East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council Meeting - September 10, 2025
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East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council Meeting - September 10, 2025
The Metropolitan Council of East Baton Rouge Parish convened on September 10, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The meeting opened with a proclamation recognizing September 10, 2025, as World Suicide Prevention Day, presented by Dr. Yolanda Burnett-Langford on behalf of Mayor-President Theodore Edwards. The council then proceeded to approve numerous routine items, discuss funding for the District Attorney's office, and vote on settlements and appointments.
Consent Calendar
- Adoption of minutes from the August 27, 2025 meeting (motion carried).
- Introduction of 37 items (Section 2.12 introductions) including condemnations, adjudicated properties, and routine resolutions (motion carried).
- Condemnation recommendations: 19 items approved to proceed, 7 items deferred (2 weeks, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days), and 3 items deleted (motion carried).
- Items 81-104: Cooperative endeavor agreement with school system for SROs, grant application for underage drinking enforcement, demolition contracts, airport management services, purchasing allotment amendments, contract amendments for community development, and multiple subrecipient contracts for health services (all passed unanimously).
- Item 105: Resolution for $52 million road and street improvement sales tax revenue refunding bonds (passed).
- Items 107-109: Rescinding condemnation orders for properties where owners obtained permits or properties were abated (passed).
- Items 113-115: Sale of surplus lots (passed).
- Administrative matters: Rescinding and re-awarding a contract for O'Hammond Highway, extending a landscaping contract, and accepting a low bid for a bike trail (all passed).
- Appointments: Gerald King to CATS board, Todd Sterling to Fire and Police Civil Service Board, Karen Sonyat to Visit Baton Rouge board (passed).
- Change orders and low bid acceptances for various projects (all passed).
- Emergency items 126-131: Amendments to subrecipient contracts, a change order for traffic calming, construction inspection services, and polling place changes (all passed unanimously).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jennifer Carwill (Criminal Justice Coordinating Council) spoke on item 106. She noted that the public defender's office represents 85% of cases but has a budget of $1.1 million compared to the DA's $8.2 million, urging parity. She also raised broader concerns about public safety funding, including the future of the juvenile detention center and parish prison, and questioned how the city will meet pressing needs given budget deficits.
Discussion Items
- Item 106 – Appropriating $825,800 from general fund for DA's office: Council members discussed the need for balanced funding. Councilman Hearst supported the allocation, noting it helps fast-track cases and reduce jail overcrowding. Councilwoman Rocka emphasized the importance of funding both DA and public defender offices, and that the Thrive plan will let voters decide on tax rededication. Finance Director Angie (last name not given) stated the amount is to maintain current operations, not expand. Councilman Dunn Jr. invited DA Hiller Moore and Public Defender Kyler Romanoff to the mic. Romanoff explained that Orleans Parish mandates 85% parity between DA and public defender funding, and Baton Rouge lacks that. Moore stated he supports adequate funding for the public defender and noted that Baton Rouge historically underfunds both offices compared to Orleans and Jefferson. He also mentioned the DA's office lost 20 lawyers to the Attorney General's office due to higher pay. Councilman Mo asked about state funding warrants; Moore explained that Baton Rouge receives 55 warrants at $50,000 each, while Orleans has 88 and Jefferson has 55 but with a larger budget. The item was approved (motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilwoman Rocka).
- Item 110 – Settlement in Kiana Fisher v. City of Baton Rouge ($30,276): Objection noted. Roll call vote: 8 yeas, 4 nays (Councilman Adams, Rocka, Noel, Amorosa voted no). Motion carried.
- Item 111 – Settlement in Bobby Hardin v. City of Baton Rouge ($22,500): Objection noted. Roll call vote: 8 yeas, 4 nays (same as above). Motion carried.
- Item 112 – Settlement in Chaquetta James et al. v. Parish of Baton Rouge ($602,651.55): Council moved into executive session to discuss. After reconvening, motion to approve passed with Councilwoman Rocka abstaining.
