BOGALUSA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015, 5:30 P.M.
POSTED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015, 12:00 NOON
PRESIDING: WENDY O’QUIN PERRETTE, MAYOR
STACY SMITH, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
DALE BRANCH, CITY ATTORNEY
PRESENT: COUNCILMAN McCREE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH
ABSENT: VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Bogalusa City Council Meeting will come to order. Invocation by Councilwoman Fortenberry.
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: Led the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next is roll call, Ms. Brenda.
COUNCILMAN McCREE……………………….HERE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE……………………..ABSENT
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY……….HERE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND……………………HERE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE……………………….HERE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES……………………HERE
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH……………………HERE
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next we have the approval of the Minutes held on February 17, 2015.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: I make a motion they be accepted.
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call, Ms. Brenda.
COUNCILMAN McCREE…………………………AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE……………………….ABSENT
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY…………AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND……………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE…………………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES……………………..AYE
There are some corrections to the minutes however I will agree if anyone should want an update copy please see Ms. Brenda Ford for an update copy please.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH…………………….AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT APPROVING THE MINUTES HELD ON FEBRUARY 17, 2015).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next we is a NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Bogalusa, State of Louisiana, plans to consider a resolution calling a special election to be held on Saturday, October 24, 2015, seeking approval for the City of Bogalusa, State of Louisiana, to authorize the renewal of a 2.75 mill special tax therein, for the purpose of paying the costs of providing retirement and pension benefit for the City of Bogalusa Retirement System. The resolution will be considered at a meeting to be held on April 21, 2015, at five-thirty o’clock (5:30) p.m. The meeting will be held at City hall, 214 Arkansas Avenue, Bogalusa, Louisiana.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: I’d like to make a motion to authorize the following notice to be published in the official journal of the City no more than sixty days nor less than thirty days before April 21, 2015, all in the manner required by La. R.S. 42:19.1.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Do we have a seconded?
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: I seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILMAN McCREE…………………………AYE.
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE………………………..ABSENT
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY…………AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND……………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE…………………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES……………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH……………………..AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT AUTHORIZING THE FOLLOWING NOTICE TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CITY NO MORE THAN SIXTY DAYS NOR LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS BEFORE APRIL 21, 2015, ALL IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY LA.R.S. 42:19.1).
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: Just so that everyone know this is just a tax renewal of a millage it is not anything new.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: It goes strictly for the retiree’s pension benefits. Next resolution Councilwoman Kates.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES:
A RESOLUTION in support of Byron A. Stewart, Consultant for grants, business interest, and legislative matters of the City of Bogalusa.
At this time I would like to present Mr. Byron A. Stewart for a brief presentation.
BY BYRON A. STEWART: Thank you and good evening Bogalusa, friends. I have been involved with Bogalusa I guess about ten years so going back to Sixty Rayborn who you guys sent to the Legislature back in the day and Jerry Thomas after him and now Ben Nevers. So we’ve always talked about some things that Bogalusa could do or have not had the opportunity to do simply because they have not had the resources or had the know how’s to where those resources were. I work with cities around Louisiana around the country to do just that. Take the inventory to see where they are on their roads. Where they are on their airport. Where they are on their economic development, Randy Seal is a friend that I worked with who represents you guy’s interest in the business council as well as Ben Nevers. So what I’m doing is offering the opportunity for this new Council, new Administration to just know where some of the untapped resources are. Just to give you an idea some of the things you can do in the some cities your size that are already taking advantage of it and that is just because they have not asked and not to say you haven’t but just in the booklet you will see a small number of funding sources that you guys have not been mentioned in. The CABG looks like you got funding in 2013 of about $800,000 for a portable water pump. That is kind of low, that’s not something that is ongoing. You got needs that I’m aware of that definitely need to exceed that. All I am here to do is try and help and get you there to make sure you get what tax payers here in Bogalusa I see you have a crowd tonight I didn’t know that I was coming on a special night but to see that these citizens and you guys get a chance to move Bogalusa forward because it is a jewel that you have here. Like I said I have been here a while but if others begin to come and get the exposure. Things will be I guess will be a little bit easier than they are now. I won’t take any time, my information is there I will be glad to speak with any of you personally just to look at some things, Police Department, Fire Department, the Hospital that you have, just a whole host of resources that you have really should get at least a boost some help from the State. Thank you again and I appreciate it. If there are any questions I will take them.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: I don’t have any and hopefully you can get in here and help us find some resources.
BY BYRON A. STEWART: That is right. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you Sir.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: I make a motion we accept this resolution.
BY_COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILMAN McCREE…………………………….AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE……………………………ABSENT
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY…………….AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND…………………………AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE…………………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES…………………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH…………………………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT SUPPORTING BRYON A. STEWART, CONSULTANT FOR GRANTS, BUSINESS INTEREST, AND LEGISLATIVE MATTERS OF THE CITY OF BOGALUSA).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next we have Introduction of ordinances, in Vice-President White’s absents I am going to ask Councilwoman Smith to read the ordinances.
BY COUNCILWOMAN SMITH:
AN ORDINANCE to repeal and replace Ordinance 2170, operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
AN ORDINANCE to repeal and replace Ordinance 2171, underage operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
AN ORDINANCE amending the Municipal Criminal Code of the City of Bogalusa, La. Article 37 regarding theft and providing a penalty for the violation thereof.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: These will be voted on at the next meeting.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing a Professional Service Agreement for a Historical Survey between the City of Bogalusa and Cypress Building Conservation, LLC.
