By Dave Freneaux

Council Member Aaron Moak was previously named by Mayor Mac Watts to chair a committee to develop a "Code of Ethics" for Central.  Mr. Moak reported that he and new Counci Member Messina, the vice-chair of the committee, had selected four names of citizens to present to the Council for membership on this Ethics Committee.  However, as Council Member Moak researched other state and local Ethics Boards, he came across a recurring rule in many boards requiring that Public Officials, Candidates for Public Office and even Candidates in prior elections, be excluded from membership on many Ethics Boards.  Twenty-three states prohibit Public Officials, most of those staes prohibit Candidates, and three prohibit Candidates from prior elections from serving on Ethics Commissions.
 
Mr. Moak, concerned that Central begin this effort with no appearance of impropriety, recommended that he and Mr. Messina, along with their four selections, NOT be accepted as the Ethics Committee.  He further suggested that a committee of seven be chosen to serve on the Ethics Committee, one by each Council member and two by the Mayor.  Council Members Moak and Messina have agreed to draw up a resolution for the next Council meeting to formalize this committee structure, presumably giving the qualifications and restrictions for serving on the committee.
 
In other business before the Council, Mayor Watts opted not to call for a vote for Mayor Pro-Tempore, meaning that Council Member Washington remains in that position.  An ordinances was passed expanding parking violations to include blocking access to mailboxes.  Another ordinance strengthened rights to post no trespassing signs to deter door-to-door selling and limiting hours for such activities to 9AM – 5PM.
 
Two ordinances introduced by Mr. Washington, one to reduce the budget for the City's Master Plan, and one to eliminate the City's budget for Economic Development, were both deferred by Mr. Washington to allow for further study and negotiation.
 
The Council voted unanimously to appropriate $23,058 for a traffic study for the possible Hooper Road extension over the Amite River.  The Council also unanimously accepted the $982,105 Road Maintenance bid by Barber Brothers Contracting to repair various roads in central.  Finally, the much-discussed permit fees for the Central Schools renovation and construction were set by a resolution authored by Council Member Louis DeJohn.  The total of all permit fees on the renovations and construction will be approximately $86,000. The combined projects will cost in excess of $40 million.

From the Central government website

The Central City Council will hold a public meeting this Tuesday, July 27th at 6 p.m. at Kristenwood on Greenwell Springs Road.

The rules for conducting such public hearings are as follows:

1) The applicant will speak first for a period not to exceed 10 minutes. Other proponents will speak next, then the opponents. Each speaker will be allowed not more than three minutes. The speakers are requested to limit their remarks and to avoid duplication in their presentations.

2) The proponents will be allowed three minutes for rebuttal.

3) The Council Members may ask questions and make comments but are urged to cooperate in an effort to spend not more than 30 minutes on any one matter before the Council.

I. Preliminary Business

(1) Call to Order

(2) Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

(3) Roll Call

(4) Approval of minutes from the June 22, 2010 council meeting.

II. Unfinished Business

None

III. New Business

1) Mayor’s report and presentations.

2) Selection of Mayor Pro- Tempore.

3) Report from Moore Planning Group on services provided to the City of Central.

4) Introduction of the following item(s) (with public hearing to be held at the August 10, 2010 council meeting)

a) An ordinance to amend the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year Budget of the City of Central to appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to the Chaneyville Fire Department. (By Council Member Moak)

b) An ordinance to amend the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year Budget of the City of Central to increase the budget for Economic Development. (By Council Member DeJohn)

c) An ordinance amending the Annual Budget of the city of Central for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to appropriate $1,100,000 for the 2010 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program for PEC Project Number 10820 and engineering and related services to be paid from the Green Light Plan ½-cent sales tax Street Rehabilitation portion. (By Council Member Messina)

5) Discussion and action regarding the following instrument(s):

a) An ordinance to amend and re-enact Section 415 of Chapter 28 of Title 11 relative to parking violations and to provide for related matters. (By Council member Washington)

b) An ordinance to amend and re-enact Chapter 3 of Title 12 relative to trespass and peddling and to provide for related matters. (By Council member Washington)

c) An ordinance amending the Annual Budget of the City of Central for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to reduce the budgeted amount for City Planner Services from $100,000.00 to $50,000.00. (By Council member Washington)

d) An ordinance amending the Annual Budget of the City of Central for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to delete the $50,000.00 budgeted amount for Economic Development. (By Council member Washington)

e) An ordinance amending the Annual Budget of the City of Central for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to appropriate $23,058.00 for Hooper Rd-Livingston Parish Connector Traffic Study according to Resolution 2010-2. (By Council member Moak)

f) Acceptance of Low Bid for the 2010 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program (PEC Project Number 10820): (Streets in Bellingrath Lakes, Morgan Place West, Morgan Rd, Landmor Dr, Empress Dr and Old Wax Rd).

