Like to call the meeting to order.

Please everyone have their seats.

Do we have any special intentions today?

Council Member Stagney.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to recognize in the audience uh councilwoman from Jefferson Parish, Arita Bohan.

She sends her one of her assistants to the meeting.

I don't know if it's a special liaison to Kentu Government, but I'd like him to stand up.

This is for Reed Handel, and he's a Kenner resident, and he's been uh he's been here for a while, I think.

Thank you for coming for yes, and he is at almost every council meeting, and uh, we appreciate your coming.

And I know Councilwoman Bohannon is in route and she has some things to say uh when she gets here.

Uh Councilwoman Dunn, will you lead us in prayer?

Father, in the name of Jesus.

Dear Masters, we come together once again this hour in the morning.

We just want to tell you thank you.

Lord the storm passed over, dear God.

Not because of our goodness, but only because of your mercy.

And dear master, even as we enter into the hurricane season, I pray for protection over this city.

And now, dear God, I pray for the mayor, the police chief, the fire chief, this administration, this council, the residents that makes up the city of Kenner.

I pray that you would bless all of us.

But dear God, I pray as we get into the business of handling the things of Kenner, that you would continue to give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that we may move forward in a positive way.

But do the things that is most of all pleasing in your sight, and that we would do things, dear God, that is right in your sight, and that is right to do for the residents of this counter of this city.

And dear master, through it all, we won't be so forgetful to give you all the praise, the glory and honor.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Thank you, Councilwoman Dunn.

Chief Connolly, will you lead us in the pledge?

Sure.

Please put your hand over your heart, repeat after me.

I please to the fly of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Chief Connolly.

Council Clerk.

Mr.

Chairman, you have a quorum.

Councilmember Reim is absent.

In accordance with Council Rule number B14550, please be advised that our cellular telephones and other devices of this nature must be deactivated or silenced throughout the council meeting.

Mr.

Chairman, we've received a request to change the order of business to take item 13A at the beginning of the meeting.

All council members, please vote.

Motion passes 60.

Item 13A is a resolution commending Natalie Tartaglia, Teresa Hastings, Kenneth George, and the Information Technology Department for their work on a new voting system for the City Council members.

I have a motion by Councilmember Stagney, seconded by Councilmember Brown again.

Councilmember Stagney.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

President uh George Brannigan and myself move this to the beginning of the meeting because the public out there and everybody in the audience is going to see a little bit different look with our voting system and behind the scenes the orderly asking and uh questioning that goes on.

So when I was on the council back in 2010, we had bought a new voting system.

That system cost 175,000.

I think uh Chief Conley remembers it, and there's some others here who remember it.

Then there was an update when I was not on the council.

I thought it was another 50 to 75,000.

And so after the last meeting, I mentioned to Council Clerk and her assistant that there's some technology out there that I believe that we could put a system in place at a low cost.

And I told her I would check with the state.

At the same time, she was having problems with her timer, and she mentioned to Kenneth George and our IT department that we would like to put in a voting system, and didn't say much more than that, but with his ingenuity and creativity, we all have iPads that we can request to speak.

Everyone's gonna see the voting that takes place, and all of that came at a price of zero dollars to the taxpayers of our city and zero dollars to our general fund.

So I wanted to do a commendation resolution uh honoring uh Natalie Tortaglia, Teresa Hastings, and Kenneth George for their help and support in making these council meetings uh better to view for our citizens and easier for us to handle and easier for our council president to recognize the speakers.

And uh Mr.

Mayor, if it's possible if we could put a copy of uh the resolution in each one of their per uh personnel files, uh I'd appreciate it.

But I'd ask for y'all's support, and I'm glad to have this so we can all do a little bit better job for the public.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilman Stagney.

And uh I also appreciate this system.

It's pretty neat.

So if I uh miss somebody or something happens, I apologize before it happens.

But thank you for getting it done.

Thank you uh to our IT department, the whole IT department.

Uh Candace runs a great uh department, and we're very lucky to have him.

Okay.

Um's take your vote.

You want to speak?

Councilmember McKinney.

It only works if you look at the screen, George.

It was it was it was empty.

It was not.

Um anyway, I just I'm excited to uh use this technology.

I think that we've been should have done this years ago.

Uh it may it's gonna make for a much more orderly meeting.

Thank you for to Kenneth and uh Natalie and Teresa for your efforts.

Um I'm excited to get into the 21st century again.

Um and of course I'm in support.

And I'd like to be added to the the legislation.

Absolutely.

Yes.

Be glad to.

Anybody else would like to be added to the legislation?

Yes.

Okay.

We'll we'll amend it to reflect all council members.

Thank you.

Mayor Glazer.

Council members, please vote.

Start vote.

Motion passes 6-0.

Next we have correspondence reports from the mayor, CAO, a department heads.

Mayor Glazer.

It's like a kid with a new toy, sorry.

Don't cut me off.

All right.

A couple of brief comments.

Still not here.

Uh yesterday.

Okay.

Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish Council meeting, uh, I was able to comment on two two topics.

Uh, the one, I guess, for the the public transit riding uh members of the community to Kenner Loop.

There's gonna be uh a little history.

Four years ago when I took office, uh we were trying to get some changes made to the Kenner Loop, because it's kind of crazy to me that public transit does not have a stop at the Social Security Office and at a hospital and medical center.

Uh so working through it, uh learned that you really just can't bow out.

There was no mechanism for Kenner to get out of you know the the RTA.

Went through the parish council, then through uh then rep stagney's uh legislation to give us an avenue to get out and Jefferson Jeff Transit now runs it.

