What's up?

Hello.

Um, this is your binder.

Hi.

Um, I'll be back with my mug.

Can we start?

But this museum was back and crazy.

She knows.

Okay, cool.

Courtney had up the meeting yesterday.

Hey, good morning, everybody.

We're trying to troubleshoot some IT issues before we get started.

We appreciate your patience.

Roll call.

Council President Moreau.

Vice President Willard.

Councilmember McCarron.

Here.

Councilmember Harris.

Councilmember King.

Councilmember Green.

Councilmember Hughes.

We have six members.

We have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Today's invocation will be given by Elder James Simmons with the Greater Zion Field Family Worship Center.

Thank you, sir.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts, acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes for you.

Father, we thank you for the opportunity to gather here in service on today.

For the people of the city of New Orleans.

Father, we recognize that leadership is both an honor and a sacred responsibility.

And we ask for your divine wisdom and your presence to guide every decision made in this chamber on today.

Father, we pray and bless that you will bless every member of this council, the mayor, city officials, department leaders, and every public servant who works to improve the lives of the residents of this great city.

Father, we pray that you would grant us discernment, wisdom, and the integrity to do what's right, encourage us to make difficult decisions in the compassion to serve every citizen with fairness and with respect.

So, Father, we lift up the people of this city, the families, the businesses, the educators, the health care providers, the police officers, and the volunteers who make this city resilient and strong.

So, Father, protect this historic city from our hurt, our harm, and our danger.

Bless the police officer once again, the firefighters, the EMS personnel, God, and all who place themselves in harms to keep us safe.

So, Father, as this meeting begins, may your words be thoughtful and our actions honorable and our service pleasing up to your sight, that all that is accomplished on today contribute to the place in the peace and the prosperity and the well-being to the cities of citizens of the city of New Orleans.

We ask these and all blessings in your holy name and the people of God's send.

Amen.

Thank you, Elder James.

Uh, the pledge will be led by Councilmember Harris.

Members, we're having IT issues as y'all know.

So today we're gonna do voice votes unless we get the system back up and running.

At the top of page one, we have approval of the minutes for the meeting of June 4th, 2026, and June 24, 2026.

Second.

All in favor?

All right.

Any opposed?

5A0, 6A, 0 nays.

Consent agenda.

We have a communication from Aaron Spears.

This may be received.

We have a communication from Joseph I.

Jerusalem III, this may be received.

We have a communication from Russell Kelly.

This may be received.

We have a communication from Amy B.

Trapany.

This may be received.

We have a communication from Jonathan Wisby.

This may be received and referred to the budget committee.

We have a communication from Jeffrey Swartz.

This may be received.

We have a communication from Jesse Evans.

This may be received.

We have a report of Elizabeth Holman, this may be received.

We have a report of Robert D.

Rivers.

This may be received.

Hearing date 723-26.

We have a report of Alyssa Rambo.

This may be received.

We have a report of Micah Anks.

This may be received.

We have a report of Caitlin Tammerick.

This may be received.

We have ordinance calendar 35,453 by Councilmember McCarrin.

Zone and Dock 8, 2526.

We have ordinance calendar 35,454 by Councilmember Harris.

Municipal Address 420 Julia Street.

We have ordinance calendar 35,471 by Councilmember Green.

Transportation Committee recommended approval.

We have ordinance calendar 35,481 by Councilmember King by request.

We have ordinance calendar 35,482 by Councilmember King by request.

Criminal Justice Committee recommended approval.

Council members, we need to suspend the rules to receive motion M26270 by Councilmember Willard.

I move.

Seconded by Councilmember King, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Six years, zero nays.

We need to vote to add to consent agenda.

So move, seconded by councilmember King, all in favor.

Aye.

Six years, zero nays.

We have ordinance.

We have motion M26270 by Councilmember Willard, Community Development Committee recommended approval.

This is all matters on consent agenda.

Thank you, madam clerk.

I have two cards.

One is from Herman Joseph.

You can come up to the podium and speak.

You'll have um two minutes.

First of all, I'd like to give obedience to God and and I appreciate y'all being our new leadership.

My name is Herman Joseph.

I was born in 1955.

Let you know I've been here a while.

Therefore, my subject today is guns and violence.

Growing up in the desire housing project, it's gonna take me one minute to tell you.

We need a gym.

We need direction, and we need people who have been through experience to help people that are broken to be their voice.

If you love me and you care about what God has done for you, we team up with Gumbo.

We from the city called Dumbo.

We got to help every district.

We got the iron up, we got to put our differences aside because people are dying dearly.

I worked at the desire community center.

I played for the football team.

I also was in Milliny Boys home.

I'm a historian.

And I played music for y'all on second line Sunday.

I'm the bottom man.

I care about kids.

I don't care about politics.

I don't care about nothing.

I care about reaching.

Iron sharpened iron.

That's my minute.

I don't need anything else.

If you care, Article 3, Section T.

If you Article 3, Section C.

If you tear down, you rebuild it.

And our center need to rebuild, because I'm tired of seeing people die for nothing.

Thank you, Mr.

Joseph.

Russell Kelly.

You have two minutes.

Well, I ask that you suspend and I'm just reading my statement.

I'm not going to try to go over two minutes, but I'm just reading the statement, please.

Uh public uh testimonies two minutes.

I understand.

Yeah.

Thank you.

I am one of the best and brightest in this study in this city, and it started when I was a high school intern working full-time for the city council.

I was born and raised in the city of New Orleans.

Unfortunately, I have been penalized and ostracized for having high standards and integrity my entire professional life.

Late 2021, I practice accountability and integrity by refusing to approve subordinates, questionable hours work as a consequence.

I was demoted, suspended for two weeks without pay, and had a fifth out of $15,000 pay reduction.

I proved that the current director of property management and is formerly retired.

Now two-day work week program manager awarded a North Shore non-licensed electrical contractor, a 78,422 emergency contract for what appeared to be non-emergency required procurement for Duncan Plaza Electrical Repairs.

The CAO issued the contract to cease and desist letter because the contractor could not submit a Louisiana uh state board license.

My concerns, the CAO office started in internal audit November 1st, 2024.

I questioned a contract to staff augmentation billing, 20,000 plus a month, uh performing JIRR construction safety because I had walked over 7,000 plus city of New Orleans blocks and hadn't come across not one augmentation staff member member.

The current director of property management was also using two contractor staff augmentation employees at 20,000 plus a month each to perform exact the exact work I had been doing for performing for two to three years.

One of the individuals who was his former co-worker office mate's brother.

I questioned that appeared uh question with appeared to be fraud waste and uh financial abuse.

I was sent back to the PDU.

I was signed, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

Kelly.

Your two minutes are up.

Thank you.

Uh so I'll move to approve the consent agenda.

Can I get a second?

Second by Council President Morel.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Six nays, zero nays.

Regular six.

Six years, zero nays, sorry.

Regular agenda.

Item one legislative grouping.

RTA 440 4417 Dry Street has been deferred to the meeting of August 6th along with resolution line over R26-9 and R26-10 to the meeting of August 6th.

We have item 4, 5, and 6.

Legislative grouping, RTA application 1401 Delachey Street, along with resolutions line over R2611 and R2612 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6th.

At the top of page 10, number 7, HDLC appeal of 2663 Abbeville and 206 through 210 North Broad Street, has been deferred to the meeting of July 26th.

We have legislative grouping 700 HDLC appeal of 700 Webster Street, along with motion M26274, has been withdrawn at the request of the applicant.

At the top of page 11, we have item 10, HDLC appeal, 510 Ray Street has been deferred to the meeting of July 23rd.

Item 11, HDLC appeal of 1510 Religious Street has been deferred to the meeting of July 23rd.

At the top of page 12, we have zoning docket 4226 has been deferred to the meeting of July 23rd.

Item 13, zoning docket 4926 has been deferred to the meeting of July 23rd.

At the top of page 13, item 14, legislative grouping, zone in docket 5226, Mag Oak Management LLC.

Requesting a conditional use of permit a standard restaurant in the HUBY Historic Urban Neighborhood Business District, CPC Character Preservation Cordel District Overlay Design Overlay District in the Magazine Street Use Restriction Overlay District on Square 236 lot 14 on Port of Lot 15 in the 6th municipal district bounded by Magazine Street, Rougeau Street, Camp Street, and Line Street.

Municipal address 4807 Magazine Street.

The recommendation of the CPC being for approval with three provisos.

We are motion M26278 by Councilmember Harris, approving the applicant's request for zoning document 5226, subject to three provisals as stated in the CPC report.

Thank you.

Stephen, can you uh advise us on your report, please?

Sure.

This is an application to allow a new restaurant in the Magazine Street corridor.

There's an overlay along Magazine Street that requires council approval through the conditional use process for new restaurants.

Um this proposal is uh the location of the former Surrey's location uh next to LaBomb Town that was open until about 2020.

The new proposal is to open a new uh breakfast brunch restaurant there.

Um, so pretty much consistent with the prior land use.

Um this particular restaurant is going to have a pay what you can model, uh intending to meet customers sort of where they are in terms of uh price point.

Uh there was some public comment expressing concern about that, but really that particular operational thing is outside of the CPC's scope, and the per principal land use as a restaurant is appropriate, consistent with the past location.

Uh, and so the planning commission recommends approval.

Okay, any uh comment from the dais?

I have a question about the uh pay as pay what you can.

I'm just curious.

How does that work?

Uh that's all.

Yeah, I mean, my appreciation of it is that um it's it's kind of like some museums do where there are suggested prices, but in order to for, I believe it's a nonprofit operating the restaurant, in order for them to provide uh meals to people at a variety of income levels, they will essentially provide food and the customer will pay $5, $10, whatever you know they can afford.

Okay, just just curious about that concept.

Yep.

Thank you.

Any online comment.

We can add it to the record.

Sure.

We do have uh some public comment cards.

First is Azelle Bergman, followed by Linda Akers.

Good morning, my name is Adele Bergman, and I'm the executive director of the Crescent City Cafe.

We're thankful for the recommendation for approval for the sit down restaurant at 4807 Magazine Street.

It was Surrey's second uh brunch restaurant that closed due to the pandemic, and we're planning to serve brunch there again.

