City Hall, Monroe, Louisiana
April 11, 2023
6:00p.m.
The Honorable Chairman Kema Dawson, called the meeting to order. She then asked the clerk to call roll.
There were present: Mr. Harvey, Mrs. Ezernack, Ms. Woods, Mr. Marshall, & Mrs. Dawson
There was absent: None.
Chairman Dawson announced that a quorum was present, and that the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance would be led by Mr. Harvey or his designee.
The Invocation was led by Rev. Robert B. Moore, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mr. Harvey had no announcements.
Mrs. Ezernack welcomed everyone to the meeting, and she presented her Small Business of the Month for District 2 to the Fieldhouse Bar & Grill.
Ms. Woods greeted everyone and welcomed them to the meeting. She thanked the people for coming out on such a beautiful day.
Mr. Marshall thanked everyone for coming out tonight to the meeting. He announced his Small Business of the month pick for District 4 is Kravin’s Restaurant. He thanked them for what they do at Kravin’s and outside of Kravin’s as well. He also acknowledged that Ms. Kenya Roberson is doing a lot for the community as well, and he knows that she has a lot of projects going on such as Juneteenth and Women’s Empowerment.
Mrs. Dawson announced that the Divine Brothers Association will have their third annual Stop the Violence Bike Ride on May 6, 2023, at Carroll Junior High School parking lot, from 10am to 2pm. She continued to announce that they have a lot of sponsors, and they will also be featuring a bike giveaway. She said if you have any questions contact Mr. H.D. Foy, call, or text 318-267-4422 or email Divinebrothers318@gmail.com. She yielded some of her time to Dr. Avius Carroll.
Dr. Avis Carroll, Northeast Delta Human Services Authority, invited the City to their Art Is Therapy Festival on April 22 at the River Market from 1pm to 5pm. She represents Northeast Delta Human Services Authority where they are a state, local governing entity that’s mandated to provide mental health, addiction, prevention and wellness, and developmental disability services. Dr. Carroll oversees the Prevention & Wellness services and a large part of what they do is host community-based events to create opportunities for social engagements, to build resiliency with families and children and to also offer pro social information and education to our community. She said Art Is Therapy Festival is one of their Landmark Festivals, which is their first one and they are excited about it as well as encouraging the City to promote it and attend. She stated they will provide flyers and the event is free of charge and there will be a lot of different events happening.
On another note, Mrs. Dawson announced her Small Business of the Month for District 5 is Stylin & Profilin.
Mayor Ellis out of town on city business.
Upon motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Marshall the minutes of the Legal and Regular Session of March 28, 2023, were unanimously approved. (There were no public comments.)
PROPOSED CONDEMNATIONS:
The following condemnations were considered:
(1) 804 Reed Street (D5) (Owners- Eather Green, Elroy Lewis) Notice to show cause was served. There was no one present. Photographic evidence was presented. Upon motion of Mrs. Dawson, seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved, the building was condemned, and the property owner was given 30 days in which to bring the structure into compliance with the Code or demolish the Structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments.)
Mr. Tommy James, Code Enforcement Officer, stated that this was an open dilapidated structure they had in Environmental Court in September 2022. They are asking that this property be condemn and forwarded to Public Works for condemnation, giving the property owner 30 days.
Mrs. Dawson wanted to know if the property owner was present and seeing no one come forward, she motioned to condemn the property, giving the owner 30 days.
(2.) 412 Malvern Street (D4) (Owner- Henry C. Hawkins) Notice to show cause was served. There was no one present. Photographic evidence was presented. Upon motion of Mr. Marshall, seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved, the building was condemned, and the property owner was given 30 days in which to bring the structure into compliance with the Code or demolish the Structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments.)
Mr. Tommy James, Code Enforcement Officer, stated that this is an open dilapidated structure they had in court in April 2022. They are asking that the property be condemned and forwarded to Public Works for demolition, giving the property owner 30 days.
Mr. Marshall asked if the property owner was present and if Code Enforcement has been in contact with them.
Mr. James said that they haven’t been in contact with the property owner in the last seven or eight months, but earlier on there was contact.