And it's been we were able to get the two stops added.

Uh I didn't know much about the operations of of the Kenner Loop until I uh you started looking into it, and the best way to figure out how something works or doesn't work is to actually ride the bus.

And that's when we learned that if you're not from here and don't know what the street names and all that stuff, the large majority of these bus stops in Canada had no signage.

It was just a poll.

The signs were broken off, or just you know, broken in half.

Uh so we we identified that.

Now, if you go look, it's all nice.

Uh but it still took an hour and 20 minutes to make a loop.

If you wanted to go to the grocery store, that's some of the complaints and comments from the bus riders we had is if you go get groceries, your ice cream is halfway melted by the time you get home.

Uh so looking into it, we moved a bus stop.

We used to be right here on minor one block over to keep those big buses from weaving in and out of so many small streets in Rivertown.

And it just took too long.

So there's gonna be a a change to it.

One bus is going to be dedicated to Williams Boulevard.

It's just gonna run up and down Williams Boulevard.

It's gonna be much more efficient.

One of them is gonna continue a modified loop, but it's gonna lose the northwest corner of of Kenner, which is the two-lane and uh West Loyola area north of West Esplanade, and it's gonna become a lift zone.

Like if residents there want it, they can call a lift in the parish will pay for it, it'll bring them from the house to their nearest bus stop or transfer station.

So this is all being uh I think it starts Sunday.

Yes, so it starts Sunday.

All the information is on the Jefferson Parish transportation.

You can get it through our website under transportation, public transit, and all the information is is uh on the Jefferson Parish website.

We also have printed stuff all through some of our resource centers here in Kenner, and there is an app that's going to be updated that the bus riders can have.

Uh so that's gonna be we think it's gonna be much more efficient.

It's gonna cut about 40 minutes off of that ride.

So is what they estimate, and the benefit we get is these large buses are going to be off of some of our streets, the ones that constantly uh run up and down some of these these streets.

You had a comment or question before I move on, yes.

Um I was with you on that on that bus ride.

I just have one question because I know that's been over three or four years ago.

What about the hospital auction?

Because that was one of the main things that the bus wouldn't turn around at the hospital, and that was a major um medical complex there.

So what's gonna happen?

No, it's still there.

It's still it'll still go, yeah, it'll still go to the hospital.

Going into the hospital.

They are now it'll still go to the hospital, yes.

Okay, because it made you if you go into a medical uh, I guess doctor's appointment or the hospital for some other reason.

You can't walk two and a half, three blocks from the the the nearest bus stop.

So that was one thing that had to be done.

So it was done, and the transfer from the the loop to the Williams Boulevard running up and down is going to be at 33rd in Williams.

So we'll see how that works out.

I'm still it's a wait and see for me.

So Councilman Stagney.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mayor, I want to thank you for going to Baton Rouge.

You and President uh Cynthia Shang testified on this bill.

It was surely needed, there was no way out.

But but I want to thank you also because you've taken a lot of time to make sure these stops work.

And I think the lift zone is something that uh they're doing in other areas of the country.

And and look, I think it's from curb to curb.

I'm not sure they transfer to another loop.

I think they go directly to their destination.

And if we can, maybe when we replay the meeting, we can put uh the website uh www.jp transit.org or the phone number 504 818 1077.

It was the only negative piece of information that I saw online that somebody made the comment that they would go up and down west east and west Loyola.

This is actually better for them than what they had in the in the past.

So I thank you for all your work.

That's correct.

Yes, and the ridership in that area isn't, you know, there's not a lot of demand, so this will work perfect for those people.

And yes, they do go curb to curb if it's within the lift zone is what I was told, unless something changed, they do it on Metary Road now.

So they have that area, they have an area in Jefferson Parish that is it's been up and uh it's been up and running.

And to move on, also at Wednesdays, Wednesdays Jefferson Parish Council meeting.

Um they took a procedural vote to start advertising or advancing the uh uh the amphitheater you know bid process.

So it's inching forward as we go.

So it's they'll have to do another one because of their layover in advertising uh timelines.

Uh so that's moving along.

We're gonna try to bring back the uh Hispanic Heritage Festival that was paused last year, and it's gonna be rebranded as BRASS A Latin Flavor Fest.

It's gonna be Saturday, September 12th, here in Rivertown from 5 p.m.

to 9 p.m.

Uh admission is free, so we'll see.

Give it another run over here.

Have a lot of interest in that already.

And since I know my office gets some phone calls, and I'm sure you get phone calls about uh our garbage pickup service.

We have some a representative of Waste Pro here.

If y'all have any questions, I might invite him up.

He can say a comment or two about uh you know their services and and some of the some of the issues with they've run into over the last couple of months, either with weather and our staffing.

Please state your name uh for the record.

Uh Terry Blackwood, division manager with Waste Pro.

Uh first off, uh Mr.

Mayor, Council members, I'd like to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak with you.

Uh it has come to our attention that you may have received some calls.

So I wanted to just reiterate what we're doing and where we're at.

So it has come to our attention.

The call volume has increased a little bit.

Generally we do see that with summer weather.

We have children that are home more, creating more debris.

But we have addressed that.

What we did internally, we did reevaluate our communication.

So what we did, we reevaluated our communication and how we get that information to our drivers to our office staff.

That way we can pick it up in a timely manner and close out the tickets on our end.

Just from your perspective, has there been anything in particular y'all are curious about?

Yes, sir.

Um I've received a lot of complaints.

Uh they haven't picked up my missed my street on Thursday and it was Sunday.

And so trash pickup again is Monday.

