[00:00:01]
ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE YENNY BUILDING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH. WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING AND OUR PARISH PRESIDENT WILL KICK US OFF WITH RECOGNIZING SEVERAL PEOPLE WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE WITH US THIS MORNING.
HONORED IF I COULD HAVE MS. CLAUDIA AND MR. RAFAEL CHABOTAY TO COME FORWARD WITH THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY.
SO WHY ARE THE CHABOTAYS HERE? SO MAY 16TH TO MAY 22ND IS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK, AND THIS YEAR THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE SAFE, RESPONSIVE BOATING PRACTICES.
THE CAMPAIGN IS HELD ANNUALLY AND YOU'VE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES BEFORE.
I'M HONORED TO HAVE YOU AGAIN.
IT'S HELD ANNUALLY THE WEEK BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY AND IT INCLUDES MANDATORY LIFE JACKET USAGE, BOAT SAFETY CHECKS, AND SOBER OPERATION TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.
ACCORDING TO COAST GUARD STATISTICS, DROWNING WAS THE CAUSE OF DEATH IN THREE OUT OF EVERY FOUR RECREATIONAL BOATING FATALITIES AND THAT 87 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO DROWNED WERE NOT WEARING LIFE JACKETS.
SO LET ME READ THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY, WHICH HAS THREE FLOTILLAS AND 150 AUXILIARIES IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WAS ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS IN 1939 WITH A MISSION TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY.
AND WHEREAS THE AUXILIARY ALSO PROVIDES TRAINED CREWS AND FACILITIES TO AUGMENT THE COAST GUARD AND ENHANCE SECURITY OF OUR PORTS, WATERWAYS, AND COASTAL REGIONS.
WHEREAS NATIONWIDE, 21,000 MEMBERS OF THE U.S.
COAST GUARD AUXILIARY, LOCATED IN NEAR 800 COMMUNITIES, CONTRIBUTED 3.8 MILLION VOLUNTEER HOURS OPERATING 01,600 VESSELS, 160 AIRCRAFT, AND 1,400 RADIO FACILITIES.
AND WHEREAS FOR NEARLY 90 MILLION AMERICANS, BOATING CONTINUES TO BE A POPULAR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY.
SAFE BOATING BEGINS WITH PREPARATION AND LEARNING BASIC BOATING SAFETY PROCEDURES.
HUMAN ERROR ACCOUNTS FOR MOST BOATING ACCIDENTS, AND WEARING LIFE JACKETS COULD PREVENT NEARLY 86% OF BOATING FATALITIES.
AND WHEREAS ON AVERAGE 700 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR IN BOATING RELATED ACCIDENTS, IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO BRING AWARENESS TO SAFE BOATING PROCEDURES BY EDUCATION, EQUIPMENT CHECKS, AND SOBER NAVIGATION.
AND WHEREAS IF PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE RISK, THEY ARE LIKELY TO TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, THEIR FRIENDS, AND FAMILY.
WHEREAS JEFFERSON SUPPORTS THE GOAL OF THE SAFE BOATING CAMPAIGN AND COURSE, WHICH IS OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, ENCOURAGES ALL BOATERS TO EXPLORE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL LAKES, RIVERS, AND BAYOUS RESPONSIBLY.
AND WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH COMMENDS THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY ON PROMOTING EDUCATION FOR SAFE BOATING AND FOR URGING BOATERS TO ALWAYS WEAR LIFE JACKETS AT ALL TIMES WHILE ON THE WATER SO THEY CAN HAVE A SAFER, MORE FUN EXPERIENCE OUT ON THE WATER.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CYNTHIA LEE SHENG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 16TH TO MAY 22ND AS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
CLAUDIA AND MR. RAPHAEL, THANK YOU.
WELL, THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY IS THE VOLUNTEER FORCE OF THE COAST GUARD.
WE PROVIDE OUR MAIN MISSION IS RECREATIONAL BOAT SAFETY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF BOATERS IN JEFFERSON PARISH FROM GRAND ISLE TO THE LAKE.
WE ALSO PROVIDE BOATING SAFETY CLASSES, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
WE HAVE ONE, MATTER OF FACT, THIS COMING SATURDAY, AND WE TRY TO PROMOTE BOAT SAFETY ALL OVER.
BUT ALSO WE PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS, RADIOS, BOATS FOR PATROLS, AIRCRAFT.
OUR AIR WING IS OUT THERE EVERY WEEKEND.
SO THE WORK OF THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE COAST GUARD IS REALLY COMMENDED AND NOW WE ARE GOING THROUGH A TRANSFORMATION BECAUSE OF FORCE DESIGN 28 WHERE THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY IS GOING TO HAVE A MUCH HIGHER PRESENCE AND THE COAST GUARD NEED US.
SO IF YOU HAVE TIME AND YOU WANT TO DEVOTE AND YOU WANT TO SERVE, THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY IS WHERE YOU CAN GO.
[00:05:02]
YEAH.NEXT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE CARSON THORPE TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
CARSON IS WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, KNOWN AS NAMI.
NAMI IS THE NATION'S LARGEST GRASSROOTS MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO BUILDING BETTER LIVES FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND MAY IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST PERSON TO JOIN US.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
SO LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, CARSON.
WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR ABILITY TO MANAGE EMOTIONS, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY, AND COPE WITH LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
AND WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPT ABILITIES AND WHEN LEFT UNTREATED CAN LEAD TO POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING OUTCOMES.
AND WHEREAS ONE IN FIVE ADULTS EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN EACH YEAR, AND THERE IS OFTEN A SIGNIFICANT DELAY BETWEEN THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF SYMPTOMS AND ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND CARE.
AND WHEREAS EVERY INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, ORGANIZATION, AND COMMUNITY, INCLUDING LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA, CAN PLAY A ROLE IN SUPPORTING MENTAL WELLNESS AND REDUCING THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVES AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CAN IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
WHEREAS NAMI CALLS UPON THE CITIZENS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS IN JEFFERSON PARISH TO RECOMMIT OUR COMMUNITY TO INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE STEPS OUR CITIZENS CAN TAKE TO PROTECT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, AND THE NEED FOR APPROPRIATE AND ACCESSIBLE SERVICES FOR ALL PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I SINCERELY SHINE PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2026 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
AND I THINK WE ALL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROCLAMATION AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT I THINK WE ALL PLAY A ROLE IN BEING, WATCHING AND CARING FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND US WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
WE'VE ALL HAD PERIODS IN OUR OWN LIFE WHERE IT'S A STRUGGLE.
AND I KNOW IN THOSE PERIODS OF MY LIFE, IT MIGHT BE ONE PERSON, ONE HUG, SOMEBODY LISTENING TO ME THAT CHANGES THE DAY.
AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WE KNOW IT CAN LEAD TO VERY DANGEROUS THINGS.
AND SOMETIMES IT MIGHT JUST BE THAT ONE CONVERSATION THAT CHANGES THE COURSE OF A LIFE.
SO THE WORK YOU DO IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING, I'M SURE PART OF YOUR WORK IS THE PUBLIC AWARENESS PIECE, WHICH YOU'RE DOING TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY STORY, WHICH IS THAT WHEN I WAS 13, I LOST SOMEONE THAT I LOVED VERY DEARLY TO SUICIDE.
AND IT WAS NAMI THAT BROUGHT ME HOPE AGAIN AND THAT CONNECTED ME TO MY COMMUNITY AND HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT I DID HAVE THE POWER TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE IN THIS PARISH TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO BE THAT RESOURCE FOR OTHERS.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS JUST BEING CONNECTED TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, PLEASE JUST CONTACT OUR OFFICE.
WE HAVE SO MANY INCREDIBLE STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE JUST HERE TO HELP AND BE THAT LISTENING EAR.
EVEN IF YOU FEEL ALONE, I JUST WANT TO LEAVE EVERYONE WITH THE MESSAGE THAT TRULY YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, PARISH BOARD.
YEAH, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ABOUT SOMEBODY LISTENING AND IT CHANGES THE...
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN
[00:10:01]
WITH US FOR SOME TIME.MATTHEW, YOU WANT TO COME ON UP? MATTHEW? MATTHEW'S VERY HUMBLE, BUT MATTHEW IS OUR ENGINEERING DIRECTOR.
HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE PARISH 17 YEARS AGO AS A COLLEGE INTERN IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, AND THIS IS THE STORIES I LOVE.
JUST WORK YOUR WAY UP FROM THE BEGINNING, AND NOW YOU'RE ONE OF THE BIG LEADERS THAT WE HAVE FOR US AS OUR DIRECTOR.
AFTER GRADUATING WITH HIS DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS IN 2009, HE JOINED THE DEPARTMENT FULL-TIME.
IN 2015, MATT BECAME A LOUISIANA LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER.
PRIOR TO BECOMING ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FOR THE OVERALL PUBLIC WORKS CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES THE $365 MILLION ROAD BOND INITIATIVE.
AMONG THE MAJOR PROJECTS HE MANAGED WERE THE SEVERN AVENUE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS, THE DAVID DRIVE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS, THE VETERANS BOULEVARD PUMP STATIONS AT THE 17TH STREET CANAL, THE MANHATTAN BOULEVARD WIDENING, THE REHAB OF THE LAPALCO BRIDGE OVER BAYOU SIGNET, AND THE HOLMES BOULEVARD REHABILITATION.
SO HE'S A WONDERFUL ASSET TO THE PARISH, A NEW LEADER, A NEW DIRECTOR FOR US.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, MATTHEW, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
RACHEL, WE'LL PIN THAT ON YOU.
SARAH, IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE, FOR FIVE YEARS.
SARAH, AND SHE'S DONE MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OF WORK.
I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST TO THAT.
I HIRED YOU WE HIRED SARAH IN 2021 AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LEADING JEFFERSON PARISH'S ONGOING RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.
IT SEEMS LIKE MUCH LONGER AGO, BUT IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS.
JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER, I MEAN, SARAH WAS STILL NEW TO US, HURRICANE IDA HIT, AND SARAH QUICKLY SWITCHED GEARS TO HELP OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH A RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.
I REMEMBER A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH SARAH WHEN AS SOON AS SHE STARTED, I SAID, THE SHELTERING THAT WE HAVE FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE ISN'T WHERE I WANT IT TO BE, AND YOU NEED TO GET ON THAT QUICKLY.
AND SHE REALLY, OUR SHELTERING PROGRAM AND THE RESOURCES WE PROVIDE ARE AMAZING JUST A FEW YEARS LATER THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP.
SO IN HER TIME AT JEFFERSON PARISH, SHE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING VITAL PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING AN EMERGENCY SHELTERING PROGRAM, A MEDICAL NEEDS REGISTRY, THE MOBILE FOOD MARKET, A FOOD AS MEDICINE PROGRAM, AND HAS DEVELOPED THE PARISH'S FIRST COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT.
AND THAT DOCUMENT IS AN INCREDIBLE READ.
ON OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NEEDS.
SHE'S ALSO INCREASED FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS, FOR HOMELESS OUTREACH AND RAPID REHOUSING.
LAST YEAR, SARAH RECEIVED THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP TO END HOMELESSNESS AWARD FROM UNITY OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS.
THANKS TO HER LEADERSHIP AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY, THERE IS NOW A ONE-STOP SHOP DAY CENTER IN JEFFERSON PARISH THAT PROVIDES A CENTRALIZED LOCATION FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO GET ASSISTANCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SELFLESS DEDICATION TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE WITH MATTHEW AND SARAH, PLEASE? Y'ALL GET THE MIDDLE.
AS EVERYBODY KNOWS OR REMEMBERS, ON APRIL 10TH THROUGH 12TH WE HAD THE THE IHRA BOAT RACES.
I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT WE GET TO DO THAT EVERYBODY ACTUALLY ENJOYS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOVES IT, EVERYBODY ENJOYED IT, WE HAD A GREAT TIME.
IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS WHO DID AN AMAZING JOB.
LOOK, WITHOUT YOU GUYS, WE CANNOT PULL THIS TOGETHER.
AND Y'ALL WERE HERE AND PULLED IT TOGETHER.
PARKS AND RECREATION, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, CITIZENS AFFAIRS, STREETS DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, JPSO, AND PARKWAYS.
[00:15:02]
EVERYTHING YOU DID, WE COULD NOT HAVE MADE THIS HAPPEN.I HAVE COFFEE AND DONUTS FOR YOU ALL IN THE BACK.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR COFFEE AND DONUTS AND ENJOY IT.
I ALSO HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION FOR THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
WHEREAS JEFFERSON PARISH PROUDLY RECOGNIZES MAY 11TH, 2026 AS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA DAY IN HONOR OF VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND ENDURING COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS MAY 11TH MARKS THE COMPLETION OF 130 DAYS OF SERVICE IN CELEBRATION TO THE ORGANIZATION'S 130TH ANNIVERSARY, REFLECTING MORE THAN A CENTURY OF COMPASSIONATE OUTREACH, HOUSING SUPPORT, AND LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS.
AND WHEREAS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OFFERS MORE THAN 25 HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AND EMPOWER MORE THAN 25,000 UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY EACH YEAR, AND WHEREAS THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING MENTORING CHILDREN OF PROMISE, POSITIVE PATHWAYS, WE CAN, SUPPORTING LIVING SERVICES, SUPPORTING HOUSING CARE, SUPPORTING HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH RYAN WHITE HIV PROGRAMS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS FAMILIES, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, CONTINUES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS JEFFERSON PARISH AND WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL PROUDLY CELEBRATES THIS MILESTONE AND COMMENDS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA FOR ITS STEADFAST DEDICATION TO SERVICE AND ITS LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND PROCLAIM THAT MAY 11, 2026 SHALL BE KNOWN AS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA DAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND MADAM PRESIDENT FOR RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEERS AMERICA SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
WE'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 130 YEARS AND 130 YEARS STRONG, SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VULNERABLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT, PEOPLE WHO TRULY CARE ABOUT THE NEEDS OF EACH AND EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM.
WE'RE LOOKING TO SERVE ON MAY 11TH AND PAY IT FORWARD TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED US TO BE SUSTAINABLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE ONE MORE PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE IN THE YENNY BUILDING WITH US.
IF THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU CREW CAN COME ON UP.
THIS IS NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK, AND WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE.
WE WERE ALL TOGETHER YESTERDAY
[00:20:01]
EATING SOME GOOD SEAFOOD.I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT REALLY DOES INVITE THE WORLD TO COME HERE, VISIT, AND ENJOY.
SO WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THIS TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK AND ALL OF YOU WHO PROMOTE JEFFERSON PARISH TO THE WORLD ALL YEAR LONG.
JOBS DEPENDS ON TRAVEL, MAKING IT A CRITICAL DRIVER OF AMERICA'S ECONOMY AND A FORCE FOR CONNECTION AND OPPORTUNITY.
WHEREAS TRAVEL IS AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE FOR EVERY STATE AND DESTINATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WITH AN IMPACT OF $3 TRILLION SUPPORTING 15 MILLION AMERICAN JOBS.
I MEAN, THAT IS A HUGE IMPACT.
WHEREAS IN 2024, THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY OF JEFFERSON PARISH ACCOUNTED FOR 20,780 JOBS THAT EARNED $650 MILLION WHILE CREATING EXPERIENCES FOR OUR VISITORS WHO SPENT $2 BILLION WHILE THEY WERE HERE AND GENERATED $209 MILLION MORE IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.
AGAIN, THE NUMBERS ARE PHENOMENAL.
WHEREAS TRAVEL SPENDING SUPPORTS VIBRANT AND SAFE COMMUNITIES IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, BY GENERATING $92 BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUE LAST YEAR WITH SUPPORT FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE EDUCATION, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND MORE.
WHEREAS TRAVEL IS A FLOURISHING INDUSTRY, AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE THAT GROWING TRAVEL LEADS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, BENEFITS OUR BUSINESSES, FOSTERS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, AND CONNECTS OUR NATION.
WHEREAS IN JEFFERSON PARISH, SPORTS TOURISM, WHICH WE TALK A LOT ABOUT, AND ECOTOURISM, ARE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE MEMORABLE ADVENTURES AND AUTHENTIC CULTURAL IMMERSION THAT REMIND VISITORS IT IS IN TO BE OUT I LOVE THE SLOGAN AND IT'S SO TRUE OF OF OUR PARISH WHEREAS THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY SPREADS SUCCESS TO EVERY INDUSTRY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CRITICAL PART OF JEFFERSON PARISH'S ECONOMY OUR DEVELOPMENT IN OUR WORKFORCE NOW THEREFORE THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH LOUISIANA HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY 3RD THROUGH THE 9TH, THERE'S STILL TIME TO CELEBRATE FOLKS, NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND URGES THE CITIZENS OF OUR PARISH TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT THIS INDUSTRY PLAYS AND TOUCHES SO MANY IN OUR PARISH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE OUR INDUSTRY.
OUR INDUSTRY TOUCHES EVERY ASPECT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, FROM YOU, THE PARISH PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SUCH A VISION FOR TOURISM, ALL OF OUR COUNCIL, YOU UNDERSTAND AND HAVE A VISION FOR TOURISM, AND WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, IT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TRICKLE DOWN INTO THE INDUSTRY.
THIS WEEK IS ABOUT CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING ALL ASPECTS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP, FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS TEAM THAT SITS HERE AND WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY TO GROW THE DESTINATION, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO...
THE FRONT DESK AGENTS AND THE WAITRESSES AND THE WAITERS AND SERVING MEMORIES, CREATING MEMORIES FOR OUR VISITORS.
BUT THE STAT THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT YET IS WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR RESIDENTS.
SO OUR VISITORS COME IN AND THEY PAY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, AND THEY ARE ALSO LIFTING SOME OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BURDEN THAT WE GET TO ENJOY EVERY DAY.
THEY'RE HELPING US CREATE THAT QUALITY OF PLACE.
AND EACH JEFFERSON PARISH HOUSEHOLD, ACCORDING TO A STAT COMING OUT OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, SAVES OVER $1,200 IN TAXES BECAUSE OUR VISITOR INDUSTRY IS SO STRONG.
SO I THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK.
I THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITHIN JEFFERSON PARISH AND WHAT EVERYBODY DOES EVERY DAY IN THIS INDUSTRY.
I'LL INVITE THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS DOWN.
I KNOW YOU WORK WITH EACH PARTICULARLY OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS ON UNCLE SAM JAM, ON THE BOAT RACES, ON, YOU KNOW, FAMILY GRASS.
SO AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU ALL DO ALL YEAR LONG.
[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
[00:26:58]
YOU'RE BACK.ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU AND CINCO DE MAYO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US NOW FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON THE EAST BANK IN THE JOSEPH S.
YENNY BUILDING HERE IN ELMWOOD.
WE'RE CALLING THE MEETING OFFICIALLY TO ORDER AND AND...
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE AS WE ALWAYS DO.
SO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ROTATE INVITING SOMEONE TO DO OUR INVOCATION.
AND WE OFTEN HAVE PASTORS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PRIESTS, RABBIS.
BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE WHO REALLY EXHIBIT WHAT IT IS TO BE A GOOD PERSON.
A FAITHFUL PERSON, A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY THAT EXHIBITS THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE AND BRINGS OTHERS TO THAT SAME KIND OF ACTIONS JUST IN THE WAY THEY LEAD.
WE WERE JUST RECOGNIZING THE GOOD WORKS OF THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.
VIOLET PETERS IS SOMEONE THAT ALL OF US KNOW.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING NOW 15 YEARS.
SHE HAS CERTAINLY HAD CHALLENGES IN LIFE.
AND FAITH HAS LED HER THROUGH IT.
SHE'S A PLEASURE TO DEAL WITH, ALWAYS A SMILE ON HER FACE AND EXHIBITING THE THINGS THAT REALLY ARE LIVING A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I ASKED VIOLET PETERS TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION THIS MORNING.
FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS, LORD, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO COME BOLDLY TO YOUR THRONE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, LORD.
I LIFT UP ALL OF OUR LEADERS TODAY.
I THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE PLACED THEM IN THE POSITIONS YOU'VE PLACED THEM IN.
LORD, I PRAY FOR THEM TO HAVE STRENGTH AND COURAGE, TO HAVE INSIGHT AND VISION.
LORD, I THANK YOU THAT YOU PROVIDE.
THE IDEAS, LORD, AND I THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE GIVING THEM THE WISDOM AND THE PATH ON WHICH WAY TO GO, LORD.
