Public Meetings - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council met Wednesday evening, October 28, 2026, for a presentation portion followed by a regular meeting. It approved numerous routine items, heard public testimony on tax districts, blight, and deconsolidation, and received departmental reports. The agenda and minutes were not available, so this summary is based solely on the meeting transcript. Presentation Portion - Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Councilman Dwight Hudson and Mayor Sid Edwards recognized Hudson's wife, Stacey Hudson, who is about six months into a breast cancer diagnosis. Stacey Hudson urged self-checks, mammograms, and support for families affected by breast cancer, and credited faith for her PET scan being clear 126 days after diagnosis. - Women's Hospital: CEO Renee Ragas and researchers Dr. Leah Carter and Dr. Ashley Edwards reported hospital data: over 11,000 inpatient admissions, 40,000 outpatient visits, 8,000 deliveries, 1,200 NICU admissions, 70,000 mammograms, and 4,000 mammograms performed on mobile coaches. They said 733 women were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, with 75% found at stage 0 or 1, up from 70% the prior year, and one in four diagnosed women were under 50. In 2024, mobile coaches made 292 trips to 37 parishes and counties, screened 5,000 women, and found 25 cancers. They also noted 4,300 referrals to breast cancer specialists, about 43% from East Baton Rouge Parish, and an increase in referrals of 38% from last fall to this summer. - Red Ribbon Week: The council recognized the Baton Rouge Young Marines and accepted proclamations from the city and Governor Jeff Landry designating October 23–31, 2026, as Red Ribbon Week. Councilman Darrell Hurst, Constable Terrica Williams, and Elena Branzera spoke. Hurst also recognized Jaden G. York, a Southern University student, for organizing the 'Second Line to the Polls' voter participation initiative. - Alton Heatley Sr.: Recognized for retiring after 46 years as a welder with ExxonMobil and Turner Industries. ExxonMobil representative Brandon Maxwell praised his integrity; Heatley encouraged young welders to enter the trade. - Emily Lynch: Scotlandville Magnet High School Student of the Year, holding a 4.3 GPA, ranked second in her class, and active in track, soccer, digital media, and student technology. Consent Calendar - Approved minutes of the October 14 and October 21, 2026 council and zoning meetings. - Introduced the 2027 budget ordinance, condemnation items, adjudicated property items, and related ordinances; adjusted the introduction date for item 66 to November 24, 2026. - Approved condemnation and adjudicated property calendar actions with specified deferrals and deletions, including a 30-day deferral of items 126, 128, and 137. - Approved routine contract amendments, cooperative agreements, construction change orders, final acceptances, a street rehabilitation low bid, renewal options, position alignment changes, board and commission appointments, and similar administrative measures. Public Comments & Testimony - Penny Landry spoke frequently and opposed several items: the Capitol House Economic Development District tax extension to 2058, calling it dual taxation; a $63,000 community liaison position, saying legislative aides could serve that function; a $250,000 local match for the Raising Cane's River Center, asking wealthy donors to cover it; a GEC supplemental contract, citing the I-10 design record; and additional Bus Rapid Transit spending, saying road repairs are underfunded. She also asked for more explanation and results reporting from contracted entities and requested town halls on deconsolidation. She said she supports deconsolidation only if the city of Baton Rouge can sustain itself financially. - Tanya Nyman spoke against downtown development districts, using New Orleans tourism revenue as an example. Later, she argued that discussion of deconsolidation should first consider restoring a separate Baton Rouge city council, and recommended community land trusts and affordable housing as part of the blight strategy. - Charles Landry spoke in support of Ashley Beck, who was leaving city service, and thanked her for her work. - Johnny Brown, a Scotlandville resident, asked the council to seriously review deconsolidation and improve neighborhood equity. - Council members noted email comments in opposition to items 96, 119–123, and 157. Discussion Items - Capitol House Economic Development District: Councilman Dwight Hudson said he is normally skeptical of taxing districts but supported this one, citing a $70 million renovation of a historic building and continued $30–40 million investment made possible by the structure. The motion carried. - Community liaison / homeless outreach: Councilman Darrell Hurst and others defended legislative aides after Penny Landry's criticism. Mayor's office representative Mason Batts explained the position was for Kylie, a homeless outreach worker, and that the $63,000 request extended an hourly contract that had reached its $49,000 cap. The motion carried with Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman opposing. - Raising Cane's River Center: Administration clarified the $250,000 match would come