[{"_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",6537423,"mediaKeyId","3559488-9ad80e62655a2c22a6447acdcc779215","parentId",3559488,"title","Council creates Ball Moss Abatement Committee, schedules first meeting June 16","audioSeconds",323,"startMs",5717000,"endMs",6040000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3559488-9ad80e62655a2c22a6447acdcc779215&start=5717&end=6040","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3559488-9ad80e62655a2c22a6447acdcc779215/thumbnail_5717000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6537423/Baton-Rouge-City/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Council-creates-Ball-Moss-Abatement-Committee-schedules-first-meeting-June-16","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537423-7d139d7bbcdac2a49064ca473e23dff7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447566&Signature=kC-1~DrAUPI5zxMBWzYd8RZbBW~9QM9k87vrURoGBXEHOh7suGK2Nc1cpr3FfFNWKcOeGA5E5D~umjMeLtv~qr6eYOzTwCgkst5mXFjr7lnpXX~S6cqi4oOPMY4GUiSzVhflGw3QSULYKnaGSdTSdStddgbiGOhtyIa1d60353DGqJymeGGCdtsBYQ2RDVa-Qr1wbFU0EItsMWdEdgqFplbrovXp0gKnHUxdaQilUif-7eWjNPZlR64iJYUJFfo2gmyepRkPuswyfrq-oOqq2Qv~2eCIjjRZl8bkdgz-4eIVF89IlH3kX~0PzHSjFHNqYJvDm1bXgczO2qlVKAZ1tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Baton Rouge","date","2025-05-28T20:14:42Z","article","The Metropolitan Council on May 20 approved a resolution establishing the East Baton Rouge Parish Ball Moss Abatement Committee to coordinate study and removal efforts for ball moss affecting street trees.

Councilwoman Laurie Adams, who introduced the resolution, said the committee will bring together local experts and stakeholders to produce a plan for assessing and addressing ball moss across the parish. \"When you really stop and think about it, one of the things Baton Rouge is known for is our beautiful tree canopy,\" Adams said on the record. The resolution passed on a motion by Adams, seconded by Councilwoman Hurst.

Whitney Sale, downtown development director, told the council there are identifiable concentrations downtown and around LSU and that an updated survey and heat maps will drive committee work. Sale said city staff will update earlier surveys and coordinate with maintenance departments and partners like Baton Rouge Green.

The council recorded that the committee's first meeting would be on June 16 at 2 p.m. at the Burden Conference Center. Council members asked that the committee include downtown stakeholders and that the administration publicize practical, citizen-level steps (for example, mechanical removal and home remedies) to reduce ball moss in neighborhoods.

Ending: The resolution was approved and the administration will convene the committee and report back with an initial assessment and recommended next steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Metropolitan Council Meeting - | 05-28-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Metropolitan Council approved a resolution creating a Ball Moss Abatement Committee to study and recommend actions to address ball moss on street trees; the first meeting was set for June 16 at the Burden Conference Center.","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},6537428,"Metro Council votes: motions approved on grants, contracts and budget amendments",6137,4156000,10293000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3559488-9ad80e62655a2c22a6447acdcc779215&start=4156&end=10293","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3559488-9ad80e62655a2c22a6447acdcc779215/thumbnail_4156000.jpg","/articles/6537428/Baton-Rouge-City/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Metro-Council-votes-motions-approved-on-grants-contracts-and-budget-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537428-6c8989a0cf82d6a5e8fd13d11980b873/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447566&Signature=mNe6bNHCW4f065-f5yvll8-57VlCTFc4hkB2AFulOtIXqjtDzFOFcrApSFitHsEuojDp1Pn1PgFSTZ-ZvV16SWZSXmd4QTSR9OO59Ro~FVww1RxCvNnFmKk0sKGMDWPVDSWCSbUuF0RmmnKEC7efAwGc4ftCAvLzhXZXjS6ZFxTwAflDbl6s32rvya4oDn6T4dVJwHCkTAxkox098h~8hZDlPHGRXQ1wmnEqehAg9Kd2DXqt6RBnx4AG7ur4C1f1HJl5kIA0uKtUo0ODMtuTL2kIiTa4pm1QqI-cZwthaeUtN3C97~3JJMAOq6q6A~qQTIZc~Ra1S7vmbu9xHP1d3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Council of East Baton Rouge Parish on May 20 took dozens of routine and substantive actions: approving settlements, budget amendments, grants, contract amendments and intergovernmental agreements.

Highlights

- Charter/ordinance action: The council added a local health care provider participation program to the code (item 90). Motion carried.

- Settlements and appropriations: The council authorized several settlements (e.g., $625,000 for a consolidated case; $75,106.50 for another settlement) and related appropriations as presented by the parish attorney. Motion carries were recorded on the items presented.

- Grants and housing: The council approved a $587,420 HOME loan agreement for the Winchester Crossing Phase 1 project (item 93) and multiple Ryan White subrecipient contracts for HIV/AIDS services for 2025'2026 (items 94'99).

- Contracts and procurement: The council approved a series of contract amendments and new contracts, including an increase to an EDR Construction LLC contract (item 108) and several annual public-works and sewer contracts and change orders. Motion carries recorded.

- Property and expropriation: The council authorized the parish attorney to institute expropriation proceedings for land needed for the Magnolia Woods at Bard Drainage Improvement Project (item 102). Administration explained the action was a standard step to enable the project to proceed; council approved the measure.

- Appointments: The council approved several board appointments, including Chris Landry to the East Baton Rouge Parish Communication District Board of Commissioners (item 133) and Gary Black to the Downtown Development District (administrative item presented as an emergency waiver and approved).

