2026-10-01 - City Council

06:58Madam clerk, we get started.

07:03>> Roll call. Council President Moro

07:05>> here.

07:05>> Vice President Willlet here.

07:07>> Council member McCarron. Council member

07:09Harris.

07:11>> Council member King. Council member

07:13Green. Council member Hughes, we have

07:16five members. We have a quorum room.

07:19>> All right, let's get started. We have

07:20the invocation by Pastor Josh

07:22Washington.

07:27>> Let us bow our heads and humble our

07:29hearts. Most gracious and eternal

07:30father, how we bless you, how we love

07:32you, how we appreciate you, Father. We

07:34exalt you for we decree and declare that

07:36this is the day that you have made. We

07:38will rejoice and be glad therein.

07:41Father, we come acknowledging who you

07:42are, Father. For you are Lord and God

07:45over this nation. You are Lord and God

07:47over this state and you are Lord and God

07:49over this city. So, Father, we thank

07:51you, Lord, as we come in together. Lord

07:53God, we just bless your name. As we come

07:56convene with this meeting, Father, we

07:57ask God that you would touch every

07:59person under the sound of my voice.

08:01Father, we invite your spirit, your

08:03presence. Oh, Father God, rest, rule,

08:04and abide in this meeting that will go

08:06and glorify you in the end of the day.

08:08Father, we lift up those, Father God,

08:11those cancer survivors and those ones

08:13who lost loved ones, Father, to the

08:15enemy called cancer. Father, we lift

08:17them up, Father, we ask, God, that you

08:18would minister healing and hope, Father

08:20God, and restore them, Lord God. Touch

08:22their minds, even walk through

08:24hospitals, oh Father, with those who are

08:26battling against that disease. Lord, we

08:28ask God that you would bring full

08:30recovery, bring restoration, bring peace

08:32of mind. Father, we are thanking you

08:34this morning because you are the great

08:36healer, Father. Lord God, we thank you,

08:38Lord, for our precious council members,

08:39Lord God. We're asking, God, that you

08:41would give them the wisdom, Father, the

08:43knowledge, the understanding that they

08:45need from you, Lord God, to legislate,

08:47Father. Let them lead and rule in truth

08:49and justice and righteousness that at

08:51the end of the day, that they'll all be

08:53able to stand before you and give an

08:55account. Lord God, we ask that you will

08:57bless every branch of government, Lord

08:59God, the judicial branch, the

09:00legislative branch, and even the

09:02executive branches of government.

09:04Father, we're praying that they will

09:06give you glory, that you would give them

09:07wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

09:09God, we're praying for peace for our

09:11city in Jesus name. Lord, we're asking,

09:13God, that you would touch, Father, every

09:15citizen. Father God, we ask, God, that

09:17you would be the lifter of their heads.

09:19Comfort them, Lord God. We're praying

09:20that you would bless every household.

09:22Father, you know the need. You know the

09:24heartache. You know the cares and the

09:26concerns. And we are praying, Father

09:28God, that you will release your angels

09:29over this city, Father, to do what you

09:32do best, Father God, to protect this

09:34city, Father. Raise this city up as it

09:36become the great city that it can

09:37become. Lord, we're thanking you for our

09:39great future, Lord God. We're asking,

09:41God, that you will be ever present,

09:43Father, in a time of trouble. Lord God,

09:45we are asking that you will bless this

09:46meeting, Father, and may it glorify you

09:48at the end of the day. We give you all

09:50the praise, all the honor, and all the

09:52glory. It is in Jesus name that we pray.

09:55Amen. and thank God.

09:58>> Thank you, Pastor Washington. The pledge

10:00of allegiance will be done by Vice

10:01President Willard.

10:21Special orders of business.

10:23Presentation. The 13th annual breast

10:25cancer awareness day. Presenters: Denise

10:27Roan Johnson, clinical director for

10:30Louisiana Breast and Cervical Cancer

10:32Program, LSU Health and Science Center.

10:35Lacy L. Tilman, chronic disease program

10:37manager, population health and disease

10:39prevention, New Orleans Health

10:41Department. Sean McKenna, Coun

10:45Clinical breast surgeon, director of

10:46breast services at University Medical

10:49Center New Orleans. Michelle Marie Lo,

10:51associate professor of medicine, LSU

10:54Health and Science Center. Melissa and

10:56Bean Tanner, University Medical Center,

10:58New Orleans. Honores council member at

11:01large president Miss Florence Kia Smith

11:04council member at large vice president

11:06former council member and state senator

11:08senate Cynthia Willer Lewis mayor's

11:11office Miss Linda Baker district Ambrell

11:17district B miss

11:20Cricia Williams district C miss Patronia

11:24Hart district Eane win recognizing

11:28various medical professionals support

11:30organizations, survivors, and service

11:32agencies for their community involvement

11:34and engagement during breast cancer

11:36awareness month.

11:38>> Council member Hughes.

11:41>> Uh thank you, Mr. President, and uh good

11:43morning, ladies and gentlemen. Um as I

11:45begin with some opening remarks, I'm

11:47going to ask our panelists uh to please

11:49begin making their way uh to the table

11:51uh for the sake of time. Um, as we begin

11:54breast cancer awareness month, we are

11:56here to celebrate our survivors, uh,

11:59stand with those facing this disease and

12:01honor those, uh, who we have lost. Um,

12:05we certainly want to thank former

12:07councilwoman Naen Ramsay for

12:10establishing this tradition at city

12:11hall, uh, and Mayor Helena Moreno for

12:14her leadership and support. Uh, and for

12:17all of my colleagues for, uh, their

12:19ongoing leadership and support. Uh to

12:21all of our survivors, those that we are

12:23honoring today, to the millions who are

12:25listening uh online, uh thank you for

12:28being here and sharing your stories. Uh

12:31and to the families, caregivers,

12:32volunteers, and health professionals who

12:34stand beside you. Uh thank you for

12:37showing up every day. Uh breast cancer

12:39affects women and men. Uh it's often

12:41lost that breast cancer also affects

12:44men. Uh and its impact reaches entire

12:47families. Awareness has led to action.

12:50Uh we urge everyone to talk with their

12:52health care provider about their risk uh

12:54and their recommended screenings. We

12:56urge folks to ask questions uh and

12:59encourage your loved ones uh and people

13:01that you care about to do the same. Uh

13:04certainly we cannot stress early

13:05detection without talking about access

13:08to care. Everyone deserves the

13:10opportunity to get screening treatment

13:12and the support that they need. And I am

13:15proud to say in the city of New Orleans

13:17uh there's been very intentional efforts

13:19to ensure just that uh with many mobile

13:22clinics going to meet the people where

13:25they are. Uh today is about celebrating

13:27lives, sharing information and reminding

13:29people that they do not have to face

13:33this disease alone. Uh this morning we

13:36are honored to be joined by five health

13:38professionals whose work supports that

13:40mission. Um

13:42uh each panelist will have approximately

13:452 minutes. Uh madame clerk, I'm going to

13:47ask that we put 10 minutes on the clock.

13:50Uh honored to have Dr. Denise, uh Robin

13:53Johnson, clinical director, Louisiana

13:55Breast and Cervical Health Care Program,

13:57LSU Health Science Center. Dr. Laciel

14:00Tilman, chronic disease program manager,

14:03population health and disease prevention

14:06from the New Orleans Health Department.

14:08Uh Dr. Michelle Marie Loach, associate

14:11professor of medicine. Uh Dr. Sha

14:14McKenna, director of breast services at

14:17UMC. Uh and Melissa Bean Tanner, uh a

14:22nurse practitioner, uh who is proudly

14:25married to Ron Eagle, Councilman Green.

14:27Uh with that, uh we will allow our uh

14:31panelist uh to begin. Good morning and

14:33thank you for joining us.

14:38Stop.

14:40Stop. Oh shoot. Good morning everybody.

14:43Um I feel like this is like a a right of

14:46passage. I'm here every year and I've

14:47been here since you all started this. Um

14:50I'm uh Dr. D Rubon Johnson. I am the

14:53lead clinical associate for the uh LSU

14:56early detection and screening program

14:58and also the medical advisor. Our

15:01program provides uh no cost mammograms

15:04to women who are uninsured. Um we work

15:07closely with our partners at UMC, that's

15:10Dr. McKenna and Dr. Lot. Um they see our

15:14patients and provide care second to

15:17none. Um for the women who are uninsured

15:20and underinsured,

15:23we also have patient navigators who

15:25remove the barriers to care for our

15:26patients. Um, they provide things like

15:29transportation. They help facilitate the

15:31appointments for the patients. They help

15:33make sure they get to and from their

15:35appointments and remove any barriers

15:37[clears throat] to care that they can

15:39possibly um do. The rest of the panel

15:41will talk about the medical side of it.

15:43I'm just going to give you all brief

15:44synopsis of what we do here in the

15:47community. And we work statewide. We

15:49have providers throughout the whole

15:50state of Louisiana who are part of the

15:53Louisiana breast and cervical early

15:54detection program who provide this

15:57service under our guidance.

15:59Um, we provide outreach in in the

16:03community by educating the community on

16:05the importance of early detection and

16:08getting screening mammogs and um

16:11following up and make sure they know the

16:13questions to ask their doctors when they

16:14go to actually see the doctors for their

16:17care when they receive a cancer

16:18diagnosis. Cuz a lot of times when women

16:20hear that those words, you have breast

16:23cancer or any type of cancer, they don't

16:25hear anything else. So we encourage

16:27women to bring somebody with them to

16:29help support them during that time

16:31[clears throat] and we give them a

16:32guidance of telling them what questions

16:34to ask so that they'll know the things

16:37that'll be coming after that initial

16:39visit with the um person who's providing

16:42them the diagnosis.

16:44I I personally see patients at the St.

16:46Thomas Clinic um in further in in um

16:49around Magazine Street. So we see

16:52lowincome people at uh that community

16:54clinic.

16:56Um,

16:58just a funny little story. I went to see

17:00a patient the other day who was supposed

17:02to see Dr. McKenna and she didn't show

17:03up for appointment. So, I wrote to Kenna

17:06and drove to her house and I knocked on

17:07the door and they wouldn't answer the

17:09door. They kept peeping through the

17:10window. And so, I knew they were in

17:12there cuz I could see him moving the

17:13blind. So, I finally said, "It's me, Dr.

17:17Johnson. Can you let me in?" They opened

17:19the door and they said, "We wasn't going

17:20to let you in cuz we thought you were

17:22Jehovah Witnesses."

17:24and I'm like, I got my coat on and

17:26everything, but this just shows you the

17:28length we would go to to get a patient

17:30to their appointment to where they need

17:31to be so that they can get their care.

17:33So, again, I thank you all for always

17:35including LSU in this program and we we

17:38appreciate it and thank you, Miss Lena.

17:43>> Hello. Thank you everybody for this

17:45great invitation and honor to be on this

17:47panel. My name is Dr. Lacy Tilman. I am

17:50the chronic disease program manager for

17:51the New Orleans Health Department. And

17:54my perspective when it comes to breast

17:57cancer, I I like to focus on preventive

18:00strategies. We have a lot of medical

18:03expertise on this panel. Um but from a

18:05public health perspective, we do

18:07understand that although there's no

18:10tried andrude way to prevent or

18:14completely uh protect against breast

18:16cancer, but there are ways that you can

18:18reduce your risk that you can protect

18:20yourself. And one of those ways is a

18:23targeted lifestyle change or choices.

18:27And that includes maintaining a healthy

18:28weight. you're somebody who has a bit

18:31more um fat tissue on your on your on

18:35your person, you can increase your risk

18:37for getting breast cancer. And also note

18:40that every person has some type of risk

18:43of breast cancer cuz we all have breast

18:45tissue, men and women. And so it is

18:48important to maintain a healthy weight.

18:50And when we talk about a healthy weight,

18:51we talk about obesity. And obesity has

18:54various factors that contribute to it.

18:58And one of them is regular exercise. We

19:00want to make sure we exercise on a

19:02regular basis. And that's moderate

19:04physical intensity. So maybe about

19:07150 minutes a week. That may seem like a

19:09lot. Um but you can also break it down

19:1130 minutes a day of some kind of

19:13physical activity, exercise, something

19:15that gets your blood pumping because

19:17that's how you also exercise your heart.

19:20We want to make sure we have strong

19:21hearts that can also support our bodies.

19:24And we also want to do our best to limit

19:28alcohol consumption cuz that can also

19:30increase your risk for breast cancer.

19:33And for women who have just had

19:36children, we really encourage you to

19:38breastfeed. Breastfeed as long as you

19:40can cuz that can also be a protective

19:42factor um against breast cancer. And

19:46another protective factor would be to

19:49know your family history. find out from

19:52both sides of your family what are your

19:55risks for breast cancer and that also

19:57gives you an opportunity to learn about

20:00your family from both sides.

20:03I hope. Um, yes. Um, so learning your

20:07family history is is important and

20:10learning what types of risks your

20:13father's side, your mother's side has

20:15will help educate you and help you

20:17determine um when you should get your

20:20mammogs. And [clears throat] normally

20:22it's recommended at 40. And especially

20:25if you're somebody who is at high risk,

20:29those you would want to get it younger

20:31and earlier. And there are other ways to

20:37also support individuals who do have

20:39breast cancer. Dr. Johnson talked about

20:41individuals when they go to the doctor,

20:44they might find out that they do have

20:46breast cancer. It is important to have a

20:48very strong supportive network around

20:51you because faith and hope also makes a

20:53big difference if you're someone that is

20:55going through breast cancer. And I know

20:58that because I do have family that went

21:00through breast cancer and it was very

21:02very trying. It's very stressful and

21:05having people beside you that can

21:08support you and even be at your point at

21:10your appointments is very very helpful.

21:13So thank you again for your time and

21:15I'll give it over to Dr. Lockach.

21:18Thank you so much for the invitation to

21:20come speak to uh to you all today and

21:23mark of the beginning of October which

21:25is breast cancer awareness month. I'm

21:27happy to share this panel with these

21:29fine brilliant women who do their best

21:32every day to make sure that the city

21:34remains healthy. Thank you to Dr.

21:36Johnson who her continuous ongoing care

21:39of our patients. Certainly the the

21:41easiest way to get breast

21:42[clears throat] cancer under control is

21:44to to screen patients and identify it

21:47early. Both with Dr. Johnson's efforts,

21:50we've identified a number of patients

21:52and we can continue that work in the

21:53clinic. Um I will speak a little bit to

21:56breast cancer being a community issue.

21:58So it affects the entire community as

22:01has been mentioned before. And so having

22:03community um community resources

22:07available for women and men uh to

22:11understand, be aware and seek screening

22:13for breast cancer and treatment if they

22:15so get diagnosed. of note and um perhap

22:19um um perhaps uh we'll talk about it.

22:23The high-risisk screening program is

22:25another way where if you know your

22:26family history and you can identify that

22:28you're high-risisk, we actually have a

22:30program to um monitor patients earlier

22:33um going forward at UMC. And so some of

22:37the I'm a medical oncologist that deals

22:40with breast cancer. So I take care of

22:41patients oftentimes after Dr. McKenna

22:44has um done the surgical aspects and I

22:46do medications, chemotherapy, that sort

22:49of things and also participate in

22:50clinical trials. I think part of breast

22:53cancer care in includes innovation and

22:56so some of the initiatives we have at

22:59LSU and LCMC cancer center is seeking

23:02NCI designation so that we have access

23:04to a broader array of funding for breast

23:08cancer research as well as clinical

23:10trials for our patients. our population

23:12is very unique and diverse and those

23:14patients need to be represented on

23:16clinical trials. So having the having

23:18the uh ability to have patients have

23:21access for that with anything from

23:24transportation to insurance access to

23:28healthc care access if they are

23:30uninsured um or underinsured all of

23:33those things uh need to be uh imperative

23:36and not just once you're treated with

23:38the breast cancer. So I give

23:39chemotherapy. I cause a lot of problems

23:41for patients. And so women live and men

23:44live long periods of time. And what they

23:47have to live with after the fact is also

23:49something that we um as a community can

23:52ensure that they have that opportunity

23:55to live the least amount of symptoms

23:58possible. Fertility preservation, access

24:01to fertility preservation, those are

24:03cost prohibitive for a lot of our

24:05patients. um access to other

24:07survivorship initiatives, um exercise

24:10programs, postcancer diagnosis, all of

24:12these often um in disparit patient

24:15populations, they don't have access for

24:17those programs. So being aware and

24:19having access as well. And so some of

24:22the initiatives just to wrap up and pass

24:24it on to my esteemed colleagues is that

24:26we're, you know, we're pursuing NCI

24:29designation both for the the city of New

24:32Orleans and for the state as a whole. So

24:34our patients don't have to travel um to

24:36other places to seek medical care uh

24:40that are that's um nationally known and

24:43and have access to these clinical

24:45trials. So keeping them right here so

24:47patients can be close to their families

24:49while they undergo treatment. Um

24:51building on that um you know reputation

24:54within the city and within the state of

24:56Louisiana is imperative and also making

24:59sure that our patients have access to

25:01care. And so with that, I'll turn it

25:03over to Dr. McKini.

25:06Thank you.

25:09Is that the timer?

25:13>> It does.

25:15>> All right. Good morning, everyone. I'm

25:18uh Sean McKenna, breast surgeon, uh who

25:21primarily works out of University

25:23Medical Center. I'm happy to be here

25:25again with you today as we celebrate

25:28breast cancer awareness month. Thank you

25:30to Miss Lena for always uh including

25:33this every year and making us uh not

25:36only aware but also um as a celebration

25:39of survivors, community uh workers,

25:42providers, clinicians, all of us who

25:44work together to combat this disease. Um

25:48when caught early, uh stage one, the

25:515-year survival rate of um breast cancer

25:54tends to be over 95%.

25:57So, um, that's a great [clears throat]

25:58statistic. We actually, uh, do mirror

26:02that statistic here in the city. If

26:05we're able to catch breast cancer at an

26:07early stage, our women and men who are

26:10diagnosed um, can have a very long

26:14survival with minimal effects. But

26:17unfortunately

26:18um we here in the city and state um do

26:23have a disparity um when it comes to

26:26breast cancer diagnosis and also the

26:28types of breast cancer that are

26:31diagnosed and the women who are

26:33diagnosed with breast cancer. Uh black

26:36women in this city have about a 40%

26:38higher mortality rate when they are

26:41diagnosed. Now some of this is biology.

26:44Sometimes they are diagnosed with more

26:47aggressive subtypes of breast cancer. Uh

26:50but also it is late stage at diagnosis

26:53unfortunately and a lot of our young

26:56black Hispanic women are diagnosed at an

27:00age that is below the age that starts uh

27:04screening mimography. We see a lot of

27:06women in their 30s, some in their late

27:0920s that are diagnosed and albeit for

27:13them doing their own clinical breast

27:15exams or exams themselves and going in

27:18to get checked out, it would not be

27:20discovered. And so our effort uh at

27:24university is ensuring that uh we are

27:28that we have a robust uh high-risk

27:31evaluation

27:33um and high-risisk program because it is

27:37almost rare for a lot of us to not have

27:41some associated risk that was previously

27:43mentioned. But um upon really being um

27:48interrogative and dialing down

27:51um into someone's history, you can find

27:53that they actually do fit criteria for

27:56being screened earlier than the age of

27:5940. And I think that our high-risisk

28:01program is able to identify those women

28:04and get them in earlier for mandated uh

28:08screening as well as advanced screening

28:10such as MRI which will catch cancers

28:13earlier um even in that 30 age range. Of

28:18course treatment is important but um we

28:21also focus on survivorship. Uh we can

28:24have patients go through their treatment

28:27but completing treatment is not all is

28:29not the final goal. Our goal is of

28:32course to uh really allow patients to

28:36thrive and become long-term survivors.

