Feb 25, 2026 Parish Council East Bank

[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]

[00:00:04]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH SOME PROCLAMATIONS BEFORE THE MEETING. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. IF YOU COULD, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

HEY, GOOD MORNING. FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH SOME PROCLAMATIONS FOR THE IRISH-ITALIAN PARADE.

OUR LARGEST PARADE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND A PARADE FOR WHICH I AM A PREVIOUS ITALIAN GRAND MARSHAL WHO KNEW THAT HANS LILJEBERG WAS MOSTLY ITALIAN. BUT IF HARRY LEE CAN BE IRISH, THEN I CAN BE ITALIAN. LET ME STEP DOWN.

FIRST, WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT. IT IS KNOWN THAT.

IN APPRECIATION OF THE EFFORTS AND PARTICIPATION OF ALL INVOLVED IN THE PARADE, THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON CONFERS THIS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON JASON RITTEN, CAPTAIN OF THE IRISH ITALIAN PARADE. FOR THE 2026 CARNIVAL SEASON. JASON.

WE ALSO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FOR THE HONORABLE CAMERON HENRY, THE IRISH GRAND MARSHAL, FOR THE IRISH-ITALIAN PARADE. BE IT KNOWN THAT, IN APPRECIATION OF THE EFFORTS AND PARTICIPATION OF ALL INVOLVED IN THE PARADE, THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON CONFERS THIS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON CAMERON HENRY. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BE IT KNOWN...

IN APPRECIATION OF THE EFFORTS AND PARTICIPATION OF ALL INVOLVED IN THE PARADE, THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON CONFERS A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON ERIC YOUNGBLOOD, THE ITALIAN GRAND MARSHAL. THE IRISH ITALIAN PARADE. COUNCIL. THE PRESIDENT. SENATOR. WAIT, ONE MORE, ONE MORE. YEP. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES OF MERIT FOR THE ST.

PATRICK'S DAY PARADE FOR THE 2026 CARNIVAL SEASON. BE IT KNOWN THAT, IN APPRECIATION OF THE EFFORTS AND PARTICIPATION OF ALL INVOLVED IN THE PARADE, THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON HEREBY CONFERS THIS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON KELLY KERRIGAN, CAPTAIN OF THE ST. PATRICK'S PARADE OF JEFFERSON. WE ALSO HAVE

[00:05:24]

THEY ARE UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY NOT WITH US TODAY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GRANDCHILD BEING BORN IN BATON ROUGE. SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS WITH YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH LOOK, HE'S CUTE. ONE MORE, Y'ALL.

MADAM PRESIDENT. ON MORE, YA'LL. MADAM PRESIDENT. HEY, THAT WAS FUN. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ALL LATER. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. HAVE A GOOD ONE.

THANK YOU, MAN. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT, IF WE COULD HAVE IT QUIET IN CHAMBERS, PLEASE. I KNOW.

IF WE COULD HAVE IT QUIET IN CHAMBERS, PLEASE. HANS, I MIGHT NEED YOUR HELP. I GOT THIS VOICE. I MIGHT NEED YOUR HELP. ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL HAVE TO PARDON MY VOICE THIS MORNING. I REALLY AM STRUGGLING. I NORMALLY DON'T, BUT THIS IS BAD. I'D LIKE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING TO MR. TED SHIELANDER. COME UP. OH, SURE.

YOU'RE WELCOME. HI. GOOD MORNING, SIR. EVERYONE, THIS IS TED SHIELANDER. HE IS A FAITHFUL MEMBER OF THE WILLIAMS BOULEVARD BAPTIST CHURCH FOR OVER 30 YEARS. HE HAS BEEN EMPLOYED AT THE RIVER RIDGE, WINN-DIXIE LOCATION FOR 30 YEARS, WHERE HE HAS SERVED IN VARIOUS ROLES SUCH AS BUGGY COLLECTOR AND HEAD BAGGER. TED SHIELANDER HAS PROVIDED DEPENDABLE SERVICES TO HIS EMPLOYER. AND HAS NEVER TAKEN A DAY OFF FOR SICKNESS, NOT ONE DAY. TED SHEELANER HAS LIVED MOST OF HIS LIFE IN JEFFERSON PARISH. HE TRAVELS TO WORK, CHURCH, SHOPPING, ETC. VIA BICYCLE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AND AGAIN, HAS NEVER MISSED A DAY. HE IS LOVED AND APPRECIATED BY HIS CO-WORKERS AND PATRONS OF WINN-DIXIE. HE IS KNOWN FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND AND MAKING SURE CUSTOMERS ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF WHEN THEY VISIT. TED SHEELANDER HAS OVER 30 YEARS, IN HIS OVER 30 YEARS, HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS PEOPLE WITH HIS KINDNESS AND DEMEANOR.

THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND CONGRATULATES TED SHEELANDER FOR HIS 30 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO WINN-DIXIE AND WISH HIM SUCCESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

CONGRATULATIONS. SAY IT

[00:10:19]

THIS IS MY. FAMILY FROM HARLINGEN, TEXAS. CHRISTY SCHLANDER, MY NEPHEW, RYAN FETTING, AND MY OTHER NEPHEW, THOMAS WHITEHEAD. I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL LAST NIGHT THEY ARRIVED HERE FOR THIS CEREMONY. THANK YOU, JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL. THAT IS AMAZING. THIS IS A CERTIFICATE FROM WINDIX.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HI, IT'S LIZ YEAGER HERE FROM MAGNOLIA. HI LIZ, I DIDN'T SEE YOU SITTING RIGHT THERE. COME ON UP. HOW ARE YOU? I'M READY. WILL YOU QUIETEN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE, EVERYBODY? WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE OF THESE TO DO. ALL RIGHT, THIS IS MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY SERVICES HERE TODAY, AND WE'RE RECOGNIZING THEM FOR MORE THAN 90 YEARS OF SERVICE. WHEREAS, FOR MORE THAN 90 YEARS, MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY SERVICES HAS SERVED AS A CORNERSTONE OF JEFFERSON PARISH, PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE CARE, HOUSING, AND VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. AND WHEREAS, MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY SERVICES REMAINS STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS AND CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE AND COMFORTABLE HOUSING, SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, INDIVIDUALIZED MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CARE, WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND ENRICHING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. SO THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL MAY LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE. AND WHEREAS? THE MONTH OF MARCH IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH, DEDICATED TO PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING, INCLUSION, AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH AUTISM, DOWN SYNDROME, CEREBRAL PALSY, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

AND WHEREAS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 07, 2026, MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY SERVICES WILL HOST THE SECOND ANNUAL MAGNOLIA FEST, MAGFEST.

ON THE HISTORIC GROUNDS OF MAGNOLIA'S RIVER ROAD CAMPUS, OFFERING A FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY DAY, FEATURING LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES, FOOD, BEVERAGES, COMMUNITY ART VENDORS, LOCAL RESOURCES, AND WHEREAS, MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH.

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED MUSICIAN DELFEO MARSALIS AND THE UPTOWN JAZZ ORCHESTRA WILL HAVE ONCE AGAIN COMMITTED TO HEADLINE MAGNOLIA FEST, ENHANCING THE CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF THE EVENT. AND WHEREAS MAGNOLIA FEST IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT MORE THAN 500 ATTENDEES... AND WILL SERVE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WHILE ALSO GENERATING CRITICAL SUPPORT TO HELP OFFSET FUNDING SHORTFALLS IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES. AND WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DESIRES TO RECOGNIZE MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR NEARLY A CENTURY OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, COMPASSION, AND DEDICATION TO BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE PARISH FOR ALL CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE MARCH 2026 AS INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH. NOW, THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND COMMENDS MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 90 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. AND FOR ITS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH ADVOCACY, CARE, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING MAGNOLIA

[00:15:01]

TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY OF EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS.

WHEREAS MS. SATUN HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE AND VALUED MEMBER OF MANY OTHER THINGS, IT'S NOT JUST FLOOD PROTECTION, JEFFERSON BEAUTIFICATION, INC., THE JEFFERSON PARISH TREE PRESERVATION AND PROPAGATION BOARD, AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH BOARD OF STANDARDS AND APPEALS, AS WELL AS THE UMBRELLA GROUP THAT WE'VE HAD KNOWN AS THE EAST JEFFERSON CIVIC LEAGUE.

WHEREAS, SHE'S PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY-FOCUSED ACTIVITIES, BASED ON LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCING PUBLIC OUTREACH ON ZONING REQUESTS, ESTABLISHING RULES FOR DIGITAL SIGN REGULATIONS, ALL INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE GOVERNANCE OF OUR COMMUNITY. LAST WHEREAS.

WHEREAS, IN RECOGNITION OF HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO IMPROVING FLOOD RESILIENCE, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN OUR REGION, SHE WAS HONORED IN 2002 WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR GOOD GOVERNMENTS CIVIC LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD. VERY WELL DESERVED. HER INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE HAVE INSPIRED HER COLLEAGUES AND OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY COMMENDS AND RECOGNIZES

[00:20:01]

DEBBIE? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, ALTHOUGH I DID NOT DO THIS FOR RECOGNITION, THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WHO NEED TO STEP UP. AS THOSE OF US WHO ARE AGING. STEP AWAY A LITTLE. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE THOUGHT AND EFFORT AND I'VE BEEN CHALLENGED PROFESSIONALLY AND ETHICALLY RECENTLY. AND THIS IS A GOOD, GOOD FEELING TO HAVE THIS AWARD TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU AROUND NEXT WEEK? YEAH. OKAY.

THANK YOU, DAD. GREAT WORDS.

YOU DESERVE IT ALL.

CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD MORNING.

I'M HERE TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR EMPLOYEES WITH THEIR 10-YEAR SERVICE PINS, VICTOR LAROCCA, OUR INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR. VICTOR, IF YOU COULD, COME UP. STARTED WORKING FOR JEFFERSON PARISH ON JANUARY 06, 2016 AS OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR.

AS BUDGET DIRECTOR, VICTOR HELPED THE PARISH RECEIVE THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OUTSTANDING BUDGET AWARD EACH YEAR.

AT THE ONSET OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, VICTOR QUICKLY EVALUATED AT-RISK PARISH REVENUE STREAMS. AND DEVELOPED SUGGESTED OPERATIONAL CUTS TO ENSURE THE PARISH'S FINANCIAL STABILITY IN A TIME OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, VICTOR WAS ASKED TO STEP UP AS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT IN MY OFFICE. IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, HE BECAME OUR INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR.

VICTOR IS A TIRELESS PUBLIC SERVANT WHO NEVER SHIES AWAY FROM ANY TASK. THAT IS VERY TRUE. ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE, BUT IS ALSO VERY HANDS-ON. I WILL SAY, I'LL USE THE WORD VERY STEADY.

HE'S BEEN A WORKING DIRECTOR WHO REGULARLY WORKS UNTIL THE JOB IS FINISHED. AS SUCH, HE HAS ENDEARED HIMSELF TO HIS STAFF AS SOMEONE WHO WALKS THE WALK AND TALKS THE TALK. AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, VICTOR HAS PROVIDED HIS VETERAN LEADERSHIP TO REDUCE STAFF TURNOVER, INCREASE HIRING, AND GETTING THE 2024 AUDIT ISSUED. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICTOR. SO, FOR SURE. ALL RIGHT, NEXT, DONNA RUSSO, CITIZENS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR.

YOU'LL KNOW, DONNA. YOU'LL SEE HER ON THE PARADE ROUTE ALL THE TIME. WHERE'S DONNA? WHO CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY ON...

