COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA

JANUARY 22, 2002

The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana, was called to order by Chairman John David Stewart, at 3:13 p.m., Tuesday, January 22, 2002, in the Government Chambers in Government Plaza (505 Travis Street).

Invocation was given by Councilman Serio.

On Roll Call, the following members were Present: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Absent: None.

Motion by Councilman Shyne, seconded by Councilman Burrell for approval of the Summary Minutes of the Administrative Conference of January 7, 2002 and the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 8, 2002. Motion approved by the following vote: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

Awards and Recognitions of Distinguished Guests of the Mayor and the Council Which Are Required By Law. Mayor Hightower: It does me good to see the Chamber full today because we have both a distinguished guest and an award that we want to present today. Every once in a while, bravery and courage rises above the norm of the job amongst the public safety officers that we have in this city, both police and fire, and this past week we had one of those incidents that rose way above the normal everyday courage displayed by these public servants. What I would like to do at this point is to call the Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran forward to tell us a little bit about what happened, Thursday, a week ago.

Chief Cochran: Mayor Hightower has allowed the Shreveport Fire Department the privilege and the honor to present to a few of its members our official commendations and awards that we render to those men and women who perform acts over and beyond the call of duty. On January 17, around 7:30 in the morning, we had our Rescue 1 on C-Shift and Captain Kip Morad and his crew being diverted from a that they were already on noticed that there was significant smoke in the area that they were closest to. They decided to go to that area and discovered that there was a fully involved structure fire on Quinton Street. And in the interest of time, we have asked that a news clip is played so that the Council and the citizens of Shreveport can see first hand the events that took place on that morning (viewed news clip).

Council, Mayor Hightower and to the wonderful citizens of Shreveport who have gathered here this afternoon, we are pleased to report that Ms. Johnson is doing very well and she is expected to make a full recovery and we were hoping that her mother would be here today. She really wanted to be here, maybe she has come in since we last checked. I was surprised to see that the Johnson family was a family that grew up down the street from my mother and I where we lived on the corner of Clanton and Wallace Street. They lived about a half a block down from us, so it really touched me to see that we were able to help them and to save their daughter's life. And we were, literally, 2 to 3 seconds away from planning at least two firefighters' funerals and planning the funeral of Little Ms. Johnson, but because of the efforts of Captain Morad and his crew, we are celebrating their lives today. I would like for the Captain Morad and the Press Crew of Rescue 1, C-Shift to please come forward to receive the Shreveport Fire Department's Certificates of Commendation and then after we issue the entire crew their Certificates of Commendation, then I would ask that Mayor Hightower come to actually present the Medal of Valor, one of the rare medals that are given to firefighters in the history of our department and in the career of firefighters. And after which, I am going to ask that Captain Morad please make a public statement after Mayor Hightower has given him his award.

Captain Kip Morad, for your bravery in the rescue of a young woman from her burning home on Quinton Street, your decision to enter the inferno without waiting for a hose line was paramount in the success of the rescue. Although the house flashed over, which usually kills firefighters, the patient suffered only minor injuries and the crew suffered only minor injuries. And this is presented on behalf of the heroic men and women of the Shreveport Fire Department and your Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran. Would all the men and women of the Shreveport Fire Department who are present this afternoon, please stand.

At this time, Mayor Hightower will come forward with a few words and present them with their Medal of Valor.

Mayor Hightower: The story that I certainly was told about that faithful morning was a lot more dramatic than maybe Channel 3 was able to capture in the brief news clip you saw. Many of you City Council members had the privilege to go out the Fire Academy and look at some of the training drills that go on out there, one of which these guys are, I'd be pushed. I don't know if there is enough people out there to push me into the building that they make them go into that's full of smoke and fire and black, dark and they only thing they can do is feel their way around and obviously listen for any sounds of hopeful survivors in a house. My understanding is that that's exactly what happened this morning. Two firemen entered the house, could not see a thing, both were on the floor on their hands and knees, and heard a faint cry and were able to locate Ms. Johnson in the corner of the only room that had not been engulfed in the fire and were able to call to the other firefighters to help rescue Ms. Johnson and get her out of the house, and the rest if history. Something that I dare say, I would have had the nerve to do and I would certainly think most of us in this room and in this City would have never had the courage to do, but thank goodness, we've got some people that are dedicated to what they do and thrive and really excel when the heat's turned up, so to speak and thank goodness they are there.

As the Chief said, this is an honor that is few and far between in the Fire Department. They don't hand out these medals, reluctantly, they don't hand them out often, they hand them out for true acts of heroism and that is what occurred on this past Thursday morning.

To the crew of Rescue 1, we certainly want to congratulate and thank them for what they do along with the rest of the Fire Department, in particular we want to acknowledge Captain Kip Morad who made the call to-- Chief, would it be fair to say, do what maybe someone else would have said, don't do, it would have been too dangerous to do not only did he make the call, he went in, so Kip, Captain, congratulations.

Kip made the call, but he didn't have to ask Jason to follow in. Jason actually got, I think blown out when the flash over happened and was an integral part, obviously of the rescue of Ms. Johnson as well. Jason, congratulations and thank you for your bravery.

Captain Morad: The only thing I have to say is, it wasn't just me and Jason, it was Ed and John also. It took all four of us.

Councilman Shyne: Chief, before you take your seat, I see, I almost said an old friend of mine, but I don't want to call Dallas Greene an old friend because he look so young, but he is a long time friend of you, and he is a long time of myself, and he is kind of the Godfather. I kind of look at Dallas as kind of being the Godfather and I know I'm telling his age and because we walked in so spry, would you ask Chief Greene to just stand and at least wave. And to let you all know how young I am, as a little boy, that was the first fire chief that I ever heard about was Dallas Greene.

Councilman Stewart: That was a compliment Dallas.

Chief Cochran: You know, Captain Kip made a very noteworthy comment at the end that it took the whole crew to perform what they did on the other day. You know, firefighters we love doing what we do and if you ask them if they had to do all over again, to go in without being fully protected, would they do it again? And you know whattheir answer is going to be, they'll do it again if they have to do it all over again. Thank you for allowing us the time, Mayor Hightower, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Councilman Stewart: We have representatives today from the Caddo Parish 4-H group. The Assistant Country Agent Mr. Troy Bernard is here. You and your group here, would you like to come forward at this time. We have Josh Buckley, Halley Hamlin, (inaudible), LaShondra Owen.

LaShondra Underwood: On behalf of the LSU Agriculture Center, the Louisiana Cooperative (inaudible) Service and the Caddo Adventure Staff and all 1,325 4-H members, I would like to say, thank you for the continuous support you have given us over the years. We are celebrating our 100 birthday this year. As one of our nation's largest youth development organization and Caddo, the 4-H program in 68 schools. We have 8 enriched clubs. All of our clubs participate in community services and leadership activities. To celebrate our birthday, we are pledging many hours to community service. During the month of November and December, 24 clubs collected and donated over a ton of beans and rice for the Northwest Food Bank, and another group of 12 clubs collected 150 stuffed animals to be given to the (inaudible) when they are called to homes where there are young children. This spring we will be conducting many of the community service. We would like to thank you for providing support (inaudible) and community service activities.

Councilman Burrell: I just want to recognize little Ms. Underwood who spoke. You may not know, but that is the granddaughter of one of our past Council members, Mr. Claude Underwood who just happened to have gotten in an accident that has put him actually in a nursing home at this point and he is one of our foremost black historians in Shreveport. So we wanted to recognize her and send the best wishes back to Councilman Underwood.

Public Hearing: None.

Confirmations and/or Appointments: None.

Public Comments (Agenda Items to Be Adopted). Councilman Stewart: We have approximately 43 people to speak today.

Councilman Burrell: I know I have a group of people from out in West Shreveport who want to address the matter of the truck stop out in that area. I see Pastor Caldwell in the back and I know that there are others who live that may not even, that are not a part of his church out there, but I am sure that many of the comments that you have there is addressing that issue.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow Vivian Galloway to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Burrell and approved.

Vivian Galloway (1250 Georgia Street): I am a member of Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church. I am up here to say that we do not want the truck stop at Randy's Travel Town on Greenwood Road.

The Chairman recognized the request of Shirley Travis to address the Council who had left the meeting at this point.

Motion by Councilman Burrell to allow Tyrone Harris to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Shyne and approved.

Tyrone Harris (2125 Jamison, Cooper Road area): Been a member of Greenwood Acres for the past 18 years and I think it would be very bad for the community if this law is passed. I think it is bad for the community, for the church area and if the people out there don't want it, then it should be very clear, it shouldn't be passed. They live there. This business is trying to come here, but they live there. We worship there. We simply don't want it. And when ya'll ask for the votes that you listen to us, not those who came. They live there, we worship there, we simply don't want it and we are asking you to do what the voters want, not to pass this bill.

Motion by Councilman Carmody to allow Annie Pipkins to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Spigener and approved.

Councilman Shyne: You might want to make it clear so the Mayor won't be involved in this, he doesn't have a vote in this.

Councilman Stewart: Mayor Hightower are you aware of that?

Mayor Hightower: Very much so.

Councilman Shyne: You might want to, so the audience when come up and they look at the Mayor, they know which ever way it goes down, he doesn't have a vote.

Annie Mae Pipkins (4210 Greenwood Lane, Apt. 507): I am a member of Greenwood Acres Church and also I would just like to say that I just recently joined the church but before I joined the church, I joined the gym which is Rock Solid. And I myself, I witnessed in that area, a 18-wheeler turning around in Greenwood Acres Church and at the time of turning around, it like, tore up part of the gravel, the ground area. And, I know that is a 2 lane street or whatever and it would be very hard and very difficult to put that particular kind of business in that area and then as well as there, are two churches in that area that people worship. I hear people say in God we trust and things like that. It is just so many other areas in the City of Shreveport that you can build a business like that along I-20.

Also, as far as gaming and alcohol sales or whatever , I myself, I work at a casino. I mean there is a lot of slot machines there that are vacant and available that you can play that. I mean, I just feel that it could be a better place, that they could put it there. Also, I grew up in Mooretown and I also I remember that when I was growing up there was a local store there and at that particular store they wanted to sell alcohol, but so many feet down there was a church and they did not permit them to sell the alcohol there. I am wondering today, where are our values in today's society? Where are we coming from? I would just like to take that into consideration that I am against the Randy's Travel Town being there and in all due respect to the City Council men, would ya'll take that into consideration. This is a place of worship and we say in God we trust, and that is what I trust in, and that is what I trust in.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow Esther Monroe to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Spigener and approved.

Esther Monroe (6814 Morrison Drive): Today we have before us, I believe two items. One is for postponement andthe other one is to vote on whether we allow the truck stop to come in or stay out and I say, vote, stay out.

There is no need to put it off until February to make a decision about this proposal. We already know why it is being proposed to be put there and that is so video poker machines can be placed there. Without video poker machine, I doubt if we would be here today.

We have said all along, drugs and prostitution follow this type of industry. These trucks put out a lot of pollution and cause . . . and while they are parked, these engines are left running until the driver leave. They are not there for just a few minutes, but in many times they are there for several hours and those trucks are continuous to run and pollution is still being put out. But, where that pollution goes, it does not have any direction. It could very well go anywhere, and it does.

Accidents are a common occurrence in that location. About a month ago, there was one. It looked like he was trying to get to Highway 80, but he flipped over before he got there. That exit was closed for a day or two. Those that live in Greenwood Acres was not able to go home. They had to go all the way down to Exit 5, get back on 80, and then come back to Greenwood Road. You say, well they could get off on Pines Road. Once the news get around that an accident is there, that bottlenecks that area so it is quicker to go all the way down to Exit 5 and then get back on and come back up.

By Highway 8 being only a two-way corridor, the truck stop will cause a major traffic jam. You can only get on one way on and one way off. With traffic coming off of 80, if you live in Greenwood Acres, we don't know what time you will be able to get home.

Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church has invested several millions of dollars in this facility. A truck will cause major interruptions to its members in getting there and leaving at the same time, so therefore, we urge you, please, vote no.

Motion by Councilman Carmody to allow Reverend Fred A. Caldwell, Sr. to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Huckaby and approved.

Councilman Burrell: To qualify this, I've addressed the issue with Reverend Caldwell to be one of the spokespersons for Greenwood Acres Baptist Church. We have several groups here, one associated with the church, one associated with at least one of the neighborhoods. I know Mr. Joseph Carter is, I believe he is Timberline and I know that there is Deer Creek here also or is there a Deer? Is there a representative from Deer Creek? We are going to allow that because all the individuals here are talking on the same issue. Also, wanted to recognize our Parish Commissioner Mr. Forest Davis in which we would ask him to come forward because he represents that parish district also. If you would, allow one person from each one of those groups, unless there is another group associated with it that wants to speak today, if not we won't be out of here until some time tonight and I don't think that is necessary.

Councilman Shyne: I would like to know how many persons that are here that is in opposition?

Councilman Burrell: Mr. Shyne, we were going to do that after that, but you can do that at this point, if you would like.

Councilman Stewart: Mr. Shyne, should we do that when the Reverend is finished?

Councilman Shyne: It's fine with me. Whenever, if it is before or after, but I would just like to see the number that is opposition of it.

Councilman Stewart: We will.

Reverend Fred A. Caldwell, Sr. (7480 Greenwood Road): I am holding in my hand something that may seem trivial to some folk, but I only have one life to live. And this is perceived as a death threat that came to me on the 14^th of January, 2002 postdated from the City of New Orleans and the front of it has my name, Reverend F. Caldwell, to our P. O. Box and it has also on it, a circle. It has: God No. 1, it has the Mafia and a circle, it has an arrow going down and it has d-e-a-d (dead) on it. I sent one of these to each of the Councilmen and the Honorable Mayor also have one. I also gave one to Chief Roberts who proceeded to get in touch with the FBI who in turn is running the letter for prints, as this time.

I'm a citizen of Shreveport, been here all of my life, 55 years. This is a copy of the letter. It received this death threat on the 14^th of January, this year. And approximately 5:30 in the morning, I got up, not because of fear but because of a need to pen a letter to the Council men as well as to the Mayor and this is the letter that was written on January 15, 2002:

"To Whom It May Concern:

For too long the City Council of Shreveport have not voted together for the good of the decent law abiding citizens that pay taxes and trying to raise their children in a positive environment. The Bible says that, "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). It is time for the Council to stand together and vote against the truck stop, the sale of packaged liquor, and other immoral vices that come along with this kind of venue. While I am for business and for revenue, Greenwood Acres Baptist Church to this date has spent over 7 million dollars to bring the quality of life up in this community and I am against locating this truck stop in our front door. For some people it may make dollars but to us at Greenwood Acres Baptist Church, Deer Creek, and Timberline Subdivisions it doesn't make sense.

The safety concern is still a valid issue, there are only two lanes on Highway 80 - the mixture of eighteen wheelers at this location along with congested traffic coming West on I-20 splitting back onto the interstate will put the general public at risk.

As a religious and community leader in my beloved Shreveport, and I do love Shreveport, I have stood over these years for the things that would make Shreveport a better place to work, worship, and to live, and in doing so my life has been threatened by some faceless coward in an attempt to intimidate me but, it won't work. You can't kill a dead man. Out of all of my years of living in Shreveport, 55 years to be exact, my life has never been threatened until I started speaking against, first of all, the proposed truck stop on Shreveport Blanchard Highway that was handsomely defeated and now I am calling upon you this Council again to do it again and to vote against this wicked device. Please see attached copy of this death threat against my life and understand that people will do anything for money and will attempt to remove anyone that does not favor their unjust cause. If the citizens of this city are going to be targeted out for intimidation by this evil vice of darkness and good people stand by and do nothing then where does that leave all of us?

Vote it down!!!! and may God have mercy upon us all.

Humbly submitted this day 15 day of January 2002."

And I say again on today, January 22, 2002. I am against it.

Councilman Stewart asked those in favor as well as those in opposition to stand.

Councilman Shyne: This is true democracy at its best when you can get local citizens to really get involved in the political process. I just wished we had numbers like this at every Council meeting. Thank you all for coming down and expressing your concerns about the love that you have for your community, and this is for both groups.

Councilman Carmody: For the official record, if we could have it reflected it appears that there was approximately 3/4 of the Chambers in opposition and 1/4 in support, would that be correct?

Councilman Stewart: I think that is a reasonable statement unless there is objection.

Motion by Councilman Spigener to allow Dr. Joseph Carter to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Carmody and approved.

Dr. Joseph Carter (3844 Eames Circle): A former President of the Timberline Subdivision Homeowners Association and spokesperson for our rezoning position. I placed a folder, I had placed, on your desk, you may look at your convenience.

Often we have heard, not in my backyard. Well today's piece of property, rezoned for the northwest corner of Greenwood Road and Bert Kouns Industrial Loop is practically located in our front yard and because it is, we are requesting that you overrule the zoning change approved by the Metropolitan Planning Commission recently.

We applaud Mr. Brazzel. He has been a good neighbor. We appreciate the business he located in our section of Shreveport and we value the family-oriented business that has been good for Timberline, surrounding communities, and West Shreveport. For nearly 25 years, Timberline has existed in its country style living as a source of pride for the City, Parish and this region. It has been recognized by the Shreveport City Council for its diverse population, civic minded, law abiding citizens and residents who honor God, family, and home. Its 300 homes are occupied by these people. That is an average of 12 homes being built per year. For whatever reason, when traffic is diverted from Interstate 20 to U. S. 79/80, Greenwood Road, long lines of daily traffic become even more congested on the single lane, two-way highway. We have already visualized how a zoning change to allow another truck stop at our exit from I-20 will impact our quality of life, investing in our homes and more importantly, our safety.

Today the battle cry all over America from the states of Washington to Maine, California to Florida, and especially New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D. C. is, united we stand and we love America. However, long before the terrorist act of September 11, we in Timberline loved America, the City of Shreveport, and Caddo Parish, we still do.

Today, we ask government to respond positively to the call of its citizens. There comes a time when what citizens deserve counts. Government has to be the equalizer. At some point, big business has to understand that no, means no. And you can't continue to bring the same requests back to circumvent the will of the people.

