And I'll get a obvious chance.

Oh, agree with us today and we can conduct the business in the city and constructive and produce manner.

WWTT A Basin A02 Sewer Rehabilitation.

Appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3503 2025 SPAR overlay and near the budget as necessary.

Appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3242, Southern Sewer Loop, Golf Highway List Station.

Public hearings, public hearing and consideration of the late Charles Planning and Zone Commission decision to deny request for variance in order to construct nine new detached town homes with lot coverage greater than 40%, actual 45% within a residential zone and district at the northwest corner of West Clark Street at Architch Street.

An ordinance auditing demolition authorizing City of Lake Charles entered to an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 1814 Easton Street, Willow the Floor, and Josephine LaCoe One.

An ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing City of Lake Charles Infantry Agreement for demolition of the structure located at 1610 Gram Street, Alan J.

Mitchell Owner.

Another demolition at 1900 Prejon Drive, Barn Department, Classic and Dome Apartment Home, LLC Owner.

Another demolition at 1514 Graham Street.

An audience creating the positions of Chief of Administration and Chief of Operations within the administrative division of the Lake Charles Fire Department.

And to provide for the qualifications, duties and responsibilities for such positions and other related matters.

An ordinance accepting the best proposal received for renewal coverage and authorizing City Elect Charles Center to an agreement for property and casualty insurance for the City of Lake Charles.

Effective May 22nd, 2026 through May 22nd, 2027.

And ordinance authorized the City of Lake Charles Center into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for Cali Street and Lake Street and Stanton Street Project State and Federal Aid Project No.

H016736.

An ordinance of the City of Lake Charles authorizing expropriation of property for a permanent utility servitude from on and with respect to property for any and all uses necessary for the Highway 14 Waterloo Project.

Said property believed to be owned by Shahot Holding Company, all pursuant to Louisiana revised statute 19, code 134 ed set and providing further there too.

In orders of the City of Lake Charles authorizing the expropriation of property for a permanent utility servitude from on and with respect to property for any and all uses necessary for the Highway 14 Waterloo Project, said property believed to be owned by 71 Corporation, all pursuant to Louisiana revised statute 19 cold 134 edset and providing further there too.

An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to declare parcel number 00750382A, no municipal address and surplus property, and further authorizing the city to enter into a ground lease agreement for the use of this surplus removal property for the transmission and receipt of wireless communication signal, including the construction of a structure and tower along with the operation of equipment.

An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles Center into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Sowella Technical Community College to attribute funding for a flight school at the Suela Technical Community College slash Chenol International Airport Facility.

An ordinance authorizing the City of Lake Charles Center into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Calperci Parish School Board to contribute funding for the enhancements of the Region 5 STEM Center at the Lake Charles Boston Academy of Learning 1509 Enterprise Boulevard.

An ordinance authorizing City Elect Charles Center into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Adafive A Sorority Incorporated a Beta Capitalizator Chapter, nonprofit organization to contribute funding towards the construction of the new facility support their source nets program, which provides prenatal education, health resources, and other support program to young mothers as well as to act as a resiliency hub during events of natural disasters and seminar emergency.

A resolution appointing a member to the personnel board to fill the expired term of Jason Bell for a period of six years.

A resolution approving the mayor's appointment of a member to the Historic Preservation Commission.

A resolution authorizing the City of Lake Charles to advertise to receive Sylvia to project number CP 3070, Oakland Drive and Ory Road, Sewer Lift Station Upgrade with the Companion Ordinance.

A resolution authorizing the City of Lake Charles to advertise and receive Sylvia's project number CP 3400, 18th Street Reconstruction, Lake Street to Creole Street, Phase 1 with the Companion Ordinance.

A resolution authorizing the City of Lake Charles to advertise to receive Sylvia as the purchase standard supply of public safety uniforms for use by the Lake Charles Fire Department with the companion ordinance.

Ordinances for introduction, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the City of Lake Charles to accept Northridge Road, West Mirror Drive, Pinnacle Road, and North Ridge Road in the ridge at Marketfield Phase 3.

It may be another street other than North Ridge Road because it's listed in Northridge Road twice.

Including public right aways, drainage, water, and sewer lines, sewer and traffic control devices for ownership and maintenance by the City of Lake Charles.

The City of Lake Charles will not take ownership of the detention ponds.

Introduction of the ordinance authorized the City of Lake Charles Center to an architectural and engineering and any agreement with DW Jesson and Associates, LLC for engineering services relative to project number CP 3070, Oklahoma Drive, and Audrey Road Sewer Lift Station Ugrade.

Introduction of an ordinance and ordinance number 20342 of the City of Council of the City of Lake Charles order to clarify certain provisions of the room between the city and the Greater St.

Mary Community Foundation.

Introduction of skip up to the next three and go down to number 35.

Introduction of an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles Center to a cooperative endeavor with the Calcochet Parish Release Jury and a consolidated gravity drainage district number two east Calcushi Parish to share in the cost of the Greenwich Terrace File Initiative Project.

I have one more that's not on your agenda.

It's an appeal that was filed by the United Way from a meeting that has already passed.

I'll get a formal fact sheet by tomorrow.

That was already part of this agenda.

Yes.

We just got made made a part of the agenda.

The uh the appeal was filed 10 minutes ago.

Uh so we need to put this on the agenda for introduction on May 7th and final May 6th, final action of May 20th for uh to hear that appeal out.

So we have to vote to put this on this agenda.

So we want to do that first.

Okay, by uh council vote.

We need four votes in order to add that to the agenda uh going forward for May the 6th.

May 20th.

It's just set in the hearing date on the 6th.

But we have that's the agenda.

Once we put it on the agenda on May 6th, it continues on, correct?

Right.

So we need to vote to put it on for May 6th.

All those in favor?

By sign of hands, uh all those in favor of adding it to the agenda.

All those opposed before we have uh right.

Yeah, on the 20th.

Uh also we need to vote on two agenda item fact sheets that we need to vote.

Uh this is the introduction.

We we vote for the introduction to add.

Uh I'll just read them out.

The first one is the introduction of an artist of the city council of the city of Lake Charles amending resolution number 313-23 to authorize the city of Lake Charles to modify the location and scope of the RCIP LDI, City of Lake Charles, L Charles L C R Railroad Avenue Revival 0088 in order to transfer funding to the gospel community center to construct the primary community resiliency hub in accordance with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Developments national objectives for the use of the funds from the CDBGRDR program.

This proposal is passed and adopted by the City Council authorized city to submit a formal request to the Louisiana Office of Community Development to amend the proposed location and scope of RCIP LDI City of Lake Charl LCRR Avenue Revival 0088 in order to transfer the funding to the Gasport Center to construct a primary community resilience hub in accordance with the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development National Objectives for the use of funds from the community development block grant disaster recovery program to promote community engagement and to serve as a primary disaster recovery center.

