[00:00:01]
>> GOOD MORNING. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE THIS MORNING FOR THE JUNE,
[1. Call to Order – Jerald Jones, Chairman]
2024, MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.I'VE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.
MS. SIMMONS, WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL FOR US?
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. STEWART MOSS.
>> SCOTT [INAUDIBLE]. REPRESENTATIVE DARYL DESHOTEL, PROXY REPRESENTATIVE [INAUDIBLE] BLANC.
>> REPRESENTATIVE JULIE EMERSON.
>> THALES MILLER. HOWARD RUCKERT.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE I MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO INTRODUCE ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I WILL MS. SOME OF YOU, AND FOR THAT, I APOLOGIZE, BUT THE REST OF THE NEW FOLKS WENT THROUGH THEIR FIRST ROUND LAST MEETING.
FOR THOSE OF YOU, THIS IS YOUR FIRST MEETING, WE'LL BE GENTLE, I PROMISE.
IT'S A GREAT SERVICE TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY.
WITH THAT, MINUTES TO THE LAST MEETING,
[3. Approval of Minutes from April 24, 2024 meeting]
WERE DISTRIBUTED AND I HOPE YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THEM.IF SO, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES, I HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. MOSS, SECOND FROM MR. NASSAR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOUSEKEEPING, SO YOU-ALL KNOW THE WAY THAT WE TRY TO RUN THE MEETING.
ANYTIME WE HAVE A MOTION, OBVIOUSLY, I'LL BE ASKING FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I'LL ALWAYS ASK FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD BECAUSE I WANT TO BE SURE THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, IF I'M MOVING TOO FAST, IF I'M MOVING TOO SLOWLY, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE ME, SO FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN AND KEEP ME BETWEEN THE DITCHES, BUT THEN I WILL ALSO ASK FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE DO NOT ASK FOR QUESTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE ARE UNDER OPEN MEETINGS LAW, WHICH MEANS THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE AND TO COMMENT, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT UNDER THE LAW TO QUESTION, AND SO THE QUESTIONING COMES FROM THE BOARD, THE COMMENTS COME FROM THE BOARD AND FROM THE PUBLIC.
EVERY MOTION WE HAVE WILL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS..
IF MR. RUCKERT WILL TURN OFF HIS PHONE.
IT'S THE ONLY TIME I CAN CALL DOWN THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF. YOU OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL.
WHEN WE GET TO THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS, THE QUALITY JOBS PROGRAM, RESTORATION TAX ENTERPRISE ZONE, INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION, YOU'LL NOTICE WE'LL WORK THROUGH A NUMBER OF THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALL LISTED.
AS YOU LOOKED AT YOUR AGENDA, YOU SAW THEM LISTED.
AS A GENERAL RULE, WE TAKE THEM UP IN GLOBO.
THAT IS NOT TO SAY WE HAVE TO.
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT, ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC ACTION WE'RE TAKING ON ANY OF THOSE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GIVE ME A HI SIGN AND WE'LL STOP, AND WE'LL TAKE THAT INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION UP AND WE'LL DISCUSS IT UNTIL YOU'VE HAD YOUR QUESTIONS SATISFIED.
DOES MAKE SENSE? AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS, AS WE GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF MEETINGS TOGETHER, WE'LL START TO SEE HOW IT WORKS, BUT FOR NEW PEOPLE, I KNOW IT'S LIKE SIPPING WATER OUT OF A FIRE HYDRANT, IT CAN BE A LOT TO TAKE IN THE FIRST MEETING.
I'M TRYING TO SET THAT TABLE FOR YOU A LITTLE BIT AS YOU UNDERSTAND AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
[4. Quality Jobs Program – Michaela Adegbe]
[00:05:02]
MS. DEBBIE, IF YOU'LL WALK US THROUGH THE QUALITY JOBS PROGRAM, PLEASE, MA'AM>> THERE ARE FOUR NEW APPLICATIONS; 2021-0575, CF INDUSTRIES EMPLOYEE SERVICES LLC, ASCENSION PARISH.
2022-0236, HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC, LAFAYETTE PARISH.
2022-0048, RNGD PREFAB LLC, JEFFERSON PARISH.
2022-0083, SHELL CHEMICAL LP, ASCENSION PARISH.
HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM MR. MOSS, HAVE A SECOND FROM MR. AUSTIN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THERE IS ONE CHANGE OF COMPANY NAME ONLY 2020-0524, CURRENT COMPANY ALEXANDER RYAN BOREN AND SAFETY LLC OF LOUISIANA, NEW COMPANY NAME, LULIES ALEXANDER LLC, LOUISIANA, TERREBONNE PARISH.
>> ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
THERE BEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> ONE CHANGE OF PROJECT PHYSICAL LOCATION, 2020-0149, SCHOOL MINT INC.
PREVIOUS ADDRESS,214 JEFFERSON STREET, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, 70501, LAFAYETTE PARISH.
NEW ADDRESS, 319 MANURO STREET, LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA 70501, LAFAYETTE PARISH.
>> ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM MR. NASSAR TO APPROVE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> FOUR FULL TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP TO NEW COMPANY; 2019-0206.
CURRENT COMPANY, CALCASIEU PASS OPERATIONS LLC, PREVIOUSLY VENTURE GLOBAL LNG INC. NEW COMPANY, CALCASIEU PASS OPERATIONS LLC, CAMERON PARISH.
2016-1807, STABILIS LNG PORT ALLEN LLC.
NEW COMPANY, STABILIS GDS INC, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
2013-0320, VANTAGE HEALTH PLAN INC. NEW COMPANY IS LOUISIANA HEALTH SERVICES AND INDEMNITY COMPANY, OUACHITA PARISH.
2020-0253, VENTURE GLOBAL LNG INC. NEW COMPANY PLAQUEMINES LNG OPERATIONS LLC, PLAQUEMINES PARISH.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION FROM SENATOR MAZEL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.
>> THIS CONCLUDES QUALITY JOBS.
>> NOW WE HAVE THE RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM,
[5. Restoration Tax Abatement Program – Travis Rosenberg]
MR. ROSENBERG. HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?>> GREAT. THANK YOU. PLEASE WALK US THROUGH.
>> THERE ARE TWO NEW APPLICATIONS; 2021-043448527 OAK STREET LLC IN ORLEANS PARISH.
2023-0033, SWEET HAVEN LLC, TANGIPAHOA PARISH.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? FROM MR. NASSAR. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND FROM SECRETARY BOURGEOIS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THERE ARE FOUR RENEWAL APPLICATIONS; 2016-1825, ABITA SPRINGS HOTEL LLC, ST. TAMMANY PARISH.
2017-0546, BROWN EAGLE WAREHOUSE LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
[00:10:01]
2014-1425, FRENCH QUARTER APARTMENTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ORLEANS PARISH, AND 2016-1778, MJMT PROPERTIES LLC, CALCASIEU PARISH.>>. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. RAMIDIS.
SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND FROM MR. DOS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE BEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE RTA AGENDA.
[6. Enterprise Zone Program – Joyce Metoyer]
>> GOOD MORNING, MS. MATOALIS.
WALK THROUGH THE ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM FOR US, PLEASE.
>> WE HAVE 15 NEW APPLICATIONS; 2021-0280, ASSOCIATED TERMINALS LLC, ST. BERNARD PARISH.
2021-0035, AVANT ORGANICS LLC, RAPIDES PARISH.
2018-0269, BAKER HUGHES OFF FIELD OPERATIONS, LAFAYETTE PARISH.
2016-0627, CAJUN INDUSTRIES LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE.
2020-0444, LANE SENIOR CARE LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
2021-0136, NEIGHBORS LLC, OUACHITA PARISH.
