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2026-10-14 - Metropolitan Council Regular Meeting

Summary

Built from the posted agenda; part of the agenda (the Administrative Matters page and the public notice) was read from a scanned document. No minutes or video recorded yet, so outcomes are not stated.

  • 3:00 PM presentations and special recognitions, then the 4:00 PM meeting; 114 numbered items plus two Administrative Matters emergency items.
  • Administrative Matters: a Non-Federal Reimbursable Agreement for Runway 13/31 safety area work at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (not to exceed about $1.2 million), and an asbestos removal agreement at 10920 Mead Rd (up to $195,300). See Airport Authority Contracts.
  • Grants and contracts: FY2026 HUD grant agreements totaling $7,486,659.46 (CDBG $3,346,995.00, HOME $1,450,716.46, HOPWA $2,397,770.00, ESG $281,178.00) plus $1,088,000 estimated program income; a $549,000 AI blight-detection services agreement; Ryan White funding of $895,225 and $148,975; a $1,000,000 airport air-service grant award (emergency item).
  • Ordinances: a package of penalty and fee increases for weeds, garbage, property maintenance, dangerous buildings and administrative hearings (Nuisance Ordinance Penalties), plus a residential decibel limit (Noise Ordinance Decibel Limit).
  • Introductions for October 28 include a Capitol House Economic Development District 2 percent sales and hotel tax resolution (Capitol House Cooperative Endeavor Agreement), the River Center state capital outlay agreement, and ten condemnation cases (Condemnation Proceedings).
  • Employee and retiree health insurance rates for 2027 are on the emergency list (Employee Health Insurance Rates); five pre-litigation or suit settlements appear (Legal Settlements).
  • Appointments: Capital Area Human Services District, Complete Streets Citizens Advisory Committee, Baton Rouge Regional Airport Authority and three Pride volunteer fire district seats.

Agenda

Minutes (item 1): approval of Council minutes of September 23, the Capitol House EDD board minutes of September 23 and the Airport Commission minutes of October 6.

Introductions (hearing set for October 28)

  • 26-01286 Capitol House EDD resolution to levy a 2.0% sales and use tax and a 2.0% hotel occupancy tax in the district (Capitol House Cooperative Endeavor Agreement).
  • 26-01289 State Capital Outlay cooperative endeavor agreement, $750,000 plus $250,000 local match, for River Center planning, design and renovation.
  • 26-01354 Allotment of positions change at three community centers (add housekeeper, delete building attendant at each).
  • 26-01346 to 26-01361 (ten items): condemnation introductions (Condemnation Proceedings).
  • Contracts: 26-01282 and 26-01283 Community Development contract amendments (+$100,000 each); 26-01284 (+$53,666.66); 26-01287 cooperative agreement with the Louisiana Department of Health for a mobile opioid treatment unit, no funds exchanged; 26-01288 community liaison contract amendment (+$15,000, total up to $63,000, Community Liaison Contract); 26-01290 access control services (+$90,000, to $135,000); 26-01301 janitorial contract (+$32,258.52); 26-01302 contract renewal (+$600,000, up to $1,173,000).
  • 26-01295 expropriation for the Jones Creek Detention project; 26-01303 airport lease assignment (Airport Authority Contracts).
  • HOPWA subrecipient amendments (26-01321, 01323, 01324, 01326, 01328): increases of $400,000, $375,000, $300,000, $465,000 and $47,219.05.
  • 26-01329 Capital One as fiscal agent for 2027 to 2031; 26-01330 to 26-01336 state/DOTD and engineering agreements, including Lower Zachary Road bridge design ($225,071.64) and MovEBR supplements (MovEBR Program Contracts); 26-01334 developer agreement amendment.
  • Ryan White Ending the HIV Epidemic subrecipient amendments (26-01344, 01348, 01349, 01351, 01352) and a $983,899.20 child nutrition program grant application (26-01356).
  • 26-01362 report on open blight tickets and arrearages, requested by Councilman Hurst.
  • Rescissions of condemnation filings: 26-01320, 26-01322.