28:39So how are we doing that? Um on the back

28:43end of treatment, uh certainly research

28:47into um the effects and benefits of

28:52exercise,

28:53uh a good diet, um maintaining um all of

28:57those healthy health factors that are

29:00important not only for breast cancer,

29:02but for other um medical conditions is

29:06going to be critically important for

29:08preventing breast cancer recurrence,

29:10which is ultimately what we want to do

29:13after treatment. Um, also making um it

29:17available for patients to receive the

29:20long-term treatment that they may need

29:22such as hormone therapy for five or 10

29:25years and not making that a financial

29:27burden for them to continue to receive

29:30the treatment that can reduce their risk

29:32recurrence by about 50%.

29:36So, what can the city council help us to

29:38do um in alignment with um our new

29:42mayor's medical goals um is to look into

29:47how our neighborhoods can establish

29:49survivorship hubs, wellness hubs,

29:52because this is going to be important

29:54for our survivors in those communities

29:57to have places that they can go to that

30:01are safe uh where they can get ed not

30:03only educational information but receive

30:07uh multiple types of exercise and

30:10therapy that is free of cost uh to them.

30:14Also, we know that food deserts are uh

30:17very prominent and this is extremely

30:20important when it comes to nutrition and

30:22maintaining um and access to good food

30:26and nutrition for patients. Um and then

30:31um we do see a lot of patients who are

30:34employees and municipal employees who

30:37may not have the time to be able to take

30:39off for their follow-up appointments and

30:42our screening uh imaging appointments.

30:45making those um appointments uh

30:49dedicated leave hours for our workers to

30:52be able to access and maintain their

30:56survivorship

30:57um appointments is also important. So, I

31:01thank you all for always acknowledging

31:04uh this uh health um I would say crisis

31:09um here and for always uplifting and

31:13bringing us together as a community.

31:15I'll turn it over to

31:17Melissa.

31:18>> Good morning. Thank you for having me

31:20here. I am Melissa Bean Tan. I'm a nurse

31:23practitioner at University Medical

31:24Center where I run the high-risisk

31:26breast program under the supervision of

31:28Dr. McKenna. We see patients who are at

31:31risk for breast cancer, whether it's

31:33through personal history, family

31:34history, genetic mutations, or other

31:36risk factors. Our goal is to try to

31:39catch these patients early to make sure

31:41they're properly educated and make sure

31:42they're getting the proper screening and

31:44surveillance um per protocol and

31:47guidelines. Since I've been working at

31:49UMC and Hires Breast Clinic, I've seen

31:51what it's like for patients who have

31:53access to care and those who don't have

31:55access to care. Our patients have a lot

31:58of barriers whether they're able to make

32:00their appointment because they don't

32:01have transportation, not able to afford

32:04child care or just don't have access to

32:06pay their co-ay to come to the

32:08appointment. There have been times where

32:11I've seen patients or prior seeing a

32:13patient I pre-chart and I go look at the

32:14chart and saw like oh this patient

32:16haven't had a mammogram or this patient

32:18haven't made it to the appointment in

32:19like three visits. So, I had to tell her

32:21my questions and say like, "Hey, why

32:23didn't you have this appointment done or

32:25why didn't you have your mamogram and

32:26ask what prevented you from getting that

32:29done?" So, that's why um the high-risisk

32:33clinic like we have at UMC is very

32:34important. It's able to help catch these

32:37things early, make sure uh patients are

32:39properly educated, they're screened, and

32:41they have access to care. So, thank you

32:43for having me.

32:46>> Thank you very much. uh really

32:47appreciate um our our panelists for

32:50sharing your expertise uh and most

32:52importantly for the work that you do

32:54each and every day uh for our residents

32:56from prevention and education to

32:58treatment and most certainly uh patient

33:00care. Um uh today we're pleased to um

33:04present to each of you as a token of our

33:06gratitude uh a proclamation from the

33:08members of the city council. Uh we'll

33:10take a group photo uh at the end. Why

33:13don't you'all hold those till the end if

33:14you don't mind, Willie? Um, and after uh

33:17we honor all of our survivors, we'll

33:19we'll take a group photo if you uh all

33:22will please stick around. But thank you

33:23all so much for being here.

33:25>> And go Ron Eagles.

33:26>> Oh my god.

33:29>> At this time, we've uh reached the

33:31climactic moment uh of today's program.

33:34And with that, Council President

33:35Morurell is recognized.

33:37>> Thank you. Uh I'm here today to

33:39recognize Florence Collier Smith. Um,

33:43today we honor her as a courageous

33:45breast cancer survivor whose strength,

33:47faith, and perseverance continue to

33:49inspire everyone around her. Florence is

33:51a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and

33:53cherished member of her community. She

33:55shares her her life with her loving

33:58husband, Michael Smith, whose unwavering

34:00support has been an important source of

34:02strength throughout her cancer journey.

34:04Together, Florence and Michael have

34:05built a beautiful family, including

34:07their three children, Michael, Jeremy,

34:09and Michelle, and their three beloved

34:11grandchildren with twin grandchildren

34:12expected to arrive next month.

34:16In August 2017, Florence was diagnosed

34:18with breast cancer and faced the

34:19challenge with remarkable courage and

34:21determination. Following her diagnosis,

34:23she underwent adultctomy

34:26in September 2017 and completed nine

34:28rounds of chemotherapy and nine rounds

34:30of radiation treatment. Although

34:32complications from her treatment left

34:33her unable to return to work, Florence

34:34has continued to focus on what matters

34:36most, her family, her faith, and living

34:38each day with gratitude. Prior to her

34:40diagnosis, Florence worked proudly at

34:42Walmart, and she has always been known

34:44for her dedication, kindness, and hard

34:45work. She enjoys spending time with her

34:47family, shopping, traveling, and making

34:49special memories with loved ones. Her

34:51positive outlook and resilient spirit

34:52continue to uplift those around her.

34:54Florence's journey reminds us of the

34:56importance of breast cancer awareness,

34:58early detection, support systems, and

35:00the hope of those currently facing

35:02similar battles. Today, we celebrate not

35:04only Florence's survivorship, but also

35:06the love and support of her family,

35:07especially her husband, Michael, who has

35:09stood by her side every step of the way.

35:12On behalf of those gathered, we extend

35:13our heartfelt congratulations to

35:15Florence Kier Smith, and thank her for

35:17sharing a story that inspires courage,

35:19strength, and perseverance in others.

35:21Please join me in congratulating

35:22honoring Florence Collier Smith for a

35:25remarkable journey as a breast cancer

35:26survivor.

35:34Uh next, Council Member Willerless.

35:37Sorry, Council Member Willard.

35:38>> God, I knew

35:39>> she was in the audience.

35:40>> I knew it would happen today. [laughter]

35:43Uh good morning everyone. Um thank you

35:46Miss Lena for organizing this year after

35:49your 13 years. Uh certainly remarkable

35:51and uh breast cancer is um vicious and

35:55and certainly um one form of cancer that

35:59affects everyone's life. Uh everybody

36:01has a personal connection to breast

36:04cancer. For me today um really was a

36:08no-brainer as to who I wanted to honor

36:12and literally give flowers to. Um, my

36:16aunt, the Honorable Cynthia Willard

36:19Lewis,

36:21um,

36:22mentor of mine has taught me so much in

36:25life. I was thinking this morning,

36:28if I had not

36:31decided to run for public office,

36:35the bond that we share today probably

36:38wouldn't be there on.

36:40and you've just taught me so much about

36:45getting up, fighting, standing up for

36:48the people,

36:50using your story to help uplift others,

36:54being a true servant of God,

36:58almost 10 years of service in the

37:00Louisiana State Legislature, another 10

37:04years of service on the New Orleans City

37:06Council,

37:08and you continue to serve day, you

37:11continue to help other people. Even when

37:14I try to tell you, take it easy and

37:16rest.

37:19It's just not in your personality.

37:25Seeing what you have done with your

37:26life,

37:28coming back from a stroke,

37:32battling breast cancer,

37:36and using that story to help other

37:37people and using that story to continue

37:40fighting.

37:43You just give me something to strive for

37:45every day.

37:48You know, I have another aunt who passed

37:51away from breast cancer and I have some

37:54close friends. A lot of us are friends

37:56with Representative Amy Freeman who

37:59recently went through breast breast

38:01cancer and is now in remission. I mean,

38:03it literally touches us in so many

38:06different ways. And what we heard from

38:08our doctors this morning,

38:11self-examination,

38:13regular testing, exercise, diet, if it's

38:17caught early, 95%

38:20of patients do a full recovery, have a

38:24full recovery. That's remarkable. And

38:26that's the message that we need to be

38:28getting out to everybody in our

38:30community. To all of our survivors

38:32today, thank you for sharing your story.

38:36Thank you for fighting. Thank you for

38:40being here with us today. And to aunts,

38:43my aunt, thank you for everything that

38:46you've done for me. Um, thank you for

38:49using

38:50your darkest moments to help guide my

38:54path and shine a light into my life. I

38:59love you.

39:06Councilman Baris.

39:09>> Oh, I I don't know how to follow that.

39:12Um uh you're an inspiration to everyone

39:16and and every woman sitting up here and

39:19thank you for blazing the trail. Um, I

39:21do want to say to uh, Council Member

39:23Hughes and Miss Lena, thank you for

39:25always ensuring that we recognize our

39:28survivors and thank you to our

39:30healthcare workers who take such good

39:32care of the people um, who are afflicted

39:36with this disease and it can be men and

39:38women. Um, and so we just need to keep

39:40that in mind. As one of two women up

39:43here, I know that we don't always take

39:45time to care for ourselves to go get

39:48those mammogs. And I think that October

39:50in this particular meeting is a reminder

39:53that we have to take the time to do that

39:55self-care, to do our self-examinations,

39:58to schedule that appointment. And every

40:00single time I'm like, "Oh, I I got to

40:02schedule my appointment. Let me get on

40:03my Ashner app." Um, so I just want to um

40:07thank you again for for making sure that

40:09we are reminded that we have to care for

40:12each other and ourselves. Um, today I

40:15have the honor of honoring a survivor,

40:20Thin U.

40:22Then's life has been defined by courage.

40:26In Burma, then helped build a legal aid

40:29network of nearly 200 organizations that

40:32gave ordinary people access to justice.

40:35When the military seized power in 2021,

40:39Thinn and her two children spent months

40:41in hiding from the military before

40:44finding safety here in the city of New

40:46Orleans and the city of New Orleans

40:48became her home. Then came another fight

40:51when she was diagnosed with breast

40:53cancer and once again chose to face it

40:56head on. What moves me most is that Thin

40:59has done that

41:02what Thin has done with that experience.

41:03Surviving is an achievement in and of

41:05itself. Turning around to help the next

41:07person through that door is leadership.

41:10Again, this is a reminder for all of us

41:12to schedule your mammogram. Remind

41:14someone that you love to schedule

41:16theirs. Early detection saves lives, and

41:19no one should skip a screening because

41:20of cost, fear, or lack of time. Then,

41:24thank you for your example and your

41:26honesty and your courage. District B is

41:29proud of you, and I'm honored to

41:30recognize you today. Please join me in

41:33celebrating then u

41:42um well thank you all for being here

41:44today and thank you Miss Lena for

41:45organizing this and um as council member

41:48Harris said this day uh reminds us and

41:51reminds me that I am past due on my

41:53mammogram and will be making an

41:55appointment um after this meeting. So I

41:59also want to thank the medical

42:00professionals that are here um and the

42:02advancements in the science that that is

42:05about breast cancer. Um we have come so

42:08far and that shows what we uh what can

42:11be done when we invest and believe in

42:13science as a community and as a society

42:16that we can advance. So appreciate

42:19everyone being here today um from the

42:21medical community as well. It is my

42:23honor to introduce today Elaine Kimell,

42:27a District A resident and fellow Country

42:29Day mom um and a breast cancer survivor

42:32whose story is one of strength,

42:34resilience, and gratitude. Elaine was

42:36diagnosed with breast cancer in in

42:38January 2020 at just 41 years old. While

42:42both her mother and sister having

42:43experienced breast cancer, she

42:45understood that it could be potentially

42:47become part of her story. But she never

42:49expected that diagnosis while she was so

42:51young. healthy and raising two young

42:54boys that were only three and seven at

42:56the time. Her journey through treatment

42:58was incredibly demanding. She endured

43:01six rounds of chemotherapy, 26 rounds of

43:04radiation, 12 maintenance infusions, two

43:06surgeries, quarterly echoes, countless

43:09blood draws, and dozens of medical

43:11appointments. and she faced much of that

43:13treatment during the beginning of CO 19

43:16when restrictions meant she often had to

43:18attend infusions and appointments

43:19without the support of her family or

43:21friends.

43:23Despite these challenges, Elaine

43:24continued to move forward for herself,

43:26for her family, and especially for her

43:29two young sons. Today, Elaine is

43:32thriving. She is a mother, a wife, a

43:34friend, and successful attorney. And she

43:36continues to live a life filled with

43:38family, meaningful relationships, and

43:40gratitude. She credits her medical team,

43:43family, friends, and community for

43:45helping her through one of the most

43:46difficult seasons of her life. And she

43:48has a special appreciation for her

43:50husband, Brian, who says who she says

43:53helped her keeping her family moving

43:55through it all. Elaine's story reminds

43:58us that breast cancer does not

43:59discriminate based on age or how healthy

44:01someone may feel and that early

44:03detection, medical care, support, and

44:06advocacy can make an incredible

44:08difference. We are grateful that Elaine

44:10is here today to share her story with

44:12us. And we are not simply as a survivor,

44:14but as a reminder of strength that can

44:16come from facing an unimaginable an

44:18unimaginable

44:20unimaginable challenge. So join me in in

44:24applauding Elaine for going through this

44:26and we appreciate you.

44:29[applause]

44:36Uh, Deputy Mayor Laparaldry.

44:45>> Good morning. Thank you.

44:48On behalf of Mayor Moreno,

44:51we would like to recognize Reverend

44:53Linda Muriel Cooper Baker over here on

44:55the end. Um,

44:58Reverend Baker is a preacher, teacher,

45:01musician, singer, motivational speaker,

45:04and breast cancer survivor whose life

45:06reflects a steadfast commitment to

45:08faith, education, music, and service.

45:13Throughout more than 30 years of educ in

45:15education, Reverend Baker built

45:17acclaimed coral programs across

45:19Louisiana and Kansas, broke barriers as

45:21the first African-American teacher hired

45:23at the Park Middle School in

45:25McFersonson, Kansas, and earned

45:27recognition as teacher of the year and

45:29coral conductor of the year for

45:31excellence in music education. Reverend

45:34Bakers has has dedicated her life to

45:38ministry and service, earning a bachelor

45:40of theology with a 4.0 0 GPA, becoming

45:44an or ordained elder in the CME church,

45:47serving as pastor of Braggs Chapel, CME,

45:50and serving as music coordinator for the

45:52fourth Episcopal district.

45:54In February 2024, Reverend Baker was

45:56diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer

45:59following a routine mammogram,

46:01courageously completing surgery,

46:04chemotherapy, and radiation treatment in

46:06August of 2024, and now celebrating 2

46:09years cancer-free while sharing her

46:12experience to encourage women to

46:14prioritize regular screenings and early

46:16detection.

46:18Heaven made New Orleans her home. In

46:20October 2025, Reverend Baker continues

46:23to inspire others through her message of

46:26of faith, hope, resilience, and the

46:28life-saving importance of early

46:30detection, making for a meaningful

46:33honore during the city of New Orleans

46:35breast cancer awareness event. I want to

46:38acknowledge that um her husband, Mr.

46:40Bobby's here, her daughter, Dr. Kiki

46:44Baker Barn, son-in-law, Mark, are here.

46:47of Kiki's friend. U Reverend Baker is

46:50also the mother of Bobby Jr. Shara. She

46:54has six grandkids, one great grandchild,

46:58and as you can see a um in her time in

47:02the uh I think early 70s at Gralin State

47:06University. She was a Miss Covergirl and

47:09she is a a member of Delta Sigma Theta

47:13Sorority Incorporated. Thank you.

47:23Good morning. I am honored to on this

47:26occasion have the opportunity to

47:28recognize Miss Patriiana Hart. Before I

47:31recognize her um for and tell you of her

47:34courage her courageous um battle and her

47:39successes, I do want to say to Lena

47:41Stewart especially um thank you for

47:44making sure that we continue to remember

47:46how important it is to be tested, how

47:48important it is to be straightforward

47:51and to share our stories with others.

47:53And this event I look forward to because

47:55it really helps to save lives. So, thank

47:58you very much, Lena Stewart, for the

48:00work that you do each year and also

48:02ongoing to make this happen. Miss

48:05Patriiana Hart, a very courageous story.

48:09Miss Patriiana Hart was first diagnosed

48:11with breast cancer in February of this

48:13year after years of mammograms, but she

48:17was found to have breast cancer and it's

48:19in stage one.

48:22She rang the bell on September the 14th

48:24signifying the end of her chemo

48:26treatments at the Gail Benson Cancer

48:28Center. And I'm going to ask you to give

48:31Miss Hart a round of applause for

48:32ringing the bell on that day.

48:38Miss Hart is with us today, but it is

48:41today that she starts 30-day radiation

48:44treatment to kill any cancer in the

48:46lymph nodes. It's going to be a

48:48treatment that's going to be Monday

48:49through Friday, 30 minutes per day. And

48:52Miss Hart, thank you for sharing your

48:54story with us today because at 11:00

48:56today, you begin that treatment. You

48:58wanted to be here amongst us to share

49:00your story. And I [snorts] want to tell

49:02you how honored I am to be in your

49:03presence as you share your story and as

49:06you show continued courage. Thank you,

49:09Miss Yes.

49:15Miss Hart is an active member of the

49:17Great Mount Kingdom Missionary Baptist

49:19Church on Louisa Street in um the Great

49:23District D. Um she is also the fifth of

49:26seven children. She has one brother and

49:28five sisters. Her two sons are Daryl and

49:31Raphael Hart and her five grandchildren

49:34are Dash Nelson, Treasure Hart, Raphael,

49:39and twins Aubrey and Daryl Jr. who is 23

49:43months. They are both 23 months. Today

49:46again, you start radiation at 11:00

49:48a.m., but you took the time to be here

49:50today. We want to let you know that

49:52amongst the health professionals here

49:54and amongst those who are survivors, we

49:56are pleased to have you here today and

49:58to celebrate your courageous fight and

50:01we know that you will have continued

50:03great health. Um, and thank you very

50:05much for being willing to share your

50:07story with us today. It's so important

50:09for us and I am pleased to present a

50:11proclamation to you which we will share

50:13when I come downstairs. Um and just as

50:15you continue to progress just keep in

50:18mind that as I said this sort of

50:20activity and your sort of courage helps

50:22to save lives. Thank you for saving

50:25lives.

50:27[applause]

50:41Good morning.

50:43Good morning. Morning.

50:45>> It's a great day. I'm Julius Felters and

50:47I have been asked to read this

50:49proclamation that I have not looked

50:51over.

50:56It is a proclamation the council of the

50:58city of New Orleans. It says whereas

51:01Patricia D. Williams, a compassionate

51:04resident of District C, originally from

51:07Columbus, Georgia,

51:09is beloved daughter of the late Mr. and

51:12Mrs. George Dandy. And whereas she

51:15earned her degree of completion from

51:19Columbus Business School in 1967

51:23and dedicated 43 years of her life to

51:27exemplary government service, including

51:30her impactful work with the New Orleans

51:33Office of Small Business Administration.

51:36And whereas in 1972,

51:40Patricia demonstrated immense courage

51:42and resilience

51:44when she was diagnosed with breast

51:46cancer undergoing a radical miscomery

51:52and 6 months of weak cobuk treatment to

51:56prevent its spread. And whereas

51:59throughout this challenging journey, her

52:02fate deepened as she prayed to live long

52:06enough to see her son reached adulthood.

52:09A beautiful prayer that was fulfilled.

52:13And whereas she remains deeply rooted in

52:15her faith and community as a devoted

52:18member of the Life Center Cathedral

52:20Church under leadership of Bishop J. D.

52:22Wally and on the fresh breath of life

52:26organization led by Jean Miller Hurst.

52:30And whereas Patricia credits her

52:32enduring faith along with her unwavering

52:35love and support of her husband Walter,

52:38their three children, four

52:40grandchildren, and her extended family

52:43and friends for empowering her to endure

52:46and overcome this major life challenge.