We've met neighbors and patrons at Magazine Street who are excited about brunch back.

We've met staff of recently closed restaurants that are really excited to be hired in their neighborhood, and we also recognize as we worked on the site how much that side of the 4800 block needs the building back in commerce.

We are a local nonprofit and it will be a pay what you can cafe where anyone can have a meal.

It's been a successful in other cities, and New Orleans is perfect for it.

The pay what you can concept is not new here because concerts, yoga studios, and other organizations do have sliding scale and pay what you can options.

And our community beloves brunch and loves paying it forward.

We're long-standing good neighbor with our Saturday program on St.

Charles, but that is a separate from this endeavor.

What excites me the most is that we found the space where we've seen our donors, our volunteers, and established low-income guests as we're at the site.

So we already know that our neighbors will eat with us.

We are community focused and understand bringing people together on food is a big part of we are as New Orleans.

And to explain to the concept, real fast a little bit more.

If you think of if you go to guys down the street, you don't know if the person in front of you is paying for half a poi boy, whole po boy, a po boy for his whole family.

You don't know the income as they go in.

It'll be that same concept.

You'll be sat down, served, and at the end you will go to pay, and no one knows who's paying what.

Um so it's very much a pay it forward a restaurant, and the zoning is for the zoning and the um the zoning request is not really uh stop the zoning request that we have as a brunch restaurant.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Linda Akers, followed by Joe Buckledge.

Good morning.

I live two blocks.

As a volunteer, I found the organization to be effective in addressing food insecurity and having a positive impact on the community.

I've always found the guests at the current Rain Church pop-up location to be incredibly grateful for both the meal and to be treated with dignity.

As a neighbor, I would welcome a brunch option within walking distance, especially since the closure of Surreys at the current site and the closure of Apple Line last year.

We would be naive not to think that there are homeless and food insecure people in this neighborhood.

I encounter a few on a regular basis.

The pay what you can cafe would help fill a gap for those in need as well as the larger community.

I have personally spoken to neighbors who are in full support of the model.

We would welcome the opportunity to support a restaurant restaurant that also does good for the community through its pay what you can model.

I urge you to approve the cafe's permit.

Thank you, Linda.

Joe Buckledge, followed by Kathleen Lewis.

Thank you.

Before I speak, will the owner of a Toyota specific set of keys?

I found found over here by my seat.

If you could just leave them right there, we'll figure it out.

All right.

Thank you.

Good morning.

My name is Joe Bickledge.

I'm the owner of the property at 4807 Magazine Street.

Post-COVID, the 4807 property went dark due to the inability to staff a restaurant.

And the 22 years of the restaurant there at that location is now going dark.

The current owners of the building were out of towners and did not understand how quick a property can disintegrate here in New Orleans.

And we started dealing with vagrants, peeling paint, broken windows, graffiti.

I did my best as just a neighbor to stop this and correct it, but there's always so much I was allowed to do.

My business partner and I decided to buy the property and maintain it and put it back into commerce to supply jobs and tax base for the city.

We care deeply about New Orleans, a city we feel could do better for small businesses, people trying to maintain the beautiful qualities I think this city has to offer.

I only hope to return this property to commerce to maintain the integrity of the neighborhood and to take on an abandoned building which would become an eye sore and was becoming a problem.

I think we all stand here today with an opportunity to make the property a contributed to the city, not a detractor.

It has been over two and a half years that I've been going through this process, and the building has been sitting empty while trying to get approval to put a restaurant in.

The process has been brutal.

We're able here today, you are all able here today to make this happen.

I look forward to your approval so that we can achieve this opportunity after a long tedious process towards helping another small business in our city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Joe.

Kathleen Lewis, followed by Angela and P.

Hello, I'm Kathleen Lewis.

I live across the street from where we're gonna have the restaurant.

I've owned my property since 2005, 2006, and I moved there in last year, 2020.

Well, last year.

We were uh really excited to hear about a new cafe coming in.

We've had several really expensive restaurants come into the neighborhood, entrees in the 40, 50, 60 dollar range.

I mean, regular people cannot eat that kind of food.

And so uh I was approached and I said of course I'd come speak because we really, really would like something reasonable to come in.

Um you know that stretch.

Magazine Street, everybody loves it.

They come there for everything.

You see, this lot recently during essence, tons of people on Magazine Street.

So uh I just hope that you'll appreciate what we're saying today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Angela and P followed by Linda Rain.

Are they here?

They're waving their comment, they're in support.

All right.

I agree with CPC's evaluation that this proposal would return a vacant site to use while complementing the existing mix of restaurants, bars, and retail stores that characterize the magazine street quarter.

This application met all of the approval evaluation standards and received strong support throughout the application process, and was recommended for approval by CPC staff and commission.

Accordingly, I will be upholding the CPC recommendation.

Um with that, all in favor?

Any nays?

That's seven years.

Thank you.

We need a second.

Well, Amy McCarran.

Councilmember McCarrin second.

Uh-huh.

At the top of page 14, we have item 16, legislative grouping, zoning document 5326, bear child company LLC.

Requesting a conditional use to permit a commercial short-term rental in a C2 auto-oriented commercial district in the Transian Lodge and Interim Zoning District on Square 359 La C in the first municipal district, founded by Reverend John Raphael Jr.

Wait, Clyot Street, Elhore Boulevard, and Ferret Street.

Municipal address 1131, 1133, Reverend John Raphael Jr.

Wait, the recommendation of the CPC being for approval, subject to two provisals.

We have motion M26 279 by Councilmember Harris.

Approving of the applicant's request on zoning document 5326, subject to two provisals as stated in the CPC report.

CPC, will you uh advise us of your opinion?

Yes, thank you, council member.

This is a proposal for a shotgun uh residence to be used as a commercial short-term rental.

It is within that this block of uh commercial district that extends parallel to the Ponchatrain Expressway.

This particular site is highly, highly commercial in its surroundings.

There's an industrial building that uh abuts it to the side and rear, the vacant lot to the other side, and then opposite it uh is uh a mini storage building and a billboard.

So in almost exclusively uh commercial location, uh that makes a commercial short-term rental inappropriate use in the planning commission's view, and the planning commission recommends approval.

Thank you.

I have one comment card, Rose Bearchild.

Hi, good morning.

My name is Rose Bearchild.

Um I'm a co-owner of uh Bearchild LLC, and just like what he said, the um the location of the property is uh right by that's the only house in mostly like industrial parts.

So I'm here for the um request for approval for short-term rental.

The former owner of the house, they used to um have a permit for short-term rental, but they let it lapse before we even um bought the property.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Um given the location and the prior use as a commercial short-term rental.

I agree with CPC that this is appropriate.

Um, this proposal receives support at its neighborhood participation meeting and at the CPC hearing.

Any comments from the diet?

Uh I have one comment.

Okay.

Uh, just for the record.

So I will be voting no today.

It's nothing personal.

My position has been consistently since we dropped the interim zoning district regarding um works short-term rentals as we wait for the outcome of the transient lodging study.

I've just been consistently a no on any exemptions to that ICD.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

With that, can I get a second?

Second by Councilmember King.

All in favor?

Any in opposition?

No.

So six days, one nay.

Thank you.

At the top of page 15, we have item 18 legislative group in zoning docket 5426, WDG LLC, requesting a conditional use permit to permit of social club in the CBD 6 Urban Core Neighborhood and Cincinnati Mixed Use District on Square 22 lots 11 through 13, Homedale Park Annex and the 2nd Municipal District, bounded by Canal Street, Greenwood Street, Vicksburg Street, and Welvin Street, municipal address 5325 Canal Boulevard.

The recommendation of the CPC being for one provisal with our motion M262783 by Councilmember McCarron, approving the applicants request for zone and docket 5426, subject to one provisal as contained in the CPC staff report.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

CPC.

Thank you, Councilmember.

This is a proposal for a office, an architectural office to occupy or rather to expand within an SLB commercial district that extends along Canal Boulevard.

So I believe there's a typo in the description on the agenda, but it's for an architectural office.

The office already occupies the main building, which was historically a dry cleaner.

There is a secondary structure, a garage that they want to expand into that will bring the total square footage of the office into to just over 5,000 square feet.

This is a zoning district where offices are allowed by right up to 5,000 square feet and then above 5,000.

It requires conditional use approval.

So that minor expansion of only about 450 square feet uh is enough to require the conditional use approval here.

It does not materially change the intensity of the use.

It's still a neighborhood sensitive low-intensity commercial use that makes sense for the location.

And for that reason, the planning commission recommends approval.

Uh no opposition expressed to the planning commission.

Thank you.

Members, as CPC stated, this is a request to re-use the old deluxe laundry building for use as an office, which does require the conditional use.

Uh the new proposed use is similar to the previous and should not significantly impact noise parking or traffic in the area, and we have not received any opposition for this request.

So therefore I move to approve motion M26-273.

Can I get a second?

Seconded by Councilmember Harris.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

7-0.

Thank you.

At the top of page 31, we have item 62.

Resolution R26271 by Councilmember Harrison Willis.

Approving after the recommendation of the City of New Orleans Office of Economic Development, a pilot term sheet agreement exhibit C for the property located at 1480 Chapatula Street to be constructed and outfitted by RD and I back to our LLC, PCHRD and I bats or GP LLC and Providence Community Housing.

Subject to the following modification on page two of the term sheet agreement, paragraph C, an annual administrative fee in the amount of $5,000 increasing 3% per year is authorized under Act 212 of the 2023 Regular Legislative Session.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Today is truly an important milestone, not only for the River District neighborhood, not only for District B but for this entire city.

The pilot resolution before us is the final piece of the financial puzzle for the Rivana Housing Development, which will provide our residents with 220 units of quality workforce and affordable housing that is central to downtown and uptown at a rate that's legally required to remain affordable for 40 years.

Pilots are standard part of affordable housing financing, and they are typically handled through either the Industrial Development Board or Finance New Orleans.

This application only comes to the city council for approval through a state statutory process specific to the river district and the convention center area.

What's unique about this property is where the Ravana is being constructed.

It is on convention centered land, which is state-owned and therefore has generated zero dollars in taxes for the city for the past 20 plus years.

