Apr 08, 2026 Parish Council East Bank

AND IT'S EASY TO DO WHEN YOU GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR RENEW YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM WITH YOU.

SO CONSIDER IT WHEN YOU'RE SIGNING UP.

EVERYBODY WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE? YEAH, DON'T GO AWAY YET.

IS LAYLA HIGGINS HERE? LAYLA, RAISE YOUR HAND.

COME UP.

THERE SHE IS.

DURING THIS PROCLAMATION FROM MS. HIGGINS HERE IN PLACE OF COUNCILMAN BONANNO, WHO CAN'T BE WITH US THIS MORNING, BUT I WILL READ NOW BECAUSE LAYLA IS AN INCREDIBLE STUDENT-ATHLETE.

WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LAYLA HIGGINS, A STUDENT-ATHLETE WHOSE DEDICATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE HAVE BROUGHT PRIDE AND DISTINCTION TO HER SCHOOL, JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS LAYLA HIGGINS MADE HISTORY AS RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL'S FIRST EVER LHSAA GIRLS WRESTLING INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPION, CAPTURING THE 107-POUND STATE TITLE AND MARKING A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT FOR HER SCHOOL'S ATHLETIC PROGRAM.

AND WHEREAS LAYLA'S VICTORY ALSO REPRESENTS A HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR JEFFERSON PARISH AS SHE BECAME THE FIRST FEMALE STUDENT IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO WIN AN LHSAA GIRLS WRESTLING INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS LAYLA CONDUCTED AN EXTRAORDINARY WRESTLING SEASON AS A LOUISIANA PUBLIC SCHOOL STATE CHAMPION, LOUISIANA CLASSIC CHAMPION, AND REGIONAL GNO CHAMPION, DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, DETERMINATION, AND LEADERSHIP ON THE MAT.

AND WHEREAS HER SUCCESS EXTENDS BEYOND THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, AS LAYLA ALSO EXCELLED IN USA WRESTLING, EARNING THE TITLES OF 2025 GIRLS GRECO STATE CHAMPION AND 2025 GIRLS FREESTYLE STATE CHAMPION.

AND WHEREAS LAYLA HIGGINS' ACHIEVEMENTS REFLECT THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE AND SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO YOUNG ATHLETES THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH, PARTICULARLY AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS IN WRESTLING CONTINUE TO GROW.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND LAYLA HIGGINS FOR HER HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATION OF RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL AND JEFFERSON PARISH.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SURE? ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? YOU'RE THE COACH? COME ON OVER.

COME ON.

YEAH.

A LOT OF FEMALE ATHLETES IN THE ROOM, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY IN REBEL PRIDE.

SO COME RIGHT HERE TO THE MIDDLE AND HOLD UP, TURN OPEN THE ENVELOPE FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION.

YOU KNOW, Y'ALL CAN LEAVE.

YOU'RE NOT STUCK HERE.

SCHOOL.

USUALLY EVERYBODY MARCHES OUT WHEN THEY'RE DONE.

BUT FEEL FREE TO STICK AROUND.

[00:15:12]

THERE'S ONE MORE FOR ME THEN, BUT THEN THERE'LL BE MORE IF YOU WANT TO STAY FOR MORE.

WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD WHO'S HERE, PAULA, SORINTHA, COME ON UP.

DID I? HI CHARMAINE.

I SAID CHARINTHA, I THOUGHT THERE WAS A CHARINTHA APPARITION.

YOU CAN HOLD THIS.

ALL RIGHT, THIS PROCLAMATION IS FOR THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD AND AS YOU KNOW THIS COUNCIL AND JEFFERSON PARISH HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO TAKE AN INTEREST AND SUPPORT OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS IN THE PARISH BECAUSE IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE...

THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS HERE GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND START ON EQUAL FOOTING TO THEIR PEERS WHO MAY COME FROM DIFFERENT FINANCIAL BACKGROUNDS BECAUSE YOUR FINANCIAL BACKGROUND SHOULDN'T IMPACT YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.

AND THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE ARE A HUGE DRIVING FORCE IN JEFFERSON PARISH'S EFFORT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION.

WHEREAS THE EARLY YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE CRITICAL TO BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING, BEHAVIOR, AND HEALTH, AND WHEREAS HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN, AND PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PREPARING THEM FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND.

AND WHEREAS WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD, CELEBRATED APRIL 11TH THROUGH 17TH, 2026, IS AN ANNUAL EVENT SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN TO FOCUS PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND TO RECOGNIZE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT MEET THOSE NEEDS.

AND WHEREAS CAROUSEL PRESCHOOL, A TYPE 3 EARLY LEARNING CENTER, PARTICIPATING IN PUBLICLY FUNDED SEATS THROUGH THE JEFFERSON READY START NETWORK, EXEMPLIFIES A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

AND WHEREAS TYPE 3 EARLY LEARNING CENTERS IN LOUISIANA MEET RIGOROUS QUALITY STANDARDS WITHIN THE STATE'S UNIFIED EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM AND CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED KINDERGARTEN READINESS, STRONGER THIRD-GRADE LITERACY OUTCOMES, INCREASED WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION FOR FAMILIES, AND THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS THE EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF JEFFERSON PARISH WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS.

NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS AND QUALITY EARLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS RECOGNIZING WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD AFFIRMS JEFFERSON PARISH'S COMMITMENT TO ITS YOUNGEST RESIDENTS AND CELEBRATES THE VITAL ROLE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AND PROGRAMS ACROSS THE PARISH.

AND WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH EXPRESSES ITS APPRECIATION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING CAROUSEL PRESCHOOL AND THE JEFFERSON READY START NETWORK, FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO SERVING YOUNG CHILDREN AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY.

NOW THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY PROCLAIMS THAT APRIL 11TH THROUGH 17TH, 2026, SHALL BE KNOWN AS WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

ANYBODY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZING THE EDUCATORS HERE, AND THIS IS JUST A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE EDUCATORS THAT ARE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, REPRESENTING OVER 80 CHILD CARE CENTERS.

HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN THAT ARE RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK OFFERING HIGH QUALITY INTERACTIONS FOR EVERY CHILD IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M GETTING TO HANG OUT WITH YOU.

THANK YOU MY GOD.

GOOD TO SEE YOU SO MUCH.

I KNOW.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

ALL RIGHT, IF WE COULD HAVE MISS CYNTHIA THOMPSON MAKE HER WAY TO THE FRONT.

THE WHOLE AUDIENCE LEFT.

[00:20:11]

OKAY, GOOD.

I SAW HER STANDING IN THE BACK.

MS. CYNTHIA IS TRYING NOT TO GET TRAMPLED OVER.

ALL RIGHT, SINCE WE ARE CELEBRATING EDUCATORS AND WOMEN TODAY, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING FOR MS. CYNTHIA THOMPSON.

SHE'S MAKING HER WAY TO THE FRONT.

COME ON UP.

I SAW HER STANDING IN THE BACK PATIENTLY.

GOOD MORNING.

ALL RIGHT, THIS MORNING WE ARE, I HAVE THE VERY DISTINCT PLEASURE OF GIVING A RECOGNITION TO MS. CYNTHIA THOMPSON.

SHE'S A JEFFERSON PARISH EDUCATOR FOR HER OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE 50 YEARS THAT SHE HAS SERVED AS A TEACHER.

MS. CYNTHIA THOMPSON IS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN BY THE...

SCHOOL AS MAMA T.

AND SHE HAS TAUGHT ENGLISH AT BONNEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 1977.

AND SHE'S NEVER MISSED A DAY OF WORK IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.

MS. CYNTHIA THOMPSON KNEW AT AN EARLY AGE THAT SHE WAS DESTINED TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM.

AS THE OLDEST OF SIX SIBLINGS, SHE USED TO PLAY SCHOOL TEACHER TO HER YOUNG BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

GROWING UP IN NEW ORLEANS, CYNTHIA THOMPSON ATTENDED ALCEE FORTIER HIGH SCHOOL, SORRY IF I BUTCHERED THAT, WHERE SHE JOINED NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING WRITING FOR HER SCHOOL PAPER, FORMING THE FORTIER'S FIRST DANCE CLUB, AND MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF ON THE SCHOOL'S COLOR GUARD TEAM.

MS. CYNTHIA THOMPSON IS A 1974 GRADUATE OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE MAJORED IN SPEECH AND DRAMA ON A COLOR GUARD SCHOLARSHIP.

SHE WAS A MEMBER OF TWO SORORITIES, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA AND TAU BETA SIGMA.

A NATIONAL BAND SORORITY.

SHE WAS VERY WELL KNOWN AROUND CAMPUS AND HER FELLOW STUDENTS SELECTED HER AS THE HOMECOMING QUEEN FOR HER SENIOR YEAR.

CYNTHIA THOMPSON SERVED AS AN EDUCATOR FOR OVER 50 YEARS, STARTING AS A SUBSTITUTE SCIENCE TEACHER DURING A TIME WHEN FULL-TIME TEACHING JOBS WERE JUST HARD TO COME BY.

AFTER GOING BACK TO SCHOOL TO OBTAIN HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HERE IN NEW ORLEANS, SHE BEGAN HER FULL-TIME CAREER AS A JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

AT BONNEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1977 WHERE SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SCHOOL'S TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING HER CAREER AT BONNEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, SHE BECAME A SPONSOR OF THE SCHOOL'S BLACK STUDIES CLUB, A SPONSOR OF THE FRESHMAN CLASS, AND SHE EVENTUALLY WENT ON TO COACH THE SCHOOL'S TRACK AND STEP TEAMS. MS. THOMPSON WAS NAMED BONNEVILLE'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN 2019, AND THIS PAST FALL WAS A CANDIDATE TO BE THE JEFFERSON PARISH'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

ONE FORMER STUDENT NOTED THAT SHE HAS BEEN A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY STUDENTS, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE AGE OF 20.

BY GIVING HER TIME AND ENERGY TO ENSURE STUDENTS HAD THE SUPPORT THEY NEEDED TO SUCCEED.

MANY OF HER STUDENTS BECAME DOCTORS, LAWYERS, AND PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS.

ONE OF HER PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THOUGH, IS THAT A DOZEN OF HER STUDENTS HAVE RETURNED TO BE HER CO-WORKERS.

WHEREAS MS. CYNTHIA THOMPSON HAS THREE AMAZING GRANDCHILDREN, IS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN, PRAYING FOR HER STUDENTS EVERY MORNING, HAS GONE OUT OF HER WAY TO GUIDE AND SUPPORT STUDENTS BY CHEERING FOR THEM AFTER SCHOOL AND AT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS BRINGING STUDENTS TO TUTORING PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY HER CHURCH.

THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZES CYNTHIA THOMPSON FOR HER DEDICATION AND OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS AN EDUCATOR

[00:25:02]

FOR 50 YEARS IN THE JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, MORE IN PARTICULAR, BONNEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE WISH HER ALL THE SUCCESS IN HER FUTURE.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR SCHOOL AND OUR PARISH, OUR STATE.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY.

THE PARISH PRESIDENT HAS TWO PROCLAMATIONS AS WELL.

IF I COULD HAVE MR. STEVE ROCK COME FORWARD, PLEASE, STEVE.

MANY OF YOU, OUR EMPLOYEES, KNOW STEVE VERY WELL.