I PRAY FOR THEM TO KEEP THEIR EYES FOCUSED ON YOU.
I PRAY FOR OUR RESIDENTS, LORD.
I PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES, ALL OF OUR LEADERS IN ELECTED POSITIONS, LORD.
I PRAY FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR EYES FOCUSED ON YOU AND FOR YOU TO DIRECT THEIR PATHS, LORD.
AND I PRAY FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND INPUT AND PROVIDE A GIVE AND TAKE IN A RESPECTFUL AND A UNIFIED MANNER, LORD.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS PRIVILEGE TO COME BEFORE YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING OVER THIS MEETING.
I HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED
[00:30:01]
STATES OF AMERICA.MADAM CLERK, IF YOU CAN CALL THE ROLL.
PARISH PRESIDENT MISS LEE SHANE.
[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]
THANK YOU.PARISH PRESIDENT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING.
I'LL START WITH OUR ERP UPDATE.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS OUR NEW FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE LARGEST INTERNAL PROJECT THE PARISH HAS TAKEN ON.
THE EMPLOYEE TRAINING FOR THE PARISH'S NEW FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STARTED THIS WEEK.
THE SWITCH TO AN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SYSTEM WILL TOUCH EVERY PARISH DEPARTMENT AND MANY AGENCIES, IMPROVING HOW OUR FINANCIAL DATA IS PROCESSED AND REPORTED.
TO HELP ENSURE A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION, DEPARTMENTS ARE ASKED TO ADHERE TO STRICT DEADLINES STARTING THIS MONTH.
TO PREPARE FOR A TEMPORARY SYSTEM BLACKOUT PERIOD WHICH WILL BEGIN IN PLACE FROM JUNE 13TH THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026.
AGAIN, THAT IS A BLACKOUT PERIOD.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION OUT AS POSSIBLE.
DURING THIS TIME, SOME FINANCIAL, PROCUREMENT, AND HUMAN RESOURCE FUNCTIONS WILL BE LIMITED OR UNAVAILABLE AS WE TRANSITION THE DATA OVER.
VENDORS HAVE ALSO BEEN STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING TRAINING SESSION IN PREPARATION FOR THE SCHEDULED JULY 1ST LAUNCH.
THE FIRST SESSION SCHEDULED FOR MAY 8TH IS AT CAPACITY.
HOWEVER, SPOTS FOR THE MAY 15TH SESSION ARE STILL AVAILABLE.
VISIT WWW.JEFFPARISH.GOV SLASH PURCHASING TO REGISTER.
SO I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK OUR TEAM.
THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS.
THANK OUR PARTNERS FOR THEIR COOPERATION TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND TO MINIMIZE ANY DISRUPTIONS OR OPERATIONS.
I CANNOT STRESS MORE THAT THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE FOR COMPANIES, FOR GOVERNMENTS THAT SWITCH ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS.
I READ IN AN ARTICLE, IMAGINE EVERYTHING GOING WRONG AND MULTIPLY IT BY 10 TIMES.
WE'VE BEEN CLEANING UP DATA ALL YEAR SINCE 2008, I HEARD, TO MAKE SURE THE DATA THAT WE SWITCH OVER TO THE NEW SYSTEM IS VERY GOOD DATA.
IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK, BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTION.
AND AGAIN, THE BLACKOUT PERIOD IS JUNE 13TH THROUGH JUNE 30TH, AND OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD AT REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THIS, BUT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION, PLEASE.
FREE SIGNATURE-ONLY NOTARY SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED TO ALL JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS ON THREE DATES IN MAY AT TWO REGIONAL LIBRARIES, MAY 7TH AND MAY 21ST AT EAST BANK REGIONAL AND MAY 11TH FROM 9 TO 10 AT WEST BANK REGIONAL.
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VISITING PET PROGRAM, YOUNG BEGINNER OR RELUCTANT READERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ ALOUD TO ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY DOGS AT READING TO ROVER ON SUNDAY, MAY 10TH FROM 1 TO 2 P.M.
AT THE WEST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.
TINKERCAD 101 IS A BASIC INTRO COURSE FOR FREEWARE TINKERCAD 3D MODELING PROGRAM.
THE COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT BY THE LIBRARY'S IT STAFF ON MONDAY, MAY 11TH FROM 10 A.M.
TO NOON IN THE LEARNING CENTER AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.
JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS FACING DECISIONS ABOUT SENIOR CARE ARE INVITED TO A SEMINAR ON NAVIGATING SENIOR CARE SERVICES ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 13TH FROM 10 TO 11 AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.
TOPICS WILL INCLUDE HOME HEALTH AND HOME CARE OPTIONS, PALLIATIVE CARE, HOSPICE, ASSISTED LIVING, MEMORY CARE, AND NURSING HOME CARE.
AND THEN BUNNIES FROM THE JEFFERSON SPHCA WILL ARRIVE AT THE DR.
JOSEPH AND CONSTANCE CARROLL AVONDALE LIBRARY FOR THE POPULAR READING TO RABBITS SESSION THIS SATURDAY, MAY 9TH.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIBRARY PROGRAMMING, VISIT WWW.JPLIBRARY.NET.
SO YOU WANT TO FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO READ A BOOK TO DOGS AND YOU WANT TO READ TO RABBITS, THE LIBRARY HAS YOU COVERED THIS WEEK.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING, ONE OF OUR HEALTH PRIORITIES IS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH.
OBVIOUSLY, WE JUST GAVE THAT PROCLAMATION TO NAMI.
IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM HAS TRAINED OVER 350 PARISH EMPLOYEES AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH.
AND LAST WEEK LAUNCHED A SERIES OF TRAININGS ON CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.
THIS COURSE, TITLED BRAIN ARCHITECTURE, WAS ATTENDED BY 50 EMPLOYEES FROM OUR VARIOUS JEFFERSON PARISH DEPARTMENTS.
OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WE'LL CONTINUE THESE COURSES AND WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.
I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO AGENDA ITEM NO.
61, WHICH NAMES STEPHEN GIEDROS AS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES AND ASKS FOR
[00:35:02]
YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION, COUNCILMEMBERS.STEPHEN GIEDROS, CAN YOU WANT TO STAND UP? THERE WE GO.
STEPHEN HAS 23 YEARS OF FIRE EXPERIENCE AND WAS MOST RECENTLY...
THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE MARRERO HARVEY FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
HE IS AN ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN FIRE SCIENCE AND IS CERTIFIED AS A FIRE OFFICER, LIVE FIRE INSTRUCTOR IN CHARGE, FIRE SERVICE INSTRUCTOR, AND INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER.
STEVEN SITZ IS A MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA FIRE AND EMERGENCY TRAINING COMMISSION AND IS AN ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR AT TEXAS A&M ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICES INDUSTRIAL FIRE SCHOOL AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE TRAINING.
INSTRUCTOR AND A LEAD EVALUATOR AT THE LOUISIANA FIRE EMERGENCY TRAINING ACADEMY.
SO HE COMES WITH US WITH INCREDIBLE CREDENTIALS.
HE IS NO STRANGER TO FIRE RESPONSE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO WELCOME HIM TO THIS TEAM.
AGAIN, THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 61.
COUNCILMAN LITTLESBURG, I KNOW YOU ASKED TO ADDRESS THAT COUNCIL.
FIRST, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE TWO STAR YOUNG ATHLETES IN DISTRICT 5.
AVA LEONE, DAUGHTER OF CONSTABLE ALAN LEONE JR., AND DRAGO SATANOVICH, SON OF CORONER JERRY SATANOVICH, BOTH ARE DEAR FRIENDS WHO QUALIFIED TO COMPETE THIS WEEKEND AT LSU IN THE 5A STATE TRACK MEET.
DRAGO IS A SENIOR AT JESUIT, WE STILL LIKE HIM, AND WILL COMPETE FOR POLE VAULT.
AVA IS A FRESHMAN AT MOUNT CARMEL AND QUALIFIED.
JOIN ME IN WISHING THESE YOUNG ATHLETES LUCK AND SUCCESS.
NEXT, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE FALCON IN THE ROOM.
SEE WHAT I DID THERE? I SEE A COUPLE OF FOLKS FROM BRIGHT HERE.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO SIT HERE FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THE CLOSE OF OUR REGULAR BUSINESS, BUT I MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE YOU SOME TIME AND EFFORT.
WHEN I SAT DOWN WITH SPLITSETS A MONTH OR SO AGO, THEY SHOWED US A MAP OF ALL USTA COURTS IN THE NATION.
THE CLOSEST WAS SHREVEPORT AND MOBILE, ALABAMA.
GETTING USTA COURTS IN JEFFERSON PARISH IS A BIG WIN FOR JEFFERSON PARISH AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
THIS WILL FILL OUR TAX COFFERS WITH MONEY FROM VISITORS, THEREBY REDUCING WHAT WE PAY.
WE JUST RECOGNIZED VISIT JEFFERSON PARISH FOR SUPPORTING THIS EXACT ACTIVITY.
BEFORE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, I REACHED OUT TO THE RABBI IN THE AREA TO ASK IF HE HAD ANY CONCERNS WITH THE TENNIS HUB AT BRIGHT.
HE TOLD ME HIS CONCERNS, AND THEN HE TRUSTED THAT I WOULD PROTECT HIS FLOCK AND MY CONSTITUENTS.
I ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE BRIGHT BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENT.
I TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT WAS VERY PRELIMINARY, AND IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT I COULDN'T AMEND OR WALK BACK COMPLETELY IF THAT'S WHAT WAS WARRANTED.
AS SOON AS I HAD SOMETHING CONCRETE TO SHOW HER, I WOULD.
WITHIN A DAY, BEFORE I COULD WALK THE PLAYGROUND WITH HER AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, WE BEGAN RECEIVING EMAILS MOSTLY OPPOSING THE IDEA.
AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY FOLLOWED WITH ERRONEOUS FACTS AND ASSUMPTIONS.
SOME OF THOSE WERE FROM A PARISH OFFICIAL, WHICH GAVE THEM AN AIR OF LEGITIMACY.
THE DAY AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING, I SPOKE WITH A FRIEND, FORMER BRIGHT COACH, AND FORMER COUNCILMANIC AIDE TO GATHER MORE FACTS.
I TOLD HIM I WOULD DO MY DUE DILIGENCE.
I ALSO TOLD HIM, AND HE KNEW BECAUSE HE KNOWS ME, THAT I WOULD DO WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE END.
AT THAT TIME, NEITHER OF US KNEW WHAT WAS THE RIGHT THING.
THIS PAST THURSDAY, I AGAIN CALLED THE BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENT.
ON FRIDAY, I CONTACTED HER HUSBAND, ALSO A BOOSTER CLUB MEMBER.
BOTH RESPONDED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME.
I WANTED TO TELL THEM THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO FRIENDS AND CONFIDANTS IN THE BRIGHT COMMUNITY AND WAS HEAVILY LEANING AGAINST MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM AT BRIGHT.
BRIGHT HAD ITS TOWN HALL MEETING THAT NIGHT.
I'M TOLD THE IG SPOKE AT THAT MEETING, INDICATING THAT SHE TRIED TO STOP THIS PROJECT FROM MOVING FORWARD.
YESTERDAY, I HAD MY SECOND MEETING WITH SPLITSETS, MY FIRST MEETING WITH ANY REAL SUBSTANCE.
I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN AMAZING CONCEPT THAT ENCOMPASSES USTA TENNIS, BASKETBALL, A TURF FIELD, A SPORTS PERFORMANCE AND INJURY PREVENTION CLINIC.
THE GROUP SPLIT SETS IS PUTTING TOGETHER INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES IN VARIOUS DISCIPLINES, AS WELL AS BIG-NAME SPORTS MEDICINE AND SPORTS INJURY PREVENTION FOLKS.
AFTER SPENDING OVER AN HOUR WITH THEM, I THOUGHT, POOR BRIGHT IS LOBBYING AGAINST A GREAT ASSET IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT TRANSFORMS COMMUNITIES.
I LEFT SPLITSETS TO MEET AT BRIGHT WITH BRIGHT STAKEHOLDERS.
WE HAD A GOOD, FRANK DISCUSSION ON THE VIABILITY OF BRIGHT AND WHAT'S BEST FOR IT DOWN THE ROAD.
[00:40:01]
I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WHILE A USTA TENNIS HUB, BASKETBALL CLINIC, AND SPORTS PERFORMANCE AND INJURY PREVENTION ARENA IS A GREAT PROJECT FOR JEFFERSON PARISH, BRIGHT DOESN'T WANT IT.BRIGHT HAS A ROBUST AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
THEIR BOOSTER CLUB IS VERY ACTIVE AND THEIR FOCUS IS ELSEWHERE.
BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENT THURSDAY, BEFORE THE TOWN HALL MEETING, I WAS UNABLE TO SHARE MY LEANINGS WITH HER IN TIME TO SAVE YOU THE EFFORT OF MAKING SIGNS AND SHIRTS.
YOU HAD ALREADY SAVED BRIGHT AT THAT TIME, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT YOU WERE MISSING.
WITH YOUR STAKEHOLDERS, BEFORE ACTUALLY PULLING THE PLUG, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A CHANCE TO WALK IT BACK IF YOU WANTED TO, AND I SEE SOME OF THE FOLKS I MET WITH IN HERE TODAY.
AGAIN, YOU HAD ALREADY SAVED BRIGHT.
BY THE WAY, I WEAR AN EXTRA LARGE.
I COMMEND COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE SCOTT WALKER FOR HIS VISION IN RECOGNIZING THAT THIS PROJECT IS IN KEEPING WITH THE PARISH'S MISSION TO DEVELOP SPORTS TOURISM.
YOU WERE ELECTED BY THE ENTIRE PARISH, AND YOU HAVE UPHELD YOUR DUTY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE ENTIRE PARISH.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL FOR BELIEVING IN THIS PROGRAM.
IF YOU'RE LUCKY, YOU'LL END UP WITH THIS PROGRAM.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU AND PARISH PRESIDENT CHANG TO WORK WITH ME TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD SOMEWHERE ELSE IN OUR GREAT PARISH.
I ALSO LEARNED YESTERDAY THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY SUITORS.
THIS IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM, AND IT HAS OPTIONS.
THERE ARE OTHER PARISHES AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT WILL ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET FOR THEM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS LOVE TO CUT RIBBONS ON NEW PROJECTS AND PRONOUNCE HOW WE WANT TO ATTRACT BUSINESS.
FRANKLY, I'VE SEEN BUSINESSES TREATED PRETTY SHABBILY BY SOME ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
WE WANT INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE SAME.
WHEN YOU HAVE A GREAT PROJECT KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR, YOU DON'T WHIP UP PUBLIC SENTIMENT AGAINST THEM.
WE SHOULDN'T BE ISSUING ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENAS BEFORE THERE IS ANYTHING TO PROVIDE.
AND BEFORE THE FIRST DOCUMENT IS SIGNED.
IF WE WELCOME BUSINESSES TO JEFFERSON PARISH WITH DISCORD AND SUBPOENAS, WE'LL NEVER BE THE SHINING STAR THAT WE CAN BE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND IF WE WANT TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER LOCATION.
ALL I WILL SAY IS THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DISAPPOINTING TIME FOR US.
DISAPPOINTING COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I AGREE, THE SPORTS TOURISM PIECE, BUT WHEN WE GO BACK TO RECREATION REIMAGINED, I WILL REITERATE, WE ARE BUILT TOO LARGE, AND THE REASON FOR RECREATION REIMAGINED IS THE SAME THING THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS DEALING WITH.
AT SOME POINT IN OUR POPULATION, WE BUILT AND BUILT AND BUILT, WHICH WAS THE RIGHT THING AT THE TIME IN THE 70S AND 80S, AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE MID-2020S, AND WE HAVE TOO MUCH PROPERTY FOR THE AMOUNT OF PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE AND I HAVE NEVER EVER CONSIDERED OR WANTED TO CLOSE A PLAYGROUND BUT AS BEING TASKED WITH MANAGING RECREATION IT IS MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR FACILITIES ARE USED PROGRAMMING IS VIBRANT PLAYGROUNDS ARE CROWDED AND IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH PROPERTY WE REALLY SHOULD LOOK AT REPROGRAMMING THAT AND THAT WAS THE THE BASIS OF RECREATION REIMAGINED AND WE HAVE HAD A FIGHT WITH IT FROM AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE OF PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS AND PEOPLE'S MEMORIES, BUT THEIR KIDS ARE 30 YEARS OLD NOW.
SO MY POINT IS, AND WHAT'S SO DISAPPOINTING, IS IT SEEMS THAT NO ONE IS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE KIDS OF TODAY AND BEING ABLE TO OFFER THEM MORE PROGRAMMING.
I'LL GO TO PICKLEBALL, AND YOU KNOW I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT PICKLEBALL, BUT WHEN I WOULD MENTION PICKLEBALL DURING RECREATION REIMAGINED, I WOULD LITERALLY GET BOOED.
AND THEN WE BUILT PICKLEBALL, AND NOW ACROSS THE PARISH, EVERYBODY WANTS PICKLEBALL COURTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE AS THE PARISH PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH WHEN A NONPROFIT COMES TO US AND IS WILLING TO RAISE MONEY, NOT US RAISE MONEY, THEY RAISE MONEY, AND WE HAVE LAND AND WE CAN BRING AN INCREDIBLE, I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE MOBILE FACILITY, BUT WE COULD POSSIBLY BRING AN INCREDIBLE TENNIS FACILITY HERE.
SO KIDS WHO HAVE NEVER PLAYED TENNIS AND HAVE NOT HAD GREAT TENNIS INSTRUCTION HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, IN ADDITION TO FILLING HOTEL ROOMS AND RESTAURANTS.
THAT IS A NO-BRAINER FOR US, AND THIS GROUP HAS BEEN MET WITH OPPOSITION, WITH MEDIA THAT HAS NOT BEEN POSITIVE, WITH THREATS OF SUBPOENAS, AND I'M EMBARRASSED FOR US AS JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO SOMETHING DANGEROUS IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE TRYING TO BRING TENNIS COURTS TO A RECREATIONAL FACILITY, GUYS.
AND THIS KIND OF THING WITH OPPOSITION EVERYWHERE, WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S AGENDAS, WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
AND SO I HOPE, I HOPE IF THEY END UP IN ANOTHER PARISH, GOOD FOR THEM.
AND IF I WAS ON THE BOARD, I'D
[00:45:01]
SAY, NO, WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD AND WE'RE GOING TO GO RAISE MONEY AND THIS IS WHAT WE GET.LET'S MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT'S GOING TO WELCOME US.
AND I HOPE ORLEANS PARISH GETS IT BECAUSE AT LEAST IT WILL BE IN OUR REGION.
BUT I WOULD LOVE, PERSONALLY, I COMMIT TO THEM, I WILL DO WHATEVER I CAN.
TO TRY TO BRING THIS FACILITY HERE.
I UNDERSTAND, COUNCILMAN, WE DON'T WANT THE OPPOSITION UPRIGHT.
WE DON'T NEED TO START OFF WITH THAT OPPOSITION ANYWHERE.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE OPPOSITION FOR THIS PROGRAM.
AND IF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THINKS IT'S ILLEGAL, THEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL NEEDS TO POINT TO US WHERE IT IS ILLEGAL.
BUT IF THE PARISH ATTORNEY SAYS IT'S LEGAL, THEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL NEEDS TO DROP IT BECAUSE THE ROLE OF AN INSPECTOR GENERAL IS FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE, NOT TO SET POLICY.
I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING US YOU AND KEEPING THE TAXPAYERS' RECREATIONAL DOLLARS AT THE BEST USE.
AND I DON'T NEED TO HAVE THE WORD SUBPOENAS BEING THROWN AROUND IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION.
THE FACT THAT THE WORD SUBPOENAS IS BEING USED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS WAS SHOCKING TO ME.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING IT UP, BUT I'M GLAD YOU DID, COUNCILMAN.
SO PLEASE, COUNCILMEMBERS, LET'S TRY TO FIND ANOTHER LOCATION FOR THIS FACILITY AND GET THIS TENNIS CENTER IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LILZERBERG.
AND I WILL SAY THAT I WILL ALWAYS PUT MY SUPPORT BEHIND A FACILITY LIKE THE ONE THAT WAS ENVISIONED AT BRIGHT.
AND IT WAS NOTHING AGAINST BRIGHT.