MARDI GRAS DAY, AS WELL AS CHINESE NEW YEAR. WHAT A DAY.

LUNAR NEW YEAR, I SHOULD SAY.

SO DONNA WAS HIRED AS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN THE PARISH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE ON FEBRUARY 11, 2016. ONLY TWO MONTHS LATER, SHE WAS PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF CITIZENS AFFAIRS. DONNA AND HER TEAM ARE JEFFERSON PARISH'S CARNIVAL WHISPERERS. IN ADDITION TO ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A SOLID WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CARNIVAL CREW CAPTAINS, DONNA HAS ALSO COORDINATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF RISK MANAGEMENT AND PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. TO ENSURE THAT THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR INSURANCE HAVE BEEN UPDATED. DINAH WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING MANY BICENTENNIAL KICKOFF CELEBRATIONS AND OTHER FESTIVITIES, ALL LAST YEAR.

SHE'S ALSO ASSISTED WITH THE REVIVAL OF POWERBOAT RACES IN JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCILMAN LIDGERBERG, THAT WAS

[00:25:01]

YEAH, THAT WAS GREAT. WELL, CONGRATS TO YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT

[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.

I'M SO PLEASED TO WELCOME OUR JEFFERSON PARISH SEWERAGE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE FOR THE INVOCATION THIS MORNING, KALEM REYNOLDS, FOR TODAY'S INVOCATION. KALEM IS NOT ONLY OUR JEFFERSON PARISH EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR, BUT HE'S ALSO A YOUTH PASTOR AT GREATER GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH. KALEM HAS WORKED WITH THE SEWERAGE DEPARTMENT FOR 12 YEARS, AND DURING THAT TIME HE HAS GONE FAR BEYOND HIS REGULAR DUTIES. HE ALWAYS BRINGS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND HELPS BUILD A STRONG, SUPPORTIVE TEAM ENVIRONMENT.

ON TOP OF HIS REGULAR SHIFT, KALEM HAS WORKED WITH OUR LIFT STATIONS DIVISIONS, INSPECTING OVER 250 LIFT STATIONS ACROSS THE WEST BANK IN THE EVENINGS. KALEM IS A TRUE LEADER AND A TEAM PLAYER, ALWAYS WILLING TO SERVE WHEREVER HE IS NEEDED AND FOCUSED ON PASSING DOWN HIS KNOWLEDGE TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION SUCCEED. I WAS ABLE TO SHOOT A VIDEO WITH KALEM AT THE END OF THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE HE WAS EMPLOYEE OF THE WARD. I GOT TO KNOW HIM A LOT BETTER. WE HAD A LOT OF FUN THAT DAY,

[00:30:02]

FATHER GOD, GO INTO OUR COMMUNITY. BLESS OUR COMMUNITY WITH ONENESS AND UNITY. AS WE STAND, DEAR GOD, WE STAND TOGETHER AND WE WANT TO PRESENT PEACE, WE WANT TO PRESENT LOVE, WE WANT TO PRESENT THE FUTURE. OF THE DEVILS TOGETHER. IN JESUS' NAME, I PRAY. AMEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, KALEN. WHAT A GOOD LEADER FOR OUR PARISH EMPLOYEES.

FRANK CUSIMANO, IF YOU COULD LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE THIS MORNING.

ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WILL, CALL THE ROLL.

CHAIRWOMAN VAN RANKEN.

PRESENT. COUNCILMAN WALKER.

HERE. COUNCILMAN BONANNO.

HERE. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON.

HERE. COUNCILMAN LOZABERG.

HERE. PARISH PRESIDENT MS. LEE-SHANG. HERE. AND I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLL. AND I UNDERSTAND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE JOINING US.

[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]

THANK YOU. ANOTHER GREAT CARNIVAL SEASON IS IN THE BOOKS FOR US. I'D LIKE TO THANK SO MANY OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNERS WHO WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL AND SAFE SEASON, INCLUDING OUR FIRE SERVICES AND THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR CITIZENS AFFAIRS, GENERAL SERVICES, WATER, STREETS, ENGINEERING, SEWERAGE, DRAINAGE, CO-COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT, PARKS AND RECREATION, PARKWAYS, FLEET MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS. AFFAIRS, BUILDING PERMITS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, OUR JPOS, SECURITY, PURCHASING, AND, OF COURSE, OUR JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND EMS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AS YOU CAN SEE BY TODAY'S PROCLAMATIONS, THE PARADE SEASON ISN'T OVER JUST YET. THE GRETNA IRISH ITALIAN PARADE WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH, AT NOON. THE ST. PATRICK'S PARADE OF JEFFERSON WILL BE ON SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH, AT 11 A.M. AND THE LOUISIANA IRISH ITALIAN PARADE WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY, MARCH 22ND, AT NOON.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL OF THESE PARADES, VISIT JEFFPARISH.GOV. SLASH CARNIVALSEASON. J-PAWS WILL HOLD AN ADOPTION EVENT ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH, FROM NOON TO 3 P.M. THE EVENT WILL BE HOSTED BY FLYING DOLLIES, LOCATED AT 402 WILLIAMS BOULEVARD IN KENNER.

ALSO, IF YOU'RE A TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELSEY FAN, TAYLOR SWIFT, THE CAT, AND TRAVIS TAKE OFF KELSEY, THE DOG. ARE FINALLY SAYING, I DO. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 21ST, AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY. AN INVITATION TO THAT WEDDING WILL BE POSTED SOON, AND ALL ATTENDEES MUST RSVP.

ONLY 100 GUESTS WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY EXCLUSIVE EVENT, BUT THE WEDDING WILL BE LIVE STREAMED FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT. SO MORE INFO TO COME. J PAUSE HAS FUN WITH THEIR WORK, THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. THEY'RE ALWAYS COMING UP WITH SOMETHING NEW. ELARIO CENTER, THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, THIS IS GOING BACK TO MY GOOD TIMES. MANY, MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN AT THIS EVENT WITH MY CHILDREN. THE ELARIO CENTER WILL HOST THE GOVERNOR'S GAMES VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT.

WHAT A GREAT EVENT, SEEING THE BEST OF VOLLEYBALL WITH OUR YOUTH THIS DAY, STARTING AT 8 A.M. EACH DAY.

THE TOURNAMENT WILL FEATURE 119 TEAMS OF BOYS AND GIRLS RANGING FROM 10 TO 18 YEARS OLD.

COMPETING AT THREE SITES ACROSS THE CITY, WITH 10 COURTS AT THE ELARIO CENTER. SO FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, VISIT THEGAMEPOINT.ORG.

FOR OUR LIBRARY EVENTS, WE'LL HAVE FREE TAX PREPARATION.

SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE WITH LICENSED AGENTS AT EAST BANK REGIONAL, RIVER RIDGE, WAGNER, TARRYTOWN, WEST BANK REGIONAL, AND LIVE OAK LIBRARIES. THROUGH THE APRIL 15TH I.R.S. DEADLINE.

ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. YOU CAN VISIT CALENDAR.JPLIBRARY.NET FOR A FULL LISTING. A COMMUNITY CRAFT SHARE WILL BE HELD AT TARRYTOWN LIBRARY ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH, FROM 1 TO 4 P.M. PATRONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DROP OFF GENTLY USED CRAFT SUPPLIES OF ALL VARIETIES THAT ARE NO LONGER OF USE AND PICK OUT NEW ITEMS FOR THEIR NEXT CREATIVE PROJECT. EARLY DROP-OFFS MAY BE MADE AT BOTH THE TARRYTOWN AND EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARIES FROM MARCH 1ST THROUGH MARCH 6TH, DURING STANDARD LIBRARY HOURS.

THE ANNUAL GENEALOGY EXPO AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL IS THIS SATURDAY FROM 9.30 A.M.

TO 12.30 P.M. GENEOLOGIST JARI ANARA, OF THE HISTORIC

[00:35:01]

MICHELLE BELL-BOISSIER WILL SHARE HER EXPERIENCES WITH CONSUMER GENETIC TESTING.

MULTIPLE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON ANCESTRAL RESEARCH WILL BE REPRESENTED AT INFORMATION TABLES. ALSO, THE WINTER JIGSAW PUZZLE EXTRAVAGANZA WILL BE HELD THIS SATURDAY FROM 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M.

AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY, WITH A COMMUNITY PUZZLE SWAP AND A PUZZLE SALE SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY. A PUZZLE COMPETITION, THOSE ARE ALWAYS FUN, STARTS AT 2 P.M. WITH TEAMS OF TWO VYING TO COMPLETE A 500-PIECE PUZZLE WITHIN TWO HOURS OR LESS.

PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE TEAMS. MACHINERY, THIS IS IMPORTANT, WE ALL HAVE THESE. MACHINERY THAT CAN TRANSFER VH TAPES OR REAL FILM 8MM OR SUPER 8 TO DIGITAL FORMATS WILL BE SET UP FOR PUBLIC USE AT THE TARRYTOWN LIBRARY FOR HOME MOVIE DAY THIS FRIDAY, 10 A.M.

TO 4 P.M. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO BRING HOME MOVIES TO VIEW IN THE MEETING ROOM AND TO LEAVE WITH DIGITAL FILES THAT PRESERVE TREASURED MEMORIES. ADDITIONAL HOME MOVIE DAYS ARE BEING SCHEDULED AT OTHER BRANCH LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT. AND OTHER PROGRAMMING, VISIT JPLIBRARY.NET. AND THEN I WANT TO GO OVER OUR DIRECTOR CONFIRMATIONS THAT WE ARE ASKING OUR COUNCIL TO RATIFY.

AS YOU KNOW, WHEN OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, STEVE LACHUTE, RETIRED, IN ADDITION TO ASKING THE COUNCIL FOR TWO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS IN SHEREEN GAGENHEIMER AND MARK DREWS, WE TOOK THE TIME TO FILL SOME OTHER POSITIONS AND MAKE SOME OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES.

SO WITH THAT, WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR POSITIVE VOTE ON RESOLUTION NUMBERS 142, 143, 144, 145, AND 146 ON THE AGENDA. AGAIN, I'M REQUESTING THE COUNCIL'S FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THESE SEVERAL DIRECTORS. A LOT OF THESE FACES ARE NO STRANGERS TO JEFFERSON PARISH. SO AS I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU COULD, PLEASE STAND. RAY GUIDRY, I KNOW RAY WAS OVER HERE. RAY GUIDRY. TO DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, RAY SPENT FOUR YEARS WITH THE NAVY AND SERVED IN IRAQ. HE THEN MOVED TO THE ST. CHARLES PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SPENT THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WITH THE KENNER FIRE DEPARTMENT, THREE OF THOSE INSIDE THE TRAINING DIVISION FOR JEFFERSON PARISH. I ACTUALLY MET RAY DURING SOME FEMA TRAINING THAT WE WERE TAKING TOGETHER LAST YEAR OR MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO, AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH HIM THEN. I'M IMPRESSED WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE AND HIS DRIVE. HE'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON HIS MASTER'S DEGREE IN EMERGENCY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE A VERY WELL-ROUNDED CANDIDATE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR WITH MILITARY, FIRE, AND POLICE TRAINING IN ADDITION TO FEMA TRAINING.

SO, THANK YOU, RAY. MATTHEW ZERANG, YOU KNOW, MATTHEW, WELL, TO THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING.

MATTHEW HAS BEEN WITH THE PARISH FOR 17 YEARS.

