The Bossier City Council voted July 1 to establish a council-led investigative committee to review the use of public funds related to parking lots at Scott's Audio and Bossier Power Equipment and to report findings back to the full council.

The council adopted the resolution by motion of Councilman Hammonds, seconded by Councilman Cliff Smith; the motion carried. The resolution directs the council president to appoint three members to lead the inquiry, to ask questions of the administration, gather relevant documents, and compile a written report for the council.

The move followed public comment urging greater transparency. David Crockett, a Bossier City resident, told the council that withholding information has amplified public distrust and urged a stronger public information policy so “bad news doesn’t get better with age.” Cassie Rogers asked whether findings of wrongdoing would be reported publicly and pressed the council to ensure accountability if malfeasance is discovered.

Council members said the committee is not a presumption of wrongdoing but a means to obtain answers after an administrative report the council expected by May 20 did not arrive. Council members said the committee will be learning the investigatory process as it proceeds and pledged to share findings with the public when available.

The resolution is council-led; it requires the committee to request documents and responses from the administration and produce a final report for the council. The transcript does not specify a timeline for the committee’s work or whether the committee will have subpoena power or use outside counsel. Those implementation details were not specified during the meeting.

The council took the action as part of its July 1 agenda; the motion carried. The council also discussed related transparency measures elsewhere on the agenda, including a separate amendment that adds the council president to the approval workflow for large risk-management payments.

The committee’s report and any recommended next steps will be determined after the committee completes its inquiries and compiles its findings.