE AUDIT FURTHER? >> ANYTIME WE TAKE RESOURCES AWAY TO DO [OVERLAPPING]. [01:45:01] >> I KNOW IT'S ADDITIONAL WORK, BUT DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD DELAY THE AUDITS? >> IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY. I WOULD SAY WE ARE ADJUSTING OUR WORKLOAD TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO GET THE AUDIT AS THE FIRST PRIORITY. NOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AS IT RELATES TO. >> I GET THE POSITION WE'RE IN AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND THERE'S URGENCY, BUT WERE WE PAYING DELOITTE THIS MUCH MONEY, AND WE'RE UNABLE TO MAKE THESE PROJECTIONS WITH EVERYTHING IN BLACK AND WHITE? I FEEL THAT IS A BIG CONCERN. >> WE'RE NOT UNABLE TO, COUNCILMAN. WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER INFORMATION THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION. >> I DON'T ENVY YOUR POSITION AND THE POSITION YOU'RE IN. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT I THINK I'M CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF GETTING CLARITY TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T GET PUT IN BAD POSITIONS IN THE FUTURE. I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY TO DO SO. IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT, IF WE CAN GET A COMMITMENT FROM YOU THAT IT WON'T DELAY, I'D FEEL MUCH BETTER ABOUT IT. BECAUSE THAT IS THE TOP PRIORITY. I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES 100%. BUT IF YOU REALLY THINK THERE'S A CHANCE, A REASONABLE CHANCE THAT IT MAY DELAY, I MEAN, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE STATING RIGHT NOW? >> WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT, PUT TOGETHER A WORK PLAN ON OUR SIDE OF THE OFFICE, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL AND LET YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY OUT. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMAN LEE? >> MY STATEMENT AND QUESTION. MY STATEMENT IS, IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT WHEN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN TERMS OF GETTING THESE AUDITS COMPLETED, RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. >> THEN MY QUESTION IS, IS WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED BASED ON NUMBER 11, IS THAT CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY MATTER. I DON'T PARTICULARLY VIEW IT AS AN EMERGENCY MATTER, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A NECESSITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH THIS INFORMATION WHEN REQUESTED. CERTAINLY, WE HAVE MANY MILLAGES, AND SOME OF THEM, AS WAS STATED BEFORE, DON'T REQUIRE AS MUCH AS IT DOES FOR SOME. I THINK FOR ME, THE COMMON SENSE APPROACH IS IS THAT IF REQUESTED, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT YOU ALL WOULD PROVIDE THE INFORMATION AS NEEDED. BUT TO TIE YOU ALL DOWN, WHEREAS THERE IS NO PROCESS AND NO POLICY BY WHICH YOU ALL WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS IF PASSED, DOESN'T SEEM SMART TO ME. I THINK WE CAN FIND A BALANCE HERE WITH OR WITHOUT A RESOLUTION BECAUSE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO REQUEST INFORMATION ALL THE TIME. >> COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO YOU WANTING THE INFORMATION WHATSOEVER. THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO THAT. IT'S SEVEN WEEKS BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. THE WAY THIS RESOLUTION IS WRITTEN IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GET YOU, YOU WANT THIS BEFORE YOU PASS THE 2026 BUDGET, AND THAT'S MY CONCERN. IS THE TIME FRAME OF SEVEN WEEKS TO GET THE REST OF THE MILLAGES. THE MAN-HOURS THAT IT TOOK TO GET YOU THE FOUR FROM THAT IS A LOT. IT WOULD ADD TO OUR WORK. OUR FOCUS HAS TO BE ON THIS. IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD GET THE INFORMATION. CAN WE DO ALL THE MILLAGES, THE REST OF THE MILLAGES, IN SEVEN WEEKS IF YOU WANT THIS BEFORE YOU PASS THE 2026 BUDGET. I THINK THAT'S A TIMELINE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE PUTTING ON OURSELVES. SOME OF THESE MILLAGES ARE SEVERAL YEARS AWAY. WHAT WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE IS THE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS TO NOT RUN OUT OF MONEY, LIKE TRANSIT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT. THAT TAKES US A LONG TIME TO DEVELOP. THAT WON'T BE ON THE PAPER. THE FORECAST IS WITHOUT A MANAGEMENT DECISION TO SAVE MONEY. I'LL BE A GREAT HEADLINE, I GUESS, BUT WE'RE MISSING THE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS TO SAVE MONEY. THAT'S MY CONCERN. >> I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WE ALL WANT. IS THERE A WAY WE COULD DO IT AND NOT TIE IT TO THE BUDGET? >> EXACTLY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY WITH RESPECT TO AMEND THIS TO STRIKE OUT THE WORDING, AND I'LL LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC. BUT THE BUY THIS BUDGET, I STILL THINK WE NEED IT. I DON'T WANT TO JUMP IN AGAIN, BUT I'M AMENABLE TO THAT AMENDMENT. I KNOW COUNCILMAN BONANO WANTED TO SPEAK FIRST, THOUGH. >> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN. >> WE HAVE ARE ALREADY ENGAGED PHILIP RIBO TO PROVIDE SOME OF THIS INFORMATION AND HAVE IT. WE CAN CERTAINLY START DIGESTING THAT INFORMATION NOW. GETTING OUR AUDITS DONE AND RESTORING OUR BOND RATING IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND NEEDS TO BE OUR PRIORITY. [01:50:03] FOR THAT REASON, I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WITH ANY MORE WORK AT THIS POINT IN TIME UNTIL WE FINISH THAT AND GET THROUGH THE 2026 BUDGET CYCLE. >> COUNCILMAN VAN VRACKEN. >> YESTERDAY, WHEN THIS DISCUSSION STARTED COMING UP, I CONFIRMED THAT DELOITTE THAT IS DOING OUR AUDIT, IS SEPARATE THAN OUR BUDGET PERSONNEL. I SPECIFICALLY HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH PHILIP RIBO, WHO IS VERY HELPFUL IN ALL OF THESE ISSUES TO US. HE SAID, NO, DELOITTE IS DOING YOUR AUDIT. THEY WILL KEEP FULL STEAM AHEAD TO GET THAT SUBMITTED BY MARCH. SEPARATE IS OUR BUDGET DEPARTMENT THAT CAN RUN THESE REPORTS. NOW, I DO APPRECIATE AND WHAT YOU ALL HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID, IS IT ADDS TIME, IT IS AN EFFORT. WELL, SO WAS PRODUCING THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT HAD TO TAKE TWO DAYS TO HOLD BUDGET HEARINGS. YOU PRODUCED A DRAFT BUDGET FOR US. YOU PRODUCED ANOTHER PROPOSED BUDGET FOR US. YES, THERE ARE THINGS THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT HAS TO DO THAT TAKE A LITTLE TIME AND EFFORT. HERE'S WHERE MY CONCERN IS. WHILE I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY IF IT MAKES THE PARISH PRESIDENT MORE COMFORTABLE TO STRIKE THE LANGUAGE SPECIFICALLY THAT SAYS, PRODUCE THIS BEFORE PASSING THE 2026 BUDGET, AND I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT TO STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE. HERE'S WHERE IT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE COUNCILMAN BONANO AND COUNCILMAN WALKER, WHEN THEY ENGAGED EISNERAMPER, AND TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE THOUGHT WAS LOOKING AT MILLAGES THAT WE THOUGHT WERE FLUSH WITH CASH, SO THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SOME OF THAT MONEY AND DEDICATE IT TO THINGS LIKE OUR SENIORS, BECAUSE WE'RE A GRAYING PARISH. THOSE WERE THE FIRST FOUR WE LOOKED AT. IN THOSE FOUR, WE SUSPECTED, WE'RE FLUSH WITH CASH, WE NOW KNOW THERE'S RED AT THE END OF THOSE. IT DOES MAKE IT EVEN MORE CONCERNING FOR ME, IF WE KNOW THOSE DEPARTMENTS WE THOUGHT WERE FLUSH ARE NOW POTENTIALLY GOING TO RUN INTO THE RED. IT DOES MAKE IT MORE URGENT FOR ME TO KNOW IF THOSE ARE THE ONES WE THOUGHT WERE IN THE BEST SHAPE, THEN SHOW ME ALL OF THEM, SO WE JUST HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S AHEAD FOR US. SECONDLY, WHILE YOU ALL HAVE ASKED FOR MORE MONEY ON THE DELOITTE CONTRACT. WE MADE AN AMENDMENT THAT GETS US THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. BUT MY APPRECIATION IS THERE'S NO LESS THAN 16 MILLION MORE WE'RE GOING TO PAY TO THEM, AND MAYBE MORE THAN THAT. THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO ULTIMATELY BE SPREAD ACROSS OUR MILLAGE DEPARTMENTS. [APPLAUSE] YOU GOT TO KNOW NOW BEFORE WE APPROVE ANOTHER DELOITTE AMENDMENT. MR. BURKETT BROUGHT UP LAST MEETING. I THINK WE BUILT A NEW FIREHOUSE, APPROVED THAT, BOUGHT A NEW FIRE TRUCK IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. EVERY MEETING, WE RAISED PAY GRADES. I THINK WE NEED THE INFORMATION AS URGENTLY AS YOU ALL CAN PRODUCE IT WITHOUT DELAYING THE AUDIT. THAT WOULD BE MY SPIRIT. I THINK WE'RE UNITED ON THAT. AS QUICKLY AS BUDGET CAN PRODUCE IT, WITHOUT DELAYING OUR AUDIT. I WILL STRIKE THE TIMING LANGUAGE IN HERE SO THAT IT'S NOT TIED TO BEFORE THE 2026 BUDGET. I WILL MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO SPECIFICALLY STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE. IT WOULD BE STRIKING FOR THE PARISH CLERK, I'LL OFFER THE AMENDMENT TO STRIKE THE PORTION THAT SAYS, PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS. IT STRIKES THE TIME FRAME. YOU ALL, WITH AS MUCH URGENCY YOU CAN, WHILE NOT DELAYING THE AUDIT, CAN THEN PRODUCE THOSE FOR US. I WOULD ASK TO EXEMPT THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ANIMAL ALL TOGETHER. I WILL MOVE ON THAT AMENDMENT TO STRIKE THE TIME FRAME SO THAT YOUR HANDS ARE NOT TIED TO THIS BUDGET AND THIS TIME FRAME. JUST WITH WHATEVER URGENCY YOU CAN PRODUCE IT, WHILE NOT SLOWING DOWN OUR AUDIT. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, DO YOU NEED TO READ THAT WITH THE AMENDMENT OR MAKE MENTION OF THE AMENDMENT? >> NO. WE JUST NEED TO DO THE MOTION. >> MOTION ON THE AMENDMENT AND THEN MOTION AS AMENDMENT. >> THEN TO ADOPT IT AS AMENDMENT. >> I'LL MOVE ON THE AMENDMENT TO STRIKE PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET. >> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED ON MOTION? >> WELL, FIRST SHE [OVERLAPPING]. >> WE NEED A SECOND. >> SORRY. >> YES. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED MOTION [01:55:01] OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDER. BUT DID ALL THAT RIGHT? >> MOTION TO ADOPT IT AS AMENDED. >> I'LL MOVE ON AS AMENDED. >> ANY OBJECTION? ADOPTION THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED. A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDER. ALL GOOD. TONY WAS LOOKING AT ME SQUARELY. WHAT DID I SCREW UP? WE'RE GOOD? [LAUGHTER]. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> NUMBER 12, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK. >> A RESOLUTION REQUESTING AND AUTHORIZING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD TO STUDY THE TEXT OF CHAPTER 25, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, CHAPTER 33, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND CHAPTER 40, ZONING OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH WITH THE INTENT OF EVALUATING AND UPDATING THE QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD. >> COUNCILMAN LEE? >> YES. THANK YOU. PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO DO A STUDY IN TERMS OF HOW PEOPLE ARE SELECTED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD. I CAN RECALL THE CHANGES THAT WAS TAKEN PLACE THAT DID TAKE PLACE IN TERMS OF HOW SELECTIONS WERE SOME YEARS AGO. WHEN THOSE CHANGES WERE BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT WAS DONE SO FOR IN MANY CASES TO PUNISH PEOPLE. THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO REMEDY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS PUNITIVE IS TO REVIEW WHAT WE HAVE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT IS DOABLE AND BENEFICIAL TO ALL. THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WHO VOTES IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WHO HAS PROOF THAT THEY EXIST IN JEFFERSON PARISH, BUT WHOSE HUSBAND MAY OWN THE PROPERTY, AND THEIR NAME IS NOT ON IT, WHOSE WIFE OWNS THE PROPERTY, AND THAT PERSON'S NAME IS NOT ON IT. BUT YET ARE TAXPAYING CITIZENS IN THIS PARISH AND VOTE I THINK IT'S PUNITIVE TO ELIMINATE THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE. THEN THERE'S OTHER ISSUES AS WELL, AND THAT'S RELATED TO THAT. WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS STUDY TO ENSURE THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD HAS A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> A MOVE. >> ANY OBJECTION. HE ADOPTS THAT RESOLUTION OF MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDER. NUMBER 15, MADAM CLERK. