[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6637383,"mediaKeyId","2586718-ed7aa16bd7d53034db654543e5397ac2","parentId",2586718,"title","Metro Council deletes mayor—s proposed rededication of library millage after hours of public protest","audioSeconds",4817,"startMs",2273000,"endMs",7090000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586718-ed7aa16bd7d53034db654543e5397ac2&start=2273&end=7090","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586718-ed7aa16bd7d53034db654543e5397ac2/thumbnail_2273000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6637383/Baton-Rouge-City/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Metro-Council-deletes-mayors-proposed-rededication-of-library-millage-after-hours-of-public-protest","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637383-f931451d5e13685534c3ea0389cb1938/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929705&Signature=nz6Ok6oz7isPNd5ZtRkeD7wTfqIKYqOCslR5oAtgT~CnooWLJK4oFqVF96IKUs-MULA8UQFYY3W-Hia3B1L7kaPcM3BmgntIJSLUNsLoLtt7e~tIc6xLA3IcAyy6Q9oTIOqrMoET-qcEF8GmB84gNXmSZx4e--B1NvTz4C-w-0a2~InAgfvh2u2HXx-wYY-Z74pgvL4Z88ew67mhVjGRU6FizI23Do2cbnowcT0ozrHPR4v9MEjGuP2Iv5VJKU-HUvCRUuxADC-mqFNDFhJcEWWoNGA18OUgMsE~dRb3oIKIc8ATTHhx3hgHYlJHLDo7R6fLMyNlOmtNio-a9I~qGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Baton Rouge","date","2025-03-13T02:10:19.713Z","article","The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council on March 12 deleted a mayoral resolution (item 54) that would have ordered a Oct. 11, 2025 election to renew a 9.8 mills ad valorem tax for the parish library and to rededicate roughly $114,000,000 of previously collected proceeds for broader parish operations, including maintenance, land acquisition and construction.

The council\u0000s action followed more than three hours of public comment in which residents, library leaders, clergy and union members urged the council to protect the library\u0000s dedicated fund and objected to repurposing revenues that voters had approved for library services.

Why it matters: Item 54 sought both to extend the existing library millage for another 10 years and to permit the parish to redirect a large portion of the library\u0000s dedicated fund to general operations. Opponents said redirecting voter-approved, dedicated tax revenue would break public trust and risk capital projects in underserved neighborhoods.

The administration\u0000s written recommendation to the council, read aloud at the meeting, asked the council to delete the item. After public comment, the council took a motion to delete the resolution; the motion to delete was moved by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilwoman Amorosa. The motion carried.

Library officials who spoke said they had worked with the mayor\u0000s office and the council to craft a compromise that would protect the dedicated library fund. Katrina Stokes, executive director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, said library staff and board members \"worked alongside the Metro Council and the mayor's office to create a plan that safeguards the dedicated library fund\" and that they were \"confident that we can continue providing the essential library hours and services our community depends on\" (Katrina Stokes, Executive Director, East Baton Rouge Parish Library).

Dozens of speakers urged protection of the library fund. Pastor Bridal Sutton, representing Together Baton Rouge, thanked the mayor and council for pulling the initial proposal and said the group had engaged in negotiations that produced the new plan. \"We would like to thank Mayor Edwards for agreeing to pull his initial proposal in favor of a new proposal that reflects the spirit of collaboration and negotiation between stakeholders,\" Sutton said (Bridal Sutton, Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church / Together Baton Rouge).

Other public commenters emphasized trust and transparency. Harold Greer, a city-parish worker, told the council \"transparency builds trust\" and urged clear explanations of how any proposed changes would affect taxpayers and employees. Several union members and city employees said pay and staffing for maintenance and other services also needed clarity in the broader budget discussions.

Supporters of the council\u0000s deletion emphasized the risk of creating a precedent of reallocating dedicated millages. William Lynch, a resident of District 3, said repurposing dedicated funds would send a message to voters that their prior votes could be reversed.

Despite strong public opposition, council members indicated the administration\u0000s recommendation to delete the item before the formal vote. The council then voted to delete item 54.

What the proposal said (as read at the meeting): the resolution would have ordered a Oct. 11, 2025 election to extend a 9.8 mills ad valorem tax for public library purposes for an additional 10 years (2026\u00002035) and would have authorized rededicating approximately $114,000,000 of proceeds \"heretofore and hereafter received\" for general operations including maintenance, land acquisition and construction of new library facilities, and would have made application to the Louisiana State Bond Commission.

Next steps and context: With item 54 deleted, the council did not adopt the mayor\u0000s proposed text. Several speakers and library leaders said negotiations would continue; Katrina Stokes invited the public to library events and called for continued collaboration. The council did not take any additional action to place a different library-related measure on the council agenda that day.

Votes and formal action: Motion to delete item 54 passed (mover: Councilman Harris; second: Councilwoman Amorosa). The council recorded the motion as carried at the meeting.

Community response: After the vote many residents praised the council\u0000s decision and urged sustained attention to library capital projects, staffing and transparency about any future proposals.

