[00:00:02]
[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
MORNING EVERYBODY.WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED WITH OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING, AND WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON WITH HER, UH, PROCLAMATION.
IF I COULD HAVE LIEUTENANT ARTHUR COLE, OFFICER REBECCA RICKEY AND OFFICER JAMES BRISTER, COME ON UP WITH THE KENNER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION FOR YOU GUYS, SO IF YOU WANNA JUST KIND OF LOOK OUT, THEY'RE GONNA SNAP PICTURES OF Y'ALL.
UM, BEFORE I READ THE ACTUAL PROCLAMATION THOUGH, I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY PERSONAL GRATITUDE.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE A, A NEPHEW WHO WAS BORN ON THE SPECTRUM, AND FOR MANY OF YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT IT HAS LED ME TO WORK ON INCLUSION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH AND, AND A PARTICULARLY PLAYGROUNDS.
UM, SO THESE THREE TO ME TRULY REPRESENT HEROISM, UM, IN WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND THEN EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PARISH, GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL AGENCIES, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE IN PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
AND WHEREAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE CITY OF KINNER WAS SAFELY RESOLVED THROUGH THE QUICK THINKING ACTIONS OF VIGILANT CITIZENS AND THE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSE OF THE KINNER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHEREAS COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL AWARENESS AND CARE BY SECURING A YOUNG CHILD WHO WAS FOUND UNSUPERVISED NEAR THE 1600 BLOCK OF TAYLOR STREET, PREVENTING WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT.
WHEREAS OFFICERS OF THE KENNER POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED PROMPTLY AND DESPITE THE CHILD BEING NON COMMUNIC COMMUNICATIVE, UTILIZE AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY AND ASSIST THE CHILD.
WHEREAS THE SAFE AND SOUND PROGRAM PROVIDE PROVED INSTRUMENTAL IN THE RAPID IDENTIFICATION AND SAFE REUNIFICATION OF THE CHILD WITH HIS FAMILY.
WHEREAS THE SAFE AND SOUND PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION OF LIEUTENANT ARTHUR COLE, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT REBECCA RICKEY AND IT DIRECTOR JAMES BRISTER, PROVIDING A PROACTIVE AND EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR ASSISTING VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY WANDER.
WHEREAS THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS CAREGIVERS TO VOLUNTARILY PROVIDE CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT IS IMMEDIATELY ACCESSIBLE TO FIRST RESPONDERS, IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES AND OUTCOMES IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
AND WHEREAS THIS INCIDENT SERVES AS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY POLICING COLLABORATION AND THE VALUE OF FORWARD THINKING PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES.
WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE CITIZENS WHOSE ATTENTIVENESS AND COMPASSION HELPED EN ENSURE A SAFE OUTCOME IN THIS INCIDENT.
WHEREAS ALL RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN ABOUT AND PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS SUCH AS SAFE AND SOUND TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SUPPORT THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND COMMENDS LIEUTENANT ARTHUR COLE, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT REBECCA RICKY AND IT DIRECTOR JAMES BRISTER HERE IN LOUISIANA, UM, HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION.
UM, WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES IS ANYONE CAN INPUT THE INFORMATION FOR IF THEY HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S, UH, SPECIAL NEEDS OF ANY KIND OF TYPE, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL ANXIETY, UM, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SO THAT WHEN AN OFFICER OR SOMEONE ROLL ONTO A SCENE, UM, INCLUDING UH, FIRST RESPONDERS, THEY WILL KNOW THAT MAYBE THIS PERSON IS NOT, IS NOT BEING COMBATIVE INTENTIONALLY.
THEY MAY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.
SO THEY HAVE ACCESS IMMEDIATELY TO KNOW WHAT THIS PERSON'S, UH, PARTICULAR ISSUES MAY BE.
ALSO, IF THEY WANDER WHERE THEY CAN MAYBE LOOK FOR THEM.
UM, AND I, I'LL LET THEM TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF AND HOW IT CAN, HOW OTHER, UH, PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED.
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IS IT'S SPREAD WHERE OTHER POLICING ORGANIZATIONS ARE STARTING TO USE THE PROGRAM.
SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD THEY DID THIS ON THEIR OWN.
UM, AND, AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE MY NEPHEW REALLY COULD USE SERVICES LIKE THIS, SO IT MATTERS.
AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE OFFICERS THAT THINK OUT OF THE BOX.
SO THANKS TO THEIR CHIEF, OF COURSE, BUT, BUT THANKS TO THEM FOR BEING SO INNOVATIVE.
SO, OOPS, SORRY, I CAN'T SEE Y'ALL WANNA SAY SOMETHING? UM, NOT REALLY.
YOU KIND OF NAILED IT ON THE HEAD.
[00:05:01]
YEAH.AT LEAST YOU KNOW HIS WRITING ON PERSONAL LITTLE.
OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FROM PRESIDENT LEE SHANG.
CAN I HAVE MS. LINDSAY GRIFFITH UP PLEASE? MARCEL, I THINK IS HERE WITH DAWN BUSTERS.
SO AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MANY OF US, UM, ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL, WE'RE A MEMBER OF DAWN BUSTER'S AND I WAS AT A DAWN BUSTER'S MEETING.
THEY WERE SAYING, THEY WERE TELLING ME LA IT WAS LAST YEAR.
AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH LINDSAY AND I SAID, THAT YOUNG LADY IS GOING PLACES.
SO, UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT, UM, LINDSAY IS A STUDENT AT KENNER DISCOVERY.
UM, SHE WAS THE GOVERNOR OF THE KEY CLUB, UM, WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, AND I WANNA READ HER A PROCLAMATION, BUT YOU, YOU KNOW, TALENT WHEN YOU SEE IT.
AND, UM, WHATEVER YOU WERE PRESENTING ON THAT DAY, I, I WAS SO VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR POISE AND YOUR PRESENTATION IN A ROOM FULL OF ADULTS.
AND I SAID SHE'S, SHE'S GONNA DO SOMETHING WITH HER LIFE.
AND SO, UM, I'M PROUD TO GIVE YOU THIS PROCLAMATION.
LINDSAY GRIFFITH IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE CLASS OF 2026 FROM KENNER DISCOVERY HEALTH SCIENCES ACADEMY IN KENNER.
AND WHEREAS LINDSAY HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE KEY CLUB MEMBER FOR FOUR YEARS AT KENNER DISCOVERY, WORKING HER WAY UP FROM CLUB SECRETARY TO DIVISION FOUR B, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, WEST TENNESSEE DISTRICT OF KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL.
AND WHEREAS AS GOVERNOR LINDSAY HAS CHAMPIONED TEAM MENTAL HEALTH AND HELPED JOIN TOGETHER HIGH SCHOOL KEY CLUBS ACROSS THREE STATES TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS IN ERICA'S LIGHTHOUSE.
AND WHEREAS LINDSAY IS ALSO AN AP SCHOLAR WHO RANKS IN THE TOP 10TH PERCENTILE OF HER GRADUATING CLASS, MENTORS UNDERSERVED STUDENTS THROUGH BREAKTHROUGH NOLA.
AND WHEREAS LINDSAY'S DISCIPLINE AND PASSION FOR PUBLIC POLICY HAVE EARNED HER A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO RICE UNIVERSITY.
NOT EASY, INCREDIBLE UNIVERSITY.
AND WHEREAS LINDSAY IS A NATURAL BORN LEADER WHO FACES EVERY CHALLENGE WITH RESILIENCE AND A HEART FOR CHANGE.
NOW, THEREFORE, AS CYNTHIA LEE SHANG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE LINDSAY BLAIR GRIFFITH FOR HER DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO JEFFERSON BEAR.
MARCEL, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? AND LINDSAY, ON BEHALF OF DAWN BUSTERS.
COME ON, LINDSAY, GO SAY SOMETHING.
UM, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, MY NAME IS LINDSAY GRIFFITH.
I AM SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
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THIS PRESENTATION.THANK YOU TO DAWN BUSTERS FOR BEING ABLE TO PUT ME IN THIS POSITION HERE TODAY.
AND JUST EVERYTHING TO DO WITH MY HIGH SCHOOL AND THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.
AND I CONTINUE, WELL CARRY THIS INTO TEXAS.
MARCEL, DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH KIT CLUB OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UM, I'M MARCEL LASH FROM THE, UM, UH, THE GOVERNOR OF THE, UH, DISTRICT FOR THIS YEAR, UH, FOR LAMBTON.
AND, YOU KNOW, AN HONOR TO, WHAT WE DO WITH KIWANIS IS TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS AND HELP THEM GROW, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S, UH, IT'S ONE CHILD, ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME IS OUR MOTTO.
AND SHE EMULATES WHAT KIWANIS IS ABOUT AND WHAT THE KIDS DO.
AND KEY CLUB, UH, WHICH IS THE LARGEST SERVICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IN THE WORLD.
SO WE'RE VERY, WE'RE VERY
AND SAME THING, LIKE CYNTHIA SAID, WHEN SHE FIRST MET YOU, SHE TOLD ME YOU ARE GOING PLACES AND WE AGREE WITH THAT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND, UM, AND HAVING THIS HONOR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WANNA COME TAKE A PICTURE WITH LINDSAY.
I WANNA GET YOU IN THE MIDDLE.
Y'ALL WANNA GET A PICTURE FIRST WITH THE FAMILY.
LET LET HER GET A PICTURE FIRST WITH THE, OR YOU WANNA GET IN, YOU GET IN THE PICTURE PICTURE WITH EVERYBODY.
YEAH, Y'ALL GET, Y'ALL, Y'ALL GET ON EACH SIDE OVER THERE.
Y'ALL WANT THIS? PUT THIS OKAY.
EVERYBODY, OH, WITH HER CERTIFICATE.
THAT'S WHY HE'S SITTING THERE.
AND THEN ONE MORE FOR THE CLUB.
CONGRATULATIONS FOLKS LIKE OUR, WHO ARE YOU? HE'S GONNA READ IT.
I HAVE SOME SPECIAL FRIENDS OF MINE IN THE HOUSE.
UH, IF I CAN CALL MY ATHLETES UP FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS, PLEASE, Y'ALL CAN COME FORWARD THIS WAY.
SO THESE, THESE ATHLETES REALLY DO HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.
UM, AND I'M VERY, I'M SO VERY PROUD OF THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA REPRESENT LOUISIANA AT THE NA AT THE NATIONAL OLYMPICS SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
AND THEY'RE FROM JEFFERSON PARISH.
SO GAVIN BA, UM, BH, I'M SAYING IT WRONG, BISH, I SAID IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME WITH THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS ON JUNE 19TH, JEFFERSON PARISH WILL HAVE ELITE LOCAL ATHLETES TRAVEL TO THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS, USA GAMES TO REPRESENT TEAM LOUISIANA ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.
THIS PRESTIGIOUS EVENT OCCURS ONLY ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS.
AND SELECTION IS A MONUMENTAL MILESTONE.
I MEAN, THEY HAD TO COMPETE TO GET SELECTED TO, UH, REPRESENT LOUISIANA.
THIS EXCEPTIONAL DELEGATION EARNED THEIR SPOTS THROUGH RELENTLESS, RELENTLESS DEDICATION IN GOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCES AT STATE LEVEL COMPETITIONS.
THEY'RE WEARING SOME OF THEIR MEDALS NOW.
UM, JEFFERSON PARISH IS REPRESENTED BY NINE PREMIER ATHLETES AND THREE EXPERT COACHES ACROSS SPORTS LIKE BA, BASKETBALL, SWIMMING, AND BOWLING.
AND SO, IN HONOR OF THEIR AMAZING PERFORMANCES, WE WANNA GIVE THEM, UM, A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT.
AND Y'ALL KNOW, I TOLD YOU I LOVE PICKLEBALL.
IT WAS JUST APPROVED IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS, RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT YOU TOLD ME AMANDA? MM-HMM
SO, UH, I HOPE THAT IS PART OF MY FUTURE, IS HELPING Y'ALL IN THE PICKLEBALL, UM, ARENA.
BUT, UM, WE HAVE SOME REPEAT, UM, AMANDA AND JESSE, A REPEAT.
'CAUSE I REMEMBER FOUR YEARS AGO WE WERE UP HERE DOING THIS, RIGHT? WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN MINNESOTA AND I'M GONNA LET GAVIN, UM, SAY A FEW WORDS.
BUT I AM SO VERY PROUD OF YOU.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK, A LOT OF PRACTICE, UM, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA REPRESENT US WELL FROM LOUISIANA AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FROM JEFFERSON PARISH.
SO I'M SO PROUD WE HAVE SO MANY FROM JEFFERSON PARISH GOING ON THE TRIP AND IN THE COMPETITION, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO GAVIN.
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GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I REPRESENT THE STATE OFFICE OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS, LOUISIANA.
WITH US TODAY, WE HAVE SEVEN ATHLETES FROM JEFFERSON PARISH THAT WILL REPRESENT US IN MINNESOTA IN THE COMING DAYS.
JEFFERSON PARISH HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF ATHLETES FROM A PARISH IN THE STATE.
WE CANNOT BE PROUDER OF THESE ATHLETES.
I WANTED TO READ A MESSAGE TO ALL OF YOU AND OUR ATHLETES TO LEAVE YOU WITH TODAY.
CARRYING THE SPIRIT OF LOUISIANA ATHLETES.
WHEN YOU STEP ONTO THE NATIONAL STAGE, YOU ARE CARRYING THE SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON PARISH WITH YOU.
LOUISIANA IS KNOWN FOR ITS RESILIENCE, ITS PASSION, AND ITS JOY.
AND NOBODY REPRESENTS THOSE QUALITIES BETTER THAN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
REMEMBER THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE OATH? LET ME WIN.
BUT IF I CANNOT WIN, LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT, YOU ARE ALREADY BRAVE.
WHETHER YOU COME HOME WITH A GOLD MEDAL AROUND YOUR NECK OR SIMPLY THE MEMORY OF A LIFETIME, YOU HAVE ALREADY WON JUST BY GETTING HERE IN LIFE.
SO AS YOU PACK YOUR BAGS AND HEAD NORTH, REMEMBER TO COMPETE WITH ALL, ALL OF YOUR HEART.
LIFT EACH OTHER UP AS THE INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT YOU ARE.
HAVE FUN AND SOAK IN EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF THIS.
JEFFERSON PARISH BELIEVES IN YOU, AND THE WHOLE STATE OF LOUISIANA IS CHEERING YOU ON.
GO SHOW THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WHAT YOU ARE MADE OF.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
NOW, LET'S GO MAKE SOME HISTORY IN MINNESOTA.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS COME HERE TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU SO, SO MUCH.
DO I JUST SAY NAME, FIRST AND LAST NAME.
JESSE WYATT, ALER, HAYES ADLER, NANCY MINDEN, AMANDA ROOT.
HI, TAYLOR DANIELS AND HANNAH LA COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IF YOU COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH OUR ATHLETES, YOU'RE DOING BOCCE.
MAYBE Y'ALL PUT A IN THE MIDDLE.
GAVIN, YOU GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT IN THE MIDDLE.
SCOOCH, SCOOCH, SCOOCH, SCOOCH, SCOOCH, SCOOCH, SCOOCH.
ALRIGHT EVERYBODY, IF Y'ALL CAN LOOK THIS WAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FEW PICTURES ON THREE.
WE'LL DO ANOTHER ONE ON THREE.
LET US KNOW I'M GONNA BE WORKING WITH Y'ALL IN THE FUTURE.
OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FROM, UH, COUNCILMAN AT LARGE, SCOTT WALKER.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR YEARLY CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE BEST ADVOCATES THAT DONATING BLOOD HAS.
MS. SUSIE POTTER FROM THE BLOOD CENTER.
THIS IS YOUR PROCLAMATION I'LL READ FROM HERE.
WHEREAS ON JULY 4TH, 2026, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL COMMEMORATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE MARKING HISTORIC MILESTONE IN OUR NATION'S JOURNEY.
AND WHEREAS THIS SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL CELEBRATION SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE PRINCIPLES OF PATRIOTISM, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY THAT HAVE GUIDED OUR NATION FOR TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES.
[00:20:01]
WHEREAS A RELIABLE AND SUFFICIENT BLOOD SUPPLY REMAINS VITAL TO THE OPERATION OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS, AND TRAUMA CARE CENTERS AND DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA AND THE GULF COAST REGION.AND WHEREAS THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS RELY ON BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS EACH DAY FOR SURGERIES, CANCER TREATMENTS, CHRONIC ILLNESSES, TRAUMATIC INJURIES, AND OTHER CRITICAL MEDICAL NEEDS.
AND WHEREAS PROMOTING BLOOD DONATION DURING THE 2026 HURRICANE SEASON ENHANCES COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS AND HELPS ENSURE LIFE-SAVING RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE WHEN EMERGENCIES ARISE.
AND WHEREAS THE BLOOD CENTER HAS SERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND THE GULF COAST REGION BY COLLECTING, PROCESSING, AND DISTRIBUTING LIFESAVING BLOOD PRODUCTS WHILE DEMONSTRATING A LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING A SAFE AND RELIABLE BLOOD SUPPLY, PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM AND PUBLIC HEALTH, SUPPORTING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH ITS BLOOD DONATION PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS INDIVIDUALS WHO VOLUNTARILY DONATE BLOOD, EXEMPLIFY GENEROSITY, COMPASSION, AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE WELLBEING OF OTHERS WHILE SUPPORTING THE BLOOD CENTER'S MISSION TO PROVIDE A VITAL AND LIFE-SAVING RESOURCE FOR HOSPITALS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND PATIENTS IN NEED, REFLECTING THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE THAT HAS STRENGTHENED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
AND WHEREAS THE OBSERVATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND CIVIC GROUPS TO SUPPORT BLOOD DONATION INITIATIVES AND OTHER ACTS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, VOLUNTEERISM, AND THE COMMON GOOD.
NOW THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND COMMENDS THE BLOOD CENTER ON AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING A SAFE AND RELIABLE BLOOD SUPPLY AND FOR PROMOTING PUBLIC HEALTH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH.
A LOT OF WORDS TO SAY THANK YOU.
AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND WITHOUT YOU STANDING HERE EVERY YEAR AND ADVOCATING FOR, UH, PEOPLE TO GIVE BLOOD AND TAKE THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT DOES TO ACTUALLY DO IT, AND THE DIFFERENCE IT CAN MAKE, UH, WITHOUT, WITHOUT YOUR PRESENCE HERE DOING THAT EVERY YEAR, IT WOULDN'T BE AS SUCCESSFUL.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU, UM, YOU LIVE FOR THIS AND YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.
SO TAKE THE MICROPHONE AND, AND LET 'EM KNOW.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR SQUEEZING ME IN ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA GET ADDED.
WE, THE BLOOD CENTER INITIATED THIS PROCLAMATION BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME IN ALL OF OUR LIVES FOR US.
THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN YOU CAN DO IS PUTTING WHAT I CALL THE RED IN THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE.
AND LET'S GO OUT AND GIVE BLOOD.
WE HAVE GOT TO STOP HAVING PEOPLE BE REACTIVE RATHER THAN PROACTIVE.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
LIFE GETS IN THE WAY, TIME GETS IN THE WAY, HOLIDAYS GET IN THE WAY AND WE HAVE LESS THAN 3% STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AS I SPEAK.
WE TALKING ABOUT HURRICANE GUYS, WHEN WE NEED BLOOD, IT TAKES 72 HOURS BEFORE IT'S RELEASED.
IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE THAT HAS A TRAUMA, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN? IF THEY NEED AN IMMEDIATE TRANSFUSION, THEIR LIFE WILL BE COMPROMISED.
AS I SPEAK NOW, THE BLOOD CENTER, WHO'S A NONPROFIT, WE RELY ON VOLUNTEERS TO SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO SPLIT SECOND THE PAIN.
BUT WE HAVE TO COLLECT 250 DONATIONS EVERY DAY FOR ALL THE HOSPITALS IN THIS REGION.
I URGENTLY NEED PEOPLE TO GET OUTTA THEIR BOX, COME GIVE BLOOD.
I JUST SPOKE WITH, UH, UM, MR. ROBINSON AND HE'S ASSISTANT, HE'S RIGHT HAND PERSON.
MR. GUIDRY, WE ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT INITIATING A BLOOD DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF JULY AT THE FIREHOUSES.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU ALL TO HELP ME PROMOTE IT.
I DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT I CALL A PARK AND PRAY IT NEEDS TO HAVE TEETH.
WE'RE GONNA SEND THIS RESOLUTION TO EVERYBODY AND TELL 'EM DO WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS WHOLE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO BELIEVE IN THE MISSION OF THE BLOOD CENTER.
BUT ALSO, LET ME TURN AROUND FOR JUST A MINUTE.
TA
BUT ANYWAY, WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE SIZES FROM THREE X TO SS TO THREE X.
WE HAVE THIR 14 DONOR CENTERS BETWEEN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.
IF YOU'LL DO A BLOOD DRIVE AT YOUR COMPANY, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME.
WE'VE GOTTA GET THIS BLOOD SUPPLY RAMPED UP.
[00:25:01]
ASAP.THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME BACK AGAIN.
AND IF THE GOOD LORD IS WILLING, MAYBE I'LL BE BACK.
ARE WE DOING ONE AT THE END BUILDING AGAIN SOON? IS ANYTHING ON THE SCHEDULE? OH, IF NOT, IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU YEAH, I DO.
SHE'LL COME AFTER YOU AND SHE'LL REMIND YOU SHANE IS DUE TOO.
IF Y'ALL WANNA COME IN, I GRAB A PICTURE.
GLAD TO SEE YOU SUZY, ME IN PUBLIC.
I TOLD YOU, OH, WHEN I SEE HER SU CAME WITH SHORT SLEEVES TODAY.
'CAUSE I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA GET US RIGHT NOW.
I WANT YOU TO GET THE ACCOLADE.
I'M TAKING MY IRON EVERY DAY, GIRL.
I SHOULD, I SHOULD'VE, UH, GIVE YOU A NO, NO, NO, NO.
I'LL SEE YOU AT THE BLOOD DONATION.
COUNCILMAN DINO BONANNO HAS SOME PROCLAMATIONS AS WELL THIS MORNING.
WELL, I'M KIND OF CONCERNED AFTER FOLLOWING THAT ACT, YOU KNOW, I SPENT 12 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND I GOT STUCK SO MANY TIMES.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA TRY TO STICK ME RIGHT HERE.
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP TO THE PODIUM THE REVEREND DR. RANDALL MCGRATH WITH THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH.
AND IF ANY OF YOUR PARISHIONERS PASTOR WANT TO COME WITH YOU, THEY'RE WELCOME AS WELL.
GOOD SHEPHERD IS, IS CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AM GONNA SAY A FEW WORDS, PASTOR, AND THEN I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE.
MAYBE YOU'LL SAY A PRAYER FOR ME.
CERTAINLY BEEN PRAYING FOR YOU.
WHEREAS THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1976 THROUGH THE MERGER OF TWO HISTORIC UPTOWN NEW ORLEANS CONGREGATIONS, ST.
JOHN EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED CHURCH, AND THE BETHANY EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED CHURCH, BOTH OF WHICH BECAME PART OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AT ITS FOUNDING IN 1957.
AND WHEREAS THE FOLLOWING, WHEREAS FOLLOWING THE MEAGER MERGER, I'M SORRY.
WHEREAS FOUNDING THE MERGER UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REVEREND FRITZ O WINKLEMAN, THE NEWLY FORMED CONGREGATION ADOPTED THE NAME GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH AND FAITHFULLY EMBARKED UPON A MISSION ROOTED IN THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN VALUES OF BIBLICAL TEACHING AND FAMILY ORIENTED MINISTRY MINISTRY.
AFTER TEMPORARILY WORSHIPING IN THE CAFETERIA OF HAROLD KELLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF METTERY, THE CONGREGATION MOVED INTO ITS PERMANENT SANCTUARY ON WESTWAY ESPLANADE AVENUE IN 1980, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REVEREND ALLEN HOLLIS CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS MINISTRY IN OUTREACH THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH.
AND WHEREAS IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA IN 2005, DESPITE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AND DAMAGE TO THE CHURCH, GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH DEMONSTRATED RESILIENCE AND UNWAVERING FAITH BY CONTINUING WORSHIP SERVICES IN ITS TEMPORARY LOCATION, WHILE RESTORING ITS FACILITIES AND SUPPORTING FELLOW CONGREGATIONS AFFECTED BY THE STORM.
AND WHEREAS UNDER THE CONTINUED LEADERSHIP OF THE REVEREND DR.
MC RANDALL M MCGRATH, SINCE 2010, GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH HAS REMAINED DEDICATED TO PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL, PRESERVING ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN VALUES AND WORSHIP AND STRENGTHENING ITS ROLE AS A WELCOMING AND FAITHFUL PRESENCE IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS IN 2026, THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH PROBABLY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF ITS MISSION AND MINISTRY, MARKING THIS MILESTONE WITH GRATITUDE FOR RICH HISTORY, ENDURING FAITH AND CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH AND BEYOND.
AND WHEREAS THE COUNCIL HEREBY EXTENDS SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO, TO THE REVEREND DR. RANDALL M MCGRATH AND HIS CONGREGATION, AND ALL THOSE DEDICATED TO FAITH AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHURCHES ENDURING LEGACY AND MINISTRY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
NOW THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR AUTHORITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND COMMANDS THE AND CONGRATULATES GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
WOULD LIKE TAKING VERY DANGEROUS THING TO
[00:30:01]
LET A PREACHER HAVE THE MICROPHONE.WE DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, LOVELY RECOGNITION AND, AND JUST A, A A BRIEF COMMENT TO LEADERSHIP, OUR PARISH LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE ANGLICAN TRADITION.
UM, WE'RE COMMANDED EVERY SUNDAY AT HOLY EUCHARIST TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS.
AND SO WE PRAY BY NAME FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE GOVERNOR OF OUR STATE, AND THE PRESIDENT OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL.
WE REMEMBER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN PRAYER.
AND DINO, WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU TOO.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING YOU ON FACEBOOK, BROTHER, AND I KNOW YOU WENT THROUGH A LOT, SO KNOW THAT THE PRAYERS CONTINUE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, PARISH PRESIDENT.
Y'ALL WANNA COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE.
DO YOU WANNA HOLD THIS UP OR ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF YOUR CONGREGATION? HOLD IT.
HALF Y'ALL ON THIS SIDE HALF AND OTHER SIDE COUNCIL'S GONNA FILL IN WITH YOU'ALL.
OKAY, EVERYBODY, HERE WE GO ON THREE.
OKAY, WE GOT ANOTHER ONE ON THREE.
THANK BROTHER SO MANY TIME HAVE SOME WORK PRESERVING.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, WE'RE GONNA STICK WITH THE 50TH THEME AND, UH, HAVING RECOGNIZED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF A CHURCH, WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF A LOCAL BUSINESS, A OSS.
AND IF ROBERT, BRO, MITCH VAL EVE, ARNOLD, AND ADRIAN TRAEGER CAN COME FORWARD.
HAVING GROWN UP AROUND A SMALL BUSINESS, I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IT IS AND IF IT'S, UM, IF THAT HARD WORK LEADS TO A SECOND OR THIRD GENERATION IN THE BUSINESS, WHAT AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT IS.
SO WE DEFINITELY WANTED TO NOT LET THIS, UH, OCCASION PASS WITHOUT RECOGNIZING, UM, WHERE YOU ALL HAVE, UH, STARTED AND WHERE YOU ARE NOW.
WHEREAS A OS INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTS WAS FOUNDED BACK IN 1976.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT OCCASION FOR OUR COUNTRY BY GENE RUSS ON THE WEST BANK OF NEW ORLEANS AS A STORAGE AND FILING SUPPLY COMPANY, AND HAS SINCE GROWN INTO LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI'S LARGEST LOCALLY OWNED DESIGN ASSIST CONTRACTOR PROVIDING COMMERCIAL FURNITURE, MANUFACTURED INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION AND SPECIALTY STORAGE SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE GULF SOUTH.
WHEREAS FOR FIVE DECADES, A OS INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTS HAS REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE VALUES OF INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, INNOVATION AND SERVICE, EARNING THE TRUST OF CLIENTS ACROSS HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH IS WHY YOU'RE STILL HERE.
WHEREAS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFER OFFICER SHELBY RUSS, THE SECOND GENERATION OF FAMILY LEADERSHIP, A OS INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTS HAS CONTINUED ITS TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE WHILE EXPANDING ITS REACH CAPABILITIES AND IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
WHEREAS A OS INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTS EMPLOYS MORE THAN 100 DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AND HAS FOSTERED A WORKPLACE CULTURE THAT EMPHASIZES EMPLOYEE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
ACTUALLY EARNING THE RECOGNITION IS ONE OF NEW ORLEANS CITY BUSINESS BEST PLACES TO WORK, SOMETHING WE SHARE WITH JEFFERSON PARISH, UM, FOR 11 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
WHEREAS THE COMPANY HAS CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE GULF SOUTH THROUGH SUSTAINED EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIPS
[00:35:01]
WITH LOCAL VENDORS, SUPPLIERS, AND SUBCONTRACTORS, AND THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE WORK, LEARN, HEAL, AND COLLABORATE.WHEREAS A OS INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTS IS A PROUD JEFFERSON PARISH BUSINESS.
UM, IT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF ITS DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES, ADVANCEMENT OF INNOVATION, INNOVATIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS, AND DEDICATION TO SERVING CLIENTS WITH EXCELLENCE WHILE STRENGTHENING THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.
