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 9, 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. 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 by Ms. Woods designee Rev. Linda Jenkins Johnson and the Pledge of Allegiance by Ms. Woods.        

          COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1.  Mrs. Ezernack thanked Mr. Seegers and volunteers for their cleanup work.

2.  Ms. Woods thanked Rev. Johnson for the invocation and asked prayers for Rev. McFarland and family and all those dealing with Covid; she asked that citizens would continue to practice social distancing and wear masks, following guidelines of CDC; she thanked Mr. Seegers for his work making the city cleaner.

3.  Mr. Marshall spoke regarding upcoming plans in his district with the development of strip malls, housing, Hotel Monroe, and manufacturing jobs.  He asked Teddy Holloway to come forward and he commented about developments and working with Mr. Marshall the last couple months and looking to opening up grocery stores as well as  low to middle income housing and commercial developments and is excited for the opportunity.

4.  Mrs. Dawson announced a cleanup for February 20, 8am-10am at Henrietta Johnson Community Center and will partner with Monroe Beautiful and other organizations in this effort.  She recognized Mr. Marty Campbell, as Chairman of SEDD and look forward to upcoming and great opportunities on the Southside.

5.  Mayor Ellis acknowledged the work of Tom Pearson and Doug Seegers on the ten year strategic plan they have put together and the grants received a total of $400,000 from the Monroe West Monroe CVB for the La. Purchase Gardens and Zoo.  He thanked the CVB for the investment of funds for the Christmas lights project.  Mayor Ellis commented regarding the acquirement of the Monroe Fire Department’s 4 new Class A pumper trucks, a new ladder truck  on the way.  He reminded citizens about the Eye on Water cell app for the City’s water department; this app allows the citizens to control their water and be more engaged.  He thanked Tom Janway and employees for the litter and trash pickup amount of over six hundred bags that have been picked up; the citizens will begin to see a cleaner and greener city. 

Chairman Harvey acknowledged the time that the citizens and volunteers have invested into the City by cleaning up and investing funds for projects within the City.

Upon a motion of Mrs. Ezernack and a second by Mrs. Dawson, the minutes of the Legal and Regular session of  January 26, 2021 were unanimously approved. (There were no public comments).

PRESENTATION:     NONE.

          PUBLIC HEARINGS:     6PM  -  External Auditor – Financial Audit Review.  Presentation for the City of Monroe’s       Annual Audit by Allen Green and Williamson CPA.  The Audit can be seen at the Legislative Auditor’s website.         Mr. Tim Green and Ms. Jenny Henry presented the review.

PROPOSED CONDEMNATIONS:     Public Comment: 

1.  2213 Short Washington Street (D3) (Owners Bishop Rufus and Vannette Sellers) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 120 days or June 10, 2021, in which to bring the structure into compliance with the code or demolish the structure and clean the lot.

Comments:  Pictorial evidence of the current state of the property was presented by Code Enforcement office, Catherine Robinson and discussion on the property’s condition.  Ms. Sellers, owner of property was present, spoke concerning the property. Ms. Woods commented that the property had been declared a blighted property and a nuisance to the community based on the city ordinance.  Ms. Woods asked Ms. Sellers to continue working on the property and to speak with Ms. Robinson to do what is necessary to secure property and am willing to work with her.

     ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF BIDS:      Public Comment     NONE.

          RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTE ENTRIES:

Council:     Public Comment:  NONE.

Department of Administration:         Public Comment:

Department of Planning & Urban Development:    Public Comment:

Legal Department:     Public Comment:   

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7895, authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to employ the services of Baron & Budd, P.C., Cossich, Sumich, Parsiola & Taylor LLC, and Morrow, Morrow, Ryan, Bassett & Haik for Legal Services relating to Products Liability Litigation and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

          Mayor’s Office:    Public Comment:     

(a) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7896, stating the City of Monroe’s endorsement of Miller Roy Properties, LLC and their Project #20200312-RTA to participate in the benefits of the Louisiana Restoration Tax Abatement Program.  (There were no public comments).