If you would like to add this, please raise your hand, right hand and vote to add it to the agenda.

74.

Well, we can extend this explanation of proposal.

This proposal, if passed and adopted by the city council, will authorize the city to submit a formal request to the Louisiana Office of Community Development to amend the proposed location and scope of RCIP LDI, City of Lake Charles, Lake Charles, Second Harvest 0084, in order to purchase a vacant lot parcel number 00751405 from the Maclhart of Mary Roman Catholic Church and to build and permanently own with no awardee of the other sub-recipient, a primary community resilient hub in accordance with the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development National Objectives for the Use of Funds from the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program to promote community engagement and to serve as primary disaster, a primary disaster recovery center.

If you would like to add this to the agenda of May 6th, please vote.

74.

All right.

May 6 agenda is set with the exception of adding these three things to the agenda.

And you have a presentation tonight.

Tonight.

Oh, no.

What's going to come up here for the financial statements too?

Hi, I'm Emily McDaniel, Director of Finance for the City of Lake Charles.

I am here tonight to present the 20 fiscal year 2025 annual financial statements.

You all received a copy of the annual financial statement and then the supplementary information.

I just wanted to remind you, I think, Mr.

March, you had asked a few meetings ago about federal funds.

This document shows all federal funds that have passed through the city, and so it's a good guide to show you where some of those how some of those federal funds are being spent.

So spent all futures spent.

So tonight we have our auditor Jason Gillary with McElroy Quirk and Birch who will give you the audit presentation.

And then following that, I have Maddie Allen from the department from the finance department that will give you some highlights from the financial statements.

Thank you, Emily.

And uh thank you, Mayor Simeon and City Council members for having us tonight.

Uh my name is Jason Gillary.

I'm a director with MacWord Quirk and Birch local CPA firm.

And I'm here with my colleague, Kennedy Dorbone.

Uh we are we uh conducted the audit of the City of Lake Charles financial statements as of fiscal year ended September 30th, 2025, and we're here tonight just to present the reporting package and the findings uh that we found during the audit.

Uh as Emily just mentioned, uh, you should have received three separate documents as part of the year-end reporting package.

First of all, the large white document called the annual comprehensive financial report.

This is a report that is prepared by the City of Lake Charles's finance department, it is their responsibility to present it.

Uh we have issued the smaller green report, which is a uh a package of compliance reports in which we have written opinions on the city's internal control and its compliance with various laws and regulations, including federal laws.

And then finally, we have a very small paper uh staple document, which is our report on agreed upon procedures, which are required by the state legislative auditor.

Um first thing that I would uh draw your attention to is in the ACFR, the annual conference financial report, which is divided into three sections an introductory section, a financial section, and a statistical section.

Uh, our report is issued on page nine of the financial section as the independent auditor's report, and we have issued an unmodified or clean opinion on the financial statements, which states that the financial statements are fairly stated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Uh, we've also immediately following that report, which I would like to call your attention to is the management's discussion and analysis.

And this is a plain English summary of the financial statements that anyone who is not uh well versed in accounting can still pick up and read and gain a good understanding of what is being presented within those financial statements.

So I would encourage anyone who wanted to learn more about the city's finances to look at that management discussion and analysis, which I believe is begins on page uh 13 or 14 of the report.

Uh Beatley, following uh that you have the financial statements, and I won't talk about these financial statements because Maddie's gonna present the numbers to you guys.

Uh but then finally we have behind that was the statistical section, which begins on page 125.

That's a series of schedules that provides context about financial and non-financial information about Lake Charles, the surrounding area, uh things such as demographic data, financial data, and non-financial data.

And it's just interesting to look at to see because it provides tenure trends on a lot of different financial and non-financial information that you might find interesting.

Um then finally I'll turn your attention to these the green report, which is what we have presented, this which is the uniform guidance supplementary reports, and within this green document, uh we issue two separate reports.

Uh the first is an independent auditors report on internal control over financial reporting and compliance uh in accordance with general government auditing standards.

Uh, with this report, we have issued no findings, uh, so that that is the as good as you can do.

And then we've also issued a separate report uh on internal control and compliance specifically with uniform guidance, which is your federal awards, compliance with the various compliance requirements of federal grants.

Um we've issued no findings uh regarding those grants, but it would be interesting for you guys to look at pages nine and ten of this green report.

You'll see a table which lists every federal dollar spent during the fiscal year ended September 30th, 2025.

So that gives you the uh the full picture of what was spent in 25 for for 2025 is 34,950,790.

That consisted primarily of two larger programs.

One is the disaster recovery program administered by the Park of Publicland Security, which was about 10 million dollars.

And then there was a with associated with the water division.

We have the drinking water stake revolving loan fund, which had about 17.7 million dollars of drawals.

So about 27 million of the 35 million comprised of those two grants.

And then finally, we did issue a report on the agreed upon procedures that are required by the legislative auditor.

We only have one small exception within those procedures.

Those do not rise to the level of a finding.

These are very specific procedures that we follow.

And I could go with any detail that you like, but I don't want to buddy up the water so that this is not as serious as a finding.

You just said it's not as serious as a finding.

Yeah.

But it is something wrong.

So let me let me explain.

So when you have uh findings, you have what's called material weaknesses, you have significant deficiencies, and you have control deficiencies, and then you have what's called exceptions to the reply procedure.

So it's the lowest of those four levels.

So what the issue was that there was one employee that did not get the proper sexual harassment training within 30 days of employment.

That was the only issue that was there.

So it's a fairly minor thing we have to check for, uh, and we did report on it.

But when you're talking about findings associated with the first two reports that I did, those are more pervasive, serious things that need to be addressed and generally get communicated to larger government agencies.

Do we get fined for that?

Okay, no.

There's no uh consequence.

Obviously, we want you to remediate and make sure that doesn't happen again, but there's no other consequences.

And what we do is make sure that that employee got the proper training, and we have the protocols now for 30 days if our employee goes to a social.

Okay, well, I'll turn back over to Emily.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay, I'll have Maddie come up and she'll give you some highlights from the financial statements.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council and Administration Citizens of Lake Charles.

You work for the city?

Yes, sir.

Please meet you.

Please meet you too.

I'm Maddie.

I work in the finance department on the sixth floor.

So tonight I'm going to report on the annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year ending September 30th, 2025.

This annual report is reflective of the growth that's been stimulated by the transformational federal and state funding grants providing critical support for infrastructure and housing needs.

In total, the city's NAP position is 814 million point 14.4 million at the end of 2025.

This represents total revenues of 204.4 million and 161.4 million in expenditures.

The risky the restated net position at the end of fiscal year 2024 was 771 million.

Fiscal year 2024 was restated due to a new CASP 101 that was implemented.