Now, through the river district, we have a chance to activate that land in a way that not only meets residents' needs but also creates new revenue streams for the city.

So this pilot locks in existing property taxes at zero dollars for 40-year period, but in return, we will receive hundreds of affordable housing units at a development that's projected to bring in millions in property taxes, and there's administrative fee attached as well.

As you've all heard me say many times, my support for the river district neighborhood development is based on the commitment to affordable housing.

The site contractually must create 900 housing units, 450 of which will be priced at the affordable or workforce level to meet New Orleans' needs.

The Ravana is the first phase of meeting this goal, and today the pilot is required for it to move forward.

The application has followed all process dictated by state law and exceeds the minimum requirements of meeting DB standards as well as job requirements.

And we have a fantastic, fantastic majority partner in the nonprofit developer Providence Community Housing, who has proven a traffic record and is working along the RD and I partner to develop this property.

Um I do have cards for public comment, and then we'll take a comment from my colleagues on the dais.

The first comment card is from Monique Blossom, followed by Terry North.

Good morning, Monique Blossom, Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, 1340 Poydra Street, Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, supports the pilot you're considering today, and the creation of 220 up to 400 and 450 high-quality affordable housing units in a high opportunity area.

New Orleans is in desperate need of more high-quality affordable housing, and we should invest now in the projects that are in the pipeline rather than further delay and have what's already moving fall apart.

My concern is that the cost of materials is going to continue to grow, and the way that we bring down federal dollars, is already incredibly complicated.

I'm worried that those dollars are going to be reduced and that New Orleans might be left out of those kinds of deals.

As I consistently say to you in all personal meetings and here in council chambers, we need a giant menu of options for affordable housing from small to large scale projects, individual solutions for homeowners, programs for renters like healthy homes to ensure people are living in safe and healthy housing, the right to council program to prevent evictions and homelessness, fortified roofs, small landlord repairs, mobility programs for vouchers.

We really need every option, and I'm asking the city council that it's a big menu.

Let's take a taste of everything to close out that metaphor.

Um because if we had one solution, if there was one lever to pull to solve the housing crisis, we would have done it already.

Um, and so I ask that you support this pilot with your vote, invest in this one piece of the puzzle, and I look forward to working together to solve the rest of the puzzle.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Harry North, followed by JT Hannon.

Good morning.

I'm Terry North.

I'm CEO of Providence Community Housing.

Providence is a 501c3 community housing development organization, and our primary issue primary mission is to produce, preserve, and operate affordable housing.

We have just over just under 2,000 units in the city of New Orleans proper and 3,300 in the greater New Orleans area.

We currently have other units under construction, and we have been working with the city since our founding 20 years ago, right after Hurricane Katrina.

We were brought into this project, the Ravana Project, in February, by the River District team, because they're under a very strict timeline to get this done.

It, like all affordable housing deals, is challenging because it requires so many levels of capital and subsidy.

As mentioned, this project is a new construction project producing 220 rental affordable units.

This project is perfect for the essential workers that work in the French Quarter, the CBD, for the convention center itself.

If you earn $15 an hour, you will qualify for one of the 60% AMI units and pay under a thousand dollars for rent rather than over two thousand dollars for rent, which is the market rate in that area.

If you make twenty-five dollars per hour, you will qualify for one of the 80% AMI units and pay around $1,300 a month again in an area that is charging over $2,000 a month.

Affordable housing deals cannot adjust rents to cover expenses.

We charge and collect affordable rents.

So as a result, there is a big delta here between what a market project could charge and what we charge.

And it's about two and a half million dollars a year.

It is not a small amount.

So Harry, that's your time.

That's it.

Everybody gets two minutes.

Madam Chair, I have a question for Miss North.

Do you want me to ask that now?

You can no, she's here.

Go ahead now.

Thank you.

Um good morning.

Um you mentioned um 60% AMI units and 80% AMI units.

Yes, sir.

Um, the total number of units is 220.

220, yes, sir.

Okay.

Are they an unlimited amount of 60 percent AMI units or are they a finite amount?

There's a hundred and forty that will be at 60 percent AMI, and there are 40 that will be at 80 percent AMI.

We do have some lower income levels at 20 and 30 percent um of AMI as well.

So we're doing something called income averaging as tax credit uh deals do.

So we'll have several levels of income living in this particular project.

All right, thank you very much.

Thank you.

JT Hannon, followed by Nola Thomas.

Good morning, uh J.T.

Hannon, Chief Strategy Officer of Moreau Convention Center.

Uh, we just wanted to express our support for Ravana.

Um, our partners at the River District are turning a long underutilized riverfront property into a neighborhood with housing, businesses, and public benefit.

Um, for decades, I think since Soleil, we haven't seen meaningful residential development in the area, and Ravana helps answer one of these urgent, the city's most urgent need by adding housing, especially near the convention center in the warehouse district and the future Shell Riverside, which should open next uh spring.

Uh 100% of Ravana 1 is planned as affordable housing, and this is one of the last pieces of the process to bring affordable housing to the River District.

Uh the convention center has committed $6.5 million in terms of a loan as an active partner in closing the financing gap to make sure this project moves forward.

So we've been working with Louisiana Housing Corporation, City Council, the state, all these partners in a collaborative way to get this over the finish line and get construction started this summer.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Nolan Thomas, followed by Sarah Jane Gidry.

They both support Britain Forsyth, they support Michael Meredith.

Good morning.

Uh happy to be here and have talked uh multitudes about the project and uh VPG, we're a developer here.

We own about 1,200 mixed-income housing units, you know, throughout the area, and uh, one of the developers on the project and in support, and um there's a lot of math and dynamics that go you know into these deals, but most importantly, what you as a city and the council are invested in uh is is opportunity for folks who wouldn't have it.

You know, we own uh these units across the city, and what we see is uh the opportunity for folks to have access to housing, uh allows for them access to healthier foods, uh, access to better transportation, uh, access to align themselves with folks that they would have never met in their lives and helped to improve.

And so we're in support uh of that and also in support of the future phases.

This is the first phase of um multiple in our in our district, and we see this as a new neighborhood, a neighborhood where folks who didn't have access now will, a neighborhood where folks um can start a new leaf of their life, and most importantly, I think to JT's point is the convention center workers can walk across the street uh to the place that they work and have access to things that they didn't have before.

So obviously speak in support of not only this project but also the future to come.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Alita from the convention center is in support.

David Phelps is in support, they're not speaking.

And then the final card is from John Sullivan.

And then Nicole Weber.

Uh yeah, good morning.

John Sullivan.

I'm with Enterprise Community Partners.

We are fortunate enough to be the uh equity investor in this project.

Um since 1982, Enterprise has invested 92 billion dollars and created 1.1 million homes across all 50 states.

Uh all to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging.

Um, this investment is going to add to uh 400 million dollars.

We've been able to invest in affordable housing in New Orleans, including 200 million dollars in LaTeX investment to create uh nearly 6,000 homes for low and moderate income households.

Um, and our our work in New Orleans goes way beyond investment.

We uh provide financial and technical support to local housing nonprofits.

Uh we work closely with policymakers and housing agencies in support of housing affordability goals.

Um, and we're the co-developer uh with Providence of the Folkberg Lafitte development.

Um we're proud to be a uh part of this project.

Um, like has been said before, a very uh transformational project, critical to get this uh neighborhood um back going.

Um we're proud of the income mix that is as has been mentioned.

We're proud that uh several units are going to be able to serve the lowest uh income populations that we have in New Orleans.

Um and like I said, we're just proud to be a part of this revitalization story.

So I ask you to um, you know, approve this pilot, it is very critical uh and is the last piece, and I'll just say in general, um, is often the last piece of a lot of affordable housing development.

So um it's something that's really needed not just for this project but for you know a lot of others.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh, Britton actually wants to speak, and then Nicole Weber.

Be quick.

Um Britton Forsyth, I'm representing myself today for simplicity's sake.

Uh I just wanted to come up because I know I've met with most of you more than once around workers' bill of rights and the healthy workplace program, and in that we've brought up that residents of the poorest majority black neighborhoods in the city are expected to live over 20 years less than residents of the wealthiest majority white neighborhoods.

And in a lot of those conversations, they've been focused on economic opportunity, making sure people have access to good jobs to healthy workplaces, but housing has also come up repeatedly in those conversations, and we know that closing that gap, that unacceptable gap, is a multi-pronged approach.

So that's why we're here to support.

Thank you.

Thank you, Britain.

Nicole Weber.

Good morning, Nicole Weber, uh 2131 Bienville Street.

I am a partner with the River District as well as for the Affordable Housing Development Team.

Um I actually am out of breath because I drove in from the beach where I have four teenage girls on their own right now.

So I will be flying out of here as quickly as possible to get back to them.

But I just want to say the voters, and I've said this at the economic development committee meeting, the voters have supported affordable housing across the board, and not just a close referendum, but pretty much unanimous.

The voters had said, have said that they afford they uh support affordable housing.

Um we are not just developers looking to make a buck and leave town.

We are local, we're here, we're from here, we live here, we live in the city, we are your voters too.

Um we have a track record of doing what we say we're going to do.

If the pilot does not succeed, the units are not built, plain and simple.

The performer speaks for itself.

Um we want to see this happen.

We hope that you want to see this happen.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Are there uh comments submitted?

I'll get to the diet, but can we put those comments on the record?

All right.

You would like to speak first?

I I have a couple questions.

Councilmember Hughes.

All right, so this is what I really want to understand.

Um, there's been a lot of references to the workforce, and the so whoever can answer this question, I'd appreciate it.

All right.

We talk a lot about the workforce in the city of New Orleans, the people working at the convention center, the people shucking the oysters in the French quarter.

What I want to understand is do those residents, do those workers have first priority to these units, or is it kind of first come first served?

Do we have a situation where um the two-lane student from New York that comes into town going to two lane, making $15 an hour, a person that's working in Metary or River Ridge or Harahan or St.

Tammany that wants to live in the new and shiny unit, tell me how that works.

Sure.

So I I'm I'm glad you brought up that particular issue about college students.

So there are specific tax credit rules that prohibit from renting to students.

We cannot rent in students.

So this is being built for folks who are families that live in the area.