Estimated Cost: $1.14 million

Barber Brothers Contracting Co., LLC $ 982,105.00 * (Low Bid)

Barriere Construction $ 991,621.00

Coastal Bridge Company, LLC $ 993,670.00

Diamond B Construction Co., LLC $1,096,695.00

R.J. Daigle and Sons Contractors $1,123,888.80

Dub Johnson Paving Contractors Inc $1,290,570.00

F.G. Sullivan, Jr. Contractors, LLC $1,389,250.00

Industrial Enterprises $1,448,621.70

g) A resolution to set the permit fees for construction of a new intermediate school and a new middle school and to provide for related matters. (By Council Member DeJohn)

h) Approval of the Ethics Committee. (By Council Member Moak)

Central City Council Agenda Tuesday, July27, 2010 Page 3 of 3

IV. Zoning Cases

(1) Introduction of the following item(s) (with Public Hearing to be held at the August 10, 2010 council meeting):

a) RZ-04-10 Rezoning This property is located at 9718 Shady Bluff Drive on Lots 1&2, being on the east side of Shady Bluff Drive southeast of the Hooper Road intersection in Section 11, T-6-S, R-1-E, GLD, EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing to rezone from LC1 (Light Commercial One District) to C-AB-1 (Commercial Alcoholic Beverage One District) for a restaurant to serve alcoholic beverages. (Applicant: A. Harold Laird)(Pit Crew Barbeque).

b) RV-1-10 Revocation of Drainage Servitude This property is Tract A-1-A-3-B-1, formerly of the O. K. Bozeman Property, located on the south side of Hooper Road between the Alena and Ida Street intersections in Section 82, T-6-S, R-1-E, GLD, EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing to relocate existing drainage servitude in order to further develop the property.(Applicant: Brandon W. Rogillio)

c) SPUD-01-09 Small Planned Unit Development Revision. This property is located on Lot 4-B-2-A, being on the west end of Wax Road Extension near the Sullivan Road intersection in Section 68, T-6-S, R-2-E, GLD, EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing the second phase of a Small Planned Unit Development consisting of office, commercial retail uses, and townhomes. (Applicant: Jeff Couvillion)

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

None

V. Other Business

(1) Public Comment

(2) Announcements

(3) Adjournment 

NOTE:

Central Mayor Mac Watts called together City of Central Emergency Operations Officials Friday morning at 9:00 AM to review plans in place for a possible impact from Tropical Storm Bonnie.  Bonnie, on its path as of the meeting time, would bring heavy rain and winds of 30 MPH with gusts of 40 MPH or more to the Central area Sunday afternoon.  Central's Department of Public Works, the Central Fire Department, the Sheriff's office and the Chief of Police have been notified to be prepared for this possible storm event.

 The Fire Department and Central's Department of Public Works report that they are in the process of checking equipment, fuel and supplies in preparation for any cleanup and relief effort that may be required.  Council Member Aaron Moak, who is Central’s primary point of contact for the Parish EOC (Emergency Operations Center), is in the process of notifying all Council Members of the plans being put into place.  Mayor Watts' office encourages all citizens to take reasonable measures to be prepared for a possible storm event and to keep an eye out for your neighbors who may be less able to make preparations.

 Bear in mind also that tropical storms do not necessarily follow projected paths or expected strengthening.  What is expected to bring 30 MPH winds on Sunday could turn east and miss our area entirely, or could stall, strengthen, and bring hurricane force winds to south Louisiana.  Being prepared is an easy task.  The cost of unpreparedness can be high.

Submitted by David Barrow

Campaigning for the fall elections is getting started, so officials with the city-parish Department of Public Works are once again dealing with the problem of political signs going up in the wrong spots. "It's something we go through a couple of times every single year," says Pete Newkirk, East Baton Rouge public works director. Newkirk says political campaigns are supposed to get sign permits. When campaigns pick up the permits, they receive a list of posting rules and regulations. Those rules forbid putting signs in right-of-ways, medians, and boulevards and between the street and the sidewalk. Generally, if DPW has a problem with sign placement, Newkirk says the first step is to let the campaign know. "After that, we just start picking up a bunch of signs," he says.

In the case of Community Press vs. CH2M Hill, Judge Bates gave her opinion today granting CH2M Hill's Motion for Summary Judgment dismissing the case.  You can read the Judge Bates' opinion in its entirety HERE.