The Times newspaper article of January 20^th clearly shows that Mr. Brazzel and his attorney didn't have to do much justification, either for their zoning request because Mr. Charles Kirkland, the MPC Executive Director said, it was the perfect place for another truck stop. Or their (inaudible) alcohol consumption sale request, because in the words of Zoning Board of Appeals member Monty Walford in his pro-truck stop vote, I am not sure there is a better location for the truck stop. This is an exit that already has two truck stops and some feel that the greater percentage of income from another will be generated from gaming and alcohol sales rather than the volume of gasoline sold.

Additionally, Mr. Brazzel talks about his investment of $1.6 million dollars. Many still applaud his astute business savory in purchasing the old outlet mall for that amount. Regardless, the question is will he even own or develop the truck stop, if, rezoning is completed. More importantly, how do you compare $1,600,000 dollars to the more than $50 million dollars invested on just homes not content in Timberline.

Why the rush to judgment. In our initial appearance before the Metropolitan Planning Commission we said and feared that soon after the truck stop was approved, the next step would be to get approval for gaming, a restaurant with the on-premise consumption of alcohol and a convenience store with the sale of package beer.

They were sure a rapid approval, that we were not even allowed to exalt our appeal before the Zoning Board of Appeals immediately approved the same. Unfortunate, it appeared that the majority of the issues decided by this Council is based on money, power, and race and not necessarily in that order.

Timberline and surrounding communities are diverse in their population, composed of different nationalities, and ethnicities. Timberline has been cited for this composition of Americans living together in peace and harmony. But even if it was occupied exclusively by African Americans, which it isn't, should we achieve a victory. Aren't we Americans? Aren't we taxpayers? Should we want our property value and the peace and tranquility of our community protected. Who among you that sits in judgment would not want the same, first of all, for your family and secondly, for your community? If we are truly united and some will say that we are probably more united during this period than any time in our history, then Council members a favorable vote is the only solution. It can not be and must not be a 4 to 3 vote split along racial lines, but one united vote that says, we hear you Timberline saying that you want your investment in a quality of life you have known for more than a quarter of a century, protected.

Therefore, today's question becomes a moral one. Shall the Shreveport City Council vote to greatly enrich one man to the detriment of thousands of other.

Finally, the print and broadcast media, we advertise Shreveport as an All American City, we proudly sing in our National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Today, we ask this Council to be brave and protect our homes by voting to overturn the approved zoning change.

Motion by Councilman Huckaby to allow Forest Davis to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Serio and approved.

Forest A. Davis, member of the Parish Commission (7211 Beaufort Way): It is a pleasure to come before you today. West Shreveport is the most diverse community in the Shreveport metropolitan area.

On a commission wise, it is the largest in total population of the 12 districts. At present in total population, it is roughly 54% white, 42% Afro-American, and about close to 2% Mexican. It is a truly wonderful community to live in. I have represented Timberline, Deer Creek, Green Acres Subdivision and the surrounding area for going on seven years now.

I am not coming before this Council to tell you what to do, I'm asking you to do the right thing. This is my first time before your body since I been serving on the Commission. I am the only local elected official that represents Timberline, Deer Creek, Green Acres Subdivisions because they are outside the city limits. The only other representation they have is from their local representative and State Senator.

And, I have heard the overwhelming support of the residents in this area. They are against this truck stop. I just come before you today and ask you to do the right thing. Today, lets go ahead and get this over with and lets vote tooverturn the MPC and not to have another truck stop in West Shreveport.

Motion by Councilman Huckaby to allow a representative from Deer Creek Subdivision to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Serio and approved.

Ricky Travis (4248 McMichael, Deer Creek Subdivision): First of all, I want to thank you all for granting me the opportunity to stand and speak before you all.

You know I grew up in Shreveport. My dad once told me that when he said, no, he meant it. And if I can remember, no has two letters in, n and o and he asked well, well what part of that you just don't understand?

We welcome business to our area but not this type. We are thankful that Randy's Travel Town has relocated out there. It started out and I'm just guessing because I went away for some time but I believe that they started out selling boats and from boats from, and I am not sure that they are doing now.

But as it relates to gaming and alcohol and large trucks, I'm just totally against that because I remember when we was building our house a few years ago, I got hit by a truck down there. The truck ran a stop sign and no where to go, just me and the truck, and I was defeated.

I don't have a speech prepared, not quite sure if ya'll going to understand the people because I know you all have heard and again, you know and the only thing that I can reflect back on is what my dad taught me. I had a pretty good upbringing. I think I turned out okay, but again, if you all can't stand for the people and if you all can't represent the people, there is another question. But again, the reason why I am standing is in opposition and I'm quite sure that there is a and I saw the people who stood for it, but how many of those people live in that area? You know there is a lot of people on this side who came out and they stand for us and we are thankful, but again somebody stood up and they said, what about moral rights and what about values. I believe they still count in 2002. And, all I am asking and just like people who are against this truck stop thing, it is just that, you all just vote no for us.

Councilman Stewart: Mr. Burrell has posed a question that I will direct at the entire group. We just heard from a representative from this area who spoke on behalf of Deer Creek, that area. Do we have two or three others that are here to speak for a particular area, rather than individually, that could come forward? If not we are certainly happy to continue forward at this time.

Motion by Councilman Burrell to allow Van Linnear, Jr. to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Serio and approved.

Van Linnear, Jr. (264 East McCormick Street): I am a member of the Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church and also, I been a member about 11 years.

Councilman Stewart: And you are representing the Church?

Mr. Linnear: Well, I am a member of the Church. I am concerned about the truck stop being built in that area also and I am against because over the past years I have seen numbers of incidents where trucks into the Inner Loop turning off, 18-wheelers, causing a delay of traffic, cause also an excess amount of expense for taxpayers and also an excess amount of money for the police officers to surveill the area.

So, over the past year I have seen where the highways and roads in that area are being worn down by truckers and I would say about a couple of years ago, they put in, on the other side of the freeway they put in an entry lane for the truckers to come in on the other side which is Petro Truck Stop. For this reason, the conjunction of the traffic is so heavy, because you've got, during the weekend, you've got 50 to 55% of the traffic coming from Texas coming to the river boat, down on the boat so you've got excess amount of traffic coming in at all times which causes a conjunction of traffic when you've got one, two or three churches in that area at the same time so you are causing a conjunction of traffic going at all times which also causes for truckers too, a lot of time truckers bo-guard their way into that Inner Loop. And I say last year, about a couple of trucks turned over in that Inner Loop coming into Randy Truck Town. So, they turn over and when the trucks turn over, it cause a detour of all of the traffic coming in from both angles, Greenwood Road and also the interstate.

So, this caused for extra medical technicians, police officers and fire officers to come on the scene which cost the taxpayers and also cause excess amount of money to be paid out because this unnecessary stuff, traffic coming in along with 18-wheelers which causes excess amount of accidents in that area. So, I am against it because it costing too much money for the taxpayer, also causing the roads to run down in a certain limit of time.

So, I'm asking for the Council members to see a (inaudible) for the community and for the City of Shreveport and to help to eliminate the traffic because, I think, my point of view, I think the traffic can be eliminated by a truck stop being a certain distance from one another not so in conjunction-ed up. So when it be all closed around, you are going to have a conjunction of traffic, so we are asking the Council members to do the right thing.

Motion by Councilman Huckaby to allow Dr. Daniel Perkins to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Serio and approved.

Dr. Daniel Perkins (2349 Fernbrook Drive): I had to remember where it was because I just moved back into the city limits, so I am now paying city taxes. I live in South Shreveport, don't live near the proposed truck stop but I am a citizen of Shreveport. I am the Executive Director of Faith and Families which the Council and the City has so graciously, through the years, helped us put 500 welfare moms on jobs and they are still working today and they are independent.

So, I am speaking on behalf of what the Constitution says that, elected officials are to promote the general welfare of their community; so, that is all I am talking about today. The fact is, on the proposal that I read, the word `truck stop' is mentioned once, the word `alcohol' is mentioned three times. The fact is, there are two churches and two neighborhoods. It is the churches and the neighborhoods that strengthen a family and a community. The fact is, there are three large truck stops already in that part of the community, already servicing businesses to that effect.

So my question to you today, as parents, as grandparents, I challenge you to go to any one of the three existing truck stops, park and watch for five minutes and ask yourself this question: is this the type of environment that I want my children and grandchildren to be around. Do that before you cast your vote. Is this a family activity or not?

I appreciate Mr. Brazzel, he spent money with our company, hope he will continue to do so. I've spent money with him, with the Reeves boat people and the antique shops, they are doing a wonderful thing out there and I pray God's blessings upon on him and his expansion.

The Metropolitan Planning Commission is appointed. You are duly elected and you have a very difficult decision to make and we honor and abide by that decision as we did last year. We will not come back, if we don't like the outcome. God bless you, God bless Shreveport, and God bless America. Motion by Councilman Spigener to allow Gregory L. White to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Burrell.

Gregory Lee White (964 Winter Drive, that's north of town): I'm up here to encourage you all to vote downthis Randy's Travel Town. Because I work in logistics at Pennzoil Quaker State on Valleyview and I hear how the truckers come in and the majority of them, lack rest. They come in, they smell, they talk ugly, they have no respect for automobiles and I am here to just say that, working in that type of environment, in logistics, I see how truckers don't care about anyone else but their trucks. They come in and people have to put on their brakes real fast because if they don't, they are going to run slap over them. And it is a very congested place out there on Greenwood Road and I-20, Exit 11 and I just wished that you all would take into consideration that we live in these communities, you all don't. We worship God in these communities and you all don't, so please take in consideration that we care about one another and we definitely want to live our life to the fullest.

Motion by Councilman Carmody to allow Shirley Barton to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Huckaby and approved.

Shirley Barton (3848 Talton Street, Shreveport, Louisiana): I am a resident of the Timberline Subdivision. I just come to say that I oppose Randy's Truck Stop being located at that area.

I kind of go along with some of the others that have spoke before. I remember some times last year they had an accident in that area and I was trying to get home and I couldn't get to my own subdivision. It took me at least 30 minutes and then you saw all of the big trucks that were coming down our subdivision and they were lost, they couldn't turn around or anything once they go in there.

So, I just oppose that decision for that truck stop to be located in that area. I have two children that I am raising, I like going to-I work out in that area, I don't want to have to, when I get on the interstate, try to get on the interstate, be on my brakes because the truckers don't recognize that cars or pedestrians have the right and they should yield and so I just ask you in all due respect, to vote no on that issue.

Councilman Stewart: If you notice that there is conversation here, it is not an indeterminate to those who are speaking. There seems to be an understanding, perhaps among certain Council members, but perhaps all of us, that the representatives from the various neighborhoods that came forward to speak and churches and institutions were to speak on behalf of all of those who were against it. But we do have still 30 here and we have not yet from anybody to speak in favor. Mr. Burrell, you might school us with your suggestion.

Councilman Burrell: As was stated before, I asked because there were so many, that representatives from each group, at least one, would speak. I think we've allowed more than one from several groups and to expedite time, I think we are at the end of the comments For and if there are those who are Against, then I think we can take those into consideration at this point and hopefully they will do the same thing.

Councilman Stewart: I am certainly happy to embrace it with the consensus of the Council.

Councilman Shyne: Roy, those were Against.

Councilman Burrell: I am sorry, those were against-clarification. Those were against the truck stop and clarification. Secondly, Councilman Carmody recognize all of those who were here Against and those who were For, but we have not allowed those who are For to address the Council, so that is where we are, I think.

Councilman Stewart: Let me offer a statement, that clarifies, I believe what we are trying to achieve, we certainly want to give everybody the opportunity to speak but we certainly want to do what we can to preserve everyone's time frame. We have an opinion and if I understand correctly from Mr. Thompson and discussed with Mr. Carmody, we are subject to the law and the law says we can not fail to allow anyone to speak who wants to speak. So, my appreciation, Mr. Thompson, correct me, is that it would be inappropriate and shall we say, illegal, for me to deny. I am certainly willing to embrace that without question. I am equally happy in an effort to pay attention to your responsibilities and needs to call a name and if you would like to stand up and say your name and address, and you are for or against, and that you do not wish to speak, you may be seated and you will be recorded appropriately, that will allow us to expedite. However, I want to be very clear for all of you, we will stay until Midnight if that takes that amount of time to hear appropriately, how you want to speak subject to the 3 minute limit.

Members of the Council, is that a comfortable approach on everybody's behalf? Mr. Thompson, Madame Clerk, Mrs. Glass, does that adequately reflect the opportunity to embrace the law and yet offer expeditious approach? Mrs. Glass: Yes.

Councilman Stewart: I sense everybody is in agreement. Please, do not feel uncomfortable about coming forward. But as I call your name, I will not seek a motion and second, I will just ask you to stand and if you wish to come forward, either way, please give us your name, your address, and your opinion and if you would like to come forward, say so; if not, we'll record it and allow you to be seated and continue on.

Motion by Councilman Carmody to allow Reverend David Dunn, Jr. to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Huckaby and approved.

Reverend David Dunn, Jr. (932 Chimney Rock Place): To Councilman Stewart, Council members and Honorable Mayor I would just like to say that this truck stop will not produce a sense of quality to the tax paying citizens in the west part of Shreveport.

I am 18-years old and this truck stop does produce alcohol and I am in the generation where teenagers are stereotyped for doing alcohol, getting arrested for drugs, and doing all other type stuff. And, I am just want to say, I am here for, in my generation, I'm speaking for my generation, that this truck stop and what it produces is not right and especially in this part of town where we worship and we buy our estates, our home. I just don't agree with, especially with what they are producing in this truck stop.

I was looking at and I was listening to what the truck stop produce, and I was thinking why would you put alcohol in a truck stop? And I didn't really understanding that and it is not safe and I do not trust every truck driver that they would do the responsible thing because I don't know them and they wouldn't. I just want to oppose against this truck stop and what it produces.

Motion by Councilman Carmody to allow Randy Brazzel to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Stewart and approved.

Randy Brazzel (10935 Long Fellow Trace, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71106): I really regret what I heard today when the speakers started and especially Bishop Caldwell to bring my name up in the same connection with a death threat.

Bishop Caldwell: I didn't bring your name up, Sir.

Randy Brazzel: You brought up-Bishop Caldwell: Did I call your name?

Councilman Stewart: One minute.

Randy Brazzel: I would ask that I get respect from the audience.

Councilman Stewart: You will, as will everyone else, and I apologize, but please have order. We can discuss differences outside of the Chamber, please.

Randy Brazzel: A death threat and the truck stop proposal was mentioned in the same sentence, I'll let it go with that. And I appreciate, I was hoping that this will be a fair and impartial vote, that it wouldn't be a white, black decision but as we all know, the people that are here, most of them, 90% of them, are from one church backed by one minister. He is telling them what to do. He is running the show.

Bishop Caldwell: That is not, fair.

Councilman Stewart: Wait a minute.

Mr. Brazzel: Your had your time to talk.

Councilman Stewart: Wait a minute, Mr. Brazzel. Mr. Brazzel. Reverend.

Bishop Caldwell: I didn't call his name.

Councilman Stewart: Reverend, please be seated. We will be glad to allow a response at anytime in the future after everyone else has spoken. We will not have outbursts from the crowd or I'll ask that they be removed. We will not address personalities here, we will limit ourselves to the facts, please.

Mr. Brazzel: I want to go back now to some of the notes that I have typed that I want to make sure that I bring up and everybody understands my position.

There are two boards under your political power that voted on this proposal and they found nothing wrong with the location for this travel plaza.

There were allegations made also by another speaker tonight, that those boards were under some type of duress or payoff or whatever, there was implications made that those votes were gotten illegally and that's not true.

The Boards are made up of outstanding citizens unanimously supported the rezoning in the ZBA and the MPC had an overwhelming vote of 7 to1. The citizens of Caddo Parish voted to keep video poker and alcohol has been legal since prohibition. As a matter of fact, the city of Shreveport is right now in the process promoting, financing, and seeking nightclubs, restaurants, that would all serve alcohol and having gaming on the riverfront. You are in that business.

I would like to have the same right as the people on the riverfront. The Sports Mall is on I-20, it is at the Industrial Loop located on industrial property with industrial neighbors, not neighborhoods, industrial neighbors and they are all in favor of this development. Timberline Subdivision is not even in the city of Shreveport. And the east part of the property, going west from the property there is only about 2 or 3 streets that are still inside of the city limits, the rest of it is Greenwood.

There are many citizens that live in that area that are not opposed to the truck stop and I really hate to make this an issue, but as we can all see the minorities that live out there are the ones that are here in this Chamber opposing it. There are a lot of-like someone said, 53% of the people that live out there, are white. They are not here opposing it. A lot of them that I have talked to are for it. I appreciate that they had a token white spokesman to come to address the panel, but he is an employee of Reverend / Bishop Caldwell. And the other white spokesman was a Parish Commissioner and I'm sure he is looking for votes.

In closing, this is not about traffic, it is not about crime, prostitution, and all the unfounded accusations that have been brought up by the church members. And some of them, a lot of them have talked, some of them live in the city and some of them don't, but it is about alcohol and gaming but guess what, in Louisiana, that's legal, it is legal.

I ask you today to not let a few people control what the majority of the citizens of Caddo Parish and Louisiana law declares legal and right. Let common sense prevail and base your vote on the law.

And the only other point I would like to make, your ruling on the MPC ruling, the ZBA doesn't come up until February 12, I request and I ask the Council to please postpone the vote until both matters come up together and a lot of this can be sorted out and we can find out where Bishop Caldwell got his death threat and whatever he did in his past to cause that, because it didn't come from the truck stop.

Councilman Stewart: I think every member of the Council, I do not speak for them, I believe the Mayor, I do not speak for him, but I certainly believe that we all understand that this is an important issue. Its an emotional issue for all of us on both sides and I appreciate ya'll making every effort to maintain decorum. We must stick to the facts and please, no responses from the audience whether we agree or not, it is not the issue everybody has the opportunity to speak and I know that you understand that and I think all of us realize the gravity of what's here.

Councilman Shyne: I would like to say at this point, if there is another speaker that would come forward and direct his comments to a particular individual that, at that particular point, we would move to ask that particular person to take a seat.