Now we do have to follow fair housing laws, and so you will have a situation where it will be first come first served, but those folks do have to income.

Let's put a period there if you don't mind.

So there's no guarantee that the people who are actually living in, oh I'm sorry, who are keeping the economy going, right?

Shucking the oysters downtown.

When we talk about working at the convention center being able to walk across the street, there's no guarantee that they're even going to be able to get in one of these units, right?

Because it's sort of a free-fall, right?

You you cannot guarantee it, that's for certain.

But this is to be the most interested.

We have to be authentic in our talking points, right?

Sure.

And really be honest with the public, um, that these units are kind of first come first of all.

Absolutely.

Thank you for that.

Let me just be transparent.

Let me now shift whoever can answer this question regarding the property taxes.

Because this is madam chair, where I get quite confused.

I understand um, you know, right now, um, because this plot of land is owned by the convention center and it generates, you know, it's exempt from property taxes, and you know, you don't even have anything on the property.

But I keep hearing mixed talking points.

In one breath, I'm hearing, you know, the pilot is gonna exempt property taxes for 40 years, but then it's also being said that this is gonna generate millions of dollars in property taxes.

So can somebody clarify what I want to know is, is this gonna generate property taxes or is it not gonna generate property taxes?

That's what I want to know.

And I would appreciate if somebody would avoid giving me a very nuanced academic around the world answer.

The Ravana project itself will not provide property taxes, and that's what we're talking about here today.

I believe what somebody may have mentioned earlier is the overall river district and the projects that are planned there and the amount of things that are going to come out of that.

It is an economic development project, and it will be activating the area, there'll be vendors that pay sales tax, etc.

I think that's maybe what they were leaning towards.

But this project very clearly will not pay property tax.

Okay.

Um, so so let me ask you a question.

Um, since we're talking about affordable housing, I think you're very familiar with with my district.

Yes, sir.

And let's focus on New Orleans East, right?

Where uh I have many large multifamily complexes that are pretty much 100% low income.

Um, are those properties exempt from property taxes, or do they pay property taxes?

In some cases they are, and in some cases they are not.

It just it depends on how they were set up to begin with.

Yeah.

Um the law allows affordable housing if it's restricted, if it's actually restricted.

The Louisiana law allows for taxes to be charged, but it's going to be based on what income you can produce.

So typically those taxes would be lower even if they did not have a complete exemption.

Okay.

All right.

Um thank you.

Um I'm just gonna say this, and this is where I'm really struggling, because some of the same people today that uh are championing in this cause and advocating for us to approve this pilot to not generate any property taxes, some of those same folks, right, and in just a few short weeks, uh, when we're gonna have to make some difficult budget decisions, are gonna be putting a lot of pressure on us to raise revenue on the backs of taxpaying citizens that already stretch too thin.

So I I just want everybody to be mindful of that, and I'm gonna remind folks uh of that when we have to make some very difficult decisions in the very near future.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

Any other comments from the diet?

Yes.

Um Council President Morrell.

I want to thoroughly explain my vote today, because I'm gonna vote no.

And I don't do that lightly, and I just want to start with the relocation fund, healthy homes, fortified roofs, these are all programs we support, we passed into law and ordinances, and they all require money.

Everything in the city, everything we do, every program that we seek to use to improve the lives of citizens, all require money.

The most reliable form of revenue for the city of New Orleans is property tax.

At a previous budget meeting, my colleague to my right and I asked a simple question.

The average cost of these units starts around $300,000 to build.

We currently have a tremendous amount of city workers who are furloughed, many of which are paying full property tax on homes that are one third that cost.

The simple request we had at that budget meeting was we need to hear from the developers and all the sponsors in a way that our constituents that those city workers can understand why providing affordable housing, which is a worthy cause, which I've supported over and over again at this time in this budget crisis, explain the math in a way they can understand.

Because I get you before Epson gets up there, talk about the federal trash credits.

I want you to explain to that person at home who's furloughed and it's paying full property tax why this is a good idea for them.

So unfortunately, affordable housing is not affordable to build.

It's in affordable to live in.

So I guess it's kind of a misnomer.

Um, and as I believe it was you who said, we deal with the plate that we're given, right?

Um I could go on for hours and talk with you guys and will um on other things that we could do to change the system in which affordable housing is is built because it is expensive, and those expenses in many, many ways are completely unavoidable for the developer.

We have no incentive to up the cost.

It does not help us at all.

In fact, it just creates more gaps that we have to try to fill.

So, but it is expensive to build, and it is needed.

We have, as as we talked about, we have unhoused people, um, we have people that are just you know getting by, and those folks need to be able to find a place that they can afford to live.

It's it's about the stability of those individuals.

And I appreciate that the question remains unanswered, which is give me a rationale to the thousands of furloughed people in the city of New Orleans, probably more to come due to the issues going at the state level.

Give me something that explains to them why it is appropriate.

Let's be very clear.

This is a this is a Sophie's choice situation.

There is no good, there is no clear, concise answer where either side is clearly correct.

What I'm saying is that in this moment in the city of New Orleans, as we are struggling with a budget crisis, I need an explanation to the average New Orleanian to the point Mr.

Hughes made earlier, there is no guarantee under federal law that the people that will be in these units are displaced New Orleanians.

It's first come, first serve.

So you could have someone competing for this affordable unit who is somebody who needs who's trying to move into a cheaper apartment out of River Ridge into New Orleans and who meets the criteria and gets in.

I need an explanation for the average New Orleanian, for that city worker who's currently furloughed, for that family that's paying full property tax on a house that's a hundred and twenty thousand dollars to make them feel like this is the right decision at this time.

And I appreciate your giving me an answer, but you're not answering that.

And that's that's the math problem.

That is to be frankly put, I mean, that is I know that one of the developers said talking about the math.

The math, every family in the city of New Orleans sits, I hate to use that old metaphor because it's been done to death.

They sit around their kitchen table and figure out how they're gonna pay their bills.

And when they are figuring out on furlough, paying full property tops how they're gonna pay their bills, and then they see the council vote to do something like this, it is very difficult for us to be always in the position of saying this seems like it's unfair, trust us.

And what we're asking for as a council, and what we asked previously was give us a simple layman's explanation why the greater good argument works.

Because that's basically the arguments the greater good argument.

Explain to me the greater good that's gonna make that person at that kitchen table trying to figure out how to pay their bills on furlough while paying full property tax, why this is good enough for everyone that it's worth ignoring that that dichotomy.

Okay.

So I understand what you're saying, and in this country, in this state, and in this city right now, it's very difficult times.

People are struggling all over.

Uh, I totally understand what you're saying.

And I like your analogy of Sophie's choice because it sometimes does feel that way.

Um, but for us not to make an investment in affordable housing because other folks have to pay taxes, and it's difficult for them.

And believe me, we've created homeowners that are struggling with that right now, okay?

Um, that we have built those homes and sold them to them with plenty of subsidy in it, and they're still struggling at this point.

So we totally understand that.

But this is an investment in your city, it's an investment in your community and an investment in the future.

Um, and it's we have to start working towards that because we are in a bad place.

Um that is the that is the argument I have.

That it's an argument.

I would say it's probably not a great argument, but it's an argument.

I want to end by saying something really organization, developer, uh, nonprofit otherwise, seeking a pilot makes the exact same argument regarding undeveloped land and property taxes.

Um I've heard this argument really through my entire 14 years in the legislature and now my fifth year at the city council member, which is well, if we don't give them a property tax, the land stays undeveloped and nothing gets built.

I'm really tired of that argument, generally speaking, as a pilot argument.

Because it's the same argument a guy making a shopping mall could make versus an argument of how you're building affordable housing.

Simply saying that nothing is there, so we should give a pilot is not a great argument.

That's what I'm saying.

I'm saying that, like, whenever someone comes up there and says, well, if we don't do this thing, then we're not going to get any property taxes.

I mean, that can apply literally to any type of pilot.

So I'm simply encouraging you because let's be very clear.

I have no doubt, and it was very clear that there will be future developments at the river district area that will all seek pilots.

Because we certainly could not get a commitment at budget that they will not seek a pilot for every piece of property at the river district.

Supporting information, supporting arguments, that really establish that the investment is a good investment, other than if you don't do it, we'll build nothing, because anybody in the city of New Orleans seeking a pilot makes that same argument, it's a lazy argument.

That's all.

So when you come forward, this is less towards this project, but towards the future projects, I know that I'm probably the only no today, but I think that you're gonna find a council that is gonna be increasingly discerning, especially considering the fiscal reality that the city faces, that there has to be a more robust argument that is defensible for us to consider because as we aren't able to pay for things, I'm gonna tell you, as Councilman Hughes said, the big easy coalition will be here arguing for relocation fund for healthy homes, fortified roofs, representation for people who are looking at eviction, and they're gonna say, Where's the money?

And we're gonna say we gave all the money away.

And that's just the simple fact.

I mean, whenever we do a pilot, we are choosing not to collect taxes the city's entitled to, and there needs to be a robust argument that we can articulate that explains to the average person who's not gonna get relocated, who's not gonna have the healthy home inspector, who's not gonna get that fortified roof that the investment in X was worth them not getting that thing.

Thank you.

Any other comments from the Dais?

All right, let me just make some final comments.

I think Monique Blossom said it the best that we need a menu of options.

So we need a housing trust fund that can assist with property taxes, and we have that.

The voters voted for it.

We need affordable housing units that have a pilot so that they can stay affordable for 40 years.

I've seen the people under the bridge who have fallen out of housing because there is no housing or the housing is low quality.

This is high-quality housing in an area where housing is needed.

Another point has been made about are these people coming from Jefferson Parish or else, or do you know how many New Orleans live in Jefferson Parish who can't afford to live here right now?

Let's call them back.

Let's build more affordable housing so that they can come back to the city so that they can contribute to the city.

With that, I'll call the question.

I move.

Can I get a second?

Second by council member Willard.

All in favor?

Any nays?

Six eyes, one nay.

Thank you.

All right, we will stand.

We'll stand at East uh recess while we go into executive session.

We need to make a motion.

I make that motion, second it by Council President Morrell.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right.