2018-0138, QSL MANAGEMENT LLC, JEFFERSON PARISH.
2020-0334, ROWC LLC, CALCASIEU PARISH.
2021-0398, RAIL LOGIX RAIL PORT LLC.
2021-0278, ROOFING SOLUTIONS LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
2021-0072, SHINTECH LOUISIANA LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
2021-0172, SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION LLC, IBERVILLE PARISH.
2021-0340, TEGAN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LOUISIANA LLC, WEBSTER PARISH.
2021-0041, THE NEW MEDICAL CENTER, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND 2021-0004, WEST TOWN LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
>> GREAT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I HAVE A MOTION, MR. RAMIDIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? EXCUSE ME. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.
>> WE HAVE SEVEN TERMINATIONS; 2021-0031, BEST STOP CAJUN FOOD LLC, LAFAYETTE PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 02/13/20 TO 02/12/2025.
THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 8/13/2022.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
2019-0228, COAST PROFESSIONAL INC, OUACHITA PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 07/02/19 TO 07/01/2024.
THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 01/02/2022.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
2018-0272, HIGHWAY TRANSPORT CHEMICAL LLC, ASCENSION PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 09/15/18 TO 09/14/2023.
THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 12/31/2022.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
2016-0875, LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM INCORPORATED, ACADIA PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 11/13/16 TO 11/12/2021.
THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 05/13/2019.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
2016-1064, METAIRIE PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC, JEFFERSON PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS MARCH 1, '19 TO FEBRUARY 28, 2024.
THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 12/31/2022.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
2018-0173, OUR LADY OF LORDS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, LAFAYETTE PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS JULY 1, 2018 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023.
THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS JANUARY 1, 2021.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
2020-0076, WOODBRIAR SENIOR LIVING LLC, REMERON PARISH.
[00:15:04]
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS FEBRUARY 13, 2020 THROUGH FEBRUARY 12, 2025.THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 09/30/2022.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
>> GREAT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? A MOTION FROM MR. [INAUDIBLE], SECOND FROM MS. [INAUDIBLE].
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THANK YOU. AS WE TRANSITION FROM ENTERPRISE ZONE TO THE INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM, BY NOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO THIS IS YOUR FIRST OR SECOND BOARD MEETING, YOU'RE GOING, "OKAY, ALL WE'RE DOING IS RUNNING THROUGH THESE AND THEY'RE READING THEM, AND WE'RE APPROVING THEM, WHAT'S GOING ON?" SOME PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC ARE ASKING THE SAME QUESTION.
IF THE APPLICANTS ARE DOING THEIR JOB, IF STAFF IS DOING ITS JOB, THEN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS MORNING IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT SHOULD OPERATE.
EVERYBODY'S DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
LEGALLY, NOTHING IS SO UNTIL THIS BOARD MAKES IT SO.
THE APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR A PROGRAM AND STAFF VERIFYING THAT THEY'VE MET ALL THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS IS NOT A ISSUANCE OF A INCENTIVE MAKE, IT'S NOT UNTIL THIS BOARD SAYS SO.
THEORETICALLY, THIS BOARD COULD RISE UP AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE ANYTHING.
THAT MIGHT BE A BAD IDEA, BUT IT'S THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THIS IS THE SYSTEM WORKING THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.
WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES, WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS, WHEN THERE ARE DISCONNECTS BETWEEN THE APPLICANT AND LED, THAT'S WHERE THIS BOARD NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO STEP IN.
WHEN THERE ARE POLICY DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE AS WE WILL SEE AS WE COME UP INTO THE ITEP PROGRAM, THIS IS WHERE THIS BOARD HAS TO STEP IN AND EXERCISE ITS JUDGMENT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT YOUR SERVICE ON THIS BOARD IS NOT IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A RUBBER STAMP THING BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, WHEN THINGS GET ITCHY ON THIS BOARD, IT'S NOT FUN.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS AS SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR A LONGER TIME WILL TELL YOU THOSE MEETINGS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE.
I GUARANTEE YOU IT WON'T LAST FOREVER.
NOW, LET'S MOVE TO THE ITEP PROGRAM.
[7. Industrial Tax Exemption – Kristin Johnson/Hud Usie]
>> WE HAVE ONE NEW APPLICATION FOLLOWING THE PRE-EXECUTIVE ORDER ITEP RULES, 20141610-D, MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY, LP AND ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH.
>> THIS IS PRE THE 2016 EXECUTIVE ORDER.
>> THIS IS PRE 2016 EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR CLARIFICATION.
>> OKAY. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM MARATHON THAT CAN COME? AGAIN, FOR NEWER BOARD MEMBERS, THE PRE-EXECUTIVE ORDER, PRE-EO MEANS THIS IS THE APPLICANTS THAT WERE IN THE SYSTEM PRIOR TO PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS 2016 EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT CHANGED THE WAY WE DO ITEP.
IT HAS BEEN OUR PRACTICE, AND WE HAVE FEWER AND FEWER OF THESE APPLICATIONS STILL IN THE QUEUE.
BUT IT HAS BECOME OUR PRACTICE ON THE BOARD WHEN WE STILL HAVE APPLICATIONS THAT DATE ALL THE WAY BACK TO PRE-2016, WHICH IS OVER EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE WANT TO KNOW GOING ON? HOW FAR ALONG ARE WE? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT GOING FORWARD? IT GIVES US AND LED AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRESS THAT THE PROJECT IS MAKING.
WITH ALL OF THAT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY, PLEASE.
>> LINDSAY SEMINO, ITEP COORDINATOR AT THE GARYVILLE REFINERY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU, MS. SEMINO.
TELL US HOW FAR ALONG IN THIS APPLICATION OR IN THIS ADVANCE NOTICE, ARE WE, AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT MOVING FORWARD?
>> THIS IS OUR FOURTH APPLICATION UNDER THIS CONTRACT, AND WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF TWO MORE, ONE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR FOR ONE OF OUR TURNAROUNDS, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER TURNAROUND IN THE FALL OF '27 FOR ANOTHER UNIT THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN OUT.
>> OKAY. THAT'S WHAT YOU EXPECT TO BE THE END OF EVERYTHING UNDER THIS CONTRACT?
>> THE OTHER TURNAROUNDS THAT YOU'RE ANTICIPATING, ARE THEY GOING TO BE A SIMILAR SCOPE, AS FAR AS.
>> I KNOW YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON IT, BUT AS FAR AS THE TYPE OF TURNAROUND THAT WILL GO ON AT THE FACILITY,
[00:20:02]
YOU ANTICIPATE IT BE IN SIMILAR AMOUNTS AS WHAT WE SEE IN HERE.>> YES, IT'S ALL TO UPGRADE OUR SAFETY INSTRUMENTS AND THE UNITS.
AS THEY COME DOWN AND TURNAROUND, THAT'S WHEN WE IMPLEMENT THE SCOPE.
>> OKAY. GREAT. THAT'S HELPFUL.
WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MS. SEMINO FROM BOARD MEMBERS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'M SORRY. THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME THE BIG PRINT, I CAN'T READ.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER], IT'S GOOD, A MOTION FROM MR. CAL.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM SECRETARY BOURGEOIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL OPPOSED? THERE IS NONE.
THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ONE APPLICATION FOLLOWING THE POST EXECUTIVE ORDER 2017 RULES.
THIS APPLICATION ALREADY OBTAINED LOCAL APPROVAL PRIOR TO PRESENTATION.
20170067-M, WESTROCK, CP, LLC, IN JACKSON PARISH.
>> MR. FAVALAR WAS HAVING TO STRAIGHTEN ME OUT.
