2026-10-19 - City Council Budget Hearings

Summary

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard and outcomes incomplete.

Time on topic (from transcript timestamps; approximate, includes side talk; counted from the call to order at 2:50 to adjournment at about 3:24:23):

Topic	Minutes	Share
Sanitation 2027 budget cuts	50	25%
Safety and Permits 2027 budget	42	21%
Code Enforcement 2027 budget	28	14%
Blighted property adjudication and seizure	28	14%
Mardi Gras cleanup funding and worker pay	13	7%
Sanitation fee reset and recycling costs	12	6%
Lot abatement and overgrown lots	8	4%
2027 budget personnel reductions and civil service process	6	3%
Short-term rental enforcement and compliance platform	5	3%
Opening statements and transitions	8	4%

Monday, October 19, 2026, Day 6 of the 2027 proposed budget hearings (see 2026-10-19 - City Council Budget Hearings), on City Services under Deputy CAO Ernest Leger: Safety and Permits, Code Enforcement and Sanitation.
The captions begin at 2:11 with a delay while the council's voting system was down; the hearing opened around 2:50 and adjourned about 3:24:23 with Day 7 set for Wednesday.
About two minutes of trailing audio after adjournment has no speech.
No votes were taken and no closed session occurred.
The captions also name Council members inconsistently (for example "Moreno" for Morrell, "Hynes" and "Harris" for Hughes), so speaker attributions are best-effort; the Budget Chair is Councilmember Harris.
All three departments face the administration's proposed 8.5 percent cut, and the council said it owns the final budget; early adoption is targeted for November 19.

Opening statements

2:50-11:16

Deputy CAO Ernest Leger framed the City Services group (ten departments) around customer service, communication, coordination and results, and said the departments will look for efficiencies and sharing of staff and equipment under the 8.5 percent reduction.

Safety and Permits 2027 budget

11:16-14:42, 18:38-26:19, 29:37-41:16, 42:55-47:52, 48:06-48:40, 50:35-1:03:49

Director Suzanne Carbine (name uncertain in captions; also rendered "Kirby") reported year-to-date volume of roughly 19,500 applications and about $7 million in revenue, and roughly 35,000 licenses and permits and $13.5 million overall; the captions garble the exact breakdown.
Proposed cuts: just over $900,000 from general fund personnel, meaning up to 12 vacant full-time positions plus two planned retirements (a building inspector and a permit intake employee), 14 positions in all. A further $120,000 non-general-fund cut equals two vacant code enforcement inspector positions. The director said there will be "some pain," with less proactive and slower responses.
Efficiencies cited: cross-training analysts and specialists, weekly delay reporting, a new inspection tracking tool, nearly doubled hearing capacity with the Central Adjudication Bureau, certified permit technicians moving toward residential permits, and a restructuring that could merge permit intake with plan review and combine inspectors.
Goals contingent on resources: sending building violations to adjudication (about 60 a month), a contact center, growing the SPARK team and the concierge program.
The budget chair asked for a cost-benefit analysis of the cuts against permit fee and fine revenue, the status of the 12 recommendations in the Inspector General's report (six outside reviews since 2021), why the chief zoning official post (a compliance-officer role) is on the cut list, and fines issued and collected in 2026. The director agreed to provide the data.
Councilmember Willard reconciled about 97 filled and 15 vacant positions with budget-book totals of 107 (2026) and 108 (2027), asked about residential permitting, and suggested objective eligibility criteria for the Canal Street and New Orleans East concierge service. The director agreed criteria will eventually be needed.
Councilmember McCaren asked for the data behind the restructuring, a PermitStat report, and a cost comparison for in-house versus third-party electrical inspectors.
Councilmember Hughes (captions label him inconsistently) pressed on why a revenue-generating department should cut positions at all ("cut its way to prosperity"), and asked to see a plan fully staffed.
Council President Morrell raised Healthy Homes coordination with Code Enforcement, a coming change to charge application fees up front (the city currently charges none in some cases), almost 2,000 stale permits closed after about a year of inactivity, and asked for return on investment by position, cautioning that fees must stay tied to the cost of the service.
Public comment: one resident accused the department of favoring developers and not applying the zoning ordinance.
No votes were taken.

2027 budget personnel reductions and civil service process

14:42-18:38, 48:40-50:35

Budget director Brandy DeLarge explained that departments proposed positions for elimination, many of them classified. Civil service rules, not departments, decide which employees are affected, so the budget shows dollar reductions while position detail still lists the jobs.
Reductions would be carried out after the budget is adopted, with a 45-day notice to civil service. She said the administration hopes to keep an early adoption date of November 19.
A councilmember asked what happens if civil service cannot proceed; she said there is no sign of that and the city can set parameters but not pick names.
Later, Councilmember Hughes pressed for clarity on which of the day's departments would need civil service: Sanitation does, while Safety and Permits would only drop vacant jobs. Deputy CAO Ernest Leger noted the budget was built on payroll data downloaded months ago, so some people have since left.
Related: Civil Service pay plan changes.

Short-term rental enforcement and compliance platform

26:19-29:37, 41:16-42:55, 47:52-48:06

Safety and Permits is re-procuring its short-term rental compliance platform (currently Granicus Host Compliance) because contract extensions have expired. The budget carries about $280,000 for the software, up slightly, and officials said it will also help enforcement and collections.
The platform shows almost 6,000 listings against roughly 1,200 non-commercial and 1,500 commercial licensed rentals; some listings are hotels that are allowed on the platforms. About 500 active cases are open.
Cases go through adjudication and end in fines; the director will report how much has been collected. Deputy CAO Ernest Leger said recent press coverage showed enforcement has stepped up.
A $6,000 "surveillance equipment" line is for iPads and similar devices to document violations, not drones.
Council President Morrell later asked for a count of short-term rentals out of compliance with Healthy Homes requirements.

Code Enforcement 2027 budget

1:03:49-1:12:40, 1:16:15-1:20:49, 1:26:14-1:30:40, 1:32:47-1:39:00, 2:04:37-2:09:02

Director Anthony Davis reported year-to-date results: about 1,930 administrative hearings, nearly $7 million in fines and fees levied and about $2.4 million collected, 1,738 compliance cases (655 in compliance), more than 2,800 title researches, 652 Healthy Homes complaints and 282 hearings, 62 demolitions, 5,109 initial inspections and 320 strike team abatements.
Budget: 52 full-time positions with four vacancies (two analysts and two case specialists), a $136,000 personnel reduction, and a larger operating line for finishing a court-settlement demolition project (name garbled in captions; final demolition expected June 2027), including a one-time $1.5 million draw from the short-term rental fund. Revenue is self-generated, mainly fines and fees.
Positions proposed for elimination are jobs already vacated in 2026, not current employees. The Healthy Homes line shows 6 inspectors, but all 16 inspectors are cross-trained.
2027 goals: expand the strike team, strategic lot abatement, graffiti abatement, more hearings with the Central Adjudication Bureau, and tighter Healthy Homes rules (mold) and state Act 48 changes.
Councilmember Hughes said the Lower Ninth Ward items were stuck and he would begin voicing displeasure publicly.
Collections: the department cannot currently record unpaid fines as judgments or liens with the clerk, and the city expects to fix that before next year. About 23 demolition cost-recovery hearings were held; the exact recouped amount was promised later.
Demolition safety: the contractor is responsible and boards neighboring homes; liabilities are coordinated with the Law Department.
Public comment: Jane Place Initiative's Wy Frank Southall urged robust funding and tougher action on landlords with neglected buildings; Morgan Clevenger warned code enforcement can be used against legacy homeowners in historic neighborhoods and described a 311 handoff problem.

Lot abatement and overgrown lots

1:12:40-1:14:44, 1:30:40-1:32:47, 1:58:20-2:02:34

Code Enforcement's strike team is three people (two laborers and an equipment operator) who handled the 315 right-of-way abatements, 144 of them in New Orleans East. Staff estimate six more laborers and two more equipment operators are needed, and costs can be placed on owners' tax bills.
A $100,000 state appropriation for lot abatement is stuck: the vendor wanted a price change that an amendment could not allow, so a new invitation to bid is routing, with a selection hoped for in about a month. The deadline is December 31, 2026, and the state signaled it would extend further. Councilmember Willard, who secured the money as a legislator, urged speed.
Deputy CAO Ernest Leger and a colleague submitted a plan to the CAO to centralize grass cutting and contracts in one agency by the third quarter of 2027. Meanwhile departments meet weekly; the chair cited a burned lot where departments dispute ownership.
The lot-maintenance program (apparently Mow to Own) has been suspended since the CivicSource arrangement collapsed last year, and sits with the Treasury rather than Code Enforcement. Officials promised a plan by the next budget cycle.

Blighted property adjudication and seizure

1:14:44-1:16:15, 1:20:49-1:26:14, 1:39:00-1:58:20, 2:02:34-2:04:37

Council President Morrell cited about 20,000 blighted residential units, 6,500 of them in tax adjudication, and asked why every property without power and water, which the 2024 ordinance change treats as blighted, does not already carry a lien. He urged cross-referencing utility accounts and prioritizing empty buildings over minor cosmetic violations.
Director Anthony Davis said the compliance division handles cosmetic cases and the department will request the utility lists that day. Deputy CAO Ernest Leger offered a 30-day analysis comparing no-power and no-water properties with those found blighted.
Councilmember Hughes expressed frustration that adjudicated properties sit for years and that a contract to sell them lacks a finish date; Leger promised an answer by the end of the day. New Central Adjudication Bureau director Sabre Matheny is standardizing intake, notices, tracking and the filing of judgments.
Morrell proposed state legislation letting a city's demolition lien outrank other liens, and a public dashboard showing blighted properties and their adjudication stage. The CivicSource litigation was cited as blocking liquidation of seized properties.
The chair asked about a landlord with roughly two dozen blighted properties and the criminal blight statute, and about demolitions leaving overgrown lots in partial-control historic districts. More than 200 demolitions are queued, plus nearly 100 ordered at hearings and awaiting title review.

Sanitation 2027 budget cuts

2:09:02-2:25:10, 2:37:14-2:41:16, 2:44:37-2:55:41, 2:56:40-3:02:53, 3:05:00-3:08:54, 3:11:46-3:16:19, 3:20:34-3:24:23

Director Matt Torry (spelling uncertain; captions show "Tori" and "Torre") said the department has 55 employees and 18 vacancies. The 2027 proposal cuts $6.1 million (8.6 percent) and 55 positions, 75 percent of the staff, from 73 to 18.
Enforcement would be eliminated, reporting and 311 case management cut, field work would move from seven days to five, and non-curbside recycling services (the Legion Fields drop-off, shred days, hazardous waste day, city-building recycling) would end. Curbside collection and disposal, 97 percent of the budget, are funded by the sanitation fee and would not change.
Layoffs of actual employees would be 37, including laborers and equipment operators, and the department has about 2,500 public litter cans to service.
Councilmember Hughes called the layoffs a "non-starter." Council President Morrell called the cut mismatched because the contracts are a pass-through. Councilmember Willard questioned how other departments could backfill. Councilmember McCaren called the proposal "unserious" and noted laborers start around $30,000.
Deputy CAO Ernest Leger said there is a mitigation plan using staff and equipment from other departments and that the council and administration can still decide funding levels.
Restoration costs given: $2.1 million for positions, $1.8 million for Mardi Gras, $628,000 for French Quarter enhanced services (Area 5), $263,000 for recycling activities, and recycling carts if donations stop.
An illegal dumping strike team, funded by the fee at about $500,000 a year for 10 people, is to start in November.
Public comment: many sanitation workers and supervisors, a ranger citing 121 hearings and $615,925 in fines in 2026, and union representative Jamal Otis, who asked that the budget not be adopted and said the union was not involved in the process.

Mardi Gras cleanup funding and worker pay

2:25:10-2:30:17, 2:55:41-2:56:40, 3:08:54-3:11:46, 3:16:19-3:20:34

Mardi Gras and special-event cleanup is unfunded in the proposal; the supplemental cost is about $1.8 million, with more than 500 laborers and 100 pieces of equipment on peak days.
Deputy CAO Ernest Leger said the city runs a deficit of roughly $3.7 million to $4 million on Mardi Gras. Councilmember Hughes said visitors and beneficiaries should "put more skin in the game" and suggested seeking a state fix.
Councilmember Willard called dropping the cleanup a non-starter.
Public comment: workers and advocates said temporary cleanup workers waited about six weeks to be paid, cited the living wage ordinance, and asked for better protective gear. Magali Ortiz of the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice said the last Mardi Gras produced a record 1,364 tons of waste. Other speakers suggested charging hotels or wealthier krewe members more.

Sanitation fee reset and recycling costs

2:30:17-2:37:14, 2:41:16-2:44:37, 3:02:53-3:05:00

The reset sanitation fee took effect with October billing; the 2027 budget projects $55.4 million from it, about $16 million more. A resident at public comment opposed the roughly $8 increase.
Recycling is budgeted at $11.2 million across five service areas, about $900,000 a month; 5,000 to 6,000 tons a year are collected. Processing costs about $80 to $100 a ton versus about $36 for the landfill, and contractors, who own the material once collected, bear that cost. Contracts could be changed on short notice, and the city does not track recycling by type.
At Councilmember Hughes's relay of a resident's questions, Matt Torry agreed to send what the monthly fee would drop by if recycling ended.
Council President Morrell asked whether the annual commercial and large-residential abatement fee, raised from $100 to $125, is fully collected and what raising it to $150 would yield. Brandy DeLarge will check with the economist.
Morgan Clevenger asked about overpayments for roughly 21,000 "ghost" addresses and recycling stops billed but not serviced.

Agenda

Budget hearings (agenda text not retrieved). Topics heard at the session, from 2026-10-19 - City Council Budget Hearings:

Sources

Video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=0eJmYPqHX94

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Transcript

These are auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard.

Transcript

02:11All right, everyone. We are at 9:30, but

02:13I believe that the system is still not

02:15working. Where are we?

02:18Do we have any update on the system?

02:21Mhm?

02:22It's not working.

02:24What does this mean?

02:45>> Are we taking a vote?

02:47>> No, we're not voting. We can We can get

02:49started.

02:50All right. Welcome to day six of our

02:53budget hearings. Today we have city

02:55services with Deputy CAO Ernest Leger.

02:58That includes Department of Safety and

03:00Permits, Department of Code Enforcement,

03:01and Department of Sanitation. First up

03:04is Department of Safety and Permits.

03:21>> Good morning, Madam Chairwoman.

03:26>> Morning.

03:28>> Good morning.

03:33Ernest Leger, Deputy Chief

03:34Administrative Officer for City

03:36Services. I'd

03:37like to start with an

03:39opening statement just to kind of frame

03:42uh why we why we're here and what we're

03:44trying to accomplish. First, I want to

03:46thank

03:47the council for the opportunity to

03:49present the pro-

03:512027 budgets for city service

03:53departments. Our unit is comprised of 10

03:56departments in total: safety and

03:58permits, CPC, NOR

04:01uh C sanitation, code enforcement, HDLC,

04:05VCC, parks and parkways, New Orleans

04:07Public Library, and the Central

04:09Adjudication Bureau.

04:11Um this morning, the Department of

04:13Safety and Permits, Code Enforcement,

04:15and Sanitation will present. You will

04:18hear from the remaining departments

04:20later in this process.

04:21Uh as my

04:23as my responsibility is to ensure that

04:26these departments work together to

04:27deliver the essential services our

04:30residents expect, the accountability

04:32they deserve, and the responsiveness

04:34that builds public trust in their city

04:37government. These uh three departments

04:40serve different functions, but they

04:42share a common responsibility to improve

04:45the daily experience of living, working,

04:48and doing business in New Orleans. Uh

04:51whether a resident is seeking a permit

04:53to open a business, reporting a property

04:56maintenance violation, or waiting for

04:58sanitation services, their experience

05:01with city government shapes their

05:02perception of how well we are

05:05performing.

05:06For our residents, they

05:09uh these are not separate departmental

05:11functions, they are all part of one

05:14city, one government, and one commitment

05:17to public service.

05:18That is the perspective we must bring to

05:21our work. Our priorities

05:24as a city department group

05:26um is to move forward

05:29um and to provide straightforward

05:31customer service, communication,

05:33coordination,

05:35responsiveness, and efficiency.

05:38Um first, customer service

05:40must be at the center of everything that

05:43we do. We must make it easier for

05:45residents and businesses to navigate

05:48city government, understand

05:49requirements, [snorts]

05:50obtain accurate information, and receive

05:53timely assistance. We must recognize

05:56that behind every permit application,

05:58service request, sanitation concern, or

06:01code violation is a person or business

06:05looking for a response from their

06:07government. We may not always be able to

06:10give someone the answer that they want,

06:12and we cannot resolve every issue

06:14immediately, but we can commit to

06:17treating people professionally,

06:19communicating clearly, establishing

06:21reasonable expectations, and following

06:24through on our responsibilities. Second,

06:27communication must improve across all

06:29departments, both externally with our

06:31residents and internally across

06:33departments. Residents should not have

06:36to contact multiple offices simply to

06:39determine who is responsible for an

06:41issue or when they can expect an action.

06:45We must provide clear points of contact,

06:48communicate the status of requests, and

06:50ensure that information reaches the

06:52people who need it to make the decisions

06:55to solve problems. Third,

06:58we must strengthen coordination across

07:00city departments. Many of the challenges

07:03facing New Orleans do not fit neatly

07:05within the boundaries of a single

07:07department. Property maintenance,

07:09illegal dumping, blighted properties,

07:11drainage concerns, overgrown lots, and

07:14neighborhood conditions often require

07:16coordinated action by multiple agencies.

07:19We must move away from operating as an

07:22individual department uh while

07:24addressing isolated problems and move

07:27toward operating as a coordinated

07:30municipal service team.

07:32Um that means identifying shared

07:34priorities, establishing clear lines of

07:36responsibility, coordinating field

07:39operations where appropriate, and

07:41sharing information and resources, and

07:44finally holding ourselves accountable

07:45for results.

07:47Uh fourth, responsiveness must be

07:49measured by what we accomplish, not

07:52simply by how many requests we receive

07:55or how many activities we perform.

07:58We need to understand where service

08:00requests are concentrated, where delays

08:02occurred, which problems recur, and what

08:06prevents us from resolving issues

08:08efficiently.

08:09We must then use that information to

08:11prioritize our work, uh deploy our

08:13resources intelligently, and measure

08:16whether conditions are actually

08:17improving for residents. These

08:20priorities are particularly important as

08:23we prepare to operate under an 8.5%

08:26budget reduction for 2027.

08:29We recognize that this reduction

08:31presents real operational challenges.

08:34However, the departments are being asked

08:36to maintain essential services and meet

08:39public expectations while working with

08:42fewer financial resources. We take that

08:44responsibility seriously.

08:47But our response cannot simply be to do

08:50less with less. We must examine how we

08:53work, identify inefficiencies, eliminate

08:56unnecessary duplication, and find

08:58opportunities to achieve results through

09:01improved planning and coordination.

09:04Uh that includes reviewing workflows,

09:06aligning resources

09:08in with areas of greatest need, and

09:10improving scheduling and deployment,

09:13strengthening performance tracking, and

09:15identifying opportunities for

09:17departments to share equipment,

09:19personnel, support, and operational

09:22capacity when legally and operationally

09:25important.

09:27Um efficiency cannot become an excuse

09:29for declining service or diminished

09:31accountability. Our objective is to

09:34protect core services, improve

09:36productivity, and ensure that resources

09:39entrusted to us uh produce the greatest

09:42possible benefit for the people of New

09:44Orleans. As we review today's

09:46presentations, I encourage us to look

09:48beyond the individual line items and

09:50consider the outcomes these budgets are

09:53designed to achieve. We should not only

09:55ask what each department plans to spend,

09:58but how that investment will improve

10:00service, strengthen accountability,

10:02reduce delays, and address concerns that

10:05residents raise every day.

10:07The administration understands that the

10:08City Council has the essential oversight

10:11role and that our residents expect

10:13transparency and measurable results. We

10:17welcome that scrutiny and we recognize

10:19that public confidence must be earned

10:22through consistent performance.

10:24Our commitment is to work

10:26collaboratively with the Council, with

10:28the departmental leadership and

10:29employees, and with the communities we

10:31serve.

10:32We will continue to look for

10:34opportunities to improve our city

10:36government functions, not only within

10:38individual departments, but across the

10:41entire municipal service operation.

10:43Ultimately, our success will not be

10:45defined solely on whether we manage to

10:48stay within budget. It must be be

10:50defined by whether we deliver essential

10:53services more effectively, communicate

10:55more clearly, respond more consistently,

10:58to make tangible improvements in the

11:01quality of life of our residents.

11:03>> [clears throat]

11:03>> That is the standard that we intend to

11:05pursue for 2027,

11:07and it is the standard by which we

11:09should hold ourselves accountable. Thank

11:12you, and I look forward to today's

11:14presentations and to our discussion with

11:16the Council. I want to take the

11:18opportunity to introduce the Director of

11:21Safety and Permits, uh Suzanne Carbine,

11:24who will begin with Safety and Permit or

11:26Permits.

11:29>> Thank you, DCA. I appreciate that.

11:31>> Can you bring up the microphone closer

11:33to you so people can hear?

11:34>> Yep, is this better?

11:37Good morning council members and thank

11:39you for the opportunity to speak today

11:41regarding the budget presentation for

11:43our safety and permits.

11:45As we all know, the city is in a moment

11:47where difficult decisions must be made

11:50and the Department of Safety and Permits

11:51understands this responsibility deeply.

11:54We remain committed to being strong

11:56stewards of city resources, careful,

11:58efficient, and thoughtful in how we

12:00operate. At the same time, we continue

12:03to push ourselves to improve our

12:04processes and strengthen public trust.

12:07Every permit we issue, every inspection

12:10we complete, and every interaction with

12:12the community is an opportunity to

12:14demonstrate transparency and

12:17accountability.

12:18With that, I would like to share some

12:20initial data points that Safety and

12:22Permits has processed this year.

12:25We have accepted over 19,500

12:30resulting in collected revenue of over

12:32$7 million.

12:34We have collected just over 15,500

12:38permits and collected just over $6.3

12:41million in revenue. This has resulted in

12:43around 35,000

12:45both licenses and permits across the

12:47city and $13.5 million collected in

12:50revenue.

12:51These numbers reflect the scale of our

12:54work and the importance of maintaining a

12:56permitting and licensing licensing

12:58system that is efficient, predictable,

13:01and accessible.

13:03To do this, we must use data to improve

13:05our processes and be smart with our

13:07resources.

13:08With all of that being said, the budget

13:10before you today reflects our commitment

13:13to doing exactly that. Even with

13:15reductions, we have positioned our

13:17department to continue delivering

13:19essential services, modernize where

13:21possible, and build on the efficiency

13:23efforts we began this year.

13:26We recognize the need to adapt and we

13:28are prepared to do so while staying

13:30focused on service to our community.

13:32Do we know that we are not going to be

13:34able to achieve all of our goals with

13:36the cuts as it stands right now?

13:38Yes, we will see some pain.

13:42That may come in the form of not being

13:44able to be as proactive or timely in our

13:46responses, but it is a reality where we

13:48are right now.

13:50I'd like to walk you through how this

13:52proposed budget aligns with our

13:53operational realities, our efficiency

13:55gains, and our goals for 2027.

13:59First

14:00is our organizational chart.

14:04We have several divisions within safety

14:06and permits, everything from zoning,

14:08short-term rentals, healthy homes,

14:10administration, and all of our building

14:13functions and with inspections. As the

14:16CAO mentioned in his initial budget

14:18presentation, we need to look at this as

14:20more than just a budget. We need to look

14:22at this as an opportunity to re-align

14:24our goals and assess what we can

14:26achieve, and safety and permits is

14:29currently doing this at looking through

14:30restructuring to streamline our

14:32services. So, changes to that will be

14:36coming.

14:38With that, I want to take a pause as our

14:40budget director, Brandy DeLarge, would

14:42like to make a few comments.

14:44>> Before we move forward into the

14:46department's budget, I want to clarify

14:48how personnel reductions are reflected

14:50in the 2027 proposed budget and how

14:53those reductions will be implemented.

14:55This explanation applies to all proposed

14:58personnel reductions presented during

15:00budget hearings up to this point. I'm

15:02highlighting this today because the

15:05difference between the proposed funding

15:06reductions and the personnel listed in

15:09the budget is more apparent for some of

15:11the the departments scheduled to present

15:13today and throughout the remainder of

15:16budget hearings. As part of the budget

15:18reduction process, departments

15:20identified positions for proposed

15:22elimination. Many of those positions are

15:25classified, which means departments

15:27cannot simply select the individual

15:29employees who would be affected. Those

15:32determinations must follow the

15:33applicable civil service process.

15:36Our personnel budget is developed using

15:38employee specific payroll information

15:40from ADP,

15:41including salaries, fringe benefits, and

15:44other associated personnel costs.

15:46At this stage, the proposed budget

15:48reflects the dollar reductions submitted

15:50by departments. Specific employees have

15:53not yet been removed from the underlying

15:55personnel detail to implement those

15:57reductions because the civil service

15:59process has not yet occurred. As a

16:02result, the position allocations listed

16:04in the budget may not yet align with the

16:06proposed reduction in funding. The

16:09continued appearance

16:11of a position in that detail should not

16:13be interpreted as a final determination

16:15about whether that position will be

16:16affected. Once the budget is adopted,

16:19the administration will work with civil

16:21service and the affected departments to

16:23implement the approved reductions. Civil

16:27service's rules and process will govern

16:29the impact on classified employees. The

16:32personnel detail and corresponding costs

16:35will then be reconciled to reflect the

16:36outcome of that process and identify any

16:39adjustments needed to align with the

16:41adopted budget. I wanted to address this

16:43up front so the council has a clear

16:45understanding of what the proposed

16:46figures represent and the steps that

16:48must follow the adoption of the budget.

16:52>> Uh Council member Wheeler.

16:54>> Hey Brandy. Uh what happens if um we

16:56can't move forward with determination

16:59for some of those civil service

17:00positions?

17:03>> We don't have any indication that we

17:05can't move forward, but what happens is

17:07the list that we were provided might

17:08have been a specific name. So, you and

17:10I, for example, could have the exact

17:11same classification, and maybe they

17:13chose me

17:15as because I'm in a certain area and not

17:17you. Well, civil service may determine

17:19it's you and not me and our

17:21it could be switched up. We could be a

17:23different classification as a civil

17:24service process of rules. So, we are

17:26able to submit certain parameters to

17:28civil service to make the determination

17:31and they follow those parameters, but we

17:32don't choose the specific people. So,

17:35it's other processes in place that make

17:37the determination.

17:37>> Civil service would make those

17:38determinations?

17:40>> Yes, it's a process of civil service

17:41under law.

17:42>> And and and you're confident that um

17:45the the number of individuals would be

17:48allowed by civil service?

17:50>> Number and or dollar amount.

17:51>> Yeah.

17:52>> Yes.

17:52>> Okay. All right, thanks, Brandy.

17:54>> You're welcome.

17:55>> a follow-up question to that. The timing

17:56of that, say we pass the budget and then

17:58you all proceed with the civil service

18:01process.

18:01>> Correct.

18:02>> So, are we going to have any lingering

18:04effect of people who are not laid off,

18:07terminated into 2027? Meaning can

18:10>> don't expect to have that.

18:11>> So, we think that between mid-November

18:13and

18:14>> Yes, we're we're starting some internal

18:16processes now as we go, but we don't we

18:19haven't had a lot of all the all the

18:21conversations with you all to make sure

18:23that those are going to move forward. We

18:24will make the determinations, the 45-day

18:26notice to civil service to allow that to

18:28happen. Yes.

