Council Meeting Minutes (Special Session) - 2009-11-09

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A SPECIAL MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 9, 2009.

The Council of the City of Alexandria, Louisiana, met in special meeting session at its regular meeting place, on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 1:00 P.M.

There were present the Honorable Roosevelt L. Johnson, Chuck Fowler, Ed Larvadain, III, Jonathan D. Goins, Harry B. Silver, and Myron K. Lawson. Absent was Everett C. Hobbs. Also present were Assistant City Attorney Trey Gist and City Clerk Nancy L. Thiels.

The Council of the City of Alexandria, State of Louisiana, was duly convened as the governing authority of said City by the Honorable Myron K. Lawson, who stated that the Council was ready for the transaction of business.

It was noted for the record that Councilman Lawson turned the meeting over to Vice-President Roosevelt Johnson.

EXECUTIVE SESSION TO BE HELD PURSUANT TO R.S. 42:6.1 (A)(2) ON THE FOLLOWING ITEM:

(1) To hear an update from the City Attorney regarding strategy or negotiations concerning "City of Alexandria, Plaintiff vs. Capital One, N.A. and Ted Brett Brunson, Chapter 7 Trustee”, Adversary Case No. 09-08-0845; filed in Bankruptcy Case No. 08-81329 In Re: NR Group, Debtor, United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Louisiana, Alexandria Division and the impact on the City Hotel Initiatives and related matters concerning the Alexander Fulton Hotel property.

It was moved by Mr. Goins and seconded by Mr. Larvadain to go into executive session. The following vote was taken and resulted as follows:

YEAS: Goins, Silver, Johnson, Fowler, Larvadain.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Hobbs.
ABSTAIN: Lawson.

The meeting was adjourned.

The meeting was called back to order by Councilman Johnson with a motion made by Mr. Fowler and seconded by Mr. Silver to come out of executive session. The following vote was taken and resulted as follows:

YEAS: Fowler, Larvadain, Goins, Silver, Johnson.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Hobbs.
ABSTAIN: Lawson.

The next item to be discussed was item number #2 which to discuss downtown hotels and related property; to hear a report from the administration on the Downtown Hotels Initiative, key assumptions and analysis of strengths and weaknesses of various proposals, preliminary findings, recommended next steps and otherwise to consider matters related thereto. The Mayor was present to speak on this item. He had several hand-outs to be distributed.

Mr. Fred Rosenfield, owner of the Parc England boutique and hotel was present to express his concerns on the above item.

Ms. Di Dean with the Alexandria Hotel-Motel Association was present on the above item.

There was some discussion from council members.

Mr. Trey Gist, Assistant City Attorney was present to explain the following resolution to the Council. The following action was taken.

Mr. Fowler moved to add the item to the agenda which was seconded by Mr. Silver. There was no public comment on the matter.

Mr. Fowler moved for the adoption of the following resolution which was seconded by Mr. Goins, to wit:

RESOLUTION NO. 8700-2009

A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING NEEDS OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA RELATIVE TO SPECIAL PLANNED ACTIVITY CORRIDORS, SPECIFICALLY SPARC-CRA-1, TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REDEVLOPMENT PLANS WITHIN THAT ACTIVITY CORRIDOR AND IN SPECIFIC SUPPORTING “THE DOWNTOWN HOTEL INITIATIVE” AND RELATED PROVISIONS TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TAKE SUCH LEGAL ACTION AS IN HIS OPINION IS NECESSARY RELATIVE TO THE ALEXANDER FULTON HOTEL AND ANY CLAIMS OF CAPITAL ONE; TO AUTHORIZE ANY LITIGATION OR COMPROMISE RELATED THERETO; TO FURTHER AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXPEND SUCH REMAINING FUNDS AS REMAIN UNENCUMBERED FROM RESOLUTION NO. 8594-2009 RELATED TO THE ALEXANDER FULTON HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER THAT MAY IMPACT THE DOWNTOWN HOTEL INITIATIVE AND OTHERWISE TO PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO .

The President called for any discussion, there being none, a vote was called and the following recorded:

YEAS: Fowler, Larvadain, Goins, Silver, Johnson.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Hobbs.
ABSAIN: Lawson.

The resolution was thereupon declared adopted on this the 9th day of November, 2009.

Mr. Fowler moved to add the item to the agenda which was seconded by Mr. Goins. There was no public comment on the matter.

Mr. Silver moved for the adoption of the following resolution which was seconded by Mr. Fowler, to wit:

RESOLUTION NO. 8701-2009

A RESOLUTION ADOPTING KEY 
CONCLUSIONS AND FINDINGS ON THE
DOWNTOWN HOTEL SOLUTIONS AND
MIXED USE OPTIONS.

The President called for any discussion, there being none, a vote was called and the following recorded:

YEAS: Silver, Johnson, Fowler, Larvadain, Goins.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Hobbs.
ABSAIN: Lawson.

The resolution was thereupon declared adopted on this the 9th day of November, 2009.

Mr. Fowler moved to add the item to the agenda which was seconded by Mr. Johnson. There was no public comment on the matter.

Mr. Silver moved for the adoption of the following resolution which was seconded by Mr. Larvadain, to wit:

RESOLUTION NO. 8702-2009

A RESOLUTION OFFERING CONDOLENCES
TO THE FAMILY OF MR. MIKE REDMAN.

The President called for any discussion, there being none, a vote was called and the following recorded:

YEAS: Silver, Lawson, Johnson, Fowler, Larvadain, Goins.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Hobbs.

The resolution was thereupon declared adopted on this the 9th day of November, 2009.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.

/S/ MYRON K. LAWSON PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

/S/ NANCY L. THIELS
CITY CLERK

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