[00:00:03]
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. IT IS, UM, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH.
[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
WE'RE GONNA GET ROLLING THIS MORNING HERE AT THE YENNI BUILDING IN ELMWOOD WITH SOME OF OUR SPECIAL, UM, PROCLAMATIONS, AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT WILL START US OFF.Y'ALL WANNA COME UP? YOU WANT THE WHOLE... GONNA ASK THE CASS FAMILY TO COME UP AS AS AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN BONANO, BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG ORGANIZATION IN HIS DISTRICT. WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE THE CASS BROTHERS 75TH ANNIVERSARY, AND I'M I'M HONORED TO BE HERE WITH MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.
UM, WE HAVE GENE CASS, MR. CALVIN CASS, MARY JO CLEMENT, RUSTY CLEMENT, BRAD LECKART, IS THAT LE- LECKART, AND ABIGAIL CLEMENT. CASS BROTHERS, MR. CASS, IS CELEBRATING 75 YEARS, AND WE'RE HONORED THAT THEY'VE CHOSEN JEFFERSON PARISH TO CALL HOME. I WANT TO THANK THEM TODAY FOR THEIR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BEING A VITAL PIECE OF JEFFERSON PARISH'S DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS A FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS, AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THE LEGACY AND RESILIENCE OF BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND CULTURE. WITH 75 YEARS OF HISTORY IN OUR REGION, RIGHT IN COUNCILMAN BONANO'S DISTRICT, IT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH. SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION I WANT TO READ. WHEREAS CASS BROTHERS WAS FOUNDED AS A PARTNERSHIP IN 1951 BY CALVIN CASS, FRANCIS CASS, AND ELDRIDGE CASS, INITIALLY CLEARING LAND, HAULING SAND, AND CUTTING GRASS AS JEFFERSON PARISH'S WEST BANK DEVELOPED. AND WHEREAS CALVIN AND FRANCIS INCORPORATED THE BUSINESS AS CASS- CASS BROTHERS INCORPORATED IN 1969, AND CALVIN BECAME SOLE OWNER IN 1975 AND LED THE COMPANY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN THE LATE 1990S, EXPANDING IT INTO A LICENSED CIVIL CONTRACTOR PERFORMING PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION. I DON'T THINK YOU EVER RETIRED, MR. CASS. NO. UM, WHEREAS CASS BROTHERS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH IN INFRASTRUCTURE OF JEFFERSON PARISH THROUGH SITE PREPARATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION FOR RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS, ROADWAYS AND STREET RECONSTRUCTION, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, SEWER AND WATER SYSTEMS, CONCRETE PAVING, AND OTHER PRIVATE AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.
AND WHEREAS CASS BROTHERS REMAINS A SECOND GENERATION FAMILY OWNED, WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS LED BY PRESIDENT JEAN CASS, YAY, CONTINUING ITS LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO ITS EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS, COMMUNITY IN JEFFERSON PARISH. NOW, THEREFORE, I, CYNTHIA LEE SHENG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND CASS BROTHERS INC.
CONGRATULATIONS, MR. COUNCILMAN. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. COUNCILMAN, YOU WANT TO SPEAK? Y'ALL WANT TO SPEAK? SURE. UH, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE RECOGNITION, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE A PART OF JEFFERSON PARISH. SO THANK YOU.
IS IT TRUE, MR. CALVIN, YOU WERE HERE WHEN JEFFERSON PARISH WAS CREATED 200 YEARS AGO? I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU GUYS. Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB. I, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WITH THE PARISH 39 YEARS, AND CASS BROTHERS IS ONE OF THE FIRST NAMES I REMEMBER DEALING WITH 39 YEARS AGO, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, I TOLD MR. CALVIN THIS QUITE A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT, UM, I WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF A FULL STREET REPLACEMENT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AND IT WENT, IT WAS AN 18-MONTH, OR IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN 18-MONTH PROJECT. IT ENDED UP BEING MUCH SHORTER THAN THAT, AND I'D SAY 99% OF THE PEOPLE YOU TALK TO ON MY STREET THOUGHT IT WAS AS, AS EASY AND AS PAINLESS AS A MAJOR PROJECT LIKE THAT CAN BE, WHERE YOU FULLY REPLACE THE STREET. THE CREW THAT WAS OUT THERE WAS ACCOMMODATING TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED ON THE STREET, TOLD THEM WHAT WAS COMING, WHAT WAS GOING ON, HOW LONG IT WAS GOING TO TAKE.
TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS, IT WAS AMAZING. AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD MANY OTHER PROJECTS GO DIFFERENT WAYS IN JEFFERSON PARISH THAN THIS ONE WENT, AND ALWAYS RESPONSIVE, ALWAYS THERE, AND IT WAS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, WHICH WAS THE BEST. YEAH.
GREAT PEOPLE ON THE STREET. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU DO, NOT ONLY ON MY STREET, BUT ACROSS THE PARISH.
WE APPRECIATE THAT. VERY MUCH.
YOU WANT TO SPIN AROUND OR TAKE A PICTURE? COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YEAH, TURN AROUND. THERE YOU GO. I SQUEEZE IN? ALL RIGHT.
COME UP THIS WAY ON THREE, ONE,
[00:05:03]
TWO, THREE. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FEW ON THREE. ONE, TWO, THREE, AND ONE MORE ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE. THANK YOU.CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR TIME AND HEART. THANK YOU. OH YEAH. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT. YEAH, THANK YOU.
IT'S NICE. SOMETIMES WE HAVE THE OPPOSITE, UH, SITUATION, AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO OUR BEST, BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.
BUT YEAH, THANK YOU. YOU HAVE MY MAN FRED, FRED. THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, THE RESPONSE MADE US SUPER ROUGH AND WAY BACK.
AND... THAT WAS ONLY MY PLACE.
THERE WAS LIKE 5. SEE YOU LATER. HI, MR. CALVIN.
HEY, BABY, HOW YOU DOING? I'M GISELLE. VANDERBILT.
OKAY. GOOD. NICE SEEING YOU, MAN. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT I'D LIKE TO ASK THE YOUNG MARINES AND THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO COME FORWARD. WE HAVE ANOTHER GREAT PROCLAMATION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND I'M GONNA HAVE, UH, IN A LITTLE BIT, I'LL HAVE UNIT COMMANDER DEPUTY SAMUEL BOWLES FROM THE JPSO INTRODUCE ALL OF YOU ALL, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, JPSO AND THE YOUNG MARINES, PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY STARTS WITH TEACHING OUR YOUTH, AND I WANT TO THANK JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR PROVIDING A PROGRAM LIKE THE YOUNG MARINES. THE YOUNG MARINES IS THE ONLY ANTI-DRUG YOUTH PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND NURTURES AND DEVELOPS ITS MEMBERS INTO RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. AND THESE BOYS AND GIRLS ARE AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF OUR HARD-WORKING YOUTH IN JEFFERSON PARISH. SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION I'D LIKE TO READ. WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE YOUNG MARINES PROGRAM IS A YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 8 THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL UNDER THE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP OF ADULT VOLUNTEERS WITH A FOCUS OF STRENGTHENING THE LIVES OF AMERICA'S YOUTH AND HAS 73 ACTIVE MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS THE YOUNG MARINES STARTED IN 1959 WITH ONE UNIT, AND NOW THIS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN TO OVER 240 UNITS WITH 7,000 YOUTH AND 2,600 ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN OVER 45 STATES.
AND WHEREAS THE YOUNG MARINES PROMOTES THE MENTAL, MORAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS MEMBERS WHILE FOCUSING ON TEACHING THE VALUES OF LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE SO ITS MEMBERS CAN LIVE AND PROMOTE A HEALTHY, DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE. AND WHEREAS JPSO WAS NAMED THE 2026 UNIT OF THE YEAR AND ALSO RECEIVED THE ENRIQUE KIKI CAMARENA AWARD FROM THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN MARCH 2026 FOR THEIR DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION EFFORTS THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PEER-TO-PEER, PEER-TO-PEER ROLE MODELING.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CYNTHIA LEE SHENG, PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE JPSO YOUNG MARINES FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO IMPROVING JEFFERSON PARISH. AND I'M GOING TO INVITE UNIT COMMANDER SAMUEL BOWLES UP. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT. YES, UM, I'M GONNA READ FROM, UH, MY RIGHT, I MEAN, IT'S MY RIGHT, UH, I HAVE, UH, UH, MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT JAMEL GRAY. I HAVE SERGEANT MAJOR, UH, VALERIE HUET. I ALSO HAVE, UH, MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT BRIANNA VALDEZ. THESE ARE THE LEADERS THAT RUNS THE PROGRAM.
I ALSO HAVE MY, UH, STAFF, UM, MY, UH, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WHICH IS, UH, LETICIA DAVIS, AND MY ADJUTANT, WHICH IS, UH, ASHER ARBADANT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR ACKNOWLEDGING US, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT SELF-DISCIPLINE AND ALSO CONFIDENCE IS WHAT WE STRIVE FOR, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY. AND THESE ARE THE, THE, UH, BOYS AND GIRLS THAT ALSO HELP US TO MO- MONITOR THE 73 KIDS THAT WE HAVE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING US, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE LIVES OF THE YOUTH IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND MAKE, UH, THEM BETTER CITIZENS WHEN THEY LEAVE OUR PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND GET A PICTURE.
YOU WANT TO HOLD THE PROCLAMATION? DO Y'ALL WANT TO HOLD IT? MAYBE Y'ALL GET IN THE MIDDLE. MAYBE YOU GET IN THE MIDDLE. GET ALL OF THE YOUNG MARINES
[00:10:01]
OF THE MEDIA. THAT'LL WORK.OF A YOUNG REASON, YEAH. WHERE YOU GOING? WHERE YOU GOING? I'M GONNA BE THE BALANCE.
YEAH, WE CAN'T HAVE TWO TALL PEOPLE ON THE SAME SIDE.
OKAY, EVERYBODY, HERE WE GO ON THREE. ONE, TWO, THREE.
TAKE ANOTHER ONE. ONE, TWO, THREE. AND ONE MORE ON THREE.
CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. KEEP GOING STRONG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK Y'ALL. OKAY, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I HAVE 2 5-YEAR SERVICE PINS FOR 2 MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM THAT ARE VERY, VERY STRONG FOR US. I'M GONNA CALL, UH, CHIEF DON ROBERTSON, OUR CAA OVER PUBLIC SAFETY. HE REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH THIS JOB. UM. CHIEF ROBERTSON STARTED WORKING FOR JEFFERSON PARISH IN SEPTEMBER 2021 AS THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICE. HE CONTINUED IN THE, IN THAT POSITION UNTIL HE WAS PROMOTED TO CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OVER PUBLIC SAFETY IN FEBRUARY 2026. TO SAY CHIEF ROBERTSON HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE IS A REAL UNDERSTATEMENT. HE HAS BEEN, UH, IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR 53 YEARS. WORKED HIS WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS FROM FIREFIGHTER TO CHIEF, RECEIVING TWO LIFE-SAVING AWARDS FROM THE TERRYTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CYTEC FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
DURING HIS TIME AS DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, HE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FIRE TRAINING CENTER, FINISHED THE AIRNASIUM, AND SECURED TWO NEW WATER TANKERS.
HIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY IS ASPIRATIONAL, AND HE IS A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT. CHIEF, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND I AM SO PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE YOU ON OUR TEAM. THANK YOU, CHIEF. YOU'RE A VITAL PART.
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THANK Y'ALL.
THAT'S IT. WELL, RYAN BABCOCK SAID HIS BACK HURTS FROM CARRYING YOU FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS.
OH GOODNESS. OH. OKAY, NEXT, RACHEL STRASSEL, OUR NEW PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER. RACHEL WAS HIRED AS AN INFORMATION SPECIALIST ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2021. SHE WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER IN JUNE 2024, AND THEN NAMED PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER JUST IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. SHE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WE JOKE THAT THE MEDIA THAT CAME OUT THE WEEK THAT SHE WAS, UH, PROMOTED WAS ALL POSITIVE.
UH, RACHEL HAS THEN BEEN A VITAL MEMBER OF OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE SINCE 2021, AND HAS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE ON OUR CRISIS ACTION TEAM, HELPING LEAD COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH MULTIPLE EMERGENCY EVENTS. DURING HER TIME WITH JEFFERSON PARISH, SHE HAS EARNED THE RESPECT OF HER COLLEAGUES THROUGH HER PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. RACHEL'S BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR TEAM'S SUCCESS, AND SHE BRINGS THE EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND LEADERSHIP TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER POSITION. SHE'S A GREAT WRITER, SHE'S FUNNY, SHE'S A JUST A VALUED MEMBER OF OUR TEAM. SHE WROTE THAT, BUT I COULD JUST SAY SO MUCH MORE. THAT'S HOW GOOD SHE IS.
AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD HAVE SAID, BUT EVEN MORE, RACHEL. I WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO, UM, THANK YOU, RACHEL. WE, WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. SO, CHIEF AND RACHEL, COME, COME FORWARD.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT. I WOULD HAVE. COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU WANT TO COME TAKE A PICTURE WITH RACHEL AND THE CHIEF? DON'T LET DINO TALK.
I'M STANDING NEXT TO THE PAST PERSON.
CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, EVERYBODY, HERE WE GO ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE, AND ANOTHER ONE ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE, AND ONE MORE, ONE, TWO, THREE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE LIBERTY OF GOING NEXT. OH WAIT, NOT WITHOUT MY GLASSES. ALL RIGHT.
I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE SOME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS IN THE HOUSE TODAY. WE HAVE DAVID BRUCHIS HAS COME UP WITH THE LEGEND 504 RACING TEAM. TODAY THEY ARE RECEIVING
[00:15:01]
A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING THEM, UM, FOR WINNING THE NATIONALS IN CLEARWATER BEACH, FLORIDA THIS LAST SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2026. BUT LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEM.DAVID BRUCHIS FOUND LEGENDS 504, LEGEND 504, WHICH WAS CREATED FROM A LIFELONG PASSION FOR OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING, CUSTOM BRANDING, MEDIA EXPOSURE, AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AROUND EXCITING EVENTS AND MAJOR ACTIVE ACTIVITIES.
LEGEND 504 RACING IS A POWERBOAT RACING TEAM BASED IN LOUISIANA, FAMOUS FOR RUNNING THE HISTORIC POWERBOAT ONCE PILOTED BY AL COPELAND, THE ICONIC NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR AND FOUNDER OF POPEYES. THE TEAM CONNECTS DEEP LOUISIANA ROOTS WITH THE HIGH SPEED TRADITION OF NEW ORLEANS BOAT RACING, FREQUENTLY APPEARING AT LOCAL EVENTS AND REGIONAL RACES.
AFTER YEARS AROUND THE OFFSHORE RACING WORLD, DAVID COMBINED HIS BACKGROUND IN VEHICLE WRAPS, BRANDING, MARKETING, SPONSOR, UM, ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL MEDIA, NIGHTLIFE CULTURE, AND LIVE EVENTS TO CREATE A PLATFORM THAT CONNECTS MOTORSPORTS, LIFESTYLE BRANDING, ENTERTAINMENT, MEDIA EXPOSURE, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT INTO ONE POWERFUL EXPERIENCE.
LEGEND 504 IS BUILT AROUND ONE SIMPLE MINDSET: GO BIG, CREATE ENERGY, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, MAKE NOISE, LEAVE A LEGACY.
DAVID AND LEGEND 504 RACING WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT CLEARWATER NATIONALS THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 26TH IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA.
CLEARWATER NATIONALS IS PART OF THE RACE WORLD OFFSHORE NATIONAL SERIES AND IS ONE OF THE GULF COAST'S BIGGEST OFFSHORE RACING EVENTS. IT DRAWS 65 TO 90, UH, BOATS, UH, SPECIALTY BUILT POWERBOATS UP TO 50 FEET LONG, RACING AROUND 140 TO 150 MILES IN THE GULF. THE EVENT IS A KEY STOP ON THE ROAD TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONS IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA IN NOVEMBER. DAVID IS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE SAMARITAN FUND PROGRAM BASED IN METAIRIE, LOUISIANA. THIS IS A SPECIALIZED HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE DESIGNED FOR SELF-FUNDED EMPLOYERS TO HELP MANAGE AND OFFLOAD EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH COST, CATASTROPHIC EMPLOYEE MEDICAL CLAIMS BY SHIFTING INDIVIDUALS TO CUSTOMIZE INDIVIDUAL MARKETPLACE COVERAGE WHILE COVERING THEIR OUT OF PARK- OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. DAVID IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, AND HE OWNS AND OPERATES DAVID'S ON DAVID AND METAIRIE. NOW, THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL- COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZES DAVE BRUTCHES AND THE LEGEND 504 RACING FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IN REPRESENTING JEFFERSON PARISH IN THE MOTOR- MOTORSPORT BOAT RACING COMMUNITY, AND WISHES THEM THIS ALL THE SUCCESS ON THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE EXPECTING A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN NOVEMBER, RIGHT? AND I'M NOT GONNA BRAG, BUT I DID BEAT, UM, DAVID IN A P- IN A PRETEND POWERBOAT RACING COMPETITION, UM, AT LAFRENIERE PARK IN OUR WATER THAT'S THIS DEEP.
OKAY, I DIDN'T REALLY WIN, BUT I- I DID TRY. I MIGHT, I- IT WAS A DISASTER.
IT WAS A WIN'S A WIN. ALL RIGHT, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID.
THE 504 TEAM, Y'ALL WANT TO COME ON UP? I'M REALLY TALKING ABOUT IT.
OH, WE WANT THE COUNCIL TO COME TOO, YEAH. SO YOU WANT TO HOLD UP YOUR SLIDES? HERE, LET'S TRADE THINGS.
OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, OH, FIRST WITH THE SAMARITAN'S FUND MOTORSPORTS INITIATIVE.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE SAMARITAN'S FUND MOTORSPORTS INITIATIVE IS SOMETHING THAT I'D STARTED TO BRING AROUND THE MOTORSPORTS STUFF, AND IT'S REALLY BEEN AWESOME GIVING AWAY, HELPING PEOPLE WITH THE MOTORSPORTS STUFF. SO IT'S AN INITIATIVE THAT I BROUGHT TO THEM AND SAID, I WANT TO BRING, UM, WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING TO MOTORSPORTS. SO I DON'T WORK ACTUALLY FOR THE FOUNDATION, I JUST, I BROUGHT A MOTORSPORTS INITIATIVE. THE BOAT RACE IN, IN, UH, NEW ORLEANS IS, UH, BEEN AWESOME FOR SO MANY YEARS. EVERYBODY LOVES IT. COMMUNITY LOVES IT.
SO I'M SO THANKFUL TO THE PARISH FOR BRINGING IT BACK, AND THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE. UH, HANS, AWESOME.
YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT. I WAS LIKE, I- I WAS SO GLAD TO HAVE IT BACK. AND THIS LAST WEEKEND, I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO THE RWO PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED, AND EVERYBODY JUST LOVES NEW ORLEANS. SO THEY, UM, THEY ALL WANTED THE BOAT RACING IN NEW ORLEANS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AWESOME. SO I'M SO THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF IT, AND I'M GONNA KEEP TRYING TO WIN AND BRING SOME STUFF BACK AND YEAH.
TO NEW ORLEANS, AND ALSO LET PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE BOAT AND, UH, UM, TO GO AND EXPERIENCE THE BOAT, SO LIKE I GOT TO DO, SO IT'S BEEN COOL.
[00:20:02]
THAT.I HAVEN'T PUT THIS FLAG DOWN, LIKE, SINCE SATURDAY.
[MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING. IT IS, UH, 10:05 ON THIS WEDNESDAY MORNING. IT IS SEPTEMBER THE 30TH, 2026. WE'RE HERE AT THE YENNI BUILDING IN ELMWOOD AT 12 20, 12 21 ELMWOOD PARK BOULEVARD. UM, WE ARE OFFICIALLY CALLING OUR MEETING TO ORDER, AND WE WILL BEGIN THIS MORNING, AS WE ALWAYS DO, UM, WITH REMEMBERING THAT WE WERE IN, WE ARE IN THE GREATEST NATION, UH, ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH, AND OUR PLEDGE, UM, WHICH I'VE ASKED MISS NANCY PEARSON TO DO, BUT FIRST WE BEGIN, UM, WITH OUR INVOCATION, AND COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN HAS, UH, THE, UM, GUEST FOR THE DAY.OH, BONANO? COUNCILMAN BONANO.
IT'S A BO, JUST NOT BOHANNAN, BONANO. I'M HONORED TO HAVE HERE WITH ME TODAY JENNIFER BOURGEOIS STEEL, WHO HAS WORN MANY HATS OVER THE YEARS. I FIRST MET JENNIFER RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA, WHEN I WAS SENT TO ALL THE HOSPITALS TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING, WHAT NEEDS THEY NEEDED, WHETHER THEY NEED DIESEL SUPPLIES, ET CETERA, AND WE WERE CLOSELY, UH, TIED TO THE HIP AT THAT TIME, AND AND I'VE KNOWN JENNIFER SINCE AND APPRECIATED AND RESPECTED ALL SHE DOES FOR THIS PARISH. JENNIFER, YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND SAY OUR OPENING PRAYER.
AND BANANA. IN BONANO. LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN REFLECTION AND PRAYER.
LORD, LET US BE BEACONS OF HOPE AND LIGHT OF GOOD.
GRANT WISDOM AND GOOD HEALTH TO OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THIS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, AND ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF. LORD, KEEP SAFE IN OUR BELOVED PARISH AND BEYOND, FIRST RESPONDERS, VETERANS, OUR MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES, AND ALL THOSE WHO CARE FOR US BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS, INCLUDING THE DOCTORS, NURSES, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND FRONTLINE LABORERS. LORD GOD, GUIDE EDUCATORS AND THEIR STUDENTS IN WORK JOURNEYS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS, HAPPINESS, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. LORD GOD, WATCH OVER OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AS THEY CARRY OUT THEIR IMPORTANT WORK FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY.
AND LORD GOD, HELP OUR FAITH LEADERS IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND OUR WORLD TO FEEL YOUR GOODNESS IN FOSTERING PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND UNDERSTANDING. TEACH US TO PRAY AND HONOR YOUR WISHES, LORD GOD. AMEN. 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'LL CALL THE ROLL.
PARISH PRESIDENT MS. LEE SHENG.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM PRESIDENT, IF YOU'D LIKE
[PARISH PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS COUNCIL]
TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.UM, I'LL START OFF BY WISHING, UH, TWO OF OUR, OUR, UH, DIRECTORS HAVE A BIRTHDAY TODAY, AND I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THEM THIS MORNING. SO, UH, JESSICA STYONS WITH OUR LIBRARY, UM, AND JOHN DUMAS WITH OUR PERSONNEL. SO YOU GET TO SPEND YOUR BIRTHDAY AT A COUNCIL MEETING. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GUYS. UM, I WANT TO START WITH THE FINANCIAL UPDATE, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS, WILL TAKE ME A LITTLE WHILE BECAUSE I THINK THE TEAMS DESERVE THE PUBLIC KNOWING THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE. I, I'VE TOLD THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, UM, OR WE DO MAJOR THINGS OUT IN THE, IN THE FIELD, ON THE STREETS, PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT WORK, AND THEY CAN SEE WHERE THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE GOING, AND THERE'S, UM, UM, THE, OUR CITIZENS KNOW THAT THIS WORK IS GOING ON. THE WORK THAT THE FINANCIAL TEAM HAS DONE HAS
[00:25:02]
BEEN INVISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IT IS CHANGED THE WAY GOVERNMENT OPERATES, LESS SO IN MY ADMINISTRATION AND MORE SO FOR A FUTURE ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE KINKS, AND WE WILL, UH, ALONG FOR FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE IN BRINGING A NEW FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. UM, AND REALLY IT'LL BE UP AND GOING BEYOND MY TERM OF OFFICE. SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT SETS UP THE PARISH FOR A LONG TIME IN THE FUTURE. UM, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT, LIKE SO MANY GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT MY AGE, I REALIZE THAT A LOT OF TIMES THAT COMES FROM BEING BORN FROM TOUGHER TIMES, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE POSITION WE WERE IN, UM, WITH THE FINANCIAL PIECE OF THE PARISH. SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, JEFFERSON PARISH HAS FACED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES ACROSS ITS ACCOUNTING, FINANCE, OPERATIONS, AND THE AUDIT PROCESS. THESE WERE NOT ISOLATED ISSUES. THEY REFLECTED THE COMBINED IMPACT OF PERSISTENT STAFFING SHORTAGES, GAPS ACROSS PROCESSES, AGING SYSTEMS FILLED WITH INCONSISTENT DATA, AND OUTDATED GUIDANCE, POLICY, AND PROCEDURES. BETWEEN 22 AND 2024, 2022 AND 2024, THE PARISH EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL TURNOVER THROUGHOUT THE ACCOUNTING ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING COMPLETE TURNOVER OF ACCOUNTING LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTING PERSONNEL. WE HAVE HAD 8 ACCOUNTING DIRECTORS SINCE 2022. THIS LOSS OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AFFECTED OUR ABILITY TO CLOSE THE BOOKS, RECONCILE ACTIVITY, PREPARE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND PROVIDE AUDITORS WITH TIMELY, WELL-SUPPORTED INFORMATION.IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, THE PARISH'S 2022 AUDIT AND ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT HAD BEEN FILED 6 MONTHS LATE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE 2023 AUDIT WAS FACING SIGNIFICANT DELAYS. THESE DELAYS HAD REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PARISH AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF OUR BOND RATING. WE RECOGNIZED THAT A TEMPORARY FIX WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH. WE NEEDED TO RECOVER THE OUTSTANDING AUDITS WHILE ALSO REESTABLISHING STRONGER PROCESSES, SYSTEMS, CONTROLS, AND INTERNAL CAPABILITIES REQUIRED FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. AND I WILL BE HONEST, I WILL SAY THERE WERE MANY A DAYS WHERE I WAS THINKING, LET'S JUST GET THROUGH THE AUDIT. LET'S JUST, WE WERE HAVING A LOT OF ATTENTION, A LOT OF PRESSURE, A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT OUR LOSS OF BOND RATINGS, AND THE PRESSURE WAS THERE JUST TO QUICKLY GET THROUGH THAT.
BUT I KNEW THAT WE NEEDED TO DO MORE, AND I KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE MESSIER BEFORE IT GOT BETTER, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SAY WE'VE COME THROUGH IT, AND KUDOS TO OUR TEAM FOR DOING IT, AND IT WAS MESSY FOR A LONG TIME, AND LOTS OF LATE HOURS, A LOT OF WEEKEND WORK, UM, AND THE TEAM DESERVES THIS CREDIT.
THAT'S WHY WE ALSO ENGAGED DELOITTE TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR FINANCE AND IT TEAMS TO ADDRESS BOTH THE IMMEDIATE RECOVERY EFFORTS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE DELAYS. THE AUDIT RECOVERY EFFORT WAS SUBSTANTIAL. HISTORICAL RECORDS WERE INCONSISTENT, KEY BALANCES DID NOT RECONCILE, AND MANY CORRECTING ENTRIES LACKED ADEQUATE DESCRIPTIONS OR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
IN SOME CASES, A SINGLE TRANSACTION HAD BEEN CORRECTED, REVERSED, AND CORRECTED AGAIN THROUGH MULTIPLE ITERATIONS BY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE NO LONGER WITH THE PARISH. DELOITTE HELPED US BRING STRUCTURE AND DISCIPLINE TO THIS EFFORT, WORKING WITH PARISH STAFF TO ORGANIZE THE DATA, RECONCILE HISTORICAL ACTIVITY, IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE OPEN ISSUES, AND PREPARE THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE AUDIT PROCESS.
THAT WORK IS PRODUCING MEASURABLE, MEASURABLE PROGRESS, AND WE RECENTLY REGAINED OUR BOND RATINGS THROUGH MOODY'S AND S&P. THE 2023 AUDIT WAS COMPLETED WITH THEIR SUPPORT IN 9 MONTHS.
THE 2024 AUDIT WAS COMPLETED IN 7 MONTHS. WE ARE ON TRACK TO COMPLETE THE 2025 AUDIT BY THE END OF OCTOBER, A 6-MONTH CYCLE, AND OUR NEXT PRIORITY IS TO COMPLETE THE 2026 AUDIT ON TIME. JUST AS IMPORTANT, WE'RE BUILDING TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY. OUR GOAL IS TO LEAVE THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION WITH A FINANCE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS DOCUMENTED PROCESSES, TRAINED PERSONNEL, RELIABLE SYSTEMS, AND ESTABLISHED CONTROLS IN PLACE. BY THE 2027 AUDIT CYCLE, WE EXPECT THE PARISH TEAM TO LEAD THE PROCESS INDEPENDENTLY, WITH DELOITTE PROVIDING ONLY LIMITED CONSULTATION ON DISCRETE OR COMPLEX MATTERS AS NEEDED. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PARISH WAS UNDERTAKING A MAJOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INFOR ERP SYSTEM TO REPLACE OUR ANTIQUATED AS 400 PLATFORM IN PLACE SINCE THE MID-1990S. A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION DEPENDENT ON ACCURATE, CLEARLY DEFINED FINANCIAL PROCESSES AND SUFFICIENT FINANCE AND IT CAPACITY. THOSE PREREQUISITES WERE NOT FULLY IN PLACE, AND WE MADE THE NECESSARY DECISION IN OCTOBER OF 2025 TO DELAY IMPLEMENTATION BY 6 MONTHS RATHER THAN MOVE FORWARD WITH UNVALIDATED DATA OR INCOMPLETE PROCESSES. AS A RESULT, WE EXPANDED DELOITTE SUPPORT, AND THEY ASSISTED OUR FINANCE
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WITH IT LEADERSHIP AND OUR TEAMS WITH DATA CLEANSING AND DATA VALIDATION, USER ACCEPTANCE, TESTING SCRIPTS, AND TRAINING MATERIALS.OVERALL, DELOITTE SUPPORT IS DIVIDED AMONG FIVE CONNECTED WORK STREAMS: YEAR-END CLOSEOUT AND AUDIT SUPPORT, TECHNOLOGY CAPACITY AND INFOR SUPPORT, ACCURACY, FINANCE PROCESSES AND CAPABILITIES, AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT. THESE WORK STREAMS ARE INTERDEPENDENT. BETTER DATA SUPPORT A MORE RELIABLE AUDIT, STRONGER FINANCIAL PROCESSES SUPPORT AN EFFECTIVE ERP IMPLEMENTATION, AND TRAINED PERSONNEL ARE NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN BOTH. THIS WORK HAS ALREADY SURFACED MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER VALIDATION AND CORRECTION.
DELOITTE IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 43 MILLION IN FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT APPEAR TO BE COMPLETE BUT REMAINED ACTIVE IN OUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. THE PARISH WILL CONTINUE RESEARCHING THOSE BALANCES AND WILL WORK WITH THE COUNCIL TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE DIS- DISPOSITION OF ANY CONFIRMED FUNDS.
DELOITTE ALSO IDENTIFIED NEARLY 200 MILLION IN POTENTIAL ASSETS THAT MAY NEED TO BE VALIDATED AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, ADDED TO THE PARISH'S BOOKS. THESE ARE NOT FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS TODAY, BUT THEY DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA CLEANUP AND CONTROL WORK NOW UNDERWAY. WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, AND WE ARE ENABLING OUR ORGANIZATION AND ITS DEPARTMENTS TO OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF FIVE DELOITTE WORK STREAMS, GRANTS MANAGEMENT, WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THIS MONTH AND FULLY TRANSITIONED OPERATING OPERATIONS OF CENTRAL GRANTS OFFICE TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH GRANTS TEAM. SO DELOITTE IS NO LONGER INVOLVED IN THAT EFFORT. DELOITTE INVOLVEMENT IN THE REMAINING FOUR WORK STREAMS THROUGHOUT 2027 WILL ENSURE THE PARISH CONVERTS AUDIT AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRESS INTO A SUSTAINABLE OPERATING MODEL THAT DOES NOT DEPEND INDEFINITELY ON OUTSIDE SUPPORT. THE PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY IS TO FULLY IMPLEMENT AND LEVERAGE THE CAPABILITIES OF INFOR AND THE PARISH'S OTHER FINANCIAL TOOLS, OPTIMIZE AND STANDARDIZE, AUTOMATE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES WHEREVER PRACTICAL, AND TRANSFER THE KNOWLEDGE NEEDED FOR PARISH PERSONNEL TO OWN AND SUSTAIN THESE COMP- THESE CAPABILITIES. DELOITTE'S CONTINUED SUPPORT THROUGH 2027 WILL HELP COMPLETE THE MAIN REMAINING IMPLEMENTATION, DATA, PROCESS, CONTROL, AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES, ENSURE EFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, AND ESTABLISH THE OPERATING DISCIPLINE NECESSARY FOR THE PARISH TO COMPLETE FUTURE AUDITS INDEPENDENTLY AND MAINTAIN LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. MY ADMINISTRATION REMAINS COMMITTED TO BUILDING UPON THE SUCCESS AND DELIVERING A MORE MODERN, EFFICIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE THAT WILL SERVE JE- JEFFERSON PARISH FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
ON THAT NOTE, I'D LIKE TO ALSO REQUEST FAVORABLE APPROVAL FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 110, WHICH NAMES VICTOR LAROCCA TO DIRECTOR OF FISCAL PLANNING AND TREASURY. VICTOR BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH JEFFERSON PARISH IN 2016 AS THE BUDGET DIRECTOR. IN RECENT YEARS, HE HAS SERVED AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, FIRST OVERSEEING EXTERNAL SERVICES AND LATER INTERNAL SERVICES.
FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, VICTOR HAS SERVED AS INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR, LEADING THE FINANCE TEAM THROUGH A CRITICAL AND HISTORIC PERIOD OF TRANSITION.
DURING THIS TIME, HE OVERSAW THE IMPLEMENTATION AND TRANSITION TO THE PARISH'S NEW FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, GUIDED THE COMPLETION OF TWO ANNUAL AUDITS WITH ANOTHER YEAR NEAR COMPLETION, AND WORKED WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND RATING AGENCIES TO SUCCESSFULLY RESTORE THE PARISH'S BOND RATINGS. WHEN HE TOOK ON THE ROLE OF INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR, HIS GOAL WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD: GET THE PARISH BACK ON TRACK AND DELIVER ON THREE KEY PRIORITIES: COMPLETE THE AUDITS, SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO THE NEW FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND RESTORE THE PARISH'S BOND RATINGS. AND VICTOR HAS ACCOMPLISHED ALL THREE. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR AGREEING TO STEP UP AND LEAD THIS NEW KEY DEPARTMENT, FISCAL PLANNING AND TREASURY, BECAUSE OF VICTOR AND THE FINANCE TEAM'S HARD WORK, THE PARISH IS NOW POSITIONED TO MOVE FORWARD AND BUILD ON A STRONGER FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL FOUNDATION. SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE VICTOR BECAUSE HIS BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS HAS BEEN ON THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.
ADDITIONALLY, I'VE ALSO NAMED MARK DOHERTY RIGHT HERE TO CEASE FOR ME TO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR. MARK WAS DEPUTY PARISH ATTORNEY FOR THE PARISH AND HAS BEEN ADVISING THE ADMINISTRATION ON ALL THINGS FINANCE FOR THE PAST 28 MONTHS. HE IS AN ATTORNEY AND CPA WITH MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN MUNICIPAL LAW, CONTRACTS, PUBLIC PROCUREMENT, FINANCE, ACCOUNTING, LITIGATION, ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT, AND PRIVATE SECTOR OPERATIONS.