This happened in District 4.

And uh so you I don't I guess I'm trying to figure out why, or all of a sudden uh they're missing streets.

Like uh when you're in Chateau and Vintage, the the four quadrants, the Northwest Quadrant, uh on Chablis Drive and on Roan Drive, the garbage was not picked up last Thursday, but then it was picked up Monday.

So uh d I don't know if you got new drivers or what the deal is, but we have I have been getting calls about different spots, different streets being missed.

Yes, sir.

Yeah, no, and we are fortunate that we have a lot of growth within our company.

Uh we have been able to promote drivers that are doing very well.

Uh with that promotion, we also have to refill those positions.

So sometimes when you do bring on new drivers and refill a position, there's certain caveats to different addresses or streets that a new driver needs to learn and get familiar with.

So we did see some of that.

Um and I do recall uh the streets that that you're speaking of.

Um so we did review that with the driver.

Um sometimes addresses may put their cart on a side street, and those are things that the drivers will learn.

Uh we also reviewed the maps that we track them uh internally, and so as these new drivers are learning the area, the service routes, um you will see that has been improved.

Okay.

Yeah, because it was not just the house missed, it was the whole block was missed.

Correct.

Councilman Lahat.

Yeah, thank you for being here.

Um one thing I do get a lot of calls on is the bulk pickup situation as you mentioned.

Um the contract, I think we we district three is is pretty much all Wednesday and Saturday.

And I I think the bit the bulk pickup is on Saturday.

Now the common thing I get is that some of the residents call in and someone on the line says, well, they got to schedule the bulk pickup.

When I don't I don't think that's the case.

Y'all you'll automatically do it, but it's good to call and to remind them, but it it's automatic and it's it's also there's a little bit of contradictory information.

If you can explain that process for the public one more time, it'd be great.

Correct.

And I appreciate you bringing that up.

That was made to our attention.

So we have spoken with our representatives that are taking those phone calls.

So the way the bulk service works, every second collection, so that's um Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, we send the truck out to run the maps uh uh for the residents of that service state, and they automatically pick up the bulk wakes.

Now we do appreciate when a customer or resident does call in to pre-schedule it uh because it gives us the ability to make sure that we are pinpointing those addresses as well as running the streets in the neighborhood.

Okay.

So yes, it is automatically collected, uh, but we do appreciate call-ins as well.

Thank you, Senator.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Councilman Hatt.

Councilman McKinney.

Thank you, Council Chair.

Um, thank you for being here.

Um I'm the new uh district four councilperson.

Um I was previously the at large, but I'm getting a lot more complaints than as a as a uh district council person from trash.

Um last night they missed uh you know, missed a street.

I know that we followed up and it said that they went down, but they their residents that actually said that they went down the street, but they didn't pick anything up.

So I don't know how to verify that.

Um if they're still, you know, those are the kind of issues that we've been coming up, and I understand you know there are new people on the route and stuff like that.

It's just really important to us.

I mean, you know, I don't know if you know the history of trash contracts in the city of Kenner, but there's very little room for error among the residents.

So I've also gotten complaints about office staff when people do call in and report, oh, you know, they miss my block that they were complaining about that the office staff was rude.

Um and you know, like, oh, well, you just didn't put out your trash in time or something like that.

I think that those are the kind of things customer service to me is really important.

Um as a you know, district office, there should be zero like, oh, well, it's your fault, you know.

If they say they didn't, you know, we'll look into it, stuff like that.

Um already mentioned the mysteries, and then also I know you mentioned that you know in past summers they have they have more bulk.

We've never this is actually probably the first time you guys have been in for uh you know servicing us for a long time.

We've never had this issue.

Um I've we've I've all I always I think very highly of Waste Pro.

Um I just want you know one of I I'm one I was one of the people who wanted to get you guys here.

Um we we have a great relationship with you guys.

We just want to resolve these issues in a timely manner.

Um, because you know it residents expect this is the city of Kenner, every resident expects high quality.

Um, and you guys have provided high quality in the past, so just continue to do what you're doing and resolving the issues.

Um and um, you know, just provide that excellent customer service that we expect.

So if you if we reach out, we you guys are always very responsive.

We just need you guys to be, you know, doing process look into the process, what's going on.

There's obviously a process breakdown in some instances, um, and we just appreciate you and and would like uh that to be taken care of as soon as possible.

So thank you.

You're welcome.

And just uh to kind of comment on some of your concerns, and you know, we do appreciate all the feedback because we only get better when we hear the feedback and could put things in place to correct it.

So as far as um of the feedback maybe a representative um does give, um, a hundred percent we should be professional at all levels, and um I'm pretty confident that that might be a one or one-off type situation.

But what we do is when we get that complaint, we do review the audio footage and make sure that we address and correct it as soon as possible.

Um as far as any miss streets, you know, sometimes the maps can be confusing first time reading it.

What we do is we go back and pull the we call them break rums, uh the GPS footage on the trucks, and then we do watch video to play back.

So um I know we did recover that street.

Now they may have been uh a can that I'd have to re-look at the video again.

Um, but we do.

We want to make sure that we are being thorough in our investigation so we can't correct those those behaviors as well.

And then um as far as the bulk, um we are putting some things in place to make sure that we are um you know adding additional resources.

Um and just for example, yesterday alone we collected 73 bulk piles.

So um it is something that we are looking at daily and making sure we track um our tracking, but uh I'm fully confident that you'll see much improvement with the new uh communication internally we put together and our tracking system.

Great.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Councilwoman McKinney.

