Ladies and gentlemen, please have your seats.

Please take your seats.

I know we have three minutes, Jerome.

I know we're very we were very detailed on line.

Councilmember, can I please call the role?

Yes, there you go.

Council Member Morrel.

We have five members.

We have a core.

I'm calling upon you to conduct the Military Appreciation Day activities.

Thank you, Count Council President.

I'm going to first call on Navy Chaplain Aaron Carleton to deliver our invocation this morning.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Would you stand with me as we begin our time in a word of prayer?

Let us pray.

Living God, today in the heart of this great city, a place of vibrant history and enduring spirit.

We are grateful for the men and women of our armed forces who stand as guardians of peace and symbols of strength.

We celebrate the storied military history of New Orleans from the battle which secured our nation's future to the shipyards that produce innovative warships, from ongoing presence of our installations to our national museum, from the countless citizens who have answered the call to serve to the organizations that support our veterans.

This city has been a bastion of service and sacrifice.

So we honor the active community, the veteran community that enriches New Orleans.

May we continue to strengthen our mutual appreciation and partnership so that New Orleans may forever be a city that welcomes its service members, veterans, and their families.

Bless the leaders of our city and of the services represented here today for the good of us all.

In your holy name we pray.

Amen.

Please remain standing for the presentation of the colors, uh, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthems.

Advance the colors.

Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Brian Higgs will now lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Please be seated.

It's a pleasure to be in front of the city council for another of our annual military appreciation days.

This is the 31st year the city has celebrated this event.

We truly appreciate this enduring support of our city for our military.

This event comes as a time of change for our city.

This will be the last military appreciation day for Councilman Thomas, and we appreciate his support for the military over the years.

Council members Marino and Jeruso will also be leaving the council, but not city government.

We also appreciate your sustained support and look forward to working with you as our new mayor and CAO.

Today, as in every military appreciation day, we think that the military music that you hear, the wonderful and very representative military personnel you see in the audience, and the reports you receive from our senior officers will be very uplifting.

Our local military organizations continue to make great contributions to our region and our country.

From remaining on perpetual standby for disaster relief to protecting our rivers and ports and rescuing our boaters in distress, to sending individuals and units to operations around the world, our military supports us across the board.

It continues to be very appropriate for New Orleans to show appreciation for all the military in our region does for us.

The sad reality is that there does not appear to be any let up in the global challenge of terrorism.

In addition to that, the conventional threats to our security from countries like Russia, North Korea, Iran, and particularly China seem to be growing significantly.

Many military personnel have given extraordinary sacrifices in the recent decades, but there is no rest for the weary as our national security appears to require that we ask our military to do even more in the future.

There are some real and current challenges to maintaining the world's best military.

Among today's youth of recruiting age, which is from 18 to 27 years old, only 27% of that population can qualify to join the military, either because of physical, mental, or moral issues.

We have about a hundred military personnel from all the services sitting in the audience today.

These are among those who have met the military's high standards and volunteered to serve their country.

They represent our young and talented U.S.

military personnel, whether they are currently in Louisiana or deployed around the world.

They are part of our armed forces, who will be asked to do even more in the future to protect our nation and our people's security.

Let's give them a big round of applause for their willingness to serve and for all the military does for our country.

Let me introduce them to you.

Please hold your applause until they are all introduced and we can appropriately recognize all of them together.

When I introduce you, please raise your hand so the council members can spot you.

Major General Justin Swanson, Commanding General 377th Theater Sustainment Command.

Colonel Andrew McGinley, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.

Captain Ulysses Mullins, Chief of Staff, Heartland District, U.S.

Coast Guard, Colonel Ignatio Asof, Vice Commander 159th Fighter Wing.

Also here is retired Army Colonel Pete Crane, the Vice President of the National World War II Museum.

Pete also has had a role as a special representative of the sector of the Army interfacing look after our Army units here.

So in addition to what he does for the museum with us, he also is heavily involved in supporting the military here in our region.

Also with us is uh Jackson Smith, the CEO of Bastion, one of the very uh innovative support organizations uh in the country.

He's a former Marine Corps captain, and you'll hear from him later in the program.

Also with us is retired Colonel Terry Ebert, who has had two tours as the director of Homeland Security in the city of New Orleans.

In addition, we have John Manion, the state chairman of the employer support of the Garden Reserve.

The ESGR is a DOD organization staffed by volunteers who help our reservists when they're called to active duty, uh, work with their employers, and when they come back and uh need to get the jobs back, etc., they do a great job.

And as our guard is called out ever more often now, they become even more important to us.

We thank you, senior leaders, for taking your time to join us today, and we look to hard forward to hearing from the active duty military officers shortly.

Please join me in a round of applause for all of our senior leaders.

The mayor's military advisory committee was chartered by the city council in 1992.

The reoccurring Military Appreciation Day at City Hall has traditionally been when the MMAC is given our annual report to the City Council, which is required in our charter.

MMAC is chartered to do three main things.

First, provide support to the military and their families assigned to our region.

Second, educate our local citizens about the economic and social benefits of having our military here, and third, to help retain bases and we have in the region and to grow their populations if possible.

MMAC has been hard at work at all three of these goals over the last year, but we do not carry the challenge of supporting the military in our region alone.

We coordinate, collaborate, and synergize the efforts of a lot of military and veteran support groups to include the VA, the state chapter of the SGR, the Navy League, the National World War II Museum, the USO, and many, many veteran service organizations, such as the American Legion, the DAV, the VFW, and the Military Order of Foreign Foreign Wars.

The MMAC is an all-volunteer organization, and we regularly maintain 50 to 60 members.

This past year, the MMAC was instrumental in coordinating the local military support for the Super Bowl, which included bands and flyovers and military personnel being superfans at the NFL Honors Program.

We are also involved in the planning for Sale 250, part of the celebration of the nation's 250th birthday.

That big event will be in New Orleans in May of 2026 with an armada of modern warships and old-style sailing vessels.

With the museum, we also co-host a quarterly meeting of local military commands to share info and coordinate local community and military events.

As I've reported in the past, MMAC organized and executes the city celebrations of Armed Forces Day in May and Veterans Day in November.

We have the best possible partner in these endeavors in the National World War II Museum.

The museum is the perfect venue to host these martial events, and the museum leadership and staff are totally engaged in making these celebrations special.

We are drawing large live crowds for these events, and the celebrations are also live streaming or the media museum social media sites, so we're reaching ever more people with our efforts.

We appreciate Councilman Green attending our Veterans Day program and showing up in his particularly patriotic attire.

Highlights of our program are one presenting the mayor's community service awards to wonderfully deserving military personnel at Armed Forces Day and two honoring our veteran of the year selection on Veterans Day.

Rather than give you more detailed information on these events, as I usually do, I thought it might be more interesting to show you what the collaboration of the museum and the MMAC is doing to make these celebrations even more impactful.

Our Veteran of the Year Award honors someone who not only accomplished significant things on active duty in military service, but someone who has carried his military values into his civilian life and made great contributions as a civilian to their community and country.

You will recognize this year's recipient, Colonel Terry Ebert, who was a stalwart for the city of New Orleans when it really mattered.

And I'm going to play a short video for you.

In 1942, Terry Ebert was born in the small town of Belvedere, Illinois, the son of a teacher and football coach.

As a student, Ebert excelled in sports and was a varsity wrestler at Southern Illinois University.

Growing up in America's post war years, Ebert was inspired by the service of World War II veterans, including his uncle, who was a Marine.

I grew up going down to Uncle Jack's farm every summer and listening to all his war stories and telling me I was never going to be good enough to be a Marine.

And so he was very instrumental in some of my thoughts and what I did later in life.

In 1964, Ebert joined the Marine Corps and deployed to Vietnam two years later.

In Vietnam, First Lieutenant Terry Ebert served as the commanding officer of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

We had some very trying times.

On Christmas Eve 1966, Ebert's Company E was assigned to rescue another unit.

As they advanced toward the village of Phutai, Company E's lead platoon came under enemy fire from a Viet Cong battalion.

Heavily outnumbered, First Lieutenant Ebert moved to the front of his unit as his lead platoon sustained several casualties.

First Lieutenant Ebert immediately led the attack, directed his men to return fire, and began evacuating the wounded to safety.

As Ebert's platoon worked to surround the enemy, he led Marines through hostile, fire swept open terrain, and he was seriously wounded by enemy fire.

First Lieutenant Ebert was shot in the chest, but continued to lead his company until he fell unconscious.

During that period of time, I was finally shot in the chest, and I finally went unconscious, and I was lucky to get out.

For his heroism during Vietnam, Ebert received the nation's second highest award for valor, the Navy Cross.

Also a bronze star for valor and two Purple Hearts.

Colonel Ebert went on to have a distinguished 25-year career in the Marine Corps.

He was a trusted advisor to the Commandant and was commanding officer of the basic school, where all newly commissioned officers are taught and inspired to be leaders.

After retiring from the Marines, Ebert moved to New Orleans and became a leader in public safety.

He helped establish the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the police department.

The police foundation hired Jack Maple, a renowned public safety expert, to work with uh Terry Ebert to do plans for the security of New Orleans.

After working with uh Colonel Ebert, uh, Jack uh said of Terry, he's a true leader who doesn't say charge but rather says follow me.

In 2005, Ebert was serving as director of homeland security in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina took aim at the Gulf Coast.

The worst-case scenario became reality.

Levees failed, thousands of lives were lost, and over one million Americans were displaced from the region.

The levy breach.

Colonel Ebert was so instrumental in the recovery of the city after Hurricane Katrina that noted historian Douglas Brinkley, who wrote the definitive book about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, said of Colonel Ebert that he was a true leader, and he was the one that was really in charge of the city after the storm.

I think it's a great city, a great story.

It had trying times before.

And it'll have trying times in the future.

And the Coast Guard presented its distinguished public service award to Colonel Ebert for unwavering dedication to the people of Louisiana.

After leaving city government, Terry continued to contribute to the community by setting up a successful small business with the local staff.

In 2018, the city needed him again, and Colonel Ebert accepted the call and returned as director of Homeland Security.

Colonel Ebert continued to make a lasting impact on his community, this time through education, establishing a groundbreaking school, the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy, with over 1,000 cadets in eighth to twelfth grade.

With over 1,000 cadets, Noma is home to the largest Marine Corps JROTC unit in the nation, and is consistently ranked as one of the top schools in the area.

Colonel Ebert is the man that brought this academy into existence.

And as president of the NOMA Board of Trustees, Colonel Terry Ebert has brought a lifetime of leadership, courage, and public service to a mission that I think aligns perfectly with his values.

His steady guidance, deep understanding of military discipline, civic responsibility, and servant leadership have profoundly shaped the culture and vision of our academy.

For decades of my life, he has set a great example.

Colonel Ebert credits the support of his family, his wife Suzanne, two children, and two grandchildren.

The privilege of serving my country, serving my city, and I've been blessed by three great women, my two daughters and my wife, who followed the path with me.

For his lifetime of service and his commitment to the city of New Orleans, we honor Colonel Terry Ebert as the 2025 veteran of the year.

Now we come to one of the favorite parts of our program.

The band is led by Sergeant Weston McCall, and his ensemble will play American Patrol, composed by F.

W.

Meeting.

Let's give a hand for the band.

At this point in the program, we have the privilege of hearing from senior leaders from each service located in the New Orleans area.

They'll give us a perspective on the past and maybe the future roles with our commands in the region and some information about their command's community involvement.

Our first presenter will be Lieutenant General Lynn Anderson, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, and Marine Forces South.

Thanks, David.

Madam Mayor Elect, members of the City Council, good morning.

It's my pleasure to be here today.

Marines stepped onto the bank of the Mississippi River here in New Orleans in 1778.

We've been here 247 years and we've never left.

Since then, our story has been deeply intertwined with the city's rich culture, resilience, and spirit.

We are privileged to call New Orleans home.

Our presence here is essential.

And from here, I command over 33,000 Marines across our nation.

Crucially, the Marine Corps support facility located in Algiers is a strong economic driver for the region.

Overall, we contribute an estimated 133 million dollars annually to the economic impact of the New Orleans metro area.

Our facility employs more than 1,500 full-time Marines, sailors, federal employees, civilian contractors, and yes, our Marine Forces Reserve Band.

This is an investment in hope, an investment in the community that supports us, and an investment in the future of this great city.

But most of you probably already knew these points.

New Orleans is positioned to become a national leader in maritime resilience, dual use innovation, and strategic industrial capacity.

An AI-driven system to accelerate U.S.

shipbuilding.

At the same time, Gulf Coast shipyards are expanding with hundreds of millions of dollars invested because private industry sees the surge in demand coming.

New Orleans once built a landing craft that won World War II.

The ships that protected our coasts, and the rockets that took Americans to the moon.

I think New Orleans has advantages few cities can't match.

We're one of the most important strategic port complexes in the country.

Our proximity to the major Gulf shipbuilders and offshore energy, a growing maritime university and trade school ecosystem, which includes the New Orleans Military Maritime Academy near my headquarters.

And speaking of, you have a Marine Corps headquarters that's tied directly into the national defense across the Western Hemisphere.

A geography and a history that already anchors the Gulf Coast maritime identity.

So my view is simple.

The city deliberately leans into dual use industries like shipbuilding, logistics, offshore energy, cyber, AI enabled supply chains, and autonomous maritime technology.

You can anchor all these high skilled jobs and long-term economic resilience without changing who New Orleans is.

This isn't a replacement of our city's identity of culture, tourism, and arts, but it's a balance of industries that can survive downturns, pandemics, and storms.

The Marines are here as a strategic partner.

We're not asking for anything.

Just ready to help align where the city and the nation are already heading.

As I've mentioned, the Marines serving here invest heavily in this community.

What's changed is the national landscape.

The country needs maritime capability, and the Gulf Coast is quickly becoming the center of gravity for that effort.

I'm confident New Orleans can lead that shift, not follow.

I'm fortunate that my last assignment of the Marine Corps brought me here to New Orleans, and I hope my enthusiasm for its future shows that.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your time.

Sembra Fidelis.

Our next speaker will be Major General Justin Swanson, Commanding General 377th Theater Sustainment Command.

Good morning, uh Mayor Elect, uh, council members and uh fellow service members and guests.

And yes, you're seeing me for the third year in a row.

Uh, typically our tenures or two years, my boss decided I need a third year to train and become better at what I do.

Um, it's always a pleasure to be here year after year.

The mayor's military advisory committee delivers on its commitment of advocating for the services, our service members and our families, uh to which Donna and I and our two children are New Orleans.

I went to LSU, I grew up here, I'm going to retire here like General Anderson.

We will be here often and be a part of this city together.

Our surgery, our soldiers have certainly benefited from their work from this work, and I'm honored that we can spend a few minutes talking about it today.

I do have to say that we kind of saw this year's Army Navy game coming.

Uh, Navy had a better record.

They were favored to win, and just like last year, they went ahead and proved the odds makers right.

I told my team that if the Black Knights pulled it off, I'd start today with a victory lap, but since Navy won, I'm here to demonstrate grace, dignity, and the ability to pretend I'm unbothered.

But I think we can all agree that it's one of the greatest rivalry in sports.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's a privilege to represent America's TSC, the 377th Theater Sustainment Command.

From our headquarters in Belle Chase, our soldiers provide critical sustainment capabilities as part of the Army's total force, as we help ensure our nation's soldiers get what they need when and where they need it.

To give you a feel for the 377's footprint across the planet, we are 33,000 plus strong.

We have units in 33 states.

Our soldiers live in all 50 states.

Our headquarters have been in New Orleans for about 35 years.

Um, and I have currently 2,000 soldiers that are deployed in the Middle East, Europe, and part in the Pacific Command and here in the in the nation in the Northcom AOR.

The Army is in the midst of a sweeping transformation.

We're modernizing equipment, restructuring formations, and refining how we fight so we remain the most dominant land force in the world.

For America's TSC, that means continually adapting on how we plan, synchronize, and deliver logistics to meet the future challenges, whether they come from adversaries abroad or natural disasters at home.

I can assure you that from the plans that I've seen that the 377th TSC is going to be in New Orleans as far as I can as far as I can see, and an enduring part of the Army.

This past summer we had the opportunity to bring more than 250 of our senior leaders to New Orleans for a forum that sharpened our focus and expanded our thinking.

It was a powerful reminder that effective sustainment is built on collaboration.

Leaders sharing insights, aligning priorities, challenging each other to get better.

And there's no place for that kind of teamwork than here in New Orleans, where the city's vibrancy, hospitality, and spirit helped fuel open dialogue and fresh ideas.

Time spent at the National World War II Museum provided a humbling sense of legacy as we plan for the future.

But even our but even with our focus on readiness, modernization, and global missions, the heartbeat of America's TSC is firmly connected to this community.

This year, our soldiers spent thousands of hours giving back in and around the New Orleans area.

One of the highlights was welcoming World War II veterans during the final soaring valor flight, along with our fellow service members in the room.

It was an unforgettable experience standing alongside the heroes whose courage and sacrifice shaped the world that we defend today.

Sometimes serving on a joint reserve base allows us to partner with our sister services in meaningful ways.

Just last month, our soldiers packed their rocks with toys, canned goods, and marched across the base to deliver them to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots drop-off point, a program that's approaching 80 years of existence and brought us joy in supporting the Marine Corps in this small way.

Whether it's here in the Council Chambers at the Crescent City Classic, the Zura Classic, or doing Saints and Pelicans games, our joint color guard, which you saw today, continues to make us proud.

But the true strength of the 377th in the Army Reserve comes from our people, our soldiers, our citizen soldiers.

They're your neighbors, co-workers, mentors, and friends.

They live, worship, and raise families right here in Greater New Orleans.

And over a thousand communities in the country.

They are teachers, business owners, engineers, first responders, students, and community leaders.

Their ability to serve our nation depends on the unwavering love of their families and the steadfast support of employers and partners who recognize the immense value of military service.

To every family member, family member, employer, and community leader who supports these soldiers, thank you.

You make their service possible.

New Orleans is a city defined by resilience, generosity, and soul.

Those same qualities define the soldiers of the 377 Theater Sustainable Command.

We are proud to call this region home and proud to represent New Orleans wherever the mission takes us.

