City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BOSSIER CITY STATE OF LOUISIANA TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2024 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 13, 2024, at 3:00 PM Invocation was given by Council Member Chris Smith Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Vince Maggio Roll Call as follows: Present: Honorable Councilor, President Jeff Free, Honorable Councilors David Montgomery, Jr., Chris Smith, Brian Hammons, Jeffery Darby, Don Williams and Vince Maggio Also Present: Mayor, Thomas Chandler, Assistant City Attorney Richard Ray, City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw and Deputy City Clerk, Amyanna Germany Deputy City Clerk, Amyanna Germany read the statement about decorum during the meeting and public participation in the meeting. Ceremonial Matters/Recognition of Guests – none Approve Agenda By: Mr. Williams Motion to approve agenda. Seconded by Mr. Smith No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Williams Motion to approve minutes of the January 30, 2024, Regular Council and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Mr. Smith No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous Public Hearing/Actions on Unfinished Business – The following Ordinance offered and adopted: ORDINANCE NO. 16 OF 2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE ENGAGEMENT OF HEARD, MCELROY, & VESTAL, LLC TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO AUDIT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE FIREMEN’S PENSION AND RELIEF FUND AND POLICEMEN’S PENSION AND RELIEF FUND ______________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, Heard, McElroy, & Vestal, LLC, has conducted audits of the finances of the referenced entities in previous years; and WHEREAS, the referenced entities are required to have annual audits and prepare audited financial statements and schedules for the year ended December 31, 2023; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, that the City Council of Bossier City, in regular session convened, that Mr. Jeff Free, is hereby authorized to execute letters of engagement with Heard, McElroy, & Vestal, LLC and said letters of engagement are hereby approved. The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public input at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. David Montgomery Jr. and seconded by Mr. Chris Smith, and adopted on this the 13th, day of February, 2024. Further this Ordinance will publish on February 21, 2024, and will not become legal until 10 days following publication. AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons Mr. Darby, Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Maggio NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ______________________________ ____________________________ Jeff Free, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk Agenda item called - Adopt an Ordinance authorizing Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute an agreement between the City of Bossier City and SSA Consultants to conduct a Compensation Plan Study. Mr. Darby welcomed Cody Saucier with SSA Consultants. Mr. Saucier updated the Council on what the work will entail. Discussion between Council members and Mr. Saucier concerning previous studies performed by SSA Consultants and the timeline for completion. Mr. Saucier hopes to have the study completed by the end of May or the first part of June. The following Ordinance offered and adopted: ORDINANCE NO. 17 OF 2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING MAYOR THOMAS H. CHANDLER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSSIER CITY AND SSA CONSULTANTS TO CONDUCT A COMPENSATION PLAN STUDY. _____________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the City of Bossier City finds its necessary to secure professional consultant services to conduct a Compensation Plan Study for Bossier City; and WHEREAS, SSA Consultants was founded in 1970 and is experienced at conducting said studies and has performed numerous other studies in both the public and private sector in Louisiana; and WHEREAS, SSA Consultants had previously provided a proposal for Compensation Plan Study which included the cost to perform the Compensation Plan Study and which cost was included in the 2024 Operating Budget previously adopted; and WHEREAS, SSA Consultants has submitted an Agreement for Compensation Plan Study attached hereto as Exhibit “A” with the terms of the Compensation Plan Study which can begin immediately and will be complete no later than September 1, 2024 and that the cost will not exceed the previously budgeted estimated cost of $64,350.00; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Bossier City Council, in regular session convened that Mayor Thomas H. Chandler is hereby authorized to execute the agreement with SSA Consultants, attached hereto as Exhibit “A”, and said agreement is hereby approved. The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public input at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Brian Hammons and seconded by Mr. Vince Maggio , and adopted on this the 13th, day of February, 2024. Further this Ordinance will publish on February 21, 2024, and will not become legal until 10 days following publication. AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons Mr. Darby, Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Maggio NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ______________________________ ____________________________ Jeff Free, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Ordinance offered and adopted: Ordinance No. 18 Of 2024 AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF SIX HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($650,000.00) FROM THE 2024 EMS CAPITAL AND CONTIGENCY BUDGET FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW PUMPER FIRE TRUCK FOR THE BOSSIER CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. ______________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the Bossier City Fire Department, in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, is in need of a new pumper fire truck; and WHEREAS, this particular truck can be received approximately in June of this year; and WHEREAS, there continues to exist significant delays in the manufacturing process in addition to the ever increasing expense and cost of said type of vehicles; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to order and purchase one such vehicle and appropriate funds by execution of an immediate purchase order to ensure the availability of said vehicles and control the costs therefore; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED that the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened hereby authorizes the immediate purchase of one pumper fire truck of a make, model, and capability to be determined by the Fire Chief of the Bossier City Fire Department in the amount not to exceed six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($650,000.00). BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the 2024 EMS Capital and Contingency budget is hereby amended to increase expenditures for fire trucks by six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($650,000.00) and decrease Fund Balance by six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($650,000.00). The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public input at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Chris Smith and seconded by Mr. Vince Maggio, and adopted on this the 13th, day of February, 2024. Further this Ordinance will publish on February 21, 2024, and will not become legal until 10 days following publication. AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons Mr. Darby, Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Maggio NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ______________________________ ____________________________ Jeff Free, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Ordinance offered and adopted: ORDINANCE NO. 19 OF 2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING POSITIONS TO BE FILLED IN THE BOSSIER CITY MAINTENANCE DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AS A RESULT OF A RETIREMENT AND PROMOTIONS, TO INCREASE THE SALARIES FOR ALL MAINTENANCE DIVISION EMPLOYEES USING THE SALARY SURPLUS AVAILABLE FROM STAFFING ADJUSTMENTS AND TO AMEND THE 2024 WATER AND SEWER OPERATING BUDGETS. WHEREAS; Ordinance No. 76 of 2019 implemented a budgetary control requiring a resolution to be approved by the Bossier City Council prior to the hiring or employment of any individual receiving wages, compensation, or remuneration for labor including temporary or contractual employment; and WHEREAS, the position of Assistant Superintendent is vacant due to retirement, the positions of Foreman 1 will be vacant due to promotion, and Utility Worker 1 will be vacant due to promotion; and WHEREAS; the promotion to the vacant Assistant Superintendent will be at a salary of $43,390.36, the promotion to the vacant Foreman 1 position will be at a salary of $34,019.96, and the vacant Utility Worker 1 position due to promotion will be at a salary of $31,200; and WHEREAS; Filling the Clerk Typist II position at a lower salary due to a termination and backfilling the vacant Utility Worker 1 position at lower salary left a salary surplus of $12,825.54; and WHEREAS; this surplus will be used to increase the salaries of two (2) Foreman positions to $32,600 increasing the total budgeted salaries for both of these positions by $3,190.52; and WHEREAS; the remaining surplus of $9,635.02 will be divided evenly among the remaining nine (9) staff members in the Maintenance Division including six (6) Utility Workers, two (2) Foreman, and one (1) Clerk Typist; and  BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the 2024 Water Fund Budget is hereby amended to increase Department 64 Transmission and Distribution Salaries and Benefits by 8,627 and decrease Fund Balance By 8,627 and the 2024 Sewer Fund Budget is hereby amended to decrease Department 73 Sewer Collections Salaries and Benefits by 8,627 and increase Fund Balance by 8,627. The amendments result in a net neutral change to the Salaries and Benefits line item of the funds with no impact to the existing 2024 budget. WHEREAS; all the aforementioned budget amendments and adjustments in existing salaries of these positions combined will result in a net neutral impact to the 2024 operating budget. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, in regular session convened by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, that the Maintenance Division within the Public Utility Department is hereby authorized to implement the proposed staffing and salary changes and budget amendments. The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public input at open and legal session convened, was on motion of Mr. Don Williams and seconded by Mr. Jeffery Darby, and adopted on this the 13th, day of February, 2024. Further this Ordinance will publish on February 21, 2024, and will not become legal until 10 days following publication. AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons Mr. Darby, Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Maggio NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none ______________________________ ____________________________ Jeff Free, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk New Business – By: Mr. Smith Motion to introduce an Ordinance authorizing Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute the attached Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of Bossier City and the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. Seconded by Mr. Darby No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Williams Motion to introduce an Ordinance to amend the 2023 State and Federal Grants Fund and Riverboat Gaming Trust Fund budgets in accordance with the Local Government Budget Act. Seconded by Mr. Maggio Audience member, Tamara Crane and Finance Director, Angela Williamson discussed reason for budget amendment. No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous Agenda item called - Adopt a Resolution to adopt the Five-Year Capital Projects Plan. Audience members David Crockett and Tamara Crane asked questions about the plan and where funding would come from. Mr. Hammons also asked questions about the plan. CAO, Amanda Nottingham responded to questions and noted that most was a wish list projects and that for those, no funds have been appropriated. Council members asked Administration to provide a list and breakdown of funds for projects in the list that have been appropriated. The following Ordinance offered and adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 11 OF 2024 A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PROJECTS PLAN ______________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, Section 6.09 of the Bossier City Charter requires adoption of a five-year capital improvement projects program; and  NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the attached Five Year Capital Projects Plan for 2024- 2028 is hereby adopted. The above and foregoing Resolution was discussed and opened for public input at open and legal session convened, was on motion Mr. Don Williams and seconded by Mr. Vince Maggio, and adopted on the 13th, day of February 2024, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons, Mr. Darby, Mr. Williams, Mr. Free and Mr. Maggio NAYS: none ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none _____________________________________ Jeff Free, President ______________________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk By: Mr. Smith Motion to approve Parade Permit Fee waiver for Waller's Mardi Gras Parade, February 13, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Maggio No comments Vote in favor of motion is unanimous Reports – Update on CNG Stations and old Oil Change facility- Assistant City Attorney, Richard Ray updated the Council on the appraisals for the city owned fuel stations and city owned oil change facility purchased during Bigby Carriageway property acquisition. Properties will be declared surplus by Ordinance and advertised for sale for no less than the appraised value. Discussion between Council Members and Mr. Ray on the process. Update on Litigation: The City of Bossier City v. Stephanie Agee, Bossier Registrar of Voters, et.al., Bossier Parish, Louisiana, Docket #171164 – Mr. Ray reviewed the history of the case and updated the Council on the status of the above lawsuit. The presiding Judge ruled that the petition form was flawed due to petitioner’s date of births not be included along with their signatures as required by State law and that the petition should have not been certified. Will provide more updates as they become available. Mayor Chandler wished everyone a Happy Mardi Gras and informed them of the final parade for the season. He also discussed the recent groundbreaking on the Chasing Aces Project, the upcoming graduation for the newest class of Firefighters and the Unity Run that the recruits just completed. Mayor also thanked the Council and reported things are going well in Bossier City. There being no further business to come before this Council, Council President Free adjourned the meeting at 3:37PM Respectfully submitted: ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk Publish February 21, 2024