It required the measurement of the liability for confiscated absences.

So we adopted it and implemented it in 25 and restated our fiscal year 24.

Um that position.

The city's primary operating account, the general fund had a ending fund balance of 60 million.

This is an increase from fiscal year 24, which had an ending fund balance of 51.4 million.1 million in revenues that supported the 86.6 million in expenditures and 4.5 million operating and capital transfers.

The general fund balanced reserves must be must be maintained at no less than 30% of expenditures and operating transfers, and the city has met that policy.

Sorry.

Yes, no budget.7 million.

These reserves are for capital projects for the current year as well as accumulations for future projects.

general fund the sales tax revenues increased by 5.2 percent property tax revenues increased by 3.1 percent and charges for services increased by 31 percent sorry yes no budget um the city does maintain a capital projects fund budget which has reserves of 119.7 million these reserves are for capital projects for the current year as well as accumulations for future projects from this fund expenditures of 51.2 million was used for projects such as the demolition and rebuild the LCPD annex and an investigation building and the construction of the Southeast with water plans annually the city completes a five year capital improvement plan that serves for budgeting and planning for future capital projects the city has four business type funds water utility malware golf lake Charles event center and transit the water utility revenues increase to 16 million with operating expenses increasing to 17.6 million contractual services increase partial due to several large repairs due to utility strikes experienced every year a water user race study was recently completed and new rates will go into effect June 1st 2026 mallard had operating revenues totaling 1.7 million in the golf course has been hosting many new tournaments including new golf events the addition of a driving range lighting and new club carts provide an upscale golfing destination the event center had a 62% increase in revenues every prior year and charges for service at the event center was 1,608 sixty six the transit fund received 117,270 in services in revenues for services which is a 1% increase over prior year.

In our debt service funds the city is reporting a $83.6 million in total long-term debt for fiscal year 2025 the long-term debt includes bonded debt of 18.8 million and general long-term debt of 64.8 million for fiscal year 25 and all debt is payable from future annual appropriate appropriations the city has been authorized for an additional 20 million from the DEQ state revolving loan fund for construction of the Southern Sewer League a draw for this loan for 99215 for associated fees result did result in a restated position for fiscal year 2024.

I would like to thank the administration and finance team for the trust and all their diligent work they've done in this past year to help us on behalf of all the citizens of like Charles I have a couple questions I don't know if you could have someone can answer one of them is is the operational budget different from our regular budget no it's just different names I mean we might call it operational budget general budget.

Right when we present the budget to you uh in August it is the city of Lake Charles operating and capital budget that's the full name of it so the next question is the capital fund reserve that she talked about is that different from our regular reserve it is the capital fund is a fund that is part of the larger financial statements and so that is that number is specific just to the capital fund is that what you're asking well she she listed it as the capital fund reserve right so for the capital fund balance from for the capital fund projects the reserve in that fund right now is the 119 so that I'm saying that's a separate reserve from what we normally keep from your from your up from your general fund yes it is separate from your general fund the event center you say we have 65% increased but the year before we lost so is that really good um it is good because we are we're bringing there is activity at the event center um I don't know if you wanted to did you we're ramping it up we have cat wheels still alive we've been allowing because the event center has not been uh profitable then you will try and make it at least break you so when is the contract due for the events and the person that's managing it uh ASM is the is the company that manages it and um it it renews I think in October of the uh but it's an auto renew but we we reassess it each each year just to be sure so the council has to vote on it um I'd have to I'd have to look at the ordinance I don't remember how how often but I I I want us to look into not auto renewing every time it comes up if the council has to hear it I want it to come back to the council because in my opinion sometimes things just continue to renew renew renew and we're not making it better so I would like for us to have the chance to revisit it every time it comes up for renewal yeah I'll I'll see how the contracts I know that my administration first came in we sat down with the people from ASM and went through all the acts that they had brought in all the um the potential acts that were passing out there and and at the time it was time to the renewal of government I told them that um well at the time I told I wasn't impressed with what the performance was right and then they came back and within a few days they started passing about Cat Williams to ask about Swan Lake a lot of other things and seeing a whole different variety but I think part of the the problems that they had before was that the Rosa Hart deal was not online that fits a lot of different uh criteria so they've started bringing those acts in so uh in terms of what they've been able to do and what they can do now they've got the full complement to work with and you've seen some of the acts I mean they had some people say the older book but we had Cat Williams random Travis we have uh at the same time we had the uh uh this is home fest so we're trying to

So you've seen a whole different variety, but I think part of the problems that they had before was that the Rosa Hart deal was not online.

So they've started bringing those acts in.

So uh in terms of what they've been able to do and what they can do now, they've got the full compliment to work with and you've seen some of the acts.

I mean, they had uh some people say the overbooked, but we had Cat Williams, Randy Travis, we have uh at the same time we had the uh uh this is home fest.

So we're trying to find a good balance in there where we can bring acts in, especially on on the weekends when we have people in and also uh generating uh dispensables around times when we have businesses in the city.

So we I'll I'll look at the uh the auto renew options and get that back to you.

But I I've we've gotten them on a different uh I I just don't want that facility to lose money, and I think we've we've been on the track to get that done.

And I agree with you and as long as they can continue to do what they do, we should have a problem renewing.

I just don't want it to automatically renew.

Yeah, I'm not and automatic renewal, it automatically renews unless we stop it.

So that's that and that's and what I can do is if we look at bringing it before the council, we can actually get together and see if it's worth even renewing it up because we have a uh we have a time period where we can stop with the profit numbers under any circumstance.

So we always have their control because it is our facility.

Yes.

I saw a quick question.

Um what what were the expenditures?

For the event center?

I mean, we we kind of lost over the event center now.

We were just talking about revenue when we talked about uh total operating expenses for the event center were 5.3 million.

And and the revenue well the ticket was.

Uh the ticketed revenue was uh 1.6 million.

There was uh 35,000 and other, which is usually interesting one point, right?

No, no, that was that was just revenue.

That was all revenue.

It's still losing.

Yes, it is losing.

The expenses are still in excess of the revenue.

For the council's information, the uh the event center is is always been the uh the city's city center.

So for local, especially local events, local, whether it's Marty Gros, I think we a lot of times we we pretty much uh not comp but uh we give severe discounts because we want the the public to use those facilities.

But for particular facilities like the live nation comes in, those are actual they have to rent out the uh the facilities too.

So we're trying to balance its use as a community center for the locals versus it actually making some money or uh offsetting some of the losses.

And remember if I can ask a question when you talk about local entities using it, ticketed or non-ticketed.

Does that go through the management company or is that go through your office?

But some of most of most of it, some of it goes through the management company, but we have the override that we can tell them that uh for these facilities and this particular events we want to give them uh some certain type of price.

I know there's some public entities that utilize it for insurance reasons and stuff, and the cost have gone up.

