City of Monroe, LA

There was a legal and regular session of the City Council of the City of Monroe, Louisiana held this date, March 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 Mayor Ellis’ designee, Rev. Larese Rollins, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Ellis.

COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Mr. Harvey welcomed each one present and asked that all cell phones would be silenced.

2. Mrs. Ezernack welcomed each one present; she thanked MPD for offering the Police Academy and her completion of the class; she acknowledged the new fire truck that the City purchased and thanked the MFD.

3. Ms. Woods welcomed each one present and social media attendees; she announced her District 3 cleanup on Saturday, from 10am-12pm, meeting at Rose of Sharon Baptist Church and thanked Mr. Seegers and staff; she thanked Jr. League for their spring market.

4. Mr. Marshall thanked everyone for coming out to meeting; he congratulated the participants in the competition event held at ULM; there will be colorectal screening soon on the South side of Monroe and will provide additional information at a later time.

5. Mrs. Dawson welcomed each one present; Easter Extravaganza to be held on April 3, La. Purchase Gardens and Zoo, attendees will be separated by age, vendors are invited to participate; summer youth performing arts camp by Arts with Passion from June 1-26, 4:30-6:30, Benoit Community Center, ages 11-17 years of age; Spring Gospel Fest, Sunday, 3pm, La. Purchase Gardens and Zoo.

6. Mayor Ellis welcomed each one present; the State of City address is on Sunday to be broadcast on both networks, a promotion of our region; the MFD recruits look good and honored to speak with them; Mayor Ellis sponsored a delegation dinner regarding Capital Outlay projects to get funded; Assistant Chief Don Bartley retired with 45 years of service to Monroe; congratulations to OMCAP on receiving a new bus; a $1million aerial truck was added to the MFD fleet to assist with their Class 1 rating; MFD employee Shabrodrick Jones is the employee being spotlighted this month and thanked him for his outstanding service.

Upon a motion of Ms. Woods and a second by Mr. Marshall, the minutes of the Legal and Regular session of March 09, 2021 were unanimously approved. (There were no public comments).

PRESENTATION: NONE.

PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE.

PROPOSED CONDEMNATIONS: Public Comment:

1. 1506 South 3rd Street (D4) (Owners - Blance Mae Baskin & Martin Gene Schempf (curatorship) Martin G Schempf (non-curator) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 30 days or April 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.

2. 1607 Florida Street (D4) (Owners - Mary Lee Coleman, Charlie J& Mary Lee c/o Mary

Coleman (curatorship) OPPJ (non-curator) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved for item to be removed from the agenda. (There were no public comments).

3. 3601 Curry Street (D3) (Owner - David Cole- Curatorship) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved for item to be removed from the agenda. (There were no public comments).

4. 3612 Johnson Street (D3) (Owner - Charlon Brown - Curatorship) ) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 30 days or April 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 Code Enforcement officer.

ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF BIDS: Public Comment None.

RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTE ENTRIES:

Council: Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mrs. Ezernack; Voting YES: Woods, Ezernack, Harvey; Voting NO: Marshall and Dawson, to Adopt Resolution No. 7930, approving the appointment of Otis Jones to the board for the Southside Economic Development District (SEDD) and further providing with respect thereto. (NELA African American Chamber Appointment) (There were no public comments).

(b) Upon a motion by Mr. Harvey, second by Mrs. Ezernack; Voting YES: Woods, Harvey, Ezernack; Voting NO: Dawson, Marshal to Adopt Resolution No. 7931, approving the appointment of Roosevelt Wright to the board for the Southside Economic Development District (SEDD) and further providing with respect thereto. (NELA African American Chamber Appointment) (There were no public comments).

Department of Administration: Public Comment: None.

Department of Planning & Urban Development: Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Ms. Woods, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7932, appointing Robbie McBroom 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:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and approved; Voting YES: Ezernack, Marshall, Dawson, Harvey; Voting to ABSTAIN: Woods to Adopt Resolution No. 7933, ,authorizing the City of Monroe to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Nova Workforce Institute of Northeast Louisiana Inc. and further providing with respect thereto.

Comments: Paul West, Executive Director thanked the City for their support and gave an overview of the organization.

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7934, authorizing the Director of Administration to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of Monroe and the Miss Louisiana Organization as per the attached agreement and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

(c) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7935, authorizing the City of Monroe to enter into an Agreement with the Griffin Group for Professional Services and further providing with respect thereto. (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 Consider request from the Street Division of the Public Works Department to purchase one (1) 2022 Ford F-750 dump truck and piggyback off the City of Alexandria Cooperative Purchasing Agreement. This dump truck will be used to replace the aging existing dump truck that is currently is use but is worn out. The total cost of this dump truck will be $93,936.00 and funding will come from the Street Division’s 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 Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7936, accepting as substantially complete work done by and between the City of Monroe and Amethyst Construction, Inc., for the US 165 turn lanes at Venable Lane and Venable Lane Reconstruction Project, 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. 7937, authorizing an authorized city representative, to execute Closeout Change Order No. Three (3) to the Davis Drive Drainage Improvements Contract, between the City of Monroe and C W & W Contractors, Inc., for a decrease in the contract amount of $2,121.00 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. 7938, authorizing an authorized city representative, to execute Closeout Change Order No. Two (2) to the Calypso Street Water Line Rupture Repairs Contract, between the City of Monroe and McLemore Service Contractors, LLC, for a decrease in the contract amount of $14,573.31 and an increase in the contract time of 48 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. 7939, authorizing an authorized city representative, to execute Closeout Change Order No. One (1) to the Grammont Tank Lighting Contract, between the City of Monroe and Womack Brothers LLC, for a decrease in the construction cost of $8,215.14 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 amending and adjusting the City of Monroe Operating Budget for the fiscal year 2020-2021. (Admin.) (There were no public comments).

Comments:

Dan Richards, Accounting, explained the operating budget.

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance 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).

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 Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt Ordinance No. 12,044, adopting a Budget of Revenues and providing for an estimate of items and expenditures for the fiscal year 2021-2022. (Admin.) (There were no public comments).

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

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt Ordinance No. 12,045, adopting a Capital Improvements Program for the City of Monroe and providing for a detailed statement of the contents for a Five (5) year period from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2026. (Admin.) (There were no public comments).

(c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt Ordinance No. 12,046, declaring the condition located beside the bar screen at the Hadley Street Sewer Pump Station an Emergency necessitating immediate repair and further providing with respect thereto. (Public Wks.)

(There were no public comments).

CITIZENS PARTICIPATION:

1. Curtis Garth inquired regarding being added to Council Agenda.

2. Anthony Merrells inquired regarding Quality of Life events and getting a permit for event.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m., upon a motion of Mr. Marshall and seconded by Ms. Woods. (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.