[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6359937,"mediaKeyId","2175482-4a3911daa58ffdd9fd8c677ad6680d07","parentId",2175482,"title","Bossier City residents accuse council of violating memorial-walkway ordinance as council moves charter amendments to special election","audioSeconds",586,"startMs",852000,"endMs",1438000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175482-4a3911daa58ffdd9fd8c677ad6680d07&start=852&end=1438","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175482-4a3911daa58ffdd9fd8c677ad6680d07/thumbnail_852000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6359937/Bossier-City-Agendas/Bossier-Parish/Louisiana/Bossier-City-residents-accuse-council-of-violating-memorial-walkway-ordinance-as-council-moves-charter-amendments-to-special-election","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359937-1cec0110192c9e357f8a0d902483a3db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205763&Signature=hmcliA243Mci-JkPgYr8EpPluUE3P4-ePjdPz-XQi0va6jqjPB4qV9GFKRMf-d~x09zv53TCr0rPSwfRLein6J8KR3INr-qWZsfssRkePqSlUpb6cBADzcNEvMrA~ARsDuIbx6Xb4bgeuSv~xgs7ixdK-boNFcNh55jSaxnJu~N-jsPSOBqqRjyzlikP9JrYgzcLoK68losq-bPG4os~FOqq64rqSSEqd4WA~BHAxqn5DQ4Ub-lHJM1QBcNyrIZNX2HbCN3J~y-Q6njt23Z3fpLBUHOCx7~0grmx6ACCZNDfygmRoBf049GqnHbDuqprvvka9RAocSa7Q~l8QlscIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bossier City, LA","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Public commenters at Monday’s Bossier City Council meeting accused a majority of council members of ignoring a newly passed ordinance governing the naming of public memorial walkways and pressed the council to pursue malfeasance investigations as the council moved forward with charter-related items.

Ruth Pope Johnston, speaking during public comment, said the ordinance’s \"lawful requirements . . . have already been broken,\" and alleged that a sign installed at the Citizens Bank Drive and Benton Road intersection was placed without the public process the ordinance requires. \"The first sign was never put on the agenda, has certainly never been voted on,\" Johnston said.

Why it matters: Public commenters said the alleged procedural lapses deny residents the chance to review and vote on names the ordinance requires be presented to the public. Speakers linked the dispute to broader concerns about council accountability and asked the mayor and prosecutors to investigate.

Multiple speakers urged legal consequences and further action. Cassie Rogers asked Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to pursue malfeasance charges and requested the mayor coordinate with the Bossier City District Attorney’s Office and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office to investigate, saying the council had \"blatant and outright disregard for our city’s constitution.\" David Crockett urged transparency on legal spending and said he understood the city has spent roughly $50,000 on legal work related to the earlier petition effort; he asked for detailed records.

Other commenters framed the council’s vote to place amendments on the ballot as compelled by court order. West Marriott said the item was on the agenda because the Second Circuit Court of Appeal \"said you have to,\" and referenced Nebraska Press Assn. v. Stuart and federal civil-rights statute concerns raised by speakers about restricting petition activity.

Council action at the meeting: The council adopted a resolution ordering and calling a special election in Bossier City to vote on proposed amendments to the city charter (first and final reading). The council also introduced an ordinance proposing amendments to section 3.01(b) and section 4.01 of the city charter (first reading). Both items were on the agenda following citizen petitions and court direction referenced during public comment.

What the speakers asked for: Speakers requested criminal referrals, funding reviews for legal fees, and that the city stop spending on litigation they said opposed the will of petition signatories. Several named five council members — Montgomery, Free, Maggio, Williams and Darby — as responsible for the alleged procedural breaches; two other council members, Bridal Hammonds and Councilman McCriss Smith, were singled out by commenters as not implicated.

What the council did not resolve at the meeting: Public commenters asked specifically for the memorial walkway sign and the first names considered under the ordinance to be placed on the agenda for formal review; the transcript records those demands but does not show a separate council motion to reopen or re-review that specific sign. The transcript also records speakers’ intent to forward complaints to the state attorney general and inspector general; the council did not announce any formal referral to those offices during the meeting.

Ending: The council moved forward with the special-election resolution and the charter-amendment ordinance introduction; those items now proceed through the election and ordinance process described at the meeting. Community members in the chamber said they will continue to press for records and for investigations into the council’s handling of the ordinance and the petition process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bossier City Council Regular Meeting January 28th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters at Monday’s Bossier City Council meeting accused a majority of council members of violating a newly passed memorial-walkway ordinance and demanded investigations as the council adopted a resolution calling a special election on charter amendments.","taxTitle","Bossier City Agendas, Bossier Parish, Louisiana","taxId",4992,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6359932,"Votes at a glance: Bossier City Council adopts special-election resolution, approvals on salaries, permits and projects",1146,1089000,2235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175482-4a3911daa58ffdd9fd8c677ad6680d07&start=1089&end=2235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175482-4a3911daa58ffdd9fd8c677ad6680d07/thumbnail_1089000.jpg","/articles/6359932/Bossier-City-Agendas/Bossier-Parish/Louisiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Bossier-City-Council-adopts-special-election-resolution-approvals-on-salaries-permits-and-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359932-284fd0163e8b08d44c5b95100180ee82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205763&Signature=BYaXKiK7NCoqTO8DjXZrvZbEpND7~296KOC2HY-ISCO-~1Be8EwxAG8hoMU2DotSzVcVn1AyNM0LZ77ml62lWeq84jDZuUV91rmguD10btpm~rwEl2f4nPKIQNBUfFYDhrPItmn6lXNzTNTuANw3rwLlkUQc1AGeLPdkwT~RI6jdLeqLn3acVxJqyVoMzFsWcV1auLM00XHGpmB5a9Jyr8BGMF21OX6B2oOi~V7URCjqSfHyRAB3Jp6BpQU2IVWOK6OgCdAb7bbs9vSuC0Lo7EzvGtgDs2mX1WcCFk63C63u2eiaayME~jhVaGRqDwpnTJVvqwE3e8f2BJtaTb6qbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bossier City Council took several formal actions at the meeting. This roundup lists each item shown as carried in the transcript, with the motion text as recorded and meeting context where specified.