STEVE IS OUR JEFF FITT ON-SITE WELLNESS COORDINATOR.

SO, THANK YOU AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM.

WONDERFUL.

2026 MARKS THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF JEFF FITT, OUR JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM.

ACCORDING TO A UNITEDHEALTHCARE SURVEY, NEARLY HALF OF THOSE ASKED SAID THAT WELLNESS BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS MAKE AN EMPLOYER MORE APPEALING.

AND IT'S JUST NOT EMPLOYEES ADVOCATING FOR WELLNESS.

NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF SURVEYED EMPLOYERS AGREED THAT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR STAFF SHOULD BE A CORNERSTONE OF THEIR WORKFORCE STRATEGIES.

SO WE WANT TO THANK THIS TEAM UNDER STEVE'S LEADERSHIP, AND I'D LIKE TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS JEFF FIT DAY IS A DAY OF COLLECTIVE ACTION WHERE EMPLOYEES COME TOGETHER TO ENGAGE IN ACTIONS THAT SUPPORT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, SUCH AS PARTICIPATING IN A FITNESS ACTIVITY, WALKING OR ON-SITE YOGA, BRING A HEALTHY LUNCH TO WORK, SCHEDULE AND OR GO TO A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT OR HEALTH SCREENING APPOINTMENT PUTTING THEIR HEALTH FIRST.

AND WHEREAS THE MISSION OF THE JEFF FIT PROGRAM IS TO ENGAGE THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES AND PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH INFORMATION TO ALLOW THEM TO MAKE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES, THEREBY IMPROVING THEIR OVERALL HEALTH BOTH AT WORK AND AT HOME.

AND WHEREAS THE JEFF FIT EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF HEALTH WITHIN JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO HELP PROMOTE AND BUILD HEALTHIER WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS.

AND WHEREAS A HEALTHY WORKFORCE TENDS TO BE HAPPIER, HAVE FEWER SICK DAYS AND ABSENTEEISM, AND ARE GENERALLY MORE PRODUCTIVE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CYNTHIA LEE SHANG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 8TH, 2026 AS JEFF FIT DAY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

THANK YOU, STEVE.

WELL, THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, FOR ALLOWING THIS PROGRAM TO FLOURISH.

I WANT TO THANK THE HR DEPARTMENT FOR ALLOWING ME TO.

MAKE THIS PROGRAM FLOURISH.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS THAT ARE PRESENTLY HERE, OUR WELLNESS COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE ONES THAT WERE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE TODAY FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE? OKAY.

LET'S GET A PICTURE.

[00:30:04]

WHAT UP? LIKE SOME OF Y'ALL COME OVER HERE.

HOW ARE YOU? I'M FINE.

I'M FINE.

YOU DOING GOOD? HI, I WANT TO...

I DON'T WANT TO...

I'M GOING TO GO BUY A BOOK.

I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT.

I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR JEFFERSON PARISH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD TO COME UP WITH HER TEAM.

I THINK SHE'S GOT SOME PEOPLE WITH HER.

LET'S GO, BLUE TEAM.

THAT'S WHY YOU WORE THAT DRESS TODAY.

I KNEW IT.

WHAT A PRETTY COLOR BLUE.

I LOVE IT.

APRIL 6TH THROUGH 10TH IS NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK AND THIS YEAR WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

THE CDBG PROGRAM IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR HELPING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TACKLE SERIOUS CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITIES.

THROUGH THE CDBG PROGRAM STEPHANIE'S TEAM IS ABLE TO WORK TO ENSURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND CREATE JOBS.

SO I WANT TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION, AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN JEFFERSON PARISH ARE TOUCHED AND HELPED BY THIS INCREDIBLE TEAM.

WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK PROGRAM, THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM, AND THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH THE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP VIABLE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A SUITABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

AND WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK PROGRAM, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM, AND THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM ARE AMONG THE FEW REMAINING FEDERAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME PEOPLE IN SMALL CITIES AND SHOULD HAVE ITS FUNDING CONTINUED AND EVEN EXPANDED TO ASSIST PROJECTS AND SERVICES BECOME REALITY BY PROVIDING THE GAP FUNDS FOR THEIR PROJECT BUDGET NEEDS.

AND WHEREAS THE CDBG GRANT PROGRAM PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN HELPING OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS THROUGHOUT KEY INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING, PUBLIC SERVICES, PUBLIC FACILITIES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND DISASTER RECOVERY.

AND WHEREAS THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM CREATES AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS BY PROVIDING FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REHABILITATION OF HOUSING FOR RENTERS AND HOMEBUYERS, OWNER-OCCUPIED REHABILITATION, AND TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

AND THERE'S THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM, PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND RAPID REHOUSING.

AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF APRIL IS ALSO DEDICATED TO PROMOTE THE PRINCIPLES OUTLINED IN THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968, WHICH SHOULD BE AN OCCASION FOR ALL AMERICANS, BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, TO REDEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE PRINCIPLE OF FREEDOM FROM HOUSING DISCRIMINATION WHENEVER IT EXISTS, THIS LAW GUARANTEES FOR EACH CITIZEN THAT CRITICAL, PERSONAL ELEMENT OF FREEDOM OF CHOICE SELECTION OF THE HOME.

AND WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORT TO MAKE FAIR HOUSING NOT JUST AN ASPIRATION, BUT A REALITY FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CYNTHIA LEE SHANG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF APRIL 6TH TO APRIL 10TH, 2026, NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.

VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT FOR RECOGNIZING US TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR ALL THE HARD WORK Y'ALL DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE? STEPHANIE, YOU WANT TO STAND IN THE MIDDLE WITH THIS? AND LET'S SEE, LET'S WAIT FOR A MOMENT.

THANK YOU, GREAT JOB.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]

[00:35:35]

IT IS 10.07 AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY CALLING THIS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL THE 8TH, 2026.

TO ORDER.

THIS MORNING, COUNCILWOMAN BO HANNON IS GOING TO OFFER TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE WHO WILL BRING US OUR PRAYER FOR THE MORNING, OUR INVOCATION.

COUNCILWOMAN? YES, I AM REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE COUNCILWOMAN D.

DUNN DO OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING.

COUNCILWOMAN D.

DUNN REPRESENTS DISTRICT 1 IN KENNER, WHICH IS BYRON'S DISTRICT TECHNICALLY, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE BASICALLY KISSING COUSINS IN THAT AREA BECAUSE WE BUTT UP AGAINST EACH OTHER.

BUT SHE'S DONE AN AMAZING JOB, SO WE'RE JUST THRILLED TO HAVE HER.

HER OFFICIAL TITLE IS COUNCILWOMAN.

THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL HER AT CHURCH, COUNCILWOMAN REVEREND D.

DUNN.

SHE IS A REVEREND AT THE NEW MOUNT BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH RIGHT THERE IN THE HEART OF KENNER.

SO, COUNCILWOMAN.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN MUHAMMAD, FOR HAVING ME HERE.

I PRAY ALL THE TIME IN KINNICK BECAUSE GOD KNOWS YOU NEED PRAYER.

BUT THANK YOU.

LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER.

FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, DEAR MASTER, AS WE COME TO YOU THIS HOUR IN THE MORNING, WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, JUST FOR WAKING US UP AND STARTING US ON OUR WAY.

DEAR GOD, THIS MORNING WE PRAY FOR JEFFERSON PARISH THIS MORNING.

WE LIFT UP THE PARISH PRESIDENTS AND TO THE SAME, OUR CHEF, LEPINTO, FOR THIS COUNCIL, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

WE PRAY, DEAR GOD, THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY MAY FURTHER THIS PARISH OF JEFFERSON.

AND DEAR GOD, LET US NOT FORGET ABOUT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA, DEAR GOD.

WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH US IN A MIGHTY WAY.

YOU'VE BLESSED US.

YOU'VE KEPT THE TORNADOES AWAY, DEAR GOD, THE FLOODS AWAY, DEAR GOD.

WE CAN'T PAY YOU, BUT WE CAN TELL YOU THANK YOU.

WE PRAY THAT THIS PALACE WILL CONTINUE TO BE SAFE AND PROSPEROUS.

AND WE PRAY FOR THOSE THAT WILL MAKE THE LAWS AND RULES AND WOULD SIGN OFF ON THINGS THAT THEY WOULD DO US RIGHT IN YOUR SIGHT.

AND I PRAY, DEAR GOD, THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON.

IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

COUNCILWOMAN REVEREND DUNN, THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO BRING UP ANOTHER COUNCILWOMAN THAT I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH, FORMER WEST WEGO COUNCILWOMAN MAE CAMPBELL.

IF YOU WILL STEP FORWARD AND LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WILL CALL THE ROLL.

CHAIRWOMAN VAN RANKEN.

COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON.

PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN LULZBERG.

PRESENT.

PARISH PRESIDENT MS. LEE-SHANG.

PRESENT.

[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]

AND I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLE.

MADAM PRESIDENT, DO YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.

I WILL START.

JEFFERSON PARISH CONTINUES TO TAKE A PROACTIVE, COORDINATED APPROACH TO HURRICANE SEASON PREPAREDNESS.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR VARIOUS PARISH DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH PARTICIPATED IN THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE LAST WEEK.

OUR STAFF NOT ONLY ATTENDED CRITICAL SESSIONS ON EVOLVING FEDERAL REGULATIONS, RESPONSE STRATEGIES, AND EMERGENCY CONTRACTING RESOURCES, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTED AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS BY LEADING AND SUPPORTING TRAINING COURSES FOR PEERS

[00:40:02]

ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS ENGAGEMENT ENSURES JEFFERSON PARISH REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT OF BEST PRACTICES THANK YOU.

IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE.

BY INVESTING IN ADVANCED PLANNING, CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION, AND NATIONAL COLLABORATION, THE PARISH IS STRENGTHENING ITS READINESS TO PROTECT RESIDENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES WELL BEFORE A STORM THREATENS THE REGION.

WE WILL HOST OUR ANNUAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS PRESS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY, MAY 28TH AT 10 A.M.

TO PROVIDE MORE UPDATES ON OUR PREPAREDNESS MEASURES AHEAD OF THE START OF THIS YEAR'S HURRICANE SEASON.

SO WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

OUR JEFFERSON PROTECTION AND ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY, JPOS, WILL HOST A PET ADOPTION EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SMALL SLIDERS IN MARRERO.

THAT'S AT 1635 BARATARIA BOULEVARD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH FROM 10 A.M.

TO 5 P.M.

AND A PORTION OF ALL SALES WILL GO TO JPOS IF YOU MENTION THEM.

SO SMALL SLIDERS IN MARRERO, AND YOU NEED TO MENTION JPOS.

STORMWATER AND URBAN GARDENING SEMINAR, THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND PLANNING DEPARTMENTS WILL HOST A STORMWATER AND URBAN GARDENING SEMINAR ON APRIL 23RD FROM 9 A.M.

TO NOON AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.

THIS FREE INFORMATIONAL SESSION WILL PROVIDE BEST PRACTICES FOR URBAN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS FOR GARDENING, TRANSFORMING FOOD DESERTS, AND CONTROLLING PESTS AND COMPOSTING.

JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY.

THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY ALSO HAS MANY OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS ALL BRANCHES.

JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS ABOUT THE UPCOMING RENOVATION OF THE WEST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY AT A PUBLIC FORUM SCHEDULED TUESDAY, APRIL 14TH FROM 6.30 TO 8 P.M.

THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY INVITES OWNERS AND FANS OF CUSTOM AND VINTAGE CARS AND MOTORCYCLES TO THE THIRD CARS AND COFFEE AT THE LIBRARY GATHERING ON SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH FROM 9.30 TO 11.30 A.M.

THIS IS A VERY POPULAR EVENT.

IT ACTUALLY GOT STARTED FROM AN IDEA FROM ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND THEN ALSO THE WAGNER LIBRARY WILL HOST STAFF FROM THE AUDUBON INSTITUTE INSECTARIUM, WHO WILL BRING AN INSECT ZOO AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES TO THIS BRANCH LOCATION ON SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH FROM 10 TO NOON.

THE FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL PRESENT THEIR SPRING BIG BOOK SALE AT THE PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER IN KENNER FOR THREE DAYS FROM FRIDAY, APRIL 17TH THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH.

MORE THAN 65,000 USED BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, CDS, DVDS, VINYL RECORDS, AND PUZZLES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE, WHICH PROCEEDS BENEFITING ALL 17 BRANCHES OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY SYSTEM.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE EVENTS AND MORE, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WWW.JPLIBRARY.NET.

AND THEN FOR OUR ERP UPDATE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO UPDATE OUR PARISH'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO AN ENTERPRISE.

RESOURCE PLANNING SYSTEM.

THIS IS THE LARGEST INTERNAL PROJECT THE PARISH HAS EVER UNDERTAKEN.

THE SWITCH FROM AS400 TO IN4 WILL TOUCH EVERY PARISH DEPARTMENT IN MANY AGENCIES, IMPROVING HOW OUR FINANCIAL DATA IS PROCESSED AND REPORTED.

IN PREPARATION FOR THE SCHEDULED JULY 1ST LAUNCH, WE ARE CLOSELY WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS AND VENDORS TO ENSURE AS SMOOTH A TRANSITION AS POSSIBLE.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL VENDORS TO REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING TRAINING SESSION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW SYSTEM AND WHAT TO EXPECT.

PLEASE VISIT WWW.JEFFPARISH.GOV SLASH PURCHASING TO REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE SESSIONS BEFORE MAY 6TH.

THE TRAININGS WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, MAY 8TH FROM 1.45 TO 4 P.M.

AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY AND FRIDAY, MAY 15TH FROM 1.30 TO 4.30 IN OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

WE WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS AND OUR PARTNERS FOR THEIR COOPERATION TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY TO MINIMIZE ANY DISRUPTIONS OR OPERATIONS.

ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE PARISH PRESIDENT? WE ARE HERE ON THE EAST BANK AT THE YANNY BUILDING, AND THERE IS A BIG EVENT COMING UP ON THE EAST BANK THIS WEEKEND, AND COUNCILMAN LOZENBERG WANTS TO SHARE THAT WITH US.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

LAST YEAR, SHANE GEDRY REACHED OUT TO US, AND HE KIND OF WANTED TO BRING BACK THE POWERBOAT RACING THAT EVERYBODY REMEMBERS FROM 20 YEARS AGO.

THAT AL COPELAND KIND OF SPEARHEADED.

WE PULLED IT OFF.

IT WAS WELL-RECEIVED.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT EVENT, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY IT IS NOW AN ANNUAL EVENT.

WE'RE BRINGING IT BACK THIS YEAR.

IT'S THIS COMING WEEKEND.

IT'S GROUND ZERO FOR THE EVENT.

WE'LL BE AT THE BOTTOM OF A BOAT LAUNCH.

YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH SEE IT FROM THE PARISH LINE IN NEW ORLEANS TO PROBABLY CAUSEWAY.

THE CLOSER YOU GET TO BONNEVILLE, THE BETTER VANTAGE POINT.

IT'S FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU JUST WALK OUT THERE ON THE LEVEE AND SEE.

WE HAVE FREE SHUTTLES FROM 3500 NORTH CAUSEWAY AND 3501 NORTH CAUSEWAY.

SO PARK IN ONE

[00:45:01]

OF THOSE SPOTS.

THE SHUTTLE WILL BRING YOU RIGHT TO GROUND ZERO AT BONNEVILLE BOAT LAUNCH.

IT'S A GREAT SHOW.

IT'S HIGH ENERGY.

WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO.

THERE'S ALSO VIP PACKAGES AT IHRA.COM IF YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK INTO THAT.

BUT OTHERWISE, IT'S FREE, SO JUST SHOW UP.

WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO DESCRIBING IT.

SO I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN MAKE IT OUT.

THIS REALLY DOES, I THINK, KIND OF REINFORCES OUR COMMITMENT TO SPORTS TOURISM IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

WE'RE PUTTING HEADS IN BEDS, MAKING JEFFERSON PARISH MORE OF A DESTINATION.

SO PLEASE COME OUT.

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

WE'RE NOW AT THE PORTION OF OUR COUNCIL AGENDA WHERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.

IT'S EXCITING.

SO, AGAIN, NOT ITEM SEVEN.

THROUGH 19.

THOSE WILL HAVE SPECIFIC HEARINGS BUT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON A RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA FILL OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD AND TURN THAT INTO THE PARISH CLERK AND THEN YOU CAN COME FORWARD AND SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES AND AGAIN THE MICROPHONE WILL SHUT OFF AT THAT THREE MINUTES SO THAT WILL BE AUTOMATIC SO ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON ANY RESOLUTION PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WELCOME BACK.

I'M TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY AND AWAY WE GO.

YOU GOT ON YOUR MONEY LIST HERE, CAMPAIGN RELATED CONTRIBUTIONS TO ITEMS NUMBER 28, 38, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 70 THROUGH 72.

I DON'T LOOK AT ANY OF THIS THE SAME WAY ANYMORE.

I JUST LOOK FOR.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE LOOKING AT THE MATRIX.

I FEEL LIKE I'M THAT DUDE CYPHER, RIGHT? I JUST SEE THINGS AND PATTERNS.

HANS DID PRETTY GOOD, AND ARITA DID REALLY WELL.

AND I LOOKED AT SOME OF THESE ITEMS, AND IT'S MOSTLY CONTRACT-RELATED, SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY COULD REALLY MAKE ANY KIND OF HAY OF DRAMATICALLY.

SOME OF IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF OUR MONEY COMING BACK TO US IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND SPENT TO PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AND IT'S ALL KIND OF PREDICTABLE.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THE ONE DOING THIS.

THE PEOPLE TAKING THE MOST MONEY ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS, YOU SHOULD RECUSE YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY.

AND THE OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD BE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO.

YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A SLEW OF THESE ITEMS ARE ABOUT THINKERS, NOT DOERS.

AND THE WHOLE AGENDA IS RIFE WITH THIS.

SO ALL THROUGH THE 60S, THE 70S, ALL ENGINEERS, CONSULTANTS, DESIGNERS, TAKING A LOT OF OUR MONEY.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE MONEY THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKING, THESE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, THE INTERESTING PATTERN THAT I SAW AT THE END OF THIS, WHEN I KIND OF LIKE LOOK OVER THIS THING AND I SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I GOT THE NEWBIE ON THE COUNCIL FROM DISTRICT HE'S GOING TO HAVE THIS KIND OF ANECDOTAL MONEY COMING AT HIM.

THE INTERESTING THING THOUGH IS THAT I'VE GOT DISTRICT 4 AND DISTRICT 5 GETTING DUMPED A BUNCH OF CASH DISPROPORTIONATELY TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THEY'RE NOT TERM LIMITED.

THAT'S THE INTERESTING THING.

BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET ANY MONEY, THEY'RE TERM LIMITED.

OR THEY'RE DECLARED FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THEY AIN'T NECESSARILY NEEDING THIS MONEY.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T TERM LIMITED, THEY'RE GETTING DUMPED CASH.

IT'S LIKE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

AND I DON'T FAULT ANY SHARK FOR BEING A SHARK.

THIS WHOLE COUNCIL SITS HERE ONLY AS IT DOES AS A REFLECTION OF THE NEGLECT OF THE PEOPLE UP TO WHAT WE'RE OBLIGED TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNANCE ITSELF.

SO WHEN THE MONEY GOES FLOWING AS IT DOES AND I SEE THIS PATTERN, NOTHING SURPRISES ME.

[00:50:02]

LITTLE HOPSCOTCH GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.

53, JFI, PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION.

OR ANY OTHER CROTCHET, WHICH INGENUITY MIGHT INVENT, COMBINATIONS OF...

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO APPEAR? TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

JUST STATE YOUR NAME, IF YOU WOULD, FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD MORNING.

DEBBIE THERIAULT.

I'M A RESIDENT OF OLD JEFFERSON, AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO RESOLUTION NO.

53.

IN MY HEART OF HEARTS, I BELIEVE THAT ALL CHANGE STARTS AT THE BOTTOM, NOT AT THE TOP.

I BELIEVE IN A BOTTOMS-UP APPROACH, AND I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE DO ON THE LOCAL LEVEL CAN AFFECT, ULTIMATELY, STATE AND FEDERAL ISSUES.

WHAT WE SEE GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL ISSUE IS THAT SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THINK THAT THE WAY TO EFFECT CHANGE IS BY CHANGING THE COMPOSITION OF OUR SUPREME COURT BY STACKING IT.

TO CHANGE ELECTION OUTCOMES BY ADDING D.C.

AND PUERTO RICO TO STACK THE ELECTION AND POLITICAL DECISIONS.

IN THEIR FAVOR.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE, AS A COUNCIL, AS A PARISH, CAN DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND EFFECT CHANGE FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE POLITICS.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE IT TRULY BEGINS.

AND IN CONSIDERING THIS RESOLUTION, I HOPE ALL OF YOU TAKE THAT.

INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO CHANGE THE COMPOSITION OF A JFI BOARD.

IS THAT REASONABLE? IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO? AND THIS WOULD TAKE EFFECT IN 28 WHEN SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE HERE.

HOW FAIR IS IT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HERE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE PRESENTLY? SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE ALL OF YOU TO CONSIDER.

AS WELL AS CONSIDERING ALL OF YOU ARE OUR CONSTITUENTS, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR DISTRICT IS.

IT'S WE THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT? AND I ALSO BELIEVE, BECAUSE I AM A CHRISTIAN, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

AND MY PRAYERS ARE FOR ALL OF YOU THAT YOU WILL.

ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL? AND WE DO, I'LL JUST LET YOU ALL KNOW, WE DO HAVE ITEM 53 MARKED THAT IT WILL BE CANCELED TODAY.

AND SO THAT ITEM WILL BE CANCELED.

I LIVE IN METAIRIE, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF STILL FAIRLY NEW WITH POLITICS.

IN FACT, THE BREWPUB PROJECT IS REALLY THE FIRST THING THAT EVER SPARKED MY INTEREST.

BUT WITH THAT, I FEEL LIKE, WELL, I GUESS THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT IT, THE MORE I FEEL LIKE I'M A PAWN IN A CHESS GAME AGAINST MASTER CHESS PLAYERS.

