City Council
Regular MeetingBossier City, LA · August 8, 2025
Minutes
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOSSIER CITY COUNCIL INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE
MEETING BOSSIER CITY, LA., STATE OF LOUISIANA TAKEN
AUGUST 8, 2025
The City Council Investigative Committee, City of Bossier City, State of Louisiana, met
in Regular session in Council Chambers, 620 Benton Road, Bossier City, Louisiana, August 8,
2025, 10:00AM
Committee Chair Brian Hammons called the meeting to order
Also Present: City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw
An overview of how the Committee came about and the members appointed was given.
Committee Chair, Brian Hammons updated the other members of the committee of the steps he
had taken, to date, to get information. He noted that information he had received would be sent
to Legislative Auditor, District Attorney, State Police and Attorney General and would be
confidential until those entities provide guidance on what is and is not public records. He also
noted that he had not been able to get all information he requested from Administration
concerning the parking lots and what justification was used for the use of city funds to build
them. He explained the State law regarding issues such as this and wants to send all information
to the agencies listed above for them to investigate further. Mr. Smith asked for verification that
not all of the information was provided and Mr. Hammons responded he had not received it.
Richard Ray, Assistant City Attorney, reported that he gave all requested documents that he had
to the City Clerk. He also noted what the Charter gives the Council right to do and not to do and
that the legal department gives legal guidance to the City Council and Mayor in which the
Council nor the committee have requested . After a heated exchange between Mr. Hammons and
Mr. Ray, Mr. Hammons stated that he as the chair would be sending his report to the full City
Council for further steps and the meeting was adjourned.
There being no further business to come before this committee, Committee Chair, Brian
Hammons adjourned the meeting at 10:14 AM
Respectfully submitted:
____________________________
Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk
Publish August 20, 2025
Agenda
AGENDA
Bossier City Council Investigative
Committee Meeting
10:00 AM - Friday, August 8, 2025
City Council Chambers, Bossier City Hall
620 Benton Road, Bossier City, Louisiana
Page
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. OVERVIEW OF COMMITTEE
2-3 1. Resolution 39 of 2025, established an Investigative Committee of the
Bossier City Council to review the use of Public Funds for Parking Lots
at Scot’s Audio and Bossier Power Equipment and to report findings to
the City Council
Investigative Committee appointment
III. UPDATE FROM COMMITTEE CHAIR TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AND PUBLIC
IV. NEXT STEPS AND ANY NEEDED ACTION ITEMS
V. ADJOURN
Page 1 of 3
CHRIS SMITH DEBRA WROSS
COUNCIL AT LARGE DISTRICT 2
CRATON COCHRAN CLIFF SMITH
COUNCIL AT LARGE DISTRICT 3
BRIAN HAMMONS
City Council JOEL GIROUARD
DISTRICT 1 CITY OF BOSSIER CITY DISTRICT4
P.O. BOX 5337
VINCE MAGGIO
620 BENTON ROAD
DISTRICT 5
BOSSIER CITY , LOUISIANA 71171-5337
TELEPHONE: (318) 741-8520 • FAX (318) 741-8971
July 1, 2025
Memo to City Clerk Phyllis McGraw concerning Investigative Committee appointments
Mrs. McGraw please note that Council Member Brian Hammons will be Committee Chair and that
Councilmembers Debra Ross and Cliff Smith will also serve on this committee. Please let me know if you
Chris Smith
City Council President
At-Large City Council Member
Page 2 of 3
Res 39 of 2025
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOSSIER
CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PARKING LOTS AT
SCOT'S AUDIO AND BOSSIER POWER EQUIPMENT AND TO REPORT FINDINGS TO
THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, the Bossier City Council is charged with the fiduciary responsibility to oversee the
appropriate and lawful use of public funds ; and
WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Bossier City Council that public funds were expended to
construct parking lots at the private businesses known as Scot's Audio and Bossier Power Equipment; and
WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14 of the Louisiana State Constitution prohibits the donation, loan, or
pledge of public funds for private purposes, requiring that public expenditures must demonstrate a clear
and defined public purpose; and
WHEREAS, according the Bossier City Charter, Chapter 3, Section 3.09- Investigations - The City
Council or any committee thereof, when authorized by City Council resolution, may make investigations
into the affairs of the City and into the conduct of any City department, division, section, office or agency.
For this purpose they may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production
of evidence. Any person who fails , or refuses, to obey a lawful order issued in exercise of these powers by
the City Council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and , upon conviction in the City Court of the City, be
punished in accordance with City Ordinance.
WHEREAS, preliminary observations indicate these parking lots may lack a clear public purpose,
warranting further inquiry and scrutiny to ensure compliance with state constitutional provisions and
applicable laws; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor had indicated that he was conducting his own internal investigation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Bossier City Council, in regular session
convened, that:
I. An Investigative Committee is hereby established consisting of three (3) City Council members,
appointed by the President of the Council, to investigate the circumstances, expenditures, and
authorizations related to the construction of parking lots at Scot' s Audio and Bossier Power
Equipment using public funds .
Il. The Committee shall have the authority to subpoena documents, compel testimony, and
conduct hearings as deemed necessary.
ill. The Committee shall report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for action, ifany, to the
full City Council within ninety (90) days of this resolution's adoption.
IV. The City Council reserves the right to extend this investigation period as necessary to ensure a
thorough and complete review.
V. All City departments and officials are directed to fully cooperate with the investigative
committee and provide access to all relevant documents, records, and information.
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. Brian Hammons and seconded by Mr.
Cliff Smith and adopted on the 1st, day of July 2025 by the following vote:
Yeas: Mr. Chris Smith, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hammons, Mrs. Ross, Mr. Cliff Smith, Mr. Girouard,
and Mr. Maggio
Nays: none
Absent: none
Abstain: none
Chris Smith, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk
Page 3 of 3
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