(3.) 1308 Georgia Street (D4) (Owner- Jacquette D. Barber) Notice to show cause was served. There was no one present. Photographic evidence was presented. Upon motion of Mr. Marshall, seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved, the building was condemned, and the property owner was given 30 days in which to bring the structure into compliance with the Code or demolish the Structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments.)
Mr. Tommy James, Code Enforcement Officer, stated that this was a burnt dilapidated structure that burned in January 2021, and it was presented in Environmental Court in September 2022. They are asking that this property be condemned, give the property owner 30 days to bring it in compliance or it be forwarded to Public Works for demolition.
Mr. Marshall asked if the property owner was present. He said this is a completely burnt structure as well and the property was for sale at one time.
Mr. James stated there was a for sale sign several months ago.
The following condemnation was removed from the agenda:
(4.) 1201 Crescent Drive (D5) (Owner- Rose Anne Jackson) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to remove this item. (There were no public comments.)
Ms. Woods noted this property is not in District 3, but in District 5.
ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF BIDS:
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8494 accepting the bid of Benchmark Construction Group of Louisiana, LLC in the amount of $707,700.00 for the Benoit Recreation Center Parking Lot Improvements Project and further authorizing an authorized city representative to enter into and execute a contract for said work. (There were no public comments)
(b) Upon motion of Mrs. Ezernack seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8495 accepting the bid of Benchmark Construction Group of Louisiana, LLC in the amount of $303,819.50 for the Saul Adler Recreation Center Parking Lot Improvements Project and further authorizing an authorized city representative to enter into and execute a contract for said work. (There were no public comments.)
Ms. Woods stated for the record that District 3 has two recreation centers in it, and we would like to have our parking lot redone as well, so on the next round of funding we would like to be included.
Mrs. Ezernack thanked the City for getting this done and said its been many years overdue.
(c) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8496 accepting the RFP Response of Atakapa Services, LLC to provide cleaning, inspection, and engineering evaluation of the storm drainage systems and further authorizing an authorized city representative to enter into and execute a contract for said work. (There were no public comments.)
(d) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8497 accepting the RFP Response of Allen, Green & Williamson, LLP Certified Public Accountants to provide External Auditing Services and further authorizing an authorized city representative to enter into and execute a contract for said work. (There were no public comments.)
Ms. Woods thanked Mr. Tim Green, External Auditor, and his staff for the great job that they do for the City of Monroe.
(e) Upon motion of Mrs. Ezernack seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8498 accepting the proposal of Ouachita Electrical Contractors, LLC to provide On-Call Machine Shop Services and further authorizing an authorized city representative to enter into and execute a contract for said work. (There were no public comments.)
Mr. Marshall asked how would a business inquire about being hired for shop services?
Mr. Charles Westrom, Sewer Director, stated that the machine shop services are for things like repairing pumps, mechanical services, or generators that would occur in our normal business cycle that we can’t handle ourselves. He further stated things that would not be an emergency that we wouldn’t want to go out and declare emergency, they are small in dollars, and we just want someone we can call to help.
Mr. Marshall asked was this advertised or were they just chosen to do this work?
Mr. Curt Kelly, Director of Purchasing, interjected that it was advertised for 30 days, it went out in the official journal as well as the dispatch. They advertised Request For Proposal (RFP) for 30 days, they had two responses, and this is the one that was selected.
(Mr. Harvey, Mrs. Dawson, Mrs. Ezernack, and Mr. Marshall voted aye.)
Ms. Woods stated before she votes on this item she asked if this comes up every year.
Mrs. Angie Sturdivant, the City Attorney, said she thinks the last one was for two years under a different contractor.
Ms. Woods wanted to clarify if it was Ouachita Electric.
Mrs. Sturdivant stated it was Smith Machine Works.
Ms. Woods wanted to know when they are advertising a new bid that comes up, because she knows some people that could possibly do the work. If they knew in advance about the advertising process for bids others might be interested. She asked if it was a one year or a two year contract.
Mr. Kelly noted it’s a one-year contract with two one-year renewal options and the prices stay the same.
Ms. Woods wanted to know would the City advertise for bids next year.
Mr. Kelly noted if the prices remain the same for next year the City doesn’t have to solicit bids again unless they are not satisfied with their work.
Mrs. Stacy Rowell, Director of Administration, stated that the point of the options is that their prices are supposed to remain the same under this contract and that locks the City in with the price, it prevents price increases.