This is a discussion on issues. This is a discussion on facts and figures and we don't want to get into a personality discussion. I think that if we want to get into a personality discussion, we can take this to some gymnasium and not have it in the legislative Chamber and that would go for, both groups. Anybody who would get up and call another person's name or make this a personality issue, at that particular point, Mr. Chairman, I would hope you would take it upon you to ask that particular individual to take his seat.

Councilman Stewart: Mr. Shyne, I am very comfortable to do that. And I will rap once and we can always adjoin, ladies and gentleman, that is not appropriate. We can also ask that the Police Department remove the appropriate parties.

Once again, we value your opinion, all of you, and we do understand that emotions are a part of it but everybody's emotions whether they are for it or against it are part of it as long as we maintain decorum we will accept.

Councilman Burrell: Most of these people I represent out in West Shreveport so, I am asking you on behalf of District G and West Shreveport that we have, that we conduct ourselves courteously in the Council. I understand, again, that it is emotional issue, but I pride the people who are in that area and I think that you can carry yourself accordingly, so we will deal with it based upon that.

Councilman Stewart: Let me refresh your minds here. I'll call your name and your address and ask you stand and you may say, if you are for it or against it, and I'll request if you would like to speak or be seated. We certainly want to give everybody the opportunity, we want to make certain that we do not waste anyone's time.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow Debra Black to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Burrell and approved.

Debra Black (7408 Prestbury Court, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71129): I would like to comment on the traffic. I work at General Motors and I would like to say that it is about 3,000+ vehicles traveling back and forth in that area in the morning and afternoon with employees along with General Electric, and three other plants there.

Now, I have firsthand witnessed at least two accidents every week. And I am thinking that I know for sure that where that truck stop, if that truck stop is added there, that . . . that is why I am against it.

Thelma K. Carter (3844 Eames Street): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined theopportunity to address the Council.

Lee Gibbs, Jr. (6813 Snow Mass Street): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Bill Robertson (409 ½ Wyche Street): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Edna Brackens (1935 Anna Street): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Burt Brackens (1935 Anna Street): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

The Chairman recognized the request of O. B. Washington (6244 Border Lane) to address the Council who had left the meeting at this point.

Woodrow Wilson, Jr. (10028 Village Green): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Debbie Bennett (6116 Debbie Street): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Gregory W. Davis (6116 Debbie Street): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Motion by Councilman Carmody to allow Shemika Williams to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Huckaby and approved.

Shemika Williams (7000 Red Fox Trail, No. 266): I am opposing this truck stop because 1) it is to congested and 2) I don't stay in Bossier, that is why I don't stay in Bossier is because I don't like the way the traffic runs. I am not a member of Greenwood Acres, but I have friends that go to Greenwood Acres, I am a resident in the area and I feel that we don't need another truck stop. We have too many as it is. And, it is not a racial thing or anything like that, it is just that I want fairness and I don't feel that we should get that truck stop.

Councilman Shyne: I thought maybe you stayed in Shreveport because you like Shreveport better than you do Bossier.

Brenda Walker (9832 Amblewood): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Joanie C. Young (8200 Wild Briar Dr., Apt. 1108): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Motion by Councilman Huckaby to allow Ed Gayle to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Serio and approved.

Edwin O. Gayle (2810 Creswell): I am against the truck stop being located at the Sports Mall. I hope that all of the members of the Shreveport City Council have been out to this location and realize what will happen if this truck stop is allowed to go in. The on and off ramps to I-20 and the Industrial Loop empty directly on the Greenwood Road in front of the Sports Mall. Motorists traveling east and west on the Greenwood Road will have a very difficult time getting through this mass of trucks. Noise and pollution created by trucks will be very bad for the people living in Timberline and Deer Creek Subdivision which are located approximately 3/10ths of a mile from the Sports Mall. This will not be a 9 to 5 operation, either, this will be 24-hour around the clock noise and pollution. There will also be the problem of video poker and the sales of alcoholic beverages and this is the main reason we have so many truck stops in this area. Without video poker and alcohol we wouldn't see as many truck stops and if the need was so great for truck stops, you would see a string of them a mile long on the Texas side located near Waskom, we don't have those over there, they don't have because there is no, video poker is outlawed in the state of Texas. Before you vote yes on this location I would ask you how would you like to have a truck stop being built 3/10th of a miles from your subdivision?

Antonia Wright (4814 Honeysuckle): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Eva Fuller (3224 Redstone): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Clara Woodward (7911 Masters Drive): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Motion by Councilman Serio to allow Queen Mason to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Shyne and approved.

Queen Mason (237 E Egan Street): I am speaking against the truck stop because even as recent as this past Sunday night, my family and I were almost hit by a truck coming from church. I am a member of Greenwood Acres Church. There are other things go along there other than church. There is the Days of Thunder Bowling alley, the Rock Solid Fitness Center, there a concession stand as well as a restaurant. These things are not just open to church members, it is open to the city of Shreveport. There are forums that goes on there, there are seminars, workshops. People come from all over attending these functions.

As I know you all have traveled outside of the City and you are in a new city, things happen if you don't know your way, many times, if we are not familiar and you are not really looking, you are looking for a street or a place to turn, so it is just not a church thing. These are for anybody, any group. They have an H and M there where anybody-receptions, parties, other things--members, meetings they can attend. We also have the basketball for the children. Summer is coming up, as we know. My child and other children will be participating in these things and when you have children along the way, you want to be mindful of these things. We know that we can not protect them at all times, but if we are allowed to use our voices, and that is what we have to say the things that we need to say, to protect and watch out for our children as well.

So, that is basically what I want to say and to let us know that it is not just a black thing, it is not just for blacks in that area of town, we are a part of the city of Shreveport. We are not segregated to the things of Shreveport and that is one thing that really saddens us and there is a lot of good things, and these are just a limited amount of things that really happen in that side of town. And like you said, we will honor your wishes and not go pass that to express all of the things that happen out there and I thank you very much.

Councilman Stewart: We have 16 additional requests at this time.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow Carol Anderson to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Spigener and approved.

Carol Anderson (3024 Skelly St.) I am 1) a member of Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Church. 2) I am a Realtor,I have been in the real estate business nine years. Through God, I am a successful Realtor. I have sold, approximately, in the nine years, 12 homes in that area. When people come looking for a home and especially if they are somewhere out of the area, I first think, Timberline. They ask me whether it is secure, safe, and I tell them yes and I would like to continue telling people that. I like to continue bringing people to the area to live.

I have had first knowledge of truck in an accident. Four years ago, I was on the off ramp right in front Randy's Travel Town and there was an 18-wheeler. I was in back of it. He realized that he had made a wrong turn. What he did do at that point, he just backed up on me. He backed up, didn't blow or anything, backed up on and through the grace of God I'm here, but it did happen. And there are other accidents that happen in the area. I just ask you to please vote this down.

Cherilyn Winteron (470 Pennsylvania Avenue): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Motion by Councilman Spigener to allow Eric L. Gadson to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Burrell and approved.

Eric Lynn Gadson (106 J E Egan, east side of town): I am presently a member of the Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church where my Godfather Bishop Fred A. Caldwell, Sr. is Pastor/Teacher.

Now, my father taught me years ago, if a man does not find something to live for, he ain't worth to die for. Now, we as the members of the Greenwood Acres, we believe in God and we believe that God has given us that land to do what he says to do. Now, ya'll been elected by our vote. Ya'll are going to have hold yourself accountable to God and answer to us. Now, God say in his word, if a man doesn't hear the whole conclusion of the whole matter, that man keep God's commandments and fear him. Now, this is our rights, this is our inheritance. If that is had been put in ya'll yard or somewhere else in town, you wouldn't like it there. So, this is in our yard, this is our church, and we are not asking you to just do something wrong, we are asking you to uplift our city, our lives, and different other things because ya'll are grandmothers, ya'll are grandfathers, and ya'll are also mothers and fathers. If this was in your yard or your community you wouldn't like it.

We are saying, we want you to say no because 1. we are ascribing to continue to lift Shreveport up. We are ascribing to continue to break down the racial walls. We are ascribing to let everybody know, we are not playing church, we are the church. We are ascribing to say, yeah, we are one brotherhood. We are saying hey, how beautiful and how wonderful it is for Brothen to dwell together--not black, but black and white and whoever, so that is why we are saying, yeah, vote this down. But if you vote yes on this, remember you are going to answer to God for it because he say in his word, we all must have to give account to Christ and that day of judgment. Now it is up to you, you can vote yes, and it bother your conscious or you can vote no and be a real man and be a real woman of your word. And if you say you love God, then yeah, show it. Until then, ya'll be blessed.

Councilman Shyne: I am so glad that he changed that from being grandmothers and grandfathers because it kind of baited me to being mothers and fathers.

Motion by Councilman Burrell to allow Dottie Bell to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Stewart and approved.

Dottie Bell (7881 Jefferson Paige): I am going to speak but you know, all of you know me and I am against it but the reason is because of the children.

I am against it because I am a member of the church and it is wrong. Nobody said anything about the safety of the children. Buses go up that way, up and down, up and down. For the past two years, you've been reading the paper and some times on the news when I look at it at 6 o'clock, it's a bus wreck. That breaks my heart because I don't know is it somebody dead or what, that is a sad situation.

That corner is a death trap for school buses. There is two or three schools in the area and a residential community consist of children. Then at the church, which I am very proud to be a member, there a tutorial program, four days a week. The buses come and they drop those kids off because they live in the residences and they just drop them off, that is danger there. Those kids, we need to look out for the children also.

When you've got people coming in and out, you think about the alcohol. They don't really care. When they are losing their money, they don't care. They are so angry, anyway, they don't care about a yellow school bus coming, but I am concerned about it. I sit here, no way will I ever want to see a truck or anything to hit a school bus and then you've got all those babies bodies out there. We need to look at that. You should never put a truck stop or anything that is going to be detrimental to a residence that is going to hurt our new generation, the generation to come and those residents, first of all.

Furthermore, my family owns 50 acres of land on Rice Road and that is right down from the church. So, I live on Jefferson Paige Road, but we own land on the Rice Road which is right down from the church.

So, I would just like to say please, think about the children, think about the safety of those students. Those buses---they are nervous. The kids talk on the bus anyway. Bus drivers have to be very, very conscious of what they are doing, then you got 50 trucks coming, buses coming, just think about it. It is the same way when we are driving our cars, you see trucks, so, please think about it. Think about the residents, think about our church, think about it. We have generations, young generations and I do want it on my heart to see a bus and babies are scattered out.

Klint Brazzel (319 Mockingbird): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

The Chairman recognized the request of Alton Ross (678 Princeton Road, Princeton, Louisiana) who was present on another matter.

Motion by Councilman Burrell to allow Henry Crooms to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Stewart and approved.

Councilman Stewart: Ladies and gentlemen, we have had 7 more requests to speak.

Henry Crooms (4165 Waller Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71119, the Timberline Subdivision): I'm against the truck stop, this is not the first time I come to speak against it. I have spoken against it every time it came up. One thing I would like to say is that most of my activities is in that area. I work at General Motors, I do real estate in the area quite often. I worship at Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church, I'm a Associate Minister there. I also live in the Timberline Subdivision. So, I retired last year from General Motors, now I have much more free time to conduct my business as I desire to.

One of the things that I would like to stress is that I came from a broken home, an alcoholic father, he turned my mother into an alcoholic and I consequently became an alcoholic myself. I also got involved in drugs and smoking cigarettes and I did all of that until I was age 35. When God put a call on my life I accepted Jesus and I left all of thatbehind. My thing is, I did not come and move in West Shreveport to become inundated with those activities. I did the best I can to leave them along and that's where I want to do and that's how I want to stay. To bring anything else in there is just going to disrupt my routine, disrupt my life, disrupt my family, my church activities and the place in which I work. So I'm asking you to vote this down, please. Because I live there, I worship there, I work there, and I do not need anything else that would bring forth the past back up into my life, I really don't.

We don't need it there. Alcohol is constant sore upon the United States against all the other nations that are in the world. We need to do something about these things; so, I'm asking you to please vote no.

The Chairman recognized the request of Aline Ross (2902 Looney) who was present on another matter.

Motion by Councilman Burrell to allow Craig S. Haldwick to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Spigener and approved.

Craig S. Haldwick (4227 Calderwood Drive): For those of you who don't know, I'm the Vice President of the Timberline Subdivision Homeowners Association and you have a copy of a letter from our board and so I won't repeat what's in that letter but I do want to add one thing to what Dr. Carter so eloquently stated earlier.

Our community is a progressive community and we are in favor of business, we want more tax in our community but the Greenwood corridor needs to be a buffer zone between the industrial development on the other side of the interstate and the residential development that stretches from Greenwood Road over to Cross Lake. Businesses in that area need to be businesses that are compatible with communities and that keep our area attracted to people who want to come and build homes and build more of what we have.

In addition, I would like to say I live here because I'm from Rapid City, South Dakota , so I can honestly say I'm a Southerner. I'm here today because of an accident. My father was transferred to Barksdale. I have lived all over this area and I have never known people to be - to so love where they live until I moved to Timberline, that's why I moved to Timberline and that's why I live here today. Even though my company was bought by a big utility in Houston several years ago and thought they were going to move us all to Houston and I have fought to keep me and my team of highly paid professionals here in Shreveport and it's because of the standard of living. It's because of the quality of living.

Having said that, not to long ago a tractor trailer truck carrying about 70,000 gallons of orange juice pulled into our neighborhood and ran off into the ditch in my neighbors yard and I went and talked to the fellow and fortunately that was the extent of it, if the truck had jack-knifed it's orange juice. But what if the truck had been full of PCB's or some dangerous chemical? Now, I knew when I moved out there as the other people in Timberline knew that we are close to I-20 and that, that risk exist. All we are asking is that we don't increase that risk. All we are asking is that if we have new businesses in that area that they are businesses that will be compatible to us like many of the light industrial activities that are already on Greenwood Road that none of our residents have any objections to and that's all I have to

Motion by Councilman Huckaby to allow Earsel Devers to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Spigener and approved.

Earsel Devers (6205 Nottaway Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana). My appearance here today is kind of personal because my mother lives in Greenwood Acres and I feel that we don't need any added attractions to the violence and the drugs that's already there. So, being of sound mind and able to make my own decision, I ask that you not - vote no.

Motion by Councilman Burrell to allow Rhonda Sanders to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Spigener and approved.

Rhonda Sanders (4103 Calderwood Drive, Shreveport and I do live in Timberline): One of the things that I think is really important is that truck stops have been proposed to be place all over the city of Shreveport, various areas and the Council did vote them down. We ask the same consideration in reference to this issue. We are for economic development, but at what cost. You know we are all about keeping our properties up as everyone has already stated but one of the things that we are looking at is the sale of alcohol. Look at the communities that are selling alcohol, what have they turned to. They are coming in asking you to re-zone in different areas because -- or they went to the MPC for re-zoning. We're asking that you control the controllables. We are asking for favor in this issue. One of the things that they propose to place is a restaurant. We have a restaurant at the Family Life Center. One of the things that they did before the MPC, they said, because I was there and I spoke against it at that time as well, they said that they asked consideration of their neighbors. They went to Red Roof Inn. They went to the truck stop on the other side 20 but not one time did they come to Greenwood Acres and find out if we were in favor or against the restaurant being open. If we are going to be fair, we need to be fair all the way across the board.

Across I-20, there are no homes in that area. All up and down Greenwood Road there is nothing but homes whether it is in a subdivision or if they are on an acre of land. We want to continue to live where we live in a peaceable environment. During the time that 20 was under reconstruction the trucks had to de-route and go down Greenwood Road. I don't know if you live in the area, I don't know if you have property in area but if you had an opportunity to even drive during that time, you found that it was very, very difficult for those that had to be over there to get to there place of residence. So that's something that we ask you to control and not to put off voting today, but to vote and to vote "no".

Motion by Councilman Huckaby to allow Richard King to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Shyne and approved.

Richard King (330 Marshall Street, across the street): I am the attorney for Randy's Travel Town and with regard to the submission that we made before the MPC and the Zoning Board of Appeals. With regard to this and the outcry that we have I still revert back to the photograph that we had shown, the ariel photograph that showed the buffer zone that we have here.

This Council and prior Councils in the past created the Industrial Loop. The Industrial Loop meets at I-20 and that's where this property is located. The Industrial Loop itself signifies what we are trying to develop there as something industrial in nature. I-20 is there at I-80 - at Highway 80 which are both US Highways, which are government highways that are regulated by DOTD (the Department of Transportation) as well as city government itself. We ask this Council to delay this to have us - to have the opportunity to present evidence of the traffic engineer with regard to the concerns of the citizens in that area in connection with traffic itself.

There has been no evidence, hard evidence itself in connection with traffic relays and also in connection with diverting the traffic in this area. We provided you with the plans. I have come before you in the Work Sessions to discuss that plan itself.

This is twenty acres that is self-enclosed in that area. It is buffered by - if you see in the ariel photograph itself between Timberline Subdivision, which is not located within the city limits in connection with this, it is segregated by notonly the Red Roof Inn but also a 24-hours eighteen wheel repair shop that already works 24-hours a day in that area which is already industrial in nature in connection with that. So therefore, we already have industrial property in that area, in connection with that. The submission that we have provided to you is consistent with that.

In connection with crime itself, the news channels were gracious enough to interview not only the Greenwood Police Department with regard to crime itself and the officer interviewed on the station itself said, "listen, the crime at Flying J has decreased in fact. There is no hard facts, there is no legal basis for rejecting a landowners request based upon moral outcry. And I understand the concerns regarding gaming and I understand the concerns regarding alcohol but those are legal activities within our state that are regulated by this governing board itself. We appointed a Council, the MPC, the Metropolitan Planning Commission, and a Zoning Board of Appeals, of citizens, of fair minded citizens who would consider the evidence that we presented before them and that's hard evidence itself that we presented at that Council. You understand, the measurements around the property itself in connection with the mail-out. None of these people that are opposing this are connected within that. I heard three tenths of a mile, there is no measurement to a residence within that area that is being stated. There is no evidence before the ZBA or the Metropolitan Planning Commission in connection with that. As a representative I would respectfully request a minute and a half more.