IS MATTHEW STANDING? OKAY, PERFECT. HE STARTED IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AS A COLLEGE INTERN AND HAS BEEN A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER FOR 11 YEARS. AGAIN, ANGELA DESOTO, YOU KNOW, PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. ANGELA SPENT 25 YEARS WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS. SHE'S BEEN WITH JEFFERSON PARISH FOR 10 YEARS AND HAS FREQUENTLY STEPPED UP AS A LEADER FOR PUBLIC WORKS WHEN MARK DREWS WAS UNAVAILABLE. CHRIS FRAZIER TO DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES. CHRIS HAS BEEN WITH THE PARISH FOR 16 YEARS.

HE STARTED AS AN ENGINEER AND WORKED HIS WAY UP. HIS BACKGROUND IS IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. AND JOE WAGGISBACK, THE DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND SECURITY. JOE SPENT 19 YEARS IN VARIOUS ROLES WITH THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE. A STRONG BACKGROUND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SERVING IN INVESTIGATIONS, AS A NARCOTICS SUPERVISOR, AND, MOST RECENTLY, AS PART OF MY SECURITY DETAIL. WE'VE ALSO PROMOTED RYAN BABCOCK FROM DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES TO CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OVER INTERNAL SERVICES. AS WELL AS DON ROBERTSON, FROM DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES TO CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OVER PUBLIC SAFETY. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW ENERGY THESE PROMOTIONS WILL BRING TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM.

WE'VE TAPPED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH JEFFERSON PARISH FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND HAVE DEEP INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, WHICH WE KNOW HOW CRITICAL THAT IS AS WE DO OUR DAILY WORK.

COMBINED, THESE CANDIDATES, AS WELL AS OUR NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SHEREEN GUGGENHEIMER AND MARK DREWS, HAVE MORE THAN 200 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. JUST IN JEFFERSON PARISH. THANK YOU.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHIREEN WANTED TO SAY THAT. THAT'S A LOT.

THAT'S A LOT. IT SEEMS, REALLY. SHIREEN IS 150. I WILL NOT REPEAT THAT, SCOTT WALKER.

NO, LET ME JUST SAY, I KNOW WHEN YOU INTRODUCED THE CANDIDATES TO US EARLIER THIS WEEK, THEY ARE FAMILIAR FACES, AND THE BEAUTIFUL THING IS, JEFFERSON PARISH HAS A CULTURE WHERE IF PEOPLE ARE HERE, GROW OVER THE YEARS, LEARN OVER THE YEARS, THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RISE AND LEAD. AND, UM, I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE THESE CANDIDATES.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT TRADITION. ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO RESPOND

[00:40:01]

JUST TO WISH ALL OF YOU GUYS A CONGRATULATIONS.

IT TAKES A LOT TO GET THAT KIND OF NOD FROM THE PARISH PRESIDENT, AND SO IT MEANS A LOT. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT WE HAVE ONE FROM KENNER, SO JUST BRAGGING A LITTLE BIT. THANK YOU. THE PARISH PRESIDENT AND I YESTERDAY WERE AT A LOUISIANA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION EVENT RIGHT HERE IN JEFFERSON, PARISH.

THEY HAD PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE. I SAID, WHO'S THE FURTHEST AWAY? SOMEONE FROM WEBSTER PARISH WAS HERE, SOMEONE FROM SHREVEPORT. SO PART OF WHAT WE KNOW WE HAVE IN JEFFERSON IS AMAZING OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ASSETS. THE HILARIO SPORTS COMPLEX THAT'S JUST COME ONLINE, THE PICKLEBALL COURTS THAT WE HAVE.

AND I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, THERE'S A LITTLE VIDEO THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A FIRST HERE AT JEFFERSON PARISH. NEXT MONTH, THERE IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT IN LOUISIANA, AND IT WILL BE HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH AT PARC DE FEMME. KEEP DRAWING AND YOU CAN GET A SCREEN RECORD FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING. SO AS YOU SEE THERE, THE BIG EASY OPEN IS WHAT IT'S CALLED. IT'S HAPPENING MARCH 13TH THROUGH THE 15TH. THERE'LL BE SEVERAL HUNDRED PLAYERS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO PLAY HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH. AND IF YOU WANT TO START TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DISC GOLF IS ALL ABOUT, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND SEE THIS PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL TOURNAMENT.

AND AGAIN, IT REALLY IS IN LINE WITH JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. IT'S IN TO BE OUT IN JEFFERSON, AND I THINK THAT IS, AS YOU'VE SAID, PARISH PRESIDENT, IT'S OUR WHEELHOUSE, IT'S OUR STRENGTH. MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, THE MOMENTUM WE'RE HAVING IN SPORTS TOURISM IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND IT'S VERY EXCITING, SO THIS IS ANOTHER HUGE EVENT FOR US TO HOST IN JEFFERSON PARISH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL

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

SO AT THIS POINT, AGAIN, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON ANY RESOLUTION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA, COME FORWARD, AND IF YOU WOULD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO BEGIN. KIM SHETLING, INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR JEFFERSON PARISH. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU ITEM NUMBER 71.

HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE ALL RECEIVED A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR A DEFERRAL OF THIS ITEM.

THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION COMES AT A TIME OF ACTIVE AND ONGOING MATTERS BY THE JPOIG, SPECIFICALLY, AN OPEN AUDIT ON JFI, AN EVALUATION OF JFI'S TRANSACTION REGARDING ITS RENOVATION AND LEASE OF 519 HUEY P. LONG. AS WELL AS AN ANTICIPATED PUBLIC LETTER RELATING TO THE RENT TERMS FOR THE MULTI-USE. PRESENTLY, JFI HAS A FULLY CONSTITUTED BOARD. THE RESOLUTION, UNDER ITS TERMS, SAY THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE WOULD BE 2028, AND WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO ALLOW THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE TO COMPLETE ITS WORK, PROVIDE YOU THESE REPORTS, AND HOPEFULLY PRESENT YOU WITH ADDITIONAL CONTEXT AND CONSIDERATIONS. THAT MIGHT BRING LIGHT TO THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.

I'M A RESIDENT OF RIVER RIDGE, AND I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE IG TO DEFER RESOLUTION 71. I THINK PART OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE... IS JFI WAS ESTABLISHED TO BUILD AND OPERATE PARKING GARAGES. AND LIKE MANY AGENCIES

[00:45:09]

IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR OF GRETNA AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND CAN AFFECT EXISTING BUSINESSES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER THINGS. AS FAR AS THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE A RESOLUTION PASSED TO CONFINE JPI'S FUNCTION TO PARKING. AND THE INCOME CREATED, LIKE, IN THAT MANNER. AND NOT TO ADD UNNECESSARY OVERHEAD TO THAT PARTICULAR ENTITY, JFI. I BELIEVE $1.3 MILLION IN REVENUE WAS POSTED AS OF LAST JUNE 30TH. I ASK THAT YOU DEFER THIS RESOLUTION AND GIVE SOME MORE THOUGHT TO IT.

THANK YOU. CORNELIA ULLMAN, DISTRICT 3, CAMPHOR STREET, IN AIRLINE PARK. I JUST HAVE FOUR QUICK ITEMS. NUMBER 155, THE WESTMINSTER TOWER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, IT IS IN GOOD STANDING.

HOWEVER, EVERY ENTITY AND EVERY OFFICER IS IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, AND THERE'S NO AGENT FOR SERVICE. THERE REALLY OUGHT TO BE SOME TIE TO LOUISIANA.

NUMBERS 151 AND 152. WHICH IS METAIRIE MANOR OWNER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP THAT'S NOT FILED AT ALL WITH THE LOUISIANA SECRETARY OF STATE. NOT SURE IF THAT'S REQUIRED, BUT PERHAPS THE PARISH ATTORNEY COULD ADDRESS THAT AND SUGGEST THERE SHOULD BE AN AGENT FOR SERVICE AND SOMEBODY DESIGNATED.

NUMBER 101 METAIRIE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. I'M SORRY, I'M NOT UP TO DATE ON THAT, I'M JUST NOT CLEAR THE PURPOSE OF IT. IN ARTICLE FIVE OF YOUR ART, OF THE ARTICLES THAT PROPOSED ARTICLES, THERE'S A GENERAL CATCH-ALL LANGUAGE, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THERE WERE SOME GOALS OR ASPIRATIONS STATED IN THAT. AND PART OF MY CONCERN COMES FROM THAT, FROM ITEM NUMBER 71. AND WHAT CAN I SAY? I JUST SUPPORT WHAT THE IG RECOMMENDED. AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL. NOBODY REALIZES THE TIME, THE EFFORT, THE WORDS, THE HOURS THAT GO INTO AN AGENDA LIKE THIS.

THANK YOU. J.C. JOHN HARMON. I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL. IT WAS OUR HONOR TO HAVE HER AT OUR LAST LOUISIANA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY MEETING, AND ALSO JENNIFER VAN RANKEN SPOKE AT THE MEETING.

THEY SHED LIGHT ON SOME OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PARISH, AND ITEM 71 IS A BIG CONCERN. SO I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT. PER THAT MEETING, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT WE SHOULD FULLY SUPPORT THE DEFERRAL OF AND BACK THE IG ON RECOMMENDING THE DEFERRAL BASED ON ITEM 71. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DENNIS BURKE, AND I LIVE IN METAIRIE. AGENDA ITEM 71 DEALS WITH JFI. IT'S ARTICLES OF CONFID... INCORPORATION, ITS BYLAWS, AND SOME POSSIBLE CHANGES FOR 2028. SEEMS TO ME IT'S A BIT PREMATURE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE JFI IS EMBROILED IN CONTROVERSY BECAUSE OF ITS GRETNA-BRUPO BUSINESS. I THINK IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE PRUDENT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THAT CONTROVERSY IS SETTLED, AND WITH THE BENEFIT AND CLARITY OF HINDSIGHT, THE PARISH COULD MORE EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH JFI IN ITS FUTURE, IF IT HAS ONE.

THERE ARE THOSE THAT BELIEVE THAT JFI, HAD IT DONE ITS BUSINESS WELL, WE WOULD NOT EVEN BE IN THIS CONTROVERSY IN THE FIRST PLACE AND BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.

THEREFORE, I RECOMMEND THAT AGENDA ITEM 71 BE DEFERRED OR CANCELED. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DEBBIE THERIAULT, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF OLD JEFFERSON, LOUISIANA.

I'M ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF LOUISIANA... REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY, AND I ALSO REPRESENT OTHER GROUPS THAT CANNOT BE

[00:50:01]

RECUSE YOURSELVES. AT-LARGE MEMBERS, RECUSE YOURSELVES.

YOU'RE SENATORS. YOU SHOULDN'T BE DECIDING ON ANY OF THIS.

YOU SHOULD BE ADVISORS LIKE THE HOUSE OF LORDS. YOU SHOULD ADVISE ON THESE THINGS, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T VOTE ON THEM. YOU CAN'T BE APPORTIONED. NOT THAT ANY OF THE OTHER SEATS ARE, EXCEPT FOR DISTRICT FIVE, WHICH ONLY SERVES A METERING.

OF COURSE, THERE'S SPECIAL DISTRICTS WITHIN THERE, AND THEN WE CAN GET THIS METRI, UH, PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. I BELIEVE IT WAS DECEMBER 2023. SOMEBODY DID OPPOSE THE BREW PUB, AND SOMEBODY'S GOING TO OPPOSE THIS, JUST LIKE I OPPOSE THE ANY OTHER CROTCHET. WHICH INGENUITY MAY INVENT, MAY INVENT, AND THE COMBINATIONS THAT THEY MAY GIVE STRENGTH TO CARRY, I OPPOSED THAT BREWPUB, THEN. I SAID, YOU KNOW, I LIKE A BEER. PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE PAYING FOR THIS, ESPECIALLY OUT OF MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEDICATED TO CITIZENS.