WE CERTAINLY HEARD THE CONCERNS, WE HEARD THE OUTRAGE, AND THE THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD AND THE DISAPPOINTMENT I HAD IN IT IS NUMBER ONE, THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, THAT IT GIVES US A BLACK EYE WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO DO BUSINESS IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND BRING SOMETHING GREAT TO OUR PARISH THAT THEY HAVE TO BE FACED WITH THIS TYPE OF BLOWBACK.
BUT THE OTHER THING WAS THE MISREPRESENTATION OF A LOT OF THE FACTS ABOUT JUST WHAT TENNIS CAN MEAN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULDN'T HAVE SAID THIS EIGHT YEARS AGO, TEN YEARS AGO, BUT I'VE BEEN PART OF THE TENNIS SCENE, AND THERE IS A THRIVING TENNIS SCENE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO A LOT OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN THIS PARISH.
PEOPLE COMMENTED, I DRIVE BY BRIGHTON, I SEE EMPTY TENNIS COURTS.
I DRIVE BY THIS PLAYGROUND, I SEE EMPTY TENNIS COURTS.
THE COURTS WOULD BE THERE FOR PEOPLE TO USE HERE IN THE AREA, BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO DRAW TOURNAMENTS FROM ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND BE USED EVERY WEEKEND AND GENERATE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR JEFFERSON PARISH EACH YEAR.
THE BEST COMPARISON I CAN MAKE IS A PLACE THAT I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND, AND THAT'S THE MOBILE TENNIS CENTER THAT THE PARISH PRESIDENT ALLUDED TO, WHICH HAS 60-PLUS COURTS AND GENERATES...
$30 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE CITY OF MOBILE.
AND MOBILE'S TENNIS COMMUNITY, I PROMISE YOU, IS NO BETTER THAN OUR TENNIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN OUR TEAMS GO THERE, WHEN THE BROTHER MARTINS AND JESUITS OF THE WORLD GO COMPETE IN THAT TENNIS TOURNAMENT, PEOPLE MARVEL AT THE SKILL OF THE LOUISIANA PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY WE DO SO WELL IN THOSE TOURNAMENTS BECAUSE THE TENNIS IN MOBILE ISN'T AS GOOD.
BUT THAT FACILITY IS OPEN FOR PEOPLE TO RENT COURTS.
FOR PEOPLE TO USE THE COURTS, FOR TOURNAMENTS TO USE THE COURTS, AND IT IS A REAL ECONOMIC GAME CHANGER.
SO IF WE HAD HALF THOSE COURTS IN JEFFERSON PARISH, I'M NOT A MATHEMATICIAN, BUT I WOULD ASSUME WE COULD MAKE BETWEEN 10 AND 15 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM A FACILITY LIKE THAT, WHICH NO PLAYGROUND COMES CLOSE TO DOING IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
AND THE REAL REALITY FOR US, AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT ALLUDED TO THIS, IS THAT IN THE NEXT FOUR TO EIGHT YEARS, 10 YEARS, 12 YEARS.
WE HAVE SOME HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE CANNOT SUPPORT 27 PLAYGROUNDS WITH OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THE RECREATION MILLAGE.
SO THE REALITY IS, PLAYGROUNDS ARE GOING TO CHANGE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
PLAYGROUNDS ARE GOING TO BE REPURPOSED.
THERE ARE FOUR OR FIVE PLAYGROUNDS THAT WILL CHANGE.
IF IT'S NOT TODAY, IT'S COMING.
AND THAT'S OUR REALITY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT BASEBALL HAS EVOLVED.
TRAVEL BASEBALL, TAKING A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN AWAY AND REMOVING THEM FROM OUR PLAYGROUNDS.
SO IT MAKES IT A CHALLENGE FOR OUR PLAYGROUNDS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PLAYERS FILL THOSE SPORTS.
SO THERE NEEDS TO COME A TIME WHERE THE COUNCIL AND THE PARISH AS A WHOLE BEGINS TO LOOK TO A LITTLE BIT MORE PROGRESSIVE FUTURE.
AND HAS TO THINK DIFFERENTLY AND HAS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THINGS THE WAY WE'VE DONE THEM FOR DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES.
IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO WORK ANYMORE.
AND AGAIN, 27 PLAYGROUNDS ISN'T GOING TO WORK.
SO THERE'S A LOT THAT WENT INTO MY DECISION TO NOT RUN FOR PARISH PRESIDENT, WHICH I ANNOUNCED A FEW WEEKS AGO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS
[00:50:01]
AT THE BASIS OF MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS THE CONSTANT PUSHBACK AND NEGATIVITY FOR THINGS THAT ARE PROGRESSIVE AND POSITIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.IT'S MIND-NUMBING AND BOGGLING SOMETIMES TO ME.
WE CAN BE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS.
AND TO GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE, TO BE THE JEFFERSON PARISH WE WANT TO BE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS.
WE HAVE TO REPURPOSE LIBRARIES IN SOME PLACES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PLAYGROUNDS.
OTHER THINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IN THIS PARISH FOR US TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY ON THIS, BUT I HOPE, I'LL END WITH, I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET A FACILITY LIKE THIS IN JEFFERSON PARISH SOMEWHERE.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT WERE A GOOD SET OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO DO SOMETHING GOOD IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE I SAID I WAS ENDING.
THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING BELOW BOARD GOING ON HERE.
WHEN YOU READ THE THINGS THAT SAY WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER IS GOING TO BE RUNNING THE TOURNAMENTS ON THE WEEKEND OR WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER'S BROTHER-IN-LAW IS GOING TO BE DOING WHAT AND WHO IS RELATED TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO BRING THIS FACILITY AND WHO IS LINING THEIR POCKETS.
IT WAS JUST A GROUP THAT CAME TO US THAT WANTED TO DO THIS, THAT WANTED TO RAISE THE MONEY TO DO THIS AND WANTED TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE GOT, THEY'VE GOT A BACKGROUND IN TENNIS.
THEY'VE GOT A BACKGROUND IN CONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT TYPE OF ACCUSATION WITH NO FACTUAL BASIS AT ALL IS FRUSTRATING.
IT'LL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PARISH IF WE CAN GET IT SOMEWHERE AT SOME POINT DOWN THE LINE.
IF NOT, WE'RE JUST MISSING OUT AGAIN.
I WANTED TO ADD ALSO YESTERDAY, COUNCILMAN BONANNO POSTED SOMETHING ABOUT THE SENIOR SURVEYS THAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT TO SORT OF COMMENT ON WHAT HE POSTED, HE SAID THAT, YES.
THAT IN THE 1980S, JEFFERSON PARISH WAS HOME TO MORE CHILDREN UNDER 17 THAN SENIORS, AND TODAY IT HAS FLIPPED.
SO NOT THAT I DIDN'T TRUST DINO, BUT I DID DOUBLE-CHECK HIS NUMBERS, AND HE'S ACTUALLY ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
TODAY WE HAVE 32% OF OUR POPULATION THAT'S OVER 55 AND 18% THAT'S UNDER 19.
SO IF WE DON'T START ACCOMMODATING OUR SENIORS, AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN BONANNO HAS BEEN ON A MISSION TO DO SO.
AND THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES WOULD ACCOMMODATE THEM AS WELL.
YES, OF COURSE, THE CHILDREN, BUT WE HAVE A WHOLE SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION, A THIRD OF OUR POPULATION, THAT'S LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.
THE SPORTS TOURISM THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GROW AND ENCOURAGE, I PULLED THE NUMBERS JUST FOR TENNIS.
AND COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'LL BE, NEXT YEAR, TENNIS ALONE WILL BRING $302 BILLION.
IN SPORTS TOURISM TO THE COUNTRY.
SO I THINK IN THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPURPOSE SOME OF THESE GYMS OR PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS AND POTENTIALLY LIBRARIES, WE HAVE TO THINK OF CHANGE THAT'S GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE, CHANGE THAT'S NEEDED, CHANGE THAT'S GOING TO ACCOMMODATE OUR CURRENT POPULATION, AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO ALSO INCLUDE OUR SENIOR POPULATION.
IT IS EASY TO GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ENCOURAGE THE UPSET.
THE HARD THING TO DO IS TO MAKE THE ACTUAL CHANGE.
AND WE NEED PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL, WE NEED PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH THAT LOOK TOWARDS MAKING THE CHANGE, EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, HANS, IF WE'RE GOING TO PASS THAT BRIGHT, I WOULD LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION TO KNOW, PLEASE CONSIDER DISTRICT 4 FIRST.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN MY DISTRICT.
I WOULD HELP AND LOBBY FOR IT.
AND BEFORE I STOP, I WANTED TO ASK THE PARISH PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THESE SUBPOENAS, AND I'M VERY CONFUSED ABOUT THE AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH THE IG HAS TO DO AN ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA TO SOMEONE WHO IS A PRIVATE COMPANY.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, BECAUSE MAYBE MINE IS WRONG, BUT I THINK IT COMES FROM REVISED STATUTE 33, 9-6-13.
AND THE IG CAN ISSUE A SUBPOENA, IN MY UNDERSTANDING.
WITH THE COURT OF PROPER JURISDICTION TO A PRIVATE ENTITY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO SO WITH A COMPANY THAT'S NOT EVEN UNDER A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO US.
I DON'T THINK THEY CAN GO WILLY-NILLY GIVING ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENAS TO PEOPLE.
I THINK THERE'S SECTION D, SPECIFICALLY D&E, ADDRESS THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST HELP ME MAKE SURE THAT MY RESEARCH IS
[00:55:01]
CORRECT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY THE IG HAS TO GO SUBPOENA PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT.EVEN IN A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION WITH THE PARISH.
AND I THINK IF THEY HAD JUST DONE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST WITH YOUR OFFICE, I THINK THAT THE PERSON WHO NEGOTIATED THE LETTER OF INTENT WITH THE PARISH WAS ACTUALLY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN'S HUSBAND.
SO WHATEVER THE IG MAY BE LOOKING FOR, SHE COULD PROBABLY GET JUST FROM OUR OFFICES OR FROM EMAIL EXCHANGES WITH YOU.
SPLIT SETS IS IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF US WHO WANT YOU HERE.
I KNOW YOU'VE FACED A LOT OF OPPOSITION, AND IT'S BEEN A BAD WEEK, AND THERE'S A LOT OF US, BUT A LOT OF US SEE THROUGH THAT.
SO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, I WANT YOU IN THE REGION, AND IF YOU CAN, IF NEW ORLEANS IS OFFERING YOU A GREAT DEAL, GOOD FOR THEM.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MAYOR MORENO IS PROBABLY LOBBYING YOU TOO, BUT, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SEE YOU IN THE REGION, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY FEELS THIS WAY.
AND THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS, AND BEHIND THE SCENES WE'RE SAYING THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
AND WE CAN DO BETTER IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND WE CAN INVITE PEOPLE TO HELP US AND PARTNER WITH US.
AND WE HAVE MANY RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON.
SO IF THIS IS ABOUT THE KIDS, IF THIS IS ABOUT THE SENIORS, IF THIS IS ABOUT ACTIVATING OUR RESOURCES AND NOT PAYING EMPLOYEES TO WATCH A VACANT PIECE OF LAND, THEN WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU AND ANY OTHER NONPROFIT THAT CAN.
AND IF THE PARISH ATTORNEY SAYS IT'S LEGAL, THEN I'M ALL IN TO GET MORE PEOPLE ONTO THE PLAYGROUNDS AND GET OUR PLAYGROUNDS, SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE A LITTLE LESS ACTIVE, BUSY AGAIN.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE MISSION AND THE FOCUS SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE.
VERY QUICKLY, WHILE WE'RE ON THAT TOPIC.
SO AS YOU HEARD COUNCILMAN BOHANNON SAY, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON SAY, YOU KNOW, OUR DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE FLIPPED.
AND THERE ARE PLAYGROUNDS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN THIS DISTRICT THAT...
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CHILDREN TO PLAY ORGANIZED SPORTS.
IN MY DISTRICT, BRIDGE CITY PLAYGROUND HAS NOT HAD CHILDREN'S SPORTS IN FOUR YEARS.
THE LAST TIME WE TRIED TO HOLD ORGANIZED SPORTS THERE, SIX KIDS SHOW UP.
BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE NEVER WANT TO GET RID OF OUR GREEN SPACE.
BUT BECAUSE BRIDGE CITY IS ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AND CONSIDERED AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE IN RECEIVING A 2.5 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT.
TO CHANGE BRIDGE CITY PLAYGROUND INTO BRIDGE CITY PARK.
SO AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, WE ARE REALIZING THAT FACILITY, IT'S GOING TO HAVE WALKING TRAILS AND PICKLEBALL COURTS AND BASKETBALL COURTS AND MAYBE EVEN AN ARCHERY, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A PARK NOW, NOT A PLAYGROUND.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE HAVE TO WORK ON GOING FORWARD.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND THEY INVOLVE THE LIBRARIES AS WELL.
AS OUR POPULATION AGES AND THE NUMBER OF SENIORS GROW EVERY DAY, LOOK AT OUR ANNUAL STATISTICS.
MORE OF US, LIKE MYSELF, HAVE BECOME SENIORS RECENTLY.
WE NEED TO START PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO OUR SENIORS AND REPURPOSING OUR PLAYGROUNDS AND LOOKING AT DOING DIFFERENT THINGS WITH LIBRARIES, LIKE E-LIBRARIES, INSTEAD OF PAYING TO HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIT AT A LIBRARY ALL DAY WHEN THERE'S ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY AT A TIME USING IT.
LOOK, NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THESE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, BUT I DRIVE BY LIBRARIES IN MY DISTRICT ALL THE TIME AND I MAKE THE CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO LOOK.
IF THERE'S TWO CARS IN THE PARKING LOT DURING THE DAY, THAT'S A LOT.
WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON MAINTAINING LIBRARIES WHERE THERE'S VERY LITTLE USAGE.
AND I KNOW THE LIBRARY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SCREAM AND HOLLER.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM.
ONE MORE THING REAL QUICK THAT I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE.
I MENTIONED THIS FIVE YEARS AGO, THAT IT TAKES VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND A REALLY STRONG INTERNAL FORTITUDE TO DO WHAT CYNTHIA DID WITH RECREATION REIMAGINED YEARS AGO.
THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP, AND THERE WERE HARD CONVERSATIONS MADE.
ADMITTEDLY, THE ROLLOUT OF THAT PLAN DIDN'T GO AS WELL AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED FOR IT TO GO, BUT THE MESSAGE WAS THE SAME.
AND THE MESSAGE WAS CONVEYED IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT'S CONTINUING TO BE CONVEYED TODAY WHICH WE'VE ALL MENTIONED IS THAT OUR PARISH IS DIFFERENT BUT THAT WAS A BOLD FIRST STEP THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON GOING FORWARD BECAUSE AS COUNCILMAN BONANNO SAID VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS COMING IN THE NEXT DECADE IN THIS PARISH, IF NOT SOONER, AND WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THE EVER-CHANGING DYNAMICS OF THIS PARISH.
BUT THAT WAS A FIRST STEP, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE PUSHBACK, AND ONE DAY I THINK WE'LL GET TO THE POINT THAT WE WANT TO BE.
SO KUDOS TO YOU AGAIN FOR DOING THAT WAY BACK WHEN.
AND LASTLY, AND I REALLY MEAN LASTLY THIS TIME, ONE THING I FORGOT
[01:00:02]
TO MENTION ABOUT PEOPLE WHO SAID WHY BRIGHT, WHY BRIGHT, WHY BRIGHT, LET'S DO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.WHY NOT THE SHRINE ON AIRLINE? THERE IS A PLAN FOR THAT FACILITY.
IT'S GOING TO BE A MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY THAT'S GOING TO BREAK GROUND LATER THIS YEAR.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WHY NOT THE HAYNES PROPERTY IN OLD METAIRIE? THAT'S THE SCHOOL BOARD'S PROPERTY.
WE CAN'T JUST BUILD WHEREVER WE WANT TO BUILD.
WE CAN'T JUST DO WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO.
WE HAVE LIMITED PROPERTY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
THERE ARE NOT A TON OF OPTIONS FOR US.
SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY JUST DO IT, JUST DO IT HERE, JUST DO IT THERE, IT'S NOT AS EASY AS IT'S NOT.
IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, THAN TO JUST GO BUILD SOMEWHERE.
WE HAVE TO DO IT WITHIN OUR CONFINES.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER BITS OF MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING THE REST OF THE MEETING.
COUNCILMAN, IF I COULD ADD, WHY BRIGHT? BRIGHT, WHEN I GO BACK A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BRIGHT ALREADY HAD TENNIS COURTS.
WE HAD A FAMILY TENNIS PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY HAD A WAITING LIST ON IT.
WE TRY TO LOOK AT THE STRENGTHS OF WHERE WE CAN GO, AND BRIGHT WAS ALWAYS ENVISIONED TO BE A TENNIS CENTER FOR US.
SO OBVIOUSLY WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME, WE ALREADY HAVE CAPITAL.
WE WERE GOING TO EXPAND TENNIS COURTS AT BRIGHT ANYWAY.
THIS WAS DISCUSSED THROUGH THE RECREATION REIMAGINED MEETINGS TO ADD TENNIS COURTS, NOT TO THE EXTENT OF WHAT SPLIT SETS IS GOING TO DO, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE SAME WAY THAT NOW MILEY IS PICKLEBALL, AND WE HOPE THAT TO BE THE CENTER OF...
PICKLEBALL ON THE EAST BANK, AND CERTAINLY I KNOW COUNCILMAN KERNER IS TALKING ABOUT IT ONCE, PICKLEBALL PRESENCE ON THE WEST BANK AS WELL.
BUT THE MOVE, AGAIN, RECREATION REIMAGINED IS THE MOVE FROM COOKIE CUTTER, SAME SPORTS, JUST FOR A FEW TIMES OF THE MONTH, A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR ACROSS 27 PLAYGROUNDS, TO HAVING THESE CENTERS OF GOING DEEP INTO ONE SPORT AND SO LARGE FACILITIES THAT WE COULD ALSO ATTRACT NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS, REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS.
THE VISION OF RECREATION REIMAGINED GO BIG IN ONE SPORT IN ONE AREA AND WE CAN MAKE MORE THINGS HAPPEN SO THAT IS WHY WHY BRIGHT RIGHT BEEN OFF THE TABLE FIVE MINUTES AND I KNOW HOW ROADKILL FEELS WITH THE VULTURES CIRCLING NOW LIKE ALREADY GOT DISTRICT FOR LOOKING AT IT COUNCILMAN I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR SEEING THE VISION IN IN THE POSITIVE NATURE OF THIS NOT THE NEGATIVE THANK YOU I DO WANT TO UM RESPOND I I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE COMMENTS WERE VERY POINTED.
WE HAVE A FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT VIEW OF LEADERSHIP.
AND WE HAVE SEEN OVER SEVERAL YEARS THAT HAS LED TO CONFLICT.
AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NEED TO.
LEADERSHIP TO ME IS ABOUT HUMILITY.
WE ARE EACH IN THESE SEATS BECAUSE PEOPLE PUT US HERE.
AND THE THREE FOUNDATIONS THAT I WOULD URGE US TO RECOMMIT TO, IT IS ABOUT LISTENING TO PEOPLE.
IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS LEGAL.
AND IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE SPENDING THAT ARE PUBLIC ARE BEING SPENT WELL.
THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT GUIDE ME.
IT IS ABOUT THOSE THREE THINGS.
AND SO LAST COUNCIL MEETING WHEN THIS CAME UP, I DID NOT CREATE A FRENZY.
I CALLED PERSONALLY COUNCILWOMAN, COUNCILMEN RATHER, LILJEBERG, AND URGED HIM TO DEFER THIS ITEM BECAUSE I DID NOT THINK ANYONE HAD SPOKEN TO THE JOHNNY BRIGHT COMMUNITY.
I DID NOT THINK ANYONE HAD SPOKEN TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
THAT DEPENDS ON BRIGHT AND I DID NOT THINK THAT WE HAD CONVEYED TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE BARGAIN WE HAD STRUCK THE HANDSHAKE WE HAD THAT SAID ADD NINE TENNIS COURTS TO BRIGHT BUT LEAVE GREEN SPACE HAD NOT BEEN REVISITED I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ANTI-TENNIS I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ANTI-SPLIT SETS I UNDERSTAND CHANGE IS NEEDED AND CHANGE IS ALWAYS HARD, BUT I ASKED, HAD WE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE? AND THE ANSWER WAS NO.
AND YOU EVEN TOLD ME YESTERDAY, COUNCILMAN, THAT YOUR OUTREACH TO THE RABBI AND TO THE COMMUNITY WAS BECAUSE I ASKED.