All we have is a landowner asking for a fair and impartial hearing which pursuant to 12.2 of your rules is required of you. If any of you - I challenge any of you - if any of you had any preconceived ideas or had you minds up before we had a fair and impartial hearing then you much recuse yourself from voting pursuant to rule 4.2 of your own rules in connection with that.

Because what we are having here is due process of the landowner to come before you as an owner of an asset to ask for zoning which is now been approved 13 to 1 before the very committee that has been appointed by the Mayor and the other Council itself in connection with that to consider the evidence. They did, they voted 13 to 1 in favor of this and they were right when they quoted stating several of the Council members said, if we can't have a truck stop at this location, there can't be a truck stop anywhere in the city. At the corner of I-20 and the Industrial Loop which is there, which we put there to traffic, big trucks, eighteen wheelers, then we can't have truck stops. The Legislature has those laws in effect which regulate alcohol, gaming, and truck stops in connection with that.

Mr. Brazzel came to this community, made an investment in that community, has his family there in connection with that. He presented that plan to show that it was a family organization that he has there with his brother, son, and the two nephews in connection with running that business. We have shown to you the facility of the makeup that we presented to the ZBA and the MPC in connection with that. All we are asking you is uphold that ruling that they made in connection with this and a 7 to 1 vote at MPC hearing.

Motion by Councilman Carmody to allow Terry W. Black to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Huckaby and approved.

Sgt. Terry Black (7408 Prest Berry Court): I'm here for two reasons. Also I represent the deaf and hearing impaired that attends our church and also I'm against the proposed truck stop for several reasons.

We have a hard enough time trying to drive as it is and also with the deaf and the hearing impaired people you can image those big trucks coming upon them and it's just so congested there and I'm against that.

I live in Steeple Chase and I have also purchasing my land in Deer Creek and my backyard is where Randy's Travel Town would be.

I have several brothers and nephews that's truck drivers and we talk and you know what they talk about. We also know that the truckers get paid by the milage, so we are talking about traffic and congestion; so, I'm against that for that reason.

And on last evening we celebrated the dream of coming together, let freedom ring, and then here we are today talking about a black or white issue. Freedom ring, let's keep the dream alive. Thank you for your time.

Requested that the vote be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Bertie Poole (9112 Copperman Circle): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Sandy Peavy (6106 River Road): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Cody Alan Brazzel (4884 Dixie Garden): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Michael Locke (6401 Caspiana): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Kathy Sanders (701 N. Kerley Avenue, Oil City): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Mike Etheredge (11050 Belle Rose Circle): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Larry Brazzel (4884 Dixie Garden): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Phil Israel (10850 Long Fellow): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Betty Carrell (835 Audubon Place.): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Bernie Bracken (104 Malibu Drive): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Chad Brazzel (4896 Dixie Garden): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Brenda Etheredge (11050 Belle Rose Circle, Shreveport): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Marilyn Merkle (11030 Chenier): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Donna Brazzel (10935 Long Fellow): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Motion by Councilman Carmody to allow Rudolph Glass to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Huckaby and approved.

Rudolph Glass, Jr. (1431 Clay Street): I live not far from here, a few blocks from here to be exact. I was concerned about the truck stop because I noticed that a lot of the people that live in the subdivisions in that area have houses valued at a $100,000 dollars and up and I'm basically seeing that it seems as though power and money has been running this city and with you all being elected officials, I think that the people that elected you should be the ones that are being served.

I don't know what's going to happen with construction near downtown Shreveport but I have a house that I'm buying on Clay Street and if these people are not getting justice, I'm really afraid at what I would get because my house is not valued at not even $50,000 dollars. So I'm hoping that the truck stop is not voted for.

Also I travel down Greenwood Road several times a week and one of the things that really pissed me off is to have to slam on my brakes because a truck has pull out in front of me.

I have also delivered for RPS and that was one of my areas and during the time they had construction on I-20 , Greenwood Road was the only relief that I could find to get home in the evening. And I think with the truck stop it will make things even worst.

Councilman Shyne: I just want to encourage you to go head on and buy your home on Clay and that's a good part of the city and we are working to try to improve all the areas of the city. It would be a good investment for you.

LaZondra C. Young (3228 Jana, Bossier City): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow James Lane to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Carmody and approved.

James W. Lane, Minister James W. Lane (210 South Madison Court, Bossier City): I'm a member of Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church.

I'm against this truck stop. I'm a product of Greenwood Acres not only as a member of the Church but my mother and father bought a house in Greenwood Acres in 1957 and I was raise up in that community, that community means a lot to me. My wife and I and my four grandchildren we come to that church on a consistent basis.

In my careers in life, one of my careers was an emergency medical technician for 10 years and I drove ambulances and one of the main things, one of the high problems we had was with trucks, 18-wheelers turning over, running over people on motorcycles. They can't see very well, they don't get enough sleep. It's a safety issue. It's a moral issue. It's about people. It's not about race. It's about safety and about the area that we are in. We have a lot of nice homes in that area. We have families, we got children. It's very important to keep that area safe.

I'm sure the persons that are for this issue would not want this to be close to their neighborhoods and it's not about race. It's about a human moral issue, and it's about safety and we don't want that in our that in our neighborhood. We also have a family life center where people are traveling back and forth to have recreation. We have basketball games, all types of sports, bowling, people coming out to eat. I have had trucks to almost run over me out there at some of those at the yield sign out there on that ramp. When you get on that ramp to get back to go east on I-20, they don't even pay attention to that yield sign. So, I have been almost ran over at least two or three times in that area. Can you image how congested that's going to be with those big trucks? Thank you, I am against it.

Rodessa Jones (3110 Country Club): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow Bertha Pamplyn Buttin to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Burrell and approved.

Bertha Pamplyn Buttin (4209 S. Hampton Road): I am a property owner in the area, not to delay the time but I just want ya'll to know that I think for myself. Nobody thinks for me, nobody speaks for me unless I give permission to speak for me.

I own . . . in Western Hills. I own property as a member of Greenwood Acres. So, I own property two places, not just one. I'm oppose to this.

I am a legal entity in the state of Louisiana. I am a person in the state of Louisiana. I pay taxes. I understand that business will come into the area and we welcome businesses in the area that will jive, that will go along with what's already there. It is an industrial area and that there is a place that already repairs trucks for 24-hours. We certainly -that's enough trucks in the area other than what's on the other side of the road. So, I just want to encourage you to think us that live in the area. I don't live in Oil City, I use to live in Belcher. I live in this area now.

Nobody had to prompt me to come here. I came on my own because I am concerned about what's going on. I respect my Bishop, my pastor, my friend but I speak for myself. Absolutely nobody else speaks for me unless I ask them to; so, I thank you for your time.

Motion by Councilman Burrell to allow Donald Sudds to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Carmody and approved.

Donald Sudds (3102 Linda Street): I'm definitely in opposition against this truck stop because this is a negative industrial environment that ya'll bringing this truck stop in here and if ya'll want to vote this truck stop in, bad decision.

Because this is a negative environment and we all know what the trucks bring in, drugs alcohol and God knows whatever else. So I'm against any truck stop that's going to corrupt the community because the community is already corrupted as ya'll can see. Jail houses are full, come on now, ya'll understand where I'm coming from. Because of the fact of these truck stops literally ran over me and I'm not for it and ya'll shouldn't be for it because it is a negative and a very bad decision to make. Thank you very kindly.

Motion by Councilman Huckaby to allow Kittrell L. White to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Serio and approved.

Minister Kittrell L. White (934 Lazywood, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71108): I'm against this truck stop. Mainly, I can also speak on a lot of issues but I too drive trucks, 18- wheelers and I know the mentality of truck drivers. Not that I get out there and try to break the law but I know we sometimes get in a hurry.

Now, concerning this alcohol, now if you are going to put alcohol in a place where truckers stop then they might want to take a drink and this will also happen, their ability to function right; so, I am against this truck stop.

Not only that, they told this thing about the children, about the schools, buses go up and down that street. I commute my children to church, back and forth for different activities and I also too had a run in with one of the trucks; so, I'm against this truck stop and I hope that you all are too.

Councilman Stewart: Ladies and gentlemen we have five more in front of me and we have had 64 to date.

Linda Biernacki (10975 Belle Courway): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Frederick Prierson (6868 Washington Lane, Shreveport) to address the Council who had left the meeting at this point.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow Barbara Thomas to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Serio and approved.

Barbara Jo Monroe Thomas (6863 Washington Lane): I've lived in Greenwood Acres for forty-three years. I was raised there, five of my siblings were raised in Greenwood Acres. I married, moved from Greenwood Acres, moved back to Greenwood Acres, raised two children there and it is unsafe to have a truck stop that close to our community. We have school buses coming and for a while school buses were stopping on the highway to let our children out. We had to fight that issue so the school buses could come into the community; so, definitely do not need a truck stop in our community.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow Josie Harris to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Carmody and approved.

Josie Harris (6209 Nottaway Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71119): I'm strongly in opposition of this truck stop - this proposed truck stop to be located at 7288 Greenwood Road.

We are here today asking for justice. We chose to by our homes in this area because of the tranquility. We want to raise our family in a good environment. Most of us have moved from the inner-city where there are drugs, prostitution and God knows what else going on. After moving to this area, we thought we had escaped, but now it maybe a little bit different what we really had planned on.

There are good Christian people live in this area. We need a good place to live, a peaceful and quite place to live. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that we do not need another truck stop and gaming devices, that's obvious. We travel Greenwood Road often going to our church, our beloved church, Greenwood Acres. By the way, I too speak for myself, nobody makes my decision.

Greenwood Road was not designed for all these trucks to be traveling. Just recently there was a, I think several people have mentioned, there was a big truck that turned over. Matter of fact I have some pictures here. During that time, as it was stated earlier, that Greenwood Road and the interstate was blocked for a day or so. Just imagine had that truck been carrying chemicals, what would have happened to the residents that live in that area. So we are here today asking you to please be bold, do the right thing, we love our community and we want to stay in our community.

I think if I put these pictures here you may be able to see this . . .

Councilman Stewart: How about if you would describe what's there at least for starters, please Ma'am.

Josie Harris: Okay, well maybe I can just pass them around so you could see them.

Councilman Stewart: Give them to the Clerk, please. Right there and then you can discuss them and she'll be happy to pass them down.

Josie Harris: These pictures that are going around are pictures of a truck that turned over. So this is just evidence of what everybody had been saying about this accident, okay.

We want to keep the quality of life that we have in this area with the truck stop and liquor, it won't be the same thing.

Oh, by the way, with the liquor being sold at this place then these truckers are likely to drink and drive. That will probably cause more accidents when you are drinking and driving. So that is another reason why we do not want a truck stop in this area.

We do not - just recently if you were watching the news where the "jump out boys," I think you call them the "jump out boys," was in this Lakeside and Allendale area going from door to door, we don't want our area, our community to get to this. So this is the reason why we are here today asking you to do not approve of this proposed truck stop. We want to keep our community a peaceful and quiet one. Enough is enough, we do not need any more truck stops.

Oh, by the way, let me add one other thing. It was said earlier to about we were members of the church, I have given this Council about four or five hundred signatures on a petition and they were not all - they did not all live in that area. And also I gave about three or four letters. They were not people that lived in that area or go to that church, so there is a difference right there.

The Chairman recognized the request of Shirley Travis (3429 Sunset Drive) to address the Council who had left the meeting at this point.

Linda Bienacki, (10975 Belle Courway): Requested to be recorded in favor of the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Motion by Councilman Stewart to allow Jeffery Wiess to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Carmody and approved.

Councilman Stewart: We have a request to speak from Mr. Jeffery Wiess, 6041 Gilbert Drive. I would like to make that motion and a second please. This is on a different matter. This is on the Glen Iris issue.

Jeffery Wiess (6041 Gilbert Drive, Shreveport, 71106): I spoke on this issue before. If I could - is the machine working. I would like to be able to stand here and say that the proponents of closing this street want to build a truck stop on it but I don't think I can get away with that.

I would say though in contrast to the proposal that you spent all afternoon on, this is not a public issue. The street closing at Glen Iris would affect about three people in the entire city and I won't take much time of the Council for that reason. It is not a public issue and it ought to be defeated.

The same issue has come up before public bodies four times. It's been unanimously defeated in 1964, in 1982 by the Planning Commission and by the Council and again in 2001 by the Planning Commission. I think l that's probably over twenty-five votes against this. I see no reason to change the course on these exact same facts.

And the last comment I would make it would be to quote (I got Councilman, I should say Councilperson, Spigener, excuse me) and I think Ms. Spigener's comments at the December 27^th hearing were exactly right.

We have spent a great deal of time discussing this issue. It involves but three property owners. Councilman Spigener, Councilperson Spigener, said "I see no public benefit for closing and abandoning this and I think we are spending a great deal of time on something that I don't is a great deal of public interest," and I seconded those remarks, I agree with them wholeheartedly.

Motion by Councilman Stewart to allow Bill Weiner to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Carmody and approved.

Bill Wiener, Jr. (401 Market, Suite 1110, Shreveport, Louisiana): You can follow along on your screens. I'm not asking the Council to do something for me. I'm asking that you leave things as they are and not arbitrarily close andabandon Glen Iris, north of Ontario to benefit others at my expense. I'm simply trying to defend my property rights.

In the past when my neighbors have tried to have the street closed and abandoned, the MPC, the City Commission, and the City Council all unanimously rejected the proposal because it did not have the concurrence of all the adjoining property owners. This has been the policy, official and unofficial upon which citizens have relied. By overturning a unanimous decision of the MPC you are disregarding the traditional policy. Such an action sends a message to citizens and developers that Shreveport is arbitrary and maybe one would be better off developing property in another city.

Everyone in America is suppose to be treated equally. A government body should not take property, rights, and value from one citizen and give them to another. The closing and abandoning of Glen Iris would take vehicular access from my property, thus ruining its value. At the same time this action would enhance the property valve of the other two adjoining property owners by giving them free property and allowing them to expand their houses.

The state of Louisiana requires a 100% concurrence to close and abandon a state road. The reason for this is to protect private property rights. The city of Shreveport has a semi-official policy on street closing, i. e. it takes a 100% concurrence from identifiable adjoining property owners. However, there is no specific ordinance addressing this. After the Council denies the appeal of the unanimous decision by the MPC to not close and abandon Glen Iris north of Ontario, I will try and work with the other adjoining property owners to reach a solution which solves both their needs and mine. Note: All adjoining property owners were aware of the situation when they bought their property. This is not a new development.

Please vote no to not overturn the unanimous decision of the MPC. If you are undecided, you should abstain. And I'm here to answer any questions.

Councilman Stewart: Ladies and gentlemen of the Council as I discussed with Mr. Wiener, Mr. Wiess, 1. they do not have copies of a two page letter I received from the South Highlands Neighborhood Association indicating they favored the closure. 2. Mr. Wiener offered, in our discussions today about this, o meet with these people. I think it is very appropriate that he do so and I think it is most appropriate given the position of South Highland's that they do so before the vote. 3. I have a written response from Mr. Mike Strong that addresses these issues too on behalf of the City. And last but not least, Mr. Cantwell is out of the city. He is one of the proponents, he is one of the abutting property owners. So, I will request later on a postponement until the next meeting and then a vote at that time.

Madame Clerk, I indicate that there is no further information in front of me for people to speak. Is that correct?

Mr. Thompson: I thought there were a couple of people who wanted to speak earlier.

Councilman Burrell: On Milam Street.

Mr. Wiener: May I clarify something?

Councilman Stewart: Yes sir.

Mr. Wiener: The man who you said was out of town, I never heard of him?

Councilman Stewart: They gave me the name wrong. It's the owner of the property on the west side, Howard Malpass. Where this name came from is beyond me.

Motion by Councilman Burrell to allow Alene Ross to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Shyne and approved.

Alene Ross (2902 Looney Street, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71103): I am just here because I had a letter to come today, but I had turned in all of my information on the 15^th that my Councilman told me that I needed to do. And I got the petitions, I got the reports from, a print out from the city jail, and I got over 100 and some names in the neighborhood that did not oppose. We already was in the building and this is a non-conforming property that I am speaking of. I turned the request and I have the names on the petition and I didn't know whether we were suppose to come today and speak, this is my second time speaking and it is concerning non-conforming property.

On this property, we've been there for 57 years. This is the third generation and we are in the same condition that my mother was in, I was in, and now my son is there and we just want to be able to expand. We have got lots next to us, but we are just in a bind and I just wanted to come and let you know that when we had the meeting last Friday, I had turned in my names and everything that I was suppose to do and I just ask. And the neighbors in the neighborhood, everybody three and four streets over, same block, two blocks up on each side and I didn't have but four that opposed. And the ones that opposed are club members and they don't live in the area, it is older people that moved out of the area and all of our community meeting, nobody is there but Mr. Burrell and about several others and I am an active member in the community, and he can verify that.

Motion by Councilman Shyne to allow Alton Ross to address the Council, seconded by Councilman Burrell and approved.

Alton Jerome Ross (678 Princeton Road, Princeton, Louisiana): Up until 6 years ago, I resided at 2904 Looney Street and that property is directly behind the café that my mother spoke about earlier.

We are trying to get B-2 zoning. We want to upgrade the property that we have. We are trying to put a parking lot in because the city has red curbed the area that is adjacent to the property that we don't have parking there. And another concern is that, there is a store that is right adjacent to our place that has a package liquor license, that is something that we are not trying to seek. We are trying to seek license to have liquor sold that will be consumed on the property and all of our business will be conducted inside of the business and not outside.

We are just in need of, renovating and upgrading our property and it is just something that we can't do with it being one zoning.

I think that we have been good people in our neighborhood and with our neighbors and we hadn't had any problems that is on record with the Police Department of any kind and we already have a zoning to sale the low content of alcohol, but our primary is restaurant and we do cook and we stop cooking at 1 a.m. in the morning, we reserve an hour to clean up. And it would just help us so much to have added revenue that liquor would bring, that maybe I could get some help there to help me out because at the present time, I am the only person besides my mother that comes to help me out, that employed there, that it would just help the business a great deal if we could get zone changed.