THIS WAS PUA MONEY, CARES ACT MONEY. IT HAD DEDICATED PLACES TO GO, AND IT WASN'T IN THE POCKETS OF DISCRETIONARY FUND ACCOUNTS.

THAT THEN CAN BE TURNED INTO, I DON'T KNOW, BOOSTERS TO A LOTTERY FOR A REINFORCED ROOF, MAYBE.

THIS IS JUST A JOKE. THIS IS NOT GOVERNANCE. THIS IS ARBITRARY AND INADMISSIBLE.

YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT 71. DID ANYBODY NOTICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 50 GRAND TO GIVE JFI MONEY TO LITIGATION, MONEY TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THEIR LEGAL FEES? WE'RE GIVING JFI 50 GRAND FOR THEIR LEGAL FEES. THAT'S ITEM, WHAT, 112? 154 ITEMS. I CAN'T GET THROUGH THEM ALL.

116, COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS WITH VECTOR MEDIA, AREN'T THEY? THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKING MEDIA AGAINST THE PARISH FIREFIGHTERS, TOO. IF ACHIEVED BY ANY MEANS, PRESCRIBED CONSTITUTIONALLY, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO SHOW UP HERE AT ALL.

BUT IF IT'S ACHIEVED BY ANY MEANS, NOT PRESCRIBED, THEN IT BECOMES ARBITRARY AND INADMISSIBLE. THIS IS NOT GOVERNANCE, IT'S A CABAL, IT'S NOT POLITICS, IT'S NOT A POLITICAL QUESTION.

WE DESERVE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PUBLIC. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO APPEAR? ALL RIGHT.

[ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED]

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON DEFERRING ITEM 1 THROUGH 3 TO MARCH 18TH, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

IF YOU WILL. VOTE YOUR MACHINES ON DEFERRING ONE THROUGH THREE. IT'S NOT WORKING. WERE YOU PUSHING ON YOUR SCREEN? OKAY, THERE'S EVERYBODY. ALRIGHT, SEVEN UNANIMOUS VOTES ON DEFERRING ONE

[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 4. A RESOLUTION SELECTING A PERSON OR FIRM FOR ARCHITECT, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, OR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES FOR PARK DEFAMILLE'S MASTER PLAN FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR SELECTION. ESCAPE, LANDSCAPE, ARCHITECTURE, DPC. COUNCILMAN

[00:55:02]

P.W. 5482 AND MAY INCLUDE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES FOR REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ADJACENT ROSE THORN PLAYGROUND AND BALL FIELD PROJECT, FEMA P.W. 2486, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR SELECTION. MEYER ENGINEERS.

COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES ON MEYER ENGINEERS, THE HIGHEST SCORED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

VOTING IS OPEN. EVERYBODY ALL RIGHT. ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM SIX A RESOLUTION SELECTING A PERSON OR FIRM FOR PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES FOR THE JEFFERSON STADIUM PROJECT.

COUNCIL DISTRICT TO COUNCILMAN BANANA YOUR SELECTION? I'M GONNA MOVE ON THE HIGHEST RANKED FIRM.

MATHIS BREA, MATHIS BREA.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BONANNO, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM. I THINK WE'RE MISSING FIVE AND TWO. YOU MIGHT HAVE, COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOU MIGHT HAVE HIT IT EARLY. SEE IF IT REGISTERS. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT, ENDING THE VOTE. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 7. A RESOLUTION SELECTING A PERSON OR FIRM TO PROVIDE PRE-PLACED EMERGENCY TREE WORK, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE PARKWAYS DEPARTMENT DURING DECLARED EMERGENCY EVENTS UNDER R.F.P NUMBER 0505. COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR SELECTION. THOMPSON CONSULTING. COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON THOMPSON CONSULTING, THE HIGHEST RANKED FIRM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN. VOTING IS OPEN. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 8 IS EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH WE EXPECT AROUND NOON. I HAVE A

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

COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION? MOVES TO DEFER. COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO DEFER ITEM 9 TO MARCH 18TH, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTE TO DEFER. AND THE VOTING IS OPEN.

ON THE ITEM TO DEFER TO MARCH 18TH. COUNCILMAN? ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. THE ITEM

[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - VARIANCES]

ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK

[01:00:03]

COUNCILWOMAN BAHANNON, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILWOMAN BAHANNON MOVES TO APPROVE THE ITEM. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LILJBERG. VOTING IS OPEN. ALL RIGHT, VOTING IS CLOSED. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I HAVE A NOTATION THAT ITEM 11 IS TO BE DEFERRED TO APRIL THE 8TH. COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOUR MOTION ON DEFERRING ITEM 11 TO APRIL 8TH. WE CAN'T ACT ON THIS MEASURE TODAY BECAUSE THE PLANNING AND BIDDING BOARD HAS NOT MET YET. SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO DEFER TO 318. ALL RIGHT, SO MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BONANNO. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, MADAM CHAIR.

OKAY, WE'LL GO APRIL 8TH.

YES. OKAY, SO ABSOLUTELY. SO THE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BONANNO, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, IS TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO APRIL THE 8TH. YOUR VOTING IS OPEN.

VOTING IS CLOSED. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY TO BE DEFERRED TO APRIL THE 8TH. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 12.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26683, APPROVING S.P.-69-25 FOR A VARIANCE TO THE AREA AND LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS OF THE C-1 AND CBZ FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI-RETAIL CENTER LOCATED AT 1316 NORTH CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD ON LOT 15A, SQUARE NO. 94, HARLEM SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. THANK YOU. WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26683.

ANYONE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE OPPOSED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

SEEING THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION, MADAM CLERK. COUNCILMAN LOGEBERG, YOUR MOTION.

COUNCILMAN LOGEBERG MOVES TO APPROVE THE ITEM. SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

VOTING IS OPEN. VOTING IS CLOSING. THE ITEM IS PASSED

[OTHER ORDINANCES]

ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, SEEING NO ONE IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION OF THIS ITEM. COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION. MOVE.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON APPROVING THIS ITEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN. VOTING IS OPEN.

VOTING IS CLOSED. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 14. SUMMARY NUMBER 26685, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 27123 TO CORRECT AN OMISSION OF THE INTENDED MODIFICATION OF FEES RELATED TO THE SPAY-NEUTER PROGRAM. SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 7, ARTICLE 2, DIVISION 1, SECTION 7-31A.2 OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES. WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26685. 5.

ANYONE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE OPPOSED? MADAM CLERK, SEEING NONE, MOVING FORWARD TO SPEAK ON OPPOSITION OR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING.

COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THE SPAY AND NEUTER? ALL RIGHT. CLOSING VOTING, THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 15, MADAM CLERK. SUMMARY NUMBER 26686, AMENDING CHAPTER 27, WATER, SEWAGE, AND DRAINAGE ORDINANCE OF THE JEFFERSON POWERS CODE OF ORDINANCES IN ORDER TO CLARIFY PROVISIONS FOR FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS. WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26686.

[01:05:02]

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN. OPENING VOTING. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AND THANKS SO MUCH TO MICHELLE GONZALEZ AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR REACHING OUT TO THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND THOSE WHO MIGHT BE IMPACTED. THEY HAD NO OPPOSITION AND SAID THEY APPRECIATED THE WORK. ITEM 16, MADAM CLERK, WITH AMENDMENTS. SUMMARY NUMBER 26687, AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET. AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ALLOCATE $14,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S VIDEO POKER FUND INTO PARKWAY'S ACCOUNT, 44560-4008-7454-45656-300 FOR PLAQUES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

IN THE SIGN IN FRONT OF WILLOWDALE SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL, DISTRICT 3.

TO ALLOCATE $13,495 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND TO PAY INVOICES FROM IPSC.

FOR SECURITY SERVICES AT JEFFERSON PARISH. COVID MEMORIAL AND FARMERS MARKET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3, TO ALLOCATE $1,325 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND FOR SERVICES RELATED TO THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE FARMERS MARKET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3. AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOTIONS APPROVAL ON THE AMENDMENTS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

I'M GOING TO OPEN VOTING. THIS IS ON THE AMENDMENTS. CLOSING THE VOTE. THE AMENDMENTS PASS UNANIMOUSLY. NOW OPENING THE VOTING ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. WE NEED THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, SUMMARY NUMBER 26687, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED. WE'LL OPEN THE VOTING ON THE MOTION ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

ALL RIGHT, NOW EVERYBODY'S IN. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 17. SUMMARY NUMBER 26688 AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $14,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S VIDEO POKER INTO PARKWAY'S ACCOUNT 445604008, 745445656300. FOR PLAQUES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE SIGN IN FRONT OF WILLOWDALE SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3. AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.

OKAY, COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS. I MOVE.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS. I'M GOING TO START THE VOTING. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTING. THE AMENDMENTS PASS UNANIMOUSLY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET, PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU HAVE REMARKS IN FAVOR, IF YOU HAVE REMARKS IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, SEEING NO ONE COMING FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN VOTING ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. THIS IS THE CAPITAL BUDGET ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE CLOSING THE VOTING. THE ITEM, AS AMENDED, PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MADAM

[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]

[01:10:02]

COUNCILMAN LILJBERG MOVES TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

VOTING IS OPEN. WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ST.

CATHERINE? COME ON. ALL RIGHT, THE CLERK, MADAM CLERK IS TELLING ME THAT WE DO HAVE TO OPEN. THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS RESOLUTION FOR ST.

CATHERINE OF SIENA TO HOST A GALA. SO IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, SEEING NONE WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, COUNCILMAN LILJBERG. MOVE TO APPROVE. ALL RIGHT. VOTING IS OPEN. ALL RIGHT. VOTING IS CLOSED. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MADAM CLERK. A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MELISSA MAESTRI-MARTIN, REPLACING MARCY PLANNER TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH FINANCE AUTHORITY AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. ALL RIGHT, THIS ITEM IS COMING FROM THE FLOOR, SO IT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO UNANIMOUSLY. ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IN FAVOR OF IT COMING FROM THE FLOOR.

THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR PASSING UNANIMOUSLY. THE ITEM NOW, COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG, PUBLIC HEARING ON, SORRY, ON APPOINTING MS. MELISSA MASTRY-MARTIN TO THE FINANCE AUTHORITY. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG. MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG MOVES TO APPROVE. VOTING IS OPEN.

VOTING IS CLOSED. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM CLERK? COUNCILMAN KERNER. I HAVE ONE.

COUNCILMAN BONANNO.

COUNCILMAN LEE. YES, SIR. A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO CHAMPION SPORTS MANAGEMENT LLC AT 11080 NICOLE BOULEVARD, WEST WIGO, PERMISSION TO CONDUCT A BAYOU NATIONAL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT.

ON FEBRUARY 28, 2026 TO MARCH 15, 2026, FROM 8 A.M. UNTIL 9 P.M. ALL RIGHT, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS HAS TO BE UNANIMOUS, SO VOTE ON THE ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR. NOW WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM. ANYONE WISHING TO COME SPEAK FORWARD AND SPEAK IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? MADAM CLERK, SEEING NONE.

COUNCILMAN LEE? I MOVE.