Uh Deputy CAO Vellow I just wanted to reiterate um that the mayor's office and our staff typically will meet with representatives of Waste Pro on a quarterly basis.

And Mr.

Blackwood has been extremely responsive when it comes to your calls and complaints.

But I also just want to note for for the citizens of Kenner and for you guys that on our city website, when you click on the garbage page, if you scroll all the way to the down to the bottom, you'll see an uh complaint menu can't complain or compliments.

So if you've had if you have a missed garbage pickup, if your can has been stolen or it needs to be replaced for damages or repairs or things of that nature, those are things that can be easily addressed on that.

Not only does Waste Pro receive it, but the communications office and the mayor's office also receive it, so that we need to make so that we can follow up with anything.

But I just want to commend Mr.

Blackwood for addressing the things that I call him and text him on a regular basis day and night when you guys have a problem.

It's it is always resolved and addressed with them.

So I just wanted to put that information there.

Yes, Amy, and I agree with you, Terry has been Johnny on the spot when I send stuff in.

Uh councilwoman Dunn.

Yes.

Um I just want to reiterate one little issue about the bulk.

Um on the second pickup is when you all pick up the bulk.

If that doesn't happen, of course, my office gotta call, we call.

You all respond immediately, even if you you know all have passed.

But is it necessary?

I'm just asking who calls that bulk in.

Is it your drivers that call it in as they're picking up?

Um because I don't need to be calling if you all are gonna go and do it.

Correct.

No, um a representative from the city does not need to call that in.

Um, what we do as the drivers run their normal route, which is that second uh collection date, they call it in.

So we have a line that goes directly to our grapple truck drivers and our ops team, and they send a picture with the address of that bulk pile.

Um so everybody will see it, and then we'll recover.

Okay.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Councilmember Wilmot.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to uh first off, uh I represent council district two.

Uh in representing that area, we had one or two folks call in with complaints of not getting their regular pickup.

And and the what irritates me a little bit is or more is the the fact that how they got they say they got handled when they called into the office.

Um and it wasn't um proper uh according to the the complaint.

And and if we can correct that or or make sure that those types of things are our residents are handled properly, we would appreciate that.

That's very, very important.

I don't even think you would have gotten a complaint uh the fact that he got skipped.

Now they said the next trash pickup he would get picked up, and I'm sure he did, but again, it's how he's handled.

So we we take that very serious, and we hope you do too.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

We do, and uh we'll make sure that that it is addressed.

And like I've mentioned, we've already listened to some calls to make sure we are monitoring it and correct in any I appreciate negative.

That goes a long way, so thank you.

You're welcome.

Councilmember Stagney.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you for being here, Mr.

Blackwood.

One of my most important constituents uh tells me that once a month that the garbage is not picked up picked up consistently along 17th Street, and uh she has filled out the forms online, and you guys, to your credit, has come out and picked it up the next day.

But it has been pretty consistent.

They'll go down 17th Street and they'll pick up one side of the street, but maybe not the other side.

And so this is my wife I'm talking about, so I'd like you to help if you can.

Yes, I appreciate you being here.

Yes, I'll I'll certainly review the maps and make sure that we do address that as well.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Okay, nope, still a little bit more.

It's still not uh I know uh councilwoman Dunn is very happy, but probably gonna be short-lived.

But I'd like to thank Canadian National for finally cutting the grass in front of in between the tracks.

We've been asking for this now for I think over four years that I've been in it.

It looks so much better, and it'd be so much easier to maintain if you just maintained it.

Uh and I know somebody's gonna say, Well, what about the ditches?

Well, we cut the ditches and the ditches are gonna be cut because I just signed another uh authorization to cut the ditches, so that that should happen.

And finally, you never want to call another politician to a microphone, but councilwoman Arita Bohannon is here, would like to say a couple words.

And she's gonna be she promises to be brief.

Yes, maybe this will be the first time I pull that off and be brief.

Thank you for the opportunity, Mayor, to come up.

I and I I apologize for not being sort of dressed appropriately, but we spent our morning at Lake Town at the park.

So I wanted to give you a couple updates on that.

So we have the equipment ordered, and we have walked through the property.

A lot of thanks to Mark Blue Riusa with Kenner.

He's been fabulous to work with.

Um Leo Webb with our team at Trip Rabela, and of course, um the the Swift team and my my office staff.

Um that playground is you're gonna see some on August 11th is our date that we need to clear with the mayor and with any members of the council that want to attend as a groundbreaking date.

Um, but the equipment is going to be delivered on site without any delays by September 21st.

So by Thanksgiving, we are hoping to have kids running and playing at Lake Town.

So it's an exciting, exciting day.

And when we do the groundbreaking, we'll release the drawings that day.

So you'll be able to so the public will be able to see um how fabulous it's gonna be.

Um the Kenner Loop, I just wanted to thank the mayor.

Thanks a lot to Nanette Berry Oz with uh Jefferson Parish for being so creative.

But um even before that, the mayor had met and said we need to add the two most important, you know, stops would be the Social Security Office and the hospital.

Um so before we even made the major changes, we incorporated those changes.

So I just appreciate him being open to the idea of consolidating.

Um the amphitheater, so what happened at our council meeting was a huge step of turning a vision into a reality.

It is it is not a groundbreaking, it is not a ribbon cutting, um, but it was the culmination of two years of pushing, pushing, pushing, pushing, and um figuring out the funding, getting with the state, getting permitting.

Um, and you know, the mayor's team can tell you that we participate in a weekly call at this point for over a year now.

Um, every Monday, 2 30.

We have a date where everyone from the state to the parish to the city participates in making sure that we stay on track.