52:50And now therefore be it proclaimed by

52:52the city of New Orleans that the council

52:55hereby honors and celebrate Patricia D.

52:58Williams recognizing her triumphant

53:01journey of survival, unyielding faith

53:05and the purposeful inspiring life she

53:08continues to live. Is at the request of

53:11council member Freddy King III in the

53:13name of and by the authority vested in

53:16the council of the city of New Orleans.

53:18and it is signed on this day by each of

53:20the seven members of the New Orleans

53:22City Council. Congratulations.

53:29[applause]

53:33Let me um first of all congratulate uh

53:37each of you um and and just thank you uh

53:40for uh sharing your courageous battles.

53:44Uh we we celebrate each of you. Uh this

53:47morning I am uh deeply honored uh to uh

53:51pay tribute uh to celebrate uh an

53:55extraordinary longtime resident of

53:57district E uh whose family has deep

54:01roots in this district uh Jan Heiser

54:04Wyn. Uh Janisa Win dedicated three

54:07decades uh of her life uh serving the

54:11citizens of the city of New Orleans in

54:13the United States of America uh as a

54:16dedicated staff member at the United

54:19States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. Uh

54:23you were excited about your impending

54:26retirement. Um and then all of a sudden

54:29you got a diagnosis of breast cancer.

54:33It's a diagnosis that could have broken

54:35you. It's a diagnosis that could have

54:37taken you out. Um, but as Jesus

54:41commanded and said in the book of John

54:43to his disciples, I have told you these

54:45things so that you may find peace in me.

54:48In this world, you will have trouble,

54:51but remember, hearken. I have overcome

54:54the world. And so, you stood on God's

54:57promises. You stood on your faith. You

55:00embraced your faith. You embraced your

55:02village and you confronted breast cancer

55:06head on. You continued to serve the

55:09people of the United States of America

55:12through chemo and radiation. You

55:15continue to serve. Today, I'm honored to

55:18say, not only did you beat breast

55:20cancer, today you're in full remission,

55:23but you made it to retirement. And now

55:26each and every day, you get to enjoy

55:28life. You get to travel this world. you

55:31get to do all the things that you love

55:34and God answered your prayers because

55:36you stood on his promises. Uh I just

55:39want to say I I had a front row seat at

55:42your journey.

55:43>> Uh you are uh just one of the kindest

55:47people I know. I'm not only proud to

55:49call you my aunt, but I'm proud to call

55:51you my friend. Uh today uh you are

55:55honored to be joined by your better

55:58half, your other half who sometimes

56:02drives you nuts, but has [clears throat]

56:04been by your side for over three

56:05decades. uh Kevin Wyn. Um also your

56:10greatest accomplishments, your three

56:12heartbeats, uh your children, Detective

56:15Nicholas Davis, who serves this, uh

56:19amazing city as a member of the NOPD, as

56:22well as Ashley Wins, who is a dedicated

56:26NICU nurse at Ashner Baptist, and Sydney

56:30Win, your youngest daughter, who is also

56:31a dedicated NICU nurse at Ashner

56:34Baptist. your sister-in-law, Joanne Win

56:37Hughes is also here and, uh, your cousin

56:40in love, uh, Elder Dana Brown and

56:44Claude. Uh, ladies and gentlemen, it is

56:46my honor to, uh, celebrate a courageous,

56:50extraordinary, phenomenal, spectacular

56:52woman, Jan Heiser Win.

56:56[applause]

57:02So to each and every survivor here

57:04today, from the bottom of our hearts, we

57:07thank you for your strength, your

57:08advocacy, your commitment to supporting

57:11others. To those still in treatment, and

57:14to those families standing beside them,

57:16you are not alone. Thank you to our

57:18honores, panelists, volunteers, the

57:21mayor's office, and my council

57:22colleagues for being part of this

57:24recognition.

57:25Let's carry this work beyond October.

57:28going to challenge each and every one of

57:30you to find one person, women and men,

57:33by encouraging them to go to the doctor,

57:36get screened, help people become

57:38connected to care and show up for one

57:41another. And as we close, I know a lot

57:44of people have uh acknowledged Miss Lena

57:46Craig Stewart uh who has served in this

57:49building for 40 years. I think at this

57:52point she's worked in every council

57:53office. [laughter] Um, but we do have a

57:56token of our appreciation. And today,

57:58Miss Lena, we also uh honor you with

58:01this making a difference award uh for

58:04your relentless uh leadership. So, thank

58:06you. [applause]

58:14[applause]

58:23>> [applause]

58:26>> And with that, um, the last thing I will

58:28say, um, Council Member Cynthia Willlet

58:30Lewis, you served in this chamber and,

58:33uh, we we are so grateful, uh, to

58:35celebrate you today as well.

58:37>> Uh, so with that, we are all going to

58:39come down. Uh, we ask our honores to

58:41please stay there. We're going to

58:42present each of you with a proclamation

58:45and some tokens and we're going to take

58:47a group photo.

58:48>> Praise the Lord.

1:16:29We have approval of the minutes for the

1:16:31meeting of September 3rd, 2026,

1:16:33September 17, 2020 2026, and September

1:16:3822nd, 2026 special.

1:16:44I just need to move in a second.

1:16:53All in favor

1:16:57>> 61

1:16:59>> 6 yay no names. We have consent agenda.

1:17:03We have a communication from Aaron

1:17:05Spears. This may be received. We have a

1:17:08communication from Jason Whan 30 3220

1:17:12Charter Street and 500 Piet Street. This

1:17:14may be received hearing date 115206.

1:17:18We have a communication of Ella de

1:17:20Dresto. This may be received. We have a

1:17:23communication from Elizabeth Baruso.

1:17:25This may be received. We have a

1:17:27communication from Elizabeth Baruso.

1:17:29This may be received. We have a report

1:17:31of Robert D. Rivers hearing date

1:17:3410:1526.

1:17:35This may be received. We have a report

1:17:37of Anita Kurrin 2606 through 2608 First

1:17:42Street. This may be received. We have a

1:17:44report of Eleanor Burke, 1426 Zofing

1:17:47Street. This may be received. We have a

1:17:50report of Eleanor Burke, 1830 Fern

1:17:52Street. This may be received. We have a

1:17:54reporter Elanor Burke, 3636 St. Charles

1:17:57Avenue. This may be received. We have a

1:18:00report of Robert D. Rivers. This may be

1:18:02received. We have a report of Robert D.

1:18:04Rivers hearing date 10:1526.

1:18:06This may be received. We have a report

1:18:09of Jet 1507 Explanate Avenue. may be

1:18:13received. We have ordinance calendar

1:18:1535,561

1:18:17by council member McCarron, zoning

1:18:19docket 7226.

1:18:21We have motion M264414

1:18:24by council member Green by request joint

1:18:27utilities governmental affairs budget

1:18:29committee recommended approval. We have

1:18:31motion M26

1:18:34416 by council members McCarron Willard

1:18:36and Green by request climate change and

1:18:38sustainability committee recommended

1:18:40approval. We have motion M26417

1:18:43by council members will morel Willard

1:18:46McCarron Harris King Green and Hughes

1:18:48joint utility governmental affairs and

1:18:51budget committee recommended approval.

1:18:53We have resolution R26418

1:18:56by council members Morell, McCarron,

1:18:58Harris, King, Green, and Hughes.

1:19:00Utilities, cable, telecommunication,

1:19:03technology, governmental affairs, budget

1:19:05audit, border review committee

1:19:06recommended approval. We have resolution

1:19:09R26419

1:19:11by council members Morel McCarron

1:19:13Harris, King Green, and Hughes,

1:19:16utility, cable, telecommunication,

1:19:18governmental affairs, budget audit, and

1:19:20border review committees. Recommended

1:19:22approval. We are resolution R26420

1:19:25by council members Morell McCarron

1:19:27Harris King Green and Hughes utility

1:19:30cable telecommunication governmental

1:19:32affairs budget audit board and review

1:19:34committees recommended approval. We have

1:19:36resolution R26421

1:19:39is being withdrawn from consent and

1:19:41added to regular agenda. We have motion

1:19:44M26431

1:19:46by council members King Morurell and

1:19:48Harris by request. Criminal Justice

1:19:50Committee recommended approval. We are

1:19:52motion M26434

1:19:54by Council Member King by request.

1:19:56Criminal Justice Committee recommended

1:19:58approval. We are motion M26435

1:20:01by Council Member King by request.

1:20:03Governmental affairs committee

1:20:04recommended approval. This is all

1:20:06matters on consent.

1:20:14I will I don't have any cards. So with

1:20:17that I will move consent agenda second

1:20:20by vice president Willard. Any

1:20:22objections

1:20:23hearing? None. We have six shs no nays.

1:20:27On the consent agenda

1:20:29>> we have substitute resolution R26421

1:20:34for council me council members McCarron

1:20:37Morel Willard Harris and Green. A

1:20:40resolution in order directing the

1:20:41establishment of the parameters and

1:20:43implementation of the enhancement of the

1:20:45distributed energy resources under the

1:20:48energy smart battery energy storage

1:20:50system phase 3 program doc UD 2402.

1:20:59Thank you madam clerk. So uh I need to

1:21:03vote on it. Okay, I will move

1:21:06>> Wait, hold on. I'll second.

1:21:11>> Um, okay.

1:21:18>> Okay. Seconded by Council Member

1:21:20Morurell.

1:21:24Vote your machines when it pops up.

1:21:27>> Come up.

1:21:35>> Okay. Six yays, no nays. It's not coming

1:21:37up on my screen.

1:21:46>> It's frozen.

1:21:47>> Six shs, no nays.

1:21:49>> Next item.

1:21:51>> Regular agenda.

1:22:02>> One second. Council

1:22:20Regular agenda item one, we have

1:22:22legislative grouping

1:22:24RTA application 20250123

1:22:27has been deferred to the meeting of

1:22:2911/1926

1:22:31along with resolutions lined over R 269

1:22:34and R 2610.

1:22:37Item two, legislative grouping RTA

1:22:39application 2022 0126 has been deferred

1:22:43to the mean of 11/19 along with

1:22:45resolutions line over R or 2611 and R

1:22:492612.

1:22:51At the top of page 12, we have item

1:22:53three, legislative grouping, demolition

1:22:56application of Jesse Lee Hill Expo

1:22:58forfeit forfeited Homes LLC contractor

1:23:02transmitting application 26 Fortified,

1:23:06I'm sorry, 2623653

1:23:08demo for a demolition permit requiring

1:23:11city council review and approval for the

1:23:13following property located at 266

1:23:17through 2608 street, council district B.

1:23:20We are motion M26427

1:23:22by council member Harris approving the

1:23:24applicant's request for property located

1:23:26at 2606 through 81st Street. Thank you

1:23:29madam clerk. This is a safety and

1:23:31permits demo application for a

1:23:33residential building. HLC review is not

1:23:36required. The applicant requests to

1:23:37demolish the existing building to

1:23:39rebuild the residence. We approved this

1:23:41application last year. However, the

1:23:43property owner had to change contractors

1:23:45which delayed the approved demolition.

1:23:47Uh thus this is the current application

1:23:49requesting demolition. Once again I've

1:23:52moved

1:23:55seconded by council member Morurell

1:24:06six. Thank you.

1:24:11At the top of page 13, we have item

1:24:14five, legislative grouping, HDLC appeal

1:24:18of Nicole Weber has been deferred to the

1:24:21meeting of October 15th along with

1:24:24motion in

1:24:25>> Excuse me. We're just getting word from

1:24:28here that we need to have Councilman

1:24:30Hughes have been voted on the last item.

1:24:33You didn't vote on the last item. You

1:24:36either have to vote or you have to give

1:24:37an explanation. So, do you wish to vote

1:24:40last time?

1:24:40>> We have him. We have him more.

1:24:42>> We haven't marked his voting. Got it.

1:24:43Gotcha.

1:24:44>> Yeah. His machine just wasn't working.

1:24:46>> Okay. Yeah, we have him.

1:24:50>> This has been deferred to the meeting of

1:24:51October 15th along with motion M26 428.

1:24:58You ready?

1:25:01Oh,

1:25:02at the top of page 14, we have item six,

1:25:05legislative group. Oh, hold on one

1:25:07second.

1:25:11All right. At the top of page 15, sorry,

1:25:14we have item seven, HDL appeal of Eager

1:25:17Fernand Miranda has been withdrawn at

1:25:19the request of the applicant. We have

1:25:22item eight, legislative group and zoning

1:25:24docket 5926.

1:25:26Christina Tate requesting a conditional

1:25:29use to permit a commercial short-term

1:25:31rental in an Humu zoning district on

1:25:34square 425 lots 15 and 16 in the sixth

1:25:38municipal district bounded by Taladono

1:25:40Street corander le Street Louisiana

1:25:42Avenue and St. Charles Avenue, municipal

1:25:45address, 1622 Taladana

1:25:48Street. The recommendation of the CPC

1:25:50being for effective deny for lack of

1:25:52majority. We are motion M26429

1:25:55by Council Member Harris approving and

1:25:57modifying the applicant's request for

1:25:58zoning docket 5926.

1:26:01>> Thank you, Stephen. Can you brief us on

1:26:02CPC's report?

1:26:03>> Yes, thank you, Council Member. This is

1:26:05a proposal to use a uh recently

1:26:08constructed

1:26:09uh triplex as short-term rentals uh on

1:26:13Toadano Street just off of St. Charles.

1:26:16Uh it's in a mixeduse district that

1:26:18normally allows commercial short-term

1:26:20rentals, but the citywide overlay

1:26:22district uh reclassifies them as

1:26:24conditional uses. Um the planning

1:26:27commission was split on this. I think,

1:26:30you know, on one hand, several

1:26:32commissioners thought it made sense

1:26:34given the mixeduse zoning, mixeduse

1:26:36context of the building next to offices,

1:26:38McDonald's, and other commercial

1:26:40businesses. Um, others, you know, I

1:26:43would say many commissioners have been a

1:26:46little bit hesitant to uh support new

1:26:49short-term rentals given the potential

1:26:52uh change in regulations that may happen

1:26:54over the next several months. And so,

1:26:56there was reluctance there as well. Uh

1:26:59so essentially the vote resulted in a

1:27:014-4 split and it's before you with no

1:27:03recommendation by the planning

1:27:04commission.

1:27:05>> Thank you, Stephen. Uh this motion

1:27:06modifies approval for a conditional use

1:27:08application to permit a single

1:27:11short-term rental in a threeunit

1:27:13building. Please note that these three

1:27:15units have five bedrooms each. So if we

1:27:18actually approved all of these

1:27:20commercial short-term rentals,

1:27:21potentially there could be 30 people at

1:27:23this structure. Uh, as I said, this

1:27:26property is a three-unit building with

1:27:27five bedrooms in each unit. Previously,

1:27:30there was a building on this site that

1:27:32operated as a commercial short-term

1:27:33rental, but that building was demolished

1:27:35and this one was erected in its place.

1:27:38While commercial short-term rental is

1:27:40currently a permitted use in HUMU

1:27:42historic urban mixeduse district, the

1:27:45transit launching study recommendations

1:27:47would prevent that use of any such of of

1:27:51that use in these units. Moreover, this

1:27:54application was submitted during the

1:27:56transient lodging interim zoning

1:27:57district and was required to undergo the

1:28:00conditional use process. The proposal

1:28:02received both public support and

1:28:04opposition and considering the mixed

1:28:06community positions, the current zoning

1:28:08permission, the transient lodging study

1:28:10and the IZD. I modify I move to modify

1:28:14approval of the request to permit one

1:28:16unit as a CSTR and require the other two

1:28:18units be residential dwellings with

1:28:21provisis from the CPC staff approval uh

1:28:23recommendation.

1:28:25Any questions and no cards? I'll move

1:28:30seconded by council member Hughes.

1:28:36Five years.

1:28:39Six years.

1:28:41>> Five years. Who are we missing?

1:28:43>> Uh, and JP was one day. Five years. One

1:28:46day. Thank you.

1:28:51At the top of page 16, we have item

1:28:53nine, legislative group and zoning

1:28:55docket 7326, Francine Port Claire's

1:28:59requesting a plan development to permit

1:29:01the adaptive reuse of Moni into multif

1:29:04family dwellings in HURD2 district in

1:29:08the CPC character preservation corridor

1:29:10design overlay district on square 27

1:29:13line one in the sixth municipal district

1:29:15bounded by Magazine Street, Henry Clear

1:29:17Avenue, Constant Street and Khoon Street

1:29:19720 municipal address

1:29:2272020 Henry Clay Avenue. the

1:29:25recommendation of the CPC being for

1:29:27approval subject of three exemptions and

1:29:30one provisal where a motion lying over

1:29:32M26 366 by council member McCarron is

1:29:36being withdrawn and there's a substitute

1:29:39motion granting of granting and

1:29:41improving the applicant's request for

1:29:43zoning docket 7326 subject to one

1:29:46provisal and three exceptions

1:29:48recommended by the city planning

1:29:50commission and one exception to the

1:29:52requirements of article 18 for the

1:29:54comprehensive zoning ordinance.

1:29:57>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, members, we

1:29:59have previously uh voted on this. This

1:30:01is a plan development that allows for

1:30:03adaptive reuse of a former St. Clair

1:30:05Monastery to high-end condos. This

1:30:08proposal incorporates two new

1:30:09residential buildings into the existing

1:30:11site and allows demolition of of

1:30:13non-historic accessory unit structures.

1:30:16This is a beautiful and thoughtful

1:30:18redevelopment. Uh two weeks ago, this

1:30:20council approved a text amendment

1:30:21permitting new construction as part of

1:30:23the adaptive reuse of exist existing

1:30:26structures and any new construction must

1:30:28match the design identity of existing

1:30:31site. This text amendment makes the poor

1:30:33clear project not only technically

1:30:35doable but economically feasible. The

1:30:38developer has worked closely with

1:30:39neighbors to ensure his project has

1:30:40community support which it does um due

1:30:43to some crossed wires here. We are

1:30:45substituting the motion you see on the

1:30:47agenda to add a variance of the doubles

1:30:49to dorms overlay to allow an increase in

1:30:52the number of bathrooms. Um I'm thrilled

1:30:54that this property will breathe new life

1:30:56into Uptown while honoring its past use

1:30:58and all the nuns who took great care of

1:31:00their former home. Um is there any

1:31:03questions from the I have one card here

1:31:06in support from Ron Loiselle

1:31:10>> 1000 South Norma Francis. Uh I do want

1:31:14to thank uh city planning commission,

1:31:16safety and permits um uh HLC, everyone

1:31:19has been involved in this project. Uh

1:31:22the council office, Claire, everyone um

1:31:26this has been there has been an enormous

1:31:28amount of outreach to the neighbors of

1:31:30of which time you can see it was very

1:31:33successful in the outreach. So thank

1:31:35you. This is going to be a great

1:31:36addition to the city of New Orleans.

1:31:39Okay, without any other comments, uh I'm

1:31:42move to approve substitute motion M26366

1:31:46subject to one proviso, two exceptions

1:31:49recommended by CPC and one additional

1:31:51waiver added by city council. I will

1:31:54move

1:31:56seconded by council member Harris

1:32:02six yays, no nays. Thank you.

1:32:08At the top of page 17, we have item 10,

1:32:11zoning docket 7526

1:32:13along with motion lineova M2604 has been

1:32:16deferred to the meeting of October 15th.

1:32:19At the top of page 18, we have

1:32:21legislative grouping ordinance calendar

1:32:2334, 385 has been deferred to the meeting

1:32:27of 10:15 along with motions lying over

1:32:30M23426

1:32:32and M23427.

1:32:35We have at the top of page 19, ordinance

1:32:37calendar 35,117

1:32:40has been deferred to the meeting of

1:32:4110:15. We have legislative item 13,

1:32:45legislative grouping, ordinance calendar

1:32:4735,530

1:32:49by council member Harris. An ordinance

1:32:51to amend and reordain section 26648

1:32:54of the code of of the code to reduce the

1:32:56fee in lie of

1:32:59providing required affordable housing

1:33:01units and to direct these fees to the

1:33:04New Orleans housing trust fund and

1:33:06otherwise to provide respects there too.