PLAYERS AND IT'S NOT I'M NOT TO BE INSULTING I'M JUST A ROOKIE BUT BUT BASICALLY I DON'T HAVE THE TIME THE ENERGY OR THE DESIRE TO REVIEW ALL THESE CONTRACTS AND ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS GOING ON AND SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL FOR YEARS AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I NEED TO BECAUSE I THINK THAT AS A TAXPAYER I'M PAYING INSPECTOR GENERAL TO DO THAT I TRUST HER THANK YOU.

I TRUST THAT SHE'S LOOKING OUT FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

SO I'M JUST ASKING THAT EACH OF YOU, THAT UNLESS YOU'VE GONE THROUGH EVERY CONTRACT, EVERY PROJECT, AND CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT, PLEASE TRUST HER AND GO WITH HER RECOMMENDATIONS.

ALSO, I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THIS.

WHAT WOULD BE WRONG WITH HAVING THE PROJECTS VETTED? PRIOR TO MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THE TAXPAYER'S INTEREST IS AT STAKE.

[00:55:01]

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY RESOLUTION ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY?

[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]

ALL RIGHT SEEING NO ONE ELSE COMING FORWARD.

MADAM CLERK IF YOU WILL READ ITEM ONE.

A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SERVICES ON AN AS-NEEDED 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, NOT TO BE EXCEEDED BY A FACTOR OF MORE THAN 10% PER YEAR WITHOUT AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ALL QUALIFIED.

I'M GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING.

A RESOLUTION SELECTING A PERSON OR FIRM TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES RELATED TO THE PORTABLE GENERATOR PROJECT, A FEMA-FUNDED PROJECT.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM TWO.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO SELECT INFINITY ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, LLC.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO SELECT INFINITY ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, LLC, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

6 YAYS, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT.

A RESOLUTION SELECTING TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE, SERVICE SYSTEM, ENHANCEMENTS, AND EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT FOR ALL ASPECTS AND COMPONENTS OF THE PARISH'S MOTOROLA P25800 MHZ RADIO SYSTEM AND SUBSCRIBER UNITS ON A HAS-NEEDED BASIS.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 3.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNDER RFP NUMBER 0510.

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC., THE ONLY RESPONDER.

COUNCILMAN WALKER SELECTS MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC., SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING.

MADAM CLERK, THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS WILL COME BACK TO YOU AT 11 O'CLOCK TO READ THE

[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES]

EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. WE WILL GO NOW TO ITEM 7, AND I HAVE A NOTATION THAT ITEMS 7, 08, 11, AND 12.

ARE TO BE DEFERRED TO THE APRIL 22ND MEETING, WHICH IS OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

SO, ITEMS 7, 8, 11, AND 12.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON DEFERRAL? MOVE TO DEFER.

MOVE TO DEFER BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.

ITEMS 7, 8, 11, AND 12, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

ON THE DEFERRAL, CLOSING THE VOTING, THE MEASURE TO DEFER PASSES SIX YEAS.

ZERO NAYS AND ONE ABSENT.

SO WE WILL GO TO ITEM, LET'S

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

SEE, ITEM 10, NINE.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26701, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOT SIX, TARRYTOWN SECTION NUMBER SEVEN, LOCATED AT 2020 SOUTH GLENCOVE LANE.

ITEM NINE, MADAM CLERK.

MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM C1 WITH THE CPZ TO R1A AND THE REMOVAL OF THE CPZ WZ-1-26 COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. I UNDERSTAND WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM.

WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26701.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEWBORN.

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

[01:00:02]

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING.

CLOSING THE VOTING THE ITEM PASSES SIX YEAS ZERO NAYS AND ONE ABSENT ALL RIGHT ITEM TEN

[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - PERMITTED USES]

MADAM CLERK SUMMARY NUMBER TWO SIX SIX NINE THREE AMENDING THE STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SPECIAL PERMANENT USE FOR THE PROCESSING REFINING OF BULK STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS APPROVED FOR VERTEX REFINING L A L L C MURARRO FACILITY USED OR RE-REFINING FACILITY AND ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 25307 ADOPTED FEBRUARY 22ND, 2017, SPECIFICALLY APPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A REPLACEMENT THERMAL HEATER AND FLARE DRUM AND OTHER ASSOCIATED CHANGES ON LOT M3, WHICH LOT IS ZONED IH, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, HMO, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OVERLAY DISTRICT, SPU-10-25.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

OKAY, AND WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM.

WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 26693.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

AND IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD MORNING.

BERNARD JANUSA.

RESIDENT OF MARRERO, LOUISIANA SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF VERTEX ENERGY.

THIS SPU AMENDMENT WILL BASICALLY ALLOW VERTEX ENERGY TO REPLACE TWO MAJOR PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WITH SLIGHTLY LARGER, MORE EFFICIENT UNITS.

IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND PROCESS MORE USED MOTOR OIL, WHICH WILL THEN BE CONVERTED TO RENEWABLE BASE OIL.

AT OUR SISTER FACILITY IN MOBILE, ALABAMA.

THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW US TO REMAIN A LEADER IN THE RENEWABLE LUBRICANT INDUSTRY AS WELL AS REMAIN A CONSISTENT EMPLOYER FOR OVER 35 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, HALF OF WHICH RESIDE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26693 PLEASE COME FORWARD ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO SUMMARY NUMBER 26693 PLEASE COME FORWARD MADAM CLERK PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE SPOKE IN FAVOR NO ONE SPOKE IN OPPOSITION COUNCILMAN LEE YOUR MOTION YES I MOVE ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN BONANNO TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN BONANNO TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING.

6 YAYS, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT.

[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - VARIANCES]

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 13.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26703, APPROVING SP-6.

62-25 FOR A VARIANCE TO THE HEIGHT AND LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS OF THE GO2 AND CBZ FOR A NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 1215 AND 1301 CLEARVIEW PARKWAY ON LOTS 11C AND 10A, BRIDGEDALE SECTION C SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT I HAVE A NOTE THAT WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26703, SO ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN...

FAVOR OF THIS ITEM PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD GOOD MORNING GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS 18 RUBEN KENNER I WOULD LOVE TO REQUEST TO CONSIDER TO APPROVE THIS AND IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION I WILL TRY AND TRY TO ANSWER IT THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO, SIR.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26703, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON.

I'M ARCHITECT OF RECORD FOR THE PROJECT.

I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THE PLANNING STAFF TO WORK WITH ECM CONSULTANTS.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE'VE

[01:05:02]

SATISFIED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INTERIM ZONING DISTRICT, THE GOAL OF WHICH WAS TO INCENTIVIZE OFFICE.

DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THIS CORRIDOR AND WE'RE GLAD TO PROVIDE A DESIGN THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO SUMMARY NUMBER 26703 COME FORWARD.

SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT TWO SPOKE IN FAVOR, NO ONE IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCILMAN LODGERBERG, YOUR MOTION.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE VARIANCE REQUESTED, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS NO HEIGHT VARIANCE, CORRECT? SO THE ONLY VARIANCE THAT THEY'RE SEEKING IS ESSENTIALLY A COUPLE OF PARKING SPOTS? YES, SIR.

THE APPLICANT WORKED WITH US TO TAKE CARE OF THE LANDSCAPE VARIANCES, THE HEIGHT VARIANCES.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.

SO THE ONLY VARIANCE CURRENTLY BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS A PARKING VARIANCE.

MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING.

ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTING.

THE ITEM PASSES AS APPROVED, SIX GAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 14.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26704, APPROVING SP-4-26, A REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE AREA REGULATIONS OF THE CBZ FOR A MBP MEDICAL CLINIC GENERATOR AT 2800 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LOT XA RIDGEWAY TERRACE SUBDIVISION.

WHITNEY BANK, JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.

I HAVE A NOTE THAT WE CAN WAIVE THE READING.

WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26704.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

MS. DELLY, I'M REPRESENTING WHLC ARCHITECTURE.

THE GENERATOR IS NEEDED FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES WHENEVER THE POWER GOES OUT.

CAN YOU RAISE THE MICROPHONE JUST A BIT? THERE YOU GO.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

HOW'S THAT? BETTER? OTHER ONE TOO.

TWO OF THEM, ALL RIGHT.

HOW'S THAT? GOOD? BETTER.

LIKE I WAS SAYING, THE GENERATOR IS NEEDED FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THE PHARMACY AS WELL AS THE INFUSION CENTER FOR MARY BIRD PERKINS.

BECAUSE OF THE SITE CONDITIONS, WE'RE ASKING FOR A SEVEN FOOT ENCROACHMENT INTO THE SETBACK.

THE REASON WHY WE ARE GOING ACROSS IT IS BECAUSE THE FRESH AIR INTAKES.

FOR THE FRESH AIR MAKEUP AIR FOR THE PHARMACY HAS A REQUIREMENT TO BE 15 FEET FROM THE DISCHARGE OF THE GENERATOR ALSO THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THE UM THE PHARMACY THAT IS ALONG THAT WALL ON THE EXTERIOR OKAY ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ANYTHING THANK YOU VERY MUCH THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26704, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE ONE SPOKE IN FAVOR, NO ONE SPOKE IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG? I STILL APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

THE MEASURE PASSES SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 15.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26705, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 26997, ADOPTED ON MAY 21ST, 2025, UNDER SP-95-24, TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF THE COMPLETION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT APPROVED.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.

I HAVE A NOTE THAT WE CAN WAIVE THE READING.

WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26705.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED TO THIS ITEM.

COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG.

MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG MOVES TO APPROVE.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.

[OTHER PROPERTY MATTERS ORDINANCES]

[01:10:01]

AND ONE ABSENT.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 16.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26706, DECLARING A PORTION OF TEXAS STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY OAKDALE SUBDIVISION, SECTION B, PREVIOUS MUNICIPAL ADDRESS 431 HOLMES BOULEVARD, TARRYTOWN, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE SALE OF SAID PROPERTY PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES, SECTION 2-951, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND WE ARE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

FOR OUR SUMMARY NUMBER 26706, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION.

YEAH, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I KNOW THERE WAS CONCERNS IN THE PAST BEFORE I GOT HERE WITH LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SEND THIS MONEY FROM TARRYTOWN TO SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT I WANT TO REST ASSURED.

SO THE PEOPLE AT TARRYTOWN, EVERY CENT OF THE SALE IS GOING TO GO BACK TO IMPROVE IN TARRYTOWN.

I MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE.

WE'RE OPENING THE VOTING.

ITEM 17, MADAM CLERK, WITH AMENDMENTS.

SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS,

[OTHER ORDINANCES]

AND ONE ABSENT.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26707, AMENDING SECTION 27-923 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH RELATIVE TO THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED WITH INVOICES AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS.

AND THE AMENDMENT IS IN THE CAPTION SECTION 27-923 SHOULD READ 2-923.

COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.

I MOVE.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES.

FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS.

I'M GOING TO OPEN VOTING SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

SO THAT IS THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS.

OUR MACHINE IS GETTING TIRED.

LET'S SEE IF I CLEAR IT.

NO? WELL.

WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM AS AMENDED.

SO SUMMARY NUMBER 26707.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM AS AMENDED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THIS ITEM AS AMENDED? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS MOVED FORWARD TO SPEAK, COUNCILMAN LEE.

BEFORE I MOVE, I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE.

