City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BOSSIER CITY STATE OF LOUISIANA TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 15, 2020 The City Council of the City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana, met in Regular session in Council Chambers, 620 Benton Road, Bossier City, Louisiana, December 15, 2020 at 3:00 PM Invocation was given by Council Member Scott Irwin Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Don Williams Roll Call as follows: Present: Honorable, President David Montgomery, Jr., Honorable Councilors Timothy Larkin, Scott Irwin, Jeffery Darby (virtual), Don Williams, Jeff Free and Thomas Harvey Also Present: Mayor, Lorenz Walker, City Attorney, Jimmy Hall and Acting City Clerk, Jennifer Emert Acting City Clerk, Jennifer Emert, read statement about where to watch meetings online, that some Council members may be joining remotely and gave a phone number for members of the public wishing to comment on items in the meeting could do so. Hearing no comments from the public watching virtually, the meeting continued. By: Mr. Irwin Motion to approve Minutes of the December 1, 2020, Regular Meeting and dispense with the reading Seconded by Mr. Larkin No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Irwin Motion to amend agenda to add #9 under New Business – Adopt a Resolution changing the name of “Centurylink Center Drive” to Brookshire Grocery Arena Drive. Seconded by Mr. Larkin No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Irwin Motion to approve Agenda as amended. Seconded by Mr. Larkin No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous Ceremonial Matters - Recognition of Heroism of the Bossier City Police, Bossier City Fire, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police - Council and Mayor thanked Bossier City Fire and Police, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police for their hard work and ending a recent incident peacefully and for their working together in partnership. They want to let all law enforcement and first responders that they respect them for their hard work in training and education to do the job day in and day out and that the City of Bossier supports them. They also played a voicemail from a citizen praising the law enforcement for their efforts in this incident. Unfinished Business – The following Ordinance offered and adopted: Ordinance No. 165 Of 2020 AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 400 THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE 2017 SALES TAX BOND TO FUND BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS ALONG PHASE I OF THE WALTER O. BIGBY CARRIAGEWAY.  WHEREAS, Phase 1 of the Walter O. Bigby Carriageway will be substantially complete in January of 2021, and WHEREAS, dramatic infrastructure improvements have been implemented along this corridor including traffic enhancements as well as drainage, water, and sewer enhancements, and WHEREAS, beautification efforts along this corridor will dramatically enhance the aesthetics of this gateway corridor into the City of Bossier City, and WHEREAS, there is $400 Thousand Dollars available in the 2017 Sales Tax Bond available for use towards this effort: and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that $400 thousand dollars is hereby appropriated from the 2017 Sales Tax Bond and placed into the 15BI06 WOB-Highway 80 Improvements account for beautification of the Phase 1 of Walter O. Bigby Carriageway corridor. The above and foregoing Ordinance was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Thomas Harvey, and seconded by Mr. Scott Irwin, and adopted on the 15th, day of December, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Larkin, Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ____________________________ David Montgomery, Jr., President ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Ordinance offered and adopted: Ordinance No. 166 Of 2020 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING MAYOR LORENZ WALKER TO EXECUTE THE ATTACHED CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH GINGER ADAM CORLEY, L.L.C. FOR 2021. _____________________________________________________________________________  WHEREAS, Ginger Adam Corley, L.L.C. has served as a government relations coordinator to and before the Louisiana State Legislature and state agencies, boards, and commissions and is a valuable resource in dealing with the State Legislature; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that Mayor Lorenz Walker is hereby authorized to execute the attached contract. The above and foregoing Ordinance was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Scott Irwin, and seconded by Mr. Don Williams, and adopted on the 15th, day of December, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Larkin, Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ____________________________ David Montgomery, Jr., President ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk New Business – By: Mr. Williams Motion to introduce an Ordinance approving the attached Cooperative Endeavor Agreement by and among the Red River Waterway District, the City of Bossier City and the City of Shreveport for the installation of a programmable led light system on the Texas Street Bridge and authorizing Mayor Lorenz Walker to execute the same. Seconded by: Mr. Irwin Mr. Larkin asked about adding street lights to this cooperative endeavor agreement. Mr. Williams and Mr. Irwin both addressed this issue and feel like it should be a separate agreement. Motion carries with the following votes: Yeas: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby(virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey Nays: Mr. Larkin Absent: none Abstain: none By: Mr. Irwin Motion to introduce an Ordinance approving a License and Naming Agreement between the City of Bossier City and Brookshires Grocery Company and authorizing Mayor Lorenz Walker to execute any and all documents in conjunction therewith. Seconded by Mr. Free No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Williams Motion to an Ordinance prohibiting the operation of Electric Low Speed Scooters on any Sidewalk, Bicycle Path, Public Rights of Way, Streets or Highways within the City limits of Bossier City, except Residential Areas. Seconded by Mr. Harvey No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Free Motion to an Ordinance amending Ordinance 128 of 2019 appropriating an additional $244,670.34 from the Jail and Municipal Capital Building Fund for the completion of a concrete Flood Wall for the Police Evidence and Storage Building. Seconded by Mr. Harvey City Engineer, Ben Rauschenbach, went over why this was such a substantial increase in this project. Vote in favor of motion is unanimous The following Resolution offered and adopted: RESOLUTION 102 Of 2020 A RESOLUTION TO FILL A VACANT EQUIPMENT OPERATOR I POSITION IN PUBLIC WORKS. WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2 of 2010 implemented a hiring freeze requiring Bossier City Council approval for the hiring of any personnel and Ordinance No. 21 of 2018 implemented a requirement assuring that the City department budgets not be exceeded by the hiring of any personnel and other action prohibiting the hiring of any employee receiving pay without council approval; and WHEREAS, A Equipment Operator I position is vacant in the Streets & Drainage; and WHEREAS, the administration and the department assures that all current budgets have been verified and that no authorized salary has been exceeded. NOW, THEREFORE, Public Works is hereby authorized to fill a vacant Equipment Operator I position and to backfill should a vacancy be created by transfer or promotion. The above and foregoing Resolution was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Jeff Free, and seconded by Mr. Thomas Harvey, and adopted on the 15th, day of December, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Larkin, Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ____________________________ David Montgomery, Jr., President ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Resolution offered and adopted: RESOLUTION 103 OF 2020 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. _____________________________________________________ WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 21 of 2018 implemented a requirement assuring that the City department budgets not be exceeded by any hiring of any personnel; and WHEREAS, the position of Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator is vacant due to transfer; and WHEREAS, the administration and the department assures that all current budgets have been verified and that no authorized salary has been exceeded; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the administration is authorized to proceed with hiring procedures for the fulfillment of this position. The above and foregoing Resolution was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Don Williams and seconded by Mr. Scott Irwin, and adopted on the 15th, day of December, 2020 by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Larkin, Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ________________________________ David Montgomery Jr., Council President ________________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Resolution offered and adopted: RESOLUTION 104 OF 2020 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF A PERSONNEL RECORDS CLERK FOR THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. _____________________________________________________ WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 21 of 2018 implemented a requirement assuring that the City department budgets not be exceeded by any hiring of any personnel; and WHEREAS, the position of Personnel Records Clerk is vacant due to termination; and  WHEREAS, the administration and the department assures that all current budgets have been verified and that no authorized salary has been exceeded; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the administration is authorized to proceed with hiring procedures for the fulfillment of this position. The above and foregoing Resolution was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Jeff Free and seconded by Mr. Timothy Larkin, and adopted on the 15th, day of December, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Larkin, Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ____________________________ David Montgomery, Jr., President ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Resolution offered and adopted: RESOLUTION 105 Of 2020 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF A METER READER FOR THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 21 of 2018 implemented a requirement assuring that the City department budgets not be exceeded by any hiring of any personnel; and WHEREAS, the position of a METER READER is vacant due to resignation; and WHEREAS, the administration and the department assures that all current budgets have been verified and that no authorized salary has been exceeded; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the administration is authorized to proceed with hiring procedures for the fulfillment of this position. The above and foregoing Resolution was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Don Williams, and seconded by Mr. Timothy Larkin, and adopted on the 15th, day of December, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Larkin, Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ____________________________ David Montgomery, Jr., President ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Resolution offered and adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 106 OF 2020 A RESOLUTION CHANGING THE NAME OF “CENTURYLINK CENTER DRIVE” TO “BROOKSHIRE GROCERY ARENA DRIVE” WHEREAS, the City of Bossier City and Brookshire Grocery Company have entered into a License and Naming Agreement for the arena owned by the City; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the street currently named “Centurylink Center Drive” is hereby renamed “Brookshire Grocery Arena Drive.” The above and foregoing Resolution was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Scott Irwin, and seconded by Mr. Timothy Larkin, and adopted on the 15th, day of December, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Larkin, Mr. Irwin, Mr. Darby (virtual), Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ____________________________ David Montgomery, Jr., President ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk Reports – Ben Rauschenbach, City Engineer, updated Council on status of ongoing projects within the City. He noted that there was over $151 Million in ongoing design and construction projects, over $81 Million under construction, 7 projects in design or bid phase, 23 projects under construction and 7 subdivisions in construction phase. He went thru several of the individual projects. Stacie Fernandez, City Finance Director, went over the Financial Statements for month of November 2020. She noted that sales taxes were up with the addition of the proceeds from the Audit, but if you backed the audit adjustments out the City was down 4.6 percent from the same time last year. She also noted that manpower was down 30 employees from the budgeted amount. Council thanked City Employees for all their hard work in keeping the city going even thru the pandemic. There being no further business to come before this Council, the meeting adjourned at 3:57 PM by Mr. Montgomery, Jr. Respectfully submitted: Phyllis McGraw City Clerk Publish: December 23, 2020 Bossier Press Tribune