Thank you for your partnership, Council, Mayor Elect, your trust and your support of America's TSE.

Can do.

We will now hear from Brigadier General John Plunkett, special assistant to the Adjutant General of Louisiana National Guard.

Honorable members of the New Orleans City Council, thank you for inviting the Louisiana National Guard to be part of today's Military Appreciation Day.

I am honored to be here on behalf of the men and women of Louisiana National Guard and our Adjutant General, Major General Thomas Freeleo.

Thank you for taking the time to recognize the service members of our great city, state, and nation.

The Louisiana National Guard is more than 11,000 strong, and our roots run deep in this city.

Our main headquarters is right here at Jackson Barracks, which is home to our Joint Force headquarters, the 139th Regional Support Group, the 141 Field Artillery Battalion, and elements of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 61st Troop Command.

I'm also joined by Colonel Asaf from the 159th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Belle Chase, who will share more about their mission.

They fly faster than the rest of us, so we usually let them go last.

Economically, New Orleans and the surrounding regions benefit greatly from the Guard's presence with an annual impact of more than 125 million.

That's nearly a quarter of our total economic contribution to the state.

The mission of the Louisiana National Guard is threefold.

Federally, we support the national military objective through mobilization and deployments around the world.

As a state level, we operate at the direction of the governor and respond to emergencies to protect lives and property.

And locally, we actively served and support our communities because at the end of the day, this is home.

In 2025 alone, we are proud to support many community events here in New Orleans.

That support ranged from color guards for ceremonies to guest speakers for schools, churches, and organizations, along with obstacle courses and static displays that inspire the next generation to serve.

Our one great example of community focus was the Christmas at Jackson Barracks, which was hosted for the first time in more than 25 years.

The event offered historical tours, a Christmas market, Santa Claus, who, by the way, passed all background checks.

The 156th Army Band, local high school bands, and auctions.

It was a wonderful opportunity to open our gates and say thank you to the community that supports us year-round.

Volunteering is also a cornerstone of our organization.

We have family members and volunteers at every unit who stand ready to support our soldiers and airmen.

These volunteers recognize annually at the awards banquet, honoring their dedication to just not just to the guard, but to the communities they serve.

Together they provide more than 3,300 volunteer hours each year.

Our veterans and fellow service members also routinely volunteer their time at Louisiana National Guard Museums, including Jackson Barracks Museum here in New Orleans.

Volunteers there contributed more than 1,900 annual hours maintaining and restoring artifacts, ensuring visitors experience something truly unique for the Guard's history.

Our commitment to the state and the community is most visible when crisis strikes.

In January following the Bourbon Street Terrace attack, Louisiana National Guard, soldiers and airmen responded within hours to support law enforcement in securing the area after such a horrific event.

The Guard was called back for their Super Bowl in Mardi Gras, helping ensure New Orleans was safe while welcoming visitors from around the world.

Most recently, we supported law enforcement during the Bayou Classic, which was a three-day event.

Of course, many people know the Guard best for response to hurricanes, the biggest weather threat to our state.

Through continuous training from tabletop exercises, boat rescue, full-scale simulations, we ensure we're always ready to answer the call, no matter what the forecast.

In closing, we are deeply grateful for the continued support the city and the state provide to Louisiana National Guard.

Thank you again for honoring our soldiers, airmen, and all the brothers and sisters in arms.

We are proud to serve, committed to protecting what matters, and during this time of the year, especially thankful to call in New Orleans home.

Following speaker will be Captain Drew McGinley, CEO of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base.

I will note that Captain McGinley is a Naval Academy graduate like I am.

And I do want to correct the record on General Swanson.

Army was heavily favored last year before Navy blew him out in that Army Navy.

And despite General Swanson saying he's gotten over it, he was pretty frosty when I met with him initially this morning.

General Myers, I don't I'm not sure why you're trying to start a fight between myself and General Swanson.

You know, he's on the base.

But you're the base commander.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, uh Madam Mayor Elect, City Council.

I am Drew McGinley, commanding officer of NAS JRB New Orleans.

Thank you for allowing me to speak to you about our base today.

My family and I, we've been fortunate enough to do three tours here in New Orleans.

The first one was from 2009 to 2012, and that was a great time to be here because the Saints took it all that year.

We came back for a brief tour in 2016 and 2017, and I wasn't sure if I would have the opportunity to come back.

And then in August of 2024, the Navy said I was going to command the base in Belle Chase.

And so we've had the opportunity to come back one more time.

I always receive words of gratitude from your citizens, people who thank us for our presence and for the work our military service members do on the job and in the community.

For those of us in uniform, what we hear out in town a lot is thank you for your service.

And I want to tell all of you that I feel lucky I get to do it, and it's an honor for me to represent our service members here today.

I can also honestly say that our service members greatly appreciate how welcome the people in New Orleans area make our make them feel.

Our service members appreciate the unique culture, the many activities and attractions, the music, and they especially love the incredible food.

We do our best to return your embrace by serving not only those of our nation but the communities that we're a part of.

In this past year, NASGRB New Orleans service members volunteered thousands of hours of service to the New Orleans community.

We collected and delivered hundreds of pounds of non-perishable foods and cash donations to support area food banks.

Military volunteers assist with Toys for Tots, the SP SPCA, local park cleanups, school reading programs with high school and university and Rotsky programs.

Just last weekend, our base hosted the New Orleans Military Maritime Academy's J.

Ratzi drill meet.

Seven area high schools brought over 250 cadets to compete in regulation drill and exhibition drill, and they all looked extremely sharp.

NASGRB New Orleans sailors have donated toys and clothes to the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Project and warm coats to the New Orleans Mission and the Jewish synagogue in New Orleans so they can spread the warmth.

Our people led junior achievement, boy and girl scouts of America, and coach children in all sports throughout the Greater New Orleans area.

As a personal aside, I don't want to brag, but just last night, I led the Plackerman's Parish five and six boys and girls wrecked basketball teams to a hard-fought victory.

The final score was two to one.

Sounds like more of a hockey score than a basketball score, but uh a win is a win.

Our Color Guard has participated in numerous ceremonies in New Orleans, while our honor guard renders funeral honors to more than 400 veterans each year who are laid to rest in the great state of Louisiana.

All the while, our work continues.

This year we supported almost 18,500 flight operations and an even greater number of flight hours.

We have continued to support state operations, FEMA exercises, the local FBI office, and NOPD.

And they have reinforced our vision and our mission to support the fleet, the fighter, and the families.

This year we exercised numerous contingencies with all local emergency responders to remain ready for whatever crisis approaches Southeast Louisiana.

Notable significant events include support during the aftermath of last year's awful New Year's Day terrorist attack, staging and security for Air Force One during President Trump's Super Bowl visit, and continuing to ensure hurricane preparedness.

As a matter of fact, I can say that the only thing we were not prepared for was winter storm Enzo last January, a snowstorm in New Orleans.

Not going to happen, right?

But while we could not anticipate such a once in 130 years event, our response showed that we know a thing or two about crisis management.

And the base was back up and running in less than 24 hours.

Recently, a state commission study showed that military-related spending in Louisiana creates nearly $10 billion in annual economic impact statewide.

NASJRB New Orleans alone directly contributes nearly 2,000 civilian jobs and almost 200 million dolling in the local economy.

Before closing, I want to say that I believe that Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans has tremendous opportunities for growth and increased strategic significance for our greater country, for our great country.

But it's really going to start with a community and infrastructure, infrastructure around it.

And that depends on the leaders in and around the city of New Orleans.

Many have heard me say in my interactions with local leaders in Blackman's Parish that if something is good for the community outside of our fence line, it is also good for the people who work, live, and train inside of that fence line.

I remember a great article written by the strategic uh intelligence firm StratFour back around 2011, which highlights many of the reasons why the United States has been such an economic power for the past few centuries.

The article fixates on both the river system that our nation was blessed with, along with the maritime transport capabilities that have developed around it.

The fact that transport via water is 10 to 30 times cheaper than land transport, and the fact that navigable rivers by definition service twice the land area of coastlines, as rivers have two coasts while uh coastlines only have one.

There are many other arguments that I won't get into here, but the point is that maritime transport has tremendous opportunities for jobs, economic output, and all the benefits that naturally follow.

New Orleans knows all about maritime transport, so it will likely recognize an opportunity in that field when it sees it.

So when I meet with local leaders about the possibility of making our base a dual-use civilian military airfield specializing in air cargo, along with the supporting railroad extension and Peters Road bypass, yes, it sounds ambitious, but I say let's do it.

Projects such as these have the potential to make this area even greater than it already is.

And that's just one example of capitalizing on the potential that is already here.

NASJRB New Orleans wants to work with you and to be a part of it.

In closing, I want to thank, I want to thank the council for hosting this day and the great citizens of New Orleans for their steadfast care and support.

I know at the end of the day, most of the service members here are guests of this great city for about three years before we move on to our next duty station.

But during that short time, I know that the people here have made me feel welcome, like family, and for that I am truly grateful.

I want to thanks so much for your time today and for everyone's support of our great military.

Our next presenter is Captain Elysis Mullins, Chief of Staff, Heartland District, United States Coast Guard.

Good morning, madam and mayor elect.

Honorable council members, distinguished guests, military senior leaders, Lieutenant General Anderson, Major General Swanson, Regulator General Plunkett, and all other New Orleans area senior military leaders.

Good morning and greetings to all of our military members present in the audience today as well.

I bring greetings as well from Rear Admiral Will Watson, who could not be here today, as you know in the military duty calls and his service.

He was required to be elsewhere today.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the United States Coast Guard on this military appreciation day.

Let me start by saying the partnership between the Coast Guard, our sister services, and the City of New Orleans is vital, not just to the city but to the nation.

This is that has not been more evident than over the course of 2025.

The past year has been one of the busiest and most dynamic in recent memory.

On January 1st, during New Year's Day celebrations in the French quarter, a terrorist attack threatened the safety of New Orleans residents and visitors.

The Coast Guard, which had been actively preparing to support Sugar Bowl security operations after notification of this tragic event, pivoted to provide immediate support to local law enforcement operations and secured the maritime environment through the course of this rapidly evolving situation.

The very next day, our maritime safety and security team, K9 unit detected a potential explosive device on a ferry.

Thanks to the seamless communication and coordination between the Coast Guard and the city's emergency operations center.

We quickly resolved the issue, determined that it was not an explosive device, and reopened the river.

When historic winter weather brought unprecedented snowfall of up to 10 inches, our units maintained close coordination with city official and emergency managers to ensure the safety and security of the marine transportation system.

Some of our members in the Command Center and Vessel Traffic Service slept in their offices through the snowstorm to ensure the continued availability of services and continuity of commercial operations and public safety along the Mississippi River.

During Super Bowl 59, as a part of the joint security effort, the Coast Guard deployed its most complex counter drone system, integrated its K-9 teams into interagency screening operations, and enforced security zones that protected over 150,000 spectators, including the President of the United States and other visiting senior government officials.

Our Coast Guard members screened over 36,000 ferry passengers and responded to emergencies alongside our law enforcement partners.

Throughout the year, we've also worked alongside the city to support multiple events.

Mardi Gras season events, the French Quarter Festival, Essence Fest, Fourth of July fireworks events, and the Artemis II rocket movement, maintaining safety and security along the river during these large-scale events.

Search and rescue, as always, remains at the heart of our missions.

Just last month, Coast Guard air crews, boat crews, and auxiliary members led the response to a downed aircraft near Lake Front Airport, again working alongside our local partners.

And I would be remiss if I did not mention that we have had the absolute privilege of participating in several Mardi Gras parades with our own Coast Guard float.

This is an event that our members who transfer in and out of New Orleans look forward to every year, with some traveling back to the area just to ride the float.

Also, I must make special note of Lundigras.

For several decades, the Coast Guard has had the honor and privilege to support the arrival of King Zulu and King Rex into the port of New Orleans.

It is an event that we take absolute pride in supporting, and we look forward to next year's Lundigras events.

Beyond operations, Coast Guard members are active in the community, supporting water safety education for nearly 900 local students, participating in recruiting and outreach events, and cultivating the next generation of leaders through our partnerships with Dillard and Xavier Universities.

None of these Coast Guard operations, missions, and activities would be possible without the dedication and selfless service of our Coast Guard active duty reserve and auxiliary members who all play a critical role in keeping New Orleans safe.

Looking ahead, we are excited to support Sale 250 in May of 2026, when New Orleans will welcome tall ships from around the world, including our own Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, for America's 250th anniversary celebration.

The Coast Guard's success in New Orleans is built on a foundation of trust, collaboration, and shared purpose with this city.

On behalf of all Coast Guard men and women, thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to speak here today, and thank you for your enduring support of our military.

Sempre Paradas.

Our sixth presenter will be Colonel Ignacio Asaf, Life's Commander, 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air Guard.

Good morning, Madam Mayor Lect, distinguished council members, distinguished military, senior officer search today.

I'm Ignacio Wassaffer.

You can call me Iggy, it's a lot easier.

I am the Deputy Vice 159th Vice Commander of the Louisiana National Guard at the Naval Air Reserve Station and Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.

I have the privilege of representing approximately 1,500 airmen, some of which are currently deployed overseas.

We also recently participated in combat readiness training with over 600 guardsmen at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia, to further sharpen our capabilities.

These airmen support national interests and strategic campaigning across the globe to further the national security strategy of our nation.

Another group of airmen are scheduled to deploy next year as well to continue to protect what matters.

Having lived in New Orleans Metropolitan Area for over 47 years and a Louisiana National Guardsman for over 36 years, and an Archbishop Rummel High School graduate, this is my home.

Like other guardsmen, the connection to our community reflects one of the unique characteristics of the Air National Guard.

Many of our airmen serve in the same communities where they grew up, whether for a single six-year enlistment or for a career spanning more than 40 years.

They're your neighbors, your bankers, the people at the grocery store that you talk to every day.

Another defining aspect of the Guard is our state all hazards response mission.

As General Plunkett mentioned, for example, earlier this year, our airmen stood side by side with local, state, and federal agencies to support security operations in the French Quarter after the aftermath of the New Year's event, the Super Bowl, and Mardi Gran.

We also participated in the 2025 statewide disaster response exercise, Cajun Jumanji, testing our hurricane response readiness and showcasing our dual role in national defense and state disaster response.

We're proud of our community involvement with NOLA Girls on the Run, Son of a Saint, Saints 5K Run, Blood Drives, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Habitat for Humanity, the Louisiana Children's Hospital, the World War II Museum, to name a few, as well as numerous air shows and military flyovers throughout the state.

I would like to take this opportunity also to thank you for the council's continued advocacy of its service members throughout the state, regardless of the service that it's in, and your State Guard.

To my fellow service members and veterans, thank you for your courage, your sacrifices, your steadfast commitment to our mission.

And finally, I want to emphasize that the 159th Fighter Wing proudly stands ready every day of the year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week with armed F 15s ready to defend the homeland against conventional and asymmetric threats.

Thank you again for your advocacy and have a good morning.

Our last speaker will be former Marine Corps Captain Jackson Smith, who is the CEO of the Bastion Organization.

This organization is one of the most innovative veteran support organizations in the country, and it also is doing a great job of coordinating a variety of military organizations to make it easier for veterans to get support.

The council in the past has also been supportive of the Bastion organization, so without taking too much of your uh steam there, Jackson, uh you're next up.

Thank you very much, General Mice.

Um, Madam Mayor Elect Moreno, esteemed council members, and uh most of all to all of these fantastic Americans who I'm sharing this room with.

Thank you so much for the privilege of being here today.

Um, Colonel Ebert's been a hero of mine since I was an 18-year-old two-lane midshipman reading his Navy Cross citation, and to be here in this room doing this work alongside leaders like you is an honor that is difficult for me to describe.

Um, I had the privilege of speaking before this council two years ago, and I told you about the issues that our veterans are facing today.

PTSD, traumatic brain injury, suicide, substance use disorder, food insecurity.

Every one of these issues affects disabled veterans at greater and higher rates than their civilian counterparts.

Today, in the state of Louisiana, our veteran suicide rate has increased by more than 35% across the last two years of data that we have available.

You heard me talk about those problems, and you heard me talk about the things that the Bastion Organization is doing to face this fight.

As America's first intentional community for disabled veterans and their families.

A place where, through the power of relationships and their connections with one another, our veterans heal and transform one another's lives, as embodied in our motto, no veteran heals alone.

But you also heard us talk about the capacity limitations that we face at Bastion.

58 homes, home to 120 souls who live and grow together, compared to 15,000 veterans across our great city.

So you heard us talk about our plans, our dreams of building a veteran wellness center, a single facility that could serve as the definitive hub of resources and connection for every one of those 15,000 veterans, a way to make Bastion's model of care accessible and available to any veteran citywide who needs it.

Well, I am proud to tell you all today that the Veteran Wellness Center is a dream no longer.

Because next month we will complete construction of that facility and open it to the public.

With the Veteran Wellness Center, Bastion aims to once again break the mold, as we did with the construction of our community.

The creation for the first time of a facility that prioritizes accessibility, that prioritizes solving problems rather than being content with doing things the way that we always have.

One facility where every provider, providing the resources that our veterans need can come together in one place so that our veterans can access them face to face and so that they can integrate with one another, creating a true network of care to empower our veterans to get out into their neighborhoods and communities citywide and do for each other what they do at Bastion.

That is happening because of you all, and because of you all.

So with the little time that I have left today, what I really want to emphasize is two things.

Number one, your veterans are ready.

They are ready to stand up to step up and to do what it takes to take care of one another.

This building is only intended to be the tools that they need to do that.

The second thing that I want to say is thank you.

I'm often asked why is Bashton in New Orleans.

Why isn't it in some big military town?

My answer to that is if those military towns could have done this, they would have.

At Bastion, we are built on the power of loving your neighbor.

And there is nobody and no place in this country that understands what that means better than New Orleans.

That is why Bastion is here.

That is why our veteran wellness center is here.

And before too long, this model of care and the way that we empower veterans to change each other's lives will be available to veterans all across this great country.

But it will have started here, and it could not have started anywhere else.

So from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of the veterans of New Orleans, on behalf of the veterans of the Bastion community, thank you so much for making this possible.

