City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BOSSIER CITY STATE OF LOUISIANA TAKEN AT A SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 The City Council of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana, met in Special session in Council Chambers, 620 Benton Road, Bossier City, Louisiana, September 15, 2020, at 3:00 PM Mr. Montgomery, Jr., called the meeting to order. Invocation was given by Council Member Scott Irwin Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Don Williams City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw, read the following statement: Bossier City Council Meetings will still be streamed live at our website http://bossiercity.org, under City Council section and Suddenlink Channel 12. In accordance with LA. R.S. 42:19 and the Attorney Generals Open Meetings Guidance, in order to meet quorum requirements, some Bossier City Council Members may be involved in the meeting via telephone or Video Conference. If anyone is uncomfortable in coming to this meeting they are welcome to call 318- 549-4595 at this time for public comments on any Agenda Item in accordance with recently passed Act 302. You must state your name and address for the record and you will be limited to 3 minutes for your comments. We will allow 5 for an item and 5 against an item in accordance with Adopted City Council Meeting Rules. Please remember that this is not a question and answer session and that you must speak clearly and slowly so that we can understand you. Please no foul language or the call will be disconnected and you will forfeit your right to speak. Roll Call as follows: Present: Honorable, President Scott Irwin, Honorable Councilors David Montgomery, Jr., Jeffery Darby (conference call), Don Williams, Jeff Free and Thomas Harvey Absent: Honorable Timothy Larkin Also Present: Mayor, Lorenz Walker, City Attorney, Jimmy Hall and City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw By: Mr. Williams Motion to approve Agenda. Seconded by Mr. Irwin No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous Unfinished Business – The following resolution was offered by Mr. Scott Irwin and seconded by Mr. Jeff Free: RESOLUTION 75 of 2020 A resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, August 15, 2020, to authorize the continuation of a special tax therein. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the "City"), that:  SECTION 1. Canvass. This Governing Authority does now proceed in open and public session to examine the official tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana, on SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2020 (the “Election”), to authorize the continuation of a special tax therein pursuant to the following proposition (the “Proposition”): PROPOSITION (MILLAGE CONTINUATION) Shall the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the “City”), be authorized to continue to levy and collect a special tax of six and nineteen hundredths (6.19) mills on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $3,900,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2021 and ending with the year 2030, for the purpose of operating and maintaining, including salary adjustments, the Fire and Police Departments of the City, said millage to represent a nineteen hundredths (.19) of a mill increase over the 6 mills authorized to be levied through the year 2020 pursuant to an election held on May 1, 2010? This Governing Authority does further proceed to examine and canvass the returns of the Election thereof. SECTION 2. Election Results. According to the official certified tabulation of votes cast at said Election, there was a total of 2,981 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition and a total of 1,400 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition, resulting in a majority of 1,581 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition. The Proposition was therefore duly CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the Election. SECTION 3. Promulgation of Election Result. The results of said election shall be promulgated by publication in the manner provided by law, only after receipt from the Secretary of State’s office of the actual costs of the election, as required by Act 205 of the Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana for the year 2019. SECTION 4. Declaration. The foregoing results of the Election are hereby declared by this Governing Authority and shall be published as required by law. SECTION 5. Procès Verbal. A Procès Verbal of the canvass of the returns of the Election shall be made and a certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who shall record the same in his office; another certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Recorder of Mortgages in and for the Parish of Bossier, who shall record the same in the Mortgage Records of said Parish; and another copy thereof shall be retained in the archives of this Governing Authority.  This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows: YEAS: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: Mr. Larkin And the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 15th day of September, 2020. /s/ Phyllis McGraw /s/ David Montgomery, Jr. City Clerk President PROCÈS VERBAL OF THE CANVASS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE CITY OF BOSSIER CITY, STATE OF LOUISIANA, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2020. BE IT KNOWN AND REMEMBERED that on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at 3:00 p.m., at its regular meeting place, the City Hall, 620 Benton Road, Bossier City, Louisiana, the City Council of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the "City"), and being the authority ordering the special election held therein on Saturday, August 15, 2020, with the following members present: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey; There