Yes, and I I heard some issues about it, I had some questions brought up about who really manages it.

So we have ultimate ownership of it, and it's just like with any other facility the city owns, it's owned by the it's owned by the citizens, the taxpayers.

We hire people to manage and run those facilities, but they don't have control.

Okay.

Um Mr.

Rutherford, you may also remember that the uh event center also has uh state dedicated sales tax that goes.

And and that's not included in the one.

That was not included in the 1.6 million, sir.

It's 1.8 million for last year.

That's the War 3 Hotel Tax Shared Civic Center, Magnes and Silava.

I know for sure Ward 3 in the event center.

And the golf course, it's say we made money.

No, no, that was revenue as well.

I think we've narrowed that gap.

We're narrowing it down the gap on the golf.

Yeah.

It's better in Houston.

Summer's breaking.

I think that's happened over the last couple of years.

So have we been researching uh competitive ways to make ours that they need.

I don't want to get to it right now.

That's okay.

Yes, yes.

Mr.

Castile is constantly looking for ways to get people out to the golf course.

I I will say this uh for the for the second year in a row, uh our our golf course man Malicola's been raised the number one golf course in what they are.

Yes.

So we we have a superior product, and and now we're getting more and more play.

The the the lights at night helped out a lot too, and plus the food offering during the clubhouse that helped them offset that.

Okay.

Any other questions?

Yes, sir.

Uh I just wanted to add, I think the clean audit speaks volumes uh from the municipality, especially when the size of hours and one that is balancing not only just the regular day-to-day, but disaster recovery projects, the beginnings of LC rebound, and so I just want to thank Ms.

And so I just want to thank Miss McDaniel for not only the diligence of her department but also overseeing accounting print principles and practices in the other departments as well as you any other questions for missing.

Good job on uh thank you uh please the beach.

When will we get we'll get all the uh the extra month award that uh we apply for it, yes sir.

You apply for it when you present uh and then it usually takes about six months, I think.

Yeah, it takes a while.

We get money.

No, sir.

We just we get a little medallion for a plaque.

Mr.

I do have to excuse myself.

Yes, sir.

Uh and please uh gentlemen, if you don't know that there's a reception uh at the harsh shoe on this late that's um going after this uh on the West East side because tomorrow we have the groundbreaking for the new IT bridge on overdoor project all right uh Mr.

Belbo.

Well, is everybody leaving?

I have a question about the constituents and Bo Blown area.

There's still concern about retention line on soft talk drive.

So running away keys around from it, and we actually gave a thing that answer was they had to fix downstream upstream first, but upstream don't have people living.

We got people live in this boat long area, and they constantly trying to figure out what we're gonna do about the erosion of this retention pond that was set to keep the flood area.

And I also got a um this is an ordinance.

We have an ordinance in place that you you must be within 300 feet.

You can't be within 300 feet of a school or church or something to for a liquor license.

Or a neighborhood.

For a neighborhood, but the concern is to get a liquor license, you gotta be within 300 feet, but you got to cover two blocks if you own it.

You see what I'm saying?

No.

Well, how far how many blocks you got to cover?

If you're a club owner, how much how many blocks?

You you you responsible for two blocks of but to get the license, you gotta be 300 feet.

You can't be within 300 feet.

So I was asked to say, well, let's make it balance.

Well, if you got to be 300 feet to get the liquor license, why you should have not covered but 300 feet of your area, your responsibility, not the two blocks.

But the but the action, we just talked about it.

But I'm saying the white disreach, you cannot be within 300 feet of a school or something in order to get a license.

That's different when you get a license, you got to cover a two-block radius.

So I want to look at see what we can do to change that because that's a large area of cover for anyone in any business.

Two blocks could be two miles, you know, two blocks can be two feet.

But if you get the license and I can get the license on 300 feet and it was approved, why I still got to cover a two-block radius.

Because that, you know, just uh I was called on the night, guy told me he was closed down and he didn't serve because people's on his property after he had to shut down the clear clear.

He said, but I was at home when that happened.

So we gotta have something to protect the business owner himself beside what people do after you leave.

You know, I don't know.

We just we ask I'm asking questions because when they ask me a question, I'm asking.

So I'm saying two black radius is kind of a far distance to have to cover.

Well, you only need to be away from something 300 feet, but you gotta cover two blocks to say you're a common.

I think we need a better explanation about what that accountability means.

What the accountability means when they just say two blocks, they don't say north and south street or east and west street.

Two blocks and you go on fifth and sixth street, that's not far.

Two blocks from sixth avenues to Fifth Avenue, it's a long way.

We just left the two wide open when we say blocks.

I think we pushing down just like everything else in feet.

We should put down a foot grade.

You're talking about two different things, right?

One is a liberal license.

But all bars and restaurants have carry liquor license.

But they may not be a bar.

A liquor license is just a in case.

Yeah, yeah, but that could be that that could be to a grocery store, that could be to a liquor store, that could be anything that you sell has to throw two blocks because nobody stipulates what two blocks mean.

But that's something you can take up with the beginning.

Because it don't say just say two blocks.

Two blocks could be the difference.

So first and then I want everybody, of course.

My girl, Miss Paula, she always answered for me.

Good job.

Good job.

Thank you.

Mr.

Weber.

I don't have anything to line.

Mr.

Young.

I'll echo Mr.

Bilbo property standards coming in uh clutch the last month or so.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

Mr.

Fundale.

Um Ms.

Paul, um, I'm bringing up about the um the guy's complaint about the um sober liberty on uh alcohol, I think it's 809 and alcohol.

Yes, so the thing of it is it is an unlicensed sober living if I understand it very well.

Okay, according to according to what you sent the letter if they are it's not a license, it's just a registration.

The council passes an ordinance to require each sober living home to register.

Now license is not required.

Occupation is not required.

Okay, they just have to register so we have information on the owner, who to contact if there's issues, but we have had extensive discussions with the legal department.

Sober living homes are federally protected under the Fair Housing Act.

So the only thing that we can do at this time is have them register so we have a record of where they're located.

Well, I have a question, Mr.

McGuerris.

If it's a business, why they don't have to have an occupational license.

That's a legal question.

I think they're a nonprofit registration.

I I don't know, I can't answer that question, but we can get the answer for you.

I guess I mean because there they have I guess you notify the owner of the home, but you own it notify the tenant that the tenant is uh entities as opposed to how many individuals are there and it's not the number of individuals is not regulated.

So we require them that they register, but there's no penalty if they decide not to.

We can we can bring them to hearing if they fail to register, we can bring them to the administrative hearing officer to make them register.

That is our tool that we have in our toolbox too.

And there's no rules they can operate with they can operate anywhere.