Also, it is very hard to get insurance on a property that non-conforming property and it is a high insurance policy. And if we could get a B-2 zoning, it would help us dearly. We appreciate ya'lls consideration.

Councilman Shyne: I was about to ask about the insurance situation, but I'll ask, are you looking at maybe, eventually bringing in video poker?

Mr. Ross: We already have video poker, Councilman Shyne.

Councilman Shyne: You already have video poker?

Mr. Ross: Yes, we do. And I'm licensed by the State and government, with the city and state, that I can sell lowcontent alcohol with the license that I have. All of them are in my name and I am under the control of the City and state as far as the dispensing of my products.

Councilman Shyne: So, the situation that you have is 1. you are not able to expand.

Mr. Ross: That's true.

Councilman Shyne: 2. And, I am trying to get the liquor situation. If you have, you don't have the right to serve high content alcohol?

Mr. Ross: No we don't, just beer and light wine and it is limited. And I don't think anybody that goes to a restaurant that doesn't drink, is really concerned about if you serve alcohol or not. If you don't drink, it shouldn't be a problem for you, but I think the choice should be there for those that do.

Councilman Shyne: Let me see if I can get this clear. Councilman Carmody, with the high content, since I'm a non-drinker, would that be something like Jack Daniels, or something like that?

Councilman Carmody: I believe they refer to that as brown liquor, Mr. Shyne, if I recall correctly.

Mr. Ross: That's true, but champagne is also considered as a higher content of alcohol.

Councilman Burrell: I been trying to understand this issue. What are we actually changing at this location? And in addressing this issue, I addressed Mr. Thompson and Mrs. Glass over there on this, and what I am understanding is that you are not asking for alcohol because you are a non-conforming right now, so regardless of whether or not this zoning is passed, it will not take from you, your ability to serve your alcoholic beverage, am I understanding that correct?

Mr. Ross: Well, it is the limitation of it, is what it is.

Councilman Burrell: The limitation of it.

Mr. Ross: Yes, Sir. We can't serve wine or any kind of other alcohol that is a higher content as beer and wine.

Councilman Burrell: So, that is what you are seeking a higher content of alcohol to be sold at that location?

Mr. Ross: Yes, sir.

Councilman Burrell: Now, I better understand then because it was my understanding that it will not change your ability to sell alcohol at that location even if the zoning change came about, but I did not understand that you would be graduating from beer and wine to maybe brown-what do you call it, alcohol in this situation.

Mr. Ross: There is a store directly adjacent to what. . . .

Councilman Burrell: I am very much aware of that store.

Councilman Serio: What is your current food to alcohol ratio?

Mr. Ross: We have to have a 60 / 40 ratio.

Councilman Serio: Right, what is your's right now?

Mr. Ross: It is a 60% ratio, food 60%. The bulk of our business is food.

Gerald Heard (1917 Cambridge Street): Requested to be recorded against the application and declined the opportunity to address the Council.

Chairman Stewart: Ladies and gentleman, on behalf of the Council, I certainly extend our sincere thanks for the behavior and the matter in which you've handled this as we've gone forward. I appreciate the indulgence of those who felt they were perhaps inappropriately addressed in the beginning, that was unfortunate, but that's behind us.

We are now at approximately 6:06, unless there is an objection, we will take a temporary refrain for everyone and return at 6:20. Any objections?

Councilman Shyne: Is that 15? Could we do it a little bit less . . . ah. . . I think some of us might have some people out there that might need to go to Prayer meeting and if we could do it , lets make it five.

Chairman Stewart: We've had three requests for 10.

Councilman Shyne: Well, I'm out numbered.

Chairman Stewart: We bring this meeting back to order, we are at item C.

Adding Legislation to the Agenda. Motion by Councilman Shyne, seconded by Councilman Carmody to add the following entitled ordinance to the agenda, to be voted on today. Ordinance No. 7 of 2002: An ordinance declaring a public emergency in connection with replacing and upgrading components in the command Center Access Control System at Shreveport Regional Airport; and approving the expenditure of $63,315.71 and otherwise providing with respect thereto. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Stewart, Carmody, Spigener, Serio, Shyne and Burrell. 6. Nays: None. Out of Chamber: Councilman Pearl Huckaby. 1.

CONSENT AGENDA LEGISLATION:

INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ON CONSENT:

RESOLUTION: None.

ORDINANCE:

1. Ordinance No. 4 of 2002: An ordinance closing and abandoning the 20 foot-wide dedicated "T" shaped alleyway in Blocks 3 and 4 of the Park View Subdivision bounded by Sycamore, Walnut, and Laurel Streets, and otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Huckaby, seconded by Councilman Spigener for Introduction of the Ordinance to lay over until the February 12, 2002 meeting. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ON CONSENT:

RESOLUTION: None.

ORDINANCE: None.

REGULAR AGENDA LEGISLATION:

RESOLUTIONS:

RESOLUTION NO. 1 OF 2002

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE KREWE OF CENTAUR, INC., AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO.

WHEREAS, the City of Shreveport desires to support cultural, educational and leisure activity programs which serve the public and render a public service; and

WHEREAS, the Krewe of Centaur parade ("the parade") is one of several Mardi Gras parades held annually in the City; and

WHEREAS, the parade provides a benefit to the general public and to visitors to the City by providing an opportunity to celebrate the cultural history of this State; and

WHEREAS, Resolution Number 12 Of 2001 authorized the execution of a three (3) year agreement with the Krewe relative to sponsorship and production of the parade; and

WHEREAS, the contract authorized by Resolution Number 12 of 2001 was amended by authority of Resolution Number 25 of 2001; and

WHEREAS, the parties now desire to further amend the agreement with the Krewe of Centaur, Inc., to provide for additional matters relative to the production of the parade.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City Shreveport in due, legal and regular session convened that the Mayor of the City of Shreveport is hereby authorized to execute amendments to the agreement with the Krewe of Centaur, Inc., substantially in accordance with the draft thereof which was filed with the original copy of this resolution for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk of Council on January 8, 2002.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any provision or item of this resolution or the application thereof be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or applications of this resolution which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items, or applications, and to this end the provisions of this resolution are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Huckaby for passage.

Councilman Burrell: Mr. Chairman, I don't per se, have any questions, at this time, but on last Council meeting, I requested the Mayor to ask a representative from the Krewe from Gemini as well as the Krewe of Centaur to come and give us a Council and also to address the citizens on the situation. I mean, what have they done since the situation on the last parade, where some of our youngsters were attacked as well as mocked while on the parade route. What have they put in place to try to insure those parents that this will not happen this time? Because we as a City of Shreveport, do enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with this organization and we all have some responsibility in this. Are they here today?

Mayor Hightower: Mr. Chairman, both the Krewe of Gemini and Centaur have both their Captains here today and would be glad to approach the podium.

Chairman Stewart: If there are no objections, being none if we could have the two Captains join us here at the podium. Very happy to have you with us. If you'd be kind enough to give us your title, your name and your Krewe.

Ms. Pernici: My name is Pattie Pernici, I am Captain-Elect. I will be Captain next year but I am representing our Captain and I'm with the Krewe of Gemini.

Mr. Lee: I'm Jeff Lee and I'm Co-Captain of the parade for this year's parade and I'm representing the group.

Councilman Burrell: Which one are you?

Mr. Lee: I'm Centaur.

Chairman Stewart: Do we have questions or comments from members of the Council or would y'all like to make some observations first?

Ms. Pernici: Well, concerning what happened last year, we had as a Krewe, we had decided that if we had any bands in our parades this year, that we would place a police unit with them to protect them and either before or behind, probably more behind. Unfortunately, we have no bands this year. We have none. We have none coming in from out of town, we have none from Shreveport or Bossier. So, it's kind of, for this year, it is kind of a mute thing because the School Board has made a resolution and taken the opportunity for these kids to parade in our parades away from them; so. . . .

Mr. Lee: Well, several things have been done. Its an unfortunate thing that happened last year, but along with the things that we worked with the Task Force about the Police and being behind the bands and they provided, even when we've got some children groups, they're providing police cars behind all the groups. But the ordinances that you guys are coming forth with or looking at approving, I understand, are going to help out a lot too. I mean, they're gonna help give us some barriers for the people to stay behind. It's not getting out into the parade route. Its going to be an ordinance not to do that. Impede the parade where there's parking or just jumping out there. We need that ordinance passed. I think that's going to help out a lot.

And the public, parade etiquette is a big thing that we've worked on. The Chief was at a meeting we had last night. Going over the rules, the dos and don'ts, as far as the Krewe and parade etiquette and I think educating the public on the dos and don'ts of what you do in a Mardi Gras parade, that things that will not be tolerated. We don't need that type of thing in the Shreveport Mardi Gras. So there is a lot of things that have come forth in working to improve the he parade environment. We've made some great strides.

But the public has got to know and I want to stress this. You know, you said address the public. The public has the ability, if they see something going on that's not appropriate, there's policeman every fifty foot, seventy-five foot throughout the parade route. And if you find something that is not right, and it's not conducive to the area you're in, go get a policeman. Right then, right there a policeman will come over and address it. You know, its' going to take both the Krewes and the public and everybody working to improve, what I call, the parade etiquette; so, there is a lot of things in the works to keep that from happening.

Councilman Burrell: Am I understanding, I know you said Ms. Pernici in your parade, you will not have any bands, I assume that, that spills over to yours?

Mr. Lee: We've been able to get one band out of Monroe.

Councilman Burrell: Okay, but am I understanding that the School Board just banded any band from Caddo Parish?

Mr. Lee: Yes, sir.

Councilman Burrell: I think that's really sad, because I know Councilman Huckaby before he passed made an appropriate statement on trying to work to get them back into it. And you know that fear factor is going to always be there, but we have to have some assurances that these youngsters will be taken care of. Now, even if its not the band, even dance groups, I don't know what types of dance groups and seems like I heard you say something about dance groups. These are children too. And the important thing that what took place last year wasn't targeted at all the children, it seemed to have been targeted at those groups from predominantly Black schools and that was the issue that really disheartened me. And if that be the case, then I'm not sure what we can do to stop, I wouldn't call it, hate crimes. It could be constituted as such because they're targeting certain groups. But at the same time, these young people, when they go out to perform, they go out to and they play their hearts out. I used to be in the band, drum major and all that and I know the way we looked forward to every year. We would look forward to and I know these young people do the same thing. And they feel that, that is how they contribute to our community. And under those circumstances, its unfortunate that the School board would withdraw their support, maybe we can work on that. But I think we definitely need to have some things in place that will help promote that too so that the parents can feel safe.

Councilman Huckaby: I recall my late husband asking for a public apology from your Krewes and I don't this every came into fruition. Maybe that would be a way to get Caddo Parish to let their bands perform. I'm a music major and even so, I would be afraid to put my band in the parade, if I thought that they would be subjected to harassment and objects thrown at them.

Mr. Lee: Yes Ma'am. There was a public apology in writing that I produced to the Council last year, that was produced before you guys even had got wind of what happened. As soon as we heard about it, we forwarded letters to the offended people apologizing before we were ever asked or heard anything from you guys. So we, and it's nothing that the Krewe can do marching down, doing the street thing, you know. There is nothing that we could have done, but we felt like that we needed to do the apology. We were real sorry, because we do want these people in the parades and that apology was issued.

Councilman Huckaby: But that was private. A letter is a private thing. Public would have been what you're doing now, Sir.

Mr. Lee: But there was.

Councilman Huckaby: Yes, I reiterate. A letter is private. What you're doing now is public; okay.

Mr. Lee: Yes Ma'am.

Councilman Carmody: You did say that you have one band from a school or one band that going to participate in at least one parade. What actions is the Krewe and the City going to take to make sure that they don't suffer any type of objects being thrown at them?

Mr. Lee: We have a police car behind that group, a police car that is observing. And I've talked with the City Police, the things that they've got enacted as far as having the police out on the streets coming forward in the parade route, that's all we can do.

And I want to stress here real strongly that if somebody sees something that is not appropriate, we need `em to speak up and if they speak up and go get a policeman right then, then we can prevent things from happening. For what we're doing, if we see something on the float, we've got a sign, "Help Policeman" that we've worked out. If we see something, we hold up a sign to policeman, and we can point to whatever thing that we see that's going wrong. We've got cell phones that we can talk to the Command Centers with. If we see something, we've got a HAMN Operator in every truck. On a pull float that got communications to the Command Center.

Councilman Carmody: I think all those are positive things. I think you hit the nail on the head that both Krewes need to make sure that the public understands parade etiquette. Because I don't think any of us here believe that any members of the Krewe were involved in anything that was detrimental to their reputations or to the City of Shreveport. But in the same way, the public has a responsibility, when you attend a parade, that you behave yourself. If you don't, you face the consequences of having to deal, hopefully, with a policeman pretty quickly. And, so if there is a number that the public would be allowed to contact to report things that they see (and I'm not sure if that's 911) or if there is a Control Center number that could be placed in the media's hands so that they can assure the public that these are the things that are not going to be tolerated. If you see these type activities, call this number, and a policeman will be made available immediately.

Mr. Lee: Well, we can do that because there is a Command Center right there. I guess that's just getting with the Chief of Police and the guys at SPAR in finding out what that number is and getting it out to the public.

Councilman Shyne: I've seen some parades where you have officers who will ride up and down both sides of the parade. I don't know whether we have room to do that or not. But you know, like on a motorcycle, you have some that will be stationed and you have someone that will ride up and down the parade so that they will pass these different groups and if they see a group that is exhibiting anti-sociable behavior, then they can notify the Command Station. I mean, have ya'll thought of something like that?

Mr. Lee: There's been a lot of things that have been thought about and that was one of them. But, I think the main thing is making the inroads and this helping out is the cable and the barricades that actually, the line is actually giving somebody something to get behind. And it gives the policeman, I can say, it was unfortunate that happened in Shreve City last year, but Shreve City looked as well as I've ever seen, the police did an excellent job in Shreve City lest we got the cables. And they actually, they give them away to look down the parade route and see if there is something going on.

Councilman Shyne: Not to cut you off, the cables are good, but from what I can understand the information that Councilman Huckaby and I got and Councilman Burrell that people were throwing objects and I'm yet to see where a cable will stop somebody from throwing an object. Maybe it will, but maybe I have not seen it yet, but I know if you have an officer who travels up and down the route, maybe he might have, one officer might have 8 blocks to cover and he's steady kinda up and down, then he has an opportunity to see those groups. You see those groups don't just get wild just when a certain float gets there, I mean, you can tell if they're a little wild, you know they got a little wild hair in the beginning, then those are the groups that you want to call in sothey can keep an eye on `em and I really think that it will benefit our City. Because those kinds of things give us a black eye.

We've been fortunate in the last three or four years since this Administration has been in office, since the Hightower Administration has been in office, that we've been pretty progressive. We've moved a long ways from where we were in terms of years. I would say that we have moved at least 15 or 20 years in some areas on bringing people together and making this a unified community. But you know its amazing at how just one or two little things like that, if we let our guard down, can take us back and give us all a black eye.

And if its possible I wish you would take that back to the Police Department to see if they can get somebody to do that. I have seen, like I say, I have seen parades where they do that. Where they have an officer where they ride up and down. He has so many blocks that he will cover. As a matter of fact, if you go to some of the parades in New Orleans, the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, and you know that's chaos, but you do see officers who will be moving up and down and sometimes, you will even see plain clothes officers who will be moving up and down to try to identify that element that will cause a problem. You know, I've seen our officers do it before the parade starts, but I have not seen them do it while the parade is going on. I don't know whether its, you know, we don't have the space or just what it is. That might be an idea that you want to take back, because it would be bad if something like that happens again. I hate the school system made the kind of decision they made, but I will admit that I'm not a School Board member and I know they are responsible for the safety of the school kids, that's their primary responsibility as elected officials, to be responsible for the safety of the school kids. But it's not good. It gives a bad taste when you can't let school kids participate to get that experience of participating in a parade because you're gonna have a group of hooligans who gone throw a can or a bottle or that kind of stuff. We were just fortunate, I am going to be truthful with you, we were just fortunate that no kids were hurt. Because if you get hurt with an aluminum can, right or if you get hit with a bottle right or if you can get hit with a plastic container, right, it will give you a tremendous headache

Ms. Pernici: Well, Councilmen, last years incident in Centaur it was extremely unfortunate and I hated to see it. Because I've done parades for the Krewe of Gemini before and I just love having the kids parade, that's some of the best stuff going. But unfortunately, those kids last year, I didn't like the fact that they were having things thrown at `em, but our riders get things thrown at `em. I had a girl next to me, two years ago, she took a beer can in the head and she was throwing beads and luckily there was an officer right there and he got the person.

The officers do an extremely good job, if we can keep the people off the parade route and behind the barrier and put some officers in front, on foot, on bike, whatever, and some behind to kinda take care of the people the other officers can't see, its' a win-win situation for parade goers and parade participants.

Councilman Shyne: Ms. Pernici I agree with you, but I'd rather get hit in the head with a can, cause I'm already half crazy, than for Joe or Jacoby, one, to get hit in the head who still coming up, if you understand what I'm saying.

I've been hit in the head, I think Roy kinda hit me one day accidently, I don't know whether it was accidently on purpose.

Councilman Burrell: I'm working on it again.

Ms. Pernici: This ordinance, I know there a portion in this ordinance does address that problem and it gives the Police Department something to work with.

Councilman Shyne: And when you get to the kids, I mean, that's the most important. . . .because you have mothers and daddies. Take for example, you, you'd rather get hit in the head than for your beautiful little daughter to get hit in the head.

Ms. Pernici: If I had a little girl.

Councilman Shyne: Right, I'm giving you something you don't have yet. God Bless you, but in case you had one. And that's the way most parents feel. They would rather get hit than to have their kids hit. So, when you have the younger kids, it would be better to have more safety around them than to lets say, somebody like Calvin Lester, cause if Calvin gets hit in the head, then whoever hit him, he's going to chase `em and don't worry about it, he's gonna run `em down. But if his son got hit, see, he wouldn't be able to do that.

Ms. Pernici: That's not just the parent's job, that's every adult's job to take care of our kids and to protect them and that's what we want to do and the police are bending over backwards to help us. And each year, we see a problem and we work to find a resolution for it and every year, it gets better. We can't help what happened last year.