1) Adopt resolution ordering special election on charter amendments (first and final reading)
Motion (as read): “Adopt a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in the city of Bossier City, state of Louisiana to vote upon the adoption of amendments to the current city charter of the city of Bossier City, making application to the state bond commission and for other matters in connection therewith. First and final reading.”
Outcome: Motion carries (adopted). Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

2) Adopt ordinance adjusting annual salary of the Bossier City Marshall and amending the general fund budget (final reading)
Motion (as read): “Adopt an ordinance authorizing adjustment of the annual salary of the Bossier City Marshall and amending the general fund budget.”
Outcome: Motion carries (adopted). Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

3) Adopt ordinance authorizing Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (final reading)
Motion (as read): “Adopt an ordinance authorizing Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute the attached cooperative endeavor agreement between the city of Bossier City and the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. Final reading.”
Outcome: Motion carries (adopted). Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

4) Adopt ordinance approving conditional-use approval for retail sale of high- and low-content alcohol at Lucky Palace 2, 8000 East Texas Street, Suite 101 (first and final reading)
Motion (as read): “Adopt an ordinance approving a conditional use approval for the retail sale of high and low content alcohol for on premise consumption at a restaurant, Lucky Palace 2, located at 8000 East Texas Street, Suite 101, Bossier City, Louisiana, First and final reading.”
Council discussion: Council asked whether the restaurant had been serving alcohol and whether its occupational license or certificate of occupancy had transferred; staff said the business had been serving alcohol and that the occupational license transferred but the certificate of occupancy did not, and the business is submitting paperwork to correct the issue.
Outcome: Motion carries (adopted). Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

5) Introduce ordinance to amend 2025 water and sewer capital and operating fund budgets (first reading)
Motion (as read): “Introduce an ordinance to amend the 2025 water and sewer capital and operating fund budgets. First reading.”
Outcome: Motion carries (introduced on first reading). Vote tally: not specified.

6) Introduce ordinance approving Change Order 1 for Golden Meadows turn lane project (increase $55,618.63; new total $349,033.63) (first reading)
Motion (as read): \"Introduce an ordinance to approve report of change order 1 for the Golden Meadows Turn lane project with an increase of $55,618.63 for a total contract price of $349,033.63.\" Council discussion noted unforeseen subsurface electrical conduits and a streetlight relocation; staff said the project remains within appropriated funds and is complete.
Outcome: Motion carries (introduced on first reading). Vote tally: not specified.

7) Introduce ordinance approving Change Order 2 for Airline Drive rehabilitation project (increase reported in transcript as \"$2,641,3.5\" for a total contract price of $1,167,040,.54) (first reading)
Motion (as read): “Introduce an ordinance to approve a report a change order 2 for the Airline Drive rehabilitation project with an increase of $2,641,3.5 for a total contract price of $1,167,040,.54. First reading.”
Outcome: Motion carries (introduced on first reading). Vote tally: not specified. Note: the change-order increase figure is transcribed imprecisely in the meeting record.

8) Adopt resolution authorizing hiring of a utility worker for water distribution and public utilities and backfilling any position created (first and final reading)
Motion (as read): “Adopt a resolution authorizing the hiring of a utility worker for water distribution and public utilities and backfilling any position this may create. First and final reading.”
Outcome: Motion carries (adopted). Vote tally: not specified.

9) Other procedural votes
- Minutes and routine agenda approvals were moved and carried.

Ending note: The transcript records each of the above as \"Motion carries,\" but does not include roll-call tallies in the spoken record. Several items were approved on final reading; several capital and change-order items were introduced on first reading. For items with numerical amounts (Golden Meadows change order and the Airline Drive change order), the transcript contains the dollar figures as spoken; one change-order figure (Airline Drive) appears garbled in the audio transcript and should be verified against the official change-order document before publication.","The Bossier City Council approved a slate of measures at its meeting, including a special-election resolution for charter amendments, ordinance changes affecting the marshal’s salary and budget, and approvals to move capital projects forward.","actionData","errors"]

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Bossier City residents accuse council of violating memorial-walkway ordinance as council moves charter amendments to special election

Votes at a glance: Bossier City Council adopts special-election resolution, approvals on salaries, permits and projects