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Record of Proceedings

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council Meeting - December 10, 2025: Recognitions, Student Engagement, and Budget Approvals

Metropolitan Council — Wednesday, December 10, 2025
BodyBaton Rouge, Louisiana
SessionMetropolitan Council
DateWednesday, December 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:30:59

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Welcome everybody to the presentation portion of our Metropolitan Council meeting this December 10th, 2025.

0:09

And Merry Christmas to everybody.

0:10

We're going to begin with a um presentation by Mayor President Sid Edwards to recognize restaurants who participated in the Table for All initiative.

0:18

Mayor.

0:19

Good afternoon.

0:19

What a great initiative.

0:20

I've got to give credit to Chase Lynn Grant here who came up with this concept during a tough time in our community.

0:27

And a table for all is this it's God's work.

0:30

It was a beautiful thing to help feed our community.

0:34

And I think a lot of people wish we just do it year-round.

0:38

A lot of people got a lot of good food.

0:40

And we want to recognize the restaurants and the people that made this happen, uh, this beautiful thing.

0:46

And I'm a call them all, but I like them to come up, you know, one at a time and come up here and gather.

0:52

But uh there may be some folks who aren't here, but I want their at least their restaurant to be heard.

0:57

Uh Odom's Kitchen, Tray's Street Kitchen.

1:12

K-O-K wings and things.

1:19

It got to be known that Chase Chaselin visited all these restaurants every day and brought food back, and that's why the pants are a little tight.

1:30

Bullfish Bistro.

1:38

Southern Classic Chicken.

1:46

Deerman's Diner.

1:54

Donuts, coffee, and burgers, and I had one of each.

2:06

And salad station.

2:13

Chicken shack.

2:17

I had I looked, I had a little chicken shack, but not enough.

2:22

And uh I told him, man, you need to come on back.

2:26

Southern style bistro.

2:33

The Golden Corral.

2:40

Pastime.

2:45

The Smoky Pit.

2:51

Dr.

2:52

Feel Good.

2:54

Now you see, Dr.

2:55

Feel Good is health food.

2:57

I eat some of that too.

3:00

Smokey Watson Barbecue.

3:06

And last but not least, ooh la pizza.

3:14

God bless y'all for doing this for our community.

3:17

And uh I want people to know when you go out to eat and you spend money, look to these people.

3:22

This is where you need to go.

3:23

These are the people who gave back.

3:25

So God bless you.

3:26

And if it's okay, we could get a picture right up front.

4:02

All right, let's get a big smile for everybody.

4:04

All right, good hold for each one.

4:09

Thank you all very much.

4:31

All right, we have a certificate of commendation here.

4:35

And uh this is a wonderful man.

4:37

We're gonna miss him very, very much.

4:40

He is retiring.

4:41

And uh much to the chagrin of uh all of the building and all of City Hall, and this man has done wonderful work.

4:50

He's gonna be hard to replace.

4:52

He's uh promised us he would visit from time to time when we call.

4:56

I don't know what he just promised, but we're uh Mr.

5:00

Romero, we are uh honored and privileged for all the work you have done for us and everything you do, and this is this honor is for Mr.

5:08

Eric Romero.

5:23

I get a turn.

5:24

I gotta do well, you'll stand up again in just a minute.

5:27

Uh on behalf of the council, we we've all had some interactions with Eric for sure.

5:31

Uh I'm proud to say I was a colleague of his for a few years, and so um so thank you, Mayor President, for allowing me to join you in this recognition.

5:39

What I would like to do actually, uh, because it'll make for better photographs, the team from IS can stand, please.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Public Works██████████10%
Public Safety█████████9%
Personnel Matters████████8%
Community Engagement████████8%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council Meeting - December 10, 2025: Recognitions, Student Engagement, and Budget Approvals

The Metropolitan Council met on December 10, 2025, for a presentation-heavy session featuring recognitions, public testimony from high school students, and approval of a wide range of agenda items including contracts, settlements, tax renewals, and appointments. The meeting opened with Mayor President Sid Edwards recognizing restaurants that participated in the "Table for All" initiative and presenting a certificate of commendation to retiring IT Director Eric Romero. Council members also recognized Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (119th anniversary), the Choctaw Marine Corps League Auxiliary (with statistics: 570 volunteer occurrences, 7,798 hours, over 14,000 miles in 10 months), Dr. Calvin Mackey (STEM NOLA/STEM Global Action), and Southern Lab AP Government students who asked questions and received responses from council members and the police chief. The regular council business included a consent calendar, introductions, condemnation recommendations, and votes on items 85 through 164.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of the Metropolitan Council meeting of November 25, 2025, the zoning meeting of December 3, 2025, and the Greater Baton Rouge Airport Commission meeting of December 2, 2025.
  • Introduced items 3 through 37 (ordinances, resolutions, condemnations) after a substitute motion to introduce all items failed (6 votes in favor, not enough), then the original motion passed with one opposed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Six students from Southern Lab’s AP Government class (field trip) asked questions and received responses: Jane Dominic asked how high schoolers can improve the city; Asusa asked about STEM programs for mechanical engineering; Mason Boyd asked about job training/internships; Caitlin (Kaylee) Williams asked about improving public spaces like parks; Kylie Bowie asked about addressing rising crime rates; Taylor Sby asked if council members would do workshops at schools. Chief of Police reported a 20% decrease in shootings compared to the same time last year.

