Metropolitan Council Meeting - November 12, 2025
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Metropolitan Council Meeting - November 12, 2025
The Metropolitan Council of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish met on November 12, 2025, to conduct regular business, including recognition of veterans, approval of multiple contracts and budgets, and a lengthy debate on the creation of a new Economic Development District for the Plank Road corridor.
Presentation & Recognition
- Veterans Month Proclamation: Elena Branzera, Chair of the Mayor's Advisory Council on Veteran Affairs, thanked the council for recognizing veterans and their families. She presented the proclamation declaring November as Veterans Month, signed by 12 council members.
- Individual Veteran Recognitions: Council members from various districts called up veterans and read certificates honoring their service. Notably, Councilman Hearst recognized District 5 veterans; Councilwoman Adams recognized eight veterans including Lt. Col. Evita Mascueta and Major Lucas Culver; and Chief of Staff Lon Vickner was honored by the entire council. The council also recognized Leslie Nicholson for preserving the USS Kidd.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: Approved minutes of October 22 and November 5 meetings.
- Condemnations: Introductions of condemnation items 2-17 passed. For recommendations (items 40-63), the council voted to proceed with 41-44, 49-50, 53-55, 57-58, 60-62, with 30-day delays on 45, 48, 52, 62; 60-day on 49; 90-day on 46, 47, 51, 59; and deletions of 40, 56, 63.
- Approvals Without Debate: Items 65, 66, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 104-110 (change orders), 111-113 (final acceptances), 114 (low bid), 116-118 (low bids) were all approved by voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 64 (Sewer bond refunding): Penny May Landry requested deferral until after the 2026 budget adoption. The item was deferred.
- Item 74 (Airport jet bridge maintenance): Penny May Landry spoke against supplemental contracts, arguing they reward underbidding. Councilman Dunn questioned staff; the item was approved.
- Item 87 (Delmont EDD): Over 20 speakers commented. Supporters included Kai McFoling (Southern University student), Tyra Banks, Chief TJ Morris (BRPD), District Attorney Hiller Moore (via Kyla Romanack), Christopher Richard, Tanya Jones, Jarvis Lewis (LA Chamber of Commerce), Dietrich Moore, Journey Taylor (Capitol High student), Wade Evans, Brendan Bennett, Martha Davis, Lori Malassa (BR Economic Partnership), Chris Meyer (Baton Rouge Area Foundation), Shoshone Stewart (School Board President), Ricky McKenzie, Mayor Sid Edwards, and others. They argued the EDD would reduce crime, attract businesses, and provide jobs. Speaker Gary Chambers opposed, suggesting the existing North Baton Rouge EDD should be strengthened instead. Another speaker raised concerns about the lack of an economic driver and potential displacement of low-income residents.
- Item 120 (Concert tax rebate): Jill Kidder (Visit Baton Rouge) presented the economic impact (estimated $30 million per concert) and explained the 2% rebate mechanism. No public opposition; council approved.
Discussion Items
- Item 67 (2026 Budget): No action taken; recessed to December 9, 2025.
- Item 69 (Custom Metal Works ITEP): Council discussed three options: defer to Board of Commerce and Industry, recommend action, or negotiate settlement. Councilman Dunn noted the company made capital investment but did not create jobs due to COVID. Motion passed to defer to the board.
- Item 74 (Airport jet bridge): Discussed need for maintenance contract; approved.
- Item 86 (Violence Prevention Research Evaluator): Dr. Juan Bartholomew's contract for $75,000 was approved. Councilman Moak requested quarterly performance reports.
- Item 87 (Delmont EDD): Presentation by Diedra Deculus Robert (Build EBR) detailed how EDDs work and proposed a 2% sales tax for the Plank Road corridor (estimated $18.3 million over 10 years). Council heard concerns about board structure (unelected board levying taxes) and lack of a major economic driver. Councilman Hearst emphasized community support and potential for small business growth. Councilman Moak moved to defer to allow restructuring under council guidance; motion carried unanimously.
- Item 120 (Concert Tax Rebate): Emergency resolution approved to rebate 2% of sales tax on tickets, concessions, and parking for two major concerts at Tiger Stadium in 2026. Councilwoman Rocka confirmed no financial risk if concerts cancel.
Appointments & Administrative Matters
- Film Commission: Reappointed Laurie Adams and Brandon Noel.
- Volunteer Fire Department: Reappointed Donald Weatherspoon (District 3) and Pierre Rezan/Wesley Tucker (District 8).
- BREC Commission: Appointed Michael Polito (City of Baton Rouge), Marshall Ortego (City of Baton Rouge), Dr. Murrell Harrison (unincorporated area), and Collis Temple III (at-large).
