COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA

NOVEMBER 26, 2002 3:00 p.m.

The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana, was called to order by Chairman James Green at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 26, 2002, in the Government Chambers in Government Plaza (505 Travis Street).

Invocation was given by Councilman Hogan.

On Roll Call, the following members were Present: Councilmen Carmody, Gibson, Green, Hogan, Jackson, Lester and Walford. 7. Absent: None.

Approve Minutes. None.

Awards, Recognition of Distinguished Guests, and Communications of the Mayor Which Are Required By Law. Mayor Hightower: The only thing today is to congratulations to the Council and certainly looking forward to working with each and every one of you.

Public Ms. Lee: We don't have one for today, but at our next meeting, we'll have the public hearings for the annexations.

Confirmations and/or Appointments. None.

Adding Legislation to the Agenda. Mr. Antee: An ordinance authorizing the incurring of debt and the issuance of $18, 500,000 of General Obligation Refunding Bonds Series 2003A. Motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Gibson.

Mr. Dark: That's already on, 198.

Mr. Antee: My mistake, that has already been added on to it. It was handed to me to be added, but it is on the agenda (motion withdrawn).

Public Comments. None.

CONSENT AGENDA LEGISLATION.

Mr. Thompson: Mr. Chairman, just a word to the new council members. The Consent Agenda legislation would be legislation that nobody would have any questions about or any real comments on. So, if you see anything on the Consent Agenda that you do have questions about, just asked that it be removed and it will be removed to the Regular Agenda. But, this is so that items can go fast when they are voted on. But if you see something on any Consent Agenda, I'm not just talking about today, just any Council member can just say they want it removed and it will be removed.

TO INTRODUCE RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ON CONSENT:

Motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Gibson for Introduction of the Ordinances on the Consent Agenda. Motion approved by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Carmody, Gibson, Green, Hogan, Jackson, Lester and Walford. 7. Nays: None.

RESOLUTIONS: None.

ORDINANCES:

1. Ordinance No. 194 of 2002: An ordinance to create and establish a no through truck route on Fern Avenue between East 70^th Street (LA. 511) and Pierremont Road and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

2. Ordinance No. 195 of 2002: An ordinance closing and abandoning the remaining portion of Meadow Parkway Drive, and a portion of Castlewood Drive and Birchwood Street right-of-way in the Meadow Heights Subdivision, in the SE/4 of Section 29 (T17N-R14), Caddo Parish, Louisiana and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

TO ADOPT RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ON CONSENT:

RESOLUTIONS: None.

ORDINANCES: None.

REGULAR AGENDA LEGISLATION:

RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE: None.

INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS:

1. Resolution No. 187 of 2002: A resolution to authorize the Mayor to execute an "Early Action Compact" between the cities of Shreveport and Bossier City, Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Hogan for Introduction of the Resolution to lay over until the December 10, 2002 meeting. Motion approved by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Carmody, Gibson, Green, Hogan, Jackson, Lester and Walford. 7. Nays: None.

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES:

1. Ordinance No. 196 of 2002: An ordinance amending the 2002 Budget for the Fleet Services Internal Service Fund and otherwise providing with respect thereto.

2. Ordinance No. 197 of 2002: An ordinance amending the 2002 Budget Community Development Special Revenue Fund and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

3. Ordinance No. 198 of 2002: An ordinance authorizing the incurring of debt and issuance of Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($18, 5000,000) of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2003A of the City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said bonds; designating the date, denomination and place of payment of said bonds; providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

4. Ordinance No. 199 of 2002: An ordinance amending and reenacting Sections of Ordinance No. 96 of 1980 asamended by Ordinance No. 22 of 1981, Ordinance No. 333 of 1983 and Ordinance No. 158 of 1989, relative to the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, levying an additional tax of one-fourth of one-percent (1/4%) upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the consumption and the storage for use or consumption of tangible personal property and on sales of services, all as defined therein, adopting integrated bracket schedules, providing for remittance to taxing authorities, and otherwise providing with respect thereto.