ONE LAST EZ, THE CELEBRATION OF A OS INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY MARKS A RE REMARKABLE MILESTONE AND REFLECTS THE DEDICATION OF ITS FOUNDERS, LEADERSHIP TEAM, EMPLOYEES, CLIENTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHOSE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ITS ENDURING SUCCESS.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA HEREBY RECOGNIZES COMMENDS AND CONGRATULATES AND WISHES YOU WELL FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, A OS INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
IF YOU ALL WANNA SAY ANYTHING ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO, EVERYBODY AT A OS, WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL FOR THE RECOGNITION, AND WE ARE VERY HONORED AND GRATEFUL TO SERVE THE JEFFERSON PARISH COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, HERE'S FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS,
AND IF THE COUNCIL CAN COME ON UP AND TAKE A PICTURE, CELEBRATE THE SUCCESS.
A WHOLE DIFFERENT, THAT'S THIRD GENERATION ON THE SECOND AS WELL.
GET ANOTHER 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 1 MORE FOR ME TOO.
THANKS FOR WHAT YOU THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE ALL THIS VERY MUCH.
[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
RIGHT.NOW WE WILL, UM, ACTUALLY BEGIN THE, THE MEETING OF, UH, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL THIS MORNING ON JUNE THE 10TH, 2026.
WE'RE HERE AT THE JOE SENNI BUILDING 1221 ELMWOOD PARK BOULEVARD IN, UH, ELMWOOD.
AND, UM, WE WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
WE'RE GOING TO, UM, AS WE ALWAYS DO, START WITH THE INVOCATION AND, AND PLEDGE.
BUT, UM, PARISH PRESIDENT, UH, HAS A, A MOMENT OF SILENCE THAT, UH, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AS A COMMUNITY.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF LIEUTENANT DENNIS CASEY JR.
OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT, LIEUTENANT CASEY HAD DEDICATED MORE THAN 24 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH, FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS FATHER, BUILDING A DISTINGUISHED CAREER DEFINED BY COURAGE, LEADERSHIP, AND SELFLESS SERVICE.
SINCE JOINING THE DEPARTMENT IN 2002, HE ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS FROM FIREFIGHTER TO APPARATUS OPERATOR, AND ULTIMATELY LIEUTENANT, EARNING THE RESPECT OF HIS COLLEAGUES THROUGH HIS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO MENTOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FIREFIGHTERS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, LIEUTENANT CASEY SERVED OUR COMMUNITY DURING SOME OF OUR MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS, INCLUDING HURRICANES KATRINA, RITA, GUSTAV, IKE, AND IDA.
HE WAS HIGHLY TRAINED IN SPECIALIZED RESCUE OPERATIONS AND WAS AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF BOTH THE JEFFERSON PARISH URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM, AND THE REGION ONE LY URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM.
HE ALSO VOLUNTEERED FOR DEPLOYMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.
THOSE WHO SERVED ALONG DENNIS REMEMBER HIM AS A HANDS-ON LEADER WHO NEVER HESITATED TO STEP FORWARD WHEN OTHERS WERE IN NEED.
AND HIS IMPACT EXTENDED FAR BEYOND THE FIRE STATION.
UM, I KNOW THE SERVICES YESTERDAY WAS EXTREMELY CROWDED.
UM, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE BUCKTOWN COMMUNITY.
SO THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE REALLY LOST AN INCREDIBLE CITIZEN.
UH, LIEUTENANT CASEY LEAVES BEHIND A SON, TWO DAUGHTERS, AND A GRIEVING FIRE DEPARTMENT FAMILY.
ON BEHALF OF JEFFERSON PARISH, WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONSUL CONDOLENCES TO HIS LOVED ONES AND ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING AND SERVING WITH HIM.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN OBSERVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HIS MEMORY.
[00:40:06]
THANK YOU.UM, COUNCILWOMAN HANNAN HAS, UH, THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING HER GUEST TO LEAD THE INVOCATION THIS MORNING.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED, UM, TO HAVE THEM.
YOU KNOW, GOING INTO HURRICANE SEASON, WE HAVE A LOT OF PREPARATION MEETINGS AND OUR CHURCH PARTNERS, UM, ATTEND A LOT OF THESE MEETINGS.
AND THIS PARTICULAR CHURCH PARTNER, UM, IS, HAS BECOME INVALUABLE TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
UM, PASTOR DAVID MADDEN IS GOING TO BE DOING OUR INVOCATION TODAY.
HE IS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR FOR THE CHURCH OF THE KING.
HE STARTED THERE IN MANDEVILLE, AT THE MANDEVILLE LOCATION, BUT NOW HE'S AT THE KENNER LOCATION.
THEY HAVE THREE KIDS AND THEIR OLDEST JUST GRADUATED FROM MOUNT CARMEL ACADEMY.
UM, BUT THAT PARTICULAR CHURCH IS A HUGE PARTNER FOR US.
SO PASTOR MADDEN, OH, THERE YOU ARE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THOSE KIND WORDS AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
HEAVEN AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER HERE TODAY, LORD.
AND WE DO TAKE A MOMENT TO LIFT UP, UH, THE PRAYER REQUE REQUESTS THAT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED FOR LIEUTENANT CASEY AND HIS FAMILY AND, UH, JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE GRIEVING.
WE PRAY GOD, THAT YOU WOULD COMFORT THEM IN THEIR TIME OF GRIEF, GOD.
AND WE DO THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS GREAT TEAM.
YOU'VE ASSEMBLED OF CIVIL LEADERS TO SERVE AND LEAD OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE JUST PRAY A BLESSING, PRAY FOR WISDOM, PRAY YOU WOULD BLESS OUR COMMUNITY.
KEEP ALL THE STORMS FAR AWAY AND, UH, WE JUST TRUST YOU.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF THIS GREAT COMMUNITY.
I SEE MISS BETTY PURCELL IN THE AUDIENCE.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING FORWARD AND LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THIS MORNING, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, AND LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MADAME CLERK, AS WE CALL THIS.
UM, MEETING TO ORDER, IF YOU WILL CALL THE ROLE CHAIRWOMAN VAN RANKIN.
[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]
WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL? YES.WE CAN, UM, I'LL START OFF WITH OUR FINANCE REDESIGN AND, UM, WE'LL START THERE.
ITEMS NUMBER 12 AND NUMBER 13 AND NUMBER 14 ON TODAY'S AGENDA ARE PART OF OUR ONGOING FINANCE REDESIGN EFFORT.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO TAKE THESE STEPS TO ENSURE JEFFERSON PARISH REMAINS FINANCIALLY STRONG AND PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.
AND ITEM NUMBER 12, REPEALS THE OUTDATED GRANT SECTION AS A RESULT OF THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION BEING SUBSUMED BY, UM, THE NEWLY CREATED OFFICE OF CENTRAL GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION.
AND THEN ITEMS 13 AND 14 ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER AND THE POSITION OF COMPTROLLER.
SO BEFORE, UM, WE DISCUSS THESE CHANGES AND AS A REMINDER, THE SOLE, WE, WE LOST OUR BOND RATING.
UM, AND THE SOLE DRIVER OF OUR BOND RATING WAS DELAYED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
I ALWAYS TRY TO TELL PEOPLE THIS WAS NOT A LACK OF FUNDS.
THIS WAS NOT OUR INABILITY TO PAY OUR BILLS.
THIS WAS A LACK OF MANPOWER ISSUE.
AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED IN 2021, WHERE WE'RE GOING INTO.
UM, WHEN I CAME IN OFFICE LOOKING AT 20 18, 20 19, I CAME IN OFFICE IN 2020 WAS BETWEEN A 35 TO 65 MILLION GRANT, UM, AWARD ACTIVITY WITH ALL THE INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF DISASTERS WE'VE HAD.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ONE-TIME FUNDING.
OBVIOUSLY IT WAS COVID AND IT WAS IDA, IT WAS CARES ACT, IT WAS EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
IT WAS A WHOLE HOST OF NEW PROGRAMS. YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO US IN 2021, WHICH CAUSED, UM, OUR, OUR DELAYED FINANCIAL, UM, AUDIT.
AND THIS IS THE WHOLE LIST OF GRANTS THAT WE TOOK IN, IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT RESULTED IN NEARLY $585 MILLION WORTH OF MONEY TO PROCESS.
UM, SO, UM, WHILE THIS SUPPORT WAS ESSENTIAL, IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT JUMP IN THE AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDING WE HAD TO PROCESS, OBVIOUSLY.
SO AT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAD STAFFING SHORTAGES AND TURNOVER AND A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONALS CREATED ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES.
WE'VE COMPLETED THE 2024 AUDIT.
WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THE 2025 AUDIT WITH THE GOAL OF SUBMISSION BY OCTOBER AND EXPECT TO
[00:45:01]
RETURN TO OUR NORMAL AUDIT SCHEDULE THEREAFTER.UH, WE'RE ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH MOODY'S S AND P AND OUR BOND COUNCIL AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS TO PURSUE RESTORATION OF OUR BOND RATINGS BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.
BUT LOOKING AHEAD, WE ARE REDESIGNING OUR FINANCE STRUCTURE TO BUILD LONG-TERM CAPACITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE SUCH AN UPTICK OR LIKE, I LIKE TO THINK OF IT A, A TURNING UP OF THE VOLUME, UH, THAT A SYSTEM THAT WE CREATE CAN HANDLE THAT IF IN THE FUTURE IT GETS TO THAT AGAIN, THE COMPTROLLER WILL OVERSEE FINANCIAL REPORTING, GENERAL LEDGER OPERATIONS, AUDIT PREPARATION, MONTH END AND YEAR END CLOSING PROCESSES AND INTERNAL CONTROLS.
AND TOGETHER THE COMPTROLLER AND CENTRAL GRANTS OFFICES WILL HAVE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADDRESSING AUDIT FINDINGS AND STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE ALSO PLAN TO EVOLVE OUR FINANCIAL OPERATIONS BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL BUDGETING WE'VE ALWAYS TAKEN ON AS A PARISH, UM, AND, AND CREATE A FISCAL PLANNING AND TREASURY FUNCTION FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM FORECASTING, CASH MANAGEMENT, STRATEGIC FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND LIQUIDITY OVERSIGHT.
SO THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A REORGANIZATION ON PAPER, IT IS A REDESIGN THAT WILL ENSURE OUR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUCCESS.
UM, PART OF THAT ALSO IS, UM, A NEW FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
SO I'LL MOVE TO OUR ERP UPDATE.
THIS WEEK WILL BE THE FINAL WEEK FOR DEPARTMENTS TO PROCESS TRANSACTIONS PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED BLACKOUT PERIOD AS WE PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING TRANSITION TO OUR NEW IN FOUR ERP SYSTEM BRIDGE.
UH, THIS IS AGAIN, THE LARGEST INTERNAL PROJECT WE HAVE EVER TAKEN ON REPLACING AN OUTDATED FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT GOES BACK TO 1995.
SO OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, PARISH EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY PREPARING FOR THIS TRANSITION THROUGH SYSTEM CONFIGURATION TESTING, DATA VALIDATION AND TRAINING.
DEPARTMENTAL TRAINING SESSIONS HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NEXT WEEK TO ENSURE EMPLOYEES ARE PREPARED DURING THE BLACKOUT PERIOD.
THE FINANCE, ACCOUNTING BUDGET, PAYROLL PERSONNEL, HUMAN RESOURCES GRANTS, AND I-TEAM WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH INFOR TO COMPLETE THE CONVERSION OF DATA FROM OUR CURRENT SYSTEM AND VALIDATE AND ENSURE THE ACCURACY AND INTEGRITY OF DATA BEFORE THE NEW SYSTEM GOES LIVE.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN OUR ERP IMPLEMENTATION AND TIMELY PROCESSING OF TRANSACTIONS WILL HELP FACILITATE A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO THE NEW SYSTEM, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED TO LAUNCH ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
OKAY, MOVING ON TO THE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIAL EVENT DUE TO THE WEATHER.
OUR EVENT, UM, AND RECYCLING DROP OFF EVENTS HAD TO GET RESCHEDULED FOR THIS PAST SATURDAY.
SO, UM, WHAT IS TODAY? I'M SAYING THIS WRONG.
SO RECYCLING AT THE MET AND MORRO DROP OFF SITES WILL RESUME THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 13TH FROM EIGHT TO NOON WEATHER PERMITTING AND THE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EVENT WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, JULY 11TH FROM 9:00 AM TO NOON IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE JOHN ARIO EVENT CENTER.
THAT'S 2000 CNET BOULEVARD IN WEST WCO.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE EVENTS AS WELL AS RECYCLING DROP OFF IN CURBSIDE GARBAGE COLLECTION, UM, YOU CAN REACH OUR DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AT 5 0 4 7 3 1 4 6 1 2.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A SOLID WASTE SERVICES DASHBOARD@WWW.JEFFPARISH.GOV.
SO OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, A LOT OF FUN AND ONGOING PROGRAMS FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO, TO ENJOY THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY IT TEAM PROVIDED FREE REPAIRS, TECH SUPPORT, AND SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ON PERSONAL LAPTOPS AND TABLETS FOR JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS.
THIS PAST SATURDAY JUNE 6TH, THE REPAIR WORKSHOP WAS SO VERY SUCCESSFUL THAT A SECOND EVENT OF THIS SORT WILL BE HELD THE EVENING OF TUESDAY, JUNE 30TH FROM SIX TO EIGHT 30 AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.
THOSE NEEDING ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR DIGITAL SERVICES CAN REGISTER@JPLIBRARY.NET AND A FREE COCKTAIL AND COOK FREE COOKING AND COCKTAIL DEMO WILL BE HELD AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 11TH AT 7:00 PM WITH SAMPLES AND SIPS FOR ADULTS.
PROFESSIONAL CHEF NORA WETZEL AND MIXOLOGIST ELIZABETH PIERCE WILL DISCUSS AND PREPARE FOOD AND DRINK WITH DOCUMENTED RECIPES FROM THE YEAR 1776 AS A CULINARY TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY.
THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CONTINUES THROUGH JULY 31ST IN JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY CARD.
CARDHOLDERS OF ALL AGES ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR BOOK READING MILESTONES AND ATTENDANCE.
AT HUNDREDS OF EVENTS SCHEDULED AT ALL 17 BRANCH LOCATIONS, PARTICIPANTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO WIN RAFFLE DRAWING PRIZES SUPPLIED BY FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON PUBLIC LIBRARY, INCLUDING A NINTENDO SWITCH TO A 100 AMAZON GIFT CARD AND LEGO SETS.
NORTH KENNER LIBRARY ENCOURAGES JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS TO GROW SOMETHING NEW THIS SUMMER BY PARTICIPATING IN A COMMUNITY SEED AND PLANT SWAP ON SATURDAY JUNE 13TH FROM 10 TO 11:30 AM PATRONS ARE WELCOME TO BRING CUTTINGS SPROUTS OR SEEDS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO FIND A NEW HOME AND LEAVE WITH SOMETHING NEW.
PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO LABEL YOUR PLANTS AND SEEDS AND KEEP ANY GARDEN PESTS AT HOME.
AND FREE BOLLYWOOD DANCE LESSONS WILL BE UNDERWAY AT MULTIPLE BRANCHES OF THE LIBRARY IN THE WEEKS TO COME WITH STEP-BY STR INSTRUCTION IN
[00:50:01]
THE CHOREOGRAPHED MOVEMENTS THAT DEFINE THE INDIAN MOVIE INDUSTRY.CHECK CALENDAR JP LIBRARY NET FOR DATES AND TIMES AT ROSEDALE WAGNER GRETNA NORTH, KENNER TARRYTOWN, AVONDALE, AND BOTH EAST AND WEST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARIES.
AND THEN TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S TWO 50TH IN JEFFERSON PARISH STYLE, THERE'LL BE A FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY CELEBRATION COMMEMORATING AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY, BEGINNING AT NOON THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH, IN DOWNTOWN GRETNA THE DAY WILL FEATURE A PATRIOTIC PARADE, LIVE MUSIC, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, FOOD AND DRINKS, HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS, AND A SPECTACULAR DRONE SHOW OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, POWERED BY ENTERGY.
A HIGHLIGHT OF THE CELEBRATION WILL BE WHAT WE'RE CALLING USA FIELD DAY LOCATED IN THE FIELD ACROSS FROM THE GRETNA WELCOME CENTER, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A FULL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES, INCLUDING RELAY RACES, TUG OF WAR SAC RACES, VOLLEYBALL, KITE MAKING, TRIVIA CHALLENGES, WATER BALLOON TOSSES, ARTS AND CRAFTS, A DUNK TANK, A PET ADOPTION EVENT, AND LOTS MORE.
ATTENDEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE DOWNTOWN GRETNA THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WHICH IS THE SEAT OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT.
ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED AND WILL BE REPRESENTED IN FRONT OF GRETNA CITY HALL.
INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE GRETNA WELCOME CENTER AND THERE'LL BE TOURS AND OFFERINGS AT THE GRETNA HISTORIC COMPLEX ST.
JOSEPH CHURCH AND THE GERMAN BEER GARDEN.
UM, LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE AREA WILL ALSO BE OFFERING SPECIAL PROMOTIONS AND PATRIOTIC THEME EXPERIENCES.
SO SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS FOR WORKING HARD ON THIS.
IF YOU THINK YOU CAN ONLY COME OUT A PORTION OF THE DAY, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE MAP AND SEE THE SCHEDULE.
UM, JEFF PARIS.GOV/AMERICA TWO 50.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROVISIONAL CHIEF.
MIKE TRAVIS, WHO I'VE APPOINTED AS THE PROVISIONAL FIRE CHIEF OF THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THIS APPOINTMENT BECAME EFFECTIVE ON SATURDAY JUNE 6TH.
CHIEF TRAVIS MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF AND BRINGS MORE THAN 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH EASTMAN CONSOLIDATED FIRE.
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, HE HAS WORKED HIS WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS FROM OPERATOR TO ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF.
BEFORE JOINING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF TRAVIS SERVED AS OUR COUNTRY, SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
HE THEN CONTINUED HIS PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER WITH THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALSO WORKED AS A PARAMEDIC.
HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND FIRST RESPONSE HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
UM, I'M CONFIDENT THAT HIS LEADERSHIP KNOWLEDGE AND DECADES OF SERVICE WILL SERVE THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY WELL IN THIS NEW ROLE.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU KNOW CHIEF TRAVIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO, UM, ASK HIM TO STAND UP.
AND THAT'S A PERFECT, UH, SEGUE BECAUSE I'D WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU.
UM, FIRST TO THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, WHO WERE FIRST ON THE SCENE OF THAT TRAIN, UH, CARD DERAILMENT THAT WE HAD ON MET ROAD, UM, A FEW DAYS AGO.
AND THE EOC, UM, UH, OUR COO MARK DREWS, UM, UH, THE STATE, DOTD, THE RAILROAD STREETS DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY REALLY WAS VERY RESPONSIVE AND CONTINUED TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE CLOSURE.
WERE VERY EFFICIENT IN REOPENING, UM, THAT INTERSECTION ON A BUSY, UH, SUNDAY MORNING.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR THAT.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY, UM, COMMENTS FOR THE PARISH PRESIDENT? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE, UH, ON TO CONTINUING THE AMERICAN PRIDE THEME WITH COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN.
IT'S OUR 31ST YEAR FOR UNCLE SAM JAM AND WE JUST THIS MORNING ANNOUNCED THE LINEUP AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE A QUICK VIDEO WE'RE GONNA SHOW, BUT WE HAVE BY JOHN, WAIT, WILSON PHILLIPS.
AND OF COURSE OUR FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR.
THAT IS EVERY YEAR THAT IS EVEN BIGGER THIS YEAR AND THIS YEAR WE ARE DOING IT WITH THE BACKDROP OF MUSIC BEHIND IT.
SO IT'S GONNA BE REALLY SOMETHING TO SEE.
UM, AND WE HAVE DJ SLIM MCGRAW, WHO A LOT OF YOU MAY HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THAT HONDO FEST.
HE'S ALSO PERFORMED FOR STAGE COAST AND, UH, STAGECOACH AND NASCAR.
AND, UH, HE'S JUST GONNA KEEP THE CROWD GOING ALL DAY.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HER.
REMEMBER, UM, UNCLE SAM JAM IS FREE, IT'S FAMILY FRIENDLY, IT'S ON OUR BEAUTIFUL MEDALS AT LAER.
UM, MUCH THANKS TO THE STAFF AT LAFFER, UM, BUT ALSO THE WHOLE PARISH FROM OUR PARKS TO THE PIO.
UM, EVERYONE MANAGES TO CHIP IN SOMEHOW.
SO JUSTIN, IF YOU WANNA ROLL OUR VIDEO,
[00:55:30]
JUST A LITTLE PRO TIP, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO IT'S NOT YOUR FIRST, IT IS YOUR FIRST YEAR.UM, YOU MAY WANNA BUY YOUR PARKING PASSES IN ADVANCE SO YOU CAN PARK INSIDE THE PARK.
BUT, UH, OTHERWISE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY, SO COME OUT AND JOIN US.
UH, AS MOST OF US UP HERE HAVE READING GLASSES, COUNCILMAN UH, DINO BONANNO IS GOING TO ADDRESS A SENIOR CITIZEN SURVEY THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING
WE COUNT OURSELVES IN THAT NUMBER
SO WE'RE ALL STARTING TO GET THAT AGE.
AND I ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER OF SENIORS RESIDING IN JEFFERSON PARISH TO CONTINUE TO GROW FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
I'M GLAD TO HAVE WITH US HERE TODAY, MS. LIZ WILLIAMS WITH HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES.
WE EMBARKED UPON A SURVEY OF ALL OF OUR 103,000 SENIORS, AND WE DID, WE GOT PRETTY GOOD RESPONSE ON THAT.
THE GOAL THERE WAS TO DETERMINE WHAT SERVICES JEFFERSON PARISH IS NOT CURRENTLY PROVIDING TO OUR SENIORS THAT THEY FEEL IS MOST IMPORTANT.
AND TO PRIORITIZE THOSE LISTS AND DETERMINE WHAT IT COSTS.
IT'S EMBARRASSING TO ME, THE COUNCIL MEMBER ON ONE OF THE BEST PARISHES IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, ONE OF THE MOST FORWARD THINKING PARISH IN LOUISIANA, AND ONE OF THE MOST, ONE WITH THE ONE OF THE BEST ECONOMIES.
AND TO, TO KNOW THAT WE ONLY GIVE OUR SENIORS $1.4 MILLION A YEAR.
103,000 SENIORS IS EMBARRASSING.
THEY GET OTHER FUNDS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT OUR SENIORS DESERVE.
OTHER PARISHES, LIKE EAST BATON ROUGE, HAVE A DEDICATED SEVEN MILL PROP TAX JUST FOR SENIOR SERVICES.
AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB PROVIDING THEIR SENIORS WITH ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WE DON'T.
I'VE WORKED WITH, UH, THE PARISH PRESIDENT AND HER STAFF ON THIS SURVEY.
I WANNA THANK YOU, UH, PRESIDENT CHANG FOR ALLOWING YOUR STAFF TO WORK WITH US ON THIS PROCESS.
AND HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN TAKE THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY AND MOVE FORWARD TO FIND A WAY HOW TO FUND THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES GOING FORWARD.
SO WITH THAT, MS. WILLIAMS, PLEASE PRESENT US WITH YOUR FINDINGS.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VAN FRANKEN.
'CAUSE I SAID THIS MIGHT BE THE THING THAT TELLS ME I NEED PROGRESSIVE LENSES SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH FROM NOTES TO SEEING ALL OF YOU.
UM, BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER BANANA SAID, UM, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PARISH PRESIDENT LEE SHANG.
MY NAME IS LIZ MARCEL WILLIAMS. I'M A CONSULTANT WITH HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, OR HMA.
UM, AND TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUE SHANNON BROWN, JOSEPH AND SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE LOCATED ELSEWHERE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WE WERE ENGAGED TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN JEFFERSON PARISH, I WILL SAY, AS RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
UM, AND AS SHANNON AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN OR CURRENTLY ARE CAREGIVERS FOR OUR AGING LOVED ONES, WE REALLY APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORK.
UM, AS I'LL SHARE IN A MOMENT, WE ENGAGED IN AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, YIELDING SOME NEAR TERM AND SOME LONGER TERM RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE IS A MUCH MORE DETAILED REPORT, UM, THAT WE SHARED AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE'RE TAKING PLACE EARLIER, UM, THIS SPRING.
AND THERE'S COPIES OF THAT IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, BUT THEY'RE ALSO POSTED ON THE JEFFERSON PARISH WEBSITE, AND THERE WILL BE MORE EXTENSIVE INFORMATION FROM A FINAL REPORT THAT IS FORTHCOMING.
SO THIS MORNING I'M GONNA PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND OF OUR FINDINGS AND FOCUS ON OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ESTIMATED COST.
AND TRULY THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE.
WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME BALLPARK ESTIMATES AT THIS POINT AND POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES TO BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO LIFE.
SO WHEN WE SET OUT TO DO THIS ASSESSMENT, WE WANTED TO CAPTURE AS MANY VOICES AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE KNEW THAT SENDING OUT A A SURVEY ALONE WOULD NOT, UM, GIVE US A FULL AND COMPLETE PICTURE.
SO WE DID COMPLE COM, EXCUSE ME.
WE DID COLLECT OVER 700 SURVEY RESPONSES, BUT IN ADDITION, WE DID A LOT OF ON THE GROUNDWORK AND HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SENIORS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS AND FORMAL PROVIDERS OF CARE, UM, FROM GRAND ISLE TO LAFITTE TO OLD JEFFERSON.
AND WE DID THIS INTENTIONALLY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT AS SURVEYS OFTEN DO, UH, THEY OFTEN REACH FOLKS WHO COME FROM MORE RESOURCE COMMUNITIES OR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WE KNOW IF WE RELIED ON SURVEY NUMBERS ALONE, THE DATA MIGHT HAVE MASKED SOME OF THE NEEDS OF OUR MORE VULNERABLE AGING ADULTS.
SO TO THAT END, WE HAD FOUR DATA SOURCES.
WE STARTED WITH A NATIONAL LANDSCAPE SCAN OF PRACTICES AT PARISH AND COUNTY LEVELS NATIONWIDE IN TERMS OF WHAT, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AT A COUNTY LEVEL.
WE CONDUCTED FOCUS GROUPS WITH AGING ADULTS AT SENIOR CENTERS, SENIOR GUILDS, AND THEN ALSO MET WITH
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PARISH DIRECTORS REPRESENTING DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING LIBRARIES, PARKS, AND RECREATION, CITIZENS AFFAIRS.WE CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS WITH HOME BOUND, UH, INDIVIDUALS, SO AGING ADULTS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO EASILY LEAVE THEIR HOMES AS WELL AS ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE CARE TO OLDER ADULTS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE COLLECTED SURVEYS FROM THREE CONSTITUENT GROUPS, AGING ADULTS THEMSELVES, FORMAL PROVIDERS OF CARE, AND THE INFORMAL CAREGIVERS WHO ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THEIR LOVED ONES.
SO IF WE BEGIN WITH THE LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT, WHEN WE LOOK NATIONWIDE AT WHAT ARE PARISHES AND COUNTIES DOING, UM, THAT IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING QUALITY CARE TO AGING ADULTS, THERE WERE FIVE THEMES THAT EMERGED.
FIRST IS COUNTIES ARE REALLY ACTING AS CONVENERS.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY PROVIDERS OF CARE THEMSELVES, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY BE, BUT THEY'RE BRINGING TOGETHER ALL OF THE NECESSARY DEPARTMENT SECTORS, UM, RESOURCES THAT CAN BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS.
AND SO TO THAT END, THE SECOND FINDING IS THAT SERVICES ARE DELIVERED IN A TRULY INTEGRATED WAY.
THERE'S AN ECOSYSTEM OF CARE WHERE THESE SECTORS LIKE HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE CARE.
IN ADDITION, ADULT DAY SERVICES AND IN-HOME CARE, INCLUDING EXTENSIVE MEMORY CARE SERVICES, REALLY PROVIDE THE BACKBONE OF SUPPORTS FOR, UH, ADULTS TO FACILITATE THOSE ADULTS BEING ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE, EXCUSE ME, AGE IN PLACE AND NOT OVERLY ON COSTLIER MORE RESTRICTIVE CARE LIKE NURSING HOME AND RESIDENTIAL CARE.
FOURTHLY, UM, THERE'S A STRONG EMPHASIS ON CAREGIVER SUPPORT.
SO THERE'S A RECOGNITION THAT THIS WORK DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT FAMILY MEMBERS PROVIDING OFTEN INVISIBLE CARE TO ADULTS.
AND SO COUNTIES ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO THEY SUPPORT THOSE CAREGIVERS, HOW DO THEY PROVIDE RESPITE? AND WHAT'S REALLY KEY HERE, AND WE'LL SEE THIS COME UP A FEW TIMES, IS THAT THERE ARE CENTRALIZED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS IN PLACE, SO OFTEN CALLED NO WRONG DOOR APPROACHES.
THERE'S A ONE-STOP SHOP, IF YOU WILL, WHERE EVERYONE IN A COMMUNITY KNOWS THIS IS WHERE I GO TO GET INFORMATION, HOW I ACCESS RESOURCES.
UM, IT'S STREAMLINED, IT'S SIMPLE, AND THERE'S A CLEAR NAVIGATION PROCESS IN PLACE.
THERE ARE SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PARISH HERE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORTS IN PLACE THAT ARE LISTED HERE.
