The Facilities/Equipment Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at the Central High School Library located at 10200 E. Brookside Drive, Central, LA at 6:00 PM.  The meeting has been called to consider the following agenda items:

1)  To receive and review the most current schedule from representatives of Arkel/Anderson.  (Requested by Mr. Faulk, presented by Arkel/Anderson)

2)  To receive and review a report from Terra Com representatives relative to testing conducted for the project of the New Middle School and New Intermediate School.  (Requested by Mr. Faulk, presented by Terra Com Representatives)

3)  To receive and review a status report by the Civil Engineer regarding the Site Road Work.  (Requested by Mr. Faulk, presented by Michael LeBas)

1) Call to Order

2) Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

3) Roll Call

4) Approval of the minutes from the October 25, 2011 council meeting.

II. Unfinished Business

None

III. New Business

1) Mayor’s report and presentations.

a) Presentation by State Fire Marshall, Butch Browning, to Central Fire Chief Bill Porche recognizing Captain Stephen Branscum and Captain Trip Haynes who responded to the Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado disaster as part of the Louisiana USAR Task Force.

2) Introduction of the following item(s) (with public hearing to be held at the November 22, 2011 council meeting).

3) Public Hearing and action regarding the following instrument(s):

None

IV. Zoning Cases

(1) Introduction of the following item(s) (with Public Hearing to be held at the November 22, 2011 council meeting):

None

(2) Discussion and action regarding the following case(s):

None

V. Other Business

(1) Public Comment

* Restricted to items not on the agenda. A Public Comment Request to Speak Card must be turned in to the City Clerk prior to the start of the meeting in order to be considered. Public comment is limited to 10 speakers with three minutes each.

(2) Announcements

(3) Adjournment

Can you tell us what is planned for Veterans’ Day?

Our Annual Veterans Celebration is planned for next Thursday, November 10th at 6pm.  It will be held at Grace UPC on Hooper Rd. across from Wildcat Stadium.  The Keynote Speaker will be Retired General Hunt Downer.  We will also have music by the CHS Jazz Band and the newly formed Central Community Chorus.  There will be refreshments as well.  I ask everyone to consider joining us for this event honoring our veterans.

With 2011 coming to a close soon can you give us an update on projects around Central completed or underway in 2011?

There are many.  Here is a rundown including ones planned for the near future.  If anyone would like more information on any of these, please call City Hall at 261-5988.

Projects which have been completed in 2011 include:

• Our New City Service Contract with IBTS.

• Flashing beacons on Highway 64 at Galilee Baptist for safety improvements.

• Traffic calming programs in Rambling Oaks, Northwoods, Ridgewood, Crystal Place and Indian Mound.           

• Bridlewood drainage improvements.  ($140,000)

• Master Plan Land Use Plan adopted.

• Worked with DOTD on having centerline rumble strips installed on Hwy 64 for improved safety.

• Street overlays ($1.2 million)

• Emergency Alert Notification Program through text messages and emails.

Projects that have been started in 2011 include:

• Community Resiliency Program using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding including Floodplain Management Program, City Center Overlay District, and Code and Pattern Design Book for City of Central

• Greenwell Springs Historical Park with BREC.

• Gateway Signs on Hooper, Joor, and Greenwell Springs.

• Economic Development Ready Communities Program.

• Street Light Installation at intersections around the city.

• Traffic Study for Hooper road extension across Amite River.

• Sullivan Road widening project.  Spent over $1.2 million so far to get the project moving.  Includes new public sewer lines.

Upcoming Projects:

• Curve safety improvements on Devall, Denham, Frenchtown, and Lovett Roads through DOTD grant.  Our grant scored

 # 1 in the state for all applications.

• Central Thruway completion in December 2012.  (Up to Sullivan Road)

• Completion of new zoning code.

• Safe Schools Grant of $419,000 to build two new sidewalks, the first on Wax Road from Banway Dr., past the High School, to Sullivan Road.  The second on Sullivan Road from Virgil Jackson Ave., past the new school complex, connecting with existing sidewalks all the way to Hooper Road.

