0:00 All right, let's get started. I'd like to call it a regular council meeting for September 8, 2006 to order. We're going to have an invocation by Minister Jacqueline Bolden of the Tabernacle Ministries in Ward 4. And followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. And this time, we're going to do something a little different. Councilman Parkinson is going to introduce this group before we go into the Pledge of Allegiance. and they're gonna assist us with it. Okay, let us all stand. Good morning as we pray, if you would bow your heads.

0:41 God, we call on you to watch over this great city of Jackson and his council. We ask that you cover by the blood of our Lord Jesus, the wonderful Mayor John Horn and First Lady Gail Horn, the councilman, President Hartley, councilman Ashby Foote, councilwoman Tina Clay, Councilman Kenneth Stokes, my councilman Brian Grisell, councilwoman Leche Brown Thomas, councilman Kevin Parkinson in this great city and its team. We ask that you look over the city that we love, bless the city to make it our council wise and make this great council, oh God, to bless our city, cover our city, oh God, and make wise decisions for our city.

1:28 We declare Psalms 91 over this city and its leaders, our chief of police, police officers, firemen, EMS, Lord, all of those that make up, oh, God, the government of this city and those that serve. We declare by the power of the almighty God that it is already done in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you very much. So September is Deaf Awareness Month and in recognition of Deaf Awareness Month we are honored to be joined in the chambers with students from the Mississippi School for the Deaf and the Blind and this morning the students from the Mississippi School for the Deaf and the Blind will be signing the pledge as the rest of us recite it. So I invite the students now to come to the front as we prepare to give the pledge of allegiance.

2:25 Black of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay one more. Thank you for that attendance by the students of the Mississippi School for Death and Blind and Awareness or in recognition of Death Awareness Month and thank you Councilman Parkinson for making that happen. Colleagues do we have any announcements? Okay go ahead Councilman Stokes. President we had a young lady that was a hundred plus years young that that pass in our community.

5:44 And I hope we are opening close the meeting in honor of Mrs. Morgan, Elise Morgan. Also I hope we are opening close in honor of Ms. Con Sandra Folks Wilson, Mr. Alley, Jackson Senior, and also Mr. Willie Corbett Jr. We must always keep praying for mother Berta Mae Williams. Thank you, sir. Welcome. Any other introductions or comments. Mr. President, just a quick announcement. The Jackson redevelopment authority has recently issued an RFP for the properties on Ferris Street and the Ferris Street Historic District. So if you are a developer looking to bring positive change and bring new opportunities to that wonderful historic district I encourage you to check out their RFP and have the opportunity to purchase some property there and help some of the revitalization efforts any other announcement Just like to congratulate our Jackson State Tigers. All right. All right beating First on game beating Edwards Water University 66 to 14 Okay next we're gonna go into public comments Please if you are speaking you have three minutes and we'll be giving a 30-second warning sign

7:29 As well as a stop signal from the clerk when the three minutes is up Okay, first we have concerning the agenda items, we have Mr. Albert Donaldson. How y'all doing? I said Council doing. I want to say on the behalf of other people, other residents over in Midtown area, I had to get out working. A lot of people couldn't get out work and we want to speak to the council member and though this situation is out of hand because we are talking about a street sign we're not talking about potholes we're not talking about the infrastructure we're not talking about the lighting that's over there in the area of midtown that's been there forever but we talking about a street sign and the resident has spoken and as of last time I spoke I spoke about counseling stokes being over there speaking to the residents.

8:41 He hadn't spoke to the residents there from then to there now. But we're here talking about the sign. And the residents clearly spoke the last time we was in here. They did not appreciate the sign because they are not talking about potholes or the infrastructure and the lighting fixtures and everything else that's going on, that vacancy, everything that you got, creek growing trees, that we used to see white rocks. We don't see them no more. We can't even turn the corner to look without trying to, you got to go five miles per hour, two miles, trying to get around the corner because the bushes so rolled out into the streets.

9:16 But we talking about street signs. And I think that's, you know, that's how I least worry that we talking about the street sign. I don't know why we talking about the street sign. Then we talking about the residents and what the residents want over there. We not talking about what the residents, we talking about one individual that want something over there. We talk about the resident that voted people in. That particular mid-time, he's assigned to him. We did not vote him in. So this has come to somebody coming up.

9:49 We people voting for people to be in these offices. We need to be able to talk to our people. We need to be able to talk to the councilmen. We need to be able to have a relationship with the councilmen. And we don't have a relationship with the councilmen then what are we doing? It's becoming dictatorship. You do as I say do. And it should be not that. It should be up to people, by the people. And that's the part I'm coming in, speaking for the people that didn't show up today.

10:17 And they would've showed up, but they have worked and life keep life. But at the same time, I think that the people know that the sign is the least thing that we should be worried about. We should be worried about the infrastructure, the light and fish over there, the vacancy. We should be worried about the park. something that I already took a agenda to stand on, like take the park back. All this type of stuff, standing on there, you got groups of organizations stepping in doing it, but change the sign, I think that's our least worry.

10:48 I think we need to be worried about the infrastructure, the lifefisher, the vacancies over there, the lots, the creek, everything that over there that make the community look dope. The sign is not going to make the community look dope. That'd be my time. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Donison. Next we have Christopher Cooper. Christopher Cooper. Mr. President, Councilman Stokes. Mr. President, you're gonna make sure that we keep the Rutgers straight because sometimes misinformation and lies. I heard a record. We have a notarized copy I remember the round that we sent, a memo that we sent to the city clerk where we got the official land row, official land row for Wood Street.

11:56 And once we got the official land row, we sent a letter to everybody on Wood Street. Yes, sir. Councilman Stokes. and they didn't have a problem with. Can we have a discussion? Yes, sir, I'm glad to. Once we get to the agenda item. Yes, sir. Then you have all the time you need to speak. Mr. Christopher Cooper. Good morning, Mr. President, to all council members, council lady, mayor. I stand for this scree sign not being changed because I was a resident there at one point, which I didn't live all over the city of Jackson, but I have seen that resident change.

12:36 It's not like it used to be. I said before, when we first had our first meeting, that if we're gonna focus on changing the street, we got Lamar Street that could be changed, which was a Confederate owner, which was a slave owner. We got Jackson Street that could be changed. All these are, I can keep going on and on about the streets that should be changed. But the main thing that I wanna just say today is, While we were focusing, I lost a brother, Robert Davis, who was fighting for stop the violence in this city, who did so much for this city, and Nance Creek got named after him, right?

13:13 But we're not worried about that right now. What we are truly worried about is changing our narrative of the characters of our people in our city. What can we do to stop this murder that's happening, this blout that's happening? What can we do to stop our people from leaving this city? What can we do to stop people from not shopping in our city or coming into our city? What can we do to come together to stop that? We can't keep fighting against one another about certain little things, but we got to come together as a unity to bring this city back to a beautiful place so we can live and stay in again.

13:49 Our children are suffering because of our mishap. It's old songs that say, clean up what we messed up. We got to clean up some things around our city to brighten our city, to make our city look a little bit better than what it is. We are sitting here in this city councilman hall coming together for things that's on our agenda. But the true thing that's on our agenda is our youth out there is dying. And we are building jails and prisons and prisons to be able to house the men where there is no correction for a correction facility. We are setting them into a place of that they can come back into living to the same world that they are living in with no hope. And I leave with you with this. I love my city.

14:26 I love each and every one of y'all that's on this council board. Let's look beyond the city streets on today. Let's think about where we are, where we are hurting it, and what can we do to change this city together. Thank you, Mr. stripper. Next, next we have Ms. Sheila O'Flaherty. Good morning. I'm Sheila O'Flaherty. I'm a resident of Ward 5, and I'm here to talk about the JTRAN item on the agenda. I've been riding JTRAN since 1995 on the fixed route. JTRAN has 11 fixed routes, and they need 12 operators to run the fixed route system because State Street has three buses.

15:21 Each route is supposed to run once an hour. This morning, the bus running to St. Dominic's and the VA was only running once every two hours. The strike is over two weeks now. The first day that the strike was over at 11.45 noon that day, there were only two State Street buses out there. There should have been three. At that time, four routes were running only once every two hours. Two days later, I saw on the J-Train website that at the same time, six routes were running only once every two hours.

16:01 That Saturday I wanted to go to Kroger at 7 o'clock in the morning. I got down to Union Station at 715. There were only two State Street buses. You couldn't go to Kroger. You had to wait. So, I didn't go. So, later on when I looked, there was actually only one bus, State Street bus running instead of three. So, who knows how long you had to wait. And at that, later on that day, there were eight routes that were running every two hours. I never got to Kroger.

16:31 Tuesday, September 1st, I was going to the city's forward Jackson meeting. But suddenly at 4 o'clock, my bus went to the garage and I called and they told me I could get a bus at 5.15. Well, I wasn't going to get downtown until 15 minutes after the meeting started. I found another way to get there and I walked an extra mile and I did get to the meeting on time. The next day at the city's ADA Council meeting, I asked the general manager of MV about these problems and he said JTRAN was experiencing challenges with attendance.

17:08 He said that MV actually now has two more operators than they had before the strike because they were training people all during the strike. This Saturday morning when I went out for my bus, it was a cutaway which is what you call those small buses. The door didn't work. I had to open the door manually myself. The operator later on had to get out of the bus, walk around the front and shut the door. Anyway, there's a lot of problems. I think that relieving MV of their liquidated damages for the next 60 days, in my opinion, is a bad idea and a hardship on us riders. We are your constituents. We need to get to work, people who are younger. And we don't need to be waiting out in that heat.

17:55 And MP needs to be accountable for not having the buses on the street. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Flaherty. With someone from the city, the administration, please get with Mr. Flaherty. Jamal, can you help her with finding someone that can direct her with transportation. Okay now we have the non-agenda items. I have Shante Wallace. Hello I'm Shante Wallace and I'm here to speak out about what is going on with Jackson Mississippi and how it's affected me and my son and my family. Now since I haven't got any help and I have requested meetings from the city Councilman's and the only mean that I have got successfully was Mr. Parkinson. So the only person on the City Councilman that I've been trying to reach out to to have a meeting with is Mr. Parkinson. But God is good and I do have some help. So when I reached out to the, when I reached out to the, the, the President of the United States, I'm trying to get him here. I spoke with the Inspector General. The Inspector General. I told him

19:39 he need to do an investigation on the FBI, the JPD, the Sheriff Department, and some judges. So I told him that Jackson, Mississippi is not safe. Jackson, Mississippi is run like a third world city. My son is 10 years old, he's HIV positive, and he wasn't born with it. The police department knows about what's going on, the sheriff department knows about what's going on, the city councilman knows about what's going on, but I have not gotten any results, not any help. So I called on the Inspector General to come down to help, and I am trying hard. And I feel like the President is coming down, because that's the only way we can get justice. We can get justice because this is a scary place to stay. Any time these These criminals, they have allowed these criminals to go to where I live and talk with the manager.

20:51 And now the manager is allowing these people to invade my privacy. It's really sad. It's really sad. So I am, every day I call the president giving him messages. Every day I call the inspector general giving them messages. And I asked him, the FBI, the branch that's here, the head supervisor that's giving America a bad name, Jackson, Mississippi a bad name. So please, I will be back at the meetings. The president know I'm speaking at these meetings. He know I'm not getting any help at all.

21:32 I told him if he come down here, I guarantee he will make history because we have a lot corruption going on. It's going all the way up the chain of command and it really needs to stop. So my name is Shante Wallace and I will be back at another meeting speaking at every City Councilman's meeting. Thank you all. You all have a blessed day. Thank you. We have next we have Leon Steuben Jr. Good morning. Mayor, to all the Councilman. I want to address an issue that we have in our area in the Queens area. Right where Queen Mary Lane and the city drain going down, the property that's behind it, someone need to address that and go to them and tell me to cut those trees back, have some kind of easement because the trees have overgrown and they are falling into the drain and I've been having to go down and cut them. But I might say, now I'm not able to get out of those trees.

22:46 And so what is happening is, to keep an issue from coming up, which we already have, I'm going to show you some pictures of it if I can. Right here though, that's the Queen Mary Flag Chopper Bridge. I've been called in the sea canal, can that be cleaned out? What's happening is that when it rains, that water does not go out right. And I'm going to show you another picture here of what happens when it gets blocked that. It bags up and slowly going out and we're trying to keep them getting them houses flooded out of there and I've been calling about it for years. Also, this is what it looks like, this is what it looks like before, before you clean out and I can say I can't get out and do all that by myself. I've been calling the city for years to come out and clean the bridge out. Nobody has showed up yet until last month I kept calling and calling so that the latest treaty had fallen, it had fallen down, it was blocking the water. So they did come out there after

23:52 the first time in years. And so also the thing I want to talk about, quick, can you go to those people? I heard that as a new owner. But you need to go and talk to them and having to cut an easement back so that those trees are overgrown and old and I see beetles and things tearing them down too and that falls into that drain. And so when the hard rains come then that's a problem. So we're trying to, trying to avoid from somebody's house getting flooded out if it gets your attention of it. Also that, on that highway of Flag Chapel started from where Queen Mary and Flag Chapel, right up on that red light there's a bad section there but the worst section is now past to where the senior home is. If someone don't get addressed that issue on that highway, those drivers that's going down and it wasn't a driver or was a school bus driver, if he does not take extreme caution, they go on out there, they'll turn their bus over and kill those poor children on there because

24:51 it just cradles, it just dips all in that highway. And no matter what side you own, it's what's happening. It's dips on both sides. And we're trying to avoid, and I see them going up now and you got people that's working two and three jobs and they're rushing. They don't care. They got all those little children on there and they don't know. All they're trying to get home. And those drivers are driving them down so fast and cars are straddling the lane, trying to avoid this.

25:16 And you can't, because it dips on both sides. It was all the way down. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Stephen. I think our constituent service manager is going out to help with that. Next we have Tim Rogers. This is not a, well, this is tonight. It's Tim Rogers here. Okay, next we have Fran Bridges. Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Council, to everyone. I'm Fran Bridges, a resident of Ward 5, and I'm here to ask you to fully fund public works. Our city needs people and equipment to stop the exodus from Jackson.

26:21 before residents leave for cities that keep their streets, water lines and lights working. The choice is in your hands. You can't have safe streets working hydrants or lit sidewalks without public works. It's not a separate department. It is the foundation that the police and fire departments stand on. I can tell you that in my area, their potholes and so much blight. If you can imagine what this does to the image of children, what they see and how it impacts them 24 and seven, whether it's crime, whether it's overgrown limbs into the street, but we need to start cleaning up our city if we want people to stop leaving our city.

27:17 We talk about the brain drain sometimes. Imagine what they see when they go to other areas compared to ours. Why would intelligent, smart people want to stay in our city when we can't come together to fund public works so that it can look pleasing? Think about it. Just drive through some of the dreaded areas where there is all the overgrowth into the street. Thank you for listening to me And we hope and pray that you will find it in your management skills to do better by public works.

27:56 Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Bridges. Next we have Reverend Joe Washington. Reverend Joe Washington. How y'all doing? Morning, sir. To the president, to the rest of the councilmen. How y'all doing? I come today to talk about the crime in this city. Our crime is to out only in this city. We get somebody killed in this city every night. Every day we have a shooting in this city. There's too much going on in this city. I was born here. I lived on the north end. Anybody know where the north end is?

28:56 I would live up there. And then back in the day, we didn't have no crime like this. I left here and moved to Michigan. And I moved back here in 87. When I moved back in 87, I moved to Pleasant City to live in. But now, it's dangerous to live in. I got shot at 10 times. I got shot at 10 times. Ain't nobody got nothing to say? I got something to say, I'm blessed by God. I got shotted foot just from here to you, point blank.

29:36 And I'm still here. And we, I don't blame it on the public because I'm a David Cheyenne myself. I don't blame it on the people. I blame it on the mothers and the fathers. Let's raise our children. Can I get a witness? We need to raise our children again. And all we need to raise ourselves again how to be parents again. You made the law that we can't hope our children. Amen? Can't hope our children. My mom used to hope me for nothing. She used to come to school and hope me.

30:18 I thank her for every hope that she gave me. That's right. It made me a better person. It made me a better man. It made me a better individual. I tell the councilor, the mayor of this city, buckle down, get nasty. When you put them in jail, don't let them out so easy. Put them in jail. Put them to work out there on the street. Let them clean up Jackson. We used to clean up Jackson. But now, I go down. I go to work down at the farm.

30:54 I go down through the zone. Guess what they be doing? Sleeping in the bed. Hello? Hello? Now your politician, Counselor Yaw could do something about that. Come together and get some changes in this city. The police chief can't do it by herself. She got to have some help. Amen? She got to have some help. Let's start helping in this city. We want something done. You're worrying about the wrong thing. You're worrying about killing and these children getting killed. I done preached more films in this city of children, the inner past in this case in this city as as in thank you all so much.

31:40 Mr. President. Thank you. Did you have a statement about Wood Street? Did you have a statement about Wood Street? About Wood Street? Yes, I do. I do it the next time. I'll be back. I do it the next time. OK, we have Dr. Valerie McKnight. It's Dr. McKnight here. Hello, everyone. Good morning to President Mayer, all the city officials. Everyone is here today. I am Dr. Valerie McKnight. We recently launched admissions here in the city of Jackson at 5814 Clinton Boulevard. When God spoke to me concerning this mission, I said, there's a lot that's going on.

32:41 he began to show me a dark cloud over the city of Jackson, Mississippi. And he said that it's gonna take prayer, bringing hope back to the city of Jackson. So what we have done, we have initiated an outreach missions. And what it is that we desire to partner with the city of Jackson, all the city officials and the residents of Jackson, Mississippi, to come together in prayer. We need a corporate prayer to be established in the city of Jackson. We are located at 5814 in the city of Jackson.

33:20 We recently initiated one, which was on August the 29th at 5 p.m. I believe, and I know in my heart, that if we continue to do these prayer vigils and we just come together to do them, that we can get things done. A lot of people don't understand that prayer works above everything else, and when it is incorporated with the things, the plans and all of these things, that's when we could get something done. When we don't initiate God, what is happening is we have turned away from God, and we don't even realize that a lot of us, we've turned away from God, And that's why our kids are running rampant.