1:33:08We have an amendment to ordinance

1:33:09calendar 35,530 by council member Harris

1:33:13amending the ordinance calendar number

1:33:1535,530

1:33:16to increase the fee and l rate from

1:33:205,000 per required affordable housing

1:33:22units to 10,000 per required affordable

1:33:25housing units. At the top of pa on page

1:33:2930, we have item 41,

1:33:33motion M26432

1:33:35by council member Harris, directing the

1:33:37city planning commission to conduct a

1:33:39public hearing to consider amendments to

1:33:41the comprehensive zoning ordinance based

1:33:44on recommendations from the HRA

1:33:47Advisors, Inc. and Studio Cairo report

1:33:50November 11, 2025.

1:33:52>> All right. First, we need to take up the

1:33:54amendment to uh number 13. I'll move.

1:33:56Can I get a second?

1:34:02Seconded by Council Member Willard.

1:34:12>> All in favor?

1:34:14>> I.

1:34:14>> All right. Six shades on the amendment.

1:34:16And now we can discuss this. Um, and I

1:34:19know Liz Hullman is here from uh Office

1:34:21of Community Development if there are

1:34:23any questions about what we're doing.

1:34:24So, um, this ordinance along with, uh,

1:34:27number 41, motion 26432, pertains to the

1:34:31mandatory inclusionary zoning, a method

1:34:34to spark the creation of affordable

1:34:36housing. Back in 2021, the city

1:34:38implemented the MIS policy with the

1:34:41intent to create more affordable housing

1:34:42units in the city, especially as part of

1:34:45the new market rate developments. We

1:34:47based the new policy on a 2019 study

1:34:49from HRNA consultants who looked

1:34:52extensively at the market conditions in

1:34:54the city. That study and the resulting

1:34:57MIS policy requires that certain market

1:34:59rate developments include a dedicated

1:35:02number of affordable units outfitted

1:35:04comparably to market rate ones. HRNA

1:35:07conducted an updated study which was

1:35:09released in November 2025, finding that

1:35:11the city experienced significant changes

1:35:13in our real estate market which has been

1:35:16greatly impacted by COVID tariffs,

1:35:18supply chain issues, and rising

1:35:20insurance costs all impacting

1:35:21development costs for affordable and

1:35:23for-profit developers alike. They

1:35:25concluded that almost all development in

1:35:27the city is infeasible without without

1:35:29subsidy much less with additional

1:35:31affordability restrictions like those

1:35:33imposed by our current MIS program. This

1:35:37was backed up by other data, developer

1:35:39input, project analysis, and housing

1:35:41community interviews. While there have

1:35:43been hundreds of affordable housing

1:35:45units created by leveraging this program

1:35:47with LITC and other affordable housing

1:35:49financing options,

1:35:52there have been no affordable units

1:35:54created under the 2021 MIS policy.

1:35:59This ordinance and motion before you

1:36:01today make sure our laws are aligned

1:36:03with the current realities in our city.

1:36:05We are preserving the structure of the

1:36:06MIS program so that higher fees in lie

1:36:09and more robust requirements can be

1:36:11reinstated when the city real estate

1:36:13market is stronger and more able to bear

1:36:15them with what's before you. Number 13,

1:36:18we are reducing the fee in L developers

1:36:21must pay when they cannot produce each

1:36:22affordable unit as requirement in line

1:36:25with HRA's

1:36:26analysis and recommendation. the fee is

1:36:29being reduced from $35,000

1:36:32to $10,000 with the amendment today.

1:36:35This is directly in response to the

1:36:36city's weak market conditions. And the

1:36:39corresponding motion number 41 directs

1:36:42CPC to update the CZO to align with

1:36:44HRNA's recommendations as well. That

1:36:46includes changes to the require required

1:36:49affordable set aside, raising the AMI

1:36:52level, and increasing development zoning

1:36:54incentives. This motion merely pre

1:36:56begins the CPC process to hold a public

1:36:59hearing to consider the recommendations

1:37:01to the council before transmitting them.

1:37:03Of course, the council will then have

1:37:05the opportunity for public input without

1:37:07taking further action. Again, community

1:37:09engagement on this issue is invaluable

1:37:12as we work to craft an MIS program that

1:37:14actually works. I do have public

1:37:16comment. Um,

1:37:19Jordan Rogers followed by Ron Lazel.

1:37:41Good morning, council members. I'm

1:37:43speaking on behalf of Andrea Morris.

1:37:45Dear council members, I urge you to

1:37:47delay the action of calendar number

1:37:4935,530

1:37:51until the city planning commission can

1:37:53fully vet its consequences and develop

1:37:55enforcable guard rails for the public

1:37:57incentives involved. As drafted, the

1:37:59ordinance would reduce the fee paid in

1:38:01lie of each required affordable housing

1:38:03unit from $34,810

1:38:07to just $10,000. It ignores the bulk of

1:38:10the November 2025 recommendations.

1:38:12Instead, this ordinance gives high-end

1:38:14developers a cheap way to bypass

1:38:17affordable housing requirements while

1:38:19remaining eligible for scarce public

1:38:21subsidiary subsidiaries

1:38:24and incentives. Worsening market

1:38:26conditions may make development

1:38:28difficult with public support, but that

1:38:31makes accountability more important, not

1:38:34less.

1:38:35Those resources should be reserved for

1:38:38projects that meet New Orleans most

1:38:40urgent need, housing its people. Our

1:38:42market is already a wash in overpriced

1:38:44and empty homes. We should subsidize

1:38:47more housing that residents cannot

1:38:50afford or allow developers to satisfy a

1:38:53meaningful housing obligation with a

1:38:55token payment into the housing trust

1:38:57fund. Before any fee reduction is

1:38:59adopted, it should be made in concert

1:39:01with the other recommended changes to

1:39:04the MIS policy. It is concerning that

1:39:06the only action that the council is

1:39:09proposing to take at this moment is a

1:39:11reduction in the fees that developers

1:39:13will be required to pay when it is not

1:39:15exploring any of the other

1:39:17recommendations. Please defer calendar

1:39:20number 35,530

1:39:22and return it to the CPC for a complete

1:39:24public review. Public resources must

1:39:27produce measurable public benefit. Thank

1:39:30you for consideration. If you have any

1:39:32questions, please contact Andrea Morris

1:39:34at amorrisousingola.org

1:39:37or 5042248301. [snorts]

1:39:40Thank you.

1:39:41>> Thank you, Jordan. Ron Lazel,

1:39:46South Norman in St. Francis. Um, thank

1:39:48you again for this this motion. I fully

1:39:51fully support the increase from 5,000 to

1:39:5410,000. We need to figure out ways to

1:39:56leverage projects to support affordable

1:40:00housing. And I think when that transient

1:40:02lodging study comes before you, we have

1:40:04to look at what can be done uh through

1:40:07permitting of transient lodging uses to

1:40:11help support the affordable housing uh

1:40:13fund. So I fully support the increase

1:40:16from 5 to 10.

1:40:17>> Thank you, Ron. Um let's madam clerk,

1:40:20we'll do 13 first as amended. So I've

1:40:23moved

1:40:27>> seconded by council member Green

1:40:36>> sixes and then we'll take up number 41.

1:40:40I'll move

1:40:43second by council member McCarron. I'm

1:40:45ignoring these machines.

1:40:47All in favor I.

1:40:49>> Seven yes. Thank you.

1:40:53King is here.

1:41:02>> All right, council moves. We need to go

1:41:04back to page 14.

1:41:07Wait, is that the first? No, sorry.

1:41:11Page 12.

1:41:14We have item four, legislative grouping,

1:41:16HDL appeal of Zachary Han, requesting to

1:41:20appeal a historic district landmarks

1:41:22decision of denial of the retention of

1:41:24the front porch gate for property

1:41:26located at 142628

1:41:29Delphine Street. We are motion M26424

1:41:33by Council Member King modifying to

1:41:35approve the applicant's request for

1:41:37property located at 142628

1:41:39Delphine Street.

1:41:41All right, HDLC, floor is yours. Uh,

1:41:45>> this is a request for the retention of

1:41:47removal of ridge tiles and decorative

1:41:49ridge cap vents for the installation of

1:41:51a continuous ridge vent and installation

1:41:53of inappropriate metal porch gate at a

1:41:56contributing rated one-story residential

1:41:58building without a certificate of

1:42:00appropriateness. At their commission

1:42:02meeting, the commission approved the

1:42:04request for retention of the

1:42:05inappropriate roof shingle color as this

1:42:07is expected to weather into a darker and

1:42:09more uniform appearance. Commission

1:42:11voted to deny the request for retention

1:42:13of the metal porch gate because it is

1:42:15visually obtrusive security element that

1:42:18detracts from the character of the

1:42:19building's primary facade and does not

1:42:22meet the building code. The commission

1:42:24also voted to deny the request to retain

1:42:26the removal of the ridge tiles and the

1:42:28decorative ridge caps because they are

1:42:30an important functional historic roof

1:42:32elements that the HDLC design guidelines

1:42:35require to be maintained. Alternative

1:42:37roof ventilation options are available

1:42:39and the elements were highly visible

1:42:41from the public rightway. Additionally,

1:42:43the roof ridge tiles may not be

1:42:45reinstalled over the continuous

1:42:47ridgement which was previously installed

1:42:49without approval because the resulting

1:42:51deep reveal and shadow line would not

1:42:54accurately replicate the historic

1:42:55condition. Ultimately, this work was

1:42:58done without permits, without a

1:42:59certificate of appropriateness, and do

1:43:01not meet the guidelines. As such, the

1:43:03staff respectfully requests that the

1:43:05city council uphold the HDLC denial and

1:43:08require that the property owner work

1:43:09with the roofing contractor who did this

1:43:12work without proper permits to reinstall

1:43:14the decorative roof fence and ridge

1:43:16tiles at no expense to the property

1:43:18owner and remove the inappropriate gate

1:43:20as it does not meet building code.

1:43:23>> Thank you.

1:43:24This is one of the many cases we've seen

1:43:27where a homeowner puts their trust in in

1:43:29a professional hired to do the job. But

1:43:32this was not a vanity project or a bad

1:43:34faith act by the owner, Mr. Smith.

1:43:36Rather, it was a proactive investment

1:43:39into his home to fortify the roof and

1:43:41preserve the historic building for the

1:43:43next generation.

1:43:45Mr. Smith had made it clear that he

1:43:48would have preferred to retain the ridge

1:43:49tiles and he intends to restore them.

1:43:52This motion grants him the flexibility

1:43:54to do so once his finances have

1:43:56recovered from the recent and

1:43:57significant expenses of having to

1:43:59replace the roof. As for the porch gate,

1:44:02he has a young child.

1:44:04I don't want to do anything that may

1:44:06interfere with his ability to secure the

1:44:09area and prevent his three-year-old son

1:44:11from running into the street. If the

1:44:13HDLC contends that this is a building

1:44:16violation and safety and permits

1:44:18building division is welcome to

1:44:20investigate accordingly, but such a

1:44:22consideration does not fall under the

1:44:23purview of this council. With this, I

1:44:25move adoption.

1:44:31Second by council member Green.

1:44:37We have seven yays, no naysay.

1:44:41At the top of page 14, we have item six,

1:44:44legislative grouping HD L appeal of

1:44:47Monnique Barer,

1:44:50requesting to appeal a historic district

1:44:52landmarks decision of den for for

1:44:54retention of the windows as they were

1:44:57currently installed on the new bill for

1:44:59the property located at 1507 Esplanade

1:45:02Avenue. We have motion M26425

1:45:05by council member King granting the

1:45:07applicant's request with modified

1:45:09approval for property located at 1505

1:45:121507 Esplanade Avenue.

1:45:15>> Okay. Thank you, madam clerk. SDLC.

1:45:18>> The applicant is requesting the

1:45:19retention of installation of

1:45:21inappropriate windows and hery trim

1:45:23installed on a new construction on

1:45:25Esplanade Avenue in deviation of the

1:45:28approved plans and the certificate of

1:45:30appropriateness. At their meeting, the

1:45:32commission voted to approve the

1:45:34application for the retention of the

1:45:36windows, provided that windows numbers 1

1:45:39through 7 indicated on the photograph be

1:45:42recessed and full screens are added.

1:45:45They allowed the retention of windows 8

1:45:48through 10. The commission voted to deny

1:45:50the retention of the installation of

1:45:52Hardy trim. staff respects respectfully

1:45:55requests that the city council uphold

1:45:57the decision of the HDLC and everyone is

1:46:00required to follow the drawings that are

1:46:02approved by HDLC and safety and permits.

1:46:07>> Thank you for that presentation, Miss

1:46:08Burke. I recognize the recessed window

1:46:11detail was specified in the plans, but I

1:46:14believe the contractor made an honest

1:46:16mistake. I do not wish to punish the

1:46:19prospective homeowner who is investing

1:46:21hundreds of thousands of dollars to

1:46:23build her home in an area that is in

1:46:25need of a full-time resident by delaying

1:46:28the project further and causing her to

1:46:30incur additional costs that she did not

1:46:33budget for. With this, I move adoption.

1:46:37Second by council member McCarron.

1:46:46>> Seven yays. No names. Thank you.

1:46:51>> At the top of page 20, we have item 14,

1:46:54ordinance calendar 35,544

1:46:57by council member Harris by request. An

1:47:00ordinance to authorize the mayor of the

1:47:01city of New Orleans to enter into an

1:47:03agreement to grant a servitude to an

1:47:05adjacent property owner for

1:47:06encroachments on oval portions of public

1:47:09rightway located at the municipal

1:47:10address 1122 Artha Castle Her Boulevard

1:47:15to fix the minimum price in terms of

1:47:17state servitude agreement to declare

1:47:18that such use is granted and the

1:47:20servitude agreement will incorporate

1:47:22space that is neither needed for public

1:47:23purpose nor shall such use interfere

1:47:26with the use of public right away to set

1:47:28for reasons for say servitude. to

1:47:30agreement and otherwise supervisor

1:47:31respects there too.

1:47:32>> Thank you. This is a servitude that will

1:47:34generate $289 subject to a 15% increase

1:47:38every 5 years. I've moved. Council

1:47:40member McCarron has seconded

1:47:46six shades. Thank you.

1:47:53We have item 15, ordinance calendar

1:47:5635,545

1:47:58by council member Harris by request an

1:48:00ordinance to authorize a may city of New

1:48:02Orleans to enter into an agreement to

1:48:04grant a servitude to an adjacent

1:48:06property owner for encroachments on over

1:48:08portions of public rightway located at

1:48:10the municipal address 1060 Magazine

1:48:13Street to fix the minimum price and

1:48:15terms of said servitude agreement to

1:48:17declare that such use is granted in the

1:48:19servitude agreement will incorporate

1:48:21space neither needed for public purpose

1:48:24nor shall such use interfere with the

1:48:26use of public right away to set for

1:48:28reasons for say servitude agreement and

1:48:30otherwise supervisor respects there too

1:48:32thank you madam clerk this servitude

1:48:34will create an annual revenue payment of

1:48:36$953 subject to 15% increase every 5

1:48:40years I move council member McCarron has

1:48:43seconded all in favor

1:48:48>> six years thank you

1:48:49>> all right You're over $1,000 now. It's

1:48:52looking good.

1:48:53Item 16, we have ordinance calendar

1:48:5535,546

1:48:57by council member McCarron by request an

1:49:00ordinance to authorize the mayor of city

1:49:01of New Orleans to enter into an

1:49:03agreement to grant a servitude to an

1:49:05adjacent property owner for

1:49:06encroachments on the over portions of

1:49:08public right away located at the

1:49:10municipal address 1536 Webster Street to

1:49:13fix the minimum price and terms of say

1:49:15servitude agreement to declare that such

1:49:17use is granted in the servitude

1:49:18agreement will incorporate space that is

1:49:20neither needed for public purpose nor

1:49:22shall such use interfere with the use of

1:49:24public right away to set for reasons for

1:49:26said servitude agreement and otherwise

1:49:28to provide respects there too.

1:49:31>> Thank you madam clerk. This is um $130

1:49:35annual. Um I have moved

1:49:40second by council member green.

1:49:49Six yays no nays. Seven yays no nays.

1:49:51Thank you.

1:49:53>> At the top of page 21, we have item 17,

1:49:56ordinance calendar 35,548

1:49:59by council member Harris by request. An

1:50:02ordinance to amend ordinance 30,531

1:50:05MCS as amended entitled an ordinance

1:50:07providing an operating budget of

1:50:09expenditures for the city of New Orleans

1:50:10for the year 2026 to transfer funds from

1:50:14personal service to other operating with

1:50:16the health department to provide funding

1:50:19for the New Orleans EMS voluntary

1:50:21intergovernmental transfer to the

1:50:24Louisiana Department of Health under the

1:50:26enhanced Medicaid reimbursement program

1:50:28and otherwise to provide respects there

1:50:30too. Thank you, Madam Clerk. This $1.2

1:50:33million is an investment in the Medicaid

1:50:36enhanced payment program, not a

1:50:38traditional payment that generates LUP

1:50:39sub revenues as in the past. The funds

1:50:42support the LDH financing mechanism that

1:50:44allows participating ambulance providers

1:50:47to receive substantially higher Medicaid

1:50:49reimbursements. The enhanced

1:50:51reimbursements materially increases what

1:50:53EMS receives for Medicaid transports.

1:50:56The financial leverage is significant. A

1:50:591.2 2 million IGT payment supports

1:51:01participation in a program estimated to

1:51:04generate approxim approximately $7.9

1:51:06million in enhanced Medicaid payments

1:51:09annually for New Orleans EMS. So,

1:51:11Council Member Green, you can add that

1:51:13to my uh $1,000.

1:51:15>> You're on a roll today.

1:51:16>> Oh, New Orleans EMS is a major

1:51:18beneficiary of the program. Because of

1:51:20our Medicaid transport volume, we

1:51:21receive among the highest enhanced

1:51:23payments in the state, making continued

1:51:26participation particularly important to

1:51:28our re revenue cycle. And chief is here

1:51:30if you have any questions for him.

1:51:34>> Hearing none. Thank you for coming down.

1:51:35>> Thank you very much.

1:51:36>> I'll move.

1:51:36>> All right.

1:51:39>> Seconded by Council Member McCarron.

1:51:46>> I need one more vote. 70. Thank you.

1:51:49We have item 18, ordinance calendar

1:51:5235,549

1:51:54by council member Harris by request an

1:51:56ordinance to amend ordinance 30,531 MCS

1:51:59as amended entitled an ordinance

1:52:01providing an operating budget of

1:52:03expenditures for the city of New Orleans

1:52:04for the year 2026 to transfer of the

1:52:07operating funds from the clerk of

1:52:09criminal district court to the clerk of

1:52:11court for Orleans Parish in accordance

1:52:14with recent state legislation

1:52:16consolidating the two offices. and

1:52:19otherwise supervisor respects their two

1:52:21fiscal note was received. Thank you.

1:52:22This ordinance transfers 2026 funds that

1:52:25were appropriated to the clerk of

1:52:27criminal district court to a fund titled

1:52:29for the clerk of court for Orleans

1:52:31Parish in accordance in accordance with

1:52:34their consolidation. Are there any

1:52:35questions about this one?

1:52:38>> Yeah, council member Morell and there

1:52:39are people from the administration here

1:52:41to discuss.

1:52:42>> I just want to make sure this this

1:52:43transfers the 2026 budget. Correct.

1:52:45>> Correct. 2026 money money into 2026

1:52:48money.

1:52:49>> All right. Thank you.

1:52:50>> Yep. I'll move.

1:52:54>> Seconded by council member Green.

1:53:00>> I need uh six six. Thank you.

1:53:04>> Seven

1:53:07days. Seven.

1:53:11Oh.