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 TO THE AGREEMENT, CONTRACT NUMBER 55-00022080 BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND DELOITTE AND TOUCHE, LLP TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES, WHICH AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 REQUIRES THE SUBMISSIONS OF A REGULARLY UPDATED WORK PLAN AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN THE AGREEMENT IN SECTION 1 SHOULD READ SUBMISSION OF A WORK PLAN SUMMARY FOR THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT THAT DETAILS WORK STREAMS FROM THE SCOPE OF WORK, THAT ALSO OUTLINES ESTIMATED LEVEL OF EFFORT. THE ADMINISTRATION AND COUNSEL CAN REVIEW AND DETERMINE WHICH TASK ARE BEST HANDLED BY DELOITTE AND WHICH MAY BE BEST HANDLED WITHIN JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT. ADDITIONALLY, A STATUS UPDATE ON THE WORK PLAN SHALL BE PROVIDED EVERY 30 DAYS, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE. >> COUNCILMAN HAVE BEEN BREAKING YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS. >> MOVE ON THE AMENDMENTS. >> DIDN'T WE JUST HAVE A BIG MEETING WITH DELOITTE, OR THEY GAVE US THEIR WORK PLAN? >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, I'M SURE WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO. ARE WE ASKING THEM TO QUARTERLY GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT PLAN? >> IT'S [OVERLAPPING] TWO-FOLD. WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY MET WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND DELOITTE AND GAVE US A PLAN OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS FOR WHAT TASKS THEY'RE PROPOSING AND WHAT AMOUNTS OF MONEY THEY'RE PROPOSING? IT WASN'T WITH THE LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY THAT I THINK WE NEED. IT'S ASKING FOR MORE SPECIFICITY, AND YES, [02:00:01] IT'S ASKING FOR REPORTS EVERY 30 DAYS, WHICH DELOITTE ACTUALLY SAID IS STANDARD IN ALL OF THEIR AGREEMENTS. THEY JUST HADN'T HAD IT IN THIS ONE. THIS IS BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, WE HAVE ALL HAD PROJECTS WHERE WHAT WE WANT TO DO WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET FOR, AND THEN WE HAVE TO RIGHT SIZE IT. I'M LOOKING FOR A LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY FROM DELOITTE TO KNOW WHAT WE'LL WRITING OUR POLICIES COST, WHAT WE'LL DOING X TASK COSTS SO THAT WE AS A COUNCIL CAN LOOK FOR THOSE SERVICES AND SAY WE FEEL COMFORTABLE SPENDING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW, DELOITTE AND SO GET OFF AND RUNNING ON THOSE TASKS. THESE OTHERS WE MAY HOLD OFF ON BECAUSE WE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. THAT WILL BE A DECISION, BUT AGAIN, IT'S JUST FOR MORE GRANULAR INFORMATION THAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE. ACTUALLY, MY CHIEF OF STAFF WAS ON THE PHONE WITH DELOITTE. THEY'RE FINE WITH IT. THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING CHANGING IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT COMES IN AT NO ADDITIONAL COST WITH NO CONTRACT CAP INCREASE. WE'VE HAD THE CONVERSATION. THEY SAID IT'S FINE. THEY CAN PRODUCE THAT AT NO ADDITIONAL COST WITH THESE WORDING CHANGES, AND THEY SAID THE REPORTS ARE ACTUALLY STANDARD AND WHAT THEY DO FOR EVERYONE. IT'S WHAT WE GOT WITH A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICITY. >> I'LL JUST ADD THAT, MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS A READER. HE AUDITED THE PARISH FOR AROUND SEVEN AND 10 YEARS, HE AUDITED EVERY MUNICIPALITY, OTHER THAN WESTWEGO. THAT WAS THE JOB BEFORE IT BECAME CFO OF SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE THE CLARITY THAT HE REQUESTED THAT I GET AS WELL. THAT'S WHY WE HAD THOSE MEETINGS WHERE I TRIED TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF THAT, AND I WANT TO THANK SERENE AND THE DEPARTMENT FOR GETTING US TOGETHER WITH DELOITTE AND GIVING US THAT INFORMATION. BUT DELOITTE SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT IT'S SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY. THERE'S STILL NOT A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW MUCH IS GOING TO GO TO MANUALS, HOW MUCH IS GOING TO GO TO THE PROGRAM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT. RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE PARISHES WE ERECT OUR CAR, AND, I KNOW, WE GOT A LAMBORGHINI, AND WE GOT TO SEE IF WE COULD JUST GET SOMETHING THAT'S RIDING. I THINK LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS AND MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AS A COUNCIL IS VERY IMPORTANT. I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT. >> MADAM PRESIDENT. >> I WILL SAY AGAIN, WE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED WORKLOAD. I DON'T WANT TO BLAME OUR STAFF FOR ANYTHING. WE HAVE HAD MANY EMERGENCIES SINCE 2020. THERE'S A REASON I GOT ASKED TO BE ON A NATIONAL TASK FORCE REGARDING EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND I GET ROUTINELY ASKED TO GO SPEAK AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THAT MANY EMERGENCIES IN JEFFERSON PARISH. FORTUNATELY, WE'VE HAD THAT MUCH GRANT MONEY TO HELP US THROUGH THESE EMERGENCIES, AND THAT IS WHAT GOT US INTO THIS SITUATION. WE DIDN'T WRECK A CAR. WE GOT A LOT OF EMERGENCIES AND A LOT OF MONEY TO THE TUNE OF 586, 18 TIMES OUR WORKLOAD, OUR ANNUAL WORKLOAD IN THIS COUPLE OF YEARS. I DON'T WANT OUR STAFF TO THINK WE WRECKED A CAR. WE GOT DUMPED ON WITH AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK, AND WE ASKED FOR IT. WE ASKED FOR ALL OF OUR GRANT MONEY. I REMEMBER EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE. IF YOU CAN GET THAT OUT THE DOOR, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU MORE. WE'RE READY TO GIVE YOU MORE, AND WE WERE REACHING FOR IT AT EVERY TURN. ALL OF US WERE, AND WE WERE CELEBRATING EVERY TIME WE GOT IT. THE THING I DIDN'T REALIZE IS THE TRAILING EFFECT, WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE HELD BACK 15%, INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT ALL AND ASSUMING THAT OUR STAFF COULD HANDLE IT BECAUSE OUR STAFF ALWAYS COULD HANDLE IT BEFORE, BUT THIS DID NOT COME AT US IN ONE YEAR. THIS CAME AT IT IN DRIBS AND DRABS WITH EVERY NEW EMERGENCY WE HAD. [NOISE] IF YOU HAD TOLD ME AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR TERM, YOU'RE GOING TO GET $586 MILLION WORTH OF MONEY. I SAID, LET'S HOLD OFF SOME CARS SOME OUT AT THE VERY BEGINNING TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE AND PROCESS IT. BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE EMERGENCIES CAME TO US. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT IS WHAT GOT US IN THIS SITUATION. >> I'M NOT SAYING THE CAR IS TOTAL, BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY OFF INDEPENDENT. BUT NO, LOOK, I GET THE EMERGENCIES, THE JEFFERSON PARISH, AND LOOK. I APPRECIATE HOW THE ADMINISTRATION JUMPED ON THIS, AND HOW YOU'RE HANDLING THE SITUATION NOW TO MAKE SURE WE ONLY JUST SUBMIT THE AUDITS, BUT WE MAKE SURE TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN HURRICANES, HURRICANE KATRINA, AND MANY OTHER HURRICANES BEFORE WHERE THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN AS OTHER PARISHES THAT WERE ABLE TO DO THE AUDIT UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. I THINK THERE WAS SOME THINGS IN STAFFING THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD'VE LOOKED AT EARLIER IN HINDSIGHT, HINDSIGHT 2020, I UNDERSTAND. BUT TO SAY IT'S JUST FROM EMERGENCIES, AND I'M WRONG, AND MY STATEMENT, I THINK IS UNFAIR BECAUSE I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN TO A POINT OF OF URGENCY THAT WE ARE IN NOW, AND THAT'S COSTING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY. [02:05:02] I NEED TO DO THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. >> COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK FOR? GO BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. >> I'LL CHANGE THE ANALOGY BECAUSE I CAN SEE ON YOUR FACE, PARISH PRESIDENT, YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE CAR ANALOGY. I'LL USE ONE FOR MY PERSONAL LIFE. RIGHT NOW, MY HOME IS 10-YEARS-OLD. ANYONE WITH A 10-YEAR-OLD HOME KNOWS THAT'S WHEN STUFF STARTS BREAKING, AND YOU NEED TO REPLACE THINGS AND YOU NEED TO FIX THINGS. LITERALLY, I'M MAKING A LIST RIGHT NOW AT MY HOME OF RE-FINISHING MY DOOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO I DO? I HAVE A LIST, AND I WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT LIST AND PRIORITIZE WHAT CAN I DO NOW, AND WHAT MIGHT I NEED TO BUDGET FOR IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M ASKING FOR DELOITTE TO DO WITH A GRANULAR LEVEL OF A LIST. LET ME SEE WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DO AND AT WHAT COST SO THAT THEN I CAN SAY I NEED YOU TO DO THESE NOW, THE AUDIT STUFF, ABSOLUTELY NOW. THE OTHER STUFF, LET ME LOOK AT IT. LET ME SEE IF IT'S A 2026 EXPENDITURE OR A FUTURE EXPENDITURE, BECAUSE THE ONLY CHOICE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AS A COUNCIL IS YOU'VE GIVEN US 10 MILLION THIS YEAR, SIX MILLION THIS YEAR, WHATEVER THOSE FIGURE I REALLY WANT TO BREAK DOWN SO I CAN SAY, WELL, MAYBE EIGHT THIS YEAR. [OVERLAPPING]. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING NOT THE FUTURE. I WAS DESCRIBING HOW WE GOT HERE. I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT YOU. I WAS DESCRIBING WHAT GOT US IN THIS SITUATION. DESCRIBING A PATH AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. >> I'LL MOVE. >> WE HAVE THE MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS. ON THE FLOOR, WELL, NOT ON THE FLOOR MAY DO IT. >> I'LL MOVE ON THE AMENDED LANGUAGE THAT JUST CLARIFIES WITH DELOITTE'S ASSISTANCE THAT THIS WILL PRODUCE QUARTERLY REPORTS AND SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. >> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? >> SECOND FOR THE AMENDMENT FIRST. >> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO BRINGING THOSE AMENDMENTS FROM THE FLOOR, A MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN. THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED. NOW, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED. >> MOVE AS AMENDED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. >> NINETEEN. >> I'M JUST GIVING US A PAUSE TO GET KNOWLEDGE FROM EVERYBODY, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK. ALL GOOD. NUMBER 19, MADAM CLERK. BE FAST. >> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO ADVERTISE FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS FROM PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES TO ASSIST THE PARISH IN RECRUITING A FINANCE DIRECTOR AND ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR AND ANY OTHER RELATED POSITIONS ON IT HAS NEEDED BASIS. >> THIS ONE IS SIMPLY US OFFERING AND ASSIST TO TRY AND BRING IN AS MANY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AS WE CAN TO POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HARD TO FILL OVER TIME. YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE CHALLENGES, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE ACCOUNTANT SHORTAGES, NOT ONLY HERE, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND EXPAND THE NET A LITTLE BIT AND BRING IN SOME QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FROM NOT ONLY LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IF NECESSARY. THAT'S WHAT THAT DOES. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ON THAT NOTE, YOUR MOTION. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION? ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. LET'S GO TO 21, PLEASE. >> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION BY SWIFT RECREATION AND LITTLE TIKES CORPORATION OF THE INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT FOR A KID-POWERED INTERACTIVE RECREATION GAME CALLED CRICKETS FOR TRIPS TREE HOUSE LOCATED IN LAFRENIERE PARK VALUED AT $80,000. >> COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN? >> I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK LITTLE TIKES FOR SUCH A GENEROUS DONATION. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO LAFRENIERE TO SEE THIS NEW EQUIPMENT, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL VIDEOS. IT WAS FEATURED ON THE NEWS. IT'S A BIG DEAL. WE'RE THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE IT. IT'S KID-POWERED. THEIR ENERGY STARTS THE GAME. LITERALLY YOU CHASE THE CRICKETS. IF YOU FIND THE FROG, YOU WIN BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE FROG. ANYWAY, IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL. THANKS TO LITTLE TIKES, AND TO SWIFT RECREATION, WHO INSTALLED IT FOR US, ALSO FOR FREE. IT'S VERY GENEROUS DONATION. I MOVED TO APPROVE. >> IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT? >> THERE'S NO AGE LIMIT. I HAVE PLAYED IT SEVERAL TIMES. [LAUGHTER] >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, THE MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. LET'S GO TO NUMBER 25 AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS, PLEASE. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN [02:10:02] THE THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PORT DISTRICT AND WILLIAM B RILEY AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, RELATIVE TO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PAYMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000 FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE RELOCATION OF THE COMPANY'S OPERATIONS TO JEFFERSON PARISH AND BAILED OUT COSTS AT 880 WEST COMMERCE ROAD, SECOND FLOOR, ELMWOOD, LOUISIANA 70123. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BONANO. >> I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT. FIRST OF ALL, TO THANK RILEY FOR CHOOSING JEFFERSON PARISH, WITH IED, THEY CALLED BLUE PLATE MANAS, AMONG OTHER BRANDS, VERY FAMOUS COMPANY, LONG TERM COMPANY. THEY MOVED THEIR ENTIRE CORPORATE OFFICES TO ELMWOOD. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. IN RETURN FOR GETTING THESE HUNDREDS OF JOBS IN ALL ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE PROMISED WITH DEDCO TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH THEIR MOVE. WITH THAT? I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, THE MOTION OF COUNSEL BONANO, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED NUMBER 26. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND THE STONEBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT IN BEAUTIFICATION DISTRICT, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA TO PROVIDE FUNDING TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARK IMPROVEMENTS TO INCLUDE CONVERSION OF ONE TENNIS COURT INTO TWO PICKLE BALL COURTS, A PAVILION, A WALKING TRAIL, AND A SMALL PLAYGROUND, AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000, WHICH WILL FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON. >> COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION. >> I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, THE MOTION OF COUNCILMAN KERNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED 125, [JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS ] PLEASE IN SPECIAL DISTRICTS. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHALS, EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL SERVICE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND THE FIRE CHIEFS OF OTHER PARISH AND THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO SECURE FOR EACH PARTY THE BENEFITS OF A MUTUAL AID AND PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER AND OR CIVIL EMERGENCY AND FOR BETTER COORDINATION OF EFFORT TO ENSURE THE ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE AND TO ENSURE THAT THE MUTUAL AID IS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE MINIMUM TIME POSSIBLE. >> COUNSEL MAN BONANO? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION. I MOTION OF COUNSEL BANANO A SECOND BY COUNSEL. >> MR. WALKER. >> IF I COULD FOR A SECOND. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE. I'M SORRY, THE FIRE MARSHAL, CHIEF BRIAN ADAMS, FORMERLY FROM JEFFERSON PARISH. HE ASKED ME TO READ THIS STATEMENT ON HIS BEHALF SINCE HE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOUISIANA FIRE AND EMERGENCY TRAINING ACADEMY AND JEFFERSON PARISH MARKS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN DELIVERING TOP NOTCH TRAIN TO FIREFIGHTERS. THIS COLLABORATION ENABLES US TO OFFER THE SAME HIGH QUALITY TRAINING AVAILABLE AT THE BATON ROE FACILITY, ENSURING EVERY FIREFIGHTER RECEIVES THE PREPARATION THEY DESERVE. JEFFERSON PARISH NOW PROBABLY HOSTS OUR SECOND REGIONAL TRAIN FACILITY IN LOUISIANA. A GOAL I SET FROM THE START AS YOUR STATE FIRE MARSHAL. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BRING THIS RESOURCE TO MY PARISH AND MY HOME. >> MY APOLOGIES FOR FORGETTING THAT YOU WERE GOING TO READ THAT. I JUST HAD A NOTE IN FRONT OF ME THAT I JUST WENT RIGHT PAST. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AGAIN, ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, THE MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BONANO SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE SO ORDER NUMBER 126, MODA PERK. >> A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BID OF SOLUTIONS OF NEW ORLEANS, LLC, UNDER BID PROPOSAL NUMBER 50-00148453 FOR A THREE YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE CLEANING, INSPECTING, DECONTAMINATING, AND REPAIRING OF BUNKER COATS AND PANT FOR THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL SERVICE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, AT THE BID TABULATION PRICE $110,000. MAXIMUM EXPENDITURES FOR THIS CONTRACT SHALL NOT EXCEED $200,000 FOR THE THREE YEARS BY A FACTOR OF NOT MORE THAN 10% WITHOUT AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL. >> COUNCIL LIZBERG? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, THE MOTION OF COUNCIL LIZBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NUMBER 127, MADAM CLERK. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A ONE TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,966.66 TO LIVE OAK MANOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A 48 KILOWATT GENERATOR FOR STATION 72 AND FOR TRUCK REPAIRS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND LIVE OAK MANOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT DATED MARCH 16, 2018. [02:15:06] >> COUNSEL LEE? >> MOVED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION. MOTION OF COUNSEL LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT 129 AND SOME MOST EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE'LL GET THROUGH THOSE TWO. THEN WE BACK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END. IT'LL BE A QUICK EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO WAIT MUCH LONGER AFTER THAT, WE HAVE TO BREAK IT 12. MADAM CLERK, 128. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING REVISIONS TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2025. >> COUNCILMAN LEE. >> MOVED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION. MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED 129 WITH AMENDMENTS, PLEASE. >> A RESOLUTION APPOINTING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE, JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, KENNER POLICE DEPARTMENT, GRETNA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH 911 ADVISORY BOARD. THE AMENDMENT IS IN SECTION 1 TO ADD CHARLES HUDSON FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO AMENDMENT BEING BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR? HEARING NONE, COUNCILMAN VAN RIKEN RANKING, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENT? >> MOVE ON THE AMENDMENT. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BEN RANKING SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE. COUNCILMAN VAN RIKEN, YOUR MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED. >> MOVE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION AS AMENDED. MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN RINKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. NO NEW BUSINESS, NO STATUS REPORTS TO REPORT. WE'LL PAUSE THERE AND WE'LL GO BACK TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK. [EXECUTIVE SESSION ] ITEM, I SHOULD SAY. >> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNSEL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A LAWSUIT ENTITLED MONICA SENATE VERSUS JEFFERSON PARISH, OWC DISTRICT SEVEN DOCKET 24-06256 CLAIM NUMBER 23 G57K69118, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. >> COUNCILMAN VAN RINKEN, YOUR MOTION? >> MOVE. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN VAN RINKEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE TO ORDER, WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTIONS, PLEASE? >> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED MONICA SENATES VERSUS JEFFERSON PARISH, OWC DISTRICT SEVEN DOCKET NUMBER 24-06256 CLAIM NUMBER 23G 57K6 9118 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION ON MOTION OF COUNCIL VAN RINKEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED. [PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS ] NOW WE JUMP BACK TO THE END OF THE AGENDA AND PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS. ANY ITEM THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON REGARDING SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS MAY DO SO NOW YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PHONE NUMBER AND MAKE SURE YOU FILL OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD AND HAND IT UP TO THE CLERK IN FRONT, PLEASE. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. I SAID THAT'S WISE. HANG ON ONE SECOND. LET ME GET THAT ON. >> ROBERT BERG CATCHES AND FIREFIGHTERS, SEVEN BUNDY CORT AND KENNA. THE ANALOGY THAT SEEMED TO HURT EVERYBODY'S FEELINGS ABOUT THE AUDIT ABOUT WRECKING THE CAR, SO I WON'T USE THAT ONE. I GUESS SOMEBODY WAS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. HERE'S THE DEAL. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MICHANG. THERE WAS PLENTY OF GRANT MONEY COMING IN, BUT ACROSS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, THERE WERE LITERALLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GRANT MONEY THAT CAME TO PARISHES AND COMMUNITIES ALL OVER, ESPECIALLY SOUTH LOUISIANA. MORE IMPORTANTLY, SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE COMMUNITIES LOST THEIR BOND RATING? ONLY ONE. US. THE REASON I GOT UP EARLIER TO PROPOSE TO SUPPORT THE LOOKS AT THE MILLAGES, THREE YEARS AGO, BEFORE THERE WAS ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AUDIT, SO THERE WAS ANY RUSH WITH TOO MUCH MONEY ON HAND. OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, OR BUDGET DIRECTOR, OR WHOEVER IT WAS, RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT THE 25 MILLIONS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. NOW YOU'RE BEING TOLD WE'RE GOING TO BE $13.5 MILLION SHORT BEFORE WE END. THAT'S NOT EVEN CONSIDERING A PENNY OF PAY RAISES THAT WE HAD TO HAVE. WHO DID THAT? I THINK THE COUNCIL HAS EVERY RIGHT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING [02:20:03] ON BECAUSE WHETHER WE WANT TO PUBLICLY ADMIT IT OR NOT, WE HAVE A PROBLEM. WE HAVE A PROBLEM, AND IT CAN'T JUST BE UNIQUE TO US ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE SO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OF THE OTHER MILIGY AGENCIES OUT THERE. IT WAS JUST LACK OF FORESIGHT THAT PUTS US IN A POSITION THAT WE'RE IN TODAY, AND IT NEEDS TO STOP. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> HOLD ON A SECOND. MY NAME IS JOSHUA MOSEY. I LIVE AT 8:05 SOPHIA STREET, RIVERGE, LOUISIANA. IT IS FACTUAL TO SAY THAT WE START OFF AT $10.53 AN HOUR. THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE THAT AGREES WITH ME RIGHT HERE. >> I HAVE A PROBLEM, AND WHILE IT'S FACTUALLY CORRECT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A RATE OF $10.53. I DON'T THINK WE'RE BEING TRUE TO THE PUBLIC IF WE JUST LET THE PUBLIC BELIEVE. THAT'S WHERE I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN WE HAVE A VERY BIG DISAGREEMENT ON HOW WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS. >> THAT'S FROM THE JUNE COUNCIL MEETING. IT IS FACTUAL TO SAY $10.53 IS THE STARTING RATE. IT'S NOT 1697. I THINK YOUR HOURLY IS THIS. IN MY OPINION, YOUR HOURLY IS THIS. I'M WEARING A PURPLE SHIRT. THAT'S A FACT. IF YOUR OPINION, IT'S A RED ONE DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT'S PURPLE. HERE'S THE TRUTH. JEFFERSON AND FIREFRE START OFF AT 10:53 AN HOUR. WE'VE GOT ATTORNEYS, EVEN A JUDGE SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL. WHAT WINS IN A COURT OF LAW? OPINIONS ARE FACTS? IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE FACTS. YOU'RE FRAMING THIS TO THE MEDIA AS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. IT'S NOT. YOU OWN WORDS. IT IS FACTUAL TO SAY 1053 HOURS IS STARTING RATE. WOULD IT BE RIGHT? WE TALKED ABOUT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS? WOULD IT BE RIGHT TO ADD CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SALARIES OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS SITTING UP HERE? BECAUSE THAT'S THE WORDING YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. UNPOPULAR TO EVERYBODY BEHIND ME, I THINK YOU GUYS DON'T GET PAID ENOUGHHAT FOR W YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOURS. YOU SAID, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE HOURS, IT'S ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. THOSE ARE YOUR WORDS. LET'S TALK ABOUT HOURS OF A 30 YEAR CAREER FIREFIGHTER. WE'RE GOING TO WORK ABOUT 90,000 HOURS COMPARED TO A NORMAL 40 HOUR WORK WEEK WHICH IS 60,000. IF YOU PUT THAT 90,000 DIFFERENCE INTO A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK, WE WORK AN EXTRA 15 YEARS. 45 YEARS COMPARED TO 30. IT'S NO WONDER YOU'RE SAYING IT'S NOT ABOUT THE HOURS. IT'S WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT BECAUSE YOU ARE AN EXEMPT EMPLOYEE, MAKING NEARLY $200,000 A YEAR, NO CLOCK TO PUNCH, NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO PROOF OF WORK. FOR ALL WE KNOW, THIS ADMINISTRATION SHOWS UP TO THIS MEETING, COLLECTS A PAYCHECK AND GOES HOME ONCE A MONTH. BY THE WAY, THINGS ARE GOING, IT LOOKED LIKE THAT MIGHT BE MY OPINION, WHAT YOU'RE DOING. MR. KERNER SAID, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISASTERS LIKE KATRINA. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE STATE GOT DURING KATRINA WAS $76 BILLION, AND WE MADE SURE THAT WE GOT EVERYTHING DONE ON TIME. $76 BILLION. YOUR EXCUSE FOR LOSING THE BOND RATING WAS WE HAD TOO MUCH MONEY. LET'S DO A COMPARISON HERE. IN 2025, YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET, IT SAYS THE JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THE HIGHEST CLASS RATED DEPARTMENT IN LOUISIANA. YOU GUYS LOST THE BOND RATING. YOU SAID THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. WELL, WE'RE BRINGING YOU PUDDING EVERY COUNCIL MEETING, YOU'RE JUST NOT WANTING TO EAT IT. WE'RE PROVIDING YOU WITH NUMBERS. >> THAT'S YOUR TIME. >> GOT YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> LOOK, BEFORE YOU START, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS NEW SYSTEM WE HAVE WHEN THE TIMER HITS ZERO, THE MIC AUTOMATICALLY CUTS OFF. IF YOU'RE FINISHING THE THOUGHT, I'LL TURN IT BACK ON, BUT IT JUST CUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHEN YOU HIT THREE MINUTES, SO. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. IMPROVEMENTS. >> MARK DECKER. >> 3913 CYPR STREET. >> IT COMES BACK ON AS SOON AS YOU START TALKING. I CAN'T DO THAT EITHER. >> MARK DECKER, 3913 CYPR STREET, METER, LOUISIANA. IN KEEPING WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY, I DO KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE RECORDED AND POST ON FACEBOOK THROUGH MOST OF YOUR ACCOUNTS, KNOW THAT I'M NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF JEFFERSON PARISH. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF. THAT'S A NEW ADDITION TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT I STOOD AT THIS VERY COUNCIL CHAMBER ON JUNE 12, 2024, AND WE RAISED THE ISSUE THAT WE HAD A PAY PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED BY IT, SOME PEOPLE THEY WERE HEARING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE CAN ARGUE IT GOES BACK SIX YEARS, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU, I SPOKE ON THIS MATTER IN 2024 IN JUNE, [02:25:03] AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THIS POINT. WE DID PAY STUDIES. WE HAD MEETINGS, WE HAD APPOINTMENTS, BUT IN THE END, NOTHING STILL HAS BEEN RESOLVED, AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TAKE IT UP THE NEXT STEP OF THE LADDER WITH THE IMPASSE THAT'S COMING. MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE CHANGED OUR NAME TO ASNER'S FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY SEEM TO MOVE RIGHT TO THE FRONT OF EVERY MEETING, AND THEY SEEM TO GET THEIR ISSUES RESOLVED, THEIR STREETS GIVEN TO THEM, THEIR BUILDINGS BUILT. ONCE AGAIN, WE SEEM TO TAKE THE BACK SEAT EVERY TIME. I EXPECTED MORE FROM THIS COUNCIL. I EXPECTED MORE FROM THIS PARISH. I EXPECTED MORE FROM EVERYONE. UNFORTUNATELY, I GUESS I'M DOOMED TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN THAT MATTER. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE, IT WAS SAID TODAY AT THIS MEETING. WE TALKED ABOUT DEDICATED MILLAGES AND HOW THEY HAVE TO BE SPENT. I WANT YOU TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT YOUR OWN HOUSE WITH THAT STATEMENT. SEE JUST HOW EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED'S MILLAGES HAVE BEEN SPENT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> HELLO. MY NAME IS LARRY COLLINS, FROM 1601 PLAZA DRIVE, ACRES ROAD MARRERO. I WANT TO BRIEFLY SPEAK ABOUT BY BUS TACTICS AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THESE OPERATIONS OFTEN MAKE HEADLINES, USUALLY FOR CATCHING A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF DRUGS. BUT WHAT DOESN'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION IS HOW MUCH THEY IMPACT THE BUSINESSES NEARBY. RESTAURANTS THAT LOSE FOOT TRAFFIC, OWNERS AFRAID TO OPEN UP LATE, AND CUSTOMERS WHO START TO ASSOCIATE ENTIRE CORRIDORS WITH CRIME, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE. HERE'S THE DEEPER ISSUE. IF WE TALLY UP THE TOTAL DRUG SEES IN THESE STREET LEVEL THINGS, THEY DON'T COME CLOSE TO THE VOLUME THAT WE ALL KNOW IS MOVING THROUGHOUT THE PARISH. JEFFERSON PARISH HAS A DRUG CONSUMPTION RATE THAT CANNOT BE HIDDEN. ILLEGAL DRUGS ARE A COMMODITY LIKE MILK. IF THERE'S THAT MUCH MILK MOVING THROUGH THE CITY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THE DAIRY PLANT. THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHY AREN'T WE SEEING THE TONNAGE? WHY AREN'T WE SEEING MAJOR BUST? MAYBE THEY'RE COOPERATING. >> THAT'S NOT MY PLACE TO SAY IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW. WHO'S MANAGING THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHILE WE FOCUS ON THE END USERS? LEE ZURICH HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS, AND I WONDER HOW HE EVEN MISSED THIS. I DON'T KNOW. YOU ALL TALKED TO LEE LATELY. ANYBODY TALKED TO LEE LATELY? I DON'T KNOW. HE MISSED A LOT OF STUFF. HE FOCUSED ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT MISSES SO MUCH. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENS. IN LIGHT OF THIS I'VE SUBMITTED A RESOLUTION. THAT I'D LIKE TO PASS OUT RIGHT NOW TO YOU ALL. IT'S A COMMUNITY MITIGATION AND IT'S AN APPROACH THAT RECOGNIZES BOTH THE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE IT IS NEEDED AND THE COLLATERAL IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES, FOOD WORKERS, AND RESIDENTS. IT PROPOSES TARGETED SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY VISIBLE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AND STRATEGIES TO STABILIZE KEY CORRIDORS BEFORE THEY REACH A CRISIS POINT. I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING IT FURTHER AND WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU TO PROTECT BOTH THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. >> I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR STEVE. HE'S PASSING SOMETHING OUT. THANK YOU FOR COMING UP. >> APPRECIATE. >> LET ME SAY THAT FROM A MACRO PERSPECTIVE, OUR SHERIFF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING SOME OF WHICH, MUCH OF WHICH YOU'VE MENTIONED BASED ON THEIR CHOSEN STRATEGY. ON A LOCAL LEVEL, I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AS WELL AS ALL OF US HERE ON THE COUNCIL WHO ARE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE MICRO IS INVOLVED ON THE DISTRICT LEVEL. YOU CAME BEFORE, AND WE UNDERSTAND VERY CLEARLY WHAT YOUR CONCERNS AND ISSUES ARE. [02:30:04] IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, WHEN YOU SEE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY FROM OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARRESTING PEOPLE OR RUNNING PEOPLE OFF OF SPOTS BECAUSE THE ILLICIT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OCCURRING. IT HAS TO HAPPEN, AND IT HAS TO HAPPEN, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA THAT MOST CONCERNS YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER. THAT AREA IS AN AREA THAT IT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHY PEOPLE MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE. BUT IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT. OUR MISSION, MY MISSION, AS COUNCILMAN, WHO REPRESENTS THAT AREA IS TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA, WHO CALL OUR OFFICE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE. EVEN IF THERE IS A 10TH OF AN OUNCE OF ANYTHING THAT'S ILLEGAL, I'M GOING TO APPLAUD THE SHERIFF FOR ARRESTING THEM. I'M GOING TO APPLAUD THE DEPUTIES FOR DOING SO. I, NOT ONLY, GIVE OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO PATROL AREAS IN DIFFERENT POCKETS OF MY DISTRICT. BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO BE AS DILIGENT AS POSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH THESE MATTERS THAT ARE PLAGUING YOU AND THAT ARE AFFECTING PEOPLE IN THE NEARBY AREA. I WISH IT WASN'T LIKE THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. IF BY THE EFFORTS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEIR APPROACH TO ERADICATING THIS, I BELIEVE IN THE LONG HAUL, THAT NOT ONLY DOES IT BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA, BUT ALSO YOURSELF AS A BUSINESS OWNER. OVERALL, I'LL JUST SAY THAT THE SHERIFF OFFICE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY DO, AND MAYBE NOT THE WAY EXACTLY YOU, MYSELF, OR ANYBODY ELSE MAY WANT IT, BUT I NEED THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AROUND THERE ARE SAFE AND WILL BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE YOU LIKE MYSELF, KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME BAD ACTORS AND SOME BAD PLAYERS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISRESPECTFUL TO GRANDMOTHERS, TO MOTHERS, TO CHILDREN WHO ARE GROWING UP, WHO JUST WANTS TO PLAY AT THE PLAYGROUND AND DO THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT KIDS DO. WHAT YOU SEE IS, HAVE A MEETING WITH YOU TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS? ABSOLUTELY. BUT WHAT YOU SEE. >> GET YOUR SUPPORT, LIKE THE DAY. >> HOLD ON. LET ME BACK UP. WHAT I AM SAYING TO YOU IS IS THAT WHEN YOU BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT THE MACRO ISSUES THAT MAY EXIST IN JEFFERSON PARISH. I'M SAYING I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE SAYING THAT JEFFERSON PARISH AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEEDS TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND THAT THEY NEED TO LOOK AT, AS YOU SAID, THE DAIRY >> YES, SIR. >> LET ME FINISH. >> YES, SIR. >> YOU SAID NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE DAIRY AND THAT'S WHY I SAID, WELL, THAT'S A MACRO ISSUE. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I AS A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN OR ANY OF US HERE CAN CONTROL. BUT WHAT WE CAN CONTROL ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN IMPACT IN OUR DISTRICTS THAT CREATES PROBLEMS AND ISSUES IN VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR JOB IS TO RESPOND TO THE CALLS THAT WE RECEIVE. >> YES. >> RESPOND ALSO TO WHAT WE SEE. WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE ON SUNDAY MORNINGS HANGING OUT IN FRONT OF A GROCERY STORE. >> IT IS TERRIBLE. >> IT IS RIDICULOUS TO ME. BUT I CAN'T CONTROL EVERYBODY'S BEHAVIOR OR HOW THEY WERE RAISED WHAT THEIR MORALS ARE, I CAN'T CONTROL THAT. NOBODY CAN. >> CORRECT. >> WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS CREATE A BETTER BALANCE BY WHICH YOU CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE. FOR ME, IT'S NOT ONLY FOR YOU, BUT IT'S FOR EVERYBODY IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL THAT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IS NOT CONTINUED TO BE HINDERED BASED ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN. I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN. I APPLAUD THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHATEVER THEY'RE COLLECTING FROM THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE BAD ACTORS. WE HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT. >> I ALSO APPLAUD THE SHERIFF IN EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES CONCERNING CRIME. BUT IN HIS ACTIONS OF CONTROLLING CRIME, THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. [02:35:02] FIGHTING CRIME IS A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR ENTERPRISE, AND I'M MORE THAN SURE THAT THERE IS ROOM TO TAKE CARE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, AND I'LL ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION. MAYBE WITH A LITTLE EDIT, I WOULD LIKE YOUR SUPPORT, SIR. >> I HAVEN'T READ IT. I'M NOT GOING TO SPONSOR IT YET, BECAUSE I HAVE TO READ IT AND UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL BREADTH AND DEPTH OF IT. LET ME SAY THIS. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS MEANS AND METHODS BY WHICH THEY GO ABOUT DOING WHAT THEY DO. CAN I GIVE YOU 20 YEARS OF STREET KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SHERIFF OFFICE DOES. >> LISTEN. I THINK YOU PROBABLY NEED TO GO AND MEET AGAIN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE THERE'S NONE OF US HERE SET ON THIS DAY AS WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE NUANCED ISSUES THAT THE SHERIFF OFFICE DEALS WITH. LISTEN TO WHAT I'M TELLING YOU. YOU'RE ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT I CAN NOT DO? >> I UNDERSTAND. >> NO ONE HERE ON THIS COUNCIL CAN CONTROL THE MEANS AND METHODS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >> THE COUNCIL FUNDS THE SHERIFF. NO? >> NO. >> I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME. WELL, I'LL TALK TO THE SHERIFF. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> BRIAN MILLER, 2121, INDIANA AVENUE, AND KENERN, ALSO, THE LIVE OAK FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE CHIEF. TWOFOLD, I WASN'T GOING TO COME UP, BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU BECAUSE ONE OF THE COMMENTS YOU MADE EARLIER, I HAVE SAID IN NUMEROUS TIMES. I'VE SENT E MAILS OUT ABOUT THE FUNDS AND THAT A MILLAGE IS DEDICATED AND WHAT WE HAVE TO SPEND IT ON. I DON'T I'M NOT HERE TO USE YOUR WORDS AGAINST YOU. I WANT TO USE YOUR WORDS TO MOVE FORWARD IF WE CAN. WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT FUNDS WE GET AS A MILLAGE FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE WE'RE RESPONDING TO MEDICAL CALLS. IT IS AN EXTRA COST FOR US. I'M NOT EVEN SAYING THAT I WANT TO BILL YOU, BUT MAYBE I NEED TO BE ABLE TO BILL THE AMBULANCE SERVICE THAT IS GIVING ME THE DISTANCE DELAY. IT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST MAYBE ONE DAY, HAVE A SIT DOWN, AND LET'S TRY TO FIX THAT. I DO BELIEVE THAT IF I AM WILLING TO STAND UP HERE AND CONDEMN, I SHOULD ALSO BE WILLING TO COME UP HERE AND COMPLIMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOU AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR REIMBURSING US THOSE FUNDS. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS AN INDUSTRY, AND A PARISH, BECAUSE OUR PARISH IS THE GREATEST IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. IF WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN KEEP IT AT THAT LEVEL. THANK YOU, CINDY. I'M SERIOUS, I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU OR WHOEVER YOU WANT TO PUT TOGETHER [APPLAUSE] >> ELVIN CROSSON, I LIVE AT 118 EVE STREET, BELL CHASE, LOUISIANA. I REPRESENT JEFFERSON FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND I ASK YOU TO HOLD THIS ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ONGOING DISPUTE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SIX YEARS. THEY HAVE NOT MET GOOD FAITH OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO STEP IN AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THIS ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ANTICIPATE AND PLAN FOR FUTURE TO SECURE THE FUNDING NECESSARY FOR NEW STATIONS, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AND SUSTAINABLE COMPENSATION. THESE COST PROJECTIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE LONG AGO. THE FAILURE TO DO SO SHOULD NOT BE A BURDEN THAT FALLS ON THE BACKS OF THE FIREFIGHTERS. THIS IS THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSIBILITY. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THE STATE LAW PREVENTS RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR FIREFIGHTERS FROM RECRUITS ALL THE WAY UP TO ASSISTANT CHIEFS. I WANT TO KNOW WHY IT JUST AFFECTS THIS PARISH, THIS ADMINISTRATION. MRS. SHANG ALSO SAID THAT SHE'S NOT SURE THAT WE'RE WORTH THE MONEY. [02:40:05] WE HAD TWO FIREFIGHTERS JUMP IN A BURNING BUILDING TO SEARCH FOR A TRAPPED VICTIM. NO HOSE LINE, NO HESITATION. HOW MUCH ARE THEY WORTH? HOW MUCH IS DANNY ZIEGLER WORTH? DANNY FELL THROUGH A ROOF, BURNED 70% OF HIS BODY. WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A MAY DAY POLICY SINCE THAT DAY. WE STILL HAVEN'T GOT ONE. BUT JUST IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS, WE GOT A SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY TO SILENCE US. HOW IS THAT PRIORITY? WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE FACTS AND OPINIONS FOR LEADERSHIP THAT SEEKS SOLUTIONS. WE WANT SOLUTIONS. WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS COUNCIL TO PERFORM THE DUE DILIGENCE AND STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO STAND READY TO RISK EVERYTHING. WE BELIEVE THE MONEY'S IN THE BUDGET. YOU NEED TO LOOK LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM. FIND OUR MONEY. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] >> TO 336, MILNE BOULEVARD, NEW ORLEANS. WE'RE GOING TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. I'VE BEEN A PROUD MEMBER OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT SINCE AUGUST OF 2011. BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT IS NOT WHERE THE JOURNEY STARTS. THE JPFT JOURNEY BEGINS LONG BEFORE A HIGHER DATE. THAT'S WHERE I'D LIKE TO BEGIN MY STORY. I GRADUATED IN B MARTINE 97, THEN RECEIVED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT 2001. MY HOSPITALITY CAREER TOOK ME MANY PLACES, INCLUDING A CORPORATE JOB WITH THE RITZ CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY. MY CAREER ALLOWED ME TO TRAVEL OF PLACES, INCLUDING DOHA, BAHRAIN, AND HONG KONG. MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WERE VERY PROUD OF MY SUCCESS AND ENVIOUS OF MY TRAVELS. BUT ALL THE EXOTIC PLACES, INCREDIBLE RESORTS, AND TREMENDOUS PEOPLE COULDN'T FEEL THAT ONE THING I WAS MISSING. I WASN'T HAPPY. I HAD NO JOY WITH MY CAREER, AND ULTIMATELY, I WASN'T FULFILLED. ONE DAY DURING THIS TIME, I SPOKE TO A CLOSE UNCLE OF MINE, WHO WAS A LATER OPERATOR WITH THE NOFD. I WAS TELLING HIM WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH AND ASKED HIM ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AS HE WAS TELLING ME MORE AND MORE, I REALIZED THIS WAS THE CAREER FOR ME. THROUGH SERVICE TO OTHERS, I BELIEVED I WOULD FINALLY HAVE THE PERSONAL FULFILLMENT I WAS DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR. I SPOKE TO ANYONE I COULD AND WAS TOLD THE JPFD WAS THE BEST PLACE TO BE. AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF WAITING, MY APPLICATION WAS ACCEPTED. AT 31-YEARS-OLD, I KNEW I HAD FINALLY FOUND THE CAREER I WAS MEANT TO HAVE. OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN UPS AND DOWNS OF BOTH MY LIFE AND MY CAREER. THE TOUGHEST TIME IN MY LIFE WITH THE SUDDEN PASSING OF MY THEN WIFE. THIS TIME ALSO SHOWED ME HOW MUCH I MEANT TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SUPPORT MY TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS AND I RECEIVED WAS SOMETHING I CAN NEVER REPAY. ONCE AGAIN, I KNEW IN MY HEART GOD PUT ME IN THE RIGHT PLACE. ONE OF THE MOST FULFILLING PARTS OF MY CAREER IS GETTING TO SPEAK TO YOUNG KIDS ABOUT WHAT WE DO. TO SEE THE EXCITEMENT IN THEIR FACES IS INDESCRIBABLE. BUT NOW THINGS ARE DIFFERENT. I FIND MYSELF LOOKING AT THE CAREER I ONCE LOVED AND VALUED AS JUST A JOB. JUST SOME PLACE I MUST GO 10 DAYS A MONTH TO GET A PAYCHECK. THE PERSONAL FULFILLMENT THAT GAVE ME THE ZEAL AND EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT I DO IS GONE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT HURTS. WHAT'S CHANGED? WHAT'S DIFFERENT NOW? NOW I FIND MY CAREER IN THE MIDDLE OF POLITICS, LEGAL BACK AND FORTH, LAWSUITS, CIVIL SERVICE ARGUMENTS, PAY DISPARITIES, JOB DUTY DISPARITIES, ETC. ALL THIS HAS ROBBED ME OF MY PASSION FOR DOING WHAT I TRULY BELIEVE IS GOD'S WORK. THE MISSION OF THIS LETTER IS A PLEA FOR HELP. TO PLEASE COME TOGETHER AND TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES AND RESTORE THE PASSION FOR THIS JOB THAT MYSELF AND OTHERS LIKE ME SO DESPERATELY WANT TO HAVE BACK. I TRULY BELIEVE IN MY HEART. WE DO THE LORD'S WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. PLEASE MAKE ME ONCE AGAIN FEEL PROUD FED TO DO IT. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] >> IT SPARKING A LITTLE CURIOSITY, AND THE WAY WE GO AND BOY, DO I NOT LIKE HAVING TO FOLLOW THAT? NO INVASIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION ARE SO [02:45:01] FUNDAMENTALLY DANGEROUS AS A TRICKS PLAYED ON THEIR OWN NUMBERS, APPORTIONMENT AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES RESPECTING THEMSELVES AND THEIR LEGAL QUALIFICATIONS TO LEGISLATE FOR THE UNION. IF I FIND THEM LACKING FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT REQUIRED TO EXERCISE THEIR CONTROL WITH A WHOLESOME DISCRETION, THE REMEDY WON'T BE TO TAKE IT FROM THEM, BUT TO INFORM THEIR DISCRETION. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ME SERIOUSLY. I MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I MIGHT LOOK LIKE A CLOWN LIKE SOME 12-YEAR-OLD WALKING IN HERE. BUT THE WORDS I'M UTTERING, THOSE ARE THOMAS JEFFERSON'S WORDS, THE MAN FOR WHOM THIS PARISH IS NAMED FOR, AND THEY'RE STILL BINDING. THE APPLICATION OF ONE RATIO WOULD BE INTELLIGIBLE TO THEM AND THEREFORE BE APPROVED. WHILE THE COMPLEX OPERATIONS OF THIS CONSTRUCT NEVER COMPREHENDED BY THEM, AND THOUGH THEY MAY ACQUIESCE, THEY CANNOT APPROVE WHAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND. I INSIST ON AN APPORTIONED LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, YOU LACK FOR THAT. I COULD VOICE THESE OBJECTIONS TO YOUR ACTIONS TAKEN, BUT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME TO DO SO NOW. I CAN ONLY VOICE THESE OBJECTIONS TO YOUR ACTIONS WHEN THEY'RE BEING TAKEN. WHEN I RISE TO OBJECT TO YOUR AMENDMENTS OR YOUR AGENDA ITEMS, BASED ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIONS I'VE EXPRESSED, I AM DOING SO APPROPRIATELY DURING THE AGENDA ITEMS. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT TAKING SOMEBODY HOSTAGE. BY SHOW OF HANDS. ANYBODY IN HERE BEEN TAKEN PHYSICALLY HOSTAGE, BEEN HELD PHYSICALLY HOSTAGE AGAINST HER WILL? ANYBODY SHOW OF HANDS? IT'S 1977. A 9-YEAR-OLD BOY AND A 6-YEAR-OLD SISTER ARE CORNERED INTO A SIX FOOT BY NINE FOOT OR THREE FOOT BY NINE FOOT WALKING CLOSET, HELD BY A MONSTER WHO FOUND HIS WAY THROUGH THAT DOOR BECAUSE WE FAILED TO BAR THAT DOOR. TAKEN HOSTAGE, SIR? WOES IT MEAN TO BE TAKEN HOSTAGE? FOR HOURS, I SAT IN THE BACK OF THAT CLOSET WITH MY SISTER SITTING NEXT TO ME. THAT MAN CHOKED THE LIFE OUT OF MY MOTHER. I WATCHED HER TURN BLUE, SIR. I DON'T KNOW HOW I MANAGED TO, BUT SOMEHOW I ROSE TO MY FEET, AND BEFORE I COULD EVEN TAKE A STEP, I WAS KNOCKED ON MY BUTT AND MY NOSE WAS BLOODIED BY THAT SAME MONSTER. BUT HE RELENTED. AFTER HOURS OF NEGOTIATION, PLEADING, CONVINCING HIM THAT MY MOTHER WAS EVERY BIT OF ALL THOSE TERRIBLE, DESPICABLE THINGS HE ACCUSED HER AND MY FATHER AND MY SISTER'S FATHER, LIKEWISE. SOMEHOW WE ESCAPED THAT CLOSET. I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE HELD HOSTAGE, SIR. WHEN I LEAVE THIS PODIUM, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK OF ME, WHY DON'T YOU CALL ME BACK? SHOW ME SOME RESPECT. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT ME AFTER I'VE LEFT THE PODIUM? THAT'S BACKBITING. THAT'S JUVENILE DELINQUENT STUFF. IF ANYBODY HERE THINKS THEY'RE GOING TO BULLY THIS 12-YEAR-OLD, I'VE SEEN WORSE. >> AT YOUR TIME. >> FIGURE OUT. >> PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU BACK. YES, MA'AM, MADAM PRESIDENT. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. I KNOW I'VE SAID THESE NUMBERS MANY TIMES. WE WOULD WANT THE UNION. WE'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE UNION. WE WANT TO FIND A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR STARTING FIREFIGHTER PAY UP AND ANY OF THE WAGES AS WELL THAT ARE NOT COMPETITIVELY WITH OUR RATES. WE'VE HAD TWO PAY STUDIES THAT CONFIRM THAT WITH ANY OF THOSE RATES. WE OFFERED SOME THINGS THAT WE OUGHT WERE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. NUMBER 1, TO GO WITH US AND AGREE WITH US TO GO TO THE STATE LAW AND CORRECT STATE LAW THAT INCLUDES JEFFERSON PARISH IN FORCING US TO IF WE RAISE THE STARTING RATES, WE HAVE TO RAISE EVERYONE. SO WHAT WE COULD FIX OURSELVES WITH THE $327,000 FIX COST US $9.8 MILLION. THAT IS WHY WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT CHANGING STATE LAW. WE ALSO OFFER THEM A SECOND OPTION IS TO LET US WRITE A CHECK. YOU WANT TO CALL IT A SUPPLEMENTAL PAY, YOU WANT TO CALL IT AN INCENTIVE PAY TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE A ONE TIME CHECK TO GET OUR STARTING FIREFIGHTERS UP TO COMPETITIVE RATES. WE'LL BE AT COMPETITIVE RATES WITHOUT BEING BOUND TO THIS GRID, THAT IS UNWORKABLE FOR US, AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH. THESE ARE THE ABSOLUTE IF THEY HAVE ANY OTHER WAYS TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THE STARTING SALARY WITHIN THE MONEY THAT WE ALREADY GET FROM OUR TAXPAYERS, AND THEY DO GIVE US A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO RUN A FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE WERE ALWAYS OPEN TO HEAR IT, BUT WE NEVER GOT ANY ALTERNATIVES, WORKABLE ALTERNATIVES FROM THE UNION. ASIDE FROM CARVING US OUT OF STATE LAW, NOT CHANGING STATE LAW, JUST GETTING JEFFERSON BARROS OUT OF STATE LAW, OR WRITING A CHECK. >> QUIET IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE. >> THAT IS WHAT WE HAD OFFERED, AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER, [02:50:02] BUT THOSE WERE IMMEDIATE NOTES FROM THE UNION. INCLUDING WRITING A CHECK TO OUR FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTERS. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I THINK, LOOK, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS RIGHT NOW. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL AND RUDE. YOU WANT US TO TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY. YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON THE PARISH PRESIDENT. WE DON'T TURN OUR BACKS ON YOU ALL. I THINK WE NEED TO ACT LIKE ADULTS AND PROFESSIONALS WHILE WE'RE IN THIS ROOM AND THIS IS EXTREMELY RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD. >> [INAUDIBLE] MRS. SHANG, YOU HAVE NOT OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH, NOT ONE TIME. NOT A SINGLE TIME WE HAVE MET WITH YOU. THE ONLY PROPOSAL YOU WANT TO DO IS TO DECREASE STATE LAW. WHY DOES EVERY OTHER PARISH NOT HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT YOU NEED TO. ALSO, YOU SAY IT COSTS $9 MILLION? I FOUND $9 MILLION IN YOUR BUDGET. BUT MR. LECHUT SAID THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE OFF ANY INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS. REVISED STATUTE 331236, LINE ITEM 35, SAYS THAT ONLY 4% OF THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET CAN BE USED ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS. THAT 4% WOULD EQUATE ROUGHLY TO 2.1-$2.4 MILLION OF OUR BUDGET. I ESTIMATE IT'S OVER 7 MILLION. WHEN WE ASKED MR. LECHUT, WHY IS IT DONE THAT WAY? BECAUSE THAT'S HOW JEFFERSON PARISH HAS CHOSEN TO DO IT. JEFFERSON PARISH HAS YET AGAIN CHOSEN TO BREAK THE LAW WHEN IT COMES TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS. THEY NOW WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW NOW THAT FIREFIGHTERS DEMAND AN INCREASE. WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO DECREASE THE LAWS BECAUSE MISS SHANG DOESN'T BELIEVE WE CAN AFFORD IT. WE CAN AFFORD IT. SHE'S JUST CHOOSING NOT TO. ADDITIONALLY, YOU WANT TO USE THESE SALARIES AGAINST $190,000 A YEAR. THAT $190,000 YEAR WAS AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WHO WORKED 3,600 HOURS. THE AVERAGE PARISH EMPLOYEE WORKS 1,800 IF THEY'RE A 35 HOUR WEEK EMPLOYEE, AND 2,080 HOURS, THEY'RE A 40 HOUR WEEK EMPLOYEE. THAT EMPLOYEE WORKED DOUBLE WHAT MOST PARISH EMPLOYEES WORK, AND THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE WHAT THEY MAKE. THEIR HOURLY RATE HOURLY RATE IS 42 35 AN HOUR. AGAIN, IF THAT'S GOING TO BE USED AGAINST US, OUR FIREFIGHTERS WILL NOT WORK THE OVERTIME TO STAFF THE TRUCKS, IF THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO. IF IT'S GOING TO CONTINUALLY BE USED AGAINST US, SHE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO STAFF FIRE TRUCKS AND TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT TRUCK IS GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE SHE THINKS WE'RE OVERPAID. HOWEVER, WE CAN PROPOSE AN IDEA AND DIFFERENT IDEAS OF HOW TO FUND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WHERE WE CAN CUT SPENDING AND WHERE WE CAN AFFORD THESE RAISES. HER ADMINISTRATION JUST DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ON OUR BACKS TO SIT THERE AND SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T AFFORD IT, SO YOU NEED TO TAKE A DIMINISHED BENEFIT. NO PARISH EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN ASKED TO WORK FOR LESS THAN THEY HAVE THEIR PREDECESSORS. I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO TELL ME WHAT PARISH EMPLOYEE HAS RECEIVED LESS THAN A 6.8% PAY RAISE IN EITHER THEIR STARTING PAY OR THEIR END PAY FROM 2007, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH OUR PAY SCALE HAS INCREASED