from the River Center's dedicated fund, not the general fund. The motion carried. - Move BR / GEC supplement: Councilwoman Amorosa explained that the $138,081.02 supplemental contract covered design changes made after public input, including changes near the Blue Bonnet underpass and railroad crossing. The motion carried. - Blight report: Rachel from the Department of Development presented 'Red Stick Rising.' She reported a current blight backlog of about $1.3 million, including $750,000 in condemnations, $500,000 in blight court orders, and $90,000 in tall-grass orders; a projected 2027 backlog of about $2.2 million; a 75% voluntary compliance rate; 53 owner demolitions this year; 140 demolitions projected this year versus 214 last year; and lien collections of about $520,000 this year, $700,000 last year, and $745,000 in 2024. Proposals included proactive inspections, vacant property registration, a revolving abatement fund, receivership, and a district housing court. Council members supported the direction; Councilwoman Coleman asked for a list of city-owned vacant properties. The council voted to receive the report. - Deconsolidation study: Councilman Cleve Dunn Jr. proposed deferring item 155 to November 10, 2026, so finance could prepare guidance and next steps. Finance Director Angie said a full report would be complex and likely take at least 18 months. Councilman Hudson noted city sales tax collections of about $111 million versus roughly $150 million in police and fire general fund costs, and finance noted property taxes and other revenues would also be part of the analysis. The deferral motion carried. Key Outcomes - Approved the Capitol House Economic Development District item, the homeless outreach contract extension, River Center planning funds, GEC and Waggoner engineering supplements, Ryan White subrecipient amendments, the Capital One fiscal agent contract, change orders, final acceptances, the street rehabilitation low bid, and multiple contract amendments. - The community liaison/homeless outreach item passed with Councilwoman Coleman opposing; all other listed votes were recorded as carrying. - Deferred the deconsolidation financial report item to the November 10, 2026 meeting. - Received the Red Stick Rising blight report. - Declared item 157 an emergency and approved the Delmont Economic Development District cooperative endeavor agreement. - Reconsidered and deleted item 73. - Adjourned the meeting.

The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Civil Service Board held its regular meeting on October 26, 2026, with a quorum present (Members: Joshua New Hill, Michael Lemming, Brantley Riggs, Todd Sterling, and A. Winbeira). The board unanimously approved the agenda, prior meeting minutes, and personnel actions, as well as calling for examinations. A consolidated review and acceptance of test scores was conducted for several Fire and Police Department positions. The board also received an update on securing new office accommodations. Consent Calendar - The meeting agenda was approved (Motion by the Chair, seconded by Mr. Sterling). - Minutes from the September 28, 2026 meeting were approved (Motion by the Chair, seconded by Mr. Lemming). - Personal action forms for the Baton Rouge Fire Department and Police Department were approved. - Examinations were called for the position of Fire Safety Officer (Motion by Mr. Ricks, seconded by Mr. Lemming). - Examinations were called for the position of Police Lieutenant (Motion by Mr. Ricks, seconded by Mr. Lemming). Discussion Items Agenda Items 8 & 9: Consolidated Test Score Review - The board reviewed test results for multiple roles across the Fire and Police Departments. These items were consolidated into a single motion. - Fire Investigator: 1 passed, 2 did not pass, 2 did not show. - Police Criminal Information Specialist 1: 5 passed, 0 did not pass, 7 did not show. - Criminal Intelligence Analyst: 5 passed, 0 did not pass, 8 did not show. - Medical Training Officer: 1 passed, 0 did not pass, 1 did not show. - Fire Inspector 2: 1 passed, 0 did not pass, 0 did not show. - Hazardous Materials Officer: 3 passed, 2 did not pass, 1 did not show. - Fire Apparatus Technician: 1 passed, 2 did not pass, 1 did not show. - Police Cadet: 0 passed, 2 did not pass, 0 did not show. Agenda Item 10: Report on Board Operations Accommodations - Ms. Harris reported that she and Chairman Newville toured a potential new facility. The planned space will include a lobby, offices, and a secure file room. The board will share a building with the Police Department, but a partition with key card access will secure the board's files. - Mr. Ricks inquired about the size and amenities. The space consists of two offices, a file room, restrooms, and a waiting area. It lacks a dedicated conference room, meaning board meetings would likely require use of a separate communal space. - The preliminary timeline for the move is late winter, targeting February or March 2027. Key Outcomes - Test Scores Accepted: A motion to accept the consolidated test scores from Agenda Items 8 and 9 was made by Mr. Lemming, seconded by Mr. Ricks. The motion carried without objection. - Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned (Motion by the Chair, seconded by Mr. Sterling).