I'd like to I like to challenge that in us go back and get with the legal department because at some point I remember us stating that you you had to have you can only have a certain amount of residents in there, depending on the size of the house.

Uh they couldn't be there for no length period of time just through the duration.

And and I'm almost positive, and I could be wrong, that they had to have an occupational license because that's a functioning for-profit business.

We need to check with the legal department.

We've had extensive discussions as well as the state legislature is looking at a licensing review process for those very homes also.

So it is going through the state legislature.

We can review those uh items as they come up, but I think this is an extensive discussion with the legal department in relation to Fair Housing Act.

And there is doors if they're because most of that is just litter where they're actually doing counseling services there, is that change I don't I don't think so.

That's what they okay.

I can't answer that question.

That's a living arrangement.

Yeah, it's a living arrangement living there and they or you know bargain they're probably going to AA or you're in the tour space.

Not all the tools, but probably all of them.

Also, another issue with this, Mr.

McGuerris, is it says in this letter that we couldn't get in touch with the owner.

The owner is not the one running the place, it's the brother.

If I'm not mistaken, there was something in that that said that the owner had to have some sort of agreement with that for the property.

We I know we deemed we couldn't tell a resident what to do with their property.

That's what allowed them to have the sober living in neighborhoods, but the owner had to place some part.

I just can't remember what it is, but it just draws a red flag in this one.

It says that they they haven't been able to get in touch with the owners.

That's a legal question that I can't answer.

But just FYI, Ms.

Fundell, they can the residents can call the police if there's some kind of disturbance, whether you're hanging outside, different things like that.

And I think they have to report the uh the people that's in the house that they have some sort of violation, like a sex offender or something like that.

It has to be I don't see how they have to report anything that uh you have to report.

You know, we don't manage any of it.

And uh police department is not here tonight.

Um this, let's see.

I think um the other uh deputy is he got the email too.

The the citizen is saying that he's not getting a response when he's calling about people out at night.

Um he's saying that people are out all night and and and it's causing some kind of neighborhood disturbance, and he's saying that the police department hadn't been responding.

So you're talking about at the at the Pacific Center?

No, no.

They're talking about a halfway house on 809 out alcohol.

Yeah.

I know you I kind of go ahead.

That would be something we could uh research if they're not responding.

If that house is then inside the city limits of Lake Charles, and they call Late Charles Police Department, we were going to respond to whether it's a disturbance or is it a theft, whether I see the other chief is it uh Larry Moss or Code?

Gold A is on on the email.

Okay.

So if you don't mind getting with him, we we at least need to talk to the um citizen about what he's complaining about.

Okay.

And if I need to bring him in, then we need to bring him in.

But we need to understand what his problem actually is and make sure we're we're getting that information.

Okay.

If I may say so, Mr.

Funday, and Chief, I think we need to get with the legal department to find out what our restrictions is because it could just fall under citizens' violation, you know, as opposed to something to do with the sober living.

But he's saying he's called the police and you get a response on a disturbance.

So we should respond.

Right.

A disturbance.

Right.

Right.

Okay.

Right.

And where you have is the citizen have a date, time, when when that occurred.

And and it could be as simple as Chief Deputy reaching out to the citizen.

He's on the email and and and assuring him, you know, of a mechanism where he can register his complaint.

Right, I understand.

But if he is the complaint, is that they did not respond.

Yes.

Okay, that's what I was asking.

Do we have the date and time when that incident occurred that I don't I don't have it?

You don't have okay, but he he's on the email and they got his name.

He's called in a couple of times, so we can we can make contact with him.

Okay, I'll I'll get with DC Gold.

No, I'll give it if you you say he's on the email.

Yes, he's covered on the email.

I I'll get with him in the morning.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

See, Mr.

Mr.

Arby?

Yes.

Um thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, figure back off the sober living houses, um, just for the record, I'd like to add an address when we do look into it at 701 uh Sally May Street.

Um, that's also a sober living environment.

Um the complaints that we get from constituents there.

It's um it's a small property.

If I'm not mistaken, it's two bedrooms and amount of people on the property.

I want to say it's 10.

Um, so of course they're having people who's kind of hanging outside, hanging outside the property.

Um, and so the residents definitely want to ask questions about that.

So whenever we get the one to Mr.

Fundell, if I could just get clarity on that just so I can convey that information to them.

Um the Magnolia House event center.

Um there are several people in that area um that has is making complaints.

They say they call uh LCPD, um, they sent several emails to myself and Ms.

Renee, um, but they're complaining about the noise um every time they have an event, um, an event there, um, obviously the music's wearing and things like that.

Um, they said they're reaching out for help.

Uh, but the guy, I'm not gonna say it for the record, but I'll get it um to whoever needs it, but is that the Magnolia House event center?

They say they call pretty much every time they have an event, uh, whether it's the parking issue or a noise issue, but they're they're definitely having issues there.

Um residents are still complaining that they have not received uh any documentation regarding um their property being purchased for right away for the enterprise extension.

Um today there's about 14 people that I've noted that have said they live along uh the projected uh design and they haven't received anything, so it's kind of causing people to have a little bit of anxiety because they don't know if their property is going to be purchased for the right-of-way or not.

Um but I know last time um I asked the question um twice.

They said that the letters have been sent out, um these people are still saying they haven't received anything.

So and I still haven't received a copy of it as well.

So if I can get a copy of it, I don't mind making a copy of it or hand delivered to the constituents.

Um, but I know it was said from the city administration that um they had sent the letters out and they haven't gotten it.

I want to touch base back on this because I know this is about to be a hot topic uh uh item probably next week.

I want to still get a SWOT analysis of what the DDA does.

Um the reason why I'm asking that you're probably gonna hear from some constituents tonight.

Um, but obviously with the upcoming United Way project, um, there's many people that are taking the stance.

Um, and I know that the DDA has voted your opinion and provide a methods of influence on previous projects before.

So I do want to hear from the DEA to know where do they stand on this united way project.

Um, I know that we talked about the SMART code several times.

Um, I know we've had situations that they were for or against, um, but I definitely want to hear from that, but I'm still waiting on a SWOT analysis.

I've met with the president, he's the current president, he still couldn't provide it.

Um I've talked with several members.

Nobody seems to have it.

That's the councilman of that area.

I'm just simply asking a SWOT analysis of what has been done in the last three years.

Um I know we received some information that says our CIP prepar is due on Friday.

Um, what I'm gonna ask, because one of the things I'm asking for in my district, um, I know I met with Mr.

Simian, and I know we have to have a follow-up meeting about ditches being covered in district A.

Um, but I wanted to get um, I know we had the brick grant a couple years ago.

I know that didn't, I know you provided clarity already as far as that wasn't funding that covered the dishes, that was just to do the research and see what ditches needed.

Could I get that before I make a determination to turn in my CIP paperwork just to see like what ditches have more merit than the other?