>> I'M SORRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM MR. NASSER? SECOND FROM MAYOR [INAUDIBLE].
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE BEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE NINE APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE POST EXECUTIVE ORDER 2018 RULES.
ONE IS REQUESTING DEFERRAL, 20220543 K&B MACHINE WORKS, LLC., IN TERREBONNE PARISH.
>> WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DEFER THE K&B MACHINE WORKS PROJECT.
>> SECOND FROM SECRETARY BOURGEOIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE.
THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.
THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT MATTER WILL BE DEFERRED TO THE NEXT MEETING.
>> 20230015 HOOD CONTAINER OF LOUISIANA, LLC., WEST FELICIANA PARISH, 20210624-A, LOUISIANA GREEN FUELS, LLC., CALDWELL PARISH, 20220117-A, LOUISIANA SUGAR CANE COOPERATIVE INC., ST. MARTIN PARISH, 20230075-A, MKS PLASTICS, LLC., TANGIPAHOA PARISH, 20220431, PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BEAUREGARD PARISH, 20190515, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, RAPIDES PARISH, 20210324, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, RAPIDES PARISH, AND 20220452-A, WEYERHAEUSER NR COMPANY, LINCOLN PARISH.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THESE? MOTION FOR MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] TO APPROVE? SECOND MR. AUSTIN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE SIX APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE NEW POST EXECUTIVE ORDER 2024 EMERGENCY RULES.
20240076, CAJUN CROSSROADS ENERGY CENTER, LLC., CALCASIEU PARISH, 20240187 CAJUN CROSSROADS ENERGY CENTER, LLC., JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH, 20240075, CRESCENT COAST ENERGY CENTER, LLC., CALCASIEU PARISH, 20240210, ELEMENTUS MINERALS, LLC., ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, 20240088, INDUSTRIAL FABRICS INC., POINTE COUPEE PARISH, AND 20240090, PREMIER CONCRETE PRODUCTS INC., LIVINGSTON PARISH.
>> BEFORE I EVEN ASKED FOR A MOTION.
SIGNIFICANTLY, AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS THE FIRST SET OF APPLICATIONS WE'VE HAD THAT HAVE COME UNDER THE NEW EMERGENCY RULES THAT GOVERNOR LANDRY ASKED THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER.
THE EMERGENCY RULES WERE ESTABLISHED BY LED, AND THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE [NOISE] FOR THIS BOARD'S CONSIDERATION IS THAT IT HAS REMOVED THE JOBS AND THE PAYROLL INFORMATION,
[00:25:07]
IF YOU COMPARE THIS INFORMATION SHEET TO THOSE FOR EVERYTHING FROM 2016 RULES, 2017 RULES, AND 2018 RULES, THERE IS NO JOBS AND PAYROLL, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.THERE ARE OTHERS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT FOR PURPOSES OF THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
I WANT TO BE SURE NOW WHAT YOU WILL START SEEING IN OUR AGENDAS IS WE WILL MOVE MORE AND MORE AS WE GO FORWARD IN TIME, WE'LL SEE FEWER AND FEWER UNDER THE 2017 RULES, 2018 RULES, AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET TO THE POINT.
IF I HAVE MY WISH AND THE RULES COMMITTEE HAS ITS WISH, ULTIMATELY, THIS BOARD WILL ADOPT A SET OF RULES THAT WILL PUT EVERYBODY ON A RELATIVELY LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
WE'LL TRY TO SIMPLIFY THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSER, SECOND FROM SENATOR MIZELL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE ARE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION, THERE BEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ONE LATE POST EXECUTIVE ORDER 2018 RULES RENEWAL APPLICATION, I'M SORRY.
20190086, FISHER MANUFACTURING SERVICES, LLC., TANGIPAHOA PARISH.
INITIAL CONTRACT EXPIRATION, DECEMBER 31ST, 2023, LATE RENEWAL REQUEST DATE APRIL 11TH, 2024.
>> DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM FISHER MANUFACTURING SERVICES? AS SHE'S COMING FORWARD, AGAIN, JUST FOR YOUR EDIFICATION, WHEN WE HAVE LATE RENEWALS, THERE ARE REASONS WHY LATE RENEWALS COMPLICATE OUR SYSTEM.
IT HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE OF THE BOARD, AS WELL AS WE INCORPORATED IT INTO RULES THAT WITHIN ITEP, IF THERE ARE LATE RENEWALS, THERE ARE BUILT-IN PENALTIES FOR THOSE RENEWALS.
BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE LIKE TO BRING THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES FORWARD BECAUSE WE FIND THAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, HOW IT HAPPENED, IS THERE A GLITCH IN OUR SYSTEM? IS THERE A GLITCH IN THEIR SYSTEM? ALSO, WE FIND THAT IT'S GOOD FOR THE INDUSTRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE, IF NOT ELIMINATE, LATE RENEWALS ALTOGETHER.
WE USE THIS AS AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AS MUCH AS ANYTHING ELSE.
WITH THAT, PULL THE MIC REAL CLOSE TO YOU SO THAT THE GAIN IS NOT VERY HIGH.
GO AHEAD AND PULL IT UP CLOSE. THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU. CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION?
>> ANNA FISHER, I AM A MANAGER AT THE COMPANY.
>> OKAY. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE FOR THE LATE RENEWAL?
>> JUST AN OVERSIGHT ON MY PART.
WE'RE A SMALL BUSINESS, 10 OR LESS EMPLOYEES.
THEY ARE JUST A TOTAL OVERSIGHT.
>> OKAY. OBVIOUSLY, THESE PROGRAMS, AGAIN, THE RULES REQUIRE VERY STRINGENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AS YOU'RE NOW LEARNING.
HAVE WE IMPLEMENTED ANY PROGRAMS WITHIN THE COMPANY TO HELP ELIMINATE THIS KIND OF OVERSIGHT, I GUESS IS MY QUESTION?
>> YES. WE'RE SMALL, AND I'M NEW TO ALL OF THIS, SO IT'S DEFINITELY A LEARNING CURVE.
BUT YES, I HAVE REMINDERS EVERYWHERE.
>> OKAY. [LAUGHTER] THIS IS NOT INTEND TO EMBARRASS.
>> PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT THIS WAY, BUT WHAT WE FIND, ESPECIALLY IN SMALLER COMPANIES, BUT BELIEVE IT OR THE BIG COMPANIES DO IT TOO, IT HAPPENS MANY TIMES.
I'VE HEARD IS THAT WE HAD A CHANGE IN PERSONNEL AND SOMEHOW THE RESPONSIBILITY DIDN'T GET TRANSFERRED, AND SO IT'S THESE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE WANT TO HELP INDUSTRY UNDERSTAND.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY, AND FRANKLY, IT'S NOT JUST LED, IT TRANSLATES TO THE TAX ASSESSORS, IT TRANSLATES TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, SO ALL THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
BUT UNDER OUR RULES BECAUSE THERE WAS WHAT? ABOUT FOUR MONTHS LATE, THERE IS A MANDATORY ONE-YEAR PENALTY.
I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH A ONE-YEAR PENALTY.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM SECRETARY BOURGEOIS, SECOND FROM MR. [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
[00:30:02]
HEARING NONE. YES, MR. [INAUDIBLE].>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. EXCELLENT QUESTION.
IT'S A ONE YEAR. THEY'RE UP FOR A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL.
THEY'VE HAD THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION, THEY'VE FILED FOR RENEWAL FOR THE SECOND FIVE YEARS.
WE'RE GRANTING THE RENEWAL, BUT IT'S A ONE-YEAR PENALTY, SO THEY WILL ONLY HAVE A FOUR-YEAR INSTEAD OF FIVE YEARS.
>> IT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? GREAT QUESTION. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, MS. FISHER.
