City-Parish council approves multiple contracts, renewals and a legal-services amendment; deferral attempt fails

The Baton Rouge City-Parish Council approved a package of personnel, contract and professional-service items at its Oct. 27, 2025 meeting, voting to adopt staffing levels and to authorize or renew several vendor agreements, including an amendment to outside legal representation and a consultant contract for River Center redevelopment work.

Several votes were procedural and carried by voice vote or machine vote; in some cases the clerk noted emailed public comments in opposition.

Key council actions and outcomes

Item 4 — Fixing number of employees: Council approved an ordinance to fix the number of employees of the Parish and City and set an effective date of Dec. 28, 2024. Motion by Councilman Dunne Junior; second by Councilman Hurst. Outcome: approved.

Item 6 — Annual comprehensive audit contract: Council authorized the mayor-president to execute a professional-services contract with The Eisenhower (listed in the agenda as “the Eisenhower”) for amounts not to exceed $413,530 for audit services for the 2024 audit year. Motion by Councilman Dunn Junior; second by Councilman Godet. Outcome: approved.

Item 7 — Adult education for inmates: Council authorized a contract with the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board not to exceed $134,110 to provide adult education classes for inmates at the parish prison. Resident Christopher Toombs spoke in support during public comment. Motion by Councilman Dunne Junior; second by Councilwoman Coleman. Outcome: approved (recorded: one emailed comment in opposition was noted).

Item 8 — Tax recovery services: Council authorized a professional-services agreement with Tax Compliance and Recovery LLC not to exceed $125,000 to help recover sales and use taxes. Motion by Councilman Hudson; second by Councilman Dunne Junior. Outcome: approved.

Item 9 — Occupational medical services (fire department): Council authorized renewal of a contract with Convenient Care LLC Total Occupational Medical at amounts not to exceed $320,830 annually (medical services) and $335,000 annually (wellness physicals) for the fifth year. Motion by Councilman Hudson; second by Councilwoman Coleman. Outcome: approved.

Item 10 — Health live services: Council authorized renewal with Franciscan Health and Wellness Services Inc. not to exceed $360,000 annually. Motion by Councilman Dunn Junior; second by Councilman Hudson. Outcome: approved.

Item 11 — Medical services renewal: Council authorized renewal with Health Remed LLC in an amount not to exceed $100,000 annually for 2025. Motion by Councilman Hudson; second by Councilman Dunne Junior. Outcome: approved.

Item 12 — Diagnostic stress testing: Council authorized renewal with Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group LA Cardiology Associates not to exceed $60,000 annually for diagnostic stress testing. Motion by Councilwoman Darazan; second by Councilwoman Maraca. Outcome: approved.

Item 13 — Amendment to professional legal services agreement (Brett Furr/Taylor Porter): The council considered an amendment to the professional legal services agreement with Brett Furr of Taylor Porter Brooks & Phillips LLP to increase the contract by $50,000 for a total not to exceed $100,000 for continued representation and negotiations with the City of Saint George. Councilman Hudson moved to defer the item for 60 days; a substitute motion to approve the contract was offered and the council voted to approve the substitute motion. During debate, Councilman Haase said the incoming administration had asked for time to evaluate the issue; Councilman Dunne Junior and others urged the council to ensure the parish remains represented while litigation or unresolved matters persist. Parish Attorney (Mr. Roehm) advised the council that he had been asked not to represent the parish in the matter because of a conflict and said he would not want the parish to be unrepresented. Motion outcome: approved (substitute to approve carried; the initial deferral motion failed). The agenda noted two emailed comments in opposition to this item.

Item 14 — River Center RFP adviser: Council authorized a six-month professional-services agreement with Total BS Inc. (the agenda clarified the firm’s principal as Butch Speardon) to advise on the River Center redevelopment RFP process in an amount not to exceed $60,000. Councilwoman Rocca and others addressed public scrutiny over the firm name and explained the consultant’s background. Motion by Councilwoman Rocca; second by Councilwoman Coleman. Outcome: approved.

Item 15 — Actuarial services for OPEB liabilities: Council authorized a four-year contract with Rudd and Wisdom Inc. for actuarial services related to other post-employment benefit liabilities in the amount of $61,750 (for annual completion of the comprehensive financial report). Motion by Councilwoman Coleman; second by Councilman Godet. Outcome: approved (one emailed comment in opposition noted).

Across the package, staff repeatedly told the council that emailed public comments had been received in opposition to several items; where public comment was offered at the meeting, it was recorded. Several motions carried by voice vote or on the council’s voting machines; the clerk recorded motions, movers and seconds on the public record.

What council members said

Councilman Haase said an incoming administration had asked to evaluate legal and contract matters before the new mayor takes office and urged deference to that review; other members, including Councilman Dunne Junior, said the council has a fiduciary duty to keep the parish represented while negotiations and unresolved legal issues remain.

Resident Christopher Toombs spoke in support of the adult-education contract for inmates, calling education “the skeleton key to success.” Parish Attorney Roehm confirmed the existence of unresolved items related to the Saint George matter and advised the council that a conflict prevented his office from representing the parish in the particular negotiation at issue.

Next steps

Most contracts and renewals approved at the meeting will be executed by the mayor-president’s office or the responsible department. Several items included standard “not to exceed” amounts; the council recorded motions and the fact that emailed public comments had been received on several agenda items.