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.

From the City of Central website

Our Planning & Zoning Manager, Kathi Cowen, attended FEMA's Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland this past week. Her participation in this training made the City of Central eligible to participate in the Community Rating System (CRS) Program. This program rewards communities for instituting policies and procedures, which will provide reduced rates on Flood Insurance for our residents.

From the City of Central website

The following agenda is for the Tuesday, July 13th City Council meeting at Kristenwood.  The meeting begins at 6 p.m. 

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) Appointment of City Clerk.

3) Appointment of Court Magistrate.

4) Appointment of City Attorney.

5) Selection of Mayor Pro- Tempore.

6) Report from CH2MHill on services provided to the City of Central.

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

Introduction of the following item(s) (with public hearing to be held at the July 27, 2010 council meeting)

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) An ordinance amending the Annual Budget of the City of Central for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to appropriate $3,425.00 for the 2010 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program for coring and soil cement testing to be paid from the Green Light Plan ½ cent sales tax Street Rehabilitation portion. (By Councilman Messina)

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

a) An ordinance placing a moratorium of up to six months on the zoning of C-AB-2 (Commercial Alcoholic Beverage Two District) properties within the City of Central. (By Council member Moak).

b) An ordinance to amend and re-enact the schedule of fees applicable to building permits, inspections and plan review and to provide for related matters. (By Councilman member DeJohn)

c) A resolution setting forth deadlines for submission of placing items on the council agenda, setting forth deadlines for submission of all documents referenced in the council agenda and setting forth deadlines for delivery of the agenda and accompanying documents to council members. (By Council member LoBue)

d) A resolution supporting the release of documents in possession of CH2MHill, Inc. related in any way to its advertisement published in The Advocate newspaper entitled “We Are Central” and containing the words “Setting the Record Straight on Fees”. (By Council members LoBue, Messina and Washington)

IV. Zoning Cases

(1) Introduction of the following item(s) (with Public Hearing to be held at the July 27, 2010 council meeting):

None

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

a) RZ-03-10 Rezoning This property is located at 12249 Hooper Road on Lot 5, being on the north side of Hooper Road east of the Joor Road intersection in Section 6, T-6-S, R-2-E, GLD, EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing to rezone from R (Rural) to LC1 (Light Commercial One District) for a real estate firm. (Applicant: Clarence Fruge, Jr.)

Planning Commission Action: A motion to recommend approval of Case RZ-03-10

was made by Mr. Wade Giles, seconded by Mr. T.J. Johnson with the following conditions to be met prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy:

1) Applicant must meet parking requirements per UDC Section 17.

2) Applicant must prepare a landscape plan in accordance with UDC Section 18.

Vote: 7 yeas (Messrs: Bonvillain, Burns, Giles, Johnson, Rauls, Reado, Walker), 0 nays and the motion carried.

V. Other Business

(1) Public Comment

(2) Announcements

(3) Adjournment

NOTE: Pursuant to the requirements of La. R.S. 42:7, no matter may be discussed by the Central City Council unless it appears on the agenda published at least twenty-four hours prior to the meeting unless the members of the council vote unanimously to take up the matter.