18:29>> Okay, thank you.

18:31>> That's also one of the benefits of the

18:33hopefully keeping that early adoption

18:35date of November the 19th to help us as

18:36well.

18:37>> All right, thanks, Brandy. You can

18:38proceed. Suzana.

18:40>> So, um thank you. So, with that being

18:42said, what uh safety and permits has

18:44laid before them to uh has been tasked

18:47to look at is to cut their personnel in

18:49the general fund by just over 900,000

18:52dollars.

18:55What this would mean for us is

18:57elimination of up to 12 full-time

19:00employees and also our planned

19:02retirements. Most of Most of this

19:04primarily, with the way civil service

19:06rules fall, would um include

19:09all of our open vacancies.

19:13There is a slight increase in operating

19:15expend- expenditures and that's due to

19:17mandatory mailings for our healthy

19:19homes, zoning, and flood plain

19:21management divisions.

19:24For non-general fund, um we've been

19:26tasked with looking to find $120,000

19:30in cuts. That's the equivalent of two

19:32full-time

19:33um employees. Right now, that would be

19:36vacancies in the form of code

19:38enforcement inspectors. So, I would just

19:41like to say that that would um

19:44narrow the scope of what our inspectors

19:47could could perform.

19:53The operating expenses will stay flat.

19:55The primary and and largest part in the

19:57non-general fund is um our Granicus.

20:01Currently, we are going out to RFP. It

20:04is our compliance platform to ensure

20:06that we are capturing

20:08um illegal short-term rentals and such.

20:14Okay. Next, I'm going to talk about some

20:15budget efficiencies that we are

20:17currently taking

20:19um

20:20strides in doing. We have begun, thanks

20:22to my my deputy and the managers and

20:25supervisors' hard work, to create

20:28training across all of our MDA and MDS

20:31series. So, that's management

20:32development series analyst and

20:34specialist across licensing and

20:37permitting

20:38to be more efficient in process time.

20:40You So, if we think about renewals, we

20:42can pull uh our MDAs to those

20:46renewals to help them work and push

20:48through any backlogs. We've started this

20:50process and anticipate it being complete

20:53by the first part of next year.

20:56We've implemented weekly reporting so

20:58that we can redline any concerns or

21:01catch those delays and attack them as

21:03they come forward.

21:04Um we also uh have a new process that

21:07we're going to be getting with all

21:09inspections for building and violations.

21:11We have a very dedicated employee who

21:13took on the monumental task to learn all

21:15the functions within Excel and has

21:18created a document that will be used in

21:20each section to assign, track, and

21:22resolve any inspections. What this means

21:24from a budget efficiency and revenue

21:26perspective is that we will make sure

21:28we're on top of reinspections that are

21:30needed, that we're closing things and

21:31sending things to adjudication in a

21:33timely fashion.

21:35We've increased community engagement to

21:37support collaborative compliance. And

21:40recently we partnered with our new

21:42director of CAB to help nearly double

21:46our processing capacity in cases that

21:49are heard.

21:50Um so not only do these services

21:52increase customer service experience,

21:54they aid in streamlining the process to

21:56bring in revenue in a more timely

21:58fashion to the city.

22:02For our goals, starting next year, we do

22:06plan to start sending building

22:07violations to adjudication. We've

22:09recently been able to hire an

22:11adjudication manager. She is uh

22:13currently developing standard operating

22:15procedures so that all violations go in

22:18a fair and consistent manner through the

22:20process. And working with the community

22:23to ensure compliance first because of

22:25course if we can find that pathway

22:27first, that's going to be our priority.

22:29We're

22:30continuously working to cross-certify

22:32our building inspectors not only for

22:34commercial and residential but across

22:36trades.

22:37Uh we'd like to create and launch the

22:39contact center that I know I've spoken

22:41about several times to help with

22:43communication in the community.

22:45Build on the SPARK team and grow our

22:48concierge program. Now I will say that

22:51these last three are going to be

22:52contingent on on looking at our

22:54resources and what we can and can't

22:56have.

22:57So as we look ahead to 2027, the

23:00Department of Safety and Permits remains

23:02steadfast in our commitment to serve

23:04this city with integrity,

23:06accountability, and clarity. We

23:08recognize the

23:10the decisions before you all are not

23:12simple.

23:13Yet, they are necessary to ensure that

23:15New Orleans remains a place where

23:16residents and businesses can build,

23:18invest, and thrive with confidence. Even

23:21in a constrained fiscal environment, our

23:24department continues to modernize,

23:26streamline, and strengthen the trust our

23:27community places in us every day.

23:31We are committed to doing our part,

23:32operating efficiently, using our

23:34resources wisely, and improving the

23:37customer service for every applicant who

23:39interacts with us.

23:40We understand the responsibility we

23:42carry, and we do not take it lightly.

23:45With the support of the council and this

23:47administration, we can continue moving

23:49forward, protecting safety,

23:51supporting economic growth,

23:53and ensuring that our processes remain

23:55transparent, predictable, and fair.

23:58Thank you for your partnership and for

24:00your continued dedication to the people

24:02of New Orleans. I look forward to

24:03working together as we navigate these

24:05challenges and deliver the level of

24:08service our community deserves. Thank

24:10you.

24:11>> Thank you. I have a few questions, and

24:12then our machines aren't working, so

24:15Council Member McCaren, I'll call on

24:16you, and then Council Member Willard,

24:17and then we'll switch it up for the next

24:19one.

24:20Um okay, so

24:22the 12 vacancies that you referenced on

24:25page two and

24:28three,

24:29how is this going to impact services? I

24:31mean, Safety and Permits actually makes

24:33money

24:34by collecting fees and issuing fines.

24:37So, how are these

24:3912 positions going to impact us

24:41fiscally?

24:41>> Yeah, so so the hope for our department

24:44was to be able to be more proactive when

24:46we reach out to the community, have

24:48rapid response teams so we can help

24:50people come into compliance, and ensure

24:53that people are applying for permits

24:55because there has been a challenge where

24:57people think, "Oh, I just won't file for

24:59the permit because, you know, it takes

25:01too long."

25:02This

25:03could impact

25:05that timeliness factor, right? So, not

25:09being able to have those positions

25:13will make it more difficult to come up

25:15with things like a rapid response team

25:17or more concierge services.

25:18>> Have you done a cost-benefit analysis of

25:21any of these positions versus what we

25:23could collect?

25:25>> Um I do have some of that. I did not

25:27bring it with me, but I'm happy to share

25:28with you.

25:29>> So, we would like to see all of that

25:30because look, it doesn't make sense to

25:32cut positions if we're going to lose

25:33money doing cutting those positions

25:36and collecting, you know, permit fees,

25:39etc.

25:40How has the creation of SPARK and the

25:42Canal Street concierge service impacted

25:45your staffing? I'm hearing that

25:47some folks are

25:50have been removed from zoning and the

25:52STR office in order to stop the those

25:54concierge and SPARK team services.

25:57>> Yeah, so far it's been very

25:58complimentary, right? So, they can still

26:01assist within those divisions as needed

26:04and support, but my whole team has been

26:07dedicated to these efforts and

26:09supportive in filling in the gaps. Has

26:11it been

26:12rough and have we seen some delays

26:14because of that? Yes, but I feel like

26:16these services are essential to the city

26:18in providing what we should.

26:19>> And [clears throat] how are we on STR

26:21enforcement?

26:23>> Um

26:25Again, I can give you specific numbers

26:27at a later time, but I would say that

26:31again, not as proactive as we'd like to

26:33be. We currently

26:36have several open cases, but the team

26:39works diligently every day.

26:41Um so, if we look at Granicus, I'm

26:43sorry.

26:44>> No, no. I mean again,

26:45it's better to come with all the data

26:47that you can provide. And I'm going to

26:49just say this for day 10 because we have

26:51some of Earnest, we have some of your

26:53other folks on day 10. If you could

26:55provide that data in advance so that we

26:56can study it and understand it, we could

26:58get through these questions much

27:00quicker. So again, the STR enforcement,

27:04what are what's our rate? What are we

27:05doing there? What's happening?

27:11Is there Is there any answer to that?

27:12>> Oh, sorry. Yes, so we

27:15um

27:15when when we look at Granicus and use

27:17that data, we have

27:20about 1,200

27:22um

27:23non-commercial short-term rentals and

27:26around 1,500 commercial short-term

27:28rentals. So around 3,000, I would call

27:31them legal short-term rentals across the

27:33city.

27:34When we use our platform, which is one

27:37of the good reasons for having it, it

27:39shows almost 6,000

27:42um listings. Now, I put the caveat in

27:45there. That does not mean there are

27:463,000 illegal short-term rentals out

27:49there. There are hotels who are allowed

27:51to have what's called excess TRs. So

27:53they're they're allowed to be on those

27:54platforms. Um

27:56I would but there are still several out

27:59there that would indicate that we need

28:01to take a deeper look at. We have looked

28:04at around We have have active cases on

28:07around 500 of those.

28:08>> 500?

28:09>> Yes.

28:10>> As of this year as of this

28:12>> It's rolling, right? So those are open

28:15um

28:15open cases.

28:17>> And

28:17And have we shut down any STRs? I mean,

28:20what are we

28:21>> So we we take them through the

28:22adjudication process.

28:24>> Right. And then what is the result of

28:25that?

28:26>> Fines.

28:27>> But not

28:29anything else. And are we collecting

28:31those fines?

28:34>> I'll get the number for you on what what

28:36is collected.

28:36>> Councilwoman, I'd I'd like to address

28:39that question a little bit. First of

28:40all, I want to you know, yesterday's

28:42paper, there was some some some some

28:44great

28:46reporting done that that that alluded to

28:49the fact that our enforcement of SDRs

28:51has been heightened and that the the

28:53differences can be felt within in that

28:57community. The The other thing in terms

28:59of

29:00CAB and what happens in adjudication, we

29:02did bring by our new

29:05CAB director who I wanted to make sure

29:09we put a name with a face. Sabre

29:11Matheny is here. Sabre's already uh

29:15hit the ground running, met with

29:18code enforcement and with safety and

29:20permits in order to be able to

29:23standardize the submissions and the

29:25process so that we can make sure we are

29:27as efficient as possible in getting

29:30those cases through to a resolution

29:32where we can at least collect the fine

29:35or resolve something in a way that is

29:36beneficial for the community.

29:38>> I I'd still like to see the the cost

29:41benefits of cutting these 12 positions

29:42versus what we could collect as a city

29:44in fines and fees. I mean, it again, it

29:47just you talk about essential services

29:49and efficiencies in your opening

29:50statement, but if we're going to cut

29:52positions

29:53and lose out on revenue, that doesn't

29:55make a lot of sense to me. So, I really

29:57want to see that data and I'm sure all

29:58of us up here would like to see that as

30:00well. I want to turn to

30:03the OIG report. The department has been

30:06subject of at least six outside reviews

30:08since 2021. The OIG spent 4 months

30:11inside safety and permits and issued a

30:12report last year with 12

30:14recommendations, largely to install

30:16internal controls. How many of these

30:18recommendations have been implemented by

30:20the department?

30:21>> Yeah, so we are actively looking at each

30:24division. We've made it through

30:27two

30:29two of our divisions to re-examine the

30:32processes to re-change them. We are

30:35working to cross-certify or cross-train

30:40the staff to address some of the

30:41concerns around the timeliness and and

30:43process control.

30:44>> Okay, can you get us the data on how

30:46many of the 12 recommendations have been

30:48implemented?

30:49>> Of course.

30:50>> Okay, thank you.

30:51Um one of the items was in the matrix

30:53study um referencing the OIG report,

30:56which was putting again a compliance

30:58officer in place.

31:00Um that was part of the chief zoning

31:02official position that I think is being

31:04contemplated as a cut. So, can you

31:06explain why we would cut that position

31:08given the OIG report?

31:15>> I'll get that for you, Council member.

31:17>> Okay.

31:20Are there any uh further updates to the

31:23safety and permits website and

31:25permitting processes that we can expect

31:27in 2027?

31:29>> Um we continue to refine and upload the

31:33checklist to make it easier for the

31:35public. We um

31:36anticipate putting up a refined new

31:39dashboard created by OPA

31:41um soon, hopefully in the next week or

31:43two,

31:44uh that will be transparent for people

31:47to go in and see the status of any

31:49permit or license.

31:50>> Yeah, look, one of the reasons uh we

31:52approved you I and look, you've you've

31:54done great work. I know you've done

31:55yeoman's work since you've been here was

31:58uh the checklist and getting those

32:00checklists implemented because I do

32:02think it's important for the public to

32:03understand exactly what the process is,

32:06how to go through it if they're

32:07navigating here, there, [snorts] where

32:09they need to go. So, I'd like to see an

32:11update on that as well. And then finally

32:14for my questions, how many fines have

32:16been issued and collected in 2026?

32:19And do we expect enforcement to increase

32:21in 2027 or are you saying because of

32:23these 12 positions being cut we're not

32:25going to do as much enforcement?

32:29>> I think twofold. Um

32:31one I I again I will get the exact

32:32number for you, sorry I don't have that.

32:34Um

32:35I think we will see an increase through

32:37the adjudication process. Now that we

32:39have the adjudication manager, we will

32:41be able to put more cases forward and we

32:43will also start seeing the building

32:45violations which right now we anticipate

32:49around based on numbers that we see

32:51around 60 a month that occur.

32:53>> Okay.

32:55And again, in 2027 are we expecting a

32:58fewer adjudications, fewer actions?

33:01>> Um I don't know that I would say fewer.

33:04We won't be able to move forward as

33:07>> Quickly.

33:08>> could.

33:08>> Okay.

33:09Um I'm going to turn it over to my

33:11colleagues. I might have additional

33:12questions. Council Member McCaren?

33:14Oh, okay.

33:16Council Member Willard?

33:17>> Uh thank you, Madam Chair, and thank

33:19you, Council Member McCaren, for letting

33:21me go first. Uh good morning, Deputy CAO

33:24and Director Kirby. Thank you all for

33:26coming this morning. Um I I tried to

33:29count the number of uh positions filled

33:32versus vacancies you had on that org

33:34chart.

33:35I got different like a

33:37slight slightly different number every

33:39time I counted, but I did it late last

33:41night. But anyway, it looked like you

33:43had about 97 positions filled. Does that

33:45sound about right?

33:47>> Uh in general fund, that's

33:49>> Yeah. And then um

33:51it's about 97 filled and

33:55about 15 vacancies. So,

33:59my my first question is the budget book

34:02has you um budgeted for 107 positions in

34:062026

34:07and then 108 in 2027. Does that sound

34:11right?

34:14>> I think that was yes.

34:15>> Okay.

34:17So, the general fund reduction, I think

34:19it's about a million-dollar reduction

34:21that you're getting year-over-year.

34:23Um is that coming from not filling those

34:26vacant positions?

34:28>> Correct.

34:29>> And and is it coming in anywhere else?

34:32>> Um

34:32>> Like services, programming, any anything

34:36like that?

34:36>> Yeah, so primarily all of our expenses

34:39is personnel.

34:40>> Personnel, okay.

34:42All right.

34:43Um

34:45So slide three talks about eliminating

34:4812 FTE vacancies and retirements. Okay,

34:53um the org chart shows 15 vacancies. So

34:57if you add retirements on top of that,

35:00um I wanted to know do you plan to fill

35:03some of those vacancies?

35:05Um do you already know about some

35:08retirements coming? I'm just trying

35:09because the numbers don't necessarily

35:12add up if you have 15 vacancies now, but

35:15you're also accounting for retirements

35:17and you're planning for an elimination

35:19of 12 positions. The numbers don't

35:21necessarily add up. So I just wanted to

35:24better understand are we planning to

35:27fill any of those vacant positions as we

35:29go into 2027? That's the first question.

35:32>> Sure. So to answer that, I would say um

35:36I want to be thoughtful about what

35:38positions

35:40we will have after the budget so we can

35:43ensure that we're filling appropriately

35:46um to whatever division

35:49we need to, right? So that

35:51yes, I do anticipate on filling

35:54positions that we do have. I just want

35:56to be careful and and thoughtful about

35:59where we

36:00>> Okay.

36:01>> Councilman, at at the end of the day

36:02that at

36:03we're trying to reach a a dollar figure

36:05number based on some things that are

36:07uncertain, right? Depending on the

36:09planning um and what actually happens uh

36:12will determine the combination of

36:13retirement and or non-filling of

36:15positions. Um but we tried to do our

36:18best in order to to estimate and and

36:20provide the source for where those those

36:23funds are coming from.

36:24>> Have any employees given you notice that

36:26they intend to retire in 2027?

36:29>> Yes, we have two.

36:30>> Two?

36:30Okay.

36:32Um

36:33what can you tell us what positions

36:34those are?

36:36>> Um sure, one is uh a building inspector

36:39and one is um

36:41in our permit intake.

36:43>> Okay. Building inspector and permit

36:45intake.

36:47Um

36:48I've been asking everybody this. Is Is

36:50terminal leave um accounted for in the

36:53CAO's budget for safety and permits?

36:55>> Yes.

36:55>> Yes, sir.

36:55>> Okay.

36:57Um you just mentioned permit intake

37:00division. I thought it was a little

37:01weird that there's a separation between

37:04permit intake uh from building and plan

37:07review divisions. Is there a reason that

37:10there's a separation right there?

37:11Because for me it

37:13may make sense to explore putting them

37:15together. You might find some cost

37:17savings there as well, certainly

37:19opportunities for increased efficiency.

37:22>> Yeah, it's definitely [clears throat]

37:22been one of the options being explored

37:24for the restructure.

37:26>> Okay.

37:27That sounds good.

37:28Um

37:31a few times this year we've heard the

37:33mayor talk about how occupational

37:35licenses

37:36uh in the city of New Orleans are up.

37:38That's That's really great.

37:40Um

37:41you we launched the concierge services

37:44in safety and permits for our

37:45businesses.

37:46Um just wanted to know um

37:49if there are any efforts going on right

37:51now or in 2027

37:53that will be looking at streamlining the

37:56residential permitting process. Um for

37:59me, a lot of the the emails and calls

38:02that I get related to safety and permits

38:04are more so on the residential side

38:06right now. So, I just wanted to know if

38:07there was any attention being given to

38:09the residential side.

38:11>> Yes. So, we um

38:14now have certified permit techs which

38:16are part of our permit intake group.

38:18And they're

38:19>> You said permit intake techs, like

38:21technicians?

38:22>> permit technicians, right? So,

38:24they're certified in that

38:26>> with the work.

38:27>> within permit intake.

38:28>> Okay.

38:29>> And to answer your question, they're

38:31currently in training now learning

38:33some zoning pieces and are going to be

38:35taking that on and then working with

38:37building and plan review so that they

38:38can move through some of those, I don't

38:40want to call nothing simple necessarily,

38:42but

38:44not as complicated permits such as the

38:46residential to move them through

38:48quicker. So, that is one of our

38:49efficiencies that we're working on.

38:51>> Okay, that sounds good.

38:53When do you expect to have them online?

38:55>> So, they are starting this week.

38:58This week with the zoning.

39:01We want to give them get their feet wet

39:02in that and then

39:05you know, by the end of this year have

39:06them training with plan review and

39:09>> Okay, sounds good.

39:11On the concierge service side,

39:14I know we have it launched right now.

39:18Hopefully to expand throughout the rest

39:20of the city.

39:21I wanted to know if there are objective

39:24criteria for a project to meet in order

39:28to have this sort of concierge safety

39:31and permit service provided.

39:34>> Yeah, so right now we generally just

39:35have it as new businesses within the two

39:38isolated areas.

39:39>> So, so anything new occurring in those

39:41two corridors in New Orleans East right

39:43now?

39:44>> Correct.

39:45>> Okay.

39:46Okay, and then as as we go to I mean it

39:49it may be something worth looking into

39:51adding some type of objective criteria

39:54that way developers and and

39:57business owners who are looking to

39:59embark on new projects can know kind of

40:01beforehand whether they will be

40:05eligible for this kind of enhanced

40:07customer service from safety and

40:08permits. I think it'll also help with

40:10our offices, too. That way we won't have

40:13people saying, "Hey, I'm you know,

40:14opening in

40:15bakery and I need you know what I mean?"

40:17I think it might help to have some type

40:19of a objective even if it's like a

40:21minimum criteria. That way it you know,

40:24we want to avoid picking winners and

40:26losers. I guess is what I would say.

40:28>> I actually did start it out with that

40:30and a lot of other cities New York for

40:33example does the square footage like you

40:35you know, your business has to be so

40:36many square feet to qualify.

40:38I think really since we were just

40:41focused on these two smaller areas, I

40:43wanted to leave it a little more

40:45open-ended but I I completely agree that

40:47we probably at some point do need to put

40:48criteria.

40:49>> Yeah, it's probably okay right now for

40:51those two corridors in the East to be

40:53open-ended but as we look to scale this

40:55throughout the rest of the city

40:57especially as we start to look at you

40:59know, downtown New Orleans. I think

41:01it'll be good. I think it'll you know,

41:03help us in the long run to have like a

41:05minimum eligibility requirement. Could

41:07be like related to a dollar value. It

41:09could be related to square footage of

41:11the project something like that but just

41:14just throwing it out there. My last

41:16question is about the STRs. I noticed in

41:19Questica that there's a

41:21line item for $280,000

41:24budgeted for software

41:26and I think part of your slide decks

41:29talked about using a new platform or

41:32RFP.

41:33>> out to RFP.

41:33>> RFP. So is that $280,000 to cover that

41:37RFP?

41:38>> Correct. Yeah, that's currently we we

41:40increased it slightly just cuz we we

41:42anticipate

41:44costs going up slightly but yes.

41:47>> Okay. It will that platform help with

41:49enforcement mechanisms as well or is

41:52that just like for compliance and

41:54transparency?

41:55>> No,

41:56it helps with enforcement as well.

41:58>> Okay. So hopefully we get the right

41:59system in there. We get more you know,

42:01collections in from from the enforcement

42:04side so it should cover itself, right?

42:06>> be the expectation.

42:07>> Last question

42:09$6,000 line item for

42:12STR surveillance equipment. What is the

42:15surveillance equipment for STRs?

42:17>> Yeah, so

42:19right now in the field, you know, they

42:21do have work phones, you know,

42:23city-issued phones. However, when you're

42:26doing performing inspections for STRs,

42:30it's it's important to document videos,

42:33multiple pictures, multiple days of the

42:36alleged activity that is going on. And

42:40so, we're asking for something a little

42:42bit more with more bandwidth, i.e., like

42:44iPads or something to capture.

42:47>> But you're not talking about like um a

42:49drone.

42:50>> Oh, no. No, I'm not touching that.

42:53>> [laughter]

42:54>> Thank you, Director Kirby.

42:55>> Thank you.

42:55>> Thank you, Earnest.

42:56>> Yes, sir.

42:57>> Council member Hynes and then Council

42:58member McCarran. Thank you, Council

42:59member McCarran.

43:04>> Oh, thank you, Madam Chair. Good

43:05morning. I was trying to follow. I had

43:07another meeting that I was

43:09coming from.

43:10Uh I'm a I'm a little confused, so

43:12forgive me. When we talk about the

43:14elimination of positions, can you tell

43:17me

43:18how many positions are you proposing to

43:20eliminate

43:22of that number? So, let's start there.

43:23What's the total number of positions

43:25you're proposing to eliminate?

43:27Is it 12 or is it another number?

43:28>> So, within general funds, it's would be

43:3014 including the two retirements. So, 12

43:34vacancies, two retirements.

43:36>> Okay.

43:37So, two are retirements. How many of

43:40that remaining are

43:42vacancies?

43:43Are any of them vacancies?

43:45>> The 12, all of them.

43:46>> So, all of So, you're not proposing to

43:48eliminate any any real bodies. Is that

43:52accurate?

43:53>> Not Not as it stands right now.

43:54>> Okay.

43:55Um

43:57I think that's all I have for now. Thank

43:58you.

44:00>> Council member McCarran.

44:03>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um

44:05when you guys were looking at this plan

44:08to restructuring, which I'm still, you

44:10know, want to

44:11know more about what that means.

44:14Do we have any data, like are you using

44:16data from your reviews on permit on the

44:19permitting process to

44:22guide you on this restructuring and and

44:25potential personnel cuts and just walk

44:28me through how we're coming up with this

44:30plan.

44:30>> Sure. Yes.

44:32Um

44:33So, through the tracking, so if we think

44:34about and I'll use inspections because

44:36it's probably the best example of how we

44:39can restructure.

44:41If I think about short-term rental and

44:43zoning violations,

44:45all of those inspectors are the same

44:48classification, right? They're code and

44:50code enforcement inspectors. Um

44:53you know, why why can't we combine those

44:56into one unit, if you will, within

44:58safety and permits, so that we can, now

45:00that we have our our tracking mechanism,

45:02ensure that we're going after the

45:04violations and streamline the process,

45:06right? So, regardless of whether you sit

45:09within short-term rental or zoning, if I

45:12need you to go out on zoning, you go out

45:13on zoning, right? So, you would

45:15consolidate. So, we use the data for

45:17that one um from a practical personnel

45:20standpoint of how many personnel and

45:22inspectors I have in each area.

45:24Um and then the same thing as we grow

45:28concierge um spark team, that really is

45:31becoming its own division, right? Um

45:34more like an administrative customer

45:36service division.

45:38Um when we think about licensing, right?

45:40There's there's multiple different kinds

45:42of licensing. And so, when we talk about

45:44the cross-certifying of the MDAs, does

45:46it make sense in a world to have just a

45:49licensing

45:52whole division, right? Whether that's

45:53short-term rental license, healthy home

45:55certificate, anything like that.

45:58>> Councilwoman, one of the other

46:00management techniques that we're trying

46:01to apply to the to to this entire

46:05exercise.

46:07In in in safety and permits, we're using

46:10permit stat, right? Where we are

46:13absolutely using data,

46:16analyzing the data with the management

46:18team on a week-to-week, month-to-month

46:20basis [clears throat] to determine

46:22where the snags are within the process,

46:25and then making sure that we apply

46:27appropriate management techniques to

46:29either people or processes

46:31in order to make sure we are are as

46:33efficient as we possibly can. And that

46:35information is being compiled over time

46:37and used to make the management

46:39decisions.

46:39>> Well, we the council be given a report

46:41on that and and when what's the timing

46:43on that?

46:44>> So, it's ongoing

46:46and we can generate a report to be able

46:50to provide some additional information

46:52for the council.

46:52>> Yeah, I think that would be helpful as

46:54we kind of go through especially these

46:56personnel, you know, potential cuts

46:57because

46:59you know, we see you know, there's

47:00there's two or one plan reviewer, I

47:03guess, on this chart.

47:06Inspections, permit intake, I mean, all

47:08of these things are zoning, all these

47:10things can be, you know, the biggest

47:12processes that safety and permits has to

47:13go through and can take a lot of time.

47:15So, I guess for us to understand, you

47:18know, what you're basing that off of and

47:20to make sure that if there is an area

47:22that you're seeing is causing delays and

47:25it's because you need additional

47:26personnel, I want you to be able to

47:28let us know so we can make sure that you

47:31are

47:33prioritizing and and getting the right

47:35staff that you need. I mean,

47:37you know, to run smoothly and

47:38efficiently.

47:39>> I understand. Yes, Council member.

47:41>> Yeah, so if you could provide that, um

47:44like Council member Harris said before

47:45the next um hearing, that would be

47:48great.

47:52Um the RFP for STR compliance, is that

47:55just the report

47:56re-procuring Granicus host compliance.

48:00>> Correct. It was just it's time to go out

48:02to RFP because we've expired our

48:04>> Okay.

48:04>> extensions.