La parte de la forma de la forma de la palabra de la participación de la forma de la forma de la comunidad, los que están en la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la calidad, la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la última parte de la vida, en la forma de la forma de la forma de la comunidad, en la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la forma de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la forma de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la primera vez que tiene que estar en la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la forma de la última forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la primera forma de la forma de la forma de la vida, los que se puede hacer la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la palabra de la vida, los últimos días, los programas de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la palabra, los problemas de la forma de la palabra de la vida, los informes de la forma de la vida, los problemas de la forma de la forma de la forma de la vida, los que se encuentran en la forma de la vida, los que se permiten los informes de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad, los personas de la forma de la mayor parte de la forma de la mayor parte de la palabra, los que se permite en la mayor parte de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la parte de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la comunidad, los que se puede enseñar a la forma de la forma de la forma de la cantidad de participantes, los que se permite permitió.

La parte de la forma de la forma de la forma de la comunidad, los que están en la forma de la parte de la forma de la forma de la forma de la comunidad, los participantes de la mayoría de la mayor parte de la forma de la forma de la parte de la forma de la comunidad, los que están en la comunidad de la parte de la comunidad, los que están en la comunidad, la forma de la forma de la parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad, los que permitió las personas que están en la comunidad, los ciudadanos, los participantes de la comunidad, los últimos días de la comunidad, en la parte de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la forma de la comunidad, los partidos de los últimos comunidades, en el último lugar, los partidos de la parte de la parte de la comunidad, los últimos días, en la forma de forma de forma de la parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad, los participantes, los últimos días, los últimos días, en la parte de la forma de la palabra, la forma de la forma de la forma de la parte de la parte de la partida, en la primera forma, la comunidad, la partida, la forma de la forma de la forma de la parte de la parte de la comunidad, en la parte de la forma de la forma de la parte de la parte de la forma, los participantes, los que están en la palabra, la comunidad, los que están en la forma de la parte de la forma de la forma de la parte de la parte de la forma de la parte de la forma de la forma de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de la parte de los que están en la parte de los que están en el país, los que están en la comunidad, los que están en la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad, los que están en la parte de la forma de la parte de la forma de la parte de la parte de la forma de la forma de la comunidad, en la mayor parte de la forma de la parte de la forma de la forma de la parte de la forma de la parte de la parte de la comunidad, la palabra de la forma de los que están en la parte de la comunidad, los organismos, los que están en la forma de los niños, los que están en la comunidad, los organismos, los que están en la forma de la forma de la forma de la parte de la comunidad, los que se permiten los que se puede enfermedad, los organismos.

Madam Clerk, can we do roll call?

We can just make a motion to come back in.

Okay, I make a motion to come out of executive session, seconded by Council President Morrill.

All in favor.

It's six years, zero nays.

Requesting a conditional use of the permit of reception facility in HUB1, his third urban neighborhood business district on Square 766, Lot 1 in the third municipal district, bounded by Saint Bernard Avenue, Northurbanist Street, London Avenue, New Orleans Street, and North Roman Street, municipal address 1701, Saint Bernard Avenue.

The recommendation of the city Planning commission being for approval, subject to two provisos.

We are motion M Twenty Six to Seventy Six by Council Member King approving the applicant's request for zoning docket 5526, subject to two provisos as recommended in the CPC report.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

CPC the floor is yours.

Um this is consistent with the purpose of the district to support neighborhood serving businesses.

It's also consistent with an overlay district that applies along St.

Bernard that encourages live and entertainment, cultural venues, and reception uh facilities generally fall into that type of category.

Uh no opposition was expressed to the planning commission, and the planning commission recommends approval.

Thank you.

Any comments with this?

Public comment, online comments, none.

Alright, this is a conditional use to permit a reception facility on St.

Bernard Avenue in the seventh ward.

This event hall has been in operation for many years, but is legal non-conforming use status lapsed after hurricane item.

This application enjoys the support of the City Planning Commission staff as well as unanimous support from the full city planning commission, and our office has not received any letters of opposition.

This I move adoption is going to be the second.

Seven yes, all any opposed, hearing none.

Motion passed.

At the top of page 17, we have item 22, legislative grouping zoning docket 5626.

Tony Montgomery and Nicolette Montgomery requesting a conditional use to permit a commercial short term rental in the CBD to his third urban, his third commercial and mixed use district in the Transial Lodge and Interim Zoning District on Square 130, lots 14 and 15 in the first municipal district, bounded by Natchez Street, Magazine Street, Quadra Street, and Chapas Tula Street, municipal address 422 Natchez Street.

The recommendation of the CPC being for approval, subject to two provisos.

We have motion M26280 by Councilmember Harris, approving the applicant's request for zoning docket 5626, subject to two provisos as stated in the CPC report.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

CPC will you brief assignment report?

Yes, Councilmember.

This is a proposal to use a two-story building on Natchez Street and the CBD as a commercial short-term rental.

It is just off of the high rise poidress commercial corridor, and in the planning commission's view, that makes it an appropriate location for a commercial short-term rental uh planning commission recommends approval.

Alright, I have one comment card.

Tony Montgomery.

Good afternoon, Council members.

Um Tony Montgomery representing 422 Natchez.

Um, just here to express my uh appreciation for your consideration and to answer any questions that you may have.

Alright, thank you.

Any comments from the dais?

All right, this property is a two-story two-family dwelling with two off-street parking spaces that the applicant is requesting to operate as a CSCR.

The commercial short-term rental is permitted use in the CBD2 historic commercial mixed use district.

This application was submitted during the Transit Lodging Interim Zoning District, however, which requires all transit lodging uses that are permitted by right in the underlying zoning district to undergo the conditional use process.

This proposal receives support at its neighborhood participation meeting and at the CBC hearing.

With that, I move.

Can I get a second?

Second by Councilmember King.

Yes.

All in favor?

Any nays?

No, sorry.

Apologize.

I'm going to done.

All in favor, we have six shays, one nay.

Thank you.

On this one?

Yeah.

Come on, hurry.

All right.

Yeah.

Let me want to thank this young man right here, because I was down here to support this young man doing Katrina.

We was feeding the homeless, feeding people.

This man came down, brought his trucks.

So, you know, this is a good guy.

And I just want to, you know, thank in public for what he did with us, helping to feed the people, give them clothes, give them shoes.

And I didn't know the dude Adam from Eve.

He just called me on the phone and did it.

So I just want y'all to know this is a good guy.

Thank you, Nanny.

Can you fill out a card, please?

All right.

At the top of page 18, we have item 24, legislative group and zoning docket 5726, MMJ SS Holdings LLC.

Requesting an amendment to the text of Article 24, Section 24.13.g.3.

Retail facilities in the VCS and the VCS1 district to alter the signage regulations for retail centers owned and controlled by a single entity, not anchored by a major department store, unified by a specific architectural theme, and consisting of major public or private events with more than 55,000 square feet of enclosed growth letable area devoted primarily to diverse retail food and entertainment facilities on all retail facilities within the VCA's Vukai service district in the VCS-1 VUKARE service district.

The recommendation of CPC being for modified approval.

We have motion M2627 by Councilmember King approving the applicant's request for zoning document 5726.

Thank you, Madam Clerk CPC.

The floor is yours.

Thank you, Councilmember.

This would have the effect of updating signage regulations that in practice only apply to Jack's Brewery.

Um when that building was redeveloped as a shopping center in the 1980s, it was given its own set of regulations.

Over time, they've proven to be somewhat inflexible, incomprehensible, and difficult to administer.

And that has resulted in the Board of Zoning Adjustments encouraging the properties owner to seek new regulations through an amendment to the zoning ordinance.

So that this application does that, it updates the regulations to make them more flexible to the building's current needs to uh accommodate wayfinding signage and generally to uh be more workable.

And so the planning commission supports the updating of these signage regulations.

All right, thank you.

We have a call from Ms.

Avery Forey.

And today um Avery Foray, 800 Brown Street here with Michael Poussan on behalf of the burger company.

Um Steven did a great job of recapping that really the impetus for the text amendment was to update some existing signage, um, and because of existing limitations within this specific section, it only impacts um the the mill house building, uh the Jacksbury building.

Um I always want to thank staff for helping us massage the language.

They made some recommendations that made a lot of sense, um, which we fully agreed with.

And of course, thank you to Councilmember King and his office for um supporting this.

Happy to answer any questions.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you.

Uh we appreciate your time today and uh consideration and the staff's uh work and uh in putting together this text amendment.

Um, and uh we're here for any questions.

All right, any comments from the Dales, any online comments, hearing none.

This is a text amendment to permit signs for commercial tenants above the first floor in the VCS and VCS 1 districts, which came to us at the request of Jack's brewery.

His application enjoys the support of the CPC staff as well as unanimous support from the full CPC plan and commission, and our office has not received any letters of opposition.

This will move adoption.

Can I go to the second?

Second by council member Harris, all in favor, seven in support.

Any opposition hearing none?

Motion's adopted, thank you.

Just this it's not seven, but six.

Is it Harris vote?

At the top of page 19, we have item 26, legislative group and ordinance calendar 34, 385, along with motions M23 426 and M23 427 has been deferred to the meeting of July 23rd.

At the top of page 20, we have ordinance calendar 35,0017 has been deferred to the meeting of July July 23rd.

Item 30, ordinance calendar 35,384 has been deferred to 723.

At the bottom of the page, item 31, ordinance calendar 35480 has been withdrawn.

At the top of page 21, item 32, ordinance calendar 35,483 has been deferred to 723.

Item 33, ordinance calendar 35,484 has been deferred to the meeting of 723.

Item 34, ordinance calendar 35,485 has been deferred to the meeting of 723.

At the top of page 22, item 35, ordinance calendar 35, 486 by Councilmember Morrell by request.

In ordinance to amend and reordain Section 70-565 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to clarify the intended scope of the ordinance to provide for exceptions consistent with court orders and judgments and otherwise provide respects thereto.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Uh simply put, ladies and gentlemen, this we had a previous ordinance that was on the books dealing with uh not requiring uh the school boards to pay fees associated with tax collection for this fiscal year.

This simply tightens that language that's consistent with the settlement that was negotiated between the city of New Orleans and the Orleans Parish School Board.

That's what it does.

Is there any questions?