On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council convened a special meeting to act on a single agenda item: establishing health insurance rates and plan design for city-parish employees and retirees effective January 1, 2027. Mayor-President Sid Edwards and consultants from Hub International presented the proposal, members of the public testified, and after debate the council approved an amended version. Health Insurance Rate Proposal and Consultant Presentation - Mayor Edwards said an earlier draft of the plan would have raised premiums by 50 percent and was rejected. He said the administration then worked with unions and employees for nearly 10 hours over two days, removed the spousal surcharge, lowered premiums, and added two new narrow-network options. He said the city cannot keep delaying action because waiting longer could force a ‘nuclear option’ next year. - Hub International’s Kevin Gardner described the city-parish plan as self-funded. He said national health-care trend increases are running 9 to 11 percent per year; the city-parish share of plan costs rose from 74 percent in 2017 to 79.7 percent in 2025; total plan expenses rose from $67 million in 2017 to $79 million in 2025; and 2026 was running $5 million over budget through August, with an expected year-end overrun of $6.5 million to $8 million. - Gardner also said the Medicare Advantage move produced savings of roughly $8 million versus the projected $6.9 million, and that large claimants were a major driver of the overrun: seven claimants over $250,000 cost about $2.9 million in 2025, while ten such claimants in 2026 had already cost $5.2 million. - Michael Dubrell outlined plan enhancements, including an alternative to orthopedic surgery, a spousal incentive health reimbursement arrangement capped at the ACA out-of-pocket maximum of $12,000 with a $500-per-month premium-differential payment, and two new narrow-network options: Community Blue and Precision Blue. The originally proposed employee premium increases were 20 percent for HMO, 20 percent for POS, and 30 percent for the high-deductible health plan. Public Comments & Testimony - Jake Morgan, president of the Baton Rouge Firefighters Union, opposed the proposal as written. He said his request to use the standing health care committee was not followed, that family premiums would rise by hundreds of dollars a month, and he asked the council to halve the increase to 10 percent and 15 percent. After the 15/15/25 amendment was proposed, Morgan said the union would accept it. - A retired Baton Rouge firefighter opposed the size of the increases, noting that some employees make $12.75 per hour, or under $30,000 per year, after a 3.5 percent raise. He said increases are necessary but should not fall so heavily on lower-paid workers and retirees. - A District 10 resident whose mother died about nine years ago told the council that first responders helped her family and asked the council to vote no on the item as proposed, examine other options, and return with a more equitable plan. - Ted Stevens, a city-parish employee, supported the increase. He described his son’s 2022 medical care, saying bills totaled $914,000, the plan paid about $184,000, and the family’s only out-of-pocket cost was the deductible. He said he would gladly pay the increase to preserve that protection for other families. - Brandon O’Neill, president of the Baton Rouge Police union, expressed concern about the financial burden on employees but credited Mayor Edwards for reducing the earlier 50 percent proposal to the 20/30 percent range and for removing the $300-per-month spousal surcharge. He did not ask for a no vote and said the union wants to work with the administration on long-term solutions. Discussion Items - Several council members, including Councilwoman Adams, Councilwoman Rocka, and Councilman Hudson, said the increases were difficult but necessary to avoid deeper service cuts and a harsher future premium spike. Councilwoman Rocka said she had warned during the May pay raises that a 4 percent raise could be followed by insurance changes, and she called for a benefits committee to begin meeting immediately. - The city finance director said the insurance reserve had about $13 million, the 2026 plan was expected to overspend by $6 million to $8 million, and doing nothing would leave another large deficit and could force a mid-year premium adjustment. She estimated that each 5 percent of employee premium increase equals about $700,000, and that the 15/15/25 amendment would create a roughly $700,000 general-fund gap requiring departments to reduce budgets. - Councilman Moak proposed the 15/15/25 substitute to ease the burden on employees, saying savings could be found elsewhere, such as not funding certain projects. Councilman Dunn Jr. opposed both initial motions and urged the council to find budget savings first, citing the St. George withdrawal, legacy costs, and competing priorities. Councilwoman Coleman said employees are constituents and asked about Medicare Advantage migration and family-plan costs. - Councilman Gote raised concerns about making changes on the spot and about cuts to public safety budgets. He asked the Fire and Police union representatives whether the 15/15/25 figure changed their positions; the Firefighters’ president said it did, while the Police union president said cutting police or fire budgets was not desirable. Key Outcomes - The substitute motion by Councilman Moak to approve the item with 15/15/25 employee premium increases failed. - The original motion to approve the item as presented, with 20/20/30 proposed employee premium increases, also failed. - Councilman Hudson then renewed the 15/15/25 proposal, Councilman Moak seconded it, and the motion carried. The final adopted employee premium increases are 15 percent for HMO, 15 percent for POS, and 25 percent for the high-deductible health plan, effective January 1, 2027. - The mayor committed to convening a benefits committee starting January 2, 2027, rather than waiting until August or September, to work on long-term options. - The finance director said departments would be asked in January for proportionate budget reductions to cover the general-fund impact of the amended premium increases. - The transcript does not record individual vote tallies; it reports that the first two motions failed and the third motion carried.