We finish our presentations.

Are there any questions or comments from the council members now?

First, thank you so much for your presentation.

I know that there's comments.

We'll take them down the line if Councilmember Thomas would like to start.

Excuse me, sorry for uh my tardiness.

Today was uh uh school public school pajama day, and uh my nine-year-old had to have a special uh pair of superhero pajamas that he wanted to wear.

Uh but I remember your comments two years ago.

I I remember the the comments 20 years ago about the about the military, and as I always say, uh on behalf of my family members, uh Richard Bulldog English, uh one of the commanders of the noted 761st Black Tank Battalion, and the movies and documentaries done about him and their command behind enemy lines for 188 days without rations or munitions.

Uh Patton called them the fighting Panthers.

Proud.

My dad, uh, Oliver uh Eagle Eye Thomas, staff sergeant, uh, munitions uh trainer and my brother, the late Ronaldo Thomas, 101st uh Screaming Eagle, uh special forces.

I've never known a community where the military didn't serve coaching, teaching, mentoring, counseling.

So while we have to educate people on what the military does is really kind of amazing to me.

We have to re-educate them.

Because military men and women, that's what they've always done.

You don't sign up for the military because you just you won't you just want to serve one part of your country.

You sign up for the military because you want to serve humanity.

So growing up, that's what I always saw.

And as I've said before, we have a lot of people who uh we just celebrated the 20th anniversary of Katrina.

And there are a lot of people that take a lot of credit for a lot of stuff.

But the one thing is someone who was here every day.

Uh I saw the Army National Guard uh have order when it was chaos, and I saw the 82nd Airborne.

When they operated in the midst of dysfunction, in the midst of not having orders of people not knowing what to do, they always knew what to do.

And what it reminded me of is that the only unit of this country that's really capable of bringing order to chaos and organization to disorganization, especially if anything of that size was the military.

Because in the midst of a city that was drowning, in the middle of a government that didn't really have the resources or capabilities to handle that level of disaster, the men and women who serve with you guys, they always seemed like they knew what they were doing.

So as someone who's a benefit from my family and my community, where you don't have to teach me and inform me about what our men and women do to serve because it was in our house.

And from someone who was here every day during Katrina, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the men and women of the military.

Thank you.

Thank you, and good morning.

I am a proud son of a veteran of the Korean War, Eugene Green, and also a brother.

Um Kevin Green, both members of the Air Force.

Um, I certainly appreciate the role that the military plays in keeping us safe in our nation and throughout the world.

I want to thank you for the service, everyone who is here that you provide to people that you don't even know, people that you haven't met.

And your very presence and your readiness makes a big difference in our city and our state and in our nation.

I thank you for your service.

I was reminded on Sunday as the as our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community lighted the menorah on our river front, and I looked out and I saw military on our river protecting them.

I was reminded just last week that a terrorist attempted to come to New Orleans to kill people here, that we also are going to be commemorating, if you will, or be in solemn posture on the first of this year, which will represent one year since a terrorist decided that he was going to attack innocent people on our streets.

We know of terrorist incidents that continue to take place throughout our world, but we know that things would be a lot worse if we didn't have the preparedness and the readiness of our military.

So thank you for your presence.

Even if it sometimes seems like you're just doing things that maybe even seem not as exciting as you would want them to be.

So thank you very much for all that you do.

And if there's anything that I can do, especially as a son and a brother of veterans who appreciate your work, please feel free to call on me at any time.

Thank you very much.

My father is a Green Beret, and all of his brothers are in the Navy.

And I can tell you, as someone who went to college in Alabama, people think the iron bowl between Auburn and Alabama is bad.

You do not know about rivalry until you have the interfamily split of Navy and Army veterans.

And it is it is a rivalry that is epic.

So I am surprised that we'd have a fight breakout in the room, though General Maz was certainly trying to instigate one at the table.

And though we all kind of say that, I never feel quite like that is sufficient.

I mean, it's it's what we're taught to say, but I don't think it really encapsulates how much people in your community value your service.

It is a sacrifice.

I mean it is a sacrifice to put your country and put your duty above all else, and it does, I think for those individuals who have family who are in the military have served themselves, they understand what that means.

To dedicate yourself to something larger than yourself to put the needs of the many above your own, it's something that we as a council, we as a community truly appreciate, even though I don't think words quite sum it up.

And so I thank you for being here today for reminding us of all the things you do.

Uh but I would be remiss in saying if I did not say this out loud.

I think everyone in this country understands what the military does and know that we live free because of the work you do every single day and all the um threats seen and unseen that you address before we those of us at home ever see them.

So thank you for your service, like I said, and thank you for being here today, and you have this council's full support in all of your endeavors.

Thank you.

Good morning.

It's great to to see all of you.

Uh General Maies, thank you for your constant commitment to to put this together every year.

How many years did you say that that you've been part of this and we've been doing this?

Well, we it's been 31 years all together.

Um I came three years uh like General Swanson when I was on active duty here, and I've uh since 2005, I've been leading the uh military appreciation day.

So 31 years, and of course, we remember Jackie Clarkson uh who started all of this, so that we would ensure that we were constantly and and never forgetting and always recognizing the tremendous impact and presence that the military has in our city and throughout our region.

So uh I'm glad that every year that this is something that is that is continuing and and uh as the incoming mayor, I hope to be down here next year uh with you all, also being part of this event, so we can have a big large combined event moving forward as well, including uh the mayor.

Of course, uh, you know, so much has been said about uh all that you do, but I just want to also uh express my gratitude for always being present when we need you most.

Uh Enzo, as you talked about, was not something that we expected, the major snowstorm.

But you all were there, you were present, you were ready to respond the best way possible, uh, even though I know that you weren't necessarily equipped, as neither as none of us really were, but but thank you for your work and your and your effort there, and of course, after the January one um incident uh as well, the New Year's Eve and January one incident.

Uh to all of those who are in the audience, thank you so much for your service.

We thank you for all that that you do, and we thank you for being here today.

And we thank your families as well, because no doubt about it, uh it is a sacrifice to family as well, um, knowing that every single day you potentially could be putting your life on the line.

Tebastion, your work is uh truly impactful.

Uh I've been a supporter of Bastion for for quite some time.

You are not only transforming lives, but you're saving lives.

So thank you for all that you do.

And to the military band, you're your you guys are uh are some of my favorites uh in many events that I go to around the city.

So thank you so much for for playing for us today, and thank you so much for bringing so much joy around our community and our region as well.

Thank you.

Good morning.

I want to start off by saying thank you for all of the work that you all do to keep us, everyone safe from dangers seen and unseen, um, nationally and abroad.

Um it takes a lot of courage to sit in your shoes and be your in your and in your position, and I don't take that light as I want to again say say thank you.

Um living on the West Bank, and I see the presence and the appreciation of the uh military and bell chase, how how that so many people appreciate um with all that that base brings to the community, also analogy with the the the uh marine reserve, how much of an economic impact that uh that base brings to to the community, um, but more importantly, how much of a sense of security and safety um that the Marines bring without even realizing it.

So many people appreciate it who live in that community, and and I appreciate as well.

So um again, thank you for keeping us safe, and thank you for putting your your families um sometimes on a back burner, putting yourself on a back burner for the betterment of this of this community and this country.

So thank you.

So I say this every year.

I I come from a military family.

His brothers and sisters were in the military.

And I can tell you that my baby cousin, who's 18 years old, just joined the army, Holden Harris.

So he's continuing the tradition of the Harris as being part of the military.

My grandfathers all served as well in World War II.

So I am a proud descendant of people who were part of the military who served our country as you all are doing right now.

So I just want to say thank you so much.

Someone who was retired from the military, and I said, thank you for your service.

And he said, No, you should thank me for your freedom.

So I want to say thank you for our freedom.

Well, good morning.

I want to apologize for having to step out for a moment.

I know how important this presentation is, and I want to thank everybody in the audience and at the table for being here.

But I do have the best seat in the house for military day, and thank the band every single year for your great instrumentation and what you play.

Colonel As if you may have opened the door to this.

You said you went to Rummel.

Well, I am a Jesuit guy.

And the there you go, I see we've got some J's in the back.

Um, you know, our uniforms are based on ROTC because after the war, everybody was required to be there, but the uniforms continued.

And one of the things about wearing the uniform, it taught me was to be a certain length.

I had to have my name tagged, my shoes had to be shined all of the time.

And so those are the little lessons, but the thing upon reflection, particularly when you go elsewhere, people ask you about wearing a uniform and what it means to you, and to me, it was you took people from different backgrounds, different places, different economic statuses, different ideas, and you wore the same uniform, so you're one.

And that's what I think you know, where all the rivalries between the branches are wonderful, and I know that they exist, and that's a natural tension.

But at the same time, in a divisive world where everybody's trying to pull us apart, whether it's on social media or or otherwise, the fact that there is a uniform that literally binds us all together in the work that you do and the freedom you provide, says so much about what the military does and offers for all of us.

Um I too want to thank uh council member Clarkson.

I wore my red tie today, not for Christmas, but in honor of her because of what she meant.

And and I want to I want to close not only by thanking everybody for their service.

You are doing a public service for everybody in this country, but candidly to also thank General Myzel.

I certainly knew about Colonel Eberett's service to the city of New Orleans, but I I candidly am embarrassed to admit that I did not realize he had been gravely wounded in war, his service that uh to his country during Vietnam, all of his service during Hurricane Katrina, opening of NOMA, like one of those alone is a lifetime, and um we we are all blessed and honored, Colonel, for your work on behalf of your country, your state, and your city.

So I want to personally thank you for that.

And and last, um bastion, you know, um there are many times we vote on things that maybe don't seem as consequential, but I know council member Moreno and I voted on the conditional use, and when it comes to making sure that people, particularly veterans, have access to care, to mental health, to food security.

It's great to know that the military here and that you are leading that effort.

Uh so I want to close by saying I will miss all of this, but from from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every single person here and everybody at the table for your leadership and your service in keeping us safe.

Thank you.

We're gonna end our program by asking the Marine Band to play the medley of service songs.

We would request that if you are a past or present member that you stand when your service song or him displayed us.

Thank you very much.

We appreciate that.

Why don't we let's see, why don't we give ourselves a two minute recess where everybody clear the room and take pictures?

And then we'll get back to the meeting.

Madam Corner, we can get started.

The consent Council Chairman, for anyone who's here for the uh ankle monitoring uh ordinance, that is being withdrawn.

If you're here for the for ankle monitoring, uh there's no need to sit around uh all morning and wait for it to come up.

Uh that particular ordinance is being withdrawn.

And to add a little meat to that, since it's being withdrawn, there will not be an opportunity to comment on it, so that's being withdrawn.

So that's why you're getting that's why Council Murray is giving you the heads up.

The consent agenda.

We have a communication from Aaron Spears.

This should be marked received.

We have a communication from Zachary Smith, 621 Elysian Fields Avenue.

This is marked received, and the suggested hearing date is January the 8th.

We have a communication from Mary C.

Virges, 1120 Jenner Street.

This should be marked received.

Hearing date 1826.

Communication from Callin M.

Stringer.

This should mark be marked received and referred to the governmental affairs committee.

See motion M25635.

We have a communication from Winston C.

Fiore, RTA application renewed 2016, 1122, 111 Iberville Street, 111 Iberville, LLC.

This should be marked received.

Hearing date is January the 8th.

On page 3, we have a communication from Amy B.

Trapanier.

This should be marked received.

We have a communication from Amy B.

Trapanier.

This should be marked received and referred to the budget committee.

We have a communication from Elizabeth Home.

This should be marked received.

Hearing date January the 8th.

We have a communication from Elizabeth Home 1401 Dela Shea Street, GDI LLC.

This is marked received.

We have a communication from La Toya Cantrell, Mayor of the City of New Orleans.

This should be marked received.

The hearing date is set for 121825 for reconsideration of calendar numbers 35, 253, ordinance number 30,000 five thirty MCS.

And calendar number 35, 254, ordinance number 30, 531, MCS.

We have a communication from Dr.

Mark Bear.

This should be marked received.

Hearing date is January the 8th.

We have a report of Yvette Jet 55326 Britannia Street.

This should be marked received.

We have a report from Eleanor Burke.

This should be marked received.

We have a report of Eleanor Burke, 3513, 3517, and 3531 Shorter Street.

This should be marked received.

We have a report of Dr.

of Jennifer Avagno MD.

This should be marked received.

We have a report of Danielle Berger.

This should be marked received.

On page six, the report of Cassandra B.

Robert.

This should be marked received.

A report of Robert D.

Rivers.

This should be marked received.

We have a report of Robert Rivers.

This should be marked received.

Hearing date is January the 8th.

We have on page 7.

We have a report of Anita Curran, 1709 through 1711, Moray Street, Council District C.

We have a report of Eleanor Burke, 621 Elysian Fields Avenue.

This should be marked received.

We have ordnance calendar number 35,302 by Council Member Morell, Governmental Affairs Committee Recommended Approval.

On page 8.

We have ordinance calendar number 35,309 by Councilmember Jerusalem 3340 Orleans Avenue Zoning Docket 5725.

We have Resolution R25626.

The Joint Utility Cable Telecommunications and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee recommended approval.

We have Resolution R25627 by Council Members Morel, Moreno, Harris, King, Green, and Thomas.

The Joint Utility Cable Telecommunications and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee recommended approval.

On page 9, we have Resolution R25-628 by Council Members Morel, Moreno, Harris, King and Thomas.

The Joint Utility Cable County Communication and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee recommended approval.

We have Resolution R25-629 by Council Members Morel, Moreno, Harris, King, and Thomas.

The Joint Utility Cable Telecommunication and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee recommended approval.

We have Resolution R25630 by Council Members Morel, Moreno, Harris, King, Green, and Thomas.

The Joint Utility Cable Telecommunication and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee Recommended Approval.

We have Resolution R25631 by Council Members Moreno Morel Harris King Green and Thomas.

The Joint Utility Cable Telecommunications and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee Recommended Approval.

We have Motion M25 632 by Council Members Morel, Moreno, Harris, King, Green, and Thomas.

The Joint Utility Cable Telecommunication and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25633 by Council Members Morrell, Moreno, Harris, King and Thomas.

The Joint Utility Cable Telecommunication and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25634 by Council Members Morel, Moreno, King and Thomas.

The Joint Utility Cable Telecommunication and Technology Committee and Climate Change and Sustainability Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25635 by Council Members Morel King Green and Harris by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25636 by Council Members Morrell King Harris and Green by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25637 by Council Members Morrell King Green and Harris by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25 638 by Council Members Morrell King Harris and Green by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25639 by Council Members Morel King Harris and Green by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25640 by Council Members Morrell King Harris and Green by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25641 by Council Members Morel King Harris and Green by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25642 by Council Members Morel King Harris and Green by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

On page 14.

We have motion M25643 by Council Members Morel King Harris and Green by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25644 by Council Members Morrell King Harris and Green by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25645 by Council Members Morrell King Green and Harris by request.

The Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25647 by Councilmember Moreno by request.

The governmental affairs committee recommended approval.

We have motion M25648 by Council Members Morrell, King, Green, and Harris by request.

The governmental affairs committee recommended approval.

Those are all the all the matters on the consent agenda.

Mr.

Burnside for comments on executive session.

Well, wasn't there as the executive session?

So is that session is mentioned in the consent agenda?

No.

No, then why is it that's a separate vote?

Okay.

Never mind, Mr.

Burnside, you're correct.

I don't know why it's brought up to me then.

All right.

With that, I'll move to adopt the content agenda.

All right.

Seven years now days consent agenda is adopted.

Next, Madam Clerk.

We're now going to go to page 26.

Number 35.

For reconsideration by reason of the mayor's veto ordinance, number 30,530 MCS as amended, ordinance calendar number 35, 253 by Councilmember Jerusalem.

An ordinance providing an operating budget of revenues for the City of New Orleans for the year 2026, in accordance with Section 3-11, 4-206-1F and 6-102 of the home rule charter of the city and new of New Orleans and otherwise to provide with respect there to vote on the question.

Shall the ordinance pass the objection of the mayor withstanding, notwithstanding green vote over rules, red vote sustained.

Thank you.

A couple of things.

Right now I'm the only author on this.

Does anybody else want to co-author?

I will co-author.

Anybody?

Let me ask this question.

Does anybody not want to co-author?

All right.

Seeing none, all seven members are co-authors.

Mr.

Burnside.

And I'll ask the same question of 36 as Mr.

Burnside gets here.

I assume everybody will, unless you say otherwise we're seven co-authors.

Seeing seven co-authors.

Go ahead, Mr.

Burnside.

36, Madam Clerk should also be marked as all seven members as authors.

In regard to revenues, so revenues are tricky things because of course nobody wants to pay for government.

We all think the government should be free.

Unfortunately, the gentlemen who were in here earlier today need paychecks in order to feed their wives and kids, so governments really actually not free.

So the question becomes not just how much does it cost to run government, but who gets to pay.

And the who gets to pay gets to be a problem because nobody wants to play.

Nobody play.

God, I can't talk anymore.

Nobody wants to play and nobody wants to pay.

So revenues.

So let's just talk very briefly about cash flow.

We don't have a heck of a lot of cash flow sometimes, and we give it away.

We gave away, for instance, the public belt, which offered us some money.

We're going to sell buildings and then we're not going to get the revenue from the New Orleans Building Corporation.

Which is all fine, but we also gave away the red light and the traffic light, or at least much of the red light and much of the traffic light revenues.

So our revenues come in cycles.

Sometimes we get a lot, property tax, sometimes we don't have any.

August, nobody's paying sales tax.

So this flow hurts the city, and that's something we're not really aware of.

So giving up the red light and the traffic light cameras to the sewage and water board in exchange for giving them the small drainage system, the catch basins was a problem.

I believe we should get the red light traffic back, and I believe we should do so by pushing and asking the people to pay for a catch-basin fee or a rainwater fee or a minor drainage fee.

The reason I emphasize fee is because I do believe the nonprofits should pay.

The nonprofits do not pay property tax, and the nonprofits do benefit from us not flooding.

So however it needs to be worked out.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Burnside.

Is there any public comment?