1:53:16At the bottom of the page, item 19, we

1:53:18have ordinance calendar 35,550

1:53:21by council member Harris by request. An

1:53:23ordinance to authorize the mayor the

1:53:25city of New Orleans to enter into

1:53:26amendment number two to a previously

1:53:29executed cooperative endeavor agreement

1:53:31between the city of New Orleans and New

1:53:33Orleans Humane Law and Rescue LLC

1:53:36relative to provide animal control

1:53:38services desired to modify the

1:53:40provisions of the CA as fully set forth

1:53:42in amendment number two form as exhibit

1:53:45A and may part hereof and otherwise

1:53:48supervise respects there too. Thank you.

1:53:50This is an amendment to the existing CA

1:53:53reflecting a change in services that

1:53:55accompanies the reduction in the 2026

1:53:57budget. It removes language on disaster

1:54:00responsibilities that is being separated

1:54:02into its own contract. Any questions?

1:54:06If not, I'll move

1:54:10seconded by council member Green.

1:54:18Six sh. Thank you.

1:54:23At the top of page 22, we have item 20,

1:54:25ordinance calendar 35,556

1:54:28by council member Harris by request. An

1:54:31ordinance to amend and reordain

1:54:32ordinance number 30,532

1:54:35MCS entitle an ordinance providing a

1:54:37capital budget for the year 2026 to

1:54:40affect the following change to the 2026

1:54:42capital budget to the appropriate funds

1:54:44to the department of property

1:54:46management, the department of public

1:54:47works, the New Orleans Recreation

1:54:49Development Commission, and the Office

1:54:51of Sustainability to appropriate funds

1:54:54to the Department of Humane Serum

1:54:56Services, the Department of Park and

1:54:58Parkways, the Department of Property

1:54:59Management, the Department of Public

1:55:01Works and the New Orleans Fire

1:55:03Department and the New Orleans

1:55:04Recreation Development Commission and

1:55:06otherwise to provide respect. There are

1:55:08two fiscal notes received.

1:55:10>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Kyle, are you

1:55:11here to discuss this item?

1:55:18>> Good morning, council. Uh so this is

1:55:20just our quarterly uh budget ordinance

1:55:22uh to update appropriations for the

1:55:24capital fund. Um so we've reconciled

1:55:27some FEMA projects. Um so anything that

1:55:29was ineligible we are allocating to a

1:55:32permanent draw on the revolver. Um we

1:55:34are reallocating bond funds for some

1:55:37projects that came in under budget and

1:55:39moving those to projects that uh had

1:55:42budget gaps. Um in addition uh we

1:55:46appropriating uh state appropriations

1:55:49that just were awarded at the last

1:55:51legislative session. Um, and then we are

1:55:54reallocating 2026A minor streets between

1:55:58the different council districts and 2

1:56:00million of that will be going to sew

1:56:02water board for drainage point repairs.

1:56:05>> Great. Any questions about this? I've

1:56:07moved.

1:56:09Council member McCarron has seconded

1:56:16>> 78. Thank you. Thank you. We have or

1:56:19item 21, ordinance calendar 35,557

1:56:22by council member Harris by request an

1:56:25ordinance to amend ordinance 30,530 MCS

1:56:28as amended and title an ordinance

1:56:30providing operating budget of revenues

1:56:32for the city of New Orleans for the year

1:56:342026 to appropriate funds returned by

1:56:37the habitat for humanities to the

1:56:39department of code enforcement for

1:56:41operating expenses and to pay out

1:56:43outstanding settlements and otherwise to

1:56:45provide respect. There are two fiscal

1:56:47note was received.

1:56:48>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. As you remember,

1:56:50we received a return of money that we

1:56:53allocated for Habitat for Humanity in

1:56:552025. That amount was a million. We then

1:56:59reallocated 750,000 of that to the right

1:57:02to council program, leaving $250,000

1:57:06in balance. Um, this is a by request

1:57:08that would put that money towards the

1:57:11Department of Code Enforcement and other

1:57:13items. And I know that we have

1:57:14representatives here from uh the

1:57:16administration if there are any

1:57:17questions about that.

1:57:21>> Hearing none.

1:57:22>> No, I have a question.

1:57:23>> Okay. Council member G.

1:57:24>> I just wanted to um thank the department

1:57:26of code enforcement for some recent work

1:57:28that you've been doing in the district

1:57:30that has made a tremendous difference. I

1:57:32want to let you know that the that the

1:57:34citizens um see your work and I

1:57:36appreciate it. I know right now there

1:57:37are some challenges relative to moving

1:57:39forward on some demolitions, but work

1:57:41that you've been able to do to clear

1:57:43some sidewalks and to do other things

1:57:45have made a difference in communities

1:57:47that unfortunately have been ignored in

1:57:49the past. So, thank you for that work. I

1:57:51also want to just emphasize again

1:57:54because it can't be said enough my

1:57:56disappointment that Habitat for Humanity

1:57:58did not reach out to those who were

1:58:00residents of those units that they sold

1:58:03to give them an opportunity to buy in

1:58:05the spirit of what not only Habitat for

1:58:08Humanity stands for but also for what

1:58:10affordable housing means in our city.

1:58:13Thank you.

1:58:14>> Thank you. Any other comments by the

1:58:16council?

1:58:17>> All right. I've moved. Thank you.

1:58:20Council

1:58:22member Willard has seconded

1:58:2978. Thank you.

1:58:32At the bottom of the page, we have item

1:58:3422, ordinance calendar 35,558

1:58:37by council member Harris by request. An

1:58:40ordinance to amend ordinance 30,531

1:58:42MCS as amended entitle an ordinance

1:58:45providing operating budget of

1:58:46expenditures for the city of New Orleans

1:58:48for the year 2026

1:58:50to appropriate funds returned by the

1:58:52Habitat for Humanity to the Department

1:58:54of Code Enforcement for operating

1:58:56expenses and to pay outstanding

1:58:58settlements and otherwise to provide

1:59:00respect. There are two fiscal notas

1:59:02received.

1:59:02>> Thank you. This is just merely the

1:59:04expenditure ordinance for item 21. I've

1:59:06moved

1:59:08seconded by council member green

1:59:16one more vote

1:59:197. Thank you. At the top of page 23 we

1:59:22have item 23 ordinance calendar 35,566

1:59:26has been deferred to the meeting of

1:59:2810:15.

1:59:30At the bottom of the page, item 24,

1:59:32ordinance calendar 35,567

1:59:35by council member McCarron by request,

1:59:37an ordinance authorizing the mayor the

1:59:39city of New Orleans 2022 a cooperative

1:59:42endeavor agreement among the city of New

1:59:44Orleans, the New Orleans Recreation

1:59:45Development Commission and St. Patrick

1:59:48Booster Club, Inc. for a term greater

1:59:50than one year for the public purpose of

1:59:52supporting, promoting, stimulating

1:59:54public interest in and raising and

1:59:56distributing funds to benefit the

1:59:58construction,

1:59:59creation, preservation, and maintenance

2:00:01of public parks and playgrounds,

2:00:03recreational facilities, and recreation

2:00:05and other leisure programs and

2:00:07activities in the city of New Orleans as

2:00:09more fully detailed in the cooperative

2:00:11endeavor agreement that exist A and

2:00:13otherwise to provide respects there too.

2:00:16>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, this is a by

2:00:18request ordinance. Uh, this ordinance

2:00:19will allow the continuing relationship

2:00:21between the city and the New Orleans

2:00:22Recreation Development Commission and

2:00:25St. Patrick Booster Club. This agreement

2:00:27will allow St. Patrick Booster Club to

2:00:29utilize the St. Patrick Playground in

2:00:32exchange for year-round comprehensive

2:00:33maintenance of the property and

2:00:34renovations as well as participation in

2:00:37Nord Athletic Leagues where applicable

2:00:40for a term of 5 years. There are no

2:00:42public comments. Any from my colleagues?

2:00:46I will move to approve ordinance

2:00:47calendar number 35,567

2:00:50seconded by um

2:00:53one council member Harris

2:00:587 no thank you at the top of page 24 we

2:01:03have item 25 ordinance calendar 35568

2:01:07by council member King

2:01:10an ordinance to provide for a

2:01:11designation of public property within a

2:01:13specified area of the city of New

2:01:15Orleans as a temporary special event

2:01:17clean zone during the time period

2:01:19beginning at 6:00 a.m. Monday, April

2:01:215th, 2027 and ending at 6:00 p.m.

2:01:24Monday, April 12th, 2027. Relative to

2:01:28the use of these public areas in

2:01:29conjunction with the 2027 French Quarter

2:01:32Festival and during the time period

2:01:34beginning 6:00 a.m. Monday, July 26,

2:01:372027, and ending at 6:00 p.m. Monday,

2:01:40August 2nd, 2027. relative to the use of

2:01:43these areas in conjunction with the 2027

2:01:47Sachimo Summer's Fest and relative

2:01:50activities and events produced by the

2:01:52French Quarter Festival incorporated to

2:01:54provide the temporary prohibition of

2:01:56certain commercial activities in a

2:01:58special event clean zone unless

2:02:00approved, sanctioned or authorized by

2:02:02the city as for set forth in sponsors

2:02:05defined

2:02:06special event permit if and as

2:02:08applicable to the to provide for the

2:02:11established lishment of one of the more

2:02:13public participation areas to provide

2:02:15for the establishment of fines and

2:02:17penalties for violations of this

2:02:19ordinance to establish the special event

2:02:21clean zone within the area boundary by

2:02:24the area generally bounding

2:02:26by the east bank of the Mississippi

2:02:28River Orange Street, Chapatula Street,

2:02:30Calio Street, Rampart Street and

2:02:32Espanade Avenue including Goldenberg

2:02:36Golden Ring Waldenberg Riverfront Park

2:02:39including Governor Nichols Warf Park,

2:02:41Spanish Plaza, Lewis Armstrong Port,

2:02:43Crescent Park, the Louisiana State

2:02:45Museum, New Orleans Jazz Museum in the

2:02:48airspace above the specified boundaries

2:02:50and otherwise to provide respects there

2:02:52too.

2:02:53>> Could you repeat that?

2:02:58>> Negative.

2:03:00>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Are there any

2:03:03comments, questions, or concerns from

2:03:04the de or the public concerning this

2:03:06clean zone for the French Quarter Fest?

2:03:08Uh, hearing none, I make a motion to

2:03:09adopt.

2:03:16Second by council member Hughes.

2:03:19Please vote your machines.

2:03:24>> 7 years. No names. Thank you.

2:03:27At the top of page 25, we have item 26,

2:03:31legislative grouping 35,569

2:03:34by council member Morell, an ordinance

2:03:36to amend and reordain section 2-905 of

2:03:39the code of the city of New Orleans

2:03:41regarding city use of fossil fuel power

2:03:44vehicles to remove the phase in language

2:03:46to require that exemptions be considered

2:03:49by a council committee in accordance

2:03:51with council rules and otherwise to

2:03:53provide respects there too. where

2:03:55there's an amendment to ordinance

2:03:56calendar 35,569

2:03:58by council members Willlet and Morell.

2:04:00An amendment to allow the city to

2:04:02purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire

2:04:05nonplugin electric hybrid passenger

2:04:07vehicles.

2:04:08>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The amendment is

2:04:10pretty self-explanatory. We're just

2:04:11expanding the options to achieve our

2:04:14goals as far as having vehicles that are

2:04:17more um more options in regards to uh

2:04:21having electric um alternative vehicles.

2:04:24Uh I will move on the amendment.

2:04:27I get a second. Second by council member

2:04:30Willard. Please vote on the amendment.

2:04:38All right. I think I'm missing one

2:04:40person.

2:04:41I'm sorry, not missing. Six yays, no

2:04:43nays on the amendment on the ordinance

2:04:46as amended. Simply put, this simply

2:04:48streamlines our regulations and rules

2:04:50for a pro for purchasing uh electric and

2:04:54hybrid vehicles. Additionally, it

2:04:56clarifies some language with how a

2:04:57waiver is obtained. I will move on the

2:05:01ordinance as amended, seconded by

2:05:03council vice president Willard. Please

2:05:05vote your machines.

2:05:10is six yays, no nazs, approved as

2:05:13amended. Thank you.

2:05:16>> At the top of page 26, we have item 27,

2:05:19ordinance calendar 35,570

2:05:22by council member King by request. An

2:05:24ordinance to amending and reordaining

2:05:26ordinance 30,532

2:05:28MCS entitle an ordinance providing a

2:05:30capital budget for the year 2026 to

2:05:33affect the following change to the 2026

2:05:36capital budget to deappropriate funds to

2:05:38the chief administrative office to

2:05:40appropriate funds to the chief

2:05:42administrative office and otherwise to

2:05:44provide respects there too.

2:05:47>> Thank you madam clerk. This budget and

2:05:49audience moves bond funding from the

2:05:52real time crime center project to the

2:05:54new lab project at the NSA and announces

2:05:57the city's plan to replace the real time

2:06:00crime camera funding with CDBD

2:06:03dollars. New lab was originally to be

2:06:06originally to be funded with CDBG funds,

2:06:10but the project moved forward

2:06:14more quickly than the funding

2:06:16requirements allowed to fulfill the

2:06:18city's commitment to new lab. Bond funds

2:06:20would be used to replace use in place of

2:06:22the CDBG funds. Those funds that have

2:06:26been had been committed to the new lab

2:06:29to new lab will be reprogrammed to

2:06:32realtime crime center to ensure that

2:06:35project is fully funded. With this I

2:06:38move adoption.

2:06:42Second by council member Willard.

2:06:51>> Seven yays. No nays.

2:06:54Item 28, we have ordinance calendar

2:06:5635,571

2:06:58by council member Hughes. An ordinance

2:07:00to authorize the matter city of New

2:07:02Orleans to enter into amendment number

2:07:04one to an existing cooperative endeavor

2:07:06agreement between the city of New

2:07:07Orleans and the St. Kofa Community

2:07:09Development Corporation K21703

2:07:13to accomplish the value public purpose

2:07:15of improving drainage system and

2:07:17increasing water runoff storage capacity

2:07:20in the Lord Nine Ward by storing storm

2:07:22water overflow and reducing land

2:07:25subsidance through a green

2:07:26infrastructure project.

2:07:29>> Thank you madam clerk. Uh this is a

2:07:31simple but important amendment to an

2:07:33existing CA between the city of New

2:07:35Orleans and Sofa Community Development

2:07:38Corporation uh for the public purpose of

2:07:41improving drainage systems and

2:07:42increasing water runoff storage capacity

2:07:44in the lower 9th ward uh by storing

2:07:47storm water overflow and reducing land

2:07:50subsidance through a green

2:07:51infrastructure project all as a more

2:07:54fully set forth in this amendment. Uh we

2:07:57have one public comment receipt of fart.

2:08:09Thank you so much for this opportunity

2:08:11to speak to you all. I want to thank

2:08:12Councilman Jason Hughes for his support

2:08:15of this project and the community in our

2:08:17district and all the council members who

2:08:20I've spoken with about this project and

2:08:22your ongoing um commitment to land and

2:08:26nature-based spaces and green

2:08:28infrastructure systems um and wetland

2:08:30habitats in our city. Um, if you have

2:08:33any questions, I'm happy to respond and

2:08:35answer. Um, and otherwise, I'm happy to

2:08:38give back my time um to the council for

2:08:40your other businesses. Uh, thank you

2:08:42very much. Uh, the board is clear. I see

2:08:44no questions. With that, I move

2:08:45adoption. Uh, second by council member

2:08:48McCarron. Please vote your machines.

2:08:50Vote your machines. Vote your machines.

2:08:54Six, no names. Thank you.

2:09:01At the bottom of the page, item 29, we

2:09:03have ordinance calendar 35,575

2:09:07by council member McCarron by request an

2:09:10ordinance to authorize the mayor the

2:09:12city of New Orleans to enter to

2:09:13amendment number one to a previously

2:09:15executed cooperative endeavor agreement

2:09:17between the city of New Orleans and

2:09:19Lantern Light, Inc. relative to

2:09:22providing mental health services and

2:09:24support desire to modify the provisions

2:09:26of the CA and extend the terms thereof

2:09:29for an additional 5 years as Mo fully

2:09:31set forth in amendment number one as

2:09:33exhibit A may part hereof and otherwise

2:09:36to provide respects there too.

2:09:38>> Thank you Madame Clerk. Uh members, this

2:09:40is an amendment and extension of a

2:09:42previously executed CA with Lantern

2:09:44Light, a local homeless service

2:09:45provider. Lantern Light will receive uh

2:09:48mental health support from the city's

2:09:50healthc care for the homeless or HCH

2:09:52clinic through referrals for individual

2:09:54and group therapy sessions. Lantern

2:09:56Light will refer clients to HCH

2:09:58behavioral health services for

2:10:00individual and group sessions and will

2:10:02also refer clients in need of primary

2:10:04care and dental services. This extends

2:10:07the term of the CA for an additional 5

2:10:09years and there are no fiscal

2:10:10implications for the city. Um, if there

2:10:13are no public comments, any comments

2:10:15from the Okay, I will move second by

2:10:18Council Member Harris.

2:10:24Seven Yay, no names.

2:10:26>> Thank you. At the top of page 27, we

2:10:29have item 30, ordinance calendar 35,5787

2:10:33by council member King. An ordinance

2:10:35authorizing the matter city of New

2:10:37Orleans to enter into cooperative

2:10:38endeavor agreement between the city of

2:10:40New Orleans and Thrive New Orleans with

2:10:42a term greater than one year for the

2:10:44public purpose of creating education

2:10:47courses and programming into

2:10:48horicultural to achieve economic growth

2:10:51and green infrastructure and otherwise

2:10:53to provide respects there too.

2:10:56Thank you, Madam Clerk. Want to add that

2:10:58this has no the city has no funding

2:11:01obligation under this agreement. With

2:11:03that, I make a motion to adopt.

2:11:09Second by council member Green.

2:11:16Seven, nos. Thank you. We have item 31,

2:11:20ordinance calendar 35,578

2:11:22by council member Harris by request an

2:11:25ordinance authorizing the matter city of

2:11:27New Orleans to enter into amendment

2:11:28number two to an existing cooperative

2:11:30endeavor agreement between the city of

2:11:32New Orleans and the National World War

2:11:34II Museum, Inc. to extend the term by

2:11:36two years for the public purpose of

2:11:38improving pedestrian walkways along

2:11:41Andrew Higgins Drive, including

2:11:43enhancements within part of the museum's

2:11:46operations corridor for the benefit of

2:11:48an enjoyment by New Orleans citizens and

2:11:50visitors and to encourage convention

2:11:53center participants to explore the

2:11:56historic warehouse district in the

2:11:58museum operations corridor in the city

2:12:00of New Orleans as more fully detailed in

2:12:02amendment number two to the cooperative

2:12:04endeavor. agreement as exhibit A and

2:12:06otherwise to provide our respects there

2:12:08too.

2:12:09>> Thank you. This amendment extends the

2:12:10timeline of a previously executed CA

2:12:13between the city of New Orleans and the

2:12:15World War II Museum to build the Andrew

2:12:17Higgins Boulevard streetscape

2:12:19improvement project from Magazine Street

2:12:21to Convention Center Boulevard. The

2:12:23project includes restoration of

2:12:24sidewalks, installation of pedestrian

2:12:26lighting, limited pavement restoration

2:12:28and curb modifications that include curb

2:12:31extensions. Features also include tree

2:12:33plantings, spike racks, and benches.

2:12:36Feasibility studies were completed in 20

2:12:38uh 2009 and 2015. The World World 2

2:12:42museum is fully funding the design phase

2:12:44of the project of a cost of about

2:12:46$400,000. And construction cost is

2:12:48valued at $4 million, which is funded

2:12:51via a federal cost share, 80% uh federal

2:12:55funds, 20% city bond funds. The current

2:12:59schedule would have the design complete

2:13:01in October 26, construction contract to

2:13:04be rewarded in May 2027,

2:13:07and anticipated construction duration 1

2:13:09year. The DDD supports the project and

2:13:11plans to leverage grant funding for

2:13:13public amenities along the improved

2:13:15corridor. Are there any questions?

2:13:18If not, I'll move.

2:13:23Seconded by council member Muro.

