City of Monroe, LA

Monroe City Council Legal and Regular Session

November 10, 2020

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, November 10, 2020 at the Council's regular meeting place, 400 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, City Council Chambers/City Hall Building, Monroe, Louisiana.    

The Honorable Carday Marshall Sr., Vice-Chairman called the meeting to order.  He asked prayers for Chairman Harvey due to his having been tested positive for Covid.

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

Council members present for roll call: Mrs. Gretchen Ezernack, Ms. Juanita Woods, Mr. Carday Marshall Sr., Mrs. Kema Dawson.

Council member(s) absent: Mr. Douglas Harvey.

Vice-Chairman Marshall declared a quorum. 

The Invocation was led by Ms. Woods  designee, Rev. A.B. Johnson, Rose of Sharon Baptist Church; Ms. Woods led the Pledge of Allegiance.     

          COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

          1. Mrs. Ezernack welcomed each one present and thanked them for their attendance.

          2. Ms. Woods thanked Rev. Johnson for the prayer; she congratulated President elect Joe Biden and Vice                       President elect Kamal Harris on their win; she thanked the Administration for the closure of the old city dump                         and for the concern of the community. She spoke regarding a meeting of concern for the crime in Parkview and                    there are good things in place to address Parkview and other Standard Enterprises properties.

          3. Mr. Marshall thanked everyone for being present; he encouraged everyone to be cautious and courteous as it           relates to Covid.

          4. Mrs. Dawson thanked everyone for joining the Council meeting; she thanked the community for their support           of the cleaning up of the zoo; Councilwoman spoke regarding Parkview and her meetings with the Mayor and           Administration and there is a plan of solutions being implemented in the area; she asked that citizens would be           careful and safe as it relates to Covid.  She asked that we would be careful of the words that are spoken to each           other, because what goes around it comes back around.

          5. Mayor Ellis thanked everyone for their attendance. He thanked the Veterans for their service to the Country; he      acknowledged the 245^th birthday for the Marines.  Mayor Ellis thanked the City employees for their work and           dedication. He acknowledged Chief Eugene Ellis presented him with a letter of accommodation and his work           as Interim Chief of Police when he was voted in as the new Mayor.

Upon a motion of Mrs. Dawson and a second by Mrs. Ezernack, the minutes of the Legal and Regular session of  October 27, 2020  were unanimously approved. (There were no public comments).

PRESENTATION:     NONE.

          PUBLIC HEARINGS:     NONE.

PROPOSED CONDEMNATIONS:      Public Comment:

1.  710 Peach Street (D4) (Owner-Emmanual (NMI) Thomas)  Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 90 days or February 11, 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 shown by PUD Director, Ellen Hill and discussion on the property’s condition was made. Mr. Thomas, owner of property was present and spoke regarding the property.

2.  903 South 2^nd Street (D4) (Owner-Diana Bates Dyer) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 60 days or January 11, 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 was shown by PUD Director, Ellen Hill and discussion on the property’s condition was made. There was service. Mr. Marshall did call her but couldn’t reach her by phone.  Mrs. Hill said this was one of several of her properties in this shape.  Mrs. Dawson asked how long this property had been in this shape and Mrs. Hill said it burned three years ago and neighbors are calling about the condition of the property.  Mrs. Sturdivant said Mr. Creekbaum has been dealing with this property for some time.

3.  315 Morris Avenue (D5) (Owner-Toni Lasonia Presley) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved for item to be removed from the agenda.  (There were no public comments).

4.  3810 Dick Taylor Street (D4) (Owner-Kevin & Angela Ellis) Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 120 days or March 11, 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 shown by PUD Director, Ellen Hill. And discussion on the property’s condition was made. Mr. Ellis, owner of property was present and spoke regarding the property.

5.  302 Egan Street (D4) (Owner-Lagniappe Investors 102 LLC)  Upon a motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved for property owner to be given 90 days or February 11, 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 was shown by PUD Director, Ellen Hill and discussion on the property’s condition was made.

6.  321 Bell Street (D3) (Owner-JLL Properties, Jeff Guerriero and Joe D. Guerriero)  Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved for item to be removed from the agenda until November 24, 2020 meeting.  (There were no public comments).

    ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF BIDS:        Public Comment       None.

         RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTE ENTRIES:      

Council:           Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second  by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7839, approving the appointment of Marty Campbell to the Southside Economic Development District Board and further providing with respect thereto. (Dawson)

Comments:  Mr. Marty Campbell came forward and introduced himself.  Councilwomen Dawson and Woods thanked Mr. Campbell for his willingness to serve.