COUNCILMAN LEE VOTES TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN. VOTING IS OPEN.

VOTING IS CLOSED. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MADAM CLERK. A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO HEROES OF NEW ORLEANS TO CONDUCT A RACE FOR A CAUSE FESTIVAL ON MARCH 21ST, 2026, FROM 10 A.M.

UNTIL 7 P.M. AT NOLA MOTORSPORTS PARK. AT 11-075, NICOLE BOULEVARD IN AVONDALE.

ALL RIGHT, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WISHING TO ALLOW THIS ITEM TO COME FROM THE FLOOR, PLEASE VOTE.

MEMBERS HAVE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.

OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN LEE. I MOVE.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN. CLOSING THE VOTE, THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN. I HAVE NONE. COUNCILMAN WALKER. I HAVE NONE. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON. I HAVE NONE. AND I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLL. COUNCILMAN WALKER,

[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]

[01:15:03]

SO, IN GLOBO, ADOPTION OF ITEMS 19 THROUGH 70 MINUS 57, WHICH IS TO BE CANCELED, AND 20, WHICH IS TO BE AMENDED. COUNCILMAN WALKER? MOVE. COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN. WE'LL OPEN VOTING ON THIS ITEM, ON THESE ITEMS. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTING. THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO, ITEM 20 FOR AMENDMENT. A RESOLUTION APPROVING OF THE 2026 ALCOHOL BEVERAGE PERMITS.

AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ADD ZOCALO. RESTAURANTS UNDER PERMIT NUMBER 1, 0, 0, 8, 6, 03, 2, 3, 7 2 AND BRAZA UNDER PERMIT NUMBER 1 0, 0, 8, 6, 03, 2, 3, 3. 8 TO THE RESOLUTION OF APPROVALS, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE. OKAY, COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG, YOU WANT TO MOVE ON THOSE AMENDMENTS? MOVE TO AMEND. EXCELLENT, COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN TO AMEND ITEM 20. THIS IS THE VOTE TO AMEND ON THE AMENDMENTS. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. THE AMENDMENTS PASS. COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOUR ITEM AS AMENDED. MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOVE. VOTE.

OH, I THOUGHT I WAS MOVING MYSELF. I'M MOVING IN ADVANCE. LADY, YOU WISH TO VOTE ON THIS ONE. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTING. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED.

[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]

ALL RIGHT, SO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, CONSENT AGENDA 2 WILL BE MOVING ON ITEMS 71, PULLING FOR DISCUSSION, THROUGH 149. WITH 72 BEING PULLED FOR SELECTION AND 107 BEING DEFERRED TO MARCH 18TH.

SO AGAIN, IT WILL BE ITEMS 71 THROUGH 149, BUT PULLING 71 FOR DISCUSSION, 107 TO BE DEFERRED, AND 72, WHICH IS A SELECTION. YOUR MOTION, COUNCILMAN WALKER. I'LL MOVE ON THAT AGAIN. ALL RIGHT.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN. SO THIS IS A VOTE ON CONSENT AGENDA 2. CLOSING THE VOTE. THOSE ITEMS PASS.

WHICH BRINGS US TO ITEM 71, MADAM CLERK. A RESOLUTION REQUESTING JEFFERSON FACILITIES INCORPORATED, JFI, TO AMEND ARTICLE 7 OF ITS ARTICLE OF INCORPORATION IN ITS BYLAWS.

TO SPECIFY THE PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTING DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR BEGINNING JANUARY 2028 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

COUNCILMAN BONANNO. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR.

MY RESOLUTION HAS NOTHING, NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MERITS OF THE GROUP UP, EITHER FOR OR AGAINST. SIMPLY TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE COUNCIL'S INTENT GOING FORWARD. JFI, ALL THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY DISTRICT 1 IN THE PAST, BUT JFI REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH. AND MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN LEE, HAVE DESIRES GOING FORWARD TO USE A PUBLIC BENEFITS CORPORATION TO DO PROJECTS IN OUR DISTRICT. AND SO, WITH THAT SAID, THIS IS TO ESTABLISH A PRECEDENT GOING FORWARD. IN THE FUTURE. THAT EACH OF US, DISTRICTS 1, 2, AND 03, GET AN APPOINTMENT TO JFI.

SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL WITH A LETTER FROM THE IG ASKING ME TO DEFER THIS MATTER, WHICH I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, TOO. NONE OF THE REASONS GIVEN IN THE IG'S LETTER HAVE

[01:20:01]

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THREE MEETINGS AGO, MY COLLEAGUE APPOINTED A NEW MEMBER TO JFI. DID HE GET AN EMAIL WITH A LETTER ASKING HIM TO DEFER IT? THAT'S A MATERIAL CHANGE TO JFI.

AT THE LAST MEETING, MY COLLEAGUE, AND I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR HIM, HE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THE AREA OF REPRESENTATION. OF JFI TO JUST DISTRICT 1. DID HE GET A LETTER ASKING HIM TO DEFER? NO, HE DIDN'T. QUITE INTERESTINGLY, THE IG SHARED HIS PRESS RELEASE ON HER FACEBOOK ACCOUNT. SHE SHARED HIS PRESS RELEASE ABOUT HIS LEGISLATION. SHE DIDN'T SHARE ANYTHING FROM ME. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU OUGHT TO BE VERY CONCERNED. THE HYPOCRISY IN THE IG'S OFFICE IS REAL.

IT'S VERY, VERY REAL. IT'S ABOUT WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER PROPOSES THE LEGISLATION, AND NOT WHAT THE LEGISLATION DOES.

WELL, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR DEFERRAL, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR. HE DIDN'T ASK TO BE MADE TO DEFER ANY OF HIS MATTERS, JUST I DID. THAT ONGOING INVESTIGATION AND AUDIT WAS GOING ON WHEN HE APPOINTED A NEW MEMBER TO THAT GFI BOARD.

THE INVESTIGATION WAS ONGOING AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN HE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THE REPRESENTATION AREA OF GFI. HE WASN'T ASKED TO DEFER THAT. WITH THAT, COUNCIL CHAIR, I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR DEFERRAL. ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM THAT'S PULLED FOR DISCUSSION? I DO.

COUNCILMAN? I GOT A FEW E-MAILS AS WELL, AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW, I'VE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF YOUR MEMBERS. THE E-MAILS THAT WE GOT WERE LARGELY, LIKE THEY HAD A LOT OF MISSTATEMENTS IN THERE.

WHOEVER'S ADVISING YOU GAVE YOU ALL SOME REALLY BAD INFORMATION. THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE JUST FLAT WRONG. I HAVE NO PROBLEM ALSO DEFERRING IT. YOU KNOW, I'M AWARE, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE FRIENDS IN YOUR GROUP AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN COUNT ME IN YOUR NUMBER. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP. THEY TOLD ME THAT A LOT OF WHAT WAS TOLD TO YOU ALL WAS JUST WRONG, WAS LIKE KIND OF MADE UP FROM WHOLE CLOTH. ANOTHER THING, I MET WITH ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS AND BASICALLY WE HASHED THE WHOLE THING OUT. AND THE END RESULT IS, HE SAID, I DON'T LIKE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATIONS. I DON'T LIKE...

PUBLIC MONEY GOING INTO PRIVATE ENTITIES. AND I GET THAT. LIKE, I UNDERSTAND IT PERFECTLY. BUT, I MEAN, WE JUST DID ONE ON THE WEST BANK. WE JUST DID THE BALLPARK OVER THERE. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR THE PARISH. I MEAN, WE HAVE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATIONS ALL OVER. SOMEBODY SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION THAT I'M CREATING.

YOUR CONCERNS ARE WELL-FOUNDED.

I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE JUST SIMPLY DON'T LIKE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATIONS. AND I GET IT, AND I RESPECT THAT VIEW. YOU KNOW, THE... YOU ASKED THE REASON FOR METRI? THE REASON IS WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A TENNIS MECCA IN DISTRICT 5. JUST KIND OF MAKE IT A HUB. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY YOUR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS MATCH, YOU HAVE TO GO TO MOBILE. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO A USTA FACILITY RIGHT HERE IN METAIRIE. YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. THERE'S GOING TO BE A PRIVATE TENNIS ASSOCIATION THAT'S SUPPORTED WITH PUBLIC MONEY. I THINK IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR THE DISTRICT. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR THE PARISH. SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, BUT AGAIN, I JUST, I WANT TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO ANY OF YOU ALL IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW THE FACTS. YOU KNOW, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO, AND NOT ME, BUT TALK TO PEOPLE FROM PORT ORLEANS. TALK TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I WENT ON A TOUR OF THAT BUILDING. IT'S PRETTY AMAZING, AND THE PUBLIC BENEFIT TO JEFFERSON PARISH OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING OVER THERE IS REALLY... LIKE, I WAS AWESTRUCK. I WAS AMAZED.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO THOSE FOLKS.

THEY'LL MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO YOU. AND THEN MAKE YOUR DECISION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I LIKEWISE HAVE CREATED TWO PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATIONS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. AND I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN WE SAY THAT IT'S A CORPORATION AND A GOVERNMENT MIXING WITH A CORPORATION, THE CORPORATION IS OWNED BY AND BENEFITED TO THE GOVERNMENT. SO THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS IN THEORY, IN THAT IT'S CREATED THAT WAY THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AS A CORPORATION.

BUT THE CORPORATION IS OWNED, MANAGED, AND THE BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, BY PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, MY PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS FUNDS, EVERYBODY'S VOLUNTEER, NO ONE GETS PAID, THE ENTIRE BOARD. AND WHATEVER INCOMES THAT THEY DERIVE FROM RENTALS THAT WE HAVE AT LAFAYETTE PARK, IT'S MANDATED THAT THEY STAY WITHIN THE PARK. SO THEY CAN

[01:25:02]

AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES GOVERNMENT FLEXIBILITY. SO THAT WHEN WE ARE DOING A PROJECT IN THE PARK, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH REGULAR BID PROCESSES.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH NOW. THEY DO HAVE TO DO SOME PUBLIC BIDS. I MEAN, THEY CAN'T JUST GO WILLY-NILLY PICKING VENDORS.

BUT IF THEY DECIDE TO PLANT A GARDEN SOMEWHERE, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR THEM TO DO THAT. THEY HAVE AUTHORITY WITHIN THE CORPORATION TO DO THAT. SO IT'S A CORPORATION, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT A CORPORATION THAT'S SOME PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER. THIS IS A CORPORATION THAT IS A GOVERNMENT CORPORATION. SO THEY ARE CARVED OUT BY THE LAW, AND THEY ARE SPECIAL CORPORATIONS, AND THEY'RE DESIGNED TO DO JUST WHAT JFI'S KIND OF DONE, GROW AND CHANGE AN AREA. AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 20 YEARS IN GRETNA, I WANT TO STEAL HALF OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND MAKE IT MY DOWNTOWN KENNER, BECAUSE I LOVE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY'VE DONE. NOW, DO WE LOVE EVERY PROJECT? MAYBE, MAYBE NOT. BUT THAT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION PUT OUT TO BID, LOOKING FOR A VENDOR, AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON WHO RESPONDED, AND IT HAPPENED TO BE A BREW PUB. AND SO WE DON'T JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT GO FORWARD BECAUSE WE WANT TO HOLD OUT FOR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BUSINESS. INSTEAD, THE COUNCILMAN AT THE TIME CHOSE TO GO FORWARD. AND THIS COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY, SEVEN TIMES, SUPPORTED THAT DECISION. JUST WAY BEFORE COUNCILMAN LUSCHENBERG OR I GOT HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH JFI, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION IS NOT THE ENEMY. AND OUR IG, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HATES THEM. AND THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S HER, RIGHT. WHERE I'M WORRIED IS, LIKE, WHAT? COUNCILMAN BONANNO SAID, WE SHOULD NOT BE POLITICIZING THAT OFFICE. SHE HAS A VERY LIMITED SCOPE AND PURPOSE. IT'S TO LOOK FOR FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE. AND WEIGHING IN ON YOUR POLICY OPINIONS AND YOUR POLITICAL OPINIONS, WE SHOULD NEVER, MOST PEOPLE SHOULD NOT KNOW THE IG'S NAME. THIS PERSON SHOULD BE WORKING TO LOOK FOR FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON TELEVISION. THEY SHOULDN'T BE SHARING CERTAIN COUNCIL PEOPLE'S FACEBOOK POSTS AND CHEERING THEM ON, LIKE, RAH, THAT'S EMBARRASSING. AND I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD CHANGED THE LEGISLATION REGARDING THE IG SO THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO FACE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ANYMORE. AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR IG, DECIDING TO TAKE A POLITICAL POSTURE.