Councilman Shyne: I'm satisfied, I trust you.

Ms. Pernici: I was so mad when that happened, it was unbelievable.

Councilman Shyne: I trust you.

Ms. Pernici: Because kids are important to me. We just to have the people in the crowds like Jeff was saying, be more educated and help us, help them have a good time.

Councilman Shyne: It's hard to educate somebody who's got a stomach full of liquor, take it from me. But I appreciate it.

Councilman Carmody: In that so much of both routes pass through District C, along the Parkway, Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, and then on the East Kings Highway, I certainly have to tell you that I have enjoyed the parades over the years. The nicest part of the parade in the Ark-La-Tex is that it always has been portrayed as a family type activity. And in the past, I know that there has been attempts to say "we really need to make this thing more like other Mardi Gras Parades" and ours has a uniqueness to it, where people like to bring their small children and I've never heard anybody say, "you know I'm glad we see more people just drinking". But people have to take individual responsibilities for themselves. The Krewes for their part, I don't think have ever said, go to the parade have a blow out, it's a free for all. That's never been something that we've espoused and I guarantee you from the citizens that live in District C, we don't want to see it either. Granted, I know in the past there have been problems with Shreve City and I think that we all know the reason that there are problems in Shreve City. But again, individual responsibility is the key to the whole enjoyment of the parade. If you see something that is wrong, regardless of whether or not, you're in a Krewe or you in the crowd or on a float or walking with a band, you need to report it to the police and that's the only way that we can insure the safety of everybody there.

As I appreciate it in New Orleans, if you throw anything, you're subject to go to jail. And I guarantee you,we hate to get to that point, but I don't want to see anybody throwing anything back at someone on a float or in the parade. So whatever we can do, at least the citizens of District C, I think that all of us are committed to enjoying the parade, having all of our citizens come and enjoy it in the area in which we live, but we also ask them to respect the fact that we live there. These are our homes and this is the area in which we reside and we don't like that kind of behavior.

Ms. Pernici: Well, I'm in your district.

Councilman Carmody: I know you are.

Councilman Burrell: I just have a final comment. I know Mr. Carmody was talking about etiquette in the parade, one thing that I've observed and I didn't particularly like and you can address the people who are actually in your parade, in terms of parade etiquette, is that sometimes on those floats, I don't know whether they are intoxicated or not, but they have certain items, that, I wouldn't say have weight to them, but can be thrown where it can become a projectile or, I'll use the term, maybe missile type and they throw with all their might toward different individuals that are out there and I've seen them hit them in the face and in the eye and they catch their face. So that's something that you can address to your people who are on the float. Its one thing to toss it, its another thing to throw it down and in many cases, with all of their might to try to hit individuals. Maybe that's fun to some, but when it winds up hitting you in the eye and it takes your eye, then that's not fun. And I'd like to know how that can be reported and who it needs to be reported to for morale-maybe a police officer or something?

Mr. Lee: We have a set of rules that we addressed like I say, last night. Toss things, do not throw them hard, throw them up and not throw directly at somebody. You know, don't throw it directly at them. A lot of times, I think you might, sometimes, people are trying to seek somebody out in the crowd and they're trying to get it to individual people. But I mean, we have a deal that everybody signs. If you violate and that's one of the rules, that if you're throwing to hurt somebody or doing things that are not good parade etiquette, the float lieutenant has the ability to put that person off the float right then and everybody signs that.

Both Krewes, you know, we're proud of our reputation and what we've come to. We don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. So we're working diligently among ourselves to make sure that things like that do not happen, are not happening and to try to prevent `em from happening.

Councilman Burrell: Okay, I know I've witnessed it so.

Resolution passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

RESOLUTION NO. 2 OF 2002

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE KREWE OF GEMINI, INC., AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO.

WHEREAS, the City of Shreveport desires to support cultural, educational and leisure activity programs which serve the public and render a public service; and

WHEREAS, the Krewe of Gemini parade ("the parade") is one of several Mardi Gras parades held annually in the City; and

WHEREAS, the parade provides a benefit to the general public and to visitors to the City by providing an opportunity to celebrate the cultural history of this State; and

WHEREAS, Resolution Number 11 Of 2001 authorized the execution of a three (3) year agreement with the Krewe relative to sponsorship and production of the parade; and

WHEREAS, the contract authorized by Resolution Number 11 of 2001 was amended by authority of Resolution Number 25 of 2001; and

WHEREAS, the parties now desire to further amend the agreement with the Krewe of Gemini, Inc., to provide for additional matters relative to the production of the parade.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City Shreveport in due, legal and regular session convened that the Mayor of the City of Shreveport is hereby authorized to execute amendments to the agreement with the Krewe of Gemini, Inc., substantially in accordance with the draft thereof which was filed with the original copy of this resolution for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk of Council on January 8, 2002.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any provision or item of this resolution or the application thereof be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or applications of this resolution which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items, or applications, and to this end the provisions of this resolution are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Huckaby passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

RESOLUTION NO. 3 OF 2002

A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE CITY'S INTEREST IN CERTAIN ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES AS SURPLUS AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO.

WHEREAS, there are numerous parcels of property which have been adjudicated to the City of Shreveport and Caddo Parish for non-payment of ad valorem taxes; and

WHEREAS, the City of Shreveport has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Caddo Parish under which Caddo Parish will undertake to sell said properties as authorized in R.S. 33:4720.11; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 26-294 of the Code of Ordinances, the city's interests in said properties can be sold after the City Council declares them to be surplus; and

WHEREAS, the purchasing agent has inquired of all city departments regarding the properties described herein and has not received any indication that they are needed for city purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport in due, legal and regular session convened that the following described properties are hereby declared surplus:

CONTINUED - RESOLUTION NO. 3 OF 2002

1) South 80' of Lot 5, Block 12, Mark Meyers Subdivision;

2) Lot D Milburn Clarice Subdivision;

3) Lot 11, Block H, Expressway Acres Subdivision;

4) Lot 1, Legardy Village;

5) Lot 2, Legardy Village;

6) Lot 3, Legardy Village;

7) Lot 4, Legardy Village;

8) Lot 5, Legardy Village;

9) Lots 611, 612, 613 and West 5 ft. of Lot 614, Coleman College Addition

10) Lot F, Southern Estates, Unit 3;

11) Lot 35, Vernon Subdivision;

12) Lot 7, TAL 1, Cutliff Subdivision, and ½ of abandoned Calhoun Street;

13) Lot 29, Replat of Lots 13 - 19, Block 4, Fairfield Place Subdivision;

14) The North 445' of Lot 463, Jones Mabry Subdivision, Unit #8

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any provision of this resolution or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or applications of this resolution which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items or applications and to this end the provisions of this resolution are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Huckaby, seconded by Councilman Serio passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

RESOLUTION NO. 4 OF 2002

A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PAY SCHEDULE FOR THE MUNICIPAL POLICE CIVIL SERVICE PERSONNEL AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO

WHEREAS, it is the recommendation of the Mayor that the current pay schedule for the Municipal Police Civil Service personnel be adjusted to reflect the correct salary figures for all police civil service personnel since the effective date of Resolution 174 of 2001.

WHEREAS, the proposed pay schedule attached hereto as Appendix "A" reflects the correct salary figures for all police civil service personnel.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport in due, regular and legal session convened, that the pay schedule attached hereto as Appendix "A" be and is hereby approved, retroactive to January 1, 2002.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any provision or item of this Resolution or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or applications and to this end the provisions of this resolution are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Shyne, seconded by Councilman Spigener passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION:

1. Resolution No. 5 of 2002: A resolution ratifying the Mayor's signature to the Release of Guaranty of Lease and consent of Lessor, City Estoppel Certificate and Landlord Waiver, between Industrial Holdings, Inc., Beaird Acquisition, LLC, and City of Shreveport and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Shyne, seconded by Councilman Spigener for Introduction of the Resolution to lay over until the February 12, 2002 meeting. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES:

1. Ordinance No. 5 of 2002: An ordinance amending the 2002 budget for the Community Development Special Revenue Fund and otherwise providing with respect thereto.

2. Ordinance No. 6 of 2002: An ordinance amending Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances, the City of Shreveport Zoning Ordinance by rezoning property located on the west side of Ardmore Avenue, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, from SPI-3 (B-1) Commercial Corridor Overlay (Buffer Business) District to SPI-3-E (B-1) Commercial Corridor Overlay/Extended Use (Buffer Business) District "limited to a 971 square foot specialty gift shop and a residence" only, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Burrell for Introduction of the Ordinances to lay over until the February 12, 2002 meeting. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE:

1. Ordinance No. 185 of 2001: An ordinance authorizing the execution of an agreement with Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Shreveport and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Mr. Thompson: Mr. Chairman, I believe they asked that this be postponed.

Mayor Hightower: That's correct.

Having passed first reading on November 13, 2001 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Shyne, seconded by Councilman Serio to postpone the ordinance until the February 12, 2002 meeting. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

2. Ordinance No. 194 of 2001: An ordinance to reverse the decision rendered by the Metropolitan Planning Commission during their public hearing meeting of November 7, 2001, by closing and abandoning the portion of Glen Iris Boulevard located north of Ontario Street in the Glen Iris Addition Subdivision, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on December 11, 2001 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Stewart, seconded by Councilman Carmody to postpone the ordinance until the February 12, 2002 meeting when we will cast our votes.

Motion by Councilman Spigener ( substitute motion) that we go ahead and address this, seconded by Councilman Shyne.

Chairman Stewart: I'm happy to do so. My reason. . . what do we need to do?

Mr. Thompson: She has a substitute motion, that's. . .

Chairman Stewart: We vote on the substitute motion?

Mr. Thompson: Yes.

Chairman Stewart: And, should we discuss it before we vote?

Mr. Thompson: Would your motion to be adopt and then with the understanding that you would ask people to vote against it or whatever your wishes would be?

Councilman Spigener: Well, if that's what I need to do. I just feel I need to go ahead and address this issue.

Mr. Thompson: That would be the motion that we would recommend Ms. Spigener.

Councilman Spigener: Okay.

Chairman Stewart: We all have an understanding?

Mr. Serio: I'm sorry, the motion is to . . . ?

Mr. Thompson: She wants to go ahead and consider this. So the motion would be to adopt and she may ask you to vote against it, I don't know, but her motion would be to adopt.

Chairman Stewart: Do we have a motion and a second? Is that right?

Councilman Burrell: Yes.

Chairman Stewart: Councilman Spigener, do you have any comments?

Councilman Spigener: I really don't. My point here is to just go ahead and address the issue.

Chairman Stewart: My reasons for asking for postponement is Mr. Malpass who is one of the owners is out of town and he called and asked if we could postpone it. And what I shared with Mr. Weiner and Mr. Weiner was exactly that, he was out of town and he requested that. If he was here to speak, I would be very comfortable.

Councilman Spigener: I guess, my thinking is that we had this on the agenda before there was opportunity to speak I think and I don't know if the gentleman was out of town at that point or not. But I do feel like there has been adequate opportunity for the other residents to address the issue.

Councilman Stewart: I understand exactly how you feel. I would encourage us to give it one more time in order to. . . him to return. If he doesn't, then so be it. He is an independent businessman and he was called out of town, I know that much, but obviously it's the wishes of the Council. Any more discussion? And would you instruct us please.

Mr. Thompson: I believe that the motion is, a motion to adopt this ordinance?

Councilman Spigener: Uh, huh and the ordinance is "Not to abandon".

Mr. Thompson: The ordinance would be to override the decision, I believe, of the MPC and to abandon.

Councilman Shyne No, no.

Councilman Serio: The reverse.

Mr. Thompson: To reverse a decision rendered by the MPC by closing and abandoning that portion of the street.

Councilman Spigener: I guess what I. . .

Chairman Stewart: Ms. Spigener, my understanding is you'd like to vote on it today and not postpone it.

Councilman Spigener: That's right, not postpone.

Councilman Stewart: So, it would seem to me, you can guide us as to . . . We have a motion and a second to postpone is that correct. I mean, you want to vote on it. I asked for motion to postpone, I have asecond. Is that right?

Mr. Thompson: There are two ways to. . . .

Councilman Stewart: Then bring us back to where we are Mr. Thompson so there is clarity.

Ms. Spigener opposing your motion, so one of the things that she could do would be to withdraw her motion and vote against your motion and that would leave us where we are right now, with no motion being on the table if your motion was defeated by her.

Councilman Stewart: That's appropriate.

Mr. Thompson: Do you understand what I am saying, Ms. Spigener.

Councilman Spigener: Yes, and if that would be more simple for the Council members to understand, I am wanting to get this on the table, to vote on.

Mr. Thompson: So, I take it that you will withdraw your motion. The motion by Mr. Stewart is to postpone. You are opposed to that, you would ask everybody to vote against his motion.

Councilman Spigener: It appears that would be the simplest thing.

Mr. Thompson: The motion is to postpone. Those who are opposing postponing, please vote against it, those who are for it, please vote yes.

Motion to postpone denied by the following vote: Nays: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 4. Ayes: Councilman Stewart, Carmody and Serio. 3.

Motion by Councilman Stewart, seconded by Councilman Huckaby for adoption. Ordinance denied by the following vote: Nays: Councilmen Stewart, Spigener, Serio, Shyne and Burrell. 5. Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby and Carmody. 2.

3. Ordinance No. 196 of 2001: An ordinance closing and abandoning all of one alleyway and a portion of another alleyway in the two blocks bounded by Exposition and Alabama Avenues and by Penick and Jackson Streets in the Exposition Heights Subdivision, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on December 27, 2001 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Shyne, seconded by Councilman Spigener adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

4. Ordinance No. 197 of 2001: An ordinance amending the 2002 Budget for the Riverfront Development Special Revenue Fund and otherwise providing with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on December 27, 2001 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Shyne, seconded by Councilman Burrell adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 6. Nays: Councilman Carmody. 1.

5. Ordinance No. 198 of 2001: An ordinance amending Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances, the City of Shreveport Zoning Ordinance by rezoning property located on the north side of Martin Luther King Drive 500 feet west of Legardy Street, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, from R-1H, Urban One-family Residence District to B-1, Buffer Business District and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on December 27, 2001 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Huckaby, seconded by Councilman Shyne adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

6. Ordinance No. 199 of 2001: An ordinance amending Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances, the City of Shreveport Zoning Ordinance, by approving the continuation of B-2-E, Neighborhood Business/Extended Use District, limited to "radio and television store and repair shop with auto audio and security installation" only, on property located on the NW corner of Youree and University Drive, Shreveport, Caddo Parish Louisiana, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on December 27, 2001 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Serio, seconded by Councilman Huckaby for adoption.

Councilman Serio: Be glad to get this one finished, to get it finalized, after 6 years.

Ordinance adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

7. Ordinance No. 200 of 2001: An ordinance amending Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances, the City of Shreveport Zoning Ordinance, by rezoning property located on the north side of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, 150 feet east of Laurie Lane, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana from B-1, Buffer Business District to B-1-E, Buffer Business/Extended Use District, limited to "a pet care facility as described at the public hearing" only, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on December 27, 2001 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Spigener, seconded by Councilman Burrell for adoption.

Councilman Spigener: I would ask you to vote with me to approve this.

Ordinance adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

8. Ordinance No. 201 of 2001: An ordinance amending Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances, the City of Shreveport Zoning Ordinance, by rezoning property located on the NW corner of Greenwood Road and Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, from B-3, Community Business District and B-3(SP1-2), Community Business (Industrial Park Overlay) District to I-1 (SPI-2), Light Industry (Industrial Park Overlay) District and I-1, Light Industry District and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Councilman Burrell: Let me make sure that we get a clarification on how we vote on this. A yes would? Mr. Thompson: We would ask you to make a motion to approve. If you are opposed, then ask the Council to vote, no.

Having passed first reading on December 27, 2001 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Burrell, seconded by Councilman Carmody for adoption.

Councilman Burrell: The "yes" vote is to, not approve this?

Mr. Thompson: Mr. Burrell we just as a matter of procedure, that the motion will be to approve. If you approve this, then you are zoning it for the Randy's Travel Town, for their application. If you want the Council to vote "no", you would ask them to vote "no."

Councilman Burrell: My comments is that we dealt with this situation, we've given leadway before when we had request to come and open a restaurant and put liquor in it and we said at the time that it was going to lead to this. I think that the people in that area, which again, is a diverse group. It is not in one community or the other, has spoken that they do not want this in their back yard, so I am asking a no vote on this issue.

Councilman Carmody: I've given this an awful lot of consideration and my vote will reflect my concern for the community that is surrounding this particular site. I certainly did vote to approve the café that is presently in operation there at this Sports Mall. This type of use, though, I feel is a heavier type use and therefore, I am not going to support it and wanted to make sure that the citizens understood that.

Councilman Shyne: I wanted to make it clear too the, my position on this particular issue is not a racial issue. It is strictly a quality of life. I would not want a business of this type in my front yard and my back yard. So, I live by the principle that, I am my brother's keeper and if I am truly my brother's keeper, then I would want the same consideration for my brother as I want for myself; so, it boils down to, that my consideration would be, it is not a land use it is a quality of life. I would hate to have to invest my life earnings, that little bit that I've made, $300 or $400 dollars, I'd hate to do that, I'd hate to invest in a home. As I look out, I saw one of my ex-constituents who moved from the inner city neighborhood, moved out in that area. And I'd hate to pollute, I'd hate to have that area polluted with a lot of traffic, with a lot of noise, with a lot of undesirables. The bottom line is, I am my brother's keeper. Mr. Chairman, my vote will be a `no' vote.

Councilman Spigener: I realize as an elected official, I don't have to explain my vote and where I'm coming from, but I do want everyone here and that hears us on t.v. and reads about this to understand where I'm coming from and I hope that you will know that I am very serious. You will never know how much I've agonized over this and how much thought I've put into it. And I've heard your concerns, and I've heard your pleas, and I am sitting here thing. What am I voting on? What is this that I have to deal with and I will be the first to admit to you, that there are laws that allow businesses that I don't personally wish were in existence and I want you to understand that very thoroughly.