48:06>> Do you have enough inspectors and and

48:08what's and are we still using a

48:11third-party inspectors for electrical

48:13and and is there a plan to

48:15potentially look at bringing some of

48:17those in-house as opposed to

48:19third-party? Have we done kind of an

48:20analysis on

48:22the the difference in cost?

48:23>> I think to the Council member Harris's

48:27point, um,

48:29I I can show that in a cost-benefit.

48:32Um, of course, right now we would still

48:34depend on third-party inspectors just

48:36due to capacity.

48:39>> Okay. Thank you.

48:40>> Council member Harris.

48:42>> Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm going to take

48:43another bite at the apple because now

48:45I'm super confused and maybe I'm

48:46confusing myself. Um,

48:49earlier it was stated that you all were

48:51going to have to go to civil service and

48:53and and all of that good stuff, but if

48:56you're not eliminating live bodies, why

48:58would you need to go to civil service?

49:01>> The comment I made is not just specific

49:03to safety and permits. It's going to

49:05apply to several departments that are

49:07starting today through the end of the

49:09presentation.

49:11>> Okay. So, what departments do those

49:12apply to? What specific departments do

49:15those apply to?

49:16>> Sanitation is an example. Parks and

49:18Parkways is another example.

49:19>> For the presentations that we're doing

49:21today, safety and permits, sanitation,

49:23code enforcement.

49:25Which departments will we have to go to

49:27civil service for? That's what I want to

49:28understand.

49:30>> Sanitation.

49:31>> Only only

49:32>> Sanitation, yeah.

49:32>> Only sanitation?

49:33>> So, I have not reviewed the positions in

49:35safety and permits specifically, but I

49:37know for a fact sanitation is one of the

49:39departments. Yes.

49:40>> Okay. So, are we sure or unsure that

49:42we're we're not going to have to go to

49:44civil service for your department?

49:47>> Yeah, if they're vacant, we wouldn't

49:48have to go. This is only if there's

49:50bodies in the actual position.

49:51>> I I I I

49:52appreciate that. Look, I'm not trying to

49:54be combative. I I I need to ask these

49:56questions so that I can fully understand

49:58what we're doing. And so, when I ask you

50:00all questions, I want you all to speak

50:02with confidence and be sure so that I

50:04can be confident. But, when you all are

50:06not confident, it doesn't give me much

50:07confidence. So.

50:09>> As it stands right now for safety and

50:11permits, we would just be eliminating

50:13vacant positions, which would just be

50:15the position control eliminating.

50:17>> And some of the positions when the

50:18budget was initially built, there were

50:20people in some of these positions. So,

50:21we're in Today is October the 19th. The

50:24budget was built on positions prior to

50:26the several months ago is when the

50:27positions were downloaded from ADP. So,

50:30there have been multiple cases where

50:31people have left after since that time.

50:33>> Okay.

50:36Your department is a rare department

50:38where you actually get to generate

50:40revenue.

50:42I guess I'm struggling why you would

50:44need to eliminate positions at all.

50:46Where where where you all are asking us

50:48to increase fees and and and all this

50:50great stuff and and

50:52why do you need to eliminate at all?

50:57>> I think in a perfect world, we wouldn't.

50:59I think, you know, as part of the city,

51:03um

51:06we we are all

51:08have to feel part of the pain, right?

51:10And and contribute where we can. I

51:13I think I could sit here and say I could

51:15probably generate the revenue to cover

51:17all my vacant positions and I don't want

51:19to cut anything. I think this

51:21this presentation today was just to

51:24demonstrate

51:25um

51:27the maximum that we can

51:29that safety and permits can contribute

51:32to bring the city in up upright the city

51:35and its budget position.

51:36>> Yeah, but if you eliminate positions,

51:38will you will your department be

51:41operating at its maximum? Because again,

51:43you're one of the rare departments that

51:45can actually generate revenue for the

51:47city.

51:48And so, I appreciate that, you know,

51:50your department wants to be a team

51:51player and feel some pain. Look, at the

51:54end of day, it's going to be up to the

51:55seven of us. We own the budget, um

51:57whether whether we like it or not. Um

51:59so, we're going to figure out where that

52:01where that pain is, and hopefully we

52:03can, you know, spare some of this pain,

52:05but I'm not sure I agree with the wisdom

52:07that, you know, um your department is

52:10going to cut its way to prosperity. We

52:12tried that in Baton Rouge about a decade

52:14ago. It ended in disaster.

52:16So, I I I'm not sure I agree with your

52:19philosophy.

52:20>> No, I appreciate that, and I think um

52:23I

52:24I do have something. I'm happy to

52:25provide it this week, which will be a

52:27cost-benefit analysis of if we keep the

52:30positions, what that means from a

52:31revenue perspective.

52:33>> like personally to see a plan, Madam

52:35Director. I want to see a plan where you

52:37are fully staffed up. Um and I want to

52:41see a Department of Safety and Permits

52:43that's operating at its maximum,

52:46um that is actually generating revenue

52:48for the city. That's the type of Safety

52:50and Permits that I'd like to see.

52:51>> I appreciate that. Yes.

52:52>> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

52:54>> Thank you, Councilmember Moreau.

52:56>> Thank you. Uh

52:58Todd, I apologize for my tardiness. I've

53:00got a couple of really quick questions.

53:01The first is

53:03um healthy homes.

53:05Um

53:06I know that an ongoing concern has been

53:11the program functions very, very well,

53:14but part of the program functioning

53:15properly is a communication between

53:17Safety and Permits and Code Enforcement

53:19to make sure that when there are

53:20complaints are made, that follow-up

53:22happens.

53:24Is there a concern with the budget cuts

53:26that are proposed that it will

53:27negatively impact the Healthy Homes

53:29program?

53:32>> So, from my perspective, uh

53:34I don't have that concern. One of the

53:36initiatives that we've been challenged

53:38as a group to um uh put in place is a

53:42better coordinated effort among

53:44departments.

53:46I've heard you mention in the past that

53:50the customer service experience has been

53:52lacking

53:53when

53:54a problem needs addressing from several

53:56different departments.

53:58We are

54:00putting in place a

54:01plan to alleviate that issue.

54:04Part of that plan is already started as

54:06it relates as I said to code

54:08enforcement, safety and permits and and

54:10CAB. If If If we put in place a

54:14a process

54:16that on a weekly basis

54:18accounts for what the universe of cases

54:21are,

54:22where they are in the system and what

54:23the disposition is,

54:25I believe that that will will alleviate

54:27some of the issues in terms of cases

54:30falling off or things not progressing

54:32through as they should. And that and

54:34that process is going on right now.

54:37>> Okay. Um

54:41Obviously

54:43we There's been some talk about

54:45increasing permit fees. I think that's a

54:47foregone conclusion, but I think

54:48something that's very important for the

54:49public to realize is

54:51it's not just about increasing the fees,

54:53it's the timing and how the fees are

54:55collected. For example,

54:57we are the only parish I'm aware of, and

55:00we're changing this, where we do not

55:03charge, in some instances including for

55:05building permits, permit fee

55:07applications at all.

55:09And it's a huge problem because

55:12as you know, when you pull the final

55:14permit for a building permit, it's based

55:16on the value of the building. And in the

55:18city of New Orleans, someone could

55:20submit all the paperwork

55:22to do a building permit.

55:24They pay no upfront fee.

55:26Safety and Permits does all the work to

55:28generate the building permit, and then

55:30they may decide, "Oh, that's a really

55:32expensive building permit. I'm not going

55:33to pull it."

55:34And that is a tremendous amount of work

55:38and time sunk into that as an example.

55:41And part of the changes we're doing with

55:43built with with permit fees is actually

55:46charging application fees so that when

55:48we have individuals in your department

55:50doing work,

55:51they are not doing work for free hoping

55:54someone will pay them on the back end.

55:57And that's an important change, right?

55:59>> Absolutely. Not only does it help in

56:02that regard, but it makes us more

56:04efficient, right? Because the applicant

56:06now has skin in the game

56:08and

56:10we have better responses from them, more

56:13timely responsive responses because they

56:16do have skin in the game. And that and

56:18and that way it doesn't take as much as

56:20much time and effort from our staff

56:24in in order to be able to process an

56:25application.

56:27>> Right, cuz I mean

56:28what what I don't want to try to think

56:30of a polite way to say it, but there are

56:32people who frivolously apply for

56:35permits, realize the cost is too high,

56:37and then just don't pay for the permit.

56:39>> And and generally those have been stuck

56:41in the system.

56:42>> Right.

56:42>> So just as a a data point, um one of the

56:45things we found from permits that uh

56:48that I'm sure we could provide in a

56:49report,

56:51something that stuck out like a sore

56:52thumb is all these open permits, right?

56:55So oh gosh, why do we have so many open

56:57permits that are in a status revisions

56:59needed, whatever it is.

57:01Um and in the last month, I was just

57:03looking back to confirm is it 2,000

57:05Jenny? How much 2,000 that have been

57:07closed?

57:08Yeah, almost 2,000 permits that we've

57:10just closed due to inactivity for almost

57:12a year for the the exact reasons that

57:14you're speaking to.

57:15>> Right. Um my last thing is that I don't

57:18know if you were able to watch the

57:19finance presentation, but um one of the

57:22things that Ms. Samuels was able to

57:24produce, which was a very like

57:26eye-opening number, was that the ROI on

57:30an auditor was 4.6 to 1.

57:34And I really think

57:37it would be worthwhile to supplement

57:39your presentation with looking at the

57:41different positions in your department

57:43and really looking at the ROI. To

57:46Council member Hughes's point, you're a

57:48revenue generating department.

57:50I know from my time both here and at the

57:52state level,

57:54whenever we faced tremendous cuts to the

57:57budget,

57:59the priority was always preserving the

58:01departments that generate revenue. I

58:04mean, as as brutal as that sounds, the

58:07department you need to keep fully

58:09staffed is the one that at least

58:11generates revenue to to to to fund

58:14itself. And for the most part, I I have

58:16to tell people all the time, a fee

58:17structure and Ernest knows this cuz we

58:20dealt with the state level, a fee

58:21structure has to revolve around a fee

58:23for service. So,

58:26if you're generating revenue, the

58:27revenue for all practical purposes

58:29legally needs to be for the services

58:31provided.

58:34What is dangerous is that any instance

58:37in which anyone thinks revenue generated

58:40by your department in excess of your

58:42services should and would go to the

58:45general fund. Because what happens that

58:47in that case, and it's happened multiple

58:50times, is you end up in front of the tax

58:52commission or another body who goes,

58:54"Well,

58:55once you're charging more than you can

58:58justify for the service being provided,

59:00it is then a tax." And you could really

59:02run into some serious issues where and

59:05it's something we ran into previously

59:06Ernest with the gallonage fee under the

59:08two administrations ago, where when your

59:10fee is an obviously in excess of what it

59:13takes to provide the service, it turns

59:15into a tax and the tax commission rang

59:18our bell on that. They said, "You can't

59:19just have a fee that's a tax because a

59:22tax requires a different structure to be

59:24implemented." So, I would A encourage

59:26you to look at the ROI per by position

59:29because it certainly isn't our interest

59:32to make sure that your department is

59:34generating enough money to fund itself

59:35because when you are deficient then it

59:38impacts the general fund cuz we have to

59:40supplement your department. But if we

59:41get your department to a point where it

59:43is completely self-sufficient

59:46that is the way it helps us

59:48use money elsewhere. But we can't use

59:51your excess money.

59:52It's a very poor business practice just

59:56government. So

59:57>> Understood.

59:58>> little homework if you can get us an ROI

59:59on position it'd be helpful because when

1:00:01we're looking at how we're going to

1:00:03restructure the budget cuz as Councilman

1:00:05Hughes said ultimately it's the

1:00:06council's role. The mayor proposed the

1:00:08budget

1:00:10but we're going to have to decide what

1:00:12the final budget looks like because she

1:00:14doesn't vote on the budget, we do. And

1:00:16the expectation we're going to have is

1:00:18to try and create a budget that is

1:00:20forward-thinking, self-sufficient, and

1:00:22that allows departments that have the

1:00:26possibility of self-generating revenue

1:00:28like CAB. CAB is a kind of a hot mess

1:00:30because CAB should fund itself but it's

1:00:33been historically so poorly run that it

1:00:35doesn't.

1:00:36We need to get every department to stand

1:00:38up and fund themselves to free up the

1:00:40supplemental money to other departments.

1:00:42>> Yes, sir.

1:00:43>> That's all I thank you, ma'am and

1:00:44gentlemen.

1:00:45>> Uh thank you. So you've heard from us.

1:00:47Uh there are several things that we've

1:00:48asked. Uh I've specifically asked for

1:00:51cost-benefit analysis of cutting

1:00:53positions. You heard specific ROI per

1:00:56position cut from Council Member Hughes

1:00:59and Council Member Morell. Um how many

1:01:01of the OIG recommendations has the

1:01:03department actually implemented? You

1:01:05need to share the full matrix reports.

1:01:07We also need to know the fines issued

1:01:10and collected in 2026 to date

1:01:13versus what we expect for 2027 and also

1:01:16STR enforcement status.

1:01:19Anything else?

1:01:20I think that covers it. Do need

1:01:22anything?

1:01:22>> information about the decision-making

1:01:26matrix that we were using

1:01:27>> Yes.

1:01:28>> for the reorg.

1:01:29>> Yeah, thank you. Um I have one comment

1:01:31card and for the public, if you have any

1:01:33comments on any of these departments,

1:01:34you just need to fill out a a yellow

1:01:36card. Susan Johnson, you get 2 minutes.

1:01:48>> [clears throat]

1:01:51>> Susan Johnson, 2822 page 3, but I'm not

1:01:54paid to be here. I've been monitoring

1:01:56commercial development in residential

1:01:57neighborhoods since 2019. We are now 10

1:02:00months

1:02:01into the new administration and safety

1:02:03and permits continues to favor

1:02:05developers and fails to follow their own

1:02:07rules or apply the CZO in the permitting

1:02:10process. A few examples, [snorts]

1:02:12DSP issues work permits submitted

1:02:14without the requisite plot plan showing

1:02:16[snorts] off-street parking. DSP issued

1:02:19a zoning verification for two

1:02:20five-bedroom units at 6028 Feret. That

1:02:23is a rooming house, which is prohibited

1:02:26in the zoning. A five-year veteran

1:02:27employee approved the the demolition of

1:02:301128 Lower Line despite a clear flag in

1:02:33the system and DSP fails to cite

1:02:36developers for working without a permit.

1:02:38This director does not follow either of

1:02:40the DSP rules or the CZO

1:02:43>> [laughter]

1:02:43>> and neither does the staff.

1:02:45At the BZA, the chief zoning official

1:02:48continues to offer a positivist

1:02:50interpretation of university area D2D

1:02:53work permits. That is, despite all

1:02:56public information to the contrary, the

1:02:58developer and his drawing sets are

1:03:00always right. Meantime, former city

1:03:02employee Mike Sherman is using the plan

1:03:05development loophole to redevelop

1:03:07historic churches and schools to the

1:03:09developers advantage and former DSP Zach

1:03:12head Zach Smith is misrepresenting a

1:03:14golf simulation venue as a social club

1:03:17on Freret. Moreover, DSP has verified

1:03:20every aspect of Smith's zoning for a

1:03:23two-lane dorm at 3100 Calhoun with the

1:03:25above ground floor dwelling use

1:03:27originally intended, at least

1:03:29implicitly, to create affordable

1:03:31housing. Ladies and gentlemen, the

1:03:33master plan is not a mere recommendation

1:03:35and neither is the CZO. It's my view

1:03:38that there's no advocate for residential

1:03:40zoning at Safety and Permits and the

1:03:42neighbors who returned to New Orleans

1:03:44after Katrina to rebuild their homes are

1:03:46getting the shaft. Thank you.

1:03:49>> Thank you. Um Ashley, next up.

1:03:53>> Next up is Code Enforcement.

1:03:56Come on down.

1:04:15>> I'll slide up.

1:04:23How many of you guys know?

1:04:41All right, I'm going to uh defer to you

1:04:43uh uh the director to introduce the

1:04:45staff and to uh uh give his

1:04:47presentation.

1:04:49>> Honorable Council President Moreno,

1:04:51Honorable Council Vice President

1:04:53Williams, District A, Honorable

1:04:55Councilwoman McCaren, District B and

1:04:57Budget Chair, Honorable Councilwoman

1:04:59Harris, District C, Honorable Councilman

1:05:01King, District D, Honorable Councilwoman

1:05:03Green, and District E, Honorable

1:05:05Councilman Hughes. Good morning. I am

1:05:07Anthony Davis, the director from the

1:05:09Department of Code Enforcement, and

1:05:11joining me today are

1:05:13uh some members of the DCE staff. To my

1:05:15immediate left is Ariane Pan, the chief

1:05:18of staff. To my immediate right is the

1:05:20DCE budget coordinator, Mr. Richard

1:05:23Brown. And then to my far left, who

1:05:25which all of you are familiar with, is

1:05:27our DC Council Liaison, Ms. Ashley

1:05:30Givens.

1:05:31In addition, I would like to thank the

1:05:32members of the DCE leadership team that

1:05:34are located in the gallery for their

1:05:36extraordinary commitment, devotion, and

1:05:38show of support. This also includes

1:05:41those who are tuned in from the

1:05:42department via televisions and on the

1:05:44desks.

1:05:45As always, what an honor and privilege

1:05:47to be before you today. Before we get to

1:05:50the PowerPoint presentation this

1:05:51morning, and if I may, I just wanted to

1:05:54briefly highlight some of the

1:05:55department's continued success and

1:05:57achieved milestones as we advance toward

1:06:00year three of DCA's existence on 1

1:06:03January 2027.

1:06:05Since January 1st of this year and as of

1:06:07October 16, 2026, DCE has accomplished

1:06:11the following wave tops.

1:06:13We reconvened the demolition of the Gaul

1:06:15Manor and just convened the demolishment

1:06:18of the fifth of the final 12 remaining

1:06:20buildings. Per the settlement agreement,

1:06:22final demolition is expected in June of

1:06:252027.

1:06:26Administrative judgment hearings. To

1:06:29year-to-date, we've had over 1,930

1:06:3230 hearings. We've levied nearly $7

1:06:35million in fines and fees and collected

1:06:37nearly $2.4 million this year.

1:06:40In our compliance division, we have

1:06:43brought 1,738

1:06:45cases with 655 in compliance. That's two

1:06:49out of every five constituents

1:06:50complying. In title research, we've

1:06:53conducted over 2,800 cases.

1:06:56In healthy homes enforcement,

1:06:58year-to-date, we've had 652 complaints.

1:07:01We've had 282 hearings and we've levied

1:07:05over $700,000 in fines.

1:07:07And In reference to demolitions and

1:07:09year-to-date, the city has demolished 62

1:07:13structures along with three that was

1:07:16demolished by homeowners.

1:07:18In our minimum property maintenance,

1:07:19we've conducted 5,109

1:07:22initial inspections and that has

1:07:24produced 4,627

1:07:27new cases. And then lastly, in terms of

1:07:29our strike team abatements,

1:07:31year-to-date, we have conducted 320

1:07:34strike team abatements across the city

1:07:36of New Orleans. So, despite some

1:07:38unprecedented challenges, DCE has

1:07:41weathered the storm and remained

1:07:42laser-focused on achieving our core

1:07:44capabilities and meeting the mission.

1:07:47Today, I am happy to announce that the

1:07:48Department of Code Enforcement is

1:07:50strong, continuing our pursuit toward

1:07:53operational excellence while rendering

1:07:55second-to-none service, remaining ever

1:07:58ready to adapt and overcome, and

1:08:00prepared to meet the demands of this

1:08:01great city.

1:08:03Now, if we can get to our presentation

1:08:05beginning with our organizational chart,

1:08:08Department of Code Enforcement currently

1:08:10has 52 FTEs.

1:08:12We have 10 divisions and two uh sections

1:08:15within the Department of Code

1:08:16Enforcement. Next slide, please.

1:08:20On this particular side, what you can

1:08:22see is the difference that we've had

1:08:23between our variance between 2026 and

1:08:262027. In that variance for personnel, we

1:08:30only had a $136,000

1:08:32reduction. So, the Department of Code

1:08:34Enforcement will continue to move

1:08:35forward. In our other operating, we

1:08:38actually had an increase of 1.4. That

1:08:41increase is to account for the the

1:08:44completed demolition of the Gallier Hall

1:08:46Manor as we go forward into 2027.

1:08:49But overall, from '26 to '27, a $1.2

1:08:52million

1:08:54difference in what we had last year.

1:08:55Next slide, please.

1:08:58In terms of our personnel services,

1:09:00about $4 million

1:09:02We use for personnel. Again, 52 FTEs on

1:09:05the organizational chart, which may have

1:09:07been difficult for you all to view.

1:09:09There are four vacancies on that

1:09:10organizational chart. In terms of

1:09:13operating, $7.6 million total coming

1:09:17from three different grants that you see

1:09:19there, the housing and environmental

1:09:21improvement fund, short-term rental, and

1:09:24the NHIF for $450,000, but a grand total

1:09:27of $11 million $8 million $11.8 million

1:09:31that we're going to have for 2027.

1:09:35Next slide, please.

1:09:38Mhm.

1:09:40In terms of our budget efficiencies, I

1:09:42just want to highlight two things on

1:09:44this slide because the other ones I

1:09:46introduced when I was when I first came

1:09:48up here.

1:09:49In terms of trying to assist the city in

1:09:51the financial situation we find

1:09:54ourselves in, we did reduce our

1:09:56utilization of cellular technology

1:09:58throughout the department for cost

1:10:00savings to try to help with this the

1:10:02again the financial situation. And

1:10:04again, secondly, and with the help of

1:10:07Council Vice President

1:10:09uh

1:10:09Willard, we were able to secure a

1:10:11$100,000 CEA from the state for lot

1:10:14abatement. Next slide, please.

1:10:19In terms of our 2027 goals, first of

1:10:21all, first and foremost, our theme for

1:10:232027 will be to maximize

1:10:26time, effort, and resources for what we

1:10:29have for 2027. That includes the

1:10:31expansion of our DCE strike team,

1:10:35more strategic lot abatement. As we move

1:10:38forward in 2027, the same thing with our

1:10:41graffiti abatement measures, which we

1:10:43did not do in 2026, but we hope to do in

1:10:462027.

1:10:48As previously mentioned by the DCA

1:10:50before, we're going to work with the

1:10:52Central Adjudication Bureau to increase

1:10:54our number of hearings that we have and

1:10:56to get some judgments recorded so that

1:10:59we can make sure that we hold those

1:11:01constituents accountable.

1:11:04We also plan to strengthen some healthy

1:11:06homes rules and violations. And for

1:11:08example, there's some disconnects in the

1:11:11current ordinance that we have in

1:11:13reference to something as simple as

1:11:14mold. Mold is not we don't expect for

1:11:17mold because that requires a special

1:11:20requirement to site for mold, but it's

1:11:22in it's kind of in the state

1:11:24requirement. So we're going to have to

1:11:25work into strengthen some of those

1:11:27things. And of course, we certainly look

1:11:29forward to working with IGR for some

1:11:31legislative improvements to act 48. In

1:11:34terms of act 48, we know that there's

1:11:36four requirements for the department to

1:11:38bring that before the council that's

1:11:40required. And one of the most thing one

1:11:43of the things that is prohibiting us

1:11:45significantly from making

1:11:47recommendations to the city council is

1:11:49the first requirement that says lease

1:11:51this housing. We have a lot of

1:11:53nonprofits that have some blighted

1:11:56property all across this city, but it's

1:11:58not lease this housing. So we'll work

1:12:01with IGR in terms of trying to find a

1:12:03better way forward going forward.

1:12:05Obviously, we want to commit continue

1:12:07our community engagement and dialogue as

1:12:09we've always done in the Department of

1:12:11Code Enforcement. And obviously, if we

1:12:13have the opportunity to expand our DCE

1:12:16strike team, that is going to require

1:12:18the addition of some more vehicles and

1:12:21equipment to support additional

1:12:23personnel for our DCE strike team.

1:12:26That's all I have so open to questions

1:12:29now at this time and thank you.

1:12:31>> All right, I'll start with Council

1:12:31Member Hughes.

1:12:36>> Oh, thank you. Good morning.

1:12:37>> Good morning, sir.

1:12:40>> All right. So, let's talk about

1:12:42progress. Your presentation reports 52

1:12:45demolitions, 315

1:12:47rights of way abatements, and 1,872

1:12:52hearings year-to-date.

1:12:54What helped your team deliver that work

1:12:56and what progress would you like to

1:12:57highlight from the New Orleans East and

1:12:59Lower Ninth Ward?

1:13:01>> Thank you for that question, Councilman

1:13:02Hughes. So, it represents

1:13:05in terms of the lot abatements, I I

1:13:07would do want to stress that that was

1:13:09really handled by three people who is

1:13:11all we have on our DCE strike team. We

1:13:14have two laborers and one equipment

1:13:16operator. And so, they were able to make

1:13:19all of those accomplishments,

1:13:21particularly for New Orleans East. We

1:13:22was able to

1:13:24handle quite a bit of right-of-way

1:13:26abatements in terms of New Orleans East.

1:13:28In fact, we did 144

1:13:30abatements in New Orleans East from our

1:13:32strike team abatements. And again, I do

1:13:34want to thank the strike team for that.

1:13:37Uh

1:13:40And their supervisor because and if I

1:13:43could just for a moment

1:13:45the

1:13:46this three-member strike team was

1:13:48dealing with some severely overgrown,

1:13:51neglected vegetation, sometimes more

1:13:54greater than 10-ft high with toxic

1:13:56weeds, removing hazardous vines, dealing

1:13:59with tree saplings, tree trimming, and

1:14:03various trash debris that was all over

1:14:05the place. And so, that's not even

1:14:07talking about dealing with pests and

1:14:11venomous creatures that's also that has

1:14:14taken root in some of these things. hats

1:14:16off to them. In terms of demolitions, I

1:14:18do want to just thank uh

1:14:21the entire demolition team. Our

1:14:23supervisor, Mr. Gregory Laugus, does a

1:14:25wonderful job

1:14:27of dispersing our demolitions fairly

1:14:29across the city. And again, as

1:14:31previously mentioned, Councilman Hughes,

1:14:32we've done 62 today and particularly in

1:14:35New Orleans East, we're sitting at about

1:14:3715 demolitions so far year-to-date and I

1:14:40have plans to come back to the East

1:14:42pretty soon.

1:14:44>> Uh thank you very much. And and before I

1:14:46go on to my um

1:14:48further questions, I do want to thank

1:14:50you director and your entire team. Look,

1:14:52there's a lot of frustration and

1:14:54rightfully so.

1:14:55>> Yes, sir.

1:14:55>> In District E.

1:14:57>> Yes, sir.

1:14:57>> I'll just speak for District E.

1:14:59And some of this is is 20 years of of

1:15:02neglect. And you know, there's this

1:15:06expectation.

1:15:08And rightfully so, right? If a

1:15:09>> Yes, sir.

1:15:10>> If a taxpayer is taking care of their

1:15:11home. And they're living next to a dump.

1:15:15They they they don't want to live next

1:15:17to that. I do see our CAO here and our

1:15:21deputy CAO and I'm just going to

1:15:23continue [clears throat] to sound the

1:15:24alarm. We have a very unsustainable

1:15:27model in the city. I really don't get

1:15:28it. I don't understand how a derelict

1:15:31home. Can just continue to sit and rot

1:15:34for 15 years and

1:15:36And and we're not being more aggressive

1:15:38to to seize these properties and and and

1:15:41sell them and and and get them back to

1:15:43commerce and I'm at the peak of

1:15:44frustration. I'm going to be honest with

1:15:46you all.

1:15:47That every time I ask, what is the

1:15:48status of of of of getting some

1:15:52platform.