FROM 2007 UNTIL NOW, 6.8%. THANK YOU. >> STEP THERE FOR ONE SECOND. I APPRECIATE THE REMARKS YOU'VE MADE OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS. >> YES, SIR. >> I WANT TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS QUICKLY JUST TO CLARIFY THINGS IN MY HEAD A LITTLE BIT. TO ME, AND I THINK, TO A LOT OF US HERE, THIS BOILS DOWN TO WE PAY OUR FIREFIGHTERS FROM THE FIRE MILLAGE. >> YES, SIR. >> WE'VE NEVER DIPPED INTO THE GENERAL FUND. WE'VE NEVER PAID OUR FIREFIGHTERS IN ANY OTHER WAY THAT I'M AWARE OF. AT THIS POINT IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, IT SEEMS PRETTY CUT AND DRY TO ME TO SAY, LET'S GET IN A ROOM, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE ROOM, BUT LET'S GET IN A ROOM, AND LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THIS WITHIN THE MILLAGE. IF WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND WE SAY, WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHIN THE MILLAGE, THEN YOU HAVE TO COME TO US, THE COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE A MILLAGE INCREASE. I THINK CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK THOSE ARE THE BASIC GRANULAR TWO OPTIONS HERE. WE PAY FROM THE MILLAGE AND WE FIGURE IT OUT, AND 5% RAISES THAT THE PARISH DOESN'T HAVE TO GIVE EVERY YEAR BECOMES 2%, 3% FROM EVERYBODY GOES TO EVERYTHING ELSE, OR YOU COME TO THE COUNSEL FOR A MILLAGE INCREASE. AM I WRONG? AM I SIMPLIFYING IT TOO MUCH? >> WELL, MR. WALKER, YOU'RE 100% RIGHT. WE'VE ALWAYS RELIED ON THE DEDICATED MILLAGE TO PROVIDE THE SALARY INCREASES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER, WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS IS MORE AND MORE OF THAT MONEY HAS NOW GONE TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS. WE PAY $45,000 TO THE SECURITY DEPARTMENT. THEY PROVIDE NO SERVICE TO US. WE PAY, I FORGET THE AMOUNT THAT WE PAY, BUT WE PAY A LARGE AMOUNT TO HUMAN RESOURCES. THE ONLY THING THEY DO IS ADMINISTER DRUG TESTING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PARISH EMPLOYEES AND SHE'S SHAKING HER HEAD. I MEAN, MAYBE SHE CAN PROVIDE SOME CLARITY, BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, THAT'S THE ONLY THING HUMAN RESOURCES DOES BECAUSE WE'RE AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY. WE ARE NOT LUMPED IN WITH PARISH GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE OUR OWN CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT AGENCY. OVERSEEN BY MRS. SHANG. I AGREE WITH YOU. [02:55:01] IT SHOULD BE SIT IN THE ROOM AND LET'S FIGURE IT OUT, BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO CUT ANY SPENDING. WE'VE OFFERED MANY DIFFERENT WAYS WHERE WE CAN CURTAIL SPENDING AND GIVE FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE BOARD A PAY INCREASE. MRS. SHANG AND MR. LECHUT DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW CLEAR WE CAN BE. MY FRUSTRATION CERTAINLY IS NOT WITH YOU OR WITH ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO CUT SPENDING IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO USE OUR BUDGET TO PROP UP OTHER DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE ACCORDING TO THAT. >> I THINK WE'RE ALL TIRED OF WHERE WE ARE. WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP DOING THIS. WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP HAVING YOU SHOW UP. WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP HAVING YOU SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL. MY OTHER QUESTION IS THIS. THE LAST OFFER FROM THE UNION THAT I KNOW OF WOULD BANKRUPT THE MILLAGE TOMORROW, THE $18 AN HOUR, WHICH I THINK WAS THE LAST PROPOSAL FROM YOU ALL. AM I CORRECT ON THAT 17, 18. >> THAT WAS OUR PROPOSAL. HOWEVER, WE NEVER GOT A TRUE COUNTEROFFER. THE ONLY COUNTEROFFER WAS, LET'S GIVE A STIPEND TO FIRST YEAR EMPLOYEES OR SECOND YEAR EMPLOYEES. WE COULDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED, WHAT WILL THIS STIPEND BE? WHEN WILL END? WELL, WE DON'T KNOW. THAT'S NOT NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH. IF YOU TRULY HAD AN OFFER, YOU WOULD KNOW THESE THINGS. YOU WOULD KNOW THE COST, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED. THE ONLY OTHER OFFER WAS TO DECREASE THE PROMOTIONAL RAISES. WELL, AGAIN, EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE CAN ABIDE BY THAT AND OPERATE WITHIN THEIR BUDGET. THE ANALOGY I'D LIKE TO USE. >> LET ME STOP YOU REAL QUICK AND POINT OUT THAT NOT EVERY PARISH IN THE STATE PAYS THEIR FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH A FIRE MILLAGE. THAT'S A BIG POINT OF CONTENTION. >> THERE THEY DO. ST. GEORGE DOES, AND MANY OTHER FIRE PROTECTIONS DO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT MILLAGE IN WHICH THEY PAY THEIR FIREFIGHTERS. SOME EVEN GO TO THE EXTENT OF PAYING THEM 90% OF WHAT THE MILLAGE BRINGS IN. WE DON'T PAY THAT. I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE ANYWHERE CLOSE. I WANT TO SAY SALARY AND PENSION FACTOR IS AROUND $32 MILLION. AGAIN, WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT SALARY DOWN BY THE UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME THAT MRS. SHANG JUST SEEMS TO HATE SO MUCH. THAT'S TO MAN THE FIRE TRUCKS. AGAIN, IF THAT'S SUCH A HEARTBURN, MAYBE THE FIRE CHIEF OR MAYBE ANYBODY ELSE CAN SAY, HEY, THIS TRUCK IS GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN TODAY BECAUSE OUR PARISH PRESIDENT DOESN'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO PAY FOR THIS FIRE PROTECTION, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE STATE. IT'S CALLED CALLBACK OVERTIME. EVERY MAJOR MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT AND SUBURBAN DEPARTMENT GENERALLY DOES THAT. I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. AGAIN, THERE'S COST SAVINGS THERE. THIS ADMINISTRATION JUST HAS NO DESIRE TO EXPLORE THOSE. WELL, AND THIS IS MY LAST COMMENT, THEN I'LL MOVE ON. FROM WHERE I SIT, I BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PIVOTAL POINT. WE HAVE A LOT OF PIVOTAL POINTS IN OUR PARISH HISTORY. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PIVOTAL POINTS WHERE THIS HAS BEEN WE'VE HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS THROUGH EVERY PARISH PRESIDENT GOING BACK TO ARON BROSSARD, WHERE THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE COME AFTER THE PARISH PRESIDENT. I WANT TO SEE US THIS TIME COME TO A SOLUTION, COME TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE THIS CAN BE A PROLONGED AGREEMENT THAT IS MAYBE WORKED IN STAGES OVER YEARS AND CAN MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY ENOUGH, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE HAPPY ON BOTH SIDES COMPLETELY, BUT HAVE A SOLUTION THAT KEEPS US IN HARMONY AND IN STEP FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE I THINK WE DON'T LIKE TO SIT HERE AND GO THROUGH THIS. THE PUBLIC GETS TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THIS, AND YOU ALL GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT THIS. WE GET TIRED OF HEARING IT ON ALL SIDES, SO WE NEED TO COME TO A SOLUTION SOONER THAN LATER TO PUT ALL THIS TO BED AND MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE. >> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU AT ALL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ADMINISTRATION JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO DECLARE AN IMPASSE AT SOME POINT, AND IT WILL BE UP TO THIS COUNCIL TO DECIDE TO PUT ON THE BOOT AND LET THE CITIZENS DECIDE WHAT LEVEL OF FIRE PROTECTION THEY WANT. >> COUNCILMAN VAN RAGAN. >> I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN WALKER SAID. THE FIRST SPEAKER TODAY WITH FIRE SAID, LEADERSHIP SEEKING SOLUTIONS, AND I DO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S SAYING. CAN WE SEEK SOLUTIONS? HAVING BEEN ON THE ADMINISTRATION. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN CHAIN OF COMMAND, AND YOU HAVE ROLES TO DO IN THE ADMINISTRATION. JUST PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT COUNCILMAN WALKER SUGGESTED. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE A MEETING WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE IT IS YOUR ROLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED, WHERE YOU COULD BRING US UP TO SPEED ON WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND WHY YOU THINK THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS MADE IS NOT ONE THAT YOU CAN AGREE TO? I'M VERY CURIOUS TO KNOW WHERE $9 MILLION HAS BEEN FOUND IN YOUR EYES AND HOW THAT MIGHT. WITHOUT US STEPPING INTO YOUR ROLE, MAYBE AN UPDATE SO THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DISCUSSION THAT HAPPENS HERE. IF YOU COULD UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON THAT, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD NO. >> IT COUNT THESE MEETINGS BEFORE. IF HE'S SAYING WE HAVEN'T TALKED IN GOOD FAITH, [03:00:02] IT AS IF WE HADN'T HAD MEETINGS WITH HIM. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THEM. WE WENT OVER WE'VE GONE OVER THE NUMBERS. WE TOOK THEIR IDEAS. VICTOR LOOKED AT IT. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY THAT FOR WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSED TO DO. WE DON'T. I KNOW THEY'RE SPEAKING WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL, SO YOU'RE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL. THEY'RE HAVING MEETINGS WITH ALL OF YOU, AND AS THEY SHOULD. BUT IT'S NOT LIKE WE'VE DONE THIS ALREADY. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THEM, AND WE'VE GONE, AND I PERSONALLY ASKED MR. ARBO TO COME FORWARD AND TELL US WHERE WE CAN SAVE MONEY AND IT WAS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT HE HAD ON THE BUDGET. I THINK WE CLARIFIED IT AT MANY POINTS. THIS WAS DONE ALREADY, AND WE ARE NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH. BUT WE BARELY GOT THE OPINIONS OUT OF HOW WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY WHEN THE UNION SAID, NO, NOT POSSIBLE. WE'RE GOING TO GET SUED. WE'RE GOING TO GET SUED BY THEM. WHO'S GOING TO SUE US? WHO'S GOING TO SUE US WHEN WE WANT TO WRITE A CHECK TO FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTERS TO BRING THEIR SALARIES UP TO COMPETITIVE LEVELS WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES. WHO SUES US FOR THAT? >> MAY I ANSWER IT? >> I'M NOT DISAGREEING. >> WHO SUES US FOR THAT? WE WANT TO WRITE A CHECK TO FIRST-YEAR FIREFIGHTERS AND SAY, WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE'RE NOT AT COMPETITIVE RATES FOR YOU. LET US WRITE YOU A CHECK AND GET YOU AT A COMPETITIVE RATE, AND IT GETS US OUT OF THIS RIDICULOUS GRID THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW AT THE STATE LEVEL. NOW, IN WHAT WORLD WILL WE GET SUED TO DO THAT? THEY SAY, WE WILL. THIS IS WHERE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THIS IS WHERE THE CAMPAIGN THAT THEY'RE RUNNING DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. BECAUSE WE'RE SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF THE CAMPAIGN THAT WE'RE RUNNING ON A 1053 BASE PAY HOURLY RATE, BUT YOU ADD 288 SUPPLEMENTAL PAY AND 356 GUARANTEED OVERTIME. IT'S A $16.97, WHAT YOU GET IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT RATE. WE'RE TRYING TO BRING IT UP TO COMPETITIVE RATES, AND WE WILL WRITE YOU A CHECK. THEY SAID, YOU WILL GET SUED. I WANT TO SAY, BY WHO, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO WRITE A CHECK TO OUR FIRST-YEAR FIREFIGHTERS TO GET THEM UP TO COMPETITIVE PAY? THIS IS THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE WITH THEM. >> MAY I ANSWER? >> GO AHEAD. >> TELL ME WHO'S GOING TO SUE US WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO WRITE A CHECK. I KNOW, YOU WILL SUE US. >> WE ARE GOING TO SUE YOU. THAT'S OUR ORGANIZATION BECAUSE YOU ARE BREAKING LAW. >> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SUED US? >> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU WON? >> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAWSUITS AND HOW MUCH THEY COST US. >> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SUED? LET'S NOT DO IT BACK AND FORTH. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAWSUITS. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE SUED YOU? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU WON? YOU'VE SPENT $700,000 ON LAWYERS TO LOSE. YOU'VE SPENT $700,000 FIGHT FIRE ON STATE LAW TO LOOSE. >> LET'S NOT GET INTO A BACK-AND-FORTH RIGHT HERE. >> BECAUSE YOU KEEP SUING US. >> LET ME BE PROFESSIONAL AND ANSWER THE QUESTION. >> THE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY, MR. CHAIRMAN, IS THE SAME SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY THAT EVERY OTHER PARISH EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN UNDER FROM BEFORE I CAME INTO OFFICE, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE THREATENED? THEY'RE GOING TO SUE US ON THAT AS WELL. THEY'VE TOLD US. THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WORK IN. >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY MORE PROGRESS TODAY. LET ME SAY. >> MAY I HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO ANSWER? >> A FEW MINUTE? NO. >>I'M SORRY. A MINUTE TO ANSWER. >> LOOK, WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A LAWSUIT. LET'S JUST MOVE PAST THERE. IF NOBODY LIKES THIS IDEA, LET ME KNOW. FOR OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, CAN WE PRESENT OUR FIRE MILLAGE? WITH A LINE BY LINE, LOOK AT HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR FIRE MILLAGE, AND HAVE A DISCUSSION HERE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT OUR FIRE MILLAGE AND PUT IT IN BLACK AND WHITE ON THE SCREENS SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE HOW WE SPEND OUR FIRE MILLAGE. IS THAT DOABLE? IS THAT AGREEABLE? >> MAY I ASK THAT WE NOT BE CURTAILED TO THREE MINUTES AS MS.SHENG CAN SPEAK AS LONG AS SHE WANTS IF THAT'S THE CASE. >> OR WE COULD LOOK, WE'LL DISCUSS THIS AS A COUNCIL. WE COULD CONSIDER CALLING A SPECIAL MEETING AS WELL TO TALK ABOUT THIS, TO TRY TO VAULT TO THE FINISH LINE AND SEE IF WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT OUR NEXT MEETING IS NOT UNTIL NOVEMBER 5TH. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY. >> GO AHEAD. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. I JUST DON'T THINK IT'LL WORK THAT AS YOU'RE ENVISIONING. I THINK THIS IS A FUNCTION OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, NOT THIS COUNCIL. WHILE WE CAN IT. >> I DON'T WANT TO PRESENT IT. I WANT THE THE ADMINISTRATION TO PRESENT THE FIRE MILLERS. >> BUT PRESENT IT FOR WHO AND FOR WHAT? >> FOR EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM. >> BUT THEY'VE ALL MET WITH HER. THEY ALREADY KNOW. THEY ALL KNOW. WE KNOW. SO WHO ARE WE PRESENTING IT FOR? WELL, THINK IT'S FOR THE PUBLIC, THEN WHY CAN'T WE JUST POST WHAT WE'VE SENT? >> WE COULD DO THAT TOO. YOU KNOW IT'S JUST THINKING OUT LOUD. I MEAN. >> I KNOW. I UNDERSTAND. I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. I JUST THINK WE'RE GOING TO WORSEN THE PROBLEM AND ELEVATE THE ARGUMENT RATHER THAN DE ESCALATE IT. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THIS MEETING AND LAY IT ALL ON THE TABLE AND IT GOES AWAY, [03:05:03] I THINK IT ESCALATES IT. IN MY OPINION. >> IF WE GOING TO HAVE AN OPEN FORUM, WHY NOT LIKE MR. WALKER SAID, MAYBE CALL A SPECIAL MEETING WHERE, YOU KNOW, NO ONE PARTY IS, YOU KNOW, ASSIGNED ONLY 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE CAN GET ALL THOSE THINGS. DISCUSS FOR. TO ANSWER MS. VAN VRACKEN QUESTION, AND, MS.SHENG'S QUESTION, THE REASON WHY WE SAID WE WOULD SUE YOU IS BECAUSE THE EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF KENNER. THEY COMPRESSED THEIR PAY SCALE, WHICH IS AGAINST STATE LAW. REVISED STATUTE 33 1991 AND 1992. YOU CANNOT COMPRESS THE PAY SCALE. THAT WOULD BE WHY. WE FOREWARNED THEM MANY TIMES ABOUT ALL THE LAWSUITS THAT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN. WE WERE IGNORED. THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THE POSITION WE'RE IN. AGAIN, THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, AND THAT HAS WHAT HAS LED TO THE MULTITUDE OF LAWSUITS. WE WILL DISCUSS ALL THIS FURTHER. OKAY. THANK YOU. >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE ELSE TODAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE]. >> GOOD AFTERNOON FRANK USAMANO, 2713 NORTHWOOD LAWN AVENUE. I'M GOING TO BE REAL BRIEF. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE THREE MINUTES, BUT I CAN SEE BEFORE ALL, YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEM IN GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY OF THESE OVER THE YEARS WITH PRESIDENT BURKETT AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS. YOU CAN'T TAKE THIS PERSONAL. AND I FEEL LIKE AT TIMES MS.SHENG HAS TAKEN THIS PERSONAL, WHICH IS NOT GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS, IT SHOULDN'T BE PERSONAL, IT SHOULD BE A BACK AND FORTH, AND WE'VE NOT GOTTEN THAT OUT OF THAT ADMINISTRATION. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. CRAIG BURKETT, VICE PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, JUST TO MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR. MS.SHENG OFTEN SAID, OUR PROPOSAL IS $9.5 MILLION. IF IT IS THAT MUCH, IF THAT IS, IN FACT, TRUE, THAT ACTUALLY, I GUESS, PROVES OUR POINT THAT SHE'S THAT FAR BEHIND IN PAYING FIREFIGHTERS. THE REASON YOU NEED SUCH A LARGE INCREASE IS WHEN YOU LEAVE WAGES STAGNANT SINCE 2007 FOR THE MAJORITY OF YOUR EMPLOYEES. THEN NOW OF OF A SUDDEN, HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND ADJUST THEIR SALARIES AFTER 18 YEARS OF LEAVING THEM AT STAGNANT WAGES, OTHER THAN A 6% INCREASE. WHILE YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY SPENT THAT MONEY ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THE TAXPAYERS AT THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE MILLAGE INTENDED IT TO STAY WITHIN MAY ACTUALLY ANSWER THE PROBLEM. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT $9.5 MILLION OR WHO'S GOING TO SUE? WHEN YOU GIVE THE FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTERS AN INCREASE, IT'LL BE THE SECOND ONES THAT WANT TO SUE YOU, THE SECOND YEAR FIREFIGHTERS. IF YOU GIVE THE FIRST AND SECOND YEAR FIREFIGHTERS AN INCREASE, IT'LL BE THE THIRD AND FOURTH YEAR FIREFIGHTERS THAT WANT TO SUE YOU. YOU CAN'T RIP THE WIRING OUT OF A PAY PLAN THAT HAS SOME VERY DELICATE INTRICACIES AND SAY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO THIS WHEN, TENURED FIREFIGHTERS ARE GOING TO BE GOING? WHAT HAVE I BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS TO MAKE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY? THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. BUT MS.SHENG HAS, WHAT'S AWFULLY ODD IS, SHE CLAIMS $190,000 SALARIES. THREE SUPPRESSION FOR ASSISTANT CHIEFS WHO HAVE ONLY HAD A 6% ADJUSTMENT. IT'S ON YOUR PARISH ORDINANCE IN YOUR PAY SCALE. THEY MAKE 105,700 AND SOME CHANGE A YEAR FOR A 48 HOUR WORKWEEK. I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO GET MS.SHENG'S EXPLANATION. IF NOT FOR OVERTIME, WHAT IS IT THAT IS GETTING THOSE SALARIES THAT HIGH. OVERTIME THAT SHE REQUESTED, SHE APPROVED AND THAT SHE PAID. WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S DECEPTIVE TO OUR CITIZENS OR DECEPTIVE TO THIS COUNCIL, LET'S START WITH THAT. WE CAN DEBATE THIS IN ANY ARENA OR FORUM. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET SHOWING STATION 21 ON THE LAST FEW BUDGETS AT $1 MILLION IN THE BANK STUFF SOMEWHERE THAT FOR A STATION IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE BUILT. YOU DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO FUNDING. SO, LET'S JUST START WITH THAT ITEM. LET'S START ABOUT THE MILLION DOLLAR IN THE WEST BANK TRAINING CENTER THAT HAS BEEN FUNNELED OVER THERE FROM THE EAST BANK CITIZENS AND TALK ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE TAX BURDEN ON THE CITIZENS OF THE EAST BANK MILLAGE. THEN WE'LL START THERE, AND WE'LL DO AND ITEM FOR LINE ITEM. THAT'S PERFECT. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY PROBABLY SOME DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. WE'RE READY ANY TIME, ANY DAY, IN ANY FORM. THANK YOU. >> MORE POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR YOU WALK OFF. YOU MENTIONED 9.5 MILLION. WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL FROM YOU ALL ADDS, LIKE 24 MILLION A YEAR TO THE MILLAGE, IF WE WENT TO THE $17 OR $18 AN HOUR OR WHATEVER THAT AMOUNT IS. >> IF IT'S PRETTY SAD TO SAY IF YOU GO TO $18 AN HOUR, IT'S GOING TO ADD $24 MILLION, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S IN MY OPINION, IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO SAY, [03:10:02] THE FIREFIGHTER SHOULD HAVE TO GO FIND A MUDDY IN A BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN SLAUGHTERED AND MISSPENT. TO GO FIND THE PAY RAISES THAT WERE ALREADY FUNDED BY THE CITIZENS. WE WILL SEND EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL A 1993 MMA STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THIS COUNCIL THAT I KNOW THE ADMINISTRATION NOW HAS THAT TOLD THEM TO STAY AT 210 EMPLOYEES. IF THEY TALKED YOU INTO BUILDING AN ADDITIONAL FIREHOUSE, SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS, AND YOU'VE MISMANAGED THIS BUDGET, THAT'S ON YOU AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, NOT ON THE FIREFIGHTERS TO GO FIND A LIVABLE WAGE [APPLAUSE]. >> FRANKLIN LORENZO, 516 TUMBLE CREEK, MADISONVILLE, LOUISIANA. WITH I DON'T WANT TO COME UP HERE AND HAVE A GOTCHA MOMENT, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, I KNOW THEY DO A LOT OF WORK, BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE PROBLEMS OF LOOKING EVEN AT OUR BUDGETS. NOBODY'S ABOVE THE LAW, I DON'T THINK, AND 33,1969, 33, 1992 ARE BOTH STATE LAWS THAT IS CONTRARY TO WHAT MS.SHENG DOESN'T WANT TO FOLLOW. MY LAST STATEMENT, WE HAVE RECEIVED RECENTLY A SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY, 10,600 WORDS. YOU KNOW HOW MANY WORDS ARE OUR SOPS AND SOGS THAT HELP US PROTECT OURSELVES AND THE CITIZENS, 3,054 [APPLAUSE] >> ANYONE ELSE. >> LOOK, I'LL SAY THIS. THIS HAS BEEN HIGHLY DEBATED. IT'S EASY WHEN YOU AND I'LL ALWAYS SAY THIS WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL. IT'S EASY FOR. >> YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL. >> I CAN SPEAK. I'VE SAT IN YOUR SEAT OVER THERE, AND IT'S VERY EASY. IN EVERY COUNCIL MEETING, YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO VERY PASSIONATE AT THE MICROPHONE ON A PROPERTY MATTER, SAY BOTH SIDES VERY PASSIONATE. BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND YOU'RE FORCED TO WEIGH BOTH SIDES. I'M 100% WILLING AND WANT TO WORK WITH THE UNION TO FIND A WAY TO RAISE THE STARTING FIREFIGHTER PAY. THE PROBLEM IS IS THEY RUN A CAMPAIGN ON THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT THEY WANT. THEY WANT EVERYONE TO GET A RAISE. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT AND IF WE HAD UNLIMITED MONEY, I'D WRITE THE CHECK MYSELF, BUT WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED MONEY, AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED MONEY. I'M GOING TO SAY I TOOK THE 2024, WHAT YOU PUT IN THE BANK. BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT A SALARY, IT'S WHAT I PUT IN THE BANK. THAT'S THE SPENDING MONEY I CAN SPEND ON MY FAMILY, OR MYSELF. WHAT YOU PUT IN THE BANK, AND I WILL REPEAT THIS. I WILL REPEAT THIS. THIS IS WHY I ALWAYS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GOING TO THE TAXPAYERS FOR MORE MONEY, 49 EMPLOYEES MAKE LESS THAN 50,000. THAT'S INCLUDING THE FIRST YEAR FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIX AND INCREASE THEIR PAY, 127 EMPLOYEES MADE 50,000-100,000. AGAIN, WHAT YOU PUT IN THE BANK? NINENTY FIVE EMPLOYEES MADE 100,000-150,000, AND 23 EMPLOYEES MADE OVER 150,000 UP TO 180, 190, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, 40%. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, 40% OF OUR FORCE MAKES OVER $100,000. COMPARE THAT WITH A FAMILY, THE AVERAGE SALARY IN JEFFERSON PARISH IS $65,000. GUYS, THAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS TO WE KNOW WE'RE NOT RUNNING A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE OF STATE LAW. AND THE ANSWER IS NOT TO GO FIX THAT BY GOING INTO THE POCKETS OF OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH HIGHER INSURANCE COSTS AND HIGHER COSTS JUST FROM WHERE WE LIVE. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE MONEY THAT THEY MAKE IN THE BANK. THEY CAN TALK ABOUT BASE PAY, SUPPLEMENTAL OVERTIME, ALL THIS STUFF. THIS IS THE MONEY THAT WE PUT IN THE BANK. IT IS VERY SIMPLE. IT IS. IF YOU LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, IT IS VERY SIMPLE. >> GO AHEAD, SIR. >> THAT'S YOUR HAND? THIS ONE? IT COMES ON WHEN YOU START. I'M SORRY. MS.SHENG KEEPS TALKING ABOUT MONEY IN THE BANK. I'M JUST GOING TO GO BACK. I'M ONE OF THE OLD GUYS. GO BACK. THE CHECK THAT I COULD FIND WAS FROM 18 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS MAKING 8.72 AN HOUR. I TOOK HOME $300 MORE THAN WHAT THESE STARTING FIREFIGHTERS MAKE MAKING 10.53. I MADE $8.72 AN HOUR. I WAS TAKING HOME $300 MORE PER CHECK THAN WHAT THESE GUYS ARE MAKING AT 10.53 AN HOUR. [03:15:02] MS.SHENG KEEPS TALKING ABOUT A SHORTFALL OF MONEY. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. SHE FOUND MONEY TO PAY HER OWN POSITIONS IN HER OFFICE. I KNOW, MR. WALKER, YOU WERE PRETTY UPSET ABOUT OUR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION. BUT LIKE BROTHER LORENZO SAID, THE PARISH HAS THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY OF AROUND 2,000 WORDS. OURS WAS 10,600 WORDS, PUTTING A GAG ON US SO THAT WE COULDN'T SAY WHAT WE WANTED TO SAY FOR RISK OF LOSING OUR JOBS. THIS IS JUST A PEACEFUL PROTEST. WE DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT SHE'S SAYING, AND WE SHOULDN'T BE PENALIZED FOR IT. AND LIKE THEY ALSO BROUGHT UP WHEN DANNY ZIEGLER GOT HURT. I DON'T KNOW. HOW LONG AGO WAS IT? SIX YEARS? THIS IS SIX YEARS AGO. WE ASKED FOR A MDA POLICY. FOR SIX YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT. WE HAVE ZERO WORDS FOR THAT. WE HAVE 10,600 WORDS KEEPING US IN OUR MOUTH SHUT, ZERO FOR SAFETY. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] >> BRENDAN FOX 22 DONAL AND DRIVE HARRAHAN. MS.SHENG, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, YOU MENTIONED THE SALARIES, THE HIGH SALARIES. YOU DON'T MENTION THE OVER EIGHT APPROACHING 900 EXTRA HOURS A YEAR THAT WE WORK EVERY YEAR. HOLIDAYS, NIGHTS, WEEKENDS. IT'S CONTINUALLY JUST OUR SALARIES. WE WORK THE OVERTIME. 56.5 HOURS EVERY WEEK. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CONTINUOUSLY HAVE THIS CONVERSATION EVERY MONTH. 02,904 HOURS. IS WHAT WE WORK. THANK YOU.