So what this will do is open it up where we can start accepting bids uh for the construction.

So it's a major exciting day for us to finally do that.

The mayor came and spoke at our meeting, so I want to thank him for that too.

So if you guys have any questions, um I'll be happy to answer them.

Councilman Lahat.

Yeah, Councilman Bahannon, thank you so much on behalf of the residents of district three, all the attention.

We have no greater friend in JP than you with everything going on with the amphitheater and the people asking me about the status, but you know, you've had to push through regulations and you know the Army Corps of Engineers, since we're so close to the levy to get that permit, and that takes a long time, and a lot of not a lot of people could spend the time that you do to make that happen.

And the fact that we're getting ready to go out to bid is just absolutely fantastic, and I think that that is the the really the final step to get to get this pushed through.

And and I saw the so the initial designs of the playground, the public's really gonna like that.

I'm not gonna divulge it.

I know you kind of want to make it more of a surprise, but it's gonna be uh really a great thing, great thing out there.

So I can't thank you enough for anybody in my district for your focus on Lake Town and everything else you do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Stagney.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Councilwoman Bohan, your energy and enthusiasm does not go unnoticed.

Everything from the amphitheater to even street repairs in our city that she chips in for with her money.

Uh not that she has to, but Kenner needs help every now and again.

So we appreciate that.

And I'm always reminded of the Janet Jackson tune.

What have you done for me lately?

So we'll be asking for more money, but to date you've been uh superlative in what you've done for this city, and we appreciate it.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Yes, we do need more money.

I'm just glad you didn't ask me to sing.

So that was Mayor Glazer.

That's it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Arita.

Council Clerk.

Yes, sir.

Mr.

Chairman, we've received a request to remove item 7B from the consent agenda.

Um, if I could have a motion, motion by Councilmember Dunn, seconded by Councilmember Brown again to remove item 7B from the consent agenda.

All council members in favor of removing the item, please vote.

Motion passes 6-0 to remove item 7B.

Under the consent agenda, I have item one approval of minutes, the regular council meeting of July 9th, 2026.

Item two is approval of alcoholic beverage permit applications.

Item two A is a resolution grant and an alcoholic beverage permit to Friends of Rivertown on September 12, 2026 at Rivertown Heritage Park, 2015, 4th Street being property owned by the City of Kenner.

Item 2B is a resolution grant and an alcoholic beverage permit to Friends of Rivertown on October 25th, 2026 at Laketown Parking Lot 5050, Williams Boulevard being property owned by the City of Kenner.

Item three is approval of bingo and public gathering applications.

Item 3A is application number 26-021.

New South Markets to hold a public gathering every Thursday to start on.

Please note the date change is August 13th, 2026, not July 9th, through August 13th, 2027 from 1 p.m.

to 6 p.m.

for the purpose of a community market at Veterans Park 1918, 18th Street.

Item 4 is acceptance of rejection of bids requiring an expenditure of less than $5,000.

We have none.

Item 5 is change orders requiring an expenditure of less than $5,000.

We have none.

Item 6 is acceptance of committee findings for final passage.

We have none.

Item 7 is resubdivision ordinances for final passage.

Item 7A is summary ordinance number 14,201.

And ordinance approved in the plan of resubdivision of lots K-1-A, K-2-B, K-3-A, K-3-B, Square C, Park, Square D, lots 46 through 54, and 67 through 74, square E, lots 98 through 109, and green space.

Square F, lots 86 through 97, and green space, square G, lots 80 through 85, square J, green space, and a portion of Dogwood Drive, Hickory Drive, and Chestnut Drive, all located in Louisiana Trace Subdivision, City of Kenna, Louisiana, into lots, K-1-A-1, K-2B1-1-A, Square C Park, Square D, lots 1-B through 18-B, Square E, lots 33-B through 49-B, and Green Space 3.

Square F, lots 19-B through 70 27-B, Square G, 28-B through 32-B, Square J, green spaces 1 and 2, and portions of Dogwood Drive and Hickory Drive, Louisiana Trace Subdivision, in accordance with the survey by Basin Engineering and Surveying dated May 19, 2026, which lots are owned by Louisiana Trace LLC and the Vineyard Church of New Orleans, and revoking the 38-foot area set aside for the extension on Sunset Boulevard in accordance with ordinance 5594, dated December 5th, 1985.

Case number Pine-26.

And that will conclude the consent agenda.

I have a motion by Councilmember Brannigan, second by Council Magnus.

Councilman Stagney to approve.

Please cash your vote.

Motion passes 60.

Under the public appearance agenda, we have item 8, public hearings and final passage.

We have none.

Item 9 is ordinance for the sale, purchase, transfer, lease and or alienation of a movable property.

We have none.

I have a motion by Councilmember Lahat, second by Councilmember McKenney.

Anyone wishing to speak on this?

Seeing none, please cash your vote.

Motion passes 60.

Item 15B is summary ordinance number 14,204.

An orders authorizing the acceptance of a grant from the United States Department of Justice Louisiana Commission on law enforcement award number 2025-VA-033139 in the amount of $64,136 with the City of Kentuck, $16,041 for child abuse program for the Kent Police Department.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Chief, this grant from the uh Louisiana Commission Law Enforcement, is this a lump sum grant or is it a cost plus you expend the money and get reimbursed for it?

No, it's a lump sum.

We'll get the money uh once this is approved, and once the grant application's already been approved.

So this is just us accepting it.

Yes, sir.

All right.

I I don't know if anybody has a problem, Miss Um Herring.