I mean, I'm sorry, is there any comment from the dais?

Please um just hit the request to speak.

Councilmember Thomas.

Yeah, just to clear up uh uh a few points.

Uh the there have been comments cumulatively about uh voting and and how we vote and uh you hear the noise.

Uh as someone who has a pretty long resume.

As someone who has a pretty long resume, I could put up a very long list of 5-1-6-1 votes, where in many cases I've been to one.

But budget chairman, I've been to one because of principal uh ideology, or if it doesn't add up.

If Matt doesn't math, then the numbers prove, but right now, this is the budget that we have.

This is the one that's before us.

Anyone can say what they would have done or would not have done differently.

But I learned a long time ago from Jim Singleton and working with former mayor Mark Morel, if you don't have something else to offer or an alternative or a viable option, then just to be against is being a gangst.

That doesn't, that's not productive.

And then Jim Singleton used to always talk about protocol or respect of the office, which I will say uh from the presidency down to local office.

That doesn't seem to exist very much today, and the press is complicit in that because that's how they get their social media attention based on the fodder uh in the fight.

But I will always respect titles and office and people with public service.

But also the ultimate respect is if this is the budget you want, this is the one I'm gonna give you because that's the one you want.

And it's it'll be talked about and analyzed later, but you don't just be against something to be against something.

7 0 votes should matter, 516143, uh overrides, executive overrides, uh they should matter out of principle, uh, they should matter uh out of public policy, and it and it mostly should matter if you have a different set of opinion or an option, and too often have not been given another option.

So uh, Mr.

Chairman, and also out of respect for you and some of the work that you've put in, uh I I think if nothing else, you do to have what you want to work with as we try to fix this thing moving forward.

So uh I don't want really you know anybody coming in my face with all of that other uh foolishness because OT going out ain't really the same as OT being in, and it's a whole different level of freedom.

But let's respect what we have before us, especially if you don't have a viable option.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Councilmember Morrell.

Thank you.

Um I want to begin by saying I I a hundred percent agree with Councilmember Thomas.

I think that this is another instance in which it's sort of like the health care debate we have in DC right now.

There is an impasse because you have one group who's saying we need to do something, and other group saying we have a different plan, but you can't see it yet.

And right now, what you see before you is that when we began this budget process led by council member Jerusoe reviewing the mayor's budget proposal, it had 30 percent cuts for every single department.

It was a chainsaw surgery to the budget of the City of New Orleans, and at that table, every department head appointed by the current mayor spoke in detail about the devastation that budget would cause to every single department in government.

So while the mayor presented a budget, it was a hacksaw budget that her own department said would devastate all government services.

Now, what the quiet part that was said out loud is the mayor also in the same breath demanded that we pass nine different types of taxes the way she wanted to fill that budget, and as a council, a deliberative body, we looked at those taxes, those fees, and they just were not justified because we as a city had not exhausted everything else before taxing citizens.

What was further frustrating is that Councilman Jeruso, along with the rest of this council, met with the mayor's staff, met with the CAO, met with the CFO, and came up with a plan that would have a budget that was slimmer and responsible, but not have those devastating cuts.

We worked concurrently with people in the Cantrell administration to craft that budget.

And what is very frustrating is that after all of that work, after all of those meetings, both in public and in private, where this was fleshed out, there were tremendous opportunities for the mayor to participate if she wanted to come up with an alternative.

Instead, she chose to not participate.

And then on the very last day, after all that hard work was done, the mayor vetoed the budget with no alternative.

Because let's be very clear, the charter requires that we pass a budget.

So there is no universe which the city can exist without a budget.

So I would argue today this is one of the easiest votes this council will ever have to vote on because the mayor has presented no alternative budget.

She just doesn't like the budget we made.

And the fact that we are here in the twilight of an administration with someone doing something like this, it just kind of breathtaking.

So, Councilman Jeruso, we appreciate all your hard work with the administration crafting a budget, finding a way with the mayor elect to craft a budget that is functional but does not devastate our city, and it's just really unfortunate that the mayor chose to seemingly veto it for no logical reason that has ever been articulated.

Thank you.

Councilmember Moreno.

Thank you.

Uh, once again, Councilmember Jeruso, thank you for your help and the entire city council.

And I just want to remind the public and even the media who's covering uh this that the reason why we're moving forward with with this particular budget is due to the fact that we wanted to mitigate as much as possible, just really horrible impacts to uh city services.

I want to remind everyone that the original budget that that was sent to the council had a 30% reduction in funding to sanitation.

That alone would have been uh crippling to sanitation services and potentially would have eliminated uh recycling uh for good uh in the city of New Orleans.

And so uh Councilmember Jeruso, I I appreciate your hard work with the transition team to find uh additional dollars.

It was, of course, is as we talked about before, disappointing that um this current administration did not want to meet with us to recognize those additional dollars, but those additional dollars of roughly 75 million dollars is going to be very impactful uh moving forward in 2026.

Um, but just when it comes to essential services with this budget, I want to remind everyone that we did all possible to keep essential services whole so that there isn't a disruption in city services when it comes to code enforcement and sanitation and public safety, all of those things remain whole.

NORD, we were able to fully fund NORD and also our council on aging.

So things that are very important to our community, to our city, and to our city council.

And so that's why I think it's critically important to move forward with this budget, and of course, also you know, very much agree with the point that councilmember Thomas made and also the council president that we were not given any other type of alternative, and it was also very difficult toward the end as we worked on finding this additional revenue to even get anyone in the room to try to figure out if there was another path.

So thank you, Councilmember Jerusalem for your hard work.

Thank you.

Um I hadn't planned on speaking, but I guess you all have moved me today to do so.

Uh first of all, I do want to say and really recognize this was a true team effort.

It was myself, the mayor elect, other council members, the transition team, and so I don't want to leave any of those people out.

I also want to say this.

Math is undefeated lifetime.

I mean, it is not one of those things where you can guess at it.

And I think it's also really important, in addition to the points that council members Thomas and Morel made about alternatives, is that we sat here in chambers and brought experts and the subject matter people who are affected by this and asked them to verify the math.

Sou Jim Waterboard stood at that podium and said we acknowledge there is a receivable of 80 million dollars, and we feel comfortable saying at a minimum we are going to return 29.5 million to the city of New Orleans in 2026.

We had a lawyer stand at the podium and say we feel very comfortable that you can repurpose ARPA money in order to make sure that you have money in your budget to help sanitation and public works and other first responders.

We had a representative here who took the math that was provided from the administration on Wisner and spoke about all the money that was available and that we could repurpose for purposes of making sure the residents of the city had the best budget possible.

And then when it came to collections, I think we've heard the administration say numerous times all they want to do is raise revenue.

So we leaned into the part that is about collecting money that is already owed to the city and making sure that there are enough ticket riders to advance that forward.

And if we're wrong on the math, if we're wrong on our process, if we're wrong on anything else, then I invite anybody to come to the podium right now and say that to us.

But I think the absence of anybody from the administration tells us what the answer to that question is.

So that I'll move to override the veto members.

I was invited, and I think I'll accept that invitation.

You're not a member of the administration, Mr.

Burnside.

You said anybody.

No, I meant from the administration, Mr.

Burnside.

I did say from the administration.

Councilmember Moreno has seconded seven years, no nays.

For reconsideration, by reason of the mayor's veto ordinance number 30,531, MCS as amended, or discounted number 35, 254, by Councilmember Jerusalem, adding all other members.

An ordinance providing an operating budget of expenditures for the City of New Orleans for the year 2026, in accordance with sections 3-115, 4-206-1F, and 6-1023 of the Home Route Charter of the City of New Orleans and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

The vote on the question shall the ordinance pass, the objection of the mayor, notwithstanding green vote over rules, red vote sustained.

Thank you, Mr.

Burnside.

Now's your opportunity, sir.

Mr.

Burnside is very old and very tired and not going to take the opportunity that you think he is.

He's going to try to stay positive and he's going to talk about expenditures.

Expenditures are important because they achieve change in the city.

You don't expend money just to waste it.

So in order to achieve change in the city, the question becomes what kind of change do you want to achieve?

And there are different visions for the city.

And it's hard to uh discuss all of them in less than two minutes.

But all of them are going to require money.

And one of the things that you can do with expenditures, of course, is you can lower them.

You can reduce your expenditures.

One of the major expenditures that you face in the next eight years is going to be a half a billion dollars.

You're going to give half a billion dollars over the next eight years to firefighter retirees.

You're going to give 33 years of benefits to a man who served 20 years.

You're going to give a widow 38 years of benefits for a widow.

You face the same problem that the Social Security Administration faces.

You're paying more for people to be retired than you're paying for them to work.

You are.

We've got less than 350,000.

We need to find a way to move our firefighters into the state system.

It is important.

We raise the age for Social Security from 65 to 67 for a reason.

That reason is ultimately the math does not lie.

Thank you, Mr.

Burnside.

I've moved on item number 36, seconded by President Morrell.

Seven yes, no nays.

Thank you.

We're now back on page 17.

The regular agenda.

We have a legislative grouping communication from Claire Bynum, Director of Land Use.

Councilmember Joseph Ajiruso, District A, transmitted the Mayor's Office of Economic Developments recommendation of approval and requesting the scheduling of a public hearing for the following restoration tax abatement application.

RTA 20240290 628 Jefferson Avenue, Yvonne Casalot.

We have resolution line over R25601 by Councilmember Jerusalem.

A resolution approving the RTA application for 628 Jefferson Avenue.

Um all right.

I I just want to make one other mention.

I know there was one online comment for the vetoes, but we are gonna refer those to the record.

On this RTA members, this is a single family owner occupied home that went through a total rehabilitation to to make the property now habitable.

The property had all the necessary permits for the work, giving an estimated 48 construction jobs during the work as it proceeded.

The restoration tax abatement review committee unanimously recommended approval.

So that I will move for approval, seconded by councilmember Harris.

Six years.

Thank you.

We have a legislative grouping, a communication from Elizabeth Home, Director of Land Use, Councilmember Leslie D.

Harris, District B, transmitted the mayor's office of economic developments recommendation of approval and requesting the scheduling of a public hearing for the following restoration tax abatement application 2023 182 2400 Napoleon Avenue 2400 Napoleon Avenue LLC.

We have resolution R 25649 by Councilmember Harris, a resolution approving the RTA application for 2400 Napoleon Avenue.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

This resolution approves the RTA request at 2400 Napoleon, which recently opened as an event space called the Josephine.

It created 40 construction jobs and 33 permanent jobs.

They also exhibit the DBE requirement with a hundred percent DBE utilization, as well as complying with higher NOLA.

I have one public comment card from Susan Johnson.

Hello.

So I have a question about something in this uh application.

There's a mention of um conditional use on page three of the uh document attached to this docket permitted and conditional uses listed in table 12-1.

Actual intended use as a live entertainment space which is permitted within the zoning district.

Now, don't isn't that actually still outstanding that conditional use?

Okay.

Well, there's an NPP meeting tonight.

Is that about something else?

Is uh Miss Quigley here?

The consultant.

Okay.

All right.

Well, um I've written to her twice about an event that took place on December 11th at this event space.

Um I couldn't find uh a permit for that.

She said it was permitted in the NPP letter for the NPP meeting tonight.

There was a mention of a permitted event, December 11th.

I couldn't find the permit.

Um questions about parking are still outstanding because there don't seem to there doesn't seem to be any parking assigned to this uh 1,000 um person events space.

So neighbors still have questions about the status.

There's temporary uh certificate of occupancy.

Um ran out on November 1, and no answer from anyone in the city about about the certificate of occupancy.

Thank you.

I move council member King is seconded all in favor?

Six years.

Thank you.

We have the hearing of 2026 through 2030 capital improvement plan amendment has been deferred to January the 8th.

We have a legislative group in demolition application of Edwin Williams on behalf of Craig McClare Barry, McAlberry.

Transmit transmitted demolition application 2534 630 demo requiring city council review and approval for the following property located at 1822 Frenchman Street.

Okay, Council District D, we have motion M25663 by Councilmember Green approving the applicant's demolition request for property located at 1824 Frenchman Street.

We have public comment on this matter.

Um have you turned in a card?

Yes.

Okay, if you have two minutes, sir.

Okay, uh Edwin Williams, 1326 of England Fields Avenue.

I'm just here to answer questions.

If y'all have any.

Okay, well, stay there and we'll have the other public comment and then a question may be raised based on that.

But at the end of the day, I'm moving to support your request for demolition.

Um I am concerned that you have not submitted a plan for redevelopment, but I encourage you to recognize that the zoning that exists now is in is compatible with that neighborhood.

Um I just hope that if you redevelop, you keep that in mind.

Okay, I will.

And also um the property owner hasn't uh notified me of any plans of uh doing anything with it just yet.

Okay, Mary No Mary Nell Nolan Wheatley, Preservation Resource Center.

Good morning, council.

Happy holidays.

I apologize for my voice.

I'm recovering from laryngitis, so I'm gonna do my best here.

Uh Mary Nell Nolan Wheatley with the Preservation Resource Center, 923 Chapatula Street.

The Preservation Resource Center agrees with the HCLC and objects to demolishing eight 1822 to 24 Frenchman Street.

Located in a National Register Historic District, the building is potentially eligible for historic tax credits, which is a useful financial incentive when renovating a double and one that will disappear if it is demolished.

On one stop, the property was cited by code enforcement in 2022, but not for structural issues.

Besides this, there is no publicly available documentation or analyses to explain why demolition is necessary.

More information would be helpful.

Additionally, we raise concerns to Councilman Green that the notice of demolition that was posted identified the property as located in district B with Councilmember Harris's contact information.

This error may have caused issues for any neighbors with concerns about the demolition.

If demolition is approved, we respectfully ask that the council consider including reasonable conditions to protect the national registered district's integrity, such as requiring that the building is deconstructed to salvage historic materials, and that redevelopment is completed within a reasonable time frame.

Thanks so much.

Thank you for your comments.

A lot of the original historic components have been removed.

But I just encourage the owner to recognize that should the council support this vote that it's important to recognize that without a plan to redevelop this site, there should be no assumptions relative to a zoning change or anything that might make something possible that doesn't exist right now within that zoning.

So members, I move for approving the applicant's request for demolition for the property at 1822 24.

It's been seconded by Councilmember Thomas.

Members, please vote your machine.

All in the working okay.

All righty.

Five years.

Thank you very much.

One two.

Councilmember Member.

Six years.

Thank you.

We have a legislative group and a demolition application of Jones Amber on behalf of Brittany R.

Major, transmitted demolition application 25-34040 demo.

Requiring City Council review and approval for the following property located at 1709 Moray Street, Council District C.

The motion M25657 by Councilmember King approving the applicant's demolition request for property located at 1709 through 1711 Moray Street.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Some comment cards.

First, we have Mr.

Matthew Wilson.

Good morning, Council.

My name is Matthew Wilson.

I live at 1410 St.

Anthony Street.

Uh requesting that you deny this requested demolition permit for this property.

Um this is the second time in six months that this property has been before council, requesting a demolition permit.

Uh the first time this council denied that permit, and there has been no significant change with this property over the last six months.

The current property owner has been severely negligent in maintaining it.

Uh, we believe that this is a clear case of demolition by neglect.

Uh when the owners purchased it, it was an occupied rental, but rather than doing basic maintenance and continuing to rent it out, uh, they chose to board it up, evict the tenants, and allow it to deteriorate into its current condition.

Uh while it's poor condition current uh while while it is in poor condition, it's far from being a lost cause.

Proper investment would bring this historic home back into a livable state, uh, rather than taking it out of commerce and off the tax rolls by tearing it down and adding another vacant property to our neighborhood.

Um rather than rewarding this negligent property owner by allowing them to demolish this historic house and releasing them from their code compliance cases.

Uh I would encourage this council to hold them accountable by standing with the neighbors and opposing this demolition permit and voting in the same way you did six months ago to deny this application.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Miss Marie Colleen Erdder.

No, no, no, no, no.

This is this is uh Marie.

She got it.

Helen, I'm sorry.

Hi.

Um my name um is Marie-Hélène Verdier, and I live further down the street at 2110 Moray.

I oppose the demolition.

Here are some facts as to why the demolition should be denied.

The neighborhood association sent in a petition of a hundred and eleven signatures against the demolition.

The city has never declared this home IDC in danger of imminent collapse.

According to the architects of our neighborhood association, the house's foundations are strong and the slate roof is still original.

The owner is trying to use this proceeding to circumvent the code enforcement fine, i.e., if the house is demolished, the owner will not have to pay the current fine.

The owner admitted as much in their code enforcement hearings.

It doesn't help affordable housing if we let investors get away with this type of scheming.

The historical character of our neighborhood is under attack by investors doing the same thing.

I think we had just previously an example of this.

The neighborhood has seen multiple demolitions in the last eight months, one of them completely illegal on Earchardt Street.

For all these reasons, the demolition of the house should be deemed unethical and unacceptable.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ms.

Wheatley.

Marinel Nolan Wheatley with the Preservation Resource Center, 923 Chapatullah Street.

Again, apologies about my voice.

Preservation Resource Center is opposed to demolishing 1709 Moray Street, which is located in a National Register Historic District.

As long as it remains standing, the building is potentially eligible for historic tax credits.

This financial incentive, as I mentioned before, is particularly useful when renovating a double and will disappear if it's demolished.

Just a few months ago, in April 2025, the council denied a demolition permit for this same building after Council Member King met with neighbors and received a petition with over a hundred signatures of people in opposition.

PRC appreciated your thoughtful consideration of the application, Councilman King, and your conclusion that demolition was not in the best interest of the community.

The application submitted to counsel for this demolition mentioned significant structural damage, uh, but no supporting documentation is provided.

Again, more information would be useful.

Code enforcement cited the property for minimum property property maintenance in 2023, but structural issues were not mentioned.

Neglect is the biggest concern here, but alone it does not justify demolition.

If demolition is granted, we again respectfully ask that the council consider including reasonable conditions to protect the national registered district's integrity, such as requiring that the building is deconstructed to salvage historic materials, and that redevelopment is completed within a reasonable time frame.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Chris Luckinca.

Hello.

So Kincaid, 1300 Toro Street, not a paid representative.

