City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BOSSIER CITY STATE OF LOUISIANA TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING JUNE 17, 2025 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, June 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM Council President, Don Williams called the meeting to order. Invocation was given by Council Member Chris Smith Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Jeff Free Roll Call as follows: Present: Honorable Councilor, President Don Williams, Honorable Councilors David Montgomery, Jr., Chris Smith, Brian Hammons, and Jeff Free Absent: Honorable Councilors Jeffery Darby and Vince Maggio Also Present: Mayor, Thomas Chandler, City Attorney, Charles Jacobs, and City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw read the statement about decorum during the meeting and public participation in the meeting. City Council members Chris Smith and Brian Hammons along with Mayor Chandler recognized and honored the outgoing City Council members David Montgomery, Jr, Jeffery Darby, Don Williams and Jeff Free. Mr. Montgomery exited the meeting at 3:21 PM. By: Mr. Smith Motion to approve the agenda Seconded by Mr. Hammons No Comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Smith Motion to approve Minutes of June 3, 2025, Regular Council meetings and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Mr. Hammons No Comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous Unfinished Business – Agenda item called – Adopt an Ordinance to appropriate $120,500.00 for water and sewer utility relocations for State Project No. H.001779. Mr. Hammons asked questions about why need for funding when it was a state project. Ms. Nottingham and he discussed and she also explained that there was so misinformation on this item but that no residents will be billed for this project if the funds aren’t recouped from the State. The following Ordinance offered and adopted: Ordinance No. 70 Of 2025 AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPROATE $120,500.00 FOR WATER AND SEWER UTILITY RELOCATIONS AND PRPOERTY ACQUISITIONS FOR STATE PROJECT NO. H.001779 TO COME FROM WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL CONTINGENCY FUND.  WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana, acting through the Department of Transportation and Development, is constructing a new four-lane bridge to replace the existing Jimmie Davis Bridge (LA 511); and WHEREAS, the City of Bossier City entered an agreement through resolution 48 of 2024 which contains responsibility and funding tables with provisions highlighting prior DOTD approval of servitude documents; and WHEREAS, the relocations will require the installation of new water and sewer mains for existing customer service; and WHEREAS, the estimated cost for utility relocations and property acquisition is $120,500.00 including surveying, title reports, property appraisal, compensation of servitude, labor, equipment, and materials; and WHEREAS, $16,000.00 shall be appropriated from Water Capital and Contingency; and WHEREAS, $104,500.00 shall be appropriated from Sewer Capital and Contingency; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the Council does hereby appropriate $120,500 consisting of $16,000 from the Water Capital and Contingency Fund and $104,500 from the Sewer Capital and Contingency Fund for water and sewer utility relocations and property acquisitions for State Project No. H.001779. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Mayor is authorized to sign any and all documents in connection with the furtherance of this Ordinance. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the 2025 Water Capital and Contingency Budget is hereby amended to increase expenses for the Jimmy Davis Bridge Utility Relocations Project $16,000 and decrease Net Position $16,000 and the 2025 Sewer Capital and Contingency Fund Budget is hereby amended to increase expenditures for the Jimmy Davis Bridge Utility Relocations Project $104,500 and decrease Net Position $104,500. The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public input at open and legal session convened, was on motion by Mr. Chris Smith and seconded by Mr. Jeff Free and adopted on this the 17th day of June 2025, with the votes listed below. Further this Ordinance will publish on June 25, 2025 and will become legal 10 days following publication. AYES: Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Free NAYS: none ABSENT: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Darby and Mr. Maggio ABSTAIN: none ______________________________ ____________________________ Don Williams, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Ordinance offered and adopted: Ordinance No. 71 Of 2025 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDIANCE 38 OF 2025 APPROPRIATING $60,000 FROM SEWER CAPITAL AND CONTINGENCY PROJECT FOR THE RIVERVIEW SEWER LIFT STATION GENERATOR PROJECT. __________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS Ordinance 38 of 2025 appropriated $400,000 for all project cost, an additional $60,000 is required due to material tariffs and increased bypass operations to complete the scope of work safely while providing uninterrupted service; and WHEREAS bids received on May 20th were over original engineered estimate, Waggoner Engineering is working with apparent low bidder on a value engineered approach to complete the project with an expected surplus of additional funds appropriated; and WHEREAS the City owns and operates a sewer lift station in the parking lot of the newly renovated LIVE Casino; and WHEREAS the sewer lift station experiences power disruptions from weather related events that can cause sanitary sewer overflows; and