WE HAD NOT SPOKEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD NOT REVISITED WITH THEM THAT WE WERE CHANGING WHERE WE LAST LEFT OFF, WHICH WAS GREEN SPACE AND TENNIS COURTS.
AND WHEN I ASKED THE PARISH ATTORNEY FOR GUIDANCE, AND WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, SHOW ME HOW THIS IS LEGAL.
[01:05:02]
BECAUSE NORMALLY WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC PROPERTY, WE HAVE TO OFFER IT TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY BEFORE WE CAN PICK ONE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.AND I'VE YET TO GET ANYTHING IN WRITING, BUT I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD, AND YOU COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT TENNIS OR NOT TENNIS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BRIGHT OR NOT BRIGHT.
BUT THE ARROGANCE DISTURBS ME THAT WE SHOULD FORGET AT ANY POINT THAT WE ARE HERE BY GRACE.
AND IF WE KEEP FUSSING AT THEM, LIKE GET ON BOARD, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING TO THEM.
WE'RE NOT MAKING SURE WE HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT SAYS THIS IS A LEGAL PATH FORWARD.
AND WE'RE NOT MAKING SURE IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN ASKED FOR IS SHOW US WHY THIS IS A GOOD PROPOSAL.
YEARS AGO, WHEN I JOINED THE PARISH, I CAME ON BOARD AND TWO THINGS WERE OCCURRING.
WE HAD A PARISH PRESIDENT, A PARISH ATTORNEY, AND A COO RESIGNING.
I CAME IN AND HAD TO QUICKLY LOOK AT THINGS THROUGH THE VIEWPOINT OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE PUT BACK ON TRACK.
AND SO, YES, THAT IS THE EXPERIENCE THAT MY EYES SEE THROUGH THINGS.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THIS IS ON TRACK? AT THAT TIME, THE ADMINISTRATION DID A STUDY.
IT WAS TO PROPOSE AN AMPHITHEATER TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON.
AND THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON PAID FOR A STUDY.
AND I KNOW OUR CURRENT COO WILL REMEMBER THIS.
AND WHEN WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO PUT ON CONCERTS, PLEASE PROVIDE US FEEDBACK.
ON THE IDEA OF PUTTING AN AMPHITHEATER FOR CONCERTS ON THE WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON.
AND I DON'T KNOW, SHEREEN, IF WE HAVE IT SOMEWHERE AND CAN DUST IT OFF, BUT WE KNOW THAT STUDY CAME BACK AND THE BEAVER PRODUCTIONS AND THE LIVE NATION PRODUCTIONS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE CONCERT INDUSTRY SAID, HOLD YOUR HORSES.
NONE OF US WANT AN AMPHITHEATER IN THE AREA OF THE WEST BANK THAT THEY DID NOT SEE AS VIABLE.
THEY EXPLAINED WHY IT WAS A BAD IDEA, AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT AND I AT THE TIME WENT TO SEE SENATOR ALARIO, AND HE REFERENCED THIS PARISH PRESIDENT YOU'LL REMEMBER JUST RECENTLY.
HE SAID, WE ASKED HIM, PLEASE DON'T MAKE US BUILD THIS AMPHITHEATER, EVEN THOUGH YOU GRACIOUSLY GOT US THE FUNDS.
WE SAID, HERE'S THE EVIDENCE THAT SAYS IT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC DOLLARS, AND TO HIS CREDIT, WE HAD AN EXCELLENT CONVERSATION AND MOVED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, AND THAT IS WHAT NOW BECAME OUR BALL FIELDS ON THE WEST BANK.
WHEN I EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THE BRIGHT COMMUNITY HAD BEEN SPOKEN TO AND LISTENED TO, WHEN I ASKED IF THERE WAS A STUDY THAT SHOWED TENNIS WAS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE OUR PUBLIC INVESTMENT WAS A WISE ONE, WHEN I ASKED, PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE WE KNOW WITH CERTAINTY IN THE LAW THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO PUT THIS OUT PUBLICLY TO ALL THE TENNIS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD, I DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR ANY OF THOSE THREE THINGS BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO SITTING IN THESE SEATS, TO LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, AND TO MAKING SURE THEIR DOLLARS ARE WELL SPENT.
AND TO SIT HERE AND SAY OTHERWISE, I THINK IS NOT THE KIND OF HUMBLE LEADERSHIP THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF.
MADAM PARISH ATTORNEY, IF YOU CAN PROVIDE IN WRITING A LEGAL PATH FORWARD AND JUST SHOW US THAT ON WHY THIS IS AN EXEMPTION TO HAVING TO PUT THIS OUT PUBLICLY.
PARISH PRESIDENT, IF YOU CAN SHOW US THE STUDY.
THAT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR TENNIS AND THAT THIS WILL BE WELL RECEIVED AND GENERATE THE KIND OF MONEY WE ASSUME BECAUSE WE WILL BE SPENDING PUBLIC DOLLARS AROUND THE PUBLIC THE PRIVATE INVESTMENT THAT WILL BE MADE AND IF THE BRIGHT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ENGAGED AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ENGAGED AND WE NOW HAVE DIALOGUE, THAT IS ALL I'M ASKING.
AND I DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR ASKING FOR ANY OF THOSE THREE THINGS.
IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ADVERSARIAL.
I AM HERE TO DO A JOB AND DO IT THE WAY I THINK PEOPLE EXPECT IT TO BE DONE.
[01:10:02]
I HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOU, COUNCILMAN.SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS AND TALKED ABOUT LAYING DOWN THE SWORDS AND WORKING TOGETHER AND LOTS THIS MORNING TWICE IN MY OFFICE TWO TIMES THIS WEEK I AM SINCERE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE CONTENTION DOESN'T SERVE ANY OF US WELL BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW PLAYING NICE AND NOT ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS SERVES PEOPLE WELL WE SHOULD ALL BE ADULT ENOUGH TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET THE ANSWERS BEING ASKED, TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUR CONSTITUENTS.
I ALLOWED EVERYONE, I KNOW I'M GETTING THE EYE, BUT I ALLOWED EVERYONE ELSE TO SPEAK.
AND I CERTAINLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS WELL, BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE BEEN ELECTED LIKE EACH OF YOU TO BE HERE TO DO A JOB.
I HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I DEFINITELY THINK ARE CRITICAL IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND MAYBE WE'VE GOTTEN OFF TRACK.
BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS, BUT I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE ABLE TO AGREE.
COUNCILMAN, WOULD YOU NOT AGREE THAT HAD YOU ENGAGED THE BRIGHT COMMUNITY AND LISTENED EARLIER OR DEFERRED THIS WHEN THE IG ASKED THAT ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED? LIKE EACH OF US HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.
I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT MINE, BUT EACH OF US SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN OUR SWORDS FOR THE SAKE OF THE PARISH.
YOU ASKED ME A QUESTION, AND THANK YOU.
I MEAN, WHAT I TOLD YOU AND WHAT I TOLD THESE GUYS YESTERDAY IS, AND WHAT I TOLD THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOOSTER CLUB AS SOON AS THE ITEM HIT THE AGENDA, LET ME GET SOMETHING TO BRING YOU.
LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING SO THAT YOU CAN SAY, I LOVE IT.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THE SOCIAL MEDIA HAD BEEN WHIPPED UP BEFORE I EVEN GOT TO THAT POINT.
I GOT TO THAT POINT YESTERDAY.
I LITERALLY SAT DOWN WITH THESE GUYS YESTERDAY AND AND FELT SO BAD THAT, I MEAN, THE DIE WAS CAST BEFORE I SAT DOWN WITH HIM, AND THAT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE.
AND I'LL SAY, I FEEL LIKE THE DIE IS CAST FOR A FUTURE LOCATION AS WELL.
SO, COUNCILWOMAN, I KNOW YOU ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE A STUDY.
WE ALWAYS KNOW WE CAN GET A STUDY FOR ANYTHING.
I THINK THAT'S THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER SOMETHING TO PAY FOR A STUDY AND WAIT FOR A STUDY.
IF THIS IS, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, WE DON'T HAVE A TENNIS CENTER, SO I DON'T KNOW WHO DOES A STUDY THAT SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE IT SO YOU DON'T NEED IT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TENNIS PLAYERS HERE SO YOU DON'T NEED IT, BUT IF WE BUILD IT WE WOULD HAVE TENNIS PLAYERS HERE.
SO I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, THERE ARE MANY PROJECTS THAT ARE DONE THAT DON'T HAVE A STUDY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A STUDY FOR PICKLEBALL EITHER, AND PICKLEBALL HAS BEEN VERY, VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR US.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A NEED TO DO SOMETHING NEW AND TO HAVE A STUDY DONE FOR THAT.
AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T DO A STUDY WHEN WE CHANGE SPORTS, AND I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE RUN A RECREATION PROGRAM.
RATHER THAN GETTING MORE CONSULTANTS INVOLVED AND PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE MONEY OFF OF THIS, THIS IS JUST REAL BREAD-AND-BUTTER RECREATION AND TRYING TO BRING MORE RECREATION.
WE ALREADY HAVE TENNIS COURTS AT OUR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND YOU WOULD BE ON OUR SIDE AND WORK WITH US TO BRING THIS TENNIS FACILITY HERE AND NOT, IF THE PARISH ATTORNEY, MAYBE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHOULD TELL US WHY IT'S ILLEGAL BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT YET.
WE'VE DONE LAFAYETTE, WE'VE DONE SOCCER FIELDS AT LAFAYETTE PARK, WE'VE DONE MANY, MANY PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
YOU ARE AN ADVOCATE OF THAT, I KNOW YOU ARE.
YOU'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, THE EFED CITY WAS A BIG PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK FOR YOU AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT AND PLEASE GET ON OUR SIDE WITH IT.
WE WILL COMMIT TO WORK BUT IT HAS TO BE LEGAL AND WE HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE FIRST.
AND I WOULD NEVER PROPOSE SOMETHING ILLEGAL.
I DON'T THINK IN MY CAREER I'VE EVER PROPOSED SOMETHING ILLEGAL.
AND IF IN TERMS OF THE OPPOSITION, IF WE'RE GOING TO GENERATE OPPOSITION...
UNDERSTAND THAT RECREATION REIMAGINED MUCH OF THE EMOTIONS MUCH OF THE THE THE PASSION WAS FOR A TIME THAT'S GONE AND DON'T DO ANYTHING TO MY LAKE SHORE YOU SEE THE EMAILS MY CHILD PLAY THERE MY CHILD PLAYED BASEBALL THERE.
I DON'T WANT THE BASEBALL FIELDS GONE.
SO WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TODAY'S GENERATION TO GENERATE MEMORIES THAT THEY WILL FIGHT FOR IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WE CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP IN OPPOSITION THAT IS ABOUT PRESERVING PEOPLE'S MEMORIES WHEN WE'RE PAYING CURRENT TAX DOLLARS TO DO IT.
[01:15:01]
OVER THAT, AND WE HAVE TO SAY THAT'S NOT, AS LEADERS, WE CAN'T PRESERVE YOUR MEMORY AND SO JUST NEVER DO ANYTHING WITH THIS.FACILITY AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH A LOT OF THE RECREATION REIMAGINED OPPOSITION UM MADAM PRESIDENT I JUST WANT TO THIS THIS LETTER OF INTENT WASN'T NEGOTIATED WITH A MEMBER OF ANY OF OUR STAFF THIS THIS WAS DONE THROUGH OUR PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RIGHT I DON'T KNOW WHO CRAFTED THE LETTER OF INTENT NO BUT THE NEGOTIATIONS THEMSELVES THIS WAS NEVER SOMETHING DONE IN A CLOSET THIS WAS DONE WITH AN ENTIRE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND AN ENTIRE RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
SO THIS WASN'T DONE IN SOME KIND OF SECRECY AND POPPED UP ON OUR AGENDA.
NO, WE'VE ALL HAD DISCUSSIONS ON THIS.
THEY MET WITH ME A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.
I THINK THEY MET WITH MANY MEMBERS.
AND LOOK, THIS WASN'T SOMETHING YOU LOOK, IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING, AND THIS WAS THE IF YOU SAY RECREATION REIMAGINED WASN'T ROLLED OUT, WE DID WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD HAVE DONE IT ANY DIFFERENTLY.
MARIO BAZIL CALLED BEFORE WE WERE GOING TO GO OUT TO HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THIS.
AND BEFORE WE GOT TO THE PUBLIC MEETING, MARIO SAID, I OWE A PHONE CALL TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT PLAYGROUND, THE SIX PLAYGROUNDS.
I OWE THEM A PHONE CALL TO GIVE THEM A HEADS UP AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, TO ALMOST GIVE DEFERENCE TO THEM BECAUSE THEY SPEND SO MUCH TIME THERE.
BECAUSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA NOW, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW IN POLITICS, AND IF ANYBODY ASKS ME ABOUT POLITICS, I'LL KIND OF SAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A YEAR AND A HALF LEFT.
BUT WHAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I STARTED IN 2009 TO WHERE I AM WHEN I LEAVE IN THE END OF 2027 IS YOU CAN'T RUN AN OFFENSE AND YOU CAN'T GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING BEFORE YOU'RE ALREADY PLAYING DEFENSE.
YOU HAVE NO ABILITY TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA.
THE NARRATIVE IS ALREADY DONE.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN RECREATION REIMAGINED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
WE WENT OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.
MARIO TALKED TO THE PEOPLE AT THOSE PLAYGROUNDS.
AND THEN IT GOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA IMMEDIATELY.
AND THEN THEY'RE SELLING IT TO KMART.
AND THEY'RE SELLING OUR PLAYGROUNDS.
AND THIS CRAZY THING, IN MANY WAYS THE WAY THIS IS HAPPENING HERE, THIS KIND OF FERVOR HAPPENED.
AND BY THE TIME, IF ANY OF YOU WERE AT THOSE MEETINGS, YOU REMEMBER, BY THE TIME WE WALKED IN, BEFORE WE COULD EVEN PRESENT ONE THING, THE ANGER AND THE EMOTIONS WERE SO STRONG THAT I TOOK IT FOR SIX MEETINGS IN A ROW BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE PLACE.
WE JUST TOOK A MEETING FOR SIX MEETINGS, AND WE NEVER REALLY GOT TO A PLAN.
SO, NO, I'M SURE THE BOOSTER CLUB KNEW THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT BRIGHT AS A TENNIS CENTER, BUT WHEN THIS...
ORGANIZATION HADN'T RAISED ANY MONEY YET AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN TO SHOW PEOPLE MAYBE THEY COULDN'T RAISE MONEY I MEAN IF I GO TO A MEETING I WANT TO HAVE A PLAN BECAUSE I'M JUST GOING TO GET PEOPLE UPSET AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SO I GUESS THE WAY I WAS THINKING IS LET THEM RAISE MONEY SEE WHERE THEY ARE MAYBE WE CAN DO IT MAYBE WE COULDN'T THIS THING MIGHT NOT EVEN HAPPEN I'M NOT GOING TO GO GET PEOPLE UPSET IF THE THING'S NOT EVEN GOING TO HAPPEN YET I DON'T HAVE A PLAN OR ANY DRAWING TO SHOW THEM YET THIS IS THE VERY VERY PRELIMINARY STAGES AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS THING.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'VE RAISED ANY MONEY YET.
SO THAT'S THE BACKGROUND OF HOW THIS HAPPENED.
NO, BUT THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT IT'S LEGAL OR NOT, I MEAN, WE HAVE A VERY QUALIFIED TEAM OF LAWYERS THAT NEGOTIATED ON THIS LETTER OF INTENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I APPRECIATE THE IG'S OPINION, BUT IF SHE WANTS TO GIVE THAT OPINION, IF WE DID SOMETHING THAT WAS FRAUDULENT, CREATED WASTE, OR WAS ABUSIVE.
THAT'S HER ROLE, AND SO I GUESS MY POINT IS THAT THIS QUESTION THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S LEGAL, WELL, WE HAVE A TEAM OF EXPERTS THAT ARE MAKING SURE THAT IT'S LEGAL AND THE PARISH IS PROTECTED.
I MEAN, ISN'T THAT WHO WAS PARTICIPATING? CAN I SPEAK QUICKLY? TAKE THE MUTE OFF.
WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT I FIGURE WITH ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S LEGAL AND WHETHER IT'S NOT LEGAL, AND I HAVE YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY SPOKEN TO COUNCIL MEMBERS I'VE SPOKEN TO COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKIN WHEN THE PEOPLE CAME TO US EVERYONE CONTINUES TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS AS IF IT'S A BUNCH OF TENNIS COURTS.
IT'S REALLY NOT JUST A BUNCH OF TENNIS COURTS.
IT'S A MINIMUM OF 30 TENNIS COURTS WHICH QUALIFIES YOU FOR A CERTAIN LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT PLAY, WHICH IS WHERE THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY COMES IN.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE 30 TENNIS COURTS FOR THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
IT'S ALSO A BASKETBALL PROGRAM THAT'S INCORPORATED WITHIN THE ENTIRE PROGRAM RUN BY SOMEONE WHO FORMERLY PLAYED
[01:20:02]
FOR THE PELICANS.AS WELL AS SOME OF HIS FORMER TEAMMATES.
AND THE PLAN FOR THE GYM WOULD BE A LOT OF HIGH-SKILLS TRAINING, SOME COMPETITIVE BASKETBALL, SOME SPORTS PREVENTION INJURY.
IT WOULD ALLOW A LOT OF CHILDREN IN JEFFERSON PARISH WHO ARE NOT WEALTHY CHILDREN TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SORTS OF SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING AND SKILLS TRAINING THAT USUALLY ONLY OUR WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO GO TO SOME OF OUR PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN AFFORD.
SO IN ADDITION TO THESE TWO THINGS, THE OTHER PART OF THE EQUATION IS SPORTS PREVENTION TRAINING BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT ONLY PLAY ONE SPORTS NOW, AND THEY END UP HAVING TO HAVE ELBOW SURGERIES AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER SURGERIES.
SO I GUESS THE POINT IS IT WAS NEVER JUST ABOUT TENNIS.
IT WAS ABOUT THIS ENTIRE SORT OF WELLNESS ECOSYSTEM FOR BOTH OLDER PEOPLE AS WELL AS YOUNGER PEOPLE.
SO AS TO THE LEGALITY OF IT, THERE IS A REVISED SYSTEM.
STATUTE THAT DOES ALLOW A PARISH, A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, TO PARTNER WITH AN ENTITY IF CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS ARE MET.
SOME OF THOSE QUALIFICATIONS ARE THE UNIQUENESS OF THE PROGRAM THAT IS BEING OFFERED.
IT IS THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY THAT WILL BE GENERATED FROM THIS PROGRAM.
IT IS THE REVENUE PROVIDED TO A PARISH.
IT IS THE OVERALL WELL-BEING BEING AND HOW THAT PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT A PARISH.
SO THE QUESTION IS, WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING TO THE PARISH, DOES IT QUALIFY WITHIN THE ITEMS SET FORTH IN THE STATUTE? AS FAR AS THE LETTER OF INTENT GOES, I DON'T REALLY, YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION UNTIL WHAT THEY'RE PRESENTING HAS FIRMED UP FROM EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY AS CONCERNS THE SPORTS PREVENTION, WHICH MOST CHILDREN...
THEY NEVER GET EXPOSURE TO THAT SORT OF SERVICE.
SO THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY UNIQUE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WOULD AN RFP PERHAPS BE APPROPRIATE? PERHAPS IT WOULD.
IT HAS REALLY NOT BEEN RULED OUT.
IT'S ALL VERY MUCH IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGES, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING FANTASTIC FOR THE PARISH, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY NOT PAYING FOR VERY MUCH OF IT.
THESE WOULD BE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING.
TO US, A BUNCH OF SPORTS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO HAVE AN ABILITY TO FUNDRAISE, AND SO THAT TO THE PURPOSE OF THE LEGALITY OF IT, THE ISSUE OF IT, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THEY WOULD EITHER MEET THE CRITERIA OR WE WOULD PUT OUT AN RFP.
I WOULDN'T WASH MY HANDS OF THE PROJECT AT THIS POINT.
UNTIL WE GET MORE INFORMATION, WE DON'T KNOW WHICH IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LETTER OF INTENT HAS NOT BEEN CIRCULATED.
BY THE PARISH, SO IT HASN'T BEEN SIGNED BY THE PARISH AND HASN'T BEEN SIGNED BY SPLIT SETS.
