[PUBLIC HEARING ]
[00:00:04]
ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS 9:40 ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH.
WE'RE ACTUALLY BEGINNING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THIS MORNING.
WE ARE OPENING OUR MEETING FOR A SPECIAL MEETING AND A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WE'RE HOLDING THIS MORNING AT 1221 ELMWOOD PARK BOULEVARD HERE IN ELMWOOD.
AND WE WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK? THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER LEVYING ADDITIONAL OR INCREASED MILLAGE RATES ON PROPERTY WITHOUT FURTHER VOTER APPROVAL OR ADOPTING THE ADJUSTED MILLAGE RATES AFTER REASSESSMENT AND ROLLING FORWARD TO RATES NOT EXCEEDING THE PRIOR YEAR'S MAXIMUM.
AND SO WE ARE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
SO ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THE CONSIDERATION OF THESE INCREASED MILLAGE RATES IN THE LAFITTE AREA, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER.
ANYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCILMAN BONANO, WOULD YOU CONSIDER A MOTION TO ADJOURN OUR SPECIAL MEETING? I MOVE TO ADJOURN.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEE.
ALL IN FAVOR, IF YOU WILL RECORD YOUR VOTE.
LET'S SEE. ON ADJOURNING THE SPECIAL MEETING.
YOU'LL VOTE AND BE RECORDED AS PARTICIPATING. THERE WE GO.
SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING THAT WE NORMALLY DO BEFORE OUR OFFICIAL COUNCIL MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 10.I UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN BONANO AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE, HAVE SOME SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING.
DID I ASK THE MEMBERS OF THE THIRD DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME UP FORWARD? I'M ALSO GOING TO BE JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN ARITA BOHANNON, BECAUSE SHE ALSO REPRESENTS A PORTION OF THE THIRD DISTRICT, AS DOES COUNCILMAN LEE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US UP HERE? ARITA AND I PLANNED OUR OUTFIT.
WELL, I WAS TOLD BY THE FASHION POLICE THAT THIS IS THE LAST WEEK I CAN WEAR THIS BECAUSE LABOR DAY IS COMING.
IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT A HUMAN TURNS 75 MUCH LESS AT FIRE DEPARTMENTS, SO THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHEREAS THE THIRD DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATING 75 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE THIRD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY CHARTERED BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA ON JULY 18TH, 1951 AS THE THIRD PRECINCT VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.
THE DEPARTMENT BEGAN WITH 25 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO TRAINED WITH THE KENNER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SERVED THEIR COMMUNITY WITHOUT A FIRE STATION, FIRE ENGINE, OR MODERN EQUIPMENT.
I GUESS I USED HORSES BACK THEN.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THE VISION AND LEADERSHIP OF ITS MEMBERS AND PARISH OFFICIALS, THE THIRD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1953, AND THE ORGANIZATION BECAME KNOWN AS THE THIRD DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND WHEREAS, FROM ITS FIRST FIRE STATION ON PEAR STREET, THE DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN INTO A MODERN EMERGENCY RESPONSE ORGANIZATION WITH FOUR FIRE STATIONS, A HEADQUARTERS, MAINTENANCE, AND TRAINING FACILITY, STATE YARD EQUIPMENT, AND HIGHLY TRAINED CAREER AND VOLUNTEER PERSONNEL. AND WHEREAS, TODAY THE THIRD DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PROTECTS MORE THAN 50,000 CITIZENS IN RESPONSE TO MORE THAN 700 EMERGENCY INCIDENTS ANNUALLY WHILE MAINTAINING A CLASS ONE RATING
[00:05:02]
FROM THE PROPERTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA, AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF THE THIRD DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE THROUGH THEIR RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA, TO HURRICANES KATRINA, RITA, IDA, AND FRANCINE, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE HISTORIC LOUISIANA WINTER STORM, WILDFIRE RELIEF EFFORTS, HOUSTON HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS, AND MUTUAL AID RESPONSES TO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND STAFF AFFECTED BY THE NATURAL DISASTERS, AND WHEREAS FOR 75 YEARS THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE THIRD DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED THE CITIZENS OF THIS PARISH WITH COURAGE, PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, PRESERVING THE PROUD TRADITIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S FOUNDERS, AND SO TODAY, WE NOW THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE THIRD DISTRICT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT UPON ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY.AND ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PUT IN HERE IS THE THIRD DISTRICT WAS THE FIRST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THIS PARISH TO HAVE AN ALL-FEMALE COMPANY SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY'RE STILL THE ONLY ONES, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COUNCILMEMBERS, IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME DOWN AND JOIN US IN A PICTURE? YEAH, WE'LL GET IN.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG HAS A PROCLAMATION AS WELL.
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION TODAY FOR AN OUTSTANDING YOUNG MAN HERE, DEREK WARGO. WHEREAS, DEREK E. WARGO, A 16-YEAR-OLD LIFELONG RESIDENT OF METAIRIE IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND A STUDENT AT PATRICK F. TAYLOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY, HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC AND REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN COMPETITIVE KART RACING.
AND WHEREAS, DEREK HAS MAINTAINED A 4.0 GPA WHILE ADVANCING A GRADE LEVEL AND GRADUATING A YEAR EARLY IN 2027, ALL WHILE BALANCING A RIGOROUS DEMAND OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MOTORSPORTS COMPETITION. AND WHEREAS, DEREK FIRST DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR KART RACING AT THE AGE OF FOUR AND A HALF, THROUGH PERSEVERANCE, DEDICATION, COUNTLESS HOURS OF HARD WORK HAS RISEN TO BECOME ONE OF THE NATION'S PREMIER YOUNG KART RACERS.
AND WHEREAS, THROUGH HIS RACING CAREER, DEREK HAS EARNED NUMEROUS PRESTIGIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INCLUDING WINNING THE WKA ROAD RACING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, CAPTURING MULTIPLE VICTORIES AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, WHILE REACHING SPEEDS EXCEEDING 100 MILES AN HOUR, EARNING A SECOND PLACE FINISH IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN VALENCIA, SPAIN, AND MOST RECENTLY WINNING THE 2026 T4 EASTERN CUP SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, SECURING HIS PLACE ON TEAM USA FOR THE 2026 T4 NATIONS CUP IN SPAIN. AND WHEREAS, DEREK'S EXTRAORDINARY TALENT, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE HAVE EARNED HIM THE DISTINCTION OF BEING SELECTED AS THE ONLY SENIOR KART RACER FROM THE UNITED STATES TO REPRESENT TEAM USA IN THE 2026 FIA KART ACADEMY TROPHY, WHERE HE WILL COMPETE IN SPAIN, GERMANY, AND SWEDEN, AND HE WAS RECENTLY SIGNED WITH MCCRONE MOTORSPORTS, ONE OF THE
[00:10:01]
NATION'S PREMIER KART RACING TEAMS, AS HE PREPARES FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.AND WHEREAS, DEREK IS NOT ONLY KNOWN FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE TRACK, BUT ALSO FOR HIS HUMILITY, STRONG CHARACTER, WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHERS, AND DEDICATION TO HIS FAMILY. AND WHEREAS, DEREK'S OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN COMPETITIVE KART RACING, EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, AND SELECTION TO REPRESENT TEAM USA IN THE 2026 FIA KARTING ACADEMY TROPHY HAVE BROUGHT GREAT PRIDE TO JEFFERSON PARISH, AND SO IS AN INSPIRATION TO YOUNG PEOPLE BY DEMONSTRATING THAT PERSEVERANCE, DISCIPLINE, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND SPORTSMANSHIP CAN LEAD TO EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND CONGRATULATES DEREK IGUAGO FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN KART RACING AND FOR REPRESENTING TEAM USA IN THE 2026 FIA KARTING ACADEMY TROPHY.
YOU GET SOME PICTURES? MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCIL.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT, I WOULD CALL TO THE PODIUM A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY I MET SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, ROSEMARY WEINMAN-STEVENS AND HER FAMILY. WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE COME FORWARD? WHILE MS. ROSEMARY'S COMING UP, I'M FRIENDS WITH HER FAMILY, AND I WAS HAVING LUNCH AT SOPHIE'S RESTAURANT, AND THERE WAS A BIRTHDAY PARTY GOING ON NEXT DOOR, AND I GOT TO MEET MS. WEINMAN THAT DAY, AND I SAID, OH, THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT IS TOO GREAT FOR US NOT TO RECOGNIZE AT A COUNCIL MEETING, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO TODAY.
SO WHEN I MET MS. ROSEMARY, I FOUND OUT SHE JUST TURNED 103 YEARS YOUNG. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY, BECAUSE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF THIS PARISH. WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
SO I'M GOING TO READ AN PROCLAMATION TO YOU.
WHEREAS ROSEMARY WEINMAN-STEVENS WAS BORN ON JULY 25, 1923, AND RECENTLY CELEBRATED THE REMARKABLE MILESTONE OF HER 103RD BIRTHDAY.
AND WHEREAS, ROSEMARY HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS, AND CURRENTLY RESIDES IN MEADOW, LOUISIANA, WHERE SHE HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, ROSEMARY DEMONSTRATED A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND DEDICATION, SERVING AS A SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR FOR THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE, AND LATER WORKING FOR SWAGGINS. I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE AS A YOUNG MAN, FROM WHICH SHE RETIRED AT 28 YEARS OF SERVICE. AND WHEREAS, ROSEMARY'S 103RD YEARS REPRESENT THREE YEARS AND REPRESENT MORE THAN A CENTURY OF HISTORY, PRESERVATION, TREASURED MEMORIES, AND EXPERIENCE SHARED WITH HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL IS PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE ROSEMARY FOR REACHING THIS EXTRAORDINARY MILESTONE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND TO CELEBRATE A LIFE THAT HAS SPANNED MORE THAN A CENTURY.
AND WHEREAS, THIS PARISH COUNCIL, GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, HEREBY HONORS AND RECOGNIZES ROSEMARY WEINMAN-STEVENS ON HER 103RD BIRTHDAY.
[00:15:05]
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE FAMILY FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL BRING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DOWN. MS. ROSEMARY, IF YOU WANT TO TURN AROUND, CAN YOU TURN AROUND CAREFULLY? SOMEBODY WANT TO SHIFT THIS WAY? MOM, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE. TAKE YOUR TIME, NO RUSH, TAKE YOUR TIME. Y'ALL WANT TO SHIFT OVER HERE? OKAY.ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY. HERE WE GO ON THREE. WE WANT TO SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE.
ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY, HERE WE GO ON THREE. ONE, TWO, THREE. SIX MORE ON THREE. ONE, TWO, THREE.
THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS.
I'LL MAKE SURE YOU'LL ALL GET COPIES OF THE PICTURES. I'LL E-MAIL THEM.
[00:23:27]
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
ALRIGHT, IT IS 10:03 ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH.WELCOME TO THE REGULAR PARISH COUNCIL MEETING.
WE WILL BE CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AND DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG HAS OUR GUEST THIS MORNING FOR THE INVOCATION, SO COUNCILMAN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE GUEST FOR THE INVOCATION, AND HE CAN LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE, IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
I WOULD ASK THAT, I KNOW OUR NATION'S FLAGS ARE FLYING AT HALF-STAFF TO REMEMBER A NATIONAL ICON AND TREASURE, DOLLY PARTON, AND SO SHE JUST IS A PERSON THAT SPREAD SO MUCH GOOD IN THE WORLD AND GAVE SO MUCH BACK, AND SO MAYBE JUST KEEPING HER IN MIND, HER FAMILY IN MIND, AND HAVING HER SPIRIT OF POSITIVITY AND GIVING BACK TODAY TO HONOR HER.
THANK YOU. SO IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE REVEREND TIM HEDRICK TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION TODAY.
FATHER TIM IS THE PASTOR AT ST. CATHERINE OF SANTA CHURCH WHERE I'VE BEEN A PARISHIONER FOR LIKE 30 YEARS, LONGER THAN HE'S BEEN THERE, PROBABLY LONGER THAN HE'S BEEN ALIVE OR CLOSE TO IT.
SO I'VE SEEN THE TRANSITION IN THE PARISH WITH DIFFERENT PASTORS, AND HE REALLY HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB AS A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR AND AS A PASTOR AND JUST AS A LEADER OF THIS CHURCH. HE'S WELL
[00:25:02]
ACCOMPLISHED, SO HE'S A CANON LAWYER, HE'S WORKING ON HIS MBA.I'VE WATCHED THIS PARISH GROW.
I MEAN, ON A REGULAR MORNING MASS AT ST. CATHERINE'S, IT'S GOT MORE PEOPLE IN THAT CHURCH THAN MOST SUNDAY MASSES THAT A LOT, SO HE REALLY IS EXTRAORDINARY.
IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT ARCHBISHOP, FATHER TIM HEDRICK.
LET US REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALWAYS IN GOD'S HOLY PRESENCE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENT LEADERS.
WE ENTRUST THE PARISH PRESIDENTS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ALL THOSE WHO FAITHFULLY SERVE THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH TO YOUR LOVING PROVIDENCE.
AS THEY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THEM WITH WISDOM AND PRUDENCE AND HUMILITY.
GUIDE THEM AS THEY SEEK TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD IN ALL THINGS.
MAY THEY USE THEIR GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM TO HUMBLY SERVE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO PRAY FOR THE UNSUNG HEROES WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO ALLOW OUR PARISH TO RUN SMOOTHLY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THEM. WE ASK YOUR ABUNDANT BLESSING ON THEM.
WE ALSO ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.
MAY ALL THE DECISIONS TODAY BE MADE FOR THE GOOD OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME FOR YOUR GOD LIVING AND REIGNING FOREVER AND EVER.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD CALL THE ROLL.
PARISH PRESIDENT MS. LEE SHANE. HERE.
[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]
THANK YOU.PARISH PRESIDENT, IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO START WITH SOMETHING THAT WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE OTHER DAY.
THE UNITED STATES COUNCIL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS HAS NAMED OUR VERY OWN ALAN DICE, JEFFERSON PARISH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR AND METEOROLOGIST, A 2026 40 UNDER 40 HONOREE.
THE IAEM REWARDS AND RECOGNITION COMMITTEE DEVELOPED A PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE PROFESSIONALS UNDER 40 FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROFESSION.
A SPECIAL SELECTION TASK FORCE OF THE IAEM REWARDS AND RECOGNITION COMMITTEE ASSESSED CANDIDATES BASED ON CRITERIA SUCH AS INNOVATION, IMPACT, LEADERSHIP QUALITIES, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
ALAN WAS SELECTED OUT OF MORE THAN 92 NOMINEES.
AND THE FUN FACT, IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WE'RE THE ONLY PARISH IN LOUISIANA WITH A FULL-TIME METEOROLOGIST ON STAFF.
AND OUR TEAM SAYS ALAN CALLS IT RIGHT, AND HE DOES.
CONGRATS ON THIS WELL-DESERVED HONOR, ALAN.
I THINK HE IS IN TRAINING OR HE'S AT THE EOC TODAY AND HE COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
BUT WAY TO BRING HOME THE MEDAL.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY TEAMED UP WITH THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TO LAUNCH LIBRARIES WITH HEART, A CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH MONITORING PARTNERSHIP.
PATRONS VISITING JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARIES MAY NOW CHECK THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE AT IN-LIBRARY KIOSKS OR BORROW A HOME BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR, JUST LIKE CHECKING OUT A BOOK.
EACH TAKE-HOME BLOOD PRESSURE KIT INCLUDES A VALIDATED BLOOD PRESSURE DEVICE AND CUFF, SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, A BLOOD PRESSURE GUIDE, BLOOD PRESSURE LOGS, AND A REFERRAL, RESOURCES TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH LOCAL CARE.
EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY WILL LAUNCH A SERIES OF SEMINARS FOR PATRONS TO SHARPEN THEIR JOB-HUNTING SKILLS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON WEB-BASED AND SOCIAL MEDIA JOB LISTINGS AND FINE-TUNING RESUMES, COVER LETTERS, AND REFERENCE LISTS IN THE NEW ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SCREENING.
THIS SERIES BEGINS TOMORROW, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27TH, FROM 2 TO 4 P.M. IN THE LEARNING CENTER.
DR. CAROL LANGSTON, A LONGTIME COLLEGE COUNSELOR, WILL DISCUSS PREPARATIONS FOR PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION AT A SEMINAR TOMORROW FROM 6 TO 8 P.M. AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY.
HER TALK WILL INCLUDE TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE AN IMPRESSIVE COLLEGE ESSAY, THE TOPS CHART, AI USAGE, AND COLLEGE INTERVIEWS.
EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY WILL HOST A HISPANIC HERITAGE FAIR ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH, FROM 2 TO 4 P.M.
WITH ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES AND BOOTHS REPRESENTING VARIOUS CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS CONNECTED TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
MOVING ON TO RECREATION, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE JPRD EAST 14 BOYS AND THE JPRD EAST 15 BOYS WHO ARE THE DIXIE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS.
[00:30:02]
IN THE WORLD SERIES RUNNER-UP IN DIAMOND SOFTBALL.SO CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW HISTORICALLY JEFFERSON PARISH HAS INCREDIBLE TALENT IN ATHLETICS, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE TEAMS. AND FOR SOME BITTERSWEET NEWS, DONNA RUSSO, WE'RE GOING TO CONGRATULATE HER.
OUR JEFFERSON PARISH DIRECTOR OF CITIZENS AFFAIRS WILL BE, HER LAST DAY WILL BE THIS FRIDAY AFTER 10 YEARS WITH THE PARISH.
DONNA WAS HIRED AS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN THE PARISH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE IN FEBRUARY OF 2016.
ONLY TWO MONTHS LATER SHE WAS PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF CITIZENS AFFAIRS.
DONNA AND HER TEAM ARE JEFFERSON PARISH'S CARNIVAL WHISPERERS.
IN ADDITION TO ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A SOLID WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CARNIVAL CREW CAPTAINS, DONNA HAS ALSO COORDINATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF RISK MANAGEMENT AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR INSURANCE HAVE BEEN UPDATED.
DONNA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING THE BICENTENNIAL KICKOFF CELEBRATION, THE AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION, AND MANY OTHER FESTIVITIES.
SHE ALSO ASSISTED WITH THE REVIVAL OF POWERBOAT RACES IN JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SHOWCASING YOUR DISTRICT.
THE FIRST RACE IN 20 YEARS TOOK PLACE ON LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN LAST SPRING, AND THE ORGANIZERS RETURNED FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT THIS YEAR.
SO AS WE ALL KNOW, DONNA'S LIVELY SPIRIT AND ENTHUSIASM MADE HER AN INCREDIBLE AND DELIGHTFUL ASSET TO THE PARISH, AND SHE WILL BE MISSED, BUT SHE HAS MANY BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN THAT DESERVE MORE ATTENTION FROM HER.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, DONNA. I'LL ASK DONNA TO STAND UP.
WHERE'S DONNA? ALSO, WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL FOR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 24, WHICH NAMES STEPHEN BARBIER AS OUR ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR.
SINCE JOINING JEFFERSON PARISH TWO YEARS AGO, STEPHEN HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONALISM, SOUND JUDGMENT, AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO SERVING BOTH THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT AND THE PARISH.
THROUGHOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR NEW ERP SYSTEM, THE COMPLETION OF TWO ANNUAL AUDITS WITH A THIRD CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AND THE MANY CHALLENGES WE HAVE FACED OVER THE PAST YEAR, HE HAS BEEN A VALUED MEMBER OF THE TEAM AND HAS CONSISTENTLY APPROACHED EACH CHALLENGE WITH DEDICATION AND INTEGRITY.
AS ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR, STEPHEN WILL PROVIDE LEADERSHIP FOR THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH PAYROLL, PURCHASING, THE COMPTROLLER, BUDGET, AND THE FINANCE TEAMS TO ENSURE THE PARISH'S FINANCIAL OPERATIONS REMAIN ACCURATE, EFFICIENT, AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT HIS LEADERSHIP WILL BUILD UPON THE STRONG FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED BY OUR ENTIRE TEAM AND WILL HELP US CONTINUE IMPROVING THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
SO IF I COULD HAVE STEPHEN BARBIER STAND UP.
AGAIN, STEPHEN, CAN YOU SEE HERE? THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.
[Additional Item]
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE WE HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE BEFORE WE GET UNDERWAY.FIRST IS OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BILLY NUNGESSER IN THE HOUSE, WHO WE WILL HEAR FROM IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
ALSO COUNCILMEMBER FROM GRAND ISLE, HARLEY STEHLE.
AND THEN WELDON DENNIS, WHO IS DIRECTOR OF THE GRAND ISLE PORT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
AND MAYOR CARMEDALE. I HAVEN'T SEEN.
MAYOR CARMEDALE FROM GRAND ISLE. GOOD MORNING.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD ON TO THE FAREWELL TO DONNA.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH OVER THE YEARS, DONNA.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES AT A MARDI GRAS PARADE THROUGHOUT THE MARDI GRAS SEASON TO MAKE IT HAPPEN THE RIGHT WAY AND THE EFFICIENT WAY MOST OF THE TIME.
I KNOW A LOT'S OUT OF YOUR CONTROL, TOO, WHEN THOSE PARADES ROLL.
BUT NAVIGATING ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE UNPLANNED THAT POP UP AND THE THINGS THAT ARE PLANNED THAT ARE HARD ENOUGH AS IT IS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK OVER THE YEARS.
I GUESS CYNTHIA DIDN'T LISTEN TO OUR SUGGESTION THAT SHE REJECT YOUR RETIREMENT REQUEST.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU STICK AROUND A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WILL GO BY VERY FAST.
BUT THERE'S PEOPLE HERE THAT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE.
THE FIRST THING IS ITEM NUMBER 88, WHICH IS KYLE CROSBY.
I THOUGHT I SAW HIM. NO? ANYWAY, HE'S BEING APPOINTED TO OUR JEFFERSON PARISH HISTORICAL DISTRICT.
IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO SEE HIM SPEAK, TAKE HIM UP ON THE OFFER.
THE OTHER ONE IS ITEM 124, WHICH IS A DESIGN AGREEMENT FOR THE VINTAGE DRIVE DRAINAGE PUMP STATION.
MANY, MANY THANKS TO MSMM AND THEIR TEAM. I KNOW THEY'RE HERE.
MARK DREWS AND OUR ENTIRE STAFF HERE AT THE PARISH HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO GET THIS THING TO THIS PARTICULAR POINT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
AND THEN FINALLY, DONNA, HANS MAY MISS YOU MORE THAN THE REST OF US SINCE YOU MANAGED THE TRAFFIC OVER THERE FOR HIM.
