City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BOSSIER CITY STATE OF LOUISIANA TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 10, 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, September 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM Council President, Chris Smith called the meeting to order. Invocation was given by Council Member Debra W. Ross Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Cliff Smith Roll Call as follows: Present: Honorable Councilor, President Chris Smith, Honorable Councilors Craton Cochran, Brian Hammons, Debra W. Ross, Cliff Smith, and Joel Girouard Absent: Honorable Councilor, Vince Maggio Also Present: Mayor, Thomas Chandler, City Attorney, Charles Jacobs, Administrative Assistant, Emily Pitts and City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw City Clerk, Phyllis McGraw read the statement about public participation in the meeting and disclosure of conflicts. By: Mr. Hammons Motion to approve agenda Seconded by Mrs. Ross No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Girouard Motion to approve Minutes of August 26, 2025, Regular Meeting and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Mr. Cliff Smith No comment Vote in favor of motion Public Hearings/Actions on Unfinished Business The following ordinance offered and adopted: ORDINANCE NO. 104 OF 2025 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 76 of 2025, PASSED AND APPROVED ON JULY 1, 2025, TO CORRECT THE ADDRESS OF THE PREMISES FROM “1843 INNOVATION DRIVE” TO “1855 INNOVATION DRIVE, SUITE 100” WHEREAS, on July 1, 2025, the City Council of the city of Bossier City, Louisiana adopted Ordinance No. 76, which included the premises address “1843 Innovation Drive” in connection with the regulation of low content alcohol sales for off premise consumption. WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the City Council that the correct premises address is “1855 Innovation Drive, Suite 100,” and the previously stated address was in error; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary to amend Ordinance No. 76 to reflect the correct address to ensure accuracy in city records and regulatory compliance; THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOSSIER CITY HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. That Ordinance 76 of 2025, passed and approved on July 1, 2025, is hereby amended by replacing the incorrect premises address “1843 Innovation Drive” with the correct address “1855 Innovation Drive, Suite 100.” The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public comment in open and legal session convened, was adopted on a motion of Mr. Brian Hammons, and seconded by Mr. Joel Girouard, and adopted on the 10th day of September 2025, with the votes listed below. Further this Ordinance will publish on September 17, 2025 and become legal 10 days following publication. YEAS: Mr. Chris Smith, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hammons, Mrs. Ross, Mr. Cliff Smith, and Mr. Girouard NAYS: None ABSENT: Mr. Maggio ABSTAIN: None ______________________________ _________________________________ Chris Smith, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk C-ALC-000075-2025 The following Ordinance offered and adopted: Ordinance No. 105 Of 2025 AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $350,000.00 FROM THE STREETS AND DRAINAGE FUND TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED LOCAL MATCH FOR FACILITY PLANNING AND CONTROL PROJECT NUMBER 50-M29-24-01 FOR BENTON ROAD REPAIRS, PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION ______________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the City of Bossier City received Capital Outlay funding in the amount of $1,000,000 from the Louisiana State Legislature in the 2024 Regular Legislative Session; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the funding agreement the City of Bossier City is required to provide a match of not less than twenty-five (25) percent of the total project costs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, does hereby appropriate $350,000.00 from the Streets and Drainage Fund to provide the local match for FP&C Project #50-M29-24-01; and BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the 2025 Streets and Drainage Fund Budget is hereby amended to increase expenditures for Benton Road Street Repairs by $350,000.00 and decrease Fund Balance by $350,000.00. The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public comment in open and legal session convened, was adopted on a motion of Mr. Brian Hammons, and seconded by Mrs. Debra W. Ross, and adopted on the 10th day of September 2025, with the votes listed below. Further this Ordinance will publish on September 17, 2025 and become legal 10 days following