Ending: Council members and library leaders said discussions would continue in the coming weeks; the council did not set a new date for any alternative library measure during the March 12 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Metropolitan Council Meeting | 03-12-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council on March 12 deleted item 54, a mayoral resolution that would have ordered an Oct. 11, 2025 election to extend a 9.8 mills library ad valorem tax and rededicate roughly $114 million of prior proceeds for parish general operations.","taxTitle","Baton Rouge City, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana","taxId",3708,"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},6637372,"Votes at a glance: Metro Council passes contracts, grants and routine approvals; deletes several contested agenda items",4286,3551000,7837000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586718-ed7aa16bd7d53034db654543e5397ac2&start=3551&end=7837","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586718-ed7aa16bd7d53034db654543e5397ac2/thumbnail_3551000.jpg","/articles/6637372/Baton-Rouge-City/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Metro-Council-passes-contracts-grants-and-routine-approvals-deletes-several-contested-agenda-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637372-830cbaa6c841b40c19e50674441f8609/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929705&Signature=Sk0iLlQzQC79y22gZq7k-ZyMhxUApQ-dHrWodjdYMzatRtOBNeavGbB29aXnwigdf8DH0IHaAYuUizyF5uiOhkrsumZ5GJ2-Uu6ehORbCWD1DN2WaaRreT6vgxYEQsjbvX3RO16~XPg6SGO-lgOArX38sdJHL9NEsacXwEYwpPncwI0uzlYYOtvypXSfltCTvGVFZQuajiPOHpgSWb4TN7ktWAt~m~bcYT7MCX0tTUB-IWwb3Ad8utamQKeWXgsRw0VIuzNICQYWXIc7Yj00lhAzAXPvpr1FfwX20Q7P2A0bQWteF9s1VEpaxlh6VguahjRvdC2E6OpJqDl5nQfURg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council, meeting March 12, approved a number of routine and project-specific items and deleted multiple contested items after public hearings and executive-session discussion.

Key approvals and actions (major items enacted by council vote):

- Item 53: Authorized the mayor-president to execute an amendment to the contract with Waste Management Renewable Energy LLC to expand the gas collection system at the North Landfill, for an amount not to exceed $530,027. Motion by Councilman Hudson; second by Councilwoman Amorosa. Motion carried.

- Item 55: Amended the 2025 operating budget for the Jewel J. Newman Center, appropriating $63,340 from fund balance for operational support, repairs and improvements. Motion by Councilman Kenny; second by Councilman Dunn Jr. Motion carried.

- Item 56: Directed the finance director to refund an erroneous sales-tax remittance to Restaurant Depot in the amount of $134,959. Motion by Councilwoman Harris; second by Councilwoman Adams. Motion carried.

- Item 57: Accepted a $7,500 grant award from the United States Police Canine Association/American Kennel Club for the Baton Rouge Police Department. Motion carried after council Q&A about canine costs.

- Item 58: Accepted a $4,740 subgrant award under the National Crime Victims Rights Week Community Awareness Project. Motion carried.

- Item 59: Entered into a Community Services Block Grant contract with the Louisiana Workforce Commission for $1,499,183 (FY2025) for human services programming. Motion carried.

- Items 60-71: The council approved a series of administrative contracts and agreements, including audiovisual meeting-production services (Item 60, $62,268), ESRI GIS software maintenance (Item 61, $117,985), utility relocation and appraisal services tied to the MoveBR capacity projects (Items 63\u000020\u0000267), agreements with the Louisiana DOTD for infrastructure projects (Items 68\u00002069), and supplemental agreements with HNTB for infrastructure grant-management services (Item 70). Motions were approved by recorded voice and carried on the floor.

- Final acceptance: The council accepted final construction costs for several drainage projects (e.g., Woodridge filings 1-3 drainage improvements) and approved change orders and final payments as listed in the agenda.

Contested items and deletions: Several controversial items were deleted or deferred after public comment and executive-session discussion. Most notably, item 54 (the library millage rededication resolution) was deleted after heavy public comment; several offer-of-judgment items related to litigation stemming from off-site police detentions were also deleted (see separate coverage).

Procedure notes: Many items on the docket were grouped for consideration and approved together by motion. The council used standard motions (mover/second) and recorded \"motion carries\" for routine approvals; in contested matters members used substitute motions (approval vs. deletion) and the chamber\u0000s voting machines for recorded votes on some motions.