34:08 The parents can't teach the children because they're running rampant too. But if we would just come together, take the time to come together and work together in the city of Jackson, we could get things done. We're answering the call. We're not only a church, but we are a mission. We have been commissioned to be here in the city of Jackson to help. here to serve and we just ask that each and every one of you come together with us to pray because that's what's gonna take down all of this a lot of it is just spiritual attacks and a lot of people don't realize it and you can't fight a spiritual attack physically unless you incorporate prayer and so that's what must be done thank you so much for your time God bless each and everyone of you. Thank you Dr. McKnight. And that concludes our public comments.

35:11 Next we're going to have our consent agenda. All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired that item would be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. It's been moving properly. Second. Is there any discussion or comment? If not, all in favor? This is just for council. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am.

36:00 I'm sorry, ma'am. Ma'am, we're done with the, we're done with public comment. Ma'am, please. Chief, if you would. Okay. Mr. President, do we have the tally on the consent agenda? 7-0. Mr. President, I have the item on the agenda. I didn't know if anybody would come and speak on it, but I mentioned it as we move forward with it. but I want to apologize for any of the outbursts. It wasn't planned or anything like that. And we will discuss the hanging of the young lady later in the agenda.

37:06 Thank you. Appreciate that Councilman Stokes. Okay, next item we go to adoption of the ordinance. Agenda item number six. Order is amending chapter seven, the four of the Jackson code of ordinance establish a Jackson Police K-9 community ambassador program. So moved. Second. It's been properly moved and second. Is there any discussion? If not all in favor? Opposed? 7-0. Next item please. Agenda item number seven. Ordinance of the City Council of Jackson Mississippi establishing the renaming of Wood Street from Cohea Street to Peach Orchid Street to Dr. Roderick Demond Little Drive.

37:53 So moved, Mr. President. Second. It's been moved and properly second. Is there any comments? Discussion, Mr. President. Go ahead, Councilman Soaks. Thank you. Mr. President, somewhat in this city, I said before, there's no killing, there's no crime. In other areas of this city, we have doughboys trying to run neighborhoods, citizens can't go to the parks, drug activity, and they treated like they have a right to do it. And we said no. We had a young man who lived in that community. It's called Uncle Tom because he went to school.

38:42 It was called Uncle Tom because he graduated from college. It was called Uncle Tom because he led his high school band. Called Uncle Tom because he led Johnson State University. A young man who grew up with these dope boys, the only thing they want to do is hurt children's lives. Give them dope. Have the mama hooked on drugs and prostitutes. Then they say they love the city. If that's love who needs hate, we're going to change the image of Wood Street, whether those dope boys like them or not, because we're not afraid of dope boys.

39:23 We gonna save this city, Mr. President. We send a letter to every resident over there. A certified letter, it has been notarized. If they get up here and say that they didn't come cuz they know about their life. We notarized it, we certified it. We got the land rolled from the tax assessor's office. If you have a problem with naming this street for Roger Little, All you had to do is tell us, you know how many out of 70 some people said they had a problem?

39:58 Three. That's not even a percentage. Everybody support this young man. They had the battle of the bands in here. Bands came out of Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama. They didn't come to Jackson, Mississippi, because we have changed that much. They came because of Jackson, staying in Dr. Little. And now we're going to let dope boys try to stop us from improving our neighborhoods. Only thing they want to do is make our children drop out of school, saying stupid things like, it's smart to be dumb. It's dumb to be smart.

40:40 We can't allow our children to go backwards. Let them look up to a dope boy who dropped out of school, selling dope goddamn girls at their little nightclub over They all play as an avenue prostitute, dance and naked. You don't want that for your child. You don't let these dope boys come and see the hall. I know LaBumba brought them in here. I know he did. But you can't let them come in here and tell you that it's OK for us to have this neighborhood for drugs.

41:11 No, it's not OK. And we're going to fight against it. It's in War III, IX. War Seven should have done something about you, dope boy. I had one council member who suggested, and we're gonna listen, Mr. President. He said, Kenny, let's do an honorary today. We're gonna take the council members off the spot. We're gonna get people's suggests honorary, cause we're gonna honor this man, that's the band director. But just like this came back, we're coming back. So Mr. President, I talked to the legal department, I think you take a motion.

42:02 Drew Martin, City Attorney. Yes, sir, I spoke with Councilman Stokes just a moment ago. The ordinance, City Ordinance Section 110-2 governs all street renaming, apologize for my voice. Excuse me, all of the requirements for an honorary street renaming have already been met, is my understanding, based on the notice that was provided by the Council Clerk previously, the public hearing that was held previously. So all that would be necessary is a motion to amend to add the word honorary before each place where renaming is mentioned in the ordinance.

42:35 So moved. Excuse me. This is an amendment. Yes. Okay. Second. It's been moved and promptly second. All in favor of the amendment. Opposed. Okay, four, three. All right, let's move on to the motion itself. Any discussion on the motion? Yes, President. Councilman Grazel. When everything was initially happening, I actually called Rod Little, myself, and he told me out of his own mouth that he was honored, but he didn't want no smoke behind any of this. And I asked him, I said, well, call Councilman Stokes and express your opinion.

43:20 And he called me back and he said, you know, Councilman Stokes wants to move forward with it, and I respect that. But I do respect for all the people who showed up that evening to express their concern I'm gonna vote no thank you mr. president councilman so thank you mr. president that's everyone out here elected to vote to speak they don't mind and if this councilman saying that dr. Lilla did not want the street name this on the hill damn life I talked to him and I came again at the about us president point of order it's no point of order because I have the flow, Mr. President.

44:01 I have the flow. I have the flow. I have the flow, Mr. President. Brian Graziell is not a damn lie. Yeah, you are a damn lie. You are a damn lie. I talk to him. You see one hit one. I recognize you, Councilman Graziell. Now let's recognize Councilman Stokes and you will have your chance to reply. Thank you, Mr. President. So president this man Deserves to be honest and what make it so bad We go through this year we for you But all the time we dance with the dope boys and inform a male Lomunga and some of us not gonna put up with it We're gonna stand on the side right it with the standby ourself This man deserves it and he wanted and nobody can sit up here and try to tell the public that he did not want this. Show me will he wrote us anything that removed my name. It does not exist. Thank you. Any other comments before we come to a vote? Yeah, first of all I apologize, Mr. President. We know, I think it's pretty clear that I

45:16 I don't do disrespect on any term, but I talked to Rod for 22, 26 at 252 p.m. And he also called me back. We talked at 156, and then we talked again at 159, again at 242, and again at 252 p.m. And I think that, you know, as a practicing Catholic, Park Church of God and Christ to a man with as many degrees is the ethics that I stand on. Brian Grazell is not a lie, not a damn lie, not a half lie, not a whole lie. Again, I've been working in this city for a long time and I call Rod out of respect myself and I talked to him. Thank you.

46:01 Mr. President, Councilman Stokes. I want to say, produce the leather. Okay. Well, the band director stated, I do not want this. Now we can start talking about when I talked to somebody yesterday last Monday and everything else. This man wanted this and you know he wanted this. Producer level where this man said no I don't want otherwise stop I ain't gonna cuss Mr. President. Okay um any other let's go ahead and vote on this. If there is oh I'm sorry I did not see your hand. Thank you. Councilman.

46:36 First of all, I would like to say that this council is totally out of order the way we're acting. And I would like to suggest if there is a school in this ward or in a school in the area that we, since he was a band director, that we can name a band hall or something at the school permit that the kids can see and let everybody in the community be happy or even go out even further into the city and find a ban hall or something to do in his honor.

47:08 Mr. President, Councilman Stokes. I really don't have a problem with a ban hall, but we're trying to stop dope dealers. That's what we're trying to stop. Dope dealers not at the ban hall, but these kids can see a young man who grew up in that neighborhood, who made it all the way to the top, who's successful. what make these kids stay in school. That's what make these kids want to be successful. Long as they see a Batman out there pushing money, buying them clothes and buying them shoes, then they'll look up to him and still a band director who have a band hall name for him. Can we not start a music program? Excuse me. Councilwoman Councilwoman Clay. Can we not start a music program in the city of Jackson for all kids in the city of Jackson in his honor? And then that way all kids around the city know that they can make money in music and there's a positive influence on their lives and music does take discipline even piano etc and come

48:15 up with money for the instruments etc and do something in his honor that's lasting but they did but it was dr. look okay Jimmy all right let's keep our discussion center okay there's a call to question I'm sorry he had to stand up first okay councilman Parkinson thank you mr. president and I really appreciate the efforts that mr. Stokes is doing he's he's identified a real concern and he sees a rebranding effort as part of the turnaround efforts and I think there's a lot of legitimacy to that.

48:48 I had hesitancy about the official renaming for a variety of reasons. I supported the honorary street renaming, but just in light of some of the questions that have come up as we've discussed the honorary street renaming, I wonder if it'll be best to table this item and just get a little bit more information from a variety of parties. And so I move that we table this item. Thank you. Okay, there's a motion that we table this item colleagues for Councilman Parkinson's for the need for more information.

49:35 Or if it will please the council, I know Mr. Stokes chairs the Public Property Renaming Committee. If Mr. Stokes, if you prefer, instead of me tabling it, me referring it to the Public Property Renaming Committee for us to have a discussion there and perhaps hear from Mr. Little or others. I'll take your preference on that, Mr. Stokes. Mr. President, if we're gonna put in the committee, I'd rather we just take the item off the agenda and move it in the agenda that way into the committee.

50:09 And then we can bring it up that way. Okay. I'll withdraw my second. I withdraw my motion. Okay, the agenda item is officially off the floor. Next item, please. Claims. Order approving claims appearing at pages 5012 inclusive thereof, a municipadocative claims in the amount of $908 to $2,603.21 for and make an appropriation for the payment thereof. Some move. Second. It's been properly moved and second. Okay, Ms. Cargwell, would you please share the top four largest claim items. Thank you. Jillian Caldwell, CFO. The four largest claims are as follows.

50:57 Metric Solutions, LLC. The amount is $155,811.60 for the payment of the 2026-2027 annual billing from fund Ford Technology Fund. The second largest claim is to the National Council for Community Development. The amount is 75,000. The payment is for the educational and training services from Fund 76 Kellogg Foundation Project. The third largest claim is the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association Insurance. The amount is $69,783.84 for the payment of the September 2026 premiums. The fourth largest claim is the Jefferies Studio Restoration LLC. The amount is $49,800 for the payment of building repairs from fund 382 CDBG COVID Cares Fund.

51:55 Okay, colleagues, do we have any questions or comments concerning claims? If not, all in favor? That was done. Vote, council. 6-0-1, okay, next item, please. Order proven gross payroll, including payroll deduction claims number 348912 and make an appropriation for the payment thereof. So moved. Second. It's been moved and properly seconded. Are there any comments or questions? If not, all in favor? Opposed? Seven zero. Next item please. Order authorizing the mayor to sign a grant management agreement with Sim Strategies and Resource Group, LSC, a hired consultant to continue providing technical and capacity building assistance for the city grants processes.

52:48 So moved. Second. It's been moved and properly second. We did not have a work session yesterday or a planning meeting, which we normally have an opportunity to ask questions. So briefly, colleagues, if there are any questions concerning any decent general items, let's present them. And the responses we ask that they be brief as well. OK. Councilwoman? Yes, sir. I would just like to know a little bit more about this program since we already have a grant department. Drew Martin, City Attorney, on the contract part of it only, what I will say is, Mr. Simms and Simms strategies were contracted with by the city early, well, mid last year.

53:33 My understanding is that the departments have been working with them, have had positive feedback. What this contract does essentially is extend the contract for about two and a half more years at the under, otherwise the same terms as previously existed. There's no increase in pay. There's no increase in the not to exceed, but it's to allow them to keep working. keep working in terms of the administrative side of that I'll defer to grants or somebody else administration to talk about their interactions because I have not had any personally.

54:08 Coach councilwoman let me finish council one Brown Thomas was that satisfactory okay councilman just moment councilman Parkinson. Thank you another question that I have is The ten points, the source of funding says defer to the administration. So I was wondering if we knew the funding source for this item. Jillian Caldwell, CFO, there's a line in the grants division that pays for professional services so it'll come out of that fund, which is a general fund account. Okay. Let's see, who is next? I think, okay, Councilman Stokes.

54:51 Next, and then. I think we can go. I think we can go for it. Okay. Legal, the grants division told us at a meeting that they are only overseeing the new grants, the older grants. Who's overseeing those grants? Where does liability lie? Generally speaking, older grants are managed by whatever department the funds were granted to. So if it's a grant that went to Public Works, Public Works is managing those grants. If it's a grant that went to Planning and Development, then Planning and Development would be managing those grants and the expenditures of the money. Liability-wise, I would say the answer is, anytime we spend, anytime we receive money, especially federal money, but also true for state and some other grants, it is important that the city only spend the money in a way that complies with the terms of the grant.

55:54 Who's watching? Is the legal department getting a report? Because the council member, I haven't received a report? No sir, I'm not aware of a report like that. So a larger expenditure, for example, I hate to bring up one that got a little controversy before, but it's on my mind, there was a, on the claims docket, a payment for a couple of buses a few meetings ago. Those buses were paid for primarily with grant money that had been awarded, I think, in 2020. And so when that kind of things comes through, yes, legal reviews that before comes to council, but there would be other things that would be spent in the normal course of business that legal would not see.

56:37 How do we get someone on board to investigate or look at all grants to make sure we're complying with everything, to make sure that this council or this city would not be held legally liable? So I think the answer to that for now is I'd be glad to get with the CAO and with our grants department and have that discussion and report back to the council on it. Thank you. Yes, Councilwoman Clay. Okay, my concern with this is, first of all, I don't see a need for it.

57:11 Second of all, with the number of grants that we have out there, I think the department can do. The department's whole budget is about 120,000. This is about $90,000 for one person to extend a consulting service. If we need better training in that department, I suggest we spend some money on training and education. I suggest that we get a person to oversee grants, because that's far more important than having a person come and tell us how to look for a grant. With AI, we all can find grants, too, and I think this department needs to be a standalone department, and they need to work hard on benefiting the city, but I cannot see us awarding a consultant almost as much as everybody in the department makes for a hard time come in and give me some advice. Councilman Foote. Thank you Mr. President.

58:01 My comments are similar to what Councilman Stokes was talking about. I think it'd be really helpful for the council to get a some kind of report card on grant writing across the city on a quarterly basis or some basis where We regularly in the report card needs to not only say here there's here's the five grants We got but it needs to talk about here's all the grants We applied for and we didn't get these because we were short on this or whatever and and I think that would be really helpful To us it's critical for our funding for for the city It's a key stream of revenue that we we depend on to deliver the services to the citizens So we need a report card from somebody, whether somebody works in the city or whether it's some outside person who comes in and evaluates, you know, how we're performing and how we compare and grant receive getting grants versus other towns and cities across the state and across the country. Councilman Parkinson.

59:07 Thank you. I have two questions. First is similarly to some of the questions been brought up, I'm struggling to see the need for this. I'm wondering if someone from the administration can speak to the value add that this particular group will apply to. And then secondly, even if there is a need, I'm hesitant to support such a long contract extension. And so my first question is, can someone speak to me on the need? And then my second question is, is Mr. Martin, would it be your main amendment for me to amend this to have the contract end on September 30th of 2027, as opposed to July 2nd of 2020?

59:49 The council can make that, can motion to amend the term of the contract, yes. And then we would need to talk to Sims Consulting to make sure they approved of it as well. The idea here was in order not to have to keep bringing it back up to extend it through the end of the current term. Sure, but I hear that. I think that's convenient, but I think to the point made, the goal should be to use a consultant to train up and get as much information as we can and ideally to ease that down.

1:00:18 Mr. Mayor, I see you turned it off. Our grant administrator. Mr. President, I'd like to speak to this. Mr. Ray Sims is the former grants director for the Mississippi Department of Public Service. So public safety is a big area that he has experienced in, but he has a broad level of experience in grantsmanship across the board. And since he has been in place, our grants system is a hot mess. And it was a year ago. Well, you get it. And we inherited it, but we claim it now.

1:01:00 But the fact of the matter is, what are we gonna do about it? And the best way I know is to get some discipline with our grants management team. We have departments that were applying for grants without anybody else knowing about it. We're trying to consolidate and to get a handle on what our grants management is. The level of activity in the last year has been through the roof in terms of the number of grants that we've been applying for. And the grants consultant has been working with the grants team in planning and development to try to get a heavier level of discipline and order and just wrapping our hands around what it is that we're doing.

1:01:49 And as a city, we still don't know. We're still getting there, but we know a lot better than we did a year ago. And his level of experience and expertise, I think, has stood us in very good stead for a number of different grants and organizations that we've been applying to to try to bring resources into this city. We are broke. And the only way, the best way I know is we got to grow the economy and we have to go go and get other resources, whether they're federal, state, or corporate, or foundational.

1:02:28 And Mr. Simms' involvement with that has been really invaluable in terms of what he's been able to bring to the table. Thank you, Mayor. My comment, and again, I've seen this develop over years. For the first year or so, I asked the previous administration. Do we not have a decent grant program? And then I think perhaps one thing we're looking for right now is accountability on what is before we go out and invest into something else to add to it. So that's my concern, but Councilman Parkinson, then Councilman Clay.

1:03:11 Thank you. Mr. Mayor, I certainly think you make a compelling argument for why these services might be needed. I'm still a little hesitant on saying we need them for three more years, but I do think that there's validity in some of that. Yes. Well, as the city attorney mentioned, we just thought that we would get it out of the way for the rest of this term. But if an amendment were to be offered to, I think you said September 30th of 2027, that's something we certainly can live with.

1:03:44 We were just trying to get some certainty of what this process is going to look like over the next two or three years. But if an amendment would be made through a motion, I would not oppose that. I don't see a problem with that. Okay, before we do that, Councilwoman Clay. I may be the person on this council that doesn't understand a lot, but what I'm going to say to this council is I see a lot of band-aids being put on things in this city. If we're in such bad shape, why aren't we coming up with some best practices?