What I'd like to do is put an amendment on that once the grant comes in, that the KPD then, and only after the grant comes in and you have the money, then the general fund revenue would go the money would go back to the general fund revenue account.

And that way we make sure that it's very easy for everybody to see and understand.

Because as I recall, Chief, when you went through the budget hearings, you said all the grants and everything are included in your budget, right?

So no, from what I understand and you know, dealing with these Department of Justice grants, uh, you know, the CPA deals with my staffs because you have to be very careful in how you deal with this money since it's dealing with payroll, as is our cops grant and some other grants, so you're not supplanting.

They all got called up to DC.

Uh so I would caution you before we start moving money around, you know, from line items involving pay payroll that we consult with our CPA to make sure that we're not gonna all get called up to DC uh on the grounds of supplanting.

But you wouldn't have a problem once the money is received, that the money that was budgeted for that position would go back into the general fund.

So it's my understanding that the only thing we budgeted was the match money.

We anticipated receiving this money.

Uh if the countenance will recalls, I did send a list of all grant monies that we suspected we're going to receive to this council, so they saw what was coming in, but that money was not budgeted into the payroll lines.

Okay.

And I reviewed the budget hearings, and I heard you say that all the grants, everything was included in your budget.

So I'll go back and look.

It's not a problem.

I just want to make sure we have our accounting correct.

I'll call Mr.

Vanderbrook, no problem.

Okay.

Especially then with Department of Justice grants, because uh, you know, if we get flagged for supplanting, that's a major deal.

And you know, we just submitted for about a $3.8 million grant to the Department of Justice that could jeopardize you know any future grants.

No, and if it wasn't included, I understand that.

But if it was, then we need to figure out an accounting way to make sure that the money goes back to the general fund if it was actually budgeted.

It may not have been.

But I'll I'll check with Mr.

Vanderbrook.

Thank you, Chief.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Hold on one second.

Okay.

Okay, uh cash your vote.

Motion passes 60.

Item 15C is summary ordinance number 14,205.

An ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a grant from the United States Department of Justice, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, award number 2025-VA-01 slash 02 slash 03 slash 04-9138 and the amount of 40,102 with the City of Kenton match of 10,002 for our victims assistance program for the Kenneth Police Department.

Please cash your vote.

Motion passes 60.

Item 15 D is summary ordinance number 14,206.

An ordinance approving an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

DOTD State Project Number H period 016833, Federal Aid Project Number H016833 regarding Power Boulevard Southbound Resurfacing Improvements from West Esplanade Avenue to ventured vintage City of Kenneth Project.

Motion by Councilmember Hatt, second by councilmember Wilmont, Councilman Lahat.

Yeah.

Jose, who's gonna explain the stuff when you retire.

This is the first step of a federal lake type project that we managed to get roughly a million and a half dollars to resurface uh power boulevard southbound between vintage and West Planet.

By the way, the northbound project is currently on the design surveying will be starting problem in the next day or two.

And so it is necessary.

It's the first step to activate a federally project.

And this one you're anticipating 2029.

Uh with some luck, it could be bid within two years.

Thank you so much.

What's that?

Please cash your vote.

Motion passes 60.

Item 15E is summary ordinance number 14,207.

And ordinance approved in amendment number one to the agreement with EASI LLC dated January 25th, 2024, to provide laboratory analysis services, increasing the not to exceed amount by $60,000 annually for a new not-to-exceed amount of $160,000 annually for the wastewater department.

Got a motion by Councilmember Brannigan, seconded by Councilmember Dunn.

Please cash your vote.

Motion passes 60.

Item 15 F is summary ordinance number 14,208.

An ordinance write to find an emergency repair of the hydromatic pump number one at the Punch Train Center Lift Station by Fluid Processing Pumps LLC and the amount of $8,977 for the wastewater department.

We have a motion by Councilmember Lahat, second by Councilmember Stagney.

Please click cast your vote.

Motion passes 60.

Item 15G is summary ordinance number 14,209.

An ordinance accepting the quote received from fluid process and pumps LLC to repair the Fairbanks Morse Pump No.

3 at the Firehouse Road Lift Station and the amount of $25,559 for the wastewater department.

Got a motion by Councilmember Dunn, second by Councilmember Wilmot.

Please cast your vote.

Motion passes 60.

Item 16 is ordinances and resolutions and summary for first reading.

Item 16 A is an ordinance approved and change order number one to the agreement with Kent Design Build Incorporated, dated May 7, 2026 regarding the Punch Train Convention and Civic Center G League renovations for a net increase of $6,798.57 to the agreement amount, resulting in a total agreement amount of $3,446,748 and 57 cents and adding five days to the agreement time.

Item 16 B is an ordinance approving in agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

State Project Number H period 016865.

Federal aid project number H 016865 regarding the Wesleola multi-use path City of Kenna Project.

Item 16C is an ordinance approving an agreement for professional surveying related services on an as needed basis with T.

Baker Smith LLC and an amount not to exceed 100,000 for the Department of Public Works.

Item 16D is an ordinance approving an agreement with Waste Pro of Louisiana Incorporated to provide a 20-yard open top container with roll tarp cover for waste tire processing services and an amount not to exceed 49,000 dollars for the public works department.

Item 16E is an ordinance approved amending ordinance 13,196 adopted July 9, 2026, which approved an agreement with Han Enterprises Incorporated to furnish and install outdoor wall pads at Muspertolino Stadium for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Item 16 F is an ordinance authorizing the purchase of one Q's lamp to lateral launcher at a cost of 198,000 from Covington Sales and Service Incorporated for the Wastewater Department.