BUT AS WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE GAPS THAT ARE RELEVANT, UM, AND RELATIVE TO THESE HIGHER PERFORMING SYSTEMS, WE KNOW IT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CAPACITY ACROSS THE DIFFERENT SECTORS, INCLUDING MEAL DELIVERY, UH, TRANSPORTATION, ET CETERA, TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND HERE IN THE PARISH WITH A RISING POPULATION OF SENIORS.
WE HEARD A LOT THAT THERE'S FRAGMENTED SERVICE DELIVERY, WHICH MAKES THE SYSTEM REALLY CHALLENGING TO NAVIGATE.
UH, FOLKS HAD DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS AROUND CURRENT TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, UM, AND AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, THE FUNDING LEVELS HAVE REMAINED STATIC WHILE THE POPULATION IS GROWING.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A MISALIGNMENT THERE.
AS WE LOOK AT THE FINDINGS THAT WE SAW, UH, FROM OUR DATA COLLECTION, THERE WERE SEVERAL CORE PRIORITY AREAS THAT EMERGE.
THE FIRST IS HOME MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.
AND WHAT WAS REALLY STRIKING HERE IS THAT ACROSS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS WHO WE INTERVIEWED AND ACROSS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AGE BRACKETS, THIS WAS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR SENIORS WANT TO AGE AT HOME.
A STAGGERING 83% OF OUR SURVEY RESPONDENTS, UH, INDICATED THAT PREFERENCE.
UM, BUT THEY ALSO SAID THEY'D BE OPEN TO OTHER OPTIONS IF THEY BELIEVE THERE WERE INDEPENDENT OR RESIDENTIAL CARE AND COMMUNITY OPTIONS THAT WERE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE TO THEM.
UM, BUT TO BE ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE THEY NEED SUPPORT, BOTH FINANCIAL AND IN TERMS OF ACCESSING RESOURCES TO DO SO.
SO THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF THESE SMALL JOBS AROUND THE HELM AROUND THE HOME.
RIGHT NOW IT'S HARD TO GET ON A LADDER TO CHANGE A BATTERY AND A SMOKE DETECTOR, FOR EXAMPLE.
IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DO THAT SORT OF THING.
AND TO AGE IN PLACE, FOLKS NEED SAFETY MODIFICATIONS, ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS LIKE WHEELCHAIR RAMPS OR GRAB BARS, AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THOSE THINGS.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD THOSE THINGS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
SO THEY WANNA KNOW THAT IF THEY'RE BRINGING A VENDOR INTO THEIR HOME, THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
SO THIS THEME REALLY POINTED TO SORT OF A NEED FOR SOME FUNDING FOR SOME BASIC HOME REPAIRS THAT'S CONSISTENT ACROSS THE PARISH, UM, SO THAT WE CAN KEEP FOLKS IN THEIR HOMES.
UM, AND THEN ALSO THINK ABOUT WHAT OTHER SENIOR HOUSING OPTIONS MIGHT EXIST.
A SECOND THEME THAT EMERGED VERY LOUDLY AND CLEARLY WAS THE NEED FOR SYSTEM NAVIGATION SUPPORT.
SO OUR CAREGIVERS WERE ACTUALLY ASKED, WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO SOURCE OF INFORMATION? AND THEY HAD A WHOLE HOST OF OPTIONS AND WE WERE STRUCK BY THE FACT THE, THE MOST PREVALENT ANSWER WAS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR INFORMATION.
AND IN FACT, THEY RANK NAVIGATION AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT THEY FACE IN CARING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.
IN ADDITION, WE SAW VARIED WAYS THAT AGING ADULTS WANT TO GET THEIR INFORMATION WHILE MANY OF THEM HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.
UNSURPRISINGLY, AS WE LOOK AT, UH, AGING GROUPS OF SENIORS AND OLDER SENIORS, THEY STILL WANT MAIL DELIVERY.
THEY STILL WANT PHONE CALLS AS THEIR PRIMARY MECHANISM FOR SERVICE DELIVERY.
AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT AN OVER RELIANCE
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OF TECHNOLOGY.THEY TALKED ABOUT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS WEBSITES, NOT BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE APPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THERE ARE REAL BARRIERS TO BEING ABLE TO ACCESS INFORMATION.
UM, AND EVEN THE PROVIDERS THEMSELVES SAID, YOU KNOW, I DO THIS WORK AND I STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO TO ACCESS RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE I SERVE.
SO THIS POINTS TO THE NEED FOR A MUCH MORE CENTRALIZED, CLEARER APPROACH TO BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, CONSOLIDATE INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND DELIVER THAT INFORMATION THROUGH A VARIETY OF FORMATS.
TRANSPORTATION ALSO CAME UP, AND I, I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT WE SEE THIS AS REALLY LINKED TO SOME OF THE GAPS IN, UH, ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION.
THERE WERE MANY SENIORS WHO ARE TAKING AVAIL, UM, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, BUT MANY OTHERS WHO SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS OUT THERE FOR THEM.
UM, AND WE THINK TOO THAT THERE'S A MUCH GREATER NEED THAN THE SENIORS THEMSELVES WERE INDICATING.
SO ON THE SURVEY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR RESPONDENTS ARE STILL DRIVING THEMSELVES.
UM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT, THEY'RE RELYING PRIMARILY ON FRIENDS AND FAMILIES.
SO THERE'S KIND OF AN UNREPORTED BURDEN ON CAREGIVERS HERE.
AND WHEN WE TALKED TO PEOPLE, UM, IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, THERE WAS A GREATER NEED THAN WE SAW IN JUST THE SURVEY DATA ALONE.
UH, SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS DID TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE STILL DRIVING, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT'S NOT SAFE TO DO SO BECAUSE THEY DON'T, UH, EITHER HAVE OR ARE AWARE OF OPTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND EVEN THE FOLKS WHO WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS THAT WERE OUT THERE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO GETTING THEIR NEEDS MET.
THAT WAY, THAT MAYBE THEY COULDN'T MAKE THOSE RESERVATIONS FAR IN ADVANCE BECAUSE LIFE HAPPENS AND THEY HAVE A SUDDEN DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO, UH, TO, TO MAKE THAT SEVEN DAY RESERVATION AHEAD OF TIME LIKE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO SO.
UM, OR THEY MAY, UH, NEED NON-MEDICAL SERVICES AND TRANSPORTATION AND CAN'T ACCESS THAT.
UM, SO WE KNOW SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE ACTUALLY ALREADY TAKING PLACE, BUT THERE'S A CLEAR SUGGESTION FOR THE NEED FOR MORE DIVERSE AND ON DEMAND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AS WE LOOK AT FINDINGS, THERE WERE A FEW OTHER VERY CLEAR AREAS THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE PRIORITIZE.
UM, NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT BARRIERS IS A BIG ONE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A WAIT LIST, UM, FOR MEAL DELIVERY RIGHT NOW.
12% OF OUR SENIORS REPORTED ON THE SURVEY, AND AGAIN, LIKELY WE IMAGINE IT'S A GREATER NUMBER THAN, THAN THAT SURVEY DATA SUGGESTS.
REPORT SKIPPING MEALS BECAUSE OF COST OR NOT HAVING ACCESS TO FOOD.
UM, AND AS OUR SENIORS AGE, THIS BECOMES THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS, IS GETTING MEAL DELIVERY.
UH, GOING BACK TO THE DESIRE FOR OUR SENIORS TO AGE IN PLACE, AS I SAID, MANY SENIORS DID SAY, YOU KNOW, IF THIS WERE AVAILABLE AND I HAD A REALISTIC ALTERNATIVE, EITHER A SENIOR COMMUNITY OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF GRADUATED CARE, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT.
SO LONG TERM, UH, WE WANNA EXPLORE THAT.
AND UNSURPRISINGLY, THERE IS, THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE ON A RESTRICTED BUDGET IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF INCREASING COST OF LIVING.
SO IN PARTICULAR, FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INSURANCE COSTS, RISING COST OF GROCERIES, AND OVERALL RISING HEALTHCARE COSTS.
THERE WERE A FEW NOTABLE DIFFERENCES BY AGE AND GEOGRAPHY.
SO NATURALLY, AS FOLKS AGE, THEIR NEEDS ARE GOING TO CHANGE OUR POPULATION THAT WAS 85 AND OLDER STRONGLY REFERENCED, UH, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE AND HOME DELIVERED MEALS AS THEIR MOST NEEDED PRIORITIES.
WHEREAS YOUNGER SENIORS, UP TO ABOUT AGE 74, HAVE MORE INTEREST IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND IN HEALTHCARE ACCESS GEOGRAPHICALLY, AGAIN, UNSURPRISINGLY, THE SENIORS IN SOME OF OUR MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY REMOTE LOCATIONS TALKED ABOUT HAVING CHALLENGES ACCESSING HEALTHCARE AND ACCESSING THE TRANSPORTATION THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN PLACE.
UM, INTERESTINGLY, HOWEVER, THOSE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE MORE REMOTE COMMUNITIES REPORTED MUCH LOWER LEVELS OF FEELINGS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION.
SO THEIR COMMUNITIES WERE REALLY CONNECTED, WHEREAS WE SAW PEOPLE IN MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS REPORTING HIGHER LEVELS OF, OF FEELINGS OF ISOLATION.
SO GIVEN ALL OF THAT, WHERE WOULD WE LAND? UM, THE FINDINGS FROM THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT POINTS TO THE FACT THERE'S NOT A SINGLE SERVICE GAP THAT, THAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO SOLVE FOR HERE, BUT RATHER THERE'S THIS SET OF INTERCONNECTED CHALLENGES THAT ARE AFFECTING AGING ADULTS, CAREGIVERS, PROVIDERS, AND REALLY THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
AND MANY SERVICES ALREADY EXIST WITHIN THE PARISH, AND THEY'RE PROVIDED BY A RANGE OF PROVIDERS FROM THE COUNCIL ON AGING TO MUNICIPALITIES, ET CETERA.
UM, BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT THAT'S PART, PART OF THE CHALLENGE, RIGHT? IN NAVIGATING ALL OF THESE AVAILABLE RESOURCES, UNDERSTANDING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, ACCESSING INFORMATION, CONNECTING SERVICES ACROSS THE SYSTEM.
AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE A FEW OF THESE VERY HIGH PRIORITY NEEDS, INCLUDING MEAL DELIVERY AND HOME REPAIRS THAT REALLY EMERGED AND ARE EXCEEDING, UM, THE CURRENT PROGRAM CAPACITY AND AVAILABLE FUNDING.
SO AS A RESULT, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FALL INTO TWO DIFFERENT COHERENT, COHESIVE BUCKETS.
ONE IS WE HAVE A SYSTEM LEVEL RECOMMENDATION THAT'S INTENDED TO IMPROVE COORDINATION, PLANNING, NAVIGATION, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THIS ECOSYSTEM OF SENIOR SERVICES.
AND THEN THERE'S A SERIES OF PRIORITY SPECIFIC SERVICE INVESTMENTS
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INTENDED TO ADDRESS UNMET NEEDS IDENTIFIED THROUGH ALL OF OUR DATA COLLECTION PROCESS.SO SIMPLY PUT, AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL, WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT THERE IS A CROSS-SECTOR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT TAKES PLACE WHERE WE'RE PULLING PEOPLE FROM ALL OF THE RELEVANT SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, ET CETERA, AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO TACKLE A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE JUST HIGHLIGHTED FROM AGING IN PLACE TO MEAL DELIVERY.
AND THE REAL OBJECTIVES HERE WOULD BE TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE CREATE A MORE COHESIVE AND COORDINATED SYSTEM OF CARE? WHAT ARE THE STEPS TOWARDS BECOMING THAT NO WRONG DOOR APPROACH? WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING SOURCES THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE? AND HOW DO WE, UH, PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THESE PRIORITY AREAS AND STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES LONG TERM? AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE THESE FIVE PRIORITY INVESTMENT AREAS, EXCUSE ME.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, NAVIGATION AND ACCESS, GETTING THIS COORDINATED, UH, SORT OF INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.
SO EXPANDING THE SUPPORT THAT EXISTS, UM, AND THE NETWORK OF VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE, OR EXCUSE ME, PARISH WIDE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, LONG TERM, EXPLORING WHAT THE OPTIONS MAY BE, UH, TO DIVERSIFY HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN COMMUNITIES FROM A FOOD ACCESS STANDPOINT, ENSURING THAT WE PRIORITIZE ELIMINATING THE WAIT LIST, UM, AND ENHANCING SUPPORT AND CAPACITY TO ASSESS NEED AND DELIVER.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TRANSPORTATION.
DIVERSIFYING THE OPTIONS AND ENSURING THAT THERE'S ON DEMAND AND ACCESSIBLE, UH, NON-MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AVAILABLE.
AS I SAID, WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE ALREADY STARTING AND IT CAN'T ALL HAPPEN AT ONCE.
SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THERE'S A, A PHASED APPROACH TO THIS SO THAT THERE'S SORT OF A NEAR TERM ZERO TO TWO YEAR SHORT TERM SET OF INVESTMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
UM, AS WELL AS ELIMINATING THE MEAL DELIVERY WAIT LIST, ADDRESSING HOME REPAIR DEMANDS, AND BEGIN EXPLORING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
THERE'S SOME MIDTERM PRIORITIES THAT BUILD ON THIS WORK.
CONNECT SENIORS TO MORE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMMING, ALLEVIATING SOME OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE PARISH.
AND THEN LONG TERM, REALLY LOOKING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SENIOR COMMUNITIES AND OTHER OPTIONS AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS AND, AND LONG-TERM, UH, FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS MOST IMMEDIATELY.
UM, WE'VE IDENTIFIED, AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE ALREADY, BUT THESE FIVE PRIORITY AREAS, AND YOU SEE A SLIDE HERE WITH JUST SOME BALLPARK AMOUNTS OF WHAT WE ESTIMATE BASED ON LOOKING AT OTHER COUNTY DATA, LOOKING AT PROVIDER DATA, UM, AND BUDGETS HERE IN THE PARISH, WHAT THESE INVESTMENTS MIGHT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE.
AND SO, OF COURSE, THE NATURAL QUESTION IS, THAT'S WONDERFUL, AND HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT? SO A FEW CONSIDERATIONS HERE.
UM, LOOKING AT KEY LISTS OF NATURAL FUNDING SOURCES, THE MOST IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY IS THAT THERE IS NO MAGIC SOLUTION HERE, OR IMMEDIATE SOURCE OF FUNDING.
THE MOST OBVIOUS FEDERAL FUNDING STREAMS, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY CHOICES WAIVER, THE PACE PROGRAM, ARE SLOT LIMITED.
THAT MEANS THEY'RE CAPPED, THEY'RE NOT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS. SO THE BIGGER PART OF THE IMMEDIATE WORK INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE SENIORS HERE IN THE PARISH ARE MAXIMIZING EVERY SLOT THAT'S ALLOCATED.
UM, AND THEN USING THE DATA ABOUT THOSE ALLOCATIONS POTENTIALLY TO DO SOME ADVOCACY WORK AT THE STATE LEVEL TO INCREASE THE SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR JEFFERSON SENIORS FOR MORE IMMEDIATE AND VIABLE FUNDING OPTIONS.
WE DO CLOSELY RECOMMEND LOOKING AT THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM FUNDS.
THOSE RFPS ARE COMING OUT RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THERE'S A SUMMIT TOMORROW IN NAGAS FOCUSED ON THE R-H-T-P-R-H-T-P FUNDING, AS WELL AS FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION DOLLARS.
NEITHER OF THESE SOURCES OF FUNDING ARE DEDICATED TO, OR SPECIFIC TO SENIORS, BUT THEY CAN ADDRESS GAPS IN ACCESS IN RURAL AREAS AND PROVIDE ON-DEMAND TRANSIT FUNDING, UH, FOR SUPPORT ACROSS THE PARISH.
BUT INSTEAD OF REALLY LOOKING AT THIS ONE GIANT POT OF MONEY SOURCE, THE STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD IS ABOUT BREEDING DIFFERENT PIECES TOGETHER TO, TO BRIDGE THIS GAP.
ONE IS PUTTING SUPPORTS IN PLACE TO MAXIMIZE UTILIZATION.
SO AS WE THINK ABOUT ENSURING THAT ALL SENIORS ARE CONNECTED TO, UH, THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO SENIORS IN JEFFERSON, ARE THERE SUPPORT WORKERS WHO CAN HELP FACILITATE THAT PROCESS? THE SECOND STRATEGY WOULD BE JUST BEING CREATIVE WITH THE USE OF EXISTING INITIATIVES IN THE PARISH.
SO A GREAT EXAMPLE IS WE'RE RECOMMENDING A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS UNDERWAY.
THERE WILL BE A WORKING GROUP FOCUSED ON AGING ADULTS.
COULD THAT STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, AT LEAST IN PART, LIVE WITHIN THAT WORKING GROUP TO SAVE FUNDS, TO NOT HAVE TO CONTRACT OUT FOR, UH, FACILITATION OF THAT PROCESS, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THINKING ABOUT WHAT PARTNERSHIPS EXIST THAT CAN BE BUILT ON, OR WHAT NEW PARTNERSHIPS MAY EXIST THAT INCLUDE PUBLIC PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS OR POTENTIALLY, UH, CAPITALIZING ON EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THIS WORK.
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ALL OF THIS WORK TOGETHER, UH, THE DATA SHOWS A PRETTY CLEAR AND URGENT GAP.AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE TO ANY OF YOU, BUT OUR SENIOR POPULATION IS GROWING, BUT OUR FUNDING HAS STAYED FLAT.
SO WHILE THIS MAPS OUT, UH, IMMEDIATE PRIORITY AREAS AND SOME CREATIVE PATHS TO MAXIMIZE FEDERAL FUNDING AND MEDICAID DOLLARS, THAT ALONE WON'T FULLY COVER THE, THE BRIDGE, UM, OR WOUND BRIDGE.
THE DIVIDE AND MORE STRATEGIC WORK IS GONNA BE NEEDED TO GET THE PARISH TO THAT PLACE.
SO THIS ASSESSMENT GIVES THE BASELINE DATA TO BUILD THAT LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE FUNDING STRATEGY TO FULLY SUPPORT SENIORS IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU, MS. WILLIAMS. AND I WANNA THANK THE ENTIRE STAFF AT HMA FOR DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THIS SURVEY.
AS WE ALL SEE, YOU KNOW, OUR SENIORS HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS THAT AREN'T CURRENTLY BEING MET.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND WITH THE PARISH PRESIDENT, HOPEFULLY TO PUT TOGETHER A PLANNING TEAM THAT WILL ADDRESS THIS, THESE NEEDS AND FIND A WAY FORWARD AND HOW TO FUND THOSE ISSUES.
I THINK A BIGGEST NEED YOU SEE FROM ALL THIS IS WE NEED ONE COORDINATED PLACE, ONE STOP SHOP WHERE WE CAN COORDINATE ALL THESE SERVICES WHEN WE FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE THEM SO OUR SENIORS KNOW WHERE TO GO AND WHERE WE ALL KNOW WHO'S PROVIDING WHAT SERVICES, AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.
AND WHAT I ALSO FOUND IS A LOT OF THE NONPROFITS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED GOING FORWARD SO THAT WE PROBABLY MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR SENIORS.
IT'S REALLY, UM, GREAT TO SEE THAT, UH, PUT IN PLACE SO THAT WE HAVE A, A GUIDE OF WHERE TO GO.
SO, YEAH, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, AND LOOK, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EXPERTISE IN BREAKING DOWN EACH AREA AS WELL IN EACH AREA'S PROBLEMS. I THINK THAT IS, UH, AND NOT TAKING A HOLD, JUST JEFFERSON PARISH VIEW, BUT, UH, REGIONAL VIEW WITHIN THE PARISH, I THINK THAT IS SO FANTASTIC.
I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN BONANNO FOR, FOR REALLY SPEARHEADING THIS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SO NEEDED.
AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST GIVE A LITTLE CREDIT FOR THE FORESIGHT OF, UH, COUNCILMAN LEE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEARD THE, THE FIRST PRIORITY OR THE MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE HOME REPAIRS, I MEAN, JUST TWO MEETINGS AGO, HE'S BEEN DEVELOPING A PLAN TO DO THAT AND, AND PUTTING MONEY, 500,000 OF HIS OWN DISTRICT MONEY TO START THAT.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN.
SO KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR FORESIGHT COUNCIL.
I'M, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP REAL QUICK.
SO WITH RESPECT TO THE CURRENT PROGRAMS WE HAVE IN PLACE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS VERY STRICT GUIDELINES AND INCOME RESTRICTIONS, BUT IF WE USE PARISH DOLLARS, WE ESTABLISH THOSE GUIDELINES.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE HEARD FROM ANY ABOUT SENIORS.
I NEED THINGS FIXED ON MY HOUSE, BUT THE FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS ARE SET SO LOW, I DON'T QUALIFY.
SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, COUNCILMAN KERNER.
'CAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS.
AND MY, MIGHT I ADD THAT WE HAVE AREAS IN JEFFERSON PARISH ON THE WEST BANK THAT HAVE, THAT LACKS GROCERY.
AND IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD MET WITH AT LEAST 11 GROCERY COMPANIES, UH, TO ENTICE THEM, UH, TO OPEN UP A GROCERY STORE IN THAT MARKET.
SO OUR SOLUTION WAS WE BOUGHT A MOBILE PANTRY, AND THAT MOBILE PANTRY SERVES THE, UH, THOSE CLIENT, I'M SORRY, THOSE CONSTITUENTS IN, ON BOTH THE WEST BANK AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE EAST BANK, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF THEM DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION AND CERTAINLY LIVE ALONE.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR VIABLE SOLUTIONS.
I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID WAS ALREADY SOMETHING THAT I UNDERSTOOD VERY WELL AS HAVING BEEN SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY FOR MANY YEARS.
YOU ALL TOUCHED ON ALL OF THE POINTS.
AND SO WE DO CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, UH, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF, UH, THE EMPIRICAL DATA THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED US, BUT ALSO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE HELP OUR SENIORS.
AND AS I ALWAYS SAY, THEY'VE PAID THEIR TAXES, THEY'VE RAISED THEIR CHILDREN, AND IN MANY CASES THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
AND SO WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN.
AND SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND CONGRAT, THANK YOU DINO, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE, UH, THE PARISH DOES OFFER SERVICES, BUT THE DIFFICULTY WITH HOW WE'RE SET UP IS WE HAVE SERVICES OFFERED IN A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, AND IT'S HARD FOR EACH DEPARTMENT TO GET THE WORD OUT.
THE FUNDING SOURCES ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
THEY'RE ON DIFFERENT TIMELINES.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS IF WE COULD DO A MILLAGE, BUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT MILLAGES ARE ON DIFFERENT SCHEDULES.
THE THE ANSWER IS CENTRALIZING THE SERVICES SO THAT THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR.
[01:20:01]
ON IT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION SIDE, I MEAN, A WHOLE HOST OF DEPARTMENTS DO PROVIDE SOME SERVICES.OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, JEFF CAP AND RECREATION LIBRARY, BUT AGAIN, IT'S ALL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
SO I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT IN CENTRALIZING THAT AND CENTRALIZING THE MESSAGE.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.
COUNCILMAN WALKER HAS, THANK YOU.
I'LL BE BRIEF, BRIEF, VERY BRIEF.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN BONANNO.
AND, UM, AS YOU KNOW, AS I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I'M WILLING AND EXCITED TO HELP IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN.
UM, WITH THAT EFFORT IN MAY OF 2025, THE COUNCIL HIRED BARRY DUNN, A CONSULTING FIRM TO HELP WITH OUR PERMITTING PROCESS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARISH PRESIDENTS, UH, ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PERMITTING AND PLANNING.
THAT, UH, REPORT IS DONE AND RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
AND I HAD A NINE AND A HALF MINUTE VIDEO THAT I'M NOT GONNA SHOW YOU TODAY,
UM, BUT IT IS POSTED ON JEFF PARRISH.GOV AND WE'RE GONNA SHARE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.
IT RUNS THROUGH, UH, THE RECORD, THE FINDINGS, THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND HOW WE CAN HELP STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS.
IT'S SOMETHING I'VE TALKED ABOUT AND MANY OF US HAVE TALKED ABOUT, BUT ME SPECIFICALLY SINCE 2019.
AND SOMETIMES THINGS TAKE A LITTLE WHILE, BUT, UM, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
AND, UH, THAT REPORT HAS SOME REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE IMPLEMENTATIONS COME NEXT TO MAKE THE, THE PERMITTING AND PLANNING PROCESS EASIER FOR OUR USERS IN THE PARISH, EASIER FOR BUSINESSES, UM, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE.
AND THAT'S, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WALKER.
WE PROMISE TO WATCH IT AND REALLY APPRECIATE NOT HAVING THE NINE MINUTE VIDEO, UH, THIS MORNING.
[PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION(S) ON AGENDA/ADDENDUM AGENDA]
PART OF THE COUNCIL MEETING WHERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON AN ITEM, A RESOLUTION THAT'S ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA, IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ORDINANCE, THAT WILL BE DONE INDIVIDUALLY WHEN THAT ORDINANCE COMES UP.SO IF YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UM, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, AND IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
KIM SHALENE, UH, INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR, UH, JEFFERSON PARISH.
AND BEFORE YOU START MY THREE MINUTES, UM, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN BONANNO FOR HIS SENIOR STUDY.
UM, MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO I WAS INCREDIBLY CLOSE TO, LIVED TO THE AGE OF 99.
SHE PASSED AFTER SLIPPING AND FALLING, UM, IN ST.
FRANCIS CHURCH ON EASTER SUNDAY.
UM, AND SHE LIVED IN HER HOUSE UNTIL SHE PASSED.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE MOST ENJOYED, WHICH I THINK HAS GONE AWAY, IS SHE LOVED HER LITTLE SENIOR CITIZEN TRIPS, AND THEY WENT TO MUSEUMS AND THEY WENT AND VISITED PROPERTIES, AND IT KEPT HER ENGAGED WITH OTHER, UM, SENIOR CITIZENS.
SO I'M EXCITED THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKING IT ON.
I LIVED NEXT TO HER WHILE I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL.
I'M EMBARRASSED TO SAY SHE PROBABLY HEARD WILSON PHILLIPS BLARING, UH, THROUGH THE WALLS OF THE SHOTGUN.
UM, BUT JUST HEARING THAT THEY'RE COMING AGAIN BRINGS ME BACK TO BOTH A SCARY TIME IN LIFE AND A HAPPY TIME IN LIFE.
UM, I AM HERE TO ADDRESS YOU ON ITEM 66, WHICH IS THE SELECTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE, UM, FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE THAT TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR.
UM, I AM NOT CONCERNED, PER SE, ABOUT THE OUTCOME OR THE IMPACT ON THIS REPORT.
I DO WANT TO MAKE THESE REMARKS.
UM, IN 2024, UM, SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS ADDRESSED THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION.
AND AT THAT TIME, IT WAS A VALUE THAT YOU ARTICULATED, A STANDARD THAT YOU STATED, UM, THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND STAFF MUST BE FREE, IN FACT, AN APPEARANCE FROM ANY KIND OF IMPAIRMENT TO THEIR INDEPENDENCE, AND THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE.
SEVERAL REMARKS THAT FOLLOWED, UM, WERE ALSO CRITICAL OF ME IN TERMS OF ANY SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS THAT I MADE.
UM, THOSE COMMENTS I THINK, ARE CONSISTENT WITH A PATTERN YOU LATER ARTICULATED, UM, AND I THINK PUT FORTH A STANDARD OF AN EXPECTATION OF THE FIREMEN RELATED TO THEIR COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
UM, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH, AND I THINK THAT PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND ENGAGEMENT ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL, WHICH YOU HAVE SELECTED HAS EXPRESSED CERTAIN OPINIONS ABOUT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, BOTH CALLING, UM, FOR A JUSTIFICATION OF OUR JURISDICTION, QUOTE, WHETHER IT'S A GOOD DEAL OR NOT, NOT MY POINT.
THIS IS NOT FOR THE IG TO DECIDE.
THE IG HASN'T EVEN STATED VALLEY GROUNDS FOR JURISDICTION.
UM, ALSO THIS INDIVIDUAL COMMENTED ABOUT THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL'S CHOICE TO FUND THE BREW PUB, WHICH WAS A REPORT THAT WHAT WAS PUT OUT LAST YEAR.
LIKEWISE, THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIFICALLY SAID, UM, YOU ASSUME THE INDEPENDENCE OF A REPORT.
[01:25:01]
FOUND THE BREW PUB REPORT TO BE COMPLETELY BIASED IN LACKING CRITICAL FACTS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION.UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I, I DON'T KNOW THIS INDIVIDUAL, AND I WOULD HOPE AND TRUST THAT, UM, THEY WILL APPROACH THEIR OBLIGATIONS WITH OBJECTIVITY.
BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK THAT THERE IS A ROLE FOR ADVOCATES, AND THERE IS A ROLE FOR PEOPLE WITH A JUDICIAL TEMPERAMENT, MEANING JUDGES DO NOT GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT ISSUES AND FACTS THAT MIGHT COME BEFORE THEM.
I THINK THAT IS A STANDARD THAT IS ALSO CARRIED OVER TO AUDITORS WHO HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM OF IMPAIRMENTS FROM ANY OPINIONS THAT THEY HOLD, OR BELIEFS THAT THEY HOLD.
AND I THINK THAT THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS FOR THE LAST, UM, SINCE THE OFFICES HAS STOOD UP, BEEN APPOINTED WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO DID EXERCISE, THAT THEY NEVER WENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WHEN I ENGAGED WITH THEM, I REALLY HAD NO CONCEPT OF WHAT THEIR LEVEL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WAS, UM, BECAUSE THEY KEPT THEIR OPINIONS TO THEMSELVES.