Key Outcomes
- Item 106 (DA funding): Approved. The $825,800 appropriation will maintain current operations.
- Items 110 and 111 (Settlements): Both approved with 8-4 roll call votes.
- Item 112 (Settlement): Approved after executive session, with one abstention.
- Appointments: Gerald King (CATS), Todd Sterling (Fire and Police CSB), Karen Sonyat (Visit Baton Rouge) all confirmed.
- All other items (consent calendar, introductions, condemnations, contracts, etc.) were approved unanimously or with no recorded opposition.
- Emergency items 126-131: All declared emergencies and approved without opposition.
Meeting Transcript
Three, two, one question. Welcome everybody to the presentation portion of our meeting this September 10th, 2025. Mayor President Theodore Edwards office is going to recognize East Baton Rouge Parish School System One Care for National National Suicide Prevention Day. Sorry. Good afternoon, Council members. I am Dr. Yolanda Burnett, Langford Chief Service Officer for Mayor Edwards. And on behalf of Mayor President Emil Sid Edwards, I'm honored to recognize today, September 10th, as World Suicide Prevention Day in East Baton Rouge Parish and the City of Baton Rouge. This proclamation affirms our shared commitment to awareness, compassion, and early intervention. We appreciate your efforts and the work you do to promote mental health in our community. Today we pay special tribute to the eye care team from East Baton Ridge Parish School System under the leadership of Mrs. Aaron Bradford and the stewardship of Superintendent Lamont Cole, along with school board member Emily Suleigh. Their unwavering commitment to prevention, education, crisis response, and student support in our schools is truly commendable. The work not only saves lives, but also strengthens families and serving as a shining example for all of us. Let today be a call to action. Your actions make a difference. Whereas organizations, health professionals, advocates, and survivors in East Baton Rouge Parish are working tirelessly to spread the message that help is available and recovery is possible. Whereas the City of Baton Rouge is committed to supporting mental health initiatives, encouraging open conversations, and ensuring residents know that no one has to face their struggles alone. Whereas we must join as a community to offer compassion, connection, and care, reminding every person that their life matters and that they are never alone. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge do hereby proclaim September 10th, 2025 as World Suicide Prevention Day. At this time, I would like to invite up Miss Aaron Bradford, School Board Member Emily Suleigh, and their entire team. With eye care, I am in charge of the Suicide Prevention Month, which is the month of September. And about three years ago, the committee that I'm part of started to think of ways that we could represent or or encourage our students to understand that their uniqueness is amazing and that we should respect everybody for who they are and to be able to provide them resources that if they are feeling alone, where they can go and who they can go to and who they can talk to. So that's how Sunshine Day actually got started. It is a passion of mine, and uh one reason why is because I lost my mom 16 years ago to suicide. So it's one of those things that I believe is very important that our young people know what to do if they're feeling sad or alone. So I just want to thank you so much for supporting us and for recognizing today, and hopefully I can challenge each of you to help me grow it in our parish to where we can every year bring more and more awareness of suicide prevention. Thank you. Come on back in recognition. There we go. All right. Thank you all so much. This concludes the presentation portion of our meeting, regular scheduled meeting again at four o'clock. You want to hit it one time? Hello, everybody. Good to see all of you. Welcome to the council meeting of East Bound Ridge Parish, September the 10th, 2025. And as always, I have to mention football because the Tigers of LSU are hosting the Florida Gators on Saturday night. Good luck to the Tigers. And guess where Southern's going? They're flying to California, and the Jaguars are going to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs. Good luck to the Jaguars and the Tigers. Good to have all of you watching. And at this time, here is the mayor, President Pro Tim of East Paton Ridge Parish, Councilman Brandon Noel. Councilman. Thank you, Dennis. Welcome everybody. Metropolitan Council meeting this Wednesday, September 10th, 2025. We're going to have the invocation by Ashley Beck, Council Administrative Treasurer, followed by the pledge by the Baton Rouge and St. George Fire Department Color Guard.
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