Item 16G is an ordinance authorizing the purchase of one Q's C540 push camera at a cost of $16,240 from Covington Sales and Service Incorporated for the Wastewater Department.

Item 16H is an ordinance authorizing the utilization of East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office bid number 1100 with Federal Signal Corporation to purchase emergency vehicle parts on an as needed basis and an amount not to exceed 100,000 annually for the Kent Police Department.

Item 16 I is an ordinance ratifying an emergency repair of the West Wall and Brick Below Windows in the Punch Train Center by Southeast Waterproofing in the amount of $18,920 for the Punch Train Center.

Item 16J is an ordinance approving of Professional Services Agreement with Hartman Engineering Incorporated regarding the resurfacing of Power Boulevard Southbound West Esplanade Avenue to Vintage Drive State Project Number H period 016833, Federal Aid Project Number Hero 1683, and an amount not to exceed 145,121 dollars for the Department of Public Works.

Item 16K is an ordinance selecting DuPlanche Ratman Hogan Mayor LLP to perform an audit for the fiscal year 2026-2027 through fiscal year 2029 through fiscal year 2030 and an accordance with the Kenner Home Rule Charter and Louisiana revised statute.

Item 17 issues reports from the council and our special committees.

Yes, I just want to mention that on August the first, we're having our back to school uh jam.

Uh we everything is give away is going to be at Cesan Park.

Uh the doors will open at 1 30, but um we will be there between 2 and 6.

Uh we have school supplies.

Uh we also have special guests.

Uh, one of our guests is um we we're gonna have some uh the Indian crew, BJ Socold and Friends.

Um, and uh we have a bodybuilder that's gonna talk about discipline, uh healthy eating.

We have judges talking about don't come to my court.

So there's a lot of things that we're doing uh in our jam.

We don't just give away supplies, we actually uh have this fund day for the kids.

So it's been on Facebook.

You know, we open it to the public, but we are asking that the parents be uh the parents accompany their children.

So this would be on August the second.

That's next Saturday between hours of two and six.

Thank you.

Councilmember Stagner.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to commend our council president.

This is the first time we're using this technology, and I thought he did a great job.

Uh so we appreciate all your efforts, uh, Mr.

President.

But I will tell you, Mr.

Mayor, he did ask the person that trained him.

How do I cut off the mayor's mic if he's saying something I don't like?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mayor Galaza.

Council Clerk.

Yes, sir.

Item 18 is new business.

We have none.

Item 19 is unfinished business and motions to reconsider a remove from a table position.

We have none.

And item 20 is persons wishing to address the council on special special subject matters.

Uh first one on the list is Mr.

Taft.

Uh Greg Tapp, Fifth District.

Uh I just have a couple things for Chief Collie, if you don't mind.

Is uh I saw the what you what you put on Facebook and on from your about getting the motorcycle group started.

And so I have two questions for you.

One question is I know when you came in office we were down quite a few people.

I want I'd like to know where we're at today, because I know you've done a lot of work in building staff up.

And the second thing is, which is very important to me, is when can we start seeing the presence within the neighborhoods?

Because I think that's becoming more and more important, especially now that like on West Loyola, for example.

I have these kids on these e-bikes and what have you going a wrong way on on the street, which to me is kind of dangerous.

Plus a lot of them are racing or just and it's because they're kids.

But I that's where the presence I think would could make a difference if and not in my neighborhood only, but probably in all neighborhoods.

And that's all I have.

Thank you.

Chief Connolly.

Yeah, no, thank you for that.

So uh four years ago we had probably a hundred sworn officers.

Uh we you had the COVID incident, you had a lot of civil unrest, so it was hard to recruit or trained police officers, go through through the interview and application process.

We're up to about 150 sworn right now through the collective efforts of this mayor, this council, and my staff.

So we're we're sitting in a good position to where now we have the luxury where we we can add a motors division.

Um they have finished air training, they have one more piece of training to do for escorts and uh things of that nature.

But the goal of starting the motors division was to combat the complaints we get over the e-bikes and the e-scooters and and all the challenges that come with that, uh especially on the walking paths along Erlanger and Power Boulevard.

So, you know, we hope to increase increase the motors division.

Um, you know, but we're we're sitting at a good number now.

We do have another another academy that is starting in January, which should be a healthy uh number uh involved in that.

But right now the the graduates of the last academy, the officers that completed the the academy then are still with their um with their field training officers.

Um so we'll have about eight or nine more out in the streets to supplement the four squads.

Um so I think over the last four years, you know, you've seen a growing presence of of officers.

Uh look, I like to have one on every corner, but I think a good example is that it's Tuesday morning.

You know, we received the flock kit of a vehicle that was involved in New Orleans in a shooting, actually traveling through North Kenner, and within 30 minutes we had assembled a good 20 or 30 officers in an area, had a SWAT team assembled because of the risk, the high risk uh threat assessment.

Uh and I think that's a credit to our training, our numbers, our recruiting.

Uh it's everything that four years ago we planned collectively has come full circle.

We're seeing the fruits of that labor.

Um, but you know, I I'm always an I'm an optics guy also, Mr.

Tefts.

So, you know, anything we can do to improve our our visibility and our presence in the neighborhoods, and uh you know I'm all for it, and I'd like to work you know with you to that end as well.

Thank you, Chief Connolly.

Uh next all is Erman Torra.

Please state your name and uh district for the record.

Uh you have three minutes.

Hi, I'm Iman Touri.

I'm a professor of medical genetics and biostatistics.

I'm living in Highway Park area in uh Kenner.