1:15:54To auction off these properties. It's

1:15:56always we're working on it. Let's work

1:15:58harder.

1:15:59Let's work with a sense of urgency

1:16:00because that's revenue that can be

1:16:02coming in our city.

1:16:03And so we have all of these properties

1:16:05that are just sitting there and and the

1:16:07best answer I can get is that we're

1:16:09working on it. Well, we got to work with

1:16:11with with with more urgency. Let me move

1:16:14on.

1:16:15How many positions are filled today

1:16:17within your department? What critical

1:16:20positions are vacant and is staffing

1:16:22sufficient for the current caseload?

1:16:25Please reconcile the four reported

1:16:27vacancies with the eight vacant boxes in

1:16:30your organizational chart.

1:16:32>> Yes, sir. So, currently we have 52 FTEs

1:16:35on staff in the Department of Code

1:16:37Enforcement. The four vacancies consist

1:16:39of two MDAs and then two case

1:16:43specialists. Those case specialists we

1:16:45use as researchers within the Department

1:16:47of Code Enforcement and are critical to

1:16:49our success.

1:16:51Two years ago we was depending on

1:16:53external

1:16:54a contractor to provide research for us.

1:16:57We've internalized that capability and

1:16:59so now we have an entire research

1:17:02division within the Code Enforcement and

1:17:05so those people are certainly vitally

1:17:06important. Those two vacant MDAs are

1:17:09part of our abatement program that we

1:17:11plan to utilize going forward actually

1:17:14to convert those positions to be honest

1:17:16with you Councilman. We need we need

1:17:18strike we need laborers in the

1:17:20Department of Code Enforcement for

1:17:22long-term sustainability and success. It

1:17:25is completely unsustainable given the

1:17:27amount of overgrown vegetation that's

1:17:29throughout New Orleans for that to be

1:17:31handled by two laborers and an equipment

1:17:34operator. And so

1:17:35>> interrupt that just if you don't mind?

1:17:38It it the the current model could be

1:17:42unsustainable if we did not plan to have

1:17:48certain issues resolved in other ways. I

1:17:51I mentioned previously that we are

1:17:53working very diligently to coordinate

1:17:56among departments not only with respect

1:17:59to human resources but equipment and

1:18:02we believe that by by doing this and

1:18:05making this stuff available that we can

1:18:07kind of offset some some of these

1:18:09challenges that that the departments are

1:18:11are faced with as a result of but the

1:18:13budget cuts.

1:18:16Sorry. Go ahead.

1:18:17>> I just wanted to add.

1:18:17>> I

1:18:18think I answered all of your questions.

1:18:20>> Okay. So let me let me ask this and I'll

1:18:22be asking this to every department like

1:18:24I asked the last department of the

1:18:26positions that are being proposed for

1:18:28elimination

1:18:29are are are these any live people that

1:18:32are

1:18:33being proposed to be laid off?

1:18:35>> No sir. Since each department was

1:18:37required to submit personnel and

1:18:40reductions to the administration, what

1:18:43the Department of Code Enforcement chose

1:18:45was people that we have terminated

1:18:48already in 2026

1:18:50that we're just not going to refill

1:18:53those positions, and that's what we

1:18:55submitted to the the administration as

1:18:57far as personnel, but we to my

1:19:00knowledge, the Department of Code

1:19:02Enforcement is holding steady, and so we

1:19:06are okay with that.

1:19:07>> All right. But but how how will those

1:19:09reductions or you not filling those

1:19:11positions, how will that impact? Just

1:19:14like I want to see Safety and Permits

1:19:15operating at its maximum, I want to see

1:19:17a Code Enforcement operating at its

1:19:19maximum. So, how is this going to impact

1:19:22productivity if at all? Maybe it won't.

1:19:24>> Those those particular positions that we

1:19:26recommended, Councilman Hughes, will not

1:19:28severely impact the Department of Code

1:19:30Enforcement. You know, in Code

1:19:33Department of Code Enforcement, our

1:19:34philosophy is simple. We adapt and

1:19:36overcome. And so, we've we've we've been

1:19:39rebranding and making sure that we're

1:19:41able to fulfill the needs of this city.

1:19:44With those positions that we

1:19:45recommended, we're okay, and we'll be

1:19:48able to achieve our mission going

1:19:50forward.

1:19:52>> Okay.

1:19:53Let's talk about Healthy Homes. The

1:19:54budget book reduces Healthy Home staff

1:19:56and within Code Enforcement from 12 FTEs

1:19:59to six. Does this reflect vacancies,

1:20:02reassign responsibilities, or less

1:20:04working capacity? How will you maintain

1:20:06inspections, enforcement, and responses

1:20:09to tenant complaints?

1:20:10>> Yes, sir. So, right now in in terms of

1:20:12budget

1:20:13wise, we have six

1:20:15inspectors in the Department of Code

1:20:17Enforcement for for Healthy Homes, but

1:20:20we have cross-trained every one of our

1:20:23inspectors to do Healthy Homes. So,

1:20:26instead of six, we have 16 people who

1:20:29are able to do every form of inspection

1:20:32that we need to get done in the

1:20:34Department of Code Enforcement to

1:20:35include minimum property maintenance as

1:20:38well as healthy homes. So, we should the

1:20:40Department of Code Enforcement will

1:20:42continue to

1:20:43go out and inspect healthy homes when we

1:20:45get those complaints and continue to

1:20:47move forward.

1:20:49>> Okay, let's talk about adjudication and

1:20:52Deputy CAO, [clears throat] you might

1:20:53have to jump in on this one. So,

1:20:55all right, Code Enforcement

1:20:58you know, does its job, the process

1:21:00takes its course and then properties

1:21:03become adjudicated. Then it just seems

1:21:05like things just get stuck.

1:21:08So,

1:21:10what are we doing to bring properties

1:21:12from adjudication to

1:21:14clear title and getting them off the

1:21:16city's books? Again, the crying broke,

1:21:19you know, my grandmother used to say,

1:21:20sometimes we cry hungry with a loaf of

1:21:22bread in our hand. Well, we're crying

1:21:24broke with thousands of properties on

1:21:26our books and just seems like there's no

1:21:28sense of urgency to get them off our

1:21:31books. You know, next door to my home,

1:21:33I I I've been cutting a a lot of vacant

1:21:36lot for many years simply because I

1:21:37don't want to deal with them the mice

1:21:39and the rodents, but if somebody's able

1:21:41to get that vacant property, then they

1:21:43have to pay property tax and now we're

1:21:45putting money in our general fund and

1:21:47they now have to cut the grass and I

1:21:48don't have to cut it out of my pocket.

1:21:50So, say all that to say, what what's our

1:21:53plan to get things from adjudication to

1:21:57>> Sir,

1:21:57Councilman,

1:21:58you this is a topic that's near and dear

1:22:01to my heart. You you you know that we

1:22:03when that when I worked for the state

1:22:05and

1:22:06and and

1:22:09served as the administrative hearing

1:22:10officer for

1:22:12state agency that was completely

1:22:14self-funded, right?

1:22:16So, one of the first things that I

1:22:17initiated when I got here was to compare

1:22:21that system to what we have here, right?

1:22:24And I I think they're intended to work

1:22:26similarly and have the same result, but

1:22:29we found that there are several issues

1:22:31that we are working to address right

1:22:33now. The The first is as we we we've

1:22:37we've hired a new director and this is

1:22:39our only focus. It Our new director ran

1:22:42the state division of administrative

1:22:44law, came highly recommended and is now

1:22:48being charged with implementing new

1:22:50director of CAB. Yes, I introduced her

1:22:53earlier. I'm sorry, I wasn't here.

1:22:54>> Uh

1:22:55>> Is Saber still here?

1:22:57>> She's not. You can just tell me her

1:22:58name.

1:22:58>> I'm sorry, her name is Saber Matini.

1:23:00>> Okay.

1:23:00>> Um

1:23:01uh you'll recall under

1:23:03John Bel Edwards, she served as the

1:23:06as the chairman of the the division of

1:23:09administrative law and did so admirably.

1:23:12She was hired 2 weeks ago

1:23:14and is already on the job

1:23:17doing an assessment and and changing

1:23:20specific things or working to change

1:23:22specific things to make the system uh

1:23:25similar to the one that we use in the

1:23:26state. That is we are going to get with

1:23:29the departments that feed

1:23:32the cases to CAB, make sure that that

1:23:34process is standardized, make sure that

1:23:36we keep a

1:23:39universal system to identify how long

1:23:42something has been in the system and

1:23:44where it is in the system and what its

1:23:46disposition is. We are going to ensure

1:23:48that notices are handled appropriately

1:23:51such that that that that people have the

1:23:54opportunity to show up for for a hearing

1:23:57after being properly noticed and having

1:23:59and having their due process. And at the

1:24:01end of this

1:24:04of this adjudication process, we also

1:24:07need to address

1:24:09some issues with respect to

1:24:11the filing of

1:24:13judgments and liens in at the clerk's of

1:24:16clerk of courts office and also as you

1:24:19mentioned previously, how do we auction

1:24:22off properties in order to get the

1:24:24ultimate resolution that is

1:24:27returning things to the stream of

1:24:29commerce?

1:24:29>> Yeah, we we what I guess what I'm

1:24:31looking for we we've had properties that

1:24:33have been adjudicated

1:24:35many years ago.

1:24:36>> Yep.

1:24:37>> And and so what I want to know is what

1:24:39is the plan to to to to get those out of

1:24:42our hands

1:24:44and to get those in the hands of

1:24:46citizens or somebody that's going to pay

1:24:47some taxes. And what is the timeline?

1:24:50Are we going to be here a year from now

1:24:52with me

1:24:54saying the same thing and we're and

1:24:56we're still crying broke?

1:24:58>> If if we're if we're here a year from

1:24:59now, then that means that we failed.

1:25:01Um and

1:25:03um you mentioned the the effort by

1:25:06Alyssa Rambo

1:25:07uh to uh secure that contractor. I I

1:25:10know that we are well on our way to

1:25:11completing

1:25:12>> timeline. I think that's why I'm getting

1:25:13frustrated because every time I ask when

1:25:15is this contract going to be finalized,

1:25:18right? And that's what frustrates me

1:25:20here. As you know, I've been trying to

1:25:21get multiple CEAs to completion for 8

1:25:24months

1:25:25and they and they're stuck somewhere.

1:25:27So forgive me for sounding frustrating,

1:25:28but everything just gets stuck around

1:25:30here.

1:25:31It it's so bureaucratic. I've never I've

1:25:32been in government for 23 years. I've

1:25:34never seen the level of bureaucracy that

1:25:36I that I'm seeing right now. So

1:25:39I've been asking

1:25:41what is the specific date that this

1:25:43contract is going to be finalized and

1:25:45the best answer I can get is we're

1:25:46working on it. Is that still the the

1:25:48response?

1:25:50>> Councilman, uh would you allow me to the

1:25:52day to get you a definitive answer?

1:25:55Cuz I do not have it as I as I sit here

1:25:58at this table, but I can get you that

1:26:00information and and and and and have by

1:26:03the end of the day.

1:26:04>> I appreciate it. And if you can give me

1:26:06a update on Sanchez cuz I haven't gotten

1:26:08my daily update on Sanchez. I'd

1:26:10appreciate

1:26:10>> There is an update this morning and I'll

1:26:12forward that to you. Yes, sir.

1:26:13>> Thank you very much.

1:26:13>> Yes, sir.

1:26:14>> Let me ask my final question. Um Lower

1:26:16Ninth Ward pilot.

1:26:18Can you confirm code enforcement's role

1:26:20in the Lower Ninth Ward CAP pilot? Does

1:26:22the proposed budget fund the necessary

1:26:24inspections, case preparation, and

1:26:26follow-up? And how would staffing

1:26:28reductions affect the time needed to

1:26:30bring properties into compliance?

1:26:34>> Councilman Hughes, in reference to the

1:26:36Lower Ninth Ward, obviously you know

1:26:37we've made an extensive and intentional

1:26:39effort to focus on that area in 2026

1:26:44because there are a lot of vacant lots

1:26:47as we know in the Lower Ninth Ward. So,

1:26:49we've been intentional in our efforts in

1:26:51terms of doing abatements, in terms of

1:26:54doing inspections, getting those

1:26:56negligent property owners

1:26:58to hearing as quickly as we possibly can

1:27:02because for years those properties have

1:27:04just been neglected. And so, we've been

1:27:07successful

1:27:08even with the limited number of staff

1:27:10that we have in prioritizing those Lower

1:27:13Ninth Ward cases and getting them to an

1:27:15administrative hearing and holding those

1:27:17owners accountable to the best of our

1:27:19ability.

1:27:20Uh

1:27:21Post that, we're just waiting now to see

1:27:24what we can do to, as you've mentioned

1:27:26earlier, to see what we can do with

1:27:28those properties once they've been

1:27:30adjudicated.

1:27:32>> Well, thank you.

1:27:33I'm going to

1:27:35you know start publicly,

1:27:37um

1:27:38you know, I've been really really

1:27:39patient, but I'm going to start publicly

1:27:41expressing my displeasure about the pace

1:27:44of things regarding the Lower Ninth

1:27:46Ward.

1:27:47I have three items that are stuck and

1:27:50are not moving and my patience has run

1:27:52out.

1:27:53>> Yes, sir.

1:27:54>> There's a lot of focus on New Orleans

1:27:56East, but I represent the Lower Ninth

1:27:58Ward, too.

1:27:59And they deserve the same sense of

1:28:01urgency as every other part of the city.

1:28:03Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:28:04>> Thank you, Councilmember McKaren.

1:28:06>> Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:28:08Councilmember Hughes asked several of

1:28:10mine,

1:28:11but I just have one question. I know

1:28:13that we have been seeing more

1:28:14demolitions of properties that have been

1:28:16long-standing issues and I appreciate

1:28:18there have been some recent ones in

1:28:19District A and and

1:28:21you know, folks in the Holly Grove

1:28:22neighborhood are very glad to have some

1:28:24of those properties gone.

1:28:26What does that process look like of

1:28:28recouping the funds that we used to to

1:28:32demo this and how many how does that

1:28:34work and then what does that look what's

1:28:36the number on that?

1:28:37>> Yes, ma'am. So right now again, we've

1:28:38done 62 demolitions

1:28:40year-to-date. We've conducted I believe

1:28:4323

1:28:45cost recovery hearings to actually

1:28:48charge the owner now for whatever that

1:28:49demolition is cost. I don't have the

1:28:51exact figures from the

1:28:54uh

1:28:54those cost recovery hearings, but I'll

1:28:56get it before the end of the day to

1:28:58figure out exactly how much we've

1:29:00recouped in 2026. The number that I gave

1:29:03you all earlier in the $2.4 million,

1:29:05that's a combination of not only 2026,

1:29:08but potentially 2025 and 2024 mixed in

1:29:11there as well. But I'll get you a

1:29:13definitive answer for 2026 today.

1:29:16>> Okay, great. That would be good. Thank

1:29:17you.

1:29:17>> Yes, ma'am.

1:29:18>> Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:29:19>> Thank you, Council Member Willard and

1:29:20Council Member Morrow.

1:29:22>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning,

1:29:24Director Davis.

1:29:25>> Um the the org chart that you have in

1:29:28the slides is tough to see. Can you send

1:29:30that over like as a PDF? So just so we

1:29:33have a better view on it.

1:29:34>> Um can you explain the source of

1:29:36revenues for code enforcement?

1:29:39I I see in the budget book you have

1:29:41neighborhood improvement fund, housing

1:29:44and environmental improvement fund.

1:29:46Are those federal funds or where is that

1:29:48coming from? Do you know?

1:29:49>> I'll defer to Randy who's here, sir.

1:29:52>> All the funds listed are self-generated

1:29:53funds.

1:29:54>> Oh, so those are self-generated through

1:29:56code enforcement.

1:29:57>> Not the NIF. The NIF is the old

1:30:00millage that we had that's funding that

1:30:01we had made in over, but the biggest

1:30:04portion of of budget, which is the

1:30:065110 that fund that is generated through

1:30:09their office with their fines and fees

1:30:11done by their office.

1:30:12>> Is that the Housing and Environmental

1:30:14Impact? Okay. All right. Um so, Director

1:30:18Davis, uh and maybe you have to answer

1:30:20this one, too, Brandy, but I noticed

1:30:22that the interim STR fund drawdown is

1:30:25going from zero to 1.5 million.

1:30:28>> Yes, so he that was addressed um

1:30:30a little earlier in his presentation.

1:30:32So, that is to finalize the payment for

1:30:34the Sugaw Manor. That's a one-time

1:30:36expenditure for uh code enforcement.

1:30:38>> Okay.

1:30:40Um and I know you you touched on the lot

1:30:43abatement CEA 100,000. What's the

1:30:46process of selecting the vendor there? I

1:30:48mean, have we have we picked a vendor to

1:30:51execute that? I'm glad you asked. Thanks

1:30:53for asking

1:30:53>> that question, uh Council Vice

1:30:54President. We the RT the ITB is routing,

1:30:58as you know,

1:31:00about this time last year earlier this

1:31:02year this Council approved an amendment

1:31:04for a lot abatement, which we were going

1:31:06to execute the $100,000 CEA, but then

1:31:09when we went to the vendor to have the

1:31:11vendor to sign the contract, uh the

1:31:13vendor wanted to do a price structural

1:31:15change, which we know couldn't be done

1:31:16on an amendment.

1:31:17>> that's you putting it nicely.

1:31:19>> Yes, sir. And so, what we did was we

1:31:21like, "Well, that's not going to

1:31:22happen." So, what we did was then we had

1:31:24to start routing an ITB. That ITB is

1:31:27routing now, and we're hoping over the

1:31:29next month or so we'll have that route

1:31:31that ITB completed, select the vendor,

1:31:34and then we can start executing toward

1:31:35the $100,000 CEA from the state.

1:31:38>> What's the final use or lose or

1:31:40deadline?

1:31:41>> So, right now it's sitting at 31

1:31:42December.

1:31:44Uh the state is willing to extend it.

1:31:45Hopefully, we don't have to use that.

1:31:47They're extend they're willing to extend

1:31:49it out to June of 2027, but right now we

1:31:52got it extended out to 31 December of

1:31:542026.

1:31:55>> They've already agreed to go to

1:31:56>> Oh, yes, sir. We have a signed approved

1:31:58amendment between the state and the city

1:32:00signed by the mayor already in our

1:32:02hands.

1:32:03>> Okay, can you extend it to June next

1:32:05year?

1:32:05>> No sir, to extend it to December of next

1:32:07year.

1:32:08>> you said they're willing to go to June

1:32:09of next year.

1:32:10>> Yes sir.

1:32:11>> Okay.

1:32:11>> You know I got an email from the state

1:32:13saying that if we needed more time they

1:32:15are willing to extend it.

1:32:16>> You might I mean you might want to do

1:32:18that. Look, one of my frustrations was

1:32:22that you know, we didn't spend money

1:32:23fast enough and I know [clears throat]

1:32:25some of this is out of our control,

1:32:27but it would be terrible if we had to

1:32:30forfeit this $100,000. It's been a

1:32:32while. I mean I secured that when I was

1:32:34in the legislature. So it's been a while

1:32:36since we got that appropriation. So push

1:32:39it, keep pushing it and

1:32:41I mean that's a lot of lots that we can

1:32:43trim back in the city of New Orleans. So

1:32:45we we need to get moving on that.

1:32:47>> Yes sir, we'll do.

1:32:49>> So slide four says you've levied 6.7

1:32:53million in fines year-to-date.

1:32:55>> Yes sir.

1:32:56>> We've collected 2.3 million.

1:32:58>> Yes sir.

1:32:59>> So you got two two three million in

1:33:01revenue. Is that a typical collection

1:33:04rate for code enforcement at this part

1:33:06part of the year?

1:33:07>> Yes sir, at this stage of the year

1:33:08that's typical what we get back in

1:33:10return and that's from having

1:33:12administrative hearings in terms of

1:33:14violations uh on homes as well as

1:33:17demolition money that we've recovered.

1:33:20Uh so that's typical that's pretty

1:33:21typical this time of the year.

1:33:23>> How much of a lag is there

1:33:25between when you like issue those fines

1:33:28and get to 100% or as close to 100% as

1:33:31you do with the revenue collection?

1:33:33>> Yes sir, that revenue collection is

1:33:35tough. Uh I'll be honest with you. We

1:33:38uh we can levy we can levy fines at

1:33:40people consistently.

1:33:42But the one thing that we cannot

1:33:44control, I have no say so, is when they

1:33:46pay.

1:33:46>> Yeah.

1:33:47>> So uh

1:33:49we it it it really varies. We have some

1:33:52people we can have an administrative

1:33:53hearing for instance, they get fined

1:33:55$9,000, they're paying it the next

1:33:57>> Yeah. have some folks that will wait

1:33:59until they

1:34:01appeal period expires after 30 days and

1:34:04then they'll come in and pay the fine.

1:34:05Like now we're still recovering debt

1:34:07back as far as 22 and 23

1:34:10from demolitions or administrative

1:34:13hearings from liens that's been on the

1:34:15tax bill and people can't satisfy their

1:34:16property taxes. So that's been a that's

1:34:20really been a driving factor in help in

1:34:22helping us get that revenue because they

1:34:25can't satisfy those property taxes until

1:34:27they satisfy those liens.

1:34:29>> Okay. Is there anything that that we're

1:34:31looking at to possibly increase that

1:34:34collection rate or is it kind of just

1:34:36the the hand we're dealt?

1:34:38>> That's all I'll

1:34:40>> Yeah, I think that's more for earnest.

1:34:41Yeah.

1:34:42>> Well, at the end of the day

1:34:44Council member uses is absolutely

1:34:46correct. If If we can

1:34:48if we can alienate those properties

1:34:51in an effort to collect what is owed

1:34:55and get them back into commerce, I think

1:34:57that is the biggest thing that we can do

1:34:59in order to affect that number in a

1:35:01positive way.

1:35:02>> All right. Director Davis, that that

1:35:04that 6.7 million, is that just for code

1:35:07violations or is that across all of CAB?

1:35:11>> No, sir. That's just for code

1:35:13enforcement violations.

1:35:14>> code enforcement violations.

1:35:15>> just code enforcement.

1:35:17>> Wow.

1:35:17>> Yes, sir.

1:35:18>> Um and then so the revenues that you

1:35:20collect go do all of them go back into

1:35:23code enforcement?

1:35:25The revenues you bring in from those

1:35:26violations?

1:35:27>> Yes, sir. I'll defer to uh

1:35:29>> Randy?

1:35:30>> Yes, sir. Budget for

1:35:31>> The revenues from code violations issued

1:35:33by code enforcement

1:35:35>> go back into that housing fund.

1:35:38>> Okay, so all right. That's the the

1:35:39self-generation. All right.

1:35:41Um

1:35:42can we get an update on whether

1:35:46we're able to record unpaid fines as

1:35:49liens in civil court?

1:35:50>> As of as of today, no. Since no, we we

1:35:53are not able to do that.

1:35:55Um but there is a plan moving forward uh

1:35:57for within next year's budget to be able

1:36:00to um

1:36:02put us in a position to be able to file

1:36:04those judgments again.

1:36:05>> So, we don't expect to be able to record

1:36:07those as liens for the rest of this

1:36:08year?

1:36:09>> That's an issue we're still we're still

1:36:10working to resolve and I'll I'll let

1:36:11Brandy in.

1:36:12>> It's actually on our radar right now and

1:36:14so we're working as we wrap up some

1:36:16final pieces of the year to try and get

1:36:17that um

1:36:19our final account cleared out with the

1:36:21clerk's office. So, we should be ready

1:36:23before next year to take care of that.

1:36:24>> Okay.

1:36:25Um

1:36:27please keep us updated on that. I mean,

1:36:29that's a the big obstacle and kind of um

1:36:32sitting on money at this point until

1:36:34we're able to do that. Uh Director

1:36:36Davis, my last question is just about um

1:36:39you know, in the news recently we saw

1:36:40that um a demolition went wrong and the

1:36:44city was on the hook for it. I think

1:36:46that was under a different director. Um

1:36:49I just wanted to know if if we have

1:36:51safeguards in place to make sure that

1:36:53that doesn't happen. Uh and the second

1:36:55question to that um is Where does that

1:36:58money come from, Ernest and Brandy, to

1:37:00pay for that?

1:37:02>> So, I'll answer I'll let and I'll let

1:37:04them chime in as well. So, so yes, sir.

1:37:06So, we work with our demolition

1:37:08contractor. Safety is always paramount

1:37:10and number one. But I will say that the

1:37:14uh you know, the contractor that we have

1:37:15in place is is uh has taken onus and is

1:37:19responsible for the demolition and how

1:37:22it is executed. Uh we follow all of the

1:37:24laws with Louisiana Department of

1:37:26Environmental Quality and everyone else

1:37:28to ensure that all these demolitions are

1:37:30done safely. We do a lot of boarding uh

1:37:33to protect homeowners' properties when

1:37:35properties are close together so that

1:37:37their homes are not damaged. So, yes,

1:37:39sir. We take that very seriously and

1:37:41make sure that we do everything that we

1:37:43can to secure

1:37:44um the site as quickly or safely as

1:37:47possible and it turns off and and again

1:37:50this is why that I'll segue over to

1:37:51finance

1:37:53but we use the money that's been given

1:37:55to us in our 5110 to carry out our

1:37:57demolitions. That's how we're able to

1:37:59carry out those demolitions.

1:38:02>> From the self-generated funds.

1:38:05>> But if there's something that goes wrong

1:38:07during that demolition and the city is

1:38:08on hook

1:38:10civil

1:38:11like for a civil penalty, does that just

1:38:13come out of the general fund or does

1:38:15that come out of code enforcement's

1:38:16budget?

1:38:17>> We don't know. We had one case that was

1:38:20older this year

1:38:21where years ago

1:38:24the city had been found liable for

1:38:26something and yes code enforcement that

1:38:29did come out of code enforcement but I

1:38:30was informed that there's also a funding

1:38:34code though for things like that

1:38:36when they do come up and I'll defer to

1:38:38>> Well we have to coordinate with the law

1:38:39department when that happens because

1:38:41it's normally a legal matter and so we

1:38:43look at the available funding whether

1:38:45because we don't want to strip that

1:38:46department so if we have funding

1:38:47someplace else we have we have to go to

1:38:48that source because we don't want to

1:38:49slow down current demolitions by

1:38:52bankrupting that department either.

1:38:53>> Okay, that makes sense. All right, thank

1:38:56you Director Davis. Thank you, sir.

1:38:57>> Councilmember Moreno.

1:39:00>> Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Let me get

1:39:02to the start. All right, so

1:39:05according to the Preservation Resource

1:39:07Center we have 20,000 blighted

1:39:09residential units. I think that's an

1:39:10undercount.

1:39:12And 6,500

1:39:15are in the tax adjudication process.

1:39:20We have had numerous conversations about

1:39:2326-236

1:39:26B2, which is what I changed the law the

1:39:28ordinance to say that if a property

1:39:30without power and water is determined

1:39:32blighted.

1:39:34We changed the law in early 2024.

1:39:38I guess my first question is why isn't

1:39:42every single lighted property in the

1:39:45city of New Orleans currently have a tax

1:39:48lien on it or a recorded fine structure

1:39:52based upon 26 236.

1:39:56>> Okay.

1:39:59The best way I can answer that question

1:40:01Council President is is that

1:40:03we're out there inspecting every day.

1:40:07Even though the legislation says that's

1:40:09what blight is,

1:40:11we have thousands of cases that we've

1:40:13brought

1:40:14trying to get them through adjudication

1:40:16process as we know that there is a

1:40:19significant backlog in terms of getting

1:40:22these properties recorded

1:40:24and we'll just continue to do our best

1:40:27to go out and try to inspect all of

1:40:29these properties, bring them before

1:40:31administrative hearing, get a judgment,

1:40:33and then hopefully get that judgment

1:40:35recorded.