BUT YOU WILL BE MISSED. AND WE WERE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU FOR HOW LONG WE DID.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF CHOOSING WHETHER WE WANT TO GO TO A PARADE OR NOT,
[00:35:01]
THE WEATHER'S MAYBE COLD, THE WEATHER IS RAINY.DONNA AND HER TEAM WERE OUT THERE.
BARRY SPRAGUE AND THE WHOLE CITIZENS AFFAIRS TEAM UNDER DONNA RUSSO.
AND SO SHE REALLY IS THE ONE WHO HELPED MAKE SURE THE PARTY ROLLS FOR EVERYONE, NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE.
I WOULD JUST ECHO THAT. MRS. JEFFERSON PARRISH, MARDI GRAS, THANK YOU.
[PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL REGARDING A RESOLUTION(S) ON AGENDA/ADDENDUM AGENDA]
ALL RIGHT. NOW IS THE PORTION WHERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT IS ON THE AGENDA, A RESOLUTION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA, NOT THE ORDINANCES.THE ORDINANCES WILL HAVE A SEPARATE HEARING INDIVIDUALLY.
BUT THE RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE ON OUR AGENDA, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON ONE OF THOSE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOU'LL JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS WELDON DANOS AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE GRAND ISLE PORT COMMISSION.
AND I'M ALSO CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORTS ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA.
SORRY THAT WE MISSED YOU LAST MONTH WHEN YOU COULD NOT HOLD YOUR MEETING IN GRAND ISLE.
AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN RETURN THERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
LAST YEAR I CAME BEFORE YOU AND DISCUSSED THAT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED INTEREST IN OFF THE BOTTOM OYSTERS, THE GRAND ISLE PORT COMMISSION IS INVESTING IN ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THIS INDUSTRY IN GRAND ISLE.
ONE KEY PROJECT WAS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW OYSTER AQUACULTURE WORKSTATION AT THE COMMERCIAL DOCK AREA.
THIS FACILITY WILL BE THE FIRST OYSTER AQUACULTURE WORKSTATION IN THE TOWN OF GRAND ISLE AND WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF THE OYSTER FARMERS TO HARVEST THEIR RESPECTIVE OYSTERS.
LAST YEAR, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL AWARDED FUNDING OF $150,000 FOR THIS ENDEAVOR.
TODAY, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE SPENT THAT FUNDING AND THE PROJECT IS APPROXIMATELY 90% COMPLETE.
YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED AND WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE UTILITIES AND OYSTER HARVESTING EQUIPMENT.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION NUMBER 134 ON THE REGULAR AGENDA AND NUMBER 17 ON THE AMENDED AGENDA TODAY.
OFF-BOTTOM OYSTER FARMING WAS BORN IN GRAND ISLE AND A COMPLIMENT TO LOUISIANA'S TRADITIONAL OYSTER INDUSTRY.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, CONSIDERATION, AND ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL TO FURTHER THE PROGRESS OF THE GRAND ISLE PORT COMMISSION THAT PLAYS A KEY ROLE TO THE COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY AND THE MARITIME INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
AGAIN, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON ANY RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT WELDON DANO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF OUR GRAND ISLE JEWEL OYSTERS, AND THAT'S THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THIS MORNING.
I HAVE A NOTATION THAT AS WE BEGIN OUR MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO PULL OUT ITEM 94 AS OUR FIRST ITEM THIS MORNING.
SO, COUNCILMAN KERNER, WILL YOU MAKE THE MOTION TO TAKE 94 OUT OF ORDER? I MOVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
ALL IN FAVOR OF TAKING THAT ITEM OUT OF ORDER? PLEASE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT, AND LET'S END THE VOTE.
SIX, IT HAS YOU MARKED ABSENT, BUT CLEARLY YOU'RE HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO CORRECT THE RECORD TO SAY SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND I'LL TRY TO GET THE MACHINE
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO (Part 1 of 2)]
COOPERATING.SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 94 OUT OF ORDER.
A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER HAS LOVE OUR WATERWAYS MONTH IN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND ENCOURAGING ALL RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE PARISH'S WATERWAYS.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES ON ITEM 94.
AND DO WE WANT TO HAVE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COME UP AT THIS TIME? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, FOR BEING HERE.
[00:40:01]
I'VE LOST MY VOICE FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS WEEK.THEY TELL ME I NEED TO TAKE A COUPLE DAYS OFF TO REST IT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS FOR LOVE OUR WATERWAYS.
I'VE GOT A SHORT POWERPOINT PRESENTATION I WANT TO RUN THROUGH JUST TO LET YOU SOME OF THE EFFORTS YOU ALL ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN.
HELPING US CLEAN UP LOUISIANA.
BUT I WANT TO START WITH SAYING FIVE YEARS AGO WE ASKED THE LEGISLATURE TO MOVE KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL UNDER MY OFFICE.
LIKE I NEEDED SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A VERY DIRTY STATE.
AND I WILL SAY SUSAN AND HER TEAM DID A GREAT JOB AS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION.
WE NEEDED THE STATE AND THE PARISHES BEHIND THE CLEANUP EFFORTS.
WELL, FROM THAT YEAR UNTIL TODAY, WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS.
WE'VE GONE FROM 50 OR 60 GROUPS TO LOVE THE BOOT WEEK TO OVER 01,500 GROUPS IN EVERY PARISH.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, JEFFERSON PARISH HAS KNOCKED IT OUT THE PARK THIS LAST YEAR, REMOVING 133 TONS OF LITTER ALONE.
THEY HAD 136 EVENTS WITH 1,222 VOLUNTEERS.
SO GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND FOR THAT.
NOW, I WANTED TO MENTION, TOO, THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO COME UP WITH NEW GRANTS TO GIVE OUT TO PARISHES AND CITIES.
THIS IS A GARBAGE CAN IN THIS PICTURE THAT WE'RE NOW GIVING OUT GRANTS FOR TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE TO PULL OVER AND THROW YOUR GARBAGE OUT THE WINDOW.
WHEN I WAS PARISH PRESIDENT OF PACAMANS, WE HAD THESE ON EVERY ROAD IN THE HALLWAY 23.
MANY PERCENT OF THE GARBAGE, WELL, MOST OF IT WENT AROUND THE GARBAGE CAN.
BUT IT KEPT IT OFF THE HIGHWAY.
WE ALSO GIVE AWAY DECORATIVE GARBAGE CANS FOR DOWNTOWN.
AND WE'RE ASKING BUSINESSES TO JOIN THE CLEAN BIDS, PUT GARBAGE CANS BACK IN THE PARKING LOT AND EMPTY THEM.
I MEAN, KRAKOW BARREL IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT HAS THEM RELIGIOUSLY ALL OVER THEIR PARKING LOTS, AND YOU NEVER SEE TRASH AT KRAKOW BARREL.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO.
AND WE ALL KNOW HOW WE CAN ADOPT THE HIGHWAY AND GO OUT AND CLEAN UP AND FRONT YOUR BUSINESS.
BUT DOTE, WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER IN OUR EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP LOUISIANA, JUST WENT OUT AND HIRED A PRIVATE COMPANY.
THIS SIGN WENT UP ON HIGHWAY 12 WHERE I LIVE IN COVINGTON.
ME AND MY WIFE ARE PAYING $18,000 A YEAR FOR TWO YEARS, AND MY PRIVATE COMPANY WILL KEEP THAT FOUR MILES CLEAN.
NOW, WE KNOW HOW THE TRIAL LAWYERS FIGHT FOR THEIR BOARDS ALL OVER LOUISIANA.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE IN FRONT OF US LATER TODAY, AND I'M GOING TO SEND THEM UP TO ALL THE TRIAL LAWYERS.
HOPEFULLY, THEY CAN PUT THESE SIGNS UP ON ALL OF OUR INTERSTATES, ADOPT THE HIGHWAYS, AND KEEP OUR INTERSTATES CLEAN.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DONE IN OTHER STATES, AND THAT'S WHY IN COLORADO, TENNESSEE, YOU NEVER SEE TRASH ON THE INTERSTATES.
THAT PRIVATE COMPANY WILL KEEP THE INTERSTATES CLEAN, AND WE CAN GET ALL OF THESE INTERSTATES ADOPTED.
ANOTHER THING WE DID THIS YEAR IS WE GAVE OUT GRANTS TO ALL OF OUR SHERIFFS.
SO WHAT DO THE SHERIFFS NEED TO TAKE WORK RELEASE? WE'VE GOT AID VANS AND TRAILERS, PICKUP TRUCKS, SO OUR SHERIFFS CAN NOW TAKE THE WORK RELEASE PRISONERS OUT AND CLEAN THOSE HIGHWAYS UP.
SOME OF THE SHERIFFS HAVE ASKED US FOR A GRANT TO HELP WITH THEIR OVERTIME, SO WE'VE DONE THAT AS WELL.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING WE'RE GOING TO DO IN DEVELOPING A GRANT TO HELP OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP US.
WE HAVE ALSO, IN THE FIRST STATE NOW, THAT YOU CALL THE HOTLINE, THEY WANT YOU TO TAKE IT IN MAIL.
NOW, IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, THEN THEY'LL PICK UP TRASH FOR EIGHT HOURS.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER, BECAUSE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN IF YOU GET A TICKET FOR LITTERING, OR YOU PICK UP A LITTER FOR A DAY, YOU'RE 80% LESS LIKELY TO HAVE A LITTER AGAIN.
WE'VE ALSO NOW GIVEN OUT GRANTS FOR SIGNS THAT HAVE, IT'S AGAINST THE LAW TO LITTER, MAXIMUM FINE, $500.
IF YOU PUT SIGNAGE UP, YOU ALSO WILL DETOUR LITTER AND CUT DOWN LITTER.
WE'RE ALSO ATTACKING THIS AT THE SCHOOLS. WE'VE GOT MEME ANGELS WHO GIVE OUT TO ALL THE SCHOOLS TO TEACH ABOUT LITTER, AND RECENTLY WE JUST PUT SOME NEW VIDEOS OUT FOR THE SMALLER KIDS, AND IT'S WORKING.
KIDS ARE GOING HOME AND TELLING THEIR MOM, PLEASE DON'T LITTER, IT HURTS THE ANIMALS.
HERE'S A LITTLE CLIP OF OUR FIRST VIDEO.
WE LOVE LOUISIANA. IT'S OUR HOME.
BUT LITTER DOESN'T BELONG ON ME OR IN THE BAYOU.
WHOA, KEEP LITTER OFF THE ROADSIDE.
IF I CAN CARRY MY WHOLE HOUSE, YOU SURE ENOUGH CAN CARRY YOUR TRASH.
GATORS LIKE IT CLEAN. LITTER MAKES US MEAN.
REMEMBER, NEVER LITTER AND SECURE YOUR LOAD. WE DON'T
[00:45:02]
TRASH WHERE YOU LIVE, SO DON'T TRASH WHERE WE LIVE.SO WE'RE ALSO IN A FOUR-MINUTE VIDEO. WOULD YOU GO TO GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE AFTER WATCHING THAT VIDEO? THERE'S QUESTIONS NOW ON THE DRIVING TEST ABOUT LITTER THAT ANSWERS IN THAT VIDEO.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CHANGE THIS CULTURE AND NOT HAVE TO SPEND 92 MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR CLEANING UP LITTER.
SO TODAY, THANKING YOU ALL FOR JOINING THE WATERWAY CLEANUP IN SEPTEMBER.
KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING. IT'S BECOME A MOVEMENT.
HERE'S A LITTLE VIDEO WE'RE PUSHING OUT. WE'LL SHARE WITH YOU LATER AS WE GET MORE GROUPS.
WE'VE GOT OVER 250 GROUPS. I SEE SOME OF THE VOLUNTEERS HERE TODAY THAT HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP ACROSS LOUISIANA.
80% OF THE LITTER THAT WE SEE ON LAND ENDS UP IN OUR WATERWAY.
HEY, LOUISIANA. IT'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSON.
THIS SEPTEMBER, KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL WILL LAUNCH LOVE OUR WATERWAYS, A MONTH-LONG STATEWIDE CLEANUP TO HELP PRESERVE THE BEAUTY OF ALL OUR WATERWAYS, INCLUDING OUR LAKES, RIVERS, AND BAYOUS.
VOLUNTEER TO CLEAN UP LITTER BY BOAT OR LAND ALONG THE SHORE.
GET ON BOARD AT WWW.LOVELAWATERWAYS.ORG.
SO I COULDN'T LEAVE WITHOUT SHOWING YOU ALL THE NEW FLOAT FOR THE RAILS PARADE AND MAKE A LARGE-DITCH EFFORT TO ASK JEFFERSON PARISH TOURISM TO JOIN US IN PASADENA.
AS WELL AS EVERYONE HERE, LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 150 LOUISIANA FAMILIES COME OUT AND HELP DECORATE THE FLOAT.
THIS IS THE NEW FLOAT THIS YEAR IN PASADENA.
YOU CAN COME OUT AND SPEND THREE DAYS HELPING DECORATE THE FLOAT AND GO TO PARADE.
SO WE HOPE JEFFERSON PARISH WILL JOIN US THIS YEAR IN PUTTING SOMEONE ON THE FLOAT, BUT ALSO BRINGING A TEAM OUT THERE AS WE PROMOTE ALL OF LOUISIANA.
SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE, YOU JUST SAID THE STATISTICS IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
I MEAN, HOW MANY, JUST IN MAYBE LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR, HOW MANY GROUPS HAVE YOU HAD ORGANIZED TO CLEAN UP? SO THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD 1,571 IN EVERY PARISH AND OVER 135 SCHOOLS, 14 UNIVERSITIES, CHURCH GROUPS.
AND MANY OF THOSE GROUPS GO OUT WEEKLY AND KEEP THEIR CLEAN.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
WE'VE PICKED UP A LOT OF LITTER, BUT WE'RE CHANGING THE CULTURE.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE GAS UNTIL WE DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE TALKING ABOUT LITTER ANYMORE.
LOOK, I CAN TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE COULD HAVE BUILT THE MOMENTUM YOU HAVE TO CLEAN UP LOUISIANA.
AS A PERSON, A LOUISIANAAN LIKE YOURSELF, I LOVE THIS STATE.
I THINK IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR TAKING SUCH A, YOU KNOW, A LEAD ON CLEANING UP THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE AND REALLY REMINDING EVERYBODY WHAT'S SO BEAUTIFUL ABOUT IT, THE SEAFOOD, THE WETLANDS, THE WATERWAYS, AND THEN REALLY BRINGING PRIDE BACK INTO LOUISIANA.
AND I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS WATERWAY EVENT, WE TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED.
WE SEE IT SO MUCH THAT WE OFTEN TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED.
BUT THESE WETLANDS THAT WE HAVE, THESE WATERWAYS, IN THEIR OWN WAY, RIVAL MOUNTAINS IN COLORADO.
IT'S GORGEOUS. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
I THINK YOU'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, BY FAR WITH YOUR EFFORTS WITH LOUISIANA SEAFOOD AND CLEANING UP THE CITY OF LOUISIANA.
I DON'T THINK, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, WE'VE EVER HAD A BETTER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REPRESENT THIS STATE.
WELL, THANK YOU. IT'S, LOOK, IT'S NOT ME. IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.
IT'S ALL THESE PEOPLE SITTING BEHIND ME.
THE PASSION AND LOVE FOR LOUISIANA, YOU SEE IT OUT THERE EVERY DAY, AND IT MAKES YOU INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE FROM HERE.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION STEIN, LUMBER, AND ROSE DONATED THOUSANDS OF BUCKETS THAT WILL BE GIVEN OUT AT ALL THE MARINAS IN YOUR PARISH ACROSS THE STATE TO TAKE OUT IN BOATS.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BOAT, YOU CAN WALK ALONG THE SHORELINE AND CLEAN UP.
BUT IT'S A GREAT TEAM EFFORT THAT'S REALLY GROWING ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE FROM LOUISIANA.
WHEN YOU SEE SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE WHERE THEY LIVE.
AND THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD.
YOU'VE BEEN AN INSPIRATION ON THE BOARD THAT'S GOT MANY CITY AND PARISH LEADERS AROUND THE STATE.
AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING UP YOUR TIME TO SERVE ON THE KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL BOARD.
IT'S AN HONOR. WE'RE DELIGHTED.
REPRESENTATIVE BIG JOHN ELGIN AND I ARE ON THE FOUNDATION KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION BOARD.
HE HAS A PARTICULAR HATRED THAT HE SHARES WITH YOU OF TIRES ON THE ROADWAYS, SO HE IS FOCUSED ON THAT.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE IN OUR AUDIENCE, WE HAVE SOME FOLKS FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU ALL WOULD STAND UP AND MODEL THE T-SHIRTS, THE LOVE OUR WATERWAYS T-SHIRTS.
[00:50:01]
AND AGAIN, THEY'VE BEEN TREMENDOUS IN WHAT THEY DO AND HELP ORGANIZE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.WE ALSO HAVE A NEW KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL AFFILIATE, KEEP THE WEST BANK BEAUTIFUL.
AND SO CHAD SHERMAN AND THE EFFORTS ON THE WEST BANK, AGAIN, LOTS OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON.
REMIND US, IS THE KICKOFF SEPTEMBER 1ST AND CAN PEOPLE STILL SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER? YES. THEY CAN STILL SIGN UP.
AND ALSO EVERYONE'S INVITED SEPTEMBER 1ST ON THE RIVERBOAT AT THE RIVERFRONT NEW ORLEANS.
WE'LL BE HAVING A PRESS CONFERENCE KICKING OFF WITH ALL THE STATE AGENCIES AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
AND WE'LL BE LAYING OUT THE PLAN ACROSS LOUISIANA.
THANK YOU. OKAY, MAYBE YOU GET A FEW MINUTES TO REST YOUR VOICE.
LOOK, I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT HAVING A COMPETITION BETWEEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WHICH GROUPS CAN PICK UP THE MOST TRASH THAT DAY? IT'S ON, COUNCILMAN KERNER.
I MENTIONED, BILLY, WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER LAST YEAR AT SOME POINT, WE WERE TRYING A NEW INITIATIVE.
AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
I REMEMBER DRIVING THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND JUST BEING SO IMPRESSED ABOUT HOW IMPECCABLE THE HIGHWAYS WERE.
AND I WAS ABLE TO MEET SOMEBODY IN A CONFERENCE AND I SAID, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR HIGHWAYS, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TRASH.
AND HE SAID, WE JUST DID THIS NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
WE DIDN'T HIRE A BIG CONTRACTOR.
WE JUST HIRE A GUY IN A TRUCK, SMALL BUSINESS, TO PICK IT UP.
AND THEY MAKE MANY MORE PASSES.
SO YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, WE HAVE A LANDFILL HERE.
WE HAVE MANY GARBAGE TRUCKS GOING THROUGH OUR PARISH.
AND IT'S A CONSTANT, I'LL CALL BRIAN, I'LL SAY, IT'S DIRTY OVER HERE.
AND THE NEXT DAY I'LL DRIVE DOWN THE SAME ROAD AND IT'S A MESS AGAIN.
IT'S JUST THIS, WE CAN'T KEEP UP.
SO WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO MAKE MORE PASSES ON OUR BIGGER HIGHWAYS.
WE'RE DOING A PILOT PROJECT NOW.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE BRIAN PARKS FOR GETTING THIS OFF THE GROUND, WHERE WE'VE ENLISTED NONPROFITS TO HIRE MEN OR WOMEN WHO HAVE A TRUCK.
AND TO JUST GO OUT AND GIVE US MORE PASSES.
IT'S MUCH, MUCH CHEAPER THAN IF WE WOULD GO OUT WITH A BIG CONTRACT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THE INSURANCE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT.
THE NONPROFIT HANDLES THAT FOR US.
AND WE'VE DONE THE ROUTES AND WE CAN MAKE MORE PASSES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK THAN WE EVER COULD WITH OUR OWN TEAM OR WITH AN EXPENSIVE CONTRACT.
AND THIS IS A PILOT PROJECT WE'RE DOING, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BUT IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR AND WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND IT.
THAT'S A NEW INITIATIVE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.
SO I MIGHT BE ASKING YOU FOR SOME GRANT MONEY ON THAT.
AND YOU AND BRIAN, THE TEAM AND ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES, I SEE THEM OUT THERE PICKING UP.
SO THEY DO LOVE WHERE THEY WORK IN THEIR PARISH.
SO IT LEADS BY EXAMPLE HERE TODAY, BUT YOUR TEAM HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
AND LOOK, YOU LAID DOWN THE GAUNTLET WITH THE LAWYERS IN THE STATE TO SPONSOR.
I SEE WE HAVE THE NEWS MEDIA HERE SO WE CAN GET THOSE ADVERTISING LAWYERS TO SPONSOR ONE OF OUR ROADWAYS AND HELP OUT.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUGGETHER.
GOVERNOR, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
I JUST, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OFF THE SUBJECT, BUT MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN, WE HAVE A GOAL TO VISIT EVERY STATE PARK AND EVERYONE WE'VE BEEN TO IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY AND WE'VE WATCHED IT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THEY'RE ALL REALLY TURNING AROUND AND YOU'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU DOING AN AMAZING JOB, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HEARD SOMETHING CORRECTLY.
WAS THE ALLIGATOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR? THAT WAS MY VOICE.
OKAY, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
MY WIFE TELLS ME I SOUND LIKE A GOOD SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO MAY WANT TO SPEAK ON WATER AND THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WITH THE FACT THAT, OH, I'M SORRY.
LET'S TAKE 94 IS OUT OF ORDER.
COUNCILMAN, YOU MOVED ON ITEM 94 MOTION TO MOVE TO APPROVE 94 SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SO LET'S VOTE ON ITEM 94, WHICH IS THE LOVE OUR WATERWAYS INITIATIVE.
SO I'M GOING TO CLEAR THAT VOTE.
I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK ON WATER AND AND BECAUSE THE ITEM THAT IS ON OUR AGENDA IS A RESOLUTION, BUT IS ONE BEING DEFERRED.
THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER THEY SHOULD SPEAK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT IF YOU INTENDED TO SPEAK ON THE WATER ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND THE MICROPHONE WILL AUTOMATICALLY CUT OFF AT THE THREE MINUTES, BUT I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE CONFUSION AND NOT ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK IF THAT WAS YOUR INTENTION.