IT'S INAPPROPRIATE. IT'S INAPPROPRIATE. AND TO BE QUITE FRANK, IT'S A LITTLE EXHAUSTING TO HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. COUNCILMAN KERNER.

I AGREE. IT HAS BEEN EXHAUSTING. I'M READY TO BRING THIS TO SOME CONCLUSION BASED ON TALKING WITH ALL OF YOU.

BUT I DO WANT TO, I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES. I MEAN, ME AND ARETHA HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.

SHE'S ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE I'VE EVER SEEN ON A COUNCIL. SO I WANT TO START BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, BYRON AND DINO BOTH WORKED, YOU KNOW, WORKED WITH US SO WELL.

TO REALLY FIND A PATH FORWARD, EVEN IN THIS DEFERMENT. YOU KNOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED IT, WE ALL WORKED AS A UNIT AND THAT'S HOW THE COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. YOU KNOW, NOT ALL THE TIMES ARE WE GONNA AGREE. WE SHOULDN'T. THAT'S NOT HOW DEMOCRACY SHOULD WORK, IT'S NOT HOW A REPUBLIC SHOULD WORK, BUT IT'S WHEN WE COULD COME IN, WHEN WE DISAGREE AND FIND SOME COMMON CONSENSUS. BUT I DO HAVE SOME POINTS I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. YOU KNOW, IT IS BEAUTIFUL. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. YOU, THE TAXPAYERS, BUILT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO PURCHASE ALCOHOL OR TACOS TO GO EXPERIENCE IT. SO I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO REALLY NAIL THAT ON THAT FACT THAT, YEAH, IT IS BEAUTIFUL. WHAT DO WE EXPECT A $10.3 MILLION BUILDING TO BE? IT'S GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL. SO THAT IS NOT A COMPELLING ARGUMENT THAT, IT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE.

BUT LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO WEEDS. AND ANOTHER COMMENT WAS MADE THAT THIS THING WAS ADVERTISED ONLY ONE COMPANY.

WHEN THEY SENT OUT THE ADVERTISEMENT, THE RFQ, WHATEVER IT WAS, THEY ACTUALLY HAD PAUL LIEN'S LOGO ON IT. SO I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THIS PROCESS WAS WENT FORWARD WITH. AND TO MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, TO SOLIDIFY MY CONCERNS AND MAKE THEM, YOU KNOW, EVEN WORSE IS THAT THE PUBLIC WAS TOLD THERE WAS A MATCH. IT WAS A MATCH.

IT WAS A MATCH. THEY MADE VIDEOS ABOUT IT. OCTOBER 2023, WE FOUND OUT IT WASN'T A MATCH. AND STILL, THAT NARRATIVE KEPT BEING PUSHED. SO I HAVE VERY BIG CONCERNS ABOUT IT. AND JUST TO CLARIFY MY POSITION ON THE CHANGES I MADE AT JFI, I DIDN'T CHANGE THE FRAMEWORK OF JFI. IT'S BEEN SINCE 2001, I BELIEVE, 25 YEARS. IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN. DISTRICT 1 HAS CHOSEN THE MEMBERS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW. AND AGAIN,

[01:30:02]

WELL, WE RECEIVED THE TAX CREDIT WHERE THE PARISH PUT UP THE CONSTRUCTION AND IT WAS GOING TO GET REIMBURSED. A PART OF THIS, IF YOU GO BACK TO JETCO'S RELEASES, THE NEWSPAPER RELEASES. WE'RE GONNA GET A TAX CREDIT BACK FOR THE CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS WE PUT UP. JFI GOT THAT TAX CREDIT BACK AND KEPT IT. SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE WENT BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS TO BE USED TO HELP BENEFIT THE PEOPLE. SO THAT WAS ANOTHER RED FLAG.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WITH THE SHARED OFFICE SPACE, SINCE IT'S BEEN STARTED, BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.

BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND HONESTY AND GETTING THINGS RIGHT, STOPPING A BLEED, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS. EVERY SINGLE MONTH, ON AVERAGE, THIS SHARED OFFICE SPACE IS COSTING THE TAXPAYERS IN DISTRICT 1.

BECAUSE WE'RE FUNDING IT $15,000 TO $25,000 EVERY SINGLE MONTH. BUT IT'S BEEN PROMOTED AS A FANTASTIC PROJECT, WHICH IT IS, IF HANDLED RIGHT.

BUT THE PUBLIC'S BEEN LEFT IN THE DARK IN THAT. SO WE NEED IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN DISTRICT 1 IS PAYING FOR THESE FUNDS. WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE THAT IS WILLING TO WORK WITH DISTRICT 1. I HAD TO PUT UP $150,000 TO KEEP THIS THING GOING.

BUT WE NEEDED PEOPLE IN PLACE. THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS, THAT WILL HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT, THAT ARE WILLING TO BE TRANSPARENT, GOOD, HONEST PEOPLE. THAT ARE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT AND TRY TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY WE SHOULD BE PROMOTING A PROJECT AS SOMETHING SO GREAT WHEN WE'RE LOSING 15 TO 25,000 A MONTH ON AVERAGE. THAT IS INSANITY.

NOW, THAT WAS THEIR SECOND PROJECT. THEIR THIRD PROJECT WAS THE BREWPUB. IT IS BEAUTIFUL, $10.3 MILLION BUILDING, OF COURSE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. I DIDN'T LIKE HOW THE PROCESS HAPPENED.

AND TO IG'S DEFENSE, I MEAN, I'VE RESEARCHED THIS THING HARDER THAN ANYONE. I DIDN'T TOUCH THIS FOR FIVE TO SIX MONTHS BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO. I WANTED TO BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT MY CONCERNS WERE JUSTIFIED. YOU KNOW, I DID NOT WANT THIS THING POLITICIZED. AND THE MORE I LOOK AT IT, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK, THE MORE I LOOK AT THE... DIFFERENT LEGAL ISSUES ABOUT THIS LEASE AND I THINK IT WILL BE DECIDED, NOT A BREACH OF CONTRACT, BUT WE'LL BE DECIDING IN COURT, BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S CONCERNING. YOU KNOW WHETHER THE PARISH IS GOING TO GET, WE CAN'T GIVE DONATIONS AND THE AMOUNT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IN. IF YOU TAKE THE SHARED OFFICE SPACE AS A MODEL, WE'RE PAYING FOR THE INSURANCE AND MAINTENANCE. THIS IS A TEN POINT, THREE MILLION DOLLAR BUILDING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COVER THE INSURANCE, COVERING THE MAINTENANCE, EVEN FOR THE BREWPUB EQUIPMENT. IF YOU TAKE THE SHARED OFFICE SPACE MODEL AT THIS LEVEL, AND YOU DON'T ASK YOURSELF, ARE WE GOING TO LOSE MONEY? THEN YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND IF THAT, REALLY, IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN THIS THING IS ILLEGAL ON ITS FACE. AND THAT'S QUESTIONS THAT DESERVE TO BE ASKED. AND IT'S, IT'S, IN MY OPINION, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE IG, IT'S HER JOB TO BE ASKING. AND SHE STEPPED IN BECAUSE THERE WAS A THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE, THE BALL WAS BEING STACKED, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT NOW. I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH DINO AND BYRON, WHO JUST WANT TO DO GOOD FOR THEIR PEOPLE.

AND WE WORKED IT OUT, AND YOU COULD SEE, BY THE NEW LEGISLATION HE PASSED, IT WAS IN GOOD FAITH, WHICH I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR.

BUT THESE QUESTIONS DESERVE TO BE LOOKED AT. THE PUBLIC IS ASKING US TO LOOK AT THEM. AND AS DISTRICT 1 COUNCILMAN, I AM GOING TO LOOK AT THEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY. I THINK IF THEY WOULD HAVE LISTENED, IF EVERYONE WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO YOU, AND GRANTED, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WASN'T A PARKING GARAGE.

EVEN, LOOK, WHEN I GOT IN THIS OFFICE, WHEN I KNEW WE WERE GETTING A MATCH, I DIDN'T LIKE THE PROJECT. I CAME FROM A COMMUNITY. I WAS DEVASTATED. I SAW $10 MILLION OF DISASTER FUNDS. WE LOST ALL OUR BUSINESSES. GO TO THIS BEER PUB. IT BROKE MY HEART. I MEAN, IT GENUINELY BROKE MY HEART.

PEOPLE SAY, OH, YOU KNOW.

JENNIFER HELPED YOU GET ELECTED, WAS THERE FOR THE ELECTION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,

[01:35:01]

BUT WHEN I GOT IN OFFICE, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IS IT WORTH LOOKING INTO? AND POTENTIALLY HAVING SOME LAWSUITS? IF WE'RE GETTING A PARKING GARAGE, IF THE PEOPLE ARE GETTING SOMETHING? I SAID, OKAY, I'LL DO MY FIDUCIARY DUTY AND I'LL GO FORWARD. I'LL FIND WAYS TO SAVE MONEY. WE SAVED THAT MONEY. WE FOUND THINGS THAT WAS OVERCHARGED. WE FOUND OTHER WAYS TO GET DISCOUNTS.

BUT THEN WE FOUND OUT THEIR THIRD PROJECT, THE BREW PUB, LOST THE MATCH.

AND THE PUBLIC WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT IT. SO I HAVE VERY BIG CONCERNS. NOW, GRANTED, I DO, I THINK. THIS LEGISLATION AND THIS DEFERMENT, I THINK, IS A TESTIMONY OF COLLEAGUES DISAGREEING, BUT COMING TOGETHER.

TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND THAT IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK. SO INSTEAD OF GETTING INTO THE WEEDS WITH THIS, LIKE AGAIN, I WANT THIS TO BE CONCLUDED AS WELL.

BUT I THINK AT THIS MOMENT, I JUST WANNA FINISH OFF BY THANKING COUNCILMAN BONANNO AND THANKING COUNCILMAN LEE FOR WORKING WITH ME, WORKING WITH DISTRICT ONE. AND REALLY CHOOSING, IN MY OPINION, TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE. AND SO THANK Y'ALL, THAT'S ALL. ANYONE ELSE ON THE COUNCIL? YES, AND I'D LIKE TO ADD, JUST IF YOU'D ALLOW, AS A COUNCILWOMAN, I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN BONANNO, COUNCILMAN LEE, AND COUNCILMAN KERNER. I SPOKE TO EACH BY PHONE YESTERDAY TO ASK ABOUT THE DEFERRAL, AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

WHAT I WILL SAY, AND I HATE TO HEAR, SOME OF THE OLD DISCUSSION COMING UP. I THOUGHT WE WERE PAST A LOT OF THAT. MY PERSPECTIVE IS THE PEOPLE OF OUR PARISH HAVE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT AN INSPECTOR GENERAL.