1:40:38>> I guess from my perspective there's two

1:40:40problems. We have butted heads on

1:40:42numerous occasions because

1:40:46I fundamentally believe before chasing

1:40:49old ladies over shingles and people over

1:40:51a standing fence, we should be getting

1:40:53the blighted houses with no one in them

1:40:55first.

1:40:55>> Yes, sir.

1:40:56>> And I am the one that gets all the calls

1:40:57from little old ladies who call me

1:40:59because now they've got a code

1:41:00enforcement fine because they're missing

1:41:02a shingle off their roof.

1:41:03And

1:41:05what that says to the public

1:41:08is that we are prioritizing

1:41:10revenue over life and safety cuz a

1:41:13shingle off a little old lady's house

1:41:15other than me putting some water on her

1:41:17bed while she's sleeping is not

1:41:19endangering the safety and the and the

1:41:22sanctity of the city of New Orleans.

1:41:24>> Yes, sir.

1:41:24>> But when there are houses with trees

1:41:27growing out of them

1:41:28>> Yes, sir.

1:41:30>> What's frustrating is that

1:41:32and it's like I'm having like a

1:41:33flashback uh, member Hughes to

1:41:37to the head of Sewage and Water Board

1:41:39whenever he says we have a good idea.

1:41:44If the law says if you have no power and

1:41:47you have no water, you're blighted.

1:41:49What prevents you from going to Energy

1:41:51and Sewage and Water Board

1:41:53cross-referencing all the houses or

1:41:56properties with no power and no water

1:41:58and just finding them?

1:42:00Because

1:42:01if you just pull the list and you could

1:42:03search the list, it would probably

1:42:06generate for you every property that is

1:42:10in Energy's database and Sewage and

1:42:12Water Board's database where both

1:42:15were previously recorded as having power

1:42:18and water and no longer have active

1:42:20accounts.

1:42:20>> Yes, sir.

1:42:21>> And then you can cross, once you

1:42:23manually search those properties, you're

1:42:25going to run into cases there's a person

1:42:27in there who's struggling to pay their

1:42:29bills.

1:42:30And that's certainly someone I would not

1:42:31prioritize, but you're going to find

1:42:33properties where there hasn't been a

1:42:35person there in decades.

1:42:36>> Yes, sir.

1:42:38>> And

1:42:40I'm going to separately address the

1:42:41challenges of how we get that property

1:42:44demolished, but you can't even get to

1:42:4626-237

1:42:49until a property is determined to be

1:42:51blighted. And the purpose of me

1:42:53simplifying

1:42:5526-236

1:42:57was to expedite getting to blighted.

1:42:59Because once you get determined to be

1:43:01blighted, it is very easy to demolish a

1:43:06property.

1:43:07And And what's frustrating to our

1:43:08residents, particularly our residents, a

1:43:11lot of which are in Council member

1:43:12Hughes's district, is that

1:43:16when people would rather have an empty

1:43:18lot

1:43:20than a [clears throat] Katrina house

1:43:21leaning next to them.

1:43:23And if you talk to any

1:43:26commercial builder of residential

1:43:28property,

1:43:30I would say 99.9%

1:43:32of the houses that were built

1:43:34pre-Katrina that are damaged in any way

1:43:36and have not been remediated are

1:43:37salvageable.

1:43:38So, you can't even get someone to

1:43:40consider the property because the

1:43:42property has to be demolished to be

1:43:45salvageable.

1:43:46So, that's issue number one.

1:43:50Issue number two, um all LTR properties,

1:43:54my understanding, have to have healthy

1:43:55home permits, right?

1:43:57>> That's That's my understanding.

1:43:58>> have a current

1:43:59uh number of how many STR properties are

1:44:02in violation of healthy homes or of it

1:44:03healthy home compliance?

1:44:07>> No, sir. I do not have that number.

1:44:08>> Can you Can you get that number? Thank

1:44:10you.

1:44:10>> Yes, sir.

1:44:11>> Um

1:44:18I think what

1:44:20our constituents struggle with

1:44:22>> Yes, sir.

1:44:22>> is that it seems like the city of New

1:44:25Orleans is under all of the exact same

1:44:27laws as every surrounding parishes.

1:44:31But, when it comes to

1:44:34expediting demolition and seizure of

1:44:37property,

1:44:38we are a complete

1:44:40cluster fill-in-the-blank at the end.

1:44:43And I understand part of that is Civic

1:44:45Source. We are involved in a massive

1:44:47piece of litigation because the property

1:44:50that's supposed to help us liquidate

1:44:52properties that we have seized with

1:44:53Civic Source, and they have completely

1:44:59created a legal quagmire that we have to

1:45:02navigate. But, there are properties that

1:45:06we are currently adjudicating that are

1:45:07not involved in the Civic Source mess.

1:45:10To Councilmember Hughes's point, the

1:45:12fact that we have not secured a

1:45:13secondary party to liquidate these

1:45:15properties is problematic.

1:45:18And it is very challenging when one of

1:45:22the most basic

1:45:25priorities of government should be

1:45:28making sure that properties that are a

1:45:31danger

1:45:32to

1:45:33homeowners

1:45:34properties that impact the quality of

1:45:36life of homeowners who are all paying

1:45:39their property taxes. When every single

1:45:41one, I can tell you just in my

1:45:43neighborhood, there's a property at the

1:45:45corner of Pressburg and Chaffin.

1:45:48It has not been occupied since Katrina.

1:45:51The neighbors around it have been

1:45:53constantly complaining about it. Went to

1:45:55adjudication and it was not adjudicated

1:45:58even though the property has no power,

1:45:59no water, has not had power or water

1:46:01since Katrina, has a temp pole with no

1:46:05with no power on it has a water meter

1:46:08that's missing.

1:46:10It is hard for me to convince the people

1:46:13of the city why we should roll their

1:46:15millage forward when they are doing your

1:46:17job filing all the complaints and you

1:46:20can't

1:46:22you lack the killer instinct to put that

1:46:24property down. And I say that because no

1:46:28power, no water. What was contemplated

1:46:30when we changed the law is that there is

1:46:33no way a property owner with no power

1:46:36and no water should come into compliance

1:46:38without a building permit, an active

1:46:40building permit that is being worked on.

1:46:43Cuz I'll be clear.

1:46:45>> [snorts]

1:46:45>> I know that some of these

1:46:48disingenuous property owners will pull a

1:46:50building permit to say they're fixing

1:46:51the property, but it's not enough to

1:46:53pull the permit. If you pull a permit

1:46:56and Ms. Kirby knows you pull a permit,

1:46:57you have a window of time to work on

1:46:59that property. No one should have a

1:47:01building permit from 2018, 2019 to avoid

1:47:04a code enforcement complaint when the

1:47:06property has zero work done on it.

1:47:09>> See.

1:47:10>> You should be stepping on the necks of

1:47:12these people before you go after the

1:47:14little old lady with a shingle or the

1:47:16property owner who's got a standing

1:47:18fence.

1:47:19And when those people call me and

1:47:21they're like, "I'm making complaints on

1:47:22the property with a tree growing out of

1:47:24it and I'm catching a code enforcement

1:47:26complaint."

1:47:27That seems like you're you're taking

1:47:29your neighborhood uh your active

1:47:31neighborhood individual who's trying to

1:47:35begin code enforcement complaints and

1:47:37you're basically punishing the snitch.

1:47:39And when you do that, you get less

1:47:41snitches and create more work for

1:47:43yourselves.

1:47:44And for the life of me, I cannot

1:47:46understand why we continue to have these

1:47:48calls over that, Mr. Davis.

1:47:49>> Sir, I'll be if I can just be blunt and

1:47:52be honest, we that's why we created the

1:47:56compliance division. For those cosmetic

1:47:58violations, those people no longer come

1:48:01we we give them time to make those

1:48:03cosmetic changes and we're going after

1:48:05people who are egregious and we have

1:48:08been doing that aggressively.

1:48:10Do have we caught it all? No, sir.

1:48:13But I but I I will tell you we have been

1:48:15very aggressive in the department of

1:48:17code enforcement in terms of going after

1:48:20people who have egregious blighted

1:48:22properties. We there's nothing

1:48:24preventing us from reaching out to

1:48:25Entergy to get their list and we'll do

1:48:27that that will happen today.

1:48:29But I am

1:48:31almost certain that when we get that

1:48:34list from Entergy, we may uh

1:48:36there's a high probability we already

1:48:38have a case on that property and it's

1:48:40working its way through the adjudication

1:48:41process, but if it's not, then we'll get

1:48:44it expedited as quickly as we can.

1:48:46I understand the constituent was

1:48:48concerned. I talk to them each and every

1:48:50day.

1:48:51We we I don't I don't want people to

1:48:53assume that you know, code enforcement

1:48:56is money grabbing. It's one of the

1:48:57things we talk about consistently in the

1:48:58department of code enforcement and

1:49:00making sure that we are consistent

1:49:03with what we're doing and that that

1:49:05can't be levied against us. So, we will

1:49:08just continue to be aggressive

1:49:10toward going after blighted properties

1:49:12to the best of our abilities.

1:49:14>> Well,

1:49:14Council member,

1:49:16may may I

1:49:17offer a suggestion

1:49:19Um if it's acceptable

1:49:21that within 30 days we provide an

1:49:24analysis

1:49:26of all of the properties

1:49:28based on the roles from Sewerage and

1:49:29Water Board and Energy that have no

1:49:31power and no water and compare that

1:49:34against what we've determined to be

1:49:36blighted and what we have what we have

1:49:38handled appropriately.

1:49:39>> That would be very helpful. I do want to

1:49:41add that caveat of

1:49:43if you've got a property with no power

1:49:45and no water and you go out to that

1:49:47property and that property is actually

1:49:49inhabited by a citizen who's struggling

1:49:51with power and water bills, I certainly

1:49:54would not prioritize them over a

1:49:56property that literally is uninhabited.

1:49:58So, that's number one. Number two,

1:50:01I cited that number of PRC that does not

1:50:03include commercial property.

1:50:05And I have been in District D on

1:50:08numerous occasions. I've seen the

1:50:10buildings with trees growing out of them

1:50:12and I've seen the fact they are not

1:50:13demolished. And the whole purpose, like

1:50:16I said, of amending 26-236

1:50:19was to expedite getting to 26-237,

1:50:22which is demolition.

1:50:24And

1:50:25for the life of me, I can tell you I

1:50:27represented

1:50:29before my time on the Council, I

1:50:31represented New Orleans East for over a

1:50:33decade.

1:50:34And I can tell you that as I approach

1:50:36developers over and over again to target

1:50:40New Orleans East for development,

1:50:42the high level of commercial blight

1:50:45unaddressed by the city is choking New

1:50:48Orleans East off

1:50:49because a developer cannot envision

1:50:52putting their new development in a area

1:50:56where the city has allowed commercial

1:50:58property

1:50:59to degrade to this point. You can look

1:51:02across the street from the Walmart on

1:51:04Bullard and see a host of properties

1:51:06with no power and no water

1:51:09and the residents are done. These

1:51:12properties

1:51:14there certainly is

1:51:16a host of legal issues

1:51:19where the city has fallen on its face.

1:51:21The fact that we have not properly

1:51:23recorded our liens

1:51:25is a problem.

1:51:26But I will tell you something that you

1:51:28would find a lot of

1:51:31you would find a lot of support from

1:51:33every parish in the state of Louisiana

1:51:36and Mr. Leger has worked at that level.

1:51:40There is no reason why a city's lien for

1:51:43demolition should not be changed in the

1:51:45law to to prioritize and go above every

1:51:49other lien on a piece of property.

1:51:52I say this because one of the challenges

1:51:54we have in recovering demolition costs

1:51:56is you will have bank liens and a

1:51:58variety of other liens on property that

1:52:01will trump our lien. And so the

1:52:03challenge you have is when the

1:52:05property's ultimately demolished, you've

1:52:07got Capital One saying, "Well, they had

1:52:08a mortgage on that property. I want to

1:52:11get my money first."

1:52:12To be very candid, if you have a lien on

1:52:15a piece of property and you allow it to

1:52:17deteriorate to the point where it's a

1:52:19public safety issue your lien should not

1:52:22trump a city or parish's lien in

1:52:24demolishing that property. In all

1:52:26reality, nothing prevented those other

1:52:30lien holders from trying to seize the

1:52:31property themselves and bring it back

1:52:34into commerce themselves. I think you

1:52:36and I know IGR's over there. I see

1:52:38Chuck.

1:52:40We should have a piece of legislation

1:52:42next year saying that if a city has to

1:52:44demolish a property because it is an

1:52:47imminent threat to public safety, the

1:52:50cost of that demolition should trump all

1:52:54other liens on that property. Once the

1:52:57city gets our demolition costs, the rest

1:53:00of you can fight over it. But we should

1:53:02not have to go behind the people who

1:53:04because of of interest could have fixed

1:53:07the property beforehand or brought it

1:53:09into commerce before it was falling down

1:53:11on their neighbor.

1:53:12>> Yes, sir.

1:53:14>> All right.

1:53:17The last thing, and I I appreciate that

1:53:20that that that offer, Mr. Leger, is that

1:53:24we have to do better.

1:53:26There's no reason why we should not have

1:53:28a dashboard for code enforcement on lean

1:53:32property, on how many properties are

1:53:34currently in the tax adjudication

1:53:36process, what are the addresses of said

1:53:38property because I would tell you it

1:53:40might bring a

1:53:41a homeowner comfort to know that the

1:53:43city has adjudicated a prop- a property

1:53:46to the end of its life to where we're

1:53:48waiting for seizure, and that would be

1:53:51in a searchable database that they can

1:53:53do without having to hire a title search

1:53:55person to figure it out. So, I would

1:53:57encourage you, we have the capacity

1:53:59in-house to do dashboards.

1:54:01>> Yep.

1:54:02>> Having a dashboard on blight, having a

1:54:05dashboard on the status of property and

1:54:07where it is in the adjudication process

1:54:09would bring

1:54:10constituents comfort the city has done

1:54:13everything it could possibly do

1:54:15to bring a property to either demolition

1:54:19or back into commerce, and that we're

1:54:20being held up by a third party. So,

1:54:23>> Yes, sir.

1:54:23>> that's it. Also, I like I said the

1:54:25safety and permits, I would like an ROI

1:54:28analysis by position

1:54:30because I think that

1:54:32if you're a department that is

1:54:33generating your positions that are

1:54:35generating revenue to sustain the

1:54:36department, sustaining the department

1:54:38lowers reliance on the general fund.

1:54:41That is something we have to have a

1:54:42consideration for eliminating positions

1:54:44or restoring positions.

1:54:45>> Yes, sir.

1:54:46>> All right, thank you.

1:54:47>> Thank you.

1:54:47>> All right, a few follow-up questions for

1:54:49me. Do we have a list of bad actors, for

1:54:51example, Josh Bruno who's just been

1:54:53sitting on the apartment complex on

1:54:55Washington Avenue?

1:54:56>> Yes, ma'am, we do.

1:54:57>> What are we doing with that particular

1:54:59property and the others owned by, for

1:55:01example, Laura Russell.

1:55:03>> So, those properties, we have a separate

1:55:04commercial list,

1:55:06uh Councilwoman Harris,

1:55:08uh

1:55:09and basically all of particularly all of

1:55:12Josh Bruno properties, which he has, I

1:55:13think, about 24,

1:55:16uh are all in the same condition. And uh

1:55:19they're they've been adjudicated. We've

1:55:22we've levied fines against those

1:55:24properties.

1:55:25Uh so, the only thing from code

1:55:27enforcement perspective is is that, you

1:55:29know, we could bring another case,

1:55:31fine them again, it goes to

1:55:33adjudication, gets put on the tax bill,

1:55:35and it just stays there. And so, we've

1:55:37we've mentioned some of these things to

1:55:39uh not only Central Adjudication Bureau,

1:55:41but to the law department on steps the

1:55:44city could have after all that stuff

1:55:46takes place, because that's where we

1:55:48are. You know, a lot of the Josh Bruno's

1:55:50of the world and other negligent

1:55:52property owners who have all of these

1:55:54properties with all of these liens, they

1:55:56they just let them sit there and still

1:55:58don't remediate them.

1:55:59>> And we still have that criminal blight

1:56:01statute on the book. Have we looked at

1:56:03using any of that to go after these bad

1:56:07actors?

1:56:07>> No, ma'am, I have not talked to public

1:56:09safety in terms of uh uh Mr. Daniel

1:56:12Shanks in terms of trying to look at

1:56:14some of Josh Bruno's properties, but

1:56:16that's a a conversation we could

1:56:18certainly have.

1:56:19>> tell you the Washington Avenue property,

1:56:20Director Davis, has squatters, drug

1:56:22activity,

1:56:23>> Yes, ma'am.

1:56:24>> and it really is a blight on that

1:56:25community, because that whole corridor

1:56:27has been inhabited by, for example, the

1:56:29Willcox New Academy. So, there's a child

1:56:32care center uh within 600, maybe 1,000

1:56:35ft of that property. So, we really need

1:56:37to take a good look at criminal blight,

1:56:39especially for that property, especially

1:56:41because I know that there are

1:56:42responsible developers who are in line,

1:56:44who want to get that property back in

1:56:46commerce.

1:56:46>> We'll do. Yes, ma'am.

1:56:47>> Um the other thing I want to talk about

1:56:49is blight. We've It's been a topic of

1:56:51conversation. Um in my district, we have

1:56:53a lot of historic homes in Central City

1:56:55and Gert Town that, unfortunately, have

1:56:58become blighted, but we know that it

1:57:00costs

1:57:02uh less to rehab those properties than

1:57:05build from the ground up. So, as we talk

1:57:07about blight, I know that there is a

1:57:09task force looking at how we can

1:57:11strengthen our blight rules, but what I

1:57:13don't want to see is a historic property

1:57:15being demolished and then an overgrown

1:57:18lot, because that's what's happening

1:57:19right now on Second Street. We

1:57:21demolished a historic property by New

1:57:23Zion,

1:57:24>> [snorts]

1:57:24>> and now it's just an

1:57:26a lot that's become overgrown. So, you

1:57:28and I have talked about this extensively

1:57:30for the past 4 years. We got to continue

1:57:32to push it.

1:57:33>> Yes, ma'am. We'll do. We uh and normally

1:57:35we work very well with HDLC in terms of

1:57:39getting their input. Uh uh

1:57:42that relationship has strengthened

1:57:43dramatically over the past 2 years, and

1:57:46and when they don't give their

1:57:48endorsement for those properties, uh we

1:57:51move on. We we document it and we move

1:57:54on. We don't push the issue. We move on.

1:57:57>> Well, unfortunately, you know, Gerttown

1:57:59and Central City, they're not HDLC full

1:58:02control districts. They are partial

1:58:04control. So, therefore, HDLC can say

1:58:07what they have to say, but ultimately it

1:58:08comes down to you. The point is we need

1:58:10to get these blighted properties out of

1:58:12our hands into commerce before they

1:58:15become more blighted. Because again, it

1:58:16costs less to rehab a property than to

1:58:18build new.

1:58:19>> Yes, ma'am.

1:58:20>> Especially in these neighborhoods. Um on

1:58:23overgrown lots, are you earnest

1:58:25coordinating with your other

1:58:27departments to figure out how we can

1:58:31make more efficiencies on overgrown lots

1:58:33between Parks and Parkways, Department

1:58:35of Code Enforcement, Department of

1:58:37Sanitation?

1:58:38>> Uh Councilmember, thank you for that

1:58:40question. The answer is unequivocally

1:58:42yes. Um we uh have just submitted a

1:58:46plan. Steve uh Nelson and I have

1:58:48submitted a plan to the CAO

1:58:51um for review and approval. And

1:58:53essentially,

1:58:54uh uh uh, uh,

1:58:56centralizes all of the grass cutting in

1:58:57the city into one agency.

1:58:59>> Yes.

1:58:59>> All of the contracts into one agency.

1:59:02Um, and we have an implementation

1:59:03schedule, uh, that should see us

1:59:05accomplish that by the third quarter of

1:59:07next year.

1:59:08>> Of next year. What are we doing in the

1:59:09meantime? I mean, I have the Saratoga

1:59:10burn lot that department is are fighting

1:59:13over who it belongs to. Meanwhile,

1:59:15neighbors are suffering because it's

1:59:16overgrown. There are rats and squatters.

1:59:18>> In the meantime, informally, um,

1:59:20we meet, uh, as departments weekly,

1:59:23um, and are, uh,

1:59:26uh, doing our very best and I I I I

1:59:28think we we've had some great success

1:59:29over the last 6 weeks in coordinating

1:59:32emergency responses,

1:59:34uh, uh, to one-offs. So, that, uh, we

1:59:36can we can provide a better customer

1:59:38service experience.

1:59:39>> So, Department of Code Enforcement has

1:59:41three lot abatement personnel plus a

1:59:44manager. Is that correct?

1:59:45>> Yes, yes, ma'am.

1:59:46>> How many would you need to address all

1:59:49of the lots that we all all of the

1:59:51district council members complain to

1:59:53about? What was the ultimate optimal

1:59:55staffing for that?

1:59:56>> We we've looked internally within the

1:59:58department. We need at least six more

2:00:00laborers and at least two more equipment

2:00:02operators to be effectively able to

2:00:05respond to any council district or any

2:00:09administration request that we get

2:00:10immediately to be able to take care of

2:00:13that because there is just a high volume

2:00:15all across the city everywhere.

2:00:18>> And again, we can charge the owner for

2:00:20that lot abatement. We can put it on

2:00:21their tax bill. So, to council

2:00:24president's point, we need to look at

2:00:26return on investment of staffing up

2:00:28these positions. If we need six or a

2:00:30total of nine, so that we can take care

2:00:33of our constituents they're complaining

2:00:34to us, but also getting that cost put on

2:00:37that tax bill, so then it returns back

2:00:39to commerce. I mean, it just makes sense

2:00:40to do and it makes the city money.

2:00:43>> I agree.

2:00:44>> All right. Moto Own program. I know I

2:00:46have a lot of constituents who are

2:00:48interested in taking care of the lots

2:00:50next to them so that you don't have to.

2:00:53What is the status of getting that up

2:00:54and running in 2020?

2:00:56>> That goes back to one of the other

2:00:57council, I think was Councilman Hughes

2:00:59frustration because that's tied up with

2:01:01the Department of Finance.

2:01:03That's who manages that treasury

2:01:05Department of Treasury. That's who

2:01:06manages the program actually.

2:01:08>> Why?

2:01:09>> Uh, yes.

2:01:11We've never managed it. We was It was

2:01:13only in the Department of Code

2:01:14Enforcement because we have an attorney

2:01:17as many of you know, Latifah Harris that

2:01:19kind of hit hutch over that program, but

2:01:22it never actually officially fell in the

2:01:25Department of Code Enforcement. It

2:01:26always been in the in Department of

2:01:28Treasury. Uh, I will tell you that

2:01:30there's a before the program was

2:01:32suspended, there was a hundred and some

2:01:33people in the program and it's been

2:01:35suspended since the program fell apart

2:01:38with CivicSource last year.

2:01:39>> So, Ernest, is there a plan to get Moto

2:01:42Own up and running and in the correct

2:01:44department?

2:01:45>> Uh, yes, ma'am. We

2:01:48We We got some work to do

2:01:50and we we hope to have a plan put in

2:01:53place

2:01:54in in time for next budget cycle, but it

2:01:58>> So, we're looking at third quarter

2:01:59again?

2:02:00>> No,

2:02:01I hope to have that obviously sooner.

2:02:03Depends on on on the information that I

2:02:05need to provide to Councilman Hughes in

2:02:07terms of CivicSource and a and a

2:02:09replacement for for that system because

2:02:12ultimately at the end of the day, we

2:02:14want to be able to collect. Um, not just

2:02:16place the lien and handle the legal

2:02:18process, but we want to be able to to to

2:02:21put the

2:02:22the property back in commerce.

2:02:23>> But structurally, it sounds like it's in

2:02:25the wrong department currently. Are you

2:02:27all going to take a look at that?

2:02:28>> I

2:02:29I can report back on that to you within

2:02:32by the end of the day and let you know

2:02:33that for sure.

2:02:34>> Okay, going back to lot abatement on

2:02:36page six, it says you could use lot

2:02:39abatement equipment. Do you have a cost

2:02:41for that? What would you need?

2:02:43Can you provide that to us?

2:02:44>> Yes, ma'am. I have that. We've already

2:02:46identified it. I'll make sure each one

2:02:47of the council

2:02:48>> That would be great because again, I

2:02:49think that we heard loud and clear from

2:02:50the budget meetings that lot abatement

2:02:52and blight are one of the biggest issues

2:02:55facing our constituents. How many more

2:02:57demolitions are scheduled for the rest

2:02:58of the year?

2:03:00>> We have hundreds, but we know we can't

2:03:01get to those. So, we've been

2:03:03prioritizing. What we've been trying to

2:03:05do is some equal distribution across all

2:03:07of the council districts, but we have

2:03:10literally over 200 demolitions in

2:03:13waiting

2:03:14remaining for the rest of the year. And

2:03:16so, we will just continue to prioritize

2:03:18the most egregious that we would do our

2:03:21best to get rid of the rest of this

2:03:22year.

2:03:24We also have from an administrative

2:03:26hearing year-to-date, I think we have

2:03:29almost 100 demolitions that have been

2:03:31ordered through a demolition

2:03:33administrative hearing to be demolished

2:03:36as well. Now, all of those have to go

2:03:37through title six review

2:03:39chapter six law review, and so they'll

2:03:42be added to the mixture as well.

2:03:44>> Okay. Where are we on title research?

2:03:46Has that gotten better?

2:03:47>> Oh, yes, ma'am. Since we got rid of the

2:03:49contracting crew last year, and I

2:03:51mentioned this earlier, up to

2:03:52year-to-date, we've have over 2,800

2:03:55title researches, and that's thankfully

2:03:58to the people that we hired

2:04:00case specialists in the Department of

2:04:02Code Enforcement to do our own internal

2:04:03research. And those are two of the

2:04:05vacancies that we have for 2027 crucial

2:04:09to our success, and they've been

2:04:10phenomenal in terms of doing research as

2:04:13quickly as possible.

2:04:15>> Again, I think that's a good news story

2:04:16that the media should be reporting on is

2:04:18that once we take something like that

2:04:20in-house, we can actually execute. And

2:04:22if you needed an additional two people,

2:04:24again, what is the return on investment

2:04:26to Council

2:04:27>> [clears throat]

2:04:27>> President Morrell's point? I think we're

2:04:29asking that of earnest of all of your

2:04:30departments. What is the ROI?

2:04:33Can we just see what the cost-benefit

2:04:36analysis is.

2:04:36>> Yes, ma'am.

2:04:37>> All right. I do have two cards. Uh the

2:04:39first is from Wy Frank Southall. The

2:04:41second is from Morgan Clevenger.

2:04:49>> Good morning, everyone. Uh Wy Frank

2:04:50Southall, Jane Place Initiative. I'm the

2:04:53organized community action major.

2:04:55Um thank you guys. Is there a word echo

2:04:58on this?

2:04:59I think I messed this up, but anyway, um

2:05:02thank you guys for robustly funding code

2:05:05enforcement. Um in particular, as all

2:05:07you guys know, Healthy Homes sits under

2:05:09code enforcement, and we're proud

2:05:11supporters of Healthy Homes. Um we

2:05:14helped uh

2:05:16co-organize campaign to get passed. And

2:05:18so, thank you in particular for JP or

2:05:20Council Member uh Morrell and uh Council

2:05:22Member Harris for, you know, really

2:05:24being uh

2:05:26main supporters of this.