WHO DRAFTED THE LETTER OF INTENT? OUR OFFICE WORKED ON IT WITH THE ATTORNEY AT THE TIME FOR SPLIT SETS.
THEY HAD AN ATTORNEY AT THE TIME.
SO WE WORKED ON IT WITH THAT ATTORNEY.
WHO CAME UP WITH THE FIRST DRAFT? DID WE OR DID THEY? NO, THEIR ATTORNEY DID.
AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THEIR ATTORNEY WAS STEPHEN DWYER? AT THE TIME, YES.
AND AGAIN, THIS BECOMES SO PERSONAL.
I DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH THAT.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE SPLIT-SET PEOPLE ARE DELIGHTFUL AND DID APPROACH MY HUSBAND ABOUT WORKING ON THIS.
AND HE DID HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND WORK ON AN LOI AND CHOSE TO LET THEM KNOW HE COULD NOT REPRESENT THEM IN FURTHER DEALING.
SO AGAIN, IF THAT'S BEING AN AHA, I HAVE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT THAT.
IT IS WHY I HAVE ABSTAINED ON ANYTHING RELATED TO VOTING ON A MATTER IF HE IS INVOLVED, PERIOD.
HE, AGAIN, IT IS SO UGLY TO MAKE THIS PERSONAL OR TO BRING FAMILY MEMBERS IN.
AND SO THAT AGAIN IS WHAT I WOULD REITERATE IS SO BAD FOR OUR PARISH.
THE NEWSPAPER ASKED ME ON THE FIRST DAY THIS CAME FORWARD, AND I SAID HE WAS CONSULTED, HE WAS APPROACHED INITIALLY IN WORKING ON THE PROJECT, BUT LET THEM KNOW IN WRITING, AS ATTORNEYS DO ALL THE TIME, IF HE FEELS LIKE HE HAS A CONFLICT AND CANNOT REPRESENT THEM.
THERE IS NOTHING UNTOWARD ABOUT THAT.
SO AGAIN, THE UGLINESS IS NEEDLESS.
[01:25:03]
COUNCILWOMAN, YOU'RE SAYING THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AND I WAS GOING TO BE QUIET UNTIL WE WERE ALL CALLED ARROGANT.I MEAN, THAT HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES AGO WHERE WE WERE ALL CALLED ARROGANT FOR CASTING A VOTE FOR SOMETHING VERY PRELIMINARY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHERE IT WAS NOTHING EXCEPT A LETTER OF INTENT.
AS WE SAID NUMEROUS TIMES, IT COULD BE WALKED BACK.
THERE WAS NOTHING TO SHOW THE PEOPLE OF BRIGHT.
SO I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT COUNCILMAN LOZABERG WAS GOING TO HAVE THESE MEETINGS WITH THE BRIGHT COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT.
WERE THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT WHEN THERE WAS SOMETHING TO PRESENT WHEN WE COULD SHOW WHAT THIS PLAN WAS SO TO PORTRAY ANY OF US AS ARROGANT FOR HAVING CAST A VOTE TO SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE A POSSIBILITY SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD UM JUST RUBS ME THE WRONG WAY A LITTLE BIT SO THAT'S THAT I APPRECIATE THAT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THE THE UGLINESS I APPRECIATE THAT THAT IF WE'RE NOT DOING IT ONE WAY AND YOU'RE DOING IT THE OTHER WAY YOUR WAY IS RIGHT AND WE'RE WRONG.
AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NO, SIR, LET ME LET ME PLEASE LET ME PLEASE RESPOND TO COUNCILMAN WALKER, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS SO NEEDLESS.
LAST MEETING, WE WERE DISCUSSING A DEFERRAL.
AND WHEN WE HAD ESTABLISHED THAT THAT THE JOHNNY BRIGHT COMMUNITY HAD NOT BEEN ENGAGED AND NOT SPOKEN TO, JUST GIVING PEOPLE THE RESPECT OF A CONVERSATION.
THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING, THAT WE SHOULD BE HUMBLE IN OUR LEADERSHIP ROLES.
AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN APPRECIATE IF IT'S A GOOD PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
LISTENING TO PEOPLE IS ALL I WAS ADVOCATING FOR AND THAT HAD NOT BEEN DONE AHEAD OF TIME.
IT'S BETTER IF WE HAVE ROBUST DISCUSSION, BUT WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THAT'S WHY I HAD ASKED FOR THE DEFERRAL.
AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS THE ONE WHO ASKED FOR THE DEFERRAL TO MAKE SURE.
THE STEPS BEING TAKEN WERE LEGAL.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM TO HAVE DEFERRED FOR ONE MEETING SO THAT PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO RESPECTFULLY AHEAD OF TIME AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE INFORMATION SHE WAS SEEKING.
THAT'S ALL I WAS SAYING AND I DO THINK THAT WOULD HAVE SERVED US WELL TO HAVE DONE THAT AND PAUSED IT AT THAT TIME TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE.
I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN WHY I'M HERE AND WHO I WORK FOR.
AND THAT WE'RE ONLY HERE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH PUT US HERE.
AND I WILL NEVER FORGET WHY I'M HERE.
AND THE FACT THAT I CAST THAT VOTE TO LOOK AT AN LOI DOESN'T CHANGE THAT.
I THINK IT WAS VERY PREMATURE TO HAVE THE EXTENSIVE PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT YOU WERE CALLING FOR.
IT WASN'T JUST A CONVERSATION WITH BRIGHT.
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHERE IT WAS A, YOU WANTED PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT THIS LOI.
AND I JUST THINK THAT CASTING US ALL IN THAT LIGHT.
WHEN I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE HERE TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH IS IS UNFAIR ON THAT FRONT.
AND COUNCILMAN WALKER IF I COULD JUST ADD YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK UM WELL FIRST OFF I THINK APPLES AND ORANGES THE ARROGANCE UM CLAIM AND CALLING OUT A FAMILY MEMBER I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO THERE I THINK THAT'S THAT'S CERTAINLY DIFFERENT AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS SHE WAS REFERRING I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNCILWOMAN BUT I DON'T THINK SHE WAS REFERRING TO UH THE VOTE IN PARTICULAR I THINK IT'S OVERALL SENTIMENT AND AND YOU KNOW TO ME, IT'S SOMETHING I HEAR FROM PEOPLE OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE PARISH, WHETHER THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE CHOOSING THE WRONG THINGS OR MAYBE JUST NOT COMMUNICATING.
MAYBE WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE BETTER.
BUT I HEAR THAT FROM SO MANY THAT THEY FEEL THAT RIGHT NOW THE PARISH GOVERNMENT IS IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE LECTURING PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.
AND LOOK, A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION.
A LOT OF TIMES WE MAYBE KNOW WHERE THE DIRECTION IS, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY FEEL.
THEY FEEL WE ARE LECTURING THEM AND NOT LISTENING TO THEM.
AND WHETHER THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROJECTS OR WRONG PROJECTS OR COMMUNICATION, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK THESE THINGS ARE WORTH DISCUSSIONS.
AND I THINK THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINTS DURING THIS EXCHANGE HAVE BEEN FAIR.
AND I JUST WANT TO JUST REALLY PUSH, LET'S ALL HAVE RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WE ARE ALL HERE TO DO OUR JOBS, TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE.
SAW THE RESPONSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THROUGH EMAILS.
IT'S NOT JUST JENNIFER VAN FRANKEN.
IT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD THAT SHARE THOSE CONCERNS FOR WHATEVER REASON.
I MEAN WE COULD POINT THIS FINGER, THIS FINGER, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT THIS WAY AND I'VE EXPERIENCED SOME OF THAT IN MY OWN PARKS.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT LET'S LET'S JUST PLEASE TRY TO KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY MADE A POINT HERE THAT WASN'T FAIR AND AND AND DIDN'T HAVE SOME WEIGHT BEHIND IT.
BUT I ALSO ACTUALLY JUST LET'S MOVE AWAY FROM THE PERSONAL ATTACKS AND KEEP IT ON YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE YOU KNOW THE THE THE SUBSTANCE OF THE DISCUSSION.
THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE DESERVE.
[01:30:01]
AND THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY IF WE LACK COMMUNICATION TO HAVE OPEN DIALOGUE WITHOUT PERSONAL ATTACKS.SO PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE COULD, COULD DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY FEEL IS BEST AND BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
AND FRANKLY, LOOK, SOCIAL MEDIA, IT IS A PAIN IN THE BUTT AND YOU GET, YOU GET THINGS THAT GO OUT OF WHACK AND THINGS GET MISCONSTRUED.
BUT, BUT ONE THING I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LONG HISTORY.
A PRETTY CRAZY HISTORY OF JEFFERSON PARISH POLITICS WHERE A LOT OF THINGS WERE BEING DONE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC'S EYE.
AND ONE THING SOCIAL MEDIA HAS DONE IS IT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE INPUT ON A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS I MADE, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD THING.
THE MORE INPUT WE HAVE, THE BETTER.
IT DOES GO OFF THE RAILS, AND I EXPERIENCE THAT DAILY.
BUT I THINK OVERALL IT'S A GOOD THING.
AND HEARING FROM PEOPLE AND LISTENING TO THEM, YOU KNOW, WILL HELP US.
AND HAVING THAT DIALOGUE IS GOING TO HELP US FIND A LANDING GROUND FOR REALLY PROGRESSIVE CHANGE, IF NECESSARY.
YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANT TO ADD THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THAT WE DON'T NEED A STUDY.
BUT IF WE'RE CHANGING CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR 80 YEARS, AND WE'RE CHANGING IN SUCH A TRANSFORMATIVE WAY.
AND YOU HAVE SUCH PUBLIC, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S REIMAGINED WHERE THE PUBLIC SPOKE OUT AGAINST IT.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT WAS PROPOSED FOR ROSETHORN IN PARTICULAR, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, PEOPLE SPOKE OUT AGAINST IT.
AND NOW IN THIS SITUATION, PEOPLE SPOKE OUT AGAINST IT.
PEOPLE NOT READY FOR CERTAIN CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY, BUT ALSO THAT WE COULD LISTEN AND ADAPT AND WORK WITH THEM TO ACHIEVE THOSE THINGS.
SO I JUST WANT TO STAY ON, YOU KNOW, REALLY ON MESSAGE AND NOT MAKE IT A BATTLE BACK AND FORTH AND HAVE PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS.
AND I SEE US VEER AWAY FROM THAT A LITTLE BIT HERE.
I THINK EVERYBODY GENUINELY MADE GOOD POINTS, AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS WORTH FURTHER DISCUSSION, NOT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
BUT JUST OUR PARKS PHILOSOPHY IN GENERAL, WHERE WE GET LAND, BECAUSE I'M VERY PRO-PARK.
YOU KNOW, MY POSITION IS, I THINK WE'RE LOSING A YOUNG POPULATION.
I DON'T THINK YOU WIN MORE YOUNG FAMILIES BY LOSING SOME PARKS.
I THINK PEOPLE PAY INTO THE MILLAGE, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DRIVE 40 MINUTES TO AN HOUR TO GO DO A PARTICULAR THING.
I THINK THEY WANT TO HAVE THEIR PARKS.
NOW, AND DINO VANNO BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT, BRIDGE CITY.
WHAT A GREAT THING YOU DID THERE, AND IT'S SO NECESSARY, AND NUMBERS CALL FOR IT, THAT I FULLY SUPPORT.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO KEEP HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND BE ABLE TO BE HONEST WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT OUR POSITIONS.
BE ABLE TO CONTEST ONE ANOTHER AND REALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION THAT LEADS TO COMPROMISE.
NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE JUST YES, YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT DISCUSSIONS, ABOUT ASKING HARD QUESTIONS, ABOUT ANSWERING HARD QUESTIONS, ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DEFEND YOUR POSITION.
I'VE SIT HERE AND I'VE LISTENED AND LET ME SAY THIS FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY COMMENTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH JOHNNY BRIGHT.
AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW INSPECTOR GENERAL OR HER OFFICE.
I HEARD MY COLLEAGUE MAKE REFERENCE TO WHAT I CALL SOME REVISIONIST HISTORY IN RELATIONS TO THE AMPHITHEATER THAT WAS PROPOSED TO BE BUILT OVER.
I WORKED WITH JOHN L'AERIO VERY CLOSELY ON THIS PROJECT.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET 26 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE AN AMPHITHEATER THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR MANY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS PARISH TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND HAVE FESTIVALS AND CONCERTS.
AND MANY OF YOU ALL DO KNOW THIS.
WE LIKE WHAT WE SEE IN THIS REGION.
AND SO WHEN THIS WAS PLANNED, WE HAD A WONDERFUL PLAN IN THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE ENTIRE POPULATION IN JEFFERSON PARISH, NOT JUST THE WEST BANK.
AND SO I LEFT THE COUNCIL, I LEFT THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL.
MY TERM WAS OVER AT THE END OF 2011.
BUT BETWEEN 2010 AND 2011, JOHN O'LEARY AND I TRAVELED.
WE WENT TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THIS REGION, AND WE MET WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE OPERATORS OF THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES.
AND WE WERE VERY AWARE, VERY ACUTELY AWARE OF WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES COULD HAVE BEEN.
[01:35:02]
OF SOME OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, WHOM SAID THEY HAD NO INTEREST IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA HAVING CONCERTS.THAT WAS OKAY WITH US BECAUSE I WAS FOCUSED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR LOCAL FOLKS.
EVERY TIME THERE'S A FESTIVAL IN JEFFERSON PARISH, BE IT EAST BANK, WEST BANK, WE SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY TIME, BE IT UNCLE SAM, JIM, WHAT, WHATEVER IT IS, WE SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND SOMETIMES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCTION VALUE IS GOOD.
I DISAGREED WITH IT, ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT ON THE COUNCIL.
I DISAGREED WITH THAT IDEA THAT THE AMPHITHEATER THAT WE WANTED TO BUILD WAS A BAD DECISION.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT DECISION.
OVER THE YEARS, HOWEVER, SENATOR LARIO WAS ABLE TO PARK THE MONEY.
AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS BEAUTIFUL BASEBALL AND SOCCER FIELDS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM.
BUT WE TRIED TO CREATE A NARRATIVE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH BACK THEN WHERE PEOPLE WOULD COME TO JEFFERSON PARISH EVEN BACK THEN, BUT IT WOULD BE AT A FIRST-CLASS AMPHITHEATER.
SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE I TOTALLY AGREED, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A DUMB DECISION.
TO HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM 26 MILLION DOLLARS.
AND LET ME BE CLEAR, WE UNDERSTOOD THE OPERATIONAL COSTS, OKAY? WE KNEW THAT THIS COULD WORK.
HOWEVER, DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION, DIFFERENT VIEWS, AND SO THE OUTCOME WAS WHAT IT WAS.
BUT JUST FOR ME AS SOMEONE WHO WAS AROUND DURING THAT TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS A STUPID DECISION.
AND I WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD WITH THAT.
I'LL FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE AND SAY WE HAVE GREAT BALL FIELDS NOW, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT.
SO WE CAN FIND PLACES OF AGREEMENT AND CELEBRATION.
YOU HAD SAID THAT WE NEED TO OPERATE WITH HUMILITY, AND COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOU MADE A COMMENT THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT PERSONAL ATTACKS.
YES, WE SHOULD LIVE OUR DAILY LIFE WITH HUMILITY, BUT WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE HAVE TO OPERATE WITH TRANSPARENCY.
AND MY COMMENTS ARE NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN TOLD THE PRESS THAT HER HUSBAND WAS APPROACHED FOR A CONSULT AND LATER REFUSED TO REPRESENT THEM.
AND LAURA NICHOLSON, WHO PRINTED THAT IN THE PAPER, I DOUBT SHE MADE THAT UP.
SHE'S HERE IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.
WHAT WAS NOT DISCLOSED WAS THAT HE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN NEGOTIATIONS.
AND HERE'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
WHEN YOU RECUSE YOURSELF FROM A VOTE WITHOUT DISCLOSING WHY, YOU CANNOT LATER GO AND TIP THE SCALES.
YOU CAN'T SAY, I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS BECAUSE I'M CONFLICTED OUT, BUT LET ME GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND POST LETTER AFTER LETTER AND COMMENT AFTER COMMENT AND TIP THE SCALES.
WITHOUT TELLING THE PUBLIC WHY.
YOU DON'T GET TO JUST DO BOTH.
YOU DON'T GET TO SIT SILENT ON WHY YOU HAVE TO RECUSE YOURSELF AND THEN GO AND LOBBY.
WE NEED THE TRANSPARENCY OF WHY THAT VOTE WAS ABSTAINED FROM, AND NOW WE HAVE IT, BECAUSE NOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THAT HER HUSBAND ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
IS THAT WHY SHE LOBBIED? SUDDENLY, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS VOTE COMES UP, HE'S NO LONGER THEIR LAWYER? WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP? SUDDENLY, IS THAT WHY SHE'S LOBBYING? WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW THAT THERE COULD BE A QUESTION.
AND SO THEN YOU GET TO GUESS WHY SHE'S LOBBYING FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS OR SHE'S NOT.
WHEN YOU ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE AND YOU DON'T TELL THE PUBLIC WHY, WHEN YOU DON'T TELL THE PUBLIC THE TRUTH ABOUT WHY, THEN YOU HAVE SUBJECTED YOURSELF TO CRITICISM.
SO THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF ONE OF THEM COMES BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, I'M TELLING THE PUBLIC ABOUT IT.
AND I'M TELLING THEM THE TRUTH ABOUT WHY.
THIS WAS NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO ASKED, CAN WE HAVE A MEETING TODAY? WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO THE MEETING, AND I'LL CERTAINLY RESERVE FURTHER COMMENT.
[PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION(S) ON AGENDA/ADDENDUM AGENDA]
THIS IS THE PORTION OF THE AGENDA WHERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME FORWARD.THERE ARE TWO PERIODS DURING OUR MEETING WHEN THE PUBLIC CAN SPEAK.
ONE IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW ON ITEMS THAT ARE
[01:40:02]
ON THE AGENDA.AT THE VERY END, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
AND THEN WE WILL HAVE SOME SUMMARY ITEMS THAT HAVE INDIVIDUAL HEARINGS, THE PROPERTY MATTERS, THAT YOU'LL COME UP SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE PROPERTY MATTERS TO SPEAK.
SO IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT IS ON OUR AGENDA, NOW IS THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE MEETING WHERE YOU CAN DO SO AND COME FORWARD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND THE MICROPHONE WILL GO OFF AT THREE MINUTES.
FRANKIE HIRES, 509 HOME BOULEVARD, TRYING TO SPARK SOME CURIOSITY ON WHERE WE GO.
I THOUGHT YOU HAD TO BE PAST THIS BY NOW.
I GOT TIME TO GET DRESSED AND GET IN HERE.
COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS.
I GOTTA WATCH PEOPLE THAT OTHERWISE I CONSIDER FRIENDS AMONGST ALL Y'ALL.
I'LL BREAK BREAD AND INVITE YOU ALL OUT TO JAZZ FEST.
I APOLOGIZE, THAT'S WHY I CAME TO THE LAST MEETING, ONLY TO INVITE YOU, AND Y'ALL GOT THROUGH IT BEFORE I COULD EVEN DO THAT.
I DON'T NEED ANY TRAFFIC ENGINEERS.
I DON'T NEED ANY COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS.
I NEED TO HAVE A TANGIBLE, RELATABLE, REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, SO THAT THEY'RE NOT LOOKING LIKE SCHOOL CHILDREN FIGHTING OVER THINGS THAT REALLY, REALLY, IT'S EMBARRASSING.
Y'ALL SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO BETTER THAN THIS.
ALL THESE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS, I GOTTA PICK WHICH ONES ARE IN PARTS OF METAIRIE THAT ARE ONLY, THAT SEE REPRESENTATION, BUT IF YOU'RE WEST OF COWSWAY, I'M BETTING THERE'S FEWER COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS.
I WOULD'VE GOT YOUR MONEY THING, BUT YOU KNOW WHO GOT THE MOST MONEY.
RECUSE YOURSELVES ON THOSE BASES.
NEVER HAVE I SEEN ONE OF YOU RECUSE YOURSELVES BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
CHAIRMAN, I SAW YOU DO IT LIKE LAST YEAR.
THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME WHERE YOU STARTED RECUSING YOURSELF FROM STUFF.