THE PEOPLE OF OUR PARISH HAVE PUT US HERE.

AND I THINK WORKING TOGETHER AND NOT BEING ADVERSARIES IS WHAT THEY EXPECT. SO THE MOST CONCERNING THING TO ME IS BEING POISED AS SOMEHOW ADVERSARIAL.

WHEN WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER, AS WE HAVE ON THE IDEA OF THIS DEFERRAL. I THINK SOMETIMES IF YOU'RE IN AN ADVERSARIAL MINDSET, AND THIS IS TRUE OF ME TOO, IF YOU'RE IN AN ADVERSARIAL MINDSET AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING ONE WAY, IT MAY CLOUD HOW YOU'RE READING SOMETHING. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SENT US A COMMUNICATION ON MONDAY, SHE ATTACHED FACTS THAT TO ME, DON'T MAKE IT POLITICAL, RESPECTFULLY, BUT IT'S VERY FACT-BASED. AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN...

IN THE DISCUSSION UP HERE, EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATIONS.

COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG IS CREATING A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. COUNCILWOMAN RITA BAHANNON HAS. COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOU HAVE. JFI IS NOT ACTUALLY A POLITICAL, A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. JRI IS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. JFI IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THE TWO ARE NOT THE SAME. AND THAT IS... PART OF WHAT THE IG COMMUNICATED IN HER LETTER. SO IF WE'RE ALL THINKING IN THE MINDSET OF A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, THAT'S JRI. JFI IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT ENTITY. THEY ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. THEY'RE NOT THE SAME. THE OTHER THING THAT THE IG EXPRESSED IN HER LETTER TO ALL OF US IS THAT THERE ARE ONGOING BONDED INDEBTEDNESS ISSUES. THERE ARE NOW NEW CONCERNS ABOUT TAX LIABILITY, WHICH I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE. AND SO THAT'S A NEW ELEMENT. AND SO WHEN SHE SAYS THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL COMMINGLING OF FUNDS IN THE FUTURE, IF TWO AND THREE ARE PART OF JFI, AND THOSE MONIES GET MIXED, AND THERE'S BONDED INDEBTEDNESS, AND THERE'S TAX LIABILITY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO UNRAVEL THAT? SHE SAID, I WILL HAVE A REPORT BY MARCH FOR ALL OF YOU ON THIS. AND SO THE DEFERRAL WAS NOT BASED ON POLITICS. THE DEFERRAL IS SAYING, I HAVE NEW INFORMATION THAT YOU PROBABLY NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE MIXING THE MONIES OF DISTRICTS ONE, TWO, AND THREE. I THINK THAT'S FACT-BASED. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE HEADS UP BECAUSE THOUGH WE HAVE OFTEN IGNORED THE ADVICE OF THE IG, I DON'T THINK THAT HAS SERVED US WELL. IF THERE ARE TAX LIABILITY ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER, THEN I THINK I'D RATHER VOTE ON EXPENSE. EXPANDING JFI TO HAVE APPOINTEES FROM ALL THE WEST BANK COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT TAX LIABILITY MIGHT BE.

[01:40:01]

AND WHAT I WANTED TO MENTION, WHICH I FAILED TO MENTION, THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE BENEFIT CORPORATIONS.

JFI, JRI, THEY WERE MEANT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE STATUTE IS WRITTEN, THEY'RE MEANT TO HELP DISTRESSED CORRIDORS.

SO I AGREE WITH MS. BOHANNON, COUNCILWOMAN, BOHANNON. YOU KNOW, GRETNA HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, AND GRETNA.

BUT JFI, I NAMED THE THREE PROJECTS ACTUALLY JFI WAS A PART OF. AND THE INTENT AND THE LEGISLATION SPECIFICALLY SAYS DISTRESSED CORRIDORS. SO I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT COUNCILMAN LEE AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IN HIS, WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IS WHAT IT WAS MEANT FOR, BUILDING A $10.3 MILLION.

FOR A PRIVATE ENTITY AND ON UDP, LONG IS NOT WHAT THIS WAS MEANT FOR. IT GOES TOTALLY AGAINST ITS PURPOSE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT.

INSPECTOR GENERAL. GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL. THANK YOU IF I APPRECIATE. THE DISCUSSIONS FOR YOUR ABILITY TO DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER AND STILL ARRIVE AT AN AGREEMENT TO DEFER. WHETHER I HAVE EVER AGREED OR DISAGREED WITH ANY ONE OF YOU, AND I HAVE AGREED AND DISAGREED, I THINK, WITH ALL OF YOU, I HAVE NEVER DISMISSED. YOUR THOUGHT, YOUR VOTE, YOUR OPINION, YOUR WORDS, OR YOUR INITIATIVES AS BEING MERELY POLITICAL. WHATEVER POSITION YOU'VE TAKEN, INCLUDING A POSITION AGAINST ME, I HAVE TAKEN IT WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS PRINCIPLED. AND THE REASON I TAKE IT AS PRINCIPLED IS BECAUSE, IN ALL HONESTY, YOUR PERSONALITIES MATTER, NOT TO ME. WHAT MATTERS TO ME IS THE SUM AND THE SUBSTANCE AND THE FACTS. WHICH WE CAN FOCUS ON. FOR NO OTHER REASON OTHER THAN THAT, IS WHERE SOLUTIONS ARE FOUND.

NOT IN DISAGREEMENT, NOT IN INNUENDO. NOT IN PUBLIC DEBASEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS, BUT SUBSTANCE. I ASKED FOR A DEFERRAL FOR PRINCIPLED REASONS. IT WAS NOT POLITICAL. I GAVE MY MORNING TO WRITE A THREE-PAGE LETTER. I DON'T HATE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATIONS. I ACTUALLY HAVE NO REAL OPINION ABOUT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATIONS. ACADEMICALLY, IN ITS CONCEPT.

BUT I DO HAVE A BELIEF IN THE SPECIFICITY OF OUR WORDS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC IS LISTENING AND THEY COUNT ON US TO BE SPECIFIC AND ACCURATE.

AND JFI ISN'T A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. AND I'M NOT PREPARED TO GET INTO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER AS IT RELATES TO ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL I START LOOKING AT IT IN CONTEXT. AND THAT'S THE ASK.

IT WAS JUST TO DEFER SO YOU COULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION.

WE ARE THE ONLY DEPARTMENT IN THIS PARISH THAT IS DIRECTLY FUNDED BY THE PEOPLE TO SERVE NO OTHER PURPOSE THAN TO STUDY GOVERNMENT FOR GOVERNMENT'S BENEFIT.

FULL-TIME, FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC, TO STUDY GOVERNMENT FOR GOVERNMENT'S BETTERMENT.

WHETHER IT'S STUDYING IT THROUGH AUDITS, INVESTIGATIONS, EVALUATIONS, REVIEW, I AM DOING THE JOB FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S BENEFIT.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

[01:45:01]

IT WASN'T POLITICAL AND IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THIS MOMENT IN JFI. I HAD IN MY MIND ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOU. CAN WE PAUSE, THINK, AND PLAN? I RESPECT YOU FOR YOUR POSITION. I WILL NEVER DISMISS YOUR THOUGHTS AS MERELY POLITICAL. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A BIG ASK FOR YOU TO GIVE ME THE RESPECT THAT I GIVE YOU.

WHETHER OR NOT I'M ELECTED, YOU WOULD THINK I AM TRYING TO GET THE JOB DONE. COULD WE NOT ARRIVE IN A PLACE WHERE YOU JUST SAY, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU? AND THAT SORT OF SAYS ENOUGH, AND WE DON'T NEED TO GO INTO POLITICAL ATTACKS. I'D LIKE TO RESPOND, PLEASE. YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT PEOPLE GET TO KNOW ME, AND THEN THEY VOTE ON ME. SAME THING WITH EVERYONE UP HERE.

PEOPLE DIDN'T VOTE ON YOU.

THEY'RE VOTING AND ELECTING PEOPLE THAT THEY FIND PRINCIPLED OR THAT HAVE SHARED IDEALS AND VALUES. THEY DIDN'T PICK YOU. AND YOUR JOB IS NOT TO MAKE PRINCIPLED OPINIONS.

YOUR JOB IS TO FIND FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE. AND IT WAS NOT YOUR LETTER, THE CONTENTS, NECESSARILY, THAT SEEMED POLITICAL. IT WAS THE TIMING AND THE FACT THAT TWICE, TWO MEETINGS BEFORE, NO LETTER. AND THIS IS AN ONGOING, REPEATED SITUATION.

IT DEPENDS ON THE COUNCIL PERSON AND WHO PROPOSES IT, WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A PRINCIPLED OPINION. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. AND THE TIMELINESS OF YOUR LETTER MAKES IT POLITICAL.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU PUT IT OUT IN PUBLIC, YOU COULD HAVE EASILY JUST CALLED. YOU COULD HAVE EASILY JUST CALLED ONE OF THEM. WOULD YOU MIND DEFERRING? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. I THINK MAYBE YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THIS DIFFERENT. AND THE PREMISE OF IT TO NOT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION AND A AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. ONE'S A POTATO, ONE'S A POTATO. THEY'RE BASICALLY THE SAME THING. SO THEY HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE.

THERE'S NO ONE BENEFITING, NO PRIVATE ENTITIES BENEFITING FROM THOSE CORPORATIONS.

THERE'S NO ONE INDIVIDUAL. IT IS OUR COMMUNITY THAT BENEFITS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO AGREE TO YOUR DEFERRAL. WHICH WE WOULD HAVE EASILY DONE IF YOU'D HAVE JUST REACHED OUT WITHOUT THE THREE-PAGE LETTER.

THAT WAS WELL WRITTEN, BUT THE TIMELINESS OF IT AND THE FACT THAT YOU ONLY CHOOSE TO SEND THEM FOR CERTAIN COUNCIL PEOPLE IS THE POLITICAL PART. I TRY TO BE DELICATE IN MY ROLE AS CHAIRWOMAN. I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, THOUGH, AND SO RESPECTFULLY I WILL SAY THE MATTER TWO MEETINGS AGO, WHEN COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVED. TO REPLACE ONE OF THE HOLDOVER MEMBERS WITH A NEWLY APPOINTED MEMBER IS STANDARD PROCEDURE. CHANGING THE FORM OF SOMETHING THAT HAS EXISTED FOR TWO DECADES IS NOT STANDARD PROCEDURE. AND I THINK THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE AS TO WHY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

DIDN'T REACH OUT ON ONE, THAT'S NORMAL PROCEDURE, AND DID REACH OUT ON THIS ONE. SO THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE. AND AGAIN, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ANSWERS NOT TO US, BUT AN ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION. THAT ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION CONSIDERED ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, HAD AN OUTSIDE INSPECTION.

INSPECTOR OR AN OUTSIDE ENTITY LAWYER LOOK INTO THOSE ALLEGATIONS AND SAY THAT THE OFFICE PERFORMED AS IT SHOULD.

AND THEN THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION, A MEETING OR TWO LATER, REAPPOINTED OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL TO ANOTHER FOUR-YEAR TERM IN ADVANCE. SO I THOUGHT WE HAD GOTTEN PAST THE ALLEGATIONS THAT SOMEHOW ANYTHING THE OFFICE IS DOING IS POLITICAL AND NOT SUBSTANTIAL.