Um our neighborhood is at a crossroads.

This isn't just about a single building, it's about the character history and future of the place we call home.

Once these structures are gone, they're gone forever.

I also work to fund and accelerate Black and Bowden Education Tech Ventures to bring sustainable social impact ventures and money, jobs, and social services to New Orleans, and I took time away from that important work today to be here to represent our neighborhood association.

Freddie King, you were in opposition.

You met with our neighborhood association in front of the house and initially denied the demolition.

Nothing has changed since this.

In addition, we provided 111 signatures as our neighborhood.

As my neighbors mentioned, the city has never declared this home in danger of imminent collapse.

And the owner is trying to use this abatement for their code enforcement fine.

If they demo the house, they don't have to pay the fine.

They said so in their co code enforcement hearing, and that's just not fair.

This does not help affordable housing if we let investors get away with this.

In fact, the historical character, a national historical district, is attack, is under attack by investors doing this.

Also, Councilmember King, you showed up at Miss Carroll's the first and last stop for a photo opportunity.

I would like you to keep that same energy with this property.

The situation is very similar.

An investor outside of the neighborhood bought this property.

They bought it from a family who lived there.

The moment they moved out, they boarded it up and took two units of housing away from the city.

They did not buy it in this condition, but rather made this occur on purpose.

Council members, I implore you to help us.

We are organized yet vulnerable even as we we work towards more historical protection.

The neighborhood association greatly opposes this demolition, and we hope you don't allow developers to continue to take away housing and skirt fines.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Kincaid.

Mr.

Kenneth Jones.

Uh I'm here to support the demolition.

I don't know any of these people from this quote neighborhood association.

I moved into the neighborhood in 1978.

I don't reside there currently, but I'm a frequent guest in the 1300 block of illegiate fields on the out.

First of all, my address for housekeeping purposes is 2035 Painter Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.

In this situation, this group calling themselves a new mayor in the association, which I've never heard that name before, in terms of the neighborhood, people who live there have called it the back of the seventh ward or Pogatown most of the time during my lifetime at least.

I took time away from court.

The court is calling me as a matter of fact to get back right now.

But I thought it's important enough to stay here and say that this demolition is important, given the fact that the fines are being stacked.

This group is using fines as a weapon to try to force people either to sell or to make compliance with what they want.

These again are not people who are indigenous to the neighborhood.

When you look at people like the Montanas, the Dolios, people have been there a very long period of time.

Now they're getting fines for peeling paint or hanging out on other things, and they can barely afford to hang on to begin with.

I understand that these people want a different sort of character to the neighborhood, but this demolition is needed given the cost of materials that have gone up, interest rates that have gone up, and the difficulty in securing permits, I would say easily to say that the demolition is necessary and required.

Not to mention, I believe the city itself, Mr.

Major can speak better to that than I could.

There is an order from the city to demolish the property on record, in opposition to what has been said.

Thank you, and good after and have a good day.

Thank you, Mr.

Belden Matisse.

I ain't been here in a while.

But good afternoon, everyone.

I'm here to support this project.

And when you talk about the neighborhood, you talk about Big Chief Tootie Montana right here.

Y'all got a plaque for Tutie.

Tootie died right in this city council chambers.

And so I masked with Tudie as the yellow Pocahontas.

I masked with the Mighty Grabs.

Um I support Mr.

Major and them and I support this project.

But I can't sit here and let somebody assault Freddie King talking about a photo op.

Freddie don't come for a photo op.

Freddie comes to the culture.

Freddie is the culture.

Because when no little kids call in Freddie, they guess what?

He's out there.

Oh T sat here when Tuty Montana died.

Or T can tell y'all about the culture.

He can tell you about Tutie Montana and everything.

But somebody, the come here, City Council, and take a shot at Freddie King, saying he was there for a photo op.

No, we called Freddie to come to Miss Carroll's and we call Freddie to come to the culture.

But Freddie called us and come to the culture with the Backstreet Museum, what Couvant School.

So for anybody to come try to say he's there for a photo op, I can't let them.

And y'all know I'm in my low verse.

I was upset about that because that was an attack on a black man.

Now, this association they got, the Make America Great Association, that no blacks is in the association.

No blacks don't know nothing about the bywater people, you know.

And we meeting and we gonna decide we're gonna run them out of the neighborhood, because at the end of the day, you're not gonna come in our neighborhood and tell us what to do.

Y'all flew here.

We grew here.

Y'all genophys.

But miss, don't you never take a shot at Freddie King.

Don't you never take a shot at Freddie King, because I'll find out where you say, get a crowd and run you out the neighborhood.

You can laugh, but don't you never do that in your life.

Because that man paid his dues.

He be out there.

He even built the calls and bones at four, and everything culturally, we call Freddie.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Batiste.

Thank you, Mr.

Batiste.

Uh, Mr.

Rudy Major.

Good morning.

My name is Rudy Major.

I live at 4477 Franklin Avenue.

I'm here representing my niece Brittany Major, the owner of the property.

I heard a lot of things talked about this house.

This house is totally unsafe.

It's termite damage.

There's no reclamation of wood that could be saved.

I'm a contractor.

I specialize in renovation and architectural work.

It's ironic several people have said that the city, I have a letter right here dated this year that the city's gonna tear the place down.

That it's unsafe.

The letter's dated um October 31st, 2025.

Also have a letter where we sent out an architect.

There's nothing salvable about this piece of property.

And I respectfully request that you approve the demolition permit.

Thank you.

Um I also have Mr.

Davis, Director of Code Enforcement, uh, to speak on the court enforcement stance as it relates to this property.

You can come to the podium to desert Jeffrey.

Make sure you feel more comfortable.

Good morning, honorable city council.

So uh, in reference to 1709 Marie, I understand the concerns of some of the constituents that's in the neighborhood, but there are some other facts that need to be painted about this particular piece of property.

It's been in constant decay for two plus years.

Uh there's already 25,000 in liens that are on the property.

And so that's why we've held off on actually demolishing the property.

And understand what people are saying.

But when these properties are in these neighborhoods and these people can't do anything to the property, they are continuing to decay.

So yes, a hearing officer two years ago declared this property as a blight and public nuisance, also declared the property to be demolished.

That wasn't necessarily something that the Department of Code Enforcement.

Thank you, Mr.

Davis.

Yes, sir.

Mr.

Williams.

Yes, Edward Williams, 1326 at Eastern Fields Avenue.

I'm just here to approve the demolition because it's a it's um private homeowner and no quote unquote neighborhood organization can tell um a homeowner what they shouldn't should do with their property.

Thank you, Mr.

Williams.

Uh this property has been under code enforcement demolition order since February.

The council initially denied a demolition application for this property back in April in the hopes that the property owner may reconsider and make necessary investments to renovate the home.

However, since that time, the property has faced significant fines, which have escalated to a lien amounting to over 23,000.

I believe that penalizing this property owner further at this point would do more harm than good and risk creating against situation where an already deteriorating property is that it's left only to deteriorate further, embracing the health, safety, and welfare risk that this property already poses to the neighborhood.

I also want to say that it is very uh to me an unsettling that a neighborhood that's been established for decades, generations, um now has a new name.

It has leadership, has new leadership, a board president, vice president, um none which make up the long term residence of this, say community.

Um there was a push a couple months ago to make this neighborhood historical, and we know what traditionally happens when a neighborhood becomes historical, they drives out many of the the less fortunate financially, black residents of said neighborhood.

Um this neighborhood associates had a meeting, the new merity had a meeting where they invited C CPC, the city planning commission to come and give input on should this property should this neighborhood be uh down zone and be reclassified as historical.

However, none of the long residing residents were invited to that meeting.

At a meeting we had in our office on in the conversation city on the second floor, um, some of the residents of this community, some of the long-standing residents asked members of the new Marini to not come to a neighborhood and have your own meetings, but instead attend the meetings and embrace yourself to the current residents of that neighborhood.

So I have a question, and it's not rhetorical.

Feel free to answer.

How do you move to a neighborhood without a name, without an official name, give it an official name, establish leadership without consulting with the locals who have been there for decades.

Feel free to come to the podium and answer that question.

Before I move to adopt, well, I moved to a dot before we vote, Councilman Thomas has a comment.

First of all, thank you, Councilman McKing.

And uh, Mr.

Matisse, thank you uh for the history lesson.

And it is interesting as uh as a New Orleans uh through and through New Orleans is one of those cities where we really honor people who come here to adopt our culture.

Uh those who come here to work with us, uh not those who shine their halos who think they're coming here to save us, uh uh change us.

But the Battle of New Orleans was January the 8th 1815.

Uh it was the last major war that was waged in this area as part of the war of 1812.

And for folk throw something out for folk to maybe maybe think about.

Hopefully, because of some of the stuff we're seeing, we won't have major uh Mr.

Batiste wager, major wars or battles waged about the culture and tradition of this community.

But for folk who are paying attention and listening, this is something we need to be mindful of because there is a major difference between NOLA and New Orleans.

NOLA is one thing, but New Orleans is a whole nother thing.

And as we move forward with this move for NOLA, please know that you didn't come to NOLA, you came to New Orleans, baby.

Uh thank you, Councilman Thomas.

I believe we have online comments.

We'll just add those to the record.

Councilman King, I just have one.

I'm I'm here.

Sure.

I'm sorry, Councilman Green.

I'll go with that.

Okay.

Look, I just wanted to um emphasize that I know sometimes the role that organizations want to play relative to preservation and the like, but it's it's important to recognize that many times people are in distress with regards to their property and that is their private property.

I would just like to see, as I've said in the past, more people who are, if you're opposed to something happening with someone's private property, that there be an offer made to buy it so that you can do with it what you want.

Because at the end of the day, trying to force someone, such as there have been two cases in a row, one has been mine, one has been Councilman King's, and I recognize the value of preservation.

What I don't really recognize is a desire to stop certain things from happening with private property without alternatives being presented by those who think that they could um that they would want to see the property maintained.

So I'm saying it in a respectful manner that I respect the preservation resource center, the neighborhood association and the like.

We have a housing trust fund.

Maybe there's an opportunity for organizations that think that demolition shouldn't take place to approach the housing trust fund and ask for monies that create rehabilitated properties, the properties that they want to see.

But the challenge to me is the opposition to someone taking care of their private property in a way that respects their financial needs without posing an alternative.

So I hope that in the future we'll consider that as we as we attempt to limit demolitions of private property.

I understand preservation, maybe want to see it happen, but let's creative, let's be creative about how we help the people who own the property who are many times in distress and honestly can't afford to fix it up as it should be fixed up.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Green.

Uh made a motion to adopt.

Six days, no nays.

Thank you.

Appeal at 5326 Pretane Street has been withdrawn at the applicant's request, as well as motion M25653 by Councilmember Harris has been withdrawn.

As well as motion M25650.

We have the legislative group in the HDLC or appeal of 1516 errata street.

This also A and B has been withdrawn at the applicant's request.

As well as number 15 on page 21 has been withdrawn at the applicant's request.

We have a legislative group and HDLC appeal of William L.

Mazell, Stone Pigman, Walthier Whitman LLC requesting to appeal the Historic District Landmarks Commission's decision of no recommendation regarding the nomination of five South Roadway Street, Weston Lakeshore Park to the National Register of Historic Places.

We have motion M25654 by Councilmember Jeruso granted the applicant's request and overruling the no recommendation of the historic district landmark commission for property located at 5 South Roadway Street.

Thank you.

Mr.

Block.

Thank you.

Good morning, uh Council members.

Ryan, can you go on one second?

Well, you'll be last.

Do you mind just having a seat?

Thank you.

Go ahead, Mr.

Block.

Um, the city of New Orleans was recognized by the National Park Service as a certified local government or CLG in 2018.

One of the duties of a certified local government is for the local commissions to review applications for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Excuse me.

Five South Roadway Street, the West End Lakeshore Park is owned by the state of Louisiana and administered by the City of New Orleans.

The city leased the property to the municipal yacht harbor management corporation, a city-owned public benefit corporation in 2006.

A portion of the park rests in Jefferson Parish.

The New Orleans HDLC was recently tasked with reviewing the listing of five South Roadway Street on the National Register of Historic Places.

At their meeting of October 8th, 2025, the Commission deferred action on the CLG review in order to allow time for relevant city agencies, including New Orleans Building Corporation, the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation, and the Capital Projects Administration to further evaluate the impact that listing the property on the National Register of Historic Places would have on the future redevelopment plans for the park.

While the staff recognizes the cultural, architectural, and social significance of the park, measured merits listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Representatives from the NOBC and the CPA requested that the staff of the HDLC recommend against the listing of the park on the National Register of Historic Places.

These city agencies have concerns regarding the impact listing on the National Register, which will have on the proposed redevelopment and restoration of the park.

As a result, the staff advised the commission against recommending the park's listing on the National Register.

At their meeting of November 5, 2025, the Commission reviewed the National Register nomination as well as the staff report.

After lengthy public comment and commissioner discussion, the commission voted to make no recommendation regarding the listing of five South Roadway Street on the National Register of Historic Places.

Thank you, Mr.

Block.

Alright, I have four comment cards.

Marinell Nolan Wheatley, Mia Kaplan, Susan Johnson, and I shuffled Mr.

Mizell to the back because I know people may have questions, and I just wanted to be able to address those.

In fairness, I may give him a little bit more time if issues are raised so he can answer them from a legal perspective.

Good morning.

Good morning again.

Um Marinel Nolan Wheatley with the Preservation Resource Center at 923 Chapatullah Street.

Um the PRC would just like to offer some clarity about the potential impact of listing West End Lakeshore Park in the National Register of Historic Places.

So the most important point is that inclusion in the National Register has zero impact on an owner's ability to maintain repair, revitalize, alter, sell, build on, or even demolish a property.

Misunderstandings about a federal review process known as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, can make owners hesitant about a national register listing.

But Section 106 is only triggered by projects that are federally funded, permitted, licensed, or approved.

If there is no federal involvement, Section 106 is not required, and owners can proceed normally as if their property was not listed.

When Section 106 is triggered, again, only when federal funds or permits are used, the involved federal agency must identify affected historic properties, which are defined as properties listed in or even eligible for listing in the national register.

So if federal dollars or permits were used in the future to fund improvements to this property, the section 106 process would be required whether or not the property is listed in the national register.

If anything, a completed nomination for the property would help expedite the requirements under Section 106 since the identification and invaluation portion would be complete.

The author of the nomination who spent the last year working on this project submitted a very thorough explanation via email, and I hope you had time to review that.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Hope your voice feels better.

Alright, Mia Kaplan.

Then Susan, then Mr.

Myselle.

And I guess Will, you are on my mind because I called General MyS Myselle.

So go ahead.

Good morning.

My name is Mia Kaplan of Mia Kaplan Studio.

I'm an architect and architectural historian.

I'm not being paid to be here.

I'm the author of the National Register nomination.

It's nice to meet you.

I know we haven't been in touch yet, but I know that you love your constituents, and everybody around the park really loves it.

So as mentioned during the HDLC meeting, it was decided to move the decision from not supporting the nomination to having no opinion about it.

I personally think that this was a very diplomatic move on the HDLC's behalf.

I did have the opportunity to speak with Stone Pigman representatives and Mr.

Whited of the Yacht Harbor to clarify their concerns.

It's a very small area.

And a lot of the issue with it is whether or not that area would be able to be developed.

So historically, um during the WPA 1930s, there was a rose garden there.

National Register listings identify and they justify the uh integrity and significance of cultural resources.

So that rose garden um in the area of question no longer exists.

So the national register nomination does not include it as a contributing resource.

Therefore, when that routine section 106 review happens, um there would be no adverse impact to the area under question.

So my question as a qualified architectural historian that works on federal historic projects.

And um thank you.

Thank you.

Um can I ask one question?

You have a slidell address listed here.

Are you a near neighbor?

Uh my office is located at 274 West Hall and Slide L.

Right, but are you a personal near neighbor to this?

No, sir.

I just I nominate places to the National Register for fun.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Thank you so much.

All right, Ms.

Johnson.

Not my idea.

Susan Johnson, 2822 LePage Street, Historic New Orleans neighborhoods.

I am not paid to be here.

I support the statements of Ms.

Nolan Wheatley and Miss Kaplan, and would ask really that um Louisiana landmarks be uh consulted on this matter because they are um experts in Section 106 matters, especially Sandra Stokes and attorney Jim Logan.

I don't think they were aware of this situation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Johnson.

Mr.

Myzel.

Good morning.

Um thank you for good morning, Council.

Thank you for considering our appeal this morning.

Uh as Councilman Jeruso said, my name is Will Myzel.

I'm an attorney at Stone Pigment.

I'm here on behalf of the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation, the New Orleans Billing Corporation.

Um we're appealing the November 5th, 2025 decision from the HDLC to make no recommendation concerning this nomination that's shown to you here today.

Um I'd like to reiterate at the outset that we've promised in multiple public meetings and represented to the public that we want to be very clear that there's no plans to develop the park itself.

If you look here at the at the image shown, um to the left side of the image at the top of the page is a concrete parking lot.

That's the area that's been slated for development by state legislation, and that's the area we're concerned with.

There are no plans to develop the green space on the other side of the road.

Um unfortunately, the nomination encompasses the entire area, uh including the parking lot area.

Uh, we spoke with uh the state historic preservation office, and they were not able to essentially carve out the parking lot area such that only the green space would be subject to the nomination.

Um, and so we're here today asking that the HDLC appeal uh be granted, their decision be overturned, and that the council recommend that the property not be listed.

Um to address some comments that were made uh prior to me speaking.

Um we don't believe that the zero impact idea with the nomination is entirely accurate.

Um this area is outside of levy protection, and so there is a there's gonna be involvement with the Army Corps of Engineers, so there will be a federal undertaking, quote unquote, that will trigger this Section 106 review.

Um a section 106 review is triggered.

Please don't cut his microphone off so they can finish this.

Thank you.

When a section 106 review is automatically turn off yeah, you're back.

You're back.

Um there will be uh federal oversight and federal involvement as to whether or not the proposed federal undertaking, whatever the federal agency has to approve, whether or not that impacts um the historic nature of the project.

Our concern is that private citizens could use this uh as an argument or an impediment to the development.