The Metropolitan Council held a zoning meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, with a quorum present. No agenda or minutes were supplied with the source material, so this summary is based on the transcript. The council followed its usual hearing rules: proponents spoke first, opponents second, each speaker was limited to three minutes, and proponents had a three-minute rebuttal. Public Comments & Testimony - Case 22-26, 979A Greenwell Springs Road: Six Park Forest-area residents opposed both the CAB1 rezoning and the requested deferral. Deborah Dow asked the council to vote no, citing past zoning behavior and concerns that alcohol sales would cause lingering. Lillian Grossley, a retired banker and Park Forest resident since 1997, said a $3 million restaurant seating about 30 people did not make financial sense and questioned an ulterior motive. Daltaneus Washington, a Park Forest small-business owner, said increasing the zoning would be hard to reverse and criticized short notice of the community meeting. Tebby Jackson described the area's decline and said the neighborhood wanted a supermarket and revitalization, not liquor stores on every corner. Jacqueline Royan Lee, president of the Park Forest Crime District, asked the council to deny the deferral because residents had already arranged to attend, and requested that residents' names be placed in the record. Ontario Carney, a 33-year resident, said the applicant has blighted properties and argued the proposed menu was similar to Popeyes except for alcohol and daiquiris. - MCUP-1-26740, 9400-9500 Petit Road: Applicant/proponent Donovan Dugas said the site was a long-standing dirt pit and that Dirt Co. had taken steps to address dust and mud. Heath Morris gave actual volume figures: in 2025, he said, the operation moved 56,000 cubic yards, or 2,800 total truckloads over 62 working days, averaging 45 trucks per day and 4.5 trucks per hour; in 2024, it moved 18,368 cubic yards, or 918 truckloads over 37 working days, averaging 25 trucks per day and 2.5 trucks per hour. Opponents Angela Creel and Will Campbell opposed the MCUP. Creel said the operator was cited in 2015 and 2021 for working without permits, had never held a parish permit, and submitted resident signatures against the project. - Items 9 and 10: John DeArman, on behalf of the Irene Road applicant, said the heavy industrial rezoning would be compatible with nearby uses. Brad Alexander, representing the Florida Boulevard applicant, said his company had served Baton Rouge for more than 20 years and wanted to continue investing in the facility for future technology and digital infrastructure needs. Discussion Items Item 1 – Case 22-26, 979A Greenwell Springs Road (C1 to CAB1) The applicant was not present; the case had been deferred on October 19, 2026, and another deferral was requested. Opponents urged denial of the deferral and of the rezoning. Councilman Hearst moved to defer to November 18, 2026, saying the applicant had invested millions and needed time to provide details and host building tours. Planning staff said the current C1 zoning would already allow uses including vape shops, tattoo parlors, retail, and package alcohol sales, while CAB1 is a restaurant zoning with a food-majority requirement. Hearst called CAB1 a downgrade, but another council member said CAB1 was an increase in use. The deferral motion carried on a roll-call vote. Item 2 – MCUP-1-26740, 9400-9500 Petit Road (Dirt Co.) Dirt Co. sought a major conditional use permit for an existing excavation operation. The applicant characterized it as a dirt pit rather than sand and gravel mining and said it had addressed complaints with a water truck, street sweeper, and a proposed 100-foot asphalt apron. Opponents disputed the applicant's record, noting prior citations and the absence of a parish permit. Planning staff said the operator had never held an MCUP and had received violation letters and stop-work orders in 2021 and 2025. Staff also described conditions that would apply if the MCUP were approved, including distance requirements, stormwater and drainage plans, a reclamation plan, a bond, and operating hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday with no Sunday operations. Councilman Kenny said he would vote to deny out of respect for residents' concerns, while another council member made a substitute motion to approve, citing the operator's steps toward compliance and floodplain benefits. The substitute motion to approve failed with six votes; the original motion to deny failed with five votes. As a result, no MCUP was granted. Other Items Heard and Decided - Items 3 and 4, 17060 Florida Boulevard: Plan amendment and rezoning from rural to light commercial 2 approved on motion by Councilman Moak, second by Councilwoman Amoroso. - Items 5 and 6, 17510 and 17590 Florida Boulevard: Plan amendment and rezoning from rural to heavy commercial 1 approved; the applicant stated the property would not access Old Hammond Highway. Motion carried. - Items 7 and 8: The Burbank Drive major street plan right-of-way width was reduced from 125 feet to no less than 100 feet, and the ISPUD-126 Hayday Baton Rouge high-density multifamily rezoning was approved. Motion carried. - Item 9, 536 Irene Road: Rezoning from rural to heavy industrial approved; no site plan was yet proposed. Motion carried. - Item 10, 7117 and 7127 Florida Boulevard: Rezoning from commercial alcoholic beverage bar/lounge to heavy commercial 2 approved. Motion carried. - Item 11, 7565 Jefferson Highway: Rezoning from light commercial to CAB1 approved. Motion carried. - Item 12, 228 West Chimes Street: The C2-to-CAB1 rezoning request was deleted on motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilman Hudson. - Unlabeled transcript item: A property on the south side of Hooper Road, west of Mickins, was approved on motion by Councilman Hearst, second by Councilman Moak. Key Outcomes - Deferred: Case 22-26, 979A Greenwell Springs Road, was deferred to the November 18, 2026 Metropolitan Council zoning meeting. - Not approved: MCUP-1-26740 was not approved; both the substitute motion to approve and the motion to deny failed. Councilwoman Amoroso asked to reconsider the item and expressed concern about putting a business out of business, but no formal motion for reconsideration was made before the council took a recess. - Approved: Items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and the unlabeled Hooper Road item were approved. Item 12 was deleted. - The council then took a five-to-ten minute recess to reset recording tapes before the next meeting.