SO PLEASE COME FORWARD IF ANYONE HAS COMMENTS TO MAKE.
[00:55:03]
AGAIN, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, PLEASE.IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I'M DR. APRIL WILLIAMS. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF WHITMER ASSOCIATION.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE WATER ISSUES THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE HAVING.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR WATER BILLS HAVE ADDITIONAL FEES LIKE GARBAGE FEES, MOSQUITOES, MOSQUITO CONTROL, RECREATION FEES AND OTHER FEES.
HOWEVER, OUR RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING A HIKE OF SEVENTY FIVE TO ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE ON THEIR WATER BILLS.
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE OF THE SMART METERS, THE HIKE IN THE WATER BILLS, BUT IT'S REALLY PUTTING OUR RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THE HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS.
ALL RIGHT. TO ADD ON TO THAT, I'M LINDA JOHNSON, PRESIDENT FOR WHITMER CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S SAYING.
I UNDERSTAND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LARGEST SUBDIVISION AS WE KNOW IT IN THE STATE.
AND WE ARE AGAIN A FACE WITH HIGH WATER BILLS.
I DO NOTICE THAT THE GARBAGE SECTION ON THE BILL HAS REALLY INCREASED.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT THAT, I SEE WE AS INDIVIDUALS, WE ARE DOING A LOT.
WE PUT IT IN ON THE SIDEWALK AS WE ARE TOLD TO DO THE TRUCKS PICK IT UP.
BUT WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY PICK UP THE TRASH PHYSICALLY, WE ARE DOING WELL IF WE CAN GET OUR TRASH CAN PUT BACK TO WHERE IT IS.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE WORKING TO GET THE JOB DONE.
AND WE ARE ALSO PAYING TO GET THE JOB DONE.
SO, AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR SOME ANSWERS.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE SOME RELIEF WITH OUR BILLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BILL NINETY SEVEN AND A HUNDRED AND SOME DOLLARS A MONTH.
SO, AGAIN, WE ASK YOUR SUPPORT AND AN EXPLANATION.
AGAIN, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
JOHN MITCHELL, 2505 JOY AND DRIVE.
AND I'M JUST BE AS BLUNT AS I CAN.
I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNCIL PERSON FOR THAT AREA.
I'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE PARISH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
I HAVE RECEIVED THE BILL FOR FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS.
AND I WAS TOLD THAT WATER USAGE WAS TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND GALLONS.
PROPERTY IS VACANT, WAS VACANT AT THE TIME.
RECEIVED ANOTHER BILL WHERE THEY KEPT MY DEPOSIT.
IT STILL SENT ME ANOTHER BILL.
ON MONDAY, I RECEIVED A FINAL NOTICE TELLING ME THAT I HAVE AN OVERDUE BALANCE.
AND IF PAYMENT IS NOT RECEIVED, THE ACCOUNT WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE LOUISIANA OFFICE OF DEBT RECOVERY.
WHAT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING IS, FIRST OF ALL, WHERE DID THAT WATER GO? SECONDLY, WHY CAN'T SOMEBODY ANSWER THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER IT'S THE METER? INSTEAD OF ME CONSTANTLY GETTING AN ANSWER SAYING THAT THE PROPERTY IS USING ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY GALLONS OF WATER AT TWO A.M.
IN THE MORNING WHEN NOBODY EVEN LIVES THERE.
SO WHO CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION? THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
HI, MY NAME IS JACQUELINE SHARKEY.
ONE IS EVERY TIME IT RAINS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR TWENTY TWO YEARS.
ALL MY NEIGHBORS HAVE COMPLAINED.
BUT YET Y'ALL GOT MONEY TO TAKE AND PUT BIKE LANES AND THAT NOBODY USES DOWN ON SEVERN SAID MY HAIRDRESSER IS RIGHT THERE.
SHE SAID SHE'S NEVER ONCE SEEN ANYBODY USE THAT BIKE LANE.
ANOTHER THING IS FOR THREE YEARS, WEST MATTER WAS CLOSED UP.
SOMETIMES NOBODY EVEN WORKING ON THE STREET.
I ASKED THE MAN AT THE DISCOUNT ZONE, I SAID, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? SAID THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS GOING TO OPEN BACK UP BY CHRISTMAS.
YEAH, IT OPENED, STAYED OPEN FOR ABOUT A WEEK.
AND THEN THEY CLOSED IT BACK UP EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND.
THE STREETS ARE BEING BOTTLENECKED AND NOBODY'S OUT THERE WORKING.
THE LAFAYETTE PARK USED TO HAVE THE FREE CONCERTS TWICE A YEAR.
[01:00:02]
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? WHO'S RUNNING THIS? YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I KNOW MY WATER BILL IS GOING TO BE HIGH BECAUSE I JUST PLANTED FIVE NEW TREES.I CAN'T PUT NEW TREES IN BETWEEN MY SIDEWALK AND THE STREET BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A WATER MAN.
THEY CAME THE DAY AFTER MARDI GRAS, AFTER CYNTHIA LEE, THE YEAR BEFORE CYNTHIA LEE SHUT DOWN MARDI GRAS.
THE DAY AFTER MARDI GRAS, I WAS SICK, SO I DIDN'T GET TO ATTEND AT SEVEN, SEVEN THIRTY IN THE MORNING.
THEY HAVE A HYDRAULIC DRILL DRILLING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
I'M LIKE, Y'ALL ARE SO LUCKY THAT I DON'T HAVE A HANGOVER BECAUSE I DID NOT ATTEND THE MARDI GRAS FESTIVITIES.
AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR IT GETS MARDI GRAS GETS CANCELED.
ALL THOSE PEOPLE SPENT ALL THAT MONEY TO RIDE.
I UNDERSTAND THE WEATHER WAS BAD, BUT THEY SURE AS HELL DID IT FOR WHEN CANTRELL WAS THAT CROOKED WOMAN WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING THE CITY.
SHE GOT TO HAVE MARDI GRAS CONTINUE.
IS THERE SOMETHING RELATED TO AGAIN, WE HAVE A BROAD THINGS ON THE AGENDA, BUT IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING RELATED TO THE AGENDA SPECIFICALLY.
OK, WELL, WHERE DO I GO TO ADDRESS THE REST OF MY PROBLEMS AT THE END OF THE MEETING? ANYTHING YOU CAN SPEAK AGAIN OR STICK AROUND AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO GIVE YOU A CARD SO YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR OFFICE.
WELL, I'VE DONE CALL THE OFFICE.
I DIDN'T CALL CYNTHIA LEE'S OFFICE.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CALL A CARD RIGHT NOW.
I DIDN'T CALL JEFF LANDRY'S OFFICE RIGHT BEFORE I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS MEETING.
I'VE CALLED SENATOR KENNEDY'S OFFICE.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE YET.
Y'ALL, WE DO HAVE ABO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, SO TECHNICALLY IT'S RELATED.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A CARD AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU FOR SURE.
AGAIN, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I LIVE IN KENNER, 4128 MONTRACHIN DRIVE.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WATER BILL BECAUSE IT INCREASES FOURFOLD FROM 100 TO 431.
AND THE GALLONS IS LIKE FROM 10,000 TO 31,000.
WE ALREADY SPEND MONEY FOR THE PLUMBER TO COME TO OUR HOUSE TWICE.
AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATION IS HIRE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS SPECIALIZED IN TAKING PICTURE UNDER THE FOUNDATION.
AND THEN HE TOLD US, YOU HAVE TO PAY US 300 TO COME, JUST TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE.
AND THEN ANOTHER EXPENSES IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE PICTURE.
MY HOUSE, THE BILL USED TO BE ONLY 100 SOMETHING, BUT THEY GO UP ABOUT $500 OR MORE THAN $500.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE BILL GO UP.
AND THEY CALL AND THEY TOLD ME THE HOUSE LIFTING.
SO I LOOK AROUND AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.
SO I WANT TO ANSWER ABOUT THE BILL.
GOOD MORNING. I'M JACKIE HUGHES.
I THINK I'M HERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS.
MY WATER BILL HAS GONE UP FROM 150 TO 450 TO 650.
I'VE HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT.
AND THERE'S NOBODY AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO TALK TO.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? I CAN'T KEEP PAYING $600.
AND I'M GETTING MORE WARNINGS FROM THE DROP COUNTER AT 96,000 GALLONS WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE AT 20.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.
SO THAT'S MY QUESTION AND THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TAYLOR DARDEN.
I LIVE AT 420 DORRINGTON BOULEVARD.
I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION THIS MORNING.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 13 YEARS OR TWO PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT HOUSE.
I HAVE A POOL, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE AN AUTOMATIC FILL UP.
I HAVE A SPRINKLER SYSTEM THAT ONLY WATERS TO MY FRONT YARD.
MY AVERAGE BILLS HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS ABOUT $200.
MY AVERAGE WATER USE IS ABOUT 20,000 GALLONS.
IN AUGUST, I GOT A BILL FOR 99,000 GALLONS OF WATER USE, 99,000 GALLONS, ALONG WITH A BILL FOR $1,650.
NOW, WHAT MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING IS DURING THE BILLING PERIOD, I WAS IN EUROPE
[01:05:02]
FOR THE ENTIRE TIME.NOW, I CALLED THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
I ASKED IF SOMEBODY COULD LOOK INTO IT, AND I JUST SAID, SURE, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH IT.
WELL, THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH ME.
COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'VE ALSO SEEN THE VIDEO THAT YOU RECENTLY PUT OUT ABOUT THE WATER PROBLEM.
THE ONE ISSUE THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS I'VE GOT NO APPEAL RIGHT.
THE WATER DEPARTMENT SAYS, PAY IT.
WE'LL GIVE YOU THREE MONTHS TO PAY IT OFF.
THE PROBLEM'S NOT THE BILL BEING PAID.
IT'S THE AMOUNT AND THE ISSUE THAT I DON'T USE 99,000 GALLONS OF WATER.
SO I WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT.
I'D BE GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU ON IT.
I HAVE 99,000 GALLONS WHEN 20,000 IS NORMALLY USED, $250 BILL, AND I GOT A $1,600 BILL I'VE GOT TO PAY.
SO I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S TIME THIS MORNING.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY WATER BILL.
YOU CAN'T READ THE METER, AND IT JUST I KNOW I DON'T HAVE A LEAK.
THEY JUST COME UP WITH A RANDOM AMOUNT.
I'VE ASKED THEM TO RECHECK IT.
THEY SAID, OH, WE RECHECKED IT.
AND I WOULD RATHER THEM PUT THE NEW METER SO THAT WAY AT LEAST I KNOW IT'S READABLE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT.
ANYBODY ELSE? I WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL THE SPEAKERS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WATER.
AND LET ME TRY TO BREAK IT UP AS EASY AS I CAN.
FIRST OF ALL, IN 2021, WE DID A RATE INCREASE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN DIFFERENT BUCKETS.
THE RATE INCREASE WAS AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE EVERY YEAR THAT WE DO IN JANUARY, WHICH IS WHY WE TEND TO SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THROUGH THE SPRING.
AND IT IS TO DEAL WITH AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PARISH.
I WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY IS ONE OF OUR NATION'S BIGGEST PROBLEMS OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHEN I GO TO CONFERENCES AND MEET PEOPLE IN MY POSITION AROUND THE COUNTRY, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IS A MAJOR ISSUE.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT ON THE WATER AND SEWER FRONT, JEFFERSON PARISH GOT IN FRONT OF IT AND NO LONGER KICKED THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE PARISH PRESIDENT BEFORE ME.
MAYOR MORENO IS DEALING WITH IT IN NEW ORLEANS.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE MAYOR, ONE PARISH PRESIDENT BEFORE YOU.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN A COMMUNITY IS DECADES-LONG STRATEGY.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT IN MY ADMINISTRATION WITH THE VOTE OF THE COUNCIL, WE COVERED THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
WE DID NOT HAVE A PIPE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM IN THE PARISH WHEN I CAME ON THIS SIDE.
THE WATER AND THE SEWER OPERATIONS WERE BOTH LOSING MONEY.
THAT IS A DIRE CONSEQUENCE FOR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR PROPERTY VALUES, FOR BUSINESSES MOVING HERE IS THAT WE WERE LOSING MONEY AND WE HAD NO PIPE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
WHEN THE SEWER LINE BROKE OUTSIDE OF THE LIBRARY, TO FIX IT ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS WAS NINE TIMES THE AMOUNT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD WE JUST REPLACED IT AHEAD OF TIME.
THIS WAS A BAD SITUATION WE WERE IN AND WE WERE NOT GOING TO KICK THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD ANYMORE.
THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE HIGH WATER BILL AND THE RATE INCREASING, ONE PART OF IT.
AND THAT IS A MINIMAL INCREASE.
THAT IS A MINIMAL INCREASE THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
AND MARK CAN GO AND ASK MARK TO COME UP TO GO THROUGH THE LEVELS.
AND WE DO HAVE IF YOU UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, A LOT OF SENIORS WHO ARE LIVING BY THEMSELVES, THEY CAN MAKE UNDER THAT CERTAIN AMOUNT MINIMAL CHARGES THERE.
THE OTHER ISSUE WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM THAT RATE INCREASE THAT I HEAR IS THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DOUBLE, TRIPLE, THOUSAND DOLLAR BILLS.
THAT IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED AND EVERYBODY IS CONFUSING THAT WITH A RATE INCREASE.
THAT IS EITHER NUMBER ONE, A MECHANICAL ISSUE ON OUR SIDE.
AND IF WE FIND OUT THE EQUIPMENT IS WRONG, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.
WE WILL NEVER EXPECT A HOMEOWNER OR A BUSINESS OWNER TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS OUR FAULT, WHETHER IT'S A BROKEN METER, WHETHER IT'S SOME KIND OF READING.
WE WILL NEVER EXPECT ANYBODY TO DO THAT.
OR THE OTHER REASON THAT IS HIGHLY LIKELY IS THAT YOU HAVE A LEAK IN YOUR HOUSE.
AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT YOU'RE GETTING THESE EXPONENTIALLY HIGH WATER BILLS.
[01:10:01]
OUR HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE IS OLD.ON THE PUBLIC SIDE, WE REPAIR 500 LEAKS PER WEEK.
SEVENTY-FIVE EMPLOYEES GO OUT EVERY WEEK JUST TO REPAIR LEAKS ON OUR SIDE.
SO WE HAVE TO ASSUME THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING ON THE PRIVATE SIDE.
AND YOU CAN'T GO LOOK FOR YOURSELF.
MY WATER BILL WENT UP EXPONENTIALLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DID HAVE THE APP.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE APP WAS WORKING, GIVING ME A LITTLE RED DOT EVERY DAY, BUT I WASN'T LOOKING AT IT.
SO I DID HAVE THE MEANS TO FIND OUT I HAD A LEAK EARLIER.
I JUST DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
SYDNEY TOLD ME, GO LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE.
AND FORTUNATELY, MY PLUMBER WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO GO CHECK THE METER.
AND HE SAYS, OH, NO, YOU GOT A REALLY BAD LEAK.
AND IT WAS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR ME TO FIX IT.
AND THEN I FIXED IT AND AVAILED MYSELF OF THE OPPORTUNITY, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN, TO GET A REDUCTION IN MY BILL AFTER I SHOWED MY PLUMBING THAT I PAID FOR THE PLUMBING.
AND THEN IT'S FIXED AND MY RATES ARE MUCH LOWER THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION FOR WHATEVER REASON PEOPLE ARE DOING IT AND TRYING TO SAY THE LEAKS IN THE THOUSAND DOLLAR BILLS ARE RELATED TO THE RATE INCREASES.
THE EXPONENTIALLY HIGH BILLS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING OUT OF TOWN AND YOU HAVE AN EXPONENTIALLY HIGH BILL.
AND WE'RE CONFUSING THOSE TWO ISSUES.
THE OTHER ISSUE, AGAIN, AND A NEWS REPORT DID IT, AND I APPRECIATE THE FIRST LADIES THAT CAME UP FROM WOODMERE BECAUSE THEY TALKED ABOUT IT.
IT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT A WATER BILL, A WATER BILL.
AND THEY RECOGNIZED IT'S GARBAGE.
AND SO PEOPLE ARE TAKING THIS BIG BILL.
ONE OF THE NEWS STATIONS DID IT.
IT HAD SOMEBODY UP THERE TALKING ABOUT A $360-SOMETHING BILL.
IT WAS $63 PER MONTH FOR WATER.
AND A WHOLE STORY WAS DONE ON THIS HIGH BILL.
IT WAS A $63 PER MONTH FOR WATER, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE OTHER UTILITY BILLS THAT WE PROBABLY PAY.
SO THEY TOOK ALL THE THINGS AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO WATER, THE WHOLE BILL, AND THEN THEY TOOK THE BI-MONTHLY BILL AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO BEING COMPARABLE TO A MONTHLY BILL.
SO THEY DIDN'T SPLIT THE BILL IN HALF.
LOTS OF THINGS WRONG WITH THAT STORY.
ANYWAY, AND SO I WILL LET MARK, MARK HAS THE LATEST NUMBERS TO GO OVER ABOUT WHERE WE BELIEVE THE RATE PAYERS ARE AND THE DIFFERENT BUCKETS THAT WE'RE IN.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE PAY THE MINIMUM RATE.
BUT, OF COURSE, IT'S HORRIFYING TO HEAR THESE STORIES WHEN YOU GET THE $1,000 BILL, THE DOUBLE, THE TRIPLE, AND THAT IS A HORRIFYING THING.
BUT WE REALLY BELIEVE IN THOSE CASES, AND THOSE CASES WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A LOCATION AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC CANNOT BE HIRING A PLUMBER AT OUR EXPENSE FOR YOUR OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
A GOOD PLUMBER THAT IS THOROUGH AND IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT INVISIBLE LEAK THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
SO, MARK, CAN YOU COME FORWARD AND SHARE THE LATEST DATA? THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMAN LEE HAS SOME COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO MARK.
LET ME SAY THAT CERTAINLY EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SAID IS PLAUSIBLE.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY THESE BILLS DO GO UP LEGITIMATELY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN WE HAD A MEETING WITH MARK AND SYDNEY, VERY GOOD MEETING BECAUSE WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES GREATER THAN WE HAD PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
AND SO WHAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR AND WHAT MARK AND SYDNEY ALSO AGREED TO IS THAT WE, I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB ENSURING THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, NUMBER ONE, THE DIFFERENCE AS WAS BROUGHT UP BETWEEN THE GROSS BILL AND ALSO THE ADDITIONAL CHARGES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WATER.
BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BE ABLE TO, I THINK, CAUCUS IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM.
SO WHEREAS WE'RE CREATING A PROCESS THAT PEOPLE WILL KNOW, BUT ALSO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER SOME FORM OF ADJUDICATION IN THESE PROCESSES BECAUSE THERE ARE ABERRANCES THAT EXIST.
AND I THINK THAT IF WE WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER GREATER THAN I THINK WE HAVE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO FROM COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THINGS MUCH GREATER THAN I THINK WHAT I'VE SEEN.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WITH THE APP THAT WE HAVE, FIRST OF ALL, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO USE THE APP, YOU HAVE TO HAVE HAD A NEW METER.
[01:15:03]
ONLY A 4% ADOPTION RATE.AND SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY OF DOING THIS.
SO WHEREAS WE CAN HAVE REAL DATA AND HAVE OUR HOUSE IN ORDER IN TERMS OF ENGAGING THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS WHO SEE THE BILL, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND A LOT OF IT.
SO WE HAVE TO DO, I THINK, BETTER OUTREACH TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND SOMETIMES CALLING OVER THE PHONE, THEY DON'T GET THE ANSWERS THAT THEY WANT.
WE'VE HEARD MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME UP HERE AND SAID WHAT THE FACTS ARE FOR THEM, AND YET THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SO I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT TO REALLY LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO DEALING WITH THESE MATTERS BECAUSE I THINK THAT ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.
AND SOME PEOPLE NEED MORE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND MORE HELP THAN OTHERS.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME, NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME FORM OF COMPASSION BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT, EVERYBODY CAN'T BE WRONG.
THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON THAT'S CREATING THESE PROBLEMS. WHAT I LEARNED YESTERDAY WAS THAT WITH YOUR TOILET, IF YOU HEAR WATER AFTER YOU FLUSH IT AND YOU STILL HEAR WATER, IT MEANS THAT YOUR FLAP IS BAD.
AND THAT RAISES THE PRICES AS WELL FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND SO THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE INFORMATION OUT SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND HOW THEY CAN BE PROACTIVE ON THEIR OWN.
BUT AS A PARISH, I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD TO RESOLVE WHAT IS AN ISSUE, ALTHOUGH IT MAY NOT BE AS PROFOUND AS MANY PEOPLE THINK IT MAY BE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT.
AND, COUNCILMAN, YOU BROUGHT UP THE AMI.
WE'RE A LITTLE OVER 50% OF OUR 160,000 ACCOUNTS HAVING THE AUTOMATIC, THE NEW APP AND THE NEW METERS.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT IS WHEN WE GET TO 100%, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO TO A MONTHLY BILL.
SO THAT'LL BE IN LINE WITH THE OTHER BILLS THAT WE'RE USED TO PAYING AND NOT LOOK LIKE IT'S DOUBLE THE COST BECAUSE WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO ON A MONTHLY BASIS INSTEAD OF A BIMONTHLY BASIS, SO THAT WILL HELP OUT PERCEPTIONS AS WELL.
AND MARK? I'M JUST GOING TO START WITH A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE ON THE RATES, WHERE WE ARE NOW, ET CETERA, WHERE WE CAME FROM.
THE 2019 STANTEC STUDY THAT LOOKED AT THE WATER AND RECOMMENDED RATE INCREASES, BASICALLY THAT REPORT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT OPERATING EXPENSES HAD EXCEEDED REVENUES, AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE A PIPE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM IN PLACE TO TRY TO STOP THE HEMORRHAGING.
YOU SAW THE REPORT THAT 74% OF THE WATER IN ORLEANS THAT IS TREATED GOES INTO THE GROUND.
AND WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE OF THEIR OLD INFRASTRUCTURE WITH PIPE LEAKS.
I CAN TELL YOU, JEFFERSON PARISH IS OVER 30%.