SO THIS SELECTION REPRESENTS A DEPARTURE FROM THE STANDARD AND THE VALUES WHICH YOU YOURSELVES HAVE ARTICULATED AND SOUGHT TO HOLD OTHERS FOR.
AND THEN THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES, I THINK IT IS A DEVIATION FROM THE PROCESS THAT WAS ATTENDED TO THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHERE THOSE MEMBERS DID VALUE OBJECTIVITY, UM, AND RECOGNIZE, UH, THAT THEIR OPINIONS WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THE ONES THAT THEY PUBLICLY POSTED, AND NOT TO ANY OPINIONS THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY HELD.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET ME ASSURE YOU, UM, I MAKE THESE COMMENTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.
I MAKE THESE COMMENTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOU.
AND AGAIN, THE MICROPHONE FOR ANYONE SPEAKING, UM, THIS MORNING CUTS OFF AT THREE MINUTES AUTOMATICALLY.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS BETTY PURCELL, AND I'M, I RESIDE AT, UM, 8,700 LOUISIANA.
AND, UM, I'M HERE BY DIVINE APPOINTMENT.
THE LORD GAVE ME A SCRIPTURE TO GIVE TO YOU GUYS, AND I HOPE THAT YOU RECEIVE IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, IT, IT CONCERNS, UM, THE WATER BILLS BECAUSE WE AS THESE PEOPLE THAT THIS, THAT WE'RE TALKING JUST RECENT, JUST NOW, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD, YOU KNOW, UM, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS THE ELDERLY.
A LOT OF YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE HAVING MORE WATER, UH, PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FINANCES.
THE BREWERY ON THE WEST BANK IS A REALLY BIG CONCERN OF MINE AND ALSO, UM, OTHER THINGS.
BUT ANYWAY, THE LORD GAVE ME THE SCRIPTURE AND SAID TO BE SURE TO COME HERE.
I I'M NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER AND I DON'T REALLY ENJOY THIS, BUT I'M HERE.
AND SO I WANNA GIVE YOU THE SCRIPTURE.
IT SAYS, UM, AND THE KING, KING, JESUS, JESUS CHRIST, SHALL ANSWER AND SAY UNTO THEM, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, IN AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE DONE UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE, MY BRETHREN, YOU HAVE DONE IT TO ME.
SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE DO TO OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, ANYONE COMING FORWARD TO SPEAK ON A RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA? I JUST WANTED TO, I'M AL ROBIO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON AGING.
I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND THE PARISH PRESIDENT, THE COUNCIL, AND HMA FOR THE WORK THEY DID ON THE SURVEY.
WE APPRECIATED VERY MUCH ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I SEE THAT, UH, ACCESS TO SERVICES IS NUMBER ONE.
WE CANNOT USE THE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR ADVERTISING.
SO WE'RE VERY LIMITED IN HOW WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE CITIZENS AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT OUR SERVICES.
WE DO HAVE A WEBSITE, IT'S WWW JCO.NET.
AND A LOT, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW IS THAT WE HELP CITIZENS WITH MEDICAID AND MEDICARE QUESTIONS, HELPING THEM WITH ANY FORMS THAT THEY HAVE OR ANY PROBLEMS THEY HAVE WITH ANY BILLINGS.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, SO WE HAVE PEOPLE ON STAFF TO DO THAT.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL.
I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO THANK DINO BANANA, WHO HAS BEEN OUT FRONT ALL THE TIME, AND ALL OF THE COUNCILMEN HAVE HELPED.
WHENEVER I'VE CALLED THEM, THEY'VE ASSISTED.
DON'T FORGET, WE HAVE OUR GALA COMING UP ON AUGUST 8TH.
COME OUT, BUY TICKETS, BE A SPONSOR.
AND SOME OF YOU HAVE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND CONSE LEE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN TO HELP SENIORS WITH REPAIRS, BECAUSE WE CONSTANTLY GET QUESTIONS
[01:30:01]
ABOUT, THEY HAVE MINOR REPAIRS OF THEIR HOUSE, BUT IT'LL BECOME MAJOR IF IT'S NOT DONE AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.JEFFERSON PARISH SENIORS ARE PROPERTY RICH AND DOLLAR POOR.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY HAVE HOUSES THAT THEY BOUGHT IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES THAT ARE NOW WORTH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO MAINTAIN THEM AND TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
SO THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, YOU ALL STEPPED FORWARD WHEN I ASKED FOR YOUR HELP, AND THAT'S GREAT ABOUT THE, UH, REPAIRS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LEE, AND THANK ALL OF YOU.
AND OF COURSE, THANK LIZ FOR THE WORK THAT HER AGENCY HAS DONE.
THANKS SO MUCH MS. AU, AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE TIME, UM, WE GRANTED A LITTLE, UH, SIDETRACKED THERE BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON SENIORS.
UM, AND SO, UM, I UNDERSTAND THE COMMENTS BEING, UH, TIMELY.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS THE PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
IF YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON, PLEASE COME FORWARD, PUT THOSE OUT THERE.
SO THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY'S CONFUSED.
I WASN'T SURE IF YOU WERE GONNA HAVE THE SENIOR THING TALK BEFORE THE RESOLUTIONS.
FRANKIE HIRES TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY IN THE WAY WE GO WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES LACKING FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT REQUIRED TO EXERCISE THAT CONTROL WITH THE WHOLESOME DISCRETION.
THE REMEDY IS NOT TO TAKE IT FROM YOU, ME, OURSELVES, BUT TO INFORM OUR DISCRETION WHERE TO BEGIN.
I DID NOT KNOW, UH, LIEUTENANT, LIEUTENANT DENNIS WELL ENOUGH TO CALL HIM A FRIEND OR TO SPEAK OF HIM PERSONALLY, BUT I DO KNOW I MET HIM.
I DO KNOW THAT THE FIREMEN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE WAITING AND, AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE WORST PART ABOUT, ABOUT THIS FOR ME ANYWAY PERSONALLY, IS THAT I CAN'T HELP BUT LOOK TO EXACTLY THE CAUSALITY AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENS.
I'M LOOKING AT THAT NEWS AND I SEE THAT, I SEE THIS, I SEE THE WRECKAGE OF SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE JOB GETTING DONE.
YOU ARE GONNA SPEND MONEY ON ONE 19 TO DO SOMETHING TO A FIRE STATION.
AGAIN, STEALING MONEY, STEALING MILLAGE MONEY TO SERVE A CONTRACTOR WHILE THE FIREMAN CAN'T GET PAID.
THERE'S A-D-O-T-D ISSUE ON, ON THE AGENDA.
I TAKE EXCEPTION WITH ANYTHING GOING ON WITH THE DOTD RELATED TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE SENATOR ON THE HOUSE, UH, ON THE SENATE COMMITTEES OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.
NOT ONE MEMBER LIVES IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID TO US IN JEFF IN, UH, BATON ROUGE? 'CAUSE NONE OF YOU SHOWED UP.
NOT ONE PERSON ON BEHALF OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
THIS IS THE DOTD ISSUE IS RELEVANT.
WHAT ITEM IS THAT? THE D-O-T-D-L? YEP.
OKAY, I GOT ITEM 66 TO 68, PAGE 1371 IS DOTD ITEM 71, I BELIEVE TO THE LOCAL RESIDENT.
SO NOW YOU'RE TAKING MY TIME TO INTERRUPT ME.
IT'S CONFUSION TO MULTITUDES AND A TYRANNY OF FEW.
NONE OF YOU HOLD LEGITIMATE POWER ULTRA VERY US, RIGHT? I DEMAND THAT BOTH AT LARGE MEMBERS RECUSE THEMSELVES.
YOUR SENATORS, YOU SKEW THE OUTCOMES OF EVERY VOTE.
THERE'S NO LEGITIMACY GOING ON WITH FIVE DISTRICTS AND TWO AT LARGE MEMBERS.
SO OPPOSE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND REPUBLICAN FORM IS ADJUDICATED HERE.
SO GOING ON, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE THAT YOU'VE TAKEN FROM ME ALREADY? 66.
I OPPOSE THE CONTINUITY, THE BREAKING CONTINUITY FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
WHILE THERE'S CONFLICTS OF INTEREST HERE, YOU'RE BREAKING CONTINUITY TO SERVE PERSONAL INTEREST.
THERE WAS A PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO THE BREW PUB.
THERE WAS A PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO THE WATER ACTIVITIES.
YOU SERVE TWO MASTERS, THERE'S TWO WATER DEPARTMENTS.
YOU DON'T HAVE AN OFFICE OPEN.
YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COVID SO THAT YOU CAN CLOSE OFFICES.
YOU ARE UNACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE AT ALL.
I OPPOSE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON A, AN ITEM THAT IS A RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA.
THERE'S A RESOLUTION ABOUT WORK BILL.
UM, THERE'S A SUMMARY ITEM, BUT NOTHING THAT'S BEING VOTED ON TODAY.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, UM, ON THAT, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AT THE VERY END OF THE MEETING.
IT CAN BE ANY ITEM, UH, THEREAFTER.
SEEING NO ONE ELSE, UH, TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO,
[ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED]
UM, CANCEL ITEM ONE AND DEFER ITEMS TWO AND THREE TO JULY 22ND.SO CANCELING ITEM ONE AND DEFERRING ITEMS TWO AND THREE TO JULY 22ND.
COUNCILMAN WALKER YOUR MOTION MOVE? COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES.
OH, I'LL SECOND OPEN THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM.
[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]
MOVE NOW TO ITEM FOUR, MADAM CLERK, A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS[01:35:01]
OR FIRMS TO PROVIDE CHARTER BUS SERVICE FOR TEAM TRAVEL FOR JEFFERSON PARISH ATHLETIC TEAMS ON AND AS NEEDED BASIS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR UNDER RFP NUMBER 0 5 1 2.COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR, UH, MOVE, UH, MOVE TO SELECT HOTARD COACHES.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO SELECT HOTARD COACHES SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM.
SELECTING HOTARD COACHES CLOSING THE VOTE.
THE ITEM PASSES SELECTING HOTARD COACHES.
ITEM FIVE IS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WILL MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT NOON.
[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES]
SIX, SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 1 0 RESUB OF LOT H 3 21 H TWO E AIMS, FARM SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS.ONE TO 47 MARYANN ESTATE SUBDIVISION WITH A WAIVER TO THE GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 33 DASH 2.35 SUBDIVISION WAIVERS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND THE DEDICATION OF MARYANN DRIVE.
RAYMOND MATTHEW COURT, CHEVY COURT, MOLINA COURT, AND THE EXTENSION OF LAMONT'S DRIVE AND MARIE STREET AND A FIVE FOOT UTILITY AND DRAINAGE SERVITUDES WS DASH 1 25 DASH 25 COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE SO IT HAS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'RE GONNA WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
UM, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD, IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, UM, AND INTRODUCE YOUR, UH, YOURSELF WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
UH, TO BEGIN, LEMME TURN ON JAY DRAN, 1624 MANHATTAN BOULEVARD.
AND HARVEY, I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.
WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING ON, UH, FIRST PUPPETEERING IS IN APRIL.
AND SINCE THAT TIME WE DID HAVE A MEETING ARRANGED BY COMAN KERNER WITH A COUPLE OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS.
THE MEETING, WE WERE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THIS PLAN, WHY WE HAVE THIS PLAN PROPOSED, WHY WE'RE STICKING WITH THIS PLAN.
IF YOU GET PRELIMINARY APPROVAL, WE CAN'T BE CHANGED.
SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND.
WE WERE ALSO WENT OVER THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS TO SHOW THEM WHY THE ANALYSIS SAID THIS HAS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON THE TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WENT OVER A COUPLE OF PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES JUST FOR THE DISCUSSION PURPOSES, ONE OF WHICH HAD A ROAD TIMEFRAMES BOULEVARD, WHICH IS WHAT PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS PROMOTING TO DO.
WE SHOWED HOW THAT WAS GONNA BE VERY COSTLY, COSTLY TO THE PROJECT, NOT REALLY HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, AND ALSO WOULD COME WITH ABOUT ADDITIONAL EIGHT OR SO VARIANCES THAT THAT WOULD REQUIRE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.
WE THEN PRESENTED A A DIFFERENT PLAN, WHICH IS BEST WE CAN TELL WOULD HAVE ZERO VARIANCES REQUIRED.
IT HAD MORE ROADS, SO ADDITIONAL LOTS, AND IT TOOK LAMONTS AND MADE IT TO THE PASS THROUGH STREETS TO TIE INTO DOLORES.
THAT IS SOMETHING THEY DID NOT LIKE.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE KNEW THEY DID NOT LIKE, AND WE TOLD 'EM THAT'S WHY WE NEVER PROPOSED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO THE PLAN WE HAD BEFORE YOU IS, IS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK STILL IS GOOD PLAN.
WE LEFT THAT MEETING WITH THEM.
WE'RE BELIEVING THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT, SO WE UNDERSTOOD AND ANSWERED ALL THAT QUESTIONS.
WE STILL BELIEVE THIS IS REALLY THE GOOD PLAN OF HOW TO DEVELOP THE AREA FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL AGAIN.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 1 0.
I'M THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 1 0.
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT TWO, UH, SPOKE IN SUPPORT.
NO ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMAN KERNER YOUR MOTION? YEAH, LOOK, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, THE RAMOS FAMILY AND THE RESIDENTS OF MARRERO THAT, UM, CAME TO THAT MEETING AND WE, WE HAD A PRODUCTIVE, UH, CONVERSATION AND, AND EARLY ON, YOU, YOU GUYS MADE A, A FEW CHANGES THAT YOU, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE, UH, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THAT COMMUNITY.
I KNOW Y'ALL LIVE, UH, ESPECIALLY THE ELDER AROUND MOST LIVES IN, UH, IN THAT COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
AND JUST FOR CLARITY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DOUBLE DENIAL WITH THE OTHER OPTION THAT WOULD'VE BEEN APPROVAL, APPROVAL WOULD'VE BEEN SMALLER, LOTS, UH, MUCH SMALLER LOTS AND HAD ACCESS, UH, LAMONTS, WHICH WITH, WITH MANY MORE HOUSES THAT, THAT THE RESIDENTS CERTAINLY DID NOT WANT.
SO, UH, YOU CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE THESE, UH, THESE CHANGES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THAT COMMUNITY, BUT I KNOW YOU DID IT BECAUSE YOU WANT SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOU CARE ABOUT
[01:40:01]
IT.UM, SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I WANNA THANK THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT AND UH, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALSO, YOU KNOW, MAKING LOTS A LITTLE BIGGER IN THAT AREA.
SO, UH, THAT BEING SAID, I'D MOVE TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM.
ITEM SIX PASSES MADAM CLERK ITEM SEVEN, SUMMARY NUMBER 2 67 42 RESUB OF LOT G ONE B ELMWOOD LEFT AND EAR PLANTATION SUBDIVISION INTO LOT G ONE B ONE AND G ONE B TWO AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION ES DASH 10 DASH 26 COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM SEVEN.
ON ON OUR AGENDA SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 2.
IF UH, YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME, UH, AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
JOSEPH ORRY, ONE GALLERIA BOULEVARD, SUITE 1506.
UM, HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE SUBDIVISION.
THIS IS A, AN ADMINISTRATIVE FOLLOW UP TO THE ALREADY EXECUTED GROUND LEASE, UM, BETWEEN THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AND THE PARISH.
SO, UH, HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 2 MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN SUPPORT NONE IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO, MADAM CHAIR, I'M GONNA MOVE TO DEFER THIS MATTER.
THIS IS A REESE SUBDIVISION OF PARISH OWNED PROPERTY OF WHICH I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE.
NO ONE CAME TO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT IT.
AND IT'S PROBLEMATIC IN THAT THE LUMPING TOGETHER ALL OF THE LOTS IN G ONE B TWO MAY OR MAY NOT VIOLATE LEASES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE WITH THE STATE, WITH THE SUPER DO COMMISSION, WITH THE SAINTS, ET CETERA.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS AND SO WE HAVE SOME ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH ON THIS.
SO I'M GONNA DEFER THIS TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
SO WE'RE DEFERRING THIS TO JULY 22ND.
ALRIGHT, THANKS SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN.
UM, COUNCILMAN BONNO MOVES TO DEFER THIS TO JULY 22ND COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
SECONDS EVERYBODY VOTING ON THE DEFERRAL OF THE ITEM TO JULY 22ND, CLOSING THE VOTE.
THE ITEM PASSES TO DEFER NUMBER SEVEN TO JULY 22ND MEETING.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - VARIANCES]
ITEM EIGHT, SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 2 4 APPROVING SP DASH 85 DASH 25 REQUESTED VARIANCES TO THE AREA REGULATIONS, PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND LANDSCAPE AND BUFFER REQUIREMENTS OF THE CBZ FOR A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 34 0 7 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY ON LOT X ONE A SQUARE, A CLAYBORNE GATEWAY SUBDIVISION COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON ITEM EIGHT AND ARE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 2 4 IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 2 4 PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
THE ITEM PASSES MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ.
UM, ITEM NUMBER NINE, SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 3 APPROVING SP DASH 77 DASH 25 REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE LANDSCAPING AND PARKING REGULATIONS OF THE COMMERCIAL PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE FOR SEAR AND BODY ARE LOCATED AT 32 0 9 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY ON LOT ONE SQUARE C SHE GARDEN SUBDIVISION.
WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM.
WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 3.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MY ADDRESS IS 8 3 2 MARYLAND AVENUE.
UM, I'M THE OWNER OF 32 0 9 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY.
JUST AS A QUICK OVERVIEW, UM, I'M REQUESTING THIS VARIANCE DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE PREEXISTING BUILDING ON THE LOT.
UM, WE HAVE MAXIMIZED THE NUMBER OF SPOTS, UH,
[01:45:01]
THAT WE CAN FIT ON THE LOT.WE ONLY HAVE ROOM FOR FOUR, WE TECHNICALLY NEED 12.
UM, WE DID, UM, MENTION IN THE, UH, PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING THAT IF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN SUBMITTED AFTER DECEMBER 25TH, 2025, WE'D REALLY ONLY NEED EIGHT PARKING SPOTS.
UM, AND WE CAN ONLY ADD PARKING OFF THE SIDE OF WILLIAM AVENUE SINCE THE OTHER SIDE IS JEFFERSON HIGHWAY.
UM, DUE TO THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO MOVE SOME LANDSCAPING SINCE PARKING WILL BE ON THE SIDE OF WILLIAM AVENUE.
UM, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THAT LANDSCAPING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND EVEN PUT EXTRA LANDSCAPING TO MAKE UP FOR IT.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER IS THAT WE DO HAVE A RECIPROCAL PARKING AGREEMENT WITH BAKER'S DOZEN TO HANDLE ANY PARKING OVERFLOW AND THIS BUSINESS WILL BE MOSTLY AN APPOINTMENT-BASED BUSINESS.
SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TOO MANY CONCERNS ABOUT PARKING.
AND IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER THEM.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN, IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MY NAME IS ALEXIS VINCENT AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE VARIANCE REQUEST FOR 32 0 9 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY.
THE PROPERTY IS LIMITED IN SIZE AND SIMPLY CANNOT ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED UNDER THE CURRENT REGULATIONS.
DESPITE THOSE LIMITATIONS, THE OWNERS HAVE MAXIMIZED THE AVAILABLE SPACE AND PROVIDED FOUR ONSITE PARKING SPACES.
THEY ALSO HAVE SECURED A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH BAKER'S DOZEN TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO USE ITS PARKING LOT, PROVIDING A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO MEET PARKING NEEDS.
IN ADDITION, THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT-BASED BUSINESS WHICH HELPS LIMIT PARKING DEMAND AND PREVENTS THE KIND OF TRAFFIC VOLUME ASSOCIATED WITH MANY OTHER COMMERCIAL USES.
THE OWNERS HAVE WORKED IN GOOD FAITH TO ADDRESS CONCERNS, COMMUNICATE WITH NEIGHBORS, AND FIND SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN SIMPLY ASKING FOR AN EXCEPTION.
APPROVING THIS VARIANCE WOULD ALLOW A CURRENTLY UNDERUTILIZED COMMUNITY PROPERTY, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, SORRY, TO PUT A PRODUCTIVE USE TO BE PUT TO PRODUCTIVE USE WHILE REMAINING COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA.
IT WOULD ALSO SUPPORT INVESTMENT IN A DESIGNATED OPPORTUNITY ZONE WHERE JEFFERSON PARISH HAS ENCOURAGED REVITALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
FOR THESE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AT 32 0 9 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 3 AND IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS GERALD LAR, 8 28 MARYLAND MET LOUISIANA.
I'M SPEAKING IN, UH, IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, OF THE PROPERTY AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS AND THE UM, AND THE VARIANCE OF IT.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM? ADAM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MICHELLE TOGGLE 6 1 6 MARYLAND AVENUE.
UM, NOT GONNA REPEAT ANYTHING YOU GUYS ALREADY HEARD.
JUST WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE APPROVE THE REQUEST.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM? SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 3.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT FOUR SPOKE IN FAVOR.
NO ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
UM, COUNCILMAN BONANNO REAL QUICKLY, MS. UH, MARTIN, DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZE THE LEASE FOR THE ADDITIONAL PARKING THAT THEY WERE REFERRING TO? I, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT, SIR.
UM, SO HOW, HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT THE APP, THE APPLICATION? SO THE ONLY WAY THAT THE PARKING WOULD BE ALLOWED TO COUNT TOWARD REQUIRED PARKING IS IF THE AGREEMENT WITH, WITH BAKER'S DOZEN, IF BAKER'S DOZEN HAS SUFFICIENT PARKING AND THEN EXTRA, THAT EXTRA COULD BE COUNTED TOWARD THE REQUIRED PARKING.
BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THE AGREEMENT AND I HAVEN'T DONE THE ANALYSIS TO KNOW THAT FOR CERTAIN.
I WILL SAY EVEN IF IT DOESN'T, THE AGREEMENT, UM, DOES WORK HELP TO MITIGATE THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
SOMEONE WITH THE APPLICANT WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM AND ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARKING SITUATION.
[01:50:11]
SO HOW MANY SPOTS HAVE Y'ALL SECURED FROM BAKER'S DOZEN? UM, THE WHOLE PARKING LOT.WE'RE OPEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
THEY USUALLY CLOSE WHEN THEY RUN OUTTA DONUTS, WHICH IS PRETTY EARLY.
UM, SO THEY SHOULD CLOSE ABOUT 11.
WE'RE NOT GONNA OPEN UP UNTIL AT THE EARLIEST NOON.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY I'M GONNA DEFER THIS ITEM AND I'D LIKE Y'ALL TO WORK WITH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT INFORMATION.
I THINK WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IF WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
SO LET'S DEFER TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN Y'ALL CAN WORK WITH MS.
DEFER TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO JULY 22ND.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE VOTING ON DEFERRING THIS ITEM TO JULY THE 22ND AND CLOSING THE VOTE.
THE ITEM PASSES AND IS DEFERRED.
[OTHER ORDINANCES]
SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 4.GRANTING A NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TO LATUM LLC TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE AN INNER BUILDING FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION SERVICE SYSTEM FOR LARE LLC TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY OF AN UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON PARISH HAS PROVIDED AND THEN GOVERNED BY CHAPTER 35.5 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON IN THE PERMITTING PROCEDURES OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO.
RIGHT, WE UM, CAN WAIVE THE READING AND WE ARE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 4.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 4 MADAM CLERK PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES FOR APPROVAL OPENING THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN CLOSING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM SEVEN YAYS ZERO NAYS, THE ITEM PASSES MADAM CLERK.
ITEM 11, SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 5 AMENDING SECTIONS 35.5 DASH ONE THROUGH 35.5 DASH 26 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATIVE TO WIRELINE TELECOMMUNICATION FRANCHISES TO ADD SECTIONS 35.5 DASH 27 AND 35.5 DASH 28 TO THE CODE RELATIVE TO WIRELINE TELECOMMUNICATION FRANCHISES TO AMEND THE TITLE OF CHAPTER 35.5 OF THE CODE TO AMEND THE TITLES OF ARTICLE ONE, TWO AND THREE OF CHAPTER 35.5 OF THE CODE TO ADD ARTICLES FOUR, FIVE AND SIX TO CHAPTER 35.5 OF THE CODE TO DESIGNATE THE IN THE SECTIONS THAT EACH ARTICLE IS COMPRISED OF TWO REPEAL SECTION 35.5 DASH 60 THROUGH 35.5 DASH SIX AND SECTION 35.5 DASH 80 OF THE CODE.
THANK YOU MADAM CLERK, WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 5 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
OKAY GUYS, YOU KNOW I'M GONNA OPPOSE ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF AS A GRANT ADMINISTRATION.
UGH, WE GOT NO FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE BODY, WE GOT NO STATE REPRESENTATIVE BODY.
MULTITUDES, I COULD GO ON FOR 15 MINUTES.
I'M NOT GONNA 'CAUSE I WANT TO GET TO THE NEXT ONE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE APPEARED IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
MADAM CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 12.
SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 6 REPEALING ARTICLE FIVE, DIVISION 36, SECTION 2 515 0.2 THROUGH SECTION TWO DASH FIVE 15.22 IN THE CODE
[01:55:01]
OF ORDINANCES HAS A RESULT OF THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION BEING SUBSUMED BY THE NEWLY CREATED OFFICE OF CENTRAL GRANTS ADMINISTRATION, THE ELIMINATION OF THE JOB CLASSIFICATION AND PAY GRADE IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 1 8 4 8 3, THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN FOR THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION.WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW ON SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 6.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM 12, CLOSING THE VOTE.
ITEM 12 PASSES MADAM CLERK ITEM 13, SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 7.
AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING SECTION TWO DASH 1 58 AND TWO DASH 1 59 RELATIVE TO THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER AND THE APPOINTMENT QUALIFICATION DUTIES AND SALARY OF THE COMPTROLLER.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 7.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SU TO APPEAR IN OPPOSITION? SURPRISE SURPRISE PRIZE.
THERE ARE PLACES THAT HAVE COMPTROLLERS.
THE LAST PLACE I JUST SAW THAT HAS A COMPTROLLER.
I HAPPEN TO BE LOOKING AT AN ELECTION AND THAT WOULD BE CALIFORNIA.
THEY HAVE COMPTROLLERS JUST AS THIS PARISH IS BECOMING ORLEANS PARISH BY DESIGN, BY CONSTRUCT I HEAR A COMPTROLLER.
NOW I'VE GOT ANO ANOTHER BUREAUCRAT TO PAY.
ANOTHER ADMINISTRATOR GONNA MAKE SIX FIGURES.
I DO BELIEVE THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE THIS CHOICE TO WHERE THE, WHETHER THEY EITHER OBLIGE THEMSELVES TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM OR TO WHAT I HAVE TO RAIL AGAINST.
EVERY TIME WE ESTABLISH ONE OF THESE POSITIONS, THEIR RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL'S EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT BENEFIT PROGRAM, ARE THEY GONNA HAVE ACCESS TO THAT? IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING? SO THAT I'M OBLIGED TO 12% ON EVERY DOLLAR THEY MAKE TO SUBSTITUTE, SUBSIDIZE WHAT ENDS UP BEING PAROCHIAL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES COULD BE NEFARIOUSLY DOING ANYTHING CONVICTED OF ANY NUMBER OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY EVEN.
AND MY TAX DOLLARS, MY MY REVENUE IS GONNA GO TO SUPPORT THAT SYSTEM.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER BIG OLD BLOCK OF MY MONEY.
AND BY MINE I MEAN THE ROYAL MINE OURS.
ALL OF OUR MONEY DEDICATED TO A PENSION SYSTEM THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.
ONE MORE BUREAUCRAT MAKING ANOTHER SIX FIGURES.
WHY CAN'T WE PAY TEACHERS? THERE'S CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
THIS COUNCIL SERVES PAROCHIAL INTEREST, NOT PUBLIC SCHOOL INTERESTS.
IT SHOWS EVERYWHERE THIS ILLEGITIMACY YOU SERVE FIVE DISTRICTS THAT LINK DIFFERENTLY.
TAXED PLACES THIS COMPTROLLER GONNA SPEAK TO THAT IS THE COMPTROLLER GONNA SPEAK TO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ARBITRARY TAXATION IMPOSED UPON MY FELLOW CITIZENS? ONE FROM THE NEXT BENEFITING OR PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY IS GOT COP TROY GONNA DO THAT.
IT'S JUST ANOTHER SUBSTITUTE FOR THE OIGI OPPOSE THIS BUREAUCRATIC CONFUSION OF MULTITUDES.
THERE'S A TYRANNY OF FEW BECAUSE WE AREN'T APPORTIONED.
THERE'S NO APPRECIATION FOR THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES THAT PRESCRIBE FOR YOUR CONSTRUCT.
SO I OPPOSE EVERYTHING YOU DO THAT MAKES THIS MORE COMPLICATED.
MORE OF A A, A THING THAT PEOPLE GIVE INTO.
WE ACQUIESCE 'CAUSE WE CERTAINLY CAN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
I'M A JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN.
I DEMAND OF GOVERNMENT THAT'S FRUGAL AND SIMPLE.
LEGITIMIZE YOURSELVES, MAKE THIS LEGIT.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE SPOKE IN OPPOSITION.
I MOVE ON APPROVING A POSITION THAT THOUSANDS OF GOVERNMENTS LOCALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
[02:00:01]
NUMBER 2 6 7 4 8 AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1 3 7 0 9 THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN TO INCORPORATE A NEW JOB CLASSIFICATION AND ESTABLISH A PAY GRADE FOR THE POSITION OF COMPTROLLER WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER.WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 4 8.
ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO APPEAR IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
AGAIN IF YOU'LL KEEP YOUR REMARKS, UH, TO THE OFFICE BEING CREATED, I'LL CHAIR DOESN'T HAVE TO TRY AND INTERRUPT THE CITIZEN APPEARING TO OPPOSE THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER AS A CONFUSION AND MULTITUDES IN ADDITION TO MY BUREAUCRATIC BURDEN.
I DON'T NEED TO BE GUIDED, I DON'T NEED TO BE SPOKEN TO, I DON'T NEED TO BE INTERRUPTED.
YOU JUST NEED TO AFFORD ME MY TIME.
ANYTHING ELSE IS A VIOLATION OF MY FIRST AMENDMENT.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PLEAD FOR MY FIRST OR 14TH AMENDMENT.
AND LET ME SAY THIS, WHAT GOOD IS IT FOR ANYONE TO CAPTURE THE WORLD AND HAVE TO FORSAKE THEIR SOUL? HUH? RIGHT IS RIGHT EVEN IF NO ONE IS DOING IT.
AND EVEN IF EVERYONE IS DOING IT, THOUSANDS OF CITIES, THOUSANDS OF GOVERNMENTS, ALL OF THEM THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS COULD ALL BE DOING IT AND WRONG.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF DIRECT TAXES APPORTION AMONG SEVERAL PARTS OF THE PARISH? SIR, THAT'S WHAT THE COMPTROLLER IS GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE TO.
WILL THE COMPTROLLER WILL BE SWORN TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES? WILL THEY? WILL THEY? I EXPECT THAT THEY WOULD AS ANY OTHER CIVIL SERVANT IS.
SO HOW THE CONSTITUTION PRESCRIBES FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF GOVERNMENT IS RELEVANT TO EVERY SINGLE THING THAT GOVERNMENT DOES.
AND THERE IS NO LAWYER THAT COULD SAVE YOU FROM THIS BECAUSE THE LAWYER, THE JUDICIARY ISN'T INVOLVED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE REDRESSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.
SO I'M HERE TO DO THAT AND I WILL DO THAT AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY I AM GRANTED BY THE CONSTITUTION TO DO SO.
I WON'T BE DIMINISHED BY SOMEONE WHO IS EMPOWERED.
ILLEGITIMATELY, I APPRECIATE YOU RESPECTING THAT.
PLEASE NOTE ONE HAS APPEARED BARELY ON THE TOPIC AND NO ONE IN SUPPORT.
YOU GOT FOCUS A CITIZEN ONCE THEY LEAVE COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN COUNCILMAN, I'M SORRY, JUST VOTING IS CLOSED.
SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS AND PLEASE NOTE WE RESPECT THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT IT IS REQUIRED TO BE ON TOPIC.
SUMMARY NUMBER 15, UH, ON OUR AGENDA, MADAM CLERK WITH AMENDMENTS SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 5 1 AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET TO ALLOCATE AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ALLOCATE $50,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE WEST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CEA WITH NEW ORLEANS DISC GOLF CLUB FOR THE DESIGN COMPLETION OF PARK DAY FAMILS DISC GOLF COURSE INSTALLATION OF T SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE AND TOWARD HOSTING THE 2027 DISC GOLF PRO TOUR COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE ALLOCATE $9,750 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO'S WEST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR A CEA WITH THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU INCORPORATED FOR THE PRODUCTION AND PROMOTION OF THE ELITE FISHING SERIES 2026 REDFISH RELEASED AN OPEN SOLO TOUR FISHING TOURNAMENT IN JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL.
DISTRICT TWO ALLOCATE $30,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO'S WEST BANK TOURISM FUND FOR A CEA WITH EAGLE ATHLETIC FACILITIES L THREE C FOR THE EAGLE ATHLETIC FACILITY FREEDOM FEST AT 1000 BARATARIA BOULEVARD IN MURRO ON JULY 3RD AND FOURTH 2026 COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO TO DELIGATE $50,000 FROM THE CEA WITH THE TOWN OF JEAN LAFE AND REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS FROM COUNCIL AT LARGE A'S ACCOUNT NUMBER 2 2 5 2 0 2 7 9 6 7 6 8 0 4 9 2 5 2 0 6 0 0 0 FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CEA WITH THE NEW ORLEANS DISC GOLF CLUB FOR THE DESIGN COMPLETION OF THE PARK DAY FA MILLS DISC GOLF COURSE INSTALLATION OF T SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE AND TOWARD TOASTING THE 2027 DISC GOLF PRO TOUR.
BIG EASY OPEN COUNT AT LARGE A TO ALLOCATE $103,170 FROM COUN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE'S HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT ONE FUND TO PROJECT NUMBER 4 6 7 4 6 0 0 6
[02:05:03]
FOR DEMOLITION AT OAK FOREST COMMUN COMMUNITY PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE ALLOCATE $50,000 FROM THE CULTURE AND PARKS FUND FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CEA WITH NEW ORLEANS DISC GOLF CLUB FOR THE DESIGN COMPLETION OF THE PARK DAY FA MILLS DISC GOLF COURSE INSTALLATION OF T SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE AND TOWARDS HOSTING THE 2027 DISC GOLF PRO TOUR.BIG EASY OPEN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.
AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
THAT'LL BE A RECORD ON THE AMENDMENTS.
YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS MOVE TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS OPENING THE VOTING SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
OPEN THE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS AS INTRODUCED.
SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS, THE AMENDMENTS PASS.
WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW ON THIS OPERATING BUDGET.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENTS PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 5 1 PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS AMENDED.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN, VOTING IS CLOSED.
MADAM CLERK, ITEM 16, SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 5 2 AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO CANCEL THE ALLOCATION OF $3,767 FROM AT LARGE A-C-D-I-A GENERAL FUND FOR PAYMENT TO GRESHAM SMITH FOR TRA TRAIN FOE.
TO INSTALL ONE ADDITIONAL SENSOR AT CENTRAL AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT AT LARGE A ALLOCATE $3,767 FROM PROJECT NUMBER 4 5 3 2 5 6 0 7 TO PROJECT NUMBER 4 5 6 5 8 0 0 2 FOR PAYMENT TO GRESHAM SMITH FOR TRAIN FO TO INSTALL ONE ADDITIONAL SENSOR AT CENTRAL AVENUE COUNCIL AT LARGE A ALLOCATE $20,000 OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE FOR PROJECT 4 6 7 2 9 0 0 6 SOUTH AVONDALE IMPROVEMENTS COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE ALLOCATE $257,000 FROM THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT TO PROJECT NUMBER 5 8 2 0 0 0 0 2 FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE CEA WITH JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY FOR THE HOMELESS SERVICE CENTER COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $103,170 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE'S HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT ONE FUND TO PROJECT NUMBER 4 6 7 4 6 0 0 6 FOR THE DEMOLITION AT OAK FOREST COMMUNITY PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE TO RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $58,000 FROM PROJECT NUMBER 4 4 5 7 4 0 0 0 2 TO PROJECT NUMBER 1 6 5 0 6 0 0 2 FOR THE BUCKTOWN PAVILION NEAR PADDLE CANAL PARKING LOT, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE.
AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
WE ARE OPENING THE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS.
ZERO NAYS, THE AMENDMENTS PASS.
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 2 6 7 5 2.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET AS AMENDED.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET AS AMENDED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE HAS APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE AS AMENDED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN, VOTING IS CLOSED.
SEVEN YAYS ZERO NAYS, THE CAPITAL BUDGET AS AMENDED PASSES.
THIS IS WHERE COUNCILMAN WALKER WOULD SAY, GET THE AGENDA ON YOUR COMPUTER SO YOU'RE NOT FLIPPING PAGES
[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]
AT ITEM 17, WHICH IS RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.MADAM CLERK COUNCILWOMAN BO HAMON.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND READING IT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING WALK FOR LIVES TO HAVE LIVE DJ AMPLIFIED OUTDOOR MUSIC AND CONNECTION WITH THEIR UPCOMING UNITED AGAINST FENTANYL WALK FOR LIVES EVENT TO BE HELD IN LAHANE PARK ON SATURDAY, JULY 11TH, 2026 FROM 9:00 AM UNTIL 2:00 PM TO ALLOW THE PLACEMENT OF SIGNS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO
[02:10:01]
ADVERTISE.UH, WE'RE TAKING A VOTE NOW, UM, UH, TO BRING THIS ITEM FROM THE FLOOR.
SO OPENING THE VOTING, PLEASE, UH, MOVE TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR.
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON, YOUR MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION.
MOVE TO APPROVE COUNCILWOMAN HANNAN MOVES TO APPROVE THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
VOTING IT, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN, VOTING IS CLOSED.
SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION.
TOLEDO'S DREAM HOMES FOUNDATION TO CONDUCT ITS PAUSE AND MOTION.
5K RACE AT ESTELLE PLAYGROUND AND PARK DAY FA MILLS ON SATURDAY, JULY 18TH, 2026 FROM 8:30 AM UNTIL 12:00 PM AND IN CONNECTION WITH THE EVENT TO ALLOW ANIMALS TO ERECT 12 CANOPIES TO SERVE BEER, FOOD, AND BEVERAGES, PROVIDED THAT ALL PERMITS ARE OBTAINED.
UM, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A VOTE NOW ON WHETHER THIS ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR OPENING THE VOTE.
PLEASE VOTE IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
SO THE ITEM CAN BE BROUGHT FROM THE FLOOR OR OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM, UH, COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, UM, ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN KERNER, MOVE TO APPROVE AND LET ME SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS COOPERATING.
UM, COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
UM, DID WE HAVE, OH, EVERYBODY'S HERE.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A, A LATE, I'M SORRY.
IN ADDITION TO THE DIGITAL VOTE, THE ITEM PASSES.
MADAM CLERK, COUNCILMAN BANANA? I HAVE NONE.
[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]
AGENDA ONE.COUNCILMAN WALKER YOUR MOTION ON IN GLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENTS.
AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER 18 THROUGH 62, MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEMS 18 THROUGH 62.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM SET.
SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS, THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[RECEIVE OPEN BIDS (Part 1 of 2)]
63.MADAM CLERK, A RESOLUTION NAMING THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF JEFFERSON PARISH FOR THE CONTRACT YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2027.
AND THE ONLY SUBMITTAL WE RECEIVED WAS FROM THE ADVOCATE.
THE ONLY SUBMITTAL RECEIVED IS FROM THE ADVOCATE.
UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO, UM, HAVE THIS CHECKED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER.
AND IT'S GONNA BE 28 CENTS PER LINE.
$3 AND 92 CENTS PER COLUMN INCH AND $25 PER AFFIDAVIT UPON REQUEST.
ALRIGHT, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GONNA GIVE EVERYTHING TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO REVIEW AND YOU WANNA COME BACK TO THIS ITEM? YES.
AS SOON AS THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS ABLE TO VET THAT WE WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO YES.
UM, MADAM PARISH ATTORNEY, DO YOU HAVE, JUST FOR COMPARISON'S SAKE, LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS WHEN YOU COME BACK, CAN YOU JUST TO SEE, 'CAUSE IT, IT TYPICALLY HASN'T MOVED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN COMPARISON.
OKAY, SO WE'LL COME BACK TO ITEM
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO]
63.WE'RE GONNA MOVE NOW TO CONSENT AGENDA TWO, WHICH IS, UM, ITEMS NUMBER 64 THROUGH ONE 17, PULLING ITEM 77, UM, FOR ME TO ABSTAIN.
[02:15:01]
ITEM 64 THROUGH ONE 17 MINUS 77.AND CHAIRMAN, IF, IF WE CAN, I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM 1 0 6 AS WELL FOR AMENDMENT.
ALL RIGHT, SO ITEM 64 THROUGH ONE 17.
POLLING ITEM 77 AND 1 0 6 FOR AN AMENDMENT.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
THE VOTING ON CONSENT AGENDA TWO IS OPEN.
THE VOTING ON CONSENT AGENDA TWO IS CLOSED PASSING SEVEN YAYS ZERO NAYS.
SO THOSE ITEMS PASS MADAM CLERK.
ITEM SEVEN SEVEN, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY, WHICH AUTHORIZES AN EXTENSION OF THE AGREEMENT TO JANUARY 7TH, 2027, UNLESS TERMINATED EARLIER BY THE PARISH AND ADDS AN ADDITIONAL $68,541 AND 69 CENTS TO THE CONTRACT CAP TO BE PAID MONTHLY AT A RATE NOT TO EXCEED $9,791 AND 67 CENTS UNTIL TERMINATED.
COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, COUNCILMAN, UM, BANANA
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
UM, AND AGAIN, I'M NOTING THAT I'M ABSTAINING FROM THIS ITEM BECAUSE MY HUSBAND VOLUNTEERS ON THE BOARD.
VOTING IS OPEN, VOTING IS CLOSED.
SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSTENTION.
MADAM CLERK ITEM, UH, 1 0 6 I BELIEVE IS THE ONE COUNCILMAN, UH, KERNER ASKED TO PULL A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CURRENT JEFFERSON PARISH MEETING ROOM POLICIES, REGULATION RULES, REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES WITH THE ATTACHED TO ADD THE PARK DAY FA MEALS CONFERENCE ROOM AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS.
YEAH, RIGHT NOW IT'S HOURLY RATE OF ONE 60.
SINCE IT'S A NEW, UH, FACILITY AND A SMALL FACILITY, WE WANNA REDUCE IT AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM COMING.
SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND THE HOURLY RATE FROM ONE 60 TO 125.
ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN NER MOVES TO AMEND THE HOURLY RATE FROM ONE 60 OR THE RATE FROM ONE 60 TO 1 25.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS.
UM, STARTING THE VOTE, VOTE IS OPEN ON THE AMENDMENT.
CONSIDERATION OF THE AMENDMENT.
NOW WE'RE TAKING THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
COUNCILMAN WALKER CREATING RACKET.
UM, JUST FUMBLED CLOSING THE VOTES.
ITEM SEVEN, UH, I MEAN SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS.
THE ITEM AS AMENDED PASSES THE LIFESAVERS IN BETWEEN THE BUTTON AND MY HAND.
WAIT, SHOW THE AUDIENCE WHAT? RED LIFESAVERS.
TALK ABOUT A CLERK'S OFFICE THAT IS APPEASING TO THE COUNCILMAN'S.
RAN THE RED LIFESAVERS ARE THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE LIFESAVER.
[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS]
ADDENDUM AGENDA NOW.LET'S SEE, LEMME GET TO ONE 18.
SO THE ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ONE THROUGH 10 MINUS ITEM EIGHT, WHICH IS TO BE AMENDED.
SO ONE THROUGH 10 ON THE ADDENDUM, MINUS EIGHT, WHICH IS TO BE AMENDED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM OR THESE ITEMS. ITEMS ONE THROUGH 10 LESS.
SO THOSE ITEMS PASS MADAM CLERK ITEM EIGHT, WHICH IS TO BE AMENDED.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND NEW ORLEANS DISC GOLF CLUB TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $135,000 FOR THE DESIGN COMPLETION OF THE PARK DAY FAMILS DISC GOLF COURSE INSTALLATION OF TEE SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE AND TOUR TOASTING THE 2027 DISC GOLF PRO TOUR.
BIG, EASY, OPEN, A PROFESSIONAL
[02:20:01]
DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT THAT WILL ATTRACT TOP TIER PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.STIMULATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTING TOURISM IN JEFFERSON PARISH, THEREBY INCREASING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE AGREEMENT FROM $245,700 TO $380,700 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN THE PREAMBLE.
FOURTH WHEREAS 10TH, WHEREAS, AND SECTION ONE, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 WITH A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $395,700.
AND THEN IN SECTION TWO, THE ACCOUNT NUMBERS ARE $50,000 SHALL BE CHARGED TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 2, 2 0 3 0 2 7 6 1 1 2 7 7 6 8 0 3 9 7 2 0 3 6 1 0 0 0.
COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE WEST BANK TOURISM.
$50,000 SHALL BE CHARGED TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 2 2 5 2 0 2 7 9 6 7 6 8 0 3 9 7 2 5 2 0 6 0 0 0.
COUNT AT LARGE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND $50,000 SHALL BE CHARGED TO ACCOUNT NUMBER 2 2 5 4 0 3 5 5 5 7 6 8 0 3 9 7 PARKS AND CULTURE.
AND MADAM CLERK, I BELIEVE THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU JUST DETAILED, UM, THREE $50,000 AMOUNT.
SO IF WE CAN JUST PUT INTO THE RECORD THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT BEING ADDED IS 150,000.
YOU READ SO MUCH, I APOLOGIZE.
FOURTH WEARERS, 10TH WEARERS IN SECTION ONE SHOULD BE $150,000, CORRECT? CORRECT.
JUST SO WE HAVE THE TOTAL AMOUNT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO.
UM, COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS MOVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN FRANKEN.
WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE ITEM FOR VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS.
UM, COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR, UM, MOTION ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
MOVE TO APPROVE OF THE RE, UH, RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
ITEM EIGHT ON THE ADDENDUM PASSES AS AMENDED.
[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS (Part 1 of 2)]
ONE 19, WHICH IS A JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICT, MADAM CLERK, A RE A RESOLUTION APPROVING SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION TO TOWERS CONSTRUCTION LLC FOR THEIR SERVICES MATERIAL SUPPLIES.CONTRACT NUMBER FIVE FIVE DASH 0 0 0 2 3 2 5 3.
UNDER PROPOSAL NUMBER 50 DASH 1 4 7 0 2, WHICH IS DATED MAY 30TH, 2025 FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE STATION.
NUMBER 15, HVAC REPLACEMENT AT FIRE STATION.
CONSOLIDATED JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA AT THE BID BID PRICE OF $201,064.
COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE, COUNCILMAN LOBERG YOUR MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN LOBERG MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
ITEM ONE 20, MADAM CLERK, A RESOLUTION STATING THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT OF 7 0 1 GRETNA BOULEVARD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BENEFITS OF THE RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM IN THE JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, WHICH IS IN THE CITY OF GRETNA, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE, COUNCILMAN KERNER.
YOUR MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
[RECEIVE OPEN BIDS (Part 2 of 2)]
ATTORNEY.UM, ARE WE READY TO GO BACK TO 63 AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? THAT'S FINE.
WE JUST DID ONE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IT'S REALLY, UM, OKAY.
SO ITEM 63, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO, BECAUSE THAT IS THE, UH, SELECTION OF THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PARISH.
WE HAD ONE SUBMISSION, UH, LEMME GET BACK TO THAT.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MO OH, MADAM, UH, PARISH ATTORNEY.
JUST TO ANSWER YOUR, YES, TO ANSWER YOUR
[02:25:01]
QUESTION, COUNCILMAN WALKER, THE RATES ARE THE SAME.EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER AND THE RATES ARE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.
UH, MOVE TO SELECT THE ADVOCATE
UM, COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO SELECT THE ADVOCATE ON ITEM 63.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE VOTING ON SELECTING THE ADVOCATE AS THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PARISH
ITEM 63, SELECTING THE ADVOCATE AS THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PARISH PASSES.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW.SO MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, CALL, UM, OR READ THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND AGAIN, WE'LL BE VERY BRIEF, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNSEL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR URSULA VANCE.
C-C-M-S-I CLAIM NUMBER TWO 5G FIVE SEVEN M 6 6 6 2.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVE MOVES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN, TAKING A VOTE ON MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IF YOU CAN VOTE ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN DINO, Y'ALL WANNA VOTE? MOST I DON'T DESCRIBE VOTING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IS UNANIMOUS.
WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AGAIN, IT'S ONE ITEM AND SHOULD BE BRIEF AND WE WILL RETURN.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, WE'RE COMING BACK FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, WE'RE HAVE, WE HAVE AN ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR RELATED TO THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO, MADAM CLERK, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT AND A CLAIM FOR URSULA VANCE.
C-C-M-C-C-M-S-I CLAIM NUMBER TWO 5G FIVE SEVEN M 6 6 6 2 0 6.
ALRIGHT, THIS ITEM IS COMING FROM THE FLOOR, SO WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE FOR THAT ITEM TO BE TAKEN FROM THE FLOOR.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND COUNCILMAN LEE, ABSENT.
UM, WE HAVE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, HEARING SINCE THIS ITEM IS COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM, COME FORWARD.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION MOVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN, VOTING IS CLOSED.
THANK YOU FOR THE ASSIST FROM COUNCILMAN BONANNO.
UM, SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT MADAM CLERK.
[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS (Part 2 of 2)]
I BELIEVE WE'RE AT ITEM 1 21.A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ACTING THROUGH LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND LUKE LENNON SERVICE INCORPORATED REGARDING A SPONSORED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD PROGRAM AWARD, WHICH EXTENDS THE FIRST PROJECT YEARS END DATE REALIGNS THE PROJECT YEARS EXTENDS THE EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, COMMENCEMENT DATE, AND EXTENDS THE CEA TERMINATION DATE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, COUNCILMAN BONANNO.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
SIX YAYS ZERO NAYS ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,850 FOR THE REMOVAL OF A DAMAGED CONCRETE
[02:30:01]
AND THE FURNISHING INSTALLATION AND FINISHING OF A CONCRETE SLAB FOR STATION 74 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND THE AVONDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY DATED MARCH 7TH, 2018.COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVE FOR VOTE.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS ONE ABSENT.
ITEM 1 22 PASSES MADAM CLERK ITEM 1 23 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE PAYMENT TO BRAZIL SAATCHI AND WILSON LLP FOR AN INVOICE STATED MAY 14TH, 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,837 AND 50 CENTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED IN REGARDS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW CHURCHILL NINE-MILE POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND ASSOCIATED GUIDANCE CONCERNING TAX FINANCING UNDER CONTRACT NUMBER FIVE FIVE DASH 22 6 27.
COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION, COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
VOTING IS CLOSED, SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
ITEM 1 23 PASSES MADAM CLERK ITEM 1 24.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,370 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THREE ATTACK PRO PLUS FAST FRAME NFPA THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS AND THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF TWO ROLLING STEEL DOORS FOR STATION 88 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT DATED MARCH 16TH, 2018.
BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA AND MARRERO RAGUSA, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER THREE, COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, COUNCILMAN WALKER VOTE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
THAT IS THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
WE HAVE NO NEW BUSINESS, WE HAVE NO STATUS REPORTS.
[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]
IN OUR COUNCIL MEETING WHERE, UM, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO APPEAR TO SPEAK ON ANY TOPIC, UM, CAN COME FORWARD.IF YOU WOULD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
AND, UM, AND YOU CAN ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME, MY NAME'S TYRONE HUGHES.
I'M AT 6 5 8 1 RU LEWIS FELIPE MORERO.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO PRESIDENT LANG, YOU ARE ALLOWING THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO LITERALLY RAPE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND YOU AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT AT ALL.
BECAUSE THE WATER BILL, I CAN UNDERSTAND IF Y'ALL ARE SAYING Y'ALL WANT TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT AT WHAT COST TO THE CONSTITUENTS YOU ARE CHARGING US FOR WATER, WE DON'T EVEN USE, YOU'RE CHARGING US FOR WATER THAT COMES INTO THE HOUSE.
YOU'RE CHARGING US FOR WATER THAT GOES OUT OF THE HOUSE, THEN YOU OVERCHARGING US FOR THE WATER.
WE DO USE, I GOT A BILL FROM THE APP, WHICH I'M GLAD THEY HAVE BECAUSE THE APP IS WRONG.
BUT THE BILL ON THE APP SAYS, I USED 110 GALLONS IN AN HOUR ON FRIDAY.
SO SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THOSE CALCULATIONS.
EVERYBODY IS TOLD, OKAY, I JUST TALKED TO THE GUY FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT OUT FRONT.
HE'S LIKE, OH, WELL GIVE US A CALL.
AND I SAID, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? HOW ARE YOU GONNA HELP ME? HOW ARE YOU GONNA IMPROVE THE SYSTEM? BECAUSE ALL YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME IS, OH, IT MUST BE A LEAK.
EVERYBODY IN THE, EVERYBODY IN THE PARISH AIN'T GOT A LEAK.
AND WHAT'S FUNNY ABOUT THAT LEAK IS THAT IT NEVER GETS REPAIRED.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, ONCE YOU COMPLAIN, YOUR BILL IS GONNA GO DOWN FOR ONE OR TWO MONTHS, BUT THEN AFTER THAT IT GOES BACK UP.
BUT THE LEAK WASN'T FIXED IN THE HOUSE.
THE LEAK WASN'T FIXED OUTSIDE.
SO OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS NEVER A LEAK.
BUT THAT'S THE EXCUSE THAT THEY GIVE JUST TO THROW YOU OFF.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, AGAIN, FROM WHAT I'M SAYING, IF YOU LOOK AT MY FACEBOOK PAGE, AND I'M PRETTY SURE Y'ALL HAVE SEEN IT OR NOBODY, SCOTT, I KNOW YOU, I'M COMING AFTER YOU AND BYRON ALL THE TIME WITH HIM AND POSTING Y'ALL INCLUDING IN IT.
IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS HOW IT'S HAPPENING.
I DON'T MIND PAYING MY WATER BILL, BUT DON'T OVERCHARGE ME.
ESPECIALLY IF I'M PAYING 150, I'M STARTING OFF AT 150 GALLONS WITHOUT EVEN USING THE WATER.
SO IT'S, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S BEING WRONG.
WE'VE BEEN RAPED OVER THE COAST FOR, FOR, FOR SUPPOSEDLY INFRASTRUCTURE OR
[02:35:01]
TO MAKE IT BETTER.THERE'S GOTTA BE A BETTER WAY TO DO IT AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HIGH WATER BILLS, UM, AND WITHOUT, UH, IT'S HARD TO DISCUSS IT WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THE GENTLEMAN, UM, GETS, AND I THINK MR. BESLEY MIGHT KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS CASE.
WE CAN DISCUSS IT, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW PEOPLE, UM, CALL YOUR OFFICES.
UM, THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING IN, IN WHAT THE GENTLEMAN SAID, WE DON'T FIX A LEAK ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY SIDE.
SO, UM, IF HE HAS A LEAK ON HIS PRIVATE PROPERTY, WHICH I'M NOT SURE HE DOES, BUT THEN IT JUST SEEMED FROM HIS DISCUSSION, HE EXPECTED US ALMOST LIKE THOUGHT THE, THE EXPECTATION WAS WE WOULD GO FIX THAT LEAK.
WE DO NOT FIX A LEAK ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY SIDE.
I I'M NOT LOOKING FOR Y'ALL TO FIX THAT.
I'M SAYING THERE WAS NEVER A LEAK TO FIX.
SO AGAIN, BUT YET THE WATER BILL GOES DOWN AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE INVESTIGATION WE NEED TO DO.
WE NEED TO SEE WHAT WHAT, JUST SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
AND I'M, I'M, I JUST HAD A WATER LEAK IN MY HOUSE.
UM, AND I'LL TELL YOU MY STORY.
'CAUSE SYDNEE SAID THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
I HAD A VERY, VERY HIGH WATER BILL, BY THE WAY.
DROP COUNTER TOLD ME I HAD HIGH WATER USAGE.
BUT WHEN I GOT IT, I HAD BROUGHT IN A PLUMBER AND THERE WAS, UM, LEAKY PLUMBING IN ONE OF MY BATHROOMS. I GOT IT FIXED.
BUT MY PLUMBER, BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD PLUMBER, WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE METER AND MY METER WAS CONTINUING TO GO ON.
EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO NOISE IN MY HOUSE, MY, MY PLUMBING WAS FIXED.
I ENDED UP HAVING A VERY EXPENSIVE LEAK, WHICH WAS UNDERGROUND WATER PIPE UNDERNEATH THE GROUND.
UM, THAT WAS NOT POOLING AROUND THE HOUSE.
SO I HAD A VERY HIGH WATER BILL.
UM, BUT I USED UP ALL THE WATER THAT I WAS CHARGED FOR.
THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE, THE PARISH'S SYSTEM WORK.
I WAS USING UP ALL THE WATER THAT I WAS CHARGED FOR, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD A LEAK.
BECAUSE I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IF THERE'S SILENCE AROUND THE HOUSE, THAT I DON'T WANNA HEAR A TOILET LEAKING.
THAT IF I DON'T SEE POOL WATER AROUND MY HOUSE, THEN I DON'T HAVE A LEAK.
I DID HAVE A LEAK, UM, AND JUST AS IN ANY OTHER CITIZEN, I GOT THAT ADJUSTED JUST TO THE SAME FORMULA THAT EVERYBODY ELSE USED.
SO, UN UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT IF YOU DON'T HEAR ANYTHING IN YOUR HOUSE, YOU DON'T HAVE A LEAK.
UM, AND THIS HAPPENS MORE THAN PEOPLE EVEN REALIZE, BUT WE NEED TO GO ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
I THINK SIDNEY, UM, HAS LOOKED INTO THIS CASE.
IF YOU KNOW MORE, UH, HE CAN CERTAINLY TALK TO, BUT THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS AN ALARMINGLY HIGH BILL.
YOU NEED TO LET US WORK WITH YOU.
YOU NEED TO LET US INVESTIGATE AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.
WE'RE NOT EXPECTING YOU JUST TO PAY A BILL WITHOUT HELP FROM OUR SIDE WHEN IT'S, IT'S VERY, VERY HIGH LIKE THIS.
SO, SYDNEY, DO YOU WANNA GIVE MORE, UM, MORE DETAIL ON THIS CASE? YES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, UM, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A LEAK ADJUSTMENT POLICY.