2:05:28One thing we definitely want to do is

2:05:29see uh increase in the budget, which I

2:05:31know I've asked uh personally, and our

2:05:35organization's asked for a lot of things

2:05:37to be sustained, increased. But we

2:05:40really see a major need in terms of

2:05:42Healthy Homes code enforcement

2:05:44inspectors really doing the critical

2:05:46work to um keep tenants protected. Um I

2:05:51do think our city uh can be a lot more

2:05:55aggressive with slumlords. Um as Council

2:05:59Member Harris as she mentioned, there's

2:06:01a lot of blighted [clears throat]

2:06:03buildings. Um

2:06:04the that you name several individuals

2:06:07who are part of many people who uh

2:06:10professionally our organization thinks

2:06:12need to be held accountable. Um but

2:06:14personally, being a mid-city resident, I

2:06:16see these slumlords all the time um

2:06:20enacting harm. Um if I'm thinking about

2:06:22the former I Lovs um close to

2:06:25Carrollton, that's a prime example of

2:06:27opportunity where if that individual is

2:06:29fined to oblivion, um it can come back

2:06:32in commerce, right? And we bring back in

2:06:34commerce all these properties located in

2:06:37standard middle class areas, it slows

2:06:40the flow of gentrification, right? So,

2:06:43yeah, thank you guys again for funding

2:06:45code enforcement properly and

2:06:47sufficiently and let's preserve those

2:06:50vectors. Thank you.

2:06:51>> Thank you. Morgan Clevenger.

2:07:01>> Good morning.

2:07:02Thank you so much Councilman Harris and

2:07:05Council President Morrell for those

2:07:08comments that you I was hearing about

2:07:11what you want out of this agency and it

2:07:14means a lot,

2:07:16but I want to just say that we have to

2:07:18be very careful because in the seventh

2:07:20ward, we are historic urban core

2:07:22neighbor neighborhood, but we're not

2:07:24HDLC protected. We don't even have the

2:07:26neighborhood conservation, but we have a

2:07:29lot of historic properties and low to

2:07:30moderate income homeowners, legacy

2:07:33homeowners and what we saw

2:07:36post Katrina was

2:07:38a large number of new people coming in

2:07:40and buying up properties and literally

2:07:42weaponizing code enforcement against

2:07:45legacy homeowners and that was a real

2:07:48real bad situation.

2:07:51We also saw that

2:07:54you know, code enforcement can be

2:07:57as I said weaponized to hurt people

2:07:59because

2:08:00you know, five years from Hurricane Ida

2:08:02and the pandemic, we still have many

2:08:04many properties that are not

2:08:08you know, recovered. And they're waiting

2:08:09on roof grants, they're waiting on

2:08:11funding, they're waiting on all kinds of

2:08:13things,

2:08:14but meanwhile,

2:08:15code enforcement can come after them and

2:08:18that's we have to find that balance. The

2:08:20other point I want to make is about 311.

2:08:24You know, we heard at the mayor's the

2:08:26budget meetings about people with files

2:08:29about 311 and code enforcement and

2:08:30public works and we have that same

2:08:32problem Gentilly and Castiglione 3

2:08:35years. These um

2:08:38uh

2:08:39big barbecue grills have been sitting

2:08:41there tied up to the street sign and we

2:08:44cannot get a resolution to this whether

2:08:47it's through safety and permits or code

2:08:48enforcement or sanitation.

2:08:51Um it's the 311 folks I think are doing

2:08:54a great job. The disconnect I think

2:08:56comes to the agency. Where is that

2:08:59disconnect and how can we fix it? Thank

2:09:01you.

2:09:02>> Thank you. Uh thank you all. You have

2:09:03some homework if you could get all of

2:09:05those answers for all of us that would

2:09:07be great. Ashley

2:09:08>> All right, last but not least is the

2:09:09Department of Sanitation.

2:09:27>> Thank you. I appreciate

2:10:08>> You guys can get started whenever you're

2:10:09ready.

2:10:19>> Uh good morning City Council. Matt

2:10:21Torry, director for the Department of

2:10:23Sanitation.

2:10:24Happy to be here with you all today.

2:10:27Um

2:10:28as always, I I'd like to just start

2:10:31today by

2:10:33stating my thanks and appreciation for

2:10:35the men and women of the Department of

2:10:37Sanitation.

2:10:39We are extremely lucky to have a

2:10:42dedicated and hardworking group of

2:10:44employees who provide critical essential

2:10:47services 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

2:10:52Hot or cold, wind, snow, sanitation

2:10:56employees work in some of the most

2:10:58challenging conditions in the city and

2:11:00they do it selflessly in service of the

2:11:03city residents of the city of New

2:11:05Orleans. And while many of them normally

2:11:08would be

2:11:10performing a cleanup of a second line at

2:11:13this time on a Monday,

2:11:15I'm honored to have them here today for

2:11:17this City Council budget hearing

2:11:19meeting.

2:11:25Here is the

2:11:28org chart for the Department of

2:11:29Sanitation.

2:11:31You can see we currently have 55

2:11:34employees,

2:11:3618 vacancies representing 25% of our

2:11:39budgeted positions.

2:11:41We are a very lean department. We have

2:11:44five [snorts]

2:11:45team members in our administrative

2:11:47office, five enforcement rangers, one

2:11:51assigned each council district, and 45

2:11:53employees in field operations. And I

2:11:56want to point out that those 45

2:11:58employees

2:12:00work a 7-day week schedule. So we

2:12:02actually only have 45 employees 3 days a

2:12:04week, and we have half that count of

2:12:07employees the other 4 days a week to

2:12:09accommodate the 7-day week schedule that

2:12:11we work

2:12:12every day.

2:12:17On this slide, you see the proposed 2027

2:12:21sanitation budget

2:12:23which has reduction of $6.1 million.

2:12:28So while the year-over-year

2:12:30budget shows a reduction of 8.6%

2:12:34the impact of the $6.1 million reduction

2:12:37is magnified due to the fact that the

2:12:39curbside collection and disposal cost

2:12:41which make up 97% of the proposed budget

2:12:44are now restricted to the sanitation

2:12:46fee.

2:12:52I'll go through some of the key impacts

2:12:54to personnel and other operating

2:12:56starting with

2:12:57personnel.

2:12:59So the reductions

2:13:02in staff that I'll go through impact all

2:13:05areas of the Department of Sanitation

2:13:07administration enforcement operations.

2:13:09So

2:13:10the proposed 2027 budget calls for the

2:13:13reduction of 55 positions representing

2:13:1575% of sanitation staffing. So this

2:13:19budget would take us from 73 positions

2:13:21which were adopted in 2026 to 18

2:13:24positions for the entire department in

2:13:262027.

2:13:28This would eliminate enforcement

2:13:30capabilities, reduce reporting 311 case

2:13:33management customer service capabilities

2:13:36and from an operational perspective we

2:13:39would transition from 7 days a week to 5

2:13:41days a week based on the limited

2:13:42resources that we have there. So

2:13:45significant cuts and we'll talk through

2:13:48some of the mitigation factors later in

2:13:49the presentation

2:13:51on that.

2:13:54From another operating perspective

2:13:57there are cuts here as well. One of the

2:13:59things that everyone is very familiar is

2:14:01the work that the

2:14:03city has been performing on the

2:14:04legislative audit of service locations.

2:14:07So we do anticipate realizing cost

2:14:09savings based on the removal of

2:14:11locations as a result of that audit. So

2:14:14that is those reductions are baked into

2:14:16this sheet 2027 budget. But there are

2:14:19some other service reductions on the

2:14:21other operating side. So

2:14:23all recycling services outside of

2:14:26curbside collection at households

2:14:28would go away in 2027 in this proposed

2:14:31budget. So the weekly recycling drop-off

2:14:33at Legion Fields, the quarterly shred

2:14:35days, annual hazardous waste day,

2:14:38recycling at city buildings including

2:14:40glass.

2:14:42Uh

2:14:42This budget doesn't include any money

2:14:44for the purchase of recycling carts, but

2:14:46we have been

2:14:48lucky this year that our curbside

2:14:50collection contractors have donated

2:14:52recycling carts to the city to fulfill

2:14:54that demand.

2:14:56So that's we are optimistic that our

2:14:58contractors will desire to continue that

2:15:01partnership with us again in 2027 to

2:15:03offset that need to buy curbside

2:15:05collection carts.

2:15:07Uh

2:15:08Something that's been discussed and

2:15:10but it's worth pointing out again,

2:15:12right, is that this budget does not

2:15:13include any funding for Mardi Gras or

2:15:14special event cleanup,

2:15:16which is a significant undertaking

2:15:19that will come early this year in

2:15:20January for Mardi Gras.

2:15:22Lastly, there is

2:15:25reductions or funding needs still in

2:15:28area five, which is the French Quarter

2:15:30for the enhanced services that the our

2:15:32contractor IV Waste provides there. So

2:15:36we're looking at a funding shortage

2:15:37there. We'll need to

2:15:40through that up to ensure that all the

2:15:41services are provided. I will point out

2:15:44as most of y'all know, the services

2:15:46provided in the French Quarter are done

2:15:47in a sequence to achieve the level of

2:15:49clean that we desire, right?

2:15:51Taking one away impacts others and that

2:15:54would need to be accounted for if we are

2:15:56going to reduce some of the enhanced

2:15:57services there.

2:16:01Key components of the 2027 budget and

2:16:04I've mentioned these some of these,

2:16:05right? So we will have 18 positions in

2:16:09the Department of Sanitation across

2:16:10administration, enforcement, field

2:16:12operations. Other operating uh our

2:16:15resources will focus on uh curbside

2:16:18solid waste collection and recycling. Uh

2:16:20landfill disposal is covered, you know,

2:16:22both of those items are the two large

2:16:23items covered by the new reset

2:16:25sanitation fee. City uh solid waste

2:16:28collection at city buildings and

2:16:29regulatory compliance, primarily

2:16:33uh the closed recovery one landfill and

2:16:35the testing that goes along with that.

2:16:39Uh

2:16:40despite

2:16:41uh the, you know, approximately 25%

2:16:44vacancies we have uh this year, we have

2:16:46been able to achieve a number of

2:16:48efficiencies uh

2:16:51to continue things moving forward. So,

2:16:53uh our team has worked tirelessly to

2:16:56streamline field operations to mitigate

2:16:58the impact of the reduced staffing on

2:17:00some of our key performance metrics. So,

2:17:02as I mentioned, while we have a current

2:17:03vacancy rate of 25%, we haven't seen a

2:17:05correlating reduction in the level of

2:17:08service provided to the residents, which

2:17:10has been a very uplifting to see. An

2:17:12example of that is on litter removal, uh

2:17:15this is the folks on the ground removing

2:17:17litter throughout the city. We've only

2:17:19seen a 12% reduction for the period

2:17:21January to September um in the number of

2:17:23street miles that we've cleaned, and

2:17:25we've only seen an 18% reduction in

2:17:28mechanical street sweeping. Believe it

2:17:30or not, we haven't seen any reduction in

2:17:32illegal dumping uh remediation as far as

2:17:35the number of locations

2:17:36uh cleared, which is a testament to our

2:17:38team. We have seen a reduction in the

2:17:40number of waste tires, though, because

2:17:42[clears throat] we've lost that

2:17:43contractor support we had uh that ended

2:17:46in 2025. But again, overall, I think the

2:17:49team has been innovative in trying to

2:17:51figure out ways to be more efficient and

2:17:53to make sure that we minimize impact on

2:17:55residents with the vacancies that we

2:17:57have.

2:17:58We've also optimized workforce

2:18:00assignments um based on reduced

2:18:02overtime. So, we are projected to have

2:18:06approximately 24% less overtime this

2:18:08year,

2:18:10which is in line with the, you know, the

2:18:12goals of the city to reduce those costs.

2:18:14And we've gotten creative in our work

2:18:16assignments. Monday is a very good

2:18:18example of that with second lines

2:18:20commonly occurring in the past. Monday

2:18:22was an overtime day for the department.

2:18:25Without that overtime, we have figured

2:18:26out how to optimize those work

2:18:28assignments to get second lines

2:18:29completed do some cleaning throughout

2:18:31the city.

2:18:32We've been able to transition some costs

2:18:34on the other operating side,

2:18:36as well, to assist with these budget

2:18:38efficiencies. There was some

2:18:40supplemental interstate highway sweeping

2:18:42and mowing that the city supplemented

2:18:45the state on for as long as I've been

2:18:47here, so for 15 years. That saved the

2:18:50city approximately $73,000. This year,

2:18:52we transitioned both of those

2:18:54supplemental cycles back to DOTD at the

2:18:57beginning of the year.

2:18:58As I mentioned, we have, you know,

2:19:01formalized

2:19:03active donation agreements with all of

2:19:04our contractors this year. They have

2:19:06graciously agreed to donate almost 2,600

2:19:09recycling carts to the city, which

2:19:11fulfilled our demand for the end of the

2:19:13year and allowed us to continue to meet

2:19:15the demand from 311. So, again, we're

2:19:17optimistic that that will continue again

2:19:20in 2027.

2:19:22You know, the approximate cost savings

2:19:24to the city there was $125,000

2:19:27carts. So, not an insignificant amount.

2:19:29And again, extremely appreciative to our

2:19:31contractors for for doing those

2:19:33donations.

2:19:34And lastly, you know, the reset

2:19:36sanitation fee

2:19:38to reduce the structural deficit and the

2:19:40impact on the general fund. So, we know

2:19:41that this had an impact of approximately

2:19:44$16 million for the city.

2:19:48Uh first, you know, for support for the

2:19:51city here, again, we understand that

2:19:54we're facing

2:19:56a pretty daunting uh, budget for 2027.

2:19:59So, uh um, if this budget were to be

2:20:02adopted as it's currently uh, proposed,

2:20:05there's been some discussion and thought

2:20:07about how we could mitigate the impacts

2:20:09um, to the operations of the city. So,

2:20:11you see here um, using pulled resources

2:20:13from other departments um, to assist

2:20:16with sanitation services and also uh,

2:20:19some reimbursement from DOTD on other

2:20:22services that potentially could offset

2:20:24some of the other operating uh,

2:20:26expenses.

2:20:29Lastly, our 2027 goals,

2:20:32um, we want to provide the core

2:20:34sanitation with the current budget and

2:20:36staffing our core sanitation services,

2:20:39litter removal, public uh, trash

2:20:40receptacle collection. We want to

2:20:42continue to provide exceptional curbside

2:20:44select solid waste and recycling

2:20:46services for the residents in New

2:20:47Orleans.

2:20:49Operationalize the illegal dumping uh,

2:20:51strike force providing immediate relief

2:20:53to neighborhoods. So, we are in the

2:20:56final stages of hiring with plans to

2:20:58bring that team online in November.

2:21:01And always ensure that our emergency

2:21:03debris removal readiness is in place

2:21:06should a storm impact us. So, we have

2:21:08standby emergency contracts which we

2:21:10maintain that are up for renewal and

2:21:12we'll be back here later this month for

2:21:14those ahead of the renewal dates in

2:21:16January to make sure that we are ready

2:21:17to respond should a disaster strike the

2:21:20city.

2:21:21So, again, uh, happy to

2:21:23happy to be here and field any questions

2:21:26y'all may have.

2:21:26>> Thanks, Mike. Councilmember Harris.

2:21:29>> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, Director

2:21:31Torre, let me uh, thank you

2:21:33first and foremost for uh, your

2:21:35leadership.

2:21:37Uh, it's been a real pleasure working

2:21:39with you.

2:21:40I thank you for your responsiveness uh,

2:21:43every time me or my team have reached

2:21:45out, um, you actually respond

2:21:48expeditiously

2:21:50uh, and you follow through.

2:21:52And uh, I really appreciate that and I

2:21:54want to echo the thanks that you

2:21:55rendered to

2:21:57um, the the members of the Sanitation

2:21:59Department. Um, they they in my opinion

2:22:03are the most dedicated and committed

2:22:06uh, group of public servants that can be

2:22:08found anywhere in this country.

2:22:11They work very hard. They work 7 days a

2:22:13week. They work under very difficult

2:22:16circumstances.

2:22:18And so on behalf of the residents of

2:22:20District E,

2:22:21I want to extend my sincere gratitude.

2:22:25Uh, let me ask about the um, reduction

2:22:28of the 55 positions.

2:22:31Um, I think um, Mr. Large earlier

2:22:36kind of implied that some of these

2:22:38reductions are actually live people. Is

2:22:40that accurate?

2:22:41>> Yeah, so uh, as I mentioned we currently

2:22:44have 18 budgeted vacancies uh, in our

2:22:46department. So what's proposed here is

2:22:48an additional 37

2:22:51uh, reductions of actual employees. So

2:22:53that would bring us to the net reduction

2:22:55of 55.

2:22:56>> So 37 layoffs. Um, what what give me an

2:22:59example of if you can

2:23:02what what types of positions are on the

2:23:05table for layoffs?

2:23:07>> So on the operational side, those

2:23:09layoffs would include 32 laborers. So

2:23:12those are the men and women who are on

2:23:14the ground removing litter, emptying

2:23:16public litter cans, riding on the back

2:23:18of garbage trucks, emptying public

2:23:19litter cans,

2:23:21um, doing graffiti remediation, pressure

2:23:23washing, cleaning homeless encampments,

2:23:25delivering recycling cans to households.

2:23:28It would also include 15 equipment

2:23:30operators. So these are the Sanitation

2:23:33employees who are operating our heavy

2:23:34equipment. So they're removing illegal

2:23:36dumping, waste tires from the public

2:23:38right-of-way, operating mechanical

2:23:40street sweepers and flushers to clean

2:23:42roadways and bridges,

2:23:43um, and delivering recycling carts to

2:23:46households, um, and and and

2:23:48and then many other things, right? I

2:23:50mentioned uh recycling at city

2:23:52buildings, our team uh does that as

2:23:54well. So, that would fall under that on

2:23:56the operational side. Outside of

2:23:58operations, as I mentioned, these these

2:24:00reductions impact every aspect of

2:24:01sanitation. So, on the administrative

2:24:04side, it would impact our

2:24:06office team, which is five people,

2:24:07including myself. Um that would have a

2:24:09direct impact on reporting, customer

2:24:11service. And on the enforcement side,

2:24:14the rangers that provide the enforcement

2:24:16capabilities on the sanitation code, we

2:24:18have one ranger for each council

2:24:19district. So, that would be an impact

2:24:21there on that enforcement capabilities.

2:24:23>> Okay. What I'm about to say is is not on

2:24:26you all. Um as I'm going to continue to

2:24:28remind members of the public, the

2:24:30council under the city charter now owns

2:24:32the budget.

2:24:34Um

2:24:35I I appreciate that this was a first

2:24:37step uh from the administration. That's

2:24:39how the process works.

2:24:41Um but the elimination of these

2:24:43employees, layoffs, telling them Merry

2:24:46Christmas by laying them off is a

2:24:47non-starter for me. And so, I look

2:24:50forward to working with my uh council

2:24:52colleagues, doing whatever we need to do

2:24:55uh to preserve these positions. Um this

2:24:57speaks at the heart of quality of life,

2:24:59public safety, public health.

2:25:02Uh the list goes on. And so, uh I'm

2:25:04fully committed to ensuring that we

2:25:07restore

2:25:08um these positions. Um

2:25:10let me move on to Mardi Gras and special

2:25:13event clean up.

2:25:15Um

2:25:16How how much

2:25:18Tell me about what will it take to

2:25:19restore I don't know how we have Mardi

2:25:22Gras

2:25:23um and we and we don't clean up after

2:25:25that. So, what would it take to restore

2:25:27um those services?

2:25:28>> Yeah. Uh so, the approximate

2:25:31cost for Mardi Gras clean up uh is about

2:25:33$1.8 million on the other operating

2:25:35side. So, that's the supplemental labor

2:25:37and equipment that supports Mardi Gras

2:25:39clean up that everyone sees uh along the

2:25:42parade routes for the 10 days of Mardi

2:25:43Gras. Um

2:25:45Mardi Gras is a

2:25:46a monumental effort, right? A huge

2:25:48undertaking. On our peak clean up days,

2:25:50we have over 500 labors and 100 pieces

2:25:53of heavy equipment.

2:25:54And and we could be working in multiple

2:25:57areas of the city. So, on the second

2:25:59Saturday of Mardi Gras, I just remind

2:26:02everybody not only are we working

2:26:03uptown, we're also working mid-city and

2:26:06then waking up at the Crafted Owl on

2:26:08Sunday to to run over to the West Bank

2:26:11to clean up the parade that happened

2:26:12there on Saturday as well. So, there is

2:26:14a significant demand of resources during

2:26:17Mardi Gras and it is a large

2:26:19undertaking. We have tremendous support

2:26:21from other city agencies that support us

2:26:23during Mardi Gras. Um operational

2:26:25departments,

2:26:26public works, parks and parkways, NORD,

2:26:30property management, sewerage and water

2:26:31board also provide significant resources

2:26:33both in equipment and people to assist

2:26:36during Mardi Gras, but we need every

2:26:38last person to make sure that that route

2:26:40is cleaned up every night.

2:26:41>> Okay. I'm going to ask a deeply

2:26:43unpopular question. This is probably to

2:26:45you, Mr. Deputy CAO, and the CAO may

2:26:47actually have to um

2:26:49uh jump in here.

2:26:53There's this impression that

2:26:55Mardi Gras in the city of New Orleans

2:26:57generates just millions and millions and

2:26:59millions of dollars, and perhaps it

2:27:01does, but then I'm getting conflicting

2:27:02information

2:27:04over my tenure that somehow we we we

2:27:06still run a deficit when it comes to

2:27:09sanitation,

2:27:11public safety. So,

2:27:13my first question,

2:27:15yes or no,

2:27:17do we make money as a city off Mardi

2:27:18Gras or do we run a deficit off Mardi

2:27:21Gras?

2:27:22>> So, the answer is yes, we run a deficit.

2:27:24Let me tell you how we got here, council

2:27:26member. So, I met with some of the crews

2:27:28back in December about this, and they

2:27:30said,

2:27:31um "Hey, we think that you're wrong

2:27:33about this." So, I then asked Office of

2:27:36Performance and accountability to

2:27:37examine where everything was on Mardi

2:27:40Gras and what happened. They came back

2:27:43with a certain figure that showed a

2:27:44deficit of running Mardi Gras.

2:27:46And then the crews said, "Well, we think

2:27:48that number's too high.

2:27:50We think your number is incorrect. It's

2:27:51wrong." So, I said, "Fine. Let's go to

2:27:54your economist and let's see what the

2:27:57actual cost is to the savings Let me see

2:27:59to the city." In other words, you can't

2:28:01factor what the state gets. You can't

2:28:03factor anything that doesn't come in

2:28:04here to us. So, in fairness, we were

2:28:07both right.

2:28:09And by that, I mean the OPA number was a

2:28:11little too high, but at the same time,

2:28:13it is a about a $3.7 million loss as of

2:28:17last year to the city of New Orleans.

2:28:19So, when you see that New Orleans is

2:28:22making all this money, which I know is a

2:28:23recurring issue, um and I know you and

2:28:25other council members, particularly in

2:28:27the legislature, have tried to get more

2:28:28money to the city. This is one of those

2:28:30things where um we've examined it, we've

2:28:33looked at the math, and on paper, there

2:28:35is a about a $4 million loss.

2:28:37>> All right. So, with that said, this is

2:28:39where and this is going to be deeply

2:28:41unpopular, too, but I'm I'm just going

2:28:42to say it.

2:28:43Um we are going to have to put our heads

2:28:46together.

2:28:47Because in my opinion, we have a very

2:28:49unsustainable business model.

2:28:52Um the women and men who protect us

2:28:55during Mardi Gras, they're not just

2:28:57protecting the citizens of the city of

2:28:59New Orleans.

2:29:00Okay? They are protecting everybody that

2:29:02comes from

2:29:05Dilly Wa Dilly and Kalamazoo. Okay?

2:29:08Um the women and men who are cleaning up

2:29:11after Mardi Gras are not just cleaning

2:29:13up after the residents of the city of

2:29:15New Orleans. Okay?

2:29:17The residents of the city of New Orleans

2:29:19who actually live here

2:29:21are already putting skin in the game.

2:29:24So, folks that are descending upon the

2:29:26city for Mardi Gras, that are reaping

2:29:28all the benefits, we're going to have to

2:29:30figure out how they put more skin in the

2:29:33game.

2:29:34Because it's just unsustainable to have

2:29:36this big free party

2:29:39and we run a 4 million 5 million dollar

2:29:41deficit.

2:29:44And and the only people we're asking to

2:29:46to to clean up that deficit

2:29:49are the taxpayers of the city of New

2:29:51Orleans. So, we're going to have to

2:29:53figure that out. I know we can't figure

2:29:55it out for this budget cycle.

2:29:57Um if we have to go to Baton Rouge and

2:29:59and come up with a fix, but we we have

2:30:02to get creative

2:30:03to to close that

2:30:05that deficit.

2:30:06>> Yes. Uh look, we all want to put on

2:30:09something that everybody loves, but at

2:30:10the end of the day, the money is not

2:30:12coming to the city. It's going

2:30:14elsewhere. So, what can we do to close

2:30:15that bleed?

2:30:16>> Yep.

2:30:17Thank you, CEO. Look forward to working

2:30:19with you all on that.

2:30:20Um let me now shift to the October

2:30:25sanitation fee increase.

2:30:27Um

2:30:28for the public record, please confirm

2:30:30that the fee increases

2:30:32Please confirm the fee increases

2:30:34effective date and does the proposed

2:30:362027 budget include a full year of

2:30:39revenue

2:30:40uh from

2:30:41this increase and how much additional

2:30:43revenue is attributable to it?

2:30:47>> So, yes, the the reset sanitation fees

2:30:51took effect with October billing and

2:30:53October billing varies per household.

2:30:56Everybody's not on the same billing

2:30:57cycle, but when your October billing

2:30:59>> [snorts]

2:30:59>> uh started, uh the new sanitation fee

2:31:02appeared on your bill.

2:31:05Um so, that did take effect. Um I know

2:31:08that the 2027 budget includes a

2:31:11projected revenue of 55.4 million

2:31:14dollars for the new

2:31:17um reset sanitation fee. So, as I

2:31:19mentioned, that's an increase I think of

2:31:21around 16 16 or so million dollars.

2:31:24>> Okay.

2:31:25Um

2:31:26what these increases the residents of

2:31:27the city of New Orleans were promised a

2:31:30strike force.

2:31:31Has that strike force already launched?

2:31:34>> It has not launched yet. We've in the

2:31:36final stages of hiring. We've hired four

2:31:39of the six laborers and

2:31:42three of the four equipment operators

2:31:43who will constitute the strike force are

2:31:45actually sanitation employees who were

2:31:47laborers who are partaking in

2:31:50certification class to get their CDL

2:31:52license so that they can be promoted to

2:31:55equipment operators to provide that

2:31:56function. So this

2:31:58given the city's financial situations is

2:32:00one of the rare opportunities we have to

2:32:02do advancement for current employees in

2:32:04the department which is something

2:32:06historically we've really prided

2:32:07ourselves on. So

2:32:09I'm really looking forward to these

2:32:10three individuals come getting their

2:32:13completing their certifications and in

2:32:15the near future and then that strike

2:32:17team starting in November. So that's

2:32:18when we plan to start is November.

2:32:20>> Okay. And is the strike force fully

2:32:22funded in the proposed 2027 budget?

2:32:25>> The strike team is funded via the reset

2:32:27sanitation fee.

2:32:28>> Okay. So we're going to keep the strike

2:32:29force and then lay off

2:32:3230 plus other employees. That's our

2:32:34plan?

