East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council Meeting - October 14, 2026

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.