City Council Minutes - January 12, 2021 | City of Monroe, Louisiana

City Council Minutes - January 12, 2021

regular session

Minutes01122021.pdf

Monroe City Council Legal and Regular Session

January 12, 2021
6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers-City Hall

Minutes

There was a legal and regular session of the City Council of the City of Monroe, Louisiana held this date, January 12, 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 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 led by Mr. Harvey’s designee, Pastor Ellerbee and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Harvey.

COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Mr. Harvey welcomed all present and thanked everyone for their attendance.

2. Mrs. Ezernack welcomed each present and asked prayers for those dealing with Covid.

3. Ms. Woods thanked everyone for their prayers while she was out for the last month; she thanked Mayor Ellis for the flowers; she thanked also, MPD and MFD for their response times during her car accident; and thanked Creed and Creed for the gift bags for the elderly in District 3.

4. Mr. Marshall thanked everyone for attending; he thanked Mr. Janway and the city workers for all of their work during 2020.

5. Mrs. Dawson welcomed back Mayor Ellis, Ms. Woods and Mrs. Sturdivant; she announced a new neighborhood watch in District 5; she thanked Chief Zordan for his work.

6. Mayor Ellis thanked everyone for their prayers and look forward to working with Council in 2021; he welcomed back Ms. Woods.

Upon a motion of Mrs. Ezernack and a second by Mrs. Dawson, the minutes of the Legal and Regular session of December 22, 2020 were approved with Ms. Woods abstaining. (There were no public comments).

PRESENTATION: NONE.

PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE.

PROPOSED CONDEMNATIONS: Public Comment:

1306 South 2nd Street (D4) (Owners – Joyce Kay & Steven Dans)

ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF BIDS: (Public Comment) None.

RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTE ENTRIES:

Council: Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7880, nominating Kerricko Holmes to the Downtown Economic Development District Board and further providing with respect thereto. (Harvey) (There were no public comments).

Department of Administration: Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Consider an Application by Raymond Whittney dba Whittney’s Entertainment Multi-Purpose Center, 302 Apple St., Monroe, LA 71203 for a New 2021 Class A Alcoholic Beverage Permit. The Monroe Police Department has no disqualifying records and Sales Tax has been Cleared, CO-Cleared, Distance Report Cleared. (There were no public comments).

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Consider one (1) Renewal Applications for a New 2021 Class A Alcoholic Beverage Permit. The Monroe Police Department has no disqualifying records and Sales Tax has been approved. (There were no public comments).

(c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7881, authorizing the City of Monroe to enter into an Agreement with the Chesapeake Group LLC for Governmental Relations and Related Professional Services and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

Department of Planning & Urban Development: Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to remove from the agenda to Consider request from Tejani & Dahal Investments, LLC for a Major Conditional Use Permit that authorizes the use of the location (2300 Forsythe Avenue) to sell alcohol for off-premise consumption for a proposed convenience/liquor store. The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance allows alcohol sales for off-premise consumption as a Major Conditional Use in the B-2, Neighborhood Business 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.

Comments:

Discussions on agenda item made; Initial motions to consider item were withdrawn.

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7882, appointing Pamela Hill to the Planning Commission of the City of Monroe, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

Legal Department: Public Comment: None.

Mayor’s Office: Public Comment: None.

Department of Public Works: Public Comment: None.

Department of Community Affairs: Public Comment: None.

Police Department: Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7883, authorizing the purchase of equipment for the Monroe Police Department off of State Contract and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7884, authorizing the Monroe Police Department to piggyback off of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of one new Chevrolet Tahoe by and between the City of Monroe and Gerry Lane Chevrolet in the amount of $45,045.00 and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

Comments: Ms. Woods asked for an explanation of the purchase and Chief Zordan explained the purchase.

(c) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7885, authorizing the purchase of seven Jeep Grand Cherokees for the Monroe Police Department off of state contract and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

Fire Department: Public Comment: None.

Engineering Services: Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to remove from the agenda to Adopt a Resolution authorizing Friday Ellis, Mayor, to execute Change Order No. Sixteen (16) to the North Area Sewer System Improvements Basin MR-27(A)30/31 Rehabilitation Contract, between the City of Monroe and Jabar Corporation, for an increase in the contractor amount of $__________ and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

(b) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7886, authorizing an authorized city representative, to execute Change Order No. Two (2) to the City Street Striping Phase IV Contract, between the City of Monroe and Highway Graphics, LLC, for an increase in the contract amount of $33,093.30 and an increase in the contract time of 14 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. 7887, authorizing an authorized city representative, to execute Change Order No. One (1) to the Bayou Lane Drainage Improvements Phase I Contract, between the City of Monroe and C W & W Contractors, Inc., for a decrease in the contract amount of $31,000.00 and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

(d) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7888, approving authorizing Friday Ellis, Mayor, to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of Monroe and the State of Louisiana Office of Facility Planning and Control (FP&C) of the Division of Administration (DOA) for the Georgia Street Pump Station, including Generator & Auxiliary Project, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

BREAK IF NEEDED:

INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES: Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance Rescinding Ordinance Number 12,005 and accepting the donation of real property into the City of Monroe from Peters Family Urban Properties, LLC and Osprey Properties, LLC, and further providing with respect thereto. (Legal) (There were no public comments).

Comments: Ms. Woods asked why the Ordinance was being rescinded. Mrs. Sturdivant explained.

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