THIS ORDINANCE PROTECTS ALL THE ENGINEERING FIRMS OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRMS THAT ARE SUBCONTRACTORS TO PRIMES.

WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES WHEREAS PRIMES HAVE GOTTEN PAID AND THE SUBS HAVE NOT.

AND SO WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ANY PRIME.

TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT STATING THAT THEIR SUB HAS BEEN PAID BEFORE THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH ANYTHING ELSE.

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE, I BELIEVE, A FIX TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR GOOD VENDORS HAVE HAD IN THIS PARISH.

AND SO I'M PROUD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE VOTE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.

MEASURE PASSES, SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM 18, ALSO WITH AMENDMENTS.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26708, AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AND THE AMENDMENT IS TO ALLOCATE $15,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S VIDEO POKER FUND TO THE JONAH GROUP OUTREACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED FOR A CEA TO PROVIDE A SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.

MOVE ON THE AMENDMENTS.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON THE AMENDMENTS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE VOTING.

FIVE YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND TWO ABSENT.

[01:15:01]

OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM AS AMENDMENT.

AS AMENDED ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26708 PLEASE COME FORWARD ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR IN OPPOSITION OR SPEAK IN OPPOSITION MADAM CLERK PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS STEPPED FORWARD COUNCILMAN WALKER YOUR MOTION ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE AS AMENDMENT AS AMENDED SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN RANKIN VOTING IS OPEN VOTING ON THE OPERATING BUDGET AS AMENDED.

ALL RIGHT, CLOSING VOTING.

THE ITEM PASSES SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 19.

SUMMARY NUMBER 26709, AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THE AMENDMENT IS TO ALLOCATE $587,900.

FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 2, FUND INTO PROJECT NUMBER 46828009 FOR CROCHET PARK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

ON THE AMENDMENTS, CLOSING THE VOTING, SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.

THE AMENDMENTS PASS.

OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS CAPITAL BUDGET AS AMENDED.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE CAPITAL BUDGET AS AMENDMENT.

MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE.

SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.

CAPITAL BUDGET PASSES AS AMENDED.

[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]

RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.

MADAM CLERK IS ITEM 20.

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

COUNCILMAN LEE.

I HAVE ONE.

YES, SIR.

A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO NEW GROWTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION TO SELL AND SERVE BEVERAGES AND FOOD.

TO HAVE LIVE DJ AMPLIFIED MUSIC AND TO ERECT 10 CRAFT BOOTHS AND TWO TENTS AT ITS WOODMERE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL ON MAY 9TH 2026 AT WOODMERE PLAYGROUND 4100 GLENMERE DRIVE IN HARVEY PROVIDED THAT ALL PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED ALL RIGHT UM COUNCILMAN LEE YOUR MOTION ON UH ALLOWING THIS ITEM TO COME FROM THE FLOOR MOVE FOR APPROVAL ALL RIGHT COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.

PLEASE VOTE ON THE ITEM.

BEING ABLE TO COME FROM THE FLOOR THERE WE GO CLOSING THE VOTING SIX YEAS ZERO NAYS ONE ABSENT THE ITEM IS APPROVED TO COME FROM THE FLOOR WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM UH THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR PLEASE COME FORWARD ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION MADAM CLERK PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD COUNCILMAN LEE MOVE COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES TO APPROVE THE ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.

FOUR YAYS, ZERO NAYS, THREE ABSENT.

SORRY.

DID ANYBODY? YOU DID PRESS IT? I DID HIT IT.

IT WAS BLINKING FOR SOME REASON.

YOU WANT TO? OKAY.

LET'S CLEAR THAT.

LET'S CLEAR THAT VOTE.

WE'LL DO IT AGAIN.

COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION WAS MOVED FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY HERE IS VOTING.

THERE WE GO.

AND AN OWL FROM COUNCILMAN WALKER.

COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.

I HAVE NONE.

A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO METAIRIE ROAD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TO HOLD A FARMER'S MARKET ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING APRIL 11, 2026 FROM 8 30 A.M.

NONE.

COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON.

NONE.

COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.

ONE.

YES, SIR.

UNTIL 12 30 P.M.

[01:20:02]

AT BAYOU METAIRIE PARK, 2713 METAIRIE ROAD.

COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION TO BRING THIS ITEM FROM THE FLOOR.

WE'RE MOVING ON THE BRINGING THIS ITEM FROM THE FLOOR.

SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT TO BRING THIS ITEM FROM THE FLOOR.

WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM REGARDING A FARMER'S MARKET.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED.

COUNCILMAN LILZERBERG.

MOVE TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LILJENBERG MOVES TO APPROVE.

VOTING IS OPEN AND VOTING IS CLOSED.

FIVE YEAS.

YOU WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN? WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A REDO ON THAT.

CLEARING THE VOTING.

I HATE FARMER'S MARKETS, HANS.

THE MEASURE PASSES AND EVERYONE'S INVITED TO THE FARMER'S MARKET SATURDAY.

COUNCILMAN KERNER.

I HAVE NONE.

AND I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLE.

RIGHT.

[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]

I WAS WONDERING.

OH, LORD.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, AGENDA ITEMS ONE.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION REGARDING IN GLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS...

21 THROUGH 50.

COUNCILMAN MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 21 THROUGH 50.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, WE'RE OPENING THE VOTING ON THESE ITEMS TAKEN IN GLOBO.

THOSE ITEMS TAKEN IN GLOBO

[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]

PASS.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL GO TO ITEM 51.

MADAM CLERK, LET'S SEE.

I HAVE A NOTE THAT ITEM 51 IS TO BE DEFERRED TO APRIL 22ND.

THAT IS, I'LL MOVE FOR, COUNCILMAN WALKER, I BELIEVE, MOVED FOR DEFERRAL OF THIS ITEM TO APRIL 22ND, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

WE'LL OPEN THE VOTING.

ON DEFERRING THIS ITEM TO APRIL 22ND CLOSING THE VOTING THE MEASURE PASSES SO IT'LL BE DEFERRED TO APRIL 22ND SIX YEAS ZERO NAYS ONE ABSENT ITEM 52 LET ME SEE IF WE HAVE CONSENT AGENDA 2 WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS 51, WHICH WE JUST PASSED, SO WE'LL DO 52 THROUGH 115, MINUS ITEMS 53 AND 56, WHICH WILL BE CANCELED.

ITEM 54 AND 55, WHICH ARE SELECTIONS, SO WE'LL TAKE THOSE INDIVIDUALLY.

AND ITEM 77, WHICH IS TO BE AMENDED.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? I MOVE TO APPROVE.

I'M GOING TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA 2 ITEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

HANG ON, LET ME CLEAR THE VOTE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS, I THINK, FROM THE LAST VOTE.

ALL RIGHT, VOTING IS OPEN ON THOSE IN GLOBO ITEMS. COUNCILMAN KERNER, IF YOU WANT TO ASK YOUR VOTE.

EXCELLENT.

CLOSING THE VOTING, SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.

SO THE IN GLOBO ITEMS PASS.

ITEM NUMBER 54.

A RESOLUTION SELECTING FROM PERSONS OR FIRMS FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 144993 ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 AND RESOLUTION 146267 ADOPTED ON APRIL 30, 2025 FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR STREET PROJECTS, FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES, FOR THE PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR LOPOCO BOULEVARD ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

PETERS ROAD TO TIMBERLANE DRIVE.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION? I MOVE.

STUART CONSULTANTS AS THE PRIME AND, I'M SORRY, PRINCIPAL AS THE SUB ON THIS PROJECT AS ENGINEERS, AND THEN RESIDENT INSPECTION FOR DISTRICT 3 WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL INSPECTIONS, AND

[01:25:02]

FOR DISTRICT 1 WOULD BE ELOS ENVIRONMENTAL.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LEE.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KERNER TO SELECT STUART CONSULTING AS THE PRIME, PRINCIPAL ENGINEERING AS THE SUB.

RESIDENT INSPECTION FOR DISTRICT 3, EXCEPTIONAL INSPECTION.

AND FOR DISTRICT 1, ELOS ENVIRONMENTAL.

OPENING VOTING ON THIS ITEM.

A RESOLUTION SELECTING FROM PERSONS OR FIRMS FROM THE LIST OF...

ITEM 55, MADAM CLERK.

OF APPROVED FIRMS ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 144993 ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 25TH 2024 AND RESOLUTION 146267 ADOPTED ON APRIL 30TH 2025 FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR STREET PROJECTS FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR LAPACO BOULEVARD ROAD IMPROVEMENT TIMBER LANE DRIVE TO LA 23 COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE COUNCIL COUNCILMAN KERN AT YOUR SELECTION.

EVANS GRAVES, ENGINEERS, AS THE PRIME, AND ALSO ELOS AS THE RESIDENTIAL INSPECTOR, AND BRIAN HAMMETT FOR SURVEYING.

COUNCILMAN KERN MOVES ON EVANS GRAVES AS PRIME, ELOS AS RESIDENT INSPECTION, AND BRIAN HAMMETT FOR SURVEYING.

BRIAN HAMMETT SURVEYING.

WE'LL GO TO ITEM 77, MADAM CLERK.

SELECTION PASSES.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND THE CITY OF WEST WIGO TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRONIC CITATION DEVICES, PROCESSING, AND RELATED SUPPORT FOR THE WEST WIGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $46,000.

AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN THE PREAMBLE, 7TH WHEREAS, 8TH WHEREAS, AND SECTION 1, $46,000 SHOULD READ $46,200.

COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.

I APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS CORRECTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.

VOTING IS OPEN ON THE AMENDMENTS.

THE AMENDMENTS PASS.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE NO, WE DON'T NEED THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IT'S A RESOLUTION.

SO, COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.

MOVE TO APPROVE ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN BONANNO.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN BONANNO, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

WE'RE OPENING THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM, CLOSING THE VOTING.

SIX YAYS.

ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.

THE ITEM NUMBER 77 PASSES.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER 117, WHICH IS US SITTING AS A JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICT.

MADAM CLERK?

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

THANK YOU, YES.

MADAM CLERK HAS REMINDED ME THAT AT 11 O'CLOCK WE INTENDED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO IF YOU WILL READ THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ITEMS, AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO THE AGENDA AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR MARCENIQUE STEVENSON CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 25G57M628373.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? I MOVE.

COUNCILWOMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE THE ITEM GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THE ITEM PASSES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A LAWSUIT ENTITLED RENATA ANDERSON V.

JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT AMERICA'S INSURANCE COMPANY.

AND LOUISIANA INSURANCE GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION, 24TH JDC, CASE NUMBER 852646, DIVISION C.

COUNCILMAN WALKER? MOVE.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS PERTAINING TO JEFFERSON FACILITIES INCORPORATED LEASES BY AND BETWEEN P.O.B.

[01:30:01]

MADAM CLERK, ITEM SIX.

RESTAURANT GRETNA LLC AND P.O.B.

GRUTTENA B.

OR LLC.

COUNCILMAN KERNER? I MOVE.

COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM 6 SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM.

AN EXECUTIVE SESSION CLOSING THE VOTING.

I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS AT THIS TIME.

ITEM 6 PASSES.

SO WE'LL BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO HANDLE THESE THREE ITEMS AND THEN WE WILL BE BACK FROM THAT BREAK.