COUNCILMAN BONANNO, I

[01:50:02]

MADAM CLERK. A RESOLUTION SELECTING AN ENGINEERING FIRM FROM THE LIST OF THE APPROVED FIRMS ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 144663 ADOPTED ON AUGUST 7, 2024 FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES.

WHICH COSTS UNDER $500,000 FOR DRAINAGE PROJECTS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH CONCEPTUAL LEVEL DESIGN, PLANNING, AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION DEVELOPMENT FOR MULTIPLE DRAINAGE PUMP STATIONS IN THE CITY OF KENNER AREA.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR SELECTION.

MSMM. COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES ON MSMM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.

I'M GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING.

COUNCILMAN LEE. LEE, YOUR MOVE ON THE ITEM. COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES ON THE ITEM TO SELECT MSMM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.

VOTING IS OPEN. VOTING IS

[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS]

MOVE. COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 1 THROUGH 13. CAN WE PULL OUT 150? I MEAN, I'M SORRY, 12. 12. OKAY, SO COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ADOPTION OF ITEMS 1 THROUGH 13, BUT PULLING ITEM 12.

COUNCILMAN WALKER? MOVE.

OKAY, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

MOVING TO ADOPT 1 THROUGH 13.

MINUS 12. COUNCILMAN BONANNO AND BOHATYN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR VOTE LOGGED. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T COOPERATE. THERE WE GO.

END OF VOTING. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 12. MADAM CLERK, ADDENDUM ITEM 12. A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING LOCAL EFFORTS TO REDESIGNATE THE JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK AND PRESERVE AS THE JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, WHICH WOULD ELEVATE THE PARK'S STATUS TO A NATIONAL PARK.

COUNCILMAN KERN? SO LONG. I WANTED TO PULL THIS OUT BECAUSE THIS IS, IN MY OPINION, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS GOING ON, REALLY, IN THE REGION. AND IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HARD AT WORK IN DOING THIS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE VISIT THIS AREA, THIS REGION, BECAUSE OF NEW ORLEANS. AND I TRULY BELIEVE MAKING JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL PARK, A NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, INTO AN ACTUAL NATIONAL PARK WOULD BE A GAME CHANGER.

AND WOULD BRING A TOTAL NEW LEVEL OF AWE. TOURISM TO THIS AREA. NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S CRAZY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. LOUISIANA HAS THE MOST DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WETLANDS AND MOST BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE, AND WE DO NOT HAVE AN ACTUAL NATIONAL PARK. THE CLOSEST ONE TO THE WEST OF US IS BIG BEN IN TEXAS. CLOSEST ONE TO THE EAST IS THE EVERGLADES. SO, YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF US ALL FEEL, AND WE... WE'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE, BUT WE HAVE SUCH GOOD SUPPORT NOW.

THAT LOUISIANA ADDS TO THE VALUE OF THE NATIONAL PORK SYSTEM IF IT BECOMES THE 64TH NATIONAL PORK. AND NEW MEXICO JUST DID IT WITH THE SAME ACREAGE, THE SAME KIND OF QUALIFICATIONS THAT NEEDS

[01:55:01]

SO IT'S GOT SO MUCH PROGRESS GOING FORWARD.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK A FEW PEOPLE BEHIND THIS BECAUSE I REALLY THINK IT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER. I WANT PEOPLE TRAVELING HERE, GETTING COINS AND PUTTING IT ON THEIR... I VISITED ALL NATIONAL PARKS. BUT G&O INC. HAS REALLY KICKED INTO GEAR TO TRY TO PUSH FOR THIS AND TRY TO HELP, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING SO.

JETCO, BLONIA, AND ANNALISA, WRIGHT & ASSOCIATES, AND REPRESENTATIVE. KERNER, WHO YEAR AFTER YEAR, REALLY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, HAS FOUGHT TO ADD NATIONAL PARK LAND AND MAKE THIS BIGGER TO MAKE IT A TRUE NATIONAL PARK. BUT AGAIN. THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL THING AND WE HAVE SO MUCH SUPPORT NOW. WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE INTERIOR. I THINK THE ASSOCIATES AND JETCO AND GENO INC. HAS MET WITH THE CONGRESSMEN AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY'S ON BOARD.

EVERYONE'S BELIEVING LOUISIANA IS WORTHY OF THIS AND IT BEING HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT WOULD BE.

SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY A GAME CHANGER. AND IF WE'RE ALL COMING TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA RIGHT HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT WOULD BE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE A MOVE FOR IT TO BE APPROVED. YEAH.

COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES FOR APPROVAL ON ITEM 12, REDESIGNATING JEAN LAFITTE TO A NATIONAL PARK, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM. CLOSING THE VOTING. THE ITEM PASSES

[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]

COUNCILMAN LUDGERBERG, YOUR MOTION. COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG'S MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 151, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN. I'M GOING TO OPEN VOTING. CLOSING THE VOTING, THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MADAM CLERK, 152. A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PAYMENT AND LAW OF TAX INCENTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PORT DISTRICT. METAIRIE MANOR OWNER LP RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION, RENOVATION, AND IMPROVEMENT OF AN APPROXIMATELY 369 UNIT AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 4929 YORK STREET AND 4937 YORK STREET IN METAIRIE, LOUISIANA.

70001. COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG YOUR MOTION MOVED TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG MOVES TO APPROVE 152, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, OPENING VOTING ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MADAM CLERK, 153. A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INCREASE TO THE CONTRACT CONSIDERATION PAYABLE TO GRAND ISLE. VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICES INCORPORATED FROM $35,700 PER MONTH TO $60,000 PER MONTH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMBULANCE SERVICE DISTRICT NO. 2 OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. AND GRAND ISLE VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICES INCORPORATED. COUNCILMAN KERNER? MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VANVRANKEN.

OPENING VOTING? CLOSING THE VOTING? 153 PASSES, UNANIMOUSLY. MADAM CLERK, 154.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INCREASE TO THE CONTRACT CONSIDERATION PAYABLE TO GRAND ISLE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO. 1 FROM $72,500 PER MONTH TO $77,500 PER MONTH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 9 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND GRAND ISLE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO. 1, DATED MARCH 13, 2018.

COUNCILMAN KERNER? MOVE TO APPROVE. COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.

OPENING THE VOTE. YEAH, OKAY, CLOSING THE VOTE. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 155. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE AN AMENDMENT

[02:00:01]

OKAY, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS. WAIT, LET ME MAKE SURE YOUR MIC'S ON.

OKAY. MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES TO APPROVE. SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.

OPENING THE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS. CLOSING THE VOTE. THE AMENDMENTS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOUR MOTION AS AMENDED. MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN. OPENING THE VOTING.

THIS IS ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.

A FEW OUT. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTING. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 156. A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND APPROVING THE HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 2025 SECTION 8 MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM CERTIFICATION. COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION. COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING. THIS IS ON ITEM 156. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTING. 156 PASSES, UNANIMOUSLY. THERE IS NO NEW BUSINESS, NO STATUS REPORTS.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, OR SHOULD WE? WE HAVE TIME, I THINK. NOW TO HAVE PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR. SO ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK, NOT ON AGENDA ITEMS, BUT ON ANYTHING THAT YOU WISH TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THIS IS ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER. ALL RIGHT. IF NOBODY HAS ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY OR SHARE, WE'LL MOVE TO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE THAT. OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW A LITTLE BIT EARLY AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK. MADAM CLARK, IF YOU CAN READ THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, ONE ITEM. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A LAWSUIT ENTITLED PARISH LANGFORD VERSUS PARISH OF JEFFERSON, JEFFERSON PARISH PARKWAYS DEPARTMENT TROOPER NICHOLAS DOWDOOL.

STATE OF LOUISIANA THROUGH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS. LOUISIANA STATE POLICE, 24TH JDC. CASE NUMBER 834-961-DIVISION O. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WALKER.

YOUR MOTION? MOVE. COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IF YOU ALL CAN VOTE ON MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE OUT THE VOTING TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE MOTION PASSES FIVE YEAS AND TWO NOT PARTICIPATING. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALL RIGHT, I'VE BEEN ASKED TO HIT THE GAVEL. Y'ALL ARE HAVING FUN OUT HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH IS ITEM EIGHT ON THE AGENDA. MADAM CLERK. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED PARISH LANGFORD VERSUS PARISH OF JEFFERSON, JEFFERSON, PARISH PARKWAYS DEPARTMENT TROOPER NICHOLAS. DOWDWELL, STATE OF LOUISIANA, THROUGH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS, LOUISIANA STATE POLICE, 24TH JDC, CASE NUMBER 834961, DIVISION 0. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN BONANNO, WHAT'S YOUR MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOVE TO APPROVE. COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES TO APPROVE. SECONDED

[02:05:01]

OPEN THE VOTING ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.

ALL RIGHT, ENDING THE VOTING,

[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]

SQUARE ONE IN LOTS ONE THROUGH 32, SQUARE TWO. AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT OF SUBDIVISION OF LOT 34A, MODERN FARMS, UNIT 1 SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 34C AND LOT 34D, UNIT 1 SUBDIVISION. AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT OF SUBDIVISION OF LOT K4D INTO LOTS K4D1 AND K4D2.

AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP AND THE OFFICIAL FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOT E AND F. SQUARE ONE JUSTICE TRACK SUBDIVISION LOTS G AND H SQUARE TO A PORTION FOR A LOT TO LOCATED AT 419 JUSTICE COURT TO 770 JUSTICE COURT.

MORE PARTICULARLY, MEANING THE ZONING FROM C1, C2, R1A TO R1MH. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE PROCESSING, REFINING OR BULK STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS. APPROVED FOR THE VERTEX REFINING LOUISIANA, LLC MARRERO FACILITY USE OIL REFINING FACILITY AND ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 25307. AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE SIGN AND LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS OF THE MUCD FOR SEVEN BREW COFFEE, LOCATED AT 1151 MANHATTAN BOULEVARD ON PROPOSED LOT K4D2. AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE SIGNED REGULATIONS OF THE CBZ. FOR ZIA ROTISSERIE AND BAR, LOCATED AT 4436 VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY 1A, SECTION A, PONTCHARTRAIN GARDEN, SUBDIVISION. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE TO CREATE THE NEW JOB CLASSIFICATION OF PARKS AND RECREATION BUSINESS MANAGER.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THAT'S ALL THE ORDINANCES I HAVE TO READ. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON, PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THESE ORDINANCES BEING READ INTO SUMMARY. ALL RIGHT. AND SCOTT'S ABSENT. ALL RIGHT.

HANG ON, I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FROM THE LAST VOTE. IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME, BUT LET'S JUST CLEAR IT FOR FORMALITY. START THE VOTING. SO PLEASE VOTE ON THESE ORDINANCES BEING READ INTO SUMMARY. AND ADOPTING THEM, ENDING THE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, SIX IN FAVOR, ONE ABSENT. COUNCILMAN HOLLYWOOD-LEE, WOULD YOU MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. COUNCILMAN KERN ARE SECOND AND WE ARE WAIT TAKING A OFFICIAL VOTE ON ADJOURNMENT.

IT'S CRAZY. ALL RIGHT. CLOSING THE VOTE AND IT IS SIX YEAS TO ADJOURN, ONE ABSENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING. I LOVE THE GLASS. LOOK AT YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.