MARK HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ADVISING SENIOR GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP AND DEPARTMENTS ON LEGAL, FINANCIAL, CONTRACTUAL, REGULATORY, REGULATORY, AND OPERATIONAL MATTERS. SO THESE APPOINTMENTS, COMBINED WITH PREVIOUSLY APPROVED APPOINTMENTS, ROUND OUT OUR FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP TEAM FINALLY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW THAT WAS LONG, BUT IT'S A LOT OF RESOURCES, A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT, OBVIOUSLY THE DELOITTE CONTRACT AS WELL. I WANTED THE OUR PUBLIC TO KNOW, UM, WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING BECAUSE, AS I'VE SAID, THIS IS BEHIND THE SCENES, AND IT'S
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ABSOLUTELY INVISIBLE WORK TO THE PUBLIC. SO THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME ON THAT. I'LL MOVE ON TO FIRE SERVICES. LAST WEEK, OUR JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE TRAINING CENTER WELCOMED 16 NEW RECRUIT FIREFIGHTERS REPRESENTING 5 FIRE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS JEFFERSON PARISH.OVER THE NEXT 23 WEEKS, THESE RECRUITS WILL COMPLETE AN INTENSIVE ACADEMY FOCUSED ON THE SKILLS, DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, AND PROFESSIONALISM NEEDED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS ACADEMY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WORKING TOGETHER TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF FIREFIGHTERS IN JEFFERSON PARISH. WE HAVE SOME RECYCLING CHANGES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR.
THIS IS DUE TO THE END MARKET, THE CHANGES IN THE END MARKET FOR MIXED PAPER.
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND GLASS HALF FULL WILL BE MAKING CHANGES TO THE TYPES OF PAPER PRODUCTS ACCEPTED AT WEEKLY RECYCLING DROP-OFF EVENTS. SO STARTING OCTOBER 10TH, ENVELOPES, OFFICE PAPER, AND MAGAZINES WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED AT THE WEEKLY DROP-OFF. THIS IS JUST BECAUSE OF THE MARKET TO RESELL THESE GOODS. THIS CHANGE APPLIES ONLY TO THOSE PAPER PRODUCTS. THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE OTHER RECYCLABLE MATERIALS CURRENTLY COLLECTED, INCLUDING NEWSPAPER, BROWN PAPER BAGS, CORRUGATED CARDBOARD, FLAT BOARD, AND PAPER BOARD, GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS, ALUMINUM, TIN, AND STEEL CANS, AND PLASTICS NUMBER 1 AND NUMBER 2 ARE ALL STILL RECYCLABLE MATERIALS. AS A REMINDER, JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS CAN BRING THEIR PRE-SORTED RECYCLABLES TO ONE OF TWO LOCATIONS, 700 DAVID DRIVE IN METAIRIE OR 6440 LAPALCO BOULEVARD IN MARRERO, EVERY SATURDAY FROM 8 A.M.
SO FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AT 504-731-4612 OR VISIT FPARISH.GOV/SOLIDWASTESERVICES.
OKAY, THIS IS LITERALLY HOT OFF THE PRESS. THEY WERE DELIVERED THIS MORNING. I JUST G- HAD GIVEN ALL OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS A COPY. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW PUBLICATION.
UM, IT'S CALLED YOUR FRONT DOOR. THIS IS A SERIES OF BOOKLETS, UM, AND GUIDES THAT ARE DESIGNED AROUND A SIMPLE IDEA, ONE EASY PLACE TO HAVE A STARTING POINT. UM, YOUR FRONT DOOR IS OUR WAY OF HELPING CONSTITUENTS FIND SERVICES, PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORT WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE MULTIPLE CALLS OR SEARCH THROUGH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE FIRST EDITION IS GEARED TOWARDS SENIORS AND CAREGIVERS.
UM, WE HAVE ON THE FRONT SENIORS AND CAREGIVERS, BUT OBVIOUSLY ON THE BACK, UM, A GUIDE TO ALL OF YOUR LEGISLATIVE OFFICES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' OFFICES, BUT INSIDE ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, UM, PROVIDE FOR SENIORS, AND WE'RE OFTEN WORRIED THAT THE SENIORS DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. THAT IS ALWAYS, UM, AN ISSUE THAT WE THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY SERVICES. SO WE STARTED WITH SENIORS, UM, BUT OUR FUTURE ADDITIONS ARE GOING TO INCLUDE FAMILIES AND KIDS, ANIMAL AND PET LOVERS, NEW RESIDENTS, DOING BUSINESS WITH JEFFERSON PARISH, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT. THE OTHER THING IS, NOT ONLY CAN YOU GET A, UM, PICK UP A HARD COPY, BUT YOU CAN ALSO VIEW IT ONLINE AT JEFFPARISH.GOV/YOURFRONTDOOR, AND YOU CAN CLICK THROUGH, AND WE GOT THE NOISE. I LOVE THAT NOISE WHEN YOU CLICK THROUGH AND THE, AND THE, AND THE PAGES CHANGE. IT'S GOT THE RIGHT NOISE FOR IT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS ELECTRONICALLY AS WELL. SO, UM, I WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE IN CA MARIO BAZILE FOR BRINGING THIS CONCEPT TO FRUITION, AND YOU NEED TO STAY TUNED FOR MORE ADDITIONS COMING SOON.
LIBRARY UPDATES. JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY HAS ADDED TWO DIGITAL LIBRARY CARD OPTIONS TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH GREATER CONVENIENCE AND ACCESS TO ITS LIBRARY SERVICES, ONLINE NEW CARD APPLICATIONS, AND LIBRARY CARD STORAGE IN DIGITAL WALLET ON SMART DEVICES. SO IN ADDITION TO PHYSICAL LIBRARY CARDS ISSUED TO ANY OF THE 17 BRANCHES, ADULT JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER HAD A LIBRARY CARD CAN NOW APPLY FOR A DIGITAL LIBRARY CARD USING A SIMPLE ONLINE FORM AT JPLIBRARY.NET/REGISTER.
ONCE THEIR RESIDENCY IS VERIFIED, PATRONS WILL RECEIVE A DIGITAL LIBRARY CARD, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY'S MANY FREE DIGITAL RESOURCES.
FOR ADDED CONVENIENCE, PATRONS WHO ALREADY HAVE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY CARDS CAN STORE THEIR EXISTING PHYSICAL CARDS AT HOME AND SAVE THEIR CARDS IN A DIGITAL WALLET ON THEIR SMART DEVICES BY COMPLETING THE REQUEST FORM AT JPLIBRARY.NET/SMARTPASS.
THIS IS AN EXCITING ADDITION, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR LIBRARY TEAM FOR GETTING THIS DONE. ALSO, THE LIBRARY IS CELEBRATING NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY ACROSS ALL ITS BRANCHES TO SUPPORT PATRONS IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. ONLO- ONGOING HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE TERRYTOWN LIBRARY'S FREE PRODUCE SHELF FEATURING THE HARVEST OF THEIR COMMUNITY GARDEN, NORTH KENNER LIBRARY AND WESTWEGO LIBRARY CROCHET GROUPS DONATING HANDMADE GOODS, AND A CARD MAKING STATION FOR PATRONS TO MAKE CARDS THAT WILL BE DELIVERED TO INDIVIDUALS IN ASSISTED LIVING AND LONG-TERM CARE COMMUNITIES. UM, THE LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES WILL CULMINATE IN THE GOOD NEIGHBOR FAIR AT THE EAST BING- EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD, FROM 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M.
PATRONS CAN MEET LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES.
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BY THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, CASA JEFFERSON, FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES, THE FRIENDS OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY, JPRD, AND THE NATIONAL YOUTH ADVOCATE PROGRAM, AMONG OTHERS. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE A GUMBO FESTIVAL KING IN OUR RANKS, RYAN BABCOCK.RYAN, STAND UP. OUR CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OVER INTERNAL SERVICES IS THIS YEAR'S KING CREOLE GUMBO 51.
THE GUMBO FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 9TH TO 11TH AT THE WIS- WESTWEGO FISHERIES AND FARMERS MARKET. IS THE ULTIMATE CELEBRATION OF LOUIE- LOUISIANA'S WORLD FAMOUS GUMBO, WHICH IS COOKED DAILY AT THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS. I AM A GUMBO LOVER, AND THEIR GUMBO IS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. SO OVER 02,000 GALLONS OF BOTH SEAFOOD AND CHICKEN SAUSAGE GUMBO WILL BE PREPARED WITH A COMPETITIVE COOK-OFF ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11TH.
ADMISSION IS $5 PER PERSON, AND THE PROCEEDS BENEFIT OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR CHURCH.
SO FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THEGUMBOFESTIVAL.COM, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OWN RYAN BABCOCK. THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A VISUAL OF RYAN WEARING TIGHTS. IT WASN'T TOO GOOD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANYONE? I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T BRING THE CROWN. WE WERE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, THE CROWN.
UM, ALL RIGHT, ANYONE HAVE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANYTHING FOR OUR PARISH PRESIDENT? I DO WANT TO SAY, UM, AT YEARS AGO, I DID A, A, A MORNING SHOW WHEN I WAS STILL IN THE NEWS. I KNOW SCOTT PROBABLY CAN RELATE TO THIS, AND, UM, AND THAT EXPERIENCE, WAKING UP AT 3 A.M., AGES YOU. I'M ALWAYS LIKE, WHEW, IF I HADN'T DONE THAT, I KNOW MARK DOHERTY AND VICTOR LAROCCA AND THE WHOLE FINANCE TEAM, UM, HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY.
UM, LOSING OUR BOND RATING WAS CATASTROPHIC, AND SO TO HAVE THAT RESTORED NOW PREPARES US FOR THE FUTURE. AND, UM, SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK, UM, THAT WENT INTO, UM, TO GETTING US TO THAT POINT.
UM, I DO HAVE JUST ONE REQUEST, IF YOU WILL KEEP US UPDATED.
YOU TO- TOUCHED ON THE DELOITTE CONTRACT, AND I KNOW THE DELOITTE FOLKS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE. THAT ONE IS OF, UM, UTMOST SIGNIFICANCE, I THINK, TO GET THE FINAL WORK DONE, BUT ALSO TO HAVE AN OFF-RAMP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT 5 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT IS NOW 25 MILLION.
THAT HAS TO BE WOUND DOWN. SO IF YOU'LL KEEP US UPDATED ON THE WIND DOWN SO WE GET BACK ON OUR FEET IN A SELF-SUSTAINING FASHION. I KNOW THAT'S OF, UH, CONCERN TO TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, UM, TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT BY NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO, THANK YOU.
YES, AND I THINK THEY WENT AROUND TO ALL OF YOUR COUNCIL OFFICES YES.
AND GAVE YOU THE THE PLAN AND THE GUIDE, AND AND WE ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THE, UM, THE WORK STREAMS OFF OF IT WITH NICOLE GOBERT AND THE GRANTS MANAGEMENT. SO WE PLAN TO GET THE REST OFF OF IT, AND WITH, AS I SAID, WITH LIMITED SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE.
[Additional Item]
KNOW WE ALSO HAVE A GUEST, COUNCILMAN BONANO, IF YOU WANT TO, UH, KICK US OFF.UH, MR. AIKEN, WOULD YOU, UH, APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW, I ASKED YOU TO APPEAR HERE TODAY TO DIS- TO ADDRESS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH ENTERGY'S TREE TRIMMING PROGRAM IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST NOT A PROBLEM IN DISTRICT 2, IT'S A PARISH-WIDE PROBLEM. AND JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, ONE MORNING, MY PHONE STARTED BLOWING UP AND RINGING OFF THE HOOK AT LIKE 8 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. THE RESIDENTS ON MIDWAY, MIDWAY DRIVE IN RIVER RIDGE WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THE FASHION IN WHICH ENTERGY'S CONTRACTORS WERE CUTTING THEIR TREES. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MOVE TO RIVER RIDGE AND OTHER PLACES LIKE OLD METAIRIE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL TREE CANOPY, BUT THEY GET VERY UPSET WHEN WE DESTROY THAT CANOPY AND THEY CAN NO LONGER ENJOY THEM FOR THE SCENERY THAT THEY PROVIDE.
I IMMEDIATELY LEFT MY OFFICE AND WENT OUT THERE TO THE SITE, AND WHAT I WITNESSED WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT I'VE SEEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE PARISHES, WHERE I BELIEVE, MY OPINION, TOO MUCH BEING CUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.
KEITH, YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE A TREE IN MY OWN FRONT YARD, AND IT'S ON MY SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK.
THE TRUNK IS AT LEAST 10 FEET FROM THIS, THE TREE TRUNK IS AT LEAST 10 FEET FROM THE SIDEWALK, AND THEY CUT THE LIMBS ALL THE WAY TO THE TRUNK OF THE TREE, WHICH IS ABOUT 12 FEET FROM THE LINES. IT'S REALLY, IN MY OPINION, NOT NECESSARY.
ON MIDWAY, THEY WERE CUTTING THE TOPS OFF OF CREPE MYRTLES. NOW, YOUR LINES ARE ALL THE WAY AT THE TOP. WHY? WHY WERE THEY CUTTING CREPE MYRTLES THAT ONLY 12 FOOT HIGH? SO, YOU KNOW, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND ANY OF THAT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE CREWS WERE NOT BEING SUPERVISED, AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT. IT IS NOT TO BE INTENDED TO BE RACIST, SO PLEASE, MEDIA, DO NOT TAKE THIS STATEMENT RACIST. THERE WAS NOBODY THERE SPOKE ENGLISH. I COULDN'T TALK TO A SINGLE PERSON ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND WHY THEY WERE DOING IT. I HAD TO CALL FOR A SUPERVISOR, AND HE TOOK 30 MINUTES TO GET THERE. SO TELL ME, HOW IS THAT PROPER SUPERVISION OF A CREW WHEN THERE'S NO ENTERGY PERSON ON SITE, NO AR- NO LICENSED ARBORIST ON SITE. ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE
[00:45:02]
HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT CALLS UPON THE JEFFERSON DELEGATION OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE STATE LAW TO ALLOW JEFFERSON PARISH TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH ITS OWN TREE TRIMMING REGULATIONS, AND AND I'LL BE TALKING TO OUR LEGISLATURE ABOUT THAT.BUT MY QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. AIKEN, IS ENTERGY WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE TREE TRIMMING STANDARDS WITH JEFFERSON PARISH THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE INTO YOUR FRANCHISE. THIS IS A HUGE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE FOR THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH. THANK YOU.
SURE, UM, UM, I THINK ME BEING HERE TODAY OPENS THAT DISCUSSION THAT I, WE ARE WILLING TO TALK TO JEFFERSON PARISH. UM, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, WE SPOKE WITH COUNCILWOMAN VAN RANK, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE HER SOME CREDIT THAT SHE REACHED OUT TO ME FIRST AND FOREMOST WHEN WE SAW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF AGGRESSIVE TREE TRIMMING THAT WAS GOING ON WITHIN THE PARISH, UM, AND SAID, JIMMY, WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER. AND SO COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, I BELIEVE REPRESENTATIVE FROM COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG'S OFFICE, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN'S OFFICE, MAYBE COUNCILMAN WALKER'S OFFICE WERE THERE AS WELL, UM, TO DISCUSS OUR TREE TRIMMING PRACTICES. UH, I WILL SAY OVER THIS LAST YEAR, UH, THE TREE TRIMMING HAS BEEN A BIT AGGRESSIVE. UH, WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO IS RELIABILITY.
UH, YOU HAVE CHALLENGED, THE STATE HAS CHALLENGED, THE LPSC HAS CHALLENGED ENERGY ON OUR RELIABILITY, THAT IT HASN'T BEEN UP TO PAR. UH, 35% OF THE OUTAGES ACROSS THE STATE AND RIGHT NOW IN JEFFERSON PARISH ARE VEGETATION RELATED. UM, I, I DON'T MEAN TO PICK ON ONE CERTAIN DISTRICT, BUT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, AND COUNCILMAN KERNER, I'LL USE YOU AS AN EXAMPLE. UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES IN VE- IN TARRYTOWN, WHERE ON A CLEAR BLUE SKY DAY, RESIDENTS, 1500, 2000 CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER. WE TOOK A PROACTIVE VEGETATION TRIMMING APPROACH. WE WENT INTO PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS, WE TRIMMED TREES AND VEGETATION AWAY FROM THE LINES, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN KERNER CAN ATTEST THAT SINCE WE'VE DONE THAT WORK, RELIABILITY HAS IMPROVED TENFOLD IN TARRYTOWN. UH, BUT I DO AGREE THAT SOME OF THIS VEGETATION HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVE. I'VE SEEN PICTURES.
I USED TO SIT ON THE FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON, THE BEAUTIFUL BOARD. UH, THEY HAVE CALLED US TO THE TABLE. WE HAVE RESPONDED. WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM IN OCT- ON OCTOBER 19TH TO DISCUSS OUR TREE TRIMMING PRACTICES, WHAT OUR VEGETATION TEAM LOOKS FOR.
UH, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR, UH, ALL, UM, VEGETATION, UM, OCS, THE GUY, UH, COREY THAT YOU MET WITH, UH, EVEN THOUGH HE TOOK 30 MINUTES TO GET THERE, AND I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, UH, ARE ALL LICENSED ARBORISTS. SO THEY HAVE, UM, A CERTIFICATION AS WELL IN UTILITY SERVICES WITH THAT LICENSE, WITH AS BEING A LICENSED ARBORIST AS WELL. UH, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY HERE. WE WANT TO WORK, UH, WITH JEFFERSON PARISH ON THIS, UH, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I- I'M GETTING THE COMPLAINTS, Y'ALL ARE GETTING THE COMPLAINTS, IT'S COMING TO ME, UH, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY, UM, TRULY WANT TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARISH AND WITH FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON THE BEAUTIFUL AND THESE ADVOCACY GROUPS. I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, UM, EVERY YEAR, ENTERGY IS NOT AGAINST TREES. WE'RE AGAINST TREES UNDER POWER LINES OR PO- TOUCHING OUR POWER LINES, BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ENTERGY, UM, HATING TREES. THERE, THERE WAS NO MALICIOUS INTENT WITH THE TRIMMING. UH, EVERY YEAR WE, UH, PARTICIPATE AND SPONSOR THE BIG TREEZY GIVEAWAY EVENT, WHICH IS AN EVENT THAT'S HELD EITHER ON, UH, THE PAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN HELD AT LAFRENIERE PARK.