ALL OF YOU SHOULD BE RECUSING YOURSELF AT LEAST FROM SOME OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
WHOEVER HAS THE MOST MONEY ON THAT CAMPAIGN THING GET THOSE AGENDA ITEMS YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE RECUSE YOURSELVES IMMEDIATELY FROM THIS ONE AND START SHOWING THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE YOU ACTING IN A MANNER THAT'S ACCOUNTABLE WHERE THERE IS ACTUAL OVERSIGHT GETTING DONE.
I OPPOSE EVERYTHING ON HERE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE AN APPORTIONED REPRESENTATIVE BODY.
TWO SENATORS ARE IN CAHOOTS WITH AN ADMINISTRATION.
I'M KIND OF GLAD, TIM KUHAN, 3815 NORTH HELEN.
I'M KIND OF GLAD I SERVED DURING A PERIOD WHEN THERE WAS NO SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE GOT TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN BONANNO LOOKING OUT FOR HIS ELDERS.
HE CALLS ON ME PERIODICALLY TO MAKE SURE MY NAME'S NOT IN THE OBITUARY.
BUT TO COUNCILMAN WALKER'S POINT, 1976 I CAME TO WORK FOR JPRD.
WE HAD SIX RECREATION DISTRICTS.
WE HAD RECREATION BOOSTER CLUBS THAT DIDN'T GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.
OUR GOAL AT THE TIME WAS TO BUILD A JPRD LIKE NORD, WHO WAS FAMOUS NATIONALLY.
WE HAD TO DO SO BY PASSING RECREATION VILLAGES.
AND I'M REMINDED BY THE COUNCILMAN TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO THIS DILEMMA.
BECAUSE WE HAD A POPULATION BASE AND A YOUTH BASED POPULATION THAT DESERVED TO HAVE THE FACILITIES WE NOW HAVE IN PLACE.
BUT FAST FORWARD, NOW, YOU KNOW, THE TRANSITION OF POPULATION COMPOUNDED BY THE ALL STARS AND TRAVEL BALL.
AND AND HERE WE ARE FINDING OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TOO MANY FACILITIES, NOT ENOUGH KIDS, NOT ENOUGH UTILIZATION.
I ADMIRE CYNTHIA FOR THE RECREATION REIMAGINED, BUT I ALSO BROUGHT THE FIRST AND LAST RECREATION MASTER PLAN OF 1985.
IT DESERVES, BECAUSE YOU HAVE OTHER FACILITIES MORE THAN JUST THE REIMAGINED FACILITIES.
AND LASTLY, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT WHEN LAFAYETTE PARK WAS BUILT, AND I WAS A PART OF THAT, WE HAD 36 TENNIS COURTS ON WHERE THE SOCCER FIELDS ARE NOW.
TO THE GREATEST EFFORT, THE RECREATION PLAN THAT WAS BUILT OR DESIGNED FOR LAFAYETTE PARK LOOKS EXACTLY AS IT WAS INTENDED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TENNIS COURTS, WHICH THE COUNCIL EX-MADE AT THE TIME BECAUSE IT REALLY WASN'T THAT POPULAR.
SO TO YOUR CREDIT, I BELIEVE AS TRADITIONAL RECREATION AS I AM,
[01:45:04]
IT'S NO LONGER IN PLAY.YOU HAVE TO NOW ENVISION HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAXIMIZE THE FACILITIES.
WE TALKED ABOUT AT ONE TIME USING JOINT VENTURING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY PART OF IT.
NOW I THINK THEY'RE EXPERIENCING THE SAME CHALLENGES OF HAVING TOO MANY SCHOOLS.
SO THEY'RE FACED WITH THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE, AS BEEN DISCUSSED TODAY.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME COMMENT ON THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HYSTERICAL PERSPECTIVE.
I CALL IT A HYSTERICAL PERSPECTIVE.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTIONS INVOLVED IN RECREATION AS WE SEE HERE TODAY.
AND I ADMIRE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STAYED ACTIVE IN IT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE TO MAXIMIZE THE FACILITIES WE HAVE.
AND TO YOUR CREDIT, I THINK YOU'RE THINKING THAT WAY.
DID YOU SAY THERE WAS NO SOCIAL MEDIA OR NO ELECTRICITY? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU RIGHT.
AND YOUR MIC'S OFF, SO YOU CAN'T RESPOND.
YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO...
HE USED TO RIDE A HORSE TO WORK.
I DO SYMPATHIZE AND AGREE THAT IT'S A TOUGH JOB YOU HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF FACILITIES.
WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF ASSETS.
WE JUST HAVE TO MAXIMIZE THEIR USE.
THANK YOU, PARISH PRESIDENT COULON.
ALL RIGHT, AGAIN, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON AN ITEM THAT IS ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
I HAVE A PROPERTY FOR 33 YEARS NOW THAT IS A BUTTS JOHNNY BRIGHT PLAYGROUND.
WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND WITH JOHNNY BRIGHT PLAYGROUND FOR THAT INTENT THAT ENTIRE TIME.
MATTER OF FACT, I USED TO CUT PART OF THEIR GRASS FOR YEARS UNTIL KATRINA CAME TO SAVE THEM TIME AND FACILITIES.
WITH THIS, THERE'S BEEN NO DISCUSSION WHATSOEVER.
FOR PROGRESSION IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, BUT THERE'S BEEN NO DISCUSSION OF THE EFFECTS THAT A TENNIS COURT FACILITY, AND YOU CAN GO TO THE USTA GUIDELINES OF SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIRED FOR THAT, INCLUDING REMOVABLE BLEACHERS, THAT THE LIGHTING OVERLAY AND THE DRAINAGE ISSUES AND THE PARKING AND TRAFFIC ISSUES THAT IT WILL CREATE IN THAT AREA HAVE NOT BEEN DISCUSSED ONCE.
THEY HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY OVERLOOKED.
WHEN WE HAVE A THUNDERSTORM, THE WATER COMES OVER THE CURB AND HITS THE SIDEWALKS, AND I'M RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO IT.
WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY THAT GREEN SPACE, THAT WATER HAS NOWHERE TO GO.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ELEVATION TO GET THAT WATER TO DRAIN INTO THE ADJACENT STREETS AND FLOOD THAT, PLUS THE TRAFFIC.
WE'RE IN SCHOOL ZONES AROUND THAT AREA, AND WE HAVE KIDS THAT COME FROM ADJACENT, THE FAT CITY AREA, THAT RIDE THEIR BIKES AND WALK TO THIS PLAYGROUND ON A DAILY BASIS.
WENT THERE EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.
I SAW TWO PEOPLE PLAYING TENNIS FOR SEVEN DAYS ON JOHNNY BLACK PLAYGROUND.
IT'S NOT A MECCA FOR A TENNIS FACILITY.
BUT THESE THINGS NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
THE AUDACITY FOR THE PARISH TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE COMMITMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORS WITHOUT EVEN HAVING AND...
OPEN TO OPEN DISCUSSION IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH ANYONE IS AN ATROCITY TO THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH NOW PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THE THIS THIS WILL DESTROY AND WILL LOWER PROPERTY VALUES IN THAT AREA CONSIDERABLY IT IS ZONED R1A LOT Y IS ZONED R1A WET WHICH JOHNNY BRIGHT PLAYGROUND IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PLAYGROUNDS NEED TO BE WITHIN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THERE ARE IMPLIES TO PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT IT BUT THIS IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCES THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED A WHOLE LOT MORE AND PRESENTATIONS MADE TO THIS WE ASKED FOR SOME SCHEMATIC DOCUMENTS WE WERE DENIED ACCESS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS OKAY THIS THIS HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON THE WHOLE COMMUNITY YOU WANT TO GET YOUNGER PEOPLE BACK AND DO MONEY BACK IN JEFFERSON PARISH? THEN YOU'VE GOT TO ATTRACT THEM.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO ATTRACT THEM.
LOOK, I'M A SENIOR MYSELF, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TENNIS THAT GOES AROUND, OKAY? AND SO IT'S NOT TENNIS PER SE.
IF I MAY RESPOND, MADAM CHAIR.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE HERE RESPECTFULLY FOR THE LAST HOUR AND A HALF,
[01:50:02]
BUT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I SAID WAS THAT WE'RE MOVING ON FROM BRIGHT.THE REASON YOU DIDN'T GET ANYTHING IS BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING TO GET.
THERE HAS BEEN NO, YOU SAID, YOU CRITICIZED THE COMMITMENT, BUT THERE IS NO COMMITMENT.
THE LETTER OF INTENT HASN'T EVEN BEEN SIGNED.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT, I MEAN, IN FACT, I'VE ALREADY SAID, YOU KNOW, WRIGHT AND TENNIS, AS YESTERDAY'S NEWS, WE'VE ALREADY MOVED ON.
SO LET ME REITERATE, I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT SINCE YOU WERE WELL INTO THE DISCUSSION.
THIS PORTION, AGAIN, IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
SO ANYONE WANTING TO SPEAK ON JOHNNY BRIGHT, SINCE IT'S NOT OFFICIALLY ON OUR AGENDA, THE APPROPRIATE TIME WOULD BE AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO GET ON TO THE OTHER BUSINESS OF THE MEETING.
SO, AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD UNLESS ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC HAS AN ITEM.
I KNOW WE'RE STILL ON THE BRIGHT SUBJECT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE ON.
THIS IS OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL.
ARE WE? I'M NOT ON BRIGHT SUBJECT.
THANK YOU MA'AM FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
IF IT'S NOT ON THERE I WOULDN'T BE UP HERE.
YOU HAVE ON THE AGENDA AN ITEM TO APPROVE A MEMBER TO THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE SUBJECTS ITSELF TO A FEW DIFFERENT QUALITY ASSURANCE MEASURES INCLUDING A PEER REVIEW THAT HAPPENS EVERY THREE YEARS WHO COMES IN, BUT THEN MODELED OFF OF ORIGINALLY THE NEW ORLEANS LEGISLATION THAT WAS ACTUALLY TRACKED MODEL LEGISLATION.
THERE WAS A PROVISION IN THERE FOR A QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS COMMITTEE.
IS TO COME TOGETHER EACH YEAR AND TO REVIEW ALL OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
WHEN THIS OFFICE WAS FIRST STOOD UP, THAT PROVISION WAS IN THERE.
THERE WAS A DELAY IN APPOINTING MEMBERS, AND THEREFORE WE DO NOT HAVE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW REPORTS FOR THE ENTIRE TERM OF THE OFFICE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED TO WORK WITH THREE PHENOMENAL AND DISTINCT INDIVIDUALS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THAT IS JIM LETTEN APPOINTED BY THE ECC, JOHN BENZ, WHO SERVED AS CHAIRMAN, APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL, DUKE MCCONNELL, WHO WAS THE APPOINTEE BY THE PARISH PRESIDENT.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING THIS REPORT WAS MAY 31ST.
SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE A CONSTITUTED EQUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT DEADLINE WILL BE MET OF MAY 31ST. YOU HAVE ON YOUR AGENDA AN ITEM TO APPROVE A NOMINEE BY THE COUNCIL.
TO THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO VALIDATE, BUT I AM ANECDOTALLY INFORMED THAT MR. DUKE MCCONNELL HAS RESIGNED TO THE ADMINISTRATION, WHICH LEAVES OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE STILL UNCONSTITUTED.
SO SINCE THIS HAPPENS TO BE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY, I WANTED TO SPEAK OUT TO ALL OF YOU TO SAY THAT THE OFFICE STANDS READY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS AS SOON AS WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE CONSTITUTED COMMITTEE SO I WILL REACH OUT TO WHATEVER APPOINTEE THE COUNCIL MAY CHOOSE TO PASS UPON TODAY AND AS SOON AS I AM NOTIFIED AND THE APPROVAL OF THE OTHER MEMBER GOES THROUGH THEN WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL BUT THE DEADLINE WILL NOT LIKELY BE MET OF MAY 31ST AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN PARTICIPATE YEAH, GO AHEAD.
I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION TO MAKE SURE IF THERE IS ONE OR TWO OPENINGS ON THE COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE TWO OPENINGS TO MY UNDERSTANDING AS OF TODAY.
THE COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF AN ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE APPOINTEE.
THAT WAS CONDUCTED IN AN OPEN MEETING.
THEN YOUR APPOINTEE, TO MY UNDERSTANDING.
IS AN ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
AND THE OTHER APPOINTEE IS THE PARISH PRESIDENT? THE OTHER APPOINTEE IS THE PARISH PRESIDENT.
MR. BENZ AND MR. LUTTON CC'D ME ON THEIR RESIGNATION, SO I WAS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THEM.
THEY HAPPENED BASICALLY IN 2025, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN OUR PATTERN.
WE'RE READY AND WILLING AND LOOKING FORWARD.
CAN I ASK, THOUGH? ARE YOU SAYING THERE'S THREE OPENINGS OR THERE'S JUST THE TWO? HANG ON ONE SECOND.
THE COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF THREE INDIVIDUALS, EACH OF WHOM ARE APPOINTED BY THE ECC, THE COUNCIL, AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT.
AND HOW MANY OPENINGS ARE THERE? I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THERE IS ONE
[01:55:01]
OPENING.THAT IS THE ONE YOU ARE VOTING ON.
I DO NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE PARISH PRESIDENT'S APPOINTEE.
MR. SHIONAKOS WAS APPOINTED BY THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION.
WHEN WAS THAT DONE? I MEAN, BOFORG.
SO, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, THE THREE PEOPLE THAT ISSUED THE LAST REPORT ARE NO LONGER ON THE QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE? TWO OUT OF THE THREE FOR CERTAIN ARE NOT.
I DO NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE THIRD.
AND THAT'S THE PARISH PRESIDENTS? APPOINTEE.
SO TO BE CLEAR, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO OF THESE ON THE AGENDA, ITEM 40 AND NUMBER SIX.
BECAUSE THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA, THERE'S A SEPARATE PERSON THAT'S BEING NOMINATED.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED RESUMES FROM EITHER OF THEM.
I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT WE MOVE TO DEFER BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF VET THEM AND COMPARE THEM TO MAKE A DECISION AT THE NEXT MEETING.
COUNCILMAN LILJBERG AND I DISCUSSED ACTUALLY YESTERDAY.
I DO APPRECIATE THE TIMELINESS OF IT.
SO I'M SURE THE COUNCIL CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GET YOU AN APPOINTEE FOR THE COUNCIL POSITION THAT'S OPEN BY THE NEXT MEETING.
I'M SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE CLARIFICATION FOR THE PARISH PRESIDENT ON WHETHER SHE HAS AN APPOINTMENT FOR DUKE MCCONNELL AS WELL.
WE ACTUALLY DID RECEIVE THE ONE.
HANS WILTSCHBERG'S POTENTIAL CANDIDATE.
WE'LL GET ONE FOR YOU NEXT MEETING.
ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO APPEAR? ON AN ITEM THAT IS ON THE AGENDA.
SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
I HAVE A NOTATION THAT ITEM ONE IS TO BE CANCELED.
COUNCILMAN LILJERBERG, YOUR MOTION TO CANCEL.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
THE ITEM IS MOVED TO CANCEL TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
I HAVE A NOTATION THAT ITEM TWO IS TO BE CANCELED.
[ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED]
AS THE VOTE SHOWS.I HAVE A NOTE IS TO BE CANCELLED.
COUNCILMAN LEE YOUR MOTION TO CANCEL? I MOVE.
ALL RIGHT SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
COUNCILMAN LEE IS MOVING TO CANCEL ITEM TWO.
IF EVERYONE WILL CAST YOUR VOTE.
ALL RIGHT CLOSING THE VOTING SEVEN YEAS ZERO NAYS.
ITEM THREE I HAVE A NOTE TO BE DEFERRED TO THE JUNE 10TH MEETING SO THAT'LL BE THE NEXT EAST BANK MEETING.
HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH HIS MICROPHONE, COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, TO DEFER THE ITEM TO JUNE 10TH. VOTING IS OPEN.
THE ITEM IS DEFERRED TO JUNE THE 10TH.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM FOUR.
[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES]
WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT IN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR.SUMMARY NUMBER 26721, RESUB OF LOTS 7 AND 8, FAIRLAND SUBDIVISION, INTO LOTS 7A AND 8A, FAIRLAND SUBDIVISION, WITH A WAIVER TO THE AREA REGULATIONS OF THE R1A IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 33- 2.35 SUBDIVISION WAIVERS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION ES-8-26 COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
ALL RIGHT WE CAN WAIVE THE READING WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26721 ANYONE WHO HAS UM WANTS TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK IN APPROVAL OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26721 PLEASE COME FORWARD ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST SUMMARY NUMBER 26721, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[02:00:01]
MADAM CLERK, SEEING NO ONE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED, COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26722, RESUB OF LOTS 32 THROUGH 38 AND 43 THROUGH 47, SQUARE 30, CANAL STREET SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 32A, SQUARE 30, CANAL STREET SUBDIVISION, AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL FLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION, ES-16-26, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26722.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST? MADAM CLERK, SEEING NO ONE APPEAR, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG MOVES TO APPROVE.
THE VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS ITEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - PERMITTED USES]
CLOSING THE VOTING, SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS.SUMMARY NUMBER 26723, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 27146, ADOPTED ON APRIL 8, 2026, TO CORRECT THE NAME FACILITY IN SECTION ONE OF THE SPECIAL PERMANENT USE APPROVAL FOR VERTEX REFINING LA LLC MARRERO FACILITY, PROCEEDED UNDER DOCKET NUMBER SPU-10-25.
WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26723.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE HAS APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOUR MOTION? MOVED TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
[OTHER PROPERTY MATTERS ORDINANCES]
ON THIS ITEM.MADAM CLERK, NUMBER 8. I HAVE A NOTE THAT THIS ITEM WILL BE DEFERRED TO MAY 20TH.
COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES TO DEFER TO MAY THE 20TH, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTING ON THE DEFERRAL OF THIS ITEM.
VOTING IS OPEN ON THE DEFERRAL OF THIS ITEM TO MAY THE 20TH.
[OTHER ORDINANCES]
ZERO NAYS THE ITEM IS DEFERRED TO MAY THE 20TH MADAM CLERK ITEM NINE SUMMARY NUMBER 26717 CREATING A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IN JEFFERSON PARIS TO BE NAMED CHURCHILL FARMS FAIRFIELD NUMBER TWO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES THEREOF AND PROVIDING FOR THE PURPOSE RIGHTS POWERS OF SAID DISTRICT IN IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE.339038.31, COUNCIL DISTRICT WE CAN READ THE READING ON THIS ITEM.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26717.
ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO READ THIS.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SOUNDS REALLY COOL.
KIND OF LIKE A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION OR, I DON'T KNOW, A SPECIAL DISTRICT.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT PROVIDES FOR ARBITRARY TAXATION.
BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THIS IS.
I CAN KNOCK ON A THOUSAND DOORS AND NOBODY'S GOING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS TRANSLATES TO.
IT TRANSLATES TO THEM SHOULDERING THE TAX BURDEN FOR ANYBODY WHO'S IN ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS PROVIDES FOR ARBITRARY TAXATION.
CLOSE ENOUGH TO COUNCIL, CLOSE ENOUGH TO, I DON'T KNOW, JCO, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
OH, YOU'RE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
THAT'S WHERE I TAKE OBSESSION, EXCEPTION.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS.
ANY ONE OF YOU COULD OPPOSE THIS, AT LEAST AT THE TOKEN GESTURE ON MY BEHALF.
I'VE GOT THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS, RIGHT? I'VE GOT A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'VE GOT TWO AT-LARGE MEMBERS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE.
OF COURSE, WE LOOK DOWN ON THEM JOB DUTIES, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH OF IT.
THE AT-LARGE POSITIONS SERVE THE ADMINISTRATION.
THE ADMINISTRATION BENEFITS FROM EVERY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
IT'S PART OF HOW THIS ARBITRARY
[02:05:01]
TAXATION WORKS.THEY MUST CONFORM TO THIS, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE DONE THIS FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, MAYBE WITHOUT DOING SO.
WRONG IS WRONG IF EVERYBODY'S DOING IT.
AND RIGHT IS RIGHT IF NOBODY'S DOING IT.
Y'ALL CAN START DOING SOMETHING RIGHT HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE FIRST PLACE IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
THERE'S NO STATE THAT DOESN'T SUFFER TO A VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION.
AND I GUARANTEE THERE'S VERY FEW COUNCIL OR PARISH GOVERNMENTS.
THAT DON'T SUFFER THEIR CITIZENS TO A VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION.