Of course, we want to work with the public and we want to uh you know work with the neighborhood and the constituents.

Um, the development is very important to everyone, and it's it's been supported by the public, and so that's our primary concern.

And uh so we ask that the council supplant the HDLC's decision and uh recommend that the property not be listed.

I'm happy to answer any of your questions.

I don't think anybody has questions.

I'll make a couple comments.

I want to reiterate what Mr.

Meisell said, which is the intention has always been to protect the park itself.

The application, however, entails the cartilage, which is some of the parking area, which is prone to be developed and not part of the park itself.

So the application itself is broader than what it is, but the park is to be protected.

I want to say that.

Um, unlike Mr.

Meisell, I will be more blunt.

Uh, maybe after eight years, I am a jaundice viewer of how things work, but I think in this case there are absolutely people who are trying to weaponize process to prevent commercial development here, and I I'm not gonna put up with that.

If you have a good faith argument about why something should be or shouldn't be done, I always welcome that, and there's always room for healthy public debate, but that's not what we've seen here routinely and what's going on.

So also I will note um that HDLC did not make a formal recommendation, and we have counsel from New Orleans Building Corporation who is recommending that we approve M25654 in order to move forward to present both a way to balance the integrity of the park, which is important to everybody, while at the same time making sure we have healthy commercial activity that benefits people along the lakefront.

So with that, I'll move to approve M25654 and deny the nomination.

Seconded by Council Member Morrell.

Six J's no nays.

Passes unanimously.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Block.

Thank you.

At the bottom of the page, we have the legislative grouping, HDLC appeal of Ron Losell, governmental affairs, lead consultant, Zach Smith Consultant Design, requesting to appeal the historic district landmarks, commission's decision of denial to increase the height of the existing seven-foot fence to 10 feet for the property located at 3513 Charter Street.

We have motion M25 successing by Councilmember King, granted the applicant's request and modifying ACLC decision, such as the applicant may be a fence to 10 feet, subject to the comprehensive zoning ordinance and any variance they may subsequently obtain from the Board of Zoning Adjustments for property located at 3513 Charter Street.

And just for the record, this report is for this application and the two following, they're concurrent pieces of property, so it's just one report.

Okay.

Several complaints have been filed by the neighbors due to the noise generated by the short-term rental tenants, and the properties are scheduled to be sent to administrative adjudication for continued violations by a case 24-06730-RENT.

In order to work with the neighbors to alleviate their ongoing quality of life issues, the property owners are requesting to install 10-foot hive capped wood vertical board fencing at the side and rear property lines to shield the view of the short-term rental tenants from the adjacent residences and help mitigate the ongoing sound issues.

The HDLC design guidelines and the comprehensive zoning ordinance cap fence heights at maximum seven foot zero high in the local historic districts.

The applicant is also currently seeking a waiver from the BZA for the additional fence height.

The HDLC agrees that it is unfortunate that a nuisance business is creating continuing quality of life issues for their neighbors.

The HDLC reviewed the proposal at their meeting of November 5, 2025.

While the commission greatly sympathized with the neighbors' plight, the commission expressed concern about the precedent that would be set by approving a 10-foot high fencing in a local historic district.

A fence of this scale would disrupt the visual consistency of the streetscape, appear out of proportion with surrounding properties, and could set an undesirable precedent for similarly oversized fences in the area.

Approving out-of-scale fencing in response to poorly operated nuisance businesses, rewards bad operators and may only encourage continued inappropriate behavior of short-term rental tenants.

The commission voted unanimously to deny the application.

Thank you, Mr.

Block.

Okay.

These three appeals are for three abutting properties in Biowater.

The property owners and the immediate neighbors are requesting the current summit for fence to be raised to a height of 10 feet for increased privacy and noise mitigation.

Other motions to approval this request, subject to VCA.

Our motion, I'm excuse our motion approves this request subject to BCA approval of the zoning variances that is also acquired required to effectuate this request of this amount of adoption.

Five A's no nays.

We have legislative group and HDLC appeal of Ron Loso Governmental Affairs, Lee Consultant, Zach Smith Consultant Design.

This is the same request, but it's for 3517 Charter Street.

We have motion M25659 by Councilmember King, granting the applicant's request and modifying HDLC decision such that the applicant may be a fence up to 10 feet, subject to the comprehensive zoning ordinance and any variances they may subsequently obtain from the Board of Zoning Adjustment for property located at 3517 Charter Street.

Thank you, Madam Clerk, and make a motion to adopt.

Second by Councilmember Harris.

And then we have the last one on page 23.

The legislative group and the HDLC appeal of the same thing.

Motion M25658 by Councilmember King granted the request for the modifications for 3521 Charter Street.

One more.

We're going to take these out of order.

We're on page 31.

We have ordinance calendar number 35,316 by Councilmember Harris by request and ordinance to authorize the mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into amendment number two, so a previously executed cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and Volunteers of America, Southeast Louisiana, Inc.

relative to public purpose of providing medical respite to unhoused individuals in New Orleans by managing and reserving full respite bids to provide respite care to the unhoused population in New Orleans.

Desire to modify the provisions of the CEA and extend the term thereof an additional 12 months as more fully set forth in amendment number two form exhibit A and made a part here of and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

Thank you, Madam Clerk, and thank you to my fellow council members for giving me the time to take these items out of order.

These two ordinances, 49 and agenda item 49 and 50, uh deal with health care for the homeless and amending it to increase the money we're spending for health care for the homeless.

This is included in the 2026 budget, and I believe someone from the administration is here if you have any questions.

If not, Michael Eric Burnside.

So I'm up here without a lot of knowledge, which is unusual and somewhat uh irritating to me personally.

But I'm in favor of helping the homeless.

I think I should say that because to some people maybe it's not obvious.

But what I don't understand is physically where are these beds?

I don't understand how much money they cost, and I don't understand exactly what a respipe bed is.

If you kick them out after eight hours or what?

So if somebody could speak to it a little bit more, they would compensate for my poor preparation and my reduced ability to read.

My eyes hurt anymore, and I just don't read much.

Thank you, Mr.

Burnside.

I'll have Liz come down and tell you the details, but basically, these are medical respite beds.

So when somebody is facing a medical crisis, volunteers of America will take care of them.

So I've moved.

Second by Councilmember King.

Five years.

Thank you.

We're now going to go to ordinance calendar number 35,321 by Councilmember Harris by request.

An ordinance to authorize the mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into amendment number one to a previously executed cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and health care for the homeless advisory board represent represented by Antoinette Joiner, chairperson, relative to a cooperative endeavor agreement in support of the city's health care for the homeless program.

Desire to modify the provisions of the CEA and extend their term thereof an additional five years as more fully set forth in amendment number one in the form attached here to as exhibit A and made a part here of and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

This agreement maintains the health care for the homeless program's compliance as a federally qualified health care center, and it would expire in August 2030.

Dr.

Wagner, if you could talk to Michael Burnside, or just provide a little context for these two agenda items, that would be helpful.

Sure, thank you very much.

Um as to the first that you all just voted on, thank you very much.

That is the respite program that Councilman Member Harris, you've been a big champion of.

Um, and so we it's been quite successful.

We have a really good rate of placements, um, and so that's dozens of people who now from their illness have gotten stable housing.

So that's respite.

We're excited to continue it.

We just had a call about how can we create a more robust system because we know we're not fully meeting the need.

The beds are always full.

Um, in terms of health care for the homeless advisory board, that is a that's a key part of our clinic.

It is a HERSA requirement, and our clinic is fully federally funded through HERSA.

Um, what the advisory board does is it brings people with lived experience with homelessness, clients of the uh of our HCH clinic, um, providers together to make sure that the clinic is meeting the needs and to advise on ways that the clinic could serve uh folks better.

Again, it is a requirement, but it's something that we take very, very seriously when we're trying to design a better uh suite of services.

Thank you, Dr.

Wagner.

Michael, do you you have a card on this one as well?

Michael Ramside 2215 felicitant.

So health care for the homeless does more than just the homeless, it does the dirt-ass poor, of which I'm one because I get $700 a month to live, which is $8,400 a year.

So even though I'm a veteran and I'm thanked for my service, the VA will not give me and most other veterans dental care.

So we get to go out to LSU dental school, except sometimes we don't.

So the uh health care for the homeless program, which is a 2222 Simon Boulevard, has been my dentist now for several years.

I was told recently that the dentist is going to be furloughed, so I was somewhat surprised to find that it's fully funded by federal money.

If we're furloughing employees that are paid with federal money, I find that odd.

Well, we're on the subject of things that I think are odd.

It seems that the library is also furloughing people and or letting go of first year uh interns that they have trained, which I see more than odd because we as a city have passed a separate funding stream for the libraries.

And in my world view, it should go to reserve account and should only be spent on libraries.

But apparently it goes to the general fund, and the city employees the library are also being furloughed, even though we okayed money for them.

It doesn't really seem to actually matter, which somewhat concerns me, but getting old and January 11th around the corner.

I think most of the things that concern me will just uh dissipate slowly into the delta mud.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Burnside.

Dr.

Vagno, um we'll talk to you about the dental care, but no one's being furloughed for no dentist is being furled at this time.

I've moved seconded by councilmember green.

All in favor.

Any one more vote?

Five years.

Thank you.

We're now going to page 40.

We have motion M25, 624, a council member Harris, tabulating the votes for and against Broadmore Neighborhood, improvement district proposition, an election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 707, votes against 271.

Total votes, 978.

Majority of the votes for 707.

Thank you.

I moved.

Seconded by Councilmember King.

All in favor?

Aye.

Five years.

We're now on page 42.

We have resolution R2565 by Councilmember Harris.

A resolution calling the election in the Garden District Security District for January.

I mean, for Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

I moved.

I need a second, second of my councilmember green.

All in favor.

Four years.

Councilmember King is a yay.

Five years.

Thank you.

I have resolution R25614 by Councilmember King approving the following disbursements of the 2022 reserve subject to the availability of funds.

OPSB OPSB therapeutic program 1 million 363, 423.85 cents.

Service for court involved youth 1,363,423.

We need to suspend the rules to receive this mo this motion, this resolution.

So move.

We need to further suspend the rules to add it to the agenda.

So move.

And now you could discuss it, Councilmember.

All right, Madam Clerk.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, Madam Clerk.

Mr.

Gowning, we want to well, every year that Harris uh has but at least gives uh the school board passed through the council, the school board, all these prior school board gets 3.7 million dollars.

And this year we are going to uh give the school board 2.7 and the council uh will keep one million and we will look to use that for grants coming up in the 2026 calendar year.

Make a motion to adopt any comment?

That was pretty easy.

I'm sorry I know you got sideburn side 2215 felicity.

So this is tough on me for several different reasons.

It's hard enough for me to keep track of what's going on without the suspension.

And I know you have the power and you have the right and all the rest of it.

But the bottom line is things are done quickly, and I don't really know what's going on.

But what I do know is that in my memory, the city planning commission had its budget cut from two million to one point five million.

1.5 million is the entirety of the city planning commission that does among other things the transient study that had hundreds of people here for friggin' hours.

Yeah, we're gonna give 1.63 million to the school board with no real discussion as to what it is, why it is, and how come it has to be done now in an emergency rather than two weeks from now when people can stop and read what's going on.

We're supposedly short of money, but we do not act like it.

The school board has its own revenue stream, it has its own advalorium tax stream, it has its own sales tax stream.

It has money, significant amounts of money.

So the question stands why are we going to furlough city employees while we're giving the school board money?

It does not make sense on the face of it.

Therefore, an explanation might be beneficial either to myself or others.

Thank you.

May I comment, Mr.

Um before Councilman Green?

That there seems to be a bit of confusion, hesitation.

I'll take that one.

Um we'll just would you call that uh withdraw this?

That's my fault, Madam Clerk.

I mean, I think this is the same uh thing that I did several years ago when it would it wasn't an issue, so I don't understand why it would be an issue now.

That's my fault.

We'll just withdraw it.

I would like to do it withdrawing.

I want to make it clear for the record that the matter was discussed at your committee.

I'm just saying in terms of confusion.

I'm not confused, but I do want to make it clear that it's it's been out there for a while, and I will certainly respect the deferral, but I don't want the public to think that yes, it gets a little confusing sometimes when it's added to the agenda in this manner, but I want it to be clear.

I would I would think at this point, why don't we defer it to the next council meeting?

And that way we can all have communication on it.

That's cool.

We will defer to the next meeting.

It was discussed at the quiet, excuse me, the community development meeting on Monday um last week.

And uh we will just defer to the next meeting so everyone's on the same page.

Okay, thank you.

No, no.

I'm going back to page two.

Council members, we are now going to page 24.

We have a legislative group and zoning docket number 5025, City Council Motion M25396 requesting an amendment to the text of Article 18 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to establish the fairgrounds, district overlay, including the area upon which the fairgrounds race course and slides currently sit, generally bounded by Gentily Boulevard, Belfort Street, Avenue, Trafago Street, D Zac Boulevard, St.

Louis Cemetery, Number 3, St.

Vincent Street, Vernacourt, and Fortin Street to maintain current and historical fairground and racetrack opportunities for all lots within the boundaries.

The following uses are to be allowable as conditional uses.

I need I guess we gotta come back to this because Councilmember Jerusalem.

Okay, we'll circle back on this one.

Then we'll not all of us.

We're gonna go to page 25.

And we're gonna do at the bottom of the page.

All right.

We have a legislative group in zoning docket 5825, Dauphin Street, Dauphin Restaurant, LLC, doing business as capulette, requesting an amendment to the text of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to add reception facility as a conditional use in the HMU Historic Marini to May by Water Mixed Use District, subject to the use standards in section 20.3 point WW as defined in Article 26.

The proposed text amendment would affect properties located in HMU Historic Marini Tremay Bywater Mixed Use District Citywide.

The recommendation of the City Planning Commission being for approval.

Thank you.

Uh yes, this is an uh text amendment to Article 10 of the CZO, uh which uh would add reception facility as a conditional use in the historic Marini Tremay by water mixed use district.

Currently, reception facility is not listed as a conditional use nor permitted use.

Uh it is prohibited most of the HMMU district includes formally industrial properties, and expanding uh the number of uses for these properties contributes to the redevelopment of the area as a whole.

The future land use designation for this district does encourage adaptive reuse of those old industrial structures.

Um the planning commission is recommending approval.

Uh there was no position at the planning commission hearing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We do have common cards and support from Mr.

Becker Miller and Mr.

Stephen uh Nutting.

Make a motion to adopt.

I'm sorry, did you want to I'm sorry?

You're speaking.

Uh thank you, Councilman King.

Uh my name is Stephen Nutting.

I'm the owner of Capulet uh, which is a uh business on Dauphin Street, 3814 Dauphin Street.

I reside at 3135 Dauphin Street.

Uh I put in this request the uh HMMU uh zoning overlay is basically a little archipelago between Marini and by water.

Um Tremay is also mentioned in in the designation, but I haven't found any properties under the statute designation in Tremay.

And basically the request is to shift it from a um prohibited use to a conditional use to make a reception facility in these uh historic properties.

Um we did the MPP process, receive zero pushback, and uh city planning commission staff recommended approval and city planning commission uh recommend or approved it unanimously.

So um I'm happy to answer any questions on this uh request.

All right.

Uh thank you, Ms.

Miller.

She's not going to speak.

Six years, no nays, motion to adopted.

Thank you.

We have a legislative group in zoning docket 5925, 30 fourteen, Dauphin LLC, requesting a conditional use to permit a reception facility and the H U M U Historic Marin to me, by water mixed use district, municipal address thirty-tent through thirty-fourteen Dauphin Street, the recommendation of the City Plan Commission for approval, subject to one waiver and three provisal, motion line over M25 six oh three, uh Council Member King approving the applicant's request, a zoning document fifty-nine twenty-five, subject to one waiver and three provisos.

Interesting things can wear a guy out.

Again, I bring to you an idea because I will not be bringing you ideas after January eleventh.

You'll have to find somebody else.

But basically, my point of view is that the next eight years of the next mayor elect, she's going to be spending 60 plus inflation adjusted millions of dollars a year to deal with the pensioners of the firefighters.

That's going to add up to a half a billion dollars in the course of her mayorialship.

And a half a billion dollars is big money and it should be dealt with accordingly.

One way to move the pensioners to the state firefighters system would be to give the state the air support in addition to the pensioners.

The other would be to give the state the wisdener mu land in exchange for the pensioners.

Because you can't really give the state a debt without giving the state a credit.

But I don't know how much the pensioners, well, let me rephrase that immediately.

Council members, we need to vote to go into executive session.

So that's what I was gonna say.

That's what I was saying.

Just go ahead and do it.

She doesn't have to say anything in other words.

Yeah, that's Merry Christmas.

It's me.

It's Freddie.

It's a it's a it's a point of personal privilege to do this on.

Oh no, no, no.

No, uh what do you mean?

We still here.

Okay.

Right now we're gonna do a point of personal privilege of council member King so that he can welcome and congratulate for their championship game against St.

Augustine High School Purple Knights.

So uh we're gonna have uh seniors, I guess y'all come sit down at the podium and take a couple minutes.

Just want to recognize y'all and tell you how how proud we are of you all for back to back championships and all that you have you've accomplished.

He wants to get out the way first.

Well, I don't want to get it I want to celebrate with you all as you come to the um the table, have a seat and relax.

Um there's a special meeting that I have to attend, but I certainly wanted to stay around as long as I could to congratulate you.

I was gonna ask Council.

And I had a I had a statement because I didn't know if I was gonna still be here.

I have to be on the knife bar for one thirty.

So I just want to say um I'll read the statement.

Congratulations to the Edna Carr High School Cougars football team on securing your second consecutive state championship, an outstanding achievement in in itself.

Of course, the national ranking is also such an accomplishment that it must be recognized today.

The high school football championship game on Saturday was a special moment.

The moment was even greater than the game itself.

Because as a proud alumnus of St.

Aug, I celebrated both my school's participation and the excitement that we all feel by New Orleans having been represented in that great game by two great schools.

Congratulations, players, coaches, and administrators of the Etna Carr High School Cougars.

It's football team, but also the entire school.