1:04:17 Why aren't we going to some classes and getting some training and doing some different things? All we're doing is bringing people in with expertise and when they leave, supposedly, our system is just as broke as before. So I suggest at some point we get together and get an educational system instead of a consultant that charges us X number of dollars more than everybody in the department and sure he has the expertise for that. He has public safety, that's what he's going after or what he's been in.

1:04:45 We have a person in the police department that is just a grant writer. So we're duplicating our funds. If we are a broke city, let's become an unbroke city by being a smart city. Okay, any other comments? I will just say- Hold on one minute, please. Are there any other comments from the council? A question. I'm sorry. Question. You have a question? Yes. Okay, Councilman Park is next. Okay, okay. Mr. President, I move to amend this item to have the end date reflect September 30th of 2027.

1:05:22 Second. We have a motion and a second to amend it, to reflect those dates. Okay, all in favor. I'm sorry. Question. Can I make a decision to vote for this or not? Mr. Mayor, could we get a list? And I don't know who might have it. Of all the grants we currently have, who's overseeing these grants? How long they are and how much they are. Now some councilman might know, but I don't know. And I think we all should know, especially if we're talking about getting somebody to making sure they can keep the train on the track because there's ruins out there that is grant money is being hijacked. It's been stolen and I want to make sure I have no liability when they come up on this on this situation with grants because we keep hearing a whole lot of different stories about money coming in and it's going to criminals and friends.

1:06:34 So I want to do anything I can to make sure that we follow the law. And to that point, Councilman Stokes, that's exactly what we're trying to find out about. There are multi-year grants that we still don't know about that are in various departments. It has taken us a long time to wrap our arms around this. And we can certainly get you a copy of the grants that in the last year that we've been going after. But getting those grants that have been going on for several years, we still don't know. And we're trying to wrap our arms around this. And sometimes it takes a different set of eyes to come in and take a look at a situation and try to discern how you can get control of it. We're still trying to get control of this. We're still hemorrhaging.

1:07:29 We're bleeding out. We're not doing so as badly as we were this time of year ago, but it's taken us a while to wrap our arms around this because there are pockets of grants that are in this department, this division, that we still don't know about. So we're still generating that list. It's not complete yet, but once we feel like we've got some confidence in what we can present to the council, we will certainly present it to you. Thank you. Councilwoman Clack. I can't understand how we have eight department heads.

1:08:04 And you can tell me that the department heads don't know what grants are in their department. First of all, if that's going on, we got a real problem in the city of Jackson. And I don't think we should paint a picture that Jackson is as bad as we are saying, because I cannot for the life of me, understand how we would be getting money in the city and nobody be able to speak of what we have. And there are external audit firms that can come in and do an audit if we are in that bad of a shape on all grants.

1:08:33 And you're looking at me a little different, but I think at some points we need to stop trying to correct things inside, if it's as bad as we say, and go to an outside source, pay them for a one-time job, come in and see what we get. We know what money is coming through. We know what money is being deposited. And if we don't know, this city is in bad, bad shape. This city has an inherent... Hold on, let me recognize, sir. Okay. Go right ahead, sir.

1:09:01 I was just going to say that we're trying to change a culture. Yes. And there is history and there is precedent that we have not been managing our resources to the best extent possible. We're trying to get a handle on it and we're utilizing the services of this consultant to do so. Okay, thank you and My comment from coming from ward five You know hiring and firing is a management tool as well And when we don't see results Then we need to ask ourselves. What about those folks we bought in?

1:09:43 We just brought some folks in doing jpd to put grants and looking over or that has additional expertise. And so my thought is let's clean up our shop. Let's use all our management tools first before we start bringing in an additional person to tell us what's wrong. Let's look at the people who are already looking at the problem from a day to day basis to tell us what's wrong. And if that doesn't work, then we need to find someone that can. And Mayor, to that point, Mr. President, I'll use Ward 5 as an example.

1:10:19 We have a million dollars that was awarded to Ward 5 for parks and urban forestry programs. Some of it goes into Ward 6-2, I believe. We've been sitting around waiting for a contract to be signed for two or three years. And the reason that that project hasn't gone forward is we hadn't picked the urban contractor who would manage the project for us. And there's some parks and recreation. As bad as our parks are, don't you think that we can utilize a million dollars to make some improvements to our parks.

1:11:08 But that money's been sitting on the sidelines for the last couple of years. You've been here, you've... Oh, and we've been working hard for a year. And we... But we inherited a whole bunch of stuff that we've found to work our way through. Yes, sir. Right now. And I just want to say, Mr. President, that we are building this airplane while we're trying to fly. And it's going to take a few growing pains and a few situations that we got to work our way through. But we're going to work our way through.

1:11:43 OK. I have no doubt. Let's use all the tools in our toolbox. Now, on the floor, we have this amendment. All in favor of the amendment? Opposed? What was the? It fails. Now we're on to the motion itself. Any further discussion on the motion? Of course. Councilman Sokes. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, I heard you saying about flying the plane and building at the same time. You're hearing rumors, like I'm hearing rumors and others are hearing rumors, about a lot of this grant money going specifically to a corruption.

1:12:41 will you either ask our police department to investigate this grant situation so it don't come back to bite us. The rumors I'm hearing is that this thing is bigger than we understand. That's why we really need to see who getting what grants, how long they been getting the grants, how much money and everything else because we don't wanna go talk to you as a attorney or FBI, anybody else. They ask us, of course, we got said, I don't know. They say, how are you a councilman?

1:13:29 You both know this stuff and you don't know. You gonna tell me they haven't given y'all a copy of who getting what grants? So I'm gonna support what direction you want to go to clear this up and clean it up. but we really need to have information that we have not had in the past. Councilwoman Clay. My question is to legal and to Mr. Stokes. So what is the rumors that he's hearing that we're not hearing because we all should be protected if we hear in some sort of way. Oh I'll be glad to tell you. Tell the tell the Gavtarian to Stokes. I'm gonna tell you. Can we do that whole line? I'll be glad to tell you.

1:14:11 I understand. If she don't know, I'd be glad to tell them. So if there is some information pertaining to this agenda item directly, and that is the hiring of this consultant, please let's proceed. President Harley, if I could make two quick comments. One, to Councilwoman Clay's question, I have no idea. I don't have those rumors. But the other thing I wanted to add, though, was this is another area where our annual audit will make a big difference. The auditor should, I'll have to go back and look at the last one, but the audit should include any information, including federal grants received and spent.

1:14:58 That should be part of the audit in general. In addition to that, we can pull old minutes to see what was approved and when to begin the process or continue the process. The mayor's already started. Mr. President, Councilman Stowe. Thank you. Mr. President, they have said over and over, former Madam Mumba, sister getting this grant money. For everybody who's playing dumb, I said, and we need to know. So everybody looking shocked now. Everybody know where they send that grant money going. And I want somebody to show me who getting what money, so we know who receiving it that way we not caught without handing the cookie jar thank you okay again we have this item on the table to approve a consultant for the grants of the discussion if not let's vote all in favor of opposed three before it fails.

1:16:09 Next item, please. Order ratifying the Department of Information, Technologies, and Negotiation of a reduced price with TechLink Inc. doing business as a ceasefire business, accepting a ceasefire business reduced bid of $1,096.96 and $62.88 for IT business reduced bid for IT infrastructure and network modernization and authorizing the mayor to execute all necessary documents for the procurement. Don't move. Second. It's been approved and set motion and seconded. Are there any comments? Councilman, Councilman Parkinson, then Councilman Foote. Thank you very much. So by understanding with this process, we used an unpriced technical stuff one was we asked everybody tell us if you could do the job, but don't tell us how much you're going to charge yet.

1:17:05 And that cleared the hurdle for making sure that the vendors that applied could actually be sufficient. And then the plan was to take anybody that cleared that first hurdle and then do a reverse auction amongst anyone who cleared that first hurdle. My understanding is we only had one vendor apply. So ceasefire is the only vendor that actually applied. So they did clear that first hurdle, And they did go through what we could, in theory, call a reverse auction. But they were bidding against themselves. And so my first question is, this is a seven-figure procurement plan.

1:17:47 And we got one vendor? Correct. Correct. OK. Nathan Slater, Director of Information Technology. Yes, so when we awarded the grant, we had to decide which format we were going to use in order to bid. And one of the options was we could do an open bid that the city would manage that process. Or the other process was we would do what is called reverse bid. And we were encouraged that that process would be the most fair process for this particular bid. Now, the bid is a very large bid.

1:18:26 We had several vendors that attended the virtual bidders conference. So there were several people that did, several entities that did attend and saw what the requirements were and everything. But in the end, they chose not to bid. And let me also add, this is my first time going through the reverse auction process. It's a little bit different than doing your own RFP. I actually like the process. Yeah. And I was concerned that we weren't engaging enough vendors, but I'm pleased to hear that you held information sessions for them.

1:18:59 It sounds like you really did encourage them, and at the end, just one vendor felt that they could. Yeah, we had a business conference. All the local, a lot of local vendors here in town took a look at the beer, and they chose not to beer. Okay. My next question is, so CSPIRE won, and their price was $1,050,000 and some change. That's correct. And then the grant that we received to pay for this is only $1 million, $2,000. So at that point, the city IT contacted CSPIRE and negotiated the price to what is now $1,001,000 and some change.

1:19:40 To the extent that that is legal, that is great news. So I applaud you and I applaud CSPIRE for sort of coming to the table. The idea being is you're the only one that went through this whole process. ended up being here, but we can only afford here, are you willing to go down? And it sounds like they were. So I appreciate that. However, I just want to make sure that this is legal because even in your own order, it states that Mississippi Code Section 31713 D4 expressly permits negotiation with the lowest and best bidder, but does not expressly govern in in the case of IT equipment and related services?

1:20:19 You know, Drew Martin, City Attorney, we couldn't find, so there's not a comparable or equivalent statute to that, and we couldn't find an AG opinion that addressed it in the context of an IT contract. However, A, we believe from looking at the various AG opinions that have interpreted that statute, that they would come to the same conclusion here. We don't, we can't say that with certainty, but we feel confident of that. Secondarily, this is a place where not having another bidder matters because there's not someone who is being harmed who could challenge the bidder to protest it in some way.

1:20:57 So in your opinion, it meets legal sufficiency? It does. Okay. Then my last question is, even if that is all legal, it leaves a cushion of $187.12 and 12 cents on more than a million dollar project, which is essentially no contingency at all. And I want to make sure that it's all inclusive because even on CSPIRs, I saw the quote that was included here, it says on the bottom of the quote, this is on page four of the quote, taxes, shipping, handling and other fees may apply. Where I hope those taxes, fees, handling, shipping, and other fees won't exceed a hundred dollars because that's all that we that's all the wiggering that we have. So is this gonna cover the entirety of it? If not where are those funds gonna come from?

1:21:52 Yes it's gonna cover the entire cost. One thing that we did we were forced with and looking at when the bid came out to be $50,000 more than what we had we we were discussing among ourselves, maybe we just rebid it. That's rebid and see if we can get it to a lower price. And when we told CSPIRE that and we began talking about, it was an area that we could cut and that type thing, they said, let us go back and see if we can get a better price.

1:22:19 And that's where negotiation, we got legal involved in and they say, okay, you can go and negotiate with them. And lo and behold, they come back and say, we'll eat the $50,000. Well, that's great. Well, I appreciate your efforts And I certainly appreciate ceasefire for there when it's made to happen. And this is gonna be a great project and it really speaks to our cybersecurity, which I think we can all agree is exceedingly important. Okay. Yes, sir. I think Councilman Foote was next. Then Councilman Stokes.

1:22:48 Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. My question is not about the process, but just about what, can you give me a summary of what we're gonna get for this? I mean, I see all this list of equipment I don't understand all the special terminology and all. But where is the equipment going to be located? What do we get? And what's the value add? So this equipment is the core infrastructure that actually runs the city of Jackson. It's the engine. So it's the engine, everything that it takes to provide connectivity to all of our 50-something sites in and around the city of Jackson.

1:23:27 Also with the cybersecurity component of it, it has to mesh with what our cybersecurity programs are. And so all of this equipment is just a hub of it. The component that we were thinking about cutting back was the disaster recovery piece. If we hadn't had that negotiation, there was one option that we had with C-SPY, we could back off of the disaster recovery, which is what we're putting at every site in the event. We have a failure in our network. That network will fail back over to the main site and they'll never lose connectivity.

1:24:04 Okay, thank you. Except for a brief period, okay. Okay. If there are no further questions. Yes, Mr. President. I'm sorry, may I count some steps? I know over the years we've had by Jackson, by Mississippi. Is C-SV, Mississippi Corporation? It is. It is missing corporation. You see that tech links component in there. CSPY acquired a company out of Birmingham called Tech Links that was in the professional services business and equipment procurement business. CSPY wanted to get into that business, so they purchased the company. And so that Tech Links part is owned by CSPY.

1:24:45 And they've owned it for about seven, eight years now. The song would have, if not CSPY, Probably company from another state formula state. That's correct. So it's a way that we can make sure we Spend our money Will for local business. Well You binding Mississippi. This is a Mississippi company. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Okay Okay, are there any further comments or questions if not all in favor? opposed I'm saying six one Item passes next item, please Order authorizing the mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the city of Jackson, Mississippi through the Jackson Police Department for participation in the Evidence Direct Gun Enforcement Tax Board.

1:25:35 So moved. Second. It's been properly moved and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? Question in the comments. Go ahead. There comes the question. Y'all knowledge is second to none. Most everyday citizens don't know the stuff y'all know. Let me say that first. We had a situation recently where a gun, where a serial number scratched off. Now we see TV, but most people don't know that's a forever offense. Working with tobacco files, can you explain the positive things that will benefit this city. Thank you, Shel Brackney, Chief of Police.

1:26:17 So this MOU allows us to expand our relationship with alcohol, tobacco, and firearms. We currently have one officer who's assigned as a task force officer to the ATF. What we are doing now is creating an entire unit that will be housed within JPD that creates our intelligence unit, our narcotics unit, and our current gun unit all under one home. And then we're going to expand our footprint there with the ATF and that they will be providing us with a dog that has a specialty at K9 in shell casing and gun recovery so that we can easily recover more shell casings out of scene than a human being would be able to do.

1:26:57 What this also allows us to is have direct access since we are able to and have got the funding now for the brass tracks where we can do our own ballistics is that we will all be able to have a one-stop shop in which the ATF and the FBI and JPD all sit in Jackson Police Department. And we are now creating that is called our EDGE unit, instead of a ceasefire unit or an Ibanez unit that we had. We are now using evidence-based direction for how we can do gun enforcement throughout the entire city.

1:27:29 What you're also talking about is that there are weapons that are now being created, ghost guns or guns where we put pieces together to create a weapon or will they obliterate the serial number so that we don't have the ability to trace it back to its original owners. And that happens a lot when we recover weapons here in Jackson. The thing that you're talking about, those are federal offenses, federal offense to obliterate the serial number and attempt to identify so that you no longer can identify the owner of that weapon.

1:27:59 Or it makes it very difficult if it's been reported stolen to recover it. But the one thing that this all helps us with is regardless of the serial number of obliteration is the ability to leave its fingerprint on the shell casings and the gun that will help us identify owners regardless of the serial numbers connected. This gets us something that is not occurring anywhere else in Mississippi, and the model that we're using is probably going to be the first in the nation. Thank you. Yes, sir.

1:28:27 Okay, any other questions or comments? If not, all in favor? Okay, seven zero. Next item please. Order ratifying the continued lease of medical office space and authorizing the mayor to execute a second amendment to the medical office space lease between Jackson HMA LLC and the city of Jackson, Mississippi for property located at 1860 Chadwood Drive Jackson, Mississippi. So moved. It's been properly moved and second. Any comments or questions? questions. Councilwoman Brown Thomas, please. This building right here, wasn't it purchased with federal dollars that they had, it was some kind of federal dollars that they had to go and move them to a certain location?

1:29:18 So this is the Merritt Medical Building where they used to have an MOU there and where the FBI was going to co-locate in that facility with JPD. Since then the FBI has vacated And the building has remained unoccupied, but it could be highly useful. Prior to my arrival here, they had a task force that was running out of that location. It also is a place where we store the Sprinter van, the infamous Sprinter van is also at that location, sir, or ma'am. And so what we're looking to do is it is a zero lease cost for us to occupy that and we still have some of our belongings in that space.

1:30:04 So we're now looking to reimagine how that space can look prior versus how it looked previously. The advantage to us, it is a fully functioning, highly secure place because it is adjacent to merit medical. It's in the annex part comes with security, but also allows us to build out space that might be much more Conducive to doing police work it versus some of the buildings that we are doing some of our work in it is in precinct one Therefore we couldn't think about it for precinct four when we were originally doing it We had actually even considered this as creating a super precinct In that space that might be able to benefit us as we were looking for cost savings So this was something that was on my mind to try and find spaces when we could when we were looking for one precinct for as well as Other space that we need for Jackson Police Department Any other questions, okay Councilman clay at the end councilman Stokes, okay. I have one question I know it nothing about policing but is it possible that we could eventually have all precincts work out of a central precinct

1:31:15 and just have them somehow in substations in the field since this building is about 9,000 square feet, would it be feasible to put everybody in there and just have locations out in the field? So the one thing about policing is that it's not a stationary kind of location and substations across the nation have gone by the wayside for a variety of reasons. One, even though they're dedicated and given those spaces by the community. Often what that means is, I'm just going to put this as delicately as I can, officers get lost in that space.

1:31:49 In other words, they're not out in patrol and they're not as highly visible. And then they become the individual community's officer and not necessarily there. You can look at a deployment, but the part of this is our time to response. If we're all leaving from a central location, the ability time response will highly diminish. You can look at it as an administrative place where you could possibly bring people together for meetings, do your administrative work. But in terms of deployment, the decentralized substations actually are often worth the benefit versus a highly visible police station.