          Department of Administration:         Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Consider an Application by Jamario Hill dba The Cookout, 1301 North 18^th Street, Monroe, LA 71201 for a New 2020 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 Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Consider fourteen (14) 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 Ms. Woods, second  by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Consider thirteen (13) Renewal Applications for a New 2021 Class B Alcoholic Beverage Permit.  The Monroe Police Department has no disqualifying records and Sales Tax has been approved. (There were no public comments).

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

Department of Planning & Urban Development:           Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution 7840, authorizing the City of Monroe to advertise for bids to purchase and install Temperature Scanner Kiosks, 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 Ms. Woods, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution 7841, confirming the appointment of Dr. Harrington Watson, III to the Southside Economic Development District Board of Commissioners and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

Comments:  Mayor Ellis thanked Dr. Watson for his service as an Educator and for his willingness to serve on the SEDD Board; Council also thanked Dr. Watson for his willingness to serve.

Department of Public Works:    Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7842, authorizing the purchase of 1 Heavy Duty Bus for the Monroe Transit System from Baton Rouge Contract #2015-009 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. 7843, adopting the finding of the Environment Audit by the Department of Environmental Quality for the State of Louisiana and further providing with respect thereto.  (There were no public comments).

Department of Community Affairs:    Public Comment:      None.

Police Department:      Public Comment:

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7844, authorizing a designated city representative to accept and execute an agreement with the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement to accept funding in the amount of $43,810.00 for the DARE Program 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 Adopt Resolution No. 7845, accepting as substantially complete work done by and between the City of Monroe and Womack Brothers, LLC, for the Grammont Tank Lighting Project, and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments).

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7846, accepting the base bid of ­­­­­­­­­­­CW&W Contractors, Inc., in the amount $547,535.00, for the North 18^th Street Rehabilitation Project, and further authorizing an authorized city representative, to enter into and execute a contract for said work. (There were no public comments).

(c) Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Ms. Woods and unanimously approved to Adopt Resolution No. 7847, authorizing an authorized city representative, to execute Change Order No. Three (3) to the Kansas Lane Extension Clearing & Grubbing Contract, between the City of Monroe and LaDotd for an increase in the contract amount of $55,415.86 and an increase in the contract time of 45 days 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 an authorized city representative, to enter into and execute a Professional Services Agreement with S. E. Huey Company, to provide engineering services for the enhancement projects on Jackson Street & Winnsboro Road 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 Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance accepting the donation of real property into the City of Monroe from Marcus A. Drummer, and further providing with respect thereto. (Legal) (There were no public comments).

(b) ADD-ON:  Upon a motion by Mrs. Ezernack, second by Mrs. Dawson and unanimously approved to add to the agenda to Introduce an Ordinance adopting and amending the zoning map for the City of Monroe, Louisiana 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 Introduce an Ordinance adopting and amending the zoning map for the City of Monroe, Louisiana and further providing with respect thereto.  (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: Vice-Chairman Marshall opened the public hearing:

      1.  Mr. Lamar Spencer, asked if new businesses would receive waivers; Mrs. Sturdivant said the ordinance was       for current class A license holders who timely paid their licenses last year; paid the full amount of the license and            were unable to operate for the majority of the year.  Mayor Ellis said the State was already doing this and the City           is doing it on a local level to give the business owners some relief.

      Seeing no one else come forward, the hearing was closed. 

(a) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt  Ordinance No. 12, 025, declaring a one-time Waiver of Class A License Fees for Bars and Nightclubs that were unable to open during the covid-19 pandemic and further providing with respect thereto.(Mayor)

(There were no public comments).

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

(b) Upon a motion by Mrs. Dawson, second by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Finally Adopt  Ordinance No. 12, 026, accepting the Donation of sewer improvements built on a public right of way from CBS Interest, LLC and further providing with respect thereto. (Eng.) 

(There were no public comments).

Citizen’s Participation

1.  Arnita Spencer, citizen spoke regarding the loudness of the train near her home; trees around powerlines; thanked the City for picking up trash.

2.  Lamar Spencer, citizen, spoke regarding replacing of culverts.   

          There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m., upon a            motion of Ms. Woods and seconded by Mrs. Dawson.  (There were no public comments).

Mr. Carday Marshall, Sr.

Council Vice-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