Yes, sir.

It was a it was a planning grant to do a study to determine if ditches if closing ditches was the best way to go.

And so we do have that study.

I thought we had sent it to you, but apparently you're asking the question.

I went back and searched my email.

I didn't know.

So I'll make a note and we'll get that to you.

All right, thank you.

And then that's a horrid date for the CIP stuff on Friday.

I know we received it on my own.

That's all I get.

Gotcha.

Okay, thank you.

And then the I had one more thing.

Oh, if we I know we added two items to the agenda tonight.

Um, one thing that I'm really concerned about is when we're changing these projects to keep in mind that we told the public that these projects were coming previously.

So when we're changing these projects, I would like for us to be able to publicly convey that message to the public saying, hey, we're no longer doing the revitalization of Railroad Avenue.

We're going to move this money to Donald Ray Stevens and Gospel Court.

I just feel like the community needs to know that.

Um, because as a as a councilman for that area, I know I've stood in photo opportunities, I've stood and said this was coming and this was coming only for people to feel that nothing's being done.

And I know the Railroad Avenue area is a very vulnerable area.

Um, it's been a lot of outcry for that area.

So to hear that we're potentially moving that money, I just think the city administration needs to be conveyed a message able to convey the message to the public to say, hey, we made a decision to move funding here for this particular reason.

Not saying that I don't take ownership as the councilman, but I want to know that I did not initiate it.

If it passes, if it passes.

Um, and that's the only thing I have.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Don't have anything.

I have a couple of things.

Um is the CIP as well.

In times past, I think we had a lot longer than four days to do our CIP.

And I think with the new councilman and myself, and I just knew to look at those and make a decision in four days.

I think we need more time than that.

Okay.

Um Herman Stevens Engineering Manager, uh, the requests that were sent out were for your projects that you want included in the CIP and a priority associated with it.

Um it is not a decision for all of the CIP that will come later once we go through our reviews.

I think historically we've waited too long to get this done.

And so we've built out a schedule for the rest of the year, not only from CIP but also for capital budget.

So this is our way to get things on track and to get a better product of the end.

I understand that, but as a councilman to go through my district when I didn't know it was coming, it's gonna take me a little time because we got to move around certain things.

I understand.

We'll work with you.

You sent it in, we'll we'll we'll get included.

Ideally, we get them in sooner the better.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

Uh, along with that, the uh Mr.

Irmine, the um the study.

Um the street study that that y'all done, did you come with the priority yet?

So that could factor into our CIP?

No, sir, I do not think it's gonna be ready this year.

It's it's a lot of work, and so we have to figure out a road management plan on how to utilize this data.

Um so far it has come in handy with some um MPO funds, it saved us a ton of time in terms of identifying opportunities, but in terms of a full-fledged plan, it's gonna take a while.

Do you think that would affect?

I mean, like, let's say I pick a street and it ranks low on your priority list.

Is that gonna affect how we do it?

Should we compare those two or what?

Um, I think as we go through CIP this year, we can probably utilize the tool um to compare some streets side by side if we need to discuss priority, but it's not ready to build a full program.

Uh the other thing, I appreciate you.

The other thing is the sports complex.

I want to be sure that we are building the sports complex to the specs that we said we were gonna build it to attract national attention.

If we doing anything short of uh eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, we're defeating the purpose because we cannot compete with Lafayette and the surrounding areas if we cannot attract national attention.

So I think it's important that when we we I seen on the agenda we're sending out for renderings or uh A and E agreements, we need to keep that in mind that it has to be built to the national level, or we just shooting ourselves in the foot.

Uh the other thing is the tire place again, Warren Street and Prairie Lake Road.

Ms.

Paul, I tried to give them a break, but I arrive by there at night and it looks like a junkyard, you know.

Okay, you're right by at night, that's our main issue.

We don't see it at night.

Okay, we see it during the day during operation.

And that's and that's the thing.

It looks busy during the day, but at night all those cars are still sitting at the end.

Right, right.

So my suggestion is is what uh Mr.

Vs and I did for me and another residents is if you can take a few pictures for me and send them to me so that we can see what you're seeing.

Gotcha.

Okay.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

The other thing is emails.

I want to request that it is anything going in any city councilman's district that we make sure that we get them an email.

Now I know for me, the problem probably is they're sending the emails to our city email, but I get my email and my personal email.

Or they could just send it through Miss Rene and she can disseminate it out.

But there's a few things that I wasn't even aware was going in on my district.

And I found out, you know, so just going forward any emails, if they could just include my personal email on it.

So that's what I checked every day.

Okay.

Any other questions or comments?

Mr.

I have to agree with uh Mr.

Harvey and Mr.

Condell, the several living houses, uh starting to see more of them across the city.

Uh I thankfully uh got support from legal police department and um planning recently and had a community meeting with some neighbors in the district that were worried about one operation.

And uh they gave a lot of uh helpful.

I know that our hands are tied a lot because of Fair Housing Act, um, but they gave some really helpful advice for uh residents that live near these homes.

And if I can suggest after the legal review that Mr.

Harvey requested is done, uh perhaps the city could put together a guide uh for operators of server living homes explaining to them what they're responsible for and the owners of the properties too, um, so that we can better advise residents on what to do when they're experiencing these problems.

I agree.

Any other we just put a mandate on Airbnbs, but we don't have a mandate on the register.

Well, the the what we learned in the past was that sober living houses are being established by residents that own the property.

You can't tell a resident what to do with this property as long as it follows within the legal guides.

But we just did it with Airbnb, they have property too.

Yeah, but they there's a tax that's supposed to be paid on it.

That's what brought that.

But the sober living house ain't got to pay a tax.

No, right?

But I think the differences is uh I'm not an attorney here.

It has to do with the disabilities act and fair housing and disability.

Charge your rent, like a rent house.

Uh merchants with disability.

So if you want to try to regulate it, we might have to get with all of the congressional representative to to change the federal law.

We just asked.

That's not like a business to me.

Well, but if you if you're in the uh fair housing act and uh members with discipline, you could regularly do that.

All right, at this time we'll uh deal with the community.

We have Mr.

Anthony Thompson.

State your name and address for the record, please.

Thanks for having me.

My name is Anthony Thompson.

My address is 2132 22nd Street here.

I live in the old park district.

My concern is after the hurricanes, the speed bumps were taken off the road so the big trucks could have access and not disrupt the debris and stuff.

Since then, only one bump has been put replaced back in my neighborhood.

I live on the corner of that alleyway.

The residents are new.

People coming and going.

They're doing way past the speed of the 15 miles crop.

We have kids at play back there.

It's more of a safety issue.

And the slat was replaced, but the speed bump was not.

And I can help you out there with Mr.

Thompson.

Mr.

Herman, you and Ms.