SOMETIMES IT'S HELD ON THE WEST BANK AS WELL AT, UH, PARK DAY FOR ME, BUT IT'S WHERE WE GIVE AWAY 400 TREES. ANYBODY CAN COME PICK UP A TREE AND PLANT IT.
WHAT WE FEEL IS THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER EDUCATION ASPECT FROM ENTERGY AS TO WHAT TREES CAN BE PLANTED WHERE AND HOW.
AND SO WE'RE MAKING A COMMITMENT RIGHT NOW TO THE PARISH, TO FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON THE BEAUTIFUL, TO WORK WITH Y'ALL, BECAUSE I DO AGREE THAT SOME OF THIS TRIMMING HAS BEEN VERY EXCESSIVE. I DO ALSO APOLOGIZE, UH, THAT IF YOU'RE, YOU FEEL THAT WHEN, AND CUSTOMERS FEEL THAT WHEN THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE TRIMMING, THAT NOBODY SPEAKS ENGLISH OR CAN'T COMMUNICATE PROPERLY.
UH, THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT OUR INTENT. WE'VE GONE BACK TO OUR VEGETATION VICE PRESIDENT.
WE'VE GIVEN HIM ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS. WE'VE MET INTERNALLY, S- I THINK WE MEET INTERNALLY 2 OR 3 TIMES A MONTH NOW TO DISCUSS TOUCH POINTS ON WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH JEFFERSON PARISH AND PARISHES ACROSS THE STATE TO GIVE THEM A BETTER EXPERIENCE WITH OUR VEGETATION, UH, TRIMMING. I WILL SAY THAT THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IS WHAT THESE, UH, CONTRACTORS ARE ASKED TO TRIM TO. THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IS 14 TO 20 FEET AWAY FROM A POWER LINE IS WHERE, AND THIS IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IS WHAT THESE, UM, CONTRACTORS ARE BEING ASKED TO TRIM BACK TO. WE HAVE ASKED THEM HERE 8 TO 10 FEET, BUT WE ARE NOW WORKING SI- BUT NOW SINCE WE'VE MET WITH COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN AND WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS, WE ARE NOW WORKING FROM A 4 TO 6 FEET STANDPOINT ON TREE TRIMMING. RIGHT NOW, WE
[00:50:02]
HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN THE TREE PRESERVATION DISTRICT, SO THAT'S THE OLD, UH, OLD METAIRIE AND METAIRIE RIDGE, UH, PRESERVATION DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE TREE PRESERVATION DISTRICTS ON THE WEST BANK.UH, WE'VE GOTTEN THAT INFORMATION, UH, FROM FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON THE BEAUTIFUL.
WE'VE BEEN IN, UM, WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM ON THEIR MASTER PLAN. UH, THEY HAVE A MASTER PLAN FOR TREE TRIMMING. WE, UH, SPONSOR KERRY HAMMETT TREE TRIMMING SCHOOL. THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ENERGY IS PUMPING BACK INTO JEFFERSON PARISH TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THIS. UH, BUT I DO AGREE, AND I- I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THE TIME TODAY TO COME AND DISCUSS WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE PARISH, UH, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, AND IT DOES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. AND SINCE YOU CALLED ME 2 WEEKS AGO, UH, WE WERE ON A COMPLETE STAND DOWN, NO TRIMMING WHATSOEVER UNLESS THERE WAS AN ISSUE. I DO THINK IT'S VERY, UH, YOU KNOW, IRONIC THAT WE DID PULL OFF A MIDWAY, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY THEY HAD A FIRE CAUSED BY VEGETATION ON MIDWAY. SO IT DOES SHOW THAT WHILE WE'RE OUT THERE, WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR, OUR RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS THE RELIABILITY OF OUR RESIDENTS DUE TO OVERGROWTH OF VEGETATION ONTO THE LINES, BUT I DO AGREE THAT EVEN 10 FEET BACK IS A LITTLE BIT EXCESSIVE. AND SO I- I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A MATTER THAT'S BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. UH, I HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES. SOME OF THEM ARE, ARE BAD. OKAY, WE WON'T SUGARCOAT THAT, UH, BUT I WOULD ASK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY THIS AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH Y'ALL. UH, I DO THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH. THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME LITERATURE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK FOR, UH, IN THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT THAT WILL, UM, CERTAINLY LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF VEGETATION THAT'S TAKE TRIMMED BACK AWAY FROM THE TREE. I ALSO KNOW THAT SENATOR TALBOT HAS, UM, SOME, UM, LITERATURE THAT HE, A BILL THAT HE'S TRYING TO PASS, UH, TO TO KIND OF LIMIT THOSE STANDARDS AS WELL.
SO, UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY. I, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MAY HAVE. UH, I JUST HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY AND ENERGY THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND WITH Y'ALL AND, AND RECTIFY THIS ISSUE.
AND, AND LOOK, WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TRIMMING THE TREES IS NECESSARY RIGHT.
FOR RELIABILITY, BUT IT HAS TO BE A BALANCED APPROACH.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, A BALANCED APPROACH. SO, WITH THAT SAID, WHAT PROCESS DO YOU SEE GOING FORWARD? WHAT IS, WHAT IS ENERGY WILLING TO DO? ARE Y'ALL WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, LOOK, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME STANDARDS THAT ARE A BALANCED APPROACH TO TRIMMING TREES? SURE. I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A STANDARD. UH, THERE, THERE'S A BALANCE. WE, WE, WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE T- TOGETHER. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO PROVIDE QUALITY POWER TO OUR RESIDENTS. UH, WE ARE GRADED ON, LIKE, AS I STATED EARLIER, BY THE LPSC ON OUR SAIDI AND SAIFI SCORES, WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF DURATION, THE, EXCUSE ME, THE NUMBER OF OUTAGES THAT CUSTOMERS ARE SEEING, AND THEN THE DURATION OF OUTAGE, THE, THE DURATION OR THE TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR US TO RESTORE POWER. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF BALANCE HERE. WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT. WE CAN'T RUN ROUGHSHOD THROUGH JEFFERSON PARISH, KILLING EVERY TREE. UH, WE DO WORK WELL WITH BRYAN PARKS AND, AND JEFFERSON PARISH PARKWAYS.
UH, THERE, IF THEY EVER HAVE AN ISSUE, WE TRY TO RESPOND A- AND, AND WORK TOGETHER ON THAT.
UH, BUT I'VE DRIVEN JEFFERSON PARISH, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF TREES THAT ARE GROWING INTO THE POWER LINES, ESPECIALLY UNDER PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE TRIMMED, THAT WE'RE NOT TRIMMING, BUT THAT WILL GO AGAINST RELIABILITY HERE. SO WE ALL NEED TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT A PERFECT BALANCE FOR THIS, BECAUSE AT SOME POINT THOSE TREES WILL GROW INTO THE POWER LINES. UM, AND IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO AS AS AS WELL IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE ONLY ALLOTTED X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO DO VEGETATION TRIMMING ACROSS THE STATE. UM, WE CAN'T COME BACK EVERY 1 OR 2 YEARS AND DO TRIMMING. WE CUT FOR 3 TO 5 YEARS. UH, BUT I DO AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE, AND WE'RE WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE. UH, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE A MEETING ON OCTOBER 19TH, UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP WITH Y'ALL EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I DO WANT TO SAY IN THE PILOT PROGRAM, WHEN WE START IMPLEMENTING CREWS TO GO BACK OUT, BECAUSE I'VE ASKED EVERY CREW TO STAND DOWN IN JEFFERSON PARISH UNLESS IT WAS AN EMERGENCY TO, TO RESPOND TO, TO NOT DO ANY KIND OF TRIMMING FOR RIGHT NOW. WHEN WE DO GO BACK, UH, TO THOSE, TO THAT TRIMMING, UM, I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A NOTICE, UH, OF THE FEEDERS THAT WE WILL BE TRIMMING IN YOUR DISTRICTS TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I WILL GIVE YOU, I TRY TO GIVE YOU AT LEAST A 3-WEEK NOTICE, BUT IT'S PROBABLY 2 TO 3 WEEK NOTICE WHERE CREWS ARE GOING TO BE, SO THAT WAY, IF YOU GET ANY CONSTITUENT CALLS, COMPLAINTS, YOU, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT WE'RE OUT THERE TRIMMING, BUT YOU CAN CALL ME RIGHT OF WAY, RIGHT AWAY. I FEEL LIKE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN, UH, MADE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL, UH, MORNING, NOON, OR NIGHT.
SO, UM, YOU CAN CALL ME. WE WILL, WE WILL ASK, YOU KNOW, CREWS TO NOT TRIM AS AGGRESSIVELY, UH, DURING THIS TIME. AND AS
[00:55:01]
WELL TOO, WE ALSO WORK OFF OF A SYSTEM. SO A WEEK BEFORE WE DO ANY TRIMMING, CUSTOMERS ARE NOTIFIED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THEIR AREA VIA THE A RIC CASE, AN RIC CASE, WHICH IS JUST AN AUTOMATED TELEPHONE CALL TO THE NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR ENTERGY PROFILE.FROM THERE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HANGING DOOR HANGERS, WHICH I CAN ATTEST THAT VEGETATION CREWS ARE OUT THERE HANGING DOOR HANGERS AS WELL, 5 DAYS PRIOR TO ANY WORK BEING DONE. WHAT I DON'T THINK IS HAPPENING, AND WHAT I THINK NEEDS TO CHANGE, IS ON THE DAY THAT WE SHOW UP, I DON'T AGREE THAT WE SHOULD JUST AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO SOMEBODY'S BACKYARD AND START TRIMMING WITHOUT FIRST MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE TOUCHED BASE WITH THAT CUSTOMER TO LET THEM KNOW OUR REASON FOR BEING THERE, OUR REASON FOR TR- TR- TRAVERSING IN THEIR YARD, WHETHER IT'S IN THE FRONT OR IN THE BACK.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE WORKING INTERNALLY RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE OUR TEAMS ARE BETTER ON, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU. I DO THINK THAT IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE. UM, I'VE GOTTEN THE PHONE CALLS JUST LIKE YOU HAVE.
I'VE SEEN THE PICTURES, AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO COME TO A BETTER SORT OF, OF, OF STANDARD AND, AND AGREEMENT THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.
ON OUR SIDE, WE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF EDUCATING OUR CITIZENS ABOUT NOT PLANTING TREES THAT GROW TALL UNDER POWER LINES, BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE TODAY, BUT 10 TO 15 YEARS FROM NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, AND THAT'S ON US.
NO, AND NO, THERE'S, WE HAVE, AND I CAN GET YOU THAT LITERATURE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS WELL, WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT TO ALL OF THESE, UM, CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, ANY KIND OF MEETINGS THAT WE CAN GET INVOLVED IN, THAT I CAN PERSONALLY SPEAK AT, THAT I CAN HAVE A VEGETATION COORDINATOR OR SOMEBODY HIGHER UP IN OUR VEGETATION, UM, UH, DEPARTMENT COME AND SPEAK AT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THERE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A PREFERRED LIST OF TREES THAT CAN BE PLANTED WITHIN JEFFERSON PARISH. UH, I KNOW FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON THE BEAUTIFUL HA- IN THEIR MASTER TREE PLAN, THEY HAVE A PREFERRED LIST OF TREES THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO.
SOME OF THESE SPECIES OF TREES THAT ARE GROWING INTO THE POWER LINES, AND NOT TO SPEAK ILL OF ANY TREE, BUT IT'S A TRASH TREE. YOU KNOW, THE LIMBS FALL, THEY FALL INTO THE POWER LINES, THEY FALL ON PEOPLE'S HOMES, THEY'RE A SAFETY ISSUE. SO EDUCATING, UM, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR CUSTOMERS ON THE CORRECT TREES, WHERE TO PLANT THEM, I THINK WOULD GO A LONG WAY, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY A PIECE OF THE PILOT PROGRAM. IT'S PUTTING MORE EMPHASIS IN EDUCATION SO THAT WAY WE CAN ALL KIND OF LIVE AND WORK IN HARMONY, PROVIDE PO- QUALITY POWER, AND PEOPLE CAN EXPERIENCE THE, THE BEAUTY OF THE TREES AS WELL.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. AIKEN. I APPRECIATE IT, UM, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU RESPONDED TO MR. BONANO'S, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, REQUEST, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THE STATE. BUT DISTRICT 4 AND 5 PAID FOR A TREE CANOPY STUDY, AND THAT STUDY SHOWED THAT WE ARE HIGHLY S- UH, DEFICIENT IN OUR TREE CANOPY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PARISH. UM, WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN A PROGRAM TO PLANT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TREES. WE'RE BEING MORE CAREFUL WITH THE TYPE OF TREES THAT WE PLANT, UM, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A PENDING RESOLUTION FOR 3 MONTHS NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO DEFER WHILE WE NEGOTIATE OUR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. SO, SO WHILE MR. COUNCILMAN BONANO IS ASKING YOU, ARE YOU WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE, YOU'RE AT THE TABLE, AND SO FAR WE HAVE NOT HAD AN AGREEMENT WHERE YOU GUYS WILL AGREE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THAT, OF OF HOW YOU'RE CUTTING, AND WE'RE ASKING IT TO REFLECT SORT OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN NEW ORLEANS, WHERE WHERE YOU DON'T BUTCHER THE TREES AS MUCH CONTRACTUALLY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT REFLECTED HERE. SO WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN TODAY, AND AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, I DO, I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC BETTER WHAT TYPE OF TREES, BUT I FEEL LIKE MANY TIMES IT'S ONE OF THESE, YOU KNOW, PAT US ON THE HEAD AND SCOOT US ON ALONG AND MOVE US DOWN THE ROAD, AND AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS, AND THAT'S WHY EVERY YEAR WE HA- WE AGAIN HAVE OUR TREES BUTCHERED. SO THERE HAS TO BE A COMPROMISE, BUT I I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO THE TABLE. I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE GOING TO THE STATE FOR HELP, BUT YOU'RE ALREADY HERE.
YOU'RE AT THE TABLE. LET'S PUT IT IN OUR CONTRACT NOW. LET'S PUT IT IN OUR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT NOW.
I CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH MY FRANCHISE AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A UTILITY ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS NOW THAT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD. I'VE BEEN AT THE TABLE FOR 3 YEARS NOW ASKING FOR A NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
SO I CAN'T COME TO THE TABLE UNTIL I'M ALLOWED TO COME TO THE TABLE. THERE'S A UTILITY ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT I'M NOT ALLOWED TO COME TO THE TABLE UNTIL I CAN TALK TO MY, UNTIL THIS UTILITY ORDINANCE PASSES.
AND THIS IS NOT A KNOCK ON ANYBODY. THIS IS A VERY LARGE UNDERTAKING ON A UTILITY ORDINANCE THAT'S A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT'S BEEN PUT INTO THIS SINCE 2019, 2020. I MEAN, THIS IS 6 OR 7 YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT UNTIL THAT'S PASSED, I CAN'T COME TO THE TABLE WITH A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WHERE WE CAN PUT VEGETATION LANGUAGE IN THERE. SO I'M HERE NOW, AND I'M ADDRESSING, AND I'M NOT PATTING YOU ON THE HEAD AND PATTING YOU ON THE BUTT AND TELLING YOU TO MOVE FORWARD AND EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT. I'M HERE NOW TELLING YOU THAT I PHYSICALLY CAN'T PUT ANYTHING IN WRITING UNTIL YOU PASS A UTILITY ORDINANCE STATING THAT I AM NOW ALLOWED TO HAVE A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT TO WHERE I CAN PUT VEGETATION REGULATIONS IN THERE,
[01:00:02]
SO THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUALITY POWER TO THIS PARISH. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M ON A HANDSHAKE AGREEMENT. THIS UTILITY OR, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, THIS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT PASSED 3 YEARS AGO. SO I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT.BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHAT WE, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE HAD WHEN WE PUT THE ORDINANCE ON, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG AND THAT THERE'S NO, I'VE NEVER SEEN A BODY OF WORK ON THAT. I'VE NEVER SEEN A BODY OF WORK TO THAT ORDINANCE.
IN THE MEANTIME, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS. YOU SEE IT ONLINE, PEOPLE CONSTANTLY CRITICIZING THE, THE TREE BUTCHERING.
HERE'S THE THING, SINCE THAT HAS HAPPENED, THIS HAS HAPPENED IN, IN, IN DISTRICT 2 AGAIN. I THINK IT'S HAPPENED IN DISTRICT 1 AGAIN.
SO, IN THE MEANTIME, DON'T JUST TELL US YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT. COULD WE ACTUALLY ADDRESS IT? AND WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY DO BUTCHER THE TREES, THAT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO DO. MAYBE YOU JUST REPLACE THE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO.
SO I- BUT AS A COMPANY, YOU GUYS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO SO THAT WE DON'T, WHEN, WHEN COUNCILMAN, UM, BONANO GOES OUT THERE, THERE'S SOMEONE THAT HE CAN SPEAK TO AND, AND CAN STOP WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE, WE'RE LEFT WITH, WITH TREES THAT ARE GUTTED.
SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION. YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A UTILITY OR- OR EXCUSE ME, A A VEGETATION ORDINANCE. I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY NOT SEEN A BODY OF WORK FOR A UTILITY ORDINANCE AT ALL. I ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG'S OFFICE BECAUSE I WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHY THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE STATE PUT ON THE AGENDA WITH NO BODY OF WORK THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN WHEN YOU'RE ASKING ME TO COME TO THE TABLE. IN MY OPINION, THAT'S NOT BEING A GOOD PARTNER. THAT'S YOU PUTTING SOMETHING ON AN OR- AN ORDINANCE ON THERE AND THEN ASKING ME TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT EVER DISCUSSING THAT. I HAVE NOT SEEN A BODY OF WORK FROM THAT ORDINANCE. I CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WHERE WE'RE PUTTING VEGETATION ON THAT, ON ON THE ON THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT UNTIL AFTER THE UTILITY ORDINANCE IS PASSED. SO THEREFORE, I'M KIND OF TAKEN ABACK AT YOUR COMMENTS RIGHT NOW FOR THE SHEER FACT THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN A BODY OF WORK. I'M NOT JUST TELLING YOU I'M HERE AT THE TABLE. I RESPOND WHEN YOU CALL ME, WHEN Y'ALL ASK ME TO BE HERE, I'M HERE. WHETHER IT'S VEGETATION RELATED, POWER QUALITY ISSUES, ANYTHING, I SHOW UP TO THE TABLE.