From the City of Central

    The City of Central Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 6:00pm at Kristenwood Meeting Facility, 14025 Greenwell Springs Rd, Central, LA 70739 to consider the following item(s):

PUD-01-08 Bayou Landings 
    This property is located on the north side of Wax Road, west of Magnolia Blossom Road on Tract A-1-A-1 and Tract A-1-A-2 of the Milton G. Harelson property. The applicant is proposing an extension of the Final Development Plan Approval for a Planned Unit Development for one (1) year. (Applicant: Blake Sequin)

SS-14-11 Subdivision of Tract B-1 of the Myrtle Allen Property
    This property is located on the north side of Blackwater Road east of the Comite Drive intersection. The applicant is proposing to subdivide a tract into 3 single family residential lots and dedicate an existing drive as a private servitude of access with a waiver request of Section 13.6 I(4)  of the Unified Development Code. (Applicant: William D. Mansfield)

SS-15-11 Subdivision of Tract X of the W.E. Bennett Property    
    This property is located on the east side of Thibodeaux Road north of Woodstock Subdivision. The applicant is proposing to subdivide a tract into 3 single family residential lots and dedicate a private servitude of access. (Applicant: Raymond Mullins)

        There will be a public meeting on Thursday, November 10 at 6 p.m. at the Central Library on Joor Rd to give citizens an update on the Louisiana Development Ready Communities Program (LADRC) in Central.  Several public meetings were held in July of this year to explain the program and seek citizen involvement in the economic growth of the city.  Committees were established, citywide surveys were distributed, and a community assessment report was made.

    At the meeting on November 10, representatives from the Louisiana Department of Economic Development will be available to explain the next steps of this program, and local steering committee members will be on hand to give an update on the progress of this program in Central and how you can get involved.  All citizens and business owners interested in the economic growth of Central should attend this meeting. 

    All documents and a summary of work done so far in Central under this program can be found on the LADRC website at www.ladrc.com.  The login and password are "ladrcguest".   Find Central under the 2011 Communities menu on the left side of the webpage.

    Mayor Watts announced Tuesday at City Council that the City has received a grant for two important sections of sidewalk.  The first will be a five foot wide sidewalk from Wax and Sullivan, extending past Central High, all the way to Banway just before Demco.  This will allow many students to walk safely to and from school.  The second sidewalk will connect the corner of Hooper and Sullivan all the way past the new school complex to Jackson Place, again providing a safe means of walking to school for many students.  The grant, secured by the Mayor's office, is a 5% matching grant of $440,000.  The City would only pay 5% of the cost plus engineering fees.  This is another example of Good News for a Great City.

    Voters in Senate District 6 went to the polls last Saturday and have sent Central native Bodi White to the Louisiana Senate.  Senate District 6 is a new and unusual District created due to the population shifts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  The District is horseshoe shaped, starting in the Woodlawn areas of Baton Rouge, taking in Central, and extending east then south to include areas of Tangipahoa Parish.  With light voter turnout throughout the area, current State Representative White received 52%  of the votes, besting challenger Mike Mannino, also of Central.  Representative White is currently serving out his second term as the State Representative for District 64 which includes parts of Central and Livingston Parish.

    In another race affecting the Central area, Valarie Hodges topped Barry Elkins to fill Bodi White's District 64 House seat.  District 64 includes the northern portion of the City of Central. Central's Clif Richardson, who ran unopposed, serves as the House Representative for most of Central in District 65.  In the other Senate race in Central, incumbent Dale Erdey fended off challenger Derek Babcock to remain the Senator for District 13, which includes an area on the east side of Central.  Sid Geautreaux was re-elected East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff.

I. Preliminary Business

1) Call to Order

2) Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

3) Roll Call

4) Approval of minutes from the September 27, 2011 and the October 11, 2011 council meetings.

II. Unfinished Business

None

III. New Business

1) Mayor’s report and presentations.

2) Report from Doug Browning, City of Central Chief of Police concerning deputies patrolling within the City. (Council Member Messina)

3) Report from IBTS concerning services provided to the City of Central.

4) Introduction of the following item(s) (with public hearing to be held at the November 8, 2011council meeting).

None

5) Public Hearing and action regarding the following instrument(s):

None

IV. Zoning Cases

(1) Introduction of the following item(s) (with Public Hearing to be held at the November 8, 2011 council meeting):

None

(2) Discussion and action regarding the following case(s):

None

V. Other Business

(1) Public Comment

* Restricted to items not on the agenda. A Public Comment Request to Speak Card must be turned in to the City Clerk prior to the start of the meeting in order to be considered. Public comment is limited to 10 speakers with three minutes each.

(2) Announcements

(3) Adjournment

While it seems obvious, it s worth saying a few days before an election, especially in a City that will be focused on watching the #1 LSU Tigers do battle with the reigning national champion Auburn Tigers. The candidate with the most supporters does not always win. The candidate with the most VOTES wins every time.  If you think your candidate is behind, GO VOTE. If you think they are a sure winner, go vote. In short, GO VOTE. If you forget to vote early, vote at halftime. The polls open at 6 AM and close at 8 PM. Remember to bring a photo ID. GO VOTE.