Ms. Woods asked, basically, if their prices do not change?
Mrs. Rowell noted that the prices can’t change.
Ms. Woods states, that basically, if the price rate doesn’t change and we’re ok with the work they are doing, it’s a no brainer, just continue.
Mr. Kelly stated preposition contracts are a plus for the City and it helps if the City were to get in a bind. He further noted it helps the City expedite the process for things to be handled and with a set rate they are unable to create or charge an outrageous price.
Mrs. Rowell stated that it facilitates reimbursement requests for FEMA as well.
RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTE ENTRIES:
Council:
ADD-ON: Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to add to the agenda item (a) Granting and exception to the open container ordinance to the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum for a fundraiser pursuant to Monroe City Code Sec. 12-231 D. (Open Container Ordinance), and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8499 Granting and exception to the open container ordinance to the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum for a fundraiser pursuant to Monroe City Code Sec. 12-231 D. (Open Container Ordinance), and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
Department of Administration:
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8500 authorizing the purchase of OpenGov Cloud Budgeting and Planning Software off the Louisiana Procurement Contract #4400010663 and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
Mrs. Ezernack asked the budget director to explain what the City is doing on this item.
Mr. Dan Richards, Budget Officer, stated that the financial management software currently has a budgeting module but it’s very limited in its capabilities. He said that it doesn’t allow him to compute a type of personnel cost. He said he has 60 divisions that he creates a worksheet for, 2 worksheets per divisions which in total are 120 worksheets he must maintain throughout the year. He said OpenGov is a cloud-based software that addresses some of these issues. He stated there are two main components, budgeting & planning, and recording the communication. He further stated there are 3 modules, operating budget, workforce planning, and capital planning. He said under the workforce planning it will replace all worksheets and the program can compute all the employee costs, it can do scenario analysis, departments can initiate their request for positions and that will feed into the operating budget module. He said the program will allow us to formalize the capital request process and the funding and allow us to plan as a team. He stated that it can publish these narratives and the program can publish maps, charts, and graphs for all citizens. He said the operating budget is anything not related to personnel or capital that you would request from the operating budget module and then all that will be fed into the management software. He said Councilmembers, Chief of Operating, the Mayor, or Director of Administration can access certain information they would want to see. He said this program is very flexible as to what you can add to the external port that can answer different questions about the fire department’s uniform budget, the city’s overall revenue, and more by using pie charts. He noted the capital improvement plan that they put out there were in different locations as to where the different projects were, but with this program it will have all that information in one place.
Mrs. Stacy Rowell, Director of Administration, stated on the capital budget, the city’s engineer was involved in this process, and he was very excited about it. She further stated the City is required to do a Five-Year Capital Outlay budget.
Mr. Richards stated that with the Capital budget plan you can plan out a 30-year capital budget with this program.
Mr. Marshall asked if a department wanted to calculate how much of an impact a raise would have, they can use this program.
Mr. Richards said yes, they can do it now, but it would take longer.
Mr. Marshall stated that they hear it a lot during the hearings when it can be calculated during the months prior.
Mrs. Rowell stated that the budget department is a one man show, but once the program comes in, they will have some cross training and it will be more user-friendly.
Ms. Woods stated that anything can happen so it’s very important that we have other people that are aware of and know how to deal with the budget outside of Mr. Richards. Ms. Woods also asked what is the cost of this program?
Mr. Richards stated that there is a one-time setup fee of $59,000.00 and then it will be a 3-year contract, first year subscription will be $59,000.00, then in year 2 it goes up another 5%, which will be $62,000.00, and year 3 would be $65,000.00.
Ms. Woods asked about the maintenance and maintaining the program.
Mr. Richards stated that all of that is included in the cost.
Mrs. Ezernack asked after the three-year contract is up and there is a possible better program out, do you still own the information that you have placed on the program or if you don’t renew the subscription, do you still have ownership of your information.
Mr. Richards stated that the information is already in our system, it’s just pulling the information from our system and putting it in their format. He stated that he is unsure if we would really own anything that’s been created. He stated that he did not have the answer to that question.
Mrs. Rowell stated that they did ask if we decided to choose a different fiscal management package, for instance what would happen if it doesn’t interface. She said that they guaranteed us that theirs would interface with anything we want it to look at as far as if we changed our accounting package software. She also said that what Mr. Richards said about how we would still have our data, they are just putting it in their own format with the pictures, graphs, and charts.