You know, our citizens have voted for video poker in our parish and that does not reflect my views on that issue. And out of the soul searching that I've done, I realize that, those are not the issues that I am dealing with. In this vote, I am dealing with land use and zoning and when I look around this facility, and I see all of the industrial zoning, I do not know how we can pick and chose what goes into this-whose allowed to be industrial and who isn't. And if you look at this map of this, there is industrial zoning all the way around. Fortunately or unfortunately as you may be looking at it right at this point, I think it is very fortunate. We are a free enterprise society and there are things allowed that I wished were not allowed, but those are our laws.

And I think the precedent, as I've said, have been set here with zoning all around this facility. I-20 is our official route and 49 is our official route for trucks through our city. And my vote will be for this and I hope you understand that I have done soul searching and what I am basing this on, but I feel like we are dealing with a zoning issue and as I've said, unfortunately, our laws allow things that I wished we could vote out. And so I am looking at this from the zoning point of view, which I believe that's what we are here to do and I hope you can appreciate that.

Councilman Serio: I along with Mrs. Spigener had problems with this particular issue and I think 7 years ago I was facing it in my district, very heavily. And one of the issues that I found in my district was that with I-49 and with Highway 1 and with LA 511, with all of the state highways that I have running through the district, that every intersection that I had in the City in my district was eligible for a truck stop.

And when they brought the legislation forward, that would take truck stops out of the B-3 districts and move them into the I-Class District which is industrial, which makes sense. Takes these out of B-2/B-3 which is every intersection in the city of Shreveport and put them in an industrial where they were involved in areas of town that were essentially industrial-based businesses. And of course when you compare that with the state regulation, it has to be on a state or federal highway, that tends to put it in areas that basically don't have that many neighborhoods.

What I am afraid of is with the many votes that we have had over the last two years is that, our law is going to be struck down, it is going to be challenged in court. That I am afraid that as we continue to oppose every truck stop that comes forward that is an industrial category, that essentially, when our law is challenged in court, we are going to be back where we were seven years, that every intersection in the city of Shreveport can then be brought forward for, a truck stop and we are going to be fighting this issue on every corner in the city of Shreveport.

Because of bringing that legislation forward seven years ago, I will vote for this. It is not that I am for-I am a big proponent of truck stops, it is a business and unfortunately, it is a legal business in the state of Louisiana. My fear is that we are going to end up sooner or later with a good challenge to the law and to the votes that we've had on this Council and my fear is that our law is going to be struck down and challenged and then we are going to have a bigger problem and that we are going to have every corner in the City of Shreveport with aproposal for a truck stop.

Councilman Burrell: Since this is in my Council District, I've heard the rationale and I consider it really, a rationale. Anything can be rationalized if you have an interest in doing so. I think what has been put forth in front of us as Councilman Shyne said earlier is, a quality-of-life issue.

I am very much familiar with truck stops and how they affect a neighborhood. And how they affect a neighborhood that really can't fight for itself. Perfect example, on the south side of I-20 at this same intersection. We have a community called Greenwood Acres and I'm not knocking truck stop businesses. I do knock the fact that, in my experience unlike maybe some of your experiences because when people in your neighborhood came and asked to strike it down because of developing communities and subdivisions that was around areas that was in your district, then we understood it.

Councilwoman Spigener I understood your's whenever we were fighting the issue of Linwood and Bert Kouns. Bert Kouns is a state highway and we fought that And as I remember the Calvary Baptist Church out there, was the lead person and you supported that and we did too.

Also, on the Blanchard Road, we had that situation there. The communities came together. Martin Luther King, those people, I fear to say, was fighting it by themselves, it probably would have been put up there, but we had people from Lakeview, which was a majority white community, that came together and they voiced their concern because they had clout. Those people over there have money and they are tied into the system so, we didn't have a problem in understanding their quality of life, and we voted it down.

On Highway 1, going out of Shreveport toward Vivian, we did the same thing. We do have a cluster up there that is a community that is diverse, but the majority of that area is not a diverse community up in there. We voted that, down.

Mr. Carmody, I understand your situation and I can appreciate your support because we are facing one, well, we been facing one in the inner city over there off of Youree. And let me tell you that has been quite a point of controversy over the years and we have communities there, it just that it hadn't been brought to bear yet, but it is kind of tough to have a truck stop right in the middle of the inner core neighborhoods and I doubt if that would fly.

But here we have a situation that is a little further out where the people already feel that the city basically don't owe them or should I say, help them because they are further outside the core area of the City. They complain about lack of police protection because the way we annex, going back to the annex issue, we annex far out from the City and just so happen they been brought in, but they pay taxes on their property and they want to enjoy a quality of life.

I have no problem with Mr. Brazzel's business. I have supported him from the beginning. But just because we have industrial zoning, doesn't mean that we should put businesses that has the highest use. There are other factors that should come into play and if nothing else, the quality of life issue.

Going back to you Councilwoman Spigener for just one other issue. On Mansfield, as I can remember Mansfield and Kingston, that's an industrial site whenever they wanted to put a senior citizens apartment in there, but if that be the case, we could stick a truck strop right in there, and I doubt that we would have that under the same thinking that we are trying to put forth today.

I am just trying, to say, when you make rationales, lets make rationales that is fair and across the board, that is fair to everyone, not one particular group against another, not because someone has more money than the other. I'm for fairness. I'm for a sense of fairness. I been here long enough to see what is fair and what is not fair, what rationales are made for certain things and not for others. So my hope that there be some consistency in this and if it is, consistency brought to this issue, then we would not allow it at this time.

Maybe later on when the Brazzels go back and talk with the community that I asked them to talk with before and maybe there will be some lead way, but that wasn't done and I was very honest with them. I said, what I asked you to do for the constituents in my area, is to go and address the issue and work something out. But even I did not get a call until the day of the vote once we found out, possible, that we didn't have the 90% approval rating that was shown in the Shreveport Times to say that they had all of the votes that they needed. I was never even respected enough to get a call, as a representative of this area, but all the other-I know at least 3 or 4 other Council members on here did get a call, but not the person who actually represent the area.

So, I am only saying this to say, that if we are talking about unifying our City, if we are talking about bringing about some sort of harmony, you can't view things one day because it is this community and another way because it is another community, we can't do that. And if we do, we send a terrible message out into our public that if we can not be consist here on the Council and work together on issues that is good for the general public, both communities, then we may as well go back to the old Civil War. I hate to put it in that vein, but I am not going to sit here and not challenge it when I know that we are not right about this. I can see the way it is going. I made the statement in the paper before, I still stand by it that is probably the underlining reason I can't state for a fact because I am not God, but what tells me in my hearts of heart, it is based on the community that we are in as to the way we vote on many of these issues, and I think that that is totally unfair.

Councilman Spigener: I don't want to get into a rebutting situation. I've stated my view. But, I'm saddened, really, that Councilman Burrell is either reading into or re-evaluating or making his own judgment about votes. And I don't, as I said, as an elected official, I don't have to sit here and explain how I voted on each issue, but let me address this one thing and this is what brought, as Councilman Serio is saying, what brought this issue to the table, I believe if I remember correctly, was the fact that, trucks stops could be put anywhere there was B-3 zoning and that was, all over town. And it was at that point when the Linwood and Bert Kouns issue came up that this, I believe, ordinance was passed that we get our truck stops in industrial zoning.

Bert Kouns is not a limited access road. I-20 is limited access. Bert Kouns go through the heart of Southern Hills and further on over to other very congested areas, so it is not limited access that we are dealing with, like I-20 is. So, Councilman Burrell, it really saddens me to think that you, that you think, that I have chosen to vote on this because of where it is, that is, well, I guess because of where it is, is the reason, because it is on a limited access road on I-20. And the other ones that we have dealt with out there by the lake and going to the railroad facility, that was a 2-lane road, substandard road that is off of a major thoroughfare where trucks travel. I certainly didn't think a substandard road was where a truck stop need to be put, that just didn't make any sense to me.

And so, like Councilman Serio, I think we've come a long ways to say lets control these things in industrialzoning so we won't be fighting that issue all over this town, so I would not want anyone to think that I am picking and choosing the locations. It just seems to me that this is appropriate for this zoning and as I said, unfortunately,

Chairman Stewart: Ladies and gentlemen, I think that in a simple issue here, let us remember that we are to speak to the issue, not to the person. I believe that's appropriate under Roberts Rules of Order and that's not to in any way to diminish the feelings or the concerns of any party here, but it is the issue.

Councilman Shyne: I feel like as an elected official, I have a moral obligation to take into consideration quality of life when I vote to zone anything into any district. We had a group who took us to court, because we turned down the zoning on the Blanchard Road and believe it or not, the judge ruled in our favor. So, I don't like scare tactics and I don't mean any harm when I say this. My dad was a minister, but that's why I don't like to go to church and hear preachers talk about if you don't do right, then you're going to go the devil; that's those old scare tactics.

What we have here is a quality of life issue. We don't have to worry about truck stops being put all over town, because if truck stops were put all over town, they wouldn't be profitable anyway. What we are looking at is a quality of life issue. Point blank. And if you are a Christian and you say that I am my brother's keeper, then you would want the same thing for your brother as you want for yourself. And I would ask my colleagues to please vote with me a no vote so this will not go down racial lines. I'm begging you. I would, please, please, lets don't make this a racial vote. Let's show some compassion and some concern. So, my final statement Mr. Chairman and I'm gonna ask for the question, I'm gonna ask for us to vote, please, let's don't make this a racial vote. Let's vote together. Let's show these people that we're concerned about them. Let's show these people that we are concerned about our communities because after all is said and done, our neighborhoods make up this city. This is what makes this city a great city, not truck stops, not anything else like that, but it's the people, it's the neighborhood. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much and vote with me. Please don't make this a racial vote. Councilman Burrell: A point of clarification, it was said without saying who said what about limited access road. The truck stop on Blanchard Road is right off a limited access road. I-220 if you want to call it limited access, to me is no different than I-20 and Blanchard Road up from there, a short distance, Blanchard Road is a State Highway that is in the plan for expansion to four lanes. I can assure you that Blanchard Road will get expanded to four lanes before Hwy 80 gets expanded to four lanes in that area. So, if we're going to say apples to apples, that's one thing that I learned in college. Is to make comparisons, logical comparisons and if we're going to compare apples to apples. We have a situation that is pretty much the same. If you're going to give any leverage to anyone, you would give the leverage to the Blanchard Road development that did not happen. So I just want to make that as a point of clarification because I-220 to me is no different than I-20 and the truck stop was being proposed right off that road on a two lane highway that exists now that is proposed for a four lane highway I know in the next couple of years; so, those things would have been taken into consideration.

Councilman Stewart: Thank you ladies and gentleman. I know that there has been a significant amount of emotions here and great concern and this is behind us.

Ordinance denied by the following vote: Nays: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Shyne and Burrell. 5. Ayes: Councilman Serio and Spigener. 2.

9. Ordinance No. 1 of 2002: An ordinance to amend and reenact Article VII of Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances relative to disposal of public property and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on January 8, 2002 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Serio adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 6. Nays: None. Out of Chamber: Councilman Pearl Huckaby. 1.

10. Ordinance No. 2 of 2002: An ordinance revising Chapter 78 of the Code of Ordinances and otherwise providing with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on January 8, 2002 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Huckaby for passage. The Deputy Clerk read the following amendment:

Delete Page 2 and substitute in lieu thereof the attached page 2.

Motion by Councilman Carmody seconded by Councilman Serio for adoption of the amendment.

Councilman Carmody: If I could ask you to bare with me for just a moment, I would like to take a look at the amendment.

Mr. Thompson: The amendment adds paragraph C to section 78-1, 13a3 to prohibit unauthorized persons from entering the parade route from the time the parade route begins until it ends. Further, paragraph B of section 78-115 which prohibits certain throws has been deleted. I believe that both of these were approved by the Police Department.

Councilman Stewart: We have an affirmative from three officers on that matter.

Motion adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, and Burrell. 5. Nays: None. Out of Chamber: Councilman Pearl Huckaby and Shyne. 2.

Motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Serio for adoption of the ordinance as amended.

Councilman Carmody: Very quickly, just to remind those that are still here in the Chamber. We've just expressed some concern to both representatives of each Krewe regarding the potential for injuries as a result of people throwing things and I think we let them know our concerns and so I would ask the Council to participate in supporting this particular legislation to give the teeth to the Police Department to make sure thatwe have a safe parading season this year.

Councilman Burrell: I may also add too that I was very disheartened when Ms. Pernici said that the School Board is still has a moratorium on the youngsters playing. Is there any thing Mr. Mayor that we can do to encourage that? A parade is not a parade without bands and that's the unfortunate thing. I don't know what we can do to help that situation, but personally, I would like to see them resume, but sure enough we need to find a way to get them the proper the security. Because, again, I hate to think what this parade is going to be like without bands. So hopefully, we can do something to support them from that perspective.

Mayor Hightower: We have had some discussions Mr. Burrell with Dr. Schiller and I think he feels exactly the same way you do. And although he has not approached the School Board and asked them to overturn for this year. I think this year has a whole lot to do with what the School Board may see fit after these two parades are over with. So, you know, again, if our citizens are concerned and want to see their kids and think a parade is not a parade without bands and everyone will conduct themselves in an orderly manner and we won't have any trouble so that the School Board would have any reason to continue to insist that the bands not participate in the parade. So, it's up to us as a community, again, to police ourselves and lets be sure that we have two orderly weekends this month.

Ordinance adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

11. Ordinance No. 3 of 2002: An ordinance amending Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances, the City of Shreveport Zoning Ordinance by rezoning property located on the south side of Milam Street, 100 feet west of Arkansas, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, from B-1, Buffer Business District to B-2, Neighborhood Business District and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on January 8, 2002 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Burrell to postpone the ordinance until the February 12, 2002 meeting, seconded by Councilman Shyne.

Councilman Burrell: I'm going to ask to postpone this because I'm just getting a clarification on what this actually entails. Over the, now, eight years that I've represented this area, I've had many complaints, not necessarily from this particular café, but just from many of the senior residents in that area that the perception is, the expansion of alcohol in this area doesn't do anything for their quality of life.

Now, I understand that the Ross' want to expand their restaurant. Expansion to me means that they would be allowed to make their restaurant larger so they can serve more people or additional parking which is sorely needed in that area so that we can get the people off the street. I can accept that, plus you already have alcohol use in that area, you have beer and wine. And I know hard liquor may be an addition, but I can't see it being so dramatic of a difference in terms of profit, that you have to expand to that extent. We are trying to limit hard liquor in old neighborhoods that were permitted where stores and restaurants were permitted to place alcohol, into some of these older neighborhoods. The unfortunate thing is that, at one time maybe it was okay, when we were only dealing with alcohol, but now we're dealing with alcohol and everything else that you can imagine. And whenever you combine those two, its very toxic as well as it is very dangerous.

So at this point, the reason, why I'm expanding, I want to work with Ms. Ross and I want to work with the community to try to come up with a compromise so that they can expand their business, first of all, if they want a parking lot, they can do that. But I'm going to be very, very probably hesitant about the expansion of the alcohol, the hard liquor in that area; so, I want at this time, I call for the vote on it.

Councilman Stewart: The motion is Mr. Thompson?

Mr. Thompson: To postpone.

Motion adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, Shyne and Burrell. 7. Nays: None.

12. Ordinance No. 7 of 2002: An ordinance declaring a public emergency in connection with replacing and upgrading components in the command Center Access Control System at Shreveport Regional Airport; and approving the expenditure of $63,315.71 and otherwise providing with respect thereto.

Having passed first reading on January 22, 2002 was read by title and on motion ordered passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Serio for adoption.

Councilman Burrell: Are we voting here to pass or just to introduce?

Mr. Thompson: That's correct. To adopt. It's an emergency ordinance.

Councilman Burrell: Oh, okay.

Ordinance adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, and Burrell. 6. Nays: None. Did not cast a vote: Councilman Shyne. 1.

Councilman Carmody: Just by way of explanation. As I appreciate it, the component of our computer system there at the airport facility regarding security is now failing. And that's what the necessity for this expenditure of money is to replace that piece of equipment; so, I appreciate the Council's support of that piece of legislation.

The adopted Ordinances, as amended, follow:

ORDINANCE NO. 196 OF 2001

AN ORDINANCE CLOSING AND ABANDONING ALL OF ONE ALLEYWAY AND A PORTION OF ANOTHER ALLEYWAY IN THE TWO BLOCKS BOUNDED BY EXPOSITION AND ALABAMA AVENUES AND BY PENICK AND JACKSON STREETS IN THE EXPOSITION HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION, AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO.

BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport in due, legal, and regular session convened, that the north 160.00 feet of the 15 foot-wide dedicated alleyway running between Penick and Jackson Streets and between Exposition and Boss Avenues and abutting the rear of Lots 92 to 95 and the rear of Lots 126 to 129 of the Exposition Heights Subdivision, and that all of the 15 foot-wide dedicated alleyway running between Penick and Jackson Streets and between Boss and Alabama Avenues and abutting the rear of Lots 36 to 41 and the rear of Lots 72 to 77 of the Exposition Heights Subdivision in the NE/4 of Section 10 (T17N-R14W), Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and as shown and as indicated on the plat attached hereto and made a part hereof, are both hereby closed and abandoned, and be it ordained that utility and drainage servitudes be retained throughout the two closed and abandoned alleyways.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that a certified copy of this ordinance be filed and recorded in the official records of the District Court for Caddo Parish.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if any provision or item of this ordinance or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items, or applications of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items, or applications and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all ordinances or resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council

ORDINANCE NO. 197 OF 2001

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2002 BUDGET FOR THE RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO.