WHEREAS the anticipated sewer demands of the newly renovated Casino are expected to exceed current capabilities of the existing station appurtenances; and WHEREAS the installation of a 72-hour generator and 4th self-priming pump will eliminate the potential of the overflow hazards; and WHEREAS the City of Bossier City is committed to providing the assets and redundancy required to mitigate potential public health and safety measures; and  WHEREAS the Riverview Sewer Lift Station Generator Project will require an additional $60,000 to complete; and WHEREAS there are funds available in the Sewer Capital and Contingency Fund to complete the project; and WHEREAS Cordish expressed the possibility of contributing to this project, those funds will be reimbursed to the Sewer Capital and Contingency Fund if they become available; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of the City of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened that $60,000 is hereby appropriated from the Sewer Capital and Contingency Fund to provide the required funding for the Riverview Sewer Lift Station Generator Project. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Mayor is authorized to sign any and all documents, including permits, professional services agreements, and other related materials as may be needed to complete this project in connection with the furtherance of this Ordinance. The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public input at open and legal session convened, was on motion by Mr. Chris Smith and seconded by Mr. Jeff Free and adopted on this the 17th day of June 2025, with the votes listed below. Further this Ordinance will publish on June 25, 2025 and will become legal 10 days following publication. AYES: Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Free NAYS: none ABSENT: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Darby and Mr. Maggio ABSTAIN: none ______________________________ ____________________________ Don Williams, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk New Business – By: Mr. Smith Motion to introduce an Ordinance authorizing addition of one temporary employee in the Public Works Department and amending the General Fund Budget by $7,500 and the Public Service and Sanitation Fund by $7,500 Seconded by Mr. Williams No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Free Motion to introduce an Ordinance authorizing Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute a pricing schedule agreement between the City of Bossier City and AT&T to secure pricing for upgraded and new telephone and internet circuits Seconded by Mr. Smith No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous The following Resolution offered and adopted: RESOLUTION 31 OF 2025 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF A UTILITY WORKER FOR WATER DISTRIBUTION IN PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPT. AND BACKFILLING ANY POSITION THIS MAY CREATE. 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 any labor including temporary or contractual employment. WHEREAS, the position of Utility Worker 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 presented and opened for public comment in open and legal session convened, was adopted on a motion by Mr. Chris Smith and seconded by Mr. Jeff Free and adopted on the 17th, day of June 2025 by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Free NAYS: none ABSENT: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Darby and Mr. Maggio ABSTAIN: none ______________________________ ____________________________ Don Williams, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Resolution offered and adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 32 OF 2025 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OR PROMOTION OF AN ACCOUNTANT I IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DUE TO RESIGNATION AND BACKFILLING ANY VACANT POSITIONS THIS MAY CREATE ____________________________________________________________________________ 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 any labor including temporary or contractual employment; and WHEREAS, the Finance Department has an available position due to resignation of an employee; and WHEREAS, this resignation provides for an opportunity to hire a replacement or promote from within and backfill any vacancies created; and WHEREAS, this action will have no impact on the existing budget. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the administration is authorized to hire or promote an Accountant I in the Finance Department and backfill any vacancies this may create with no impact to the existing budget. The above and foregoing Resolution was presented and opened for public comment in open and legal session convened, was adopted on a motion by Mr. Chris Smith and seconded by Mr. Don Williams and adopted on the 17th, day of June 2025 by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Smith, Mr. Hammons, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Free NAYS: none ABSENT: Mr. Montgomery, Jr., Mr. Darby and Mr. Maggio ABSTAIN: none ______________________________ ____________________________ Don Williams, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk Reports – Finance Director, Angela Williamson went over the monthly Financial Report for month ending May 2025. She noted that sales taxes were up 4.9% from the same time last year. Mr. Hammons and Ms. Williamson discussed Sportran sending their bills in late and all at one time. There being no further business to come before this Council, Council President Williams adjourned the meeting at 3:33PM Respectfully submitted: ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk Publish June 25, 2025