Wendy want to come so I can explain to you what's going on with you.

The speed bumps were replaced, but the Mr.

Thompson brought up a valid point when I went out there and looked at it.

The first issue, correct me when I'm wrong, is when you turn off a Fifth Avenue onto the alley, the speed bump was so far back.

So they had time to pick up speed in the attic.

So then we had one, we had one move.

It moved closer toward the end.

So now when you turn in the attic, you hit that speed bump first so it slows you down.

But now the other speed bumps are so far away, creating the same problem.

So I think what Mr.

Thompson is asking is that we can take them and even proportion them in that alley so you don't have enough time to get the speed up.

Okay.

If you need to get in contact with me, just give me a call.

I'll show you.

It's not a problem.

We'll drive the streets.

I understand the situation and we'll get back to it.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

Thank you.

Dominique Darbone.

State your name and address for the record, please.

Dominique Darbone, 313 West Oak Lane, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Gentlemen, I'm gonna be brief because I will be here next Wednesday for something related, but I wanted to take a moment to speak to you about trees.

Some of you were here two years ago, whenever actually most of you were here two years ago.

Um, whenever I started on a journey of organizing with my neighborhood to save a tree, um I will be here in two weeks.

I'm sorry, next week to try and defend that tree again because all of our efforts um I don't want to say that they were in vain, but we're we're not where we want to be on that.

So I have been speaking with my new councilman, uh, Mr.

Matt Young, and also a lot of other community members, and I would like to just talk to you gentlemen for a moment about um the need for an ordinance in our city to protect native and legacy trees in our community.

Um that may not seem like something that is very important to you, it might seem like something frivolous, but legacy trees like live oaks and other mature native trees like Cypress, they take a long time to grow.

And once they're gone, you can't get them back.

A tree that takes 50 years to reach maturity and can live to be over 500 years old is special.

You can't really put a price tag on something like that.

And um, we've lost a lot of our trees in our community um in my lifetime because of the storms.

And whatever you believe, I think it's pretty clear that the weather is changing, and although we're having a nice break right now, and I don't want to jinx that.

We can be sure that our community is going to continue to face severe weather, and we're going to continue to lose trees.

I've spoken with our parks department and some other folks.

Um, and I hope that we can come together to have more initiatives to plant trees in our community so that we can set up our future generations in a better situation than what we are currently.

But I really am asking for your support in the future as um Mr.

Young and I and some other community members work on this ordinance.

I'm asking for your support.

I have spoken with constituents in just about every district in this process, and everyone loves our trees and our community.

Our citizens love our trees, and they would like for them to be protected.

I know that we don't tell private property owners what to do.

I've heard that a lot, but I think we can at least set some standards to make it a little more difficult for people to just come in and cut down mature trees for um make mansions that are not gonna make it.

And my last thing I'll say very quickly is I don't know if you guys remember, but where the urology center was, there was like a 300-year-old oak tree.

And it was cut down to build it was either was it the urology center or anything?

Okay, yeah.

Yeah, it was cut down to build the urology center, and the urology center lasted 15 years, maybe storm took it out.

Now it's a big empty lot where a gorgeous tree used to sit.

So we we need to do something about that, gentlemen.

And I hope that when Mr.

Young submits an ordinance in the future with things that my friends and I have worked on to help place some protection on the trees in our community that you all supported.

And um, if any of you would like to contact me personally about this, I would be more than happy to speak with you.

And I will see you all next week.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Just for my education out of you referring to number four.

That's gonna be the issue that you're speaking of, right?

I'm not sure today.

I'm really just asking you to consider an ordinance in the future, but next week it will be for the Ernest and Claude development.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much.

And for that, it's gonna be the variance.

No, um, that's what we'll be coming up against, which is not the development itself.

Okay, thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you, ma'am.

Amy A.

Bear.

State's your name and address for the record.

It's Amy Herbert.

Oh, excuse me.

Yeah, I'm married and divorced man from North Louisiana.

And they they say Herbert up there.

So I'm Amy Herbert.

I live at 2210 Ernest Street.

I went to Washington.

Did you?

Um, I'm piggybacking off of what Dominique just spoke to you guys about.

Um, I'll be here next week as well to talk about that.

Ernest and West Claude.

Um thing.

But we came together with some other folks and put together a loose organize organization.

It's called Southwest Louisiana Save the Tree.

And it was for this express purpose for saving this one tree.

Since that time, that's been a couple of years now, that has grown to be something bigger, and we realize that.

Um, we know that Hurricane Laura took out 10% or more of our tree canopy here in Lake Charles.

It's just in our city.

If you've noticed over the last few years, it gets a little hot outside, more hot than you remember it being just a few years ago.

It's because of that intense tree loss, not just from the hurricane, but also the panic cutting that happened just after.

We were all scared, we were worried about our homes.

You ruined the trees.

Now we're paying the price for that.

Um we also know that our electricity prices are going up exorbitantly, not just because of the tree loss, but in part because of that.

Our houses are hotter, we have to pay more money to keep them cool, and it's uh kind of screwed up our quality of life to a degree.

It's hotter to walk around outside.

I like to walk my neighborhood, and I like the shade of the trees, kind of protecting us all a little bit from that.

Um, I noticed on Lake Street, the big mid-city loft development that's taking place there.

The HRI community that is being built there, their developers, their contractors, and everybody who's worked on that project went through that entire piece of land and looked at every tree and identified healthy native trees.

That's why when you drive down Lake Street, you see those big fences just kind of randomly circling trees.

Those are meant to protect those.

They designed that entire property around those healthy mature trees so that they would stay intact.

That was a choice they made.

They weren't compelled to do that by the city.

They did that on their own, and I think that tells us a lot about what they value as uh mid-city loft community or developer, whoever's HRI um construction who's doing that.

So I think that's a good jumping off point.

Um, our plan is to present an ordinance ordinance protecting native and heritage trees in our area.

We're working with other organizations in the state to produce a best practices, things that have been done in Baton Rouge in New Orleans and across the nation to protect uh legacy oaks and other native trees.

I saw that, yes, sir.

I get that a lot at work.

Um so just in closing, uh, we we don't want to tell contractors what to do.

We don't want people being told what to do on their property, but we do want to say there is a price to pay if you do want to develop land in Lake Charles, and that is to value the things that we value as well.

Part of that has to do with our trees, things that are gonna outlast everybody sitting in this room.

And maybe the room too.

Yes, ma'am.

And that's all I got.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Fitzgerald.

Thank you.

All right.

Paul Gear.

State your name and address for the record, please.

I gotta repeat it.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Every time you come up here.

State your name and address for the record.

2205 How we 14.

7601 if you want to know that too.

Okay.

But the other deal is the reason I'm here, I got it one of them with complaint.

Tom is my representative.

Hey, thanks for that light, you got turned on at the park.

