City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BOSSIER CITY STATE OF LOUISIANA TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 2, 2021 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, February 2, 2021 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 City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw, 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 January 19, 2021, Regular Meeting and dispense with the reading Seconded by Mr. Larkin No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Williams Motion to approve Agenda. Seconded by Mr. Free No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous Unfinished Business – The following Ordinance offered and adopted: Ordinance No. 12 Of 2020 AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE RISK MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF BOSSIER CITY TO BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. WHEREAS, the Risk Management Division has a significant impact on the finances of the City of Bossier City and as such requires the supervision of a CPA; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the Bossier City Council requires the Risk Management Division for the City of Bossier City by assigned to the Director of Finance.  The above and foregoing Ordinance 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 2nd day of February, 2021, 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. 13 OF 2021 AN ORDINANCE APPROPIATING $55,000 FROM THE 2021 SALES TAX CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND TO PURCHASE AN ASHPALT PATCHING TRAILER _______________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, patching multiple small repairs is made more difficult by the scattered nature of such repairs; and WHEREAS, current hauling methods do not allow material to be kept at working temperatures; and WHEREAS, purchasing this item will expedite patching when required and improve the quality of the material placement. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED $55,000 is hereby approved to be transferred from the referenced fund contingency to Public Works-Streets and Drainage Capital purchases. The above and foregoing Ordinance was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion by Mr. Timothy Larkin, and second by Mr. Don Williams, and adopted on the 2nd day of February, 2021, 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. 14 Of 2021 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING MAYOR LORENZ WALKER TO EXECUTE THE ATTACHED PREDIAL SERVITUDE AGREEMENT. WHEREAS, CenterPoint needs to re-route a gas line in or around the Walter O. Bigby Carriageway Project; and WHEREAS, the property is currently owned and maintained by the City of Bossier City; and WHEREAS, the benefit of this servitude outweighs the compensation that we would receive in exchange for the rights conveyed in this servitude; and WHEREAS, the property is further described in Exhibit “A” and Exhibit “B” of this ordinance; and WHEREAS, CenterPoint Energy needs the City of Bossier City to donate a permanent predial servitude to access the area for repairs, maintenance, and installation of the new re-routed gas line; 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 “Predial Servitude Agreement”; The above and foregoing Ordinance was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Don Williams, and seconded by Mr. Jeff Free, and adopted on the 2nd day of February, 2021, 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 – The following ordinance offered and adopted: ORDINANCE NO. 15 OF 2021  AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 OF 2018 TO CHANGE THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION LOTS 4, 5A, 5B AND LOT 6 OF W. J. SANFORD SUBDIVISION ALL LOCATED IN SECTION 9, TOWNSHIP 18 NORTH, RANGE 12 WEST, Wheras, the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session covenened, March 6, 2018, that ordinance 20 of 2018 was passed with an error in the legal description that read Lots 4, 5A, 5B and Lot 6 of W. J. Sanford Subdivision all located in Section 9, Township 18 North, Range 13 West; Wheras, the corrected legal description is listed as the following: Lot 2, Block E, Whittington Park Subdivision NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened and a motion was made by Mr. Scott Irwin and seconded by Mr. Timothy Larkin to adopt the above Ordinance on the 2nd day of February, 2021, 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 C-58-17 By: Mr. Free Motion to introduce an Ordinance appropriating Four Hundred Thousand and No/100 ($400,000.00) from the 2021 EMS Capital and Contingency Fund to purchase 5 stretchers and power loaders and other necessary medical supplies. Seconded by Mr. Harvey Mr. Montgomery commended the Fire Chief and administration on being fiscally responsible and having funds available for projects like these. No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Williams Motion to introduce an Ordinance to fund replacement of Bruce Street Force Main at a cost of $95,000.00 to come from the Sewer Capital & Contingency Fund. Seconded by Mr. Irwin No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous The following Resolution offered and adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 5 OF 2021 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BEN RAUSCHENBACH TO SIGN ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS FOR THE CITY OF BOSSIER CITY AS ENGINEER AND TO RECEIVE SENSITIVE INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF CITY OF BOSSIER.  __________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has raised the question of the signature authority of Ben Rauschenbach and his authority to receive sensitive information; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Bossier, in regular session convened, that Ben Raschenbach is hereby authorized to sign any and all documents for the City of Bossier as City Engineer and he is further authorized to conduct, manage, transact, or receive any and all information form any agency or entity transacting business with the City of Bossier City. 