Metropolitan Council approves multiple contracts, deferrals and settlements; several items deferred for further review

The Metropolitan Council of East Baton Rouge Parish on Jan. 8 approved several contracts and settlements, introduced two resolutions calling special elections on property-tax renewals and set a range of deferrals on condemnation cases and procurement protests.

The meeting, called to order by Mayor-President Sid Edwards and presided over by Mayor-President Pro Tem Councilman Brandon Knowles for portions of the session, recorded motions to approve contracts for legislative and film commission services, accept grant funding and settle multiple claims. Where members asked for additional information, the council voted to defer items for specific periods, and it deleted or removed select items from the agenda as requested by departments.

Why it matters: The council’s actions authorize spending, commit the city-parish to multiagency cooperative agreements and set timelines for properties facing condemnation. Several decisions were deferred so staff and council members could resolve procurement protests or get more information about contracts and program details.

Key actions and outcomes

- Adoption of minutes: The council adopted minutes from the Dec. 11, 2024, and Dec. 18, 2024, Metropolitan Council meetings and two airport commission and special meeting minutes. Motion carried (mover: Councilwoman Amorosa; second: Councilman Dunn Jr.).

- Introductions: The council introduced two resolutions calling special elections on Oct. 11, 2025 — one to renew a 10-mill ad valorem tax for the Downtown Development District (five years, collections beginning 2027) and another to renew a 10.5-mill parishwide ad valorem tax (10 years, collections beginning 2026). A public hearing on both was scheduled for Feb. 12, 2025.

- Condemnation docket (items 37–54): The council approved proceeding on a subset of properties and set staggered deferral periods for others: 30 days on specified items, 60 days for item 38, and 90 days for items including 37, 40, 44, 46 and 50. Item 49 was deleted. Council members set a 90-day check-in for at least one speaker’s request to allow removal of debris and to begin the clearance process (speaker Ashley Jackson asked for more time on behalf of a property owner).

- Contracts and professional services: • Item 55 (Crossroads Strategies LLC, $250,000) — administration requested deferral; council deferred the item (motion carried). • Item 56 (Coor & Nickel LLC, legislative consulting, up to $110,000) — approved (motion carried). • Item 57 (Patent Productions Inc., Baton Rouge Film Commission consultant, $120,000) — after discussion about staffing and timing, the council voted to approve the contract (motion by Councilwoman Adams; second by Councilman Dunn Jr.; motion carried). The council noted the mayor need not execute the agreement immediately and that the agreement can be canceled for convenience if needed. • Item 58 (Nathan Hall, Baton Rouge Film Commission, up to $59,000) — approved (motion carried).

- Cooperative agreements and grants: • Item 59 (cooperative endeavor with LSU College of Business, $100,000) — deferred to Feb. 12 (motion carried). • Item 60 (cooperative endeavor with Southern University, $100,000) — deferred to Feb. 12 (motion carried). • Item 61 (accept GRAMMA award for Planning Commission, $33,910 federal with $26,865 in-kind; total $60,775) — approved (motion carried). • Item 69 (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program contract with Louisiana Housing Corporation, $4,120,281) — approved (motion carried).

- Settlements and appropriations: The council approved an array of settlements and appropriations, including item 63 (Michael Petrie et al. settlement, $70,402.78) and several vehicle and property-damage settlements (items 64–66), all by motion and recorded as carried.

- Other engineering, construction and maintenance items: A string of supplemental engineering agreements and change orders tied to the Move BR capacity projects, sidewalks and street rehabilitation were approved; one high-profile procurement (Old Hammond Highway Segment 1) was deferred pending a bid protest hearing and will return to the council on Jan. 29 for further action.

What council members said: Council members repeatedly requested additional briefings on film commission contracts and cooperative endeavors, and several members asked for time to meet with department staff before execution. Council members also emphasized the need to resolve procurement protests swiftly to avoid project delays.

Next steps: Many introduced or deferred items are scheduled for public hearing on Feb. 12, 2025, or return on Jan. 29, 2025, depending on the item. Where contracts were approved, the council noted the mayor need not immediately execute the documents and that cancellation-for-convenience clauses exist in at least one contract.

(For a list of specific motions, movers and seconds recorded on the Jan. 8 agenda, see the council’s minutes and the public docket.)