Regular Meeting
December 11, 2014
City Council Chamber
City Council Regular Meeting News Summary December 11, 2014
Thursday, December
11, 2014 - New Orleans, LA - At today's regular City
Council meeting, the Council passed Motions approving a pay raise for police
officers and other city employees, and approving an appointment to the Civil
Service Commission. The Council adopted an Ordinance approving the construction
of a community center in Marrero Commons. The Council also passed a Motion
authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of New Orleans and
the Police Association of Louisiana regarding the hosting of the 91st Annual
Louisiana Police Jury Association Convention.
In other business, the Council received a presentation from the Mayor's
Military Advisory Committee and showed their support for Military Appreciation
Day.
Amended Classified Pay Plan Relative to Police and City Employee Pay
The Council passed Motion
M-14-561 approving the amendment to the Classified Pay Plan, adopted by the
Civil Service Commission at its meeting of December 5, 2014, to provide for a
5% increase in current hiring rates for all New Orleans Police Department
officer classifications and a 5% increase in pay for all current NOPD recruits,
officers, sergeants, lieutenants, captains and majors, effective January 1,
2015.
The Council also passed Motion
M-14-565 approving the amendments to the Classified Pay Plan, adopted by
the Civil Service Commission at its meeting of August 25, 2014, to raise the
minimum wage rate for City employees to $10.10. This minimum wage rate increase
will impact 40 hour per week city employees in classifications whose hourly
rate is currently below $10.10.
The Council passed Motion
M-14-566 approving adjustments to the Civil Service Rules as adopted by the
Civil Service Commission to provide for a 1.25% increase in pay for city
employees who merit a performance evaluation of competent or above. This
increase is expected to take effect after annual civil service evaluations in
the spring of 2015.
Additionally, the Council passed Motion M-14-562 ratifying,
confirming and approving the appointment of Tania Tetlow, fulfilling the
unexpired term of Father Kevin Wildes, as a member of the Civil Service
Commission, representing Tulane University, for a term that will expire June
30, 2017.
Supported Local Hosting of State Police Jury Association's Annual Convention
The Council passed Motion
M-14-556, authored by Councilmembers Williams and Head, requesting and
authorizing the Council President to execute the Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) between the City of New Orleans and the Police Jury Association of
Louisiana (PJAL) relative to the hosting of the 91st Annual PJAL Convention in
the City of New Orleans from January 29, 2015 through January 31, 2015.
Created in 1924 with the
task of improving parish government in the State of Louisiana, the Police
Jury Association of Louisiana's
membership is open to all 64 parishes in Louisiana, including Police Juries,
Parish Councils and Parish Commissions. The PJAL Annual Convention brings
together federal, state and local government officials and interest groups for
updates, forums and discussion on a variety of national, regional and local
issues, including parish government daily operations. Council Vice President
Williams serves on the PJAL Executive Board as the Region One representative
for Orleans Parish.
Council Vice President Williams said, "We look forward to this
event bringing government officials together to collaborate, share knowledge and
ultimately work toward improved efficiency and operational capacity in
Louisiana parish government."
Provided for Modifications to Community Center on Earhart Boulevard
The Council passed Ordinance Calendar No. 30,409 to amend Ordinance
No. 23,189 M.C.S., which established a Residential Planned Community District
overlay in an RM-3 Multiple-Family Residential District, in the First Municipal
District, bounded by Earhart and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevards, Clio Place,
South Prieur, Erato, South Miro, South Broad and South Dorgenois Streets, to allow
modifications to the location and design of the community center component at
3400 Earhart Boulevard. Councilmembers Head, Guidry, Cantrell, Brossett and
Gray voted in support of the Ordinance and Councilmembers Williams and Ramsey
voted against the Ordinance.
The community center will
provide an internet café, health club and other amenities for the Marrero
Commons housing development and the surrounding neighborhood. The site, which
formerly was utilized by the Silver City Dump, has undergone soil sample
testing and other environmental testing by the Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality which determined that the site is safe to build on.
District "B" Councilmember Cantrell said, "We have done
our due diligence on this zoning issue. We must rely on the available
information provided to us by environmental experts. The ordinance was deferred
until we were able to further research testing information and share it with
interested parties. Extensive environmental testing and research at the site of
this community center determined that building on the site is safe. This
community center has the support of the community and will directly contribute
to the full development of Marrero Commons."
Celebrated Military Appreciation Day
Chairman of the Mayor's Military Advisory
Committee (MMAC) Major General David Mize, USMC Ret., appeared before the
Council to lead the 21st annual Military Day presentation.
MMAC representatives presented the MMAC 2014 Annual Report, which included
information on the Committee's activities and events over the past year. Senior
officers from local and regional military organizations, including the U.S.
Army Reserve, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and the
Louisiana Air and Army National Guard, provided the Council with updates on the
programs, projects, and ongoing activities and community involvement of their
respective organizations.The Military Day activities also included performances
by the United States Marine Corps Band.
Chartered in
1972, the MMAC is charged with providing support to local military and their
families, educating the public about the economic and social benefits
associated with local military organizations, and retaining and growing the
military bases in the region. The MMAC is an all volunteer organization with
approximately 100 members.
District "E" Councilmember Gray said, "Our military
organizations continue to make great contributions to our region and our
country. Our service men and women demonstrate selfless dedication to our
country and they should be honored and appreciated. I encourage all those
people who might be considering a future in military service to take a closer
look at the many wonderful opportunities that exist in our various branches of
military."