The Baton Rouge Planning and Zoning Commission convened on October 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, a public hearing on the expansion of Murphy's Bar, and a conditional use permit for Discovery Baton Rouge School. Several items were approved, one was deferred, and one zoning case was continued to a future meeting. Consent Calendar - Approved Items (Items 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12): Routine rezoning and development plan approvals, all certified consistent with the comprehensive plan and unified development code. These were approved by a single vote with no objections. - Item 11 (CUP 726 – Discovery Baton Rouge Phase 3): Pulled from the consent agenda at the request of a member of the public and heard as a regular agenda item. Public Comments & Testimony - Item 4 – Murphy's Bar Expansion: Multiple speakers opposed the rezoning. Hannah Ordea, Quayne Douglas, Joshua, Attorney Hillary Robinson (representing Lotus), Presto Perez, Landon Smith, Terrence Cospin, Nanette Cospin, Angel Holoman, and Jeremy Shavis testified about excessive noise, trash, public intoxication, underage drinking, safety issues, and allegations of racial discrimination. The applicant, Ty Hingle, rebutted, stating Murphy's has a clean record with law enforcement and that he has invested in sound mitigation, security, and a good neighbor agreement with the adjacent property owner. - Item 11 – Discovery Baton Rouge School: Three neighbors (Bruce Ray, Kimmy Copso, Maurice Velasquez) spoke about traffic congestion, driveway blocking, drainage concerns, and requested a community meeting. The applicant, Alfredo Portillo, noted the site previously housed Runnels School (800 students) and that a traffic study and drainage mitigation plan are underway. Discussion Items Items 2 & 3 – PA 826 and Zoning Case 3626 (1850 Carolyn Sioux Drive) The applicant, Mark Gauther (representing Venice Carwash), requested a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning to Heavy Commercial (HC1) for a property adjacent to their existing headquarters. Staff recommended approval. No opposition. The commission approved the item unanimously. Item 4 – Zoning Case 3426 (Murphy's Bar, 268 & 254 West Chime Street) The applicant requested rezoning from Heavy Commercial (C2) and CAB2 to CAB2 to expand the bar. Ty Hingle described safety measures, noise controls, and a planned outdoor pavilion. Opponents described ongoing nuisances, including loud music until 2–3 a.m., trash, underage drinking, and a pattern of racial discrimination. Commissioners questioned the applicant about security, noise, and comparisons to a prior Lotus rezoning denial. The commission voted to approve the rezoning (motion by Commissioner Coleman, second by Commissioner Fowler). Item 5 – Zoning Case 3826 (8401 Greenwell Springs Road) The applicant did not appear. Councilman Hearst expressed opposition to any CAB2 in District 5. The commission deferred the item for 30 days (to November 16, 2026) on a motion by Commissioner Batts, seconded by Commissioner Fowler. Item 11 – CUP 726 (Discovery Baton Rouge Phase 3, 1725 South Harrells Ferry Road) The applicant proposed a 20,861 sq ft classroom building. Neighbors raised traffic and drainage concerns. The applicant noted that the site previously operated with 800 students and that a traffic study and floodplain mitigation plan are being developed. The commission deferred the item for 30 days (to November 16, 2026) to allow a community meeting and further review, with a motion by Commissioner Batts and second by Commissioner Coleman. Key Outcomes - Consent Calendar: Approved without objection (all items except 11). - Items 2 & 3 (Carolyn Sioux Drive): Approved unanimously. - Item 4 (Murphy's Bar): Approved (motion by Coleman, second by Fowler; no opposition recorded). - Item 5 (Greenwell Springs Road): Deferred for 30 days (to November 16, 2026). - Item 11 (Discovery Baton Rouge): Deferred for 30 days (to November 16, 2026) with a requirement for a community meeting. - Next Meeting: Scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2026. The planning office will be closed on November 11, 2026 for Veterans Day.