I appreciate that.

The other deal I'm here for on the Hillcrest Park.

That is a historical part.

And I like what the work they've done with that grant they got and hands.

That's gonna be one of the best parts in our community.

On the way, but we need a bathroom out there excessive.

I don't know if that's in the works as a plan.

I talked with some people in the recreation department.

They had it is on the window, but I don't get nobody talking about it.

We need outside of bathroom in that area.

Okay.

And the other thing is we revisiting April 15th.

I don't appreciate what y'all done in our community.

I feel totally disrespected as a community.

The way y'all come in.

I mean, with it being a major condition we change with a bear.

You can't make no hardship to get a hard ship, and that's what they've done.

And I brought that up the last time.

To me, I should have had a candid world to hand out the way the setup was set up over here.

And all the employees, I never said it done like that.

It was a setup.

And I know it's not the meeting here.

You already made decisions behind the dope.

But when it comes to the people, we gotta make better decisions.

And I already know with the bio programme, I've seen admission on the board as well.

I'm worried about you know, y'all destroyed the community, government and refineries and corporations drawing our neighborhood.

You gotta respect the people will as the people.

If it's not conducive to fit in the community, shouldn't be there.

I don't care what they do.

If it don't fit the community, then the property values are already low in that area.

When you continue putting that on Craig, you had a question the last time on industrial drive.

See, we was in a parish at one time before they brought into the city.

Matter of fact, Dunham Price was right down 14 years ago.

So we were the industrial cardiac brand.

And we gotta respond to it as government and the community too.

All that's y'all have a big fight with us.

I'm looking at what's gonna happen to Terry's.

Because it would take a lot of people out of the community.

That took money out of the community.

It broke down our voting strength.

I look at the big picture.

That's what I see.

And as far as the initiative, I'm wondering how they got away doing it from the state.

Because they've used it for you know, not man-made.

See that kind of cool is man-made.

The government didn't get over.

And we paying drainage and flooding.

Why we gotta move people out when they should have fixed that drainage.

And hey, I know the waterways, but I buy you to the south.

We over here, but Missouri present, we got cochle.

We gotta do better, better business than we do.

And I'm gonna tell you now you're gonna fight for me.

Because at the same time on 7th Avenue, the same district now, but that's old park, but not even with Greeners Tower if you definitely play.

Old Park.

So whatever affects the district as a whole, it affects everybody no matter where you.

That's how I look at it.

And we deserve respect, and we're gonna demand.

Thank you, Mr.

Gere.

Chad Stacy.

Council Mark, can I speak for three of us?

Oh, all y'all on the same course, sir.

They want to donate the time to you.

Okay, come on.

Uh we got Jason Gunter, Chad Stacy, and Billy Kerr.

Okay.

Jason Gunner, 1152 Bud Bennett, the Queensland, Louisiana.

Um here today.

Uh, by the way, we are doing the project for HRI.

We are the contractor doing that job for all the infrastructure in that area.

Okay.

I'm here today.

We we came to the last meeting on a project on the uh South Sewer Loop project and Gulf Highway Lif Station, project number uh 3242.

I think the Mr.

Gunther, the number has changed.

It'll be number I think 12 coming up just for the councilman, so you can relate to what you're talking about.

Yeah, item number 12.

Okay.

Yeah.

It was 20 at the last time.

Yeah, I'm here to try to figure out so we're trying to figure out where the award is at on this project.

We were low bidders on this project.

We uh we were told that it was deferred from our last meeting, and we're just trying to figure out where we at in that award.

Well process.

You asked the question now, you want to finish your statement and then you can ask.

Well, I can finish the statement.

Um so I don't know if any everyone is familiar with it, but uh there was a there was a bid process take place during this uh for this project.

We were the low bidder.

We uh we were we had a uh we we were asked for supplemental information from the engineer.

We supplied the supplemental information.

I had a meeting with the with the engineer.

Uh couldn't get any feedback on it, said he went to the uh to the attorneys, the uh the the city's attorneys, and uh since then we've we have heard that we were uh possibly gonna be determined as not responsible for this project uh being that our bid may be thrown out.

So I don't um we're you know I'm still trying to figure this out.

We've never been through this situation before.

Uh we've been in business for 26, 27 years now.

We've done a lot of underground projects, we've done a lot of projects in the community here for the last 27 years.

We've done a lot of projects in Fort Polk.

We've had major contracts up there doing underground pipeline work, uh sewer water, uh vertical contracts, airport, uh you name it, we've done it.

We we've carried contracts out there from a lot of IQ contracts from 30 billion dollars to 50 million dollars.

And we're not getting any information on this product on this bid process and kind of trying to figure out why and where we're at on this process and where we go from here.

Well, I I'll tell you this, uh Mr.

Gunter.

Uh from the last time you came.

Ms.

President, is I understand it?

If the matter is up for final next week, we can't discuss it.

Yeah, we can't discuss the particulars, but we can discuss what he's talking about.

His complaint.

And I'm just letting you know, I have a request out to gather the bids so we can see if what you're saying is in fact true.

But like the uh the city attorney said, we can't get into the specifics of it because we we're still going unless somebody else has some new information.

We still going on what they told us last week that it was deferred because some other things needed to be done, and now it's back on the agenda.

We don't know yet what those details are or what's been done uh about that issue, but we can't discuss that now in this meeting, but you have your complaint on record, and we encourage you to come back next week and talk to this, you'll be able to address this specifically because we'll have some answers for you at that time.

Okay.

So for my understanding, you still don't have the bid results?

No, I don't I don't have no one had no one on the council has the bid results for this project.

Is that is that is that a typical well generally it is it's not I wouldn't say it's not it's typical, but generally we get the bids when we're requesting.

You know, sometimes we don't have the need to request it because we don't have an issue like this coming up.

But being that you came last week, I requested that to be sent to the council, and I'm sure it's gonna be sent prior to us coming back next Wednesday.

Okay.

So just so my just so I understand.

So what is the process after this point tonight?

It goes to the meeting on the the sixth.

Yes, the sixth is gonna be heard.

Uh I don't know what item number it is, number 12.

I want to say.

Yes, item number 12 is gonna be heard next Wednesday.

You'll be able to come and address that particular issue at that time, and we'll have a fact sheet as well with information about the bid.

Okay.

Yeah, you have to fill out a card next week when you come with that number on it to speak to address that.

So does it does the determination of the the award done that night?

Well, should be when we come in, we'll vote on it.

We'll have the information of what the uh the administration will give us as an example.

They may say XYZ was deemed to be the lowest responsible bidder.

We read the fact sheet, we have discussion, we listen to what the people have to say, and then we vote on them.

Okay, so that'll take place next Wednesday.

Perfect.

Okay, thank y'all.

All right, appreciate any other comments, Christian.

No, no.