WHETHER WE'RE RIGHT OR WHETHER WE'RE WRONG, WE SHOW UP. I AM TRYING TO BUILD A BETTER JEFFERSON PARISH, I WITH YOU, AND THAT'S MY, AND AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BUILD THE TREE CANOPY.
WE'RE AT A 17%, WE'RE TRYING TO GROW TO 40%. I UNDERSTAND THAT, OKAY? AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY DISCUSSING THAT WE CANNOT BE TRIMMING THE TREES AS AGGRESSIVELY AS WE HAVE. I'VE ALSO STATED THAT WE ARE, WE ARE, I HA- WE HAVE OUR HANDS IN EVERYTHING FROM GRANT PERSPECTIVE, WHERE WE'RE ACTIVELY TRYING TO GROW VEGETATION. I TALKED ABOUT THE BIG TREESY 400 TREE GIVEAWAY. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE'RE GETTING ANOTHER 150 TO 200 TREES DONATED TO JEFFERSON PARISH AS A WAY TO TRY TO HELP GROW THE TREE CANOPY. I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, I GET IT, AND I'M HERE, BUT I, I, I DO TAKE OFFENSE TO THE FACT THAT YOU SAID I'M NOT AT THE TABLE. I'M HERE NOW, AND I CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL I'M ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD.
MR. AIKEN, YOU'RE SENT HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COMPANY. SO, SO TO SAY THAT YOU'RE HERE NOW AND THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS, THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCERN, THIS IS AN ONGOING CONCERN, SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT.
MAYBE THIS TIME YOU REALLY WILL, AND WE WON'T HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN DISTRICT 2 HAPPENING AGAIN.
LET ME, UM, IF I COULD, I WANT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS DISCUSSION REMAINS RESPECTFUL BECAUSE HE IS HERE REPRESENTING A COMPANY THAT IS MUCH LARGER THAN HIM IN AS AS AN INDIVIDUAL, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I WANT TO ACTUALLY REASSURE THAT WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING FOR MONTHS NOW, AND NOT ONLY HAS MR. AIKEN AND OTHERS FROM ENTERGY BEEN RESPONSIVE AND BEEN AT THE TABLE FOR MANY MONTHS, HE HAS ALREADY TAKEN ACTION.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO IS THERE WILL BE A PILOT PROGRAM IN OUR DEFINED METAIRIE RIDGE TREE PRESERVATION DISTRICT IN COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG'S AREA, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE SOME OF OUR HISTORIC, UM, OAKS TH- THAT ARE PROTECTED.
SO THEY HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO THAT PILOT PROGRAM. YOU HAVE ALREADY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, YOU'VE ALREADY SUSPENDED ALL TREE TRIMMING IN JEFFERSON PARISH UNTIL WE GET THIS RIGHT, CORRECT? CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO Y'ALL AND, AND, AND MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
CORRECT. THE... I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS AT HOME, UM, UNDERSTAND WE ARE NOT LIKE NEW ORLEANS. THERE IS A SEPARATE ENTERGY COMPANY IN NEW ORLEANS, AND THE CITY COUNCIL IN NEW ORLEANS REGULATES THAT ENTERGY. THAT IS NOT WHAT MR. AIKEN WORKS FOR.
ENTERGY LOUISIANA FALLS UNDER THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, AND SO WE CANNOT CREATE AN ORDINANCE THAT REGULATES ENTERGY LOUISIANA BECAUSE THAT FALLS
[01:05:02]
UNDER THE PSC. SO THAT IS WHY WE HAD THE DISCUSSION, AS COUNCILMAN BONANO REFERENCED, ABOUT PUTTING IT IN OUR UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. AND MR. AIKEN IS CORRECT, THAT HAS NOT YET COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL. WE HAVE TO FIRST, AND AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY CAN CONFIRM THIS, WE HAVE TO FIRST TAKE ANOTHER STEP ON, UM, UTILITY ORDINANCES BEFORE WE CAN EVEN GET TO ENTERGY'S FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, CORRECT? WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TOWARD THAT DIRECTION.THAT IS CORRECT, AND ACTUALLY WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH AND HAD MEETINGS WITH THE ATTORNEYS AT ENTERGY. WE'RE IN DISCUSSIONS NOW. WE EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE THE FINAL BODY TO THAT UTILITY ORDINANCE.
UH, IT SHOULD BE PASSED AT ONE OF THE OCTOBER MEETINGS.
WHAT'S DELAYED IT IS WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES ON THE ORDINANCE AS OPPOSED TO JUST TAKING IT UPON OURSELVES TO, TO, TO DRAFT IT AND TO PUT IT ON THERE.
WHICH WE APPRECIATE BECAUSE REALLY WE DO SERVE THE SAME PEOPLE, AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING COMING TO THIS COUNCIL ON UTILITY AGREEMENTS, AND THEN WE WILL GET TO ENTERGY SPECIFIC AGREEMENT.
AND I THINK, UM, AGAIN, TELL ME IF I'M CORRECT IN HEARING THAT YOU D- YOU ARE OPEN TO PUTTING LANGUAGE YES.
IN THE AGREEMENT THAT GOVERNS HOW ENTERGY WORKS IN JEFFERSON PARISH TO HAVE A MORE MODERATE, SOFTER CUT THAT WILL, UM, GET US TO MORE RELIABILITY, BUT ALSO TO SOMETHING LESS DRAMATIC AS WHAT COUNCILMAN BONANO AND COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG AND OTHERS HAVE SEEN.
SO NOT THE V, 10-FOOT V CUT THAT CHOPS THE TREE IN A VERY, UM, HORRENDOUS FASHION.
BUT WE HAVE SAID THAT WE WILL FIND A BALANCE, AND WE WILL PUT THAT IN OUR UTILITY ORDINANCE SO IT'S THERE TO BE ENFORCED, CORRECT? YOU ARE CORRECT IN SAYING THAT.
EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS CORRECT.
EXCELLENT. AND THEN COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOU, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD TO ME. UM, EDUCATION. WE HAVE TO EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS BECAUSE, LOOK, IF I PLANT AN OAK TREE UNDER THE POWER LINE, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S GOING TO DO 2 THINGS. IT'S GOING TO GROW UP WHERE IT'S A PROBLEM FOR ENTERGY, AND IT'S GOING TO GROW DOWN ON TOP OF OUR UTILITIES, ON TOP OF OUR WATER AND SEWER, AND THE THINGS THAT, IF THE TREE COMES DOWN IN A STORM, RIPS UP OUR UTILITIES. SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE RIGHT TREE TO PLANT SO THAT IT'S NOT PROBLEMATIC FOR YOU OR FOR THE PARISH.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. YES, SIR.
I WANT, I MEAN, YOU, YOU BROUGHT UP THE ORDINANCE, SO I WANTED TO RESPOND. FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE FANTASTIC.
YOU, YOU DO ALWAYS, YOU'RE ALWAYS HELPFUL, YOU'RE ALWAYS RESPONSIVE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU. UM, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOUR CREWS TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT SPEAK ENGLISH, OR YOUR CONTRACTORS' CREWS AND THAT'S BEING TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON SITE THAT, THAT SPEAKS ENGLISH. UM, I, I WANNA, BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR, 'CAUSE YOU, YOU SAID THAT YOU ASKED FOR THE ORDINANCE, AND, AND YOU AND I SPOKE, AND I TOLD YOU WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING WHAT NEW ORLEANS DOES, AND JUST REGULATE THE 4, THE 4 FOOT, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, 4 FEET, RIGHT, 4 TO 6 FEET CIRCLE, CIRCLE CUT. YES, SIR.
AND THAT WOULD BE FINE. UM, I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN SAID, AND SHE'S CORRECT. WE DON'T HAVE THAT, THE SAME AUTHORITY THAT THE NEW ORLEANS COUNCIL DOES. UM, SO IT PUTS US IN A REALLY BAD POSITION BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE CALL US, YOU KNOW, AND ALL WE CAN DO IS, AND AND WHAT I TELL THEM IS WE CALL AND WE KICK, BEG, AND SCREAM, BUT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO BECAUSE WE DON'T REGULATE YOU. UM, YOU KNOW, AND AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE REASON I HAVE DONE WHAT I HAVE DONE IS BECAUSE YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, NOT THIS SEASON, BUT LAST YEAR.
YEAH, LAST YEAR WE CALLED YOU, YOU WENT TO SOME CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, YOU WERE UPSET. UM, AND AGAIN, I, YOU KNOW, I- I KNOW YOU'RE TAKING A BEATING OVER IT, BUT- BUT, YOU KNOW, WE- WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
NO, AND I- AND I- LOOK, I- I UNDERSTAND WHERE Y'ALL ARE COMING FROM. IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION, OKAY? AND- AND I- I COMPLETELY AGREE, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS. AND IT'S NOT JUST LIKE- LIKE WE SAID, I'M JUST REASSURING AND THEN NOTHING'S GETTING DONE. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GETTING DONE INTERNALLY, BEHIND THE SCENES AT ENTERGY, AND THEN WITH, WITH Y'ALL AS WELL. I AGREE THAT THINGS NEED TO CHANGE. THEY NEED TO GET BETTER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GROW A TREE CANOPY. AND COUNCILMAN, YOU LIVE IN PROBABLY THE, YOU LIVE IN THE TREE PRESERVA- OR YOU, UM, YOU, YOU ARE THE COUNCILMAN FOR THE DISTRICT 05, WHICH IS THE TREE PRESERVATION DISTRICT CAPITAL IN JEFFERSON PARISH, IF YOU ASK ME. I MEAN, SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO TAKE THE SAME APPROACH THAT NEW ORLEANS HAS TAKEN IN THOSE TREE PRESERVATION DIS- NOT EVERY TREE IS THE SAME. UH, THERE'S OAK TREE IS DIFFERENT FROM A PINE TREE, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM A CREPE MYRTLE, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND FIGURE OUT A STANDARD MOVING FORWARD SO THAT WAY THERE'S NO QUESTION, CONCERNS, ISSUES. WHEN WE SHOW UP ON SITE TO TRIM, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE S- A HURRICANE JUST CAME
[01:10:01]
THROUGH AND BLEW EVERYTHING DOWN. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY, TO NOT ONLY REASSURE Y'ALL, BUT TO REASSURE YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE ARE WORKING FOR THIS, UM, AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIND THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN RELIABILITY AND, AND, AND BEAUTIFICATION.THANK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL'S TIME. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. AND AND WHAT WE CAN DO, JIMMY, WE'LL WE'LL MAKE SURE, UM, AGAIN, WHILE WE CONTINUE MEETING, IT IS AN ISSUE IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS ACROSS THE PARISH. AND SO, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, WE, UH, WE WILL MAKE SURE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING. AND WHAT WE'D REALLY LIKE TO DO, I THINK, IS LET'S FIND THAT MIDDLE GROUND. LET'S FIND WHAT WE THINK THE TRIMMING DISTANCE FROM THE LINE AND SHAPE WILL BE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ALL LOOK AT THAT, ALL EYEBALL THAT, AND HAVE THAT READY TO PUT IN THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, SO WE COME TO TERMS ON THAT AND DON'T HAVE TO HOLD UP WHILE WE, WHILE WE, YOU KNOW, WAIT FOR THE, UM, THE PROCESS TO TO UNFOLD.
THANK YOU. SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW AT THE PORTION OF THE AGENDA WHERE, UM, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK, UH, BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON A RESOLUTION THAT IS ON THE AGENDA, YOU CAN PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD. AGAIN, ORDINANCES HAVE THEIR OWN, UM, INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT, UM, IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON A RESOLUTION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA, UM, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, AND NO ONE. UM, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE, UH, RECOGNIZE THAT NO ONE CAME FORWARD FROM THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON, UH, RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'D READ ITEM
[PUBLIC HEARINGS]
ONE.ADHERING TO THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED 20 MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXABLE SEWER REVENUE BONDS OF CONSOLIDATED SEWAGE DISTRICT NUMBER 1 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1. UM, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE'RE ON ITEM 1. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 1? OH, IT IS. WELL, IT DOES SAY PUBLIC HEARING, THOUGH. WE DO.
WE NEED TO... YEAH. OKAY, SO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK IN FAVOR ON ITEM 1, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 1, PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
FRANKIE HIRES, 509 HOME BOULEVARD, JUST TRYING TO SPARK A LITTLE CURIOSITY IN THE WAY WE GO. I KNOW Y'ALL MISS ME. ITEM 1, THIS IS THE 20 MILLION DOLLARS, YEAH? YES.
SERVING TWO MASTERS, THIS IS A SEWERAGE DISTRICT, SO IT'S WATER DEPARTMENT RELATED, AND BOY, ISN'T OUR WATER DEPARTMENT ISSUES IN, IN THE NEWS AND IN THE, IN THE MINDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. WE'RE ARBITRARILY RATE TAXED, MILLAGES ARBITRARILY IMPOSED, ONE DISTRICT FROM THE NEXT, ONE, ONE UH, NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE NEXT, NOBODY KNOWS.
SO HERE'S ANOTHER 20 MILLION DOLLARS WE'LL DUMP ON THIS. I DEMAND A FRUGAL AND SIMPLE GOVERNMENT. I NEED TO HAVE MY REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECT TAXES APPORTIONED. I OPPOSED WHEN YOU GAVE YOURSELVES THE AUTHORITY TO ARBITRARILY INCREASE RATES AND IMPOSE THESE MILLAGES, IMPOSE THE AUTHORITY TO RATE INCREASE PEOPLE. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER CROTCHET WHICH INGENUITY INVENTED, AND THE COMBINATION TODAY GIVES STRENGTH TO CARRY. I OPPOSE AS JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN, A REAL REPUBLICAN.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL NOTE THAT ONE SPOKE IN OPPOSITION, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM IS CLOSED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE.
NO MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION ON ITEM 1, JUST THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THAT.
IT IS A WEIRD ONE, COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOU'RE CORRECT.
THAT'S NOT NORMALLY WHAT WE DO.
UM, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WILL READ ITEM TWO WITH AMENDMENTS.
A RESOLUTION TO CONDUCT A HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO 2026 ALCOHOL BEVERAGE PERMIT OF BUTTHEAD'S CAMP LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS SIDE POCKET BAR AND GRILL, AKA BUTTHEAD'S BAR AND GRILL, SHOULD BE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-32 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN SECTION 2
[01:15:04]
THAT BUTTHEAD'S CAMP LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS SIDE POCKET BAR AND GRILL, AKA BUTTHEAD'S BAR AND GRILL, AND ITS OWNER HAVE AGREED TO RESTRICTING THE HOURS OF OPERATION FROM 7 A.M. TO 9 P.M. FOR 3 MONTHS BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, AND INCREASE IN SECURITY DURING THE- DURING THOSE 3 MONTHS FOR HOURS OF 5:00 PM TO 9:00 PM. THE AFORESAID HOUR RESTRICTION AND SECURITY REQUIREMENT IS HEREBY ORDERED, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.OKAY. THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PARISH WILL COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
KENDALL THOMPSON, PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
GOOD MORNING, JEFF HUP ON BEHALF OF MR. BILL HALL AS THE OWNER OF BUTTHEADS.
WILLIAM HALL, MANAGING MEMBER OF BUTTHEADS CAMP LLC.
ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN BONANO, I BELIEVE.
NO, ESSENTIALLY WE'VE, UH, REACHED A COMPROMISE DEAL WITH BOTH OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, BASICALLY PUTTING YOU ALL ON PROBATION FOR THE NEXT 3 MONTHS, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IF THIS BEHAVIOR CONTINUES, THERE WILL BE MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES IN THE FUTURE. AS A BUSINESS, YOU CAN'T HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN OCCURRING.
65 CALLS TO THE POLICE SINCE JANUARY IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. SO I HOPE Y'ALL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN UP YOUR ACT, BOTH OF Y'ALL, AND STOP BEING SUCH A NUISANCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
COUNCILMAN, YOUR MOTION NOW ON THE AMENDMENTS.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN MOVES ON, UH, THE AMENDMENTS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS. CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, SO THE AMENDMENTS PASS. AND COUNCILMAN, NOW YOUR VOTE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
COUNCILMAN MOVES FOR APPROVAL AS AMENDED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE VOTE AS AMENDED.
CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES AS AMENDED. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 3.
A RESOLUTION TO CONDUCT A HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE 2026 ALCOHOL BEVERAGE PERMIT IN CL- OF CLUB 1111, LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS CLUB 1111, SHOULD BE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-32 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. AND THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE ARE IN SECTION 2, THAT CLUB 1111, LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS CLUB 1111, AND ITS OWNER HAVE AGREED TO RESTRICTING THE HOURS OF OPERATION FROM 7 A.M. TO 9 P.M. FOR 3 MONTHS BEGINNING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, AND AN INCREASE IN SECURITY DURING THOSE 3 MONTHS FOR THE HOURS OF 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M. THE FORESAID HOUR RESTRICTION AND SECURITY REQUIREMENT IS HEREBY ORDERED, AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
OKAY, SO THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM, AND WOULD THE REPRESENT- REPRESENTATIVES OF JEFFERSON PARISH AND CLUB 1111 PLEASE STATE YOUR NAMES AND, UH, ADDRESSES FOR THE RECORD.
KENDALL THOMPSON, PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
CHARELLE PRICE, UM, CLUB 1111, 5600 4TH STREET.
OKAY. COUNCILMAN? MY COMMENTS THAT I MADE PREVIOUSLY ARE THE SAME FOR THIS ONE.
ALL RIGHT, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMAN MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE. THIS IS ON THE AMENDMENTS. CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, SO THE AMENDMENTS PASS.