BUT JEFFERSON PARISH, JUST ALONGSIDE ORLEANS PARISH, THE ONLY ONE IN LOUISIANA THAT DOES THIS FOR PARISH GOVERNMENT.
TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE WITH EVERY DISTRICT, EVERY SPECIAL DISTRICT, EVERY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
THERE ARE NO GOOD DEEDS ACHIEVED BY ILL-GOTTEN GAINS.
IF DONE BY ANY MEANS PRESCRIBED CONSTITUTIONALLY, I WOULDN'T BE HERE AT ALL.
BUT EVERYTHING ACHIEVED IN HERE IS DONE BY ARBITRARY AND INADMISSIBLE MEANS.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE OPPOSED, NO ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR.
COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION? I MOVE.
APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26718, CREATING A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IN JEFFERSON PARISH TO BE NAMED NON-MILE POINT ROAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES THEREOF AND PROVIDING FOR THE PURPOSE, RIGHTS, POWERS OF SAID DISTRICTS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 339038.31, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26718.
ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR AGAINST, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
THE GUY IS GOING TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION 509 ON THE BOULEVARD.
I DON'T LIVE ON THE WEST BANK.
I SHOULDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THE WEST BANK SINCE I DON'T LIVE THERE, BUT SINCE WE ARBITRARILY AND VIRTUALLY REPRESENT THE WEST BANK, WITH ONLY ONE COUNCIL MEMBER DEDICATED TO SERVE THE WEST BANK, ONLY ONE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 IS THE ONLY ONE OBLIGED TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE WEST BANK.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOME WORDS TO MAKE SURE I'M STAYING ON TOPIC AND RELEVANT, IT'S THE POWERS AND RIGHTS.
I LIKE TALKING ABOUT RIGHTS AND POWERS.
TO MY LEFT, THEY WANT TO BEG AND PLEAD FOR RIGHTS.
AND TO MY RIGHT, THEY WANT TO SEIZE AND EXERCISE FREEDOMS. BUT WHAT WE'RE ALL DIVORCED FROM IS THAT ACTUAL POWER, THE POWER OF SELF-DETERMINATION.
THAT'S WHAT AN ABORTION REPRESENTATIVE BODY WOULD PROVIDE FOR EVERYONE.
MY POWER DOESN'T REST IN COMING HERE AND BEGGING YOU TO NOT DO THIS.
NO, MY POWER IS DERIVED FROM...
DETERMINING HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU ARE GOING TO BE OBLIGED TO, RIGHT? HOW MANY PEOPLE? HOW MUCH POWER CAN YOU HOLD BEFORE YOU BECOME TYRANNICAL? HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU SERVE BEFORE IT COMES TO CONFUSION OF MULTITUDES? THAT'S OUR OBLIGATION, ALL OF US.
BUT BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING BUT RIGHTS TO BEG FOR, I GOTTA COME IN HERE AND TRY AND CONVINCE YOU TO OPPOSE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE ALREADY COMMITTED TO.
IT'S A JOKE AND NOT REALLY A FUNNY ONE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION? I MOVE.
COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
THE VOTING IS OPEN ON ITEM NUMBER 10.
AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 10188 TO CLARIFY THE EASTERN BOUNDARY LINE OF THE CITY OF KENNER COUNCIL DISTRICTS THREE AND FOUR WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26725 ANYONE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM PLEASE COME FORWARD ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM NUMBER 11 PLEASE COME FORWARD MADAM CLERK
[02:10:01]
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON MOVE TO APPROVE.COUNCILWOMAN MAHANIN MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
VOTING IS CLOSED ON THIS ITEM.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26727, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF JEFFERSON POWERS TO CREATE NEW CLASSIFICATIONS AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26727.
ANYONE WISHING TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE DO SO NOW.
LET US KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY JUMPING TO APPROVE HIS FAVOR.
YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO OPPOSE THESE THINGS BECAUSE I'M ALMOST 90% SURE IT'S GOING TO COST ME MORE MONEY.
SO YOU CAN TELL ME IT'S NOT, AND THEN MAYBE I JUST DON'T EVEN HAVE TO OPPOSE IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IRONIC HERE BECAUSE YOU PUT THESE PAID PLAN THINGS, RIGHT? EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKING FOR US IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COUNCIL PROCESS, AND SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS.
BUT YOU'RE ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, 70 OF YOU HERE, GETTING READY TO GET A LITTLE RAISE, AND NONE OF YOU HAD TO DO ANYTHING.
BECAUSE THEY PROVED A JUDGE'S SALARY RAISE.
SO YOU'RE IN THE DISTRICTS, YOU'RE GETTING $5,000 RAISE IN JUST A COUPLE MONTHS.
MY AT-LARGE MEMBER'S GETTING SOMEWHERE AROUND $7,000, $8,000 A MONTH.
OR $8,000 A YEAR ADDED TO THAT $135,000.
AIN'T THAT NICE? YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO FACE THE ELECTORATE.
THAT'S THE 27TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
I KNOW THE JUDGE IS FAMILIAR WITH IT.
IN ORDER TO GET A RAISE, YOU MUST FACE THE ELECTORATE.
NOT BECAUSE OF OUR STATE LAWS.
UNCONSTITUTIONALLY DERIVED COVER.
55 OUT OF 105 OF THOSE STATE SEATS SERVE VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION, SERVING MORE THAN ONE PARISH.
VIOLATES THE ARTICLE 1, SECTION 2 CLAUSE 3 CLAUSE, RIGHT? EACH SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE.
BUT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS AND WE LACK FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT REQUIRED TO EXERCISE OUR CONTROL WITH WHOLESOME DISCRETION.
WHAT'S THE OBLIGATION? TAKE IT FROM OURSELVES? NO INFORM YOUR DISCRETION.
I THINK YOU JUST INFORMED US THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GETTING A RAISE.
BARBIE LUNCH BARBIE LUNCH SO ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THIS SUMMARY NUMBER TWO SIX SEVEN TWO SEVEN MADAM CLERK PLEASE NOTE ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION COUNCILMAN WALKER YOU MOTION MOVE COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKIN VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS ITEM VOTING IS CLOSED SEVEN YEARS ZERO NAYS ITEM 12.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26728 TO ADOPT MILLAGE RATES TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX ROLLS FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON FOR THE YEAR 2026 BASED ON THE 2026 JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSMENT ROLL AND TO PROVIDE FOR ALL OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OPEN IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26728.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, ITEM 13, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 13, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. HIRES IS OBLIGED TO OPPOSE EVERY INITIATIVE, RESOLUTION, OR ANY ITEM THAT'S RELATED TO ARBITRARY TAXATION, WHICH THIS IS.
MILLAGES IMPOSED ARBITRARILY THROUGHOUT THE PARISH FROM ONE SPECIAL DISTRICT TO DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS TO EVERYTHING ELSE.
OUR TAX ASSESSOR COMING HERE, HE DOES A BEAUTIFUL JOB OF EXPLAINING IT.
AND IT GOES OVER RIGHT THROUGH EVERYBODY'S HEAD AND FLIES AWAY.
AND NOBODY WANTS TO EXPLAIN WHAT MILLAGE IS.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE WORD TAX.
IF WE SAID TAX, I THINK I COULD GET EVERYBODY TO SHOW UP AND OPPOSE THIS.
I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS ALONE.
I OPPOSE ARBITRARY TAXATION AS I OPPOSE ARBITRARY REPRESENTATION.
ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26729, TO ADOPT AN INCREASED MILLAGE RATE, BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF THE PRIOR YEAR'S MAXIMUM RATE, TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX ROLLS FOR THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON FOR THE YEAR 2026.
BASED ON THE 2026 JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSMENT RULE AND TO PROVIDE FOR ALL OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
[02:15:02]
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26729.ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU PUT IT RIGHT IN MY FACE, YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE MY TAXES.
ON THIS ONE ESPECIALLY, BUT I HAVE A STRONG SAD FEELING THAT I'M GOING TO END UP HAVING TO LOOK AT SOME COMPUTER BOARD.
I WON'T EVEN GET THE TOKEN GESTURE OF HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.
I CAN'T EVEN DO MY SHOT DRINKING WITH MY FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH BECAUSE I GOT NOW A COMPUTER BOARD THAT I'M PAYING FOR AND ROBBING ME OF MY DRINKING GAME.
YOU KNOW, THEY PAY ME TO ROLE MODEL WHAT IT IS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME FOR TWO WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR.
AND THEN I GOT TO COME IN HERE.
FOR ALL THE OTHER WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR.
MR. HARRIS, WHEN DID YOU MOVE TO LAFITTE? WHEN DID YOU MOVE TO LAFITTE? WHY DON'T I MOVE TO LAFITTE? WHEN? BECAUSE THIS IS A TAX FOR LAFITTE.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU MOVED TO LAFITTE.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAX.
I WISH YOU WOULD READ THESE THINGS BEFORE YOU GET UP.
MY PARTNER DOWN THERE, SEE I'VE GOT SHRIMP AND BUDDIES.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT BECAUSE I'VE GOT SHRIMP AND BUDDIES DOWN THERE IN LOWER LAFITTE.
I'VE GOT FRIENDS DOWN THERE IN LOWER LAFITTE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT THEM.
IS THIS MILLAGE GOING TO PROVIDE FOR THE SHRIMP DOCK TO GET OPEN MORE THAN TWO DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK? DO THAT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE CONCERNS OF LORD LAFITTE, THEY'RE MY CONCERNS.
SO YES, IF I NEED TO READ THIS MORE THOROUGHLY, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE CALLED ME UP A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND SAID, HEY, FRANKIE, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS? I THINK YOU MIGHT.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF IT.
I'M JUST THE HOST, RIGHT? I'M NOT ACTUALLY THE ONE HOLDING POWER HERE.
I APPRECIATE YOU, THOUGH, GIVING ME THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOU EMPOWERING ME BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, RIGHT? IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS COLLABORATIVELY? ARE WE GOING TO CONSTANTLY COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER? SEE, A REPUBLICAN FORM WOULD MAKE US COLLABORATIVE.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO DIMINISH ME.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO DIMINUATE ME.
BUT IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT, ARBITRARILY EMPOWERED, YOU GOT NOTHING ELSE TO DO BUT TO RIDICULE A CITIZEN.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? JUST LIKE I TELL THE PATRONS AT JAZZ FEST, I AM THE ONE WHO IS THERE TO BE PUNCHED.
IF THE MEDIC'S GOT TO RUN INTO SOMEBODY, IF THAT SECURITY HAS TO PUNCH SOMEBODY, GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY, LET IT BE ME.
BECAUSE THEY PAY ME TO DO THIS WITH A SMILE THERE.
BUT IN HERE, I AIN'T GETTING PAID.
I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO READ THESE MORE THOROUGHLY.
BUT I SHOULDN'T REALLY HAVE TO.
AND AGAIN, JUST TO COMMENT ON THIS, IT IS NOT A TAX INCREASE.
DURING HURRICANE IDA, WE REDUCED PEOPLE'S TAXES BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING SO MUCH.
THEIR PROPERTY, NOBODY WAS BUYING THEIR PROPERTIES, OF COURSE, BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED.
SO FOR FOUR YEARS OR GOING ON FIVE YEARS, THEY HAD A REDUCTION IN THEIR TAXES.
SO THIS RESTORES IT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS SO WE COULD PROVIDE FIRE SERVICE TO LAFITTE.
IT'S RETURNING BACK TO WHAT IT IS.
IF ANYTHING, THIS WAS A DECREASE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT NOW WE'RE ALL.
WE'RE REINSTALLING BACK TO WHERE IT WAS PRE-IDA.
YEAH, AND IT'S THAT ARBITRARY POWER THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THIS THAT PEOPLE ARE OBLIVIOUS TO, THAT THEN IT MAKES IT ARBITRARY AND INADMISSIBLE.
BECAUSE NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THIS.
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO SEE THIS AS A TAX INCREASE.
YOU'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE, LIKE YOU JUST HAD TO STEP IN ON ME AND EXPLAIN THAT.
WHEN IT SAYS NOT IN EXCESS OF WHAT IT WAS, THAT'S THE LANGUAGE.
SADLY, I'VE HAD TO VERSE MYSELF WITH ALL THIS LEGALESE, RIGHT? BECAUSE I'M IN FEDERAL COURT RIGHT NOW OVER THIS KIND OF STUFF.
WHAT WOULD I COME HERE FOR? SO YOU'RE DOING MY WORK FOR ME.
BUT MOST PEOPLE AREN'T WATCHING THIS MEETING.
MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REMAIN OBLIVIOUS TO THIS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE WORK OF LETTING THEM KNOW, RIGHT? NOW, I KNOW YOU'RE DILIGENT.
I KNOW YOU KNOW YOUR PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
SO I TRUST THAT YOU'LL GET THIS DONE.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I SURE WILL.
THE IMPACT OF THIS IS ONLY IN LAFITTE, RIGHT? AND THAT, AND.
IT'S LAFITTE, BARATOWN, AND CROWN POINT.
GRAND ISLE REDUCED THEIR TAXES.
THE CITY OF GRAND ISLE FOR ONE YEAR.
IT DOESN'T GO OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT 1.
AND THEY'RE FOR IT? THE CITY OF GRAND ISLE REDUCED THEIR TAXES FOR ONE YEAR.
LAFITTE DID IT FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
SO WE GAVE THE PEOPLE OF LAFITTE, BARATOWN, AND CROWN POINT A REDUCED RATE SO THEY COULD FIGHT TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK.
BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR MATTERS TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TAX THEM AT A TIME WHEN THEIR PROPERTIES WASN'T WORTH MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK THE ASSESSOR AND MANY PEOPLE.
THE PARISH ADMINISTRATION, ALL
[02:20:01]
THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WORKED REALLY WITH LOWER PAYMENTS TO STILL GIVE THEM THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEEDED DURING THAT CHALLENGING TIME.AND THIS IS REALLY FOR THE FIRE SERVICES.
AT THE CURRENT DISCOUNTED RATE, THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD SURVIVE.
THAT'S NOT THE RATE THEY HAD PRE-IDA.
THEY WOULDN'T LAST ANOTHER YEAR WITH IT.
SO THIS IS RETURNING THEM TO WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE IDA, AND THIS IS ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF LAFITTE, BARATARA, AND CROWN POINT.
GOING BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE PAID IN 2020 AND BEFORE.
PLEASE NOTE, MADAM CLERK, THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26730, AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET.
AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ALLOCATE $10,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S VIDEO POKER FUND FOR A CEA WITH JEFFERSON BEAUTIFICATION AND LANDSCAPING AND A MEMORIAL PLAQUE AT LASALLE PARK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
ALLOCATE $15,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 44560.
4008-7454-45629151 FOR THE SIGN FOR THE HILLCREST SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.
ALLOCATE $200,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND TO PROJECT NUMBER 46759001 FOR THE HOLMDALE PARK PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
ALLOCATE $55,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NUMBER 1 FUND TO PROJECT NUMBER 467-35006 FOR THE WOODLAND WEST RESTROOM BUILDING, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.
APPROPRIATE $527,460 FROM FIRE DISTRICT NUMBER 6, UNAPPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE TO FUND AN AMENDMENT TO THE FIRE SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH HARVEY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT NUMBER 2, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $25,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S CDIA GENERAL FUND TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 10010-0150-11473314-CSRS TO COMPLETE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HIRF PROGRAM, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.
AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS BEING ACCEPTED IS OPEN.
OUR SHARPLY DRESSED COLLEAGUE IN TWO.
NOW, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE ITEM AS PUBLIC HEARING.
LET'S DO A PUBLIC HEARING NOW ON THIS OPERATING BUDGET.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NO ONE APPEAR, MADAM CLERK, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE ITEM IS AMENDED.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, VOTING ON THE OPERATING BUDGET AS AMENDED.
THE OPERATING BUDGET AS AMENDED PASSES.
IT IS 12 O'CLOCK, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A SHORT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO, MADAM CLERK, IF WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEM FOUR, OR WOULD YOU PREFER TO DO THE CAPITAL BUDGET? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? OKAY.
LET'S DO THE CAPITAL BUDGET, WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, MADAM CLERK, ITEM 16, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26731, AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE, ALLOCATE $25,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 CDIA GENERAL FUND TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 1001001501147331 FOR CSRS TO COMPLETE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HIRF PROGRAM, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.
ALLOCATE $1 MILLION FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
GENERAL FUND FOR AN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON IN LOUISIANA STADIUM DISTRICT DATED NOVEMBER EIGHT TWENTY TWENTY THREE, WHICH PROVIDES FOR AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
IF THE FACILITY CONFIGURATION AND SEAT COUNTS CORRESPOND TO THE TO THAT DRAWING THAT IS LABELED EXHIBIT A AND ATTACHED
[02:25:01]
TO AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE COUNCIL DISTRICT TO ALLOCATE FOUR THOUSAND FORTY DOLLARS FROM AT LARGE B.FOR A CEA WITH NUNAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO HOST THE 2026 LOUISIANA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE REGION 23 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT AT CIGNET FIELD, COUNCIL AT LARGE B, RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $15,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 445604008745445629151 FOR A SIGN FOR THE HILLCREST SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $200,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND TO PROJECT NUMBER 46759001 FOR THE HOLMDALE PARK PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $55,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 1 FUND TO PROJECT NUMBER 46735006 FOR THE WOODLAND WEST...
RESTROOM BUILDING COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN, VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE OFFERED.
THE ITEM PASSES SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE NOW INCLUDED.
WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET, SUMMARY NUMBER 26731, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, SEEING NO ONE, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
THIS IS ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET AS AMENDED.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS.THE CAPITAL BUDGET IS PASSED AS AMENDED.
NOW BACK TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, MADAM CLERK.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A LAWSUIT ENTITLED NORTH OAKS HEALTH SYSTEM VERSUS CCMSI JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT, OWC DOCKET NUMBER 25-02530, DISTRICT 6.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOU MOTION? MOVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
THIS IS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WELCOME BACK TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
EVERYBODY IN THE CHAMBERS, WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IF EVERYBODY CAN TAKE A SEAT, WE'LL GET ROLLING AGAIN.
AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL SURPRISE TODAY, ONCE EVERYBODY TAKES THEIR SEATS.
ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF YOU COULD READ THE RESOLUTION.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED NORTH OAKS HEALTH SYSTEM V.
CCMSI JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT, OWC DOCKET NO.
ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOVE ON THE SETTLEMENT? MOVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN, OPENING THE VOTE.
THIS IS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
VOTING IS OPEN ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION COMING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]
SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS.NOW WE ARE GOING TO RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
ITEM 17, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU CAN PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[02:30:01]
NONE.COUNCILMAN CARTER WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON HIS NONE.
[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]
NO ITEMS COMING FROM THE FLOOR TODAY SO WE'RE PICKING UP SPEED.YOUR MOTION ON ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 18 THROUGH 39.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON 18 THROUGH 39, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN ON CONSENT AGENDA ONE.
ITEMS 18 THROUGH 39 ARE PASSED
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]
UNANIMOUSLY.WE'RE GOING TO ITEM CONSENT AGENDA 2.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE ITEMS 40 THROUGH 67, PULLING 40 AND 67 BOTH OF THOSE TO DEFER TO THE NEXT MEETING.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ITEMS 40 THROUGH 67, PULLING 40 AND 67 TO DEFER THOSE TWO ITEMS. VOTING IS OPEN.
[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS]
SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS.THE CONSENT AGENDA TWO PASSES.
WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM 68, WHICH IS THE ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS. COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF ADDENDA AGENDA ITEMS 1 THROUGH 15, POLLING 6 TO BE DEFERRED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ADDENDA ITEMS 1 THROUGH 15, POLLING 6 FOR DEFERRAL.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
THE VOTING IS OPEN TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
SO ADDENDUM ITEM 6 IS JUST TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
VOTING IS OPEN ON THE ADDENDUM.
[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]
CLOSING THE VOTING.WE'RE NOW GOING BACK TO ITEM 69.
MADAM CLERK, AGENDA ITEM 69, IF YOU'LL READ THAT.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INCREASE TO THE CONTRACT CONSIDERATION PAYABLE TO HARVEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO.
2 FROM $490,000 PER MONTH TO $533,955 PER MONTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO.
6 OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA AND HARVEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO YOUR MOTION JUST FOR ABOUT KNOWLEDGE THIS GOES ALONG WITH DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD FOR OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF TWO YEARS ABOUT INCREASING MANPOWER ON THE WEST BANK AND THAT'S WHAT HARVEY BECAUSE THIS MONEY SO WITH THAT I MOVE FOR APPROVAL ALL RIGHT COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN ON ITEM 69 THE VOTING IS NOW OPEN VOTING IS CLOSED SEVEN YEAS ZERO NAYS ITEM 69 PASSES AND THAT WAS US SITTING AS
[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]
SPECIAL DISTRICTS.WE NOW GO TO NEW BUSINESS, WHICH WE HAVE NONE.