1:32:27 When people are coming to seek help and seek support, they will not find a substation oftentimes. very few people in this day and age will walk into a police substation, do a police report. They're going to dial 911 or do it online since it's changed. I didn't mean substation in terms of that. I meant in the field somewhere, whether it's a building or not, just coming from somewhere instead of being at a location. I don't know if the police actually leave from the precinct other than when they start their shift or what, but I'm just saying if that building is that big, creativity-wise, we could create something and they can roll all day with gas, less cost, then rent some space.

1:33:07 Yes, ma'am, but the difference is between when you think of your medical responses or your fire responses, they do go from a stationary location where police actually patrol their shifts. And there's a reason for the patrolling is they can be mobile and then they're actually in the spaces. They are consigned to beats, which will help narrow the space where they're patrolling. Yes, we'll look at all of the options we can to save the city money. As you know, we've been heavily pursuing every option we can to reduce our footprint around space, around energy, electricity, gas, fuel repairs.

1:33:42 All of it is being examined pretty intentionally. The city is not that much interested in money, although we have no money. We want to spend money wisely. So don't let everything we do in this city be based on money, okay? we can come up with other sources and resources to fund things if it's necessary. So don't ever think that it's limited because of money, okay? And thank you and I look forward to that at the one o'clock hearing on our budget today. Okay, are there any other comments?

1:34:13 Councilman Stokes, please. Thank you, Chief. You mentioned task force and I want to keep the jazz and mouth of Kamau on your radar. the since the universe Mississippi left is slowly turning to a ghost town in the city services that we can relocate identify to go in the Malcolm all please explore that possibility before it gets so so down it's gonna be hard to bring I can appreciate the pleasure. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay any other questions or comment? If not all in favor Okay, seven zero it passes. Next item, please. Order authorizing a mayor to execute supplemental agreement number one to the professional services agreement with EJES, Inc. for neighborhood street resurfacing project phase two to conform with funding provided by the special sales tax commission So move It's been moved and properly second Okay, Councilman Parkinson, Dan Councilman Foote.

1:35:29 Thank you so much. Okay, so I went back and I pulled the item that we voted on, we voted on a very similar item a month ago. I can't remember when that was. At the time the contract was for 1.7 million, and I think I understood how that was calculated. I could see the breakdown for design, bidding, construction, engineering, inspection, and reimbursable subconsultant expenses. In that original contract, preliminary design, final design, and bidding totaled about $455,000. The amended item is now for up to $550,000 for design and bidding while also removing the construction package. I'm not as clear about what makes up the $550,000 as I am about what made up the $1.7 million. So can you clarify what makes up the $550,000?

1:36:37 Drew Martin, City Attorney. On some of this, I'm going to defer to Director Anderson, but on the contract issue specifically, it wasn't, well, we went through a couple iterations to do this at the end of the day, the supplement, let me actually, let me back up a couple of spots. The order you're referring to initially when this contract was first approved was more like two months ago because it was prior to the last 1% sales tax commission meeting for the call right. And when the council passed that contract or approved that contract, I should say, did so with the understanding that the contract, that $1.7 million amount was going to be funded by 1% or some other non-city fund.

1:37:20 That has not happened. What 1% did instead was fund only $550,000. I will say that the city has not executed the original EJES contract for $1.7 million because of that, because of the statement from the council and because of the lack of funding. So we've held it until we see what happens with the funding. In the meantime, because of that $550,000, what the city did was enter into some negotiations with EJES. How much of this can you go ahead and do with this amount of money?

1:37:53 And so we ended up with this supplement, which specifically says in the revised description of improvement section that the original contract is amended and restated to say that this will cover resurfacing of approximately 45 miles of roadway across 338 streets, that the program includes mill and overlay, which is the majority of the streets, they took out the limited full-depth reconstruction. So in other words, any street that required complete redoing is not covered by this contract. It's only for the milling and overlay streets. And you see that localized drainage improvements are still included, that there's five resurfacing packages that are included, the reconstruction packages excluded.

1:38:39 There is a statement in the contract because of that. There are two states in the contract that are worth noting about the funding. One says funding available for the design and bidding phases of this project is limited to $550,000. The next, there's a gap between that section and the next. The next section is all under effective compensation. It says the overall total compensation under the original agreement remains unchanged, notwithstanding this revision. Purpose of that last provision is to say if EJS is ultimately awarded all of this work, their work will be what was in the original contract, which includes this supplement and will not exceed the original contract price of $1.7 million.

1:39:23 Beyond that, in terms of what streets and what needs to be done and 1%, I don't have the answers to those. I'll get to there in a second. But first, it just seems like they're taking more money for less of the streets. It's almost like we had this huge wish list at first, and then we said, OK, some of these cannot be mill and overlaid. You're going to have to rebuild the whole dang street. And they said, let's take that off the table. We've got 550,000 left.

1:39:56 And what was initially about 450,000, they're like, well, we'll do the remaining, but We're still going to charge if you have 550, we're going to take 550. Let me answer that more directly than I did the first time. I saw that price discrepancy as well. We did not negotiate the price. That's not something we don't have engineers in the legal department to review. What's the appropriate price for these things? We made the recommendation and this is what we ended up with. Okay. For pricing. Okay. Mr. Anderson, does the 550 include survey work, geotechnical work?

1:40:31 How was the $550,000 negotiated? Lorenzo Anderson, Public Works Director. The 550,000 does include the 338 streets. It includes all of the engineering necessary to do a milled and overlay street. The original was all inclusive where if we had a reconstruction street, it was geotechnical, extra geotechnical, extra surveying, curbs, things like that, maybe some utilities. That's included in reconstruction and foundational work. With this price, it does include all that. It includes just doing, if they're gonna do an initial assessment and with the initial assessment is they find that we recommend that the street is reconstruction, it would not be part of this bid package.

1:41:22 So with that, the 338 streets will be, who are 45 miles of streets will be assessed and the 550,000 is still doing the engineering for up to the contractor map. This is 550,000. So it's safe to say there's three categories of streets. There's some that were originally on our list, but we know now those are gonna have to be just completely reconstructed. So it's not gonna be possible for us to move forward with those. We were not at that point yet. We probably know about two or three that may need be reconstructed, but the rest we will have to do the engineering first to assess what's going to be done on it.

1:42:07 We just can't assume there's milling overlay. I know that's a lot. We're hoping there's milling overlay, but once you do the engineering investigation, you will determine if it's milling overlay. Okay, Councilman Parkinson, we have several others. We'll come back to you, okay? Councilman. When do you initially pick these streets? I personally do not pick the one percent sales tax. I understand that. The one percent sales tax, I believe they picked those streets about three or four months ago. Okay. Just a request. When they pick streets again, I would love to see more of South Jackson streets on here because I'm not pleased with this list with the amount of streets that I have in my ward and I just see a few on here. So my request is please pick more streets in South Jackson because they pay 1% sale tax as well. Second question is that L2RO, can I have an update on the $600,000 with the L2RO and where they stand with this money for the state to make sure it don't be no oops in it and we lose the money back to the state.

1:43:20 We are going through legal. I think the contract is being signed and the notice received will be issued this week or next week to start on the engineering. And they're expediting where we just met with MDOT last week about update about Elton Road. It's a separate project from this. This MDOT earmark funds that we received on that $600,000. So after that, we'll proceed once we get the contract signed. And I understand you're real busy, but they call the office all the time about Elton Road and they are concerned about we losing the money to the state.

1:43:59 I know we have three years to spend the money, but I don't want to hear it slip through the road. They're calling my office too, so I'm ready to get this project started. All right. Okay, next. Thank you. Yes. Yes, okay, okay In past years the county Would give the money to the city and the city would decide what streets to pay in the city now this county just Go around the city and ignore the city and now 1% is going around the city and ignoring the city We're paying all the taxes to the county, all the taxes to 1%, but we're not having any input.

1:44:56 That's absolutely wrong. Now when we come to 1%, all the wards are not represented. All the wards in this city are not represented, so we have no input whatsoever. Now, legal somebody needs to find how we get back, get this train back on the track. Where it's the city deciding where streets need to be paid in the city, not the county, not 1%. We never should allow that to happen, but that's what's occurring now. And we need to stop it. Because we got people complaining, 30 and 40 years, their streets have not been paid, other people's streets been paid four, five, ten years ago and they consistently get paid.

1:45:47 It's not fair to these taxpayers. It's not fair to the citizens. We did submit, talked to all the councilmen about, you know, streets and we submitted those to the 1%. It was not approved. I think we have a new strategy. We have some additions to the commission. So I think the new strategy will have us give us a more of a voice with the commission. So we're talking about that internally and I think we'll have a change. Thank you. Councilwoman Clay and Councilman Fudd. I'm happy you have a new strategy, but we also have a strategy as a citizen. Okay. We need to know when one percent meets. Okay. There is no sense in one percent controlling the city of Jackson the way they do. I agree 1% gets the money they got the money so they have the purse strings but as citizens if we knew when they met we could go and just sit there we don't have to say anything but we could be present. Second thing I want to know how they decided to reduce it by 1.2 million to 550,000 that's

1:46:58 almost like a slap in the face so and we as citizens probably don't understand what 1% does, I didn't understand until I went to the meeting and saw it in action. So if more citizens came to the meeting, we could see what's going on because we can take streets to 1% and we don't get what we ask for and we all know that and it doesn't have anything to do with administration evidently, as they're still doing the same thing to us. Yes ma'am. Okay, Councilman Foote. Thank you Mr. President, thank you, Mr. Anderson.

1:47:33 I think this is a great, this is my favorite item on today's agenda. Yeah, maybe. It's not because all the roads are in Ward 1, they aren't in Ward 1. But it's just the quantity to do 45 miles of roadway across 338 streets. And one of the really neat features of this item when you look at the list of streets, and it's about six or eight pages, is how many of them are the street to the dead end? So you get, they're doing a lot of just streets that usually get ignored because they're just maybe, you know, one block long or whatever, and then there's a dead end, and because of that, they may not get resurfaced for 20 years, for 25 years.

1:48:17 I've got one street in here is that the people have been hounding me for about five years. When are you gonna fix my street? It had been resurfaced in over 20 years. And it's on the list here. So this is really great, and it's all across the city. It's in every ward. It's not just Ward 1. But it's really going to help a lot of the folks in Ward 1 that have been left behind because they're just on small little streets that peel off of the big streets.

1:48:45 So I'm excited about this. I'm glad you were able to do it so that the one cent sales tax money pays for all of it. And Lisa, some more money in the general fund and do other things. And I look forward to it. I hope the construction or the resurfacing can begin before it gets cold in the winter. And so we get some done sometime in the fall. Thank you. Question. Question. Just following on my please, that you have a response. I doubt if we're going to start because of the process of engineering.

1:49:22 We are looking at using turn bids and things like that to start on some of the streets. But we discussed that internally, but majority of it is gonna start next year. I would say probably 90% of it will start next year, but it's some small streets that we may be able to, if we use the term be it in the contractors over in the area, we could go ahead and start on that. But majority, 90% of it is gonna be next year, well, early spring of 2027.

1:49:51 Okay, thank you. This is a bad problem. Okay, thanks. Okay, on here I see Elton Road. Why are we using 1% sale tax and we have the state funding? We cross stayed out. It's not part of this anymore. Originally, as discussed earlier, I didn't even know when I first got here, I didn't know about Elton Road grants. So it was important that, you know, I'm not gonna get into that grant discussion, but once I found out, We told the engineer, take an else and roll off.

1:50:24 So this should be off. Okay, Councilman Grazie. Thank you. I was prepared to vote against this today until I saw I had a handful of streets that are really necessary. The street I grew up on has not been paved no before to four years, I'm 49. So that should tell you some things. And I mean it's falling in. Supervisor Tony Smith came and did some work over there. But again, we're waiting on the city to come back behind the county do what it's supposed to do. What is the time frame? I know you said something about the work is not supposed to be until next year, but what's the time frame for the work for this contract to begin and end? What's the expectation? Once we receive the execute, well they've been waiting three or four months now for execute contract. Once we get the execution on the contract we get issued a notice to proceed to tell the engineer start on the engineering. We're looking at three to four months of engineering and maybe they may quickly

1:51:23 identify some of the roles that we can start on while they're doing the engineering say hey we looked at this street we could do a meal overlay like well we have a contractor in the area we'll call them on the turn bid and get the job done but we're looking about three or four months first what's just far as he'll know Raymond role what's the status of that pedestrian lane project because this same firm did the planning work under the last administration for that project? If you have an update but the last discussion we had was a right-of-way. They did the engineering on it and it was a walkway it wasn't enough right away if I'm correct. Well they've been trying to figure out the right-of-way for six years. Well I've been here ten so I mean ten months. Ten months, ten months, ten months I'm sorry. Ten months so we try to move their project head I don't know I think it's acquiring the right-of-way which it takes some time takes funding okay I just like to say thank you for

1:52:30 the streets that are on here that are in war too we appreciate you and I know you're working hard for us and I know streets cost a lot of money and we have a little money so we are grateful I wasn't finished I was pretty good right And I do thank you for the work you do, but this list is not equitable. We have seven wards, all of them need some work. And it looks like this list is a little tilted toward one side of Jackson versus the other.

1:53:01 West Jackson, Northwest Jackson, Southwest Jackson need a lot of help, a lot of help. We need a lot of paving done. We have a lot of overgrown tributaries, a lot of overgrown ditches. Some of these streets are falling in. We got to have somebody who's going to advocate for us to that 1% commission. When I first came on this board, I looked at the statute. The statute said that the 1% commission, a lot of those folks come from the local chamber. And I know folks have different views, but Jackson does not have his own chamber.

1:53:35 Iram does, Clinton has this on, original has this on, but Jackson does not. We just have the Metro Chamber. And so it's gonna be really, the onus is on us really, and you, somebody's gotta get in and really advocate for all of Jackson to make sure that everything is getting taken care of. Thank you. Okay, next, Councilman Parkinson. Can you give us an update on the items we passed on the bond issue? Are those executed and moving forward? Yes, sir. We met with some of the contractors. We're meeting with the drainage contractor this week. We want to make sure they know what we're expecting. It's more like a pre-construction meeting. After that, I can give you a date. But the contracts have been executed by the contractors, but we're having a pre-construction meeting to make sure that they get started this month.

1:54:32 The ASWOL companies are anxious to get started. It's in their schedule. We've met with them too. So, well, so we haven't signed the contract. I have to say we're legal. Drew Martin, City Attorney. I'm actually texting that question right now. I'll be honest with you. I can't keep up with every contract that comes through, but we do keep a log of them. And I will be glad to check them today and get you an answer. I just don't, as I stand there, I can't say one or the other.

1:55:03 Thank you. One of the delays was getting all the paperwork for our insurances and liabilities and performance funds. That was one thing that they have to have before the city signs the contract. And finally, I'll throw a comment in here. We're going to have our Public Works Committee meeting. And I'd like for you to take at least half of that meeting to go into the 1% membership, the processes, and answer any questions that we might have. That's on our next public work meeting. Hopefully it'll be once we get finished with the budget hearing, we can proceed with that.

1:55:44 So half of it is going to be 1%. Yes, sir. If there are no other questions, all in favor? Okay, seven zero. Next item, please. autoradifying the emergency procurement of services and equipment from Southern Electric Corporation of Mississippi to restore power to the hood administration building and authorizing payment. So moved. Second. It's been properly moved and second. Are there any comments? Yes, Mr. President. Councilman Stokes. Thank you. Mr. President, this is one of the items that we mentioned several weeks ago. In the past, the city would contact a company.

1:56:27 Company would come in and make the repairs at the hood building, knowing that their check would be in the mail. That's why it's so important that we pay all our vendors timely. You know, it look kind of, I don't know what we're used to describing when you got courts and things like that, They wrote it for one bill to another bill to make sure that you get the electricity that this is the capital city. That's why we got to make sure that we pay people timely because we're going to need to call them to make sure they can come in, do some work, and we'll pay them a little later.

1:57:10 Thank you. Okay. And I echo that. I had a conversation with a guy down on 49 with the hydraulics. He said he thinks things are changing, but the mindset out there is still, we're waiting. We want to make sure that everything gets right. So please, if you have an opportunity as a council person, please reach out to these folks, tell them we have a new regime there that's determined to make sure that everybody gets paid on time. Okay, if there's no other comments, all in favor?

1:57:44 Seven zero. Next. I'm sorry. Okay. Six zero. 6-0-1. Okay, next item please. Order authorizing the mayor to execute supplemental agreement number three to the preliminary engineering services contract with Neo-Shafer Inc. for the Mega Evers Boulevard RAISE grant project. So moved. Second. It's been proper to move and second. Is there any comments? Uh, councilman. Just a quick question. Uh, fully support this item. I see that the change in $19,800 is connected to the RAISE program, but we'll come from the general fund, not RAISE funds. Is that because we've ran out of the RAISE funds or is this addition not eligible for the RAISE funds? Why are we using general funds for this?

1:58:33 Yes, this project is $37 million. We only have $20 million in federal funds for that. So everything else is, for us, cash flow modernization. We are working on receiving some additional federal funds, but to move the project forward, we have to identify some funds to get those to proceed or permission to advertise. Permission to advertise so this where we pushing for to get it advertised. Okay. Is there any other comments or questions? I'll make sure I understand So the it's got two under cost it's got proposed Supplemental agreement 19,800 And then it says the new contract all is million six six three So how much is gonna be coming out of the general fund?

1:59:35 The 19,800 or the million 663. Did you understand that? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Okay, so I'm looking at the sheet here, the cost sheet. Ms. Scott, the proposed supplemental agreement, number three is 19,800. Is that what we're talking about? Yes, sir, 19,000. million 663 is not not that's not what we're voting for no sorry nineteen thousand dollars okay thank you it was already approved for the 1.6 but that's another source of funds right yes sir okay are there any other comments or questions if not all in favor 601 next item please order authorized the mid to execute the amendment to the operation and maintenance contract with MV contract Transportation Inc. So moved. Second. It's been properly moved and second. Comments?

2:00:42 Okay. Question Mr. Mayor. Long bus strike, finally over. Somebody needs to say job well done because it could have extended longer and some decisions had to be made. Can we find a working relationship where things that might be going on can be addressed before we get to the time of strike? Now I don't know if there's the Union or the company have issues but look like there'll be a quality meeting a meeting so often with the mass office to make sure you're about on the same page and then you can bring us a report to the council we met with everybody boom so that we don't have to worry about a strike again sometime in the future.