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 2nd day of February, 2021, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Larkin, Mr. Irwin, Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Harvey NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: Mr. Darby (Virtual) ______________________________________ David Montgomery, Jr., President ______________________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Ordinance offered and adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 6 OF 2021 RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REPORT OF RECONCILIATION FOR THE EASTBANK RESTROOM PROJECT, ORDINANCE 94 OF 2019, WITH A DECREASE IN PROJECT COST OF $45,000. WHEREAS; Ordinance No. 94 of 2019 appropriated $500,000.00 for the commissioning of a new restroom in the Eastbank District and WHEREAS; the total project costs, including an increase in Contract price to Boggs and Pool Contracting Group via Change Order No. 3 in the amount of $3,237.50 left a surplus of funds in Ordinance 94 of 2019 of 45,000; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in regular session convened that the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, agrees to amend the Construction Contract for an increase in price of $3,237.50 and that even with these increases there will be a surplus of $45,000 in funding for this project as described. The above and foregoing Resolution of Report was read in full at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Thomas Harvey, and seconded by Mr. Timothy Larkin, and adopted on the 2nd day of February, 2021, 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: RESOLUTION NO. 7 OF 2021 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REPORT OF RECONCILIATION FOR THE FIELD OF DREAMS RESTROOMS PROJECT, ORDINANCE 104 OF 2019, WITH A DECREASE IN PROJECT COST OF $150,000.00. WHEREAS; Ordinance No. 104 of 2019 appropriated $850,000.00 for the commissioning of a new restroom at the Field of Dreams park and WHEREAS; the total project costs, including an increase in Contract price to Boggs and Pool Contracting Group via Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $23,007.21 left a surplus of funds in Ordinance 104 of 2019 of 150,000; and WHEREAS; seventy-three (73) additional days were added to the contract via Change Order No. 1. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in regular session convened that the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, agrees to amend the Construction Contract for an increase in price of $23,007.21 and an increase of seventy-three (73) days, and that even with these increases there will be a surplus of $150,000 in funding for this project as described. The above and foregoing Resolution of Report 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 2nd, day of February, 2021, 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. 8 OF 2021 A RESOLUTION CHANGING THE NAME OF “DIXIE OVERLAND ROAD” TO “SILVER STAR WAY” WHEREAS, the only business located on Dixie Overland Road is Silver Star Smokehouse; and WHEREAS, the owner of the business has requested this name change; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the street currently named “Dixie Overland Road” is hereby renamed “Silver Star Way.” 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 2nd day of February, 2021, 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 9 Of 2021 A RESOLUTION TO FILL A LABORER I POSITION IN THE PUBLIC WORKS 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, a Laborer I position is vacant due to a termination; 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, be it ordained the administration is hereby authorized to fill a vacant Laborer I position in the Street Sweeping and Grass Cutting Division. 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 2nd day of February, 2021, 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 10 Of 2021 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE USE OF CITY WATER AND SEWER TO SERVE THE CANAL PLACE ESTATES DEVELOPMENT. WHEREAS; Canal Place Estates is a residential development located outside the Bossier City limits; and WHEREAS; it is requested for permission for the City of Bossier City to serve the development with water and sewer; and WHEREAS; all permit fees, impact fees, and all other rules and regulations shall apply; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the Bossier City Council resolves to approve the use of city water and sewer to serve the Canal Place Estates Development; 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 2nd day of February, 2021, 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: RESOLUTION NO. 11 OF 2021 RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REPORT OF RECONCILIATION FOR THE MACK’S BAYOU REHABILITATION PROJECT, ORDINANCE 50 OF 2020, WITH A DECREASE IN PROJECT COST OF $223,924.73. WHEREAS; Ordinance No. 50 of 2020 appropriated $700,000.00 to come from the 2019 River Boat Capital Projects Fund and $420,000.00 to come from the 2014 Utility Bond Issue for the commissioning of Mack’s Bayou Rehab and WHEREAS; the total project costs, including a decrease in Contract price to Yor- Wic Construction via Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $(65,260.48) left a surplus of funds in Ordinance 50 of 2020 of $223,924.73; and WHEREAS; one (1) day was deducted from to the contract via Change Order No. 1. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in regular session convened that the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, agrees to amend the Construction Contract for a decrease in price of $(65,260.48) and an decrease of one (1) day, and there will be a surplus of $223,924.73 in funding for this project as described. The above and foregoing Resolution and Report 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 2nd day of February, 2021, 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 Rodney Taylor, Permits and Inspections Supervisor, gave the Council an update on the implementation of new Software for his department. Council agreed they are looking forward to people being able to apply for inspections online. Mr. Taylor also reported that he now has 5 Certified Building Officials in the department which should help streamline processes as well. There being no further business to come before this Council, the meeting adjourned at 3:20 PM by Mr. Montgomery, Jr. Respectfully submitted: Phyllis McGraw City Clerk Publish: February 10, 2021 Bossier Press Tribune