All right, Madam Clark, we have a quorum, we can begin.

I have a letter.

I have a letter dated November 14, 2025.

Lord Johnson, Clerk of Council, New Orleans City Council 1300 Pedito Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112.

Dear Madam Clerk, pursuant to my authority in section three-1075 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans.

There will be a special council meeting on the following date, Wednesday, January seventh, twenty twenty six at nine A.M.

This meeting will be limited to the discussion and consideration of matters relative to the current financial condition of the city, including without limitation the status of the general fund and any changes to expected revenue or funding.

Councilmember Moreno.

Present.

We have seven members.

We have a quorum.

Yes, right.

So I'll move to receive.

Oh, Councilmember Green's move to receive this.

That's fine.

Councilmember Green is second.

All right, Mr.

Burnside, you want to speak, sir.

Before we add.

So Michael Art Burnside, 2215 Felicity.

This is my second to last day, aka the penultimate day.

So it's nice to see the City Council.

So in regards to the legislative auditor and his report, it's always good to have a report, and it's always good to add it to the agenda.

Unfortunately, it's not added to the agenda, it's out of the minutes.

If that's not possible, then it might be nice to have a notice somewhere informing people to go look for the minutes because hopefully there are more people than I who care about what the legislative auditors are doing and would like to follow him in his efforts.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right.

I think Councilmember Morale moved to add, I seconded all in favor.

Please take your machines, seven years, no nays.

And with that, we'll hear from the legislative auditor.

Good morning and happy new year.

Good morning, Mike Wagasbach, Louisiana Light Slave Auditor.

Um I think you have before you are uh review of this uh payroll run dated January 7, 2026, in accordance with the state bond commission terms and conditions of the approval of the city of New Orleans, 125 million dollar revenue note bond.

Uh as of one seven, January 7, 2026, our preliminary review indicates that the city's requests totaling 10 million one hundred and eighty-six thousand two hundred twenty-four dollars, which is made up of the six million seven fifty-three four hundred forty-five, which is to be transferred to the Chase Payroll card account, and the three million four thirty-two seven seven nine will be to reimburse the city's general fund.

Um as noted in the first bullet, the six million seven hundred and fifty-three dollars four hundred and forty-five dollars and thirty-two cents is payable to the Chase Payroll card funding account inning 2811 for the purpose of funding the employee compensation and related ex related employee and employer payrolls for pay period innings 132026 as noted in exhibit A.

The second bullet has 3,432 779.17 cents payable to the city general fund account for Chase Bank to reimburse the general fund for the fringe benefits, including but not limited to health insurance, pension contributions, garnishments, etc.

for the prior pay period ending 1227 2025.

So in Zibit A, you'll see that uh transfer that'll be made to the Chase account of as previously stated the 6.7 million, and then we'll have the reimbursement in exhibit B for the payroll fringes in the municipal employees retirement system, 3.4 million, and we have our summary by agency department showing the gross earnings of 7 million 49,000 in the non-OTP pay overtime pay column of 6.4 million, and the overtime pay this particular pay period was 580 million, which kind of fell in line with projections again.

That's for the payroll, uh the admin and weekly payroll ending 132026.

Exhibit D, as we follow the use of the 125 million, we'll see that after these two transfers are made or balanced as of 17, 2026 after transfers will be 30 million six hundred and ten thousand seven hundred and seven dollars and twelve cents.

So that's my report approving this particular transfer or drawdown the RAN fund.

I'm here to answer any questions you may have.

Councilmember Thomas.

Uh first this is uh will be the last meeting when you guys I'm here that you appear before us, uh, but I didn't want this opportunity to go by uh without thanking you uh in your team and your professionalism.

Uh as someone who has been around a while, I've noticed the singular focus that you guys have had on this.

Uh not police and blame, even though I know uh you saw some material weaknesses on all sides.

Uh I said earlier this week and kind of went over the charter in the budget with Jim Singleton, who was called the budget guru, and he reminded me and he saw in the charter words like continually, oversight, accountability, ordination.

And I'm just hoping in the conversation I've had with you that this information uh in the way that you have done it for the next administration and the next council can give them at least a chance to understand the charter, the different roles and the responsibility.

And the other thing that I appreciated about what you do, uh, where in many cases the press has tried to plug blame game, uh, your relationship with our budget chairman and the people you've been working with, uh you've worked hard to make sure that we have a foundation, especially an accounting foundation and the financial foundation, so that wherever we are with accounts receivables and payables, it is what it is.

And you've also uh protected and haven't disparaged the reputations of people like Rome and Frieda and others who have not gotten their due.

Uh history and legend and public record will show that at some point, but I can see why you're good at what you do, and I think for all of us here politically who are watching, this is probably a great example of when the state and the city work together.

You can actually have a positive outcome of something good for all of us.