2:01:50 Mr. President, that would be our hope. We thought that the negotiations should have been resolved a lot sooner than they were. And I do know that the MB transport in their 50 years has had three strikes. One with the city in the Midwest and two in the last two years with City of Jackson with the JTRAN and the ATU Union. So we think better communication needs to take place. I want to commend the members of the City Council when my administration came with the idea to have closed this thing out by dealing with a strike support of the union workers that closed the deal. It cost us $105,000. And had the city council not agreed with this administration to make that offer, we probably would be still striking. So the We have played a vital role in this, but we want better communication and any minimization of disruption of services.

2:03:17 That's our goal. Thank you. Any other comments? Just one thing, and I agree, Mayor, that we do need better communication. And we know the city council, we can't be the wallet when there's disagreement or the ATM card. And in addition, please look into, we had a public works comment, excuse me, a public comment this morning addressing J-Tran. And I know Ms. O'Flaherty, she's an ardent user of that system. And I'm hoping that we can have someone discuss that. Yeah, and I think that we have some tough conversations ahead of us as a realistic JTRAN.

2:04:00 Is the system that we have in Jackson, Mississippi, right now, right for this community? Do we have the right size buses? Do we have the right routes? Are there other technologies that we need to be looking at that can make this process a lot more seamless? And can we utilize feedback from the folks from the folks who are using the system better than what we have in recent times. So yes, I agree that we need some longer conversation. We need to study probably maybe without the aid of consultants.

2:04:40 Yeah, that would be good. But we need to get people who know what they're doing and know what they're talking about. And JTRAN, I think, is at an inflection point right now. And we've got to figure out which direction we're going to take this bus system and make it the kind of bus system that's right for this city. Thank you, sir. Any other comments or questions? One comment. I'm sorry. Peter and Taylor are the C.A.L. We have to make the transit system the right transit system, not the bus system.

2:05:17 me just uh just uh discourage anyone from thinking that our public transit will only focus on buses. I think if we've learned anything there has to be a combination of buses and other vehicles to best serve the unique constituency of the city of Jackson. Thank you. Good point. Thank you. There's no other comments or questions all in favor? Opposed? Six-one. Okay next item please. Order authorizing mayor to execute a contract extension Hawkins law PC to represent the city and civil action numbers 21 that CV that's 663 21 that CV dash 667 22 that CV dash 171 and 22 that CV dash CV that's 531 so moves second it's been properly moved in second any questions or concerns councilwoman I I just want clarification of why we still need this law firm based on the rulings last week from the judge.

2:06:24 That's a perfect question. And why are we extending this so far? No, thank you. I didn't want to use this item as a chance to both discuss it and give you an update of what all that means. So starting point, there are two main lawsuits. Both are federal class action lawsuits filed before two separate federal judges in our district. cases is generally referred to as the Jackson Water Master case and that's in front of Judge Reeves. That case is currently stayed. It stayed because the other case which we call Sterling and it's the one that was in the news this weekend was in front of Judge Johnson. We moved for all constitutional claims which encompassed all the federal claims brought by both lawsuits. We moved for dismissal of those with an argument that the federal Constitution, neither the federal nor the state Constitution, but this is specifically the federal, created a right to certain things here and there was no constitutional remedy.

2:07:25 That does not mean, by the way, that these plaintiffs don't have other remedies available assuming they can prove their case. Judge Johnson agreed with this, dismissed those federal claims. The plaintiffs appealed that to the Fifth Circuit. If you recall, several months back when you first appealed to the Fifth Circuit, you get a three-judge panel. That panel voted two to one against the city at that time. And so we moved for what's called en banc rehearing, which means the whole Fifth Circuit hears at that point. It's fairly unusual for them to grant that, but they did.

2:07:54 And not only did they grant it, on Friday, we got an order in our favor that dismisses all these claims. So all of that to get to this point. There are three separate law firms that the city hired back in 21 to work on these cases. And I've told you before, if these cases that originated under me, we would have done this a little bit differently, but it's a little bit difficult to change horses midstream. The main law firm involved is Jones Walker Law Firm. That is a large regional law firm located here in the city. Clarence Webster is our primary attorney on that, and so we made sure to thank him. We've been renegotiated, and you'll have something else for you before too long about how we pay them. John Hawkins of Hawkins PC and Terris Harris, who has his own practice and also has been with the Cochran firm were also hired primarily to represent various individuals within the city who were sued individually as part of these cases as well. This is a contract to

2:08:50 renew Mr. Hawkins contract. I will tell you that his charges and Mr. Harris' charges are a literal drop in the bucket compared to the Jones-Walker charges. The Jones-Walker charges after we finish paying just for what we are right now are hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mr. Hawkins add up all of them to about 30 to 40. Mr. Harris, is there even less? So why would we pay it now? One, this is for work he's already done. The contract wouldn't renew in a timely manner. It should have been.

2:09:18 He brought it to my attention. So we want to make sure we can pay him for the work he did. The other is case it and over. A, the plaintiffs can appeal to the Supreme Court. While that is not generally accepted, it's rare to get a case taken. This is one that has a chance because there a difference in circuits. So what the Fifth Circuit has ruled here is different than or arguably different than some things the Sixth Circuit which encompasses some other states has ruled and that's the kind of what they call it a circuit split. That's the kind of case the Supreme Court likes to look at so they can make the law uniform nationwide.

2:09:53 So I strongly expect that that will happen. I don't know if the Supreme Court will accept it or not. We'll see. Even assuming that whether there's an appeal or not that we keep this judgment or this order, and I think we will, that still doesn't finish the case because all of these individuals who have filed this suit as a federal class action have individual state law claims. And essentially that's part of what the federal court said in this order. They said, well, it's not a constitutional claim, but that doesn't mean you don't have some other type of claim that can be remedied under state law.

2:10:27 And so that's what will be next, will be the battle over those state law cases. for the benefit of the council, we think that the exposure of those federal claims is and has been enormous. There's no cap on what a judge could ultimately award what are thousands of plaintiffs in those federal constitutional claims if they ruled for the plaintiffs. There are caps on these state claims that let us mitigate the risk substantially. Okay. Any other questions or comments? Council last question on the appeals since you didn't necessarily agree with it before Can we not use one law firm for all the appeals?

2:11:06 I can't not shorten this term from two years and is this money coming out of the general fund Money comes out of our budget and we did budget for it Short answers. Yes, that's a general fund budgetary item, but this is budgeted with the expectation we had to budget I can't remember if I said there's a budget here or not. We hope this case is over. And there is some chance this ends up being the end of it. But we had to budget as if it's not.

2:11:32 And so we did that accordingly. We also accounted for the reduction that will go with Jones-Walker. The answer to your question is there are conflicts issues here. And that's the reason that the decision was made by the city to get individuals, their own counsel, and to put it in a very broad sense. How does that work? Well, the city might find it beneficial at some point to say, we didn't know what was happening as a city. The governing authorities didn't know what was happening, but that person that worked for the city did, and they're liable and we're not.

2:12:05 And so at that point, you can't have one law firm representing both entities at that point. That said, by the way, neither Mr. Hawkins nor Mr. Harris will be working much on the appeal, other than just attending some meetings and helping us with some thoughts. But again, 95% of this will not be from them. Okay. And you answered a question about consolidation. Yeah, we just can't we can't consolidate everybody under Jones-Walker because of the potential conflicts of interest with the individuals versus the city. Okay. Are there any other questions or comments? If not, all in favor? Opposed?

2:12:40 Abstain. Abstain. 5-1-1. Item passes. Next item please. Order authorizing payment of full and final settlement of all claims in the matter of Walton versus City of Jackson, Mississippi and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Civil Action number 325-CV-314. So moved. Second. Yes, been properly moved and second. Are there any questions or comments? Okay, if not, all in favor? Okay, that's 502. Item passes. Next item please. Resolution to authorize the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority to accept the airport improvement grant offer number 3-28-0037-080-2026 for the United States Department of Transportation, Mississippi Department of Transportation, for purposes directly related to the Jackson-Megah-Wally-Evers International Airport under the auspices of airport improvement.

2:13:43 So moved. Second. It's been properly moved and second. Is there any questions or comments? This is a, I'm sorry, go ahead, Councilman Parkinson. Thank you so much. Couple things, first, the second whereas says that we are expecting an amount not to exceed $200,000, but then in parentheses it says $43,929. So we receiving $200,000 or receiving $44,000? Sorry, anybody here from the airport? That's what I was about to say, I don't think anybody is here on behalf of JMA today, but I will call and get a clarification of that.

2:14:23 And then my second question is, is the airport or is the city paying a 10% non-federal share? The airport. And this is generally a routine request where they get grants. Fairly typical, the city as a co-sponsor of the airport is required to sign on with all of those and the city guarantees those repayments. This particular grant, I believe, is for buying various vehicles out there at the airport. Okay. Okay, are there any questions or comments? If not, all in favor? Opposed? Okay, seven zero. Okay, now we're down to discussion items.

2:15:02 And Ms. Clay, Councilwoman Clay. Okay, Timothy White, I am sure most of you have seen or heard of Timothy White. He's been going around the city of Jackson helping to clean up the city of Jackson. And I met recently with Timothy White and he has a good program. And first of all, I wanna say thank you to him for his efforts and the things he's doing in the city. But at the same time, I wanna ask the city, not just the council, but the city to help and support him in what he's doing in terms of donations, et cetera.

2:15:35 I know some of us are more familiar with Lock Ward because he started cleaning up a lot earlier. Mr. Ward has raised over $200,000 in his efforts to clean up the city. And I think it would be nice that we all extend hands across wards and help Timothy at the same time, like we're helping lock Ward. And we know his constituents and the people that he's cleaning for have a lot more necessary, may have a lot more. We never know what people have. And we don't wanna take anything for granted in terms of donations, et cetera.

2:16:07 But I just think at some point the city that we should get together and have these two men be honored and come up with something to do and encourage more people to clean the city because they're doing what we're paying and contracts for free and getting a lot more done a lot faster. So I think we may need to rethink what we're doing and they are actually hiring people from under the bridge, the unhoused, the people at Stupod, etc. So with our rate of poverty in the city of Jackson, this may be a program for somebody to look at in terms of employing people to keep the city clean.

2:16:44 And I think the pride in the city will go a long ways when you start using people from within the city to clean the city instead of just giving contracts. And they see somebody getting big bucks and they say, hey, I can throw some more paper down and help this person get their money. Thank you. I totally agree and one thing is maybe can you take the lead on or maybe a resolution for both of these gentlemen? I know there's more than those two, but we need to continuously put volunteerism out there and we need to celebrate it when we get a chance.

2:17:18 Yes, okay. Next item 22. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm gonna hold 22 to the next meeting, wanna try to get someone from Jackson Public Schools. Lot of these children not going to school. I know we should have them in school. We got programs in place, but they're not working. So I'd like to hold up when they move to 23 if I could. Go right ahead, sir. I have a letter I received from the mother, Master Clerk's office, to read the letter and the record. My name is Kristi Spivey, mother of Tasia, city of Fortune.

2:18:10 Of course, I have seen you on YouTube speaking about Tasia. I have no more answers from one day of this investigation. The detectives are likely, the detectives are likely they are on a pre-recorded message just saying the same thing over and over. And now it's gone to, now it's gone to silence. The coroner's office has stated that it's a homicide, but there's only details, but They don't say anything public or put it in writing. They said it would be on her death certificate, which could take months.

2:18:39 And that was only, the only thing said. Still no preliminary reading or anything, but I'm asking for your assistance in my daughter's death investigation as they are calling it. I'm not sure what you can do, but if you need me to present, I will travel to Jackson so my voice is heard. I will attend anything I need to attend. I have some reward money put up, But the police told me not to do that, so I don't know what to do. But my husband and I have been in touch with Crime Stoppers in Jackson.

2:19:10 Thank you for your time. If you need to reach out to me, I have left my contact information with your office. Thank you so much for listening to me and caring about Tasia getting justice. Thank you, Kristy Spivey. Councilman Soj. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I don't know who it is, wasn't I, but the medical examiner, what we keep hearing where everything is being bogged down at the state level. What I'm trying to get the public to understand, this situation is beginning to have questions asked all over the country.

2:19:57 And it's not just Mississippi, it's the South. They're keeping up with the hangings that's taking place. I think in Mississippi we round four, I hope I don't have the wrong numbers, North Carolina, Florida. That's why we must have questions asked and answered. They're concerned that there's some kind of situation that's taking place throughout the the United States, the hanging of black people again. And we cannot sweep this idea under the rug. Soon as we start, thank God, that's nonsense. Then we're going to find out that whoever brought us to this position realized that's evidence.

2:20:56 And in law, you speak to evidence. Whether it's a conspiracy or not, that's why we got to know specifically what's taking place. Why we having so many black people home in the South Southern part of the United States. And as it come to Mississippi, Jackson is the capital city for this state. And people look for answers. They look that if something's taking place, we need to stop it, but we need to discuss it. We can allow. And I later was here, I never seen it before in my life, at the beginning of the council meeting.

2:21:52 She was concerned and there's more and more people concerned about hangings, not just in the South, but hangings in Mississippi. And I know we're concerned about people getting shot and every other thing, but hanging is an ugly, ugly part of our past that we never ever want to come back again. We don't want hangings is the real circle ahead. And if we have some kind of person that's intentional doing this negative thing, trying to create some kind of race issue in this city or state, we need to know. But if we have some cold bloody killers that might be traveling all over this state in country that might be hanging black people, then we need to get them.

2:22:57 We need to let them know we're going to spend every dime we have in this city and this state to fight against hangings. Thank you, Mr. President. Any other comments? I agree. And regardless, we need to pursue that investigation to the spinal conclusion and whatever the results we need to address those results. Chief, did you want to give us an update or anything on that? Thank you, sir. Chief Brackley, Jackson P.D. I just want to address first when we're looking at the letter, there's a couple of things that I want to start with. The medical examiner's office performed an autopsy about four weeks ago on Miss Tayshia fortune. To date, we have not received the outcomes of that autopsy. However, Jackson Police Department has been investigating this case from day one as a homicide until we hear otherwise from the medical examiner's office. I have been in contact with the commissioner who oversees the medical examiners several times. In addition, I've spoken directly to the director, Christy Simmons, of the the director of the medical

2:24:15 examiner's office as well to see when we could get a ruling on this case and to date we have not received a ruling. I would also hesitate to label these things as a serial incidents that are going or serial behaviors that are going on across Jackson Mississippi or Mississippi as well. There is a lot of misinformation out there about this case and other ones. In addition to, if we want to talk about the letter, we have been in constant contact with Ms. Christy Spivey as well as her estranged husband.

2:24:52 We speak to them often pretty frequently and updating them on this case, telling them exactly where they are. The coroner cannot give any information to the family that the medical examiner has not given them. So their coroner is the only one who will relate to the medical exam or to the family, the medical examiner's information and again I am repeating as of today at this time we have not received the medical examiner's feedback on this additional case. I would also like to just say this is not the same medical examiner that did the Nolan-Wales case has been put out in the public. There's a very different person who did that autopsy and that examination as well. Okay, thank you. All right.

2:25:42 Drew Martin, discussion item. Legal, Mr. Neighbors, he has none and no executive session. All right. That is good news. Keep your hand down. Look, and I just wanted as we close out to thank everybody, but we had to combine the work session and and a very intense council meeting although it was short but we got through it. Comments before we close out today. Go ahead sir. Now we have a special meeting at 2. Are we voting? We it's the will of the council we'll see if we can get there and is it in committee is a committee meeting? It's a special council meeting. So it'll be on the floor, it'll be able to be amended, it will be able to be passed if the council so chooses, and if if not we'll continue meeting until we're able to get it. Okay again Mr. President could we close the meeting in honor of Mrs. Elise Morgan. I think 102 years young. Mrs. Cassandra folks Wilson outstanding think jazz was a jazz jazz entertainer grew up in jazz

2:27:10 from the Jackson area mr. Ali B Jackson senior mr. Willie Corbett jr. mother Bertha Mae Williams nichols as Reverend Williams sirs he talks all the time how he's depicted the kind for him that we and family lost a soldier but we know that God still has not done anything wrong. Thank you Mr. President. Any of the comments administration? Anything? Roll off the dump today. All right if that's it then we'll see you later on at our special meeting. Yes ma'am. Oh yeah I'm sorry. Number did everyone receive their monthly reports of privileged taxes as requested according to section 2717.

2:27:58 Okay, everybody got it? All right, if there's nothing else, thanks for your participation. This meeting is adjourned. We're reconvening the meeting, our special council meeting, with deliberations on the budget. And before we get started, I'd like to take a moment of presidential privilege to remember 25 years ago. Everyone has memories of that day when we saw the Twin Tires there in New York being attacked. Everyone has their different emotions and how we handled that moment. My memory is I had folks, relatives calling me from different states asking me, I mean, where are you?

2:28:51 Because a month earlier, I had been on special assignment at the Pentagon. And they were just making calls all over to find out and make sure everybody was okay. And before we take a moment of silence, I want us to just remember that we in fact need the best defense, but we must not discontinue seeking peace. must seek peace and pursue it. And so, on behalf of the almost 3,000 American citizens that were killed that day, I'd like us to take a moment of silence. Thank you. Okay, thank you. And thanks to all our first responders. And our act goes off to you and we will support you for all you do. Okay, getting started. Councilman Parkinson, you want to start at the deliberations? Thank you. I just appreciate everybody's effort. I'm excited to hear any remaining ideas that people have, be they orthodox or new creative bold ideas. I'm excited to hear it all and as we work towards getting the budget in as final shape as it possibly can and just will remind my colleagues again that we have a legal obligation

2:30:38 to get this thing passed by Tuesday at the absolute latest but I appreciate everybody's work and I'm excited to move forward. Okay colleagues do we have any other amendments or anything to mention? Councilwoman Clay. Okay my first question is we just got this information about the reserve. Mr. Tevas and what is it saying and what can we really do? Or defer to the CFO on that or the budget manager. And let me say this I'm not sure I've seen what you seen and okay we have mr. Martin here as well to help oh that information thank you I'm sorry yes let mr. Martin address that okay miss Cardwell I wasn't sure I apologize councilwoman clay I wasn't sure what you were referring to thank you Drew Martin city attorney so I can't speak to what any balance is or anything like that right now but we did several people did some lengthy research trying to figure out the history of this in the city we we have it, I don't know if you'll have the,

2:31:54 do we send them the 2001, Sandra? Okay, good. So we did find a trade down the 2001 order that established the initial policy. And if you look at that, it's the one that's dated regular meeting of the city council Tuesday, August 14th, 2001. If you look at that, according to the order and the minutes of that order, it certainly appears that the council did some due diligence at the time. They discovered that 5% of the adopted general fund for an unrestricted general fund reserve seemed to be the minimum standard in the industry.