Discussion Items

  • Recognition Presentations: Mayor Edwards recognized restaurants (Odom’s Kitchen, Tray’s Street Kitchen, K-O-K wings and things, Bullfish Bistro, Southern Classic Chicken, Deerman’s Diner, Donuts, coffee, and burgers, Salad Station, Chicken Shack, Southern Style Bistro, Golden Corral, Pastime, Smoky Pit, Dr. Feel Good, Smokey Watson Barbecue, ooh la pizza). Eric Romero was recognized for 30 years of IT service. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity received a certificate for 119 years. Choctaw Marine Corps League Auxiliary (19 members) received recognition. Dr. Calvin Mackey received a certificate for STEM work. Students engaged in Q&A.
  • Item 115 – Police Chief Legal Services Contract: Councilman Noble proposed a motion to approve at $75,000 with notification at 50% utilization (two-thirds of that amount). Chief Morris argued for the full $150,000, citing 60 disciplinary hearings, 450 suspension days, two terminations, and increased appeals due to union’s national insurance funding unlimited legal challenges. After debate, a substitute motion to approve $150,000 with notification at $75,000 (50%) was passed by roll call (10-1, Councilwoman Harris opposed).
  • Item 133 – Animal Control Services Agreement with St. George: Councilman Dunn requested deletion pending resolution of details and unpaid services; item deleted by motion.
  • Habitat for Humanity Report: CEO Richie Goebel presented that since 1989, Habitat has built 426 single-family homes and repaired 130 homes. Since 2008, $4.7 million in HOME grants helped build 49 homes; CDBG funds helped 45 critical home repairs. Last year’s activities generated $7.6 million in economic activity. Property values in Scotlandville rose 20% after Habitat investment.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved items 85-164 with majority support, including:
    • Items 87-89: Canvassing returns for special elections (library tax extension/rededication, mosquito abatement/rodent control tax extension, council on aging tax extension) – all approved.
    • Settlements: Item 90 ($16,000 for BRFD auto accident), Item 91 ($13,500 for BRPD auto accident), Item 92 ($41,430.63 for Valentine suit) – all approved.
    • Airport contracts (items 93-103) – approved after clarification that airport funds are enterprise, not general fund.
    • Budget supplement (item 104) – approved.
    • CDBG disaster recovery amendment (item 105) – approved with explanation of priority changes (food access and plank road lighting).
    • Glen Oak Security Dads contract (item 106) – $75,000 state funds from Senator Regina Barrow’s allocation, approved.
    • Film commission contracts (items 111-112) – approved; Councilwoman Adams noted $2 million in projects came to parish.
    • Police chief legal services (item 115) – approved $150,000 with 50% notification.
    • Various police, community development, environmental, transportation, landfill, and audit contracts (items 116-142, 148-164) – all approved.
  • Condemnation recommendations (items 58-84): Proceed with 61, 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 80, 81, 82, 83; 30 days on 62, 65, 77, 78; 60 days on 60, 64, 66, 72, 73; 90 days on 67; delete 58, 59, 63, 68, 79, 84 – motion carried.
  • Appointments: Brad Canova (Board of Adjustment), Claudia Fisher (Cheneyville Volunteer Fire District), Dr. Rebecca De Jesus Crespo (Mosquito Abatement District), Nathan Lamar Sr. (Gas Utility District No. 1), Spencer Maxie (Planning/Zoning Commission, defeating substitute for Evan Scrogs).
  • Emergency items (161-164): Airport governance contract, intergovernmental agreement with 911 communications district, special election for Fire Protection District No. 6 (May 16, 2026), and Habitat for Humanity report – all approved.
  • Reconsideration on condemnation items 71 and 74 granted for 60 days.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome everybody to the presentation portion of our Metropolitan Council meeting this December 10th, 2025. And Merry Christmas to everybody. We're going to begin with a um presentation by Mayor President Sid Edwards to recognize restaurants who participated in the Table for All initiative. Mayor. Good afternoon. What a great initiative. I've got to give credit to Chase Lynn Grant here who came up with this concept during a tough time in our community. And a table for all is this it's God's work. It was a beautiful thing to help feed our community. And I think a lot of people wish we just do it year-round. A lot of people got a lot of good food. And we want to recognize the restaurants and the people that made this happen, uh, this beautiful thing. And I'm a call them all, but I like them to come up, you know, one at a time and come up here and gather. But uh there may be some folks who aren't here, but I want their at least their restaurant to be heard. Uh Odom's Kitchen, Tray's Street Kitchen. K-O-K wings and things. It got to be known that Chase Chaselin visited all these restaurants every day and brought food back, and that's why the pants are a little tight. Bullfish Bistro. Southern Classic Chicken. Deerman's Diner. Donuts, coffee, and burgers, and I had one of each. And salad station. Chicken shack. I had I looked, I had a little chicken shack, but not enough. And uh I told him, man, you need to come on back. Southern style bistro. The Golden Corral. Pastime. The Smoky Pit. Dr. Feel Good. Now you see, Dr. Feel Good is health food. I eat some of that too. Smokey Watson Barbecue. And last but not least, ooh la pizza. God bless y'all for doing this for our community. And uh I want people to know when you go out to eat and you spend money, look to these people. This is where you need to go. These are the people who gave back. So God bless you. And if it's okay, we could get a picture right up front. All right, let's get a big smile for everybody. All right, good hold for each one. Thank you all very much. All right, we have a certificate of commendation here. And uh this is a wonderful man. We're gonna miss him very, very much. He is retiring. And uh much to the chagrin of uh all of the building and all of City Hall, and this man has done wonderful work.

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