UM, WE TRY TO ENSURE CUSTOMERS, UH, FIX THEIR REPAIRS BEFORE THEY GET AN ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE IT GIVES A PERCEPTION THAT WE LOWER THE BILL JUST BECAUSE THEY CALL AND COMPLAIN IF A CUSTOMER DOESN'T FIX THEIR LEAK AT THE TIME THAT THEY CALL IN FOR AN ADJUSTMENT, ONCE IT'S ADJUSTED AND THEN THEY GET BACK TO THEIR REGULAR BILLING SCHEDULE, THE BILL'S GONNA BE RIGHT BACK UP TO WHAT IT WAS BASED ON THE, THE CONSISTENT USAGE OF A LEAK.
BUT I, I DID GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO MR. HUGHES, UM, FOR A SECOND.
UM, I, I WAS ABLE TO FIND HIS ACCOUNT.
UM, I WANTED TO, IF Y'ALL HAVE A SECOND, UM, SHOW DROP COUNTER AND SHOW CENSUS IN REAL TIME, UH, SITUATION.
SO SINCE THE CUSTOMER'S HERE COMPLAINING, UM, WE, I CAN ACTUALLY SHOW YOU THE KIND OF PROCESS OF WHAT WE LOOK AT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO A CUSTOMER WHAT'S GOING ON, MAKE IT CLOSE.
SO SIDNEY BAISLEY, OUR WATER DIRECTOR, IS GONNA SHOW US THE DROP COUNTER APP FOR THOSE OF, UM, OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THEIR NEW SMART METER.
UM, AND IT'S ABOUT 40 TO 50% I THINK, OF OUR CUSTOMERS SO FAR.
SO ABOUT 50% OF OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE GOTTEN A SMART METER.
AND THEN THE DROP COUNTER APP ALLOWS YOU TO ACCESS
[02:40:01]
DATA.UM, AND, AND SYDNEY'S GONNA SHOW THAT.
WHAT I WILL SAY, UM, I HAD VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, MARK DREWS, ANGELA DESOTO AND SIDNEY BAISLEY, WHERE I DID NOTICE SOME INACCURACIES IN THE APP IN MY OWN USAGE.
UM, AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE POINT OF COMMUNICATION.
THE SMART METER COMMUNICATES FROM YOUR METER TO THE PARISH, AND THEN THE DATA HAS TO THEN, THEN BE COMMUNICATED TO THE APP.
AND SO IT SEEMED LIKE IN THE INSTANCE WHERE I WAS WASHING CLOTHES AT HOME, NOTICED THAT THE APP SAID I ONLY HAD 10 GALLONS OF USAGE, WHICH WAS NOT ACCURATE.
UM, THE DATA BEING COMMUNICATED FROM THE PARISH TO THE APP WAS NOT RIGHT ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY.
SO AGAIN, UM, I APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION LOOKING INTO JUST MAKING SURE THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY IS BEING ACCURATELY COMMUNICATED.
UM, BECAUSE THAT DROP COUNTER APP WILL BE A RESOURCE, UM, WHEN, WHEN IT IS COMMUNICATING A HUNDRED PERCENT EFFECTIVELY.
CAN I ADD SOMETHING? WHILE WE'RE IN THE ELEVATOR MUSIC PORTION OF THE PROGRAM, UM, WE KNEW, AND WE TRIED TO CONVEY THIS DURING THE, THE TIME PERIOD THAT THIS NEW METER INSTALLATION BEGAN.
WE KNEW THAT RATES WOULD GO UP BECAUSE THE OLD METERS ARE VERY, VERY OLD.
AND AS THEY AGE, THEY SLOW DOWN AND THE ERROR IS ON THE SIDE OF THE HOMEOWNER OR THE BUSINESS OWNER.
SO WHEN THE NEW METERS GO IN, THEY ARE DEADLY ACCURATE.
AND WE TRIED TO CONVEY OVER A FEW OCCASIONS AS THESE WERE BEING INSTALLED THAT YOUR BILLS WOULD PROBABLY BE HIGHER BECAUSE THEY'RE, YOU'RE FINALLY GETTING AN ACCURATE READING THROUGH THESE METERS.
NOW, TO WHAT EXTENT THEY GO HIGH, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S, WHAT THAT CEILING IS AND WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
BUT, UM, THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED.
THE METERS WILL BE, UH, MORE ACCURATELY READ.
THE USAGE WILL BE MORE ACCURATELY READ, AND YOUR BILL WILL BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAVE POINTED TO WHAT HAPPENED IN HOUSTON WITH METER INSTALLATION AND THE METERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE THE WRONG METERS WERE INSTALLED.
WE'RE NOT INSTALLING THE WRONG METERS IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE'RE INSTALLING METERS THAT ARE BASICALLY THE SAME METER WITH A DIGITAL WIFI CONNECTION THAT LETS YOU READ THAT METER REMOTELY.
SO THE METER ITSELF ISN'T ALL THAT MUCH DIFFERENT.
AND IT'S GOT THE DIGITAL WIFI COMPONENT TO IT.
MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD ALSO REMIND PEOPLE, THIS WILL CHANGE WHEN WE GET A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE WATER METERS IN, BUT WE BILL EVERY OTHER MONTH.
SO I OFTEN HEAR A COMPARISON TO THE OTHER UTILITY BILLS.
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA COMPARE IT TO THE OTHER UTILITY BILLS, YOU REALLY NEED TO DIVIDE OUR BILL IN HALF, UM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A A, A FAIR APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
UM, AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? AND THEN OF COURSE, PEOPLE TEND TO THINK IT'S THE WATER BILL, BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHER CHARGES THAT, UM, THAT GO INTO THAT, WHAT WE'RE CALLING A UTILITY BILL.
AND ALSO, UM, YOUR WATER USAGE AFFECTS YOUR SEWER.
AND WE, WE KNOW, UM, MARK DREWS IS LOOKING AT 2025 DATA FOR SEWER.
UH, WE DO BELIEVE WE CAN CHANGE THOSE RATES LATER IN THIS YEAR.
HE'S DOING A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THAT.
UM, SO THAT WILL BE SOME RELIEF ON THE WAY, BUT WE BELIEVE THE WATER, UM, I'LL, I'LL LET, I'LL LET MARK DISCUSS IT.
YEAH, ALTHOUGH IT, THERE WAS A LOT OF CHATTER YESTERDAY.
UH, THEY HAD A NEWS STORY AGAIN ABOUT A $400 BILL AND THE PERSON SAID HE COMPARED IT TO ENERGY.
AND TO BRING THAT POINT UP, THAT AGAIN IS A TWO MONTH BILL.
OKAY? SO EVEN IF IT WAS 400, YOU CUT THAT IN HALF, THAT'S 200.
OKAY? BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE GARBAGE, ET CETERA.
AND IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR USAGE.
OKAY? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT RESIDENT HAS A POOL AND HAS A GARDEN METER, UH, NOT A GARDEN METER HAS AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM, BUT NO GARDEN METER.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO DRIVE UP THE COST OF YOUR SEWER.
SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT HAD ALL KIND OF CHATTER GOING ABOUT, WE HAVE UNREASONABLE RATES, WHICH IS NOT TRUE.
OKAY? UH, AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE, THE MINIMUM WE HAVE THAT MINIMUM CHARGE 3000 GALLONS AND UNDER, OKAY? THAT IS BASICALLY A THIRD OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THAT IS DESIGNED, WE DISCOUNT THAT FIRST 3000 FOR PEOPLE THAT COULD BE STRUGGLING.
IT'S YOUR ELDERLY THAT NOW ONLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, TWO PEOPLE IN A HOUSE.
IT ALSO IS YOUR APARTMENT DWELLERS THAT, UH, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, DON'T USE THAT MUCH WATER.
THE BILL FOR A MONTH, IF YOU USE UNDER $3,000, OKAY? IT'S UNDER $12 A MONTH FOR WATER.
SO A THIRD OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE PAYING $22 UNDER $22 A MONTH.
NOW, LET'S LOOK AT OUR AVERAGE, OKAY? WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES IF WE'RE
[02:45:01]
LOOKING AT DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES, ET CETERA.OUR AVERAGE FOR 6,200 GALLONS FOR WATER IS $32 AND 47 CENTS.
SO BASICALLY $33 A MONTH FOR SEWER.
SO YOUR TOTAL BILL FOR WATER IN SEWER PER MONTH, YOUR AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD IS JUST UNDER $70.
OKAY? SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR RATES ARE REASONABLE, THEY'RE WELL IN LINE WITH NEIGHBOR MUNICIPALITIES.
WE ARE STILL WELL UNDER OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR.
SO, UM, I'LL, I'LL FINISH WITH MR, WITH MR. HUGHES.
UM, SO I HAVE MRS. HUGHES, MR. HUGHES'S ACCOUNT ON, ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT, THIS IS ACTUALLY DROP COUNTER.
THIS IS THE APP THAT HE HAS ACCESS TO.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATES ON THE FOURTH, THE EIGHTH, THE NINTH, UM, AND EVEN IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH, UM, MAY 21ST, MAY 28TH, YOU CAN SEE IT NOTIFIES YOU THAT YOU HAVE A LEAK.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEGEND TO THE RIGHT, IT TELLS YOU RELATIVE USAGE, POTENTIAL LEAK, IRRIGATION AND NO DATA.
SO HE HAS BEEN ALERTED OF A LEAK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HE HAS AN ACCOUNT SET UP.
I CAN MEET WITH HIM AFTER TO SHOW, SHOW HIM HIS APP TO SEE IF HE CAN BE BETTER ALERTED.
BUT THE, THE, UH, DROP COUNTER IS ALERTING HIM OF A, A LEAK AT THE HOUSE.
SO I'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH HOW WE ASSESS AND TALK TO A CUSTOMER WHEN THEY CALL US ABOUT A LEAK.
SO THIS IS CALLED THE CENSUS, UH, ANALYTICS.
THIS IS A, A DEEPER DIVE INTO A CUSTOMER'S USAGE DOWN TO THE HOUR, DOWN TO LESS THAN THAT.
IF YOU, IF YOU REALLY DIG INTO IT, IF YOU LOOK, YOU CAN SEE, UM, SIX NINE, WHICH WAS YESTERDAY, UM, AT HIS HOME.
YOU CAN SEE AT ONE OR TWO, ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, TWO O'CLOCK AND THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
NOW, TYPICALLY PEOPLE WOULD GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, USE THE RESTROOM FOR THAT TYPE OF USAGE.
BUT IF I HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE CUSTOMER AND MR. HUGHES, I WILL, IF HE TOLD ME HE WASN'T USING THE RESTROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I WOULD TELL HIM HE HAS A LEAKING TOILET JUST BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE OF SEEING THE TYPE OF USAGE CERTAIN TIMES OF THE NIGHT DURING THE DAY, IF HE'S GONE TO WORK DURING THE DAY.
AND I ASK THOSE TYPE OF QUESTIONS WHEN I'M SPEAKING TO CUSTOMERS.
AND THIS RIGHT HERE LOOKS LIKE A LEAKING TOILET.
SO I KNOW HE SPOKE ABOUT NOT BEING HOME FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND HE STILL HAD 110 GALLONS OF USAGE IN AN HOUR.
I'M SEEING 10 GALLONS OF USAGE EACH HOUR THAT HE'S PROBABLY GONE FROM HOME LOOK AT.
BUT THAT'S A, BUT THAT'S A, THAT'S A TOILET LEAK.
SO IF I GO TO JUNE 5TH, SO UP, SO JUNE 4TH IS WHAT I HAVE GOING DOWN, YOU STILL HAVE THIS, IT HAS THE SAME USAGE AT FOUR AND FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING OF, OF WATER USAGE CONSTANTLY.
SO TO ME, THAT'S WHAT MY, BE MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE CUSTOMER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO GO AHEAD AND CHECK THEIR TOILETS FOR A, FOR A LEAK FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
NOW, TO KIND OF, TO KIND OF FINISH OFF WHAT MARK WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, THERE WAS A STORY THAT RAN YESTERDAY IN RELATION TO A CUSTOMER.
I HAVE THE BILL IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.
I WAS ABLE TO RESEARCH AND LOOK UP HIS ACCOUNT IF YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS REPORTED, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT WAS REPORTED.
THE CUSTOMER HAS A POOL AND A SPRINKLER SYSTEM THAT, THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO HIS HIGHER USAGE THAN A NORMAL PERSON.
NOW, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THAT PERSON, HE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A A GARDEN METER.
HE DOES NOT HAVE A GARDEN METER AT HIS HOME.
HE'S PAYING FOR ADDITIONAL SEWER USAGE ON THINGS HE CAN GET A BREAK ON, WHICH IS THE GARDEN OR THE POOL.
NOW THAT, THAT'S THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THE CUSTOMER.
I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA TALK TO HIM AGAIN TODAY JUST TO FOLLOW UP, JUST TO SEE IF HE WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPTIONS.
BUT AGAIN, EVEN IF HE DID NOTHING, UM, AND DIDN'T ADD THE GARDEN METER, HIS BILL WAS 600 AND, I MEAN $368 FOR TWO MONTHS.
THAT'S STILL $180 PER MONTH FOR WATER, SEWAGE, AND GARBAGE MOSQUITO CONTROL, LAVENE ALL OF THOSE SERVICES FOR THAT AMOUNT, WHICH IS STILL LESS THAN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN OUR AREA.
SYDNEY, CAN YOU, CAN YOU ADDRESS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD, AND I WILL SAY THE PREVALENCE OF PEOPLE WE'RE HEARING FROM, I WAS AT A DINNER LAST NIGHT AND THE SIX PEOPLE SITTING NEAR ME, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM CHIMED IN ON CONCERNS ABOUT WATER.
THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO ME LIVES ALONE AND HAS A $900 BILL AND HAS HAD MULTIPLE PLUMBERS COME OUT AND, AND VERIFIED NO LEAK.
SO THE QUESTION THAT'S OFTEN ASKED IS, HOW ARE WE VERIFYING THE ACCURACY OF THESE NEW DIGITAL METERS? ARE THEY CALIBRATED? THAT'S THE QUESTION.
I SPECIFICALLY SPENT YEARS LOOKING AT WHICH TYPE OF METER, WHICH TYPE OF SYSTEM IS BEST FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.
YES, WE RECEIVED ALL KIND OF, UM, OFFERS RFP RESPONSES FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO GET US DIFFERENT METERS THAT WORK IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
I DIDN'T WANT A DIGITAL METER, I WANTED A MECHANICAL METER THAT ONLY SPIN WHEN, WHEN WATER GOES THROUGH IT, IT'S, IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO, TO THE,
[02:50:01]
UH, COLD WEATHER WE HAVE HERE.'CAUSE OUR METERS ARE NOT BURIED THREE FEET UNDER THE GROUND.
IF YOU GO ANYWHERE LIKE TENNESSEE, FLORIDA, DIFFERENT PLACES, YOU HAVE METERS THAT ARE BURIED THREE FEET UNDER THE GROUND TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE COLD IN THE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
THE SOIL CONDITIONS HERE IS UNIQUE TO NOT MOST PLACES IN THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR METERS AT THE BEST SIX INCHES BELOW THE GROUND, WHICH IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO COLD WEATHER, DIFFERENT WEATHER EVENTS, FLOOD, EVERYTHING AFFECTS THE METER.
SO I WANTED A ROBUST METER THAT WAS STILL, UM, METALLIC THE, THE, UH, MECHANICAL METER THAT ONLY SPINS WHEN WATER GOES THROUGH IT.
SO WE NEVER CHANGED THE TYPE OF METER WE USE HERE.
WE'VE BEEN USING BADGER METERS, WHICH IS A, UM, AN AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY.
IT'S NOT A FLY BY NIGHT COMPANY.
IT'S A COMPANY THAT'S TOP RATED FOR THE TYPE OF METERS THAT THEY USE.
AND I FOUND A WAY TO HOOK A MECHANICAL METER UP TO A DIGITAL OUTPUT FOR THE ANTENNAS.
THAT'S THE ONLY ADDITION THAT WE ADDED WAS THE ANTENNAS THAT WE NO LONGER NEED METER READERS ANYMORE.
SO IT, IT'S REGISTERING THE SAME WAY IT'S BEEN REGISTERING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WE JUST NOW NO LONGER NEED A METER READER TO CAL TO GRAB THAT READING.
THE METER IN THE GROUND THOUGH, PEOPLE ARE GETTING A NEW ONE.
IT'S THE SAME EXACT KIND OF METER THAT WE'VE HAD FOR DECADES.
THE NEW EDITION IS THE DIGITAL COMMUNICATING DEVICE THAT SITS NOW ON TOP OF THE METER.
HOW IS THAT DIGITAL COMMUNICATING DEVICE CALIBRATED OR HOW DO WE MAKE SURE IT'S COMMUNICATING ACCURATELY WHAT THE METER IS READING? SO, UM, THAT GOES INTO THE PROCESS OF WHEN WE RECEIVE THOSE, THE COMPANY DOES THE CALIBRATIONS, YOU KNOW, IT GOES THROUGH THE QR TESTS, EVERYTHING.
IT COMES TO US ALREADY TESTED AND CALIBRATED.
IT'S WITHIN OUR CONTRACT TO, TO ENSURE WE GET GREAT, THE BEST DEVICES HERE.
SO IS THERE A WAY TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THOSE CALIBRATIONS ARE CORRECT, JUST LIKE WE FOUND MISCOMMUNICATION? YES.
FROM YOUR DATA TO THE DROP COUNTER APP RIGHT NOW, HOW DO WE KNOW THERE'S NOT MISCOMMUNICATION FROM THE METER THROUGH THE DIGITAL COMMUNICATOR? YES, MA'AM.
UM, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CALIBRATING THE READING THAT, AND THAT'S VERIFYING THAT THE READING AT THE METER IS WHAT'S SHOWN IN THE COMPUTER.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD DO.
SO IF THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THE READING, WE STILL, IN SOME CASES WE ARE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THAT UNTIL EVERYONE'S COMFORTABLE WITH THE SYSTEM IS THAT WHEN WE GET A READING IN THE SYSTEM, WE GO OUT TO THE FIELD TO VERIFY THAT WITH A PHOTO OR BY VISUALLY LOOKING AT IT FOR OURSELF TO, TO ENSURE THAT IT'S READING.
UM, AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW YOU CALIBRATE OR CHECK WHAT'S BEING PUT OUT BY THE ANTENNA.
NOW TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN ABOUT DROP COUNTER, YES, DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE, THE MEETING THAT WE HAD.
UM, AND IT DID PRESENT AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE NOW CORRECTED.
SO WHAT IT WASN'T A MIS IT WASN'T A MISCALCULATION OR, OR IT, WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS, SAY FOR INSTANCE AT YOUR HOME, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU DROVE, IF YOU PARKED YOUR CAR OVER IT OR THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME, SOME RADIO INTERFERENCE IN THE TIME AND WE DID NOT COLLECT THE READING FOR YOU FOR THAT ENTIRE DAY, WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS YOU WOULD GET WHAT WAS WHAT YOU WOULD GET THE READING THAT WAS THERE.
BUT ONCE WE GET ANOTHER READING ON TOP OF THAT, THE DATA WOULD NOT BACKFILL TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEEDED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE FOUND OUT AFTER WE HAD THE MEETING WITH YOU.
SO NOW GOING FORWARD, IF YOU WERE TO GO AND CHECK THE, THAT DAY YOU WERE HOME, NOW YOU'LL SEE WHAT USAGE YOU ACTUALLY USED FROM THE DAY THROUGH DROP COUNTER.
SO WE, SO I SHOWED YOU GUYS TWO SYSTEMS TODAY.
I SHOWED YOU THE DROP COUNTER AND THE CENSUS.
THE CENSUS IS IS THE HEART, IF THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT, UM, SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE THAT COLLECTS ALL OF OUR DATA AND PUTS IT INTO THE BILLING SYSTEM.
DROP COUNTER IS JUST ANOTHER SYSTEM ON TOP THAT WE, THAT IT COLLECTS FROM CENSUS TO GIVE YOU GUYS THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED FROM, FROM A CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE.
BUT NOW WE HAVE IT TO WHERE CENSUS IS NOW GONNA BACKFILL MISSED DATA FROM CARS BEING ON PA PARKED ON TOP OF IT.
UM, IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF INTER RADIO INTERFERENCE IN THE AREA THAT DIDN'T ALLOW US TO GET A READING AT THAT TIME, NOW YOU WILL GET THAT READING BACKFILLED INTO YOU BY THE NEXT DAY.
AND WHEN DID THAT GO INTO EFFECT? IS THAT FROM THIS POINT MOVING FORWARD? YES, FROM THIS POINT MOVING FORWARD.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO BACKFILL SOME OF THE DATA THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT.
SO AT LEAST VERY, AT LEAST THE TIME THAT WE SPOKE.
THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES HELP.
UM, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? JUST A QUICK QUESTION, SYDNEY.
SO WE TELL PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR DROP COUNTER, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF WE COULD PRODUCE A MAP SHOWING WHERE THAT, WHERE THE METERS ARE CONNECTED TO DROP COUNTER SO THEY CAN SIGN UP.
I TRIED AT MY HOUSE IN MADY, BUT I'M NOT ON THE SYSTEM YET.
SO HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW IF THEY HAVE A NEW METER AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO USE DROP COUNTER? YES, MA'AM.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DIFF A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS.
UM, EVERY SO OFTEN I'LL GET WITH THE PIO WE'LL PUT SOMETHING OUT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
UM, CUSTOMERS WILL GET THE, UH, THE, THE TAGS ON THEIR DOOR ONCE THE METER IS INSTALLED AT THE HOME.
BUT WHAT I'M ALSO DOING, AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A GOOD TIMEFRAME, WHETHER IT'S
[02:55:01]
MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, I'M SENDING OUT TEXT MESSAGES, EMAILS, OR PUSH ALERTS TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS A NEW METER.SO IF YOU HAVE, IF YOUR NUMBER IS GOOD NOW A BILLING SYSTEM OR YOUR EMAIL IS GOOD, OUR BILLING SYSTEM, I'M GONNA PUSH OUT AN ALERT TO YOU LETTING YOU KNOW, UM, THAT, THAT THE SYSTEM IS AVAILABLE TO YOU TO USE.
I, I DID THIS ABOUT MAYBE TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO.
I SENT AN ALERT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO ALREADY HAD THE METER AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT EVEN YEAH.
EVEN AFTER THE PROJECT IS OVER.
BUT I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO PUSH OUT THIS ALERT TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO, TO SIGN UP.
MAYBE I CAN ADD COUNCILMAN BONANNO.
UH, THE WAY THAT I NOTICED, UM, VISUALLY ANYONE CAN GO TO THEIR HOME AND WHERE YOUR WATER METER IS LOCATED, THE, THE OVAL COVER THAT SITS OVER THE METER, IF IT HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE HOCKEY PUCK, IT'S LIKE A BLACK HOCKEY PUCK.
IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE ON TOP OF THE LID THAT SITS OVER YOUR METER, YOU HAVE A SMART DEVICE NOW SITTING ON TOP OF YOUR METER.
AND SO THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOTTEN A NEW METER MM-HMM
AND, AND I HAVE GOTTEN, UM, NOTIFICATIONS THAT CUSTOMERS HAVE SAID THERE'S A DOOR HANGER THAT ALSO LETS THEM KNOW THAT.
SO JUST WANNA MAKE IT IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE TO KNOW THIS IS NOT A DIGITAL METER'S, A MECHANICAL METER.
THE METERS WE'VE BEEN USING FOR THE LAST, LAST TWO DECADES.
AND I JUST WANT TO JUST EMPHASIZE HOW IMPERATIVE, IMPERATIVE IT IS THAT WE GO TO SINGLE MONTH BILLING.
YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS IN A PERFECT WORLD, THAT'S FINE, BUT PEOPLE ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
UM, THEY'RE NOT BUDGETING TO HAVE THAT EVERY OTHER MONTH BIGGER BILL.
SO THE FASTER WE GET TO SINGLE BILLING IT, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE THAT THAT'S PENSION PENNIES TO MAKE IT RIGHT NOW.
SO THE FASTER WE DO THAT, IF WE COULD EXPEDIT EXPEDITE THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP A LOT.
'CAUSE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LET A MONTH GO BY AND, AND THEY GET SLAMMED WITH THE BILL THE FOLLOWING MONTH AND, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT JUST TO THAT END OF THE WEEK.
SO, UM, PLEASE, LET'S PRIORITIZE THAT.
UH, CINDY, I'M JUST GETTING SO, SO MANY, I MEAN, DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT ARE CONTACTED ALL FOR SAYING THEY HAD FLUCTUATIONS THAT ARE HIGHLY UNUSUAL, THAT THEY, THEY HAD A LEAK AND THEN A MONTH OR TWO GOES BY, THEY DIDN'T FIX A LEAK, THEY GOT A CHECK, THEY COULDN'T FIND A LEAK, AND, UH, THEIR BILLS RETURN BACK TO NORMAL.
HOW ARE WE INVESTIGATING THOSE CLAIMS, UH, WHEN THEY BRING IT TO US? SO IT'S ONLY, WE ONLY COULD PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT'S GIVEN TO US.
I THINK THE DISADVANTAGE THAT WE HAVE IN, IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT IS THAT WE DON'T LIVE WITH THAT CUSTOMER.
UM, I, I WON'T ASK MY EMPLOYEES TO GO IN, IN THE CUSTOMER'S HOME.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF TIMES I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT TO MY EMPLOYEES.
UM, WHEN IT'S USUALLY GOING ON A, ON A PRIVATE PROPERTY SIDE, ALL WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE THE INFORMATION WHICH ARE FACTUAL THAT THE WATER PASSED THROUGH THE METER FROM, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
THEY, THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE CUSTOMERS WILL CALL A PLUMBER OUT, THEY SAY THEY WON'T FIND ANYTHING.
I'VE WENT BEHIND THEM AND FOUND THINGS.
I THINK IF SOMETIMES THEY'LL CALL ANOTHER PLUMBER OUT, THAT PLUMBER WILL FIND SOMETHING.
UM, LIKE THE PARISH PRESIDENT IN HER SITUATION, SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD THE INITIAL VISIT AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS THIS, WE TRIED THE DYE TEST AND, AND IT WASN'T UPON THE, THE NEXT VISIT SHE FOUND THE LEAK.
IT WAS JUST BEING PERSISTENT WITH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE.
AND IF THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDE YOU IS THAT THE WATER'S GOING THROUGH IT, THEY JUST HAVE TO BE PERSISTENT IN EITHER FINDING A PROFESSIONAL TO HELP THEM FIND THAT LEAK.
LOOK, WHEN YOU'RE GETTING THIS, THIS MANY CALLS AND, AND A LOT OF 'EM ARE JUST REASONABLE PEOPLE, IT'S HARD TO THINK THAT EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, IF THEY RETURN BACK THAT EVERYBODY, EVERYONE'S WRONG.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING PROPER INVESTIGATIONS IF THINGS ARE TOO UNUSUAL, UM, BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK FROM THE, FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO, SO I HAVE TO BE, I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.
UM, WHEN WE SAY EVERYONE, EVERYONE HAS A LEAK, I, I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S NOT THE REAL PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT IS.
WE HAVE A, I'M SAYING EVERY, I'M SAYING EVERYONE THAT IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE UNUSUAL FLUCTUATIONS THAT RETURNS BACK TO NORMAL, RIGHT? SO, SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS DOUBLE REPAIRS, RIGHT? SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE HAVE 160,000 CUSTOMERS, WE PUT OUT CLOSE TO A MILLION BILLS A YEAR.
NOW, IF, IF, IF ONE OF YOUR, IF YOUR OFFICES AS A COLLECTIVE WILL RECEIVE A HUNDRED CALLS WITHIN A, A WEEK, THAT'S NOT EVEN A PERCENTAGE.
THAT'S NOT EVEN A, A SINGLE PERCENTAGE OF HOW MANY CUSTOMERS WE BILL ON A REGULAR.
SO I THINK THE PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PUT OUT THERE IS NOT ACCURATE TO WHAT'S REALLY, WHAT IT REALLY IS AND WHAT THE NUMBERS REALLY SHOW YOU.
YOU CAN'T, LIKE CUS CUSTOMERS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THINGS BREAK OVER TIME.
YOU CAN HAVE A BRAND NEW HOUSE AND HAVE A LEAKING TOILET WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF YOU LIVING THERE.
SO EVERY HOME IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HAVING A BREAK.
IF I LIVED, IF I KNEW I CAN HAVE A HOME, IF I KNEW I COULD HAVE A HOME THAT WOULD NEVER HAVE A LEAK, NEVER HAVE A BREAK, I WOULD MOVE THERE IN A HURRY.
SO PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO BREAK AND JUST, AND, AND NOT, WHEN YOU HEAR A TOILET RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND, WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING LEAKING IN THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE, DON'T LET IT GO BY THE WAYSIDE.
YOU HAVE TO GET ON IT AND REPAIR IT OR IT'S GOING TO AFFECT YOUR BILL.
YEAH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, IN GOVERNMENT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE ECONOMIC REALITIES OF THE COMMUNITY OF SOCIETY RIGHT NOW THAT THINGS ARE TIGHT FOR MANY PEOPLE
[03:00:01]
AND UM, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING WE CAN HAVE INVESTIGATIONS INTO ONE CERTAIN ONES THAT ARE UNUSUAL OR, UH, BE ABLE TO MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS.UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK AN ORDINANCE THAT WE COULD HELP, I THINK ONE TIME WITH A CUSTOMER, A A YEAR OR MAYBE MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT TO SEE IF WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY WHEN SOMEONE'S GETTING HIT WITH OUTRAGEOUS BILLS, THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
THAT ESPECIALLY A SENIOR WITH FIXED INCOME THAT'S SIGN FOOD, FOOD, UH, UH, MEDICINE PRESCRIPTIONS OR, AND NOW WATER.