2:32:31 That was even published in a Moody's guide at the time that said, make sure you have at least 5%. They did some surveys themselves that appears that disclosed a range from 0% to 10%. And in doing that, they decided, we're gonna have a policy going forward, but there will be an unrestricted general fund reserve at 5% of the adopted general fund operating revenues. Now, at some point between then and 2004, people decided that they wanted to put more into it. And so that's where you have, if you look at these 2004 orders, what they indicate is that there was a goal within the city of increasing that reserve percentage from 5% up to 7.5%.

2:33:13 And what they did is they set it in an escalating deal. So each year they added 0.5% for the reserve until they got to seven and a half. But I will point out that even within that, they were supposed to start that in 2004, but they looked at it and said, well, we've got some budget problems this year. Gas prices went up, per contributions have gotten higher. And so we're going to delay what we're doing. Instead of going up a point a year for three years, we're going to stop pause where we are and then starting next year, we'll go half a percent again until we get back to seven and a half.

2:33:46 And that appears to be what in fact happened. In 2016, the council then adopted these ordinances, which memorialize that 7.5% number and state some reasons for that. So all of that together then, what does that mean? It means the council's gone back and forth over about 25 years on what the percentage should be. For that period of time, the lowest has been 5%, the highest has been 7.5. The ordinances being passed creates a procedural hurdle, but it's obviously one that you can overcome. We need to actually amend the ordinance to make the change now because of those 2016 passage. Yes, ma'am Thank you for the history, but my question really wasn't the history my question really is what is the number?

2:34:30 And if we don't know the right that's me to say we don't know the number and be done. I don't know the number Gillian Caldwell CFO um Excuse me when we say number dollar number or percentage Okay, well, let me say this I think mr. Martin just said the ordinance sets the percentage is seven and a half So I think that question is answered. Okay So we we use the general fund adopted budget to determine the amount that needs to be in that reserve at the end of the year and it's so a 7.5% of that So we adopt a budget of 113 million Let's go down and I don't want to interrupt you I'm saying what amount of money is available for that fund right now?

2:35:32 I know what 7.5 percent of 113 is so that that amount is 8 million that we put towards that reserve Now, it's part of your fund balance. So once we are able to get back into our system, we can tell you how much your current fund balance is. That's the question I'm going to answer. Okay. Yeah. Well, I can do the math. I just want to know what is the real number we have to work with. So we cannot make a decision based on that number right now because we don't know.

2:36:04 We know that we have $8 million in fund balance. I mean, $8 million reserved. will have eight million reserved for fund balance. I guess I'm not speaking clear image. We will have eight million because we're required to have eight million, right? Yes. So do we have more than eight million available? I will say yes but I cannot give you a exact amount how much much more of that we have available until we're able to access our system. Thank you. Ms. Caldwell. Can I have a follow-up question on the same issue?

2:36:48 So the, my understanding has been that this has been a hard number to actually nail down because of the delayed audits we've had. Because you really wouldn't be official, I don't think, until the auditor goes through and you know resolves any questions or whatever about where we stood as of September 30 of the previous year. And so do we have a what the fund was the level percentage wise and dollar amount for the last completed audit? Was that 23? Was that September 30, 23? We finished that? What was the reserve then? Let me pull that information for you.

2:37:40 And while you do so let me go ahead and pose this to either one of you. Do we have any documents? I mean we've got a whole stack here. Do we have any documents that may show a balance recently? I know we can't get into today but is there anything and what we already have that might show that balance. Well again this is the fund balance that we're referring to and as Mr. Foote stated you you won't have a confirmed number until you get the audits caught up. Right. So the FY 23 audit reported our, let me get to, our unassigned fund balance was 29 million And the amount in that year was the total required general fund, unassigned fund balance to meet the reserve in FY23 was 9,157, but the actual amount was 29,166.

2:39:07 Can you explain that difference? The 29 million was what we had in fund balance, unassigned fund balance, unreserved. It was available for future operations. The 9 million is what was required to be reserved based off the 7.5% policy. And so we meant that we were well above that. So we don't know where we stand on 24. and the audits for 24 hadn't been turned in yet, is that correct? No, sir, the, Peter Terwiston, CAO audits have not been turned in. And I can tell you that while you had a, an unassigned additional 20 million in 23, you will not have that at this time because the budget has been overspent in 24 and 25.

2:39:57 And there is, and I'm getting this off top of my head, CFO, correct me, about $6 million that needs to be transferred to J-Tran that we know will be coming off of that number, let alone the overspending for any of the other two budget years. That's why it's important to be able to access the system to give you that current number. It wouldn't be an audited number, but it would be, as President Hartley was alluding to, at least it would be a current number that we could tell you we think is in the ballpark.

2:40:28 I guess one follow-up before I turn the, when do we expect the audit for 24 to be turned in? Is there a timeline on that? I did email the audit firm yesterday to check the status of the 24 audit and to confirm if they've received what they needed from Jackson Water. I haven't heard back from them, but I just emailed them yesterday afternoon. So we'll give them a little bit longer to respond. Councilwoman Clay. So when will the system be up? And can we not answer the auditor and if he already has that number?

2:41:02 He can tell us approximately what that number is. I'm sure Okay, cuz that water doesn't have anything to do with Jackson, Mississippi Reserve Okay, so that's two different pots of money So somebody should have a general idea of that number. We're not looking for exact number But if we're gonna spend some of that money, we at least need to know what that number is because right now I'm sure none of us feel comfortable spending any of that money. Right and that's why we have the budget like we do we have not anticipated using any of that money in this next year. My question is if I city can't function at a rate or a level that we need to we need to be looking at all the money we can use so that's gonna turn into my next thought But I don't want to go into that thought until everybody's here the opportunity to speak. Okay You see any way does anyone have a direct line?

2:42:01 To this auditor where we can call him and okay The last time we spoke with him which we spoke with him yesterday But I think last week he mentioned he would be done at the end of this month In September. Yes. Is there any way we can get a preliminary number from him? I can add. I mean call maybe Mr. Brandon or someone can hey get him on the phone look we really need that number to plug in here. Yeah he would have to do some analysis. Assume what he's gonna have to do. He may have already done it. Let's make the phone call. Okay. Okay.

2:42:42 Because we really need that. Oh, we okay. Yeah, we really need that information from Councilman Stokes. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, fund balance over the years has really used to be money that the council could use to do other things in their wards with. What had happened, they used the fund balance to balance the whole budget. The budget is never balanced until they get money to plug in holes. And they've been using the fund balance as that money. So to think we got $20 million out here and nowhere near true, we probably don't have anything that's in that fund balance.

2:43:27 And especially looking at 23, 24 in those years, we're going to have to cut the fat. Because the fund balance ain't going to say what's on it. Well, Harvey Johnson used to do is stop spending in December to make sure they have a good budget balanced. So, saying that it's easier to explain to council members that fund balancing will be the savior we're looking for because that money is gone. It's going to be gone. Flugging up hoes and everything. So we're going to have to find another way to come up with money to get some more five fighters and police officers.

2:44:10 And just a suggestion we made yesterday, and I called the gentleman who sent me the memo is that this is one term money. We reduce from 75.5 to 5%. That that's one time it's not reoccurring for salaries. We still going to have to find some money. That's correct. to recon, because this is not real current money. You don't balance budgets on money. That's one term and one time. In some kind of way, you got to explain and tell these council members, because today is deadline. We got to put both on a budget, up or down, and we slowly losing votes.

2:44:48 When we're saying we're not going to have enough money for firefighters, and we're not going to have enough money for more police, you lose some votes on this budget. So some kind of way, we need to find some money. And I'm going back what Councilman Foote was saying earlier. As we identify money that's been held for other things to make sure we have police officers, if I fight, we got to use that money now. And other things got to wait until something else come down the track.

2:45:17 But fund balance is not going to be that thing that they think are going to happen. We got to get items that Foote brought up yesterday, what we're talking about money from the energy plant, What we're talking about money from Grove Park. We got to get some police officers and firefighters. And that's got to be for today. Otherwise, there's going to be a number of people going to focus on his budget. And they're going to send the wrong message about Jackson because the budget ain't going to get passed.

2:45:48 Thank you, Mr. Stokes. Is somebody on the phone? I was emailing him to ask him to pull up. I think we need to make a phone call. maybe away from. And I thought I heard us mentioning someone mentioned eight million. And then looking back, I think during the fiscal year 2013, and again, I'm not, you know, I just want to close that loop out altogether. Someone mentioned, okay, that 7% 7.5% was 9 million. So yeah, I agree with my colleague. Maybe this is not the right tree to chase up. Okay. So, but I did want to get a resolution for that. Council? Mr. President?

2:46:37 Yes, sir. Could we discuss the letter that was sent? Yes, he, I think he... Any of the things I forwarded to you yesterday are absolutely fine to talk about. Did you have questions on it? I did, because I talked to the gentleman. Now our original question was what the CAO presented whether if we reduced down with that jeopardize the money that we currently have, whether they can call the money in, call the long team, and everybody said no. That we need to put a period in that. It wouldn't jeopardize that. Now the gentleman who sent the memo he's talking about money for a bond issue. Hell, we ain't no, there ain't no bond issue when we talking about it.

2:47:26 So I asked him, I said, well look, you talking about a bond issue, when you talking about having a bond issue? And there's no bond issue, I understand, no time soon. But the only thing is, if we reduce down, even though we're gonna bring it back up this one time money. We can't tell these firefighters you can have 25 more firefighters this year on soft money and then next year we try to find 50. So that's the only thing about that Mr. Tables and if we reduce down with this kind of money it's not gonna reoccur and these be able to get paid the next year.

2:48:08 So we got to try to look somewhere else. Councilman Stokes, let me echo you and echo you loudly. That's exactly what was done in 2023. There were firefighters and police razors given and money put in planning. $13 million and additional spending was done with one time money and nobody planned for or how you can incorporate any of that 13 million into reoccurring costs. And that, quite frankly, is why we've all been wrestling this fiscal year with how do you plan for something that was put in place three years ago that wasn't planned for.

2:48:46 So you are right, we should not be spending any one-time money on recurring costs. I also agree with you that we ought to be scraping every couch cushion for every extra nickel for public safety. Did you have a comment? Y'all hadn't been through, I got your money. Okay. Okay. I mean, I was just gonna reiterate, I mean, I don't wanna beat a dead horse here. I completely agree with what Mr. Stokes and Mr. Foote said, whether it's related to the reserves or whether it's related to any additional rainy day funds that we get, I think if there are one-time expenses that we need, I think taking money from some of those pots and applying it to one-time purchases is, I think could be a prudent move, but I just completely agree with their sentiments that we ought to be very careful about allocating one-time funds for things that are not one-time purchases.

2:49:42 That's absolutely. Ms. Caldwell, any success? He's looking for the number now. Okay, why he's looking for that number, how far all four are we right now and balancing this budget? I mean, we're, we're, we're, 27 budget is we're balanced. We're balanced, but what we're trying to do is we are trying to get additional money for, and how much for the five fighters. Yeah, I think in an ideal world, we would still find another million and a half for fire and an additional million for police, but I'm not sure we'll be able to do, I think that's the target that we should be aiming for, but I'm not sure if we'll be able to get there by the deadline to pass the budget.

2:50:36 Okay, did you have any? I guess just to put a bow on it, like as much as I would like to find additional money for this or that, I personally think the budget is in a really good balanced space. And so I would feel comfortable passing this budget as it is right now. Again, that's just my own personal opinion And then certainly we can work to amend it as we find additional funding and as additional things come up throughout the year. But in terms of your initial question, Mr. Hartley, I believe this budget is passable.

2:51:09 It is balanced. It meets the requirements that Mr. Martin laid out. I think this budget is, it's not like we're at a gap right now. It's not like anything. I mean, obviously we wanna find more money if we can and redirect it here or there, but this budget does meet the requirements of a budget and is passable in its current shape. Thank you, council. Mr. Mayor, from Carl Sutterville, why are we buying money? Well, I respect other people's opinions. If you have ideas, I'd be more than happy to entertain.

2:51:39 My own personal opinion is I'm personally ready to vote as an individual, but if others have deliberations, I do not wanna cut off any conversation. I wanna hear every possible idea. I was just sharing my own personal opinion. Okay Councilwoman Brown-Thomas. Thank you. Ms. Julian, do we have a line item 119 or 1121? And if so, what is that line and how much is in there? 119? Those, in 119, that would be like an account that we, like a trust account, but we don't have anything in those accounts from what I see.

2:52:44 Thank you. asset accounts. Okay. Yes please. I know what I'm getting ready to say it's not gonna be popular or not gonna be what anybody else in here is thinking or whatever but this thought came to me and I'm gonna express my feelings and I'm gonna express what I think and how I think we should go as a city and it doesn't matter with me who agrees or disagree that's how I'm gonna start this. I appreciate all the work that everybody has put into this budget. Okay I support this budget in terms of Needing a balanced budget, but I will not vote yes for this budget as is and the reason is we are talking public safety and we're talking fire department and We always talk about mo use and I did some research and it's not coincidental I know the feelings of the city when the CCID came were not great.

2:53:47 I know people didn't support it. I know people thought of it as a racial move. I know people thought of it as us giving up an asset or whatever. But at this point in time, the resources that they have the city needs. And I think instead of us struggling to find money for public safety, that we need to lean on and work with CCID. CCID has districts or categories or a map. I can show you guys. I may have the term wrong but they spell out exactly where they cover it. It is a defined area. My ward is not part of it. Okay a lot of Mr. Stokes ward is not. South Jackson is not. So I'm saying why would we constantly take money to make better what's best in the city of Jackson. It spells out neighborhoods that they cover. It spells out what areas they cover. It spells out everything. If you go in and look at how many offices they have, they have almost as many offices as we have.

2:54:49 It's like a second department within the city. So we're being our heads up for nothing. Okay? Use their resources for those areas. Our high-climb and stuff is in the areas that they don't necessarily cover, okay? So we're talking about putting all these extra officers out there, I want these officers, don't get me wrong. But to have officers all over the city of Jackson and based on the numbers that came out yesterday and whether they're right or wrong, you take 120 and divide it out and you come down to 11, you go out there and you look at the website for CCID and you see the same, you can shake your head and say whatever, I'm open for questions, I don't care.

2:55:27 But the information is out there for you to research. And it's no sense in us struggling to pay Peter and Paul and coming up with and looking at reserves for a one-time thing. The fire department, I agree. We need 25 new firemen, OK? You cannot. In the old days, I'm a state farm agent, OK? And I never bring my job into this council. But I've been an agent 40 years. In the old days, Jackson had the best fire department. Everybody relied on Jackson. When we wrote a house, if it was a class 10, we went out there and we called and said, will Jackson help if they get in distress?

2:56:03 Yes. When police come, we know everybody think of the federal and the state coming. So we already have a MOU with the state, so we need to use it. They have the resources. I'm not saying our police department is bad. I'm not saying anything negative. But what I'm saying is it doesn't make sense for us to sit up here and struggle how to put more money over there that we don't have. let go of public works, okay? You come down the street, every street in Jackson, you got a pothole.

2:56:29 I just hit one this week that says, check your mainframe. I spent $1,000 on tires for potholes, and I keep saying I'm not the pothole queen, but God is telling me those potholes are there for a reason, and we need to take care of them, okay? Yesterday, we went out and fed four families that were on Capitol Street, okay? I took people a sorrow with me, and when we got finished, she looked and she said, This city is in bad shape, okay? We already know this city is in bad shape.

2:56:57 So we need to work with giving public work some money, parks and recreation and everybody, instead of taking all our money, putting it in public safety when somebody's already giving us money. And that's what I think. I think we need to relook at the numbers and allocate money to different departments. If the police can't make it with what they have in terms of working with the other agency, come back. We can amend the budget, But it's no sense in taking money from every department to say we're going to improve safety.

2:57:25 And I agree. We keep saying no businesses are going to come to Jackson until they feel safe. Well, if we work together and look at the areas of crime, et cetera, and statistics, I think we could get businesses to come to Jackson. I don't think it's a matter of crime that's keeping businesses out of Jackson. I think it's a matter of what we're doing in terms of planning, development, et cetera. The image of our city and how we sell in our city, it doesn't matter who's here.

2:57:51 We still got $0.0 to work with. And I know you budgeted at 113 million, but in my eyes, it's $0 cause it's not covering anything per se that we need other than to make us function like we're dysfunctional. Thank you, Councilwoman Clay. Certainly appreciate those thoughts. Councilman Parkinson. Yeah, I actually don't think your ideas are as crazy you may have said that they were. I didn't think they were crazy. Let me say this, I never think of Tina as being crazy, but I thought maybe I don't want people to go say, oh, she's been bought, she's been this or whatever, because we know how to see the Jackson works.

2:58:30 I live in the city, but I just want to say there is no sense in us struggling to figure out safety, to figure out streets, to figure out anything with the shape our city is in. Yeah, I agree. I think the more that our law enforcement agencies work together and collaborate, that is better. There should be an enormous amount of strategy and partnership that goes into there. It makes sense to me to say, if you've got some places that are resourced in this area, can you redeploy resources and use it in other areas?