ADD-ON: Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to add to the agenda item (b) Consider an Application by City of Monroe dba Chennault Park Golf Course, 8475 Millhaven Road, Monroe LA for a New 2023 Class A Alcoholic Beverage Permit. The Monroe Police Department has no disqualifying records, and the Sales Tax has been approved. (Distance Report Cleared, Cert. of Occupy Cleared.) (There were no public comments.)
(b) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to consider (b) an application by City of Monroe dba Chennault Park Golf Course, 8475 Millhaven Road, Monroe LA for a New 2023 Class A Alcoholic Beverage Permit. The Monroe Police Department has no disqualifying records, and the Sales Tax has been approved. (Distance Report Cleared, Cert. of Occupy Cleared.) (There were no public comments.)
Department of Planning & Urban Development:
(a)Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved request from Genesis Church of LA for a Major Conditional Use Permit authorizing the use of the location at (1363 Louisville Avenue) to operate as a House of Worship (church). The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance allows House of Worship as a Major Conditional Use in the B-3, General Business/Commercial) District. Major Conditional Uses are those uses that require another level of approval; therefore, this request comes before the City Council for their approval in addition to that of the Planning Commission. (There were no public comments.)
Mayor’s Office:
(a) Upon motion of Mrs. Ezernack seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8501 authorizing the City of Monroe to enter into an agreement with Plugged In Creative for Professional Services and further providing with respect thereto.
Ms. Kenya Roberson, 116 Glenwood Drive, stated that she had several questions in reference to this item. She asked how much the contract cost.
Mrs. Angie Sturdivant, City Attorney, said $28,500.00.
Ms. Roberson asked was this for the City’s address to be aired on KNOE and KTVE.
Mrs. Dawson said KTVE, KARD, and KNOE.
Ms. Roberson asked how many minutes?
Mr. Harvey, Mrs. Ezernack, & Mrs. Dawson said for 30 minutes.
Mrs. Sturdivant answered all but $1,500.00 has been raised through sponsorships.
Ms. Roberson asked what are the requirements that they must submit for a business to apply for professional services to get to this point to be on the agenda, to be voted on by the council.
Mrs. Sturdivant stated the Louisiana Law doesn’t require Professional Services to be bid on.
Ms. Roberson wanted clarification on if you are a business owner, how would you know this service is available?
Mr. Harvey said most professional services agreements are with different departments and they initiate a relationship with that company, they bring it to legal for what the agreement looks like then it comes to council.
Ms. Roberson states that as the Executive Director of Monroe Regional Black Chamber, are you saying that a request goes out because she was under the impression or understanding that if it’s a professional service it does not have to go out for bidding it is something that is submitted and if it goes through the administration how would any business owner know that it is option for any business owner in the City of Monroe to be able to bid because she knows several businesses that would have loved to be able to bid for 30 minutes to get $28,000.00 dollars. Her question is how it is made known to the public?
Mrs. Sturdivant said it doesn’t have to be bided on.
Ms. Roberson wanted to know how is the item made known to the public if it doesn’t go out for bid.
Mr. Harvey stated that because it doesn’t have to go out to bid it’s not a public item versus the spin that comes through council. He said it becomes a relationship that the business owner or the business itself builds with that individual department that how it comes about.
Ms. Roberson states her point to that if you don’t have a relationship with the administration or know anyone who’s at the table that can tell you or give a call, text, or email that this is possibly something you may want to be a part of. How would a business owner know that?
Mr. Harvey stated that the way he said relationship may have been misconstrued there. He said that he has a relationship with a business and has developed a relationship doing work, that’s how it starts, he mentions to Legal, correct him if he’s wrong if he stated something out of line there.
Ms. Roberson stated that she really agrees with Mr. Harvey saying a relationship and her point or frustration is there are several business owners that would have fit and been able to provide this service. What she would say to her council person, she thinks the council needs to relook at how professional services are being able to be granted, picked, delegated, assigned because when she read it in its totality, she almost lost her mind. She knows one specific member of the Regional Black Chamber of Commerce prior to this administration had a contract with the city for these types of things, his contract did far more than 30 minutes for the entire year. His contract was $50,000.00 and when this administration took over, he was advised that his price was too high. She continues to state that if his price was $50,000 for the year, not only did he do the City address, but he also did council meetings, other meetings that they had, and his bid was too high. How can his bid be too high at $50,000 for the year, but this professional service is $28,000?