2:13:31Seven. Yes. Thank you.

2:13:34Item 32 ordinance calendar 35,579

2:13:38has been deferred to the meeting of

2:13:39November 19th.

2:13:42On page 28 we have item 33 ordinance

2:13:44calendar 35,580

2:13:47has been deferred to the meeting of

2:13:491119.

2:13:51Ordinance calendar 35,581

2:13:53has been deferred to the meeting of

2:13:551119.

2:13:56We have ordinance calendar 35,586

2:13:59has been deferred to the meeting of

2:14:0111/19.

2:14:03On page 29, we have item 36, motion

2:14:06M26415

2:14:08by council member Morell, authorizing

2:14:10the president of the council to execute

2:14:12a settlement agreement by and between

2:14:14the city council, the Salvation Army,

2:14:17and Major Dwayne Durham in his capacity

2:14:19as a member of the Wisner Trust

2:14:21Management Board on behalf of Chris

2:14:23Thornnehill, a name defended in the

2:14:25Wizner lawsuit in the lawsuit style

2:14:28council for the city of New Orleans

2:14:30versus Edward Wizzner donation.

2:14:332022 6 6765

2:14:37exhibit A.

2:14:38>> Thank you. The motion is

2:14:40selfexplanatory. I will move

2:14:44a second. Second by council member

2:14:45McCarron. Please vote your machines.

2:14:53Seven yay. No. Thank you.

2:14:57At the bottom of the page, we have

2:14:59motion M26426

2:15:01by Council Member Morell requesting and

2:15:04authorizing the president of council to

2:15:06sign a cooperative endeavor agreement

2:15:08between the Orleans Parish Sheriff

2:15:09Office for the provision of security

2:15:11services for the city council for the

2:15:13period of January 1st, 2026 through

2:15:16December 31st, 2026 for a maximum

2:15:20compensation amount not to exceed

2:15:22$48,91527

2:15:26per month or $586,98324

2:15:32for 12 months.

2:15:34>> Thank you. Once again, this motion is

2:15:36self-explanatory. I will move

2:15:39second by council Hughes. Please vote

2:15:40your machines.

2:15:47Come on, man.

2:15:52Missing one.

2:15:567 years, no. Thank you.

2:15:58>> At the top of page 30, we have item 40,

2:16:01resolution R26430

2:16:03by Council Member King. A resolution

2:16:06calling an election in the Fberg Marinet

2:16:08Security and Improvement District for

2:16:10April 17, 2027.

2:16:12>> Yeah, we have

2:16:15move to adopt.

2:16:18Second by council member McCarron

2:16:26>> 78 no names.

2:16:27>> We don't need to explain.

2:16:30>> At the bottom of the page item 42, we

2:16:33have resolution R26433

2:16:36by Council Member Harris. A resolution

2:16:39calling an election in the downtown

2:16:41development district of the city of New

2:16:43Orleans on Tuesday, April 17th, 2027.

2:16:47I've moved

2:16:50seconded by council member Muro

2:17:04>> 7s. Thank you.

2:17:08>> Thank you. I believe we have some

2:17:10special orders.

2:17:10>> We have some under suspension real

2:17:12quick. Two under suspension and then we

2:17:14go into the other ones.

2:17:16We have motion M26436

2:17:19by council member Hughes suspending rule

2:17:2215 of the council rules and regulation

2:17:24to confirm in accordance with the city

2:17:26code 159-3 to a current junior senior as

2:17:31a member of the sujan water board

2:17:33representing the chair of the city

2:17:34council's public works sanitation and

2:17:36environment committee for a 4-year term

2:17:38beginning on the date this instrument is

2:17:40adopted and ending on June 30th 2030. We

2:17:44need to suspend the rules to receive.

2:17:46>> So move.

2:17:47>> Second.

2:17:48>> Second by council president Morurell.

2:18:02>> Ultra machines. M

2:18:08seven years. No names.

2:18:10>> We need to vote to add. I'll move second

2:18:14by council president Morell. Please vote

2:18:16your machines members.

2:18:21Seven yays, no nays.

2:18:22>> And you could discuss a vote as adopted.

2:18:25>> Uh I will move.

2:18:28>> Second by council president Morell.

2:18:30Please vote your machines.

2:18:35>> Seven. Yay. No. Thank you members. We

2:18:37have resolution R26437

2:18:40by council member McCarron. A resolution

2:18:43in order directing the establishment of

2:18:45the parameters and implementation

2:18:49perimeters and implementation of the

2:18:51enhancement of the distributed energy

2:18:53resource under the energy smart battery

2:18:56energy storage system phase 3 program

2:18:59docket UD 2402. We need the vote to

2:19:02receive. I'll move.

2:19:06Seconded by Council President Morurell.

2:19:13Seven Yay. No Naz.

2:19:18We need to vote to add. I'll move.

2:19:22Seconded by Council Member Hughes,

2:19:31six yays, seven yays, no nays. and we

2:19:35could vote to adopt. Oh, you could

2:19:37discuss.

2:19:38>> Thank you. I'll just briefly there's

2:19:39this resolution appro approves ICF

2:19:42International to serve as a third party

2:19:43incentive administrator for our

2:19:45neighborhood power plan um that we

2:19:47approved earlier in the day. Um and then

2:19:49it also approves uh ICF and energy to

2:19:52weigh the program weigh in the on the

2:19:54program guidelines now and to facilitate

2:19:56the program being up and running as soon

2:19:58as possible. Um both ICF and energy hub

2:20:00were included in Energy New Orleans

2:20:02proposed implementation plan filed

2:20:04earlier this year without objection from

2:20:06a party during the comment period. So

2:20:08with that I will move

2:20:12second by council member Harris.

2:20:18Seven yays no nays. Thank you council

2:20:21members. We could go to page 29. We have

2:20:24item 38 motion M26

2:20:27423 by council member Hughes designating

2:20:30the intersection of Lake Forest

2:20:32Boulevard and right row as Taj Rudolph

2:20:35honorary intersection pertaining to

2:20:37section 146-72 of the code of the city

2:20:40of New Orleans. [clears throat]

2:20:44>> Thank you madam clerk. Um, the family of

2:20:48Taj Rudolph is uh coming to the front at

2:20:51this time.

2:21:32members. did is uh with a heavy heart um

2:21:35that

2:21:37I introduced this ordinance on behalf of

2:21:40an extraordinary public servant. I know

2:21:43when we think of the term public

2:21:45servant, we often think of elected

2:21:46officials. But uh few people in this

2:21:50life uh have I met uh that has impacted

2:21:54this world at such a young age.

2:22:00Today we honor the life and the

2:22:02extraordinary legacy of Taj Rudolph.

2:22:07To Taj's family, um you probably don't

2:22:10know how much Taj meant to me. Uh in

2:22:14fact, before I was ever an elected

2:22:16official, uh I came across, uh Taj

2:22:20Rudolph, and he certainly left his mark

2:22:24in District E and in the city of New

2:22:27Orleans.

2:22:29An image I will never get out of my head

2:22:31is Taja's smile. Every time you saw Taj,

2:22:35he would literally light up a room.

2:22:38Um, this was not simply a young man I

2:22:40knew through my work. Our relationship

2:22:43meant much more than that. Uh, I cared

2:22:47deeply about Taj. I believed in him. I

2:22:51was proud of him. I certainly miss him.

2:22:54Uh what Taj knew, what his [snorts]

2:22:56brother knew, what several people knew

2:22:58is that when I was elected to this

2:23:00office, I actually wanted to hire Taj

2:23:03and he was e eager to join this team. Uh

2:23:06unfortunately, due to budget

2:23:07constraints, we were not able to make

2:23:08that happen. But every time we would

2:23:11cross paths, I'd always say, "Taj, I'm

2:23:13I'mma bring you on, brother." And he

2:23:14would light up and smile and he say,

2:23:15"I'm ready. I'm ready."

2:23:18Today it's difficult to talk about him

2:23:20in the past tense because there was so

2:23:23much more life ahead of him. So much

2:23:26more we wanted to see him experience and

2:23:30accomplish.

2:23:31But I don't want us to simply speak

2:23:34about his potential because Taj was

2:23:37already making a difference. At just 25

2:23:40years old, he had already made public

2:23:42service a part of his life, working as a

2:23:45neighborhood liaison for the city of New

2:23:47Orleans and specifically for his home

2:23:50community of District E. And I can't

2:23:52stress the number of lives that he has

2:23:54touched in District E.

2:23:58That work mattered to me. His

2:24:00willingness to serve our beloved

2:24:02community mattered to all of us. We

2:24:06often talk about young people as leaders

2:24:08of tomorrow. Ties reminds us that we

2:24:11need to recognize and value the

2:24:13contributions that they are making

2:24:16today. I know that before he belonged to

2:24:19this community, he belonged to this

2:24:21beautiful, extraordinary family.

2:24:24Before any title or recognition, he was

2:24:27someone that each of you loved. Nothing

2:24:30we do in this chamber can replace that

2:24:33presence in your lives. But I hope you

2:24:35know that his life mattered beyond your

2:24:37home, beyond his neighborhood. His

2:24:40service was seen and felt by the

2:24:42residents of this city. He was valued

2:24:45and he was deeply loved.

2:24:48This motion

2:25:09This motion before us would dedicate the

2:25:12intersection of Lake Forest Boulevard

2:25:15and Right Road

2:25:17as the Taj Rudolph honorary

2:25:20intersection.

2:25:22My hope is that his name will prompt the

2:25:26question,

2:25:29who was Taj Rudolph?

2:25:37and that we will keep answering with his

2:25:39story, with the work he did,

2:25:43and with the example that he left. I

2:25:46wish we were celebrating in this moment

2:25:48with Taj sitting here beside you.

2:25:54And I wish I could tell him one last

2:25:56time

2:25:58how proud

2:26:00I was of him.

2:26:03Today I tell you

2:26:06I was proud to know Taj.

2:26:10I remain proud of the life that he lived

2:26:14and I will forever carry his memory with

2:26:18me

2:26:21today. We are not only designating this

2:26:24intersection,

2:26:26but I will be renaming the District E

2:26:29Youth Advisory Council, the Taj Rudolph

2:26:33District E Advisory Council.

2:26:37Thank you for allowing us to honor

2:26:39someone

2:26:41who meant so much to all of us.

2:26:44And I would now like to [snorts] invite

2:26:50his family say a few words.

2:26:58You can read it.

2:27:00Yes.

2:27:04>> Hello. My name is Jayla Martin. I'm

2:27:06going to speak on behalf of my dad,

2:27:08Jerry Martin. First, I would like to

2:27:10thank Mayor Moreno and the city council

2:27:12for this opportunity to speak on Taja's

2:27:15behalf. I have been in Taja's life since

2:27:17he was about 2 years old. From that

2:27:20time, I've watched him evolve from this

2:27:21goofy prankster that thought everything

2:27:23was funny into this more serious young

2:27:26adult right before my eyes. I watched

2:27:28him get bit by the community service and

2:27:30city government bug and was very

2:27:32invested in the city of New Orleans,

2:27:34especially New Orleans East. Whenever he

2:27:37had a community service event, he would

2:27:39text so much to help participate that I

2:27:41thought it was a root text. That's how

2:27:44passionate he was about giving back. I

2:27:46listened to the excitement in his voice

2:27:48when his brother and Councilman Hughes

2:27:50shared a brief conversation at Morell's

2:27:52and Councilman Hughes knew his name. I

2:27:55just want to thank this council for

2:27:57designating the intersection. It's truly

2:27:59a tremendous honor. Thank you.

2:28:05>> Thank you.

2:28:08Hi, [clears throat]

2:28:10good morning. Um, Tarine, Todd's father.

2:28:13Um, I would just like to thank thank you

2:28:15guys for having me allowing me to speak.

2:28:18I would like to start by highlighting

2:28:20Todd's character. He was raised early to

2:28:23praise God, family, and service first in

2:28:26his life. Todd's love family gatherings

2:28:29and parties. He definitely was a

2:28:32people's person.

2:28:33One of his main goals was to improve the

2:28:36quality of life for others in New

2:28:38Orleans. He also loved the Saints game.

2:28:41He really enjoyed spending time and

2:28:43doing outdoor activities with his

2:28:45grandparents, Shenito and Brian

2:28:47Giddings, when they visited New Orleans.

2:28:50The former city emergency manager, Brian

2:28:53Giddings. I would like to suggest we all

2:28:56find a path to contribute back to our

2:28:58city development. whatever district or

2:29:01represent or whatever district you

2:29:03represent or reside in

2:29:06like the works like the works he

2:29:08performed in district E located in New

2:29:11Orleans East that's what Taj aka Tuki

2:29:14would have wanted from us all your works

2:29:17will never be forgotten Taj long live

2:29:20Taj

2:29:26uh thank you all for being here uh I

2:29:28don't know if anyone else wanted to say

2:29:30anything? Uh, any of my colleagues have

2:29:33any comments? Council member Green is

2:29:34recognized.

2:29:35>> Councilman Hughes, thank you for

2:29:38bringing the memory of Taj to us today.

2:29:42And as I go by that intersection, I will

2:29:45always remember Taj and what I've read

2:29:48about his service, not only here at city

2:29:51hall, but his service to others, his

2:29:54organ donation. um the walk that is

2:29:57recogni recognized that he's recognized

2:29:59by but it's just important to celebrate

2:30:02lives that we all feel in this

2:30:05particular case would have been too

2:30:06short but at the end of the day so much

2:30:08was accomplished and he's doing great

2:30:11things now in heaven I thank him for his

2:30:14contribution and thank you all family

2:30:16members you're a beautiful family to be

2:30:18here today in celebration of Taj thank

2:30:20you I'm glad to be here too

2:30:23>> thank you council green

2:30:24>> council member Bird King is right now.

2:30:47A couple years ago,

2:30:50my sister died.

2:30:52She was um

2:30:55she was 20.

2:30:58She had a very rare blood cancer.

2:31:02Just didn't wake up one morning.

2:31:06She'll be 28 this year.

2:31:09So I know the pain

2:31:13and my mom breaks down

2:31:18because it's hard and I see the pain on

2:31:21your faces. So tough for me.

2:31:25I sympathize with you. I empathize with

2:31:27I know how tough it is because my family

2:31:29is still going through this 2019.

2:31:34It's tough and it is. She's like my my

2:31:36daughter. We were 14 years apart. So she

2:31:38wasn't my sister. She was like my

2:31:40daughter.

2:31:43You would be in my prayers. I know how

2:31:44tough it is. I'm not just saying it. Um,

2:31:49thank you, Councilman Hughes, and may

2:31:51God bless you all.

2:31:52>> Thank you.

2:31:54>> Thank you, Councilman King. Vice

2:31:55President, will it is recognized?

2:31:57>> Thank you, Council Member Hughes.

2:32:00You know, um,

2:32:02just reflect reflecting on Taj and even

2:32:06in his passing, he he gave back.

2:32:10Even in his passing, he gave back. and

2:32:13um to have someone so young who deeply

2:32:17cared

2:32:19about the city of New Orleans and its

2:32:21people in District E and the residents

2:32:24of New Orleans East and then not only

2:32:27cared

2:32:28but tried to get other people to care

2:32:30and tried to get other people involved

2:32:33in public service um is extremely

2:32:37extremely rare and um the city is better

2:32:43for the service that Taj dedicated his

2:32:46life to.

2:32:48He believed in showing up for people. He

2:32:51served the city through his work at city

2:32:52hall.

2:32:54He stepped up during times of crisis

2:32:57when the community needed him like

2:32:59during the COVID 19 pandemic.

2:33:02He understood the importance of prep

2:33:04preparing the next generation of

2:33:07leadership in this city through the

2:33:10civic leadership academy. He encouraged

2:33:12people to see themselves

2:33:15as leaders which is also very rare.

2:33:19Naming this intersection after Taj is

2:33:22the most fitting way to recognize his

2:33:25life of service. The community will be

2:33:28better when, as council member Hughes

2:33:31said, our young people coming up say,

2:33:34"Who is Taj Rudolph?"

2:33:37They'll understand the work he did and

2:33:39hopefully that'll inspire more of our

2:33:41younger people to follow in his

2:33:43footsteps. So, I want to thank all of

2:33:45you for sharing Taj with the city of New

2:33:48Orleans. Um, my heart, my thoughts, my

2:33:51prayers go out to each of you. Um, and

2:33:54I'll pray for the day to come where

2:33:57those tears of pain turn into tears of

2:34:00joy as you can remember the positive

2:34:04experiences and the joy that Taj brought

2:34:07into each and every one of your lives.

2:34:11>> Thank you.

2:34:12>> Thank you.

2:34:14>> Uh, thank you all. So, um, in closing,

2:34:17um,

2:34:18you hold that up. Um before we pass this

2:34:21ordinance, uh I do have a uh just a

2:34:23small token on behalf of the city

2:34:25council. Um and uh hope you always look

2:34:29and and remember that extraordinary

2:34:31smile. And uh you know, in this moment,

2:34:34as tough as this is, going to count it

2:34:35all joy. Joy for Taj's life, joy for the

2:34:40joy that he brought to all of our lives,

2:34:43and joy to uh everything he did for the

2:34:46city of New Orleans. And every time I

2:34:48pass the intersection of Wright Road and

2:34:52Lake Forest Boulevard in the middle of

2:34:54the neighborhood where Taj grew up, uh

2:34:58we will forever speak his name. So with

2:35:00that, uh I will move adoption of this

2:35:03ordinance. Um it's second by Council

2:35:06President Morell. Madame Clerk, I'm

2:35:07going to ask that you add all uh seven

2:35:09council members to this ordinance. And

2:35:12with that,

2:35:14seven yays, no name, no nays, and the

2:35:17intersection of Lake Forest and Right

2:35:20Road will be dedicated to Taj Rudolph.

2:35:24We're going to come down and take a

2:35:26picture.

2:35:27>> Thank y'all so much. [applause] Thank

2:35:28you all so much.

2:39:13What's her name? I seen in the back

2:39:14where?

2:39:18>> We have item 37, resolution R26422

2:39:22by council member Morell. A resolution

2:39:25honoring the late Frank Perez, beloved

2:39:28historian, author, tour guide, and

2:39:30personality in the French Quarter, who

2:39:32chronicle decades of New Orleans LGBTQ

2:39:36plus history.

2:39:39>> Can we get the family and friends, Mr.

2:39:42of Frank, to come on down?

2:39:49Heat. Heat.

2:40:20for that.

2:40:28All right. Make sure everybody's got a

2:40:30seat.

2:40:32We drag one over. We got We have We have

2:40:34We have plenty of seats. We'll just pull

2:40:36one over.

2:40:38There you go.

2:40:40self-service. Good job. All right. Um,

2:40:48so Bobby, this is the this is the Monae

2:40:50and Bobby show. How do you all want to

2:40:51start? Y'all want to start first?

2:40:53>> You got presentation. All right, Bobby.

2:40:56>> Pick it off.

2:40:56>> All right, Bobby.

2:40:57>> Can you guys hear me? Okay.

2:40:58>> Yes.

2:40:58>> All right. It is so fitting that we

2:41:00gather here now on the first day of LGBT

2:41:03plus history month to honor our fellow

2:41:05citizen and pal Frank Perez who proudly

2:41:07served as the first point of contact for

2:41:09the LGBT plus community of New Orleans.

2:41:12If you are a journalist or a filmmaker

2:41:14or a student or a tourist or even an

2:41:16inquisitive member of this council

2:41:18wanting to know something about wild

2:41:19customs like Southern Decadence or the

2:41:21tragedy the 1973 upstairs lounge fire or

2:41:24factoids like Benville living to 87

2:41:26without marrying. Interesting.

2:41:28interesting or any aspect of queer New

2:41:31Orleans history and culture. You emailed

2:41:33and called around to Shots in the dark

2:41:34and Frank Perez answered. Okay. Once you

2:41:38entered the orbit of Frank, he'd be both

2:41:40interested in you in your project and

2:41:43interesting in his responses. This guy

2:41:45was fun, affable, full of stories,

2:41:47supportive, and at your service. That

2:41:49was Frank being frank in his most

2:41:52essential duty. Queer community

2:41:54networker and humanitarian of hedonism.