[ORDINANCES TO BE DEFERRED]
AMENDED.COUNCILMAN MOVES TO APPROVE AS AMENDED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. THE VOTING IS OPEN, VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES AS AMENDED. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A NOTE. LET ME CLEAR THIS. I HAVE A NOTE THAT, UH, ORDINANCES 4 THROUGH 7 ARE BEING DEFERRED TO OCTOBER THE 14TH. ITEM NUMBER 8 IS BEING DEFERRED TO OCTOBER 28TH. SO ITEM 4 THROUGH 7, OCTOBER 14TH, ITEM 8 TO OCTOBER 28TH. COUNCILMAN WALKER.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES, UH, TO DEFER THOSE ITEMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
THE VOTING IS OPEN TO DEFER THESE ITEMS. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THOSE ITEMS ARE DEFERRED. ALL RIGHT.
[PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]
ITEM NUMBER 9. MADAM CLERK.A RESOLUTION SELECTING PERSONS OR FIRMS TO PROVIDE INTERPRETATION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN JEFFERSON PARISH SHELTERS, EVACUATION SITES, AND COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION SITES DURING DECLARED EMERGENCY EVENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS UNDER RFP NUMBER 0516.
[01:20:02]
SELECTION.ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER SELECTS THE HIGHEST SCORED, GLOBAL INTERPRETING NETWORK, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. WE OPEN THE VOTE ON THIS SELECTION. CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 10.
I'M SORRY. AH, EXECUTIVE SESSION. SORRY, WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT, TO ITEM 10 AND
[SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES]
11 AT, UH, NOON. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE, UM, AGENDA FOR THE ORDINANCES THAT ARE SCHEDULED FOR FINAL ADOPTION. UM, MADAM CLERK, READ, PLEASE, ITEM 12.SUMMARY NUMBER 26798, RESUB OF LOTS 19, 20, AND 21 SQUARE 60, UH, INTO LOTS 19A AND 21A SQUARE 60, ES-79-26, COUNCIL DISTRICT I UNDERSTAND WE CAN WAIVE THE READING. WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 12, SUMMARY NUMBER 26798. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK, WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BONANO.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. WE ARE OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 12. CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 12 PASSES. MADAM CLERK, UH, PLEASE READ ITEM 13.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26799, RESUB OF LOT 5K SQUARE A, JH LITTLE FARMS, LOTS A1A AND A1B OF JM TRACT COLONIAL FARM SUBDIVISION, LOTS A2 AND A3 OF A PART OF DRAINAGE SERVITUDE INTO LOT A5 OF THE JM TRACT, COMPANION CASE SPU-8-26, ES-99-26, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM, SUMMARY NUMBER 26799, ITEM 13. IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT, PLEASE COME FORWARD, AND IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
THIS IS THE JOHN CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL RE-SUBDIVIDING PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY IN ONE LIGHT, ONE LOT, MAINLY TO FACILITATE THE NEXT ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE SITE PLAN USE. SO WE'RE HERE IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE RE-SUB. I THINK WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION ON THE SITE PLAN AT YOUR NEXT PUBLIC HEARING.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE WISHING 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 ONE APPEARED IN FAVOR, NONE IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILMAN BONANO.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - PERMITTED USES]
ITEM. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 14.SUMMARY NUMBER 26800, APPROVING SPU-8-26 TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL PERMITTED USE FOR A SCHOOL WITH A VARIANCES TO THE PARKING REGULATIONS AND SPECIAL PERMITTED USE CRITERIA FOR JOHN CURTIS ON PART OF LOT 3, PART OF LOT 4, AND LOTS 9, 10, 11, 12, AND A4 JH LITTLE FARM SUBDIVISION, LOTS 1 AND 2 CHEROKEE COURT SUBDIVISION, AND PROPOSED LOT A5 JM TRACT, ZONE R1C, R1D, CB- CPZ, COMPANION CASE ES-99-26, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM NUMBER 14, SUMMARY NUMBER 26800. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. COACH, GOOD MORNING.
JT CURTIS, JOHN CURTIS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. UH, WE LOST OUR BUILDING, CAFETERIA, 5 CLASSROOMS, AND OUR, UH, A FINE ARTS ROOM IN IDA, AND WE HAVE, UH, HAD TO MAKE A LOT OF, UH, ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR FACILITIES IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE, UH, THOSE CLASSROOMS AND THAT FACILITY OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS.
UH, ALONG, UH, WITH OUR ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF HOLLY AND SMITH, WE'VE DESIGNED A NEW BUILDING THAT WILL PROVIDE US WITH A NEW CAFETERIA, UH, RESTORE THE CLASSROOMS, HAVE A RESOURCE CENTER, AND AS IMPORTANTLY, GONNA PROVIDE A WAY FOR US TO TAKE A LOT OF TRAFFIC, UH,
[01:25:01]
OFF OF MANGUNO AND OFF OF CELESTE, UH, DURING THE SCHOOL HOURS. WE HAVE APPROVAL BY DOT TO, UH, ENTER OUR FACILITY, UH, OFF JEFFERSON HIGHWAY. UH, HOLLY AND SMITH HAS DESIR- DESIGNED A DRIVE THAT WILL CIRCLE AND EXIT OFF OF JEFFERSON HIGHWAY TO THE RIGHT, ELIMINATING A GREAT DEAL OF THE TRAFFIC ON MANGUNO.IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE ADDING 63 NEW PARKING SPACES, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE, WHICH IS UNDER THE NUMBER THAT IS REQUIRED, UH, BUT WE FEEL LIKE THAT IT IS MAKING AN EFFORT TO EFFICIENTLY TRY TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO ELIMINATE THE CONGESTION, AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN, UH, IN THAT AREA AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT OF DROP OFF IN THE MORNING OR PICK UP IN THE AFTERNOON, IT IS A PROBLEM, IT IS AN ISSUE, AND AND WE THINK THAT WE'VE WORKED REALLY DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO, UH, COME TO A SOLUTION, UH, THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY AND ADD A, UH, BEAUTIFICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY AS AN ASSET WITH THIS BUILDING. IT'S A, IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED BUILDING, AND WE THINK IT'LL BE AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
KEVIN MORRIS. I LIVE AT 5637 DAVID DRIVE. I'M REPRESENTING HOLLY AND SMITH ARCHITECTS.
WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH JOHN CURTIS ON THIS REPLACEMENT. IT'S A NEW 25,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY, UH, DESIGNED TO FRONT ALONG JEFFERSON HIGHWAY, AND AS COACH MENTIONED, REPLACE THE FORMER DINING, UH, KITCHEN FACILITY, IN ADDITION TO CLASSROOMS THAT WERE LOST ALONG THE WAY. UM, WE HAVE ACCOMMODATED THE PARKING AND ACCESS DRIVES IN COOPERATION WITH THE DOTD, AND WE HOPEFULLY HAVE SATISFIED ALL OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.
WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.
NANCY PEARSON, RIVER RIDGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, AND WE ARE DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF THIS, POSITIVELY 100%.
THANKS, NANCY. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT 3 APPEARED IN SUPPORTS, NONE IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILMAN BONANO.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UH, COACH CURTIS AND HIS TEAM FOR PUTTING SO MUCH THOUGHT INTO THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THE NEED FOR A VARIANCE IS REALLY MISLEADING. THIS IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT TO THE TRAFFIC SITUATION. AS YOU KNOW, MANGUNO ROAD IS SHARED BY BOTH JOHN CURTIS AND ST. MATTHEW, SO THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON DROP OFF AND PICKUP TIME, AND THIS WILL ALLEVIATE A LOT OF CONCERNS AND A LOT OF TRAFFIC. SO WITH THAT, I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES.
COACH, HAVE Y'ALL EVER THOUGHT ABOUT BUILDING A FOOTBALL TEAM OVER THERE? I WILL SAY THIS, WE HAVE SAVED OUR OAK TREES.
THANK YOU, SIR. HE DIDN'T SAY IT AT THE MIC, IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR, HE SAID THEY HAVE SAVED THE OAK TREES AS WELL. SO ADDED PARKING, SAVING THE OAKS,
[RECLASSIFICATION OF ZONING ORDINANCES - VARIANCES]
THAT'S OUR KIND OF PROJECT.ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, ITEM 15.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26801, APPROVING SP-38-26, VARIANCES TO THE PARKING REGULATIONS OF THE IMU FOR AIRBORNE X, LOCATED AT 5025 BLOOMFIELD STREET ON LOTS 1A2 AND 1A1, NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC BELT RR SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT OKAY, AND I'M GOING TO NOTE OFF THE TOP, I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS ITEM.
UH, MY HUSBAND IS A LAWYER AND WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN SOME LITIGATION WITH A PARTICIPANT, SO I WILL BE ABSTAINING. UM, WE CAN WAIVE THE READING ON THIS ITEM AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, SUMMARY NUMBER 26801, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT, PLEASE NOTE, MADAM CLERK, THAT NO ONE HAS SPOKEN IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILMAN BONANO.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER. YOUR VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS ITEM. OH. ALL RIGHT, VOTING IS CLOSED. 6 YEAS AND 1 ABSTENTION. ITEM 15 PASSES. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 16.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26802, APPROVING SP-42-26, A VARIANCE
[01:30:02]
TO THE SIGN REGULATIONS OF THE C1 AND CPZ FOR CHASE BANK, LOCATED AT 3783 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LOT 2A3 SQUARE A, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.ALL RIGHT, WE CAN WAIVE THE READING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM. SO IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26802, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26802, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WILL NOTE, NO ONE HAS APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM,
[OTHER ORDINANCES (Part 1 of 2)]
CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 17.SUMMARY NUMBER 26794, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF JEFFERSON PARISH BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE TO CHAPTER 17 TO BE TITLED ARTICLE 6, HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PARTICIPATION PROGRAM RELATIVE TO ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PARTICIPATION PROGRAM IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WHICH SHALL BE COMPRISED OF SECTIONS 17-61 THROUGH 17-67.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26794. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM NUMBER 17, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE HAS APPEARED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN ON ITEM NUMBER 17. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS,
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO (Part 1 of 2)]
0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES.MADAM CLERK, UM, I HAVE A NOTE THAT WE WILL TAKE ITEM 62 OUT OF ORDER. COUNCILMAN WALKER.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO TAKE ITEM 62 OUT OF ORDER, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. VOTING IS OPEN ON TAKING THIS OUT OF ORDER.
VOTING IS CLOSED. SEVEN YEAS, ZERO NAYS. WE ARE TAKING OUT OF ITEM 62 OUT OF ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL READ THAT.
A RESOLES- A RESOLUTION TO SET THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL HOSPITAL ASSESSMENT PAYMENTS FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PARTICIPATION PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, TO DIRECT HOW THE REVENUE FROM LOCAL HOSPITAL ASSESSMENT PAYMENTS IS TO BE SPENT, AND TO SET THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID IN COLLECTION FEES.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES, SECOND IT.
WE HAVE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DO, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A RESOLUTION. ALL RIGHT, UM, WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ONE. UM, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, WE'RE ON 62, WE'RE TAKING OUT OF ORDER, PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
RISING IN OPPOSITION. FRANKIE HIRES RISING IN OPPOSITION. I DON'T WANT YOUR HEALTHCARE. I DON'T WANT YOUR ARBITRARY TAXATION. I DON'T WANT YOUR FRAUD, YOUR EXTORTION, YOUR TREASON, OR YOUR BLASPHEMY.
YOU ZIPPED ON BY AFTER THE ENERGY PROPAGANDA, AND YOU ROBBED ME OF MY CHANCE TO REDRESS YOUR AGENDA, I EXPECT.
PLEASE STICK TO THE HOSPITAL YEAH.
PAYMENTS IS THE STICKING TO THE ARBITRARY POWER YOU HOLD TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING DIRECTLY.
YEP, I OPPOSE IT. I OPPOSE EVERY ACTION YOU TAKE. I OPPOSE THIS ACTION AS A F- AS A JEFFERSONIAN. I DEMAND THE REPUBLICAN FORM I'M OBLIGED TO, HOSPITAL.
THAT I SWORE TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND. YEAH, IT'S A HOSPITAL.
IT'S A CROTCHET WHICH INGENUITY INVENTED, AND THE COMBINATION TODAY GIVES STRENGTH TO CARRY. IT'S ARBITRARY TAXATION THAT FUELS THIS WHOLE THING. ARBITRARY REPRESENTATION, NONE OF IT HERE. YOU'RE A SENATOR.
RECUSE YOURSELVES AND REDRESS THE REPUBLICAN FORWARD GUARANTEED, AND I'LL GO HOME AND NEVER COME BACK.
YOU WILL BE ESCORTED OUT OF THIS CHAMBER IF YOU DO NOT STICK. I KNOW YOU WILL LOVE THAT BECAUSE THAT'LL BE HIGH DRAMA.
YEAH, I GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO.
YOU CAN ESCORT YOURSELF OUT IF YOU, UM, WOULD LIKE TO. AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS RESPECTFUL, AND IT'S SPEAKING ON ITEMS ON THE RESOLUTION, NOT YOUR MUSINGS ON GOVERNMENT. THAT YOU CAN DO AT THE END, AND YOU WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO DO SO. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU'RE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM ON OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE WAS IN OPPOSITION, NO ONE SPOKE IN FAVOR.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE, CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM
[OTHER ORDINANCES (Part 2 of 2)]
PASSES. NOW WE'RE GOING BACK[01:35:03]
TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 18, MADAM CLERK.SUMMARY NUMBER 26803, AMENDING SECTION 2-927.2, SELECTION OF ATTORNEYS TO PROVIDE OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES IN MATTERS NOT COVERED BY A CONTRACT OF INSURANCE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NUMBER 18, WHICH IS SUMMARY NUMBER 26803. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING AROUND BUT NOT COMING FORWARD. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I PAY FOR AN ATTORNEY. I PAY FOR A PARISH ATTORNEY, YOU DEFER TO THEM AGAINST THE, THE PEOPLE AT MORTEM, AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR CITIZEN ALL THE TIME, AND YOU GOT TO DIMINISH ME? YOU THINK I'M WAXING POETIC? THIS IS CONSTITUTION I'M TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS THE OPINION OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING AN ATTORNEY I'M GONNA TO DO MORE WORK ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOVERNANCE YOURSELVES. I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU ACT AS IF YOU CAN REPRESENTATIVES.
BE ESCORTED OUT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE WELCOME PUBLIC INPUT. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY ON LEGAL SERVICES. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON LEGAL SERVICES CAN COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AGAIN, HE CAME IN THIS MORNING SAYING HE WANTED TO BE KICKED OUT, SO WE OBLIGED. UM, ANYONE WISHING TO COME TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 18? ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE CAME FORWARD ON THIS ACTUAL ITEM, UM, AND THE SUBSTANCE OF THIS ITEM. COUNCILMAN WALKER.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
WE'RE OTING- OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ONE. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. EVERYBODY'S A LITTLE DISTRACTED. UM, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM NUMBER 18 PASSES.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26805, AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ALLOCATE $8,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 3'S OFF-TRACK BETTING FUND FOR A CEA WITH THE HARVEY MARRERO EX-SERVICEMEN'S CLUB TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BENEFITING VETERANS AND THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 3, ALLOCATE $8,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND FOR A CEA WITH THE HARVEY MARRERO X SERVICEMEN'S CLUB TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BENEFITING VETERANS AND THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. ALLOCATE $8,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND FOR A CEA WITH THE HARVEY MARRERO X SERVICEMEN'S CLUB TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BENEFITING VETERANS AND THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. ALLOCATE $17,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S VIDEO POKER FUND FOR A CEA WITH THE TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY WITHIN THE TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. ALLOCATE 59,000 DOLLARS FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1'S WEST BANK RIVERBOAT GAMING FUND FOR A CEA WITH WEST BANK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A PUMPKIN PATCH, A FARMERS MARKET, AND OTHER RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND OR AND OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RELATED EVENTS. COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. ALLOCATE 3,750 DOLLARS FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE'S VIDEO POKER FUND FOR A CEA WITH LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICES TO JEFFERSON PARISH FOR AN INDEPENDENT DATA-DRIVEN AUDIT OF RESIDENTIAL WATER METER ACCURACY. COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE, ALLOCATE 3,750 DOLLARS FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO'S VIDEO POKER FUND FOR A CEA WITH LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICES TO JEFFERSON PARISH FOR AN INDEPENDENT DATA-DRIVEN AUDIT OF RESIDENTIAL WATER
[01:40:02]
METER ACCURACY, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. ALLOCATE $20,000 FROM THE TARRYTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AND RESTORATION DISTRICT FOR A TRANSFER TO WEST BANK PLAYGROUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR FENCING AT THE TARRYTOWN TURF FIELD RENOVATION PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.LOTS OF AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CLERK.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOU MOVE MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
THE VOTE IS OPEN NOW ON THE AMENDMENTS. OH, HE PRE- THAT WAS SMART, HUH? ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM, UH, THE AMENDMENTS PASS. UM, WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 19 AS AMENDED.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SUMMARY NUMBER 26805, OUR OPERATING BUDGET, PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEAR. COUNCILMAN WALKER.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON THIS ITEM AS AMENDED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES AS AMENDED. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 20.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26806, AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO ALLOCATE $100,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 CDIA GENERAL FUND FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CEA WITH JEFFERSON FACILITIES INCORPORATED FOR LEGAL FEES. COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. RECOGNIZE A TRANSFER OF $20,000 FROM THE TARRYTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AND RESTORATION DISTRICT FOR A TRANSFER TO WEST BANK PLAYGROUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A FENCING AT THE TARRYTOWN TURF FIELD RENOVATION PROJECT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON THE AMENDMENTS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING, UM, THE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENTS, CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE AMENDMENTS PASS.
WE'RE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26805. UM, OH, I'M SORRY, WAIT, ON 20, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL BUDGET. UM, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THIS IS 26806. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE NO ONE APPEARED ON ITEM 20.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM, CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 20 PASSES.
[RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR]
AT THE PORTION OF THE AGENDA WHERE WE HAVE RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL CALL ROLL.I HAVE ONE, MA'AM, SO I CAN GET MY YES, MA'AM.