2:59:05 I don't think we can be so extreme in that argument, because, for example, Capitol Police is unable to enforce city ordinances anywhere. I don't think it can be as simple as take JPD and don't have JPD in the capital area entirely, but I do think your broader point that there can be collaboration and that can affect resource allocation and other pieces like that, I think that's spot on. Enforcing ordinances and don't get mad at me, City of Jackson. I'm just telling you what I'm thinking, okay?

2:59:41 Crime is not an ordinance, okay? We're talking about crime. Everything y'all say in here is crime. Crime is not an ordinance. Jackson doesn't have an ordinance that speaks to crime. When you go murder somebody, you're not coming in here telling us that you got an ordinance in Jackson to say this is what we're going to do. You got an ordinance that may say what a bond is, okay? But you're not saying that. And you can move that case on over to the other street and take care of it, okay?

3:00:07 So the ordinance that you're talking about, we're not even enforcing them. enforcement. If you look at what you saw yesterday in the news, what are we enforcing? So we don't need to talk about ordinance. Ordinances is a scapegoat or an excuse. Okay. And I know as Capitol Police, I've read, believe me, I've been up 24 seven on reading. I know what they can and cannot do. I know if there's a problem with what they can do, we can get back with them. The legislators will support us 110%. Capitol Police, I'm speaking, And I have not talked to Bolani, but I'm sure there's a way around these ordinances you're talking about.

3:00:44 What Pacific ordinance are you talking about? Just as one example, for instance, if there's a bar or restaurant in Bellhaven or downtown or Fondren or other areas that Capitol Police patrols that is violating a noise ordinance as one example. We ain't talking noise. But I understand. I was going to say, we can't have JPD abdicate and JPD is responsible for crime and safety over the entirety of the city. But I hear it. We can delegate one office to your notice. I'm saying if you go out there and look at the city of Jackson and you research what are the best neighborhoods in Jackson, the two neighborhoods are your neighborhoods, Bell Haven and Fondred.

3:01:28 We're very proud of that. I agree with you. I'm proud of Bell Haven and Fondred. But at the same time, I don't think we should be worried about some noise and you're talking about somebody shooting somebody And the murder rate is the murder rate of the capital city. Okay now that noise you can send an officer you can hire security You can do anything you want to put it know if y'all got the money to do it. So control the noise Okay, I think we are agreeing I believe we are on that same page and that is that hey, there's some ways that we can use use, hesitantly use Capitol Police to supplement some of these things that we have going on.

3:02:04 And yes, they cannot use the ordinance. They cannot enforce our ordinance, but we can use JPD with that. And another thing is, I think, while we shouldn't necessarily deadlock this, we have a lot of openings. How many openings do we have in JPD? How many vacancies do we have? I believe we need to fill those before we aggressively see, you know, just shut down this budget. And I would love that consideration. And just one moment. There was amendment that I want to make concerning public works. And I have spoken with the, and it's just moving money from one category to the next. I think it was on page 13. Can you help me out with that amendment? It was to move I think about a half million dollars into personal service just within Public Works Division. Okay. I'm Brandon Jackson, budget manager. So the proposal was to take a half a million dollars out of the capital outlay from Public Works to move into the personal services line for more employees.

3:03:34 To supplement the half a million dollars that you will be moving to personal services, we have a fund called drainage repair and replacement fund that has 555,000. We can use that money within that fund to buy equipment. Right. But there was another inconsistent that we had to move. May have been on page eight. There was another one. I remember having a discussion with finance about, okay, we can use that drainage at 500,000 for equipment, additional equipment. But also, we were going to move another category into personnel.

3:04:19 Yes, sir. That would be the capital outlay, which is proposed at 821,000, 163,000. We take $500,000 from that and move it up to personnel services, excuse me. Okay, so moved. Second. What page is this on? Page 8. Give us the page number, please. So on page 8, at the top of page 8, you have a couple of categories for public works. So we have a couple of categories and public works on the top of page 8. The capital outlay line at this point is proposed at $821,163.

3:05:03 The proposal is to move a half million dollars out of this category and move up to the personnel services Line in order to hire more employees and public works. So what is capital out? Capital outlay is um, that's the purchase of anything over five thousand dollars or more so this would be mostly the equipment that we purchase for public works such as dozers or anything of that nature, tractors and anything of that nature. Councilwoman Clay. So that means we've already bought all the equipment we need.

3:05:41 Oh, absolutely not. I'm not need, but I know, but I'm just saying if you're taking $500,000 out, tell me in layman's terms with me. So we're replacing that money with money that we already have budgeted and a different account on Fund 214, which is repair and replacement of drainage. It's Look on page 13 drainage at the bottom of page 13 you have the improvement fund revenues The third line under that is drainage repair and repair and replacement fund It is budgeted at five hundred and fifty five thousand. We can use that money to replace what what we're moving over to personnel services. So what we gonna do about a drains? We can use modernization for the same. Let me tell you something, I read eyes because I, and this is a side note, I read eyes because I roll my eyes all time and I sit here trying not to roll them up or appear anything. So when I saw your eyes, when I said what we gonna do with drainage, the category says drainage repair and replacement. Okay? So that's why I said what are we gonna do with drainage? If we taking the money out, what are we doing with drainage?

3:07:11 with the category. Are we eliminating it or are we dropping it down to just $55,000? That's my question. The modernization fund allows us to use those funds in order to do any repairs and replacements for drainage. So now we're going to use new money from modernization at a rate of $500,000 to fix the drains? That's correct. Okay, that's all you got to tell me. I'm not being argumentative, but if I see a number and the number change, I'm thinking that the rains are going out the door. I know the ditch in my backyard, it looks like boo-boo-doo fool, okay? So I'm just making sure I understand and laymen understand, okay? Okay, there's a motion on the floor.

3:07:54 Second. Yeah, it was seconded. The motion is to move from, go ahead and repeat that Please I'm sorry Moving 500,000 from your capital outlay line to personnel services and to replace anything that's needed for drains For any money that's moved would do that with modernization funds. Okay. All right It's been moved and properly second if there's no more discussion all in favor opposed Abstain one abstention so it passes Okay, Mr. President. Yes, sir. Mr. Stokes. Mr. President, I think Councilman Foote mentioned a day or two ago about this hair damage, March 2013, which is 2.4 million.

3:08:56 And before I make an emotion that's I'm sorry. It's on page 13 Has that money already been Programmed the two point two point improvement fund revenue The two million on hell damage March 2013 two million four ninety nine. Yeah, that's reserved for Grove Park All of it and a few other parts, but all parts yes Mr. Councilman Stokes, let me answer your question. You're looking for money. That $2 million was parked for parks. That would be some money that y'all could consider moving to something else.

3:09:54 Just remember, it's also gonna be one-time money. In other words, we don't really need it for person. We don't need it for person, hell, and other. Well, the reason I ask that, and if I'm following up on what, But it said, this grand government come every year. It's not one term, so unless we program in it for something else each year, we can make this money reoccurring. So the $1.5 million that we're getting into the general fund is programmed. Okay. So we get a total of what from grand up 1.5 million and this already programmed to the general fund.

3:10:50 Yes. Now we were moving, um, reallocating 160,000 of that to this line right above the hell damage grand Gulf emergency planning. We had been annually, um, Allocating 160,000 to that line. And that's how it built up to 600,000 over time. That $600,000 balance. Well, what is Bell Haven Community Improvement? $185,000. That's your special sales, your special taxing district that the people in Bell Haven put on themselves. So that money can only be spent by the Bell Haven Neighborhood Association, whomever decided to tax themselves. Okay, thank you.

3:11:47 And I'm gonna get to Councilwoman Clay, but colleagues, let's move towards the item that will prevent us from voting yes on this. And I think Councilman Foote is interested in, and get, excuse me, Foote. Councilman Foote, he got that name on his hat. Councilman Stokes is I guess interested in in in what sir in getting more we got it's no if-and-some buzz about we must handle 25 five okay do we have how far where do we have How about that? We know who we are. We're still about it.

3:12:35 We're still a ways off. But here, can I ask a question? Okay, hold on a minute. It's on this topic. Okay. It's on the topic, mine. Okay. Councilwoman Clay first. But last question is, it's definitely on the topic. If it's insurance money, how are we taking insurance money and using it for general funds? I know you can do what you want, but insurance is supposed to make you back home. So since the city is in such bad shape, I know we need money from every category.

3:13:03 But this is money that you would have one time to fix your parks and you're not gonna need reoccurring money to fix your parks. You're gonna need reoccurring money to maintain your parks. We're saying we want the quality of life better in our city and the insurance company has given us our money and we don't wanna use our money to fix it. And I know we self-insure. So if we don't fix these items, we can't re-insure them. So when the next storm come through, what do we do?

3:13:34 Okay. So Ms. Clay, are you arguing that we remain this 2.499 as it is originally intended to be used? I'm thinking if we got that money from paying insurance, that money was earmarked. You know how y'all tell me about earmarked money? You can only use it for what is earmarked. So in my mind, I'm saying, Well, we do have a little luxury on it, but as an insurance agent, I'm saying, if you take that luxury and you go do something else, why did you have it in the insurance to begin with?

3:14:05 I agree with you at that point. So I agree with you on that 2.499. On this 600 though, I do think that that is someplace, now do we deplete it entirely? Do we just take some of it? I think that's up for some debate, but I do support that 600, moving some of that to what is needed. I would just request, if possible, that we allocate that money for a one-time purchase. So I don't know if the fire department has a one-time need. I would just be hesitant to use this towards fire personnel, knowing that we're not going to get that $600.

3:14:43 We'll get some of it back. It grows incrementally, but it's not going to be $600,000. So maybe we can take 100 of that and direct that 100,000 to fire personnel because it will accumulate to some degree. We're just not going to get, if we draw this whole thing down today and put it all in personnel, we're not going to get 600 more thousand dollars next year on that. So I agree with you completely Chairperson Clay. I personally don't feel comfortable touching that 2.499. I would feel comfortable adjusting that 600,000 either in part or in all, but I would only want that to go to one-time purchases unless we do.

3:15:28 I'm comfortable spending up to $100,000 in personnel from that, knowing that some of it will be redirected. Okay. Again, folks, we're going to have to, we need to bring this to some kind of close. I'll offer an amendment. I move that we take $100,000 from the Grand Gulf emergency planning line and move it towards personnel in the fire department. But there's your clothes. You wanted to go to the clothes. That's one more body. Mr. President, I second it for discussion. It's been moved and second. It's on the floor.

3:16:17 And the reason I second for discussion is because $100,000 is not going to get what we need. trying to get, I think, 1.5 million. And that's like, you know, you need, who growing up would grow like grandfather, we needed a dollar, we asked for 10. And he may give you a dollar. The point I'm trying to make is, we don't need to piecemeal this. This fire issue is a serious issue. We need to find money in a budget of $113 million and come up with some fire personnel, period.

3:16:55 because as these houses burn and things happen, they're gonna blame this council. We got to get that one first. Let's get fire behind us. And I like the suggestion. I like what Foote was suggesting. And I really want to hear what the CEO is saying. They know this budget up and down and they might can guide us to the way we can get this fire department taken care of. Then we can move toward the next issue. But we got to do this fire department. Well, I'm gonna say it like this.

3:17:28 I can vote for a budget where we've been told that your fire department, the rating is getting ready to go up higher for insurance, unless y'all get more fire months. And they came up with a plan, 25 this year, 25 next year, 25 next year. And that's gonna mean that we got to plan to have just as much money next year for the fire department. In the next year, otherwise you're firing, you're gonna be like the county. The county fire rating is awful. It's ridiculous and we need to try to stop that bleeding right now.

3:18:11 Okay. So I hope foot kids are the, okay, CAO will give us an idea. Yeah, I want the CAO to chime in on this because we need to know exactly what's at stake and what's not at stake. So we need a definitive, you know, is it that dire situation? You know, one of the worst. Let me say this. You can obviously spend all your money and have no reserve. But I'm gonna tell you, Mother Nature gone Mother Nature. And the day you spend all your money, you might as well look up to the heavens and expect that rain or that ice or that tornado or that hurricane.

3:18:53 We're at the point where we have to make really tough decisions. Y'all have to vote on them. The easy answer for a million and a half of fire and nobody wants to hear it. Councilwoman, you, my councilwoman, so I'm going to echo you and just put things out here this morning. We spent a million six on the zoo and bring in less than a hundred thousand dollars. We spent 900,000 on a golf course, bringing in about $400,000. I mean, those are the types of decisions we're getting to that money for the parks as council councilman Stokes has said, they came from the insurance settlements.

3:19:29 I mean, that's what we're getting to now to do anything else that's out there. I don't think we have any real tricks up our sleeves. We can move money between categories like we did for public works to maximize that. And if you're going to take some one time money for police or fire, it might be wise to take that one time money to buy vehicles as opposed to personnel, which is a recurring cost even though I know we need personnel as well. I also know that both fire and police need vehicles as well. And I'm not talking about vehicles for take home. I'm talking about fire trucks or marked police cars. But that's where we are. If you give me a couple of minutes to huddle with the CFO and Mr. Jackson, I'll see. We'll ask a couple of questions and let us see if we can give you a proposal to come up with my million dollars in real money to put somewhere.

3:20:21 Okay, and also, I heard you, I think, you're saying that there are disasters that may be out there, that we're going to need those 25 more firefighters. Is that what I'm hearing? No, there's disasters out there that you're going to have to pay for before you get reimbursed from the federal government, assuming this federal government still reimburses you for a disaster. Okay. Let me make that clear. Okay. But we pulled some numbers. 2008 Northeast Jackson, North Jackson tornado councilman Stokes, you were here on the mayor Melton took about $15 million to clean up that situation.

3:21:05 And that was in 2008 dollars. I was there. 2026 dollars. So statistically, we are overdue for something to hit this city, whether that's an ice storm, whether that's flooding, whether that's a tornado, whether that's a hurricane. We've had a really quiet stretch without anything major hitting this city. Statistically, we are due for something. I'm just saying, don't spend all your money, because you have to do that. said that, I understand the importance of the public safety, public works. We've been trying to do that. Give us a couple of minutes.

3:21:45 We may have an idea of where to find something else somewhere. Okay. I want to make sure I clearly understand this. And that is we definitely need to add those 25 positions of firefighters because of a bond rating. Is that our biggest threat there? Fire or fire or fire rating. I think we want to maintain the best fire rating we can in the city of Jackson. I think that Chief Thomas has presented you a plan to do that by adding 25 firefighters a year and building those numbers. We've also talked about trying to get some regulatory relief with respect to our our rating but there's no question you need more police personnel and more firefighters. Okay Councilwoman Clay. Can we look at resources possibly that we can share with CCID and cutting I'm not talking about necessarily cutting offices and I may be talking about cutting recruits for right now and see how it really works with what they cover and allow them to cover and come up with what ordinance they really can't enforce and maybe we can assign an officer just

3:23:10 for bars etc cuz bars and clubs are not open all times so if it's really a noise factor listen and we enforce the code enforcement in heart councilman's Hartley's area we closed down somebody cuz they had too much noise so we shouldn't be sent a police officer that often to something in in bell haven a funding you guys definitely don't have that much noise I've got an idea for a million dollars yes well so move it hurt it and you're not gonna like it anymore you and no talking about the zoo or anything we have presented the council and the mayor with the fact that we paid 90% of health insurance for employees. You want to raise some money, it's time to ask for a bigger contribution in health insurance from employees. We did that in a two-tiered fashion, both for high earners and low earners.

3:24:08 That would be a way because all the health insurance is paid from the general fund. If you put more money into the health insurance fund from somewhere else, i.e. employee contributions, then you have more money in turn from the general fund. Now, Councilwoman Clay, You're shaking your head before I finish. I'm shaking my head before you. Hold on, after you talk about everyone else. I need it. And rolling their eyes and everyone else, you want to do the same thing. I'm guilty. But my point is, I can give you ideas for these things.

3:24:39 It's not going to alleviate the difficulty of making the decisions. If we could have done that, we would have already done that for you. We've done as much of that as we can. give me, I don't, we don't need a recess. We caught a sidebar in court. Give me a couple of minutes to sidebar with my colleagues and let's see if we can't brainstorm on something else other than health insurance. Thank you. Let me ask you this, let's take a few recess. And I don't want to take away from five police.

3:25:16 At the last meeting, Councilman McLean had on the agenda, the young man who's cleaning these neighborhoods and doing a wonderful job. Yes sir. A young man who's in here today suggests we had something like that in each ward. I don't want to start saying, let's take money as fun as now. But I think what she's suggesting or what this young man's suggesting or what Councilman Hollis suggested over the years, we got to clean the city up. And you know, it's a lot things important. Fine police, public safety, but we still got to clean this city up.

3:25:55 Now, one time, money's maybe later, but I don't want to cloud this issue, but I hope somewhere down the line between now and the new budget start in January, we can find some money that we can give them off of each water cleaner. I think that would be an excellent idea. And I want to echo something you suggested we haven't had time to look at the other day. We need to look at can we put a surcharge on the seats at Thalia Mara or some of the other things.

3:26:22 Much of what you pay, ladies and gentlemen, in a traffic ticket are fines and fees to the state of Mississippi. They are not coming to the city of Jackson. You go over there and pay $200 for your speeding ticket, the city of Jackson doesn't get to $200. There's $2 going for the electronic court system. There's $5 going for the crime victims. And on and on and on. Councilman Stokes, I think you're a challenge to the administration to look at, could we do something similar with city assets?

3:26:53 A dollar surcharge on tickets at Thalia Mara or other sorts of things. It's something we need to do to look at raising more money. And I know Councilman Fudding, Councilwoman Clay have been insistent that we look at new revenue streams, which we need to. And I just wanted to, the more I've thought about that since you said that Councilman Stokes, I think there may be some ways to raise some new money that way as well. And that would be recurring money if we did it that way.

3:27:22 Okay, I just wanted to mention that we still have a motion on the floor. In order to give them an opportunity to have a quick sidebar, which it sounds like we don't even need a recess for, just a quick sidebar, I will go ahead and withdraw my motion to give them that sidebar opportunity. That has been withdrawn. And here's where we at, folks. we can't spin our way out of a lot of these problems. We must be smarter about the decision. Mr. Martin, I'm glad you're up there.