SO I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, I GET IT, I GET THE, THE BLACK AND WHITE OF THEIR LEAK, THEIR PROBLEM.
UM, AND, AND THEN THE, THE REST OF THE TAXPAYER'S NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
BUT I THINK THE OVERWHELMING, UH, RESPONSE WE'RE GETTING I IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY STRUGGLING AND, AND OUR DUTY AS OUR GOVERNMENT IS TO, TO, YOU KNOW, HELP MITIGATE THAT.
AND I THINK THIS HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE, UM, WITH ACCURATE READINGS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THE PUBLIC THERE.
IF, IF, IF THEY ARE, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE, THEY'RE ACCURATE AND YOU HAVE LEAKS.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO TAKE AN APPROACH THAT'S, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPASSIONATE IF WE NEED MORE WIGGLE ROOM TO WORK WITH CERTAIN ONES THAT MAYBE HAVE A LEAK THAT AND THEN MAYBE GET A SECOND LEAK THAT YEAR THAT'S UNREASONABLE THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD.
UM, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO PUT CERTAIN ECONOMIC RESTRICTIONS ON IT OR SOMEONE ON A FIXED INCOME OR ELDERLY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THIS COUNCIL AND ALL SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT, SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT FAST.
UM, AND IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE NEXT TIME.
SO, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE HAVE A LEAK POLICY THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE AND WE ALSO, IN THE PAST, I WOULD SAY YEAR, WE'VE KIND OF MODIFIED IT A LITTLE BIT TO, TO ASSIST WITH WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT.
SO WE HAVE, SO BASICALLY JUST THE WAY THAT WE BILL, WE BILL EVERY TWO MONTHS.
SO IF A CUSTOMER RECEIVES A BILL THE FIRST TIME, UM, AND IT'S HIGH, THEY'RE ALREADY INTO THE NEXT BILLING CYCLE, WHICH IS GOING TO AFFECT THEIR NEXT BILL.
SO WHAT WHAT I WAS ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE WAS WE, WE WOULD, ONCE A CUSTOMER FIXES THE LEAK, WE WOULD THEN ADJUST THAT FIRST BILL AND WE WOULD COME BACK AND ADJUST THAT SECOND BILL ONCE IT'S GENERATED TO PROVIDE THEM ADDITIONAL, UM, ADDITIONAL HELP ON, ON BILLS FOLLOW.
BUT I, I THINK THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IS THAT FIXING THE LEAK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.
IF WE DID MULTIPLE LEAKS FOR A PERSON THAT NEVER FIXED THE LEAK, IT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
WE CAN ADJUST IT, IT'S THE BILL'S GONNA GO BACK DOWN.
'CAUSE YOU'RE JUST ADJUSTING THE AMOUNT ON A BILL, YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM OF THE INCREASED USAGE.
AND ONCE THAT, ONCE YOU GET THAT ONE OR TWO BILL ADJUSTMENT, IT'S GONNA GO RIGHT BACK UP TO THE NEXT BILL FOLLOWING THAT BECAUSE YOU NEVER ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM THAT HAD AT HAND.
SO JUST THEORETICALLY SPEAKING, WHAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE METERS, THE DIGITAL METERS, I LOVE HOW ACCURATE THEY ARE.
UM, BUT EVERYTHING COULD HAVE ERRORS.
SO THEORETICALLY SPEAKING, IF SOMEONE ACTUALLY DOESN'T HAVE A LEAK AND SEES A MASSIVE, UH, FLUCTUATION THAT THAT SHOOTS UP, ARE WE JUST GONNA SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THOSE DOORS OR ARE WE ACTUALLY GONNA INVESTIGATE IT JUST SO WE, WE, WE INVESTIGATE EVERY, EVERY CALL COMPLAINT THAT COMES TO US.
IT'S INVESTIGATED, INVESTIGATE.
AND IF WE CAN'T FIND, IF WE CAN'T FIND A LEAK AND LOOK, I'M NOT, I MEAN, AND PRESSURE, THIS IS, I THINK THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC, UH, WANNA KNOW SOMETHING THAT HELP US.
UM, IF THERE IS A SITUATION THAT THERE IS NOT A LEAK AND WE, WE GET A, A VERIFY FROM A PLUMBER THAT THEY CHECKED, MAYBE A SECOND PLUMBER, IF THAT'S NECESSARY.
DO WE, UH, I MEAN WHAT'S OUR RESPONSE THEN IF IT RETURNS BACK TO NORMAL? IT'S UNUSUALLY HIGH, RIDICULOUSLY HIGH WITH NO LEAK CONFIRMED.
SO WE, SO WE RELY ON THE FACTS AT THAT POINT.
UM, AND AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE'RE SAYING, OH, WE, WE DON'T HAVE A LEAK, I CALLED THE SECOND PLUMBER OUT, THE RESPONSE TO US IS ALWAYS, I FEEL LIKE I DIDN'T USE THAT AMOUNT OF WATER.
NOW I HAVE TO SIT BACK AND LISTEN TO THE CUSTOMER, GET ALL THE INFORMATION, AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I CAN AND THEN GO LOOK AT THE FACTS.
AND THE FACTS OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE METER DOES NOT SPIN WITHOUT, WITHOUT WATER GOING THROUGH IT.
WE CAN GO OUT AND CHECK TEST IT.
HAVE THEY HAVE A DUTY TO CHECK THEIR PIPES? DO WE HAVE A DUTY TO JUST VERIFY THAT THEIR METER IS ACTUALLY CORRESPONDED AND CORRESPONDED CORRECTLY TO THE COMPANY? DO WE, I MEAN, DO WE HAVE A DUTY TO CHECK IT AS WELL? YES.
IF THEY HAVE A DUTY TO CHECK, WE DO.
SO WE CHECK EVERYTHING, WE CHECK EVERYTHING FROM THE MAIN UP UNTIL THE PRIVATE, PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO WE ARE IN CHARGE OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE MAIN ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BACK OF THE METER, WHICH IS THE PROPERTY LINE.
THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN, TO CHECK, TO RECALIBRATE.
ANYTHING THAT'S NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THE CUSTOMER IS, IS PROVIDED WITH GOOD WATER.
SO IF WE GET AN ALERT THAT'S UNUSUALLY HIGH, WE'RE GOING CHECK THE CHECK, MAKE SURE, YES, WE HAVE, WE'VE BEEN, WE HAD THIS BEFORE WE GOT A MI WE HAD A PROCESS WHERE WE, UM, LOWERED THE PERCENTAGE OF, NOW WE'RE TAKING MORE PICTURES.
AT FIRST IT WAS 200% OVER YOUR AVERAGE.
IF YOU, IF WE RECEIVE THAT NUMBER, IT AUTOMATICALLY GENERATES A WORK ORDER.
GO OUT AND CHECK IT, PHYSICALLY CHECK IT, TAKE A PICTURE, PROVIDE THAT PICTURE FOR THE CUSTOMER TO SEE, FOR US TO EVALUATE THAT PROCESS IS STILL IN PLACE.
WE'RE EVEN GONNA CONTINUE THAT PROCESS WITHIN A MI IF THERE'S STILL, UM, A SITUATION WHERE SOMETHING IS UNUSUALLY HIGH AND THEN THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE METER IS NOT READING PROPERLY, WE STILL CAN GO OUT AND GET A MANUAL READ.
THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I CHOSE TO STAY WITH THESE METERS IS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE,
[03:05:01]
I KNOW THEY WORK, THERE'S, THERE'S NO OTHER METER IN THIS AREA THAT'S BETTER AND WE CAN STILL GO GET A PHYSICAL READING 'CAUSE IT'S NOT DIGITAL.AND CINDY, I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR POSITION.
EVERY TIME WE ASK YOU FOR ANYTHING, ANY HELP WITH ANYONE, UH, YOU ALWAYS LOOK INTO IT THOROUGHLY AND DO YOUR, AND REALLY DO A GOOD JOB THERE.
BUT JUST ALL THE WAY AROUND, UH, YOUR RESPONSE TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, 2:00 AM 3:00 AM TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE REPAIRED AND THAT WATER BACK IS, UH, I MEAN REALLY NEXT TO NONE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, LOOK, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
SO I JUST WANT TO JUST ADD THAT, UM, WE'RE WAITING ON A FEW MORE NUMBERS FROM MARK AND, AND LOOK, WE'RE GONNA WORK AS A COUNCIL AND, AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IF ONCE WE GET THESE NUMBERS, IF THERE'S ANY FLEXIBILITY FOR US TO DO ANYTHING, WHICH I'M HOPING THERE IS, THAT WE'RE GONNA DO IT BECAUSE LOOK, THIS, YOU SEE WATER, JUST, WE HAD THREE WATER BREAKS.
ANGELA, WHAT, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS? MASS ONE, JUST IN MY DISTRICT ONE THIS MORNING.
SO IT, IT'S HAPPENED MORE AND MORE AND MORE.
SO, SO WE DO HAVE AN OUTDATED SYSTEM IN IT AND, AND WE DO NEED A REPAIR.
SO WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY PAYING MUCH MORE.
BUT I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE AWARE THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGE AND HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE ECONOMIC REALITIES THAT'S, THAT'S GOING THROUGH NOT ONLY THE COUNTRY, BUT OVER HERE AND OVER HERE'S A LITTLE WORSE WITH INSURANCE RATES AND MANY OTHER THINGS.
SO, UH, I JUST WANT US ALL TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT AS BLACK AND WHITE SOMETIMES AS GRAY, ESPECIALLY IN GOVERNMENT.
AND WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND, UH, DECISIONS THAT AFFECT WHETHER THEY'RE ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS, FEED THEIR FAMILIES.
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IF YOU GET THIS KIND OF RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WE SHOULD ALL WORK ON SEEING HOW WE CAN MITIGATE IT.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO DO SO, IF I COULD, AND I'M PRESIDENT.
UM, COUNCILMAN CARTER, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, NOBODY WANTS MONTHLY BILLS MORE THAN THE ADMINISTRATION.
WE WANT TO GET IT ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
UM, WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH, BUT IF EVERYBODY GETS ON THIS DROP COUNTER, AND AS YOU COULD SEE ON THIS GENTLEMAN'S, UM, DROP COUNTER, THERE'S WATER BEING USED PROBABLY WHEN HE'S SLEEPING AT NIGHT.
AND HE'S NOT UP THAT OFTEN, SO IS CORRECT.
WELL, I'M NOT, OKAY, SO WHAT I'M GONNA KNOW, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT, UM, SPECIFIC MATTER, THOSE DOTS UP THERE.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER DAYS? THE RED.IS A OVER USAGE.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA LET, AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA LET, UM, IF YOU WOULD SPEAK TO THE, UH, DIRECTOR ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, RIGHT.
BECAUSE IT IS ALL CASE SPECIFIC.
I, I'M SORRY THOUGH, SINCE WE'RE TALKING, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TOILETS NOW.
SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I WANT EVERYBODY, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO DO A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.
SIDNEY TOLD ME HOW TO CHECK THE TOILET.
I ALWA I WAS UNDER THE MISCONCEPTION THAT IF YOU HAVE A LEAKY TOILET, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A NOISE THAT WAS, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
SO YOU POUR COFFEE IN THE BACK OF YOUR TANK ON THE TOILET, YOU GET IT COFFEE COLORED, IT'LL LOOK LIKE COKE, AND YOU WAIT 15 TO 30 MINUTES AND YOU GO BACK.
AND IF THE INSIDE OF YOUR TOILET BOWL IS GOT THE COFFEE COLORED WATER IN IT, YOU HAVE A LEAK AND IT'S A SILENT LEAK, AND IT'S LEAKING ALL THE TIME.
SO WE JUST NEED TO PUT THAT ANNOUNCEMENT OUT THERE.
NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FLUSH YOUR TOILET SEVEN OR EIGHT TIMES TO CLEAR THE COFFEE COLOR, YOU KNOW, OUT OF, SO YOU'RE GONNA USE A LOT OF WATER DOING THAT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, MY FRIEND DID IT AND SHE'S LIKE, I HAD A LEAK, AND I'M LIKE, I HAD A LEAK TOO.
SO I THINK WE, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN THAT YOU FLUSHED IN AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HEAR IT RUNNING.
UM, IT COULD BE SILENT, WHICH IS THE CASE.
SO I JUST FELT LIKE WE HAD TO DO THAT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.
AND, AND THERE'S SOME EMBARRASSING VIDEOS ON, ON OUR, ON OUR WEBSITE TO SHOW HOW TO DO IT AS WELL.
SYDNEE, UH, SYDNEE FOR CONTEXT.
UM, LOOK, IT'S THE, I THINK IT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT WE HEAR ABOUT IN ALL OF OUR OFFICES ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND A LOT OF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ARE EXPLAINABLE.
I DON'T WANNA MINIMIZE WHAT A LOT OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE GOING THROUGH, BUT FOR CONTEXT, UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT BEFORE.
WE HAVE 500 ROUGHLY WATER MAIN OR LEAKS AROUND THE CO AROUND THE PARISH.
EVERY WEEK THAT YOU DEAL WITH 500 LEAKS OR BREAKS A WEEK IN JEFFERSON PARISH, THOSE PIPES ARE JUST AS OLD AS, AS A LOT OF THE PIPES UNDER HOUSES TOO, WHICH GETS TO YOUR POINT OF YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING UNDERNEATH YOUR HOUSE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR, IF YOU KNOW THIS OFFHAND, AND SORRY, I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, THAT'S FINE.
YOU MENTIONED 120 SOMETHING THOUSAND CUSTOMERS IN OUR, IN OUR CUSTOMER BASE.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT WE HEAR ON A DAILY BASIS, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT 120,000 ARE PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND, AND SEEING THAT THEY HAVE REAL PROBLEMS WITH HIGH BILLS AND, AND LEAKS? SO, SO IT'S 160,000 CUSTOMERS, 160, AND THERE'S ABOUT, UH, A PERCENT 1.25% OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE GET.
SO I TOOK THE DATA, I TOOK THE DATA OF HOW MANY BILLS WE SEND OUT IN THE TIMEFRAME, AND I CALCULATED HOW MANY COMPLAINTS OR CALLS WE GET IN THAT SAME TIMEFRAME.
IT'S ABOUT 1.25% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER THAT WE PUT OUT IN THE TIMEFRAME.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS A PERVASIVE ISSUE WITH CALLS AND EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS,
[03:10:01]
AND AGAIN, I DON'T MINIMIZE THAT BECAUSE THESE ARE LEGITIMATE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING.EVEN THOUGH THAT IS WHAT'S OUT THERE, IT IS ROUGHLY LESS THAN 2% OF THE POPULATION THAT USES OUR WATER SYSTEM.
SO I, SIDNEY, I WAS ONE OF THE, I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY, UM, HOUSES THAT WENT WITH YOU INTO SOMEONE'S HOUSE.
AND MY CONSTITUENT HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THIS GENTLEMAN.
THE BILL INDICATED THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A LEAK.
YOUR GUYS WENT OUT, COULDN'T FIND A LEAK.
UM, SHE HAD TWO DIFFERENT PLUMBERS COME OUT, COULDN'T FIND A LEAK.
THE BILL WENT BACK TO NORMAL, THEN IT WENT BACK HIGH AGAIN.
WHEN YOU AND I WENT TO HER HOUSE, WHAT WE DISCOVERED IS THAT SHE ACTUALLY HAD A RAINER, HER SPRINKLER SYSTEM WAS OFF.
SO SHE'S LIKE, IT COULDN'T BE MY SPRINKLER SYSTEM THAT'S, THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM.
BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT SHE HAD A SPECIAL, UM, A SPECIAL OVERRIDE ON HER SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
SO ON DAYS WHEN THERE WAS NO RAIN AND MONTHS THAT WERE NOT RAINY, HER BILL WOULD GO BACK DOWN AND ON MONTHS WHEN THERE WAS NO RAIN, HER BILL WOULD GO BACK UP.
SO IT LOOKED LIKE, SORT OF LIKE A SPORADIC LEAK.
LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN'S SAYING, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
IT GOES DOWN ONE MONTH AND THEN, AND THE NEXT MONTH IT'S NORMAL AND THEN, THEN IT'S HIGH.
SO I GUESS WHEN YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER THAT IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS, IT TRULY, TRULY IS, UM, BECAUSE IT TOOK MONTHS, UM, FOR YOUR TEAM, BUT TWO PLUMBERS LATER, NO ONE COULD IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND YOU CAME OUT THERE AND FOUND IT FOR HER.
UM, AND WERE ABLE TO HELP HER RESOLVE THAT PERMANENTLY GOING FORWARD.
'CAUSE SHE HAD JUST REMOVED THAT FROM HER, FROM HER, UH, SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
UM, BUT I GUESS, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE WORKING ON THE COMMUNICATION ISSUE, IF THERE WAS ONE AND WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE THAT AND WORK OUT THOSE BUGS, I KNOW IN MY HOUSE, I THINK PROBABLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS EDUCATE PEOPLE BETTER ON HOW TO USE THE SYSTEM, USE THE APP.
UM, I FOUND OUT WHO SHOWERS TOO LONG IN MY HOUSE USING THAT APP.
I MEAN, IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW.
BUT, UM, BUT ANYWAY, AND I DID IDENTIFY A LEAK AND THEN I IDENTIFIED, UM, A DAY THAT I HAD, UM, SOMEONE LEFT THE WATER ON IN THE POOL, THE HOSE ON.
SO, UM, IF PEOPLE USE THE APP, THEY'LL SEE THAT IT REALLY WORKS.
I THINK MAYBE IF MAYBE COORDINATING WITH THE LIBRARY TO DO A LITTLE CLASS ON HOW TO USE THE APP WOULD BE HELPFUL TOO.
HOW TO SET YOUR, YOUR ALARM SYSTEM.
SO BECAUSE NOW WE ALL GET A TEXT THAT SAYS YOU'RE OVER YOUR DAILY LIMIT, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE IF THERE, YOU KNOW, TO CHECK THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
UM, AND THEN WHEN YOU GET THAT A COUPLE DAYS IN A ROW, IT'LL TELL YOU YOU'RE INDICATING A LEAK AND YOU GET THE ALARM EMAIL, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO PAY ATTENTION.
I THINK IF MAYBE WE COULD EDUCATE PEOPLE ON HOW TO USE THE APP BETTER TOO, THAT WOULD PROBABLY HELP.
I, I DON'T WANNA GLOSS OVER, UM, PARISH PRESIDENT YOU MENTIONED, AND, AND, UM, OUR COO MARK DREWS IS LOOKING AT SOME NUMBERS.
MARK, IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF SAY, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE LOOK LIKE? ANY PLAN? THIS IS A, OOPS,
YEAH, IT'S NOT QUITE, CAN YOU HEAR IT? I CAN'T.
LOOK, IT'S LIKE ANY, IT, THIS IS A 20 YEAR PLAN, UH, AND IT'S A LIVING THING.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY WHEN IT WAS SET UP, I, I ASSUMED, LOOK, WE WAIT ABOUT FIVE YEARS, SEE WHERE WE ARE.
BUT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, I STARTED LOOKING AT IT LAST YEAR.
UH, BUT I WANTED TO WAIT OF COURSE THIS YEAR.
'CAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE RECOMMENDED ANY CHANGES.
UH, BASED OFF WHAT I HAD SEEN LAST YEAR.
UH, I HAVE THE 25 DATA, BUT I'VE GONE BACK AND I'VE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE EVERY YEAR LATER THEY COME OUT WITH REVISED DATA.
SO I'VE GONE BACK AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING AND PUTTING ALL THAT DATA IN, UH, LOOKING AT THE WATER AND THE SEWER.
BUT THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS AS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
IT'S NOT JUST WHERE'S MY REVENUE THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE I PROJECTED VERSUS WHERE WE ARE.
AND THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE INFLATION, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, A MESS.
UH, THEN I HAVE TO LOOK AT, OKAY, NOT JUST WHAT TYPE AM I, IS THE REVENUE CLOSE TO WHAT I PROJECTED? I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OPERATING COSTS, WHICH HAVE GONE UP OBVIOUSLY WITH INFLATION AS WELL.
AND THEN I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE IS WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BILL? OKAY.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
SO I'M LOOKING AT ALL THREE THINGS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE.
SO FROM, YOU KNOW, A, A STANDPOINT OF WATER AND SEWER, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES.
OKAY? ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION IN SEWER, YOU CAN LINE PIPES, GRAVITY PIPES MUCH MORE EASILY THAN WATER.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WATER HAS ALL THOSE SERVICE CONNECTIONS WHICH ARE TOO SMALL.
[03:15:01]
TO LINE, UH, MOST OF YOUR WATER PIPES, UNLESS IT'S A REALLY LARGE ONE WITH NO CONNECTIONS.BUT SEWER'S DIFFERENT, YOUR SEWER CONNECTIONS ARE TYPICALLY FOUR OR SIX INCHES.
SO YOU CAN LITERALLY LINE A SEWER PIPE AND YOU CAN LINE THE ACTUAL LATERALS THAT GO.
SO WHAT WE HAVE FOUND, WHICH IS HELPED, AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS IN TOTALITY, IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ESTIMATED THE COST FOR SEWER, UH, WE ARE ASSUMING LIKE WATER, I'M GONNA HAVE TO RIP UP THE STREET, PUT THE STREET BACK, I'M GONNA HAVE TO RIP UP OR DRIVEWAYS BECAUSE IT MAY BE ON THE SIDE.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE IN SEWER TO DO A LOT MORE LINING, WHICH IS A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THREE DIFFERENT THINGS AND, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN WRAP IT UP BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, UH, IS I'M LOOKING AT WHERE WE ARE WITH REVENUE, WHERE WE ARE WITH OPERATING COSTS, AND HOW MUCH I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO BUILD AND WHAT WE PROMISED WE WOULD DO.
AND FROM THOSE THREE THINGS, THEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE THING AND THE TOTALITY.
AND THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR RATES AND SEE IS, IS THERE ANY WAY WE, YOU KNOW, COULD, COULD EITHER CHANGE THE RATES AND AGAIN, IT WAS ALWAYS DESIGNED TO BE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
YOU MIGHT HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE NEED TO RAISE THEM, WE DIDN'T RAISE 'EM ENOUGH OR SOMETHING.
SO, SO, YOU KNOW, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE THE INFORMATION CORRECT.
AND THAT'S WHY I LITERALLY WENT BACK THROUGH 21 WHEN WE STARTED.
AND I'VE BEEN ADDING ALL THAT DATA IN AND I'M ALSO LOOKING AT THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND WHAT'S BUILT.
SO, UH, EVENTUALLY, LIKE I SAID, I, I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SIT WITH THE PARISH PRESIDENT, UH, MAYBE IN A FEW WEEKS AND SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY WE'LL GO TO THE COUNCIL AND LIKE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE GIVEN Y'ALL SOME INFORMATION THAT Y'ALL HAVE REQUESTED.
UH, THE PROBLEM WAS, OF COURSE I GAVE YOU WHAT I HAD AT THE TIME THE BEST I COULD.
UH, WHICH WAS MORE JUST REVENUE AND, UH, OPERATING COSTS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD ON THAT.
HAVE WE, HAVE WE JUST PRIORITIZED ANY, UM, ANY CAPITAL OUTLAY REQUESTS FOR ANY OF THESE WATER, UH, IMPROVEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? HAS THAT, HAVE WE BEEN FIGHTING FOR STATE FUNDS AND MAYBE TRY TO REDUCE THE RATE PAYERS? WELL, IT'S, IT'S LIKE ANYTHING.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME GRANTS WITH OPERA.
WE, WE APPLIED FOR GRAND ACTUALLY, UH, CHENE IN GRAND ISLE.
WE REFURBISHED THAT, UH, CHENE PUMP STATION FACILITY.
UH, WE HAD LIKE A THREE POINT SOMETHING MILLION DOLLAR GRANT AND EVERY DOLLAR WE SUCCESSFULLY GET.
SO LOOK, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO LEVERAGE WHATEVER WE CAN.
AND AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SHOW YOU MY COMPUTATIONS, WE'LL I HAVE LIKE WHAT I STARTED WITH IN 21 EXISTING FUNDS.
I HAVE MY BOND FUNDS, I HAVE SOME GRANT FUNDS IN THERE AND US TOGETHER, WE'RE TRYING MY OFFICE AND YOU ARE TRYING TO WORK ON MAYBE A PARTICULAR PROJECT TO TRY TO MOVE THINGS AROUND AND REDUCE IT SOME MORE.
THE, UH, IS ANYONE IN THE ADMINISTRATION LOOKING AT ANY POTENTIAL? 'CAUSE A LOT, I THINK A LOT OF THESE, UM, CINDY MENTIONED OUR, OUR METERS, OUR PIPES A LOT OF TIMES NEED TO BE A LITTLE HIGHER UP COMPARED TO OTHER PIPES, WHICH MAYBE MAKES IT MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DROUGHT OR FREEZES, UM, DURING DISASTERS.
IS THERE ANY GRANTS OUT THERE? AND, AND IF WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT, CAN WE JUST START LOOKING MAYBE FOR PEOPLE WITH FIXED INCOMES, MAYBE FOOD THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT, THAT MAYBE WERE CAUSED BY DROUGHTS, FREEZES, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN TRY TO GET SOME HELP TO, UM, PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES AND CAN WE MAYBE AT LEAST SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE, WHETHER THERE'S ANY KIND OF FEMA FUNDS OR IF WE COULD MOVE SOME HMGP MONEY, CPDG MONEY, ANYTHING GOING FORWARD THAT WE CAN START TO PRIORITIZE AND MAYBE HELPING PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES THAT CAN'T AFFORD A 15,000 REPAIR? I, I MEAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT.
I, I MEAN CDBG FUNDS SOMETIMES CAN BE USED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, ET CETERA FOR FIXING STUFF.
SO I MEAN, WE, WE CERTAINLY CAN LOOK AT THAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY ISSUES WHEN YOU'RE DEALING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE TECHNICALLY THAT PERSON, LIKE IF YOU'RE RAISING YOUR HOUSE, YOU KNOW THAT PERSON IS GONNA ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH A CONTRACTOR THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED OBVIOUSLY.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE MORE HURDLES.
BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY OPEN TO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I CAN ONLY DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC SIDE.
AND WE KNOW THERE'S ISSUES ON THE, THE PRIVATE SIDE.
MAYBE THE PARISH ATTORNEY HELP US DRIFT OF SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE FACADE PROGRAM WE'RE DOING WHERE THAT BEAUTIFIES AREA, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY FIXED THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH MORE RESTRICTIONS.
FIXED INCOMES, ELDERLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT IF, OOPS, GO AHEAD.
WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
IT SORT OF SMACKS MAYBE A BIT OF A GRATUITOUS DONATION, BUT CERTAINLY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONEY, IF THEY HAVE A PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT THE PROCESS WE USE FOR RAISING PEOPLE, UM, PROVIDING ELEVATORS TO PEOPLE WITH LIMITED INCOME OR A FACADE PROGRAM.
IF WE COULD PAINT THE FRONT FRONT OF THE HOUSE, I'M SURE WE COULD FIX A PIPE.
PLEASE DO, I THINK, LOOK, I THINK IF YOU PROVIDED THAT, I THINK YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL, THAT'D BE, I, YOU KNOW, WILLING TO PUT UP SOME FUNDS TO UH, AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO DO EVERYONE, BUT AT LEAST SOME OVER 70 FIXED INCOMES
[03:20:01]
THAT ARE BARELY MAKING IT TO TRY TO GIVE 'EM SOME RELIEF.SO AGAIN, I JUST WANNA RECAP THE TAKEAWAY.
UM, MARK, YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO SEWER, SO THAT IF THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT, I KNOW THAT'S WHY WE READ THAT ITEM INTO SUMMARY ON THE AGENDA THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO ADJUST MOVING FORWARD.
BEEN LOOKING AT IT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW.
AND, AND WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT, I DO WANNA JUST, UM, ADD ONE REQUEST.
UH, WE HAD AN, UM, OLDER CONSTITUENT, UH, COME LAST WEEK TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
SHE'S 80 SOMETHING AND HAD A WATER ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T DO TECHNOLOGY.
AND SO OUR OFFICE WAS ABLE TO MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT FOR HER WHEN SHE CAME TO THE NY BUILDING.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT ON THE DAYS THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT SCHEDULES IN PERSON MEETINGS, UM, IT MEANT THAT SHE WAS STANDING AT A COUNTER TALKING THROUGH THE LITTLE HOLE IN THE PLEXIGLASS WHEN THERE WAS A TABLE BEHIND HER IN TWO CHAIRS.
UM, SOME OF OUR OLDER RESIDENTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAND THERE AND, AND IT MIGHT BE BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE IF WE CAN SIT WITH THEM WHEN THEY HAVE THOSE IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND GO THROUGH THEIR DOCUMENTS TOGETHER AND COME TO RESOLUTION.
SO, UM, TO ADDRESS THAT, UM, YES, WE ARE MAKING, PREPARATIONS AND RENOVATIONS ARE HAPPENING.
WE'RE GONNA BE STARTING, I THINK JULY 1ST TO ALLOW A AREA WHERE WE CAN MEET WITH THESE CUSTOMERS AND ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS.
SO I'M TRYING TO SET UP TO WHERE WE HAVE KIOSK THINGS WHERE WE CAN KIND OF CONTROL THE CROWD AND, AND NOT HAVE LINES OUT INTO THE HALLWAY.
BUT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT AN AREA WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN MEET IN PERSON.
