City of Monroe, LA

There was a legal and regular session of the City Council of the City of Monroe, Louisiana held this date, April 27, 2021 at the Council's regular meeting place, 400 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, City Council Chambers/City Hall Building, Monroe, Louisiana.    

The Honorable Douglas Harvey, Chairman, called the meeting to order.

The roll call was done by Ms. Carolus Riley, Council Clerk.

Council members present for roll call: Mr. Douglas Harvey, Mrs. Gretchen Ezernack, Ms. Juanita Woods,

Mr. Carday Marshall Sr., Mrs. Kema Dawson.

Council member (s) absent: NONE.

Chairman Harvey declared a quorum. 

The Invocation was done by Mrs. Ezernack’s designee, Mr. Tom Janway, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mrs. Ezernack.    

COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:                       

          1. Mr. Harvey welcomed and thanked everyone for attending tonight’s meeting.

          2. Mrs. Ezernack welcomed and thanked everyone for attending tonight’s meeting.

          3. Ms. Woods welcomed all for being present as well as those watching on social media.

          4. Mr. Marshall welcomed everyone for being present and those watching along on social media and for showing           their concern of City issues.

          5. Mrs. Dawson welcomed each one present; she thanked everyone for their participation during the Earth Day           events at the Zoo and look forward to future events.

6. Mayor Ellis welcomed and thanked all for attending; Mayor Ellis attended meetings in Baton Rouge with the legislative delegation regarding capital outlay project initiatives and also met with the Governor; he thanked everyone for participating in the City’s Healthy Monroe initiative kickoff for Earth Day.  He acknowledged Mrs. Hope Anderson Fruge and thanked her for putting together a fantastic event. Mayor Ellis commented on the City of Monroe’s fire truck donations to the volunteer fire department at Beekman and also to the Winnsboro Louisiana Fire Department.  He recognized Angie O’Pry, business owner of Fiesta Nutrition Center and presented a Letter of Commendation for her services to our City and Region.    

Upon a motion of Mrs. Dawson and a second by Mr. Marshall, the minutes of the Legal and Regular session of  April 13, 2021 were unanimously approved with amended corrections. (There were no public comments).

PRESENTATION:     NONE.

          PUBLIC HEARINGS:      NONE.

PROPOSED CONDEMNATIONS:      Public Comment:      NONE.

     ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF BIDS:        Public Comment

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Accept the Bid Proposal of Allen Enterprises, Inc., of Orlando Florida for Runway 14-32-L 880(L) PAPI Ref#2020-00000027 as recommended by the Director of Administration as meeting the specifications of this proposal.  The Vendor meets the specifications of this proposal.  The funds will be derived from the Monroe Regional Airport.  The Tax and Revenue Division has confirmed that this bidder is tax compliant.  (There were no public comments)

          RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTE ENTRIES:

Council:             Public Comment:     NONE.

          Department of Administration:    Public Comment:    NONE.

Department of Planning & Urban Development:  Public Comment:    NONE.

Legal Department:    Public Comment:    NONE.

          Mayor’s Office:    Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to remove from the agenda to Adopt a Resolution approving the appointment of                                               to the Monroe Capital Infrastructure Commission and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments)

Department of Public Works:    Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7957, authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to enter into and execute work authorization MLU-015 (Design) between the City of Monroe and KSA Engineers Inc. to rehabilitate Runway 4-22 at the Monroe Regional Airport, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments)

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7958, accepting as substantially complete work on the expansion to the Administration Office at the WPCC by Benchmark Construction Group of La, LLC. and further providing with respect thereto. 

Comments:  Mrs. Vickie Krutzer inquired what was the WPCC office; Mr. Harvey explained it as being the administrative office building for the sewer department, the Water Pollution Control Center.

(c) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7959, authorizing a designated City representative to execute Closeout Change Order Number 2, (Office of Motor Vehicles Storm Damage Repairs) between the City of Monroe and Grindstone Construction LLC for a decrease in the contract amount of $1,166.50 and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments)

(d) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7960, accepting as substantially complete work for the Office of Motor Vehicles Storm Damage Repairs by Grindstone Construction LLC and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments)

Department of Community Affairs:    Public Comment:    NONE.

Police Department:    Public Comment:     NONE. 

          Fire Department:     Public Comment:     NONE.  

          Engineering Services:     Public Comment:

(a)  Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7961, accepting as substantially complete work done by and between the City of Monroe and Don M. Barron Contractor, Inc., for the Fulton Drive Water & Sewer Improvements Project, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments)

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7962, authorizing an authorized City representative, to execute Closeout Change Order No. One (1) to the Fulton Drive Water & Sewer Improvements Contract, between the City of Monroe and Don M. Barron Contractor, Inc., for an increase in the construction cost of $5,479.55 and an increase in the contract time of 57 days and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments)

(c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7963, rescinding Resolution No. 7798 and approving the amendment in its entirety and authorizing an authorized City representative, to execute the amended Change Order No. Two (2) to the H.013937 Kansas Lane Extension Clearing & Grubbing Contract, between the City of Monroe and Womack & Sons Construction Group, Inc., for an increase in the contract time of 281 days and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments)

(d) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7964, rescinding Resolution No. 7847 and approving the amendment in its entirety and authorizing an authorized City representative, to execute the amended Change Order No. Three (3) to the H.013937 Kansas Lane Extension Clearing & Grubbing Contract, between the City of Monroe and Womack & Sons Construction Group, Inc., for an increase in the contract amount of $130,951.66 and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments)

Comments:  Ms. Woods asked for explanation of item; Mr. Holland explained that the State did not like the setup and the City had to rescind and reconstruct the change order.