>> ONE-YEAR PENALTY, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.
AS WE HAVE THINGS COMING UP, OTHER COMPANIES IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHO ARE LATE IN COMPLYING, ARE WE DOING ANYTHING TO GIVE THEM A HEADS UP? HEY, YOU'RE LATE, YOU'RE COMING BEFORE US.
>> GET IT IN HERE OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE PENALIZED?
>> WELL, IF IT'S LATE RENEWAL, THE HORSE IS ALREADY OUT OF THE GATE, THE TIME PERIOD HAS PASSED AND THE APPLICATION'S COME IN.
WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH INDUSTRY AS MUCH AS WE CAN, SO I'M SPEAKING FOR THE AGENCY, SO YOU ALL STOP ME WHEN I STOP LYING HERE.
BUT WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE INDUSTRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY HAVE.
HOWEVER, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BURDEN IS ON INDUSTRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM, NOT FOR THE STATE TO MAKE SURE.
THE IRS WANTS YOU TO TAKE THEIR DEDUCTIONS, BUT NOT REALLY.
THE IRS DOESN'T TEACH YOU ABOUT THE DEDUCTIONS, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GO FIGURE THEM OUT.
NOT DISSIMILARLY, LED, WE PROVIDE THESE VERY VALUABLE INCENTIVES, BUT IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. IS THAT FAIR?
>> GREAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GOOD QUESTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. FISHER.
>> I TOLD MY SON SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THAT JUST LAST NIGHT.
>> IT IS. GREAT. LET'S MOVE ON.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE SEVEN CONTRACT CANCELLATIONS, BUFFALO, LLC., 20190130 IN CALCASIEU PARISH.
LED REQUESTS CANCELLATION DUE TO ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING MULTIPLE MISSED FILINGS REMAINING UNANSWERED.
COMPANY HAS NOT FILED ANY ANNUAL PROJECT STATUS REPORTS FOR THEIR FRONT-END CONTRACT, THE COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATE OF 12/31/2021, AND TWO-YEAR GRACE PERIOD ALLOWED IN THE EXHIBIT A AGREEMENT HAS NOW PASSED, AND THE ASSESSOR HAS CONFIRMED THERE IS NO ACTIVITY AT THE PROJECT SITE.
>> I'M SORRY. LET ME STOP YOU THERE REAL QUICK.
I PRESUME WE'VE NOTIFIED THEM THAT THIS ACTION IS UP FOR THE BOARD?
>> YES. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY ACTUALLY REACHED OUT AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT PROJECT NEVER TOOK PLACE.
>> GOT IT. GREAT. THANK YOU. MOVE AHEAD.
>> EQUILON ENTERPRISES, LLC, DBA SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US IN ST. JAMES PARISH, CONTRACTS 2015/0201 AND 2015/0201-A.
THE COMPANY REQUESTS CANCELLATION.
PLAINS GAS SOLUTIONS, LLC, IN ST. MARY PARISH, CONTRACTS 2014/1006, 2014/1286, AND 2016/0846.
LED REQUESTS CANCELLATION UPON NOTIFICATION BY THE COMPANY OF THE PLANT CLOSURE, AS OF OCTOBER 31ST, 2023.
IN VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA REGENERATION SERVICES, LLC, IN ASCENSION PARISH, CONTRACT 2020/0078.
COMPANY REQUESTS CANCELLATION.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. MOSS TO APPROVE THESE CANCELLATIONS? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM MR. NASSAR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ONE CONTRACT FOLLOWING THE 2017 ITEP RULES THAT IS NON-COMPLIANT FOR THE 2022 REPORTING PERIOD.
CONTRACT 2016/1647 FOR BARRIERE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC, IN ST. CHARLES PARISH.
EXHIBIT A FOR THE CONTRACT REQUIRED THE COMPANY CREATE AND MAINTAIN ONE JOB WITH 53,000 IN PAYROLL.
THE ACTUAL JOBS CREATED WAS ONE WITH $134,222 IN PAYROLL.
[00:35:03]
THE REASON FOR THE NON-COMPLIANCE IS DUE TO THE LATE FILING ONLY.THE COMPLIANCE WAS DUE APRIL 30 OF 2023 AND RECEIVED MAY 3TH, 2023, UPON NOTIFICATION OF THE MISSED DEADLINE BY LED.
ALL THREE LOCAL ENTITIES, THE PARISH PRESIDENT AND PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT AND SUPERINTENDENT, AND THE SHERIFF SUBMITTED A JOINT LETTER STATING, "WE STRONGLY URGE THE MEMBERS OF THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY TO TAKE NO ACTION AND NOT PENALIZE THE COMPANY.
MOST IMPORTANT TO US IS THE FACT BARRIERE COMPLIED WITH COMPANY OBJECTIVES AND EXCEEDED THE PAYROLL MANDATE BY OVER 150%.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE COMPANY'S PERFORMANCE GREATLY OUTWEIGHS ITS MINOR PAPERWORK IN FRACTION, WE ASK THAT YOU MAINTAIN THE CURRENT TERMS OF THE EXEMPTION CONTRACT."
>> I'M NOT GOING TO CALL ANYBODY UP FROM BARRIERE ON THIS UNLESS YOU ALL JUST WANT ME TO, BUT BASICALLY, WE HAVE HERE, THEY WERE THREE DAYS LATE ON THEIR FILING, AND ALL THE LOCALS SAY TAKE NO ACTION.
I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT AND WITHOUT ANY PENALTY.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MAYOR TOUPS, SECOND FROM MR. AUSTIN.
TO THAT EFFECT, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS UNDER THE 2018 RULES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE FOR BAGWELL ENERGY SERVICES, INC, IN IBERIA PARISH, 2018/0323-A, AND 2018/0323-B.
THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WERE DEFERRED FROM THE APRIL MEETING?
>> THEY WERE NON-COMPLIANT FOR THE 2020, 2021, AND 2022 REPORTING PERIODS.
THE EXHIBIT A FOR BOTH CONTRACTS REQUIRED 40 JOBS WITH 2,800,000 IN PAYROLL FOR PROJECT YEAR 2020.
THE ACTUAL JOBS CREATED AND MAINTAINED IN PROJECT YEAR 2020 WAS SEVEN JOBS WITH 276,950 IN PAYROLL.
EXHIBIT A REQUIRED 60 JOBS WITH 4,200,000 IN PAYROLL FOR PROJECT YEAR 2021.
THE ACTUAL JOBS CREATED AND MAINTAINED FOR PROJECT YEAR 2021 WAS 16 JOBS WITH 435,628 IN PAYROLL, AND THE EXHIBIT A REQUIRED 90 JOBS WITH 6,300,000 IN PAYROLL FOR PROJECT YEAR 2022.
THE ACTUAL JOBS CREATED AND MAINTAINED FOR PROJECT YEAR 2022 WAS 16 JOBS WITH 848,796 IN PAYROLL.
THE PARISH SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS TO RECOMMEND THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEFER ANY DECISION OR ACTION FOR NON-COMPLIANCE, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD SUBMITTED A RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND THAT TAX EXEMPTION REGARDING SAID CONTRACT BE ENTIRELY ELIMINATED AND THAT BAGWELL ENERGY SERVICES BEGIN PAYING THE FULL AMOUNT OF TAXES OWED TO THE IBERIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, BEGINNING WITH THE TAX YEAR 2023.
THE BOARD FURTHER RESERVES ALL RIGHT TO COLLECT THE AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT WERE EXEMPTED FOR THE YEARS 2020, 2021, AND 2022.
THE SHERIFF ORIGINALLY DENIED THE EXEMPTION AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.
>> MISS JOHNSON, WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PARISH?
