Andy Bajnauth

The City Council meeting addressed several ordinances and resolutions. Key actions included adopting ordinances to declare emergencies and authorize repairs on Golden Meadows Boulevard and Rosemont Street using the Streets and Drainage Fund. The Council also authorized an amendment to the Master Agreement with SRI, Inc. regarding online tax sales to comply with recent state law changes, and approved engaging Heard, McElroy, & Vestal, LLC to audit the 2025 financial statements. Furthermore, an agreement with Southwest Concessions for city park concessions was authorized, and an ordinance amending the 2026 City Council Budgets related to software maintenance and vehicle appropriations was passed. Conditional Use Approvals were granted for selling low content alcohol at Taqueria Mexico #2 and off-premise consumption at Mini Super La Fiesta, and for selling high and low content alcohol at Goodtimes Billiards. A significant discussion centered on an ordinance to terminate the Joint Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Bossier Arts Council due to non-compliance issues reported by the Legislative Auditor, which was ultimately passed despite some opposition. The Council also introduced ordinances regarding the Boardwalk Open Container District, additions to the Police and Fire Departments, prohibiting payments to non-compliant agencies, and formalizing permit conditions. Resolutions were adopted to authorize hiring or promotion for Accounts Clerk II positions in the Customer Service Department due to a transfer and a separation, respectively. The meeting concluded with the approval of a parade permit fee waiver and amendments to the 2025 water and sewer operating fund budgets.

The agenda for the Regular Council Meeting included several key items. Under emergent business, the Council was set to consider adopting an ordinance to declare an emergency for streets and drainage repairs on Golden Meadows Boulevard at Bayou Drive. Public hearings and actions on unfinished business involved adopting ordinances authorizing execution of an amendment to the Master Agreement with SRI, Inc., approving engagement with Heard, McElroy, & Vestal, LLC for financial audits of the City and Brookshire Grocery Arena, authorizing a Concessions Agreement with Southwest Concession, amending 2026 City Council Budgets, authorizing a Master Services Agreement with Law Enforcement Administrative & Management Services ("LEAMS"), and declaring a portion of SBC Subdivision surplus. New business items introduced ordinances for conditional use approvals regarding alcohol sales at Taqueria Mexica #2 and Mini Super La Fiesta, and for a bar/pool hall, Goodtimes Billiards. Other new business included introducing ordinances to terminate an agreement with the Bossier Arts Council, contract with Waggoner Engineering, Inc., authorize the sale of property to Kenneth Carrington, amend the Code of Ordinances regarding drinking in public places and incorporating general permit conditions, authorize hiring new Police and Fire Department positions with budget amendments, prohibit payments to non-compliant agencies, and approve a parade permit fee waiver for the Run with the Raiders event. Resolutions adopted included adopting the Five-Year Capital Projects Plan (2026-2030), authorizing hiring new part-time employees in Building Maintenance, hiring a Booking Manager for the Civic Center, and filling a vacant Animal Control Officer position. Additionally, Terry Harris was confirmed as the Executive Director of the Bossier City Civic Center. A public hearing was held concerning the Conditional Use Approval for The Bloom House, which ultimately failed to override the MPC's unfavorable ruling.

The Civil Service Board meeting covered several key actions. The agenda for the meeting was approved. New business for the Police Department included the approval of several personnel action forms (including resignations, probational appointments, and termination of sick leave) and the approval of scores for promotional exams for Police Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. A motion was approved to post a public hearing notice regarding changes to the Jail Superintendent class plan. For the Fire Department, personnel action forms covering promotions, confirmations, resignations, and substitute appointments were approved, along with the approval of scores for numerous promotional exams (including Fire Driver, Fire Captain, and various Chief/Director roles). Additionally, the board approved the applications and roll call for the competitive exam of EMS Supervisor.

The meeting commenced with ceremonial matters, including proclamations for a city employee in recognition of Black History Month and an individual for a life of service. The agenda was amended to combine public hearings. Bids were opened for Project #P26-05 City Fuel Station Conversions and taken under advisement. Two ordinances were adopted declaring emergencies related to public safety and property: one concerning a 10-inch watermain blowout requiring $13,870.49 from the Water Capital Contingency Fund, and another for the emergency repair of a collapsed 8-inch gravity sewer main on Lampkin Street, appropriating $72,000.00 from the Sewer Capital and Contingency Fund. New business involved introducing ordinances for terminating the Joint Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Bossier Arts Council (with management temporarily handled by the City), authorizing an amendment to a Master Agreement with SRI, Inc., engaging an auditor for financial statements, executing a Concessions Agreement with Southwest Concession, amending City Council Budgets, authorizing an agreement with Law Enforcement Administrative & Management Services (LEAMS) for police scheduling, and declaring a portion of an SBC Subdivision surplus. Resolutions were adopted to approve the Five-Year Capital Projects Plan for 2026-2030, authorize hiring two new part-time employees for the Building Maintenance Department, approve the hiring of a Booking Manager for the Civic Center, and authorize filling a vacant Animal Control Officer position. Additionally, a resolution was adopted confirming Terry Harris as the Bossier City Civic Center Executive Director. A public hearing addressed a request for a Conditional Use approval for The Bloom House, a supervised family visitation center, which resulted in a motion to approve failing to override the MPC's unfavorable ruling.

The Regular Council Meeting agenda included ceremonial matters such as recognition for Black History Month and specific individuals. Key actions involved witnessing the opening of sealed bids for Project #P26-05 City Fuel Station Conversions. New business focused on introducing several ordinances, including one terminating the Joint Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Bossier Arts Council due to non-compliance with financial reporting, authorizing amendments to Master Agreements (SRI, Inc.), approving engagement for financial audits of the City and Brookshire Grocery Arena with Heard, McElroy, & Vestal, LLC, authorizing execution of a Concessions Agreement with Southwest Concession, amending the 2026 City Council Budgets, authorizing a Master Services Agreement with Law Enforcement Administrative & Management Services ("LEAMS"), declaring a portion of SBC Subdivision surplus, amending the ordinance regarding drinking in public places, adopting the Five Year Capital Projects Plan, and authorizing the hiring or promotion of various personnel across departments (Building Maintenance, Civic Center, Animal Control). Emergent business involved adopting ordinances to declare extreme emergencies for necessary repairs to a 10-inch watermain blowout and an 8-inch gravity sewer main failure, authorizing emergency funding for both. A Public Hearing was held concerning a Conditional Use request for The Bloom House visitation center, followed by consideration of an ordinance related to that request. The Finance Director presented the Monthly Financial Report for January 2026.