GRANTING PERMISSION TO CASA JEFFERSON, 3505 LAKE TRAIL DRIVE, TO SERVE, SELL BEER, WINE, AND ALCOHOL AT THE UPCOMING CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN'S GALA TO BE HELD IN THE LAFRENIERE PARK FOUNDATION CENTER ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8TH, 2026, FROM 6:00 PM UNTIL 9:00 PM, IN CONFORMANCE WITH PARISH AND PARK GUIDELINES AND AGREEMENTS TO ALLOW DJ AMPLIFIED LIVE OUTDOOR MUSIC AND THE PLACEMENT OF TENTS, CANOPIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SET EVENT, PROVIDED THAT ALL NECESSARY PERMITS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. PLEASE VOTE IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR. CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, SO THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR. COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN.
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN. LET ME CLEAR THIS VOTE, SORRY.
SO WE GOT TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OH, SORRY. UM, LET ME COME OUT OF THIS. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR, THE CASA, UM, CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN'S GALA.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. NOW, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM. UH, CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES.
[01:45:03]
COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG.YES, SIR. AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 149087, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO ADVERTISE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS FROM PERSONS OR FIRMS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES RELATED TO A COMPREHENSIVE WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY AND RELATED TO A COMPREHENSIVE WATER AND S- OH, SORRY, IN FINANCIAL REVIEW TO REVISE THE PUBLIC NOTICE AND ADD TWO COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. UM, WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE NOW ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR. WE'RE NOW OPENING THE 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 NONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN KERNER.
COUNCILMAN KERNER MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM. CLOSING THE VOTE.
7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES. MADAM CLERK.
YES, SIR. APPOINTING MR. BRENNAN ROJAS TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICES TASK FORCE, REPRESENTING THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL ON AGING.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW VOTING ON THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR. IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WAIT, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU GO BACK? IT'S GOING TO BE REPRESENTING COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, NOT THE COUNCIL ON AGING, SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AMEND THAT.
ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS, UH, PLEASE VOTE IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THIS ITEM COMING FROM THE FLOOR. CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, SO THE ITEM IS COMING FROM THE FLOOR. OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NO- NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BONANO.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM. CLOSING THE VOTE.
7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES. MADAM CLERK.
AUTHORIZING THE BRIDGE CITY FIRE STATION TO PLACE TEMPORARY SIGNS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO ADVERTISE THEIR TRUNK OR TREAT AT 2220 BRIDGE CITY AVENUE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE, UM, OPENING THE VOTE TO TAKE THIS ITEM FROM THE FLOOR. IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH TAKING IT FROM THE FLOOR, PLEASE VOTE.
CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM CAN COME FROM THE FLOOR. WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW ON THIS TRUNK OR TREAT ITEM.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED. COUNCILMAN BONANO.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. THE VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS ITEM.
VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES.
[CONSENT AGENDA ONE]
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.WE'RE NOW, UH, AT CONSENT AGENDA 1.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE INGLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 22 THROUGH 61.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN ON ITEMS 22 THROUGH 61. VOTING IS OPEN. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEMS
[CONSENT AGENDA TWO (Part 2 of 2)]
22 THROUGH 61 ARE PASSED.WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM 63, WHICH IS CONSENT AGENDA 2. GET THERE. ALL RIGHT, UM, THIS ONE ACTUALLY WE'RE GONNA, UM, MOVE TO DEFER COUNCILMAN BONANO.
YES, MOVE TO DEFER FOR ONE MEETING.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO DEFER FOR ONE MEETING, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN.
WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM, DEFERRING IT TO, UH, THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, SO ITEM NUMBER 63 IS DEFERRED TO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING AN ENGINEERING FIRM FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 148942, ADOPTED ON AUGUST 26, 2026, FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR STREET PROJECTS, WHICH SERVICES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN OF KEWANEE AVENUE AT ELMWOOD CANAL BRIDGE DECK AND
[01:50:02]
APPROACH REHABILITATION PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NUMBER 2026030RB, COUNCIL DISTRICT COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, YOUR SELECTION.I SELECT PIVOTAL ENGINEERING, LLC.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN SELECTS PIVOTAL ENGINEERING, LLC, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. PIVOTAL IS SELECTED. THE ITEM PASSES. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 65.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING AN ENGINEERING FIRM FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 148942, ADOPTED ON AUGUST 26, 2026, FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR STREET PROJECTS, WHERE SERVICES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN OF WEST ESPLANADE AVENUE AT ELMWOOD CANAL BRIDGE APPROACH REHABILITATION PROJECT WORKS, PROJECT NUMBER 2026-029-RB, COUNCIL DISTRICT 4.
COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, YOUR SELECTION.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN BOHAN- BOHANNAN SELECTS ARDURRA GROUP, UH, INC., SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS SELECTION.
CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THAT SELECTION PASSES.
ITEM 65. UH, MADAM CLERK, ITEM 66.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING AN ENGINEERING FIRM FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 148942, ADOPTED ON AUGUST 26, 2026, FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES, WHICH COSTS UNDER 500,000 DOLLARS FOR STREET PROJECTS, WHICH SERVICES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING, AND INSPECTION FOR WEST BANK MISSISSIPPI RIVER RIVER LEVEE BIKE PATH, DESTREHAN AVENUE TO GRETNA FERRY LANDINGS, PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NUMBER 2021-027-RB, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR SELECTION.
MOVE TO SELECT PIVOTAL ENGINEERING AS THE PRIME AND QUALITY ENGINEERING AS THE SUB.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN BONANO SELECTS PIVOTAL AS THE PRIME AND QUALITY ENGINEERING AS THE SUB, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS SELECTION.
CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 66 PASSES. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 67.
A RESOLUTION SELECTING FROM PERSONS OR FIRMS FROM THE LIST OF APPROVED FIRMS ESTABLISHED UNDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 148942, ADOPTED ON AUGUST 26, 2026, FOR ROUTINE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR STREET PROJECTS, FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES, FOR THE PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR SOUTH NEW ORLEANS SUBDIVISION ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, 11TH STREET AREA, COUNCIL DISTRICTS 2 AND 3.
COUNCILMAN LEE'S GONNA MAKE THIS SELECTION.
COUNCILMAN SELECTS LATAIR ENGINEERING LLC, SECONDED BY COUNCIL. UH, OH, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD, BYRON.
LAMBERT AS A SUB, MOVED BY COUNCILMAN LEE.
UH, EXCEPTIONAL INSPECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS.
AND EXCEPTIONAL FOR RESIDENT INSPECTION. MOVED BY COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN BONANO, OPENING THE VOTE ON THOSE SELECTIONS.
ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 67, THOSE SELECTIONS PASS UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT, UM, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 68 THROUGH 124 MINUS 84, WHICH IS TO BE AMENDED.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 68 THROUGH 124 MINUS 84. IF YOU'LL VOTE, VOTING IS OPEN ON CONSENT AGENDA 2. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THOSE ITEMS PASS. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 84 FOR AMENDMENT.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH INFOR PUBLIC SECTOR INCORPORATED, AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION NUMBER 144180, ADOPTED ON THE FIRST DAY OF MAY 2024, TO ADDRESS THE EXTENSION OF THE HYPERCARE POST-GO-LIVE COVERAGE BY ADDING WORK ORDER OP-10298630 FOR AN ESTIMATED
[01:55:02]
90 DAYS FOR A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 336,680 DOLLARS. AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE GOING TO BE ON THE AGREEMENT AND UP AT THE TOP TO REMOVE THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND ADD THIRD AMENDMENT. AND THEN IN SECTION 4, THE LAST LINE SHOULD READ, FOR CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, THE FIRST AMENDMENT, OR THE SECOND AMENDMENT WITH THE THIRD AMENDMENT, THE THIRD AMENDMENT SHALL CONTROL. AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS? MOVE AS AMENDED.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON THE AMENDMENT, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. VOTING IS OPEN ON THE AMENDMENTS. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, SO THE AMENDMENTS PASS.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, OPENING THE VOTE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
[ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS]
NAYS. ITEM 84 PASSES AS AMENDED. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM 125, MADAM CLERK.LET'S SEE. ALL RIGHT, THAT IS OUR ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS. COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION REGARDING THE ENGLOBO ADOPTION OF ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS 1 THROUGH 16.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 16 ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THOSE ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEMS. CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, SO ITEMS 1 THROUGH 16 ON THE ADDENDUM PASS. MADAM CLERK, UM, ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM 17.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, OR IN HIS OR HER ABSENCE, THE VICE CHAIRPERSON, TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA OFFICE OF FACILITY PLANNING AND CONTROL FOR THE APPROPRIATION DEDICATION TO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF FAT CITY LAZIART PARK IN ANNEX FP AND C, PROJECT NUMBER 50-J26-26-04, COUNCIL DISTRICT 05, AND THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE ARE IN SECTION 3, THE ACCOUNT NUMBER SHOULD READ 44680000 DASH 5240546834002. AND THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS I HAVE.
OKAY, COUNCILMAN LILJEBERG, YOUR MOTION ON THE AMENDMENTS.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN, UM, MOVES TO AMEND, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
OPENING THE VOTE, THIS IS ON THE AMENDMENTS. CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE AMENDMENTS PASS. COUNCILMAN, YOUR VOTE ON THE, OR YOUR MOTION RATHER, ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
COUNCILMAN, UM, LILJEBERG MOVES TO APPROVE AS AMENDED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM. THE DISTRICT 1, THERE WE GO. I WAS GONNA SAY IT WASN'T LIT. CLOSING THE VOTE.
7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES
[JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS]
AS AMENDED. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, UM, ITEM 126. WE ARE NOW SITTING AS JEFFERSON PARISH SPECIAL DISTRICTS.A RESOLUTION APPROVING A ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 51,790 DOLLARS TO BRIDGE CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER 1 FOR THE PURCHASE OF 5 SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUSES, 5 FACE PIECES, AND 10 CYLINDERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND BRIDGE CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NUMBER 1, DATED MARCH 7TH, 2018, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN LEE, YOUR MOTION. COUNCILMAN LEE MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM 126, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM. CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 126 PASSES. I HAVE A NOTATION THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ITEM 130 OUT OF ORDER. SO LET'S SEE, COUNCILMAN WALKER, UM, YOUR MOTION TO TAKE THIS ITEM OUT OF ORDER.
UM, WASN'T IT NEXT ANYWAY? DID I MISS SOMETHING? IT'S 1:30. I DON'T KNOW, COMING AFTER 1:26. DO WE NEED A MOTION TO OH, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN MOVED ON MY AGENDA, THAT'S WHY IT'S THERE.
OUR COUNCIL CLERK THANK YOU, LIZ.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO TAKE AGENDA ITEM 1:30 OUT OF ORDER, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN I MEAN, IT WAS NEXT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE IT.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE TO TAKE THIS ITEM OUT OF ORDER. SHE'S AHEAD OF US.
[02:00:03]
BONANO. I THINK IT'S A... YOU WANT TO VOTE? VOTE ON, UH, I'M JUST TAKING IT OUT OF ORDER. I'M SORRY. UM, OKAY, CLOSING THE VOTE TO TAKE THIS. OH, I JUST CLOSED THE VOTE.NO, YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNOW, AND I JUST, I JUST SCREWED IT UP. SO ONE MORE TIME, I'M SO SORRY. UM, IF YOU'LL I'M SO CONFUSED.
TAKING THIS ITEM 130 OUT OF ORDER. ALL RIGHT, NOW CLOSING THE VOTE. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE ITEM 130 OUT OF ORDER, WHICH OUR COUNCIL CLERK HAD ALREADY PUT NEXT ON OUR, UH, SHEETS. UM, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOU MO- KNOW WE HAVE TO OPEN A, LET'S SAY WE HAVE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 130. SO, UM, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL FIRST READ ITEM 130, WHICH WE'RE TAKING OUT OF ORDER.
SUMMARY NUMBER 26783, A SEVENTH, SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL BOND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A NOT TO EXCEED 20 MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXABLE SEWER REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2026 OF CONSOLIDATED SEWAGE DISTRICT NUMBER 1 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE GENERAL BOND ORDINANCE AS AMENDED, PRESCRIBING THE FORM AND CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SAID BONDS, PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF THE SAID BONDS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SUMMARY NUMBER 26783, WHICH IS ITEM 130, WHICH WE'RE TAKING OUT OF ORDER, AND NOW WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, I'M SORRY, IF THERE'S ANYONE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM NUMBER 130, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE APPEARED.
WAIT TILL I FIND OUT THAT WE'RE GOING FROM 130 TO 127 NEXT. REALLY BLOW EVERYBODY'S MIND. UH, MOVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM 130, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM 130. CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 130 PASSES. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, WE ARE NOW BACK TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, ITEM 127, IF YOU'LL READ THAT.
A RESOLUTION FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD AND THAT NO PETITION HAS BEEN FILED, OBJECTING TO THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF A NOT TO EXCEED 20 MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXABLE SEWER REVENUE BONDS OF CONSOLIDATED SEWAGE DISTRICT NUMBER 1 OF THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AUTHORIZING THE OFFICIALS OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL AS GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF SAID DISTRICT TO PROCEED WITH THE PRE- PREPARATION OF THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM 127, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
THE VOTING IS OPEN ON ITEM 127. VOTING IS OPEN. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 127 PASSES. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'D PLEASE READ ITEM 128.
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING FIRE LIEUTENANT MARK D. DECKER TO THE FIRE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD FOR THE RE- REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL SERVICE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, FOR A 3-YEAR TERM TO EXPIRE AUGUST 18TH, 2029, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM 128, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEE. WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM. CLOSING THE VOTE.
7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 128 PASSES. MADAM CLERK, ITEM 129.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN THE TRUSTEE RETIREMENT BENEFITS PAYMENT SYSTEM AND REDUCTION IN FEE SCHEDULE RELATIVE TO THE TRUST AGREEMENT BETWEEN JEFFERSON PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NUMBER 1, STATE OF LOUISIANA, THE DISTRICT, AND REGIONS BANK, THE TRUSTEE, WHICH ESTABLISHED A TRUST FUND TRUST FOR THE RETIREMENT ASSETS FOR JEFFERSON PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NUMBER 1, DOING BUSINESS AS WEST JEFFERSON MEDICAL CENTER, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
COUNCILMAN BONANO, YOUR MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCILMAN BONANO MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM 129, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING THE VOTE ON ITEM 129, CLOSING THE VOTE.
7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 129 PASSES. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER WILL REMIND US WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ITEM 130 OUT OF ORDER. SO WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ITEM 131, WHICH I DO HAVE A NOTE TO DEFER. IS THAT CORRECT? ITEM 120, YES, WE'RE DEFERRING ITEM 131.
[02:05:01]
130.OKAY, COUNCILMAN, UM, MOVES TO DEFER TO, UM, OCTOBER 14TH IS OUR NEXT MEETING, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE OPENING TO DEFER ITEM 131. VOTING IS OPEN. VOTING IS CLOSED. 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 131 IS DEFERRED TO OUR NEXT MEETING. WE HAVE NO
[PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL SUBJECT MATTERS]
NEW BUSINESS, WE HAVE NO STATUS REPORTS, SO WE ARE NOW AT THE PORTION OF OUR AGENDA WHERE PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER, UM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD. YOU HAVE, UM, 3 MINUTES. IF YOU'LL PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, UH, FOR THE RECORD.HI, STEVEN HELMSTETTER, 5701 FLAGLER STREET. IMAGINE, IF YOU WILL, A SCENARIO IN WHICH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE STATIONED ACROSS THE MAIN ROADS OF JEFFERSON PARISH. THEY TAKE A DETAILED REPORT OF YOUR SCHEDULE WHERE YOU WORK, WHERE YOU LIVE, WHERE YOU FREQUENT. THEY KNOW YOUR LICENSE PLATE. THEY MAKE A PROFILE ON WHAT YOU WEAR EACH DAY.
THEY THEN SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH A THIRD PARTY. IT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT, THAT TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR THIS VERY THING RIGHT NOW.
WE BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION TODAY THE REALITY OF AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERA SYSTEMS, ALSO KNOWN AS ALPR, OR BY BRAND NAMES LIKE FLOCK, AXON, AND OTHERS, OF WHICH JEFFERSON PARISH OPERATES APPROXIMATELY 111 IN QUANTITY.
TO BEGIN, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE HAVE BEEN A DOCUMENTED 257 INCIDENTS OF MISUSE OF THESE SYSTEMS. ONE SUCH ALLEGATION ORIGINATED IN OUR VERY OWN JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE, REVEALING A PROFOUND LACK OF REGULATION, GUARDRAILS, AND AUDITING IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. THE ACCUSED DEPUTY WAS FIRED, BUT ONLY AFTER ABUSING THE SYSTEM OVER 03,000 TIMES TO STALK HIS EX-FIANCÉ. THIS IS JUST ONE SUCH CASE THAT HAS OCCURRED EARLY ON IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH SYSTEMS. FURTHER, THE AL- ALPR SYSTEMS THEMSELVES ARE NOT PERFECT. THEY ROUTINELY MISREAD LICENSE PLATES, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN REPEATED DETAINMENT OF INNOCENT AMERICANS. ONE OF THE WORST INCIDENTS YET RESULTED IN A HIGH-RISK TRAFFIC STOP, RESULTING IN ASSAULT WEAPONS BEING DRAWN ON AN EVEN LARGER GROUP OF INNOCENT AMERICANS. ALL THIS BECAUSE OF MISREAD LICENSE PLATES, OF WHICH AN ESTIMATED 7% OF FLOCK DATA COLLECTION RESULTS IN. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 1.4 BILLION ERRORS EACH MONTH NATIONWIDE. THE COMMON ARGUMENT I SEE IS THAT IF YOU AREN'T DOING ANYTHING WRONG, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. YET THAT'S 1.4 BILLION CASES EACH MONTH, POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT FOR NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
THERE'S ALSO THE MATTER OF WHERE THE INFORMATION COLLECTED BY THESE SYSTEMS LIVES, AS ALL THIS, ALL THIS PERSONAL DATA LIVES ON A CLOUD SERVER OWNED BY THE BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS FORCING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY UPON US. MIND YOU, THIS IS A FULL PROFILE OF YOU, YOUR LICENSE, OF YOU, YOUR LICENSE PLATE, YES, BUT ALSO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY SCHEDULE, LOG OF DEVICES YOU KEEP IN YOUR CAR, AND A LARGE NUMBER OF VISUAL DESCRIPTORS GATHERED BY, GATHERED THROUGH A BUILT-IN RECOGNITION FEATURE, ALL ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT A WARRANT. THIS PROFILE SERVES AN INVASIVE MAGNIFYING GLASS DIRECTLY INTO THE PERSONAL LIVES OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THIS ROOM, AND THESE CORPORATIONS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF IT. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THESE SERVERS ARE SECURE.