>> THAT YOU'LL TAKE NO ACTION.
>> IS IT TAKE NO? I THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFERRAL FOR THE BOARD.
>> SORRY, IT IS DEFERRAL OF ANY DECISION TO THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
>> JUST I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
MR. BAGWELL, IF YOU WOULD PULL THE MIC UP CLOSE TO YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> YES, SIR. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HAVING ME BACK.
I WAS HERE IN APRIL AND YOU ALL SUGGESTED THAT WE GO BACK AND TALK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD IN THE PARISH, WHICH WE HAVE DONE AND THEY WERE MUCH MORE FAVORABLE THIS TIME.
THEY SUGGESTED THAT WE WORK UP AMENDED CONTRACT, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT, AND WE IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGES GOING BACK AND FORTH.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WANT TO WORK WITH US AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING COMING UP IN JULY.
THEY CALLED ANOTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FOR US TO COME TO, AND WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THE CONTRACT OUT TO WHERE IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING FORWARD.
>> TO BE SURE I'M CLEAR, THE PARISH SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY DEFERRING TO US WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO.
>> NOW WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS TELLING US RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ASKING US TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT.
ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT YOU ALL ARE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PARISH TO SPONSOR US?
>> YES, WE ARE. I TALKED WITH WAYNE LANDRY YESTERDAY, AND I WENT TO THEIR MEETING AND HE'S ALLOWED US TO COME BACK IN WITH A NEW CONTRACT PROPOSAL AND THEY WANT TO REVIEW IT.
HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO CALL A MEETING IN JULY, AND I'LL BE ATTENDING THAT TO SEE IF THEY WILL WORK WITH US OR NOT,
[00:40:02]
BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IT.>> I'M STRUGGLING JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A CLEAR STATEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THEY SEEM TO BE TELLING US ONE THING AND TELLING YOU ANOTHER, IS WHAT I'M [INAUDIBLE].
>> LED HAS NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY'VE REPLIED ON THE SECOND, SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK, BUT I THINK [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME.
>> THAT WAS FROM THE ORIGINAL, AND WE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING ADDITIONAL.
I WAS UNDER THE WRONG IMPRESSION.
>> BUT THAT WAS THEIR SUGGESTION THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN WHEN I WENT BACK AND TALKED TO THEM, THEY'VE BEEN A LOT MORE FAVORABLE AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM, AND WE'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED ONE PROPOSAL ON THE CONTRACT AND AMENDED CONTRACT, AND WE'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH ON IT.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MEETING IN JULY TO FINALIZE IT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
>> AGAIN, FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS YOUR FIRST MEETING, AND EVEN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, LAST TIME, MR. BAGWELL WAS HERE AT OUR LAST MEETING, AND WE ELECTED TO DEFER ANY ACTION TO GIVE HIM THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE LOCALS.
THAT NEGOTIATION IS APPARENTLY STILL ONGOING.
THE OPTIONS FOR THE BOARD ARE A COUPLE, AT LEAST.
YOU ALL MAY THINK OF OTHERS, BUT ONE IS TO SIMPLY MAKE A DECISION TO EITHER APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE THE CONTRACT, OR WE CAN DEFER YET UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, THE AUGUST MEETING TO GIVE MR. BAGWELL AND APPARENTLY THE SCHOOL BOARD ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO CONCLUDE ANY CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
>> MR. JONES, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT ANY EXHIBIT A AMENDMENT WOULD BE PERSPECTIVE, SO IT WOULDN'T AFFECT ANY OF THE NON-COMPLIANCE THAT'S HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT, ACTUALLY.
MR. BAGWELL, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
>> WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS, YOU HAD NON-COMPLIANCES, AND NOW, WE CAN CHOOSE TO NOT PENALIZE FOR THOSE NON-COMPLIANCES, ONCE WE TAKE AN ACTION.
>> BUT, I THINK WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON AND WHAT FRANKLY I'M HOPEFUL FOR IS THAT YOU CAN REACH A VIABLE AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD SO THAT IT MAKES OUR DECISION MUCH CLEARER.
FRANKLY, IF THE SCHOOL BOARD COMES AND SAYS, NO, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO WORK WITH HIM, THEN THAT TELLS ME A LOT.
IF THEY TELL YOU WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM AND WE WANT TO DO IT, THAT TELLS ME A LOT ON HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE NON-COMPLIANT ISSUES.
OBVIOUSLY, WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE, AND AGAIN, JUST SO PEOPLE REMEMBER WHAT WAS GOING ON IN 2021 AND '22, IT'S NOT BEEN UNUSUAL FOR COMPANIES TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD WITH NON-COMPLIANCE ISSUES DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, LARGELY BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH COVID, WITH THE SHUTDOWNS, WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, WITH LACK OF GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MEET JOB QUOTAS AND PAYROLL QUOTAS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE'VE HEARD THAT SAME STRAIN OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM THESE NON-COMPLIANCE ISSUES.
IT HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE OF THE BOARD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ON THESE MATTERS TO BE RATHER LENIENT TO TRY TO GIVE THE INDUSTRY AS MUCH TIME AS THEY CAN TO TRY TO WORK THESE MATTERS OUT WITH THE LOCALS.
WITH THAT, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION OR WE CAN DEFER.
>> I WAS JUST DOING SOME SIMPLE MATH HERE ON THE JOBS.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF JOBS, BUT IT'S THE WAGES PER JOB.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY AROUND THAT.
WE'RE TALKING LIKE 95,000 AVERAGE PAYROLL PER PERSON PER THE PLAN VERSUS 40,000 AND ACTUALS.
>> GOOD QUESTION, MR. BAGWELL.
CAN YOU HELP US WITH THAT? YOU CAN PULL THE MIC A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
>> WELL, A LOT OF IT'S DUE TO OVERTIME.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THE WORK IN THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE.
I THINK THOSE NUMBERS WILL IMPROVE, AS WE'RE RUNNING 55, 60 HOURS A WEEK VERSUS 40.
NATURALLY, SOME OF THAT AVERAGE WAS PROBABLY PERSONNEL IN THE OFFICE, WHICH WE HAVEN'T HAD TO HAVE AS MANY OF THOSE.
HOPEFULLY, THAT AVERAGE WILL COME UP.
>> THE ACTUAL PAYROLL THAT'S PROVIDED FOR YOU ON THE AGENDA PAGE, THAT'S ONLY WHAT WAS CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE NEW PAYROLL.
[00:45:04]
IF THEY PAID ANYONE THAT FIT INTO THE DEFINITION OF JOB.IF THEY WERE PART TIMERS OR THEY WEREN'T ACTIVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE OTHER PAYROLL WOULDN'T COUNT.
THIS IS JUST THE ELIGIBLE PAYROLL THAT WAS CONSIDERED.
>> I THINK MAYBE THAT IS AFFECTED BY THE OFFSHORE PERSONNEL TOO BECAUSE THEY WORK ON AND OFF, AND IF THEY ONLY WORK A SHORT TIME, THE AVERAGE IS NATURALLY GOING TO BE LOWER.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. NASSAR?
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL THEY TRY TO WORK IT OUT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AGAIN.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSAR, SECOND FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE'LL SAY MR. MOSS.
>> DO WE PUT A TIME FRAME ON THAT?
>> WELL, WE HAVE THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE IN AUGUST, SO IT WOULD GO AUTOMATICALLY TO OUR AUGUST MEETING, DEFER ANY ACTION UNTIL THE AUGUST MEETING.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT PART, BUT THEN ON THEIR PART, WORKING IT OUT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, I THINK AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE AUGUST MEETING TO EITHER FISH OR CUT BAIT.