Um I'm new in these meetings, um, but here to get involved and lend my expertise whenever needed.

Uh I care about how data and health can shape our uh our safety decisions, and um I want to be auditors and an engaged voice uh going forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Wendy What's it Wendy with that District 20 Street Kenner?

I have um three concerns that um during the meeting we was um talking about.

Please speak into the mic.

Oh, can you hear me?

You hear me now?

Yeah.

Oh, okay.

Sorry about that.

Well, Wendy What's that?

The first one is um since he was talking about the e-bikes.

I wanted to bring up the e-bike also, because in my neighborhoods, we don't have like um bike sidewalks, and like my house, it has a sidewalk in the front, but on the side, it doesn't have a sidewalk because I'm on a car in the house.

But anyway, is it a special place they're supposed to ride these bikes?

And can they ride it in a bike lane if they do have a bike lane?

And are we going to get certain bike lanes for these bikes?

Uh do they ride on the highway?

So the the answer is they can ride them on a on the streets, roads, or highways, just like a bicycle, but they have to abide by the laws, the traffic laws uh of the of the city and the state.

Um, so that's and if they go over 20 miles per hour, then they're supposed to have insurance, if they have a driver's license, if they have a helmet.

Uh the the challenge to law enforcement is when you look at some of these things, you can't determine what speed they can amount to uh just based on looking at it.

So the officer actually has to track that scooter or that e-bike.

And uh, you know, that's a lot of resources, a lot of handpower.

Uh we're fortunate that we haven't had, you know, we've had one fatality, and that wasn't a child.

That was unfortunately, you know, any fatalities unfortunately, but I was a 66-year-old man.

So, you know, it is a challenge to law enforcement all across the country.

Um, we are tracking some legislation in other countries and other states that we're gonna bring forward to the state legislature.

Um, because you know, we're not gonna reinvent the wheel.

We're gonna see what works in other communities.

But you know, we know that there's a problem, we get the complaints, we see it also.

We do take enforcement action, um, you know, which usually usually uh you know bringing parents back to uh bringing children back to the parents, um but I think we really have to maybe address the school board for not some outreach in schools about the safety of these uh scooters and bikes because you know you see these these 10, 11-year-old children out on these scooters and bikes and and roadways, and you know, you you just hold your breath and hope that they you know everybody has to look out for them, but uh we're doing the best we can.

So is the age thing too, also?

I mean a certain age thing because it's like bitty bitty.

So there's no age restriction on the scooters unless they go over a certain um speed, and that's when all the the vehicle regulations get in.

Because they can't get a license or nothing because they you know, so I'm like yeah, you gotta figure that one out.

And um for the um the first thing we was talking about with the mayor with the uh the buses and stuff like that going to the hospital.

Um do we have like a handicap um equip where older people will be able to take these lifts and get to where they're gonna go uh how how does that work when you come with your seniors?

Yes, it's already in place.

The handicapped already know how to get the public transportation.

Okay.

Good.

Thank you.

That's not changing.

Thank you so much.

And um councilman Dunn, um commend you on the um thing at the gym that you're always um doing, doing an excellent job on it.

I have um one question for you on here is um about the AP author, Clay, Splash, Phyllis C McMiller, which is my grandmother.

What is the hours and when is it going to end so I'll know about the kids um when they're going back to school?

What time do you have a schedule or something on that particular water splash on the hours?

Yes, yeah.

Um the hours are available on our website on the news and events right on the home page.

So hours of operation Friday, 2 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, 11 a.m.

to 7 p.m.

Sunday, 2 p.m.

to 7 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, closed.

And the last weekend it will be open as Labor Day weekend.

My birthday weekend.

Okay.

All right.

And that's the only thing I have today.

All right.

Thank you all so very much for answering my questions.

Councilman Stagney.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Miss Whitset.

We have talked amongst ourselves, and we are going to be gathering legislation nationwide to see how they've addressed this emerging health and safety concern.

We're going to vet it among ourselves and the chief to see if we can come up with something because there have been horrific accidents because of this everywhere.

And we will try to address that.

We know time is of the essence, but we want to make sure that we can put everything the most modern legislation possible.

So we'll we'll be addressing that.

I think also the e-bikes, the parents need to have more of a control as to not letting their kids buy a bike that accelerates the 60 miles an hour.

Is my microphone on?

I don't really hear it.

Okay.

Yeah, I think I don't think it's working either, but uh the parents need to, I think not let their kids buy bikes that accelerate that fast.

We have a we have a regular e-bike that goes about 20 like a lot of the adults have that my son rides sometimes, but the big danger I see is the ones they buy on Amazon, which are cheap that accelerate to ridiculous speeds.

And I'm not letting my son buy one of those, even though two of his friends have one.

In legislation, obviously, but um that's what I see right now because those things are really dangerous.

That's not coming at my house because they mean you kill yourself in a tree going 50 miles an hour on a bike.

So that's what I see on that Chief Conley.

Thank you.

I know we kind of touched on the incident uh from South Lake Village and Woodlake that we had uh Tuesday.

Uh, but I know that a lot of people in those areas are not used to such a uh a presence.

I do want to commend the men and winter kind of police department for for handling that so professionally and so quickly, but I am gonna meet with Councilman Ream and have a town hall meeting in uh in North Canada to address any residents' concerns or questions they might have, um, just as we would any other incidents.

I know that uh Woodlake does have a civic association.

I don't believe South South Lake Village does, but I'm gonna get with the councilman to organize uh a town hall meeting to answer any any questions they might have.

Okay, uh no other questions, got a motion to adjourn.