2:41:57Okay. Though he didn't seek that

2:41:58unofficial status in our community and

2:42:00though he mostly didn't get paid for it,

2:42:02he was a non-materialist happy to devote

2:42:04himself to a mission and his passion for

2:42:07this city was infectious. So I came to

2:42:10New Orleans in 2014 seeking to write my

2:42:13first history book and we met what in

2:42:15what he called his office, the

2:42:17backstretch of the triangle bar of Cafe

2:42:19Lefit and Exile on Bourbon Street. Okay.

2:42:22To pass a good time, he told me. I'd

2:42:24never heard that phrase before. I didn't

2:42:25know what I was in for. this dirty uncle

2:42:27character down Miller high life bottles

2:42:29got me sipping a few and turned our

2:42:31little queer history interview into a

2:42:33bout of day drinking and next thing you

2:42:34know a spontaneous freeof charge tour of

2:42:37the entire French quarter. Okay, cuz he

2:42:39knew I didn't have any money and he

2:42:41could see a change happening in me. In

2:42:44one afternoon, Frank Perez made me love

2:42:46New Orleans as completely as he did.

2:42:49Frank then helped me become a published

2:42:51author, my dream since childhood, by

2:42:53teaching me his storytelling tricks,

2:42:55giving up gold from his private archives

2:42:57and sources. And when my first book did

2:43:00well, he accepted no credit. No credit.

2:43:03He stood back smiling like, well, like

2:43:05the greatest teacher he knew, his

2:43:07mother, which I'll get to. I'll get to.

2:43:09I moved here in 2018 to try to be more

2:43:11like this man, right? This uncouthed

2:43:14intellectual deviv. I learned that term

2:43:17living life with a big L. And I am not

2:43:19the only person with this story of being

2:43:21discipled by this street king in a straw

2:43:24hat, right? Um who could introduce you

2:43:26from high to low, from public officials

2:43:29to quarter derelicts and e easily and

2:43:32never with judgment. He was the soul of

2:43:34New Orleans to me and many. So,

2:43:37Francisco Frank Earl Perez, historian,

2:43:41author, professor, tour guide, former

2:43:43Southern Decadence Grand Marshall,

2:43:45executive director of the Archives

2:43:46Project, was born in 1968 and he passed

2:43:49away this August 8th following a sudden

2:43:51and brave fight with cancer. He was only

2:43:5457 years old, but man, what a string of

2:43:57years. Okay, his lifetime is a testament

2:44:00to living in what I'll call real or

2:44:02filthy generosity. so much bigger than

2:44:04respectability, politics or posturing.

2:44:06This guy was real and you can see from

2:44:08his baby picture. He never let go of the

2:44:11joy and he was a real good time. Okay.

2:44:14Frank grew up in Baton Rouge where he

2:44:16got kicked out of the cub scouts. He

2:44:18regailed for being a general negative

2:44:21influence. Okay. His mother was a career

2:44:24educator who taught remedial math and

2:44:26tricked her students into developing a

2:44:28talent for numbers um using sports

2:44:31statistics. Actually, Frank uh Frank's

2:44:33father was a career attorney who taught

2:44:35Frank how to see through logical

2:44:36fallacies and win arguments. And Frank

2:44:38could be very convincing. Okay. Pulling

2:44:41you into his shenanigans like some sort

2:44:42of Cuban cinjun Tom Sawyer. See where he

2:44:46got it? Mom and dad. Frank's childhood

2:44:48hero was Huey Long. And he loved Huey

2:44:51because the guy told stories. He helped

2:44:52the needy and he didn't expect

2:44:54perfection with his Robin Hood style of

2:44:56Louisiana real politique. Young Frank

2:44:59also frequently traveled into New

2:45:01Orleans with his grandfather and he

2:45:02marveled at the architecture and enjoyed

2:45:04the multicourse brunches at the original

2:45:06the original two jacks. Okay. In high

2:45:09school, Frank played football and he

2:45:11served as a page for the Louisiana

2:45:13Legislature. And quick side note, the

2:45:15best tour at Frank ever gave in my

2:45:17opinion was at the Louisiana Legislature

2:45:19building point by point reconstructing

2:45:21Huey Long's 1935 assassination in the

2:45:24hallway where the man was shot. I was

2:45:26there. It was incredible. Okay. After

2:45:28graduating from high school, Frank

2:45:30attended LSU and he went full Greek as a

2:45:33sigma pie. All right. Before flunking

2:45:35out, he said, after watching the Alfred

2:45:37Hitchcock movie Rope and discovering the

2:45:39famous gay subtext to the film, which

2:45:42which inspired a, let's just say, moment

2:45:44of naked clarity with a fellow frat

2:45:45brother. Okay. He left the fraternity on

2:45:48[laughter] legendary terms, though. On

2:45:49legendary terms. Frank transferred to

2:45:52the University of Louisiana Lafayette

2:45:54where he graduated in 1991 with a

2:45:56bachelor's in criminal justice 1997 with

2:45:58a master's degree in English. Right.

2:46:00While active in campus ministry, Frank

2:46:03was actually publicly outed as gay and

2:46:05forced to attend a conversion therapy

2:46:07camp in Kansas. Humorous humorlessly

2:46:09named by humorless people. Freedom at

2:46:12last is what this camp was called. Frank

2:46:15befriended a young man dying of AIDS

2:46:17there named Eddie. You know, Eddie Frank

2:46:20told me saved his life insanity by

2:46:23introducing Frank to the movies of

2:46:25Hollywood starlet Betty Davis, which the

2:46:27conversion counselors actually

2:46:29encouraged cuz they didn't understand

2:46:30gay diva worship. Isn't it nice? These

2:46:33young men like Judy Garland. Okay. When

2:46:36Eddie died, Frank called the family.

2:46:38They made him call the family and they

2:46:40told Frank, quote, "We don't have a

2:46:42son."

2:46:44This was the moment that defined Frank's

2:46:46life.

2:46:47Why live for the approval of others? He

2:46:50told me if they'll do that to you.

2:46:53Frank left the camp to embrace his

2:46:55sexuality and he enrolled at Texas

2:46:57Christian uh University in Fort Worth

2:46:59for PhD studies. While in Texas, Frank

2:47:01actually became a tenure track professor

2:47:04at a community college. He educated

2:47:06thousands while perfecting the fine art

2:47:08of doing a day's work from a bar stool.

2:47:10Let's be real, okay? Like Huey Long,

2:47:12Frank told stories. He helped the

2:47:14disadvantaged and he didn't expect

2:47:16perfection. And he made friends

2:47:17everywhere, right? He could stand living

2:47:19in Texas, he told me, cuz he loved the

2:47:22TV show Dallas, that '8s male melodrama.

2:47:24And he imagined himself in his head as

2:47:26the scheming oil man Jr. Ewing. Frank

2:47:29held the record at a local Irish pub for

2:47:31consuming 34 pints of Guinness in a

2:47:33single sitting. And that needs to be in

2:47:34the record. Okay. Frank then

2:47:37intentionally and gloriously blew up his

2:47:39academic career. He entered the

2:47:41freewheeling phase of card counting and

2:47:43liquor bootlegging and vague but

2:47:45friendly relations with members of an

2:47:46unnamed but well-known international

2:47:49gang. Like I'm going to say, friends

2:47:50everywhere. These were some of Frank's

2:47:52best stories. Okay. And he told you them

2:47:55with a glee that made you feel complicit

2:47:57almost in them. They were amazing to

2:47:59hear. Frank moved to New Orleans shortly

2:48:02after Katrina to rebalance and start a

2:48:04new this city in need called to him. as

2:48:07he said in a 2023 oral history

2:48:09interview, quote, "I thought, I've got

2:48:11to get back to New Orleans." Even though

2:48:12I had never up to that point fully lived

2:48:14in New Orleans, just as Frank helped

2:48:17rebuild the city, this city, which

2:48:19embraces the stranger, okay, helped

2:48:21Frank mature and ripened. Like Huey

2:48:23Long, Frank's homeland and his identity

2:48:26fused, and he became the straw

2:48:27hatwearing guy we all knew and adored.

2:48:30Frank rapidly established himself as a

2:48:32community leader and voice in the French

2:48:33Quarter. In 2012, he co-authored the

2:48:36first major queer New Orleans history

2:48:38book in exile, the story of Cafe Lee um

2:48:41with his pal uh Jeffrey Palquest

2:48:43actually who's here today. At the

2:48:46invitation of a local a gay entrepreneur

2:48:48and editor Rip Nackin, who later became

2:48:50his mentor, Frank began to write a

2:48:51weekly history column for the gay French

2:48:53Quarter newspaper Ambush, a publication

2:48:56he would later lead as editor-inchief.

2:48:58In 2014, Frank co-founded the nonprofit

2:49:01LGBT plus Archives Project of Louisiana

2:49:05to help get our queer history out of the

2:49:07closet, as Frank liked to say. That same

2:49:10year, Frank, who loved Marty Gro more

2:49:13than any other holiday, founded the Mr.

2:49:15Crew de la Ru Royale revelers throwing

2:49:17an annual 12th night party initially at

2:49:20his home that came to symbolize the

2:49:22start of gay carnival season with his

2:49:24naming of a grand reveler by the lord of

2:49:26mis rule aka Frank and various headwear.

2:49:28I mean you should see it. Okay. Frank

2:49:30would write and publish more than six

2:49:32history books in the last 15 years of

2:49:34his life. One of which political animal

2:49:36received the 2024 honorable mention for

2:49:38the Louisiana literary award. All right.

2:49:41His last book, though he flunked out of

2:49:43LSU, was published to a claim by LSU

2:49:46Press. Such a frank move. Such a frank

2:49:50move. Okay. By uh by 2018, he was

2:49:53selected Grand Marshall of Southern

2:49:55Decadence, a grassroots community honor.

2:49:57He ran for New Orleans City Council

2:49:59District C in 2021, placing third and

2:50:02instantly befriending the winning

2:50:04council member, Freddy King. Frank

2:50:07deeply respected this institution.

2:50:09deeply. He loved loved that y'all keep a

2:50:12piano in this room, right? For for for

2:50:14musical public comment, he imagined

2:50:16that's what he told me the first time I

2:50:17was here. He admired y'all and he viewed

2:50:20you as colleagues in the trenches. So,

2:50:23in 2023, Frank received like uh

2:50:25basically the no age trailblazer award

2:50:28for his lifetime devotion to human

2:50:29rights. The constant in these later

2:50:32years of achievement and service was the

2:50:35extraordinary has to be note

2:50:36extraordinary connection that he shared

2:50:39with his partner of 12 years Tris Chris

2:50:41Trenost who filled Frank's domesticity

2:50:44with joy. I saw it and provided him the

2:50:47certainty of a love that could get him

2:50:49weepy and reciting romantic poetry and

2:50:51comparing Chris to Hamlet and stuff like

2:50:53that. I mean Frank was very literary in

2:50:55his romance. When Frank was named to the

2:50:58Saints and Sinners Literary Festival

2:51:00Hall of Fame, he declared his proudest

2:51:02achievements were number one, his love

2:51:04for his partner Chris. Number two, his

2:51:07little 800word history column for

2:51:09Ambush, a gay bar rag, his new newspaper

2:51:12of record. That was his style. A couple

2:51:14more things about Frank that need to go

2:51:16in the record. Number one, he was a

2:51:17Beatle maniac. Okay, his favorite beetle

2:51:19was John. If you pressed him, this is

2:51:21true. Number two, he was an avid Star

2:51:24Trek Treky and James T. Kirk was his

2:51:26captain. And don't you forget it. All

2:51:29right.

2:51:30At Frank's dinner parties, which

2:51:32reminded me of a Da Vinci painting of

2:51:33Christ's ministry and their joining of

2:51:35all segments of New Orleans society,

2:51:37from sex workers to court judges,

2:51:38[clears throat] he'd serve the most

2:51:40amazing picado from a secret secret

2:51:43family recipe that I wish I got. It was

2:51:45the most incredible food. And I wish any

2:51:46of you could have experienced Frank's

2:51:48dinner parties. This guy was ambitious

2:51:50and gulous in his mission. But Frank was

2:51:52also humble and vulnerable in his

2:51:55person. Okay. He devoted himself to

2:51:57causes full-time, but he was full-time

2:52:00self-deprecating with his anecdotes and

2:52:02stories. Though he appreciated these

2:52:04awards and accolades, a part of him, I

2:52:06could tell, always monitored himself for

2:52:08the ego that might arrive with

2:52:09acclamation. When I last saw Frank on

2:52:12Thursday, August 6th, I told him the New

2:52:14Orleans City Council might be thinking

2:52:16about saying a few nice things about

2:52:18him. His response to me was a trademark

2:52:20Frank Perez. Okay. Which he would say

2:52:23with a heave and ex exhalation. Okay.

2:52:26And then he thought about it and said,

2:52:28"Actually, that's pretty nice. They used

2:52:30to throw us in jail."

2:52:33So Frank Perez, New Orleans, a city is a

2:52:36city that makes characters better than

2:52:38anywhere, both fiction and naan.

2:52:39Tennessee Williams, Mr. Oprah, Ignatius

2:52:41J. Riley, Blench Dwis, the special man

2:52:44from the Frankie and Johnny's furniture

2:52:46store ads. And now Frank Perez joins

2:52:48that pantheon. The cycle of character

2:52:51making moves forward. Rest in rainbows

2:52:54and rest in cocktails. My dirty uncle in

2:52:57the struggle, Frank Perez. I hope

2:53:00they're toasting you now. You're

2:53:01toasting us now with Betty Davis. I hope

2:53:03you are. This city misses you and I see

2:53:06you in every corner of it. Though you

2:53:08were not a child of New Orleans, you

2:53:10became a son of this city and that is

2:53:13unquestionably your greatest

2:53:15achievement. Thank you.

2:53:24My name is Tommy Aosta. I am the owner

2:53:26and publisher of Ambush Magazine, the

2:53:28local LGBTQ publication. Um, for the

2:53:31last few years, Frank was our

2:53:33editor-inchief. Um, I'll tell you two

2:53:36quick things. Um Frank and I would go to

2:53:39dinner quite often and when you go to

2:53:41dinner and you live in New Orleans, you

2:53:42kind of talk about two things, right?

2:53:44The five other places you could have

2:53:45gone to dinner, right? And then you talk

2:53:48about the city you love. And we were

2:53:50talking about New Orleans and Frank was

2:53:52complaining about something. I don't

2:53:53remember what it was. And I just off the

2:53:54cuff said, "Frank, you should run for

2:53:56city council." I said, "Frank, you're

2:53:58level-headed. You got some common sense.

2:54:00You're not a politician. You'd be

2:54:02perfect." So, fast forward several

2:54:04months, I get a phone call and Frank

2:54:06says, "I need you to send me a check." I

2:54:08said, "A check for what?" And he said,

2:54:10"I'm running for city council." So, uh,

2:54:12that became a very expensive dinner.

2:54:14But, but Frank will tell you two things.

2:54:17He loved every minute of it and he'd

2:54:19never do it again. Um, [laughter] and

2:54:22and so I appreciate that he threw his

2:54:24hat into the ring and uh enjoyed every

2:54:27minute of it because he really did. The

2:54:30the other thing I'm going to tell you

2:54:31about Frank is this. Um, I saw him two

2:54:36days before he passed and

2:54:40I like to describe it as 20 of the most

2:54:43be beautiful minutes

2:54:50sorry I've ever spent with a human.

2:54:52There there is some clarity when

2:54:55everybody in the room knows the end

2:54:57isn't near.

2:54:58And after we talked about several

2:55:00things, one of the things Frank asked me

2:55:03is,

2:55:07"Do you think my life's work mattered?"

2:55:16And of course it did. And I told Frank

2:55:19that his life work mattered to everybody

2:55:22who loved him and to people he had never

2:55:24met. And so

2:55:27on days like today, it just warms my

2:55:30heart to know that he is being

2:55:31recognized and that his life work did

2:55:34matter. And it it mattered

2:55:38not only to the people in his community,

2:55:41people in the LGBT community, but people

2:55:43citywide. Um I I'll leave you with this.

2:55:46I've often said, uh it is the fate of

2:55:49every man to die, right? It is not the

2:55:52fate of every man to be a pillar of a

2:55:55community. And that is what Frank was.

2:55:58And so

2:56:01on behalf of that entire community, on

2:56:05behalf of the LGBTQ plus community in

2:56:08New Orleans, thank you all for today. We

2:56:10are we really appreciate your honor.

2:56:12Frank,

2:56:20>> does anyone else on the table want to

2:56:22provide any comments?

2:56:25>> I have filled out a card. Um, but

2:56:27>> you don't have to.

2:56:28>> I'm here at the table. Um, uh, my name

2:56:30is Eugene Lamoth. Um, uh, everybody

2:56:33calls me guy. And for the last several

2:56:35years, I've served as president of the

2:56:37board of the LGBT plus Archives Project

2:56:40of Louisiana, a group that Frank, uh,

2:56:43co-founded and led um, dedicated to

2:56:46preserving queer history uh, of

2:56:48Louisiana. And, um, uh, as an

2:56:51organization, I just want to thank this

2:56:53board uh, uh, Chair Member Morurell um,

2:56:56and all the board members uh, for

2:56:58honoring Frank in this in this manner.

2:57:01it it means so much to us uh and the

2:57:03larger community here in New Orleans. Uh

2:57:05and I just want to offer my my great

2:57:07thanks to each of you.

2:57:09>> Thank you. Uh any comments from the DAS?

2:57:12>> Yes. Go ahead, Mr. Spring.

2:57:15>> I am just so pleased to be here today,

2:57:17but I want to tell you that while I

2:57:19didn't necessarily meet Frank, thank you

2:57:21for that description. That's quite a

2:57:23life lived. And it's good to hear of a

2:57:25life lived, especially here in New

2:57:27Orleans, a city that I enjoy. When we

2:57:29talk about people who came here after

2:57:31Katrina, a lot of people came here after

2:57:33Katrina to make some money. That was all

2:57:35they were about. But a lot of people

2:57:37also came because they were interested

2:57:38in rebuilding our city and in promoting

2:57:41our culture. And from what I see, Frank

2:57:44was part of that. Now, as a Boy Scout

2:57:46representative, I'm a little concerned

2:57:47about someone getting kicked out of the

2:57:49Cub Scouts,

2:57:51[laughter] but however, at the end of

2:57:53the day, and getting kicked out of LSU,

2:57:54which my daughter graduated from, but

2:57:57look at that. After those two um

2:57:59episodes, he did so much, and I

2:58:01appreciate him as a historian, as an

2:58:03author, and as somebody who is

2:58:05representative of the things that make

2:58:07New Orleans a very special city. I say

2:58:10this a lot, but I really tell you the

2:58:12truth. I really enjoy the city of New

2:58:14Orleans, which is why I'm as upbeat as I

2:58:15can be. But one of the reasons is our

2:58:17diversity. Frank Perez is an example of

2:58:20the diversity in our city that makes us

2:58:21special, and I'm honored to be here

2:58:23today, and I thank our council president

2:58:25for bringing forth this resolution to

2:58:28salute a great life. Thank you.

2:58:32>> Thank you, Councilman Green. I want to

2:58:34begin with Councilman King could not be

2:58:36here due to a conflict, but he did want

2:58:38me to read a few words. Uh he did

2:58:40mention that Frank in their race, Frank

2:58:44was the most unusually gregarious

2:58:46opponent who spent more time befriending

2:58:48his opponents than actually running

2:58:50against [laughter] them. He said he was

2:58:51a beloved pillar of the French Quarter

2:58:53community, an advocate for the downtown

2:58:55queer community. And he was really a

2:58:58voice for the voiceless because when

2:59:00people had issues in the French Quarter

2:59:01but were concerned or scared to share

2:59:04them, Frank would always call Freddy and

2:59:06say, "I need you to deal with this

2:59:07issue." So those were his comments. Now

2:59:10I have my own comments obviously. Uh I

2:59:12got to know Frank very very well. I do

2:59:14want to start with one thing. A bit of a

2:59:16counter to Mr. Green. I was also uh

2:59:19kicked out the Cub Scouts. [laughter]

2:59:21They are they are a very shady

2:59:23organization.