2:32:35>> It is a separate it's a separate funding

2:32:37source. So on paper that is how it would

2:32:40appear.

2:32:41>> Okay.

2:32:42Let me ask I received an email at 6:14

2:32:45this morning.

2:32:46This came from a constituent in Venetian

2:32:48Isles. So these questions

2:32:50I'm asking on his behalf. His name is

2:32:52John in Venetian Isles.

2:32:54He said Mr. Hughes will be watching the

2:32:56budget hearings today. Would you please

2:32:58ask several questions during the

2:32:59sanitation budget hearing. So

2:33:03what is the total amount of funds

2:33:05generated from recycling?

2:33:08Or I think he meant what is the total

2:33:10amount of funds spent on recycling.

2:33:14>> One sec. So

2:33:17for 20

2:33:2027 the proposed cost for recycling is

2:33:23$11.2 million across the five service

2:33:26areas.

2:33:26>> Right. And And that's consistent. I I

2:33:28think he wants to know what is what What

2:33:30are we spending currently? So, it's my

2:33:32understanding that it's about 900,000

2:33:34per month,

2:33:36um almost 12 million per year.

2:33:38>> Okay.

2:33:39>> Um

2:33:42His next question is, what is the city's

2:33:47reimbursement from contractors

2:33:51for recycled materials that are sold to

2:33:53recycling centers?

2:33:55>> So, the city's con- uh contracts with

2:33:57our curbside collection contractors are

2:33:59set up in a way that the we pay the

2:34:02contractors a an fee per service

2:34:06location. As a part of that service, the

2:34:08contractor picks up the recycling

2:34:10material, transports it uh to the

2:34:13processing facility, and covers the cost

2:34:16of processing at the facility. So, the

2:34:18city

2:34:19Once the material gets picked up, the

2:34:21ownership of that recycling material

2:34:23transfers from the city to our

2:34:24contractor, and we are no longer a part

2:34:27of that business operation. So, our

2:34:29stake in that is that we pay the

2:34:30contractor to provide that service. They

2:34:32bear the cost of the market of what that

2:34:35processing cost is.

2:34:37So, historically, the cost to process

2:34:39recycling material is two to three times

2:34:42more than the cost to put it in the

2:34:44landfill. So, when we take debris to the

2:34:45landfill, we pay approximately $36 a

2:34:49ton. When material is taken to a

2:34:51recycling processing center,

2:34:53it's anywhere from 80 to $100 a ton to

2:34:55have that material processed. So, that's

2:34:57the That burden is being born by our

2:34:59contractors, and any market volatility,

2:35:01they absorb that over the course of the

2:35:03contract.

2:35:04>> Thank you. His next question is, how

2:35:06many cubic yards of recycled material

2:35:09are collected by the sanitation

2:35:11contractors each month and year

2:35:14that are not sent to landfills?

2:35:18>> So, we we

2:35:20we don't track it by cubic yard, we

2:35:21track it by ton, but it's it's it's

2:35:23between 5 and 6,000 tons per year is

2:35:26what we we do on the collection side.

2:35:28>> Okay. For recycling.

2:35:30>> Okay.

2:35:31Um his next question is does the city

2:35:34sanitation department

2:35:36even track how much recycled material is

2:35:38collected by type from the sanitation

2:35:41contractors?

2:35:44>> That That information is not provided to

2:35:47us because again, we're not the end user

2:35:49of the contract with the processing

2:35:52facility. In municipalities where they

2:35:55own that relationship, where they have

2:35:57the contract with the processing

2:35:58facility, that material that information

2:36:00is provided to them on an audit

2:36:02function, but we don't have that that

2:36:04information, no. So, no, we don't.

2:36:07>> Okay. Uh he has two more questions. Um

2:36:10how long would it take to modify the

2:36:12sanitation contracts to eliminate

2:36:14recycling?

2:36:17>> I mean, it's a very quick turnaround.

2:36:18It's just a reduction. It's just a

2:36:20notification and an elimination of a

2:36:22service. So, that can be done, you know,

2:36:24upon request with a very short uh

2:36:27notification period.

2:36:29>> Okay.

2:36:29And his final question is how much would

2:36:32our monthly sanitation fee be reduced if

2:36:35recycling were eliminated?

2:36:40>> I I don't want to

2:36:41>> And if you want to get back to me

2:36:42>> get an exact number, but I know we in

2:36:44the past we've said anywhere

2:36:46If I can get back to you

2:36:47>> Yeah, you can get me

2:36:48>> I can give you a number that would be

2:36:49>> And and and I'll I'll email it to him.

2:36:51Um again, thank you um Director Tori. I

2:36:54look forward to uh working with my

2:36:57council colleagues.

2:36:58Um these um staffing reductions in your

2:37:02department are just a non-starter and

2:37:05we're not going to say Merry Christmas

2:37:06by laying off our workforce or

2:37:09contributing to our city and to our

2:37:12economy. Thank you, Madam Chair.

2:37:14>> Thank you, Council member Morrell.

2:37:18>> Thank you.

2:37:19Once again, Matt, we appreciate all the

2:37:21work you do. Appreciate all the work

2:37:22that everyone sanitation does and

2:37:25it is

2:37:28very interesting the way the proposed

2:37:30cut. To your point, if you look at it

2:37:34and then you include the budget of the

2:37:36sanitation contracts as your budget, it

2:37:40seems like the

2:37:42amount that your department is taking is

2:37:44small, but you are simply a pass-through

2:37:47conduit for the contractors themselves,

2:37:49correct?

2:37:50>> Yeah. Yeah, in the in the reset world

2:37:52now,

2:37:53the sanitation fees cost neutral, right?

2:37:55We're only supposed to charge the cost

2:37:57to cover the cost of service. So, we

2:37:59don't save any money to the city by

2:38:01reducing services. We just reduce the

2:38:03cost to the resident if we were to

2:38:05reduce the service on that side.

2:38:06>> Right, which is why if you

2:38:09as a budgeting practice, it happened

2:38:12frequently at the state level,

2:38:14particularly with the Department of

2:38:15Health.

2:38:16It really isn't appropriate when you're

2:38:18a pass-through entity to look at your

2:38:21budget as a whole because your budget as

2:38:24a sanitation department is really

2:38:26the amount minus the pass-through money.

2:38:29So, I mean, the fact that you would have

2:38:32a 75% [snorts]

2:38:33reduction in staff is

2:38:36completely mind-boggling. I think from

2:38:40Councilmember Huizar's perspective, I

2:38:41think that this is certainly a situation

2:38:42where there needs to be a reevaluation

2:38:45as far as what would appropriate cut be

2:38:48and to look at your department as a

2:38:50whole absent the pass-through money cuz

2:38:53I think part of what we're going to have

2:38:54to communicate to the public is

2:38:56when the sanitation fee is a pure

2:38:59pass-through,

2:39:01the reduction of sanitation will not at

2:39:04all affect your daily your weekly

2:39:08curbside pickup. It will be unabated

2:39:11same level recycling and regular pickup.

2:39:14But there are a lot of ancillary

2:39:16services that you provide that are just

2:39:19as important.

2:39:20Um

2:39:21as you said and I want to reiterate

2:39:23all of those trash cans throughout the

2:39:25city that are standing city public trash

2:39:28cans, you clean those out, correct?

2:39:31>> Yeah, there's about approximately 2,500

2:39:33public litter cans across the city that

2:39:35routinely get filled up.

2:39:37>> Right. And so even though the trash can

2:39:40outside your house will be picked up no

2:39:42matter what, that trash can that's by

2:39:44your grocery store, that trash can

2:39:46that's on the thoroughfare,

2:39:49if these cuts were to be implemented,

2:39:51those could look like Ida trash cans.

2:39:55>> Yes, response times would certainly be

2:39:56extended to provide services throughout

2:39:58the city with reduced staffing, yeah.

2:40:00>> And I can I know that Councilman Green

2:40:02is not here, but there has been a

2:40:04tremendous amount of work done by your

2:40:06department in regards to illegal dumping

2:40:09and to cleaning uh homeless encampments.

2:40:12If

2:40:13your department is cut to this level,

2:40:15then rather than residents calling in to

2:40:19district and and at large council

2:40:21members and saying there's been illegal

2:40:23dumping at this location,

2:40:25you guys have a pretty significant track

2:40:27record right now of turning around

2:40:29within 2, 3 days, clearing those sites.

2:40:32Those sites will just accumulate and

2:40:35grow to be minor dumps in themselves,

2:40:36correct?

2:40:38>> Well, yeah, I think as you mentioned

2:40:40over the past uh 5 years we've we've

2:40:43really done tremendous work in reducing

2:40:45the backlog of illegal dumping

2:40:47um and we had it in a very manageable

2:40:48place right now. So certainly reduction

2:40:51resources would directly impact that.

2:40:53We would have to look at other ways to

2:40:55potentially augment staffing or

2:40:58potential or other avenues to provide

2:41:00support because the dumping won't stop.

2:41:02Right now I I unfortunately, right,

2:41:03we're just not at a point in the city

2:41:05where dumping is slowing down. It's

2:41:07continuing and while we're trying to

2:41:09figure out the enforcement side of it

2:41:10just to mitigate that, we need to get it

2:41:12up for the quality of life impact

2:41:14quickly in the short term.

2:41:16>> Right. I mean if anything, the hope

2:41:18would be that we stand up the

2:41:21enforcement mechanism. I mean if we It's

2:41:23almost like we have to do bait cars, but

2:41:25the bait car would just be a dumping

2:41:27site and have them all hop out and, you

2:41:28know, boot cars and the like, but

2:41:31certainly we want to get there someday,

2:41:32but right now the remediation, the

2:41:34mitigation is getting you guys out there

2:41:36so that quality of life isn't impacted.

2:41:38Um while we were doing the sanitation

2:41:41and sanitation fee increase, we also

2:41:45increased the abatement fee for not for

2:41:48those properties that do not use our

2:41:50sanitation system, which are largely

2:41:52commercial or

2:41:54um large-scale residential in purpose,

2:41:56correct?

2:41:57>> Yes.

2:41:57>> And we went from 100 to 125.

2:42:00Is that acknowledged in next year's

2:42:02budget, Brandy, as an increase that

2:42:04would positively impact the sanitation

2:42:06department?

2:42:08>> I have to look that up.

2:42:09>> Okay. Just cuz I I I want to that

2:42:11number, what we analyzed when we're

2:42:14doing the sanitation fee increase, and

2:42:15you know this already, ma'am, I'm sure.

2:42:18We have

2:42:20significantly under-collected that fee

2:42:23from parties that do not use our

2:42:26sanitation contracting partners,

2:42:28correct?

2:42:30>> I'm not an expert on it, but I but yes,

2:42:33I believe we could certainly do better

2:42:34on the collection side.

2:42:35>> Yeah, the the analysis that we had

2:42:36previously from finance is that we have

2:42:38not been nearly as aggressive going to

2:42:40those businesses cuz the just for the

2:42:43the three people that are watching right

2:42:45now, if you are not if you are a

2:42:49large-scale

2:42:51residential or commercial property,

2:42:53you are required to have a contract with

2:42:56a third party and to not use our

2:42:57sanitation partners because it's an

2:42:59excess of what our contract does.

2:43:02But, you are required to pay into the

2:43:04system, paying a one-time fee annually

2:43:07of now $125.

2:43:10That fee can be used by sanitation and

2:43:13is used by sanitation for things like

2:43:15picking up those trash cans across the

2:43:16city. It's a abatement fee.

2:43:19Um we went up from 100 to 125, but I

2:43:21guess what I would need from you, Matt,

2:43:24and from Brandy is A,

2:43:26are we accounting for full collection of

2:43:29that fee? And B, do we have to go up on

2:43:32that fee again? Because we only went up

2:43:33$25,

2:43:35but for many of those businesses, we

2:43:37could probably go up to 150 or something

2:43:40like that. And I think, and I'm using

2:43:42broad numbers from my memory, which

2:43:44please don't trust, I believe that fee

2:43:47is supposed to generate over a million

2:43:48dollars.

2:43:50So, let's look at that fee again,

2:43:51Brandy, and see if maybe we could take

2:43:53where that fee is. It's not going to

2:43:54solve your problem, but it's another way

2:43:56to kind of

2:43:57eat away at the, you know, eat the

2:43:59elephant one bite at a time. It's

2:44:00another way to start eating that

2:44:01elephant cuz it's

2:44:03it's a fee that's supposed to help fund

2:44:05your department to do those essential

2:44:06services that benefit everyone,

2:44:09particularly those businesses that don't

2:44:11want those public cans spilling over

2:44:13next to their businesses and making

2:44:15those businesses less appealing for

2:44:17people to visit. So,

2:44:18uh Brandy, if you can get back to us

2:44:20with that

2:44:20>> I I want to confirm with Abby and our um

2:44:22economist on that

2:44:23>> Okay.

2:44:24>> to ensure if it is or is not cuz I

2:44:26that's not my specialty, so I want to

2:44:27check that out.

2:44:28>> Yeah, and and when you get that number,

2:44:30could you also ask them what it would

2:44:31look like if we raised it to 150?

2:44:34>> Sure.

2:44:35>> Okay.

2:44:36Thank you, Madam Chair.

2:44:37>> Council Member Willard.

2:44:39>> Thank you, Madam Chair.

2:44:40Um thank you, Director Tori, for being

2:44:42here.

2:44:44It's just hard to to message this,

2:44:47right? We just increased the sanitation

2:44:49fee,

2:44:50yet for the 2027 proposed budget, your

2:44:53personnel is being reduced by 75%,

2:44:56right? And we know that the increase is

2:44:59supposed to cover the cost of these

2:45:00contracts,

2:45:02but at the same time, if this budget

2:45:04goes into effect like it is right now,

2:45:07people driving around the city are going

2:45:09to see trash overflowing from I mean, I

2:45:11don't even know if you

2:45:13overflowing from public trash cans. I

2:45:15mean,

2:45:17if those positions are eliminated, how

2:45:19do you even get that trash from the the

2:45:22the cans, those public cans? If you're

2:45:25eliminating the equipment people, I

2:45:28mean, how do you have somebody operating

2:45:30the truck, right? Are Are we in a

2:45:32position where it doesn't even make

2:45:33sense to have public trash cans out? If

2:45:35this budget goes through,

2:45:37>> if if you will just allow me to

2:45:39to to respond. Listen,

2:45:42we uh uh

2:45:44asked the budgets uh the the the uh

2:45:47departments to submit a budget that was

2:45:51uh responsive in a way on um

2:45:54on on revenue generation and cost

2:45:56cutting uh that would support the

2:45:58overall mission to uh balance the

2:46:01budget, right? Um

2:46:04there are no easy answers or response or

2:46:07responses we can offer in terms of

2:46:09selections, and we have identified on

2:46:12the front end um

2:46:14those that we think uh we may have some

2:46:17solutions to in order to be able to uh

2:46:20remedy the situation. It will not be

2:46:21perfect, all right? One regard to the

2:46:24impacts on sanitation, um we truly

2:46:28believe that uh

2:46:29a continued and better coordination

2:46:32among the departments and uh providing

2:46:35additional equipment and human resources

2:46:37uh will will help that situation. It

2:46:40won't It won't cure the situation, but

2:46:42it will help that situation. Um

2:46:45we recognize that there is still an

2:46:48opportunity uh between the council and

2:46:50the administration to determine what

2:46:52level of funding is appropriate to be

2:46:54able to

2:46:56accomplish the goal of the overall

2:46:57budget

2:46:59reduction, but at the at the same time

2:47:01um

2:47:02do some specific things that make more

2:47:04sense to to the individual councilman as

2:47:07it relates to things like the sanitation

2:47:09budget and its impact. I I I I just

2:47:13wanted to let you know that that is

2:47:15>> It's not a a cut without a plan.

2:47:16>> Well, well,

2:47:17>> We have thought about what the type of

2:47:18things

2:47:19>> guess I need to know what the plan is,

2:47:20right? On slide and I'm going to just

2:47:23jump all over the place because I have a

2:47:24lot of notes here. Slide seven talks

2:47:26about possible reasonable solutions.

2:47:29Um so, Director Torry, if you could

2:47:31weigh in on what those possible

2:47:33reasonable solutions are because, you

2:47:35know, I see I see we have NORD and Parks

2:47:38and Parkways on there for instance. If

2:47:41the operator if the laborers who collect

2:47:44the trash from different playgrounds

2:47:45throughout the city are are um

2:47:48fired uh and the equipment that they use

2:47:51to collect that trash um they don't have

2:47:54somebody to operate that equipment uh

2:47:57presumably that trash goes uncollected

2:47:59or you remove those trash cans unless

2:48:03NORD wants to step in and say, "Hey,

2:48:05we'll take care of the trash at our

2:48:07different playgrounds."

2:48:09Look, I play basketball at various

2:48:11courts in the greater Gentilly area and

2:48:14uh some days I go there and the trash is

2:48:16already overflowing. So, if we if we

2:48:18make it worse on that front, um it will

2:48:21be like a Hurricane Ida COVID situation

2:48:24where trash is just overflowing and that

2:48:26is dangerous because we have our youth

2:48:28playing there and you're going to have

2:48:30all type of rodents, you're going to

2:48:31have possums, you're going to have rats,

2:48:33you're going to have all type of uh

2:48:35pests in the city of New Orleans uh who

2:48:37will further coyotes that that will will

2:48:40in our neighborhoods. So, if there are

2:48:42plans, if there are, you know,

2:48:44mitigation efforts being discussed, I

2:48:46think we deserve to know what those are.

2:48:49So, for slide seven, Director Tory, and

2:48:52look, we talked last night and, you

2:48:54know, I'm frustrated because I'm

2:48:56frustrated that we're having to discuss

2:48:59this type of bleak budget scenario, but

2:49:02are there any efforts, are there any

2:49:04conversations happening right now where

2:49:07departments can step in, like maybe

2:49:09Parks and Parkways takes care of trash

2:49:11cans along the the the Lafitte Greenway?

2:49:14I mean, are we having those

2:49:15conversations? We we know departments

2:49:17are getting cut

2:49:19across the board, experiencing cuts

2:49:21across the board. So, I'm skeptical that

2:49:24they'll be able to step in and do some

2:49:25of this work.

2:49:27>> Yeah. So, to answer your question, I

2:49:29think in in the scenario on you're

2:49:31describing, right, the you know,

2:49:33worst-case [clears throat] scenario

2:49:34where those positions go away, that the

2:49:36city would need to try to find

2:49:38alternative ways to mitigate the impact

2:49:40because as you all have mentioned, there

2:49:42would be direct impacts of that. So,

2:49:43using resources from other departments

2:49:46would be the only resources we have to

2:49:49backfill those positions that were lost

2:49:51to provide those critical essential

2:49:53services. So, we would need to

2:49:55to explore every available avenue that's

2:49:57available to us if we were to lose

2:49:59these critical resources.

2:50:01>> Have we had those conversations yet? I

2:50:04mean, is it

2:50:04>> Those conversations are ongoing, right?

2:50:07I mentioned previously

2:50:10being charged with with coming up with

2:50:11that plan, right? How do we consolidate

2:50:15departments and coordinate in in such a

2:50:18way as to create efficiencies with what

2:50:20we do have, right? I have an initial

2:50:24report. I'm happy to to discuss that

2:50:27report, share that report, and and and

2:50:29it will have details about how we intend

2:50:33to go about

2:50:36achieving those efficiencies.

2:50:38Is it fully and completely developed and

2:50:41implemented? Are you wrong to not have

2:50:43not have concern or to have concerns?

2:50:46Absolutely not. But

2:50:47but but but we we are working toward and

2:50:50we feel confident

2:50:52that while we won't have a perfect

2:50:53response, we will have a response that

2:50:56ensures a minimum level of

2:50:58service throughout the community.

2:50:59>> I just want us all to acknowledge that

2:51:01even if these conversations go well and

2:51:04departments think they can pull it off,

2:51:06it's not as easy as snapping our

2:51:07fingers, right? Because

2:51:09you'll have to change up job

2:51:10descriptions, you'll have to create new

2:51:12positions in these departments because,

2:51:14you know, I don't think we have I mean

2:51:17what a north person would cover

2:51:20a geographic footprint. It's just I mean

2:51:22these are these are

2:51:24heavy conversations that need to be had

2:51:26before, you know, hopefully we don't

2:51:29even get to that point. But but we need

2:51:30to be having those heavy conversations

2:51:32right now.

2:51:33Director Torrey, so you you acknowledge

2:51:37that the strike team, which was one of

2:51:40the things that was being presented in

2:51:43the sanitation fee increase

2:51:44conversation, is funded in the 2027

2:51:48budget. Is it accurate that that's

2:51:50funded through the sanitation fee paid

2:51:53by New Orleanians and businesses?

2:51:56>> Yes.

2:51:56>> Okay. How much is that

2:51:58account for? How much is the strike team

2:52:01in the 2027 budget going to account for?

2:52:04>> The annual cost of those resources is

2:52:07approximately $500,000 for those 10

2:52:10resources.

2:52:10>> So it's just $500,000. Okay.

2:52:13Is there any possibility that the strike

2:52:17team steps in and picks up some of the

2:52:19work that will be

2:52:21forfeited if this budget proposal went

2:52:24through?

2:52:25>> Well, I think to be to be blunt, right?

2:52:28A sanitation employee

2:52:29>> I want you to be blunt.

2:52:30>> is a sanitation employee. So

2:52:31[clears throat] of course, public health

2:52:33emergencies priorities we will always

2:52:36attend to. So,

2:52:37whether I have a hat on that says strike

2:52:39team or ground crew, if there's an

2:52:41emergency, we're going to deal with the

2:52:42emergency, but the intent is to fulfill

2:52:44the goal of the strike team while not

2:52:47losing progress on other key areas of

2:52:50the city like our normal illegal dumping

2:52:52queue through 311. So, I think as we

2:52:54continue to work through this process,

2:52:56that's our goal is to figure out how do

2:52:57we keep the level of service that

2:52:59residents want in the city with the

2:53:02resources that we have available to us.

2:53:04>> All right. And we spoke last night, just

2:53:06for the public, anybody who checked this

2:53:08out, the budget book showed that there's

2:53:10a proposed number of 55 FTEs in 2027

2:53:14with the reduction of 18, but what

2:53:17actually is happening and what was

2:53:18presented in your slide deck is that 55

2:53:22employees are being laid off, let go,

2:53:25proposed to be laid off and let go.

2:53:28You're retaining 18 for the FY 2027.

2:53:31Of those 18, does the 10 strike team

2:53:35members are are they included in that

2:53:3818?

2:53:38>> No.

2:53:39>> Okay, so you would have where they

2:53:41factored in?

2:53:42>> Given that they're funded separately,

2:53:44they're not a part of that general fund

2:53:46funding allocation in in our budget

2:53:48that's being presented here today.

2:53:50They're separate, so those would be a

2:53:51separate 10.

2:53:52>> So, that would be another 10 people that

2:53:54you would have. All right. Um

2:53:57we talked about the trash cans in public

2:54:00right-of-ways, on our you know, in our

2:54:03playgrounds.

2:54:05How else will New Orleanians feel,

2:54:09um see, and smell these budget cuts if

2:54:12they weren't if they were to go into

2:54:14effect?

2:54:19>> I mean

2:54:20>> I just need you to be transparent

2:54:22>> it's I think there's a direct

2:54:23correlation between resources and

2:54:25output. So,

2:54:27our job is to keep the level of service,

2:54:30if not constantly strive to improve it

2:54:32for the city of New Orleans, but to use

2:54:35our resources as effectively as

2:54:37possible. So, we will need to figure out

2:54:39ways to maximize productivity of our

2:54:41resources. And again, as I said, if this

2:54:44budget comes to fruition and these and

2:54:47these cuts happen, then we will need to

2:54:49figure out alternative ways to bring

2:54:50resources to bear. Otherwise, you will

2:54:53see extended response times on requests

2:54:56to pick up litter, to empty public

2:54:59litter cans, to deliver recycling carts,

2:55:01all of the things that this Department

2:55:02of Sanitation does. There's a direct

2:55:04correlation between resources and and

2:55:07output. So, we will need to find ways to

2:55:10mitigate that as issues if those

2:55:11resources go away, which is a a big gap.

2:55:14>> All right.

2:55:15Um slide five

2:55:18says of the 18 positions that you're

2:55:20keeping,

2:55:22enforcement is included, but then slide

2:55:25three says that enforcement will be

2:55:27eliminated. Can you just clarify that?

2:55:31>> No, I think you're

2:55:33you're correct. That is a typo that

2:55:35enforcement in the proposed budget goes

2:55:37away in its entirety.

2:55:38>> Okay.

2:55:39Um

2:55:41I know we've already touched on Mardi

2:55:43Gras and special event cleanup. To me,

2:55:48that's like a non-starter.

2:55:50I mean, can we even have Mardi Gras

2:55:52without the cleanup efforts?

2:55:56I mean, how how could you even parade if

2:55:58we're not picking up after that?

2:56:01I mean, even just between parades,

2:56:03right? Like one parade, then the next

2:56:05parade, then the next parade. You got to

2:56:06have cleanup efforts in between those

2:56:08parades.

2:56:11>> I mean, I think only thing I can tell

2:56:12you, Councilmember Willard, is that the

2:56:14we will do the best that we can do with

2:56:15the resources we have available to us,

2:56:17as always. And our team is committed. I

2:56:20I we take great pride in every day, but

2:56:22especially Mardi Gras and the work that

2:56:24we do. So, our goal will be to provide

2:56:26the level of service that residents

2:56:28expect, and that's what we'll strive to

2:56:29do.

2:56:31>> I I just think that's a non-starter.

2:56:34Um

2:56:34unless you want to talk about not having

2:56:37Mardi Gras, which is to me also a

2:56:39non-starter. Um

2:56:43So, Area 5 says the enhanced services

2:56:46are on the chopping block.

2:56:48Um I'm sorry, slide four says Area 5

2:56:51enhanced services are on the chopping

2:56:52block. I know there have been

2:56:54conversations that have been ongoing

2:56:57with uh some other entities about

2:57:00funding the enhanced services for Area

2:57:035. Uh can you provide an update on that?

2:57:06Or or maybe you, um Deputy Director

2:57:08Serio.

2:57:09>> I don't have that information. Do you

2:57:11have that information?

2:57:12>> I'm not aware of any updates as far as

2:57:14any changes other than

2:57:15uh than exploring how to transfer the

2:57:18costs from residents to other entities

2:57:20for that $5 million in enhanced services

2:57:22that we pay on an annual basis for the

2:57:24French Quarter.

2:57:25>> I'm marking that as a no as an O T.

2:57:28>> Yeah, could you could you please get us

2:57:30an update on that? Again, I mean, look,

2:57:33one of the economic drivers we have,

2:57:35whether you like it or not, is tourism

2:57:37in the city of New Orleans, and when you

2:57:39start to let Area 5 go, when you don't

2:57:41clean up after Mardi Gras events, I

2:57:44mean, we can basically start to kiss

2:57:46that source of revenue goodbye. Um

2:57:52My last question, so in Questica, it

2:57:55shows some reductions to recycling

2:57:57collection contracts.

2:57:59Um and I wanted to know what was being

2:58:02reduced there because I was under the

2:58:04impression that

2:58:06um

2:58:07those costs were paid by the sanitation

2:58:09fee.

2:58:11>> So, just for clarity

2:58:14cuz maybe you're be at 3010

2:58:17>> Yeah. So, so those reductions are the

2:58:20reductions for the

2:58:24legislative auditor service

2:58:26service location

2:58:28reductions. So, those are the

2:58:29corresponding for those. So, you'll see

2:58:30there's a reduction for each service

2:58:32area.

2:58:32>> Oh, when we

2:58:34prune the list basically.

2:58:35>> what those That's what those reductions

2:58:37are for.