publication. YEAS: Mr. Chris Smith, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hammons, Mrs. Ross, Mr. Cliff Smith, and Mr. Girouard NAYS: None ABSENT: Mr. Maggio ABSTAIN: None ______________________________ _________________________________ Chris Smith, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Ordinance offered and adopted: ORDINANCE NO. 106 OF 2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING MAYOR THOMAS H. CHANDLER TO EXECUTE THE ATTACHED COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSSIER CITY AND THE BOSSIER PARISH CORONER AND THE BOSSIER PARISH SHERIFF PURSUANT TO LA R.S. 40:1216.1 TO ESTABLISH A SANE PROGRAM IN BOSSIER PARISH WHEREAS, Act 229 of the 2015 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, enacted procedures for treatment of victims of a sexually oriented criminal offense; and  WHEREAS, LA R.S. 40:1216.1 provides that the Coroner of the parish or his designee shall examine victims of sexually oriented criminal offenses, or alternatively, may select a hospital or healthcare provider as the leading entity for sexual assault examinations in the regional plan as provided by La. R.S. 40:1216.1; and WHEREAS, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Nurse is a registered nurse who has additional education and training for purposes of providing healthcare to the survivors of sexual assaults and performing (Forensic Medical Exams) FMEs; and WHEREAS, in an effort to improve the Sexual Assault Response Plan in the Parish of Bossier and to ensure 24/7 coverage of SANE Nurses in Bossier Parish, it has been decided to establish the SANE program under the direction and supervision of the Bossier Parish Coroner’s Office; and WHEREAS, there is a public purpose for this Agreement of substantial benefit to the citizens of the Bossier City and Bossier Parish, in such mutual cooperation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of Bossier City, in regular session convened, does hereby authorize Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute the attached Cooperative Endeavor Agreements, complete in all their terms and provisions, on behalf of the City of Bossier City. The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public comment in open and legal session convened, was adopted on a motion of Mrs. Debra W. Ross, and seconded by Mr. Joel Girouard, and adopted on the 10th day of September 2025, with the votes listed below. Further this Ordinance will publish on September 17, 2025 and become 10 days following publication. YEAS: Mr. Chris Smith, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hammons, Mrs. Ross, Mr. Cliff Smith, and Mr. Girouard NAYS: None ABSENT: Mr. Maggio ABSTAIN: None ______________________________ _________________________________ Chris Smith, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk The following Ordinance offered and adopted: Ordinance No. 107 Of 2025 AN ORDINANCE TO DECLARE CERTAIN MOVABLE EQUIPMENT OWNED BY THE CITY OF BOSSIER CITY AS SURPLUS TO THE CITY’S NEEDS AND PROVIDE FOR DISPOSAL ACCORDING TO LAW. ______________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the City of Bossier City has accumulated certain movable equipment which is now surplus to the City’s needs and it is in the best interest of the City to dispose of said equipment according to law; and WHEREAS, the attached list of equipment described below is surplus to the City’s needs: DESCRIPTION: 1. See attachment A, which includes specific details including: Equipment #, VIN/SN, year, make, model, mileage/hours, and condition. 2. See attachment B, which includes specific details including: Equipment #, VIN/SN, year, make, model, mileage/hours, and condition. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of Bossier City, Louisiana, in regular session convened, that the equipment described in Attachment A and B are surplus to the City of Bossier City and the Purchasing Agent is authorized to dispose of said equipment in accordance to law. The above and foregoing Ordinance was discussed and opened for public comment in open and legal session convened, was adopted on a motion of Mr. Cliff Smith, and seconded by Mrs. Debra Ross, and adopted on the 10th day of September 2025, with the votes listed below. Further this Ordinance will publish on September 17, 2025 and become 10 days following publication. YEAS: Mr. Chris Smith, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hammons, Mrs. Ross, Mr. Cliff Smith, and Mr. Girouard NAYS: None ABSENT: Mr. Maggio ABSTAIN: None ______________________________ _________________________________ Chris Smith, President Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk New Business – By: Mr. Girouard Motion to introduce an Ordinance appropriating $250,000.00 from the Water Capital and Contingency Fund to