SPECIAL MEETING

OF THE

CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA

JUNE 20, 2001

The special meeting of the City Council of the City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana, was called to order by Chairman Carmody at 2:23 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2001, in the Government Chambers at Government Plaza, 505 Travis Street. Present: Councilmen Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne, and Burrell. 5. Absent: Councilmen P. Huckaby and Stewart. 2.

This hearing was held in response to a letter from James N. Roberts, Chief of Police, dated May 21, 2001 to consider the revocation of the permit to sell alcoholic beverages at The Congress Club, 760 Shreveport-Barksdale Highway. Chief Roberts’ letter contained the follows:

"During the past twelve months, this business has been cited for the following liquor violations:

On 6-10-2000, officers responded to a disturbance call concerning the Congress Club. An unknown caller stated they were being disturbed by the music emitting from the Congress Club. Officers went to the vicinity of 3000 W. Cavett where they could distinctly hear the music coming from the Congress Club. The officers stated they were well over 50 feet from the business’ property line. The Congress Club owner, Mr. Travis Hargrave, was given a misdemeanor summons for Disturbing the Peace by Loud Music.

On 12-22-2000, Shreveport Police patrol officers responded to a loud music call at the Congress Club. Officers noted that music could be heard from at least 300 feet away. The officer stated in the report that he had verbally warned Mr. Hargrave the night prior about the loud music. The Fire Marshall responded to the scene and counted 812 inside the establishment with the legal limit being 750. Mr. Hargrave was placed under arrest and transported to City Jail.

On 12-29-2000, Shreveport Police patrol officers responded to LSUMC Emergency Room for a stabbing call. The complainant/victim, Ms. Shalonda Hardman, stated she was in the Congress Club when she had an altercation with two black females. After the three females were thrown out of the Congress Club by security personnel, another altercation took place outside when the complainant received several lacerations. The complainant, who as 20 years old, stated she was inside the congress Club when the first altercation took place.

On 1-12-2001, the Shreveport Police Vice Unit unit conducted an inspection of the Congress Club. During the inspection, bugs were found in five alcohol bottles behind two separate bars. The manager, Damian Fangue, was issued a misdemeanor summons for Prohibited Acts (unsanitary conditions).

On 3-4-2001, Shreveport Police responded to the Congress Club to assist City Marshals with a subject. The ensuing investigation revealed that a 16 year old male consumed 2 Budweiser beers and possible other alcoholic beverages inside the Congress Club. The juvenile then exited the Congress Club and was detained by City Marshals. It was noted that the juvenile had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. The juvenile did not posses any form of ID that would authorize him to gain entry to the club. The juvenile and the club manager were both cited.

The letter from the Chief of Police to the City Council, which requested the hearing, also contained the following:

During the time period of January 30, 2000 through February 10, 2001, there were a total of 136 calls for service concerning the Congress Club. Of those, 96 calls were related to criminal type offenses including first degree homicide, aggravated battery, loud music, fights, loitering, assault, person with gun, shots fired and several other disturbance related calls. During the 96 calls listed above, 236 police units were dispatched with a total of approximately 117 hours of downtime. The remaining 40 calls include vehicle theft, vehicle break-in, interviews, alarms, medical assistance and other similar type calls. The number of responding units and down time for those 40 calls has not been determined. The violent crimes in our city greatly increased during the months where our calls were heaviest at the Congress Club. Whether or not these two statistics are in direct relation to each other cannot be determined, but this fact should be taken into consideration. When the majority of our patrol units are dedicated to a single location, police presence is greatly reduced in the rest of our community. In addition to the Police Department’s efforts, the Chief of Police has received a petition signed by more than 100 residents who live around the Congress Club. This petition is in accordance with Shreveport City Ordinance 10-132 and is included in this file for your review. To ensure our commitment to the community and to control the undue disturbance to our citizens and the presence of concentrated criminal activity, I am recommending that the liquor license of this establishment be revoked.

Chief Roberts was present and represented by Assistant City Attorney Edward Jones. The permit holder, Travis Hargrave was present and represented by Attorney Daryl Gold.

Following testimony by Officer Tedris Smith, Officer Hank Willis, Officer Michael Bianca, Sgt, Mike Day, Shalonda Hardiman, Officer Scottie Dalton, Officer Chris Harlow, Officer Dennis Davis, Capt. Mike Clary, Michael Todd Blackman, Police Chief James Roberts, Travis Hargrave, Timothy Huck, Deputy Marshal Robert Wright, Jeff Williams, Deputy Marshal Dennis R. Buckingham, Randy Stephens, and Deputy Marshal Juan Torres, the following action was taken: Motion by Councilman Serio to suspend the license for 30 days, no fines, seconded by Councilman Shyne. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Carmody, Serio Spigener, Shyne, and Burrell. 5. Nays: None. Absent: Councilmen Huckaby and Stewart. 2.

The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.

/s/THOMAS G. CARMODY, CHAIRMAN

/s/ARTHUR G. THOMPSON, CLERK OF COUNCIL