YOU HAVE A PRIVATE DOOR, CLOSED DOOR AT A TABLE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THEM.
I THINK JULY 1ST IS GONNA START THE RENOVATIONS FOR THAT.
IN THE INTERIM, I WOULD SAY SINCE SHE'S SPEAKING OUT IN THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE LITTLE HOLE IN THE PLEXIGLASS MM-HMM
UM, IT'S NO LESS PRIVATE OR MORE PRIVATE THAN SITTING AT THE TABLE THAT WAS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND HER.
UM, BUT AT 80 SOMETHING, IT WOULD'VE BEEN GOOD TO SIT AT A TABLE AND PUT HER DOCUMENTS OUT AND HAVE SOMEONE SITTING THERE WITH HER.
SO THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY RENOVATION.
THE TABLE AND CHAIR IS ALREADY THERE.
ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BECKY BROWN.
IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE,
I'M A RETIRED PRINCIPAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR AND TEACHER AS WELL.
I'M NO LONGER IN A SUIT LIKE YOU GUYS.
I'M AN AVERAGE CLOSED TENNIS SHOES 'CAUSE I'M RETIRED.
BUT THE, I'M LISTENING TO THE WATER ISSUE AND, AND I UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE MY AUNT WHO'S 90 GOING THROUGH IT AND WHO LIVES ALONE AND HER, HER, OH, SORRY.
TRIPLED THE WATER BILL TRIPLED.
AND SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
BUT MY ISSUE IS THIS, SINCE ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA, UH, A SMOKE TEST WAS DONE AT MY CORNER.
I LIVE BEHIND ONE BLOCK BEHIND THE FOUR COLUMNS AT THE VERY FIRST STOP SIGN BEHIND IT AT FROST AND SEVENTH STREET, SAME STREET AS MURRA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND OVER TIME, IF WE HAVE RAIN, LIKE WE HAD ABOUT A WEEK AGO, FOUR OR FIVE DAYS IN A ROW OF EVEN, UH, NOT EVEN FLOODING IN THE STREET, IT POPS THE SEWER CAP OFF THE SIDEWALK.
I BELIEVE THAT I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOUR OFFICE WITH MR. BONANNO'S OFFICE, WITH MS UH, LEE CHANG'S OFFICE ABOUT IT.
AND EVERYBODY, FRANKLY I CAN THINK OF TO CALL.
UM, AND THE, THE RESOLUTION I'M GETTING FROM THE SEWER DEPARTMENT IS WHEN I CALL OVER A HUNDRED TIMES, THEY'VE COME AND THEY'VE WASHED IT DOWN INTO THE GRASS, DOWN THE SIDEWALK INTO THE STREET, WHICH GOES INTO MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY AND INTO ALL ALONG THE GRASS AND THEN INTO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
YOU CAN'T MIX DRAINAGE WITH SEWER.
I ACTUALLY, I ACTUALLY HAD THE STATE POLICY REGARDING THAT ISSUE.
IT PRESENTS A, A SEVERE HEALTH RISK TO THE PUBLIC.
I HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT SOME ARE ELDERLY.
WHEN I MOVED TO THIS HOUSE 32 YEARS AGO, I WAS THE YOUNG KID ON THE BLOCK.
NOW I'M THE OLDEST ON THE CORNER.
MY THREE NEIGHBORS HAVE ALL HAD THEIR ENTIRE YARDS DUG UP AT A COST OF PROBABLY 10 TO 20, $30,000 A PIECE TO TRY TO RESOLVE IT, THINKING THE POWER.
I HAD PLUMBERS COME AND LOOK AT IT.
IT'S NOT ON MY SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, IT'S ON THE SERVITUDE.
THEY CAME, LIKE I SAID, A YEAR AFTER KATRINA, THEY DUG UP THE CORNER.
THEY REPLACED CEMENT AND A PIPE UNDER THE, UNDER THE STREET.
BUT SINCE THEN THEY'VE DONE PROBABLY TWO OR THREE ADDITIONAL
[03:25:01]
SMOKE TESTS.I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN THEY'VE DONE SEVERAL OF 'EM IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN RETIRED.
THEY COME, THE SMOKE COMES ALL THROUGH THE SERVITUDE.
THEY KNOW THERE'S NUMEROUS BREAKS EXCEPT THERE'S NO REAL RESOLUTION.
IT CONTINUES TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
I, THERE WAS A BUS STOP OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN THAT WERE LOCATED AT THAT CORNER.
AND IT WAS KILLING ME AS A RETIRED PRINCIPAL TO THINK THESE ELEMENTARY KIDS ARE RUNNING THROUGH THIS AFTER RAIN, NOT KNOWING THAT'S ON THEIR SHOES.
HOW EASILY COULD A CHILD TOUCH THEIR SHOE TO THEIR MOUTH OR THEIR NOSE AND END UP WITH SEVERE HEALTH RISK? LIKE E COLI VERY EASILY COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO A CHILD.
I, BECAUSE OF MY, MY CONNECTIONS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I CALLED TRANSPORTATION MYSELF AND BEGGED THEM TO PLEASE MOVE.
THE MICROPHONE DOES TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY AT THREE UM, MINUTES.
BUT I WOULD ASK IF YOU DON'T MIND, UM, GETTING WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
SINCE I'VE WAITED PATIENTLY BEHIND THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME IN FRONT OF ME AND I ALLOWED HIM TO, TO GIVE ME ANOTHER MINUTE BECAUSE I WAS BEFORE HIM.
WELL, IT, IT'S, IT'S, AND I DO THE SAME THREE MINUTES.
IT'S, UM, HOW, BUT HE, HE HAD ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO SPEAK BECAUSE HE WORKS FOR THE PARISH.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN CLOSING IS WASHING THE SEWER INTO THE STREET AND SIDE DOWN THE SIDEWALKS WITH DISINFECTANT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 19 YEARS.
HOW PATIENT IS A RESIDENT SUPPOSED TO BE? UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU THIS AND I'LL SAY IT, FRANKLY, IT WAS IN FRONT OF ANYBODY ELSE'S OF IMPORTANCE HOUSE.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN FIXED IMMEDIATELY.
I I WILL, I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A SIMILAR ISSUE DOWN THE STREET FROM ME.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT'S LOCATED.
WE HAVE INFILTRATION ISSUES AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHY WE KNOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.
LET ME, LET ME LET, UH, MARK DREW IF HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IT'S NOT BEING RESOLVED.
AND IT'S A HEALTH RISK TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC.
EVERYBODY WHO WALKS IN DOG, EVERYBODY WHO WALKS FOR EXERCISE, MA'AM, I APPRECIATE THEY'RE DRAGGING ALL THE GERMS TO MY SIDEWALK.
THAT MEANS EVERY PACKAGE THAT COMES TO MY HOUSE, THE MAIL, EVERYTHING BRINGS ALL THE GERMS TO MY DOORSTEP.
ALRIGHT, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
AND I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN NOW I CAN'T
WELL, AGAIN, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE RATE INCREASE.
AND WHAT WE'VE DONE, UH, OBVIOUSLY IS WE'VE TRIED TO PRIORITIZE THE WORST SYSTEMS WHERE WE HAVE BACKUPS.
UH, SO WHAT WE DO IS I'LL HAVE ANGELA TRACK DOWN THIS ADDRESS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE.
'CAUSE WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH, PARISH WIDE, UH, WHERE WE GO IN, WE SMOKE TESTS, WE VIDEO, UH, THE LINES, ET CETERA.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY WELL AHEAD OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY LINE AND CONSTRUCT.
UH, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS ALL OF THOSE, UH, LIFT SA AND SERVICE AREAS, THE GRAVITY LIFT STATION, ALL YOUR GRAVITY LINES THAT GO TO A LIFT STATION, OR WE CAN TELL BY SCADA INFORMATION WHICH ONES ARE GETTING INUNDATED IN RAIN.
UH, SO WE'RE INVESTIGATING THOSE.
THEN WE PUT THAT REPORT THAT, FROM THAT INVESTIGATION, GIVE IT TO AN ENGINEER WHO THEN MAKES A BID PACKAGE FOR OUR CONTRACTORS.
SO EACH YEAR, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO OBVIOUSLY BUDGET AND DO SOME OF, YOU KNOW, THOSE REPAIRS.
THAT'S THE, THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS, UH, UH, RATE INCREASE.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS, YOU KNOW, I'M GET ANGELA, UH, BECAUSE SHE'S THE ACTING SEWER DIRECTOR, SHE'LL CHECK THAT ADDRESS OUT TO SEE IF THAT IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT HEY, IN, YOU KNOW, THE RE NEAR FUTURE WE WILL BE GETTING TO OR WHEN WE CAN GET TO IT.
'CAUSE THAT IS THE GOAL, OBVIOUSLY, UH, PRIORITY IS WE WANNA REDUCE THE BACKUPS AND LOOK JUST FROM THE LINING WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF BACKUPS THAT WE HAD ANNUALLY.
I BELIEVE IT WAS LIKE FROM WELL OVER THREE 50 DOWN TO ONE 50, UH, LAST YEAR.
SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT WE ARE WAY BEHIND.
WE, WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.
AND I'D, I I WOULD ASK, SINCE WE HAVE A SPECIFIC PERSON HERE AND A SPECIFIC ADDRESS, IF YOU CAN UPDATE US, ANGELA, UM, IN THE FUTURE TO LET US KNOW THE PLAN ON THIS.
WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE, BY THE SEWER DEPARTMENT IN PERSON WAS THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. YES.
THEY'RE AWARE, THEY'VE BEEN AWARE THEY DID THE STUDY, BUT THAT IT'S NOT ON THE LIST TO REPAIR.
SO I GUESS I'M SUPPOSED TO JUST CONTINUE TO PUT UP NO MA'AM.
THIS IS OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
SO THERE WA THE WEEKEND THAT, AND I'M GONNA ASK BRETT TODD TO COME UP AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT PARTICULAR
[03:30:01]
WEEKEND.BUT WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE, WE'VE BEEN DOING THE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE I AND I THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.
WE'VE, UH, IDENTIFIED THE WORST AREAS IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT.
AND THIS AREA YOU'RE PART OF THE HARVEY AREA IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO GAP, WHICH IS OUR INTERNAL, UH, LEGAL REVIEW, UH, LATER THIS SUMMER WITH THE ANTICIPATION THAT THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WILL GO OUT TO BID PROBABLY LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL.
SO THE REPAIRS, THE REPAIRS IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CORRECT.
THAT'S TO DO THE, UH, INFILTRATION AND INVESTIGATION REPAIR.
BUT IF YOU WOULD, BRETT CAN, UH, DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED THAT WEEKEND IN PARTICULAR.
ANGELA, I SENT YOU ONE THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS.
I'D LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE FOR THAT ONE AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SAME, THAT'S THE SAME, SAME ONE, YES.
I HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT CAME TO ME OUTTA THAT SAME AREA, UH, PRIVATELY.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO IN THE MEANTIME.
'CAUSE THAT WAS, UH, YEAH, WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH MS. BROWN.
I BELIEVE, UH, HER ADDRESS ON SEVENTH, I GOT THE NUMBERS MEMORIZED IN MY HEAD.
UM, SHE IS AT THE VERY DEAD END OF A SEWER LINE, WHICH IS THE SHALLOWEST PART.
AND OF COURSE THE SHALLOWEST PART, THE WATER COMES OUT FIRST WHEN, UH, IT'S THE SHALLOWEST PART, UH, THE LIFT STATION THAT SERVICE HER, HER AREA, WHICH IS A MASSIVE GRAVITY AREA.
I KNOW IT GOES FROM FOURTH STREET TO, UH, WEST BANK EXPRESS WAY FROM MACARTHUR TO ANOTHER SIDE STREET, WHICH IS A HUGE GRAVITY AREA.
WE DID REHAB THE LIFT STATION ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.
UH, IT IS A TWO PUMP LIFT STATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, DURING THE HEAVY RAIN EVENTS THAT WE EXPERIENCED THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKENDS IN JUNE OR MAYBE IN MAY, UH, ONE OF THE PUMPS WAS OUTTA SERVICE, HAD AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE.
UH, WHEN WE GOT OUT THERE, IT WAS ALREADY TOO LATE AND IT STARTED BACKING UP.
SO, UM, WHAT WE DO IS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TAKE IT ON A DAY BY DAY BASIS, A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BUT AS ANGELA SAID, THE, THE INVESTIGATION WORK IN THAT SERVICE AREA IS COMPLETE.
AND THE BID PACKAGE, I BELIEVE IS EITHER AT GAB RIGHT NOW, OR SHOULD BE ON THE NEXT GAB AGENDA TO GO OUT FOR BIDS TO FIX ALL OF THE, UH, THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, UH, WHICH CAUSES THE INFILTRATION AND THE INFLOW INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE PROBLEM HERE.
IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, DURING A NORMAL DAY, THERE ARE NO SEWER BACKUPS.
THERE'S VERY FEW, AND IT'S USUALLY FROM BLOCKAGES OR SOMETHING.
BUT WHEN IT RAINS SIGNIFICANTLY, WE GET 90% RAINWATER IN THE SEWER SYSTEM, WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED TO, TO HANDLE IT.
AND HAS THAT SECOND PUMP AT THE LIFT STATION BEEN REPAIR? YES.
THAT AT LEAST THERE'S A TIMELINE.
I DO UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS AS IT, AS THEY'VE DOCUMENTED.
BUT THE, THE GOAL NOW IS, UM, THE END OF THE SUMMER.
NANCY, CAN WE START AGAIN? YEAH.
NANCY PEARSON, 89 24 1 2 DRIVE.
LEMME FIRST, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
I HAVE FAMILY IN OTHER PARISHES AROUND SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA, AND I'M THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.
SECONDLY, NOBODY'S REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE RATE INCREASES.
THIS COUNCIL PASSED TWO YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO, THAT'S GONNA LAST FOR 20 YEARS.
SO WE SHOULD ALL EXPECT OUR WATER BILLS TO GO UP EACH YEAR.
AND I, I GUESS MR. DREWS IS GONNA ADDRESS SOME OF THAT.
MAYBE IT WON'T GO UP AS MUCH, BUT THIS COUNCIL PASSED THOSE AND THAT YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT FIRST BECAUSE WE EXPECT 'EM TO GO UP.
I PULLED MY BILL FROM ONE YEAR AGO, JUNE, MY BILL WENT UP $30, JUST UNDER $30 FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
AND SO I'M SURE SOME PEOPLE HAVE ISSUES, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A DROUGHT AND IF YOU WATERED YOUR YARD, NOT ONLY DID YOUR WATER BILL GO UP, BUT YOUR SEWAGE BILL WENT UP.
I LET MY GRASS DIE FOR THAT MONTH.
BUT NOT ONLY IS IT THE SEWAGE, IT'S THE GARBAGE, IT'S THE WATER, IT'S THE MOSQUITO CONTROL, IT'S LAIER PARK, IT'S FIRE PROTECTION.
WHAT ALSO WENT UP, BECAUSE WE JUST PASSED A NEW FIRE MILLAGE IN OUR AREA, AND I GUESS IT'S THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND H HOUSING HEALTH AND WHATEVER THAT WE ALSO PAY ON THAT BILL.
AND CONSIDERING THE RATE INCREASES THAT Y'ALL DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO UNDER THIS COUNCIL, I EXPECTED MY WATER BILL TO GO UP AND IT DID ABOUT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
AND I'M NOT GONNA COMPLAIN AT ALL.
[03:35:01]
RIGHT? MADAM CHAIR.UM, THE COUNCIL OBVIOUSLY DID VOTE FOR THE RATE INCREASES.
I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T LIKE PAYING HIGH BILLS.
I DON'T LIKE PAYING HIGH BILLS, BUT IT WAS THE ADMINISTRATION THAT REQUESTED THIS.
AND WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL SIDE, UM, I KNEW, AND I WAS HEARING THAT THE WATER AND SEWER WERE ACTUALLY LOSING MONEY.
HEARD IT FROM MARK, HEARD IT FROM COSM, HEARD THAT WE WERE NOT A GOOD SPACE.
AND AS SOON AS I, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FIRST THING WE WERE GONNA TACKLE IF I WAS PARISH PRESIDENT.
COVID HAPPENED SOON AS WE COULD GET A HANDLE ON COVID.
IT WAS THE NEXT THING WE TACKLED FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR, UM, TO INCREASE THE RATES.
AND THE COUNCIL DID, UM, INCREASE THE RATES.
UM, SO IT WAS THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS REQUESTING IT.
I KNOW IT'S NOT POPULAR TO TALK ABOUT, I KNOW EVERYBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT A HIGH WATER BILL.
IF WE DIDN'T DO THIS, WE WERE GONNA BE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE OF KICKING THIS DOWN THE ROAD.
WE DON'T, I DON'T LIKE KICKING THINGS DOWN THE ROAD AND THAT IT'S NOT SEXY.
UM, AND IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, I GO TO CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS.
BUT WATER AND SEWER AND BRINGING A MODERN WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM IS CRITICAL TO JEFFERSON PARISH AND MAY BE AS IMPORTANT AS ROADS OR THE PUBLIC.
UM, WORKS MOST IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY THERE TO KEEP BUSINESSES WANTING TO INVEST IN JEFFERSON PARISH TO ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES SO WE CAN GET ALL THE DETAILS OF HIGH WATER BILLS.
BUT THE OVERALL MESSAGE IS WE AS A PARISH HAVE A TON OF WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE WHERE THE ENVY OF MANY OTHER PARISHES WHO DON'T HAVE THESE RESOURCES, WE'RE MODERNIZING OUR WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT COMES AT A COST TO THE TAXPAYER.
UM, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL ALWAYS SAY WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THAT COUNCIL DID, UM, FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
SO I DON'T WANNA LET IT GO THAT YOU GET BLAMED FOR, UM, RAISING THE RATES BECAUSE I AM THE ONE WHO ASKED YOU TO RAISE THE RATES.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M, I NEVER SHY AWAY FROM BECAUSE I KNOW, UH, THE RESULT OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO OUR COMMUNITY IF WE DID NOT DO THAT.
AND, AND IT WILL BE A TEAM EFFORT TO RESPOND TO CONSTITUENTS TO LOOK AT THE DATA.
AND I DO APPRECIATE THE, UM, THE POINTING THAT OUT.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY AS FAR AS, UH, WITH, WITH SIDNEY, IT, IT APPEARS TO ME MUST HAVE WORKED WITH THIS NEW ORLEANS SEWAGE AND WATER BOARD BECAUSE IT, THE, THE WATER, THE THE WATER, THE BILLS ARE GONE OUT OF RE OUT OF OUT OF CONTROL.
UM, I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN BONANNO ASKED, HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT AREAS HAVE THE WATER SHOOTING UP IN BILLS? JUST LOOK WHERE THE NEW, UH, WATER METERS ARE GOING AT.
THAT'S WHERE THE BILLS ARE SHOOTING UP AT.
AND I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN KERNER SAID, WELL, CAN WE DO IT MONTHLY? WELL, IF WE DO IT MONTHLY, IF THE BILL IS LIKE, I THINK SOMEONE SAID $900, SO YOU'RE NOW, YOU'RE GONNA BE PAYING FOUR 50 A MONTH.
THAT'S STILL RIDICULOUS FOR ANYBODY TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR THEIR WATER BILL AS FAR AS ALL THE, UH, FEES WITH THE SEWAGE AND ET CETERA.
THAT, THAT IS, UH, BASICALLY TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
YOU JUST PUT A FEE ON SOMEBODY AND SAY, YOU GOTTA PAY IT.
AND UH, AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, OLD WATER METERS ARE, UM, ANALOG.
THE NEW ONES ARE ELECTRONIC, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE METERS.
YOU LOOK ONLINE AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, WHEREVER THESE METERS ARE BEING PLACED AT, THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER BILLS SHOOTING UP.
AND WHEN YOU CALL THE, UH, WATER DEPARTMENT, THEY TELL YOU, OH, YOU GOT A LEAK.
SO YOU GET A PLUMBER OUT, YOU GET 'EM.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.
SO YOU GET ANOTHER PLUMBER OUT, YOU GET THE SAME ANSWER.
WELL, WHAT YOU GONNA DO? YOU GET NO RESPONSE FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT OTHER THAN THERE'S A LEAK AND THERE IS NO LEAK.
WE HAD, THEY HAD ONE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS A PLUMBER THAT CHECKED HIS OWN HOUSE.
AND THEY WERE TELLING HIM HE HAD A LEAK.
IT, IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
AND, UH, I DON'T HAVE THE NEW WATER METER, BUT I KNOW ONCE I GET IT, MY BILL'S SHOOTING UP.
I, I GUARANTEE IT BECAUSE THIS, THIS DEAL IS A WAY OF GETTING MORE MONEY OUT OF THE CITIZENS.
IT IS A WAY OF GETTING MORE MONEY OUT OF THE CITIZENS BY PUTTING THESE NEW METERS IN.
AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE WITH GAS.
WHEN YOU GO TO PUMP GAS, YOU PUMP THE GAS, YOU'RE STILL GETTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF GAS.
BUT WHEN YOU, YOU, THEY FINAGLE THE, UH, THING TO GET THE GAS PRICE UP AND IT GOES FROM $2 TO THREE SOMETHING, YOU'RE PAYING MORE FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF GAS AND THE PEOPLE ARE USING THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER, BUT THE BILL IS SHOOTING
[03:40:01]
WAY THROUGH THE ROOF.AND, UH, I JUST, I JUST, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT IT.
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE JEFFERSON PARISH GO THE WAY IT HAS GONE AND IT'S GETTING LIKE NEW ORLEANS WITH THE BILLS AND WHATNOT.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE ELDERLY AND THE LOW INCOME AND HOW WE CAN HELP THEM.
WELL, THE SAME THING WITH JUST THE AVERAGE CITIZENS THAT HAVE, THAT ARE STRUGGLING PAYING FOR THEIR GAS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.
ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? FRANKIE HIRES OWE THE IRONY.
REMEMBER STEALING THE GRANT MONEY.
IN FACT, I'VE BEEN HERE JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR WHEN THIS WHOLE GRIFT, THIS WHOLE CON JOB STARTED AND I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO IT.
THEN IS THERE A PRESS? DO WE HAVE A PRESS? REALLY? I THINK NOT.
I THINK NOT SOMEONE FROM THE PUBLIC, OPPOSED, WHEN THEY GAVE THEMSELVES THE POWER TO INCREASE THE WATER RATES, SOMEONE OPPOSED THEM WHEN THEY EXERCISED THAT POWER AFTER THEY STOLE $60 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY, THEY STOLE GRANT MONEY FOR IDA AND THEN RAISED THE RATES.
IN SPITE OF THAT, THE PUBLIC SPOKE AGAINST THIS COUNCIL AND HAS SPOKEN AGAINST THIS COUNCIL.
IN EVERY ABUSE, IN EVERY ABUSE OF POWER, THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN, BUT THE PRESS COULD CARE LESS.
YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REPEAL THOSE RESOLUTIONS.
YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO LOWER RATES IMMEDIATELY.
YOU HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID THE FIRST TIME.
AND THIS LIP SERVICE, THIS IDEA THAT YOU'RE GONNA STEAL IT THROUGH GRANT MONEY TO FIX SOMEBODY'S WOES, THAT'S LIKE LOOKING FOR FAIRNESS IN DEMOCRACY.
AND IF ANYBODY HERE CARED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION WHATSOEVER, YOU SWORE TO SUPPORT AND DEFENDANT.
I GOT A VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION SPLIT PARISHES.
I GOT ONE PLACE I'M REPRESENTING A MUNICIPALITY.
WHAT'S THE FIRST COMMANDMENT WE DID DO AN INVOCATION.
RIGHT? YOU GOTTA SERVE ONE MASTER.
I'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS FROM THE BEGINNING.
THE FIRST THING I PAID, LAID EYES ON WAS THE, WAS THE ABUSE OF WATER DEPARTMENT MONEY.
YOU TAKE IT FROM GRANT BUDDY, YOU TAKE IT FROM MILLAGES AND YOU TAKE IT IN A RATE INCREASE.
AND I'M SITTING OUT IN THE FOYER WHEN IT'S RECOMMENDED.
WHEN SOMEBODY'S BRAGGING ABOUT THE FACT THEY CONVINCE A PARISH PRESIDENT TO PUT IT TO A SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBER VOTE.
WHEREIN TWO MEMBERS SERVE THE ADMINISTRATION.
THE AT LARGE MEMBERS SERVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE INTEREST, THE PARISH WIDE INTEREST, THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE EVERY DOLLAR OFF OF EVERY LITTLE CAHOOTS THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT SPENDS MONEY ON.
EVERY LIFT STATION, EVERY, EVERY ACTION YOU TAKE IS UNSUPPORTED CONSTITUTIONALLY.
AND IT REFLECTS IN THE PROPAGANDA HOURS.
YOU, YOU SECOND CLASS, THE CITIZENS, YOU CAN'T ASK 'EM A QUESTION TO EXTEND THEIR TIME.
NO, YOU GOTTA TELL 'EM, OH, THE MIC CUTS OFF AT THREE MINUTES.
I'M IN THE HEARINGS TRYING TO RECTIFY THE, THE SITUATION JEFFERSON PARISH SUFFERS FOR.
AND I CAN'T GET MY OWN REPRESENTATIVE TO ASK ME A QUESTION, BUT THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM BATON ROUGE WILL ASK ME A QUESTION AND EXTEND MY TIME.
YOU COULD EXTEND ANYBODY'S TIME AS YOU DID FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT YOU SERVE THE ADMINISTRATION, NOT THE CITIZENS.
YOU'LL JUST CHANGE HANDS CHANGE SEATS AGAIN.
I'M GOING TO SEE HER REPUTATION REMEDIED.
SHE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS THE BAD COP AS EVERYBODY'S PAINTING HER.
SHE TOOK THE ADVICE OF A FORMER PARISH PRESIDENT, FIGURE IT OUT FOR THE RECORD.
UM, THE SUMMARY ORDINANCE AS HE WALKS OUT, UM, THE SUMMARY ORDINANCE THAT APPEARED ON THE AGENDA ACTUALLY WOULD ALLOW US TO ADJUST RATES.
IT CANNOT BE DONE LEGALLY IMMEDIATELY.
IT TAKES READING INTO SUMMARY AT ONE MEETING AND THEN ACTING UPON IT THE NEXT.
SO WE HAVE READ THAT INTO SUMMARY.
WE ARE POISED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, IF NEEDED.
AND SO WE, UH, THIS COUNCIL I KNOW IS CONCERNED.
IT IS WHY WE ARE WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO GET THE DATA AND TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS TO, UM, TO BRING SOME RELIEF AND SOME CONFIDENCE TO OUR CITIZENS.
IF NO ONE ELSE, UM, IS APPROACHING THE MICROPHONE TO SPEAK, WE WILL MOVE.
[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]
UM, MADAM CLERK TO READ ITEMS INTO SUMMARY.AN ORDINANCE WAIVING THE COURT PORT REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE FOR THE PROPERTY AT 76 DUNLEY COURT IN MARRA, LOUISIANA, 7 0 0 7 2, AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 7 1 7 3 ADOPTED ON MAY 6TH, 2026 RELATIVE TO ADOPTING AN INCREASED MILL
[03:45:01]
RATE, BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF THE PRIOR YEARS MAXIMUM RATE TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX RULES.AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 7 1 7 2 ADOPTED ON MAY 6TH, 2026 RELATIVE TO MILAGE RATES TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX RULES TO REMOVE FROM THE LINE ITEM FOR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR FROM SECTION ONE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS, AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE MILITARY TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX RULES FOR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR THE YEAR 2026 BASED ON THE 2026 JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSMENT RULE.
AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS IN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT AN INCREASED MIL RATE, BUT NOT IN ACCESS OF THE PRIOR YEAR'S MAXIMUM RATE ROLL FORWARD TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX RULES FOR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR THE YEAR 2026 BASED ON THE 2026 JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSMENT RULE.
AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS IN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED THE ANNUAL AND MONTHLY BASELINE COLLECTION RATE OF THE NINE-MILE POINT ROAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERE TOO.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE ANNUAL AND MONTHLY BASELINE COLLECTION RATE OF THE CHURCHILL FARMS FAIRFIELD NUMBER TWO, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 37 DASH 21 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE ORDINANCES RELATIVE TO TREE TRIMMING, REMOVAL, ET CETERA BY PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 1 4 7 9 6, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO CREATE A NEW CLASSIFICATION AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 1 3 7 0 9, THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN TO INCORPORATE A NEW CLASSIFICATION AND ESTABLISH A PAY GRADE FOR THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF FISCAL PLANNING AND TREASURY WITHIN THE OFFICE OF FISCAL PLANNING AND TREASURY IN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA BY AMENDING CHAPTER TWO, ARTICLE FIVE, DIVISION 3.6, CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGETING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FISCAL PLANNING AND TREASURY, CREATING THE POSITION ENTITLED DIRECTOR OF FISCAL PLANNING AND TREASURY, AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATION, DUTIES AND SALARY OF THE DIRECTOR OF FISCAL PLANNING AND TREASURY AND ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET AND ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET.
AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
UM, COUNCILMAN BONANNO, YOUR MOTION ON THE ADOPTION OF THOSE ITEM ITEMS INTO SUMMARY.
COUNCILMAN BONANNO MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANKEN.
LET'S VOTE ON MOVING THOSE INTO SUMMARY.
VOTING IS OPEN, VOTING IS CLOSED.
UM, COUNCILMAN WALKER AND COUNCILMAN LEE.
ITEM PASSES AND WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN?
ALL IN FAVOR? HIT YOUR YAY BUTTON.