BUT IT IS ADMITTEDLY HARD TO TRUST THE CORPORATIONS HOLDING ALL OF THIS SENSITIVE DATA WHEN FLOCK REPRESENTATIVES THEMSELVES WERE CAUGHT LYING ABOUT SUCH FEATURES. THE PATTERN OF LIFE FEATURE, IN PARTICULAR, CREATES A DETAILED HEAT MAP OF LOCATION DATA FOR EVERY LICENSE PLATE IT TRACKS. THIS IS HOW YOUR DAY-TO-DAY SCHEDULE IS PROFILED. IN A MEETING WITH THE OSHKOSH WISCONSIN COMMON COUNCIL, THE CIO OF FLOCK PLAINLY CLAIMED THIS FEATURE DID NOT EXIST. WITHIN 24 HOURS, OSHKOSH POLICE CHIEF DAN- DEAN SMITH UNCOVERED THE FEATURE HIMSELF. THE FLOCK CIO HAD LIED. OSHKOSH NO LONGER HAS A CONTRACT WITH FLOCK.
THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARGUE THESE CAMERAS ARE NO WORSE THAN CARRYING A SMARTPHONE.
IN THAT, YOU WOULD BE RIGHT, AND IT'S A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE WE'VE GOTTEN INTO OURSELVES ONTO BY ALLOWING INSTITUTIONS TO COLLECT OUR PRIVATE INFORMATION WITHOUT CONSENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND AGAIN, OUR MICROPHONES CUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY AT 3 MINUTES.
IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL, BUT, UM, AGAIN, THAT'S THE ALLOTTED TIME. UM, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MEGAN DOE, 1954 INDIANA AVENUE. UM, I WANTED TO CONTINUE HIS SENTIMENT IN SAYING, UH, TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT WE MEAN, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN FLOCK SAFETY'S 300 MILLION DOLLAR ACQUISITION OF A DRONE COMPANY CALLED AERODOME. AT THE MOMENT, THESE DRONES ARE PLANNED TO LAUNCH WITH ALL THE SAME INVASIVE FEATURES AS THE CURRENT ALPR CAMERAS, BUT WITH THE ADDED FEATURE OF BEING ABLE TO MOVE FREELY AND THUS FOLLOW YOU EVEN MORE CLOSELY. ORLEANS PARISH, WHO CURRENTLY ALREADY OPERATES SIMILAR AI-POWERED DRONES, RECENTLY MOVED IN FAVOR OF WEAPONIZING THOSE DRONES.
WE HAVE COME HERE TODAY TO URGE JEFFERSON PARISH CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND CONCERNS WE HAVE SHARED TODAY, TO DEALLOCATE FUNDING FOR ALL ALPR CAMERAS, AND TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO BAN FURTHER FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY FUR- FURTHER- OF ANY FUTURE, SORRY, ALPR SYSTEMS, INCLUDING CAMERAS, DRONES, OR ANYTHING ELSE
[02:10:02]
PRIVATE INDUSTRY MAY TRY TO SELL TO FURTHER SURVEILLANCE. WE ARE NOW IN A TIME WHERE WE HAVE TO LIVE, DO LIVE, FROM HABIT THAT BECOMES INSTINCT IN THE ASSUMPTION THAT EVERY SOUND WE MAKE WILL BE OVERHEARD, AND ACCEPT IN DARKNESS IN THE ASSUMPTION THAT EVERY MOVEMENT WILL BE SCRUTINIZED. THIS IS A PARAPHRASED QUOTE FROM A BOOK THAT I'M BETTING MANY OF YOU ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH.IT'S FROM 1984. THIS IS ALSO OUR REALITY RIGHT NOW, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. AGAIN, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
DR. GLENDA WALLACE. I LIVE AT 2045 RUE RACINE IN MARRERO, AND I'M COMING TODAY BECAUSE JANUARY THE 7TH, I LOST MY HUSBAND. HE PASSED AWAY, AND I AM LIVING IN A HOME BY MYSELF. WENT FROM PAYING 97 DOLLARS FOR A WATER BILL IN JUST ONE MONTH, AND THEN GO TO THE MAILBOX 3 DAYS AGO, AND I GET A BILL FOR 304 DOLLARS, AND ONLY ME AND 4 GOLDFISHES LIVE IN THAT HOME.
NOW, YES, I DO HAVE WHAT THEY SAY A COMPULSIVE CLEANING DISORDER, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MANY BATHS YOU CAN TAKE. AND SO I'M COMING TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW THEY SAY THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING HAPPEN. MY NEIGHBOR IS A SINGLE MOTHER WITH ONE CHILD IN HER HOUSE, PAYING 500 SOME DOLLARS FOR A WATER BILL. AND I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE ARE THE CITIZENS, AND YOU ASK US FOR OUR VOTES. WE GIVE IT TO YOU, WE ELECT YOU AND PUT YOU IN THIS POSITION, BUT YET WE HAVE NO STABILITY IN TRYING TO PAY OUR BILLS. I AM NOW A WIDOWER TRYING TO MAINTAIN A HOUSEHOLD WHERE I HAD A HUSBAND.
WITH MY HUSBAND, OUR WATER BILL NEVER WENT TO 200. IT STAYED BETWEEN 80 AND 97 DOLLARS. SO IT IS SOMETHING WRONG FOR ME TO HAVE A BILL OF 304 DOLLARS, AND I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO LOOK INTO THIS AND SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO IT, NOT GASLIGHT ME.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. FIRST, WE'RE, UM, SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE LOSS OF YOUR HUSBAND. UM, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DID PASS TODAY ON THE AGENDA AND ACTUALLY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH WORKING WITH LSU NEW ORLEANS, UM, TO DO A STUDY WHERE THEY WILL GO OUT TO HOMES WHERE THE NEW WATER METERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO A SERIES OF TESTS, UM, TO SEE IF PEOPLE HAVE LEAKS, TO SEE IF, UM, TO SEE IF THE WATER METER IS BEING ACCURATE, TO SEE IF THE WATER METER IS ACCURATELY COMMUNICATING. SO, WE GET CALLS ALL DAY LONG ABOUT THIS, AND SO I KNOW IT'S ON THE MINDS OF ALL OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE HERE, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, HEARD, YOU KNOW, ITEMS LIKE YOURS.
THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE IT, BUT I HAVE ALSO PAID EXTRA MONEY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE MY HOME CHECKED, AND THERE ARE NO LEAKS.
AND I HAVE THE, THE PAPERWORK, AND THERE ARE NO LEAKS IN THAT HOME AT ALL, AND SO 304 DOLLARS IS OUTRAGEOUS.
IF YOU WOULD, I'M GONNA ASK, UH, MY COUNCIL, UM, CHIEF OF STAFF TO, TO GET YOUR INFORMATION SO WE CAN MAKE SURE TO PASS IT ALONG TO YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, TO FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU AND SEEING IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN LEARN FROM YOUR, UM, SITUATION AND YOUR NEIGHBOR.
AND MA'AM, I DON'T KNOW, HAVE YOU WORKED WITH OUR WATER DEPARTMENT? I'M SIDNEY BAZLEY IS HERE. I'M NOT SURE. WE DO ASK THAT, UM, YOU WORK WITH OUR WATER DEPARTMENT, UM, ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU YOURSELF WOULD NOT, UM, USE THAT AMOUNT OF WATER. SO THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG EITHER, YOU KNOW, ON SU- ON SUN SIDE, ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, OR ON THE PUBLIC SIDE. SO WE WOULD WANT TO LOOK INTO THAT. DO YOU HAVE YOUR BILL WITH YOU? I DO HAVE MY BILL, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
AND, UM, I D- I DID CALL THE WATER DEPARTMENT, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE TO COME OUT, UH, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO RE-READ THE METER. I HAVE CAMERAS. NO ONE HAS BEEN THERE.
SO- AND I CHECK, I AM A CHAPLAIN FOR HOSPICE.
SO MY HUSBAND WENT ON HOSPICE DECEMBER THE 11TH, HE DIED JANUARY THE 7TH. I AM NOW A CHAPLAIN FOR HOSPICE, SO I AM GONE MOST OF THE DAY HELPING OTHER FAMILIES WITH TRANSITIONING OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. SO IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING TO COME HOME AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
SO JUST, JUST SO WE KNOW, AND LOOK, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHOLE BILL, BUT, UM, THE WATER PORTION OF THE BILL IS ABOUT 100 DOLLARS, WHICH WOULD BE 50 DOLLARS A MONTH. SO JUST, YOU KNOW, LET'S GET THIS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE VERBIAGE RIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK ONE PERSON USING 300 DOLLARS OF WATER A MONTH SOUNDS VERY ALARMING, AND SOMETHING'S WRONG. IT'S A, IT'S BASICALLY A 50 DOLLAR MONTHLY WATER BILL. THE SEWAGE
[02:15:02]
IS ABOUT 139, THE GARBAGE IS 53, SO PEOPLE SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, THEY REFER TO EVERYTHING AS WATER, AND WATER GETS REALLY A BAD RAP FOR IT. IT'S ABOUT A 50 DOLLAR WATER BILL, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, IF THIS IS A HIGHER, MUCH HIGHER BILL THAN WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST, AND I CAN SEE THE GRAPH HERE, IT IS, THERE IS SOME PROBLEM SOMEWHERE.BUT THE WATER IS 50 DOLLARS A MONTH AVERAGE, BUT THAT IS CLEARLY HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU'VE BEEN USING IT'S DEFINITELY.
BECAUSE THE WHOLE BILL IS HIGHER. AND THEN WHEN YOU USE MORE WATER, THE SEWER IS ACTUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE, SO YOUR SEWER CHARGES GO UP.
SO DEFINITELY, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS THE HISTORICAL USAGE, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY CHANGES IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR A LOT OF VISITORS OVER OR FILLING A POOL, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS ON A PROPERTY BY PROPERTY BASIS, BUT IT IS, IT IS ABOUT A 50 DOLLAR WATER BILL A MONTH, AND THAT, AND PEOPLE, THE MEDIA DOES IT, THEY ALWAYS CALL THE WHOLE THING WATER WHEN MUCH OF IT IS SEWER, GARBAGE, AND WATER CONTINUALLY, YOU KNOW, GETS BLAMED FOR IT, AND IT'S A VERY ALARMING NUMBER.
SO IT'S ABOUT A 50 DOLLAR WATER BILL A MONTH, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY MUCH, MUCH HIGHER USAGE, AS YOU CAN SEE, FROM WHAT, UM, YOU'RE USED TO HAVING, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT INDIVIDUALLY AT THE PROPERTY.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 50 DOLLAR WATER BILL A MONTH, JUST THE SEWAGE, EVEN ALONE, THE WHOLE BILL ITSELF IS ALARMING BECAUSE I SHOULD NOT BE PAYING THIS.
YES, AND YES, AS I SAID, MA'AM, THE SEWAGE IS TIED TO THE WATER, SO WHEN YOUR WATER GOES UP, THE SEWAGE IS GOING TO GO UP EVEN MORE, SO THAT'S ALSO A PART OF THE REASON WHY WE NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR BILL.
THANK YOU, AND SIDNEY BAZLEY IS THE WATER DIRECTOR, AND HE'S STANDING AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO, UM, SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER? ALL RIGHT. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE NOTE THAT, UM, THREE PEOPLE APPEARED, UM, AND WE ARE NOW AT THE PORTION OF INTRODUCING ORDINANCES INTO
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION INTO SUMMARY. OH, I FORGOT. IT IS 12 O'CLOCK, EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALL RIGHT, UM, IF YOU'LL READ THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS, I THINK 10 AND 11.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR TY- TY- TY- TAKIRA RENFROW, CCMSI, CLAIM NUMBER 25G57M580585.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 10, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN, OPENING THE VOTE ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, UH, NUMBER 10 TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. ENDING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS, SO WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 10. MADAM CLERK, UM, THAT ITEM PASSES. ITEM NUMBER 11.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR RICKY JOHNSON, CCMSI, CLAIM NUMBER 2G, UH, 26G57N130033.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION ON ITEM 11.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES ON ITEM 11, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
WE'RE VOTING ON GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 11. CLOSING THE VOTE, 7 YEAS, 0 NAYS. ITEM 11 PASSES.
WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE'RE NOW COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS 12:30, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, UM, 2 RESOLUTIONS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO, MADAM CLERK, UM, THE RESOLUTION FOR ITEM 10.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A CLAIM FOR A TYPE, I CAN'T DO, TAKIRA RENFROW CCMSI, CLAIM NUMBER 25G57M5805, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS. CLOSING THE VOTE. 6 YEAS, 1 ABSENT. THE ITEM PASSES. MADAM CLERK, UH, THE RESOLUTION FOR ITEM 11.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN A CLAIM FOR RICKY JOHNSON, CCMSI, CLAIM NUMBER 26G57N130033 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN. VOTING IS OPEN ON THIS ITEM, THE RESOLUTION FOR... THERE WE
[02:20:02]
GO. ALL RIGHT, CLOSING THE VOTE. 6 YEAS, 1 ABSENT. COUNCILMAN LEE IS, UH,[ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION IN SUMMARY]
MARKED AS ABSENT. THE ITEM PASSES. CLEARING THE VOTE.MADAM CLERK, I BELIEVE WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE YOU READ, UM, THE ITEMS TO BE READ INTO SUMMARY.
YES, THE FIRST ONE I'M GOING TO READ IS GOING TO REQUIRE UNANIMOUS VOTE.
AN ORDINANCE REVOKING AND DECLARING AN UNDEVELOPED PORTION OF ACRE ROAD LOCATED BETWEEN LOTS 1A AND 2A SQUARE F MICHAEL SUBDIVISION AND LOT 1A SQUARE Q NICHOLSON PLACE EXTENSION SUBDIVISION, NO LONGER NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, AND AUTHORIZING ITS INCORPORATION INTO SAID ADJACENT PROPERTIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ACRE ROAD PARK.
OKAY, SO TH- THIS, THIS IS THE ITEM THAT NEEDS UNANIMOUS, UM, SUPPORT TO BE CONSIDERED. SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON THAT ITEM.
OKAY, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN. SO THIS IS THE VOTE ON THAT ONE THAT NEEDS UNANIMOUS.
COSIDERATION. CLOSING THE VOTE.
6 YEAS AND 1 ABSENT, SO THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
OKAY. RESUB OF LOT 64B1 SOUTH KENNER SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 64B1A AND 64B1B SQUARE 14.
RESUB OF LOTS 6, 7, AND 8 SQUARE 36 VILLAGE OF MARRERO SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 6A AND 6B SQUARE 36.
RESUB OF LOT 8, 8 SQUARE E AND LOT 8 SQUARE 3 JS BRADY SUBDIVISION INTO LOT 8A SQUARE 3. RESUB OF LOT B2 SQUARE 7C LIVE OAK MANOR SUBDIVISION INTO LOTS 1-22 SQUARE 7C AND THE DEDICATION OF MADISON CIRCLE, 20-FOOT DRAINAGE SERVITUDES AND 5-FOOT UTILITY SERVITUDES.
REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE AREA REGULATION, PARKING REQUIREMENTS, AND LANDSCAPE AND BUFFER REQUIREMENTS OF THE CPZ FOR DAIQUIRI RUN ON 61, LOCATED AT 4337 AIRLINE DRIVE ON LOT 1A SQUARE B, CLAIBORNE GATEWAY SUBDIVISION. REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE LANDSCAPING REGULATIONS OF THE MUCD FOR THE LAW OFFICE OF MARK SPEARS, LOCATED AT 6911 LAPALCO BOULEVARD ON LOT 1A SQUARE A, RUE ORLEANS SUBDIVISION. REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE SIGN REGULATIONS OF CPZ FOR THE OCHSNER MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER AND GAIL AND TOM BENSON CANCER CENTER, LOCATED AT 1515 RIVER ROAD ON LOT OH-1 SQUARE 1A.
REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE LANDSCAPING REGULATIONS OF THE CPZ FOR CHIPOTLE LOCATED AT 6940 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD ON LOT 8A-2A ELMWOOD LAFRENIERE PLANTATION SUBDIVISION, DECLARING VARIOUS ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES NO LONGER NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SAID PROPERTIES PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 47:2202, AMENDING SECTION 2-884 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATIVE TO THE OPERATING BUDGET FORMAT, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 14796, THE PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE TO REVISE THE CLASS TITLE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FINANCE, AMENDING THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THAT'S ALL THE ORDINANCES I HAVE TO READ.
ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION? MOVE.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES FOR THOSE TO BE READ INTO, UM, SUMMARY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANCKEN.
VOTING IS OPEN. VOTING IS CLOSED. 5. IS THAT- WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DINO? YOU WANNA HERE, WE CAN DO...
WE WILL, WE WILL CLEAR THE VOTE ONE MORE TIME, UM, OPENING THE VOTE.
CLOSING THE VOTE, 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS, AND UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 ABSENT. THE ITEMS PASS TO BE READ INTO SUMMARY. UH, COUNCILMAN WALKER, YOUR MOTION TO ADJOURN.
COUNCILMAN WALKER MOVES TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL- COUNCILMAN BONANO. EVERYBODY VOTE ON ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE. AND CLOSING THE VOTE, 6 YEAS, 1 ALREADY ADJOURNED. THE ITEMS PASS, IT PASSES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.