WE ARE COMING BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, RETURNING TO OUR MEETING, COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 8TH HERE AT THE YENNY BUILDING.

NOT SEEING ANYTHING ON THE SCREEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE COMING BACK FROM OUR BREAK.

MADAM CLERK, COMING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS TO READ.

YOU CAN READ THIS.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LEGAL MATTER CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR MARCIANIQUE STEVENSON CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 25G57M628373 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING.

ON THAT RESOLUTION, COUNCIL MEMBERS OPENING VOTING.

CLOSING VOTING.

THE MEASURE PASSES 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED RENATA ANDERSON V.

JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT AMERICA'S INSURANCE COMPANY, INC.

IN LOUISIANA INSURANCE GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION, 24TH JDC, CASE NUMBER 852646, DIVISION C.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN VAN VRANKEN.

EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO VOTE.

ALL RIGHT,

[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]

MADAM CLERK, I BELIEVE WE GO TO ITEM 117.

A RESOLUTION DECLARING 1-2018 FORD EXPEDITION, THEN NUMBER 1FMJU1FT2JEA50866, OWNED BY JEFFERSON PARISH, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES, AND APPROVING THE DONATION OF THE TRAILER TO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO.

3 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

IT'S COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, BUT SINCE COUNCILMAN BONANNO IS ABSENT, COUNCILMAN WALKER.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

ALL RIGHT, VOTING IS OPEN.

ANYONE WISHING TO VOTE ON THIS? CLOSING THE VOTING.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DONATION OF A 2018 FORD EXPEDITION VIN NUMBER 1FMJU1FT2JEA50866 FROM JEFFERSON PARISH TO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 3 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 118.

OKAY, AGAIN THIS IS COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, COUNCILMAN BONANNO, BUT IN HIS ABSENCE, COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION.

COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN BONANNO TO MOVE TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING.

ANYONE WISHING TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM? CLOSING THE VOTING.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ 119.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DONATION OF A 2007 FOREVER INFERNO APPARATUS, VIN NUMBER 1F94045247H140487 FROM JEFFERSON PARISH TO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 3 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

AGAIN, IN COUNCILMAN BONANNO'S ABSENCE, COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG, YOUR MOTION.

COUNCILMAN LILJENBERG MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY

[01:35:01]

COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN OPENING THE VOTING.

ANYONE WISHING TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM? CLOSING THE VOTING.

A RESOLUTION DECLARING 1-2007 FERRARA INFERNO APPARATUS, VIN NUMBER 1F94045247H140487, OWNED BY JEFFERSON PARISH, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES, AND APPROVING THE DONATION OF THE APPARATUS TO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 3 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

MADAM CLERK, ITEM 120.

ALL RIGHT, AGAIN, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 WITH COUNCILMAN BONANNO BEING ABSENT.

WE'RE ALL PLAYING SUPPORTING ROLES.

COUNCILWOMAN BONANNO, I MEAN BOHANNON, SORRY, FOR COUNCILMAN BONANNO.

COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

THE VOTING IS OPEN.

ANYONE WISHING TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM? CLOSING THE VOTING.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ 121.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING A ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $99,906.95 TO HERBERT WALLACE MEMORIAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY FOR THE PURCHASE OF HEARST E3 CONNECT CUTTER SPREADER 9AH TOOLS AND A 2026 FORD F-250 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO.

07, OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA AND HERBERT WALLACE MEMORIAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY DATED FEBRUARY 27, 2018, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

COUNCILMAN LEE.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF 121, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

I HAVE A NOTE THAT 1-22 IS TO BE CANCELLED.

1-22.

COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVED TO CANCEL.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO CANCEL.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, YOUR VOTING IS OPEN.

ON THE CANCELLATION OF ITEM 1-22, ANYONE WISHING TO VOTE? ALL RIGHT, VOTING IS CLOSED.

SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT, AND THAT ITEM IS CANCELLED.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ 123.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT BETWEEN AT&T ENTERPRISES LLC AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICT FOR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN A PROGRAM ROADWAYS, ADDRESSES, PUBLIC SAFETY ZONES, CALL FOR SERVICE ROUTING FOR THE USE BY THE DISTRICT'S COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM.

MR. WALKER? MOVE.

COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL.

APPROVAL OF ITEM 123, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING ON ITEM 123.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT NO.

ITEM 123 PASSED.

ITEM 124, MADAM CLERK.

2 TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, CITY OF GRETNA, AND PLAQUEMINES PORT, HARBOR, AND TERMINAL DISTRICT REGARDING PRE-APPLICATION ACTIVITIES NEEDED TO SOLICIT.

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR A WEST BANK RAIL REALIGNMENT PROJECT WHICH INCREASES THE TOTAL MAXIMUM FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE PARTIES BY TWO MILLION NINETY SEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS FROM FOUR MILLION TO SIX MILLION NINETY SEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS AND INCREASES THE PARISH'S MAXIMUM COST FROM ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND TO TWO MILLION TWO $286,665.

THIS APPLIES TO COUNCIL DISTRICTS 1, 2, AND 3.

SO, COUNCILMAN LEE? I MOVE.

COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF 124, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KERNER.

MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL READ 125.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH GRAND ISLE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO.

1 TO PROVIDE FUNDING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $11,220 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A TRUCK WRAP, WHICH SHALL AID IN FIRST RESPONDERS PROVIDING FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO.

9 RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY ALIKE.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.

COUNCILMAN KERNER? MOVE TO APPROVE.

[01:40:02]

COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.

OUR FASTEST YET, SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.

[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]

THAT ITEM PASSES.

WE HAVE NO NEW BUSINESS, NO STATUS REPORTS.

SO THIS IS THE POINT IN OUR COUNCIL AGENDA WHERE ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR AND SPEAK ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

AND IF YOU'LL SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS GERALD PARK.

I LIVE AT 1416 SEMINOLE AVENUE IN METAIRIE.

WE HAVE HAD A HOUSING FOR...

ELDERLY, HE INSISTED LIVING AT 1421 SEMINOLE.

FOR SOME REASON, THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING.

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MY COUNCILMAN ON THIS MATTER IN THE PAST.

TOLD ME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE ILLEGAL PARKING.

TOLD ME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT.

ALL OF THAT HAS GOTTEN ME NOTHING, EXCEPT ONE POLICE OFFICER THREATENED ME.

HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME, YOU KEEP MAKING THESE CALLS, IT'S GOING TO BACKFIRE ON YOU.

AND I CALLED AND REPORTED THAT TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL CAN DO WITH THIS.

HE OWNS THE PROPERTY AT 1421, 1417, AND 1426.

HE HAS CARS PARKING ALL OVER THESE PROPERTIES ILLEGALLY.

HIS PROPERTY AT 1421 WITH 16 BEDROOMS. HAS PARKING FOR FOUR CARS, WHICH TWO OF THE CARS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE BLOCKING SIDEWALKS AND SOMETIMES THE STREET.

HIS EASEMENT, HE HAS FILLED IT IN WITH FLOWERS, AND IN FRONT OF THAT, THEY PARK ON THE STREET.

THE STREET IS A NARROW STREET, AND IT DOES NOT HAVE ON-STREET PARKING.

AND THEY'RE CONSTANTLY PARKING ON EASEMENTS, PARKING INTO THE LOTS, AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THIS.

HE MADE A REMARK TO ME AT ONE TIME, TOLD HIS WIFE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT HIM.

HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

SO OBVIOUSLY HE KNOWS SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW, THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW ON THEIR PARKING SITUATIONS.

WHAT COULD THE COUNCIL DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS? IF I MAY, WE DID SPEAK, AND I WOULD JUST CORRECT YOU ON ONE THING.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL CODE ENFORCEMENT.

WE CALLED CODE ENFORCEMENT AS WELL ON YOUR BEHALF.

YOU DO RECALL THAT, RIGHT? I DON'T REMEMBER THAT PART OF IT, BUT...

SO WE DID AS WELL.

I MEAN, LOOK, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED ORDINANCES...

WE GET ALL THE TIME PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT PARKING AND SPEEDING AND DIFFERENT VIOLATIONS OF LAW.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T ENFORCE THE LAW.

THAT IS THE SHERIFF.

LISTEN, WE HAVE LAWS THAT REGULATE PARKING.

WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM TO ENFORCE IT.

THAT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THAT'S THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK YOUR WAY UP THAT CHAIN.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE, WE CAN SET YOU UP WITH THOSE GUYS AS WELL, WITH THE COMMANDER OF THE DISTRICT.

AND SEE IF THEY CAN HELP.

SO, WHOOP.

AND WHEN THEY GET HERE, THEY NO LONGER, THEY'VE NEVER CONTACTED ME.

AND LIKE I SAID, THERE'S ONE OFFICER ON SEPTEMBER, LET ME SEE, I GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN.

ON SEPTEMBER 8TH AT 2.30, HE DROVE.

VEHICLE G 848 THAT'S THE OFFICER THAT CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT BUT KEEP THIS UP IT'S GOING TO BACKFIRE ON ME AGAIN AS COUNCILMAN LITTLE JBERG HAS OFFERED TO SET UP A MEETING WITH JP OKAY SINCE THEY'RE THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY I THINK THAT WOULD BE YEAH THE APPROPRIATE IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CELLS OVER THERE GREAT THANKS THANK YOU I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THESE PROPERTIES.

WE'RE OUT THERE CONSTANTLY.

WE'RE ISSUING VIOLATIONS.

WE FILE LIENS AGAINST THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE PROPERTIES.

WE TAG VEHICLES THERE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CLEAR BY THE TIME WE GO BACK TO RE-INSPECT, SO WE HAVEN'T TOWED MANY VEHICLES FROM THIS PROPERTY.

I WILL DEFINITELY GET THE CONTACT INFORMATION, AND I WILL HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE COMMUNICATION ABOUT EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE AND WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO.

DO SO I'LL DEFINITELY THANK YOU.

JUST TO ADD CLARITY TO THIS, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT CERTAIN IN MY UNDERSTANDING.

IF IT'S A VIOLATION IN THE STREET, I BELIEVE IT'S THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE DO DO A VIOLATION IF THEY PARK IT ON THE GRASS.

SO THERE'S TWO DEPARTMENTS.

IT DEPENDS ON THE VIOLATION.

[01:45:04]

THEY PARK IN THERE.

I CAN SHOW YOU PICTURES.

I EVEN HAVE THEM ON MY PHONE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW.

ALSO.

THE PROPERTY NEXT TO 2017, HE HAS A FENCE IN IT.

THE CARS ARE PARKING IN FRONT OF THAT, ON THE GRASS, NOT ON THE STREET, BUT ON THE GRASS.

THAT'S CODE ENFORCEMENT.

BUT WHEN THEY'RE ON EASEMENT, IT THEN CAN ALSO BE A POLICE VIOLATION.

HE HAS ALSO DONE THINGS WITH THE PROPERTY AT 1425 SEMINOLE, WHICH IS A KC HALL, WHICH HAS AN ORDINANCE AGAINST IT THAT YOU CANNOT ENTER OR EXIT PROPERTY EXCEPT ON AN EXTREME EMERGENCY.

I HAVE AN EVENT WHERE I HAVE PICTURES HERE TOO, WHERE YOU PUT UP AN EVENT SIGN.