The Metro Council met on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM following a recognition ceremony. The meeting covered a wide range of routine and contested items, including a major debate on a $549,000 blight detection technology contract, a noise ordinance amendment, and a contested airport authority appointment. Several emergency items were also approved. Consent Calendar - Approved minutes of previous meetings (September 23, 2026 Metropolitan Council, Capital House EDD Board, and October 6, 2026 Airport Commission). - Introduced and approved multiple ordinances and resolutions, including a 2% sales tax for the Capital House Economic Development District, a cooperative endeavor with the state for $1 million in capital outlay for the Raising Caine's River Center, and personnel changes at community centers. - Condemnation introductions and DPW recommendations approved with modifications (items 46-52). - Approved a special election for Fire Protection District No. 6 (5-mill tax on April 17, 2027). - Authorized sale of surplus property for $6,500. - Appropriated $250,000 for USAR equipment for the fire department. - Approved amendments to CDBG, HOME, HOPWA, and ESG grants totaling $7,486,659.46 plus estimated program income. - Approved the Capital Region Area Flood Plain Task Force program for flood insurance credits. - Approved numerous other items including library contracts, blight-related fine increases (items 64-69), tire storage limits, settlement claims, and airport projects. Public Comments & Testimony - Jessica Converse (Item 56): Opposed the $196,000 amendment to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council contract, citing lack of transparency and unclear use of funds. She questioned if CJCC products are subject to public information requests. - Penny Landry (Item 59): Opposed the $549,000 City Detect contract, calling it "taxpayer abuse," questioning whether the company is local, and asking for citizen input before spending. - Jessica Converse (Item 59, again): Seconded opposition, calling it a gross misuse of public funding and noting that the city already has GIS capability; also expressed concern about surveillance technology and potential gentrification. - Penny Landry (Item 60-61): Opposed Ryan White HIV/AIDS funding items, urging the council to decline federal dollars and to include local match information on agenda items. - Tom Balhoff (Item 62): Supported the noise ordinance amendment, noting it provides objective decibel limits that will help curb late-night parties. - Robert Joiner (Item 62): Supported the concept but asked council to revisit decibel limits, arguing 60 dB daytime and 50 dB nighttime are too low (e.g., lawnmowers exceed 90 dB). - Penny Landry (Item 64-67): Supported all four items increasing fines for blight violations, saying it will deter violations. - Penny Landry (Items 79-84): Opposed the supplemental agreements (items 80-84) because the agenda lacked justification for the additional costs; requested a one-sentence explanation be required. - Joy Womack (Item 92): Spoke in favor of her own reappointment to the Airport Authority. - Diana Payton (Item 111): CEO of YWCA Greater Baton Rouge, explained the emergency item is a temporary lease of a vacant city building for their separate Head Start program, not a takeover of the city's program. Discussion Items - Item 56 – Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Contract Amendment: Council Members questioned Chris Sonka (CJCC Executive Director) and Kelly (Community Development) about the $196,000 extension. Sonka explained the funds are for the pretrial diversion and recovery program (opioid abatement funds). Council members requested detailed reporting on numbers served and budget transparency. The item passed after motion and second. - Item 59 – City Detect Blight Technology: A lengthy debate on a $549,000 contract (over 3.25 years) for AI-powered cameras on city vehicles to detect blight. Director Rachel presented the system, emphasizing it is not surveillance and only captures parcel data with faces/license plates blurred. Several council members (Hearst, Coleman,Kinney, Dunn Jr.) opposed, citing a $3 million backlog in blight abatement, concerns about replacing outreach workers, and privacy issues. Others (Hudson, Godet) supported the proactive data-driven approach. The administration ultimately withdrew the item. - Item 62 – Noise Ordinance Amendment: Councilman Moak proposed adding decibel thresholds for residential areas (60 dB day, 50 dB night) modeled after Lafayette and EPA recommendations. Police representative Neil noted they lack decibel readers and aquisition cost ($2,500-$5,000 each, need approx. 50). Councilman Hearst offered a friendly amendment to raise thresholds by 10 dB (to 70/60). The amendment passed over some concerns about enforcement and equiment. The amended orinance was approved. - Item 71 – Major Event Tax Rebate: Authorized a rebate of local sales/use taxes for two LSU events (March 4-6,2027) estimated to generate $1.8 million in local tax revenue with a $160,000 rebate. Jill Kidder from Visit Baton Rouge presented the economc impact (approx. $24 million total spend). Approved. - Item 92 – Airport Authority Appointment: A contested appointment between Joy Womack (incumbent) and Councilman Anthony Kenny. Multiple council members spoke for each. After a failed vote tie (5-5) and a motion to defer was made and passed. Later, Councilman Kenny moved to reconsider and himself moved to reappoint Joy Womack, which was approved unanimously. Ote councillors commended his selflessness. - Item 111 – YWCA Head Start Building Lease: Emergency item authoring a cooperive endeavor with YWCA for vacant building on Progress Road. YWCA CEO clarid it is a temporary lease (2 years) for their separate Head Start program (not city parish Head Start). Approved. Key Outcomes - Item 59 (City Detect): Withdrawn by the administration after debate; will be reconsidered after further data on grant opportunities is provided. - Item 62 (Noise Ordinance): Approved as amended (daytime 70 dB, nightime 60 dB). Enforcement will require purchase of decibel readers by police. - Item 92 (Airport Authority): Apointed Joy Womack (reappointment) after initial tie and subsequent reconsideration. - Item 111 (YWCA Lease): Approved as an emergency. - Item 114 (ianknown emerency item): Not declared an emergency; could not be heard. - Other items: All regular and emergency items not listed as contested were approved unanimously or with minimal opposition.

