City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOSSIER CITY COUNCIL – COMMUNITY NEEDS COMMITTEE/ COALITION TAKEN AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, APRIL 24, 2023 – 10:15 AM The Bossier City Council Committee – Community Needs Committee/Coalition met for their first meeting in Council Chambers, 620 Benton Road, Bossier City, Louisiana, April 24, 2023 at 10:15 AM Committee Chair and Council President Jeffery Darby called the meeting to order. Committee Members present: Council Members Jeffery Darby, Vince Maggio and Don Williams Also Present: Council Members – Don Williams and Brian Hammons CAO- Amanda Nottingham City Clerk – Phyllis McGraw Finance Director – Angela Williamson Bossier Council on Aging – Tamara Crane, Stephanie Jackson & Debra Koch Chamber of Commerce – Lisa Johnson United Way 211 – Louise Droddy and Kimberly Williams Bossier Sheriff’s Department – Tina Fuge Neighborhood advocate – Katherine Cooper Mr. Darby thanked everyone for attending and gave brief overview of Committee and had each audience member to introduce themselves. Mr. Williams reported that architect plans came to $7.5 Million but that currently the city only has $3.5 earmarked for project. Ms. Crane explained current building situation for Council on Aging and their current staffing situation. She also explained that they were a Quasi-governmental agency and also a non-profit. She noted that the facility would like to stay in Central Bossier so that all citizen’s needs could be met without the need for multiple locations. She also reported on numbers served before Covid, during Covid and currently with their food program. She noted that her board was able to set aside $700,000 for Capital Outlay to go towards building, furniture or vehicle purchases. She reported that she had been approached by Police Jury Member Gray about possibly using the current Central Library facility when the new library is finished. Ms. Williamson reported that up to $4 Million from the 2018 LCDA Bond Fund could be used but that other funds from that bond were tied up on other projects. Ms. Droddy reported on increase in homelessness. She reported top 3 needs in Bossier Parish are Housing, Utility Assistance and Food. Mr. Darby asked if she noticed if there was an increase in homelessness and feeding assistance needs. Ms. Jackson reported on churches that offer groceries at their locations. She also reported that they may only service one homelessness person per week for food assistance. Mr. Darby reported on his wish to incorporate a temporary extreme weather shelter and feeding center into project if funding was available. He understands sometimes homeless visitors may linger or have mental illness that could cause problems. He knows that additional staffing and security would be needed. Mr. Smith reported on loss of life due to extreme cold in 2020 storm. He reported that any weather center would be city run and not by Council on Aging. Mr. Darby hopes the City may be able to possibly expand the space to offer this service. Ms. Crane expressed concerns on comfort, safety and security of seniors. She noted that seniors usually come to the Council on Aging during extreme weather to reduce strain on their utility bills. She reported on issues they currently experience with homeless clients and fears some seniors would not participate if they felt uncomfortable. Ms. Jackson reported that she also has concerns of decline in use of the Council on Aging if the homeless population were present. She worries about putting those two types of facilities together. Ms. Johnson thanked Committee for being forward thinking and offered various organizations for inclusion in discussions and possible partnerships for facilities. Such as Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission, have they looked at Bossier expansion? She also recommends speaking to Bossier Parish Schools to see what the homeless population is in the school system. Documentation from Bossier Community Services to see what the needs are and what those programs are already doing. What type of partnership or expansion could be looked at? Mr. Darby reported that he already had on his list to do research on other services including mental health. Ms. Fuge’ reported that on issues that were expressed from current homeless client at Council on Aging, the Police Department may need to be called to get involved and that anyone displaying this type of behavior may benefit from mental evaluation. She also reported that Hope Connection in Shreveport offers a great service for the homeless population. Mr. Darby is not wanting the City to provide full time care, only during severe weather events. He hopes to get churches to commit to help with staffing weather shelter as well as a feeding station. Discussion continued with Committee and audience members on trigger events for weather shelter needs. Ms. Crane discussed what their facility did during the extreme winter weather and questioned what would happen to the extra space when not in use. Mr. Smith and Mr. Williams spoke on space required for shelter and possible uses when not needed for weather events. Ms. Droddy discussed what City of Shreveport does during these extreme weather events. She reported that Hope Connection did a lot as well. She noted that Sportran buses can bus anyone for free to Christian Services for 2 free meals a day. She discussed other services #211 has available. Ms. Crane asked about brainstorming to see what type of partnerships exist that may be duplicated or resemblance of each other. Could there be some combining of facilities and programs to streamline and possible refocus on staff. Mr. Darby asked her to spearhead that. Ms. Johnson reported that would involve including Bossier Parish Police Jury. Mr. Darby asked them to bring back more information on this to discuss it openly. Mr. Darby reported that he did invite Police Jury member but they may have had a conflict. He will do his homework on other facilities that offer services he is looking at. Council will continue looking at funding. He will also ask Police Department on incidences on homelessness and issues arising from that. Mr. Hammons asked Ms. Crane about if Police has been called on the homeless person causing issues at the Council on Aging facility. He also asked if there was a commitment from Police Jury Member Gray when he offered the library facility to the Council on Aging. Ms. Crane reported that there wasn’t a formal commitment and that she hasn’t been able to inspect space to see what it would need to house the Council on Aging Offices. Mr. Smith reported that he isn’t sure the library would meet their needs without lots of expensive repairs. He noted that the City and Parish has property available that might be a better fit. He also thinks the Police Jury should match the City’s investment since Parish citizens benefit from the Council on Aging as well. Possibly allowing for more money for other projects. Also look at further funding from State and Federal programs. Ms. Johnson reported that she thinks the Police Jury already has a plan for the current library facility. Mr. Darby also thinks there are already plans for the library. Mr. Crane will look at what organizations are based in Bossier and how they service citizens and invite them to participate in the next meeting. She also spoke on Renesting Project in Bossier and offered to invite them. She asks if Bossier Parks has those capabilities like SPAR does? Ms. Nottingham reported there isn’t any facilities in Bossier Parks that could accommodate like SPAR does. Mr. Darby thanked everyone for their participation and reported that the City Clerk would notify everyone when the next meeting is set up. There being no further business to come before this Committee, Committee Chair Darby adjourned the meeting at 11:15 AM Respectfully submitted: Phyllis McGraw City Clerk Publish: May 3, 2023 Bossier Press Tribune