City of Monroe, LA

There was a legal and regular session of the City Council of the City of Monroe, Louisiana held this date, February 23, 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 Mr. Marshall’s designee, Minister Ortadius Brass, Rayville La., and the Pledge of Allegiance by Mr. Marshall.        

          COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1.  Mrs. Ezernack welcomed and thanked all for attending; she recognized the loss of zoo elephant, Shirley who was a member of La. Purchase Garden’s and Zoo.

2. Ms. Woods welcomed and thanked everyone for attending and thankful for everyone coming through the snowstorm weather.

3.  Mr. Marshall welcomed each one present; he thanked the Monroe Fire Department for all of their work during the snowstorm.  

4.  Mrs. Dawson thanked everyone for their attendance; she thanked the first responders and Public works for their work during and after the snowstorm; she announced a neighborhood cleanup scheduled for March 6, 2021 from 9am-11am, at the Masonic Hall in King Oaks. She asked that constituents with any concerns or issues would reach out to her on her cell, home phone or call the Council’s office at 329-2261.

5.  Mayor Ellis thanked the team including the water department, fire, police, and public works for their work during the snowstorm; the police department for taking medical personnel to their jobs.  He thanked Chief Williams and DJ for their assistance.  He thanked Community affairs for housing stranded Grey Hound bus passengers at the overnight shelter;  He thanked Dr. Vidrine and the staff at Carroll Jr. High for preparing food for the individuals.  He asked that the citizens thank the employees for their dedication and hard work, and he thanked everyone for making his seven months easier.

Chairman Harvey thanked everyone for all of their work and volunteerism during the snowstorm; there have been a lot of citizens downloading the water app, and it allows them to see their water usage in real time, it is a great tool.

Upon a motion of Mrs. Ezernack and a second by Ms. Woods, the minutes of the Legal and Regular session of  February 9, 2021 were unanimously approved. (There were no public comments).

PRESENTATION:     NONE.

          PUBLIC HEARINGS:     NONE

PROPOSED CONDEMNATIONS:     Public Comment: 

1.  4103 Harvey Street (D3) (Owners - Joseph Milton #1 Est, Eliza Milton (both curatorships) OPPJ (non-curator) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 30 days or March 24, 2021, in which to bring the structure into compliance with the code or demolish the structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments).

Comments:  Pictorial evidence of the current state of the property and discussion on the property’s condition were presented by PUD Director, Ellen Hill. Mrs. Hill reported that the property owner talked about demolishing the property but have not done it, and have talked about the deficiencies of the property.

2.  511 Wilson Street (D5) (Owner - Angela Jenson Murphy) (Curator) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 30 days or March 24, 2021, in which to bring the structure into compliance with the code or demolish the structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments).

Comments:  Pictorial evidence of the current state of the property and discussion on the property’s condition were presented by PUD Director, Ellen Hill.  The property has been through environmental court over a year ago and property owner has been made aware of the option of doing something with the property or tearing it down; the owner doesn’t have the funds to demolish the property.

3.  1611 South 3^rd Street (D4) (Owners - Lawrence & Claudia Robertson) (Curator) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 30 days or March 24, 2021, in which to bring the structure into compliance with the code or demolish the structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments).

Comments:  Pictorial evidence of the current state of the property and discussion on the property’s condition were presented by Ellen Hill, Director of PUD; the Code Enforcement officer has worked with the property owner, it has been through environmental court, declared blighted, and the owners were given the opportunity to develop a plan for the property or demolish; contacts were made in January 2020 advising property owner about the condition of the structure.

     ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF BIDS:      Public Comment              

(a)  Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Accept the bids of Fastenal Company, Fuqua Paper Supply and Parker Wholesale for a six-month contract for Janitorial Supplies Ref#2021-00000025 as recommended by the Director of Administration for meeting the specifications of the bid.  The Bidder responses meet the specifications of this bid.  The funds will be derived from the Inventory Account and billed to the divisions accordingly.  The Tax and Revenue Division has confirmed that these bidders are tax complaint.  (There were no public comments).

          RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTE ENTRIES:

Council:     Public Comment:  NONE.

ADD-ON:  Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall second by Mrs. Ezernack, and unanimously approved to not add item to agenda, A Resolution nominating Tyrone Goodin to the Downtown Economic Development District Board and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

Comments:  Ms. Woods asked Chairman Harvey which position on DEDD Board would Mr. Goodin be replacing.  Mr. Harvey said there were two Council appointments; Mr. Harvey asked Council Clerk Ms. Riley and Mr. Marshall, as they had talked about it earlier. Mrs. Riley said there were only two; Mr. Marshall said it was Clydell Jones; Mr. Harvey commented that Rico Jones replaced one of the nominees about one month ago and Mr. Goodin would be replacing the second one. Previously they had Earl Davis and Clydell Jones serving.  Ms. Woods commented that Clydell Jones was her appointment, as she was the appointment prior to her and she allowed her to stay on and have not had an opportunity to speak with her, but don’t have a problem with it; she said she would like to speak with Ms. Jones to let her know that she is being removed before bringing someone else on and would hate for her to hear about it.  Mr. Harvey said they would remove item from the agenda and table it. 

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. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7908, authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to sign and accept a $100,000 Grant from Entergy and further providing with respect thereto.   (There were no public comments).

Department of Public Works:    Public Comment:   

(a) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Consider request from        the Street Department, a division of the Public Works Department for Council approval to advertise for bids to     purchase one (1) Ford F-750 Dump Truck. The estimated cost of this item is $93,936.00.  The funds for     this      purchase will be derived from the Streets Capital Account, which has a balance of $105,000.00.  (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 Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to remove from the agenda to Adopt a Resolution authorizing an authorized city representative, to execute 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 contract amount of $_________________ and an increase in the contract time of _______ days  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 remove from the agenda to Adopt a Resolution authorizing an authorized city representative, to execute Change Order No. one (1) to the Guardrail Replacement Contract, between the City of Monroe and Alpha Service & Products, Inc., for a decrease in the contract amount of $12,775.00 and an increase in the contract time of 21 days  and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

(c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7909,  authorizing Stacey Rowell, Director of Administration, to execute a Railroad Engineering Agreement with Kansas City Southern Railway Company to provide necessary railroad engineering for the grade crossing and/or design services for the Kansas Lane-Garrett Road Connector I-20 Improvements State Project No. H.007300 Project, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

(d) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to remove from the agenda to Adopt a Resolution authorizing Friday Ellis, Mayor, or authorized representative of the City of Monroe to sign and execute documents relating to the Louisiana Watershed Initiative Round 1 Grants and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

BREAK IF NEEDED:

INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES:      Public Comment:    NONE.

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, the hearing was closed. 

(a)  Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Finally adopt  Ordinance No. 12,041, adopting and amending the Zoning Map for the City of Monroe, Louisiana to zone a ±1.2-acre tract of land located in Ouachita Parish from I-1, Commercial/Industrial Business Park District to R-4, High Density Multi-Family Residential District in order for the applicant to be able to develop duplexes at this location. And otherwise known as 2000 Grammont Street – APPLICANT - Blaze Thomas - (P&Z)  (There were no public comments).

(b)  ADD-ON:  Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to add to the agenda to Adopt an Emergency Ordinance declaring the repair of two grit pumps, check valves, isolation valves and two sludge pumps at the water pollution control center (WPCC)  an emergency and necessitating immediate repair and/or replacement and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Emergency Ordinance No. 12,042, declaring the repair of two grit pumps, check valves, isolation valves and two sludge pumps at the water pollution control center (WPCC)  an emergency and necessitating immediate repair and/or replacement and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

Citizens Participation:     There were no public comments.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at

6:23 p.m., upon a  motion of Ms. Woods and seconded by Mrs. Ezernack.  (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