IT WAS IN THE 20S JUST, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS AGO, AND THAT IS THE MAIN REASON WHY WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO REPLACE INFRASTRUCTURE, OKAY? BUT TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, IN 2021, WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT THIS, BECAUSE OUR RATE INCREASE WENT, IN FACT, INTO 2022, THE MINIMUM CHARGE THAT IS PAID FOR WATER, OKAY? IF YOU USE 3,000 GALLONS OR LESS WATER, THAT'S 40% OF OUR POPULATION BASED ON 2025 NUMBERS.
40% WERE PAYING $5.28 A MONTH.
NEXT DOOR IN ORLEANS, YOU WERE PAYING $26, OKAY? NOW, SINCE THEN, WE'RE IN 2026, OKAY, AFTER WE'VE BEEN BASICALLY THE FIFTH YEAR OF OUR INCREASES, FROM 5.28, YOU'RE STILL ONLY PAYING $11.86 A MONTH FOR WATER, OKAY? THAT'S 40% OF THE POPULATION.
NOW, WHAT WE LOOK AT AFTER THAT, AND THAT MINIMUM CHARGE IS BASICALLY TO HELP THE ELDERLY, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, LOW INCOME.
WE ALWAYS TRY TO QUOTE, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION IN JEFFERSON PARISH? THAT'S ROUGHLY 6,200 GALLONS PER MONTH.
IN 2021, THAT WOULD BE $12.35, WHICH, AGAIN, IS WHY WE WERE STRUGGLING, BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS.
IN ORLEANS, INSTEAD OF $12.35, YOU WERE PAYING $57.67 IN 21.
THAT NUMBER HAS GONE UP FROM $12.35 IN 2026, YOU'RE PAYING $32, BASICALLY, IN 50 CENTS, OKAY?
[01:20:02]
STILL, WELL BELOW THE $57.67 THAT WAS BEING PAID NEXT DOOR IN 2021.LET'S NOW TAKE A LOOK AT SIMILAR, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SEWER.
IN 2021, THE MINIMUM CHARGE, $3.74, IS WHAT 40% OF THE RESIDENTS WERE PAYING.
YOU WERE PAYING $47, BASICALLY, IN ORLEANS, $46.95.
HERE WE ARE IN 26, YOU'RE PAYING $9.87, OKAY? AS OPPOSED TO THE $46.95 THAT PEOPLE WERE PAYING NEXT DOOR IN 2021.
THE VOLUME AT 6,200, AND JUST FOR REFERENCE, THAT'S ANOTHER, BASICALLY, 40% OF THE POPULATION.
SO, 79% OF OUR POPULATION IS PAYING THE MINIMUM CHARGE, I MEAN, THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION OF 6,200 GALLONS OR LESS.
THOSE NUMBERS, OKAY, IN 2021, THIS IS FOR SEWER, YOU WERE PAYING $12.93, AS OPPOSED TO $70.51 IN ORLEANS.
NOW, THAT NUMBER'S COME UP, YOU'RE PAYING $41.83, OKAY, IN 26, AS OPPOSED TO IN 2021, WHEN ORLEANS WAS PAYING $70.51.
SO, THE RATE INCREASE IS REASONABLE, IS THE POINT, OKAY? AND IT'S INCREMENTAL, AND IT WAS DONE SO, WE WERE COMING OUT OF COVID, OBVIOUSLY, AND WE DIDN'T, OF COURSE, WANT TO JUST QUADRUPLE OUR RATES.
ONE OTHER, I THINK, IMPORTANT FACT TO NOTE IS WE'VE HEARD LOTS OF STORIES THAT THE NEW METERS, OF COURSE, ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, READING WAY HIGHER THAN, YOU KNOW, OUR OLD METERS THAT ARE BEING REPLACED.
THE NEW METERS ARE THE SAME AS THE OLD METERS, IT'S A MECHANICAL METER.
THE WATER GOES THROUGH, THAT'S HOW IT'S REGISTERED.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WE NOW HAVE A TRANSMITTER, WE CAN PLUG INTO THAT METER THAT WILL ACTUALLY RELAY THE READINGS TO US.
WE PHYSICALLY CAN GO OUT AND LOOK AT THAT METER AND READ IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY IF WE HAVE TO, OKAY? BUT WHAT I DID WAS WE RAN THE NUMBERS IN 2024, OKAY? LET'S SEE, LET ME PULL THAT UP.
TWENTY-FIVE, TWENTY-SIX, TWENTY-FOUR, THIRTY-NINE.
NAH, JUST BEAR WITH ME ONE SECOND, I HAD THIS WRITTEN DOWN AND I MOVED IT.
SO, WHAT I DID IS I RAN THE NUMBERS IN 2024.
THE NUMBER OF, THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS THAT USED THAT MINIMUM CHARGE, THEY USED 36,000 GALLONS PER YEAR, WHICH COMES OUT TO 3,000 PER MONTH.
THE PERCENTAGE WAS IN 24, 39.6% OF OUR RESIDENTS USED THAT MINIMUM CHARGE.
NOW, YOU WOULD THINK IF I PUT IN METERS, THAT NUMBER WOULD GO WAY DOWN BECAUSE WE'D BE READING WAY HIGHER.
WE HAD THE NUMBERS RUN FROM JUNE OF THIS YEAR BACK TO JUNE OF 2025, SO 25 TO 2026.
THE PERCENTAGE ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY, I READ IT WRONG, WAS 37.3% IN 2024.
IT ACTUALLY WENT UP TO 39.6%, WHICH AGAIN TELLS ME THAT THE METERS ARE NOT READING SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER AND ACTUALLY MY NUMBERS WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY, OKAY? I LOOKED AT 6,200, WHICH WE USE AS THE BENCHMARK FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION.
78.4% OF THE POPULATION OF THE RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS WERE 06,200 UNDER.
NOW, I'M LOOKING AT THIS LAST YEAR, OKAY, WHEN I HAD METERS IN AUTOMATED METERS, ACTUALLY THAT WENT UP TO 79.8%, SO ANOTHER SLIGHT UPTICK, OKAY? SO, I WENT TO 90%, WHICH IS 08,200 GALLONS PER MONTH.
IN 2024, THAT WAS 89.9% OF OUR POPULATION, OKAY, USED 08,200 OR LESS.
THIS PAST YEAR, 90.3, IT WENT UP.
SO, THAT'S A MYTH THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE METERS ARE READING WAY HIGHER THAN THEY DID.
THE NUMBERS DO NOT BEAR THAT OUT.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE THAT THE RATES ARE REASONABLE, THEY'RE NECESSARY, BUT ALSO THAT OUR NEW METERS, OKAY, ARE PERFORMING THE WAY THEY SHOULD.
AND THEN LOOK, I WILL SAY THIS, SIDNEY CAN GET WITH ANYONE THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE HE'S WILLING TO GET WITH ANYONE TODAY THAT CAME UP THAT HAS A BILL THAT IS FOUR TIMES WHAT IT USED TO BE AT THREE TIMES.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT THE RATE INCREASE.
ABSOLUTELY THE RATES ARE GOING UP, BUT IT IS NECESSARY AND THEY ARE STILL VERY REASONABLE.
[01:25:01]
YEAH, TO REITERATE, IF THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO CAME UP, SIDNEY, CAN YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF? I WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE THEY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT LOCATION AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT THAT LOCATION.SO, THE FOLKS NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO'S, OKAY, THERE'S SIDNEY BASLEY, SO IF, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY READ THEIR ADDRESSES, BUT PLEASE GET WITH SIDNEY SO WE CAN LOOK AT YOUR PARTICULAR HOME.
AND ONE THING WE HEAR IS, I MEAN ALL OVER THAT THE NEW METERS COME IN, PEOPLE ARE IDENTIFYING LEAKS THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
AND WHEN WE MEET WITH YOU GUYS, YOU GIVE US NUMBERS AND YOU SAY THAT THE LEAKS, THERE'S NOT REALLY A MAJOR INCREASE OF LEAKS, IT'S ON PACE WHAT IT DOES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO, I'M JUST, AND EVEN THE METER, PEOPLE ALL OVER ARE SAYING THEY GET HIGHER BILLS, MUCH HIGHER THAN JUST INCREASE THE RATES THAT WE HAVE.
BUT THEN WE COME TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND WE HEAR THAT THE METERS, AFTER HEARING IT FOR QUITE A WHILE, THAT THE ACCURACY MAY LEAD TO HIGHER BILLS, NOW WE HAVE DATA TO SHOW IT ISN'T.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE DISCONNECT IS RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE EVERY WAY YOU LOOK, PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED BY THIS, THEY'RE GETTING HIGH BILLS, THEY'RE GETTING LEAKS, THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GETTING LEAKS, THEY'RE GETTING PLUMBERS OUT, AND THERE IS NO LEAKS.
THERE ARE BILLS RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL WITHOUT ANY REPAIRS, AND WE'RE SAYING IT'S NOT OUR FAULT.
AND THEN IT KIND OF, TO COUNCILMAN LEE'S POINT, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF ADJUDICATION SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO PARTIES BOTH SAYING, WELL WE CHECKED, WE CHECKED, AND IT FALLS ON THE REPAIR.
SO THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF PROCESS THERE.
BUT WHERE DO YOU THINK THE DISCONNECT IS WITH THE PUBLIC? IF EVERYTHING WE'RE SEEING, THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING THE OPPOSITE.
AND WE'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, IF YOU HAVE A BILL THAT GOES UP FOUR TIMES, EVEN DOUBLE, THAT TRIGGERS US TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND WE HANDLE THOSE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, WHICH IS THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO.
THE PARISH PRESIDENT SAID IT BEST.
OUR NUMBER OF BREAKS IS GOING UP, BECAUSE WHY? OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WAS PUT IN IN THE 50S AND 60S WHEN WE HAD AN EXPLOSION OF DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS ALSO RESIDENTIAL.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? THOSE HOUSES SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING.
THOSE NUMBER OF BREAKS ARE GOING TO KEEP GOING UP.
SO WE'VE NOT NOTICED THAT IT'S BEEN ASTRONOMICAL, BUT EACH YEAR AS WE GO UP, EACH YEAR AS WE GO UP, I WOULD ANTICIPATE WE'RE EXPERIENCING MORE BREAKS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN REPLACING.
SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO GO UP AS WELL.
BUT IN AN INDIVIDUAL CASE, WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE A MECHANICAL METER.
THE ONLY THING IT REGISTERS IS WATER GOING THROUGH IT.
IT'S NOT A TYPICAL LIKE WE HAVE ELECTRONIC METERS ON THE MARKET.
ELECTRONIC METERS WILL SEND A PULSE, ESTIMATE THE VELOCITY TO READ THE WATER GOING THROUGH.
AND IF SOMETHING GETS OFF WITH THAT, IT MAY HAVE TO BE RECALIBRATED.
WE USE THE SAME MECHANICAL METER WHERE THE WATER GOES THROUGH.
AND IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN COMPLAINTS EVERY YEAR.
IS THE VOLUME UP? PROBABLY SLIGHTLY, BUT WE HAVE SOME DATA ON HOW MANY CALLS WE GET VERSUS HIGH WATER VERSUS THE NUMBER OF CALLS WE GET DAILY.
AND IT MAY HAVE A SLIGHT UPTICK, BUT IT'S NOTHING ABNORMAL AND OUTRAGEOUS.
DO WE HAVE THE PERCENTAGES OF, LET'S SAY, THIS YEAR, THE AMOUNT OF LEAKS THAT'S BEING REPORTED OR THAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING THROUGH OUR METERS? DO WE HAVE WHAT THE INCREASE IS? IF IT'S NOT MUCH, DO WE JUST HAVE THAT? I KNOW I CAN GET YOU SOME OF THE PHONE DATA.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE KNOW THERE'S NOT AN INCREASE IN LEAKS IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT DATA RIGHT NOW? COUNCILMAN, I DO HAVE THESE NUMBERS.
MARK AND SYDNEY RAN NUMBERS FROM JANUARY TO APRIL OF 2026.
THERE WERE 47,000 CALLS DURING THAT TIME AND 1,500 WERE FOR HIGH CONSUMPTION.
SO THAT'S JUST A PERIOD OF TIME.
IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE CALLS THAT WE GET, BUT THEY'RE VERY, THEY'RE EGREGIOUS BECAUSE THEY'RE A $3,000 BILL.
SO YOU HEAR, IT'S HORRIFYING TO HEAR, BUT IT'S A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF ACCOUNTS WE HAVE.
AND HERE'S THE THING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO REALIZE.
Y'ALL COULD SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE PROBLEMS AS IT COMES.
IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP ONE COMPLAINT FROM COMING IN BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A LEAK, YOU HAVE A LEAK, AND EVEN UNDER THE OIL RATES, IT'S GOING TO BE A RIDICULOUSLY HIGH BILL.
SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T LIKE THE TOPIC OF WE'RE CONFUSING THESE HORRIFIC STORIES THAT PROBABLY ARE A LEAK WITH THE RATE INCREASE THAT IS NEEDED, NECESSARY FOR OUR FUTURE, FOR GENERATIONS
[01:30:01]
IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.AND THAT'S THE DISTURBING THING ABOUT THIS ARGUMENT THAT I DON'T LIKE.
WE'RE COMBINING THESE TWO ISSUES.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATES, LIKE MARK SAYS, THEY'RE REASONABLE, THEY'RE NECESSARY, AND THEY'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST THINGS THIS PARISH HAS GOING ON IS THAT WE'VE COVERED THIS FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
WE'RE THE ENVY OF OTHER NEARBY PARISHES.
LET'S NOT CONFUSE A HIGH LEAK.
NOW, AND BECAUSE IF WE'RE GETTING 500 LEAKS A WEEK, THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING THE COMPLAINTS WILL NOT STOP BECAUSE 500 PEOPLE, ASSUMING ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR SIDE, RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE LEAKS THIS WEEK, AND ANOTHER 500 ARE GOING TO HAVE IT NEXT WEEK, AND ANOTHER 500 THE WEEK AFTER THAT.
SO THE COMPLAINTS WILL NOT STOP IF IT'S A LEAK ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY SIDE.
AND LOOK, THAT ALL SOUNDS WONDERFUL, BUT I LIKE TO SEE THE DATA.
SO IN 2025, HOW MANY LEAKS WERE REPORTED? 2026, THAT'S HOW I WANT TO BASE MY DECISIONS ON PERSONALLY.
I JUST WANT TO SEE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS.
AND LOOK, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB, THE PRESENTATION WE MET.
I MEAN, YOU ANSWERED A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS, A LOT OF THE STATISTICS AND DATA YOU PULLED BACK, EVERYTHING YOU ALL ARE SAYING.
BUT AS FAR AS THE LEAKS AND WHAT I'M HEARING, I JUST WANT TO SEE THAT ACTUAL DATA.
I WANT TO SEE IF WE, BY THE NUMBERS, NOT JUST BY MARK, EVEN THOUGH I TRUST YOU, AND YOU'RE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS AT WHAT YOU DO, I JUST WANT TO SEE THE NUMBERS IN 2024.
HOW MANY LEAKS, HOW MANY CALLS WE GOT IN LEAKS OR HIGH WATER BILLS IN 2025 AND 2026.
SO THAT WAY, WHEN PEOPLE, 100 PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY'RE REASONABLE STORIES OR NOT, UNREASONABLE STORIES, I'M ABLE TO ANSWER THEM WITH NUMBERS, WITH STATISTICS.
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE PROBLEM TO COUNCILMAN LEE'S POINT.
WE HAVEN'T DONE THE BEST JOB AT MAYBE EXPLAINING TO THE PUBLIC A LOT OF THESE THINGS.
AND THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS SO I COULD GO TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, HEY, YOU MIGHT HAVE A FEW LEAKS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK, THIS IS THE PERCENTAGE IT WAS INCREASED IN 2025, 2024.
AND THIS IS ON THAT CURRENT TRAJECTORY.
IT'S NO CRAZY ADDITIONAL INCREASE.
AND I THINK ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT INFORMATION.
COUNCILMAN KERNER, SINCE YOU MADE THE POINT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE DATA, YOU MAY WANT TO MENTION TO THE PUBLIC THE RATE STUDY THAT YOU HAVE ON THIS AGENDA, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL GENERATE DATA THAT WE CAN ALL LOOK AT.
YEAH, THE RATE STUDY, ESPECIALLY FOR A PARISH OF THIS SIZE AND THIS MAGNITUDE, PROBABLY SHOULD BE DONE EVERY 10 YEARS.
I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE WE'VE DONE IT.
AND THIS IS JUST TO HAVE A THIRD PARTY, NOT JUST IN PARISH, LOOK AT ALL OF THE NUMBERS, LOOK AT ALL OF THE RATES AND DETERMINE IF THE RATE INCREASES ARE REASONABLE, IF OUR WATER RATES IN GENERAL ARE REASONABLE.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD BOOKKEEPING.
AND HERE'S SO MANY THINGS FROM THE PUBLIC, SO MANY THINGS FROM THE PARISH.
WE WANT A THIRD PARTY TO LOOK AT IT, VET THE DATA, VET THE INFORMATION, AND TELL US WHERE WE ARE REGIONALLY AND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE STATE AND SIMILAR PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
ALSO, JUST THAT THE PUBLIC'S HERE, WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT NOT BE A GROUNDBREAKING REFORM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH I WILL BE SENDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK OVER, TO JUST GIVE THE PEOPLE, THE PUBLIC, THE RATEPAYERS, SOME KIND OF AVENUE TO BE HEARD OR IF THERE'S A DISPUTE WHERE, YOU KNOW, I HEAR SO MANY TIMES THAT THE PLUMBERS COME OUT AND THERE WAS NEVER A LEAK, THEY DIDN'T IDENTIFY ANYTHING, THEY DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT, THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.
AND THE PARISH LOOKS AT THEIR METERS AND DOUBLE CHECKS IT, AND THEY SAY, WELL, IT'S NOT OUR FAULT.
AND I THINK YOU NEED SOME KIND OF SYSTEM IN PLACE TO LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD AND TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT IT.
SO I'M HOPING WE CAN GET THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND TRY TO MAKE IT WHERE IT'S REASONABLE, EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND NOT OVER-BURDENSOME.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BONANO? THANK YOU. MARK, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED RECENTLY ABOUT THE WATER BILL PROBLEMS, AND IT IS THE NUMBER ONE CALL THAT MY OFFICE GETS ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND I DO, PARISH PRESIDENT, 100% SUPPORT THE INCREASES TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT SEPARATES US, THAT MAKES US A COMMUNITY WITH A HIGH QUALITY OF LIVING.
WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE ABLE TO PAY ADDITIONAL TAX DOLLARS AS A CITIZEN TO KEEP UP WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU ALL REFERENCED THE WALLS WITH 70% OF THEIR WATER LEAKING INTO THE GROUND.
RIGHT AROUND THE WALLS, LOOK AT THEIR STREETS, LOOK AT THEIR SEWER, LOOK AT THEIR DRAINAGE, AND COMPARE THAT TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
THEY'RE FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF THEM.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE SIMPLY THEY HAVEN'T HAD A LEADER WHO'S BEEN WILLING TO GO TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, LOOK, WE HAVE TO SPEND ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WITH THAT SAID, I GET ON THE PHONE A LOT OF TIMES WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THEY JUST DON'T BELIEVE WHAT WE SAY ABOUT THEY HAVE A LEAK.
AND I'LL SHARE AN EXPERIENCE WITH YOU.
THIS YOUNG MAN SITTING BEHIND ME RIGHT HERE, MY NEW AIDE, AUSTIN LIBERTO, HE GOT A
[01:35:01]
HIGH BILL.AND HE SAID, I WALKED AROUND MY HOUSE, THERE WAS NO LEAK, NO LEAK.
I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IN MY HUNTING CLUB WHO'S A PLUMBER.
I SAID, WOULD YOU GO TO THIS YOUNG MAN'S HOUSE AND LOOK FOR ME? THEY DIDN'T FIND A LEAK ANYWHERE INSIDE, NOWHERE.
AND WHEN YOU WALKED OUTSIDE WHERE THE WATER CONNECTION WENT TO THE HOUSE, IT WAS VERY APPARENT IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A LEAK.
HE TOOK A SHOVEL AND STUCK IT NEXT TO THE PIPE, AND THE SHOVEL ALMOST DISAPPEARED.
IT WAS LEAKING OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC RIGHT NOW DOESN'T TRUST WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
FOR ME, I'D LIKE TO HIRE A PLUMBER FROM MY DISTRICT, AND I'LL PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY DISTRICT FUNDS TO DO AN AUDIT WHEN I GET THESE COMPLAINTS TO SAY, LISTEN, IN THE LAST MONTH I'VE GOTTEN 10, 20 COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIGH WATER BILLS.
WE PAY TO HAVE A PLUMBER OUT THERE, NOT FOR THE CUSTOMER, BUT TO VERIFY FOR THE PARISH WHETHER IT WAS A LEAK OR NOT A LEAK, WHETHER THE METER WAS WORKING OR NOT WORKING.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE GONE TO CITIZENS' HOUSES, AND THEY SAID, MR. BONANO, LOOK IN MY METER.
IT'S COVERED IN SIX INCHES OF MUD.
THERE'S NO WAY WE GOT IT READ.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE READ THAT METER, BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THE PUBLIC DON'T TRUST US ABOUT.
AND SO I'M GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY SOON TO DO JUST THAT, TO HIRE A PLUMBER TO AUDIT OUR SYSTEM, NOT FOR THE RESIDENT, FOR THE PARISH, TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT OUR OWN STATISTICS BEAR THEMSELVES OUT AND BE ABLE TO SHOW THE PUBLIC.
WE GOT A THIRD PARTY THAT WENT OUT AND LOOKED, AND THESE ARE THE STATS.
TO THAT POINT, THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR POINTS, BECAUSE WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME.
IF ORLEANS IS LOSING 74% OF THE WATER THEY PUMP OUT, YOU DO NOT SEE THE STREETS FLOODED.
WE HAVE A HIGH GROUNDWATER TABLE.
THAT'S LEAKING AT 74% OF WHAT THEY'RE PUMPING OUT IS GOING INTO THE GROUND.
AND IT'S THE SAME WITH HERE, WITH YOUR HOUSES.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU WILL NOT SEE THE LEAK, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHERE A LEAK IS IF IT'S UNDER YOUR SLAB.
THERE IS SOME EQUIPMENT NOW WITH TECHNOLOGY WHERE THAT CAN BE DONE.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, YOU CANNOT JUST GO AROUND AND ASSUME THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A LEAK JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE SOMETHING.