Department of Public Works:    Public Comment:   

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution     No. 7897, authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the U.S.     Department of Agriculture for Wildlife Management 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. 7898, authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to execute a Professional Services Agreement with LJA     Engineering Inc., relating to Storm Water Management Program Implementation Services and further providing     with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

(c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No.     7899, authorizing the purchase of John Deere 6105E Cab Tractor and John Deere M20 Flex Wing Rotary     for the Monroe Regional Airport off of state contract and further providing with respect thereto.

(There were no public comments).

(d) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution     No. 7900, authorizing the issuance of a Self-Fueling Permit at the Monroe Regional Airport to Daveair LLC,     wherein permit will be for a period of twelve months and further providing with respect thereto.

(There were no public comments).

Comments:  Ms. Woods asked Legal if everything was in order now; Mrs. Sturdivant said it was and Legal was     waiting on their Certificate of Insurance and did receive the certificate.

Department of Community Affairs:    Public Comment:    NONE.

Police Department:  Public Comment:   NONE.

          Fire Department:     Public Comment:  

          (a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution     No. 7901, authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to apply for and accept a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from the        Federal Emergency Management Agency for the purchase of three thousand (3,000) Smoke Alarms and    further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

          (b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution           No. 7902, authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to apply for and accept an assistance to Firefighters Grant from the           Federal Emergency Management Agency on behalf of the Monroe Fire Department for funding to          

          purchase portable radios and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

          Comments:  Ms. Woods asked for more information on the resolution; Mr. ShaBrodrick Jones, MFD explained           the resolution that the 52 portable radios were carried by the firemen as they go into structures, some of the current           radios are outdated and these newer radios will replace them and allow the radios to be up to code. Mr. Harvey          said the city has replaced a few in the past, but this will allow the department to purchase more; there is a 20/80          split with the federal government funding.

          (c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution           No. 7903,  authorizing Stacey Rowell to execute Change Order Number 3 (for Breard/Betin Street Fire Station           #5) between the City of Monroe and Mann’s Construction Inc. for an increase in the contract time of 129           days and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

          Comments: Mr. ShaBrodrick Jones, MFD presented a Powerpoint of the Fire station project.  The substantial           completion date will be February 25, 2021. Mrs. Ezernack thanked MFD for their work on the various projects.

          (d) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution           No. 7904, approving the appointment of Chief Terry Williams to the Ambulance service Advisory Board           and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

          (e) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and approved, Voting YES: Harvey, Ezernack,           Woods, Marshall; Voting to ABSTAIN: Dawson to Adopt Resolution No. 7904, (e) authorizing Fire Chief Terry Williams to enter into an agreement between the City of Monroe and the Workforce Development Board and           further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

          Comments:  Mr. Jones, MFD explained there would be workforce funds for salaries for new hire firefighters.

          Engineering Services:   Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7906, accepting as substantially complete work done by and between the City of Monroe and Dixie Overland Construction, LLC, for the Texas Lift Station Bar Screen Replacement Project, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

(b) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7907, authorizing the authorized city representative to advertise for quotes on the Solar School Zone Flashing Traffic Signs Project. (There were no public comments).

(c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson 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).

Comments:  Mr. Harvey explained the item was being removed and due to Engineering wanting to bring back with a final close out change order once the project is completed.

BREAK IF NEEDED:

INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES:      Public Comment:    NONE.

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance adopting and amending the Zoning Map for the City of Monroe, Louisiana and authorize the Clerk to publish notice of a Public Hearing 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).

Comments:  Ms. Woods thanked Blaze Thomas for his project of building new homes behind the health unit.

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance amending Section 15-16 Section (a) and deleting Sub Sections (1) and (2), of Chapter 15 Entitled “Fire Prevention and Protection”, of the City of Monroe Code and further providing with respect thereto. (Fire Dept.)  (There were no public comments).

Comments:  Mr. Jones, MFD explained the reason for the ordinance of the codes as the Fire Protection Association codes come out every three years and they have to be adopted according to the State Fire Marshal’s office when they adopt the code.

RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING AND FINAL ADOPTION AND SUBJECT TO PUBLIC HEARING:      Open Public Hearing/Public Comment/Close Hearing:

NONE.

Citizens Participation:     There were no public comments.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:53                                                               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