STATUS REPORT, WHICH WE HAVE NONE.
SO WE ARE NOW TO THE PORTION OF THE AGENDA WHERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER, YOU CAN COME FORWARD NOW TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
GARY DURANT, BRIDGE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE CHIEFS OF THE 7-5 DISTRICT.
FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO GET A FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU SET UP FOR THE 7-5 DISTRICT TO HELP US WITH THE PROPERTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION.
THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING, LIKE I SAID, FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
SOME OF US FEEL THAT THIS MAY BE WITHHELD FROM US AS THANK YOU.
A PLOY TO HELP WITH THIS WEST BANK CONSOLIDATION.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK THE WEST BANK CONSOLIDATION ISSUE SHOULD BE DEAD.
THEY HAD A MEETING LAST YEAR, THE WEST BANK COUNCIL MEETING, WHERE 95% OF THE RESIDENTS IN THAT ROOM WAS AGAINST IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE SO FOCUSED ON MAKING SOMEBODY'S LEGACY OR WHATEVER AND NOT CONCENTRATE ON WHAT WE HAVE.
THE FIVE DISTRICTS IN THE WEST BANK ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
[02:35:01]
OF WHAT THEY HAVE.WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS JUST PASSED WITH HARVEY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CLOSE TO 74 PEOPLE ON DUTY A DAY.
EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED HAS IN THE 70S, SO WE'LL BE EQUAL.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT ON STILL UNDER THE TABLE BACKDOOR DEALS ON CONSOLIDATION WHEN WE OUGHT TO WORK.
ON LET'S MAKE WHAT WE HAVE BETTER.
RIGHT NOW IT'S COSTING THE PARISH OVER 50 MILLION DOLLARS FOR EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED.
THE WHOLE WEST BANK IS 21 MILLION AND WE DO A GREAT JOB WITH THAT 21 MILLION JUST AS EAST BANK DOES A GREAT JOB WITH DAS.
BUT I'M ASKING Y'ALL LET'S COME TO THE TABLE LET'S SIT DOWN AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THE WEST BANK FIRE SERVICE BETTER AS IT IS AND LET'S WORK ON GETTING THIS FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU SO...
SO WE HELP OUR RESIDENTS IN THE 7TH DISTRICT.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS VERY MUCH, CHIEF.
CHIEF, THIS HAS, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH CONSOLIDATION.
I BELIEVE BRAD RICHARD AND DON ROBERTSON CAN AGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK IT'S A LEGAL ISSUE, IF ONE OF Y'ALL WOULD WANT TO COME UP AND ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
WE'VE HAD SOME PRIOR MEETINGS AND WE'VE MET WITH CHIEF GIRARD AND SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE 7TH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CHIEFS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IS JUST KIND OF WORKING TOWARDS SOME OF THE LOGISTICAL ISSUES THAT MIGHT ARISE AS A RESULT OF THERE BEING MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS SERVING THE SINGLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT AND HOW THAT MIGHT LOOK FOR HAVING ONE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU DISTRICT WIDE.
SO CHIEF GIRARD HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO GET TOGETHER AND GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION TO US HE PROPOSED A DOCUMENT THAT HAD SOME UM KIND OF SOME GUIDELINES TO IT WE'VE REQUESTED THAT THEY GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT IN THE FORM OF A CONTRACT SO WE'RE WORKING ON WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT I'M NOT SURE I DON'T THINK I'VE GOTTEN A CONTRACT JUST YET SO HAPPY TO MEET ON THAT AGAIN IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL UM WITH YOUR OFFICE AND OR THE CHIEFS.
OF PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCILMAN BONANNO I AGREE 100 PERCENT I WILL PROMISE THAT WE WILL GET THE 7TH DISTRICT AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS FIRE PREVENTION DONE FOR THE 7TH DISTRICT AND CHIEF GIRARD I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THESE GENTLEMEN COUNCILMAN BONANNO HAS SAID I DON'T THINK THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH CONSOLIDATION BECAUSE AFTER ALL THE MEETINGS ABOUT CONSOLIDATION A CONSOLIDATION OF THE WEST BANK HAS TO GO TO A VOTE OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH WE HAVE PROMISED THOSE PEOPLE THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO.
WITH RESPECT TO CONSOLIDATION, THE LAST PIECE OF THAT STUDY IS BEING DONE NOW, AND THAT IS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PAYROLL WOULD COST US, CHIEF.
AND I'M CONFIDENT, AS I SIT HERE TODAY, THAT THE COST OF CONSOLIDATING THE WEST BANK IS GOING TO BE SO HIGH THAT IT'S NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.
BUT I'M NOT PREPARED TO SAY THAT.
UNTIL THE ACCOUNTING FIRM THAT WE HAVE HIRED TO DO THE PAY PLAN ACTUALLY COMPLETES IT, BUT THAT'S COMING SOON.
DENNIS GUIDRY, 313 OAK AVENUE, AND I'M OUT OF POINT.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
ONE, I WOULD IMPLORE THE COUNCIL THAT IF THERE IS ANY FIRE PREVENTION PERSONNEL HIRED WITHIN THE 7TH DISTRICT, THAT IT BE DONE THROUGH THE JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU AND LET THEM FOSTER.
THAT EMPLOYMENT AND THAT PROGRAM.
THEY'RE BETTER MAINTAINED, TYPICALLY, THAN WHAT WE SEE.
AND THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE FIRE SERVICE AND THE FIRE RESPONSE THAT I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES TO THE COUNCIL.
THERE WAS A STUDY BY THE MCGRATH PEOPLE.
THAT THE COUNCILMAN WAS REFERRING TO.
THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS 58 SQUARE MILES AND THAT THE 7TH FIRE DISTRICT IS RURAL.
WHEN I BROUGHT THAT TO THEIR ATTENTION, THEY SAID THAT THEY ONLY ANALYZED THE DATA.
THE DATA WAS PROVIDED TO THEM BY JEFFERSON PARISH.
THAT CHANGES FUNDAMENTALLY THE WAY THAT THE 7TH FIRE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE TO RESPOND UNDER 1710.
IT'S NOT A RURAL AREA, IT'S A SUBURBAN AREA.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE, AND THAT'S THE CRITERIA THAT REQUIRES, I BELIEVE IT'S
[02:40:01]
ABOUT 16 PEOPLE ON A FIRE.THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I HAVE IN SOME CASES, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THAT WHEN YOU CALL 911 FOR A FIRE ON THE EAST BANK, YOU GET 15 PEOPLE SHOWING UP.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN THE 7TH FIRE DISTRICT.
SO THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS, AND I THINK THAT BEFORE YOU JUST CHALK IT OFF AND LET THEM DO THINGS, THERE'S SOME CONCERNS ABOUT A LOT OF THAT STUFF THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT ON A MORE CONSISTENT SCALE.
AND THE REASON I BRING UP CONSISTENCY IS BECAUSE OF THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS OVERALL.
IN THE PAST, WHEN I WAS INVOLVED WITH THINGS, YOU HAD SOME DEPARTMENTS CHARGING $25 FOR A FIRE REPORT, SOME CHARGING $50, SOME CHARGING $75, AND YOU GET THE SAME REPORT FROM THE STATE AND THE PARISH FOR $3 OR $5.
AND THAT COULD BE THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE DISTRICTS WERE ACROSS THE STREET FROM EACH OTHER, BECAUSE THAT WAS A BOUNDARY LINE.
THE SAME THING WITH FIRE WATCHES.
THE MOVIE INDUSTRY PAID FIRE WATCHES.
THE EAST BANK AND SOME DEPARTMENTS ON THE WEST BANK IT WAS 50 SOME OF 75 SOME WERE DOING IT FOR FREE THERE CAN'T BE THAT KIND OF DISCREPANCY ACROSS THE PARISH WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH ALL RIGHT THANKS MR. GOOD TO APPRECIATE IT YOU'LL COME FORWARD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD CHRIS BERGERON 125 RIDGEWAY DRIVE I'M THE FIRE CHIEF OF HERBERT WALLACE IN REGARDS TO OUR FIRE PREVENTION WE WERE THE LAST FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU FOR THE 7TH DISTRICT.
ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS SUBMIT PAPERWORK TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
ONCE WE GOT THAT PAPERWORK, WE SUBMITTED IT TO FS1.
THERE WAS NO LEGAL ANYTHING ON OUR END THAT WE HAD TO DO ABOUT IT.
ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS SUBMIT THE PAPERWORK.
IT WAS PUT INTO WRITING FOR THE COUNCIL TO VOTE ON, AND IT WAS APPROVED.
THAT TOOK LESS THAN SIX MONTHS.
AS CHIEF GERARD SAID, WE ARE NOW GOING WELL OVER TWO YEARS FROM THE TIME WE DECIDED TO DO THIS TO THE TIME THAT WE ARE PRESENTLY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED BY PIAL.
WE WILL NOT GET POINTS FOR OUR RATING ON FIRE PREVENTION IF WE DO NOT DO THIS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS, BEING THAT THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS WERE ALREADY PREPARED.
FOR FIRE PREVENTION DISTRICT OR FIRE PREVENTION BUREAUS IN THE SAME DISTRICT IN THE PAST.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT, GET IT PUT INTO MOTION, AND GET IT PASSED.
THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE POINTS THAT WE NEED FOR THIS NEXT RATING COMING UP NEXT YEAR.
IF WE DON'T GET THIS SOON, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUT ON THOSE POINTS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS OR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE ARE GOING TO SUFFER.
BRIAN MILLER, 2121 INDIANA AVENUE, FIRE CHIEF, LIVE OAK.
I'M NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU EXCEPT FOR THIS.
AS MUCH AS I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MR. GUIDRY BRINGS UP, I WILL STAND ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE SERVING IN THE 7TH FIRE DISTRICT AS FIREFIGHTERS AND AS INSPECTORS.
I, FOR ONE, AM CERTIFIED AS A FIRE INSPECTOR.
WE WERE GOING TO GET OUR DEPARTMENT TO BE A BUREAU WHEN IT WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS DISTRICT-WIDE THING.
I DON'T THINK IT TAKES THE EAST BANK, NOTHING AGAINST THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE INSPECTION BUREAU FOR EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED.
IT DOES NOT TAKE THEM TO COME ACROSS THE RIVER TO DO OUR INSPECTIONS.
THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE TRAINED ON THE WEST BANK GO THROUGH THE SAME SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE GETTING THE SAME EXPERIENCE.
AND I THINK ANY ONE OF YOU THAT SITS UP THERE AS ATTORNEYS OR JUDGES OR JUST COUNCIL PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT IN ORDER TO GET EXPERIENCE, AND TO BE ABLE TO TESTIFY IN COURTS, YOU HAVE TO GO DO IT.
AND THEN IN REGARDS TO THE RESPONSE, I AGREE.
I'VE ALWAYS SAID I'M FOR CONSOLIDATION IF IT'S DONE RIGHT.
WE AS THE FIVE CHIEFS OF THE 7TH DISTRICT HAVE OPERATIONALLY PUT TOGETHER OUR RESPONSES WHERE WE'RE GETTING 12 TO 17 PEOPLE ON A STRUCTURE FIRE AT A TIME.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S FIVE GUYS ON EACH PUMPER OR LADDER.
WE'RE TAKING EXTRA EQUIPMENT TO GET THEM THERE, BUT WE'RE GETTING THEM THERE.
WE ARE PROVIDING THE VERY SERVICE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS
[02:45:02]
AND RESIDENTS NEED IN OUR AREA.AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT EVERY DAY WE SHOULD BE A BETTER PERSON THAN WE WAS YESTERDAY.
AND AS A GROUP OF FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRE CHIEFS, WE HAVE DONE THAT AND WE ARE DOING IT.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO CONDEMN US AS A DISTRICT.
WHEN WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE, OUR CITIZENS ARE HAPPY.
THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE ARE CONSTANTLY BEHIND US.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS OUR POLITICAL LEADERS, THAT WE ARE DOING JUST WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ACCORDING TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE CONTRACT.
PRESIDENT SHANE, CAN WE GET WHATEVER MEMBERS OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION TOGETHER AND MAKE THIS A PRIORITY TO GET? LET'S PUSH THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY WHERE WE GO.
TOO MUCH POLITICS AND POLITICS.
A CHAIRMAN OR A FORMER CHAIRMAN, NOT GOING TO GO AFTER A SEAT THAT YOU CAN WALK RIGHT INTO.
TOO MUCH POLITICS AND POLITICS IS WHAT I HEAR IS WAS SAID.
THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO COULD WALK RIGHT INTO THE PARISH PRESIDENCY, CAN'T DO IT NO MORE.
GOTTA GET BACK TO THAT, AT LEAST, WHAT LOOKS LIKE A MORE REASONABLE OR AT LEAST FUNCTIONAL PRIVATE SECTOR.
IF YOU'RE IN THE SOUTH, I THINK Y'ALL HAD TO DO TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, RIGHT? THIS JOKER, I FAILED 10TH GRADE ENGLISH THREE TIMES JUST BECAUSE I FELL IN LOVE WITH TO TALE OF TWO CITIES.
IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IN OUR FAITH, SINCE WE DID AN INVOCATION TODAY, WE'RE TALKING THAT WE CAN BRING GOD IN HERE, RIGHT? WHAT'S OUR FIRST COMMANDMENT? WHAT'S THE FIRST COMMANDMENT? TO KNOW ONE GOD.
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 2, CLAUSE EACH SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE, NONE MORE THAN ONE FOR EVERY SO MANY PERSONS.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I WAS ASKED BY MR. LEE IF I WAS RUNNING FOR COUNCIL AT LARGE.
NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT STUFF, I DON'T THINK, RIGHT? BUT I ANSWERED YOU, RIGHT? I WASN'T RUNNING TO WIN AT-LARGE SEAT.
NO, I WAS RUNNING TO END THE AT-LARGE SEAT.
THE ONLY OTHER QUOTE THAT NOLA.COM OR WHATEVER THE ADVOCATE HAD TO REPORT ON ME WAS THAT I WAS THE ONE ADVOCATING TO SEE THE WEST BANK MADE ITS OWN PARISH.
SEE THEM ABLE TO HIRE THEIR OWN SHERIFF.
ELECT THEIR OWN DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSONS.
AND THERE IS NO ISSUE MORE PREVALENT.
RIGHT BEFORE US AND HAPPENING DAY IN, DAY OUT IN THIS FIRE FIRE SITUATION.
I GOT TWO DISTRICTS THAT ARE SERVING FROM HARVEY TO METAIRIE.
THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN HERE.
DISTRICT ONE HAS A HAND IN THE MUNICIPAL, THE EAST BANK UNIONIZED FIREFIGHTERS MONEY.
DISTRICT ONE ONLY SERVES WEST BANK BUT CAN TAP INTO BY VIRTUE OF CONTRACTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BUILDINGS, BY VIRTUE OF GIFTED FIRE EQUIPMENT.
GETS TO TAP INTO MY EAST BANK UNION FIRE FIRE MILLAGE.
MILLAGE, AGAIN, IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S PRESCRIBED TO BE IMPOSED, THEN YOU MIGHT JUST SEND YOUR MONEY ANYWHERE.
AND THEN YOU JUST HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ARGUING ABOUT POLITICS.
THIS IS JUST JEFFERSON PARISH POLITICS OR LOUISIANA POLITICS.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT WOULD BE POLITICS.
THIS IS A GANGSTER'S PARADISE.
THE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS ROOM ARE FINE, AS GOOD AS ANY I MEET.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, SEEING NO ONE.
YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I LIVE AT 9547 RIVER ROAD IN WAGAMON.
AND AS A RESIDENT OF THE WEST BANK, I AM HAPPY WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT OUT THERE AND THEIR RESPONSE.
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THEY DO A VERY WELL JOB AT WHAT THEY DO.
CAPABLE OF HANDLING ANYTHING THAT COMES ALONG.
AND AS FAR AS THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, WE HAVE HEARD NO COMPLAINTS AS FAR AS THEIR RESPONSE TO ANYTHING.
SO I THINK THEY'RE HANDLING EVERYTHING VERY WELL. AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY
[02:50:01]
WITH WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT'S OUT THERE AND THE PEOPLE OUT THERE. THANKS SO MUCH. AND ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO APPEAR[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]
BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND SPEAK ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER? SEEING NO ONE ELSE, MADAM CLERK, WE'RE NOW MOVING TO THE AREA OF THE COUNCIL MEETING WHERE WE HAVE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION INTO SUMMARY. AND I UNDERSTAND THE FIRST ITEM WILL HAVE TO BE UNANIMOUS. YOU CAN READ THAT ONE. AN ORDINANCE DECLARING A PORTION OF LOT X6, SONNET, CHAPATOULIS, PLANTATION, METAIRIE, ADJACENT TO LOT 1, LOT X1, AND LOT X2.TO DAVID DRIVE SUBDIVISION MEASURING APPROXIMATELY 43,495 SQUARE FEET OR 0.999 ACRES, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE IN AUTHORIZING A SALE TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER, LEBLANC INVESTMENTS LLC, IN PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS. COUNCIL DISTRICT 4. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON. COUNCILWOMAN JOHANNA MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
AGAIN, VOTING IS OPEN, AND THIS ONE HAS TO BE UNANIMOUS TO BE CONSIDERED. SO VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS ITEM, COUNCILMEMBERS. ALL RIGHT, VOTING IS CLOSED. SEVEN YEAS.
IT'S NOT COOPERATING TO TELL ME, BUT THE TALLY IS SEVEN YEAS, NO NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES. SO THIS ONE, AGAIN, WAS CONSIDERED FROM THE FLOOR. MADAM CLERK? AMENDING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT UNDER ORDINANCE NUMBER 26970 ADOPTED ON APRIL 9TH, 2025, WHICH APPROVED THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT OF SUBDIVISION OF TRACTS G3A, G3B, AND G3C.
CYGNET PARK SUBDIVISION INTO LODGE G3A1 AND G3B1 UNDER DOCKET NUMBER WS-131-24.
AMENDING THE STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SPU FOR THE PROCESSING, REFINING, OR BULK STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS APPROVED FOR THE BWC TERMINALS TANK FARM AND ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 25971 ADOPTED MARCH 8, 2020. APPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF 13 NEW TANKS, THE REMOVAL OF 9 TANKS, THE RELOCATION OF 3 TANKS, AND CHANGES TO THE SIZE AND OR PRODUCT CLASS OF 4 TANKS. APPROVING REQUESTED VARIANCE TO LANDSCAPING, FENCING, AND SCREENING REGULATIONS OF THE IL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT FOR JAMAICA JOE WELDING SERVICES LOCATED AT 2329 PELLETT AVENUE ON LOT 1B, SQUARE 67, HARVEY CANAL SUBDIVISION. AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 27158 ADOPTED ON APRIL 22ND, 2026 TO CORRECT THE REVISION DATES OF SHEETS A2.1 AND A2.2 FOR THE SEVEN BREW COFFEE SITE PLAN. AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF LOT 6 SQUARE 3 JS BRADY SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 300 BLOCK OF AVONDALE GARDEN.
MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R1A TO R2. APPROVING THE CONDITIONAL ZONING OF LOT 2 SQUARE B BUCCANEER VILLA SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 2653 BUCCANEER DRIVE. MORE PARTICULARLY APPROVING THE CONDITIONAL ZONING. AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP LOT 21A SQUARE 94 TARRYTOWN NUMBER 6 SUBDIVISION. MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R1A TO G02. AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THAT'S ALL THE ORDINANCES I HAVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE ITEMS THAT WERE READ INTO SUMMARY. VOTE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
AGAIN, THIS IS IN FAVOR OF ADOPTION OF THE ITEMS READ INTO SUMMARY. CLOSING THE VOTE.
SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS. THOSE ITEMS PASS. AS READ INTO SUMMARY. COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION TO ADJOURN THE COUNCIL MEETING.
MOVE. COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO ADJOURN THE COUNCIL MEETING.
VOTE ON THE LAST ITEM. COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE LAST ITEM TO ADJOURN. THERE WE GO.
CLOSING THE VOTING. SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS. THANKS SO MUCH, EVERYBODY. HAVE A GOOD REST OF THE DAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.