(e) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7965, authorizing an authorized City representative, to execute Change Order No. Four (4) to the Kansas Lane Extension Clearing & Grubbing SPN. H.013937 Contract, between the City of Monroe and Womack & Sons Construction Group, Inc., for a decrease in the contract amount of $75,535.80 and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments)

(f) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7966, authorizing an authorized City representative, to enter into and execute a Contract with Miller Nictakis Group to provide professional grant writing & consulting services for the Raise Grant Project and further providing with respect thereto.

Comments:  Mrs. Vickie Krutzer, inquired about what grant was being written by the firm; Ms. Golden commented that the Nictakis firm would be writing a grant for the funding of the Kansas Lane construction extension and the fee schedule is $5500, it includes writing the benefit cost analysis.

BREAK IF NEEDED:

          INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES:

          Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance adopting and amending the Zoning Map for the City of Monroe, Louisiana and authorizing the Clerk to publish notice of a public hearing to zone a ±4.4-acre tract of land located in Ouachita Parish from B-1, Neighborhood Mixed Use District to B-2, Neighbor Business District in order for the applicant to be able to develop the area with uses such as full-service restaurants and multi-family housing..1203 and 1207 DeSiard Street, 700-716 Adams Street, 709 Adams Street, 1212 Washington Street, and Lots 1-4, Square 40 Filhiols First Addition – APPLICANT: Michael Echols and City of Monroe – (P&Z) (There were no public comments)

Comments:  Mrs. Ezernack asked if anyone had any objections to the item; Ms. Poret responded there was not.

RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING AND FINAL ADOPTION AND SUBJECT TO PUBLIC HEARING:

Open Public Hearing/Public Comment/Close Hearing:    Chairman Harvey opened the public hearing, and seeing no one come forward, Chairman Harvey closed the hearing.

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt  Ordinance No. 12,048, authorizing the Lease of certain property at and near the Monroe Regional Airport to

Johnson Ag Farms for Agricultural Land and further providing with respect thereto.  (Airport) (There were no public comments)

Open Public Hearing/Public Comment/Close Hearing:     Chairman Harvey opened the public hearing, and seeing no one come forward, Chairman Harvey closed the hearing.

(b) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt Ordinance No. 12,049, authorizing the City of Monroe to take Corporeal Possession of the property described below and sell to Heaven’s Bayou, LLC all rights, title, and interest that the City may have acquired to

the west 1/3 of Lots 10, 11 & 12, Square 22, Renwicks Addition, Ouachita Parish, 2602 Maddox St., District 3, Monroe, La, by Adjudication at Tax Sale dated July 1, 2011, and further with respect thereto. (Legal)

(There were no public comments)

Open Public Hearing/Public Comment/Close Hearing:

Chairman Harvey opened the public hearing:

1.  Mrs. Vickie Krutzer asked for the reason of acquiring the property; Mrs. Sturdivant commented it was acquired for the purpose of extending the City cemetery.

Seeing no one else come forward, Chairman Harvey closed the hearing.

(c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt  Ordinance No. 12,050, authorizing the City of Monroe to acquire full ownership interest of the property described as lots 7 & 8, sq 14, Arents Resub Lot 14 & 15 Stubbs Youngs Bayou Addition, 108 & 110 s. 20^th St, Monroe, La, by Adjudication at Tax Sale dated June 3, 2016, and further with respect thereto.(Legal)

(There were no public comments)

(d) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt  Emergency Ordinance No. 12,051, declaring the repair of the #4 Screw Pump at the Water Pollution Control Center (WPCC) an Emergency and necessitating immediate repair and further providing with respect thereto. (Public Wks.)    (There were no public comments)

CITIZENS PARTICIPATION:

1.  Mr. Verbon Muhammad, citizen, commented regarding the death of a citizen, Mr. David Harris which occurred while he was in police custody.

2.  Mrs. Vickie Krutzer, commented that she was proud of the City Council, the Mayor; there is a vibrant energy, and she is encouraged with the good things that are happening.

3.  Mr. Montrell Alexander, citizen, commented regarding youth recreation at the community centers.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:33 p.m., upon a  motion of Mrs. Dawson and seconded by Mr. Marshall.  (There were no public comments).

Mr. Douglas Harvey

Council Chairman

Ms. Carolus S. Riley

Council Clerk

Ms. Jacqueline Benjamin

Council Secretary

*For extended details on the Council meeting please call the Council Clerk, Monday-Friday at 329-2252; also, a recording of the minutes can be sent via email to you.3.5.3226