- Downtown Development District: Reappointed Philip Jordan.
- Adjudicated Property: Items A and B introduced after waiving rules.
Key Outcomes
- Deferred: Items 64 (sewer bonds), 67 (budget), 87 (Delmont EDD) to November 25, 2025.
- Sent to State Board: Item 69 (Custom Metal Works ITEP) deferred to Board of Commerce and Industry.
- Approved: All consent items, change orders, final acceptances, low bids, appointments, and the concert tax rebate (Item 120).
- Statistics highlighted: Plank Road area has 40.7% poverty rate, median household income $26,301, and 62,000 residents within 3 miles. The EDD could generate $1.8 million annually. The two concerts are expected to bring over $60 million in total visitor spending.
Adjournment
The meeting was extended by motion and adjourned after completing all business.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everybody to the presentation portion of our council meeting this November 12, 2025. We have the uh mayor's chair of the advisory council on veterans' affairs for a presentation. Good morning, good evening, Council members, and uh happy November. I'm very pleased to be here. My name is Elena Branzera. I'm the chair of the Mayor's Advisory Council on Veteran Affairs, and I want to tell you on behalf of myself as a Marine Corps veteran and all the veterans and the active duty members that are sitting behind us. I'd like to tell you thank you so much in advance for continuing to recognize them, their service and their sacrifice, and also their contributions to our local community and to uh partnerships with the mayor's advisory council, Metro Council, the mayor's office, and the state, because together when we work the way that we are working, we truly can celebrate the people that are behind us and look at their contributions as meaningful. I'd also like to thank you for the proclamation in honor of Veterans Month. Where with 12 signatures, the City of Aton Rouge honors the strength and sacrifices of the families, caregivers, and survivors of our veterans and our current service members. And whereas tours of duty, deployment, and rotations are difficult for our military and their families. We marvel at the devotion of military families and their resilience to uproot their lives every few years and to move to a new community. Whereas to be a veteran or a service member is to have endured and survived challenges. Most Americans will never know. Families who put their lives on the line and on hold so that our military can hold the line to represent the best of America, and we will always remember what they do for our nation. Now be it resolved that we, Metropolitan Council members of the City of Baton Rouge and the Paris of East Baton Rouge, do hereby honor and recognize the month of November as Veterans Month. In witness thereof, we here to set our hand in the official signature and cause this day, November 12th, 2025. Council members, thank you so much for what you do. I'd like to first recognize by district the members that are here, and I'd like to start with District 2, Anthony Kinney to recognize your veterans, please. First off, we have Mr. Jeffrey Charles Gray. Um he was a communication specialist in United States Army. Um I like to bring him on up. Let's give Mr. Gray a round of applause. Next up, Mr. Warren A. Reese, a retired senior chief petty officer, E8 Mind Man. Let's give him a round of applause. All right, next up, Mr. Lonnie Ron, E5, United States Army. And last but certainly not least, Miss Brenda Rogers, Sergeant United States Army. So to these four distinguished veterans, as we celebrate you all today for your service and leadership to our great country. Isn't it with gratitude and recognition of your years of service in United States Army, your courageous dedication, sacrifice are commendable, and we are forever indebted for all that you have given to protect our freedom in our nation. Thank you for your service. Next, we'd like to uh recognize Councilmember Rowdy Goday, District Three with his veterans. I'll welcome up and please, family, y'all come and join him. I'll I'd welcome y'all uh to come and surround him. Camera shy, they're camera shy, camera shy. Uh thank you, Councilmembers. I'll read a little bit from the um the certificate uh that Mr. Marcus or Sergeant Barnadez is going to receive today uh in recognition of his honorable service uh to the United States Army, faithfully serving as a sergeant, voluntary voluntarily enlisting in 1972, receiving his honorable discharge in 1979 during his service. Uh he served as a 74 Delta computer machine operator, stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and also traveling to bases to locations including Germany, Korea, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Fort Polk here in Louisiana. His commendations include the National Defense Service Medal, awarded awarded for continuous active military service during designated conflict periods, and the Good Conduct Medal, denoting three years of continuous exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity. Following his service, Sergeant Barnadez continued his commitment to our nation by serving voluntarily in the U.S. Army Reserves for an additional year. After his military career, he continued serving this community through education, retiring in 2019 as an associate horticultural professor at the Baton Rouge Community College, and a longtime and very proud resident of the Guardian community. He certainly exemplifies service, leadership, and dedication to others. Kind of nervous the long-tailed cat in a room for the rocking chairs. Then I left my glasses and I had to bore out somebody else's glasses, so that's two strikes, so let me see, let me get the dirty one. No strikes, okay.
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