Issues arising in another unrelated trial have delayed the expected release of Judge Kay Bates' rulings on motions in the suit between CH2M HILL and Community Press.  The matter is set to go to trial in less than 48 hours on Friday.  Depending on how the judge rules, the trial may not be needed.  CentralSpeaks.com is monitoring the situation and will post any news on-line as soon as it occurs.  The law clerk at Judge Bates' office has confirmed that an opinion is scheduled to be issued some time this afternoon.  Check CentralSpeaks.com for updates.

Submitted by David Barrow 

As you know, DOTD and LMA have been sponsoring monthly webinars for the past few months on various DOTD polices and procedures.  These webinars take place on the 4th Monday of each month.  I thank those of you who have come to city hall to view and participate in the webinars.   They are having one on roundabouts next month in August.
 
The next webinar is next Monday, July 26 (see info below).   I will not be sponsoring the webinar at city hall this month, as I have instead been invited by DOTD to be a guest speaker in this webinar to discuss Central’s implementation of access management and roadway designs.  However, if you would like to view the webinar, you may sign up at the link at the bottom of this page.  I will forward to you the powerpoint presentation of this webinar next Monday when it becomes available by DOTD.

The Louisiana Municipal Association Presents Access Management Webinar
July 26, 2010

Submitted by David Barrow

Bids were opened on Tuesday, July 13 for the city of Central’s Street Rehab Program 2010.  We were pleased to have 8 bidders on the project.  The estimated cost was $1.14 million.  The low bid was submitted by Barber Brothers Contracting Co., LLC in the amount of $982,105.00.   PEC has reviewed all of the tabulations and recommends acceptance of the low bid.  This item will be placed on the next council agenda for approval so that this work can be started.
 
   Once again, the streets involved in this project are:
 
1)       Bellingrath Lakes Ave (Greenwell Springs Rd to Station 28+52)
2)       Lake Stream Dr
3)       Lakeside Dr
4)       Lake Court
5)       Lake Vista Dr
6)       Landmor Dr
7)       Morgan Rd
8)       Old Wax Rd
9)       Spring Meadow Dr
10)   North Milstead Place
11)   South Milstead Place
12)   West Milstead Place
13)   Empress Drive (Landmor to Audusson)
14)   Lake Pass Dr
15)   Lake Port Dr
 
    This represents approximately 4.82 miles of roadway.  Once the contract is signed, the contractor will have 90 days to complete the project.

By Beth Fussell

This week, in place of “From the Mayor’s Desk, “ Mayor Watts agreed to address a few questions on topics relevant to our community. 

The Mayor says that he is very excited about the new City Council members, who participated in their first official meeting on Tuesday night.  Watts says he would like to welcome them and that he is looking forward to the Council continuing to move our city in the right direction.  While it is a slow process to build the framework for a successful city, he feels that the past and present Council members have done and will do a good job of forming Central’s future.

One of the items on Tuesday’s Council agenda was a moratorium proposed by Councilman Moak.  The proposed moratorium would prohibit the zoning of any more businesses as CAB2 (“bars” that serve mostly alcohol rather than food) for the next six months. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the ordinance with the stipulation that the moratorium be for six months only with no option for renewal.  The purpose of this proposal is to grant some time to the city officials to discuss CAB2 zonings for Central in the future, since the public has been vocal, especially recently, concerning bars in Central.  The Mayor says that, while he takes no issue with the current bars in Central, he is not in favor of Central becoming a city filled with bars.  Watts says he is fine with the coming sports bar, as well, but he feels that Central may have enough bars once Extra Innings Sports Bar is built. 

When it comes to the issue of permit fees, Mayor Watts was optimistic that good steps are being taken to find the best situation for Central homes and businesses.  Councilman DeJohn has been working closely with CH2M Hill on building permits, and an ordinance has been proposed outlining specific fees for these permits. 

The Central Community School System has been the subject of some discussion surrounding permit fees, as well.  Watts says that Central schools have gotten good treatment in this area, especially when compared to East Baton Rouge Parish schools, which received no discounts on their permit fees when new schools were built.  The Central Community School System was given a 30% discount by CH2M Hill up front, and further price cuts have been negotiated.

Mayor Watts, when it comes to Governor Jindal’s veto of the Baton Rouge Loop study funding, feels that Central has several options to relieve traffic congestion in our city.  He says it is a “no-brainer” to extend Hooper Road to Highway 16, giving direct access to Interstate 110.  There are also plans for the Central Thruway to be constructed with four lanes, which would be a tremendous relief for traffic. 

Redflex vans have been spotted around the city and have been the topic of some discussion around the community.  These are the vans that were allowed to be placed in the city on a demo basis.  No tickets are being issued by these vans.  When asked about his position on these vans, the Mayor said that the decision on whether to use these speed vans for actual speed enforcement would have to come from the City Council.  Mayor Watts says that he and many citizens are concerned about people speeding down straightaways in neighborhoods like Bellingrath, Carmel Acres, Biltmore, and others.  Whether or not the speed vans end up being the chosen solution, the Mayor does feel that speed enforcement is very important on city roads and in subdivisions, as well.