THE TELLTALE WITH A GOOD PLUMBER IS EVERYTHING IS SHUT OFF, AND THEY WILL GO LOOK AT THAT METER, AND IF THAT METER'S STILL RUNNING, THEN THAT PRETTY MUCH TELLS YOU WATER'S STILL FLOWING THROUGH, AND THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN, OKAY? BECAUSE WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME.
I CHECKED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS, ET CETERA.
SO IT'S NOT A SIMPLE THING, AS WE UNDERSTAND.
AND AGAIN, FROM MY WATER DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, ONCE THE WATER GOES THROUGH THE MECHANICAL MEETING RECORDS IT, WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT GUESS WAS A FAUCET LEFT ON, IS THERE A LEAK UNDER THE THING, ET CETERA.
BUT WE DO TRY TO WORK WITH EVERYONE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THAT HIGH WATER BILL, WHICH GENERALLY IS GOING TO LEAD TOWARD A LEAK.
MA'AM, MA'AM, YOU CAN'T SPEAK OUT.
YOU CAN'T HEAR? MARK, YOU HAVE TO GET CLOSER TO THE SPEAKER.
SO LIKE I SAID, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ALWAYS SEE THAT LEAK.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, I'M SURE, EVEN FOR A PLUMBER TO EXACTLY FIND WHERE THAT LEAK IS IF IT'S UNDER A SLAB.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A GOOD PLUMBER IS GOING TO TURN EVERYTHING OFF, GENTLY OPEN THAT METER, AND WE CAUTION YOU IN THE OLD DAYS YOU COULD JUST POP YOUR METER OPEN.
BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE AMI, THERE ARE ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THAT TRANSMITTER.
SO THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE CAREFULLY AND PROBABLY SHOULD BE DONE BY A PLUMBER.
BUT IF THAT METER'S STILL RUNNING, IT'S PRETTY MUCH AN INDICATION THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LEAK THAT YOU CAN'T SEE, OKAY? SO IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT ON A DAILY BASIS WE DO.
AND WE'LL WORK WITH THE RESIDENT AS BEST WE CAN, OKAY? THE PROBLEM IS, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE PUBLIC JUST DOESN'T TRUST US WHEN WE TELL THEM THAT.
THAT'S WHY IT'D BE BETTER COMING FROM A THIRD-PARTY PROFESSIONAL THAN US.
ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE THIRD PARTY AUDITING THE CALL? NO, HE'S GOING TO HAVE A PLUMBER GO OUT, OKAY, AND LITERALLY TRY TO FIND THAT LEAK.
THAT'S DIFFERENT, OKAY? YOU KNOW, A THIRD PARTY, I'M NOT SURE WHAT A THIRD PARTY WILL DO IN THAT THE WATER WENT THROUGH THE METER.
A THIRD PARTY, AGAIN, CANNOT TELL, JUST LIKE WE CAN, I CANNOT TELL WHY THE WATER WENT THROUGH.
I CAN'T TELL IF YOU LEFT THE FAUCET ON.
YOU HAVE A LEAK, OKAY? SOMEONE ELSE WAS STILL, I CAN'T TELL, AND NEITHER CAN A THIRD PARTY, OKAY? NOW, PROVEN AS A LEAK IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL, OKAY? AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCILMAN IS SUGGESTING IS IF HE WANTS TO HAVE SOMEONE GO OUT, YOU KNOW, AN INDEPENDENT PLUMBER TO SEE, OKAY, IS THERE A LEAK? THAT'S DIFFERENT, OKAY? THAT'S MORE OF A CONCRETE, OKAY? WE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER THERE'S AN ISSUE OR NOT.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN? AND AGAIN, I'LL JUST ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK INTO THIS.
[01:40:01]
WAY WE COULD CREATE LEGALLY TO PARISH ATTORNEY, IF WE COULD CREATE A FUND, I'LL PUT, YOU KNOW, MONEY TOWARDS IT FOR MAYBE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY $1,000 FOR A PLUMBER, TO SOME PEOPLE THAT'S A HELL OF A LOT TO MAKE OR BREAK.IF WE COULD CREATE ANY KIND OF FUND WHERE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE OR SENIORS COULD COME AND APPLY FOR IT TO HAVE A REPAIR IN THIS SITUATION, PLEASE LOOK INTO THAT, BECAUSE I WOULD PUT MONEY ON THAT NEXT AGENDA IF POSSIBLE.
YEAH, AND I'M NOT CERTAIN IF THAT WOULD BE LEGAL, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN GIVE INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS MORE THAN ANOTHER TAXPAYER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, TOO, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ADJUDICATION PROCESSES, ADDING THOSE, BECAUSE THAT WILL BOG DOWN NOT JUST OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT PROBABLY, BUT THE COURTS, TOO.
BUT I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE INTERNALLY A WAY TO CONTEST YOUR BILL, RIGHT? I MEAN, DON'T WE? WELL, AGAIN, THE WATER DEPARTMENT GOES BY THE CODE, OKAY? AND THE CODE ALLOWS, YOU KNOW, IF BASICALLY YOU PROVE THERE'S A LEAK OR YOU, YOU KNOW, GIVE US DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU REPAIR A LEAK, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO ADJUST THE BILL, OKAY? THAT'S THE WAY THE CODE IS WRITTEN, OKAY? AND THEY FOLLOW THE CODE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, OKAY? SO LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE NOT CAPABLE OF DETERMINING, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT BILL, YOU KNOW, ALL THEY GOT IS THE WATER THAT WENT THROUGH THAT METER.
OBVIOUSLY, ANY TIME WE HAVE A LEAK, WE GO DOUBLE-CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE READING WAS RIGHT, THERE WASN'T A MISTAKE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY WILL DO.
THEY'LL ALERT, OBVIOUSLY, THAT, LOOK, WE BELIEVE YOU HAVE A LEAK.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEY FIND THE LEAK.
IF THE LEAK GETS FIXED, THEN WE WILL WORK ON ADJUSTING THEIR BILL, WATER AND SEWER ACCORDINGLY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO BY THE CODE.
SO IT'S NOT AN ADJUDICATION OR APPEALS TYPE OF PROCESS, BUT IT'S JUST A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS OF INVESTIGATING WHY THEIR BILL WAS THAT HIGH? YES, AND AGAIN, LOOK, WE'LL BE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR WHEN EVERYONE HAS AN AMI METER, OKAY? BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE ON A TWO-MONTH BILLING CYCLE.
SO IF YOU HAVE A LEAK, YOU KNOW, SAY AFTER YOU'VE JUST PAID YOUR BILL WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS, YOU MAY NOT, YOU PROBABLY WON'T FIND OUT IF IT'S A LEAK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT SEE.
IT COULD BE MORE OR ALMOST TWO MONTHS BEFORE YOU GET A BILL AND YOU'VE BUILT UP, YOU KNOW, AN ENORMOUS BILL IN THAT TIME, OKAY? WITH AMI, YOU WILL HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH THE APP, OKAY, YOU CAN TRACK YOUR USAGE.
SO IF YOUR USAGE SPIKES, YOU CAN KNOW ABOUT IT THAT DAY OR WITHIN A WEEK, ET CETERA, WHICH WILL GREATLY HELP, YOU KNOW, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ISSUES WE HAVE WITH HIGH WATER BILLS DUE TO LEAKS BECAUSE THEY CAN BE CAUGHT SOONER.
IT ALSO OBVIOUSLY GIVES THE SAME ABILITY TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE WATER DEPARTMENT NOW CAN HAVE A FLAG BEFORE THEY GET THE NEXT BILL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU GET THE BILL, WE SEE THE BILL IS 200 TIMES, 200% HIGHER THAN WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION, YOU KNOW.
WE CAN SEE, AND THE APP WILL ACTUALLY SEND A NOTICE TO PEOPLE, WE CAN SEE THAT, HEY, SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THIS ACCOUNT WAY BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT BILL.
AND DO YOU DO THAT? YES, CINDY CAN, YOU KNOW, ELABORATE ON THAT.
THAT'S OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID.
AND I TOLD YOU GUYS IN OUR MEETING, I THINK THAT OUR, WE HAVE A MAJOR COMMUNICATION PROBLEM.
I THINK THIS APP IS FABULOUS, YOU KNOW, FIVE PERCENTAGE OR SO USING IT IS DISAPPOINTING NUMBERS BECAUSE I THINK IF MORE PEOPLE USED IT, YOU KNOW, AND I TELL THE STORY ALL THE TIME, IF MY SON'S IN THE SHOWER TOO LONG, I'M GETTING A NOTICE ON MY PHONE THAT I HAD AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF USAGE FOR THAT HOUR AND I'M LIKE, HEY, YOU JUST COST ME $30, GET OUT OF THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IF PEOPLE DOWNLOADED, USED THE APP, THAT THEY WOULD REALLY, THAT THEY COULD HAVE MORE CONTROL BECAUSE THEY CAN SET NOT JUST THE GALLON USAGE BUT ALSO THE DOLLAR USAGE PER DAY THAT THEY WANT TO SPEND.
SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY AND WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE COMMUNICATING EVEN WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THEM TO CONNECT WITH US AND TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING HEARD BECAUSE I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S SORT OF LIKE NO ONE'S LISTENING TO US, THESE BILLS ARE HIGH.
AND WITH THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT PROBLEMS AND PROBLEMS ARE GOING OUT TO THE PUBLIC WHERE BEFORE THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY JUST CALLED THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
AND NOW, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE IT WHERE THESE PROBLEMS ARE GLARING.
SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE, GETTING THEM TO DOWNLOAD AND UNDERSTAND THE APP, LEARN TO USE IT AS THEIR OWN WEAPON BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN TRACK MY DAILY USAGE NOW AND PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY WASH DISHES HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING AND IT'S ACTUALLY MADE MORE OF A CONSERVATIVE EFFORT IN MY HOUSE.
LIKE WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH WATER WE WERE WASTING.
SO I THINK WE JUST HAD TO DO A BETTER JOB COMMUNICATING.
[01:45:02]
STARTED THE AMI, WE WERE HESITANT TO PUT OUT THE INSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE SO FEW PEOPLE HAD IT.SO NOW I THINK WHEN WE'RE AT 50%, WE PROBABLY CAN START PUSHING OUT THE USAGE MORE NOW THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE IT.
BUT WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS MONTHS AGO AND WE SAID, WELL, WE DON'T WANT TO CAUSE CONFUSION BECAUSE WE WERE STILL AT 20%.
BUT NOW I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS IN A YEAR.
SO WE PROBABLY CAN LOOK AT STARTING THE PUSH.
SO WE'LL WORK WITH OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE.
I MEAN, IF YOU ASK SIDNEY, HE'LL SAY THIS IS THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.
BUT I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA HAS A GREAT, YOU KNOW, HE'S LIKE, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AS LONG AS HE'S BEEN IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT NOW? BUT WHAT'S DIFFERENT NOW I THINK IS HIGHLIGHTING THE REALLY BAD ONES IN SOCIAL MEDIA.
I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD ON THAT ONE.
FIRST, COUNCILMAN BONANO, I WOULD APPRECIATE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE, I MEAN, I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA AND I'D LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PARISH WIDE.
SECONDLY, MARK, WE MET NOT LONG AGO AND YOU COMPARED JEFFERSON PARISH BILLS TO BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS.
I MEAN, I GUESS I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY OUR OWN RATE STUDY OR? YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JUST GO, I KNOW WHAT THE RATES ARE IN ORLEANS.
WE KNEW WHAT THE RATES WERE IN 2021.
SO IT'S VERY SIMPLE CALCULATIONS.
THE ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY WE IT'S COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
OUR SERVICE CHARGE IS DIFFERENT THAN SAY ORLEANS SERVICE CHARGE.
THE VOLUME RATES CHANGE IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT YOU'RE USING, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS.
THAT WASN'T A COMPREHENSIVE RATE STUDY.
SO WHAT HAPPENED? THE LAST STUDY WE HAD ON THE WATER PUMP WAS 2019.
STANTEC DID IT AND BASICALLY SAID WE'RE LOSING MONEY.
WE NEED IF WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THE WATER PLANT AND THEY ONLY HAD LIKE THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THEY RECOMMENDED RAISING THE WATER RATES.
SO WHAT WE DID, WE SAID, WELL, WE KNEW WE NEED TO DO THAT.
SO WE KNEW WHAT THE WATER RATES WERE AROUND THE STATE.
WE WERE THE LOWEST IN THE STATE AT THE TIME.
WE KNEW WHAT THE NATIONAL AVERAGES WERE.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE WENT 20 YEARS OUT.
WE BASICALLY SAID, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO IN 20 YEARS? CAPITAL WISE WE PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER.
OK, WE KNOW WHAT OUR OPERATING COSTS WERE.
SO WE PROJECTED THOSE OVER 20 YEARS.
WE RAN MULTIPLE ITERATIONS OF DO WE JUST WHAT HAPPENS IF WE JUST DOUBLE THE RATES RIGHT OUT THE BOX? TRIPLE.
QUADRUPLE. OK, WHAT IF WE GO QUADRUPLE OVER 10 AND THEN SLOW THAT INCREASE OVER 10? WE'RE IN MULTIPLE RATE SCENARIOS THAT WOULD GET US TO WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE WITH 800 MILLION DOLLARS ROUGHLY TO TARGET FOR PIPE REPLACEMENT.
SO WE CAME UPON WHAT WE WAS THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME IN 2021.
YOU KNOW, THEY SAID THIS COMING OUT OF COVID INCREMENTAL OVER 20 YEARS FOR WATER AND SEWER WILL GET US WHAT WE NEEDED BASED ON THE PROJECTIONS OF REVENUE, BASED ON THE PROJECTIONS OF OPERATING COSTS, WHICH WERE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY OUR PEOPLE IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE.
WE PRESENTED IT TO THE COUNCIL, TO THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE.
AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME TO THIS POSITION.
WE DIDN'T JUST SAY, OK, MAGICALLY, I'M GOING TO DO THIS INCREMENTAL RATES, OK, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.
NO, WE DID A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF CAPITAL VERSUS OPERATING VERSUS REVENUE.
AND WE KNEW WE NEEDED REVENUE ABOVE OBVIOUSLY OPERATING TO GO TO CAPITAL.
WE WENT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES WITH IT, BUT WE WENT TO BGR AND BGR TOLD US RATE INCREASES THE WAY TO GO.
BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO MANAGE THE WATER USAGE.
IF YOU JUST PUT UP LIKE A BLOCK FEE OR, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER TAX, THEY CAN'T THERE'S NO NO ABILITY FOR ANYONE TO ADJUST THEIR CONSUMPTION LIKE THAT IS.
AND SO THAT'S THE WAY WE WENT.
WE INCREASED THE RATES, WHICH WAS THE MAIN REASON, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS YOU CAN CONSERVE WATER AND CONTROL YOUR CONSUMPTION.
TO MAINTAIN YOUR BILL AT A LOW RATE.
AND THEN I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I JUST LOOK ONE DAY ONE BEFORE WE JUST BRUSH OFF AS AS HELPING THESE POOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NEED HELP BECAUSE OF LEGALITY.
I THINK THE LEGALITY IS MORE NUANCED.
WITHOUT EX TO PARISH ATTORNEYS LOOK AT THE SAME THING, THE ELDERLY, ELDERLY HOME REPAIRS, THE SAME PROGRAM WHERE WE WENT INTO HOUSES AND HELP PEOPLE WITH THE AIR CONDITION THAT WENT OUT.
[01:50:01]
THE SAME STANDARD WE USE THE LEGAL STANDARD WE USE FOR LIFTS AND PEOPLE'S HOMES THAT ARE ELEVATED THAT WE WENT IN AND PUT IN LIFTS IMPROVE REALLY THAT HELPS HAVE PROPERTY VALUE AS WELL.BUT IT'S A NEED THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED OR ARE ALSO THE FACADE PROGRAMS. IF WE COULD IF WE COULD DECORATE THE OUTSIDE IN FRONT OF HOUSE WHICH ALL ALL THOSE THREE THINGS IS COUNSEL VOTED FOR PARISH ATTORNEY DEEMED LEGAL.
IF WE COULD BEAUTIFY THE FRONT OF PEOPLE'S HOMES, THEN MAYBE WE COULD HELP THE PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED IT WHO'S MAKE A BREAK WITH WITH PLUMBING REPAIRS AND WATER LEAKS AND PIPE LEAKS.
SO THAT'S A STAND OUT ACTUALLY LOOK AT THOSE THREE THINGS I THINK ARE WOULD BE GOOD EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS CAN BE LEGAL.
THERE'S A CHANCE OF IT BEING LEGAL AND JUST THE WATER RATE STUDY.
I ACTUALLY JUST HAD THE MEETING AND ANGELA SAID THE MEETING.
SO I KNOW YOU RESPONDED RIGHT TODAY BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT LONGER IF I GOT A DIFFERENT ANSWER.
BUT ARE YOU OK? ARE YOU IN FAVOR WITH THIS WATER RATE STUDY AS A THIRD PARTY? IF ANYTHING, NO TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC.
ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THE WATER RATE STUDY.
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THE RATES WE HAVE A REASONABLE, YOU KNOW, AND ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED TO DO.
SO, NO, I'VE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUE WITH THAT.
THIS DISCUSSION CAME UP PROBABLY MORE THAN A MONTH AGO.
I THINK JENNIFER, YOU WERE THE ONE BROUGHT IT UP TO MY ATTENTION.
I SAID, ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH AN INDEPENDENT STUDY OF OURS.
WE GET CALLS AND EMAIL ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, AS COUNCILMAN BONANO SAID ABOUT THE WATER BILLS.
I HEAR THREE DISTINCT CONCERNS.
ONE IS THE RATES, WHICH THE RATE STUDY WILL ADDRESS AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR RATES ARE CORRECT.
ONE IS AN APPEALS PROCESS BECAUSE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IF THEY HAVE HAD A PLUMBER OUT AND THE PLUMBER CONFIRMS THERE IS NO LEAK, THE WATER DEPARTMENT SAYS, I'M SORRY, PAY YOUR BILL.
AND SO THERE'S NO APPEALS PROCESS AND WE HAVE APPEALS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE CODE.
AND SO I THINK SETTING UP AN APPEALS PROCESS IS ONE WE NEED TO EXPLORE.
AND THEN THE THIRD IS IN-PERSON VISITS OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT BECAUSE LAST WEEK, EVERY WEEK, I SEE PEOPLE COME TO THE LOBBY OF THIS BUILDING SEARCHING FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND THEY'RE TOLD, PLEASE GO HOME AND CALL.
AND SO AN IN-PERSON OPEN WATER DEPARTMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
SO THE RATE STUDY OF THOSE THREE THINGS, THE RATE STUDY IS ON THIS AGENDA.
AND SO WE WILL CONFIRM OUR RATES. THE APPEALS PROCESS.
IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH SETTING UP AN APPEALS PROCESS? I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE AND I DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO TELL THIS LADY TO GO AND MR. TAYLOR DARDEN BROUGHT THIS UP.
SHE SERVES ON A BOARD WITH ME.
SHE GOT AN EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLAR WATER BILL.
SHE HAD A PLUMBER OUT. THE PLUMBER SAID YOU HAVE NO LEAK.
SHE GOT ANOTHER EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLAR OR MORE BILL.
SHE HAD ANOTHER PLUMBER COME OUT.
HE SAID YOU DO NOT HAVE A LEAK.
SHE CONTINUED TO GET HIGH BILLS UNTIL HER BILL RETURNED TO NORMAL TO HER PREVIOUS RATE.
I THINK WE HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE IF A PERSON HAS GONE THE ROUTE OF GETTING A PLUMBER WHO SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE A LEAK AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT SAYS, PAY YOUR BILL OR WE'RE CUTTING YOUR WATER OFF OR YOU HAVE THREE MONTHS TO PAY IT TO SPREAD OUT OVER TIME.
PEOPLE ARE NOT FEELING LIKE THERE'S ANY OTHER PROCESS THAT THEY CAN TURN TO FOR SOME SORT OF ADJUDICATION.
AS COUNCILMAN LEE SAID, WOULD YOU ALL OBJECT TO ESTABLISHING AN APPEALS PROCESS OF SOME SORT? SO IN THOSE UNIQUE SITUATIONS, SOMEONE CAN SIT AND LOOK AT ALL THE FACTS AND SEE IF THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND.X AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S A CODE ISSUE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH SO WE CAN WE CAN CHANGE THE CODE FROM A FROM A PUBLIC WORKS PERSPECTIVE.
OUR JOB IS TO FOLLOW THE CODE, YOU KNOW, AND DO EVERYTHING LEGALLY, WHICH IS WHAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAS HAS BEEN DOING.
THAT'S MORE OF A LEGAL QUESTION.
AND THAT WOULD BE WORKED OUT WITH THE PARIS ATTORNEYS.
BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL DOES THAT'S LEGAL AND HAS NO ISSUES, THEN OBVIOUSLY THE PUBLIC WORKS IS GOING TO IS GOING TO FOLLOW AND FOLLOW THOSE GUIDELINES.
I KNOW WHEN OTHER PROCESSES AND IT'S THE ONE THAT I USE MOST OFTEN, IF SOMEONE IS CITED FOR SOMETHING AT THEIR HOME, NOT BEING AS IT NEEDS TO BE, NOT BEING MAINTAINED, THEY'RE CITED.
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT IT.
[01:55:01]
THEY'RE CITED AGAIN.ULTIMATELY, THEY GO TO CHUCK USE MANO'S COURT AND THEY HAVE A THIRD PARTY WHO CAN THEN GET ALL THE FACTS TOGETHER AND MAKE SOME SORT OF DETERMINATION.
I THINK WE WOULD BE BEST SERVED TO HAVE AN APPEALS PROCESS.
AND I WILL WORK WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT, AGAIN, WE CAN WORK ON THAT COLLABORATIVELY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD NOT WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOMEONE AFTER THEY'RE TOLD BY THE WATER DEPARTMENT YOU HAVE A LEAK, OR WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO TELL YOU BUT PAY YOUR BILL.
I THINK AN APPEALS PROCESS WOULD SERVE US WELL.
AND THEN, COULD YOU PLEASE UPDATE US I GUESS ON OPENING THE DOORS OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IN PERSON AND NOT JUST BY PHONE, AND I'LL HAVE SYDNEY COME UP BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE IN PERSON BY APPOINTMENT, OKAY, AND HE CAN EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS AND HOW IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN GOING.