What your team has accomplished is extraordinary, as is the case with Edna Carr itself, in terms of academic accomplishments, extracurricular accomplishments, and in creating members of the New Orleans community who contribute so much and do so much good for so many people in our community.

So I say congratulations to the purple and gold.

I represent a purple and gold.

I'm glad to see the purple and gold here today that Edna Carr is representing.

But I applaud you all not only on the successful football season, you and the coaches, but also on the fact that you all are gonna contribute so much and you already contribute so much to our city and this region.

Thank you very much.

Congratulations to all of you all, and I look forward to watching continued success.

I want to be part of it.

I'm gonna be at the games too.

I'll see you there.

That's what you've been talking about.

Oh no, they're staying here.

Yeah, Freddie.

We actually wanted them to be able to do that.

Oh, okay.

Never mind.

He is not excited then.

Yeah, Freddie, I want to translate what he just said.

As a public school dude from the Night Ward, he just said that was a beat down.

Uh council Councilman Thomas, go ahead.

Uh maybe Fabric Councilman McConnell.

No, man.

Look, hey, look, just uh the the traditional car, uh y'all represented from uh and I think for the coaching staff and the administrators, uh people know the history of car.

It was always excellent uh in athletics.

Uh from the days when I was at Lawless, when it was a uh junior high or middle school to now, y'all have continued uh that excellence and that tradition from when my cousin Jabbar, Coach Jaluk was the coach to now, uh young brothers, y'all have built on that.

But the most important thing I took at it because first of all, y'all are programmed now.

Y'all a program now, so that's so there's this legacy and this history.

And what you guys have done, y'all have realized that you're building on history and legacy and how y'all conduct yourselves and how y'all play.

And you've you've really set the example again in this community for other schools, and how to they not only want to recognize excellence, but how they want to give it every time you know on the field or every time they're on the courts.

So for the coaches and for all of the administrators and folk may you guys, and then after the game, Councilmember King, when uh Coach Rice talked about uh black men and black excellence.

Uh, in many cases, the black man, it's rare we ever have a table here full of black men.

Rare.

Every agency that comes before this council, every issue for four years.

I've been doing a survey.

85% of every organization that's come before this city has not had a young black man at the table or a black male at the table.

Now, hopefully, we have to figure that out because our community can't be whole with half.

And I want y'all to think about that.

But y'all represent the very best, and what y'all represented after the game was as important what y'all did during the game.

God bless y'all, man, and keep representing y'all our other half.

Thank you.

Uh I'll be real brief.

What y'all have accomplished at carr is tremendous.

As Councilman Thomas said, when you win one time, well, you went one time, it's a fluke.

When you win two, three, four times, it's a program.

And I will tell you in the legislature where I served for many years, you know that you have a program when you are feared across the state.

And carr is feared across the state.

And I mean, that means a lot.

I mean, if you go to the legislature, they want to talk about Watch Talk Christian and all these different schools where they take a tremendous amount of money and resources.

And in Northern Louisiana, they spend real money making sure their schools can produce tremendous athletes and athlete scholars.

You guys have the natural ability, you guys have the community, you guys compete on that level without being artificially sourced with resources, as some of these other schools are.

You guys compete on that level without being artificially sourced with resources, as some of these other schools are.

And when people in the legislature talk about a school from our area with fear, that means that you have truly inspired them.

And so I just I commend you on what you've accomplished.

I'm sure you'll be back here again next year, much to Mr.

Green's upsetting us.

But thank y'all so much for spending the time with us today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Morel.

So Carr had, was it the free smoke tour?

That's what it was.

So we got a we got a judgment grad.

They were member of the smoke tour.

We got a Sandal grad.

They were two times, so was Judgment two times member of the Smoke Tour.

I'm a Shaw grad.

We were first on the list for y'all tour.

And uh everyone else in the Catholic League.

Y'all did so well, y'all have done so well.

Let's call it what it is.

There was a push to get carr out of the Catholic League because y'all winning too much.

Um I just think, and that's the highest football.

That's the highest football uh league in the in the state.

So if y'all can't play in the Catholic League, where they want y'all to go.

To the junior college league or to the I don't know what's next, but NFL.

Uh y'all y'all stayed in the Catholic League, y'all y'all representing us, representing the city.

Uh the game between Carr and Central was more than just a game.

I know y'all are on the field, but I was walking around the stadium, running a dome, and just see so many people excited.

Um, what the game represented, but you all represent as young uh black men from New Orleans who are making your city proud.

Constable Batamon to the Nell and Head.

It's rare, it's extremely rare that this table is filled with young black men.

Um this is one of those few times, and it's it's it's because of Edna Carr, who is second to none.

And I'm gonna give you all the time to speak, let us know who you are, what school y'all are going to.

I I would be remiss if I didn't recognize again Edna Carr as a as an educational institution as being back to back at A-rate, A-rated school.

Um, and that's to Dr.

Washington's uh credit, to Mr.

McNeil's credit.

That's what I'm most proud of.

Um athletics are going to come and go once you get my age or older or younger.

You won't run as fast, you won't be as strong.

Uh you you can't do the things you used to do.

Uh but you're doing them now because you're young.

But once you get older, you're gonna rely on what's upstairs.

Um, and that can't ever be taken away from you.

So uh Mr.

McNeely, before we turn the mic over to the young men, can you just speak of just a little bit about uh what it means for Carr to be once again an A-rated student, A-rated school uh for his second year in a row.

I I think it's a testimony to not only the leadership of Dr.

Washington.

I'm here as a representative for Dr.

Washington and Coach Brown today.

Uh not only the hard work that are putting in academics, but through our scholar athletes.

Uh I saw a post that's definitely reflected of Coach Brown that talked about his decade of dominance.

Uh Coach Brown from 2016 to 2025 has won six state championships.

His record is 118 wins, 14 losses, but more than any of his record, it's his commitment, his dedication, his passion that he puts into each and every one of these young men that we have on this DS.

I'm happy to say, and unfortunately, uh it's a loss for us.

These young men will be leaving us in January.

All of them will be going to a D1 college to pursue their academic as well as athletic uh careers.

Uh, all of them also has fulfilled all of their high school uh big round fun.

They're high school requirements and are able to go.

Uh these individuals that I have here under the direction of all of our uh head coaches and the school minister are leaders in our school.

Uh it's not too often, as I know a lot of us saw the viral post that Coach Brown made uh after the game, and it is just a testament to who he is and what he instilled into these men every single day, where he truly believed that these young men can be behind desks, not behind bars, and these young men presents excellence, not only in their schools every single day, but their community as well as the football field.

So it's an honor to have us here today.

I definitely am here just to be in support, and we'll go eat after this, but I want uh to start to the right, introduce yourself, what college you're going to, uh, and what position uh go from there, and then we have somebody wrapping up.

So you will start with you, Hayward.

All right.

Um junior.

Um I played cornerback and safety.

Now committed to the university of Texas Longhall.

All right.

Richard Ernester, D9, committed to LSU.

All right.

John Johnson, quarterback, command to West Virginia.

Leon Oyo, left title on Mississippi State.

And I think it should be uh recognized that 15 D10s.

15 D1 signees and students are uh still continue to sign.

A student just signed recently, so it makes it 16.

Uh, a lot of these students are not only scholar athletes, but also are doing extremely well in the football field.

They're leaders in our school as well.

Shout out to Floyd Jones.

We have some more coming up.

Um, Mr.

Anderson is very modest.

He is gone to LSU's also.

What number rank player in the country?

Number one in the nation.

Number one in the nation.

That's all right, all right.

We have two more students.

If you could talk about where you're going as well, where you just committed to.

Uh Kevin Martin, linebacker, Nickel State University.

Tree Garrison running back, Washington State University.

All right.

Well, thank you.

Um, we're gonna have we have a proclamation for the school on a second consecutive state championship.

Uh, we also have Mr.

Julius Feltis from the mayor's office.

He has a couple things he wants to say and give to the school for the studio.

Floyd couldn't make it uh hear it with y'all.

They had a big senior night last night, a senior lock in.

Come on out.

Yeah, come on down here, Floyd.

One thing I do hope for next year, and I hope I know our council members working with us uh for these students to not only win a state championship two years in a row.

Uh, I think it's time, and we're well overdue, and we're definitely gonna support our council member to make sure we can do something with the turf at Burman Field.

Okay, we need a new turf.

I'm just plugging that now.

Renovation coming in, and we're definitely working together to redo the field.

All right.

Floyd Jones, our receiver number four.

Uh I'll be taking my talents to Southern University.

It's been a request.

Mr.

Feltis, before you get started, there's been a request for some of those purple, um, some of those gold letterman jackets.

So just if there's any more hanging around the school.

Does that mean we're replacing the shawl and going with the that means yes.

That means yes.

That's right.

A purple and gold is Mr.

Feltis, go ahead.

If I fail, if I succeed, at least I live as I believe.

No matter what they take from me, they can't take away my dignity.

I found the greatest love of all inside of me.

Good afternoon to the New Orleans City Council, to this esteemed group of young African American males.

I am so proud to be here on behalf of the mayor of the city of New Orleans.

I'm Julius Felters, the senior advisor to the mayor.

I am excited because I was there at the game.

But let me tell you, I have a confession to make.

It says, Whereas this championship achievement not only celebrates athletic success, but also honors the countless hours of practice, strategic preparation, teamwork, and community support that contribute to the Cougars triumphant season.

And whereas the city of New Orleans recognize the importance of celebrating and uplifting student achievement that strengthen community pride and inspire future generation.

It says now, therefore, be it resolved that I Latorya Cantrell, the mayor of the city of New Orleans, do hereby proclaim the Ethnicar High School football team as the 2025 Louisiana LHSAA Prep Classic Division 1 champions and extend heartfelt congratulations to the players, head football coach Bryce Brown, the coaching staff, family, faculty, and supporters for this historic achievement.

It is signed this eighteenth day of December Two Thousand Twenty Five by the Sixty Second Mayor of the City of New Orleans, the Animal Latour Cantrell.

In addition to that, at the request of Council Member King, we would like to present this organization, the key to the city of New Orleans.

We are so proud of you.

Congratulations, keep on reaching up higher, and remember the dignity and love that you have demonstrated on the field and in the classroom will stay with you for the rest of your lives.

Thank you very much.

Congratulations.

Council members, are we ready to reconvene?

Yep.

Voters back in.

All right.

Uh move to reconvene.

Can I get a second?

Second by Councilmember De Russo.

Vote your machines, please.

Five years, no nays.

We are reconvened.

Madam Clerk.

We're on page twenty-five.

We have a legislative group and zoning docket fifty-five twenty-five.

A B C and D and the sixth municipal district founded by Annunciation, Nashville, Arabella and Laurel.

Municipal addresses fifty-seven oh three Annunciation and four oh one Nashville Avenue.

The recommendation of the city planning commission being for approval subject to two waivers and four provisos.

We have motion M25 six sixty-eight by Councilmember Jerusalem approving the applicant's request, subject to the two waivers and four provisos stated within the city planning commission report and four additional provisos listed in the motion for zoning docket fifty-five twenty-five.

Uh madam clerk, uh the denial should be withdrawn.

Okay.

And we have an amendment and I also want to thank Council President for taking this out of order to accommodate Willow who's been waiting here patiently.

Okay, I will read the amendment.

Okay.

Yes.

Uh as you know the applicant is uh proposing to convert uh a former vacant school building uh into a satellite campus for the Wheelow school.

The conversion consists of the reuse of the existing buildings along with the addition of a five hundred and thirty-seven seat auditorium.

Um essentially the staff thinks that the proposed use is appropriate for their uh for that property, uh it is compatible with the residential character.

It is a similar institutional use as is often found uh in other residential historic neighborhood.

Um there is a potential for increased traffic uh in parking, uh these impacts are not expected to exceed um from the site's previous educational use and since uh this particular uh proposal would be only used as a satellite uh with no um understanding no typical drop-off in peacoffs.

Um that should also uh alleviate any traffic concern.

So overall the Planning Commission is uh uh supportive and your requirementing.

Great.

Uh just one second.

Uh there's no online comment, right?

So to Willow, I would say you're more than welcome to speak, but know what's gonna happen.

So if you want to take the microphone, I'm not gonna stop you from doing it, but we also can just move forward unless you want that.

So you're good.

All right, so it's good.

All right, I'll move on the amendment.

Signed by Council Member Morel.

Five years, no nays.

And I just want to say thank you again to Wellow through this whole process for being a good partner and working with everybody.

Hang on one second.

Let's get the motion as amended.

Seconded by Councilmember Thomas.

Five years, no nays passes unanimously.

Thank you all very much.

We appreciate it.

Thank you for all your work.

All right.

We're already capulus.

What do we all do?

Is it 27?

No.

Madam Clark, I think your microphone's off.

We're going back to page 24.

We have the legislative group and zoning docket 5025, City Council Motion M25396, requesting an amendment to the text of Article 18 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to establish the fairgrounds district overlay, including the area upon which the fairgrounds race course and slots currently sit, generally bounded by Gentili Boulevard, Balfort Street, and Or Avenue, Trafalgar Street, Dzac Boulevard, St.

Louis Cemetery No.

3, St.

Vincent Street, Verne Court, and Fortin Street to maintain current and historical fairgrounds and racetrack opportunities for all lots within the boundaries.

The following uses are to be allowable as conditional uses, fairgrounds and racetrack.

The recommendation of the city planning commission being for approval.

We have motion M25 for 646 by Councilmember Jerusalem, a motion approved it and granted the request for zoning docket 5025, subject to the following modifications to the use tables as set forth in the report.

You have residential use, dwelling, single family C1, Article 5, dwelling two families, C1, Article 5.

We have dwelling small multifamily affordable C1 Article 5.

Commercial use fairground C, Section 20.3.3 point V V.

Thank you.

Sabine.

In uh response to concerns that the fairgrounds may cease operation.

This overlay is proposed to guide any future redevelopment of the site.

Recognizing the historic and cultural importance of the fairgrounds, the motion initiating this legislation proposes to limit the allowable use of the site to fairgrounds and race courses.

In reviewing the proposal, the CPC staff also suggested creating a pathway for residential development, redevelopment through the development through the plan development process based on the site's master plan designation for residential development.

After discussion with the fairgrounds operator, the city planning commission also added language into the overlay district that preserves the fairgrounds ability to add existing facilities in a manner allowed under current law.

The commission found that this approach balanced the fairgrounds operators' concerns with the need to ensure that any redevelopment of the site is appropriate.

The commission recommends approval.

Thank you very much.

Susan, and so the cards I have are for Susan Johnson, Neil Brown, Kathy Breeding, Donna Biat, looks like Biat.

I'm apologize if I'm getting it wrong, and Dr.

Sandra Hogan Jones.

Yeah, you're up first.

Thank you.

Susan Johnson 2822, LePage Street.

I am not appeaded to be here.

I'm here on behalf of uh historic New Orleans neighborhoods.

Umpporting the fairgrounds overlay with the proviso uh just uh just to state that um I've got a problem with inclusion of SMFA because this well-meaning well-intended uh affordable housing model has been uh is being abused in my hometown neighborhood of Carlton.

I've got the statistics, I won't go through the data here.

It's well known through emails to the city council and other and to the agencies, but with that exception, I um support this overlay, and thank you for the legislation.

Thank you.

And Susan, just so you know, I happened to meet with city planning yesterday and specifically mentioned how this is being misused, particularly in the uptown neighborhoods with students being classified as low-income residents, and that's not really what's meant for.

So got it.

And this came from Bob Works St.

John neighborhood association, too.

All right, Ms.

Brown, Ms.

Breeding, Ms.

Biat, Dr.

Hogan Jones.

Hiya, I'm going.

Good afternoon.

My name's Aleal Brown.

I am employed at the Fairgrounds as a main banker.

I've been employed at the Fairgrounds for 13 years.

The Fairgrounds provides the opportunity to take care of your family.

They have great employers and they care about the employees.

Just like uh I have Jason Boulette, the racing director.

He helped my family in the time of need.

My son was here by a drunk driver Christmas Day two years ago outside of the fairgrounds.

Uh Jason took heed and helped my family with wheelchair access for my son because he was not walking for some time.

Uh they provided wheelchair access at my family home also, and uh they assisted my son with all the needs that he needed to recover.

Uh the positive of the examples at the fairgrounds is that there's a good family place for me and my family.

I've been there for 13 years.

I also come from my grandfather back in the 60s, and then my father after that, after my father, it was my father's kids, which is my siblings, and as me, I'm still employed, and now my kids are employed at the fairgrounds.

So I just want to let y'all know that the fairgrounds is the good place to work, is take care of the employees, the family, the help with the families, and that's all I want to say.

Thank y'all so much.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

Kathy.

Hi, my name is Kathy Beating, and I am the president of the association and general manager of the Fairgrounds.

I want to thank the Planning Commission and its chair, Katie Whittree, uh, for the deliberative process in reviewing this proposal.

The fairgrounds is dedicated to nurturing our relationship with the city of New Orleans and its residents.

Our goal is to ensure that Fairgrounds remains a valued partner in promoting community well-being and engagement.

Fairgrounds is a significant economic driver for the local economy.

Our operations support hundreds, and as you just heard, generations of jobs.

We attract tourism and we generate revenue that benefits local businesses, many of which would not survive without the fairgrounds.

From cleaning up the neighborhood to providing holiday meals and events for our backside community.

We believe in giving back, and we will continue to work to strengthen our philanthropic efforts to better serve the community going forward.

The fairgrounds has been operating for over 150 years and is an integral part of the rich culture and tradition of New Orleans.

We work every day to preserve this legacy while also making an inclusive space for everyone to enjoy.

Not only entertain but also foster community connections, and we aim to continue hosting events that bring people together at the fairgrounds.

I've only been at Fairgrounds for a little over a year, and our team is excited to foster relationships and have open lines of communication with city officials, our neighbors, and all stakeholders.

We're excited about the future, and thank you for your continued support of the Fairgrounds.

Thank you.

Hi, good afternoon.

My name is Dr.

Sandra Hogan Jones, and I represent the Fairgrounds Race Course and Slots located at 1751 Gensilly Boulevard.

