Bossier City — The Bossier City Council met for a special emergency session Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, and voted to enter an executive session to discuss litigation strategy in two federal lawsuits pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The council reconvened at 1:23 p.m. and announced that no action was taken in the closed session.

The council cited Louisiana Revised Statute 42:17(A)(2) in moving into executive session to discuss litigation strategy in cases identified in the meeting as Westin Marriott v. City of Bossier City (case no. 5:23-cv-01421) and Red Rover Group LLC v. City of Bossier City (case no. 5:23-cv-01694), both in the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division. Council members authorized attendance by city officials and outside counsel during the closed session.

The move to go into executive session followed a brief public comment by resident David Crockett, who said he was a victim of alleged open-meeting violations and urged the city to be transparent. “I applaud the council for trying to move forward on these legal issues. I believe they've been a major stain to Bossier City,” Crockett said, identifying his address as 653 Domingue Drive, Bossier City.

Council members present for the meeting were Councilman Creighton Cochran; Councilman Joel Girard; Councilman Cliff Smith; Councilman Chris Smith; Councilwoman Deborah Ross; and Councilman Brian Hammonds. Councilmember Maggio was absent. Mayor Tommy Chandler attended along with Chief Administrative Officer Amanda Nottingham, City Attorney Charles Jacobs, Assistant City Attorney Richard Ray, risk manager Stacy Crawford, City Clerk Phyllis McGraw and Administrative Assistant Emily Pitts. The council also allowed two outside attorneys to attend: Bobby Gillum of Watkins, Carmody & Gillum and Lane Clark (firm name stated in the meeting). The council president's name is not recorded in the transcript and is referred to in the minutes as the council president.

At the start of the meeting the council approved the day’s agenda by voice vote on a motion from Councilman Brian Hammonds seconded by Councilman Joel Girard. Later, Councilman Cliff Smith moved and Councilman Hammonds seconded a motion to enter executive session under La. R.S. 42:17(A)(2); the body approved the motion by voice vote and went into closed session.

City staff said votes during the meeting would be cast by voice at the direction of the city attorney’s office pending further guidance; the meeting record reflects the council used voice votes for motions taken during the session.

The council returned to open session at 1:23 p.m. and stated that no formal action had been taken during the executive session. With no further business, the special emergency meeting was adjourned.

Because the session involved pending litigation, the council did not disclose details of the legal strategy discussed. The public comment from David Crockett urging transparency was the only substantive public comment recorded in the transcript for this meeting.