[APPLAUSE] >> WHAT ELSE? DON'T WANT TO MOVE ON TILL WE'RE SHORE. NOBODY'S WALKING FORWARD. SORRY, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK? YOU WERE WAITING THE WHOLE MEETING? IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, GO AHEAD, WAS ABOUT TO SHUT IT DOWN. >> I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN TO GO. I'M SORRY, GUYS. >> I THOUGHT YOU LET IT GO BY. >> OH NO, SIR. NOT THIS. THANK YOU FOR LET ME SPEAK. AGAIN, KENNETH MARTIN, I'M A RESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, 10950 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY. I HAVE TWO SONS. I'M REQUESTING THAT THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL REVERSE AN UNLAWFUL BAN AGAINST ME THAT WAS IMPOSED BY MR. HARROW BULLER. I'M ALSO REQUESTING THAT MY SON'S ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS BE REINSTATED. ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025, I SENT THE EMAIL TO SEVERAL JEFFERSON PARISH EMPLOYEES CONCERNING THE DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT THAT I BELIEVE WAS OCCURRING IN THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT. SPECIFICALLY, I COMPLAINED TO MARIO BASIL AND MR. HARROW BULLER, THE DIRECTOR OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE TAKING STEPS OF COVERING UP THE DISCRIMINATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AT THE RECREATION PLAYGROUNDS. >> HOLD ON A SECOND, MADAM PARISH ATTORNEY. >> YES, COUNCILMAN. >> I DIDN'T GET YOUR NAME. >> KENNETH MARTIN. >> MR. MARTIN, HE HAS AN ATTORNEY, AND WE HAVE REFERRED THIS MATTER OVER TO JPSO. I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S NAME SHOULD BE DISPARAGED. JPSO HAS INVESTIGATED THE MATTER. >> THIS IS JUST WAS ALL THAT HAD BEEN SENT IN A LETTER. I THINK IT'S FAIR FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT. >> IF YOU'VE HIRED AN ATTORNEY AND JPSO IS INVOLVED, THEN MOVE PAST. >> GOT NO TROUBLE. >> JPSO IS NOT INVOLVED. >> HERE WE GO. WELL, OF COURSE, I'M ASKING FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF MY CHILDREN. ON SEPTEMBER 24, I SENT A MESSAGE TO SAID PERSON REQUESTING THAT MY CHILDREN RE TRANSFERRED FROM THEIR FARMS TO LEMON GYM TO PLAY BASKETBALL. THE NEXT DAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SAID PERSON CLAIMING THAT I HAD INCORRECTLY PROVIDED A WRONG ADDRESS ON THE FORM AS A PUNISHMENT, SAID PERSON STATED THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, MY FAMILY ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN JEFFERSON PARIS RECREATION DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS WAS REVOKED, AND THAT I WAS PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING IN ANY JEFFERSON PARIS RECREATION DEPARTMENT, [03:20:02] FACILITIES AND THAT I WAS PROHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING IN ANY JEFFERSON PARISH SANCTION EVENTS AT OFFSITE FACILITIES AND THAT IT IS INDEFINITE. SAID PERSON DECISION TO BAN ME AND MY CHILDREN CONSTITUTING IMPERMISSIBLE FIRST AMENDMENT RETALIATION IN RESPONSE TO MY RAISING OF MY GRIEVANCE. SAID PERSON DECISION TO BAN ME FROM THE JEFFERSON PARIS RECREATION DEPARTMENT FACILITIES AND DEFINITELY VIOLATED THE DUE PROCESS CLAUSE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATE CONSTITUTION. I PREVIOUSLY RAISED THESE ISSUES VIA MY ATTORNEY AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I NOW RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION TO REVERSE THE PUNISHMENT IMPOSED BY SAID PERSON ON SEPTEMBER THE 25, 2025. IF THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DOES NOT REVERSE THIS BAN IMPOSED ON ME BY SAID PERSON, I WOULD INTERPRET THE BAN TO BE AN OFFICIAL POLICY OF JEFFERSON PARISH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> ANY ONE ELSE? ONE MORE. >> CHARLIE HUDSON FIRE CHIEF, JUSTIN PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THESE GUYS NEED SOME HELP. I NEED SOME HELP. WE HAVE A GREAT FIRE DEPARTMENT. I'M ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE. I'M OUT IN THE FIELD WHEN THERE'S A CALL TO GO AND SEE WHAT THESE GUYS ARE DOING MEN AND WOMEN, AND THEY GIVE YOU 100%. I'VE BEEN THROUGH EVERY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JUSTIN PARISH, WORKING IN SOME TYPE OF ASPECT TO GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY. I'VE NEVER BEEN A POLITICAL PERSON. MY FAMILY IS NOT CONNECTED TO ANYBODY. I'VE STARTED FROM THE GROUND UP AND GOT MY OPPORTUNITY WITH COLLEGE EDUCATION. BUT WHAT I GO OUT IN THE FIELD AND SEE AT NIGHT, WHEN THE BELL GOES OFF, THERE'S NEVER A QUESTION ABOUT ANY OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN TO GO AND DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. WE HAVE SOME OF THE VERY BEST, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PART OF ALL THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES WE HAVE. WHEN WE'RE PAYING FOR REALLY THE VERY BEST, AND WE WANT TO KEEP THE VERY BEST THAT WE CAN. ONE LAST THING I WANT YOU TO IF YOU HEARD ANY MESSAGE FROM ANYBODY WHO STEPPED UP AT THE MITE TODAY, HEAR TONY'S MESSAGE, BECAUSE TONY HAD A LOT OF FEELINGS THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY AS WELL, DEALING WITH THE BUDGET, DEALING WITH SUPPRESSION, DEALING WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT TONY MENTIONED TODAY. I LOVE THE FIRE SERVICE. I DO IT AS A VOLUNTEER. I DO IT AS A PROFESSION BECAUSE I LOVE THE FIRE SERVICE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHOSE BELL GOES OFF. IF I HEAR SOMETHING VERY SERIOUSLY, I'M GOING TO IT, WHETHER I GET PAID OR NOT, BECAUSE I LOVE THE FIRE SERVICE. I BELIEVE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HERE LOVE THE FIRE SERVICE. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE FIGHTING SO HARD FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT SOME HELP. THANK YOU.[APPLAUSE] >> MADAM PRESIDENT. >> I'LL SAY THIS. >> MADAM PRESIDENT? >> I CAN APPRECIATE THE CHIEF BEING IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION. HE IS WORKING DAILY WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND WANTS TO GET THEM RAISED, AND ME SAYING WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. I CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULT POSITION HE'S IN. THIS IS NOT PERSONAL TO ME, AND I'VE BEEN CALLED THAT I'VE ATTACKED PEOPLE OR THAT IS PERSONAL IT'S NOT PERSONAL TO ME, GUYS. I'M A FORMER CPA. I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, AND NO PART OF ANY OF MY STATEMENTS SHOULD YOU BE TAKING AS INSULTING TO YOU OR THE PROFESSION THAT YOU DO. I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO. IF ANYTHING, I ALWAYS WANT TO DEFEND US, AND WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AS ONE GOVERNMENT AGENCY. WHAT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT WITH THIS WHOLE DEBATE IS NOT THAT I GET MADE INTO A RAT OR THAT I GET ALL OF THESE NAME CALLED TO ME. WHAT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING TO ME HONESTLY IS THAT OTHER PEOPLE COME TO ME AND SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT YOU BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IT'S CREATED. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT BAD PEOPLE. NONE OF US ARE BAD PEOPLE. I KNOW YOU'RE FRUSTRATED, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT COMES OUT IN NAME CALLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I'VE NEVER TRIED TO CALL ANY OF YOU A NAME. I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE RESPECTFUL. THIS IS A FINANCIAL PROBLEM THAT I'M ASKING THE UNION LEADERSHIP TO WORK WITH ME ON. [03:25:05] IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL IF WE GO TO THE STATE AND GET JEFFERSON PARISH CARVED OUT? I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MONEY AWAY FROM ANYBODY. I KNOW, EVEN THE HIGHEST PAID OF YOU HAVE EXPENSES AND A WAY OF LIFE ON THAT MONEY GUARANTEED. I'VE NEVER ONCE CONSIDERED TAKING MONEY AWAY. NOW, DID WE TALK ABOUT MAYBE NOT GETTING A FUTURE RAISE AT A LOWER RATE TO GIVE IT TO THE FIRST? THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABSOLUTELY HAVE HAPPENED. BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT WAYS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD BECAUSE I HEAR LITTLE BITS OF IT. I'M THINKING, I'VE NEVER ONCE SUGGESTED ANYBODY GETTING LESS OF WHAT THEY MAKE NOW. NOW, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME HARD THINGS? YOUR PENSION IS VERY EXPENSIVE. ANYBODY IN THE STATE WILL SAY THE PENSION IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. THAT'S NOT ON ME. MEDICAL CARE IS HIGH. THAT IS EATING INTO YOUR SALARY AS WELL. THAT'S NOT ON ME EITHER. LET'S BE REALISTIC AND STOP MAKING ME INTO THIS TERRIBLE PERSON. I'M NOT YOUR ENEMY. I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU, BUT I ALSO WAS ELECTED TO MAKE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS, AND I WILL DO THAT. NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE I GET OR HOW MEAN SPIRITED THINGS ARE, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND FROM A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG, BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. I CAN APPRECIATE THE CHIEFS POSITION. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A VERY STRESSFUL POSITION FOR HIM TO BE BETWEEN BOTH SIDES, AND I DON'T WANT TO NOT BE ON YOUR SIDE. I'M NOT YOUR ENEMY. I KNOW YOU THINK OF ME AS YOUR ENEMY, BUT I'M NOT THAT WE HAVE GOT TO COME THROUGH WITH A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO OWES SOMETHING TO OUR OTHER TAXPAYERS. IT'S NOT JUST ME. YOU ALL DO TO. IF YOU LOOK AT IT THROUGH THAT LENS, MAYBE WE COULD COME TO SOME BETTER SOLUTION. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SPIRITED DISCUSSION TODAY. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION INTO SUMMARY. [ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY ] >> THE FIRST TWO I'M GOING TO READ ARE GOING TO REQUIRE UNANIMOUS VOTES. REVOKING AND DECLARING A PORTION OF CANE STREET RIGHT AWAY ADJACENT TO 40 701 PERRY DRIVE, LT 12 SQUARE FIVE PONCHO TRAIN SHORES ADDITION SUBDIVISION, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS. >> ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT ORDINANCE READ IN THE SUMMARY AND MOTION OF COUNSEL AND RANKING SECONDED BY COUNSEL WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. DOES IT NEED TO BE UNANIMOUS WITH COUNCIL BANONA. >> TO REPEAL ORDINANCE NUMBER 22572, WHICH EXCLUDED FROM JEFFERSON PARISH USE OF SALES TAX, THE PURCHASE, LEASE OR RENTAL, AND USE OF MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT USED TO MANUFACTURE TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY OR PRODUCE PROCESS AND STORE FOOD, FIBER, AND TIMBER FOR SALE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACT ONE OF THE 2004 SESSION. >> ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION OF THAT ORDINANCE READ IN THE SUMMARY AND MOTION OF COUNSEL A RANK AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WALKER? HEARING NONE SO ORDER. >> AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, LOTS 32 AND 33 SQUARE NUMBER 30 CANAL STREET SUBDIVISION 671 ROSA AVENUE, AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R18-C2, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, LOT C1 BLOCKS ONE AND FIVE BEVERLY KNOLL SUBDIVISION AT 23:28 METER E ROAD, AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM G02 CBZ, MATORY RIDGE TREE PRESERVATION DISTRICT TO C1 CBZ MRT PD. I REQUESTED VARIANCE TO A PORTION OF INTERIOR LANDSCAPING OF THE CBZ FOR CHASE BANK LOCATED AT 37 83 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LOT2A3 SQUARE A. A SPECIAL PERMANENT USE TO OPERATE AN EMERGENCY VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL WITH VARIANCE TO C 12328 MARY RIDGE ROAD ON LOT C ONE BLOCKS ONE AND FIVE BEVERLY KNOLL SUBDIVISION, WHICH LOT IS ZONE GO TWO, CBZ, MATORY RIDGE TREE PRESERVATION DISTRICT. AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF LT4 SQUARE 126, SHREWSBURY SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 18:16 SHREWSBURY ROAD, AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R2-C2. APPROVING LOTS, K, J1, J 2A, J3, J4A, J5A, J5B, J5C AND J5D, MER AND FORM SUBDIVISION, INTO LOT J1A, J2A1, J3A, J4A1, J5A1, [03:30:03] J5B1, J5C1 AND J5D1. APPROVING OF LOTS 910 AND 26 SQUARE 29, HARVEY CANAL SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 26 A SQUARE 29, AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 27, ARTICLE 2, DIVISION 3, SECTION 27-47 AND SECTION 27-48, AMENDING CHAPTER 27 ARTICLE 5, DIVISION 2, SECTION 27-196 FOR THE HANDLING OF WATER AND SEWER USER FEES WITH MASTER METERED MULTI FAMILY COMPLEXES. AMEND CHA 27 ARTICLE 5 DIVISION ONE SECTION 27-180 TO CLARIFY INFORMATION REGARDING DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND HANDLING OF PAST DUE ACCOUNT BALANCES. AMEND SECTION 2-761 AND REPEAL SECTION 2-762 THROUGH 2-764, RELATIVE TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH HEADSTART ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND HEADSTART PROGRAM. AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED TO REVISE THE CLASS TITLE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF ELECTRICIAN TRAINEE. AMEND SECTIONS 1-2 1-10 1-112 POINT 5-7 AND 8-1 DASH 104.3 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATIVE TO THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED FOR VIOLATIONS OF A PARISH ORDINANCE. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 OPERATING BUDGET. AND THAT'S ALL THE ORDINANCES I HAVE TO READ. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THOSE ORDINANCES READ IN THE SUMMARY, A MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BRIAN FRANKIN SECONDED BY COUNCILOR WALKER. HARRY NONE SO ORDERED. ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO ADJOURNED BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT. HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.