>> WE CAN EITHER SAY AT THE AUGUST MEETING, GUYS, IF YOU CAN'T GET IT WORKED OUT BY AUGUST, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PULL THE TRIGGER OR WE CAN DECIDE THAT WE'LL DEFER UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
>> HE'S TELLING ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO MEET IN JULY.
I'M GOING TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
I THINK THEY'VE GOT ONE SCHEDULED.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT DONE BEFORE AUGUST.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR BUSINESS, BUT I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU NOT WAIT UNTIL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO HAVE YOUR MEETING, IF YOU UNDERSTAND.
>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN TALKING AND MEETING BEFORE THE MEETING.
HOPEFULLY, BY THE TIME THE MEETING GETS THERE, ACTUALLY, WE'RE SETTLED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> LED DOES REQUIRE IT AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT LEGAL HAS TIME TO DRAFT UP AN AMENDED AND RESTATED EXHIBIT A PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
>> TO MR. BAGWELL, MR. JOHNSON IS SAYING AS SOONER AS MUCH BETTER THAN LATER.
>> IF YOU WAIT TO THE LAST MINUTE THAT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE STAFF TO TRY TO GET IT READY FOR THE AUGUST MEETING.
>> WELL, WE'RE PRETTY WELL CLOSE TO FINISHING THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE NEW CONTRACT.
WE SHOULD BE READY TO GO WITH A SCHOOL BOARD DECISION, AS SOON AS THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION ON IT.
>> AS A TOTALLY UNNECESSARY EDITORIAL, BUT AFTER THE NEW RULES ARE IMPLEMENTED, WE WILL NOT BE DEALING WITH JOBS AND PAYROLL ISSUES ANYMORE.
>> WE DID HAVE SOME CAPEX STANDARDS IN THAT.
WE HAD TO MEET IN THIS AND THAT, BUT WE WELL EXCEEDED THOSE.
>> WE'VE SPENT OVER $5 MILLION ON THE FACILITY WITH EQUIPMENT AND NEW BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE MET THAT END OF THE CONTRACT, BUT THE PAYROLL CONTRACT [OVERLAPPING]
>> ONE THING THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM, THE GOAL OF THAT PROGRAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN HISTORICALLY FOR OVER 50 YEARS TO PUT ASSETS INTO THE GROUND.
THAT'S ITS GOAL. THE GOAL IS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NOT TO CREATE JOBS.
WE HAVE A QUALITY JOBS PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES THAT.
ITEP IS TO PUT ASSETS IN THE GROUND TO BUILD A TAX BASE UPON WHICH THE LOCALS CAN COLLECT TAXES FOR YEARS AND YEARS AFTER THE EXEMPTION EXPIRES.
>> WE'VE ACTUALLY INVESTED OVER THREE MILLION IN THE NEW EQUIPMENT AND ABOUT TWO MILLION ON THE FACILITY ITSELF.
>> OUR THEORY IS YOU DON'T WANT TO WALK AWAY FROM THOSE INVESTMENTS ANY TIME REAL SOON.
>> NO, SURE, I DON'T. CAN'T AFFORD TO.
>> EXACTLY. [LAUGHTER] GOOD DEAL, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO DEFER. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. ARE WE GOING TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO PASS ANOTHER RESOLUTION ONCE?
>> WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME DIRECTION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>> WE'RE GOING TO NEED A RESOLUTION ADDRESSING THE NON-COMPLIANCE, AS WELL AS A SEPARATE RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE EXHIBIT A SHOULD THEY AGREE TO DO THAT.
>> WHERE DO THE OTHER OFFICIALS IN PARISH STAND ON?
>> THE QUESTION IS, WHERE DO THE OTHER OFFICIALS STAND? MISS JOHNSON, GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN FOR US, PLEASE.
>> THEY'RE NOT WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY, SO THERE IS NOTHING AFFECTING THEM, AND THE SHERIFF DENIED IT TO BEGIN WITH.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HIM, IT WOULD JUST BE THE PARISH AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.
MR. BAGWELL MAY HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE THE PARISH COUNTS ON THAT.
>> THE PARISH AT THIS POINT HAS DEFERRED TO US WHATEVER WE THINK APPROPRIATE, WHICH IN MY WORLD THAT MEANS IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THEIR JOB, WE'LL DO IT FOR THEM.
>> HISTORICALLY, HAVE THERE BEEN INSTANCES IN THE PAST WHERE WE'VE HONOR THE REQUEST OF IN THIS CASE,
[00:50:02]
THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN THEY GO BACK AND TRY TO ASSESS THE BUSINESS OWNER FOR THE TAX ABATEMENT THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED SINCE.I BELIEVE THAT WAS PART OF THE STATEMENT THERE.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED WITH IS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES SMELLING BLOOD IN THE WATER, WANT TO RAISE MONEY AND DETERMINE THAT SOMEONE DIDN'T QUITE HIRE ENOUGH PEOPLE DURING COVID.
THEN WE GET SOME OF THESE REQUESTS, AND IT ALMOST MAKES PEOPLE SCARED OF PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY COULD MEET THESE HUGE ASSESSMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
IS THAT BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST?
>> I DON'T THINK WE FACED THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WAY THE PROGRAM HAD WORKED AFTER THE 2016 EXECUTIVE ORDER AND THE RULES IMPLEMENTED IN RESPONSE TO THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER, THEY HAD TO FISHER CUT BAIT EARLY ON.
THEY HAD TO EITHER SAY, I'M IN OR I'M OUT.
THEN IT FELL UPON THE APPLICANT, THE INDUSTRY TO THEN COMPLY WITH THE CONTRACT WITH LED, EITHER YOU COMPLIED OR YOU DIDN'T.
IF I CAN SPEAK, IF YOU MUNICIPALITY OR THE PARISH COUNCIL, IF IF THEY HAVE ALREADY OPTED IN OR OUT, THAT'S FINE.
NOW, WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR QUESTION, THE PARISH RIGHT NOW THEY DEFER TO US.
THEY COULD DECIDE NEXT MONTH, THEY COULD SAY, NO, WE'RE TIRED OF WAIT AND I WANT YOU TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.
ABSOLUTELY, THAT COULD HAPPEN.
BUT, FRANKLY, EVER SINCE WE'VE HAD LOCAL INPUT, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A POSSIBILITY.
>> BUT IN THIS CASE, THE SCHOOL BOARD REQUESTED THAT THEY GO BACK.
WAS THAT THE REQUEST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THAT THEY ASSESS THEM FOR ALL OF THE TAXES?
>> IT JUST SAID THAT THEY FURTHER RESERVED ALL RIGHT TO COLLECT THE AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT WERE EXEMPTED FOR THE YEARS 2020, 2021, AND 2022.
>> WHAT THEY'RE SAYING THERE IS IF WE WERE TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT FOR NON COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS WITHIN OUR POWER TO DO, THEN THE TAXES WERE NEVER ASSESSED, BUT IF WE TERMINATED THE CONTRACT, IT WOULD BE TERMINATED ALL THE WAY BACK TO ITS BEGINNING.
THEY WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO COLLECT TAXES THAT HAD NEVER BEEN COLLECTED.
>> EXHIBIT A ALSO ALLOWS LOCALS TO ASSESS A DEFAULT PAYMENT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE COMPANY, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
>> I'M JUST LOOKING TO BE FAIR ON BOTH.
>> YOUR POINTS WELL TAKEN. BUT TO MY MEMORY, AT LEAST, WE'VE NOT REALLY RUN INTO THE SCENARIO THAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T HAPPEN TOMORROW.
