MINUTES OF THE ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, MET FOR THE PURPOSE OF A RETREAT HELD AT CAMP BEAUREGARD, STAFFORD HOUSE, PINEVILLE, LOUISIANA FOR THE PURPOSE OF A RETREAT HELD MAY 13, 2008 IN PINEVILLE, LOUISIANA.

The Council and the Mayor of the City of Alexandria, Louisiana, met for the purpose of a retreat in Pineville, Louisiana held Tuesday, May 13, 2008 from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Present were members of the Alexandria City Council, Harry B. Silver, Louis J. Marshall, Roosevelt Johnson, Chuck Fowler, Myron K. Lawson and Charles F. Smith, Jr. Present from the Administration were: Mayor Jacques M. Roy, Kay Michiels, Chief Operating Officer, David Crutchfield, Director of Finance, Chuck Johnson, City Attorney, Ken Juneau, Public Relations Officer, Billy Allen, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Lamar White, Deputy Operational Officer, Daniel T. Smith, Planning Division, Trey Gist, Assistant City Attorney and Nancy Thiels, City Clerk. Also present were members of the press from the Alexandria Daily Town Talk and members from KALB-TV. (Councilman Hobbs had planned on attending, but was not in attendance, due to a family emergency)

I. INTRODUCTION

The Mayor opened up the retreat and asked Reverend Larry Turner to give the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was said next.

The Mayor asked Mayor Clarence Fields, Mayor of Pineville to say a few words.

A short film was next showed on the Youth Challenge Program.

II. DEVELOPMENT/PLANNING OPERATIONS/COMMUNITY SERVICES

The Mayor next showed a presentation including information on Regionalism, Planning, Transportation, Economic Development and Housing.

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A presentation was next shown on Economic Development. The Workforce development program was not discussed at this retreat, but will be discussed at a later time.

Mid-Afternoon Session

Mr. James Branch, Acting Director of Planning was also in attendance at this time.

S.P.A.R.C. Economic Development Plan for Alexandria

S.P.A.R.C. - Special Planned Activity Redevelopment Corridors, is a large capital improvement plan being developed for the City. It is designed to impact several transportation corridors using the existing infrastructure. These corridors are designed to create an inner-loop system for easier navigation through city streets and also to entice economic development in some of the poorest areas of the city. The Mayor stated SPARC is just a template for certain activity and transportation corridors that will interact and discussions on SPARC will be a starting point and dialogue. He stated these projects combines years of earlier studies the city has invested about $800,000 in and SPARC will center on key concepts that include diverse applications and will be inclusive for the City. He also stated the project will be funded without any new taxes.

The key transportation corridors would start this year and include, Sixth & Foisy Streets, Versailles Boulevard, Sugarhouse Road and other projects that will follow.

This plan also includes a $40 million R.I.V.E.R. Act that injects economic progress for the Red River area of the City and in blighted areas adjacent and nearby.

III. “PURE” OPERATIONS

Discussion was held on Affordable Housing, downtown redevelopment and a partnership with the City of Pineville.

Trey Gist and James Branch explained a map on the Ruston Foundry and related property project. They stated the City still had to approve right-of-ways and obtain properties. They advised that environmental review and title examinations are underway and that Planning has to arrange for Phase One and perhaps a Phase Two study of the property proposed as a donation from the KCS Railroad. Discussion was held and questions asked on this item.

Mr. Marshall stated some activity over the next 1-2 weeks on Bonding procedures and related issues is anticipated. It was decided additional discussion on bonding will occur in the Finance committee or the Economic Development committee at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned.


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President
ATTEST:

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City Clerk