Submitted by Representative Clif Richardson's office

The 2010 session is now behind us.  As we wrapped our work, the governor began the task of reviewing and deciding which bills he would sign and which would be vetoed.
       Of particular importance to the citizens of Central, was the line-item vetoes on House Bill 2, the Capital Outlay budget for 2010-2011.  Governor Jindal vetoed $5 million for planning and construction of the Greater Baton Rouge Loop.  In his veto message, the Governor said, "The state has scarce capital outlay and general fund dollars available to meet the capital outlay needs of our state.  It is therefore important that major projects such as this have the widest support possible and the consensus of the legislative delegation in the area.  That consensus has not thus far been achieved.  without the consensus of the public and the legislative delegation, the success of the project is in question.  It would therefore be premature to fund the planning of such a large and controversial project until a consensus can be achieved."
       At the end of session, as it became obvious that the money for the loop would be included in the capital outlay bill, six members of Greater Baton Rouge Legislative Delegation signed a letter to Governor Jindal asking for his veto of this project.  They were Eddie Lambert, Rogers Pope, Karen St. Germain, Mert Smiley, Bodi White, and myself.  In the letter to the governor we stated that the economic, environmental and personal impact of the loop on our communities and citizens should be considered before committing funds to this project.  Further, three parish presidents, Mike Grimmer of Livingston Parish, Tommy Martinez of Ascension Parish, and Mitch Ourso of Iberville Parish, have resigned  from the Capital Area Expressway Authority saying they no longer support the loop concept.  One member even predicted that the concept "is dead."  And Mike Grimmer told the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee that due to a lack of definitive, concrete information about the location of the loop, a number of southern areas that will be affected have been changing their position as to whether they will or won't support this project.
       We also pointed out to the Governor that the opposition has not been given adequate opportunity to express their opinions and concerns.  As these people are property owners, voters, and tax payers, they deserve as much respect as the proponents of this measure.
       I want to personally thank Governor Jindal for listening to us and considering our opinion on this project.  As he said in his veto message, the state has little money for state projects and with so much opposition and so many unknowns about this project, we believe he was prudent in refusing to allow money to be spent to fund this proposal.

Submitted by David Barrow

The City of Central Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 6:00pm at Kristenwood Meeting Facility, 14025 Greenwell Springs Rd, Central, LA 70739 to consider the following item(s):
 
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.   The applicant is proposing to rezone from LC1 (Light Commercial One District) to C-AB-1 (Commercial Alcoholic Beverage One District) for a restaurant (Pit Crew Barbeque) to serve alcoholic beverages. (Applicant:  A. Harold Laird)
 
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.  The applicant is proposing the second phase of a Small Planned Unit Development consisting of office, commercial retail uses, and townhomes. (Applicant:  Jeff Couvillion)
 
SS-13-10 Dedication of Public Street  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. The applicant is proposing to subdivide an existing tract into two and dedicate a commercial street to the public.  (Applicant: Brandon W. Rogillio)
 

By Beth Fussell

As a part of House Bill 2, the Louisiana House of Representatives voted to include funding for another study for the Baton Rouge Loop.  The Senate removed the item before passing the bill, but the funding was replaced when the bill went to committee.  On June 24th, House Bill 2 was sent to Governor Jindal for his signature, with one million dollars (plus another 5 million in borrowed funds) in Loop study funding attached.  Representatives Bodi White and Clif Richardson have both been against the Loop and more funding for its study.  Representative White had been in touch with the Governor on this issue, and he stated last week that he was confident that Jindal would exercise his right to line item veto the Loop funding.

As predicted by Representative White, Governor Jindal line item vetoed the Loop study funding when the House Bill 2 was signed into law on Friday, July 2nd.  In his Veto Message for House Bill 2, the Governor had the following to say about the veto of the Loop funding:

Veto Message No. 3, Page 79, Lines 1 through 20:  "The Baton Rouge Loop- Phase 1 project request was not submitted timely and did not receive late approval as required by the LRS 39:112.  The state has scarce capital outlay and general fund dollars available to meet the capital outlay needs of our state.  It is therefore important that major projects such as this have the widest support possible and the consensus of the legislative delegation in the area.  That consensus has not thus far been achieved.  Without the consensus of the public and the legislative delegation, the success of the project is in question.  It would therefore be premature to fund the planning of such a large and controversial project until a consensus can be achieved.  Therefore, I am vetoing this item."

The proposed ordinance can be found by clicking thee link below or by visiting the City of Central website, www.centralgov.com.

There is a proposed ordinance up for discussion at the July 13th City Council meeting.  The ordinance pertains to building permit fees for Central.  You can read the full ordiance ONLINE HERE ahead of time.  The Council meeting will begin Tuesday, July 13th at 6 p.m. at Kristenwood Reception Hall.  The public is welcome to attend.