(Ms. Woods interjects that Facebook Live is down.)
Ms. Roberson said that she is bringing this to the Council’s attention because this is crucial, and the City must make sure they are right and fair across the board. She also wanted to know did anyone checked to see if this business is in good standing with the Secretary of State. She said how it is that a business can come on the agenda and is not in good standing.
Mrs. Ezernack noted because they haven’t filed their annual report.
Mrs. Sturdivant states that they can ensure that it’s done before you sign the contract.
Mr. Harvey states that it’s not apples to apples in fairness. He stated that he understands Kenya Roberson’s points, but he says that to compare that on a minute-to-minute basis is not accurate.
Mrs. Dawson asks for order, there were too many people talking at one time.
Ms. Roberson apologizes and says she didn’t mean to talk while she was talking.
Mrs. Dawson states that it wasn’t just her speaking, but others were speaking, she was trying to gain order.
Ms. Roberson states that professional services, she understands, is at the discretion of the administration. She understands the guidelines, the amount, but she states that if you had someone already doing the job and extra and their contract was terminated, how in the world is this ok.
Mrs. Ezernack states there is a misunderstanding about the thirty minutes as well because 30 minutes is the production, that’s what’s going to be aired for the 30 minutes.
Ms. Roberson states let’s just go 10 hours.
Mr. Harvey interjects and says that those are not the same thing.
Mrs. Ezernack states to be fair, if someone wants to have a professional service, for example, an engineering firm, they call on the engineering department and says here’s my resume, keep me in mind for a future project. You do the same in the administration or the Mayor’s office, someone can do the same thing. She states that it’s up to that individual to seek out the business, just like she’s in real estate, she needs to go find her clients and customers, sometimes they come to her and sometimes she must go to them. She says that individual, she knows them as well they need to be calling and asking is there anything else that needs to be done, just because they were terminated doesn’t mean they can’t get their foot back in the door.
Ms. Roberson states that her comparison of it was, that it needs to be another way that this is looked upon. She also states that what’s good for one is good for others. She states that she only wants it to be done right and she knows that it’s not.
Mrs. Sturdivant states that there was a request from administration a list that was sent out several months ago about professional services that the City of Monroe typically looks for and they did provide that list with photography, videography services on there and they have utilized multiple vendors for these services.
Ms. Roberson stated the list that the City sent was just as generic and plain as anything.
Mrs. Dawson noted that since Ms. Roberson has the list, she can go to her businesses in her organization and let them know about these are the services, see exactly what they entail.
Ms. Roberson states that Mrs. Dawson knows that it’s done that way generically so that opportunities will be missed, that’s what she’s saying.
Mrs. Dawson states that she disagrees with Ms. Roberson’s statement. She states that she’s seen the list and has sent it to certain people so that if they are interested in it, they can reach out.
Ms. Roberson states that’s the point, if you’re not at the table or have an advocate like me who reads the fine lines and does the research and finds out what is going on, the community and the business owners would not know. She also states that she agrees as a business owner you must promote and assert yourself, all that’s true, but she also states that the city has an obligation to meet with the business owners and to connect. She states that she believes that they should establish a relationship with the Executive Director of the Black Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Woods stated that she agrees with Ms. Roberson and understands, and she believes that the City needs to do a better job with including because sometimes as Mr. Harvey stated when you have established a relationship you are aware of what’s coming up and going on and if you’re not, you just don’t. She stated that you must be very intentional about being inclusive and with that being said vote aye.
Engineering Services:
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8502 designating a city representative to execute a contract amendment to the professional services agreement between the City of Monroe and MESA Inc. related to the Louisiana Purchase Exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
(b)Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8503 authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to enter into and execute the N. 18 St, Pedestrian Improvements Agreement between the City of Monroe and Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
Ms. Woods stated that this item was full of concern for her because she received numerous calls from people that catch the bus. She thanked the Engineering Department for taking a hard look at this and taking action.