>> I JUST DIDN'T WANT US TO INADVERTENTLY CREATE A TRAP FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAD PARTICIPATED THAT MAYBE FELL SHORT OF THE JOBS. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
>> NO. THANKFULLY, WE'LL BE SHORTLY GETTING OUT OF THE JOBS AND PAYROLL BUSINESS ALTOGETHER.
>> I DO ALSO WANT TO STATE, THE BOARD HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT THE CONTRACT IS CANCELED AS OF NEXT DATE.
RATHER THAN GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTRACT, YOU COULD HAVE REQUEST OR YOU COULD MAKE THE MOTION TO CANCEL IT STARTING 12, 31 OR 23.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF POWER TO PROTECT AGAINST THAT THING.
AGAIN, IN COMPLIANCE SITUATIONS, EVERYTHING WE GET FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS A RECOMMENDATION.
WE'RE NOT BOUND BY WHAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WANT US TO DO IN RESPONSE TO NON COMPLIANCE ISSUES.
THAT'S TOTALLY WITHIN THE PROVINCE OF THIS BOARD.
BUT WE LISTEN TO THEM. THAT'S WHY I SAY WHEN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEFERS TO US, IN MY WORLD, THAT THEY'RE TELLING ME, WE DON'T CARE YOU ALL DO WHAT YOU WANT TO, WHICH IN MY WORLD SAYS, YOU MUST NOT BE BOTHERING YOU TOO MUCH, SO I'M NOT GOING TO PENALIZE THEM.
I'VE TRIED TO SEND THE MESSAGE OR THIS BOARD AND THE PREVIOUS BOARD IS TRYING TO SEND THE MESSAGE VERY STRONGLY.
IF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAKES NO ACTION OR DEFERS TO THE BOARD, AND THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PENALIZE.
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, BUT THAT HAS BEEN OUR PRACTICE.
MR. BAGWELL, I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, HAVE WE VOTED YET ON THIS? THANK YOU. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE THEN I WANT TO SAY ONE OTHER THING.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL THE AUGUST MEETING.
>> ANY OPPOSITION, THERE IS NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THAT'S TOO LATE.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK YOU'RE HEARING MR. BAGWELL.
[00:55:01]
YOU NEED TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED.COME AUGUST, PATIENTS MAY HAVE WORN THIN, AND TO MR. RAMI'S POINT, THE PARISH MAY CHANGE THEIR MIND.
IF IT WERE ME, I WOULD SHORE UP MY POSITION WITH PARISH.
I WOULD DEFINITELY GET MY POSITION WITH SCHOOL BOARD SHOWED UP, BUT AUGUST IS GOING TO GET HERE QUICKLY.
>> I'M [INAUDIBLE] GOING TO STAY ON TO TRY AND GET IT DONE.
>> MR. CHAIR I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> I GUESS FOR STAFF, IF HE'S UNABLE TO GET A CONSENSUS OF THAT BODY, WHICH IS THE SCHOOL BOARD, WILL LED ACCEPT LETTERS FROM INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS OR THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD?
>> NO. THE MOTION PASSED BY BC AND I REQUIRES THAT IT'S A RESOLUTION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD AND WELL, A RESOLUTION FROM ALL OF THE AFFECTED BODIES.
HE WOULD NEED A RESOLUTION FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL AND FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD BEFORE WE'RE EVEN ABLE TO BEGIN THE AMENDMENT PROCESS.
>> IN FAIRNESS, MR. SMEDES WE'RE STILL A FIRST AMENDMENT.
IF A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WANTS TO WRITE US A LETTER, OBVIOUSLY, THEY CAN.
WE ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW, BUT NEITHER ARE WE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THE RESOLUTION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD?
>> I WAS JUST CONSIDERING IF THEY COULDN'T COME TO OR THEY DIDN'T GET AROUND TO MAKING THE RESOLUTION FROM THE. BOARD THAT'S ALL.
>> I THINK WHAT MR. SMEDES IS SAYING IF THEY DON'T GET A RESOLUTION, CAN WE TAKE A LETTER FROM ALL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SAY THAT IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT, AND I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT.
[LAUGHTER] ANYTHING ELSE? I THINK THAT'S IT MR. BAGWELL.
GOOD LUCK. HOPE YOU GET THOSE THINGS WORKED OUT.
>> THANKS JOE I APPRECIATE. YES, SIR. I WILL. THANK YOU.
OTHER ITEP BUSINESS RULES UP DATE.
[8. Other Business-ITEP Rules Update]
YOUR RULES COMMITTEE.SINCE THE LAST MEETING, WE'VE ADDED ONE ADDITIONAL MEMBER TO THE RULES COMMITTEE.
MR. STEWART MOSS HAS JOINED THE RULES COMMITTEE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF IF I CAN REMEMBER NOW.
KYLE POLOZOLA, MISS LETTY ARDOIN AND ROBBIE MILLER, AND NOW STEWART AND MYSELF.
AT THE FIRST MEETING WAS ESSENTIALLY AN INTRODUCTORY MEETING, SETTING OUT HOW THINGS WERE GOING TO GO.
THE SECOND MEETING WE HAD ASKED INDUSTRY THROUGH SOME OF THE CONSULTANTS WHO WORKED WITH INDUSTRY TO GIVE US A SET OF PROPOSED RULES.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE READ IN LOCAL MEDIA THAT THOSE WERE ABOUT TO BE ADOPTED.
THE MEDIA NEVER BOTHERED TO TALK TO ANYBODY ON THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THAT BUT THE WAY MEDIA WORKS SOMETIMES.
I THINK MY COMMENT WAS WE WERE IN THE FIRST MINUTE OF THE FIRST QUARTER, NOT THE LAST 30 SECONDS OF THE FOURTH.
WE'RE VERY EARLY IN THIS PROCESS BETWEEN THE LAST MEETING AND THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS JULY THE TENTH.
LED STAFF WITHIN THE STAFF AS WELL HAS REACHED OUT TO THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND TAX ASSESSORS AND OTHERS TO GET COMMENTS ON THE INDUSTRY PROPOSAL.
AT OUR NEXT MEETING IS JULY 10, AND AT THAT MEETING, WE WILL TAKE LEDS COMMENTS AND PROPOSALS OR IF THEY HAVE A COUNTER PROPOSAL, BUT WHATEVER, WE WILL TAKE THEIR COMMENTS AND THEN WE WILL FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE.
OUR GOAL. I THINK THIS GOAL IS RAPIDLY DETERIORATING.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE RULES READY BY THE AUGUST MEETING, BUT WE'VE RUN INTO FRANKLY IT'S SUMMER AND PEOPLE FOR WHATEVER REASON, WANT TO TAKE VACATIONS AND STUFF.
IT'S BECOME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GET A MEETING WHERE WE CAN HAVE A QUORUM AND HAVE THE INPUT WE NEED.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO WORK AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT MY PREFERENCE IS TO GET IT RIGHT, NOT GET IT HERE IN A HURRY.
WE WILL WORK WITH DUE BUT DELIBERATE SPEED TO HAVE YOU A SET OF RULES THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER HOPEFULLY AT THE AUGUST MEETING, BUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS? WITH THAT, I WOULD TURN TO SECRETARY BOURGEOIS,
[9. Secretary Remarks – Secretary Susan Bourgeois]
ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU, PLEASE, MA'AM.>> WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS DONE IN APRIL 28TH OF 2021,
[01:00:07]
THAT WE JUST DISCOVERED A POINT IN TIMING, PRIMARILY THE ISSUE THAT HAPPENED IS THAT A COMPANY GOT APPROVAL FROM THE LOCALS IN ONE CALENDAR YEAR AND THE WAY THE AMENDMENT WAS WRITTEN PREVIOUSLY, IT SAID IT HAD TO HAPPEN IN THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WE WOULD ALSO APPROVE IT.OUR DECEMBER MEETING WAS CANCELED, AND SO THE COMPANY DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
THIS AMENDMENT I'M ABOUT TO OFFER CLARIFIES THAT LANGUAGE.