Uh hearing that I will move.

Second by Council Member Hughes.

All in favor say aye.

Any opposed?

Hearing none, seven, yes, no nays.

Item 36, ordinance calendar 35,487 has been deferred to the meeting of 723.

Item 37, ordinance calendar 35,488 has been deferred to the meeting of 723.

At the top of page 23, we have item 38, ordinance calendar 35,489 by council members Morrell and Willard, and ordinance to authorize the mayor, City of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and the Orleans Parish Sheriff Office Civil Division for a term greater than one year to provide executive protection services to the New Orleans City Council as more fully detailed in the cooperative endeavor agreement as exhibit A and otherwise to provide respects thereto.

Thank you, Madam Clark members.

This simply uh seeks to slightly tweak how we uh contract our executive services.

Previously, we did it on an annual basis.

This allows for it to be greater than annual just because it was a rote thing that we were doing annually, that has become something that is necessary.

Um second by councilmore willard.

I'll move second by gospel.

All in favor say aye.

Aye, opposed, hearing none, seven yes, no nays.

Item 39, ordinance calendar 35,490 has been withdrawn.

Item 40, motion line over M25182 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

At the top of page 24, item 41, motion line over M25 183 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Item 42, motion line over M25184 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Item 43, motion line over M25186 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

At the top of page 25, ordinance item 44, motion line over M25187 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Motion line over M25189 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Motion line over M25235 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

At the top of page 26, item 47, motion line over M25-236 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Motion line over M25 238 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Motion line over M2528 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

At the top of phase 27, motion item 50, motion line over M25, 435, has been deferred to the meeting of August 6th.

Motion line over M2638 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6th.

Motion line over M2639 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

At the top of page 28, item 53, motion line over, M2640 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Motion line over M2641 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6th.

Motion line over M2644 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

At the top of page 29, item 56.

Motion line over M2683 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Motion line over M2684 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6.

Motion line over M26115 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6th.

At the top of page 30, motion line over M26 198 has been deferred to the meeting of August 6th.

Item 60, motion line over M26 266 has been withdrawn.

At the bottom of the page item 61, we have motion M26 269 by Council members.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Members, this is just a suspension of council rules so that we can uh do an in-global appointment of the council members to various boards and commissions.

With that, I move adoption.

Seconded by council member Hughes, all in favor.

Uh aye.

Three any nays.

Six years, zero nays.

It's been adopted.

On page 31, we have item 63.

M26 272 has been deferred to the meeting of 723.

At the bottom of the page, item 64, resolution or 26275 has been deferred to the meeting of July 23rd.

At the top of page 32, we are motion M26 281 by Councilmember King by request.

Adding the President of Council as a signatory to the recognition non-disturbance and a term and agreement between the City of New Orleans, EMDRC Partners LLC, and Greater New Orleans Future Energy Facility LLC, and authorizing the President of Council to sign the recognition, non-disturbance and a term and agreement between the City of New Orleans, EMDRC Partners LLC, and Greater New Orleans Future Energy Facility LLC as exhibit A.

We need to suspend Rule 57.

So moved.

Seconded by Councilmember Hughes, all in favor.

Any opposed?

Six years.

All right, Mr.

Sports, is this you?

Thank you, Council members.

Um, I'll be brief.

This is a uh RDA agreement that is uh a no cost uh agreement that is needed for a new market tax credit transaction associated with the new lab energy incubator project that's taking place at the NSA building.

Um this is uh purely technical document again, no costs um uh to the city and it's uh simply recognizing the development structure uh that's taking place in order for the project to be consummated.

Any comments?

This is forward.

So real quick, how was the project progressing?

Project is progressing very well.

Um it is uh the foundations are complete.

We beat the high water issues with the the river construction and uh the structures being framed right now.

Alright.

Um, all in favor.

Uh no.

Oh, I'm sorry, I move.

I move.

Talk about council member will be all in favor.

Uh 6 y's.

All any opposed, hearing none, motion is adopted.

Thank you much.

All right.

We have motion under suspension motion 26282 by council members king, green king, and willard by request.

Adding the president of council as a signatory to the second amendment between the city of New Orleans and HO Investments LLC and authorizing the president of council to sign the second amendment between the city of New Orleans and HO Investments LLC.

We need the vote to receive.

Moved.

Seconded by Councilmember Harris, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, six yay, zero nays.

We need the vote to add.

Moved.

Seconded by councilmember McCarran.

All in favor.

Six, yay, zero nays.

You can either discuss or vote on the matter.

Okay.

Thank you, madam clerk.

Um members, this CEA allows the Department of Code Enforcement to start spending down a hundred thousand dollar funding allocation that I actually uh pulled down from the state when I was still a representative in the legislature.

I've been working with the Department of Code Enforcement on how we want to utilize this money because we have a very tight turnaround.

We have a plan of attack.

I think it's important to note that we haven't used contractors to do lot abatement since last fall.

And so since then, code enforcement's essentially been using their strike teams uh to do as much as they can to improve the quality of life in the city of New Orleans.

So the hope is that this hundred thousand dollar allocation goes a long way in doing so.

And Director Davis, you've been here all day.

Do you want to say anything?

You're good.

Okay.

Um so I will move adoption.

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Councilmember King.

All in favor.

Any opposed?

Six years, your and A's.

We are motion M26283 by Council members Green King and Willow by request, adding the president of Council as a signatory to the lease between the City of New Orleans and Mercy Partners LLC and authorizing the president of council to sign the leads between the city of New Orleans and Mercy Partners LLC.

We need to vote to receive.

Madam Clerk, I need to be added to that, but I will uh move to receive.

Can I get a second?

Second.

Second of my council vice president Willard, all in favor?

Six chase.

We need to vote to A.

I'll move to add Councilmember McCarron seconds.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

And we could discuss a vote.

All right.

Members, this is a technical cleanup item following an ordinance that we passed back in April that authorized the city to advance a CEA lease and active sale with the Mercy hospital development team, as we all know.

Mercy is about to be demolished, underground water storage added, and then eventually a development going on top of that.

So this instrument simply adds the council president's signature to the lease.

Are there any questions?

Alright, I'll move.

Councilmember Green seconds.

All in favor?

Aye.

Six years.

Amy, are you ready for special orders of business?

First order of business presentation, Manny Family Children's Hospital makes history as the first hospital in Louisiana to successfully provide gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease.

Speakers, Daniel Creasy, Dr.

Ben Watkins, Daniel Physician.

Oh my gosh.

Louis Forgoso, Chief Executive for Office of Manny Families Children's Hospital, recognizing Daniel Creese as he becomes the first patient in Louisiana to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease.

Good afternoon.

Welcome to Council Chambers.

Thanks for being patient with us on this day.

Um members, two weeks ago, I had the honor to meet Daniel and his team and his family during the moment that he got to ring the bell at children's hospital to signify his completion of therapy and the cure of sickle cell disease.

And it is such a major moment in our state and our city and for Daniel and science.

These are the types of things that we can do when we as a society believe in and invest in science for the betterment of people and the community and for the betterment of Daniel.

So today we are celebrating this remarkable young man whose courage and perseverance and determination have inspired our entire community.

Daniel has made history as the first person in Louisiana to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease through gene therapy.

For 23 years, Daniel has lived with a disease that affects thousands of Louisianians and deport disproportionately impacts African American families.

His journey, I know has required extraordinary patience, resilience, and faith through a lengthy and complex treatment process that spanned nearly two years.

Rather than focusing on his own success, Daniel has committed himself to helping others facing similar challenges and advocating for access to life-changing treatments.

Daniel's story is one of hope, proving that innovation, determination, and community support can make the impossible possible.

So today we're going to congratulate Daniel on his historic milestone and wish him continued success as he pursues his dream of becoming a pilot.

Today I also want to honor the extraordinary physicians, nurses, reach researchers, healthcare professionals whose dedication made this historic achievement possible.

The team at Manning Family Children's right there in District A has demonstrated what's possible when innovation and compassionate care come together.

This milestone reflects years of research, collaboration, and unwavering belief that every patient deserves access to the most advanced treatments available.

Their work has not only changed Daniel's life, but it's also expanded opportunities for the future patients throughout the Louisiana and the Gulf South.

So I want to thank you all as well for your remarkable team.

Your remarkable team and leadership in advancing this health care.

Daniel, you are truly inspiring.

I'm gonna let you guys speak as well, but I just want to say this to you.

So when I heard you speak at Children's, I felt the weight that you felt of being the first person to experience this treatment and to have all this publicity around it.

And it's hard, I know.

But you represent hope for others suffering, for others currently in treatment, for others currently patients that are hoping for access and waiting for access to care.

And I look forward to having you back here when you get that pilot's license, and we can honor you again for your next achievement.

So with that, I'll let you guys say a few words, and then I'm sure my uh fellow council members will have some things to say as well.

Well, thank you, Councilman McCarron.

That was perfectly said.

And thank you to all of you for having us and for really taking a moment to recognize this historic moment.

Um, for those of you that don't know me, my name is Lou Fergoso.

I have the privilege and the honor to serve as president and CEO for your children's hospital, Manning Family Children's.

And as you know, and as Dr.

Councilman McCarron just pointed out, Louisiana has one of the highest rates of sickle cell disease in the country.

And for too many children and families, it has meant a lifetime of pain, of uncertainty, and hospitalizations.

But today, we're here to share a different story.

It is a story of hope.

It is a story of innovation, it is a story of lives transformed because two weeks ago we celebrated a historic milestone when this young man, Daniel, who is with us here today, became the first person in Louisiana Gulf South to be cured of sickle cell disease using gene therapy right here in New Orleans.

That's right.

And while today we honor Daniel and his remarkable journey, what this also represents is hope for the countless families and children who now know that there is a life-changing care available right here in New Orleans.

And I am so incredibly proud of our physicians, our nurses, our researchers, our care teams, and the amazing partnership that we have with LSU and Tulane, all of which combined to make this historic achievement possible.

So I just want to thank you for the opportunity to share the story to celebrate Daniel, our physicians, and it is now my privilege to introduce Dr.

Dana LeBlanc, who leads our sickle cell program at Manning Family Children's.

She's gonna tell you more about sickle cell disease and the comprehensive care that we provide every day.