The regular meeting of the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board was held on September 28, 2026, with a quorum present. The board addressed routine approvals, discussed a new digital submission system for personnel action forms, accepted employment applications and test scores, and received an update on the board's upcoming office relocation. Consent Calendar - Approved the meeting agenda without modifications. - Approved the minutes from the August 24, 2026 meeting. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments were made during the public comment period. Discussion Items - Personnel Action Forms (PAFs) and New OSE Digital System: Chairman explained that the Office of State Examiner (OSE) is rolling out a new digital system that will replace hand-signed paper forms. OSE can now comment on PAFs before they reach the board. Two PAFs (for Sherwin Brooks and Blaine Nance) were flagged by OSE as incorrectly coded under "other" instead of "pay change," with instructions to reject and resubmit. Board member Bradley Briggs noted that historically these would have been rejected by OSE later anyway, but the new process allows early rejection. The board voted to reject those two PAFs and approve all other PAFs. - Fire Department Applications: The board reviewed and accepted applications for Hazardous Materials Chief and Fire Services and Supply Technician positions. - Police Captain Test Scores: Test scores from the police captain examination administered on August 27, 2026 were reviewed. Of the candidates, zero did not pass and two did not show. The scores were accepted. - Office Relocation Update: Ms. Harris provided an update on the board's move to a new building, likely to occur around the end of 2026 or early 2027. The building is an existing structure with internal build-out underway. The board discussed parking availability and a possible meeting space. Chairman requested designated parking spots for board staff and visitors. A site visit may be arranged. Key Outcomes - Motion to approve all PAFs except those for Sherwin Brooks and Blaine Nance, which were rejected, passed without opposition. - Motion to accept applications for Hazardous Materials Chief and Fire Services and Supply Technician passed. - Motion to accept police captain test scores passed. - No formal action was taken on the office relocation, but staff will coordinate on parking and potential site visit. Additional Notes - Board member Bradley Briggs humorously noted that he had not been called by name accurately during roll call. - The meeting was adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.

The Metropolitan Council of Baton Rouge convened on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, beginning with special presentations and proceeding to the regular meeting. The Council recognized Junior Achievement, celebrated District 2 youth, proclaimed September 25th as Dolly Day in Baton Rouge, and engaged in substantial debate over a resolution to study deconsolidation of the City of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish. Special Presentations - Councilmember Rowdy Goday recognized Paula Dawson, Executive Director of Junior Achievement, and Board Chair Sonella. Council staff member Sharonica shared a personal testimony about how Junior Achievement impacted her life during her freshman year of high school. A four-minute video highlighted programs including BizTown and Finance Park, hosted at the Jewel Newman Community Center. Dawson noted that volunteers and funding are the two biggest needs of any nonprofit, particularly Junior Achievement. - District 2 youth Holland Quist and Josiah were recognized for their achievements connected to the City of Baker's annual Buffalo Festival, with family members invited to the front for a group photo. - The Council proclaimed September 25th as Dolly Day in Baton Rouge, honoring Dolly Parton's philanthropy, including her children's book program. The reading cited Parton's hope to be remembered more for her books than her looks. - A separate recognition was made regarding independence for all students, not just those with exceptionalities, with an announcement of an upcoming school assembly where attendees can tour the campus and meet students. Consent Calendar - The Council approved the minutes of the Metropolitan Council meeting of September 9, 2026, and the Metropolitan Council zoning meeting of September 16, 2026, as submitted by the Council Administrative Treasurer. Public Comments & Testimony - One email comment was received in opposition to item 103. - One email comment was received in opposition to items 106, 107, and 112. - One email comment was received in opposition to item 116. - One email comment was received in opposition to item 118. - One email comment was received in opposition to item 100, which amends the nuisance ordinance regarding police notification to the mayor and additional city parish departments. - Andrew Hunley, Executive Director of the Louisiana Parole Project, presented on a proposed reentry program. Discussion Items - Deconsolidation Study Resolution: Councilmembers extensively debated a resolution to create a committee to study deconsolidation of the City of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish. Councilmember Dunn argued the vehicle for the study is the wrong one and implored the Council not to support the item, suggesting a future proposal could accomplish the same goal. Dunn stated the report should include separation of city and parish revenues and expenses, sample annual budgets for both the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge, and a recommendation on the stability of both entities if deconsolidation were to