5. Ordinance No. 200 of 2002: An ordinance to enlarge the limits and boundaries of the City of Shreveport - A tract of land located along the West 70^th Street and along Dinkins Drive in Section 29 (T17N-R15W), Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

6. Ordinance No. 201 of 2002: An ordinance to enlarge the limits and boundaries of the City of Shreveport - A tract of land located in the S/2 of Section 21 and in the N/2 of Section 28 (T16N-R13W), Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

7. Ordinance No. 202 of 2002: An ordinance to enlarge the limits and boundaries of the City of Shreveport - A tract of land located along the Norris Ferry and Southern Loop Roads in the SE/4 of Section 20 (T16N-R13W), Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

8. Ordinance No. 203 of 2002: An ordinance to enlarge the limits and boundaries of the City of Shreveport - A tract of land located at 5895 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in the SE/4 of the SW/4 of Section 1 (T16N-R15W), Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

9. Ordinance No. 204 of 2002: An ordinance to enlarge the limits and boundaries of the City of Shreveport - A tract of land located at 3001 and 3003 Meriwether Road in the N/2 of the SW/4 of Section 33 (T17N-R14W), Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.

Motion by Councilman Carmody, seconded by Councilman Walford for Introduction of the Ordinances to lay over until the December 10, 2002 meeting. Motion approved by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Carmody, Gibson, Green, Hogan, Jackson, Lester and Walford. 7. Nays: None.

Councilman Lester: Mr. Thompson, correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't there a Justice Department Report that goes along with any annexation of land to the City?

Mr. Thompson: Once the City Council votes to annex the land, then we submit it to the Justice Department. It's called Pre-clearance, but it is after the City Council annexes the property. It does have to be submitted to the Justice Department.

ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE: None.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

1. 2003 Budget Appropriation Ordinances (Introduced and Tabled on Oct. 8):

161 Adopting the 2003 General Fund budget.

162 Adopting the 2003 Capital Improvements budget.

163 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Water and Sewerage Enterprise Fund.

164 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Airports Enterprise Fund.

165 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Retained Risk Internal Service Fund budget.

166 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Golf Enterprise Fund.

167 Adopting the 2003 Metropolitan Planning Commission's Special Revenue fund.

168 Adopting the 2003 budget funding contractual services provided to SporTran by the Metro Management Associates, Inc.

169 Adopting the 2003 Debt Service fund budget.

170 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Community Development Special Revenue fund

171 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Riverfront Development Special Revenue fund.

172 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Police Grants Special Revenue fund.

173 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Fleet Services Internal Service fund.

174 Adopting the 2003 budget for S'port Redevelopment Agency Special Revenue Fund.

175 Adopting the 2003 budget for Downtown Parking Enterprise Fund.

176 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Environmental Grants Special Revenue Fund.

177 Adopting the 2003 budget for the Downtown Entertainment Economic Development District Special Revenue Fund.

NEW BUSINESS:

- Establishing a Sexual Oriented Business Committee.

Motion by Councilman Walford to consider creating a special committee on Sexually Oriented Businesses to be established to review the existing ordinances, gather information from other sources, from the Police Department, from the citizens, from those businesses that are engaged in this type business, from the City Attorney and to report the findings and recommendations back to this Council on or before January 28, 2003, at which time the committee would cease to exist and seconded by Councilman Hogan.

Councilman Jackson: Mr. Walford, did you just describe the composition of that committee too?

Councilman Walford: No, I didn't and I think that's something I think we need to discuss. I'm suggesting that we have the committee and where it should gather information from. I do believe it would be beneficial to havecitizen input, Administration input, and again input from some of the businesses.

Councilman Jackson: The reason for my question is that, certainly I think we have got to be concerned about credibility. And obviously we want to escape the perception or avoid the appearance of creating a group who will just kind of rubber stamp what may be our personal agendas, if you will. So, I think the composition of the committeeis certainly important to me and how many people will sit on that committee, what will be the parameters of that committee. I'm assuming they are just getting together to give a recommendation back to this Council. But I do think that we. . . I'd like for us to consider the composition of the committee and then the length and breath of what that committee is actually there to do so that when they are assembled, they will be charged specifically with what their responsibility will be and there'll be no surprise to anybody and people won't feel pressured to serve on that committee because of what the public may think.

Motion approved by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Carmody, Gibson, Green, Hogan, Jackson, Lester and Walford. 7. Nays: None.

Chairman Green: At this particular time, I'd like to appoint Mr. Monty Walford as Chairman of that committee. I would like for Councilman Carmody to serve on that committee.