being absent: Mr. Larkin; did, in open and public session, examine the official certified tabulations of votes cast at the said election, and did examine and canvass the returns of the said election, there having been submitted at said election the following proposition, to wit: PROPOSITION (MILLAGE CONTINUATION) Shall the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the “City”), be authorized to continue to levy and collect a special tax of six and nineteen hundredths (6.19) mills on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $3,900,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2021 and ending with the year 2030, for the purpose of operating and maintaining, including salary adjustments, the Fire and Police Departments of the City, said millage to represent a nineteen hundredths (.19) of a mill increase over the 6 mills authorized to be levied through the year 2020 pursuant to an election held on May 1, 2010? There was found by said count and canvass that there was a total of 2,981 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition and a total of 1,400 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition, as hereinabove set forth, and that there was a majority of 1,581 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition as hereinabove set forth. Therefore, the Governing Authority did declare and proclaim and does hereby declare and proclaim in open and public session that the Proposition as hereinabove set forth was duly CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the said special election held in the City on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Results by precinct are available from the City Clerk of this Governing Authority during regular business hours or via the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website (voterportal.sos.la.gov). Exhibit "A" attached hereto and made a part of this Procès Verbal is a copy of the Notice of Special Election and proof of publication thereof. THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Bossier City, Louisiana, on this, the 15th day of September, 2020. ATTEST: /s/ David Montgomery, Jr. President /s/ Phyllis McGraw City Clerk EXHIBIT "A" NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the "City"), on January 7, 2020, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the City on SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the City qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, to-wit: PROPOSITION (MILLAGE CONTINUATION) Shall the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the “City”), be authorized to continue to levy and collect a special tax of six and nineteen hundredths (6.19) mills on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $3,900,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2021 and ending with the year 2030, for the purpose of operating and maintaining, including salary adjustments, the Fire and Police Departments of the City, said millage to represent a nineteen hundredths (.19) of a mill increase over the 6 mills authorized to be levied through the year 2020 pursuant to an election held on May 1, 2010? The said special election shall be held at the polling place for the following precincts, which polls will open at seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, to wit: PRECINCTS 01-01 01-02 01-03 01-03A 01-03B(PART) 01-04(PART) 01-05 02-02 02-03 02-03A 02-04-1 02-04-2 02-05A 02-06(PART) 02-07 02-08 02-09(PART)  02-10 02-11 02-11A 02-12A 02-12B 02-12C 02-13 02-14 02-15 02-16 02-16A 02-17A(PART) 02-17B 02-18C(PART) 02-19 02-20 02-21A(PART) 02-21B(PART) 02-21C-1(PART) 02-21C-2(PART) 02-21D-1(PART) 02-21D-2(PART) 04-08A(PART) 04-08B-1(PART) 04-08B-2(PART) 04-08C(PART) 04-08D 04-08F(PART) 04-10-1(PART) 04-10-2(PART) 04-11C(PART) The polling places for the precincts set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioner-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law. The estimated cost of this election as determined by the Secretary of State based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of Title 18 and actual costs of similar elections is $64,000.  Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the tax described in the Proposition shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law. The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6-A of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, the City Hall, 620 Benton Road, Bossier City, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020, at THREE O'CLOCK (3:00) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters of the City are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used. THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Bossier City, Louisiana, on this, the 7th day of January, 2020. ATTEST: /s/ David Montgomery, Jr. President /s/ Phyllis McGraw City Clerk PROCLAMATION I, the undersigned President of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana (the "City"), do hereby declare, proclaim and announce that the Proposition submitted at the special election held in the City on Saturday, August 15, 2020, was CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast at the said special election, all as described and set out in the above Procès Verbal. THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Bossier City, Louisiana, on this, the 15th day of September, 2020. /s/David Montgomery, Jr. President New Business – By: Mr. Williams Motion to approve Report of Change Order #7 for the NE WWTP Improvement Project for an increase of $155,331.62. Total of contract with Change Order $13,377,529.98. Seconded by Mr. Irwin No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous There being no further business to come before this Council, the meeting adjourned at 3:07PM by Mr. Montgomery, Jr. Respectfully submitted: Phyllis McGraw City Clerk Publish: September 23, 2020 Bossier Press Tribune