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Council approves contracts, appropriations and appointments across broad agenda
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Summary
The Metropolitan Council approved multiple contracts, appropriations and appointments at its March 25 meeting, including a large intergovernmental-transfer introduction, CDBG contract amendments, opioid-abatement funding for youth services, airport capital appropriations, and emergency approval for essential VMware software.
At its March 25 meeting, the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge approved a series of administrative and budgetary actions: contract amendments, grant-related contract work, settlements or deferrals, property adjudications, appointments and an emergency procurement for essential software.
Among the items introduced and approved were a resolution to call a special election for the Brownsfield Fire Protection District No. 3 (special election set for Dec. 12, 2026) and an introduction of an intergovernmental agreement with the Louisiana Department of Health for an intergovernmental transfer under the local provider participation program with an amount not to exceed $136,000,000 (introduction read by staff). The council also approved an amendment to the 2026 pay plan to implement municipal police pay plan changes effective May 16, 2026, with an appropriation of $5,615,000 to implement the change.
Contracts and funding approvals included: a Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness amendment (up to $8,790,734.85); janitorial services for public-safety facilities to Tahini Inc. (not to exceed $130,696.85 annually); an amendment to Franklin Associates’ contract to support reallocation and reapplication of a previously awarded $3,000,000 Office of Community Development grant; an increase for Victoria's Voice to a revised total of $219,000 from opioid settlement/abatement funds; grounds-maintenance services for the library system to Uplifted for $410,000; ESRI GIS maintenance not to exceed $133,437.50; and acceptance of $550,000 in Ryan White/EHE funding for HIV/AIDS program services.
Finance staff warned that reserves are currently low and asked council to allow staff time to determine whether certain settlements should be paid from reserves or risk-management budgets; on that basis council deferred one settlement item for two weeks. Finance Director Angie told the council that reserves were "at a very low point," and the council deferred action on the $300,333 appropriation pending that review.
The council also authorized transportation-related agreements: a supplemental agreement with the Louisiana DOTD for I-10/LA 415 corridor improvements (the state will construct improvements; the parish will have maintenance responsibilities), and a design-study contract with Arcadis US for MoveBR projects not to exceed $1,247,625.59. The meeting included a lengthy adjudicated-property block of approvals, several appointments to the Housing Authority and volunteer fire departments, and approval of multiple change orders and low-bid awards.
Emergency items approved included a VMware software procurement (initial yearly license $72,518.56; future years $103,230.72) and a revision to a branch-library renovation contract totaling $148,552.86. The council adjourned after reconsiderations and deletions of select items.