The Mayor is very much in favor of all of the efforts being made to improve driving safety in our city and the surrounding areas.  He mentioned Driving Safe in Central and T.I.M.E. as great initiatives to promote safety on the road, and he stressed how important it is to buckle up and pay attention while driving, especially in view of the many recent accidents affecting Central teens.  Mayor Watts himself has been working to break the habit of using his cell phone while he drives.  We all know it is a difficult habit to break, but perhaps we could, as a community, take steps to use phones less in the car and buckle our seatbelts.

Some people may have seen signs around Central and Zachary over the past few months referencing a program called “T.I.M.E.”  This program was created by students and Principal Wes Watts at Zachary High School.  It is an acronym for “Teenagers’ Influence Motivating Everyone.”  The idea is that students, in partnership with their communities, can make a positive change in their cities through a series of good choices and positive challenges.  The program was begun at the end of this past school year, and the first challenge issued was related to driving safety.  Signs were made saying things like, “It’s TIME to buckle up,” “to slow down,” “to stay focused on the road,” etc.  Mayor Watts has been working with both Zachary High School and Central High School to help move this program forward and to spread the program into Central as well as Zachary.  A challenge has been issued between Zachary and Central students to see who can get the most students to commit, through the signing of “contracts,” to each of these goals set forth by the program.  When you see these signs around the community in the future, please make an effort to support these initiatives by taking part in the challenges and by encouraging students to do the same.        

By Dave Freneaux

In the first meeting of the Central City Council since the exit of Joan Lansing and Lucky Ross, new Councilmen LoBue and Messina very quickly became involved in the Council process.  In what was almost certainly the longest Council meeting in recent years, the Council and public debated and spoke for over three hours.  Facing a CentralSpeaks.com publication deadline less than an hour away, this article will be as concise a retelling of the meeting as can be accomplished under time pressure.
 
Mayor Watts requested that the Council confirm his re-appointment of the City Clerk and the Court Magistrate, which the Council did unanimously.  Mayor Watts then requested that the Council confirm his re-appointment of City Attorney Sheri Morris.  Councilman LoBue requested that Ms. Morris only be retained for 90 days while a search could be done to interview other potential applicants for the position.  It was pointed out that it is the Mayor's right to submit the candidate for appointment and that the role of the Council is to either confirm or disapprove of the Mayor's choice.  The re-appointment of Ms. Morris as Central's City Attorney was moved and seconded.  Councilmen Moak and DeJohn approved the appointment but Councilmen LoBue, Messina and Washington denied confirmation and effectively terminated Ms. Morris, leaving the City without legal representation.  Seeing that this was an unacceptable situation, the Council acted to restore Ms. Morris as the City Attorney for a period of 90 days.  It is unclear from the discussion whether the Mayor intends to allow Council members to involve themselves in his selection of a City Attorney to be submitted for confirmation in the next 90 days.
 
The Council then attempted to select a Mayor Pro-Tempore, being the Councilman who fills in in the absence of the Mayor.  Councilman DeJohn made a non-binding request that the Councilmen elect this position but refrain from voting for themselves, which would be the rule if this were a paid position.  Moak and DeJohn voted for Messina, Messina abstained, and LoBue and Washington voted for Washington.  With a tie, no new Mayor Pro-Tempore was elected so Mr. Washington will continue in that position until another vote is taken.
 
Ordinances were introduced for discussion at the July 27th Council meeting, including a move to cut funding for the City's Master Plan from $100,000 to $50,000 and to delete the entire $50,000 funding for Economic Development.  An ordinance by Mr. Moak was approved which enacted a 6 month moratorium on approval of any additional C-AB-2 zonings, which are bars, while the issue is studied by the Council to determine what zoning rules will best serve Central in the long term.
 
Mr. DeJohn presented the new graduated Permit Fee structure which places Central below neighboring cities in large commercial projects such as the Central School construction.  The new total of permit fees which will be paid for all of Central's school renovations and construction will be approximately $87,000.  Mr. DeJohn also presented data supporting that Central's residential construction permit fees are only about 10% higher than those of Baton Rouge.
 
Finally, Councilmen LoBue, Messina and Washington co-sponsored a resolution supporting the release of documents in possession of CH2M HILL relating to an advertisement it published in the Advocate.  Much heated discussion ensued with a final vote of 3 to 1 in favor, with DeJohn voting no and Moak abstaining.  The resolution has no binding effect on CH2M HILL.