2:58:37>> reductions are really saving.

2:58:39>> Yes. Those are So, based on what we

2:58:41projected for 2027, we were able to

2:58:42reduce that projected cost based on

2:58:44forecasted savings by the removal of

2:58:47those ineligible locations.

2:58:49>> Okay. All right. Thank you, Director.

2:58:51>> Councilmember McCarran.

2:58:53Uh just a few follow-up questions. Um

2:58:55and and also thank you to you and your

2:58:58team and the workers that are here

2:58:59today. You guys are doing a great job

2:59:01and you're very responsive and and

2:59:03helping clean up and especially to my

2:59:05office. We have a lot of problems

2:59:06sometimes in the Carrollton area. Uh so,

2:59:08I appreciate that. Um Matt, tell me how

2:59:11much it would be to restore these

2:59:14positions. Like what what it would the

2:59:16cost be?

2:59:17>> $2.1 million.

2:59:18>> Okay.

2:59:21$2.1 million. And what about any other

2:59:24operations that you would need to

2:59:27restore?

2:59:28>> Yeah.

2:59:28Uh on

2:59:30So, if we were looking on on the other

2:59:31operating side, um

2:59:34I mentioned Mardi Gras cleanup is

2:59:36estimated to be $1.8 million

2:59:38for for those services and special

2:59:40events. The Area 5 enhanced services

2:59:44that we just talked touched on was

2:59:45$628,000.

2:59:48Uh and the recycling activities outside

2:59:51of curbside collections of the drop-off

2:59:53hazardous waste day hazardous waste day

2:59:57um city building and glass recycling is

2:59:59$263,000.

3:00:02Um we are continuing to work to

3:00:04hopefully formalize donation agreements

3:00:06with our contractors for 2027 for

3:00:09actually recycling cart purchases, but

3:00:11if we don't, you know, we would prob-

3:00:13you know, need anywhere from 60 to

3:00:15100,000 dollars for recycling carts, but

3:00:17I am optimistic that they will

3:00:20partner with us again for 2027 on that.

3:00:23>> Okay. Yeah, that was going to be my next

3:00:24question is what is that that cost of

3:00:26recycling and what what would be the

3:00:28plan if we didn't get it donated? We we

3:00:30just like wouldn't deliver a cart to

3:00:32somebody and offer them

3:00:34>> We would have to either find an

3:00:35alternate source of funding or yes, that

3:00:37we would

3:00:38accumulate a backlog over lots and 301

3:00:40for carts.

3:00:41>> Okay.

3:00:42So, 60 to 100k for that

3:00:46if we needed to.

3:00:48>> I mean, that was that was what we had

3:00:49budgeted kind of as a safe number, but

3:00:51as I mentioned, the you know, the

3:00:53estimated value of the carts that the

3:00:54contractors have already contributed

3:00:56this year is about 125,000,

3:00:58so it's it's purely linked to how many

3:01:01people request them. So, I mean, I you

3:01:03know, if if we're talking the full year,

3:01:05I mean, it probably is actually a couple

3:01:07hundred thousand dollars for recycling

3:01:08carts if we don't have any donations at

3:01:10all.

3:01:10>> Okay. Okay. Thank you.

3:01:13All right. Matt, I I think we've gone

3:01:16through a lot of my questions. Um

3:01:19I I do want to say thank you to you and

3:01:21to your staff here. Um I can tell you I

3:01:25made a call to you about a large tire

3:01:27dump on Teledyne and that was picked up

3:01:29probably within three hours, so I just

3:01:31want to thank you and that's the type of

3:01:33service that we're getting right now

3:01:35with the team that you have

3:01:37including the laborers who what is their

3:01:39average salary?

3:01:41>> So, the average starting salary for

3:01:43laborers is in in the 30 30.

3:01:46>> So, we're cutting the least paid workers

3:01:48in the city of New Orleans if we go

3:01:50through this budget.

3:01:51Is that correct?

3:01:52>> I'm not and familiar with all the pay

3:01:55classifications, but there's there's

3:01:57>> They're they're getting paid $30,000 a

3:01:59year, which is not a lot. So, I'm I'm

3:02:00standing with Councilmember Hughes and

3:02:02Councilmember Willard that this is

3:02:04deeply disturbing that this is a

3:02:06non-starter. In fact, I think the

3:02:07proposal is unserious

3:02:10to cut Mardi Gras collection, to cut

3:02:12special event collection.

3:02:17And I think we need to get serious about

3:02:19the fact that people expect not only

3:02:22safe cities but clean cities, and that's

3:02:24what your department provides.

3:02:29I just have to shake my head at this

3:02:31whole thing. Um all right, I have uh

3:02:33several cards. The first one is from ooh

3:02:38Mr. Newman?

3:02:39>> Don't mess with it.

3:02:42>> Pronounce your first name, I can't read

3:02:44it. On Louisa Street?

3:02:45>> Pearl like the shampoo. Pearl

3:02:48and Mer like the mermaid.

3:02:50>> Pearl perfect.

3:02:51>> Pearl Mer not mermaid.

3:02:52>> up, you got 2 minutes.

3:02:53>> But anyhow

3:02:55I'm going to say good evening. Now, it

3:02:56was morning when I got here. I hope I

3:02:58don't have a ticket outside on my car.

3:03:01>> Give it to Council Member Morrell if you

3:03:03>> But I'm here to let the I I'm opposed

3:03:06against

3:03:09the fee increase, but I'm also opposed

3:03:11against laying people off.

3:03:13Uh

3:03:14our sanitation workers are some of the

3:03:17most underpaid,

3:03:19under celebrated people in our city.

3:03:23I'm going to say that first of all. Now,

3:03:26I said I was opposed and I've been here

3:03:28this is not my first time speaking

3:03:29against that $8 increase.

3:03:32I still think the $8 increase is a

3:03:34problem.

3:03:36I still think that we should look at

3:03:38Everybody can't afford $8 increase.

3:03:41Especially a lot of the seniors.

3:03:43Where I think we should be looking at is

3:03:46the contract service, IV4 and the and

3:03:49the other contractors. What are you

3:03:50paying them?

3:03:52You're not saying it here. You're

3:03:54talking about a collective package.

3:03:57What I'm saying to you is this.

3:03:59Look at

3:04:01how you pay them and the way you pay

3:04:03them. I'm glad somebody paid attention

3:04:05to what I've been saying lately because

3:04:07if you saw the news yesterday, it said

3:04:09what? We got 13,000

3:04:11properties here in the city that nobody

3:04:13lives in,

3:04:15but you're paying

3:04:16for collection service.

3:04:20These things need to be investigated. I

3:04:22tried to go see about getting a court

3:04:24injunction. You got that covered, too,

3:04:26where

3:04:27who's got $400 just to give and then you

3:04:30got to come here to first city court.

3:04:32You're not going to pay anything to what

3:04:33we say, but what I think you should do

3:04:36as a collective bargain, as a collective

3:04:39group, cuz I'm going to the mayor next.

3:04:41You all need to get with sanitation.

3:04:44And yes,

3:04:46look at charging these hotels a a a a a

3:04:49more fee. They're the ones who make the

3:04:50money.

3:04:52Yeah, we get millions of dollars for

3:04:54Mardi Gras, Essence Festival. I can name

3:04:56them all.

3:04:58But you don't take

3:05:00>> Thank you, sir. That's your 2 minutes.

3:05:02Thank you.

3:05:03Derrick Ridgley, and thanks for coming

3:05:05down. Derrick Ridgley [snorts] followed

3:05:07by Michael Caulfield.

3:05:14>> Good afternoon.

3:05:15I'm one of the

3:05:17supervisors at the sanitation

3:05:18department. Um y'all pretty much covered

3:05:20what we was talking about, our concern

3:05:22about the cuts and the job layoffs and

3:05:24stuff like that. Cuz I I want y'all to

3:05:26picture

3:05:28this free party that we have for Mardi

3:05:30Gras.

3:05:32And I want y'all to

3:05:34see y'all getting

3:05:36video, having fun, toasting, and all

3:05:39that stuff. I want you to think about

3:05:41the same people that's videoing y'all,

3:05:43that's going to be videoing the next day

3:05:45with all that trash out there.

3:05:48And we ain't even speak on the storms.

3:05:51Like I was here for Ida. Did y'all see

3:05:54what happened for Ida?

3:05:55Did you see how fast the sanitation

3:05:57department cleaned that up? Like if you

3:05:59reduce us,

3:06:01who going to get that?

3:06:02And like he said with the parks and

3:06:04stuff like that, the tires. I was the

3:06:06one who asked them to pick them tires up

3:06:07on Tulane Avenue.

3:06:08>> Thank you.

3:06:09>> You're welcome. But we have a tire

3:06:12problem. We have the the parks,

3:06:15everything. It's our department that do

3:06:17it. Even when they were talking about

3:06:19city code and all that stuff with the

3:06:21blighted property, it's us who going to

3:06:23clean it up. We the ones going to clean

3:06:25up all that stuff. And your homeless

3:06:28cleanups and all that kind of stuff. I

3:06:29mean, if you reduce us,

3:06:31how you going to explain that to the the

3:06:33resident?

3:06:34Like

3:06:35I mean, I ain't the brightest man in the

3:06:37world, but none of this don't make

3:06:39sense.

3:06:40So I ain't going to hold y'all. I mean,

3:06:41that's the best I got right there.

3:06:43>> Thank you, Mr. Ridgley. I appreciate you

3:06:45coming down.

3:06:46Michael Caulfield, followed by Jordan

3:06:48Burgess.

3:06:54>> How y'all doing?

3:06:56Well,

3:06:58I just want to say that I think the cuts

3:07:00to our department is is going to be

3:07:03terrible.

3:07:04You got to think about the trash that we

3:07:07going to leave behind. And what about

3:07:09the rats that y'all going to leave with

3:07:11the trash? That's going to be going in

3:07:13people houses. Y'all going to have a

3:07:15bigger problem just than our department

3:07:18going to clean up the trash.

3:07:20We have to keep our department intact.

3:07:23Everybody at our department do a certain

3:07:26job that needs to be done. We don't need

3:07:30to cut nobody out of our department.

3:07:33Our department do a lot.

3:07:35No other department is going to come in

3:07:37our on our job and pick up the trash

3:07:41that we do, dump them cans all down St.

3:07:44Charles,

3:07:45on Claiborne Avenue.

3:07:47Ain't nobody going to drive none of

3:07:49those sweepers. You can't get no You

3:07:51can't get nobody from no department to

3:07:53come to our department to drive no

3:07:55sweeper.

3:07:56We do

3:07:57We do a lot for the city.

3:08:00So, the city should do the same for us.

3:08:04The people that walk on the on that

3:08:05ground every day picking up that trash,

3:08:07they do miles and miles. Ain't nobody

3:08:11going to do that.

3:08:12You can't get no department to come here

3:08:15to our department and walk on the ground

3:08:17and pick up that trash. Do you imagine

3:08:19the kind of stuff they have to put up

3:08:21with with some of the citizens?

3:08:23Walking on the street in the hot sun, in

3:08:26the cold weather.

3:08:28We need everybody in our department. We

3:08:30short of people. On second line days

3:08:34our operators be out there cleaning up

3:08:37trash.

3:08:38We We need our people.

3:08:41We need more people. We ain't

3:08:44Don't cut our department. That's all I'm

3:08:46asking y'all.

3:08:48We need our department.

3:08:50>> Thank you, Mr. Caulfield.

3:08:54Jordan Bridges, followed by Torrine

3:08:57Buck.

3:09:01>> Good morning, Council. Always good to be

3:09:03here with y'all.

3:09:04Um I'm so glad to hear how the

3:09:06conversation is going and y'all are

3:09:08seeing the implications of this Mardi

3:09:10Gras cleanup and Department of

3:09:12Sanitation issue. Um I worked the Mardi

3:09:14Gras cleanup for the last 2 years, even

3:09:16being an organizer at the Workers

3:09:17Center. Um I got to walk besides the

3:09:21workers that are doing this great work,

3:09:23the Department of Sanitation workers,

3:09:24but also I have to highlight the workers

3:09:27that come through Job One. Um there's so

3:09:29many issues that we've been working. Um

3:09:32shout out to the Matt uh Torry for all

3:09:34of the work and that you're doing.

3:09:36There's been a preliminary growth in

3:09:37response to the white paper that we

3:09:39submitted to some of your offices and

3:09:41I'm looking forward to continuing those

3:09:42dis-

3:09:43discussions, but this goes beyond just

3:09:46cleaning up the city streets and stuff.

3:09:47There's systems and processes that are

3:09:49leaving the workers out. We have workers

3:09:52that aren't even getting paid for 6

3:09:55weeks after the Mardi Gras cleanup that

3:09:58was documented this past year. We have a

3:10:00living wage ordinance that was won in

3:10:022016, and those wages go up every year,

3:10:05and we're

3:10:06consistently behind because we don't

3:10:08have a day where we enforce that

3:10:10consumer price index being added to the

3:10:13funds of the workers. So, this is also a

3:10:15a wage issue.

3:10:17Um

3:10:19properly equipping workers to go out

3:10:22there and do the work. And we've made

3:10:24preliminary agreements to do that. More

3:10:26signage for waters, more signage for

3:10:28where people can get those resources,

3:10:31but we're having workers sit outside for

3:10:34hours to wait to start the work, and the

3:10:36processes to get to actually get to the

3:10:39end of the night

3:10:41when you have thin gloves, when you have

3:10:43not enough protection equipment. This

3:10:45goes far beyond um

3:10:47just making sure that people aren't

3:10:49fired. We have to make sure that people

3:10:50aren't getting cut off and laid off and

3:10:52have the equipment to do the job

3:10:53necessary. And then also on the uh

3:10:56on the city's end of making sure that we

3:10:58enforce some of the things that are on

3:11:00the books. So, let's get these workers

3:11:02protected. Let's fund the gear. Let's

3:11:04certify the living

3:11:06>> Thank you. Tarin Buck followed by

3:11:08Zarroul Thomas.

3:11:17>> Hello. How you doing everybody?

3:11:20My name is Tarin Buck. I live in the

3:11:22city of New Orleans. I worked the Mardi

3:11:25Gras cleanup one time. I actually had

3:11:27fun doing it. I love this city, but I

3:11:29did not get paid for 6 weeks after the

3:11:31cleanup was over.

3:11:34I was paying rent.

3:11:36I had to write a demand letter to get

3:11:38money I had already earned. That should

3:11:40not happen to anybody. All I am asking

3:11:42is that you take care of us so we can

3:11:43keep making this city look good and

3:11:46everybody can enjoy carnival season.

3:11:47Thank you.

3:11:48>> Thank you.

3:11:49Is that Earl Thomas? Followed by Morgan

3:11:52Clevenger.

3:11:55And then after Morgan is Magali Ortiz.

3:12:07>> Good afternoon council members and

3:12:09everyone present.

3:12:11As New Orleans face

3:12:12faces financial challenges, I ask that

3:12:15we consider not only the cost of

3:12:17maintaining our department, but the cost

3:12:20of losing the employees who serve our

3:12:22communities.

3:12:23The Department of Sanitation does far

3:12:25more than keeping our streets clean.

3:12:28Sanitation rangers investigate illegal

3:12:30dumping,

3:12:32respond to complaints, inspect

3:12:34properties, enforce ordinances, and

3:12:37pursue adjudications when property

3:12:40owners fail to comply.

3:12:42In 2026 alone, we've handled 121

3:12:46adjudication hearings resulting in

3:12:49$615,925

3:12:53in fines assessed.

3:12:55That's over $600,000

3:12:58in assessments generated through

3:12:59enforcement efforts by a team of just

3:13:02five active rangers with one position

3:13:05[snorts] already vacant.

3:13:08But our value extends beyond number.

3:13:11I was born and raised in New Orleans.

3:13:14These aren't just streets I patrol, our

3:13:17neighborhoods I inspect. These are

3:13:19communities that helped shape who I am.

3:13:23Now working for the city that raised me,

3:13:25I have the opportunity to give back.

3:13:28This isn't just a paycheck. It's

3:13:30personal.

3:13:32It's pride and it's purpose.

3:13:35As budget cuts and potential losses are

3:13:37considered, I ask, who will investigate

3:13:40the illegal dumping?

3:13:42Who will hold violators accountable?

3:13:45And who will protect our neighborhoods?

3:13:48Reducing our workforce won't eliminate

3:13:50these problems. It could make them

3:13:52worse.

3:13:54Sanitation rangers are more than

3:13:56positions on a payroll. We protect

3:13:59public health

3:14:01and neighborhood safety as well as the

3:14:03quality of life.

3:14:05I respectfully ask that you reconsider

3:14:07our contribution and protect these

3:14:10essential

3:14:11>> Thank you, Ms. Thomas. That's your time.

3:14:14Morgan Clevenger, followed by Magali

3:14:16Ortiz.

3:14:18And then Wy [snorts] Frank Southall.

3:14:25>> Good afternoon.

3:14:26Um, thank you to all the sanitation

3:14:29workers. Y'all keep broad looking good.

3:14:31We appreciate that. Thank you.

3:14:34Yes. Um, and thank you for considering

3:14:38that this is a really non-starter. I do

3:14:41have some questions. Um, as the first

3:14:43speaker said, let's look at the

3:14:45contract. We keep saying that wildly

3:14:48unpopular is this fee.

3:14:50Because the contract seems extremely

3:14:53bloated. So, when we say that, some of

3:14:56the questions we asked during those

3:14:57hearings were,

3:14:59"What is the status of the overpayments

3:15:01to the 21,000 ghost addresses and the

3:15:05recycling addresses that were charged

3:15:08but not serviced? Where is that money?

3:15:11Where is it? Um, Mardi Gras, 2.1 million

3:15:15visitors average to Mardi Gras. Didn't

3:15:18you say 2.1 million is the gap you're

3:15:21talking about?"

3:15:23Businesses and hotels, especially

3:15:25out-of-town

3:15:27businesses make a lot of money during

3:15:29Mardi Gras. They're the biggest

3:15:31They They're the biggest winners. So, we

3:15:34need to look at that. We cannot keep

3:15:36burdening the taxpayers of New Orleans,

3:15:39but also the crews and the second line

3:15:41organizations that create the culture

3:15:44that actually bring the people here. We

3:15:47can't keep putting the burden on them.

3:15:49So, there's plenty of pots of money

3:15:51around this city. The strike force

3:15:54Look, they're talking about 500,000. You

3:15:57asked the question, Matt. 500,000 for

3:16:00equipment this year, 2027, plus the

3:16:04500,000 for personnel. I think that

3:16:06needs to be looked at. Um there's money

3:16:09around and we've got to find it because

3:16:11we can't let this department go down.

3:16:14Can't do it. Thank you.

3:16:16>> Thank you. Magali Ortiz, then Wyly Frank

3:16:19Southall.

3:16:22And then after uh Mr. Southall, Alfred

3:16:25Taylor.

3:16:27>> Good afternoon. Uh Magali Ortiz with the

3:16:29New Orleans Workers Center for Racial

3:16:30Justice. Uh Council members, as has been

3:16:32acknowledged today, the Mardi Gras

3:16:34cleanup is a major and very important

3:16:36undertaking and it is hard work. We have

3:16:39spent the last two Mardi Gras

3:16:40investigating the conditions of this

3:16:42work and found that there was much to be

3:16:44improved. I can attest to that having

3:16:46worked the cleanup myself and having

3:16:47spent many, many hours talking to the

3:16:49workers temporarily hired by the city to

3:16:51clean up its streets. With dust in the

3:16:53air, glass bottles breaking under your

3:16:55feet and trash getting flung around, it

3:16:57is important for these workers to be

3:16:58protected from the hazards of this work.

3:17:00We are glad that our conversations with

3:17:02the Department of Sanitation are

3:17:03resulting in better provisions of

3:17:04personal protective equipment and

3:17:06commend the work of Mr. Tory in meeting

3:17:08with us and listening to our concerns.

3:17:10However, proposed cuts aside, these

3:17:12workers are already routinely underpaid

3:17:15and paid late for their work in

3:17:16violation of New Orleans and Louisiana

3:17:18law. This area of the cleanup is

3:17:20overseen by the Office of the Workforce

3:17:21Development and must be rectified. We

3:17:23also have a number of recommendations on

3:17:25how the hiring process and other

3:17:27elements of this temporary work could be

3:17:28improved.

3:17:29Basically, at the Worker Center, we

3:17:31spend a lot of time thinking about how

3:17:33the Mardi Gras cleanup could be

3:17:34improved. So, we were shocked to see

3:17:36that this is one of the main items on

3:17:38the cutting block for the city.

3:17:40This last Mardi Gras generated the most

3:17:41waste on record, 1,364

3:17:45tons. And that scale waste is not going

3:17:47to go down. The simple fact is that

3:17:49Mardi Gras generates waste, and somebody

3:17:51has to clean it. So, we are worried that

3:17:53any form of cuts will either, one, mean

3:17:56that fewer workers are expected to do

3:17:58the same amount of work, which puts them

3:17:59at risk. Two, workers are hired, but

3:18:02they are paid less, which is not allowed

3:18:04under the city's living wage ordinance,

3:18:06although that has already been violated

3:18:07many years in a row. Or three, it will

3:18:09be privatized in some way, which risks

3:18:11worse conditions for temporary workers.

3:18:13If the cleanup cuts cannot be avoided,

3:18:15we ask that they be carried out in a way

3:18:16that does not impact workers, and that

3:18:18our recommendations, which we have

3:18:19presented to some of you on the council,

3:18:21be thoughtfully adopted in order for the

3:18:23Mardi Gras cleanup to be something the

3:18:24city can be truly proud of. Thank you.

3:18:26>> Thank you.

3:18:27Mr. Southall.

3:18:29Then Alfred Taylor, and then bringing us

3:18:31home is Jumal Otis.

3:18:35>> Uh good morning, and uh Wife Frank

3:18:37Southall, Jane Place Organizing

3:18:38Communication Manager. Um we stand in

3:18:41solidarity with all workers. We're not a

3:18:43labor organization. As everyone knows,

3:18:45we work on a broad range of housing

3:18:47rights.

3:18:48But often intersection between labor

3:18:50rights and how workers are being paid uh

3:18:53become issue for us because we

3:18:54[clears throat] hear from seasonal

3:18:56workers often in the months June to

3:18:59September uh that they are facing

3:19:01eviction due to economic issues. So,

3:19:04it's it's absolutely priority that our

3:19:08uh you know, seasonal workers doing

3:19:10carnival work get paid on time so they

3:19:13can pay their rent. Um there should be

3:19:15no reason why these workers should be

3:19:17evicted during the festival season,

3:19:19carnival season. The The thing I want to

3:19:21say uh, as a private citizen and

3:19:23probably going [snorts] to be clobbered

3:19:25for saying this, but someone who's into,

3:19:28uh, St. Charles row and cruise,

3:19:30I know there are state, uh, prides a lot

3:19:32of regulations to pre-empt us as a city

3:19:35from passing more robust progressive

3:19:38taxing fee

3:19:40situations. But as someone who's into

3:19:43St. Charles row and cruises, just a

3:19:45regular middle class worker, I know that

3:19:47there are crew members who can foot the

3:19:49bill to pay 50, 100 dollars more. I know

3:19:52it's a very unpopular thing and I'm

3:19:54probably going to be murdered on social

3:19:56media for saying this, but I think we

3:19:58should examine these and I think if

3:20:00anything, we should not balance, uh,

3:20:02these fees and budgets off of our second

3:20:05line crews, all of our,

3:20:08uh, you know, black cultural bearers.

3:20:10Absolutely. I think these uptown crews,

3:20:13I'm in the crew where about a third of

3:20:15people don't live here, they don't have

3:20:17a family connection nor ancestral

3:20:20connection to the city and they can foot

3:20:22the bill. Um,

3:20:24just one I do. But most importantly, my

3:20:26message is make sure the workers are

3:20:28paid on time. There's no reason why six

3:20:30weeks should go, um, and workers not be

3:20:32paid. Thank you very much.

3:20:34>> Thank you. Alfred Taylor.

3:20:42Hold on, your mic's not on.

3:20:44>> Okay.

3:20:44>> There you go.

3:20:45>> Yep.

3:20:46Good afternoon,

3:20:47council and everybody. I want to first

3:20:49say thank you all for making the

3:20:51decisions that,

3:20:52you know, the tough decisions in the in

3:20:54the to run the city.

3:20:56And then I want to say also,

3:20:58I'm one of the people that

3:21:00I I clean the city every day and I can't

3:21:03afford to live here.

3:21:04I have to get a have to get a second job

3:21:06and just to to live, you know what I'm

3:21:09saying? And

3:21:11I mean, I'm hearing a lot of numbers

3:21:13being thrown around and everything, but

3:21:15I nobody's speaking [clears throat]

3:21:17on like the actual numbers like on a

3:21:20Sunday we we clean up for the second

3:21:22line and nobody's saying if that is this

3:21:24is six guys. It's six guys in total that

3:21:28we clean the city. Six people and then

3:21:31we have a time frame. You know, it's a

3:21:33lot of stuff that's being said

3:21:35you know, that

3:21:37that's not being said. But to answer the

3:21:40question of if we're cut short, will the

3:21:43city stink? Yes.

3:21:45It's going to be a major problem if

3:21:47there's cuts in sanitation because right

3:21:50now with the crew that we're we have

3:21:53running now

3:21:54we getting it done. We've been asked to

3:21:56get we've been asked to to give 115%

3:22:00and me and the rest well, the rest of

3:22:02the crew and myself we give 150.

3:22:05You know, I walk 5 6 miles a day

3:22:08and you know, it's frustrating.

3:22:10Sometimes I want to walk away. But this

3:22:12is my city, you know, and so I'm going

3:22:15to stay here and do what I'm supposed to

3:22:17do and I'm just asking that the city

3:22:19council do what they're supposed to do

3:22:21and keep us funded. Thank you.

3:22:23>> Thank you, Mr. Taylor.

3:22:27Jamal Otis

3:22:28>> [applause]

3:22:34>> Good afternoon, Council.

3:22:37My name is Jamal Otis and I represent

3:22:39the city of New Orleans government

3:22:41employees from Local 2349.

3:22:44I stand before y'all

3:22:47asking that this proposed budget not be

3:22:50adopted.

3:22:52Council

3:22:53the union was not involved in this this

3:22:56process. The members was not involved in

3:22:58this process. And as

3:23:01Council member Harris stated

3:23:04these workers do

3:23:06go above and beyond and this this

3:23:09department is already short-staffed.

3:23:12One of my members just said, "It's six

3:23:14on a Sunday."

3:23:16So, if you are proposing to cut 55%

3:23:21and it's already short-staffed,

3:23:25we had to put out a fire because those

3:23:27workers was ready to walk out when Matt

3:23:29mentioned that this was going to be

3:23:32they cut.

3:23:34They were not going to have

3:23:36to work Mardi Gras. They look forward to

3:23:38working Mardi Gras because that's where

3:23:40they get their overtime.

3:23:42So, when this was proposed to them, they

3:23:45were ready to walk out.

3:23:47But, this is something that we had to go

3:23:49in

3:23:50and talk to our talk to the city

3:23:52workers. Talk to our members cuz guess

3:23:54what? These are the workers that labor

3:23:58and do the work. So, I'm asking

3:24:01can asking that y'all reconsider this

3:24:04budget and not put it on the backs of

3:24:06our members. Thank you.

3:24:07>> Thank you.

3:24:10All right, that concludes comment for

3:24:12day

3:24:13uh six. We will be back on Wednesday for

3:24:15day seven. Matt, thank you and thank you

3:24:17to all of the workers who are here for

3:24:19what you do, including cleaning up on

3:24:21Sundays after the second lines that are

3:24:23largely in District B. Thank y'all.

3:26:34>> Mhm.