Dr.

Walk.

Good afternoon, Council members.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

My name is Dr.

Daniel LeBlanc.

I'm a proud New Orleans native, and the director of the sickle cell disease program at Manning Family Children's, where we provide comprehensive care for over 400 patients with sickle cell disease from birth until young adulthood.

I'm here today to recognize both the extraordinary progress we have made in treating sickle cell disease and work that still lies ahead for the people and families living with this condition in New Orleans.

Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder that causes severe pain, chronic anemia, strokes, organ damage, and shortened life expectancy.

Louisiana has one of the highest rates of sickle cell disease in the country.

And many of those individuals affected right here in our city.

For these families, sickle cell disease is not just a medical diagnosis, it is a daily reality that impacts education, employment, mental health, and quality of life.

Today, however, we also have reason for hope.

We are entering a new era in medicine.

Gene therapy and stem cell transplant, as well as advancements in medical therapies for sickle cell disease, or transforming what is possible for people living with sickle cell disease.

For the first time, we can speak not only about reacting to the devastating manifestations of this disease, but about managing it.

And in some patients, in some cases, about curing it.

Here in New Orleans, we recently celebrated an incredible milestone with the successful gene therapy treatment of Daniel at our hospital.

Daniel's journey represents more than one patient's success.

It demonstrates that our city is home to world class clinicians, researchers, health care teams who are bringing groundbreaking treatments to our community.

That achievement deserves to be celebrated.

But it should also remind us that innovation alone is not enough.

Many individuals living with sickle cell disease still struggle to access comprehensive care.

They face challenges with transportation, insurance coverage, transitions from pediatric to adult care, and too often delays in receiving appropriate treatment for pain.

Many continue to experience disparities that have existed for generations.

As these revolutionary therapies become available, we must ensure that access is equitable.

A cure only changes lives if patients can reach it.

I encourage the city council to continue supporting partnerships between the City of New Orleans, our healthcare institutions, and community organizations to improve awareness, expand access to specialty care, and address the social barriers that prevent patients from receiving the treatment they deserve.

Supporting people living with sickle cell disease is not only an investment in our individual health, it is an investment in our workforce, our families, and our community.

New Orleans has the opportunity to be a national leader.

Not only because we're helping pioneer life-saving therapies, but because we are committed to ensuring that every resident living with sickle cell disease has access to compassionate, equitable, and high quality care.

So together, we can celebrate remarkable scientific advancements like Daniel's Cure while continuing the important work of making sure that every person with sickle cell disease has the opportunity to benefit from this new era of medicine.

Thank you so much for your time and for having us today.

And I'll hand it over to Dr.

Ben Watkins, who leads our stem cell transplant and gene therapy program.

So first I want to start off by saying thank you so much for having us here, and that's really sincere because you know sickle cell disease has a disease that affects millions of people in the world.

You know, close to 10 million people have it.

It's the most common inherited blood disorder in the world.

Over a hundred thousand people in the United States have it, and over 3,000 people here in Louisiana.

It's a disease that often gets forgotten about.

It lives in the shadows with not much attention paid on it, despite, as we heard from Dr.

LeBlanc, how much suffering can come along with this disease.

And so I think it's really important that we begin to shine the light on this disease and make sure the patients that are living with this have opportunities and access to care that they used to didn't have.

These therapies offer something that a lot of people with sickle cell disease didn't have, and that's that's hope.

Hope for a different future, hope for a life, hopefully filled with less pain, less complications, and as we'll hear from Daniel, hope to regain their dreams.

These therapies need to be here more than anywhere else in the country.

The people with sickle cell disease live here.

We know that our state uh has significant health disparities that face, you know, the black and African American community.

Uh, and people with sickle cell disease have lived with the stigma of the disease and have often been marginalized.

And so, what we hope with these therapies is that it's not just you know Daniel, but we expand opportunities to everyone living with it.

And I think that's why it's so important we're here today and raising awareness and why Daniel's story is so impactful.

You know, Daniel, as we heard, he's uh grew up here, he's from the New Orleans area.

He was treated by our team since birth uh soon after being diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

Um, you know, Daniel did phenomenally well, but then as he aged, he started to have complications, as often comes with sickle cell disease that led to frequent admissions to the hospital, missed uh days at school, missed opportunities.

But what really is um Daniel's story, what makes it so impactful is also his dream was taken away because of his sickle cell diseases.

We heard he wanted to be a pilot, but he was told because he was born with this disease, he wouldn't have that opportunity.

And if anybody has the opportunity to meet Daniel, you'll be struck pretty much immediately by his intelligence, his determination, his passion for what he does, and it was his determination that led to multiple uh appeals to try to get him his pilot's license, but they said he couldn't do it unless he got gene therapy, which wasn't even FDA approved at the time.

And so it was his determination that that led to us becoming an authorized treatment center now two years ago, which is when his journey started.

There were lots of hurdles.

There are dozens upon dozens of people that are involved in getting these therapies actually to the patient.

Uh, but we kept in the back of the mind Daniel's story and and the hundreds and thousands of patients like Daniel that share his pain that he suffered because of sickle cell disease.

Uh you know, he received his gene therapy now four months ago about uh he has done incredibly well.

His hemoglobin is now normal and uh hope to go on to live his dream.

Uh, and you'll hear from here him in just a second.

But I think we also need to take this moment and realize while we celebrate this moment, this is the starting point, right?

We don't want to let off the gas.

We're building momentum, bringing focus to sickle cell disease and shining a light on a disease that's that's not had a light on it before.

We need more research into these therapies.

We need to expand access to everybody that lives in this state.

And so uh hopefully you'll hear more from us in the future about future great things that we're doing.

And so super excited to be here, and I'm not gonna keep you from Daniel, as I'm sure you want to hear from him most of all, so I'll pass it off to Daniel.

Hey, good afternoon, everybody.

I appreciate you guys having us and having me to speak on my experience navigating this cure.

Um, this has been the most difficult thing I've done in my entire life, and I've done many difficult things in my life.

What I realize is how there was a severe lack of awareness on sickle cell alone in this country and even in this state, and so I've made it my mission to spread awareness on sickle cell.

So at the very least, people know about it and what we're facing.

And with the recent media and coverage of my story, that awareness has been spread globally, and now everybody knows about sickle cell and even the therapies that are available for sickle cell.

But with that came the vivid problem, and that is access to this treatment that I got.

Accessing this treatment was the most difficult thing I've done on one end of the stick, I was too unhealthy to fly to pursue my dream as a pilot.

But on the other end of the stick, I was too healthy to get this therapy.

And that isn't just me.

There are many patients out there struggling to even access a hematologist that they can talk to to access his therapy, and then you have insurance problems and then income problems and then location and zip code.

And I'm just one person.

It'll take much more than me, much more than Manning family.

It'll take their entire state, and then they the entire nation to make these barriers no longer exist.

And I hope that with my story and even my success, that it'll inspire somebody in this room who has power to make this treatment much more accessible to the average family.

Thank you.

Colleagues, we'll start with Councilmember Harrison and go down the line, and then we'll take some photos.

Daniel, thank you uh for being here today.

Uh your story is amazing.

Your tenaciousness is inspiring, but I think what most is inspiring to me is the fact that even though you receive this treatment that you're advocating for others to get it, for the barriers to be broken, for the costs to go down, for the increase in access for all of the folks who need this treatment and can look to you as a pathway forward.

So keep up that advocacy because we need people like you in this world to advocate for others who don't have a strong voice or a voice that's loud.

That's what you can do right now.

And I'm sure you'll be a great pilot, but right now you are an amazing advocate to Manning Family Children's LCM C Health.

Look, people need to know that New Orleans is a hotbed of innovation and health care.

I think we get looked over a lot by other um areas.

Geographically, we make sense.

We have the brain power, we have folks who are who are willing to step up, so you know keep innovating, especially as we expand and and look to whether partnerships with Tulane going forward.

So thank you all for being here, Councilmember King.

Uh Councilmember McCarron for bringing uh children's family, Manning Family Hospital, uh to the council chamber.

And Daniel Tim for your story.

Um, Manning hospital team, thank you for all that you you do.

Um it's a very humbling experience to walk the halls of the hospital.

You walk out being more appreciative for the life you have and for the health uh that you that you have.

So just thank you for all that that you do.

And Daniel, your story is very uh inspiring.

I uh sickle cell is something that hits my family.

Um hits home.

So you give me hope and and my family hope.

So I thank you for your your your strength and showing your story, appreciate it.

Councilmember Willard, uh, thank you, Councilmember McCarn, for bringing Daniel before us today.

Um, I'll start with LCMC, Manning Family Children's Hospital.

Thank y'all for investing in Daniel.

Um I mean, this is unbelievable, uh, especially in a state that has such high rates of sickle cell uh in our population.

Um so this is one of those situations where it's just a win-win across the board, and the biggest result is that Daniel gets to walk away and pursue what he's always wanted to do.

Um I would I would push you guys to pursue some type of legislation at the state level.

Uh I served on the house insurance committee.

Um I know it's a you know a tough battle up there, uh, prior authorization and all of that stuff.

But uh for a condition that affects so many people in Louisiana, and for there to be a treatment out there, this is one of those issues where we could be a leader in the world, and we should be leading on this issue in the world.

So I would encourage you to do that.

Daniel, just powerful.

Powerful.

I mean, you could have walked away from this and said, thank y'all so much.

Now I'm gonna go do my own thing.

But you know what?

You did what we need everybody to do.

You're trying to help other people, use your experience to help other people who are going through that experience right now.

Um, and that is just admirable.

Um, I wish you the best of luck with whatever you pursue.

Um, and hopefully one day, you know, I'll be able to look up and see that you're flying my plane, you know, and uh and that would be just full circle.

So push your dreams.

If you need anything from me, please let me know.

Um, I want you to achieve everything that you want to achieve.

So thank you for sharing your story with us and with the rest of the world.

Thank you.

Councilmember Morrell.

Thank you.

Um, I was unable to attend the bell ringing, I believe it was, um, where they announced that you were cured.

But what was very interesting to me is that in this state where so many people disagree on so many things, everyone, the governor, attorney general, the mayor, everyone was there together to celebrate your achievement.