Ending: The council adjourned after completing the published agenda and several extended public-comment periods. Several high-profile items will require continued negotiation outside the council chamber (library funding, litigation settlements).","The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council approved multiple contracts, grants and administrative actions on March 12 and deleted contested items after public hearings. Key approvals included an amendment with Waste Management Renewable Energy for landfill gas collection, grants for police canine program, and several transportation and drainage",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6637377,"Council removes offer-of-judgment items after public outcry over —Brave Cave— strip-search cases",11798,4975000,16773000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586718-ed7aa16bd7d53034db654543e5397ac2&start=4975&end=16773","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586718-ed7aa16bd7d53034db654543e5397ac2/thumbnail_4975000.jpg","/articles/6637377/Baton-Rouge-City/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Council-removes-offer-of-judgment-items-after-public-outcry-over-Brave-Cave-strip-search-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637377-1ffc3b56813f4c076312c333683982da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929705&Signature=L0gqkm6KQQZZteU7dwoBL7ejyTGdaEswva6F0GdWXfd84GEJPFvVFcPavOZkgZwFCqxMDxy~dsMNH6L5VRIXO3E3M5GbTDsY~KMeDRwEeYEk7lLarlH-WwAzOKAIA~69xoR8ZusT0Dcyp5iG4x~cB5LgUkNo1V481tVtHBDRzyae07tFFQvcq6CV1szoUhVfZchWwTHZVZvjtga9YxLvc~QG36Xwa0~UWGwz2m6P9VkzEpr9TtCRDVgWECiiPr9wsG~VxIGPuH0Li06na29suxAWt29VhG8cBiAkBeXGqbqRR2Q1u4uWOR6Bmmi-6JhwCM7z95sU9bBYLM7ic2I82A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council on March 12 voted to delete at least two offer-of-judgment items that would have resolved claims tied to off-site Baton Rouge Police Department detentions known in public testimony as the \"Brave Cave\" cases.

The actions came after hours of testimony by alleged victims, attorneys and community members who said the offers were inadequate and that the council should seek accountability rather than approve low payouts. The council first considered item 72 (an offer of judgment in Tournelle Brown v. Baton Rouge Police Department) and later item 73 (Lorenzo Gage v. Baton Rouge Police Department); the substitute motions to approve those offers failed and motions to delete carried on the council floor.

Why it matters: Public commenters described strip-searches and humiliating treatment at an off-site facility and called the facility a site of abuse. Many speakers said proposed monetary offers were deeply insufficient and accused the parish of failing to hold officers accountable. Several community leaders warned against repurposing the off-site facility while litigation was unresolved.

Key testimony and legal context: Tournelle Brown addressed the council and described her experience; her attorneys told the council that an earlier settlement offer (sent in October) had not been adequately communicated to their client and that the amount under consideration at the meeting did not reflect their clients\u0000 injuries or the attorney fees already incurred. Attorney Jessica Hawkins said Brown was not accepting $90,000 and asked the council to review a settlement letter sent Oct. 11, 2024, that contained legal support and case law.

Multiple victims and advocates urged the council to reject the offers and to prioritize victims\u0000 care and compensation. Attorney Ron Haley, representing a different plaintiff, warned that approving low offers could effectively penalize victims who rejected them: in some procedures, a plaintiff who refuses an offer and then obtains a judgment lower than the offer can be responsible for attorney fees and costs. Haley told the council, \"Do not treat them like you're a claims adjuster. Treat them as people\" (Attorney Ron Haley).

Process questions: The parish attorney\u0000s office explained the difference between a settlement recommendation and an offer of judgment. Parish counsel and plaintiffs' attorneys also described communication problems: plaintiffs\u0000 counsel said they did not receive adequate outreach from the parish attorney\u0000s office about the offers and that their earlier confidential settlement materials had not been answered.

Executive session: Council members held an executive session to discuss litigation matters and afterwards several items were deleted or deferred. Council members and plaintiffs\u0000 attorneys said the plaintiffs had been briefed on the executive-session discussions; plaintiff counsel said they still objected to the amounts on the table.

Votes and motions: On item 72 (Tournelle Brown), a substitute motion to approve the offer failed on the council floor and the original motion to delete the item carried; the meeting transcript records the substitute approval motion and then the deletion motion, with the final result that item 72 was deleted. On item 73 (Lorenzo Gage), the council also later deleted the item after discussion and an attempted substitute motion.

Community reaction: Scores of speakers filled the chamber and the overflow rooms. Speakers included clergy, attorneys, survivors, activists and residents who described trauma, demanded transparency, and opposed repurposing the off-site facility. Several speakers criticized the parish for lengthy litigation costs and urged the council to prioritize accountability.

Next steps: Council members deferred or deleted the offer-of-judgment items at the meeting. Plaintiffs\u0000 counsel urged further negotiations and asked the council to give victims sufficient compensation and services, including counseling and long-term support. The parish attorney\u0000s office said offer-of-judgment procedures are governed by court rules and that an offer of judgment can carry procedural consequences if rejected; parties can still negotiate after an offer is lodged.

Ending: The council\u0000s decision to delete the items followed intense public pressure and raised new calls for transparency in the handling of police misconduct litigation and for community involvement in decisions about city-owned properties tied to the cases.","Following extensive public testimony from alleged victims, attorneys and community advocates, the Metropolitan Council voted to delete several offer-of-judgment items tied to litigation arising from off-site Baton Rouge Police Department detention practices (the \u0000Brave Cave\u0000 cases). Speakers demanded accountability, criticized proposed settlement","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Metro Council deletes mayor—s proposed rededication of library millage after hours of public protest

Votes at a glance: Metro Council passes contracts, grants and routine approvals; deletes several contested agenda items

Council removes offer-of-judgment items after public outcry over —Brave Cave— strip-search cases