Condemnations (items 46 to 52): seven cases, one deferred repeatedly since September 2025 (Condemnation Proceedings).

Public hearing items (53 to 89)

  • 26-01211 call for an April 17, 2027 special election on a 5 mill fire protection tax, Fire Protection District No. 6.
  • 26-01162 surplus lot sale for $6,500; 26-01206 USAR equipment agreement ($250,000); 26-01189 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council amendment (+$196,000, to $456,000).
  • 26-01207 FY2026 HUD grant agreements (CDBG, HOME, HOPWA, ESG; $7,486,659.46 total); 26-01223 floodplain public information program document; 26-01224 AI blight detection services, up to $549,000 through 2029; 26-01225 and 26-01226 Ryan White funding.
  • Ordinances: 26-01210 residential decibel threshold, by Councilman Moak (Noise Ordinance Decibel Limit); 26-01230, 01231, 01233, 01234, 01235, 01236 hearing costs, condemnation costs, weeds, garbage and property maintenance penalties (Nuisance Ordinance Penalties); 26-01274 tire storage limit, by Councilman Hurst.
  • 26-01238 library promotional contract (+$15,000); 26-01248 sales tax rebate for two March 2027 events at LSU baseball and football venues, by Councilman Gaudet.
  • Settlements 26-01267, 01268, 01246, 01277 (the last a court suit settlement of $301,186.65 including costs); may be discussed in executive session (Legal Settlements).
  • Condemnation rescissions 26-01255 and 26-01265; design and engineering agreements 26-01253, 01263, 01264, 01266, 01269, 01271, 01272, 01273; demolition and abatement packages A24 to A27 (26-01278 to 26-01281).

Administrative Matters (emergency items)

  • A. 26-01364 Non-Federal Reimbursable Agreement for relocation of facilities, equipment and cables supporting the Runway 13/31 Runway Safety Area at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR), not to exceed $1,202,021.51; the stated reason is to keep the project on track and prevent procurement delays (Airport Authority Contracts).
  • B. 26-01365 agreement with Estes Industrial for asbestos removal and disposal at 10920 Mead Rd, not to exceed $195,300, to expedite removal and demolition of the structure.

Appointments (90 to 95): Capital Area Human Services District (replace a member not seeking reappointment; two names go to the Governor); Complete Streets Citizens Advisory Committee; Baton Rouge Regional Airport Authority (one-year term, six candidates on the ballot, including Councilman Kenney); three Pride volunteer fire district seats.

Change orders (96 to 102): Taxiway Marc NW widening (+$60,701.30); City Hall security upgrades (+$294,497.00); Scotlandville Branch Library Phase II (+$144,983.58); Juvenile Detention Center upgrades (+$37,715.00); Picardy-Perkins Connector railroad underpass (+$23,775.40); McHugh Rd (+$25,095.98); Sales Tax Street and Road Rehabilitation Project 21-1 (+$78,678.00).

Final acceptances (103 to 105): Taxiway Marc widening; Runway 13-31 safety area shopping center demolition ($949,111.00); Juvenile Detention Center upgrades (liquidated damages $700).

Acceptance of low bids (106 to 109): airport Taxiway F reconstruction (lowest bid $3,967,795.89 against a $6,166,715.92 estimate, Airport Taxiway F Reconstruction); airport ticket counter and baggage claim furniture; wastewater plant digester and settling tank cleaning (lowest bid $586,326.00); Sales Tax Street and Road Rehabilitation Project 21-2.

Other items: 110 third quarter 2026 report from the Parish Communications District.

Other items to be adopted (emergency): 111 Head Start facility agreement with YWCA Greater Baton Rouge (Head Start Program Agreement); 112 U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development grant of $1,000,000 (Airport Authority Contracts); 113 notice of an $11,500 emergency water extraction purchase at a United Way facility (notification only, no Council action required); 114 employee and retiree health insurance rates and plan design effective January 1, 2027 (Employee Health Insurance Rates).

Sources