I currently serve as the Senior Director of Human Resources for the Fairgrounds, and I oversee their human resource operations for both the main campus and their 13 off-track betting parlors.

I've been employed with the Fairgrounds since 2021.

I'm a lifelong resident of New Orleans.

I've raised my son there, attended college there, and I'm proud to call this city my home.

Throughout my tenure, I've seen Fairgrounds face many, many challenges.

And through it all, Fairgrounds has demonstrated resilience while continuing to serve as a longstanding and relevant, iconic organization within the city of New Orleans.

We are currently in our 154th year of racing, and we remain committed to the care of our Equine athletics and team members who support them.

Currently, we employ a little over 500 team members year-round, and we increase to about a thousand during race season.

We offer competitive benefits, uh, competitive wages and opportunities for professional growth and development.

So to continue this work, we rely on the support of the city and local government, and we look forward to our continued partnership.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Donna.

Good afternoon.

Donna Bellot.

I work for the I've been with the Fairgrounds since 1990.

I'm the main address is 1761 Gentilly Boulevard, but I work at the off-track betting parlor located at 111 Moss Lane in Hama, Louisiana.

I've been there since 1990, and over the 35 years, I make I began my career as a mutual teller, promoted to assistant manager.

Then in 2005, once Churchill took over, I was promoted as the Helma and Seven OTB manager.

Throughout that time, Fairgrounds has provided me with opportunities to grow my career and take care of my family.

We we are given the best benefits as employees, and they have gone above and beyond to make sure that we are taken care of from Katrina to Ida from paying our full salary to our benefits until the end of the year.

Fairgrounds operates 13 OTBs throughout the region.

Legislation passed in Louisiana several years ago that gave OTBs like the one I manage the ability to install historical horse racing machines.

At my parlor, we had 50 of those machines.

Earlier this year, Fairgrounds lost a court case as a result.

My OTB removed all the machines.

It had this has caused a lot of the business we had to no longer come to the OTB.

We are trying very hard to rebuild the business loss by removing the historical horse racing machines, but we have gone we have a long way to go.

Thank you so much.

All right, I move second by councilmember Thomas.

Five years, no nays carries unanimously.

Thank you.

Councilmember, just so you know there was one online comment, which I'll add to the rec record.

Oh, thank you for letting me know.

We're now on page 27.

Legislative grouping, ordinance calendar number 34,385 has been deferred to January the 8th.

Motion line over M23426 has been deferred to January the 8th.

On page 28, all matters.

Motion line over M23427 has been deferred to January 8th.

Legislative grouping ordinance calendar number 35,093 has been deferred to January 8th.

Motion M25254 has been deferred to January 8.

On page 29, all matters, ordinance calendar number 35,001 has been deferred to January the 8th.

Ordinance calendar number 35,117 has been deferred to January 8th.

Ordinance calendar number 35,127 has been deferred to January the 8th.

On page 30, ordinance calendar number 35,284 by Councilmember Thomas by request.

An ordinance to authorize the mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into amendment number one to a previously executed cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and University Medical Center Management Corporation relative to the public purpose of reducing community violence by supporting a hospital violence intervention program that provides intervention services to patients at the trauma center who have been shot as a result of gun violence desired to modify the provisions of the CEA and extend the term thereof for an additional year as more fully set forth in the amendment number one exhibit A and made a part hereof and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

This is by request that amends the agreement for the hospital violence interruption uh program to continue to deal with the trauma around gun violence and the purpose of this here amendment is to extend the term of the original CEA a year and increase the funding amount by 718,000 uh 48.53 cents.

Uh any comment?

If not, I move approval.

Seconded by Councilmember Morell.

All in favor.

Any opposed, eyes have it so ordered.

We have a legislative grouping ordinance calendar number 35,303 by Councilmember Morrell, an ordinance to amend and reordain Section 154-10807 of the Code of the City of New Orleans related to rates for metered parking on city streets and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

And there is an amendment to ordinance calendar number 35,303 by Councilmember Morrell, an amendment to ordinance calendar number 35,303 to specify the bounding area subject to the higher rate for meter parking and to correct errors in formatting.

That is the amendment.

I'll move on the amendment.

Second by councilman Jeruso, please vote your machines.

Five years, no nays on the bill as amended.

Um this bill simply extends the period through which people can actually pay for parking from two hours to four hours.

With the amendment, it adds further specificity to the bounding areas for the different rates of parking which already exists.

I will move to adopt as amended.

Second by councilmember Moreno, please vote your machines.

Five years, no nays to adopted as amended.

On the bottom of the page, Madam Clerk, could somebody turn the heat on?

I mean, I'm I'd be light-skinned, but I'm not Nordic, right?

And I thought that was only my because my in my office the heat works in the summer and the air conditioning works in the winter, but it's freezing in here right now.

At the bottom of the page, ordinance calendar number 35,310 has been withdrawn.

At the bottom of page 31, ordinance calendar number 35,322 by Councilmember King, an ordinance to provide for the designation of public property within a specified area of the City of New Orleans as a temporary special event clean zone during the time period beginning at 6 a.m.

Monday, April 13, 2026, and ending at 6 p.m.

Monday, April 20, 2026, relative to the use of these public areas in conjunction with the 2026 French Quarter Festival and during the time period beginning at 6 a.m.

Monday, July 27, 2026, and ending at 6 p.m.

Monday, August 3rd, 2026, relative to the use of these areas in conjunction with the 2026 Satchmo Summer Fest, the effective period and related activities and events produced by the French Quarter Festival Incorporated to provide for the temporary prohibition of certain commercial activities in the special event clean zone unless approved, sanctioned, or authorized by the city, or as set forward in the sponsors, special event permit if and if and as applicable to provide for the establishment of one or more public participation areas to provide for the establishment of fines and penalties for violations of this ordinance to establish the special event clean zone within the area bounded by the area general bounded by the east bank of Mississippi River, Orange Street, Chapatoula Street, Calio Street, Rampart Street, Esplanade Avenue, including Waldenburg Riverfront Park, Spanish Plaza, Lewis Armstrong Park, Crescent Park, the Louisiana State Museums, New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint, Governor Nickel Wharf Park, and the airspace above the specified boundaries and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Any comments?

Hearing none, make a motion to adopt.

Second by Councilmember Morrell.

Motion Machine, five years, no nays.

Thank you.

By Council Members Jerusalem, Morel, Moreno, Harris, King, Green, and Thomas.

An ordinance to respond to the current budget challenges facing the City of New Orleans through a temporary prohibition on spending any funds received from Sewage and Water Board of New Orleans, American Rescue Plan Act, Council of the City of New Orleans versus Edward Wisner donation at all.

Case number 2022-06765 Civil District Court for the Parish of Arleens or any other new sources of revenue and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

I move for approval.

Seconded by Vice President Moreno.

Five years, no nays.

At the bottom of the page, motion line over M25182 has been deferred to January 8th.

On top of page 33, all matters.

Motion line over M25193 has been deferred to January the 8th.

Motion line over M25184 has been deferred to January 8th.

Motion line over M25186 has been deferred to January the 8th.

On page 34, all matters.

Motion line over M25187 has been deferred to 18.

Motion line over M25189 has been deferred to 18.

Motion line over M25235 has been deferred to January the 8th.

On page 35, all matters.

Motion line over M25236 has been deferred to January the 8th.

Motion line over M25238 has been deferred to January the 8th.

Motion line over M25239 has been deferred to January the 8th.

On top of page 36, motion line over M2528 has been deferred to January the 8th.

Motion line over M25435 has been deferred to January the 8th.

Resolution line over R25604 has been withdrawn.

We have substitute resolution R25604 by Councilmember Morrell.

A resolution requesting the Industrial Development Board of the City of New Orleans consider changes to it by laws to maximize stakeholder engagement and ensure economic development projects provide a strong financial return that benefits both businesses and residents.

Council members, we need to suspend the rules to receive this second by Councilmember Jeruso.

Please vote your machines.

I'll move to add to the agenda.

Move by me, second by councilman de Russo.

All right.

And briefly, this simply is the council requesting the industrial development board revise their rules so that when they are looking at things like pilots, for example, at the council be given final sale grant them.

These are tremendous amounts of tax dollars at the additional oversight.

And in this budget crisis, we need to be reviewing all such economic development projects to maximize returns.

I will move to adopt substitute.

I guess I can talk about Councilmember Thomas.

These watch your machines.

Thank you.

Tabulating the votes cast and against Home Rule Charter Section 5-404 proposition in the election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Vote for 38,897.

Votes against 16,772.

Vote total votes is 55,669.

All right, members, because we have 10 things or just affirming votes.

I'm gonna do these by voice votes.

So I move council member king seconds.

All in favor, aye, aye, five years and no nays on item 66.

We have motion M25616 by Council Members Morel, Jerusalem Moreno, and Harris, tabulating the votes cast for and against Home Rule Charter, Article 4, Section 4-406, proposition in election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 38,146.

Votes against 17,405.

Total votes 55,551.

Majority votes for 38,000 146.

At the bottom of the page, we have motion M25617 by Councilmember Jeruso, tabulating the votes for, cast for and against Lakewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District Proposition in the election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 375, votes against 12 votes, total votes is 387.

I move for approval, seconded by councilmember King.

All in favor?

Aye.

Five years, no nays.

On top of page 38.

We have motion M25618 by Councilmember Thomas.

Tabulating the votes cast for and against Spring Lake Subdivision Improvement District Proposition in the election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 137.

Votes against 43.

Total votes 180.

Majority of the votes 137.

Aye.

Aye.

Tabulating the votes cast for and against Upper Audubon Security District proposition in the election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 254.

Votes against 64.

Total votes 318.

Majority of votes for 254.

Move to approve.

Second by councilmember King.

All in favor.

Aye.

Five years and nays.

We have motion M25620 by Councilmember King.

Tabulating the votes cast for and against French Quarter Economic Development District Proposition and the election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 491.

Votes against 75.

Total votes 566.

Majority of the votes for move to adopt.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

5A's 08.

We have motion M25 621 by Council members Jerusalem Morell and Thomas.

Tabulating the tabulating the votes cast for and against affordable housing projects.

Proposition in the election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 36,117.

Votes against 20,783.

Total votes, 56,900.

Majority of the votes for 36, 117.

Moved by Jerusalem by myself, second by Councilman Murno.

Please look at your machines.

We have motion M25 622 by Council Members Jerusalem Morel and Thomas tabulating the votes cast for and against drainage and storm water management projects proposition in the election held on Saturday November 15, 2025.

Votes for 44,189.

Votes against 12,232.

Total votes 56,000 or 21.

Majority of votes for 44,000 one eighty-nine.

I move seconded by council member Morel 5 to 0 passes.

We have motion M25623 of Council Member Jerusalem tabulating the votes for and against city infrastructure projects proposition in the election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 43,677.

Votes against 13,192.

Total votes 56, 869.

Majority of the votes 43,677.

I move seconded by Councilmember Moreno passes unanimously 50.

At the bottom of the page, we have motion M25625 by Councilmember King.

Tabulating the votes cast for and against tall timbers crime prevention and improvement district proposition and the election held on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Votes for 257.

Votes against 154.

Total votes for 11.

Majority of the votes for 257.

Move to dot second by council member Moreno.

One more vote.

We have mo we have motion M2565 of Council Member Jerusalem.

This has been deferred to January the 8th.

We have motion M25 656 by Councilmember Morell.

A motion rescinding motion M25 504 suspending rule one of the rules and regulations of the Citrouncil and establishing a regular council meeting schedule for the year 2026.

I'll move.

Okay, a second.

Second by councilman Jerusalem.

Please watch your machines.

Five years, no days.

We have motion M25661 by Councilmember Morrell authorizing the president of the council to execute an amendment to the agreement with HGI to extend the term of the agreement on a month-to-month basis through December 31st, 2026, and to increase the maximum compensation by 3.4 million for said year.

Thank you.

This is moving our existing contract to month to month because there's an RFP out right now on the sewage and water board appeal process.

Yeah, I I just think at some point we need to transfer the service to agent water board.

I you had very good intentions of moving this over and making sure it was being modified.

But given our circumstances, Mr.

CAO, if that's what you'd like to do in the new year, we can address that.

Mr.

CAO when you get in there.

Thank you.

I'll move.

Can I get a second?

Council books for Council Jerusoe.

There you go.

Vote your machines.

Five years, no days.

We're now on top of page 42.

We have resolution R25664 by Council Members Moreno, Morel, Harris, King, Green, and Thomas.

A resolution and order adopted resilience poll metrics.

Resilience project and event reporting and other metrics.

The climate change and sustainability committee recommended approval.

I'll move.

And maybe we have Thomas.

All in favor.

All right.

Five years, no days.

At the bottom of the page, we have resolution R2569.

Our council members Moreno Morell, Harris, Green, and Thomas.

Resolution and order approving are a DIR program to enhance distributed energy resources.

Docket U D 2402.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

This is the DER program that we approve in the Climate Committee.

What do you think?

Yeah, I think all the everyone here is gone.

Let me just read their comments.

So uh Lauren Zander in support.

Lauren's not here.

Jesse George in support and uh Michael Pelle Sage in support as well.

We have an option.

There were two online in support.

Okay.

You can add them to the record.

Yep.

Thank you.

I'd like to add myself as co-author, please.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

All in favor?

There we go.

Wait, Councilmember Green's not here.

Oh, so who's second?

Okay.

Right.

Okay.

We have resolution R 25670.

Council members Morel, Moreno, and Jerusalem requesting the chief administrative officer to direct the Department of Public Works to issue notices to suspend or stop work of all JIRR contracts effective January 1st, 2026.

We need to suspend the rules to receive this resolution.

Five years, no nays.

I'll move to add.

Can I get a second?

Second by counsel vice president Moreno.

All in favor?

No.

Five.

Yeah.

Five years, no nays.

It is add to the agenda on the resolution.

Um I want to begin by apologizing that we didn't get this resolution out sooner, but the nature of this uh disagreement, it was had to be done under suspension.

So for those of you who don't know, um, we have a JIR program that deals with uh federal money for road construction.

Um the city is in the midst of trying to get an extension before the end of this year on December 31st, 2025.

Um future CAO, current council member reached out to the administration to ensure that they notified all contractors that barring if we do not receive that extension to cease all JIR work because it will not be reimbursed and will have to come out of the city budget, which we do not have.

Um there was an understanding, uh and he could speak to that if he would like that that would happen, and then suddenly yesterday the administration reversed course and indicated that they would tell all contractors to continue work notwithstanding the renewal of the JR program or extension.

Um that created great pause insofar as if it's not extended, that money would have to come from somewhere, and that would likely be the general fund.

Um, in the midst of that conversation, the legislative order weighed in with his own concern because spending money we don't have is how we got into the current financial crisis and could potentially violate the terms and conditions of the revenue anticipation notes we had at bond commission.

Um that being said, what this resolution simply does is say it says several things.

One, the JR fund expires on the th on the 31st.

Two, we should not be encouraging contracts to do work beyond then.

Three, it could endanger our access to the employment emergency fund to pay our bills, and most importantly, to put all contractors on notice that if you are doing work after December 31st, after the program has not been extended, you do so at your own risk.

That's what it does.

Go ahead, Mr.

Thomas.

Uh first let me say this was this is one of those uh uh issues that I do wish it would have been briefed uh earlier, but with the briefing that I got, and I think it it's owed an explanation of my vote.

Uh I'm gonna vote for this, especially uh because there's no guarantee that there'll be reimbursement uh if we use money for projects where we could get or would qualify for federal impursement.

But there's been some reporting uh around using general fund money to front projects.

That is not an uncommon use for a municipality uh to use general fund money to front federal projects as long as you have the authority and you can apply for reimbursement.

So given the fact that we don't have that commitment here, uh I don't think that it's wise to use general fund money, especially because of the budget deficit and the potential impact on charter-related services.

Uh I want to thank Councilmember Morrell for the explanation uh that he gave me uh it it helped to match with my understanding of how projects should be funded, especially if you're counting on uh federal reimbursement.

If you have not got the commitment already, then why would you take that chance uh without at least having the government behind you saying that if you submit the right documentation, you can and should qualify for reimbursement.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, the move seconded, and I believe it was five zero.

So that is that council members.

We need to suspend the rules to go to audiences on first reading.

All right.

Oh, sorry, Mr.

Mr.

Thomas wanted personal privilege.

Yeah, is it's it's always the holiday season.

I want to uh wish everyone and their families uh Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season for the people who are watching watching this on behalf of our district key staff uh and all of us.

Uh please have a safe uh holiday.

And for uh council uh uh chairman uh Morel man, what a nice event uh yesterday to get everyone uh together.

It's it's good to see that.

It's a good way to end the year and hopefully start the new regime with that kind of uh uh uh kind of just giving getting getting everyone to give us a nice location.

It was a beautiful event.

I couldn't stay as long as I'd like to, but just to thank you for kind of getting everyone in the same room during the holiday season.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Vice President.

Thank you.

I just want to take personal privilege uh to uh say that today is Adam Swenflick's last day on the council as our executive counsel.

I think he's done a really excellent job for us on the city council, but he's not going to go very far.

He used to have seven bosses, and now he's just about to have one.

He'll join me as my executive counsel in the mayor's office.

So I'm excited to have you come up.

That's a sm that's a smart move.

He's he has been one of the best uh public servants.

And I like the fact that uh Adam doesn't tell you what you want to hear.

He's challenged us to be better at our jobs.

Councilmember Marino, he really has.

Great addition.

That was also uh victory lap because she poached us.

Congrats, Adam.

I'll move Students.

Thank you.

Yes, I think Council Person King Ordinance on first reads, ordinance counter 35,325 by Councilmember Green by request and ordinance to authorize the mayor city of New Orleans to enter into an agreement to grant a servitude to an adjacent property owner owner for encrunchments on or over portion of public right-a-way located at the municipal address, 1544 Gentili Boulevard to fix the minimum price of terms of state servitude agreement to declare that such use as granted in a servitude agreement will incorporate space that is neither needed for public purpose nor shall interfere with the use of public right-away to set forth the reasons for state servitude agreement and otherwise to provide respects there, too.

This is all matters on first reading.

Those are all the ordinances on first reading.

So second myself, all in favor?

Uh