So you you appreciate it, uh Mr.

Wix.

Well, thank you, Ms.

Thomas.

We appreciate that.

We we we we we we proud ourselves to be a good third third party neutral party to bring forth best practices.

So hopefully when we're when our business is done here, these best practices will be rolled out and and followed through with.

So I'm I'm excited about what I'm seeing thus far.

All right, anybody else?

Councilmember Harris.

Thank you again for all the work that you've done.

I do want to talk about the NOPD officer retention payments.

And do we have an idea of how much is due?

We're tasked with uh passed my team to get to the bottom of that today.

I understand there's retention payments, and then there's uh also an overtime retention component to that as well.

Uh we want to nail down what's left of the ARPA money, and then put the put together a dollar figure on what the what the remaining balance will need to be paid for through the RAN fund.

So uh we hope to have that information hopefully by the close of today, if not tomorrow, and minimums and then you'll circulate it to all of us.

If okay.

And once we understand how much we might need to deduct from the RAN, uh what are the implications of that?

No implication.

I mean, it it's it's a it's uh it's not a prohibitive use of funds of the RAN, it's payrolls related French benefits, so uh that's a proper use of the funds.

Uh the only drawback is it minimizes your ability in the future to to cover remaining payrolls.

If it ends up being eight million dollars, then it's an unanticipated eight million dollars spend that you probably uh didn't realize uh when we made this loan draw.

So that's that's the outcome.

Um based on what I see.

You we've probably got maybe two more payroll periods to cover, and then we're we're done with the RAM.

Right.

That that's what I'm getting to is that we have two more payroll periods to cover, and then and then what?

Uh hopefully the general fund is flush enough to carry forward.

Yeah, hopefully.

And and I do I know we've asked a few questions and gotten some partial answers on the mail out of tax notices.

I think they're being mailed out maybe by zip code partially.

Uh I think that process of sending it to the vendor to do the mail out was done on 1229.

Um, hopefully those are in the mail.

And so then we'll see that uh cash flow start to come into the city coffers sooner than later.

Yeah, I mean I've I've spoken to citizens, constituents who want to pay their taxes because they understand that this is how we make payroll going forward.

So I think city finance or the treasury is looking at what who's mailed been mailed what, and hopefully, we'll have a complete list of that by the end of the week.

And then we can anticipate revenue based on those mailing.

I think the mortgage companies, especially those who escrow their property taxes, mortgage companies are always real anxious to get that money sent out and make adjustments uh to the escrow if needed.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

All right, seeing nothing else, thank you all very much.

We appreciate the update.

All right, madam clerk.

Ordinance calendar number 35305 has been deferred to January 14th.

Ordinance calendar number 35306 has been deferred to January 14th.

We have resolution R 261 has been withdrawn.

The order we have substitute resolution R261.

Our Council Member DeRusso approving and ratifying the release of six million seven hundred fifty-three thousand four hundred forty-five dollars and thirty-two cents from the City of New Orleans employee emergency payroll fund to cover the cost of payroll related expenses for city employees, other than police and fire departments for the payroll period beginning December 21st, 2025, and ending January 3rd, 2026.

The foregoing authorization shall be subject to concurrence by the Louisiana legislative order to an occurrence with City Code 70-415.347D.

We need to suspend the rules to receive the substitute.

So uh moved by Councilman Moreno, second by Councilmember Morrell.

Seven yes, no nays.

We need to further suspend it to add.

I'll move.

Second by Councilmember Harris.

All in favor.

Aye.

Seven years, no nays.

We have comment cards on 26.1.

First, Mr.

Burnside, then Darnell Phillips.

You have two.

Okay, we'll get you on the other one, too.

Michael Eric Burnside, 2215 Felicity.

So there's several little tiny notes here.

We'll see what we can get to.

Our legislative auditor was kind enough to have lunch with Gilbert, which was very nice of him.

As he moves forward in understanding the city and the city's role over the last several years, going back to 2022, he might want to have lunch with Norman White.

And if he was able to have a lunch with Ramsey and uh Mulligan, that might be worth his time.

Last week I was unhappy with several things, but Councilperson Thomas has reminded me that my emotions really aren't your emotions.

So what I will say is that if you know that there's going to be a change, your estimate should reflect your knowledge.

So if you know publicly that there's going to be a change in health care benefits, then the number should change, either up if you plan on spending more money, or down if you plan on spending less money.

To know something and to not have it reflected in your estimates, makes your estimates garbage.

With regards to no status of the general fund, we don't have a report as to how much money is in the general fund, and therefore the public, namely myself, cannot determine how many pay periods we might be able to pay for if we needed to.

Point out the general funds, only half the money available to the city.

The city actually has a 1.6 billion dollar budget.

Half of those monies are reserved funds, such as ARPA for the NOPD, but also for the library.