By: Councilman Burrell

WHEREAS, the City Charter provides for the amendment of any previously-adopted budget; and

WHEREAS, the Stephens African American Museum is dedicated to the collection and preservation of African American art and artifacts; and

WHEREAS, the museum sponsors and participates in community programs such as the Back-To-School Art Festival, the Black History Month Program and serves as an art experience to enlighten and educate a diverse pubic in African American heritage.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport, in legal session convened, that Ordinance No. 158 of 2001, as amended, 2002 Riverfront Development Special Revenue Fund Budget, be further amended and re-enacted as follows:

In Paragraph 2. Appropriations:

Decrease Operating Reserve by $15,000 and increase Other Charges by a like amount.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the remainder of Ordinance 158 of 2001, as amended, shall remain in full force and effect.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if any provision or item of this ordinance or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or applications of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items or applications; and, to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council

ORDINANCE NO. 198 OF 2001

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 106 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT ZONING ORDINANCE, BY REZONING PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE, 500 FEET WEST OF LEGARDY STREET, SHREVEPORT, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA, FROM R-1H, URBAN, ONE-FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT TO B-1, BUFFER BUSINESS DISTRICT, AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO

SECTION I: BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, in due, legal and regular session convened, that the zoning classification of Lots 1 & 2, W. W. Jones Subdivision, Unit No. 1, be and the same is hereby changed from R-1H, Urban, One-Family Residence District to B-1, Buffer Business District.

SECTION II: THAT the rezoning of the property described herein is subject to compliance with the following stipulation:

1. Development of the property shall be in substantial accord with a revised site plan showing landscaping, and a chain link fence (in lieu of a 6' solid wood screening fence), submitted to and approved by the Zoning Administrator, with any significant changes or additions requiring further review and approval by the Planning Commission.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if any provision or item of this ordinance or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items, or applications of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items, or applications and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council

ORDINANCE NO. 199 OF 2001

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 106 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT ZONING ORDINANCE, BY APPROVING THE CONTINUATION OF B-2-E, NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS/EXTENDED USE DISTRICT, LIMITED TO "RADIO AND TELEVISION STORE AND REPAIR SHOP WITH AUTO AUDIO AND SECURITY INSTALLATION" ONLY, ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NW CORNER OF YOUREE AND UNIVERSITY DRIVE, SHREVEPORT, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO

SECTION I: BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, in due, legal and regular session convened, that the zoning classification of Lots 50, 50-A, 51, 51-A, 52, 52-A, University Terrace Subdivision, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, is hereby approved for the continuation of B-2-E, Neighborhood Business/Extended Use District limited to "radio and television store and repair shop with auto audio and security installation" only.

SECTION II: THAT the rezoning of the property described herein is subject to compliance with the following stipulations:

1. Development of the property shall be in substantial accord with the site plan submitted with any significant changes or additions requiring further review and approval by the Planning Commission.

2. All manufacturing is prohibited at this site with the exception of the fabrication or construction of custom-fitted wood speaker cabinets as an accessory use to the retail sales of audio products.

3. No fabrication, construction, installation or testing shall be done outside the enclosed structure; any such activities are permitted only within the enclosed service bay area, with all doors closed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if any provision or item of this ordinance or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items, or applications of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items, or applications and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council

ORDINANCE NO. 200 OF 2001

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 106 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT ZONING ORDINANCE, BY REZONING PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BERT KOUNS INDUSTRIAL LOOP, 150 FEET EAST OF LAURIE LANE, SHREVEPORT, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA, FROM B-1, BUFFER BUSINESS DISTRICT TO B-1-E, BUFFER BUSINESS/EXTENDED USE DISTRICT , LIMITED TO "A PET CARE FACILITY AS DESCRIBED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING" ONLY, AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO

SECTION I: BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, in due, legal and regular session convened, that the zoning classification of Lot 27, Landon Subdivision, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, be and the same is hereby changed from B-1, Buffer Business District to B-1-E, Buffer Business/Extended Use District limited to "a pet care facility as described at the public hearing" only.

SECTION II: THAT the rezoning of the property described herein is subject to compliance with the following stipulations:

1. Development of the property shall be in substantial accord with the site plan submitted with any significant changes or additions requiring further review and approval by the Planning Commission.

2. Approval shall be limited to a maximum of 30 small animals at one time only. No outside boarding is permitted.

3. Approval is for a 1 year period only, after which time the applicant shall reapply with a waiver of the application fee.

CONTINUED - ORDINANCE NO. 200 OF 2001

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if any provision or item of this ordinance or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items, or applications of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items, or applications and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council

ORDINANCE NO. 1 OF 2002

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REENACT ARTICLE VII OF CHAPTER 26 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATIVE TO DISPOSAL OF PUBLIC PROPERTY AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO

WHEREAS, there are numerous parcels of property which have been adjudicated to the City of Shreveport and Caddo Parish for non-payment of ad valorem taxes; and

WHEREAS, the City of Shreveport has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Caddo Parish under which Caddo Parish will undertake to sell said properties as authorized in R.S. 33:4720.11; and

WHEREAS, the City of Shreveport wishes to establish a procedure in accordance with Section 2.03 of the City Charter for the sale of the city's interest in said properties in conjunction with the sale by Caddo Parish pursuant to the intergovernmental agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport, in due, legal and regular session convened that Section 26-294 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Shreveport is hereby enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 294. Sale of Interest in Adjudicated Property.

Notwithstanding Section 26-292, the following procedure shall apply to the sale of the city's interest in properties which have adjudicated to the city for non-payment of ad valorem taxes.

(a) The Mayor is authorized to execute deeds for the sale of property which has been adjudicated to the city when the following conditions have been met:

(1) The City Council has declared by resolution that the property is surplus.

(2) Caddo Parish has, pursuant to the intergovernmental agreement between the city and the parish, followed the procedure for the sale provided in R.S. 33:4720.11, including but not limited to giving notice to persons who have a vested or contingent interest in the property, advertising for bids from persons wishing to purchase the property, and selling to the highest bidder either pursuant to sealed bids or at public auction.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if any provision or item of this Ordinance or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or applications of this Ordinance which can be given affect without the invalid provisions, items or applications and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all Ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council

ORDINANCE NO. 2 OF 2002

AN ORDINANCE REVISING CHAPTER 78 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO

WHEREAS, the City Charter provides for the revision of current ordinances; and

WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary to revise Chapter 78 of the City Code of Ordinances to enhance public safety during parades.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport, in legal session convened, that Ordinance No. ____ of 2002, revising Chapter 78 of the City Code of Ordinances, is hereby amended and the following sections added as follows:

Sec. 78-112. Drivers

(a) All drivers of self-propelled floats and drivers of tractors or other prime movers shall submit to an intoxilyzer test prior to the movement of the floats for the parade.

(b) All drivers of self-propelled floats and drivers of tractors or other prime movers shall wear an orange vest during the parade to identify themselves as drivers.

ORDINANCE NO. 2 OF 2002

(c) All drivers of self-propelled floats and drivers of tractors or other prime movers shall not consume any type of alcoholic beverages.

(d) Each parade director will provide the police department with a list of people who will drive self-propelled floats, tractors, and/or vehicles designated to pull floats in the processional at least one week prior to the day of the parade.

Sec. 78-113. Obstructing parades.

(e) During and two hours prior or subsequent to the publicized start of a passage of any parade of the carnival Krewes, organizations and/or societies of the city and on Mardi Gras Day between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., it shall be unlawful for any person in control or charge of a horse or vehicle, including a motor vehicle:

1. To park, loiter or stop on or upon any street, roadway or boulevard of the parade route, on the line of route from sidewalk curb to sidewalk curb;

2. To park, loiter or stop on or upon the sidewalk of any street, roadway or boulevard of the parade route, or on or upon the neutral ground of any boulevard of the parade route; or

3. To obstruct the passage of traffic on any intersecting or adjacent street to the parade route.

(b) Where the offending vehicle is unoccupied, the police are authorized to have the vehicle towed. The provisions of this section shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles; to horses ridden by the police department; to mass transit vehicles; to vehicles used by public utilities for any necessary installation, maintenance or repair or public utility facilities or to any vehicle or horse forming a part of the parade authorized by its permit.

(c) Once the parade begins and until it ends, it shall ben unlawful for any person who is not a participant in the parade or employed in a public safety capacity to cross any type of barricade, cable, tape, or other device used to keep the public from entering into the actual parade route.

Sec. 78-114. Animals Prohibited.

No reptiles, dogs, cats, etc. shall be allowed within two hundred (200) yards of a Mardi Gras parade route not less than two hours before the published scheduled start of a parade, or within two hundred (200) yards of the actual end of a parade for not less than one hour after the actual end of the parade measured from each continuing area of parade termination. This does not apply to owners of residences along the parade route who have pets secured in their homes or yards.

Sec. 78-115. Prohibited throws.

(a) No Mardi Gras parade participant, while participating in a parade on the parade route, in a parade staging area or in a parade disbanding area, shall possess or have in his custody or control any of the following:

(1) Any life-threatening objects;

(2) Any noxious substance or any liquid intended to be poured, tossed, handed out or otherwise distributed;

(3) Any throw containing sharp points, including but not limited to plastic spears or plastic, paper or silk flowers with wire stems;

(4) Any insects, marine life, rodents, fowl or other animals, dead or alive; or

(5) Any "silly string" or other such item which, when used, emits an adhesive string-like or adhesive streamer-like substance that is shot or expelled from a pressurized container.

(b) No Mardi Gras parade participant, while participating in a parade on the parade route, shall hand out, throw, toss or in any way discard boxes, including but not limited to corrugated boxes.

(c) No Mardi Gras parade participant, while participating in a parade on the parade route, in a parade staging area, or in a parade disbanding area, shall hand out, throw, or distribute in any way, any condom or prophylactic or any sexually-oriented devise. Sexually-oriented devise shall include but not be limited to any paraphernalia that is designed in whole or part for specific sexual activities.

(e) Any Mardi Gras parade participant who violates this section shall be subject to immediate removal from the parade.

Sec. 78-116. Throwbacks.

It shall be unlawful for a person to throw any object at a float or at any participant in a Carnival parade. It shall also be unlawful for a person to use any "silly string" or other such item which, when used, emits an adhesive string-like or adhesive streamer-like substance that is shot or expelled from a pressurized container.

Sec. 78-117. Glass bottles and Containers

CONTINUED - ORDINANCE NO. 2 OF 2002

It shall be unlawful for a person to possess glass bottles or containers within 200 feet of the parade route on the day of the parade.

Sec. 78-118. Banners and/or Flags

It shall be unlawful for a person to possess banners and/or flags within 50 feet of the parade route, which would obstruct the view of public safety personnel, parade participants or bystanders.

Sec. 78-119. Enforcement.

(a) The Department of Police, the Fire Department, and Code Enforcement shall issue citations for the violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter.

(b) The Department of Police, the Fire Department, and Code Enforcement shall be authorized to remove any person, float or vehicle of any sort from a parade if the person, float or vehicle is in violation of the provisions of this chapter.

(c) Violation of any provision of this section may result in penalties of up to sixty (60)days in jail and/or a $500 fine.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if any provision or item of this ordinance or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or applications; and, to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council

ORDINANCE 7 OF 2002

AN ORDINANCE DECLARING A PUBLIC EMERGENCY IN CONNECTION WITH REPLACING AND UPGRADING COMPONENTS IN THE COMMAND CENTER ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM AT SHREVEPORT REGIONAL AIRPORT; AND APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF $63,315.71 AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO.

WHEREAS, the Shreveport Airport Authority ("Authority") has jurisdiction over and administrative control of the Shreveport Regional Airport; and

WHEREAS, certain components of the Central Management Computer that controls all aspects of the security system has failed; and

WHEREAS, due to the failure of certain components, the elevators on Concourse C have failed, the ARFF Station gate has failed and new employees have been denied access to boarding gates, and

WHEREAS, all security systems are presently being operated manually.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport, in due legal, and regular session convened, that the emergency action of the Department of Airports to replace and upgrade the Command Center Access Control System at Shreveport Regional Airport is hereby authorized and approved and that the expenditure of approximately $63,315.71 for this purpose is hereby authorized.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that monies for this emergency repair shall come from FAA Grant 30.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that a public emergency is hereby declared and notice of such public emergency shall, within ten days thereof, be published in the official journal of the City of Shreveport proposing or declaring such public emergency in accordance with Section 38:212 (D) of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if any provision or item of this ordinance or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provision, items or applications of this ordinance which can be given affect without the invalid provisions, items or applications and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all Ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Discussion and/or Action Relative to the Public Safety Committee (remained tabled).

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Alcohol Retail Permit: Mr. Shah Mir (Employer: G/Burrell - 2506 Lakeshore Dr.) (Postponed until January 21)

Chairman Stewart: Do we have a representative of the Police Department. Madam Clerk is there anything that you'd care to add?

Mr. Thompson: Mr. Chairman, I tried to call Mr. Larry English on two occasions, he never returned my call, but I did see him here earlier and I don't know whether he is prepared to go forward with this or not.

Officer Collins: We're prepared.

Councilman Burrell: Mr. Chairman, I can make this quick.

Officer Collins: I can make this as quick as I can unless you have something to add.

Councilman Burrell: I don't see anything. If you want to address it, but I . . .

Chairman Stewart: Please do if you can expedite us.

Officer Collins: I will very much so. In addition to everything I told you about the applications, the character, there was one other thing I wanted to add and that's on the back of the application and its inside your folder. I have it highlighted back there.

It asks a few questions on the very bottom, it says that if applicant is married, does the spouse meet qualifications. I didn't know if he was married or not. It wasn't until the last meeting when Mr. Mir came up here and said he was still together with his wife. If you look at the back of that application down at the bottom, it says NA (for not applicable) which means we are unable to check his wife for requirements as outlined in the ordinance. That was another part of the application he failed to fill out.

In every instance I've brought up so far, especially the last three. He owes the City money, which he did. He failed to reveal criminal history as required which he did. And also failed to fill out the spouse information which he didn't. There is three hard facts there. He does not qualify for an alcohol license. We stand firm on this.

If you want to judge the character, I think there is very much character to judge there. You can look at all the arrests, you can look at convictions but the Police Department stands firm. He does not deserve an alcohol license to serve in this city.

Chairman Stewart: Mr. English, you are the Attorney representing this gentleman is that correct?

Mr. English: Yes I am.

Mr. English: Glad to be with you and I don't want to waste your time. I think the Council was very clear the last time we were here and they gave us, my client very clear, as to what they expected.

I have not talked to my client in the last thirty days and so therefore, I think based upon that statement, you take as much time as you need to deliberate. I think that speaks for itself.

Chairman Stewart: Any questions of Mr. English? Mr. English, I appreciate your candor.

Mr. English: Thank you and I wanted to come because I tried to call my client and he wasn't here but I wanted to come down and again be here.

Councilman Huckaby: Mr. Chairman, I have one question. Were you paid for your services?

Mr. English: Yes ma'am. You always get the money first Councilman.

Councilman Serio: Obviously the City should have done the same thing.

Chairman Stewart: Maybe we need Mr. English to get it for the City. Thank you Mr. English, have a nice evening.

Councilman Burrell: I think, hopefully one thing that did come out of this and hopefully the public will see that we tried to work with these businesses as best as we can and we've been very patient with different businesses that seem to have problems. I still stand by the fact that if it were some way that we could resolve this especially as it relates to he and his wife and what have you, that, that is just another family that we can keep in tact.

But since Mr. Shah Mir decided to go against the word that he gave us, then there is no reason to award this particular permit. So I vote. . .

Motion by Councilman Burrell to not approve the request, seconded by Councilman Serio.

Councilman Stewart: Motion to not approve the request. Is there any discussion? Mr. Thompson, are we correctly styled? Ms. Glass.

Ms. Glass: I believe what your motion is to uphold the Police Department's denial.

Councilman Burrell: So that would be a yes vote?

Councilman Stewart: So what would be appropriate would be to uphold.

Motion approved by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Pearl Huckaby, Stewart, Carmody, Serio, Spigener, and Burrell. 6. Nays: None. Absent: Councilman Shyne. 1.

2. Alcohol Retail Permit: Ms. Deborah Hawkins (Employer: 2901 Milam St. [Take-A-Bag Grocery] G/Burrell) (No action taken on Jan. 8)

Mr. Thompson: I believe the Police Department agrees that, that is postponed until they can set a date.

Councilman Carmody: I show on our agenda that we have two other items.

Mr. Thompson: Mr. Chairman, I believe those are incorrect. We have two different agendas and these didn't get taken off. I think you're looking at the electronic agenda. These two have been handled already.

REPORTS FROM OFFICERS, BOARDS, AND COMMITTEES. None.

CLERK'S REPORT:

Letters of Appeal (Cases to be considered on February 12 or thereafter):

1. ZONING Appeal: C-75-01: TOM AND ELAINE WILLIAMS, 3634 Youree Drive from SPI-3 (B-1) to SPI-3-E (B-1): 971 sq. foot speciality gift shop and a residence only. (C/Carmody)

2. BAC-10-02, SPORTS MALL LLC/RANDY'S TRAVEL TOWN, 7288 Greenwood Road, truck stop withgaming and on-premise consumption of alcohol, restaurant with the on-premise consumption of alcohol and a C-store with the sale of packaged beer. (G/Burrell)

Councilman Stewart: As a matter of brief comment, would Mr. Thompson, on BAC-10-02, based on our decision today, what would be the purpose of this particular item?

Mr. Thompson: I believe there is someone out in the audience who is better able to handle this than me.

Mr. Kirkland: In my opinion, you definitely ought to vote on that. There are three approvals that were granted and even though they would be of no consequence with that denial today, this one might go to court (that's one thing), that is the denial decision. Don't know how that would rule, but regardless, it would appear that the Council spoke rather decisively. In my opinion, you ought to go ahead and deny those specifically at your next meeting on February 12^th. I wish you could suspend your rules today to deny them, because like I say, they have specific rights lying there, that the way those laws are written, that would lie there for some use to occur within a year before they would expire. Because if you don't vote to deny them, they stand approved.

Councilman Stewart: At our next meeting?

Mr. Kirkland: That would my recommendation. Again, Mr. Thompson or Ms. Glass, but they are not mute they are separate actions taken by the board; therefore, I think you clearly have to vote on them, up or down.

Mr. Thompson: I agree that the Council needs to take definitive action on these, however, I don't think that it should be done today. We've notified the various persons involved at that this item would come up at the next meeting and I think we would have procedural problems if we now voted on it.

THE COMMITTEE RISES AND REPORT.

There was no Committee Report.

ADJOURNMENT.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting at approximately 7:52 p.m.

____________________________

John David Stewart, Chairman

_____________________________

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council