Again this will be heard at our next public hearing on March 17th at our next meeting.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next we have public hearing, Councilman Ritchie.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: Actually on this ordinance to accept the Bogalusa Comprehensive Resiliency Plan at this time I would like to make a motion to table this. We had a very good meeting yesterday with Dana Brown. Made a lot of good suggestions, a lot of good comments and have come up with some meetings at a later date.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: There are two meetings planned on April 18th they are going to take place at Northside Learning Center, I guess that is what they are calling it. The first one is in the a.m. I think it is from 10:00 to 12:00 and the other one goes from 2:00 to 4:00.
BY COOUNCILWOMAN KATES: It is starting at 10:00 o’clock and the other one 2:00 o’clock for the Poplas neighborhood 2:00 to 4:00.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: So I would like to make a motion to table this ordinance until we have some further study done.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Seconded the motion. In addition to that I would like to say the reasoning primarily why we are tabling it they indicated because of our meeting on yesterday and it is for further research, it is for further development and analysis in order to devise a plan that will be comparable or comparable for all districts in the City of Bogalusa and its citizens so that is the primary reason why we tabled it.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILMAN McCREE……………………..AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE…………………….ABSENT
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY……..AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND………………….AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE………………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES…………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH…………………..AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO TABLE THE ORDINANCE TO ACCEPT THE BOGALUSA COMPREHENSIVE RESILENCY PLAN).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: So it is tabled until further notice so ya’ll please try to come out on April the 18th and voice your opinion and let them know. Let it be a good thing rather than what it was headed for any way. Next we have public participation but if you signed up to speak about the Comprehensive Resiliency Plan I’m not saying that you can’t but it is an ongoing thing why don’t we wait and talk about it on April the 18thOkay. So if you did sign up and you would like to speak though feel free. Like I said if it is about the Comprehensive Resiliency Plan why not wait until the 18th. Ms. Kellar.
BY THERESA KELLAR: 1620 Jackie Robinson Street. Somewhere I learned and I’ve heard that they said come together and let us reason together. I feel like that this is what occurred yesterday. I was very impressed and very satisfied and grateful to Dana. She was wonderful and she reasoned with us and we are looking forward to getting together and doing what is best for the citizens of Bogalusa, Louisiana. However I have a small concern that I will express and take my seat. We are here tonight primarily to find out if the Council is confirming the items and decisions and promises that were made to us by Dana yesterday. She basically said that the section of the plan dealt with the Poplas Community and the Richardson Town Community would be deleted and rewritten based on the wishes of the people who lives in these neighborhoods. She further indicated that this would be achieved by holding a number of meetings that you referred to that with the citizens of Poplas and Richardson Town. However the meeting will be opened to all citizens in the City of Bogalusa. In addition there will be a concentrated effort to get the word to and notify every one of the time and place of the meetings and as he has fore stated we had a very productive meeting. We did come together and we did reason and I for one appreciate Dana and the others who came out and we reasoned together. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you Ms. Kellar. That is why it is important for everybody to come to these meetings on April 18th so mark your calendar, set aside a little time and come out and do what is good.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: Ms. Kellar I think I can be safe to say that everyone on this Council is one hundred percent behind what happened yesterday. That was an absolutely great opportunity that we had.
BY THERESA KELLAR: Just let me say briefly so everyone will kind of know what was decided yesterday. What was decided yesterday that the area in the plan that dealt with the Poplas and Richardson Town will be wiped out and we going to start from scratch and the citizens that live in Poplas and Richardson Town and the City of Bogalusa will come together in a group of meetings and work this out to the advantage of everybody. That was the decision.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: Also I would like to say that it was never the intent of Dana Brown and Associates or this City or this Council to exclude any neighborhood or leave anyone out. Unfortunately as hard as you try you don’t seem to get everybody that you need to get. Now that we’re there it is time to do some productive meetings and I think that is where we are headed now and I thank everyone that came yesterday to the meeting and thank you for being there. So thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: So get out there and let everybody know about it April 18th at the Northside Learning Center.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: I too would like to thank everyone from the Poplas area and I’m sure Councilman McCree from the Richardson Town area that came out for support expressing your concern which made a difference to understand exactly what the Comprehensive Resiliency Plan was about and to get a resolution that was as I said very agreeable for all.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: All righty now for moving on with the public participation J.L.McDonald am I saying that right? Please state your name and address.
BY J.C. McDONALD: 717 Sullivan Drive. I’m here on behalf of Sweet Beulah Missionary Baptist Church. Now I’ve been a member and officer of that church for nineteen years now. I’m concerned about the City of Bogalusa. Now we having streets and things being revitalized and brought up to date and if any of you goes up and down these streets for eighty seven years I’ve been up and down these streets. You will find that Martin Luther King and Roosevelt just the one block the church that I attend all we have ever been able to get was a little asphalt in a hole soon as it rains it beats it out. When it should be blacktopped or at least a half a block. Martin Luther King, from Columbia Street to Sixth Street go down it speaks for itself.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: I agree.
BY J.C. McDONALD: We are asking the Councils to get together and fix what is broke and what is broke is bad to worse. You don’t just pick spots in the city to fix. Fix what needs it the most and then the money don’t run out before you can get to us. So I want to thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you Sir.
BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS: Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Hold on these people who signed up first. Silas Thomas.
BY SILAS THOMAS: We are going to wait until April 18th.