occur. - Councilmember noted that some information requested is considered sensitive by the finance department and the parish attorney's office and should not be discussed in the public forum. Another councilmember stated that if the Council cannot do the work with capacity, it should find an independent source with the capacity and expertise to do the work. - An amendment was offered from the floor to change the composition of the committee to designate a resident of the unincorporated area of East Baton Rouge Parish rather than only a resident of the City of Baton Rouge. The proposed committee structure includes the Baker Mayor or designee, the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President or designee, three Metropolitan Council members, and a resident designated by the Council. One councilmember expressed concern about representation, stating "if we're gonna make up a committee, we ought to figure out by population or by some other mechanism." - Councilmember noted that if the unincorporated representative does not correctly represent what their municipality wants, that municipality can select another person, and that the one unincorporated representative would need to come back before the full Council to address concerns. Another councilmember stated the public wants answers about what deconsolidation would look like, and that no one knows each district better than its councilmember. - The resolution includes a severability clause providing that if any portion is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder continues in effect. - Nuisance Ordinance (Item 100): The item amends Title 12 regarding police notification to the mayor of nuisances, changing the section title and adding additional city parish departments as reporting agencies. One email comment in opposition was received. - Airport Authority: A councilmember noted that the new airport authority, which was extracting itself from East Baton Rouge Parish, was going into effect October, and observed that the Baton Rouge Metro Airport is unique compared to other airports. - Violence Prevention: Councilmembers discussed contracts for violence prevention, expressing the need to clarify expectations. A councilmember referenced holding a focus group with fathers and sons just days after a mall shooting, and a subsequent Sunday meeting at a facility in South Baton Rouge. The councilmember cautioned that skewed statistics can come from coroner's office reports or parish-wide reports, while city limits data from the Baton Rouge Police Department tells a specific story. The Office of Violence Prevention has had both success and issues in the past. A strike team assessment interview with Louisiana Works was scheduled for the following week. - Louisiana Parole Project: Executive Director Andrew Hunley explained the program targets a critical gap after the first month of re-entry when someone comes home, before they begin employment. The structured work program would have participants working in the community on blight and beautification to build work skills while seeking permanent employment. Key Outcomes - Minutes from the September 9 and September 16, 2026, meetings were approved. - An item regarding penalties and fines for violations by the development director was introduced for public hearing at a special meeting on September 30, 2026. - A project sponsor committed to an additional two cents of sales tax and occupancy tax to retire $55 million in debt even sooner. - The Council proclaimed September 25, 2026 as Dolly Day in Baton Rouge. - The Council scheduled a strike team assessment interview with Louisiana Works for the following week regarding violence prevention efforts.

The Capitol House Economic Development District Board of Commissioners met on September 23, 2026, to consider three resolutions related to the establishment of new taxes within the district, including a 2% sales and use tax and a 2% hotel occupancy tax, as well as a cooperative endeavor agreement. All motions carried unanimously. Discussion Items - Resolution of Intent to Levy and Collect New Taxes: The board considered and approved a resolution expressing intent to levy and collect a 2% sales and use tax on retail sales, use, lease, rental, consumption, and storage of tangible personal property and on sales of services, as well as a 2% hotel occupancy tax within the district boundaries. The motion was made by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Hudson, and carried without opposition. - Resolution to Authorize Public Notices for the New Tax: The board approved a resolution authorizing the required notices of intent to levy the new tax, including publication in The Advocate and written notice to the Metropolitan Council, State Representative Teddy Landry Jr., and Congressman Cleo Fields, in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes. Commissioner Adams made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Coleman, and it passed unanimously. - Resolution to Enter into an Amended and Restated Cooperative Endeavor Agreement: The board approved a resolution authorizing the district to enter into an amended and restated cooperative endeavor agreement among the district, the City of Baton Rouge, the Parish of East Baton Rouge, the Capitol House Taxing District, and North Shore Resorts BR LLC. The motion was made by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Amarosa, and carried unanimously. Key Outcomes - All three resolutions (Items 1, 2, and 3) were approved unanimously by the board. - Item 4 (scheduling the next meeting) was deferred pending completion of advertisement requirements, with no action taken. - The meeting was adjourned following a motion by Commissioner Amarosa.