Bossier City Council adopts new rules of organization in special meeting amid public criticism

The Bossier City Council on April 17, 2025, voted to repeal and reenact Resolution 1 of 2024, adopting new rules for council organization and decorum during a special meeting that drew multiple public complaints about the council—s handling of special sessions and recent conduct by a council member.

The measure, described on the agenda as "Adopt a resolution repealing and reenacting Resolution 1 of 2024 for the organization of the City Council providing rules for the Council and otherwise providing with respect thereto," was placed on first and final reading. Councilman Montgomery moved the measure, and a second was recorded in the transcript as by "Mister Maggio." The motion carried; the transcript records "Motion carries." The council also approved the day—s agenda earlier in the meeting; that motion is recorded as carrying unanimously.

Why it matters: several speakers told the council the special meeting was unnecessary and accused the council of using special sessions to limit public scrutiny. Public commentators also referenced a pending federal lawsuit, Marriott v. Bossier City, and raised questions about whether any council member would face consequences for conduct at a previous meeting.

Public comment: West Marriott, a Bossier City resident, opened public remarks by urging skepticism about the council—s frequent special meetings, saying the council has a "notorious habit of sneaking controversial business past the citizens" and listing prior special meetings on Feb. 1, 2023; June 27, 2023; and Oct. 10, 2024. Marriott said, "None of these are emergencies, but we have faced real crises in this city," and asserted the April 17 meeting was intended to "hurriedly change your rules of decorum, conveniently, just as you face deposition in my federal lawsuit, Marriott v. Bossier City."

David Crockett, a Bossier City resident, told the council he opposed holding the matter in a special meeting and said he agreed with remarks by Marriott.

Cassie Rogers, a Bossier City resident, cited the city—s Code of Ordinances and Louisiana law while asking the council about consequences for recent conduct by a council member. Rogers referenced "Ordinance number 111-2024, adopted Nov. 5, 2024," portions of the code she identified as "Code 1980 subsection 1 through 4," and said she was relying on Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:134 (misconduct and corrupt practices). She asked the council, "what is the consequence for what one of the other council members did on Friday?" and said she did not see any consequence in the meeting records.

Ronald Cheatham, a Bossier City resident, spoke later in public comment and offered an apology to the chamber for remarks he made at a prior meeting, saying, "I apologize for what I said to y'all... I was out of line."

Council action and procedure: The resolution was offered on first and final reading and carried on a recorded motion. The transcript records the mover for the resolution as "Mister Montgomery" and a second as "Mister Maggio" (the roll call earlier in the meeting identified a "Mister Baggio" as present), and the final announcement was "Motion carries." The record does not contain a roll-call vote tally listing each member—s recorded vote in the transcript excerpt; the meeting minutes should be consulted for the formal roll-call record.

No further enforcement actions or disciplinary steps are shown in the transcript excerpt. Several public speakers asked the council to consider consequences tied to cited ordinance and state statute provisions, but the transcript does not show the council responding with any disciplinary motion or referral during the portion provided.

What—s next: The resolution was adopted as presented in the special meeting. The transcript does not specify subsequent dates for implementation steps, additional hearings, or administrative actions arising from the public comments.