CAN I ASK THOUGH OUR MOST RECENT CONVERSATION WITH SYDNEY WITH WITH YOU MARK AND WITH ANGELA DE SOTO WAS ABOUT OPENING THE DOORS OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT AGAIN NOT JUST FOR APPOINTMENTS, BUT FOR WALK IN SERVICE SO THAT THE CITIZENS WHO ARE PAYING THEIR BILL CAN WALK INTO THIS BUILDING, I LITERALLY AND I SAW YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD WHEN I WAS CONVEYING THE STORY EARLIER.
TWO WOMEN CAME INTO THE BUILDING AND SAID, WHERE IS THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
THE JPSO OFFICER HANDED THEM A BROCHURE AND SAID GO HOME AND CALL.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE WE HAVE TO OPEN THE DOORS AGAIN. AS I SAID, SYDNEY IS WORKING ON SOME STUFF, AND HE CAN TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND WHERE HE'S TRYING TO GO FORWARD.
SO CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE SEE CUSTOMERS, YOU KNOW, BY APPOINTMENT ON AT THE GGB AND ALSO HERE AT UNI ON WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS.
CURRENTLY WE'RE REMODELING THE FIRST FLOOR TO ALLOW THE, THE DAILY TO SIT WITH CUSTOMERS DAILY BUT WE STILL WANT TO KEEP IT APPOINTMENT ONLY HISTORICALLY BEFORE I TOOK OVER.
THE LINES OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR IN THE HALLWAY BEHIND SECURITY AND THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T WANT.
SO WE'RE SETTING UP, YOU KNOW, KIOSK, OR A CUSTOMER SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD GO INTO A VERIZON OR COX CABLE YOU GO INTO THE KIOSK, PUTTING YOUR INFORMATION, AND YOU SELECT THE SLOT THE TIME SLOT THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO SIT WITH SOMEONE IN PERSON.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A DAILY THING ONCE THE FIRST FLOOR IS, IS, IS FINISHED REMODELING.
JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE FOR THOSE, ESPECIALLY SENIORS WHO NOT MIGHT NOT BE TECH SAVVY, YOU WILL ULTIMATELY BE ABLE TO WALK IN TO THE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CORRECT IT'S NOT ALL ONLINE.
SO NO, IT'S NOT ALL ONLINE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S THE SAME SYSTEM THAT YOU WOULD USE WHEN YOU GO TO A QUEST DIAGNOSTIC. SO THAT'S WHERE I GOT THE IDEA OF GOING TO A QUEST DIAGNOSTIC WHERE YOU HAVE THAT POPULATION YOU JUST YOU JUST SPOKE OF, AND SAME, THEY GO TO THE SAME KIOSK, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK IN AND SEE SOMEONE RIGHT AWAY BUT WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IS THAT SAME PERSON TO WALK IN AND THERE'S SOMEONE ALREADY SITTING DOWN, SPEAKING WITH SOMEONE AND PUT THEM TO STAND IN THE LINE AND WAIT SO WE WANT TO HAVE THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE IT'S TIME SLOTS AND IF THEY REALIZE, OKAY, THE NEXT TIME FLIGHT IS A HALF AN HOUR LATER, THEY CAN GO TAKE CARE OF OTHER BUSINESS, MAYBE GO USE THE RESTROOM GO PAY ANOTHER BILL GO TO ANOTHER STORE AND COME BACK AT THEIR TIME SLOT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO NOT HAVE THE, THE HISTORICAL BOTTLENECK OF PEOPLE LINED UP IN THE HALLWAY, AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.
AND I AGREE I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH. CAN YOU TELL US THE TIMEFRAME ON, I GUESS, OPENING THAT KIND OF SYSTEM UP TO PEOPLE THAT I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE TIMEFRAME OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
I'M NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT I JUST KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE READY TO GO WHENEVER THE CONSTRUCTION IS FINISHED, WE'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF IN PLACE.
THE KIOSK MAY TAKE A LITTLE BIT TIME AFTER THAT BUT THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN BY APPOINTMENT, IT'S BEEN IN PLACE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK AS SUCH.
OKAY, THANK YOU AND I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING BUT I KNOW WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS, ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH YOU SYDNEY WITH ANGELA DESOTO WITH MARK DREWS AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE YOU'VE WORKED WITH US ON SEVERAL CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY ON THE PROCESS OF TAKING PICTURES OF THE LEADERS AS THEY'RE BEING CHANGED OUT IN UPGRADING THE APP AND MAKING SURE IT'S MORE AND MORE ACCURATE SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK AND THE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE CONVERSATION WITH YOU BUT YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY SEVEN AND I KNOW IT'S MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ALL DAY LONG FOR YOU SO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO REASSURE THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE ALL REPRESENT AND SERVE.
AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, SO IT'S A FLUID PROCESS, WE'RE STILL IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED YOU GUYS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THE SLOW START, WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS AND SINCE WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER YEAR OUT TILL WE'RE DONE, WE STILL WELCOME THOSE CORRECTIONS AND THOSE SUGGESTIONS SO WE CAN MAKE ONLINE AND WITH THE SYSTEM.
[02:00:01]
TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US.I THINK BEFORE WE START THAT I THINK WE HAD ONE MORE PERSON MR RANDY PASCINA WANTED TO COME TALK ABOUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, IS HE STILL HERE? OKAY AGAIN IF YOU'LL JUST TELL US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND THE ITEM YOU'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT.
SO A YEAR OR SO AGO, TWO YEARS AGO ACTUALLY I MET WITH COUNCILMAN DEANO BONANO ABOUT RELEASING SOME HATCHERY RAISED REDFISH IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME IN THE STATE THAT THIS ACTION WOULD TAKE PLACE.
LOUISIANA IS THE ONLY STATE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR RELEASE OF MARINE HATCHERY RAISED MARINE SPECIES AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL AND DEANO AND JEFFERSON PARISH LOOKING FORWARD AGREED TO PARTICIPATE.
WE HAD ONE SLIGHT SETBACK BUT THIS YEAR I'M HERE AND HAPPY TO REPORT THAT ALTHOUGH WE AGREED TO RELEASE 10,000 FISH, HOPEFULLY IN GRAND ISLAND IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RELEASE 40,000 FISH, HOPEFULLY MORE.
SO WE'RE ON TRACK TO GET THAT DONE THIS SUMMER AND I THANK JEFFERSON PARISH FOR BEING THE FIRST PARISH TO STEP FORWARD AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR OUR TOURISM.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT JEFFERSON PARISH HAS MORE LICENSED RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN THAN ANY OTHER PARISH IN THE STATE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN MY DISTRICT ALONE THERE ARE NUMEROUS CHARTER GUIDES WHO RELY ON REDFISH TO PROVIDE THAT WAY OF LIVING.
BUT ALSO THEY'RE BRINGING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT STAY IN OUR HOTELS OR RENT CAMPS IN GRAND ISLAND LAFITTE, SPEND MONEY IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND FISHING.
SO TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE THAT POPULATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
AND AS YOU SAID, VERY SHORTLY HERE WE'LL BE RAISING, RELEASING 40,000 REDFISH FANGLINGS IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
BUT I HAVE A JOKE I TELL EVERYBODY.
THESE ARE ALL JEFFERSON PARISH FISH BECAUSE ALL OF THE ADULTS THAT WERE CAUGHT THAT WERE SPAWNED WERE CAUGHT IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND COMMON OUT OF PASS.
AND MR. PALSINA AND I WILL BE GOING OUT AGAIN THIS WEEKEND TO CATCH SOME MORE ADULTS FOR NEXT YEAR'S BROOD START.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT, MA'AM, I'M SORRY.
YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WELL, IT HAS TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO, YES, MA'AM, AT THE END OF THE MEETING, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN AGENDA ITEM HAS THREE MINUTES AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
BUT THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION
[ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED]
OR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.WE'RE GOING TO CONCLUDE NOW AND MOVE ON TO TO ITEM ONE.
I HAVE A NOTE TO BE DEFERRED TO SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2026 AND ITEMS THREE AND FOUR TO BE DEFERRED TO SEPTEMBER 30TH.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN TO DEFER THESE ITEMS AS STATED.
[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]
TWO ABSENT.THE ITEMS PASS AND ARE DEFERRED.
I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON THAT ON HIS BEHALF.
SO, MADAM CLERK. A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSON OR FIRM TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES FOR THE MARARA REVITALIZATION PROJECT FUNDED BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE.
I HAVE A NOTE THAT DANA BROWN AND ASSOCIATES INC. IS TO BE SELECTED ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN WALKER, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE VOTING ON THIS ITEM TO SELECT DANA BROWN AND ASSOCIATES, THE HIGHEST SCORE ON THIS PROJECT.
DANA BROWN IS SELECTED FOR ITEM SIX.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING FROM PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR WATER PROJECTS FOR A FEE OF $500,000 OR LESS PER ASSIGNMENT, EXCLUDING ANY FEE FOR RESIDENT INSPECTION SERVICES FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING THE DATE OF THIS RESOLUTION.
SELECTING CONSULTANTS TO PERFORM ENGINEERING SERVICES IS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ALL QUALIFIED SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
I'M OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
[02:05:01]
PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR STREET PROJECTS FOR A FEE OF $500,000 OR LESS PER ASSIGNMENT, EXCLUDING ANY FEE FOR RESIDENT INSPECTION SERVICES FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING THE DATE THIS RESOLUTION SELECTING CONSULTANTS TO PERFORM ENGINEERING SERVICES IS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL.COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ALL QUALIFIED SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSON OR FIRM TO PROVIDE FOOD AND RELATED SERVICES TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER ESSENTIAL DUTY STAFF DURING DECLARED EMERGENCY EVENTS UNDER RFP NUMBER 0514.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON USA UPSTAR LLC SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSON OR FIRM TO PROVIDE PRE-AWARD GRANT SUPPORT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO GRANT RESEARCH, OPPORTUNITY MONITORING, APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER DUTIES HAS ASSIGNED ON A HAS NEEDED BASIS FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH OFFICE OF CENTRAL GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAS NEEDED FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS WITH AN OPTION TO TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIOD, IF AGREEABLE BY BOTH PARTIES.
BAROKA AND BONORA ENGINEERS AND CONSULTANTS.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON BAROKA AND BONORA ENGINEERS AND CONSULTANTS LLC SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
GO AHEAD, YOU COULD VERBALLY VOTE.
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN VERBALLY VOTES YAY.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL SOULS INVESTIGATION SERVICES ON AN HAS NEEDED BASIS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR PROJECTS IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS WITH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE FEES OF $500,000 PER YEAR, NOT TO BE EXCEEDED BY A FACTOR OF MORE THAN 10% PER YEAR WITHOUT AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ALL QUALIFIED SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON ALL QUALIFIED.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
DO WE WANT TO GO TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW? EVERYONE IS HERE IF WE'RE READY FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RETURN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AGENDA FOLLOWING THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MADAM CLERK IS GOING TO READ THE ITEMS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING CLAIM FOR LYNN ADAMS VERSUS EAST JEFFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 19C99J130561.
MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR JOSEPH SIMS CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 14C99E185050.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
YOU WANT TO VOTE, VERBALLY VOTE? ALL RIGHT.
[02:10:02]
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN ADDS TO THE YAYS.SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR LOUISA DANIELS CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 25G57M584399.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM 14.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
ITEM 14 PASSES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A LAWSUIT ENTITLED CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ VERSUS PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND CHRISTINE LYNN FORD GEORGE 24TH JDC NUMBER 866874 DIVISION H.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ONE MORE? I THOUGHT THAT WAS IT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A LAWSUIT ENTITLED GEORGE DESOPO AND KIM DESOPO VERSUS RONNIE MARCELL AND BENNETT MOTOR EXPRESS LLC.
24TH JDC NUMBER 841153 DIVISION B.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
NOW WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE RETURNING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION TO OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
AND I BELIEVE, MADAM CLERK, THAT WE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO READ.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR GLEN ADAMS VERSUS EAST JEFFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 19C99J130561.
BEFORE COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES.
OPENING UP PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IF ANYONE HAS THOUGHTS FOR OR AGAINST, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, SEEING NO ONE APPEAR.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.
FIVE YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND TWO ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A CLAIM FOR JOSEPH SIMS CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 14C99E185050.
WE HAVE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER AS WELL.
SO ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.
FIVE YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND TWO ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A CLAIM FOR LOUISA DANIEL CCMSI CLAIM NUMBER 25G57M584399.
OPENING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ VERSUS JEFFERSON AND CHRISTINE LYNN FORD GEORGE 24TH JDC NUMBER 866874 DIVISION H.
[02:15:02]
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED GEORGE DESOPO AND KIM DESOPO VERSUS RONNIE MARCEL AND BENNETT MOTOR EXPRESS LLC 24TH JDC NUMBER 841153 DIVISION B.
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS SETTLEMENT.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES (Part 1 of 2)]
SO WE HAVE CONCLUDED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS AND NOW ARE BACK TO THE REGULAR PORTION OF THE AGENDA.ITEM 17 IS ONE OF OUR SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL READ THAT.
RESUB OF LOT B1, B2, AND UNIT 1 SQUARE 40 PONTCHARTRAIN GARDENS SUBDIVISION SECTION A INTO LOT Z1 SQUARE 40 SECTION A AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION ES-47-26 COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
I UNDERSTAND WE CAN WAIVE THE READING.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 17.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
RESUB OF LOT 128A, D, FELICE PARK SUBDIVISION, LOT 9D, SCHOOL SQUARE 330 MANSON, SUBDIVISION LOTS D9 AND 12A, SQUARE 331, AND LOT 9A, SQUARE 332 INTO LOT 128B, AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION ES 66, 26, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 18.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
AND IF YOU WILL, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
COREY BRASILLERA, 320 NORTH CARROLLTON, NEW ORLEANS.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT.
THE PROPERTY, SMALLER PROPERTIES IN QUESTION HAVE BEEN UNDER OUR DIC'S OWNERSHIP FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.
SO THIS SUBDIVISION WOULD CONSOLIDATE THOSE LOTS AND ALLOW THE SCHOOL TO PROVIDE BETTER FACILITIES FOR ALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE THINK THIS MAKES SENSE TO SIMPLIFY THE PROPERTY FOR THE OWNER.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26767, WHICH IS ITEM 18.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
AND IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
I AM ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTIES IN QUESTION.
THIS PROCESS, FIRST OF ALL, MY WIFE AND I ARE KIND OF UNICORNS.
WE MOVED FROM ST. TAMMANY TO JEFFERSON PARISH.
IN 2018 WHEN WE PURCHASED THE HOUSE, THESE LOTS HAD HOMES ON THEM.
WE WERE UNAWARE THAT THE CHURCH OWNED THE HOUSES THEY RELEASED.
AFTER IDA, THERE WAS A NEW PRIEST CAME IN.
THERE WAS A ROOF DAMAGE EXTENSIVE ON, ON TWO OF THE FOUR.
PRIOR TO THEM BEING DEMOLISHED IN MAY, THE ROOFS WEREN'T REPAIRED.
THERE'S A HOUSE ON CLEARY THAT THE CHURCH OWNS.
[02:20:06]
I HAVE A PICTURE FROM YESTERDAY.TARP MATERIAL PULLED OUT OF MY POOL THIS WEEK, PULLED OUT OF MY POOL PUMP.
THE CHURCH HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
THEY HAVE NOT KEPT UP KEPT THEIR PROPERTY.
WE'VE HAD RODENT ISSUES FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AND THE RESPONSE I GET IS THAT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT THEY TORE THE HOUSES DOWN.
AND FOR THEIR FUTURE PLAN TO PUT A CAR LINE, A ROAD 10 FEET FROM MY HOUSE.
WE WERE AWARE OF THIS PROJECT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE INVITED TO A COFFEE TALK.
AT THAT POINT, I EXPRESSED OPPOSITION.
I SAID IF THERE'S ANY REDEVELOPMENT OR ANY PROJECT, I'D LIKE TO BE INVOLVED.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME INPUT, SEEING THAT IT AFFECTS ME AND MY HOUSE.
WE WERE SHUNNED OR WE WERE LOCKED OUT OF ANY DISCUSSIONS.
I CONTACTED THE ARCHDIOCESE TWICE, EMAILED, NO RESPONSE UNTIL WE GOT A LETTER IN OUR MAILBOX THAT FUNDRAISING WAS TO BEGIN.
YOU KNOW, I'VE SAT AND LISTENED TO THESE PROCEEDINGS.
THE CODE IN JEFFERSON PARISH WAS ADOPTED IN 1958.
AND I HEARD I BELIEVE BEN FRANKEN SAY THAT THIS BODY HAS THE AUTHORITY AND THE POWER TO REWRITE THE CODE.
I FEEL LIKE THIS REALLY SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS ARE ALLOWED IN ONE RA.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS WRITTEN THAT WAY.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS BECAUSE CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS ARE CENTRAL TO A COMMUNITY.
BUT THAT WAS BASED ON THE 60S AND 70S DEVELOPMENT BOOM.
NOW I FEEL LIKE THIS CHURCH HAS LET THEIR PROPERTY DETERIORATE.
THEY'RE PUTTING THIS ROAD NEXT TO MY PROPERTY.
I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO DEVALUE MY PROPERTY.
AN ASSESSOR MAY NOT THINK SO, BUT THE ATTRACTIVENESS FOR RESALE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE AFFECTED, WHICH I THINK LEADS TO A DECREASED VALUE, IN WHICH CASE WHO'S THE ONE ENTITY THAT WOULD LIKE TO ACQUIRE THE HOUSES NEXT TO THEIR CAMPUS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A MASTER PLAN, BUT I BELIEVE THE MASTER PLAN IS TO GO ALL THE WAY TO HADDON STREET.
AND I THINK THAT THIS AFFECTS ME MOST BECAUSE OF MY LOCATION AND THE PLAN OF THE CAR LINE.
IT AFFECTS US IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
IT'S HARD TO RECOUNT AT THIS MEETING.
BUT I REALLY THINK THAT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND PROPERTY IS THE BASIS OF WHICH OUR SOCIETY AND THIS PARISH IS BUILT.
AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS A DUTY TO PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS AND THEIR CITIZENS' PROPERTY.
AND I FEEL LIKE THIS BEING PUSHED THROUGH THE WAY THAT IT HAS, THAT THE PARISH IS NEGLECTED IN THEIR DUTIES.
AGAIN, IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAD ONE IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
THERE IS TIME LEFT FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR REBUTTAL, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I ALSO LIVE AT 4409 ARCH STREET.
I DEBATED WHETHER TO SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A BIG WASTE OF OUR TIME.
IF THIS WAS HAPPENING TO ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS ROOM, THEY WOULD WANT TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR HOME AND THEIR FAMILIES ALSO.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I HESITATED IS THAT NOT ONE PERSON IN THIS ROOM HAS BEEN EMPATHETIC OR COMPASSIONATE TO US.
MY HUSBAND OR I HAVE SPOKEN TO PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IN PERSON, ON THE PHONE, EMAILS, LETTERS IN FRONT OF MY HOME, IN THE CHURCH OFFICE, IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT.
INSTEAD OF HAVING ANY KIND OF COMPASSION OF WHAT IS BEING DONE TO OUR PROPERTY VALUE, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR DAILY PIECE OF DRIVING UP
[02:25:01]
TO OUR HOME, WE HAVE BEEN GASLIT.WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT WON'T BE THAT BAD.
HE TOLD US THAT HE LIVED BEHIND A SCHOOL AND IT REALLY WASN'T THAT BAD, BUT HE DOESN'T EVEN LIVE THERE ANYMORE.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT HAVING A ROAD 10 FEET AWAY FROM OUR HOME WITH CARS COMING AND GOING ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT FROM OUR HOME, THERE'S ALREADY A ROAD THAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LOT THAT IS THAT LOT, WHICH IS WHAT THEY USE FOR CAR LINE RIGHT NOW.
IT IS NOT A CAR LINE. IT IS A ROAD.
PEOPLE DRIVE UP AND DOWN THAT ROAD ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND THE NIGHT.
THEY'VE TOLD US WE SHOULD ENJOY CHILDREN PLAYING.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT WON'T DIMINISH OUR PROPERTY VALUE.
BUT I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU WOULD WANT A ROAD 10 FEET AWAY FROM YOUR BEDROOM WINDOW.
I KNOW THAT THEY'RE CALLING THIS A DRIVEWAY, BUT IT'S NOT A DRIVEWAY.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THIS WILL MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE THERE'LL BE A PLAY YARD, BUT THE CHILDREN WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THIS UNLESS THEY'RE IN THE SCHOOL.
WE MOVED TO THIS HOUSE SO OUR DAUGHTERS COULD GO TO SCHOOL IN NEW ORLEANS.
I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE HOMES ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER AND WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE HOUSES NEXT TO US WOULD BE OWNED BY THE CHURCH AND THEN TORE DOWN.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE NEAR WHERE THE SCHOOL WAS, NEAR OUR CAR LINE.
AND I ACTUALLY MADE MY HUSBAND COME SIT THERE AND SEE HOW BAD THE CAR LINE WAS GOING TO BE.
FUNNY THING IS THAT THIS WOULD BE THE ONE THING THAT WOULD START TO COME BITE US IN THE BUTT.
WE'VE MADE THIS HOUSE ON ARCH STREET OUR HOME.
WE'VE QUICKLY BECAME INVOLVED WITH ST. CLEMENT OF ROME CHURCH.
MOST OF THE FRIENDS WE MADE HAD CHILDREN AT ST. CLEMENT OF ROME.
WE JOINED BIBLE STUDIES. WE DID A COUPLE OF EVENINGS.
WE'D HELP WITH FAIR AND GALA, EVEN THOUGH OUR CHILDREN NEVER ATTENDED ST. CLEMENT OF ROME.
MY DAUGHTER SANG EVERY SUNDAY AT 4 O'CLOCK MASS AS A CANTOR FOR YEARS.
WE LOVED HEARING THE CHURCH BELLS DAILY AND BEING A PART OF ST. CLEMENT OF ROME.
NOW THE CHURCH BELLS ARE A DAILY REMINDER OF HOW WE WERE BEING TREATED, BULLIED, AND GASLIT BY A PRIEST AND CHURCH CONGREGATION.
THE PRIEST TOLD THE DEMO CREW TEARING DOWN THE HOUSES THAT WE WERE THE PROBLEM NEIGHBORS.
HE TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT US IN MASS.
HE TOLD THE MASS THAT WE WERE A PROBLEM.
HE HAS TURNED TO EVERY CHURCH MEMBER AND FRIEND WE USED TO HAVE AGAINST US AS THEY NO LONGER SPEAK TO US.
REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN HERE IN THE UPROAR ABOUT BRIGHT? YEP, THOSE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE.
I COULD HAVE POSTED ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE THEY DID.
I KNOW HOW PEOPLE LOVE TO HATE A CATHOLIC CHURCH AND HOW THEY LOVE TO HATE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
I COULD HAVE GOTTEN PEOPLE TO FLOOD THE CHURCH OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR OFFICES WITH PHONE CALLS.
I HAVE QUITE A FEW FRIENDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND QUITE A LARGE FOLLOWING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
INSTEAD, I POSTED PRIVATELY ON FACEBOOK JUST FOR MY PERSONAL FRIENDS TO GIVE US SUPPORT ON WHAT WAS GOING ON AT OUR HOME.
AND WE WERE TURNED INTO THE BAD GUYS.
THE CHURCH SAID WE WERE AWFUL FOR NOT WANTING THIS FOR THE KIDS AND HOW DARE WE POST THEM TEARING DOWN THESE HOUSES THAT WERE SIX FEET ROOF TO ROOF FROM OUR HOUSE.
COPS WERE HIRED TO WATCH OVER ME WHILE THIS WAS BEING DONE.
THE COP WOULD RUN OVER TO MY TO WATCH ME.
WE EVEN SHUT OUT OF ALL INFORMATION FROM THE VERY FIRST TIME THIS WAS BROUGHT UP IN A MEETING A FEW YEARS AGO.
INSTEAD, WE'VE BEEN MADE OUT TO BE MADE THE EVIL NEIGHBORS AND SHUT OUT OF ANY INFORMATION.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE FATHER JOE LYING TO US NUMEROUS TIMES AND WE HAVE ALL OF THIS RECORDED.
SITTING IN CHURCH PEWS AND STANDING AT THE ALTAR DOES NOT MAKE YOU A GOOD CHRISTIAN.
WHAT HAPPENED TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR? WE ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD PEOPLE.
WE DO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ONE OF OUR BUSINESSES MAIN GOAL IS TO SPREAD JOY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE TRY TO BE GOOD CHRISTIANS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS.
THE LAST MEETING WE SAT IN HERE, EVERYONE KEPT SAYING NOTHING WAS CHANGING FOR THE SCHOOL, BUT YET EVERYTHING IS CHANGING FOR US.
WE WILL BE NOW WORKING WITH CARS AND CHILDREN DISRUPTING OUR DAILY LIFE AS WE USED TO HAVE A HOUSE TO BUFFER US FROM ALL OF THAT.
NOW IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR OFFICE AND BEDROOM WINDOWS.
I'VE ALREADY KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR MINDS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH THIS THROUGH TODAY AND THE BULLDOZERS WILL BE AT MY HOUSE TOMORROW TO PUT DOWN A ROAD NEXT TO MY HOME.
I DO WISH YOU WOULD CONSIDER ASKING THEM TO PUT UP PERMANENT GATES THAT WOULD ONLY BE OPEN DURING CAR LINE TIME.
WE'VE ASKED THIS FOR DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CHURCH AND THERE WAS A TEMPORARY ONE PUT UP FOR ONE WEEK.
BUT SINCE THE SCHOOL HAS STARTED, IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND NOW CARS ARE GOING UP AND DOWN THAT ROAD ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PARENTS TO NOT LINE UP AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS IN THE MORNING AND GETS OUT IN THE AFTERNOON.
WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SOME CONSIDERATION ON HOW IT WOULD FEEL IF THIS IS YOUR OWN HOME AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS SELLABLE IN THE FUTURE.
OUR HOUSE SELLABLE IN THE FUTURE AS WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE TRAPPED AND WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO LEAVE OUR OWN HOME.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK OR REBUT HOW MUCH TIME IS REMAINING? THIS WILL BE FOUR MINUTES
[02:30:01]
REMAINING.TO ADDRESS THE COMMENT ABOUT THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT'S ON THE CORNER OF THAT'S A CLEARING.
WE ARE IN PROCESS OF SECURING A PERMIT TO RENOVATE THAT AND REPAIR THAT BUILDING SO THE SCHOOL MAY USE IT AGAIN.
AND WHILE WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE NEXT STEP OF THIS PROJECT, WE ARE GOING TO PUT IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LANDSCAPING BETWEEN THE ADJACENT HOMES ALONG WITH THE PRIVACY FENCE AND THE ARCHDIOCESE.
I SAID THEY'RE AMENABLE TO PUTTING GATES UP ON BOTH ENDS OF THE PROPOSED DRIVEWAY SO THAT CARS CAN'T PASS THROUGH AT ALL HOURS.
ANYONE ELSE AGAIN WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST? YEAH, WE JUST HAVE THREE MINUTES.
AGAIN, HIS RESPONSE IS THE PROBLEM.
THE HOUSE HAS BEEN VACANT AND A DISREPAIR SINCE IDA.
HOW MANY YEARS IS THAT? FOUR YEARS.
AND YET THEY'RE DEVELOPING A PLAN TO RENOVATE IT NOW.
SO WE'VE LIVED NEXT TO THESE HOMES THAT THE CHURCH HAS OWNED THAT HAVE BEEN INFESTED WITH SQUIRRELS AND RATS.
THEY'VE LEFT THE FAIR BARRELS IN THE BACKYARD TO FILL UP WITH WATER AND MOSQUITOES, DEAD RODENTS.
AND YET THE NEW PLAN IS WE'LL JUST TEAR IT DOWN AND INCONVENIENCE YOUR LIFE.
AND THE EYESORE THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE THAT WE HAVEN'T TORN DOWN YET, BUT THE PLAN WAS TO ORIGINALLY TEAR IT DOWN.
WE'RE WORKING ON A PLAN TO RENOVATE THAT TOO.
YET IN THEIR FUNDRAISING VIDEO, THE FIRST THING HE STATES IS HE SPENT A MILLION DOLLARS ON LANDSCAPING AND SIGNAGE SINCE HE GOT THERE.
AND WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T SPEND 40 GRAND TO REPLACE THE ROOFS.
THE WILL IS NOT THERE TO BE CONSIDERATE TO THE NEIGHBORS.
AND I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS WOULD CONSIDER HOW THIS AFFECTS A HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS.
YOU KNOW, THE AREA IN QUESTION THAT THE CAR LINE LOOPS AROUND IN IS A TOTAL OF SIX HOMES.
I HOPE THIS COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, THE SIX RESIDENTS THAT IT AFFECTS NOT THE HOWEVER MANY FAMILIES THE SCHOOL ADHERES TO.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE ONE SPOKE IN FAVOR, TWO SPOKE IN OPPOSITION.
MRS. SPRAYNE, I APOLOGIZE IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE ANYBODY'S EMPATHETIC OR COMPASSIONATE.
I DID, AS YOU STATED, I DID MEET WITH YOU ALL.
YOU ALL CALLED ME OR EMAILED ME HOURS BEFORE MEETING AT ST.
CATHARINES AND INVITED ME TO ATTEND.
I HAD SOMEBODY FROM MY OFFICE, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE FROM MY OFFICE ATTEND.
I MEAN, WE HAVE TRIED TO FOLLOW UP.
I LISTENED TO YOUR OPPOSITION.
BELIEVE ME, I 1,000 PERCENT GET IT.
IT IS AN INCONVENIENCE FOR YOU AND IT IS DISRUPTIVE FOR YOU.
BUT, MR. SPRAYNE, YOU KIND OF HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
THE ONLY OPPOSITION I'VE SEEN IN THIS IS YOURS.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN LOTS OF CALLS ABOUT GETTING KIDS OFF THE BLACKTOP ON WEST L.A.
WE'VE GOTTEN LOTS OF CALLS IN FAVOR OF THIS.
IT IS YOUR, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ISSUE IMPACTS FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE, MAINLY YOU, FRANKLY.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE SCHOOL.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL, WITH THE CHURCH, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL PUT THE GATES UP.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL TRY TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
I MEAN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SAYING I GET, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE SAYING THEY DIDN'T PUT A NEW ROOF ON.
WELL, I'D BE SCRATCHING MY HEAD ABOUT PUTTING A NEW ROOF ON A HOUSE THAT I'M GOING TO TEAR DOWN AS WELL.
SO, I MEAN, I KIND OF UNDERSTAND THEIR RETICENCE.
AGAIN, SO I GUESS I APOLOGIZE TO YOU ALL THAT YOU HAVEN'T FELT HEARD.
BUT I AM GOING TO MOVE TO APPROVE.
WE RARELY GET DOUBLE APPROVALS.
YOU KNOW, PLANNING USUALLY FINDS SOME REASONS.
BUT, I MEAN, THEY'RE VERY BY THE BOOK.
AND EVERY TEAM MUST BE CROSSED AND EVERY EYE DOTTED.
AND IT'S UNUSUAL THAT WE GET A DOUBLE APPROVAL.
[02:35:02]
AND THIS IS, IN FACT, A DOUBLE APPROVAL.COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
RUE ORLEANS SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 1A, 1B, AND 1C, SQUARE A, SUBDIVISION, AND APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION.
WE'RE GOING TO WAIVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
AND I'M SORRY, WE'RE GOING TO WAIVE THE READING.
WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26769, WHICH IS ITEM 19, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NO ONE APPEAR, MADAM CLERK, COUNCILMAN BONANO.
ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN LEE, I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR A ONE-MEETING DEFERRAL.
IF ANYONE, JUST BEFORE WE MOVE ON, IF ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
AGAIN, NOTING THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVED FOR A ONE-MEETING DEFERRAL TO THE SEPTEMBER 9TH MEETING.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, OPENING THE VOTE ON THE DEFERRAL.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENCE.
SO ITEM 19 IS DEFERRED TO THE SEPTEMBER 9TH COUNCIL MEETING.
SO ITEM 22, WHICH IS SUMMARY NUMBER 26772.
COUNCILMAN BONANO, WOULD YOU MOVE TO TAKE THIS ITEM NUMBER 22 OUT OF ORDER? SO MOVED.
COUNCILMAN MOVES TO TAKE THIS OUT OF ORDER, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE VOTE TO TAKE 22 NEXT.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING - AND LAND USE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ORDINANCES]
CLOSING THE VOTE.SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENCE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD NOW WITH ITEM 22, MADAM CLERK.
YOU WANT TO MOVE? I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR A ONE-MEETING DEFERRAL.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO SEPTEMBER THE 9TH, OUR NEXT MEETING, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KERNER, VOTING ON THE DEFERRAL TO SEPTEMBER 9TH AND ENDING THE VOTE.
COUNCILWOMAN, I DON'T THINK YOURS LIT.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENCE.
[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES (Part 2 of 2)]
SO 22 IS DEFERRED TO SEPTEMBER THE 9TH COUNCIL MEETING.NOW BACK TO COUNCIL ITEM NUMBER 20.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26770, RESUB OF LOT 1A, GLENDALE SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 1A1 AND 1A2, THE DEDICATION OF A 25-FOOT INGRESS, EGRESS, AND UTILITY SERVITUDE THROUGH LOT 1A2 IN FAVOR OF LOT 1A1 IN APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL FLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION, WS-39-26, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.
WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26770? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO 26770? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BONANO? MOVE FOR ONE-MEETING DEFERRAL.
WE'RE GOING TO DEFER ITEM 20 TO SEPTEMBER 9TH MEETING.
OPENING THE VOTE ON DEFERRING THIS ONE MEETING TO SEPTEMBER 9TH.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENCE.
SO DEFERRING 20 TO SEPTEMBER THE 9TH.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26771, RESUB OF LOT 1-6, SQUARE 6, ODOM SUBDIVISION AND LOT 1-15, SQUARE 4, HOLMDALE SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 1A, SQUARE 4,
[02:40:01]
WITH A WAIVER TO THE GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 33-2.35, SUBDIVISION WAIVERS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE IN APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE FINAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION, WS-64-26, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION ON THE...
I BELIEVE PLANNING HAS AN AMENDMENT.
THE AMENDMENT IS TO SECTION 1 JUST TO ADD THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE AND STAMPED BY THE SURVEYOR ON 518-2026.
SO COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENT.
REAL QUICKLY, THIS IS ACTUALLY AN OLD SCHOOL THAT WE PURCHASED WITH DISTRICT 2 MONIES THAT'S SCHEDULED TO BECOME A TOT LOT IN POCKET PARK AS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN HARVEY.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS.
CLOSING THE VOTE, SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENCE.
COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
ELIZABETH IS KEEPING US IN LINE.
WE'RE OPEN TO PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 21 AS AMENDED.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SO PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION AS AMENDED.
FIRST, I GOT TO SAY THE COUNCIL CLERK'S GETTING A LITTLE FEISTY SINCE SHE'S GOT RED HAIR NOW.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM AS INTRODUCED BY OUR SPUNKY CLERK.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
SHE'S CHANNELING HER DOLLY PARTON TODAY.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - PERMITTED USES]
ITEM, LET'S SEE, 22.WE HAD ALREADY TAKEN OUT OF ORDER FOR DEFERRAL.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26773, APPROVING SPU-2-26 TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL PERMANENT USE FOR A HAIR ACCESSORY TO OPERATE AN IN-HOME HAIR SALON FOR GEO'S BARBER SHOP AND SALON AT 657 EAST WILLIAM DAVID PARKWAY, LOTS 43 AND 44, SQUARE 33, CANAL STREET SUBDIVISION, WHICH LOT IS ZONED R1A, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 26773.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, SEEING NO ONE APPEAR, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - VARIANCES]
ON THIS ITEM.SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26774, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 26436, ADOPTED ON JUNE 15, 2022, FOR SP-1-21 TO EXTEND THE TEMPORARY PERIOD OF USE.
WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26774.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
[OTHER ORDINANCES]
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.SUMMARY NUMBER 26754, TO REPEAL ORDINANCE NUMBER 27173, ADOPTED ON MAY 6, 2026, RELATIVE TO ADOPTING AN INCREASED MILLAGE RATE, BUT NOT IN ACCESS OF THE PRIOR YEAR'S MAXIMUM RATE TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX ROLLS.
WE ARE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 25, WHICH IS SUMMARY NUMBER 26754.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
[02:45:03]
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 25, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN BRANKEN.FIVE YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND TWO ABSENT.
JUST BEFORE WE MOVE ON, GENTLEMEN, IF I CAN.
AND JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, THIS IS NOT A MILLAGE INCREASE.
WE HAVE TO, FOLLOWING HURRICANE IDA, LAFITE, BARRETT, TERRACRUZ, WHICH PROPERTY VALUES PLUMMETED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
SO THE ASSESSOR RECOGNIZED THAT AND LOWERED IT, AND WHEN IT KICKED BACK INTO EFFECT, IT WENT TO THE MILLAGE DATA THEY HAVE BEEN COLLECTING, WHICH IS 200,000 LESS THAN WHAT THEY HISTORICALLY COLLECTED.
THIS IS GETTING BACK TO WHAT THEY HISTORICALLY COLLECTED AT 800,000, AND THAT ALLOWS THEM REALLY AT A BARE MINIMUM TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICE.
SO THIS IS RESTORING TO THE PRE-IDA AMOUNT.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26755, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 27172, ADOPTED ON MAY 6, 2026, RELATIVE TO MILLAGE RATES TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX ROLLS TO REMOVE FROM THE LINE ITEM FOR PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR FROM SECTION ONE AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26755, WHICH IS ITEM 26.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26756, TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATES TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX ROLLS FOR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR THE YEAR 2026 BASED ON THE 2026 JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSMENT ROLL AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26756.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM 27.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26757, TO ADOPT AN INCREASED MILLAGE RATE BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF THE PRIOR YEAR'S MAXIMUM RATE ROLL FORWARD TO BE EXTENDED ON THE ASSESSOR'S TAX ROLLS FOR FIRE PROTECTION ROLL FOUR OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR THE YEAR 2026 BASED ON THE 2026 JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSMENT ROLL AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26757.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS ONE RESTORATION OF TAXES.
I GUESS THERE WAS SOME CLERICAL AND LEGAL CORRECTIONS THAT HAD TO BE MADE TO TAKE A FEW THAT WE DID IN THE PAST OFF AND PUT THE CORRECT ONES ON.
BUT THIS IS JUST ONE SINGLE RESTORATION TO RETURN IT BACK TO PRE-IDA LEVELS.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
DID COUNCILMAN KERNER CLARIFY A CLARIFICATION JUST THEN? AFTER THE SEVENTH ONE, I STARTED GETTING DIZZY, SO I HAD TO CLARIFY IT.
WELL, THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T VOTE RIGHT AWAY.
I'M LIKE, DIDN'T YOU JUST COVER THIS, MADAM? WE'RE GOING TO GO.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26775, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF JEFFERSON POWERS TO CREATE A NEW CLASSIFICATION.
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26775.
[02:50:02]
IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE AND SAID SOMETHING, BUT I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE.
WE'RE OPENING, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
AGAIN, ITEM 29, CLOSING THE VOTE.
SIX YAYS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26776, WAIVING THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES AND PLAN REVIEW FEES FOR THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS FOOD AND BEVERAGE INCUBATOR LOCATED AT THE CHURCH HILL TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS PARK.
WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26776, WHICH IS ITEM 30.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
HELLO, ANNALISA KELLY WITH JEDCO 700 CHURCH HILL PARKWAY IN AVONDALE.
THIS IS, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING THIS.
THIS IS FOR A REGIONAL ASSET THAT THE JEFFERSON PARISH HAS SUPPORTED, SO WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
IT'LL BE FOR THE REGIONAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE INCUBATOR, WHICH WILL SERVE NOT ONLY JEFFERSON PARISH ENTREPRENEURS IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SPACE, BUT ALSO ENTREPRENEURS FROM ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
IT'S AN ASSET THAT WE USED TO HAVE IN THIS REGION AND DON'T ANYMORE, AND AS A CULINARY CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BRING IT BACK TO THIS REGION AND TO JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIFICALLY.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF WAIVING THE PERMIT FEES FOR THE FOOD INCUBATOR? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE ONE SPOKE IN FAVOR, NO ONE SPOKE IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26777, TEMPORARILY WAIVING PERMIT FEES IF THE PERMIT WAS NECESSARY BY DAMAGES FROM TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR ON JUNE 18, 2026.
WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26777.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KERNER.
OPEN THE VOTING ON ITEM 31, WAIVING FEES.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
ADDING THE FINES AND HEARING COSTS ASSESSED BY THE BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 13257533123649 AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES, SECTION 19-53 FOR BUILDING, DWELLINGS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHICH HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE DERELICT AND PRESENT A DANGER TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
UNDER SECTION 19-46 OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES TO THE ANNUAL AD VALOREM TAX ROLLS.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUMMARY NUMBER 26778.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
ADDING PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 13257533123649 AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 19-53, THE DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL CHARGES OF BUILDINGS, DWELLINGS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHICH HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BY THE BUREAU OF
[02:55:02]
ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION TO BE DERELICT AND PRESENT A DANGER TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH UNDER SECTION 19-46 OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES TO THE ANNUAL AD VALOREM TAX ROLLS.ALL RIGHT, OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NUMBER 26779.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF 26779, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26780, ADDING THE CUTTING AND REMOVAL CHARGES FOR GRASS, NOXIOUS WEEDS, UNHEALTHFUL GROVES, TRASH, DEBRIS, OR DISCARDED OR NOXIOUS MATTER PURSUANT TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 19-27 TO THE ANNUAL AD VALOREM TAX BILL OF THE PREMISES OR PROPERTY INVOLVED.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 26780.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE 34, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26781, AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AND THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE ARE TO ALLOCATE $48,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S VIDEO POKER FUND FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CEA WITH HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC., TO ADVISE THE SENIOR SERVICE TASK FORCE ON PRIORITIZING AND IMPLEMENTING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT, COUNCIL DISTRICT INCREASE THE ALLOCATION FROM $25,000 TO $30,723 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND FOR THE CEA WITH CENTER FOR THE INNOVATIVE TRAINING OF YOUTH, INC., DOING BUSINESS AS STEM GLOBAL ACTION TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO HOST A STEM FEST AT THE HILARIO CENTER IN SEPTEMBER 2026, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.
TO ALLOCATE $195,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 1 FUND FOR A CEA WITH TARRYTOWN COUNTRY CLUB, INC., TO PROVIDE ENHANCED RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH BY PROVIDING FUNDING TOWARDS RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE TARRYTOWN COUNTRY CLUB, WHICH IS A RECREATIONAL FACILITY THAT OFFERS A SWIMMING POOL, TENNIS COURTS, AND OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO THE PUBLIC THAT PROMOTES ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.
AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 26781 AS AMENDED.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE OPERATING BUDGET AS AMENDED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THE OPERATING BUDGET AS AMENDED.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET.
AMENDMENT NEEDED TO BUDGET A TRANSFER OF $9,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT CAPITAL PROJECT FUND TO PROJECT 46757001 ABBEY ROAD WALKING TRAIL.
AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON THE AMENDMENTS.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26782, OUR CAPITAL BUDGET AS AMENDED.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET AS AMENDED.
[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]
[03:00:01]
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.ITEM 37 IS RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLL.
A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO HERITAGE BIBLE CHURCH TO ERECT TEMPORARY SIGNS ON THE NEUTRAL GROUND MEDIAN ALONG TERRY PARKWAY FROM BELCHASE HIGHWAY TO HOLMES BOULEVARD.
WE HAVE TO VOTE IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE MATTER COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
SO THE ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR, VOTING IS OPEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
SO THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR.
COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A 50-FOOT-WIDE DRIVEWAY AT THE CURB LINE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1000 TRANSCONTINENTAL DRIVE IN METAIRIE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 29-168 OF THE JEFFERSON POWERS CODE OF ORDINANCES.
YOUR MOVE ON THE ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR? MOVE TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
VOTING ON THE ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
SO THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR.
YOUR MOTION, COUNCILMAN? MOVE TO APPROVE.
WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES FOR APPROVAL.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KERNER.
VOTING ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
MADAM CLERK? YEAH, DOES HE HAVE ANY? PLEASE READ IT.
A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO SISTERS OUTREACH FOUNDATION TO CONDUCT ITS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS EVENT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2026 FROM 9 A.M.
TO 1 P.M. AT THE COVID MEMORIAL PARK AND WALKING TRAIL 5858 WEST BANK EXPRESSWAY TO ALLOW DJ AMPLIFIED MUSIC TO ERECT FOUR CANOPIES, THREE CRAFT BOOTHS, THREE TENTS, AND TO SERVE BEVERAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE EVENT PROVIDED THAT A PERMIT IS OBTAINED.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.
DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR IT TO COME? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION TO COME FROM THE FLOOR.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
AND WE HAVE SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT FOR IT TO COME FROM THE FLOOR.
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEARED.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
LAUREN, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ IT? YES, SIR.
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE JEFFERSON POWERS TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION TO INSTALL AN ALL-WAY STOP SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF DANVILLE STREET AND EMILY STREET IN MEADOWAY.
COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION TO COME FROM THE FLOOR.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
VOTE IN SUPPORT IF YOU WISH FOR IT TO COME FROM THE FLOOR.
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, ONE ABSENT.
SO THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR.
OPENING PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG MOVES TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]
ONE ABSENT.[03:05:02]
AND I'VE COMPLETED THE ROLL.THAT IS OUR ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR.
I HAVE NOTES THAT WE CAN TAKE IN GLOBAL ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 38 THROUGH 93.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEMS 38 THROUGH 93.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THOSE IN GLOBAL ITEMS. CLOSING THE VOTE.
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO (Part 2 of 2)]
SIX YEAS, ZERO NAYS, AND ONE ABSENT.COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE IN GLOBAL ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 95 THROUGH 177.
ITEM 96 IS ON JOINT MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE AND COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
MINUS ITEMS 34 AND 42 TO BE CANCELED.
AND ITEM 173 TO BE DEFERRED TO SEPTEMBER 9TH.
SO LET ME READ IT ONE MORE TIME.
YOUR MOTION REGARDING IN GLOBAL ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 95 THROUGH 177.
ITEM 96 IS ON JOINT MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE AND COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
MINUS ITEM 134 AND 142 TO BE CANCELED.
AND MINUS ITEM 173 TO BE DEFERRED TO SEPTEMBER 9TH.
I THINK THERE WAS A DEVELOPMENT ON 173 SINCE THE MEETING STARTED.
I SENT ALL OF YOU AN EMAIL DURING THE COUNCIL MEETING, SO SORRY IF ANY OF YOU MISSED IT.
SO EARLY THIS MORNING, TIM PULMITIER WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE LOUISIANA OPIOID TASK FORCE.
AND THEY REVIEWED THE FACTS OF AGENDA ITEM 173 THAT IT'S A RENOVATION OF A CRISIS ASSISTANCE CENTER.
AND THEY HAVE GIVEN US THE GUIDANCE THAT IT IS APPROVED AND APPROVED AND PERMISSIBLE USE OF THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING THAT DONE TIMELY.
YEAH, I HAD MISSED THAT EMAIL.
SO WE'RE DOING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 95 THROUGH 177.
96 IS JOINT MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE AND COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.
MINUS ITEM 134 AND 142 TO BE CANCELED AND MINUS ITEM 170, WHICH IS TO BE AMENDED.
SO NOW 173 IS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA ITEMS TO PASS, NO LONGER DEFERRED.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THESE ITEMS. ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO VERBALLY VOTE YES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEMS. LET'S SEE.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE POWERS OF JEFFERSON AND CENTER FOR THE INNOVATIVE TRAINING OF YOUTH, INCORPORATED, DOING BUSINESS AS STEM GLOBAL ACTION TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO HOST A STEM FEST AT THE HILARIO CENTER IN SEPTEMBER 2026 AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $75,000.
AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN THE PREAMBLE FIFTH, WHEREAS IN SECTION ONE TO CHANGE $75,000 TO $80,723.
AND SECTION TWO FROM $25,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING TO $30,723 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING.
AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
COUNCILMAN KERNER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE ON THE AMENDMENTS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION AS AMENDED.
[03:10:01]
TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.WE'RE OPENING FOR THE VOTE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS]
ALL RIGHT.MADAM CLERK, ITEM 178 ARE THE ADDENDA AGENDA ITEMS. AND SO I HAVE NOTES THAT REMOVING AND GLOBAL ADOPTION ITEMS 1 THROUGH 24 WITH ITEM 18 DEFERRED TO SEPTEMBER 9TH.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE 1 THROUGH 24 DEFERRING 18 TO SEPTEMBER 9TH, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
SO THOSE ITEMS PASS AND ITEM 18 IS DEFERRED.
[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]
179, SORRY, SPECIAL DISTRICTS.A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND THE TIMBERLAND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION DISTRICT, PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA TO PROVIDE FUNDING TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF THE SWIMMING POOL AT THE TIMBERLAND GOLF AND RECREATION FACILITY TO OFFER CITIZENS INCREASED ACCESS TO AN ACTIVITY THAT PROVIDES MANY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS AND TO PROVIDE ENHANCED RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $250,000.
REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER 144359.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM 179, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CONSOLIDATED WATERWORKS DISTRICT NUMBER 2 OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, LOUISIANA AND WATERWORKS DISTRICT NUMBER 1 OF THE PARISH OF LAFOURCHE, STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR JEFFERSON PARISH TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A WATER LINE TO OBTAIN POTABLE WATER ON AN EMERGENCY-AS-NEEDED BASIS WITH THE POTENTIAL OF OBTAINING A PERMANENT SUPPLY OF POTABLE WATER THROUGH LAFOURCHE PARISH WATERWORKS DISTRICT NUMBER 1 WATER SYSTEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOWER JEFFERSON PARISH, INCLUDING GRAND ISLE.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM 180, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE ARE OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM 180.
ITEM 181, AND THESE ARE RESOLUTIONS, BUT WE'RE SITTING AS JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND STONEBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION DISTRICT TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO COMBAT MOSQUITOES BREEDING AND FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION AND LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENT AROUND THE POND LOCATED ON THE HARVEY SIDE OF STONEBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR THE ENTRANCE GATE AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM 181.
5 YEAS, 1 ABSTENTION, AND 1 ABSENT.
SO THAT'S ITEM 181, WHICH PASSES.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PORT DISTRICT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR JETCO TO OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FROM WRIGHT INSIGHTS LLC TO ASSIST WITH THE FORMATION OF A FRIENDS GROUP FOR THE JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND PRESERVE AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $40,000.
[03:15:01]
TO APPROVE 182, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.OPENING THE VOTE, CLOSING THE VOTE.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND SISONG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIOD FOR A NEW TERMINATION DATE OF DECEMBER 31, 2027 AT AN ANNUAL FEE NOT TO EXCEED $55,000 FOR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NO. 1.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL SERVICE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THE PARISH'S FIRST RESPONDERS WITH NARCAN TO ADMINISTER TO ANY PERSON IN JEFFERSON PARISH WHO IS UNDERGOING OR WHO IS BELIEVED TO BE UNDERGOING AN OPIOID-RELATED DRUG OVERDOSE.
COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION ON ITEM 184.
COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL.
SECONDED BY, I KNOW, PERFECT, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN BONANO.
COUNCILMAN LEE DID MISS A BEAT.
AGAIN, COUNCILMAN LEE MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN BONANO.
SO LET'S JUST REVOTE OFFICIALLY ON 184 IF YOU'LL CAST YOUR VOTES.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,268.77 FOR THE YEARLY RENEWAL OF THE FIRST DUE REPORTING SOFTWARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7 OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND THE AVONDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY DATED MARCH 7, 2018.
COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION? I MOVE.
COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DEANO BONANO.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $160,000 TO LIVE OAK MANOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF A LIGHT DUTY RESCUE TRUCK IN ACCORDANCE WITH TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7 OF THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND LIVE OAK MANOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT DATED MARCH 16, 2018.
COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM 186.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO PROVIDE A SMALL HOME REPAIR MODIFICATION PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME ELDERLY HOMEOWNERS WITH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 OF JEFFERSON PARISH AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $565,000.
COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING VOTING ON ITEM 187.
7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, AND NO ONE ABSENT.
[03:20:02]
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARIS OF JEFFERSON AND SIGMA CONSULTING CORPORATION TO PROVIDE ACTUARIAL AND CONSULTING SERVICES FOR JEFFERSON PARISH, JEFFERSON PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 1 AND JEFFERSON PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 2 AT AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1 MILLION PER YEAR, WHICH SHALL NOT BE EXCEEDED BY A FACTOR OF MORE THAN 10% WITHOUT AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED BY PARISH COUNCIL.COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON 188.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ITEM 188, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
MADAM CLERK, READ, PLEASE, ITEM 189.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSON OR FIRM TO PROVIDE THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS, ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR LIABILITY, WORKERS' COMPENSATION, SCLA PROPERTY, AND OTHER ASSIGNED CLAIMS FOR JEFFERSON PARISH, JEFFERSON PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 1, AND JEFFERSON PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT 2.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR SELECTION ON ITEM 189.
CANNON COCHRAN MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON CANNON COCHRAN MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., THE HIGHEST SCORE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON 189.
ITEM 189 PASSES, SELECTING CANNON COCHRAN MANAGEMENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON TO GRANT TWO TEMPORARY ACCESS SERVITUDES TO EAST JEFFERSON LEVY DISTRICT TO CERTAIN PROPERTIES LOCATED AROUND THE DUNCAN AND ELMWOOD PUMP STATIONS FOR LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND VICINITY FORESHORE RISK REDUCTION REPAIRS REACH 1, 2, 3, AND 4 PROJECTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON? COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON MOVES TO APPROVE 190.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG SECONDS, OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM 190.
MADAM CLERK, THERE IS NO NEW BUSINESS.
I THOUGHT WE HAD DONE IT IN GLOBO.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THESE LAST TWO ITEMS. SORRY.
WE CAN DO THEM TOGETHER? OKAY.
AND ITEM 192, WHICH IS SUMMARY NUMBER 26785.
COUNCILMAN LEE, IF YOU'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CANCEL.
COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES TO CANCEL.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]
CANCELED.KEPT ON TRACK BY OUR COUNCIL CLERK.
AGAIN, NO NEW BUSINESS, NO STATUS REPORTS.
SO WE'RE NOW AT THE PORTION OF OUR COUNCIL MEETING WHERE PERSONS WHO WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN AGENDA ITEM, BUT IT CAN BE.
SO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH THE PARISH COUNCIL.
IF YOU COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MS. NANCY PEARSON, COME ON UP.
NANCY PEARSON, 8924 RENSUE DRIVE AND RIVER RIDGE.
WE'VE ALL BEEN HERE ALL DAY, SO I GUESS NONE OF US GOT TO GO TO THE NEWS CONFERENCE ON THE WEST BANK.
BUT BELIEVE ME, PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED.
THE LAST TIME THIS COMPANY TRIED TO GO TO THAT LOCATION, THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THE REVIEW PROCESS.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE EVEN HAVE ANYBODY QUALIFIED THAT WORKS FOR THE PARISH TO DO THAT REVIEW PROCESS TO SEE HOW DANGEROUS IT COULD BE.
YEARS AGO, WHEN I WORKED IN THAT AREA, IT WAS AMERICAN CYANAMIDE.
NOW YOU HAVE AN OWNER, CORNERSTONE, AND SIX OR SEVEN TENANTS.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR TENANTS DO BECAUSE THEY BUILT A, WHAT, 1300 FOOT OR 130 FOOT TOWER THAT NOBODY EVEN KNEW THEY WERE BUILDING.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE MILE RADIUS THAT THAT WOULD AFFECT IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE, THAT AFFECTS PROBABLY THE AIRPORT TOO.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THAT WAGAMOND AREA THAT IT AFFECTS.
[03:25:02]
THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN THERE, WE'RE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE BATTERY PLANT THAT THE ONLY OTHER BATTERY PLANTS THAT THAT COMPANY DOES IS IN CHINA.THE FIRST ONE IN THE UNITED STATES IS HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
I LISTENED TO THE PRAYER THIS MORNING AND THE INVOCATION, AND THE PASTOR SAID THAT HE WISHED THAT Y'ALL WOULD DO WHAT'S BEST FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.
I UNDERSTAND THEY GO TO BATON ROUGE.
YOU DON'T ANSWER TO BATON ROUGE.
THEY GO TO WASHINGTON AND GET, EVERYBODY'S FAVORED FOR THIS.
BUT YOUR CONCERN HAS TO BE THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
MOST OF THE MANAGEMENT FOR THESE COMPANIES HAVE NO CONNECTION TO JEFFERSON PARISH OTHER THAN IT'S EASY TO BUILD OVER THERE IN THAT AREA.
THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH TAX EXEMPT.
THEY DON'T LIVE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES DON'T LIVE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
THEY DON'T SPEND MONEY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
BUT THE RESIDENTS OF JEFFERSON PARISH CAN BE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED.
AND YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I KEEP GOING BACK TO CONTINENTAL GREEN.
WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS A PROBLEM.
AND THEN IT WAS TOO LATE ON THAT COLD DECEMBER MORNING.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IN THAT PROPERTY IS SAFE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S IN THAT PROPERTY, WE NEED TO GET, LIKE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET A PLUMBER TO CHECK ON SOMEBODY'S HOUSE TO SEE IF IT'S GOT A LEAK, INSTEAD OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, THEN WE NEED TO HIRE A THIRD PARTY TO GO OVER THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO GO INTO THAT IS SAFE, THAT ALL THOSE CHEMICALS, IF ONE LEAKS INTO ANOTHER, IT'S STILL SAFE.
WE'RE WATCHING AND WE'RE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT THIS PARISH DOES.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT BATON ROUGE OR WASHINGTON.
I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DO THAT AND THEN PUT PRESSURE ON YOU GUYS.
BUT BELIEVE ME, WE ARE WATCHING AND THE MICROPHONE DOES CUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY AT THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU WILL, WHEN YOU BEGIN, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MARGARET REESE, 221 RIO VISTA.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN BONANO AND AUSTIN FOR ALL THEIR HELP LATELY.
AND COUNCILMAN BONANO'S IDEAS ABOUT THE ADJUDICATION AND THE IN-PERSON VISITS, ALL OF THIS WILL REALLY HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR WATER BILLS BECAUSE THEY WILL FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING BELIEVED.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, THOUGH, IS HOW DO YOU KNOW THE WATER METERS WORK? THE ELECTRONICS.
HAS ANYONE TESTED THAT AFTER YOU FIND OUT THE BILL, YOU KNOW, THE PLUMBER COMES OUT, PLUMBER SAYS THERE'S NO LEAK? MAYBE IT'S THE ELECTRONICS THAT AREN'T WORKING.
HOW CAN A BILL GO UP WHILE YOU'RE ON VACATION? HOW CAN A BILL GO UP FROM THE TIME FROM ONE MONTH TO ANOTHER SO SIGNIFICANTLY? THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER? WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
FRANKIE HIRE IS JUST TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY WHERE WE GO.
AND I'M LIKE, CAN'T HAVE TIME TO GET OVER IT.
THEN MR. WALKER GETS TO CHECK OUT, GO TO THE BATHROOM.
I GOT TO HAVE TIME TO MAKE IT.
Y'ALL KNOW WHERE I'M AT, RIGHT? SO I HOP IN THE CAR, GOT TO PUT ON A T-SHIRT, GOT TO GET MY HAT, GOT TO GET EVERYTHING IN ORDER.
TO DO WHAT? GET STINK GUY FROM THE COO OVER THERE.
RIGHT? NOBODY'S HAPPY TO SEE ME, REALLY.
ESTABLISHED JUSTICE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR OUR REPUBLIC.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE PRINCIPLE ONCE WE GET PAST BEING HUMBLE ABOUT IT.
A FOUR-MINUTE COUNCIL AIN'T EVEN REMOTELY CLOSED.
I GOT FIVE REPRESENTATIVES AND TWO SENATORS TRYING TO CONDUCT LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS.
SO YOU PASS ORDINANCES AND YOU FIND WAYS TO TAKE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY AND YOU FIND WAYS TO GOUGE THEIR WATER BILLS.
AND I GOT TWO WATER DEPARTMENTS.
I GOT A PARISH COUNCIL TRYING TO SERVE TWO MASTERS BECAUSE THE WEST BANK ISN'T THE EAST BANK AND VICE VERSA.
WHAT IS JUSTICE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO SEE JUSTICE? YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ASKING THE JUDGE CANDIDATES.
YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION A FEW TIMES.
WHAT IS JUSTICE? IT'S NOT FAIRNESS.
[03:30:02]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING IN THE CONSTITUTION.JUSTICE, BY DEFINITION, IS A MORAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
IT CAN'T BE ACHIEVED BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY BODY.
SO WHEN I HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S SELF-EVIDENT, WHERE MY $3,525 IS NOT ACCEPTED TO MAKE ME A SENATE CANDIDATE ON FEBRUARY 13TH, BUT ANY REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT WAS ABLE TO DO THIS, AND I GOT TO BE IN FEDERAL COURT, THOUGH THIS TRESPASS OF THE CONSTITUTION IS SELF-EVIDENT.
REPUBLICAN FORM HAS BEEN SACRIFICED.
AND THIS BODY OBLIGES IT LIKE NO OTHER, INDULGES IT.
EVERY OUTCOME, EVERY DOLLAR SPENT HERE, ILL-GOTTEN GAIN, EVERY GOUGING OF EVERY WATER BILL I'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT FOR FIVE YEARS, IT WAS THE FIRST THING, FIRST THING PAST THE STOP SIGN THAT CAUGHT MY EYE, THE TWO MASTERS, THE INACCESSIBILITY.
NONE OF THIS ACHIEVED BY ANY MEANS PRESCRIBED CONSTITUTIONALLY.
WHAT IS JUSTICE? WHAT IS JUSTICE, SIR? NO MORALITY IN HERE.
THERE'S NO MORAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
THERE'S NO LEGITIMATE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
WE GOT AN ACCUMULATION OF STATUTES THAT THE PARISH PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS SPOKEN TO.
HOW THICK DOES IT HAVE TO GET BEFORE WE REALIZE WE GOT AN OBLIGATION TO SECURE SOMETHING TO OURSELVES, NOT TO YOU OR ME.
BUT THE OBLIGATION IS TO OURSELVES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO OUR POSTERITY.
YOU GOT TO SENSE THAT WE'RE LEAVING ANYTHING BETTER FOR OUR POSTERITY? FIGURE IT OUT.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL
[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]
ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER? ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAD A FEW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SPEAK.NOW WE ARE AT THE PORTION OF THE AGENDA ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION INTO SUMMARY.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL READ THOSE ORDINANCES.
THE FIRST ONE I'M GOING TO READ IS GOING TO REQUIRE UNANIMOUS VOTES.
RENAMING A PORTION OF AMY STREET FROM ITS INTERSECTION AT PETERS ROAD TO THE INTERSECTION AT ESTHER STREET HAS REVEREND JOHN H.
SO AGAIN, THIS WILL REQUIRE A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
SEVEN YEAS, ZERO NAYS AND ZERO ABSENCE.
SO THAT IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON THAT.
ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN BONANO.
ESTABLISHING THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7 FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU AMENDING SECTION 36-71 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADD DECK BAR AVENUE FROM JEFFERSON HIGHWAY TO RIVER ROAD TO THE LIST OF DESIGNATED TRUCK ROUTES.
AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE TO CHAPTER 17 TO BE TITLED ARTICLE 6 HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PARTICIPATION PROGRAM TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PARTICIPATION PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE COMPRISED OF SECTION 17-61 THROUGH 17-67. RESUB OF LOT 34567 PHILLIPS BROTHERS SUBDIVISION AND LOT 104A AND 105 MODERN FARMS UNIT 1 SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 105A AND 105B MODERN FARMS UNIT 1 WITH WAIVERS TO THE AREA REQUIREMENTS OF THE S-1 TO THE GENERAL LOT STANDARDS UNDER SECTION 33-2.35. RESUB OF LOT X-1 AND X-2 DAVID DRIVE SUBDIVISION AND LOT 1 AND X-6 INTO LOT 1A AND X-6A DAVID DRIVE. AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF LOT 11G SQUARE 1 CARY SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 4924 LEO KERNER LAFITTE PARKWAY AMENDING THE ZONING FROM R1B CBZ TO C2CBZ.
APPROVING THE VARIANCES TO THE LANDSCAPING AND BUFFERING REGULATIONS OF THE IL FOR A TOWING COMPANY LOCATED AT 324 ROBINSON AVENUE ON LOT 7. APPROVING THE VARIANCES TO THE AREA REGULATIONS OF THE CPZ LOCATED AT 3321 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY ON LOTS 1, 02, 3, 4, 30 AND 31 SQUARE B CLAIBORNE GATEWAY SUBDIVISION. AMENDING THE STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SBU FOR THE PROCESSING, REFINING OR BULK STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS APPROVED FOR THE CORNERSTONE ENERGY PARK AND ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 26897.
APPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 160-FOOT FLARE, RESIZING OF 26 TANKS, REMOVAL OF MULTIPLE TANKS, ADDITION OF TWO NEW TANKS, CONSTRUCTION OF A CELL TOWER, ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS AND OTHER
[03:35:01]
ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT ON LOT 1A CORNERSTONE SUBDIVISION.AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET AND THAT'S ALL THE ORDINANCES AHEAD. OKAY, THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON THOSE ITEMS BEING READ INTO SUMMARY, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. IF YOU ALL WILL VOTE. VOTING IS OPEN ON THE ITEMS BEING READ INTO SUMMARY. VOTING, IT DOESN'T SHOW YOURS IS HAVING LIT UP. DO IT ONE MORE TIME FOR SOME REASON. THERE WE GO.
SEVEN YAYS, ZERO NAYS AND ZERO ABSENT ON THOSE ITEMS BEING READ INTO SUMMARY. THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. WE DO WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO REMIND YOU LOVE THE BOOT IS THE ENTIRE WEEK, I MEAN THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER WHERE WE HAVE THE LOVE THE WATERWAYS, SO PLEASE GET OUT, SIGN UP FOR A VOLUNTEER EFFORT OF LOVE OUR WATERWAYS. THIS IS LABOR DAY AND JUSTIN, IF YOU WILL GIVE US A MOMENT. BY REQUEST.
SO AGAIN, DEFINITELY CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DOLLY PARTON. COUNCILMAN BYRON HOLLYWOOD LEE, IF YOU'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. MOTION TO ADJOURN. NOT THAT OLD SCHOOL. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER MAKES THE MOTION TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
HAVE A GOOD DAY. LET'S VOTE ON ADJOURNMENT, I'M SORRY.
EVERYBODY VOTING ON ADJOURNING.
MOTION PASSES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.