Metropolitan Council Meeting Summary – October 28, 2026

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.