PARKING INTO THE PARKING LOT THE KCL ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ILLEGAL THIS MAN HAS WE SPOKE WE ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH WITH SAFETY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IT WELL I WAS IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THE WITH THE HALL TO TO HELP WITH THE PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HE WAS PARKING THEY WERE PARKING THERE OKAY ALL RIGHT I GOT I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU ALL RIGHT SO AGAIN, I THINK IT'LL BE MOST PRODUCTIVE IF YOU CAN BRING YOUR INFORMATION AND CODE IS THERE TO DEAL WITH THOSE VIOLATIONS THAT ARE CODE RELATED, JPSO FOR THE JPSO RELATED, AND BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS LISA CARLIN.

THERE ARE 70 PERMITTED LANDFILLS IN LOUISIANA, BUT THE MAJORITY SERVICE A SINGLE PARISH.

RIVER BIRCH LANDFILL IN WAGAMON IS CURRENTLY PERMITTED TO TAKE IN SOLID WASTE FROM 13 LOUISIANA PARISHES.

IT'S NOW APPLYING TO LDEQ TO TAKE IN WASTE FROM ALL 64 LOUISIANA PARISHES AND ALL 50 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

YOU MIGHT BE THINKING THAT THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN, THAT IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO BRING IN WASTE DOWN TO JEFFERSON PARISH, BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT RIVER BIRCH TAKING IN THE WASTE.

IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITIES ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY THAT WANT TO SHIFT.

THEIR WASTE OUT.

AND THEY'LL GLADLY PAY FOR THIS.

IT'S THE WASTE GENERATORS THAT PAY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL FEES.

ARROWHEAD LANDFILL IN ALABAMA IS PERMITTED TO TAKE IN SOLID WASTE FROM 33 STATES.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST LANDFILL IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF SERVICE AREA.

MOST OF THE SOLID WASTE ARRIVES THERE BY RAIL.

ARROWHEAD WILL BE AT FULL CAPACITY IN JUST 10 TO 11 YEARS.

SO WHERE WILL THOSE 33 STATES SEND THEIR GARBAGE? RIVER BIRCH? I MEAN, RIVER BIRCH IS NOT THAT FAR FROM ALABAMA BY RAIL.

OR MAYBE THE NATION'S GARBAGE WILL BE TRANSPORTED BY BARGE ON THE RIVER THAT PROVIDES OUR DRINKING WATER.

JUST IMAGINE WHAT RIVER BIRCH EXPANSION WOULD BRING TO JEFFERSON PARISH.

A TRASH PILE THAT WOULD BE PERMITTED TO GROW TO 195 FEET TALL.

THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO A 20-STORY BUILDING.

THAT SHOULD MAKE WAGAMON MORE SCENIC AND PROVIDE A MORE DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY.

LONGER TRAINS.

AND IMAGINE THOSE TRAINS FILLED WITH DECOMPOSING GARBAGE TRUCKS ON THE TRACKS ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.

AND WE'D HAVE INCREASED ROADWAY TRAFFIC AND NOISE AND DAMAGE TO OUR ROADS.

A LOADED GARBAGE TRUCK WEIGHS ABOUT 50 TO 60 TONS.

A CAR WEIGHS ABOUT TWO.

WE'D HAVE MORE ODORS AND MORE EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS, WHICH CAUSES EYE, NOSE, AND THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHES, COUGHING, AND OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS.

I'VE YET TO ENCOUNTER A SINGLE JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENT WHO SUPPORTS RIVER BIRCHES EXPANSION AND EVERYONE KEEPS ASKING ISN'T THERE ANYTHING THAT JEFFERSON PARISH CAN DO LDEQ HAS SCHEDULED A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY APRIL 21ST AT 6 P.M.

IN THE SIMMONS COMMUNITY CENTER IN AVONDALE I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL ATTEND AND SPEAK UP ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU TO REPRESENT THEM JEFFERSON PARISH IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE WORK AND PLAY I MEAN LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD NOT BECOME THE NATION'S DUMPING GROUND.

AGAIN, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

WHO DID I GIVE MY BLUE CARD TO? IF YOU CAN PASS THAT TO THE CLERK, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

YES, GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS RENEE BRADEN.

I'M A MEMBER OF OLD JEFFERSON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.

MY ADDRESS IS 136...

COOLIDGE AND JEFFERSON.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FEBRUARY 2026 JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DECISION TO UNANIMOUSLY PASS RESOLUTION 147884, WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 33-3.40-1 AS IT RELATES TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR A SPECIAL PERMITTED USE APPROVAL

[01:50:01]

OF A CONCRETE CRUSHING FACILITY AT 685 SEVERN.

OAK BOULEVARD AT NINE MILE POINT ON THE WEST BANK.

THIS RESOLUTION PASSED THAT DAY DESPITE TWO LOCAL CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS SPEAKING AGAINST IT.

AT THE VERY LEAST, I FEEL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEFERRED, YET IT WAS NOT.

THE PARISH COUNCIL WAIVED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPU FOR THE CONCRETE CRUSHING PLANT AND FOR IT TO BE REZONED FROM LIGHT TO HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USE BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2025.

IT'S APPROXIMATELY 13-ACRE SITE.

IT PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A TRUCK STORAGE YARD.

ACCORDING TO STATE BUSINESS FILINGS, THE OWNER, KAI, KNOW IT'S GOT TO REZONE THE MOSTLY UNDEVELOPED LAND ALONG WHISKEY BAYOU SO THAT HE COULD BUILD A CONCRETE AND ROCK CRUSHING PLANT ON THE SITE.

WHY WOULD A RESIDENT SUCH AS MYSELF FROM THE EAST BANK OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BE CONCERNED ENOUGH TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS? BECAUSE THE RESULTING SILICA DUST CAUSED BY THE CRUSHING OF CONCRETE IS A KNOWN CARCINOGEN THAT LEADS TO SILICOSIS, LUNG CANCER, AND COPD.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE DUST CAN TRAVEL UP TO 50 MILES FROM THE SITE DEPENDING ON WIND CONDITIONS.

THE SPECIAL PERMITTED USE WAIVER CAME AFTER A SERIES OF COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS.

ABOUT POTENTIAL NOISE AND DUST, TWO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DENIAL BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD, AND TWO PREVIOUS ZONING APPLICATIONS BY THE PROPERTY'S OWNER.

ACCORDING TO A CIVIC ASSOCIATION LEADER WHO SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS RESOLUTION, THE COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT US AND MAKE THE KIND OF DECISIONS THAT SHOULD BE FOR THE WELFARE OF THE NEIGHBORS OF THIS AS A WHOLE.

HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL IS IGNORING CITIZEN INPUT.

INPUT OF ITS OWN PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEES AND BOARDS AND DEPARTMENTS AND TO ALLOW ONE PROPERTY OWNER TO OPEN A BUSINESS THAT WILL BE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S THIS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSOUND DECISIONS MADE BY JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY ONE EXAMPLE IS THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL'S DECISION TO RESCIND A CYANIDE PLANT PERMIT IN WAGAMON THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT THEY DID ULTIMATELY VOTE 6-1 TO RESCIND THE PERMIT, WHICH HAD INITIALLY BEEN APPROVED IN JANUARY.

YEAH, MS. BRAY.

MS. BRADEN, THE THREE MINUTES ARE UP, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SURE.

YES.

AGAIN, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

HI, MY NAME IS MARGARET REESE, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE OLD JEFFERSON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, AND I RESIDE IN OLD JEFFERSON ON RIO VISTA.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PRESIDENT, THE COUNCIL, THE BOARD AND THE STAFF HERE TODAY.

I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS TO POSE TO THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARD MEMBERS.

ARE THERE A SET OF PARISH REGULATIONS AND OR RULES OR PROCEDURES THAT OUTLINE HOW RESIDENTS AND VOTERS AND CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH ARE NOTIFIED, RECEIVE NOTICE, ARE ADVISED OF ITEMS BEING BROUGHT TO THE ZONING AND PLANNING BOARDS AND THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE TINY, LESS THAN TWO FOOT HIGH SIGNS BEING POSTED ON ONLY THE MAJOR ROADS, OR POSTCARDS BEING MAILED TO HOMES WITHIN A RIDICULOUSLY SMALL AREA.

THESE VERSIONS OF NOTICE PROVIDE NO REAL INFORMATION AND REQUIRE RESIDENTS, VOTERS, CONSTITUENTS, PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE INFORMATION RELATED TO EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION WITHIN THE PARISH GOVERNMENT AND THEN PLACE THE RESIDENTS.

IN AN ADVERSARIAL POSITION WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE ENTITY PETITIONING JP.

A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF THIS.

FIRST IS THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AGENDA IN THE PAPER TODAY, WHICH SAYS REQUEST FOR VARIANCES TO THE CPZ COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE, AREA REGULATIONS, PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND LANDSCAPE AND BUFFER REQUIREMENTS, BLAH, CLAIBORNE, THIS IS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, CLAIBORNE GATEWAY SUBDIVISION, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

THIS IS THE STUFF THAT MAKES ME CRAZY.

SECOND QUESTION, WHEN ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH THE INFORMATION REGARDING RESOLUTIONS? HOW CAN RESIDENTS, VOTERS, CONSTITUENTS, PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH OBTAIN THE

[01:55:01]

SAME INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER? OR BETTER YET, AT THE SAME TIME? THESE QUESTIONS WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY IF THERE WAS A FUNCTIONING NOTIFICATION PROCESS ONLINE.

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE AND DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES THAT ALL WE NEED TO DO IS SIGN UP FOR ANY NOTIFICATIONS WE WANT.

I SIGNED UP FOR 47.

I GET THREE.

LIBRARY, ROAD CLOSURES, AND WEATHER.

THAT'S IT.

NO AGENDAS FOR MEETINGS OR HEARINGS, NO INFORMATION REGARDING ANYTHING RELATING TO GOVERNMENT AT ALL.

WHEN WILL THIS BE ADDRESSED? FOURTH QUESTION.

WHEN DID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECOME A PROFITABLE ENTERPRISE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH? THAT'S THE TERM OF ART USED IN ALL PRESS RELEASES FOR NEW BUSINESS VENTURES.

WHAT'S THE TERM OF ART? FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHY ARE...

SO YOUR MICROPHONE HAS TURNED OFF.

THE THREE MINUTES ARE UP.

I KNOW OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR, WE DO HAVE...

LEGAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH IN TERMS OF NOTICE.

SO OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR IS GOING TO ELABORATE.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.

AS I BELIEVE YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED AND YOU'VE HAD SOME LEGISLATION, WE CURRENTLY COMPLY WITH STATE REGULATIONS ON NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES.

WE DO SEND NOTIFICATION TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300 FEET.

THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES AND HOW WE INFORM THE PUBLIC ON WHAT IS COMING FOR THIS COUNCIL AND WHAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT IN OUR UDC REWRITE.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ENCOURAGE.

AND I DO BELIEVE, IN FACT, I'M GOING NEXT WEEK TO SPEAK AT THE OLD JEFFERSON.

CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE UDC REWRITE SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS UM SO WE WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS AND WE'VE HEARD THOSE CONCERNS UM NOT ONLY FROM THE COUNCIL BUT ALSO FROM THE PUBLIC YEAH I THINK EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS DEALT WITH THAT AND PEOPLE UM HAVING THOUGHTS ABOUT NOTICE SO NEXT WEEK AT THE CIVIC MEETING WILL BE THE PERFECT TIME TO TO SUGGEST THOSE THINGS THAT YOU THINK MIGHT PROVIDE UM NOTICE THAT YOU WOULD BE HAPPY WITH.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

KIMBERLY TERRELL, 650 POITRAS STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

I'M A NEW ORLEANS RESIDENT, AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST, AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE FACILITIES ALONG THE RIVER AFFECT PEOPLE ACROSS THE RIVER AS WELL.

SO I RESPECT THAT Y'ALL'S JOBS ARE NOT EASY, THAT YOU'RE NOT MY ELECTED OFFICIALS.

BUT I'M AFFECTED BY YOUR DECISIONS AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS PARISH.

AND MANY OF MY JEFFERSON PARISH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE ALSO AFFECTED BUT CAN'T BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WORK.

SO I'M HERE WITH A VERY SPECIFIC REQUEST, BUT SOME BRIEF, REALLY PERTINENT INFORMATION.

THERE'S A FACILITY CALLED BWC HARVEY ON 4TH STREET, FORMERLY CALLED BLACKWATER, AND THEY ARE PROPOSING TO EXPAND AND CONSTRUCT 13 NEW TANKS.

WHICH WOULD INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY BY ABOUT 20%.

THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD HAD A HEARING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL MARCH 17TH, AND THE PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THAT WAS REALLY MISLEADING.

IT PORTRAYED THIS AS AN EVEN BARREL-FOR-BARREL CAPACITY SWAP BECAUSE IT SAID THAT EXISTING TANKS WERE GOING TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THOSE TANKS DON'T ACTUALLY EXIST.

THEY'RE TANKS THAT WERE APPROVED IN 2020.

BUT WERE NEVER CONSTRUCTED.

SO IF THIS PROPOSED SPU IS APPROVED, IT WOULD INCREASE ON THE GROUND CAPACITY BY 20 PERCENT AND THE PUBLIC IS NOT BEING MADE AWARE OF THAT.

AND THE THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER IS THAT WHEN THOSE TANKS WERE APPROVED IN 2020, BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, THERE'S BEEN 3,000 COMPLAINTS FILED WITH DEQ ABOUT TOXIC ODORS FROM THIS FACILITY.

SO THE LAST TIME BWC EXPANDED THEY BUILT A BUNCH OF NEW TANKS TO STORE HOT ASPHALT.

THAT CREATED A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, AND THE COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD NEED TO CONSIDER THOSE COMPLAINTS.

SO MY REQUEST TO YOU TODAY IS TO HAVE THE PARISH ATTORNEY LOOK INTO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER A 2020 APPROVAL

[02:00:02]

FOR TANKS CAN BE USED TO ALLOW THE FACILITY TO STILL CONSTRUCT.

IT SEEMS THAT THESE APPROVALS CAN'T EXIST IN PERPETUITY.

IF A FACILITY GETS SPU APPROVAL TO BUILD SOMETHING AND THEN NEVER BUILDS IT, I MEAN, IT CAN'T BE THAT 100 YEARS FROM NOW THEY CAN JUST DECIDE TO BUILD IT, AND IN THE MEANTIME THEY'VE CREATED ALL THESE PROBLEMS FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE OF THIS EXPANSION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IT'S NOT AN EVEN BARREL-FOR-BARREL CAPACITY SWAP.

IT'S AN EXPANSION OF A FACILITY THAT IS ALREADY CAUSING MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR BOTH HARVEY RESIDENTS AND NEW ORLEANS RESIDENTS.

SO, THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, NANCY PEARSON, 8924 RENSU DRIVE IN RIVER RIDGE.

I WAS THE ONE THAT SPOKE IN FEBRUARY ON BEHALF OF THE RIVER RIDGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AGAINST THE CONCRETE, AND WE ASKED FOR IT TO BE DEFERRED.

TWO MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WERE ACTUALLY AT OUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETING WHEN THE RESOLUTION WAS PASSED BY THE ASSOCIATION TO ASK FOR THAT DEFERRAL SO THAT Y'ALL COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS BEING ASKED.

BUT YOU STILL VOTED FOR IT UNANIMOUSLY.

SINCE THEN, I GUESS OTHER ASSOCIATIONS FOUND OUT SOME KIND OF WAY, AND THEY CALLED A MEETING, AND I ATTENDED THAT MEETING, AND I THINK THERE WAS FIVE OR SIX ASSOCIATIONS THAT MET THAT NIGHT, AND THEY WERE ALL AGAINST THIS.

I WOULD SUGGEST, I KNOW I HAVE TIME, I'M RETIRED, I'M LUCKY, EVERY DAY IS A SATURDAY.

SO WHEN THE AGENDAS COME OUT ON FRIDAY, I READ THOSE RESOLUTIONS.

I WOULD ASK EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL TO READ SOME OF THOSE RESOLUTIONS, NOT JUST WHAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT, BUT WHAT'S IN OTHER DISTRICTS, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT IN DISTRICT 2, BUT IT DEFINITELY AFFECTS DISTRICT 2, BECAUSE THEY HAD A DOCTOR AT THAT ASSOCIATION MEETING THAT NIGHT, AND HE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE...

SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES THAT THAT DUST CAN BRING AND IT'S GOING TO COME ACROSS THE RIVER.

WE KNOW THAT.

WE GET ENOUGH OF IT FROM OTHER PLANTS ACROSS THE RIVER.

BUT IT'S GOING TO COME ACROSS THE RIVER.

AND HE WAS SAYING THAT THERE'S NO TREATMENT, THERE'S NO CURE, THERE'S NO ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE LUNG DISEASES IF YOU GET IT YOU DIE.

AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FIRST OFF THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET THE COMMUNITY TO READ THESE THINGS.

I LOOK AT THAT AGENDA THE WEEKEND BEFORE A MEETING EVERY MEETING.

AND I READ THE RESOLUTIONS THAT SEEM, NOT THE, YOU KNOW, HIRING THE ENGINEERS AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT ANYTHING THAT COULD BE CONTROVERSIAL OR COULD BE ENVIRONMENTAL OR THEY COULD HURT US OR HELP US, EITHER WAY.

SO I ASK ALL PEOPLE THAT NEED TO KNOW THAT, THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY READ THE RESOLUTION, NOT JUST THE AGENDA, BUT THE RESOLUTION.

AND SO I'M ASKING ALL THE ASSOCIATIONS AND THE PUBLIC TO DO THAT.

SO WHEN THEY COME HERE, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND I'M ASKING Y'ALL.

TO LISTEN TO US, EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE HAD YOUR MONDAY AND TUESDAY AGENDA MEETINGS, THAT SOMETIMES TAKE A STEP BACK AND JUST DEFER IT FOR A MEETING.

YOU DO THAT QUITE OFTEN.

JUST DEFER THESE THINGS WHEN YOU KNOW THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY AGAINST IT.

AND THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO ASK IS, ARE YOU ALL GOING TO DO YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS AT 11 EVERY MEETING, OR IS THAT JUST FOR TODAY? IT WAS JUST A REQUEST FOR TODAY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? MY NAME IS JUSTIN VITTIZZO.

NORMALLY AT NOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I LIVE AT 2351 MAGAZINE STREET, DOWNWIND FROM WHAT'S KNOWN AS BWC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BLACKWATER.

WHEN THIS FACILITY EXPANDED IN 2020, I BEGAN GETTING FUMES INSIDE MY HOUSE, INSIDE THE ROOM OF MY DAUGHTER.

WE'RE BREATHING THESE FUMES THAT ARE FROM ASPHALT BEING TRANSFERRED IN MASSIVE QUANTITIES TO THE TUNE OF, SAY, 44,000 METRIC TONS AT A TIME AND TO TANKERS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WITHOUT...

VAPOR CAPTURE SYSTEMS INVOLVED.

SO WHEN THERE WAS A PAB MEETING REGARDING THIS FACILITY'S PROPOSED EXPANSION TO NOT JUST EXPAND BUT ALSO TO SHIFT TO MORE COMBUSTIBLE CLASS 3A SUBSTANCES, I WENT TO THAT PAB MEETING.

TO MY ALARM, THE PLANNING STAFF HAD RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD AN APPROVAL.

SO I WAS LIKE, HOW DID THEY COME UP WITH THAT? I LOOKED AT THEIR STAFF REPORT AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT THESE GENERAL CRITERIA.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF AND PEOPLE ON HARVEY AND THE IRISH CHANNEL, THESE ARE THINGS THAT, OF COURSE, WE CARE ABOUT DEEPLY, LIKE IS THERE GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN RISK OF FIRE? IS THERE GOING TO BE AN

[02:05:01]

INCREASE IN THE IMPACT ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE FROM FUMES AND FROM GAS? BUT IT'S JUST RUBBER-STAMPED DOWN EVERY SINGLE CRITERIA.

IT'S JUST AN X AND YES FOR COMPLIANCE.

SO WITH NO EXPLANATION EXCEPT FOR...

MAKING REFERENCE TO THE LURTC, THE LAND USE REVIEW TECHNICAL COMMITTEE, AND THAT IS THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE IN THIS COMMITTEE.

I REACHED OUT TO A COUPLE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

ARE THEY LOOKING AT THE SAME CRITERIA THAT THIS PLANNING STAFF ARE LOOKING AT, THESE GENERAL CRITERIA? THEY ARE NOT.

I TALKED TO THE FIRE PREVENTION, AND I SAID, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THIS PLAN AND SAY THAT THERE'S NO INCREASE OF FIRE? WHEN THERE'S AN INCREASE IN CLASS 3A COMBUSTIBLES, THAT EQUALS MORE RISK OF COMBUSTION, RIGHT? SHE ABSOLUTELY AGREED WITH ME.

AND I SAID, WELL, WHY DID YOU GIVE AN APPROVAL? AND IT WAS, WELL, THEY DIDN'T OBJECT.

THEY HAD NO COMMENT.

AND THE CRITERIA, I ASKED, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA YOU LOOK AT? AND THEY COULDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION.

I REACHED OUT TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

THEY SAID THEY DEFER TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

I REACHED OUT TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

THEY NEVER GOT BACK TO ME.

ONE DEPARTMENT I DID GET IN CONTACT WITH, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, SAID THAT THEY REQUIRE THESE THREE DOCUMENTS.

THAT'S ALL.

I SAID, DO YOU LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FACILITY? HE SAID, OH YES, YES HE DOES.

I SAID, ARE YOU AWARE THAT THERE ARE 3,000 COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FACILITY FROM OVER 400 SEPARATE HOUSEHOLDS? HE BASICALLY HUNG UP ON ME.

HE SAID, I CAN'T CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.

I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT.

BUT THE POINT BEING, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT COME UP WITH THESE SORT OF RUBBER STAMP OF LIKE, OKAY, IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BECAUSE THE GENERAL CRITERIA IS VERY, VERY CLEAR.

HOW COULD THAT NOT INCREASE THE RISK OF FIRE TO SHIFT A WHOLE BUNCH OF YOUR PRODUCTS TO A MORE COMBUSTIBLE? THAT WAS SHORT.

THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR NOW.

I HOPE TO TALK TO YOU ALL SOON ABOUT THIS.