- Budget adjustments: The council approved a $944,440 allocation for general fund repairs to the River Center related to the January 2025 winter storm (item 111) and a $671,000 appropriation for EMS equipment purchases (item 119).

Procedural notes: Most items were approved by voice vote. In the public transcript, actions are recorded with motions, seconders and the shorthand \"Motion carries.\" The transcript did not include roll-call tallies for most approvals; where a named council member recorded an abstention or opposition on an item, the transcript states it (for example, an abstention on item 98 was noted for Councilman Dunn Jr.).

Ending: The meeting approved a broad set of routine and programmatic items; the council recorded motions, seconds and voice votes with administration staff present to explain major procurements, grant terms and legal settlements.","The Metropolitan Council approved multiple budget amendments, contracts, settlements and administrative actions on May 20; several consent resolutions and contract amendments passed by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the public transcript.",{"_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},6537434,"Metro Council approves Head Start pay changes amid uncertainty over federal grant",1334,6826000,8160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3559488-9ad80e62655a2c22a6447acdcc779215&start=6826&end=8160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3559488-9ad80e62655a2c22a6447acdcc779215/thumbnail_6826000.jpg","/articles/6537434/Baton-Rouge-City/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Metro-Council-approves-Head-Start-pay-changes-amid-uncertainty-over-federal-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537434-9ca66704cc9089284a38e238254155a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447566&Signature=ZBNf9-tt2UNr07H-dHeOzDI~jVZKs3xwO3wc5FiuiNL5A4O7gABwp7GnZAvgVY7zR14T6QFuz3xgkIinCsLiFIHIh9idIbCokEuLcAAplsnA5pDwaXXKtzUpCtZ9BsaebdgJ1ohgKh3nJzuKZV-iAtwulEQsIV8ww9VcLkHMiVL9fikud1KrQoA-7bBWCwANCLobNOwpbxe88fyvsZmaFUnqZbLc7zemxXe2Eu1HGwoEXfUD6x~RN0MmwN4HldbiQoCLdo1Ux9lDWBBFguKXn2LlXkxm4FfHJEGIsoPihPiq4um3sepZ0zA76mPeP7kE8lrbTuopKKAOnG6mdoFFww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Council on May 20 approved amendments to the city'parish pay plan and position allotments for the Department of Human Development and Services (Head Start), while staff, council members and workers warned that the federal Head Start grant that fully funds the program had not been confirmed and could expire June 30.

The council voted to implement pay-grade changes, to pay retroactive wages back to Jan. 11, 2025, and to create new Head Start job classifications and positions. Motion to approve the package was made by Councilman Hudson and seconded by Councilman Hurst; the measure passed.

The vote followed public comment from Head Start clerical employees who said they were left out of the pay changes. Carol Wolf Harris, speaking on behalf of clerical staff, said supervisors had previously told clerical workers they would be renamed to allow pay parity but that the renaming had not happened. \"We feel like it's unfair. It's, discriminating,\" Harris told the council. She asked that clerical staff be included in retroactive pay.

Human resources Director Latoya Pearson told the council that clerical positions had initially been excluded because they are classified as citywide clerical titles used across multiple departments. Pearson said Human Resources would start a targeted review of the clerical positions in the Department of Human Development and Services and could produce recommendations within weeks. \"We definitely can start the review to address the clerical positions and create unique classifications for them in DHDS,\" Pearson said, adding that HR would cost any recommended changes and work with the department to find savings if necessary.

Councilman Dunn Jr. pressed for a timeline; Pearson said the department would ask for the department'provided job information and then typically needs a week or two to review and compare market data. She said the administration could present recommendations to council in roughly a month.

Separately, a senior department official, Dr. Langford, told the council the Head Start grant was not yet confirmed. \"Plainly spoken, what that means is Head Start is 100% grant funded,\" Langford said. \"If the city does not receive that grant, then there would be no funding for Head Start.\" Council members and staff said they believed the delay might be administrative but acknowledged the risk: alternative applicants had filed to administer the local Head Start grant this cycle, including the YWCA and Kids Carousel, according to council discussion.

Council members urged the administration and Human Resources to hold a town-hall meeting for Head Start employees to explain contingencies and placement options if federal funding is not renewed. The council and HR described existing city procedures to try to place grant-funded employees in other city positions if a grant-funded program ends.

The council approved the pay and position changes (items listed in the meeting as the 2025 pay-plan amendments, retroactive pay through May 30, 2025, and related position allotment changes). Council members acknowledged clerical staff'concerns on the record and requested a follow-up report and a timeline for HR'led reclassification work.

If the federal grant is not renewed, staff said children served by the program would be referred to partner providers and the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, and the city would attempt to offer affected employees other positions.

The council-adopted motion did not itself guarantee future funding for Head Start; it directed the pay changes and created the new classifications while leaving HR and the administration to return with the clerical reclassification plan and cost estimate.

Officials said they would brief the council and schedule employee outreach within days to weeks so staff could understand placement and pay alternatives.

Ending: The council approved the immediate pay and classification measures on May 20 and asked the administration for rapid follow-up on clerical reclassification and an update on the federal grant status. Council members asked that the administration hold at least one employee meeting the first or second week of June to set expectations.","The Metropolitan Council approved changes to Head Start job classifications, new positions and retroactive pay, while officials warned the program's federal grant — which funds Head Start entirely — had not been confirmed for the next funding year and could be at risk.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council creates Ball Moss Abatement Committee, schedules first meeting June 16

Metro Council votes: motions approved on grants, contracts and budget amendments

Metro Council approves Head Start pay changes amid uncertainty over federal grant