And it says something about what you've been through and what children's accomplished in that we still have the ability in this day and age to bring people together to celebrate something truly miraculous.

I think it's when you look just at the history of sickle cell disease, you look at the fact that it's a genetic aberration mutation to deal with combating malaria, and you deal with the fact that as a as a as a humanity has done everything possible to defeat malaria as a disease, and we are now using science to correct something that was necessary, but is no longer necessary in a hindrance to people pursuing their dreams, like yourself.

It's just amazing what we can accomplish as a society and as a as an organization when everyone is pulling together.

I mean, what I saw from the stories that you want to be a pilot, that is that's like step one to being an astronaut.

I mean, you really are aiming for the skies, and I think as has been said already, this council wants to support you, whatever your dreams are going forward, because you've already kind of shown that you will not let anything stop you from achieving what you set your sights on.

So, as Councilmember Willard says, my colleagues have said, anything you want to do in the future, I wouldn't bet against you at this point.

So, like I said, pilot's first step to be an astronaut, maybe it's not Southwest, maybe it's NASA.

Put that in your brain.

Thank you.

Councilmember Heath.

Uh, thank you, um, Councilmember McCarron.

And uh let me just say um this is one of the most meaningful um special orders that I've seen since I've been on this council.

Daniel, you've made history, uh, and it's history worth celebrating.

Um, you know, it's been said to whom much is given, much is required.

Um, and you are the epitome of that because you've you've been given much and and you realize now much is required of you.

Uh and you're using this moment um to make meaningful, impactful change.

Um Maya Angelo said, when you get give, and when you learn, teach.

And you're doing that as well.

And I don't mean to get spiritual, but I'm a man of faith.

You said that this is one of the toughest battles you faced in life.

Uh as I reflect upon the Bible, God would pick certain people that he knew could navigate the test in order to have the testimony, and so God chose you for this tough assignment to now use you as a vessel and a disciple to impact meaningful change.

And so we celebrate you, couldn't I be more proud of you?

Um, and you've just uh brought a lot of joy to my heart, and and and I really appreciate you.

To Manning, uh, thank you for literally doing the Lord's work for being so steadfast.

Uh you're right.

Uh, you know, people hear about sickle cell, and it's just sort of brushed aside.

Uh, but I really appreciate your dedication and steadfastness uh to this issue.

Um I served on the Health and Welfare Committee for six years in Baton Roots in the legislature.

Um, John Pucio's stand up.

I I know you don't like a lot of credit and a lot of attention, but John, you you came to me a couple years ago and brought uh brought awareness of this gene therapy to me.

Uh and we started partnering to bring awareness to our colleagues.

And one of the things that I remind my colleagues, my former colleagues, and they're still my family and my colleagues, uh, in pro-life Louisiana, if we're truly pro-life, uh, then we have an obligation to invest in this gene therapy because we know it's a cure for sickle cell.

And as I told my colleagues, you know, when they say, well, that's it's expensive.

How do we pay for it?

Well, we can't afford not to pay for it.

Because when we invest in these therapies, then we allow people like Daniel to go be a pilot.

Then he's going to build a home, and he's going to contribute to this economy.

So the reward far outweighs the cost of the investment.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you all.

Daniel, thank you for being a blessing.

John, my brother, thank you.

From the bottom of my heart for bringing awareness to this in Baton Rooch.

And I hope you all will put me in.

Let's go to Baton Rouge.

Let's go to DC.

Let's go to the community.

Let's do whatever we need to do.

And I've made it my personal commitment.

Because sickle cell does not get the attention that it deserves, that I want to keep pushing the needle, pushing the state, pushing the insurance companies, so that everybody, regardless of income, regardless of zip code, regardless of socioeconomic status, can have access to this life changing life-saving care.

Thank you.

Councilmember Green.

Thank you very much, Daniel, for your courage and for your willingness to share your story as you done previously and are doing today.

Um I've been around for a while, including remembering the early sickle cell anemia telethons, for example.

I also know that unfortunately I know a couple of people who are not here with us now who had sickle cell disease.

The talk in the past was well, it's going to affect the longevity of this person, and we were expecting that the person might not be around for a while.

Advancements have been made, but today is a significant, tremendous advancement.

Something that means a lot to Daniel, means a lot to over 3,000 Louisianians, 120,000 on a national level, but also internationally.

And in many countries, for example, they live with no expectations that there'll be any solutions.

So this is a momentous day here at the New Orleans City Council in this great city of New Orleans where gene therapy has resulted in Daniel's full recovery.

And so I'm looking forward to you continuing to share, Daniel, your story, and looking forward to following you as you spread the message throughout the world that this hope exists.

To Manning family children, thank you for coming before us today, but also just in general for the work that you do.

LCMC Health is involved with projects that I'm affiliated with in my district.

You've uh invested.

I appreciate that.

But in this particular instance, this is so momentous because this is life-saving for a number of people for thousands of people.

So thank you for being here today.

And Councilmember McCarron, thank you.

This is a great momentous presentation today.

Something that I hope that the media will share widely because it means so much to so many people.

So pleased to be here today, honored to be here today.

Thank you, Daniel.

Thank you.

Manning Family's Joe.

Thank you, Member.

So I have some proclamations for Daniel and then Dr.

Watkins and Dr.

LeBlanc said we'll come down and take some photos and give you these proclamations.

We can make a motion to vote on ordinance on first read.

A motion to go to ordinances on first read, seconded by council president Morrell.

All in favor?

Ordinances on first reads.

Ordinance calendar number thirty-five thousand four ninety-one by council member Morrell.

An ordinance to amend and reordain sections thirty-four-three, thirty-four-fourteen, thirty-four-seventeen, thirty-four-eighteen, thirty-four-19, thirty-four twenty-four, thirty-four twenty-eight, thirty-four, thirty-three, thirty-four forty-eight, thirty-fourty nine of chapter thirty-four and section fifty-four-four twenty of chapter fifty-four of the code of the city of New Orleans to provide relative to the regulation of Carnival, including to increase the fine violations of the provisions of chapter 34.

Update requirements for parade permit applications and flow parade elements to provide glass and smoking on floats and glass throws to establish that violations of certain provisions constitute a criminal offense and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

Ordinance calendar number 35, 492 by Councilmember Harris by request.

An ordinance to waive the requirements of section 70-12 of the city code applicable of the cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and Mercy Partners LLC approved on April 23rd, 2026 by ordinance number 30,000 six forty-two MCS and otherwise survived with respect there too.

An ordinance revoking the dedication to public use and authorizing the sale and public auction for a minimum price to be set by appraisal of certain portions of ground together with all the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, and appurtenances therein to belong or in any wise appertaining, situated in the first municipal district on this of the city of New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, being a portion of John Churchill Chase Street between squares 25 and 26, bounded by South Peter Street and Convention Center Boulevard, and a part of square 26, all is shown on a survey.

The overlay district would create a new regulations affecting the permitted land uses, allowable building heights, floor area ration for limits, design standards, bicycle, parking requirements, loading space requirements, curb cut allowances, signage restrictions, and exterior lighting requirements applicable to the following area: the entirety of square 12A, 24A 25, and a portion of the public street situated in the first municipal district, generally bounded by Convention Center Boulevard, Andrew Higgins Drive, South Peter Street, and the Mississippi River Heritage Park.

The municipal addresses are 1000 South Peter Street, 1001 Convention Center Boulevard, 1040 South Peter Street and John Churchill Chase Street between South Peter Street and Convention Center Boulevard, and otherwise to provide with respect there to zoning docket number 2426.

They put in order.

Thank you.

Ordinance calendar number 35,495 by Councilmember King by request.

An ordinance to ordain and establish Section 34-3.1 of the code of the City of New Orleans to impose a carnival gap adjustment for parade fees to provide relative to the collection and use of said fee and otherwise to provide with respect there to ordinance calendar number 35,497 by Councilmember King.

An ordinance to affect the zoning map change from an SRS single family residential district to a C1 General Commercial District on all lot and rights of ways, currently zoned SRS single family residential district in the fifth municipal district, bounded by Barman Place, Holiday Drive, General DeGaulle Drive, and Algiers Canal, and the Farmer Brookdale Golf Course, and otherwise to provide with respect there to zoning docket number 4126.

Ordinance calendar number 35, 499 by Councilmember Harris.

An ordinance to establish a conditional use to permit a hotel in HUMU Historic Urban Neighborhood Mixed Use District on Square 73, Lots 12 AB in the Fort Municipal District, bounded by Jackson Avenue, Chippewa Street, Annunciation Street, and Josephine Street.

Municipal Address 709 Jackson Avenue and otherwise provide with respect there to zoning docket number 5126.

Ordinance calendar number 35,500 by Councilmember Green by request.

An ordinance to authorize the mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement amendment number one between the City of New Orleans and two design group LLC and FER and Piers relative to develop refine and implement data applications that address specific roadway safety problems for the safe streets and road for all program.

The provisions thereof is set forth more fully in the CAA form attached here to as Exhibit A and made a part hereof and otherwise supervised with respect thereto.

Ordinance calendar number 35,501 by Councilmember Green by request.

And ordinance to approve and authorize the mayor of the city of New Orleans, acting by and through the New Orleans Aviation Board to enter into a lease amendment to the airline airport use and lease agreement with Signatory Airline United Airlines Inc.

operating at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport under circumstances in which a solicitation and selection process is not required by law and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

An ordinance to approve and authorize the mayor of the city of New Orleans acting by and through the New Orleans Aviation Board to enter into lease agreements with Alaska Airlines, which is operating at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport under circumstances in which a solicitation and selection process is not required by law and otherwise provide with respect there to ordinance calendar number 35,503 by Councilmember McCarron by request.

An ordinance to authorize the mayor of the city of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and the Sewage and Water Board of New Orleans relative to the administration planning and construction of the Maxisello Canal Covert State Capital Outlay Project is set forth more fully and the CA farm attached to as Exhibit 1 and made a part hereof and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

That concludes the ordinances on first reading.

Can we get a motion to adjourn?

Uh motion to adjourn, seconded by Council President Morel, all in favor.

Five years, zero nays we stand adjourned.

Thank you everyone, y