IT IS LONG AND I AM SOMEWHAT HORSE, SO BEAR WITH ME, PLEASE.
UPON CONSIDERATION THAT AN ITEP PARTICIPANT COMPANY'S CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CHANGE IN WAYS UNFORESEEN AT THE TIME OF ENTERING INTO EXHIBIT A WITH LED, AND IN CONSULTATION WITH LED, ITEP ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS, AS WELL AS THE SECRETARY OF LED.
I MAKE THE FOLLOWING MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO EXHIBIT A REQUESTED BY PARTICIPANT COMPANIES.
PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION BY THIS BOARD OF WHETHER TO APPROVE AN ITEP PARTICIPANTS AMENDMENT TO AN EXHIBIT AS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
THE ITEP PARTICIPANT SHALL FIRST OBTAIN APPROVAL BY RESOLUTION FROM ALL OF THE PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES OR LETTER BY PARTICIPATING SHERIFFS FOR ANY CHANGES THAT WOULD AFFECT THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXHIBIT AS REQUIRED BY ITEP RULES 503(E), JOBS, PAY ROLL, OR COMPLIANCE TERMS OR CONDITIONS.
A, EITHER THE NUMBER OF JOBS AND PAYROLL TO BE CREATED AT THE PROJECT SITE OR THE NUMBER OF JOBS AND PAYROLL RETAINED AT THE PROJECT SITE WERE APPLICABLE.
B, THE PROVISIONS ADDRESSING THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO CREATE THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF JOBS AND OR PAYROLL AT THE MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENT.
NUMBER 2, AMENDMENTS TO JOBS, PAYROLL OR COMPLIANCE, TERMS OR CONDITIONS WILL BE PROSPECTIVE AND APPLICABLE NO EARLIER THAN THE PROJECT YEAR IN WHICH THE COMPANY SECURES THE NECESSARY APPROVALS FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES WITH BOARD APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT, WHICHEVER COMES LAST.
FOR CONSISTENCY OF ANNUAL COMPLIANCE DETERMINATIONS IN THE EVENT THAT ANY APPROVAL BY A PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY OF AN AMENDMENT TO A JOBS PAYROLL OR COMPLIANCE TERM OR CONDITION TO AN EXHIBIT A, IS DIFFERENT FROM AN APPROVAL BY ANOTHER PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, THEN THE MOST DEMANDING TERM OR CONDITION APPROVED BY A PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY WILL BE THE TERM OR CONDITION CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
WOW. FOR EXAMPLE, PARTICIPATING SHARE OF APPROVES AN AMENDMENT REQUIRING FIVE JOBS AND $250,000 IN PAY ROLL, BUT THE POLICE JURY APPROVES AN AMENDMENT REQUIRING 10 JOBS AND $500,000 IN PAYROLL, THEN THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE 10 JOBS AND 500,000 IN PAYROLL.
AMENDMENTS TO EXHIBIT A S WITH REGARD TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN EXHIBIT AS THAT ARE ALSO REQUIRED BY ITEP RULES.
SUBSECTION 502 AND 503 (E)WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD.
A, CHANGES TO THE DEFINITION OF JOBS IN THE EXHIBIT A THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE DEFINITION OF JOBS IN ITEP RULES, SECTION 502.
B, THAT THE INITIAL EXEMPTION CONTRACT SHALL BE FOR A TERM OF NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AND MAY PROVIDE FOR AN AD VALOREM EXEMPTION OF 80%, EXCEPT THAT THE INITIAL EXEMPTION CONTRACT FOR MEGA PROJECT SHALL BE FOR A TERM OF NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AND MAY PROVIDE FOR AN AD VALOREM EXEMPTION OF UP TO 93%.
SECTION 503(E)(2) AND C, THAT THE APPLICANT CAN APPLY FOR A RENEWAL EXEMPTION CONTRACT, THE CONSIDERATION OF WHICH WILL BE BASED UPON THE APPLICANT'S PERFORMANCE DURING THE INITIAL TERM OF THE CONTRACT.
THAT THE RENEWAL EXEMPTION CONTRACT SHALL BE FOR A TERM OF NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AND MAY PROVIDE FOR AN AD VALOREM EXEMPTION OF 80%, EXCEPT THAT THE RENEWAL EXEMPTION CONTRACT FOR MEGA PROJECT SHALL BE FOR A TERM OF NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AND MAY PROVIDE FOR AN AD VALOREM EXEMPTION OF UP TO 93%, SECTION 503(E)(3).
D, THAT THE DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD WILL NOTIFY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND THE ASSESSOR WHEN JOBS AND OR PAYROLL REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXHIBIT A.
FIVE, ANY REQUEST BY AN ITEP PARTICIPANT FOR A SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENT TO EXHIBIT A WITH REGARD TO A TERM OR CONDITION NOT REQUIRED BY ITEP RULE, SECTION 503(E), WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION, AND THE BOARD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PRESENT THOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES FOR APPROVAL BY ALL PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WITHOUT CONDITION AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITEP RULE 503(H).
NUMBER 6, REQUEST BY THE BOARD TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO EXHIBIT AS WILL BE MADE BY SPECIAL REQUEST TO THE ITEP ADMINISTRATORS.
NUMBER 7, ALL AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH HEREIN, I HEREBY ENTER THIS MOTION INTO THE RECORD AND MOVE THAT THIS MOTION BE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD FOR ALL ITEP PROJECTS SUBJECT TO THE RULES PROMULGATED BY THE BOARD IN 2017 AND 2018 AS APPLICABLE.
[01:05:03]
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND FROM MR. RUCKER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THERE BEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
NOW, SECRETARY BOURGEOIS, DO YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN AGES?
>> I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF VOICE LEFT. I APPRECIATE THAT.
YES, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
JUST A FEW ITEMS FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
HOPEFULLY, YOU HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO NOW, GOVERNOR LANDRY SIGNED SENATE BILL 494 BY SENATOR MISAL, WHO JUST HAD TO LEAVE, WHICH RESTRUCTURED A GREAT DEAL OF THE GOVERNANCE AND THE WORK OF OUR DEPARTMENT, THAT WORK IS UNDERWAY, THAT RESTRUCTURING WORK.
THE SECOND PIECE OF THAT ANNOUNCEMENT TWO WEEKS AGO WAS OUR NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM.
I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO MEET THEM IF YOU STAY AFTER.
IN THAT REGARD, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR RETIRING ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BRENDA GUESS, WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY, WHO HAS SERVED THIS DEPARTMENT, THIS BOARD, FOR A LOT OF THAT TIME FOR 37 YEARS.
ONCE AGAIN BE ON THE RECORD, THANKING BRENDA FOR HER AMAZING SERVICE TO THE STATE AND TO THE DEPARTMENT.
FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN AND THE RULES COMMITTEE FOR THE WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
AS HE SPOKE, OUR GOAL WAS AGGRESSIVE FOR AUGUST.
AGAIN, ONE LAST TIME, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC, ANYONE IN THIS ROOM FOR COMMENT.
OUR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ALL READ THE RULES, HAVE ALL SUBMITTED GREAT FEEDBACK.
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO DO SO SO THAT WHEN WE DO ADOPT OUR NEW RULES, WE HAVE CLARITY, WE HAVE VISION, AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON A STRONG GROUND, SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
THAN THANK YOU, SECRETARY BOURGEOIS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION MR. SMEDES, SECOND MR. DOS.
ANY OPPOSITION. THERE IS NONE.
THE MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL SEE YOU IN AUGUST. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.