2:59:25Uh when I was at St. Francis when I was

2:59:28at St. Francis Cababrini and I was in a

2:59:30den there, I went to my Cub Scout

2:59:32meeting and they moved the den and none

2:59:35of the kids would tell me where the dead

2:59:36moved.

2:59:37>> [laughter]

2:59:37>> So, I I stick up for Frank. I think that

2:59:42they uh they don't recognize talent when

2:59:44they see it. And we all turned out okay.

2:59:47>> Um

2:59:49I really I miss Frank. Bobby knows so

2:59:53many of the things we accomplished uh to

2:59:56advocate for the queer community in the

2:59:58beginning of my last term were driven by

3:00:00Bobby and Frank. um the upstairs lounge

3:00:04fire. Uh the memorial we did here with

3:00:07the family of those who had been not

3:00:10recognized in their lives or in their

3:00:12deaths was driven by Bobby and Frank. Um

3:00:15Frank is somebody

3:00:17who

3:00:19was not just a storyteller, he was a

3:00:21truth teller. And there's a very

3:00:23important distinction there because it's

3:00:25very easy for people to tell stories

3:00:27that are convenient truths, but it's

3:00:30very hard to find someone who can tell

3:00:34compelling stories about inconvenient

3:00:36truths and make you talk about things

3:00:38you don't want to talk about. I think

3:00:40that a lot of people recognize New

3:00:43Orleans as kind of this queer mecca that

3:00:45it is today, but it wasn't always that

3:00:48way. I mean, Bobby knows, Bobby writes

3:00:49about it, but Frank was one of those

3:00:51people who would celebrate the New

3:00:54Orleans of today, but he would not let

3:00:56you forget about the New Orleans that we

3:00:59used to have. Um,

3:01:02I had the opportunity to go on the queer

3:01:05New Orleans history quarter tour with

3:01:07Frank. Um it was eyeopening because um

3:01:12very seldom do you get to see your own

3:01:15city through a different set of eyes in

3:01:17a way that is compelling that really

3:01:19makes you understand that there are so

3:01:22many people who share these streets with

3:01:25us and they're not seen. And part of

3:01:28what Frank did is he would really make

3:01:30you put you in the perspective of seeing

3:01:33the city from a perspective of a

3:01:35populace here that contributes so much

3:01:37but is not seen enough. Um

3:01:42I also want to point out everyone in

3:01:45this city loves Southern Decadence.

3:01:47Southern Decadence is a tremendous

3:01:49annual thing we do. What people don't

3:01:52understand is every year that I have

3:01:55been on this council, the city has

3:01:57screwed it up. NOPD is notorious for

3:02:01cutting the route, moving things,

3:02:03whatever. And every year, Frank would

3:02:07call Monae and she and I would have to

3:02:09figure out, usually within 72 hours

3:02:12before the parade, what the NOPD had

3:02:14broken and how Monae, Frank, and I were

3:02:16going to fix it. And it's one of those

3:02:19things where everyone sees the end

3:02:21result, but they don't see the

3:02:22tremendous amount of work that has to be

3:02:25done so that in the moment of that

3:02:28wonderful parade, it ends the way and

3:02:30starts the way it's supposed to. But

3:02:32that was Hallmark Frank. He was behind

3:02:34the scenes fixing problems and he never

3:02:37sought accolades for any of it. I mean,

3:02:41I cannot tell you how many times

3:02:44that Frank would call me or Monae about

3:02:48something that was going on in the

3:02:50quarter or something that affected the

3:02:51queer community or just about, you know,

3:02:54a part of the street you'd fall into and

3:02:55never find the way out. And we would fix

3:02:58these problems and Frank would be

3:03:00adamant he not want anyone to know he

3:03:03was the person behind fixing the

3:03:05problem. That's really who he was as a

3:03:08person. Um, one of the final things our

3:03:10office did for MM was the proclamation

3:03:13of the grand opening of the LGBT plus

3:03:15archives project of Louisiana, the

3:03:17French Quarter. And it was very

3:03:19interesting because when we showed up,

3:03:23it was always so amazing how every time

3:03:28someone did something kind or wonderful

3:03:31for Frank, he was not only appreciative,

3:03:35he was almost surprised that someone was

3:03:38acknowledging him. And

3:03:41he might be

3:03:44the most humble person I've ever known

3:03:47because when you would recognize him,

3:03:50you had to almost fight with him to say

3:03:52he was deserving of the recognition.

3:03:55Which I will tell you as a politician

3:03:57that's not a problem politicians

3:03:58typically have, which is why he would

3:04:00have been a bad one. [laughter]

3:04:02But we are going to miss Frank so much.

3:04:07And and to your point,

3:04:10I do not think

3:04:14no one who's ever met Frank will forget

3:04:16Frank

3:04:18and the work he's done to preserve the

3:04:22history of the queer community in New

3:04:24Orleans. The real history, not just the

3:04:27history, the recent history, but the

3:04:29real history of this community. I don't

3:04:31think he

3:04:33it was very unlikely he would understand

3:04:35in his time how much of an impact he's

3:04:37had. And I'm glad you had that moment to

3:04:40explain to him in that moment because

3:04:43no one will forget Frank.

3:04:48I think that this about sums it up. So,

3:04:50um I know we have uh the we have

3:04:54something to present to y'all to the

3:04:56family, but I just really appreciate the

3:05:01fact that all of you shared Frank with

3:05:03us because he was always doing something

3:05:08for somebody. And I know that uh we are

3:05:13a city of be nice or leave, but Frank

3:05:16really embodied that. He he was the be

3:05:18nicer leave. So, thank you so much.

3:05:22>> I have a I have I wanted to read a

3:05:24statement from a friend. Yes. [snorts]

3:05:27Sorry. Um this is this is from my

3:05:30Gasparez who's a close friend of Frank's

3:05:32who couldn't be here today and she asked

3:05:33me to read this on his behalf on her

3:05:35behalf. Um she says, "Frank was a

3:05:38beloved mentor, educator, storyteller,

3:05:40and friend. I like so many New Orleans

3:05:43first met Frank through his work

3:05:44teaching classes on tour guiding. Frank

3:05:46taught me how to give tours that were

3:05:48not only educational, but brought each

3:05:50participant into their story, connecting

3:05:52them regardless of their background.

3:05:54Frank shared his gift for storytelling

3:05:56with countless individuals throughout

3:05:57his life, whether it be the classes he

3:05:59taught at Lyola or the crowds he

3:06:01entertained in the French Quarter. New

3:06:03Orleans history, professionals, and the

3:06:05city as a whole are better off because

3:06:06Frank's because of Frank's gifts,

3:06:08passions, and as he approached and and

3:06:11his approach to life. I will dearly miss

3:06:13him, but I am so grateful that I had the

3:06:15privilege of calling him a friend and a

3:06:17member of my family of choice. Thank

3:06:19you.

3:06:21>> Thank you. Council member Harris, you

3:06:23want to say anything?

3:06:26>> I uh I didn't get to go on the tour. Um

3:06:30he asked me and we just kept postponing

3:06:33it and postponing it and you just have

3:06:35to realize that you have to take those

3:06:37chances when you can get them. Um, so to

3:06:40all of you, to Chris, to the family and

3:06:43the friends, I just want to say we lost

3:06:46a giant, but gay history cannot be

3:06:49forgotten history. And unfortunately, I

3:06:52think with this younger generation,

3:06:54we're forgetting a lot of it. We're

3:06:56forgetting that 10 years ago, you

3:06:59couldn't get married in Louisiana. We're

3:07:02forgetting that 30 years ago, you had to

3:07:05meet in secret, right? And so that's

3:07:08what Frank's legacy is. It's to remember

3:07:12and to remind us of our history so that

3:07:16we in those famous words don't repeat

3:07:18it. So we're we really lost a

3:07:22personality and and I regret not going

3:07:25on that tour.

3:07:29>> Council will thank you. Council

3:07:30President Morurell. Uh Frank dedicated

3:07:33his life to making sure that an

3:07:35important part of our history was never

3:07:37forgotten. Uh through his work as a

3:07:39historian, author, educator, and a tour

3:07:42guide, he helped people better

3:07:43understand the French Quarter, the role

3:07:45of the LGBTQ plus community, and the

3:07:49role that it played in helping shape

3:07:51this city. Um I I actually met Frank

3:07:54when he was running for city council,

3:07:56and I and I remember um the the

3:07:59takeaways. He was good for a laugh. He

3:08:02was good for a smile and he was good for

3:08:05a story. Um,

3:08:08Bobby, I, you know, I didn't know Frank

3:08:10that well, but by the time you finished,

3:08:13you know, reading that bio, I was

3:08:16shaking my head like I was there. I

3:08:18mean, you did, you did an amazing job

3:08:20telling his story and and the impact um

3:08:23that his work leaves in our community.

3:08:26So, I want to thank all of you for

3:08:28showing up today. Um, I want to thank

3:08:30all of you for the role you played in

3:08:32um, motivating him to get out there and

3:08:36write and tell the stories and lead the

3:08:39tours and help other people become

3:08:40better guides and for encouraging him to

3:08:43run for city council. Like everybody in

3:08:46here today played a role in helping

3:08:48shape the impact that Frank has left on

3:08:52the French Quarter and in the entire

3:08:54city of New Orleans. And I want to thank

3:08:56you all for that for that role. And I

3:08:58want to thank all of you for sharing

3:09:00Frank with all of us.

3:09:04>> Thank you. I see Uncle Larry's at the at

3:09:05the mic, so I guess he wants to say

3:09:07something.

3:09:08>> Thank you, Councilman.

3:09:12>> Good morning. I want to first thank the

3:09:14city council for honoring my friend,

3:09:16Frank Frank Perez, an outstanding

3:09:19citizen and human being.

3:09:22Let's look at his legacy.

3:09:25At the core of Frank's work was being

3:09:28inclusive. He wanted to make sure that

3:09:30everyone in was included in all of his

3:09:33work. Some of what he left behind was

3:09:36his numerous books that were mentioned.

3:09:38His tour guide business he touched so

3:09:41many visitors and locals as well. The

3:09:44number of students he taught at both

3:09:46Lyola and Tulain University. the LGBTQ

3:09:51archives on Burgundi Street, housing the

3:09:54history of the New Orleans gay

3:09:55community, where one can learn about the

3:09:58past and celebrate with hopes for a

3:10:00better future.

3:10:02As the crowds filled the uptown street

3:10:04car den and people gathered on charters

3:10:07in Royal Street downtown to celebrate

3:10:10Jonavok's birthday, Frank gave the LBGTQ

3:10:14community our own celebration of 12th

3:10:17night, a night to remember as we too

3:10:20kicked off the season of Migra. He

3:10:23formed the mystic crew of 12th night

3:10:25revelers beginning in his home in 2014

3:10:29and proclaimed himself the lord of mis

3:10:32rule. In three years the party had grown

3:10:36so large he had to move it to the migra

3:10:39museum on rampart street.

3:10:42But you know what I love about Frank the

3:10:44most was his commitment to inclusion.

3:10:48Most people don't understand when you

3:10:50leave people out and exclude them, you

3:10:53have to be inclusive.

3:10:56Being inclusive and trying to include

3:10:58everyone, black, white, brown, yellow,

3:11:00was always trying to make sure to

3:11:03represent all of the groups in the GBTQ

3:11:06community. That's not an easy job. In

3:11:10December, I called him to congratulate

3:11:12him on two lesbians gracing the cover of

3:11:15The Ambush magazine, which was the first

3:11:18time a lesbian couple had graced the

3:11:19holiday cover.

3:11:21His instant reply to me was, "I'm so

3:11:24glad you called. Would you happen to

3:11:26know a black or brown couple that would

3:11:28be willing to be on the cover of Ambush

3:11:30for Christmas 2026? Always looking to

3:11:34the future." That was pure Frank. always

3:11:37looking to the future and what he could

3:11:39do to bring our community together. Rest

3:11:42on, my friend, what you have

3:11:45accomplished in your short 50 years, 58

3:11:48years of life. Miracles for all of us to

3:11:51celebrate and to emulate. Thank you,

3:11:54council.

3:12:00Thank you. Um, we're to come down take a

3:12:03picture with y'all. Uh, I have a a token

3:12:06from the council, but also we will get

3:12:08you the big framed version resolution.

3:12:11We haven't passed it yet, so we didn't

3:12:12have it prepared in advance. But to that

3:12:14point, I will move to adopt the

3:12:17resolution.

3:12:19Seconded by council, vice president

3:12:21Willard, please vote your machines.

3:12:26That is six shays, no nays. It is

3:12:28adopted. Thank you. Please remain your

3:12:31seats. We'll come down to y'all.

3:14:17Madame clerk, I'll move we go to first

3:14:18three, seconded by council member

3:14:20Hughes. All in favor? No nays. We have

3:14:24six yays, no nays. First reads.

3:14:30>> Ordinance on first reads.

3:14:32Ordinance calendar number 35,589

3:14:35by council members Morell and Willard.

3:14:38an ordinance to repeal ordinance number

3:14:4030,702 MCS because of an error in the

3:14:44calculation of salary and fringe B

3:14:46benefits owed to the Orleans Parish

3:14:48Sheriff's Office for New Orleans City

3:14:51Council Executive Program Services and

3:14:53to repeal the cooperative endeavor

3:14:55agreement attached to ordinance number

3:14:5730,72MCS

3:14:58and otherwise to provide with respect

3:15:00there to ordinance council number 35,590

3:15:04by council member Hughes an ordinance to

3:15:06establish a condition of use to permit a

3:15:08childcare center small in an SRS

3:15:11suburban single family residential

3:15:12district on square H Delmare village

3:15:15section 7 lots 13 and 14 and the third

3:15:18municipal district bounded by Forest

3:15:20Glenn Road, Castlewood Drive, Elmdale

3:15:23Road and Heritage Drive. Municipal

3:15:25addresses 7542 7550 Forest Glenn Road

3:15:29and otherwise provide with respect there

3:15:31to zoning docket number 6426. Ordinance

3:15:34calendar number 35,591

3:15:37by council member Harris. An ordinance

3:15:39to amend and reordain article 20 section

3:15:4220.3.j

3:15:44and article 26 section 26.6 of the

3:15:47comprehensive zoning ordinance.

3:15:48Ordinance number 4264 MCS as amended by

3:15:52ordinance number 26,413

3:15:54MCS and subsequent amendments to allow

3:15:57secondary live entertainment with

3:15:59service and sale of alcoholic beverage

3:16:01for on-site consumption at recording

3:16:03studio only if approved via conditional

3:16:06use within the HMC2 district. Hm. MU

3:16:11District, HM MU, HUM MU District, SLC

3:16:15district, C1 district, C2 district, C3

3:16:18district, MU1 district, MU2 district,

3:16:21CBD1 district, CBD2 district, CBD3

3:16:25district, and CBD4 district, and

3:16:27otherwise provide with respect to zoning

3:16:30[clears throat] docket number 7026,

3:16:32ordinance council number 35,592

3:16:34by council member McCarron, an ordinance

3:16:36to establish a condition of use to

3:16:38permit the expansion of floor area of an

3:16:40established multif family dwelling in an

3:16:43HURD2 historic urban two family

3:16:46residential district on square 46 lot

3:16:48161 17 and 18 in the sixth municipal

3:16:51district bounded by Calhoun Street,

3:16:53Perry Street, Britannia Street and Henry

3:16:56Clair Avenue. Municipal address 1227

3:16:58Calhoun Street and otherwise to provide

3:17:00with respect to zoning docket number

3:17:027426.

3:17:04Ordinance calendar number 35,593

3:17:07by council member King. An ordinance to

3:17:09establish a condition of use to permit a

3:17:11hotel over 10,000 square feet in floor

3:17:13area in an HMC2 historic marin trim

3:17:16bywater commercial district and a

3:17:18transient lodging interim zoning

3:17:20district on square 377 lots A and B1 in

3:17:24the third municipal district bounded by

3:17:26Parker Street, Joseph Guliam's Place,

3:17:29North Rampart Street and St. Anthony

3:17:31Street. Municipal addresses 1722 through

3:17:331732 Parker Street and otherwise provide

3:17:36with respect to zoning docket number

3:17:387626.

3:17:40Ordinance calendar number 35,594

3:17:43by council member Harris. An ordinance

3:17:44to establish a condition of use to

3:17:46permit a standard restaurant in an HUB1

3:17:49historic urban neighborhood business

3:17:51district and the Magazine Street use

3:17:53restriction overlay district on square

3:17:55227 lot X in the sixth municipal

3:17:58district bounded by Magazine Street,

3:18:00Constantine Noble Street, Moringo

3:18:03Street, and Camp Street. Municipal

3:18:05address 401 Magazine Street and

3:18:07otherwise to provide with respect to

3:18:09zoning docket number 7926

3:18:12ordinance council number 35,595

3:18:15by council member Harris an ordinance to

3:18:17establish a condition conditional use

3:18:19permit a hotel in the CBD5 urban core

3:18:23neighborhood lower intensity mixeduse

3:18:25district and the transient lodging

3:18:26interim zoning district on square 218

3:18:29lots A and 6 or 21 in the first district

3:18:33bounded Corander Street, Gerard Street,

3:18:36Julia Street, and St. Charles Avenue.

3:18:38Municipal addresses 714 through 716

3:18:41Corander Street and 7:30 Ger Street and

3:18:44otherwise provide with respect or to

3:18:46zoning docket number 8026. Ordinance

3:18:48calendar number 35,596

3:18:50by council member Green. An ordinance to

3:18:53establish a conditional use permit the

3:18:54expansion of a secondary educational

3:18:57facility in an HURD2 historic urban

3:19:00neighborhood two family residential

3:19:02district on square 1507 lots AB6 and 7

3:19:06in the third municipal district bounded

3:19:08by George Nick Connor Drive Law Street,

3:19:10Host Street and Republic Street.

3:19:12Municipal addresses 1863 through 1869

3:19:16Law Street and otherwise provide with

3:19:18respect or two zoning docket number 9326

3:19:21ordinance calendar number 35,597

3:19:24by council member Morurell an ordinance

3:19:26to amend and reordain sections 2614 2616

3:19:302617 26618

3:19:3326619 26620 26624

3:19:37and 26628 to make changes to the

3:19:39short-term rental regulations that's

3:19:41required by by the United States Courts

3:19:43of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and to

3:19:45provide otherwise with respect there to

3:19:48ordinance counter number 35,598

3:19:50by council member McCarron an ordinance

3:19:52to establish a conditional use permit a

3:19:55car wash in a MU1 medium intensity

3:19:58mixeduse district and EC enhancement

3:20:00corridor design overlay district on

3:20:02squares SE 762 lots 11 12 13 14 18 19 20

3:20:0821 A 22 A 23 B 23 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28

3:20:14in the first municipal district bounded

3:20:16by two-lane Avenue, South Pier Street,

3:20:18ULA Street, and South Carolton Avenue. M

3:20:21municipal addresses 4118 through 4126

3:20:25South Carolton Avenue, 4036 through 4052

3:20:28ULA Street and 4041 through 4051

3:20:32Twol-lane Avenue and otherwise to

3:20:34provide with respect to zoning docket

3:20:36number 6726.

3:20:38Ordinance calendar number 35,599

3:20:41by council member Harris. An ordinance

3:20:43to establish a condition of use to

3:20:44permit secondary live entertainment and

3:20:46sale of alcoholic beverages for on-site

3:20:49consumption at a recording studio in an

3:20:52HU historic urban neighborhood mixeduse

3:20:55district on square 44 lot 4 in the

3:20:58fourth municipal district bounded by

3:21:00Jackson Avenue, Philip Street, Russo

3:21:02Street, and St. Thomas Street. Municipal

3:21:04address is 514 Jackson Avenue and

3:21:07otherwise to provide with respect to

3:21:09zoning docket number 7126. And that

3:21:12concludes the ordinances on first

3:21:14reading.