Councilman Carmody: I cannot. Thank you though sir.

Councilman Jackson: I was assuming that the Council would not be involved with that committee other than the appointing of that committee. And then if that committee was going to bring back something as a recommendation to this Council, I would think it would probably serve us well, to not have representation on that particular committee not only for the sake of appearances, but for some authentic deliberation and that they might feel not encumbered to come back with any particular decision, but that we could get a decision from them.

So, I guess my situation is that I think. . .I thought Mr. Walford was suggesting that we compose a committee to look at the existing ordinances and any changes or recommendations, but I didn't think that he was suggesting that he might either sit on that committee or Chair it. I may have received it wrong. But I was thinking that we wouldn't have Council person involved, but that we would deliberate following the community committee's recommendations.

Councilman Green: Well, as Chair, I'm just appointing him as Chairman. I think that because of the nature of it, I think that there ought be members of the Council, I think there ought to be members from the Mayor's office, I think there ought be members from the community business, I think that we ought to have a well rounded group, with that in fact we will come back with a healthy decision.

Councilman Jackson: While I understand what you mean, I think that the purpose of them bringing the January 28th recommendation back if for the consideration and deliberation of the Council, if in fact one or more of this Council is involved in making the recommendation. I almost think that, that person is just about will be a lobbyist for whatever their recommendation is rather than an objective person who can consider the recommendation and move forward with the rest of us having the same amount of information that the rest of us have.

Councilman Lester: My question is. I believe that Councilman Jackson is on to something. I think that before we move forward with appointing any particular individual to this committee, I think we should determine 1. exactly what it is we want this committee to do and 2. decide from our vantage point who should be on that committee before we go in and start appointing people. Because I have some concerns as well as who will actually be serving on this committee and I think Councilman Jackson is absolutely correct. I mean, we can have a scenario where a board could be put together for the specific purpose of taking one particular point of view versus the other.

So, I guess what I would be asking to Mr. Walford could he at our next meeting bring us back a proposed list of individuals to serve on this committee and then once he brought that back, then give us an opportunity to review that and act on it at that particular time?

Councilman Walford: Mr. Walford is not at all anxious to serve on that committee and let me throw out another option that might work. What about each of us making some recommendations to the Chair for who we think should be on the committee and go from there. I think what we want is input. There is a need for an ordinance. I know that we are all going to be pressured to enact some type of ordinance and all I'm trying to do is facilitate getting the information. In the Council Office, Mr. Thompson has a stack of reports about that high from other cities that can be reviewed by a committee and then again, it certainly would not hurt my feelings not to be on that committee. I'll do it if we need to, but I think we need input from the Police Department, I think the Administration can certainly benefit us and I think some citizen input. But instead of me coming up with a committee , I think the idea of all of us giving some input to the Chair at the next meeting, if that's agreeable.

Councilman Jackson: Are we in a position now to make a decision about the composition of that committee which would either include or exclude a member of this Council?

Councilman Green: Basically at this point and time, the Chair id appointing Mr. Walford as Chairman of the committee and asking him and asking each Council Member to make recommendations as to who they would desire to serve on there along with the Administration.

Mr. Thompson: Mr. Chairman, if I may, the Council Rules and I believe Mr. Walford was acting under the Council rules. The Council Rules provide for the Council to appoint special committees and once the special committee is appointed, the Rules provided for the Chairman to appoint the members of the committee and I think that is where the Chairman and Mr. Walford were going with this.

Of course, you could appoint a committee, I assume, and sort of suspend the Rules by naming who would be on that committee. The Council can always do what it wants to do or as the Chairman suggest, you could provide him with recommendations and he could make the appointment, but I was just pointing out what the Rules state and where this was intended to go.

Councilman Green: Mr. Walford would you accept the chairing of the committee?

Councilman Walford: I'll do that.

Councilman Green: If there are any other Council members that would desire to serve on the committee, I would ask that you would contact me and let me know. And, also if there are some citizens that you desire to serve on the committee, I ask that you would get their names to me and will get them to the Council members and we will approve those.

REPORTS FROM OFFICERS, BOARDS, AND COMMITTEES. None.

CLERK'S REPORT: None.

THE COMMITTEE RISES AND REPORTS (reconvenes Regular Council Meeting).

ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at approximately 3:35 p.m.

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James Green, Chairman

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Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council