(c) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8504 authorizing a designated city representative to execute Change Order No. Three (3) for the Kansas Lane Ext. (Old Sterlington-US 165) Phase 1 between the City of Monroe, the Department of Transportation and Development, and D&J Construction Company, LLC to include a line item for OCP Insurance reimbursement and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
(d) Upon motion of Mrs. Ezernack seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8505 authorizing a designated city representative to execute Amendment One to the Professional Services Agreement between the City of Monroe and Manchac Consulting Group Inc., related to the WPCC Improvements Project and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
RESOLTIONS AND ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING AND FINAL ADOPTION
AND SUBJECT TO PUBLIC HEARING:
The Chairman opened the Public Hearing and seeing no one come forward the Hearing was
closed.
(a)Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved Finally Adopt an Ordinance No. 12,162 amending and adjusting the City of Monroe Operating Budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023. (Admin.) (There were no public comments.)
The Chairman opened the Public Hearing and seeing no one come forward the Hearing was closed.
(b)Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved Finally Adopt an Ordinance No. 12,163 adopting and amending the Zoning Map for the City of Monroe, Louisiana and further providing with respect thereto – Applicant – City of Monroe – (PUD/P&Z) (There were no public comments.)
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION:
(1) Mr. Lester Pastor, 301 S. Pointe Drive Apt. 301, he stated that on March 14th he spoke about issues that he was having with the courts. He also stated that he told the council that he was about to turn 69 on March 29th and on that day, he was able to speak with the Mayor’s secretary. He told her about his situation, and she was going to speak with the mayor about it. They are in the process of setting up a meeting to speak with the city’s attorney and were told that they were going to get back with him within a week and he still hasn’t heard from anyone yet. He wants fairness and he just wants someone to say yes or no. Yes, they will help or no they will not help. He hopes by the next council meeting that he will have his meeting with the city’s attorney.
(2) Mr. Christopher Orange, 3901 Old Sterlington Road, said he had the opportunity to attend Phase One of the Kansas Lane extension when Governor John Bel Edwards was there, and he took pictures with the Mayor and his son Christopher Orange Jr. He suggested to Councilwoman Woods to purchase LED motion detected lights to place on light poles while they are waiting for Entergy to change out the lights. He said he knows there are some things where it must be paid for, but the City Attorney can possibly see if it can be written off because it is solar. On another note, he congratulated Chief Victor Zordon, Monroe Police Department for apprehending those who were allegedly responsible for the AR-15 shootings.
(3) Ms. Kenya Roberson, 116 Glenwood Drive, said she is speaking as the Executive Director of the Black Monroe Chamber of Commerce for Monroe City Academy League (MCAL). She stated that she saw how the City of Monroe gave MCAL a pat on the back, gave them awards, and took pictures, but MCAL is still having issues with scheduling, facility usage, being able to provide efficiently for these children. She said she is not understanding where the disconnect is coming from and they’ve been told that they were going to meet with those who oversee that but have yet to meet. She stated she wants the council to hold the people who are in charge accountable for their shortcomings because it’s about the children.
(4) Mr. Michael Caster, 3408 Gordon Avenue, he wants to piggyback off Ms. Roberson. He said that everyone says they want the children off the street, but they are not holding up their end of the bargain to ensure that they have something else to do. If you want crime to go down and our children safe, do what you said you were going to do for them. He wants the City to hold the people in charge of these things accountable. He said, “Help us help you. Be honest about helping the kids.
(5) Ms. Patrice Perry, 1201 S. McGuire, said she recently served with AmeriCorps and was wrongfully terminated, slandered, and she feels that she needs to have a private meeting with the Council and the Mayor that is her request.
(6) Ms. Mondrian Douglas, 2949 Shanlin Street, Congressional Organization of Neighborhood Advisors, she stated that during Covid she was employed by AmeriCorps and during her tenure there she saw that there were some things that can benefit our community. She tirelessly researched and gathered data and was able to create 15 programs that would be needed for the community. None of the programs that were created were implemented and she was puzzled as to why they were not. She is requesting a private audience with the Council & Mayor about these many concerns that are being ignored that can help the citizens.
There being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 pm., upon motion of Mr. Harvey and it was seconded by Ms. Woods.
Mrs. Kema Dawson
Chairman
Ms. Carolus S. Riley
Council Clerk
Mrs. Rachel N. Washington
Council Research Coordinator