The library has a separate millage, and it should go into a reserve fund.

It should not go into the general fund, and that library millage should be spent on library costs.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Darnell.

You want to do in the second one, not the first one?

I got you.

Okay.

So I'll just change this to R26.2 instead.

No need to fill out a second card.

All right.

So with that, I will move on R 261 as substituted, seconded by President Morrell.

Seven Yays, no nays.

All right, Madam Clerk.

Resolution R 262 has been withdrawn.

It's order.

We have substitute resolution R262 by Councilmember Jerusalem by request approving and ratifying the release of 3,432, 779.17 cents from the City of New Orleans employee emergency payroll fund to cover the payment of the fringe benefits and other payroll related expenses for the payroll period beginning December 14, 2025, and ending December 27, 2025.

The foregoing authorization shall be subject to concurrence by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor in occurrence in accordance with City Code 70-415.347.

Thank you.

Um I'll move to receive.

No, no, this one is on the agenda.

So we don't have to um there's no sub.

I thought there was a substitute.

It is, but because it came on time.

It came on time.

Right.

You have to do all the dues.

Okay.

Well, I'll I'll move and second, but before we vote, that is wonderful news.

Um second by council moral.

We do have two comment cards, Mr.

Burnside and Ms.

Phillips.

What a way to start the new year.

Good news, Councilperson Green.

Things came on time.

Hallelujah, and praise the Lord.

All right.

Miracles will never cease.

So we have uh several things to mention.

Uh one of which, of course, is the firefighters pension fund.

We back in 1125 2025 did the monthly firefighter pension, and it was um 3.9 million dollars.

The keyword there is monthly.

We seem to have needed another monthly payment in December, but we don't seem to have done it.

So I'm curious as to why the monthly payment for the firefighters pension of 3.9 million is nowhere to be found for the month of December.

Representative Hilfrey, if I pronounced her name correctly, did a house bill, which was released on December 31st.

It was work done by our legislative auditor's office with regards to what it might cost to shift the pirate firefighters' pension from the city to the state.

Because $3.9 million dollars a month is not to be despised.

And finally, I would like to beat the drum again about the relevancy of math.

We have here two numbers.

Then perhaps estimates become somewhat important.

And I would suggest that if your estimates are double reality, you've got serious math problems, and you need to address them.

Thank you.

Ms.

Phillipson.

Well, I think I was supposed to go for the other resolution, so I got them mixed up.

That's all right.

Okay.

So I am respectfully asking Joe Gi Urizzo of the council member that will be representing the neighborhood between Carrollton Avenue and Broadway to make a motion for the city council to review and begin terminating cooperative endeavor agreements that have a negative impact on public health, public safety, or economic development.

Based on the reoccurring sanitation violations in the Carent Carol Carrollton area, mosquito and rodent control is just one of many CEAs over the last eight years that have not delivered results.

I'm sorry, how is this germane to say because part of what you're doing is doing overtime for mosquito and rodent control according to the I'm I'm gonna say that's pretty attenuated, but I'm gonna look to the president and the lawyers for a ruling.

No, I mean, did you not have that on there?

This is the the this is uh look, Mr.

Burnside has talked about the economics of the decision that's related to the payroll.

What you're talking about is you want to terminate contracts.

Hang on, let me finish.

You want to terminate contracts related to things that are not necessarily tied to that because of the sanitation issues involved.

So hang on.

So I'm I'm gonna ask for a ruling on whether this is germane or not.

I'll allow it.

Okay.

So explain okay.

So the reason I'm saying so the reason I'm saying this is because we're paying 50,000 to different organizations, but then to for rodent and mosquito control, but then we're paying overtime to employees, which definitely need we need to pay the overtime.

So what I'm saying is like, are we paying, I mean, are we getting grants or is this coming out of our money?

Our tax dollars.

Like it are these federal like I don't think first off, I appreciate you coming today.

That question probably should be pulled posed to the administration as far as how they structure how that's done, but what we're considering today is simply payroll for employees.

I'll let you speak regarding this contract and the value of a CEA, but that's not the CA isn't in front of us today.

In front of us today is whether or not we pay this overtime.

So I appreciate your comments, I'll let your comments go, but that is not what is before us today.

That's what Councilman Drusso was saying repeatedly.

We are paying overtime and payroll to employees.

Whether or not the CEA is a value and how that CEA is paid, it's not in front of the council today.

So I appreciate your comments, but that's not what we're considering today.

I'll let your I'll let you go with your comments because you were already mid-comment, but the CEA is not in front of us today.

And the value of the CA.

Thank you for your comments.

There's a motion, uh resolution might have been moved seconded.

One more seven years, no nays.

Do we have any items on first read?

I will move to adjourn.

Seconded by Council Member Harris.

All in favor.

I see everybody tomorrow.