3:27:54 It's because you're going to have a heavy, very, very heavy load. Going after these folks that own apartments where we have to respond to nine, ten times. Going after these folks that are abusing their ownership right of properties and in these blighted conditions in our community that creates more crime. We can't spend our way to solve all these things. We have to work to use the strength of the state legislature, change the laws, we got to use that investigator that you want. We have to do things differently. We can't just keep stacking up police and fire and why the city burns down and we're not addressing some critical issues.

3:28:44 We got to find a different way. We must find a different way. Planning, code enforcement, we can't keep running back and back and back. Wasting time, energy, gas, everybody's time. We have to hold folks feet to the fire. We have to be creative. This is not working for us anymore. It's not. And it's getting worse. We can't spin our way out of this thing. We got to, like a CEO mentioned yesterday or a day before, we have to look at right sizing these zones around the city so we won't have that requirement the way we used to.

3:29:30 We got to look at this thing differently because the money just isn't there. So I appreciate it. Look, we're going to just take a pause, five minutes pause, and we'll be right back. We're coming back from a brief recess. And I wanted to answer Councilwoman Clay's question earlier because I stepped out and took the CFO's phone to speak to the auditor for a second. He said to make sure that it was clear that this is not a final number and will be adjusted. He doesn't know how much adjusted.

3:30:06 But for the 24 budget year, he sees an unassigned balance of $7.4 million and a fund balance of $27.6 million. I will tell you that I think our CFO thinks those numbers are high, but we'll see. Numbers the first one was seven. First one was the unassigned balance of $7.4 million. on the sign balance, okay? And the fund balance is 27.6. And again, that's for the 24 budget that doesn't, and he said three or four times, that is all pending adjustments. Takes you to what it's worth.

3:30:41 Then the, what percentage would be for the reserve? Would it be the, so how would be the calculation? I'm gonna defer those math questions to the math department. Good Lord. We got a math department. We got some fun. Oh no. What's the percentage? Do you use the 7.4 or do you use the 27.6? Use the 7.4 is what he's saying. He's saying, compared to our 23 budget, 23 fiscal year, where I stated, where I stated We were at 29 million. He's saying we're at 7 for 24.

3:31:33 24. So what's the 27.6 number? What's that? So that's the total fund balance. There are five categories of your fund balance. And so in 23, that was 43 million, that total. And he's saying 24's amount is the 20, was it 20, what did he, 27 million? You said there are five categories, right? Twenty-three, give me those five categories. Twenty-three, the non-spendable category was 877,000. Yes, 781. restricted 3,652,074, committed 7,503,712, assigned 2,132,635, and unassigned $29,166,323. And 24, what number did you get? The only amount that he provided was the $7 million.

3:33:14 The only amount that he provided was the, well, two amounts. Unassigned, he's saying, is $7.4 million. And so in FY23, the total of those five categories was 43, 332, 525. He's saying that new total is 27.6 million. That total is two years old. So you just saw that total go down by a significant number from one year to the next and we're still two years behind. I think if you want to get into more detailed spending, We are making great progress on the audits. Let me say that we've covered a lot of ground.

3:34:06 Last year we didn't have an audit. We got one done last November. The company's working on the other two. I think, and this is a councilman Stokes thought, but you can make adjustments throughout the year. I suspect we'll have both of those audits done. They've represented by the end of the year. And there may be an opportunity, I don't think, made. There will be an opportunity, I think, during this budget year as these numbers continue to update and for us to feel better about our position to look at amending this budget during the budget year.

3:34:42 Just want to put that out there. Councilwoman Clay. I don't even think that is an amendment or anything else. Don't get me wrong. When you went from down to 7.4 from 29.1, I can see the change is drastic, OK? That's $22 million. So you ain't got to tell me that we heard. I can see the numbers, OK? So I'm not asking for details for that reason. I just wanted to get in my mind the 24 versus 23. And if it went down 22 that year, and you're saying we did worse than next year, it may be down to zero before we finish.

3:35:22 So I can see the trend. That's all I wanted to do, see the trend. Okay, folks, we're gonna wrap this up. It's easy for you to say. Okay. Councilman Foote, you had some comments earlier and I believe one of them was, we need to know the actual amount allocated. One was Public Works, wanted to know. My question Mr. President is, we've gone through a lot over the last several days and I've got scribbles all over my budget page here And I'm not sure if my numbers are up to date.

3:35:59 So for the ones that we were making some tweaks to, we've got police, fire, and public works in particular. Could somebody give me the where we stand right now as far as the personnel services for those three departments? So no, the last report we provided was on September 9. And that included the changes from the eighth. No amendments were made on the ninth. And so, and today we have the one official amendment that's been approved. Okay, so here, well, let me ask you it this way then.

3:36:44 So I've got a my sheet, and I just wanna make sure my sheet's correct, or I can scribble it and correct it. I'm showing police, the personnel services line was 27 million, 602, 130. Is that the standing level for police? Okay, for fire, the personnel services, I've got here, I've got that there was a scribbles of an extra mean and a half, but I've got 24, 257, 517. Is that, that's where we stand right now. And then for public works, personnel services, I've got eight million, 837, 480.

3:37:26 Was that adjusted? Wasn't 500, We just added the 500,000. Okay, so that would be 9 million, 337, 9 million. Okay, one other point I'd like to make, and this is just the, ain't being nitpicky about this. But this line up here, and if you go back to Page, over in the revenue side, we're talking about money coming in, you got fines and forfeitures, and then you've got down here admissions, fees, or rentals. What page is that, sir? This is page three. And it goes to page all the way over to page four.

3:38:09 Big long thing there, but there's a lot of zeros there. And I would really encourage the legal department and the finance department to try to fill out those zeros and come up with accurate numbers because you've got parking meters where it shows nothing. We either need to tear that contract up or do something make some money up for parking meters. The IMR rental nothing. And then the, but there's other things. I don't, I couldn't find Smith Wills on here. We're supposed to be getting paid from my Smith Wills as well.

3:38:45 We got all the contracts we've got. We need to review those in the next, in the months to come so that we have a better handle on revenue sources that we may be missing out on. And I wanna clarify misspoke. We did make an amendment on the night, but that was to move the responsibility of the housing division from planning to the mayor's office. There was no financial adjustment. No change in numbers? No change. That changes the total numbers on those two. Well, that's just... They are funded by the grants.

3:39:22 Yeah, okay. And so financially it did not impact the general fund. Okay, thank you. Councilman Putt? Yes, sir. You good? So far, I'm looking for everybody else's comment. OK, any other comments? Councilwoman Clay. I would like the amend this budget that we take $1.5 million from the police department and allocate it to the fire department. OK, we have an amendment. Is there a second? So it fails to like a second. Any other amendments? Mr. Stokes. I want to hear from the CEO first from that meeting in terms of what money is there identified, then I know Councilman Foote them said about 600,000.

3:40:29 Yes. Going to five. So whatever we get ready to amend to five, we'll know what numbers we really need until of the 1.5. But I think from what Councilman Clay is saying, for what I'm hearing and I hope I ain't hear it wrong. The capital police district, you called CCID, or what? If it's drawn out what they supposed to cover, then we need to make sure they do their job and cover what they're supposed to cover. With the fee of- There was 600,000 you're mentioning. Yeah.

3:41:06 That was one time money. And I think former councilman Stamps set that up. Are you making a motion that we move that? I will defer from the meeting that we had with the chief administrative officer. They was over there identifying money and they see what they identified. Peter Tablinson, CAO. So we looked at that $600,000 councilman Stokes and we could do a two step movement of funds, could take the 600,000 from Graham Golf, assign it to the Jackson Police Department for capital outlay. then take 600,000 that we've assigned to Capitol, I'm sorry, to the Police Department for Capitol Outlay for vehicles and move that to firefighter personnel.

3:41:54 We would then absorb the firefighter personnel that that 600,000 costs during this budget year to make sure we're ready for it to recur next year. Okay. So this year we wouldn't be able to get to 25? I don't think 600 gets you to 25. I think that gets you maybe 10 or a dozen based on the cost per firefighter. Cause we've already put some money over there. So I think 600 plus the 150 we put over there will be about 750,000 ought to get us another dozen firefighters.

3:42:30 If my math is roughly correct, am I roughly correct on that chief Thomas? Chief Thomas, Jackson, what's the question again, sir? If you had $750,000 in your budget, but they get you about a dozen firefighters. You said they were 65. Right. 11. My off the top of the head math isn't too off. Okay. Can you go through that one more time? I wanna make sure I understand. You're taking the 600,000 from the... From former councilman Stamps. Okay, councilman Stamps. Fund, we'll just call it his fund.

3:43:16 He said... His ready day fund, okay. Move that to Jackson Police Department for Capital Outlay. Okay. buy their vehicles or do other things along those lines, vests or whatever. Then reallocate 600,000 from JPD from their budget over to fire fire personnel. That would come out of their capital outlay line? Yes. Am I right? Yes. So the okay and then it goes into you take the okay then then because they don't have a big capital outlay in fire that's where you do it to the police. Correct. That's correct. The end point is to increase the money that goes to fire. For personnel.

3:44:00 So that would increase the personnel for fire from $24,257,517. I think there's another $150 already out there. Right, I believe we've already incorporated the $150 from when the CAO gave up a position. And I'll say Mr. Slater gave up a position, a couple of us threw in 150 to help Chief Thomas cobble together. So what we're saying is if we get another 600 over there, it may not get us to 25, but it gets us at least part way to that first 25. And I'm telling you that even though we're moving money to do it, we will, during this budget year, make sure we're ready for those reoccurring firefighters that we absorb in 27.

3:44:46 So what would that make the total personal services line there for fire then. 24 million eight hundred fifty seven thousand five hundred seventeen dollars. Councilman Foote are you ready? I'm sorry we have Councilwoman Brown-Thomas. Okay Chief Thomas this one vacancy you have for the district fire chief how long have that been vacant? He just retired in June in June. Okay, are you in desperate need of that one? We've already absorbed it, where we already got with finance about absorb it to try and make positions on the back of the truck out of that position. So would you, you, so you're gonna take that one vacancy so you can hire another fireman and they had to get you 12 with the salary. Okay, heard the CEO's comment and proposal Councilman Foote, would you be willing to make that into a motion? So I move that we move the $600,000 that's over here on the page. It's on the Gulf, it's on the Grand Gulf emergency planning 600,000, $600,000, $410, we're just going to lose $600,000.

3:46:19 We will lose $40,000. I'll prove that to the Jackson police to into their capital outlay line. We're going to take $600,000 from the capital outlay of JPD and move that to the personnel services for the fire department. second. Okay it's been properly moved and second and I think we've had enough discussion on understanding it. All in favor? Okay opposed or abstain? Okay all right and so that gets us down the road with the fire department personnel council mr. Davidson. Thank you mr. president I want to remind this council I'm really reminding the department directors but since y'all are my audience I'm gonna remind them through y'all.

3:47:12 This is a performance-based budget. If our department directors are serious about putting more money in their departments, Public Works has equipment it can sell, Police has firearms and equipment it can sell, the city has property it can sell. And so I wanna stress that point again. To the extent that this is a tight, but balanced and legal budget, there is potential to grow this budget if our department directors are motivated because we have assets that can be converted to cash. We also need amnesty day at the courts.

3:47:50 That would bring in some more money, I think, with Chief Judge Bass. We could do an amnesty day that would be an injection of funds as well. And I say that I want the public to understand that while we're passing a tight budget, We do have hope to bring in other income and there are ways that we can do that if we in council has challenged all of us. You've challenged me, the CFO, but I want to make sure every department director and everyone who watches these meetings understands their challenges as well.

3:48:20 Step up and help us solve these problems. We have assets that we can sell, convert the money, and I am sure this council will put those funds to the appropriate needs. Thank you. All right, and was there anything else, sir? Because I think you're dismissed. Yes, sir, I'm still short 20, well, 12 spots. Are we still working on that or we're stopping right here? Well, you're going, we're trying to get you halfway there this year. Also, One more question. Yes, sir. So we talked about payroll there or the personnel at Fire Department.

3:48:58 The budget for police, which I'm showing is 27 million 602-130, how many sworn officers does that help us target? So does that cover 240 or 250? Do you have a number on that? On the budget, how many sworn officers can you hire if the budget is 27 million 602-130 for personnel service? What's that? whether doing their math, put something else out here and challenge these directors. Yeah, they're gonna be glad I'm gone. You ain't going. Per's law changed July 1. We can now bring people back at 80% salaries. It used to be you had a longer separation time. You could only come back at 50%, etc. We need to look at some of our retired personnel from this city, particularly public works, police and fire, and see if we can take advantage of the purge laws because now purrs can actually kind of supplement a salary when years passed you had to elect. Do I take a lesser salary if I want to get my purrs or do I keep my purrs and can't work or whatever. And that's another thing that's going to involve

3:50:21 HR as well. But we need to take advantage of that and find qualified people who want and come back and work for the city and do it at a way that's more cost efficient. Wow, makes a big difference. Look folks, you know I know that I hope it's not a strategy but we got a lot of stuff in place and one thing I can assure you if you are a director out there you will have some brutal committee meetings. We go through this to make sure you get everything or as close to things you need. We want to see those results. If you've got equipment out there that you're sitting on babysitting and it's taking up space and it could be put back into your department, we expect that equipment to be gone. If you've got folks out there that are just lollygagging around, we expect those folks to be gone. If there's any metrics out there that you are not accomplishing, we expect you to be gone in some cases. I'm saying this, we're not

3:51:38 going through just this little thing just for our exercise and the Sotak City Council can be losing sleep. We're going through this so that we can make a better city and it's hard, hard, hard decision. So expect our committee, we're legislative branch we can't hire and fire folks but we you can't expect our committee meetings to be brutal that's coming and that's what we can do all right with that we're gonna call for our first mr. Stokes mr. president I want to thank you for your leadership the budget chair and all the council members I hate to keep hearing that Mr. Davidson might be leaving. I really hate that. I hope he can't go after all this.

3:52:31 I suggested less streamlined city government with our department heads. Let's reduce the numbers that we are currently have. I thought it was important that we get a handle on the planning department and I know some may not deal with law enforcement in any major way. You can't get mad at the federal government for seeing wrong and correcting it. And even though people want to make excuses, a lot of people's hands were dirty in this city when it came to the moon, but in that situation. And they take the position that it's over when it's not over because some of the same thieves that was not indicted, the federal people and others realize because they got records, they're still in this city.

3:53:46 And if they think that the feds not gonna come over the plan to stop them, they have another thought coming. We had a chance to clean up our own house, which we should have done. And we did not. So do not get mad or upset when federal agencies or others come into the capital city. And then you want to say it's racist. It's racism. No, it's wrong. There's no place in government for wrong. This taxpayers' money, you can't be a thief. You want to still lead government.

3:54:32 You see all you want to. I'm saying that because the consciousness that need to vote against this budget. But right now is not the time when you have so many people working so hard to try to give us a balanced budget at the last minute. We just don't have time to go into next week because there's deadlines that must be met. and people have worked extremely, extremely hard. So I'm going to support this budget with the mindset that we're going to look for some money during the year to get our numbers to the fire department.

3:55:17 So next year, we're not talking about 15 plus 25, affordable firemen, but we're having a problem with 25 now. But some of us who have poor neighborhoods, where we have homeless burning down houses. In the wintertime when it's cold or when they high school the browns, that's real, cause they burning down this house where they're catching other houses on fire, where citizens are in jeopardy. But these firefighters are in jeopardy. Their lives are on the line. That's why we got to get more firemen in this city.

3:55:56 Once we get a handle for the state to take their mental patients out of Jackson, we can go back to some of the routine things but they're here and we see them and it's getting ready to get cold and these five months got to pull out these five you can't just get Joe blow to pull out the five so Mr. Taylor I thank you so much for this budget and CFO and everybody for what I see the hard work that has taken place thank you thank you and thank you mr. and the mayor I I want to thank the mayor, this is first real budget.

3:56:35 And he trended. Well, the other one's an administration set up. We just kind of passed it. This is first real budget. This is getting into the weeds. And I'll echo that thought if we have any city employees out there that's taking home paper clips, that's taking home weed eaters, that's committing any other crime to put our city back, we're looking for you. We want you gone. Later on today, I have a meeting with the US Attorney's Office, the FBI, to echo those sentiments. That said, we're about building a better city and this is the start.

3:57:19 With that, I will come to you. I got my answer about how many sworn officers this payroll covers. Yeah, give him, please, get an answer for that. Turn on the microphone, please. Tanya Norwood, JPD, Chief of Staff. After running the numbers, we're looking at approximately 27 new officers, new hires and officers. So that would give us 235 or 240? We would fall short of the 240, but it would get us to like 238. 238, okay. I'll put that down. We get there real soon. Yes, and again 37. I was just corrected. I was trying to do the math in my mind It's 237. I would get us to 237 and we we appreciate councilwoman Brown Thomas That's the kind of meetings. She had a meeting yesterday And that's the kind of meetings and hard questions. We will be asking each director Nobody is exempt. She's also has parks. We are looking at I think that list is complete on a number of parks We'll be making decisions on that Also, she has the fire department and she has some questions concerning leadership and

3:58:39 some positions there. So again, these committee meetings, we're not your bosses, but during this committee meeting we will be asking those serious questions without a doubt. Let's take our first vote. All in favor of this budget? Raise your hand, please. Opposed? Okay, we thank you. The vote is 5-1 and therefore it has been approved by the Jackson City Council. We thank everyone that's participated and I'd like to shout out to Councilwoman Clay. Man, she has been bringing up some great ideas and participated and so we certainly appreciate it. I'd like to shout out also our chair. Help Marshall us through this very difficult process. This is Carl Will, our CAO, not CAO.

3:59:39 Taewison is forever our CAO. Okay, you're not going anywhere. We will allow you a break. No, no break. A break to handle the other business, but now go Mr. Brandon, appreciate it, but all my council colleagues, thank you for your hard work day and night on this process. And everyone else concerns directors. It's been challenging. We tried the best we could, and we're going to work it out. We're going to continue to work it out. Thank you. If there's no further comments, this meeting is adjourned.