provide the required local match for Facility Planning and Control Project Number 50-M29-25-02 for Swan Lake/Deen Point Waterline Extension, Planning and Construction. Seconded by; Mr. Hammons Mr. Hammons and CAO, Amanda Nottingham discussed Ordinance No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mrs. Ross Motion to introduce an Ordinance appropriating $4,000,000.00 from the 2025 Parkway Capital Budget to purchase property located at 301 Benton Road Seconded by: Mr. Cliff Smith Audience member, Tamara Crane thanked Council and administration No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Girouard Motion to introduce an Ordinance to amend the 2025 City Council Travel and Training Budget for additional training and meetings for office staff and City Council members Seconded by Mrs. Ross Mr. Chris Smith took the time to welcome the City Council new Administrative Assistant, Emily Pitts No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Cliff Smith Motion to introduce an Ordinance to repeal Ordinance 94 of 2023 Seconded by Mr. Girouard Mr. Chris Smith explained why the Ordinance was necessary No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Hammons Motion to introduce an Ordinance to repeal Ordinance 7 of 2025 that dealt with the ceremonial naming of streets and to delete Section 98-6 of the Bossier City Code of Ordinances Seconded by Mr. Girouard Mrs. Ross asked Council to not repeal and she and Mr. Hammons discussed why the repeal is needed. Mrs. Ross and Mr. Hammons will work together to formulate a plan moving forward. No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Hammons Motion to introduce an Ordinance authorizing Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute the attached revised cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of Bossier City and the Bossier Council on Aging Seconded by Mrs. Ross Audience member, Tamara Crane again thanked the Council and administration for working so diligently on helping the Council on Aging and noted that once the CEA is passed she will present to her board, which already seems favorable to adopt. No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Hammons  Motion to introduce an Ordinance allocating $36,610.28 to come from water capital and contingency fund for 120 water to facilitate the required notification and data collection for the EPA's/LDH;s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Initiative Seconded by Mr. Girouard Mrs. Ross and Ms. Nottingham discussed need and if the service was bid out. Ms. Nottingham reported that the state required this to be done every year and the company already has the City’s information. No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Cliff Smith Motion to introduce an Ordinance allowing the City of Bossier City to partner with NBC SportsEngine and authorizing Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute the attached Agreement between the City of Bossier City and SportsEngine, Inc. Seconded by Mr. Girouard Mr. Hammons and Ms. Nottingham discussed what this agreement would entail. She and Mayor Chandler explained this service and that there would be no cost to the City and in fact the City would be receiving revenue from this agreement. Mr. Girouard and Mr. Cliff Smith discussed the need and asked what sports at Tinsley Fields would have streaming capabilities. Ms. Nottingham reported that it would be all No further comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Hammons Motion to approve Parade Permit Fee Waiver for Airline High School Homecoming Parade, October 17, 2025 Seconded by Mr. Girouard No Comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mrs. Ross Motion to approve Parade Permit Fee Waiver - Led 4 Life Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, October 31, 2025 Seconded by Mr. Cliff Smith No Comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous By: Mr. Cliff Smith Motion to approve Parade Permit Fee Waiver - Led 4 Life Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, October 31, 2025 Seconded by Mrs. Ross No comment Vote in favor of motion is unanimous Mrs. Ross invited everyone to come to Barksdale Annex on September 20, 2025 from 9AM- 11AM to join with Keep Bossier Beautiful to clean up neighborhood. She noted that all supplies would be provided. Mayor invited all to the Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at 9:03AM the following morning. He also noted that October 7th would be National Night Out and that any neighborhoods wanting to participate must contact the Police Department to be added. There being no further business to come before this Council, Council President Smith adjourned the meeting at 3:30PM Respectfully submitted: ____________________________ Phyllis McGraw, City Clerk Publish September 17, 2025