The ribbon cutting for the Pecue Realignment Project was held on July 29, 2010. Another Green Light project completed!
Green Light Plan completes work on Pecue
Posted: August 6, 2010
Cox to host Live Radio Remote with Spanish businesses
Posted: June 16, 2010
East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control & Rescue Center releases positive statistics
Posted: June 15, 2010
The latest statistics on positive outcomes (A combination of Adoptions, Redemptions & Rescues) received from our Information Services Department indicates that the Animal Control & Rescue Center, working closely with rescue groups, volunteers, animal welfare organizations, foster homes, veterinarians and individuals, has shown considerable progress in getting our cats and dogs into new homes.
Information Services statistics indicate a 28% & 67 % average increase for positive outcomes from January through May in 2009 and 2010. This is the result of the No Kill initiative that the Animal Control & Rescue Center engaged in last year, which allows groups access to assist us in moving animals out into the community for adoption. We define “No Kill” as an increase in adoptions and subsequent decrease in the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals, to the point where most of them are adopted to permanent, loving homes.
Numerous individuals are responsible for this positive trend and certainly the real winners are the animals. The staff at ACRC would like to express their gratitude towards all the personalities and groups that have interacted with us positively to this end.
We hope to continue to work with all supportive parties to foster the current relationship that is affecting such a positive outcome for our furry friends.
Millions of dollars in sewer bonds approved
Posted: June 8, 2010
Pictured: Brian Mayers, David Medlin, Richard Liebowitz, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker
As President of the East Baton Rouge Sewerage Commission, Councilman Walker signed documents that pledged the Sewer User Fees and the Sewer Sales Tax Revenues as security in payment for the $17,140,000 Revenue Bonds, Series 2010A (Tax-Exempt) and the $357,840,000 Revenue Bonds, Series 2010B (Taxable Direct Pay Build America Bonds) of the East Baton Rouge Sewerage Commission, signed a Tax Certificate evidencing compliance with all applicable state and federal laws relating to tax-exempt bonds and signed the Bonds which evidences the legal obligation of the East Baton Rouge Sewerage Commission to pay principal and interest to the Bondholders. Councilman Walker also signed the Official Statement which is the document that investors rely on for financial and statistical information relating to the East Baton Rouge Sewerage Commission.
Holden and Landrieu sign memo of understanding
Posted: June 1, 2010
Baton Rouge Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu signed a memo of understanding Tuesday, May 25, in which they agreed to establish a “partner city relationship” between the two cities.
The two mayors agreed to work together in “cooperation, collaboration and mutual respect” to promote a more healthy, educated and vibrant region.
By acting as partners instead of rivals, the two mayors said they can do a better job preparing for hurricanes, attracting new businedss and industry, promoting tourism, and sharing their respective cultures.
“With New Orleans being the cultural center for Jazz and Baton Rouge the home of the Blues, we can expose the next generation to a broader spectrum of our musical legacy through an exchange in our school-based musical programs,” the agreement said.
City/Parish observes Mardi Gras
Posted: February 10, 2010
Mardi Gras is an official City/Parish holiday and will be observed on Tuesday, February 16, 2010. All City/Parish offices will be closed on this day.
Solid waste collection (garbage and trash) in East Baton Rouge Parish will be made on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, by Allied Waste under their contract with the City/Parish for residential and governmental buildings. Recyclable material in EBR Parish will be collected as normal on Tuesday, February 16, 2010. The North Landfill will be open to all haulers both commercial and the general public on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.
HOT TOPIC for February 10, 2010 Metropolitan Council Meeting
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The February 10, 2010 Metropolitan Council will consider an item under Public Hearings to Appropriate $12.4 million for the expansion of the Baton Rouge River Center and the Riverfront Plaza Project.
You may follow the LIVE streaming video of the Metropolitan Council Meeting at http://www.brgov.com/metro21/meeting.asp
BR First Mid-Sized City to Join National Service Program
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Baton Rouge will become the first mid-sized city in the country to launch a new training program for recent college graduates who want to pursue careers in local government.
Both Houston and San Francisco have been participating in the City Hall Fellows program since its inception in 2008. Baton Rouge plans to kick off its City Hall Fellow Program in August with five to six Fellows.
Founded by Baton Rouge native and Episcopal High School graduate Bethany Rubin Henderson, City Hall Fellows grooms America’s best and brightest college graduates for careers in local government.
The nonprofit City Hall Fellows program offers paid Fellowships to outstanding recent college graduates with ties to its partner cities, Henderson said. Fellows work full-time for 12 months on high-need, high-impact projects while serving as special assistants to senior city administrators and officials. Each Fellow also receives more than 300 hours of training through the program.
Henderson said she established City Hall Fellows in 2008 in response to the looming leadership crisis facing our cities. A recent study by the International City/County Management Association showed that, within a decade, more than half of our country’s local government workforce will be of retirement age, she added.
Henderson will be in the Baton Rouge February 8-11 to recruit seniors and recent college graduates from local colleges and universities for Baton Rouge’s first group of Fellows. She will be joined by Niiobli Armah, a Southern University graduate and former student body president, who was a participant in the City Hall Fellows’ program in his native Houston. Application materials and instructions for applying to become a City Hall Fellow are available online at www.cityhallfellows.org. The deadline to apply for a position in Baton Rouge is March 10.
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2010 Census “Portrait of America” Road Tour
Posted: February 8, 2010
2010 Census “Portrait of America” Road Tour will be in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, February 9th from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
The Portrait of America Road Tour showcases a rolling civics lesson, allowing the public to view the 2010 Census questionnaire firsthand, to observe video messages from others who have visited the Tour, and to question Census employees about the Census. The Tour brings the benefits of the 2010 Census to life and makes the census personal and relevant to those who see it. More information is available at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/roadtour/what_is_the_road_tour.
This will be a great opportunity for all members of the community to experience an educational and interactive event about the 2010 Census. Please pass it along to anyone you feel would be interested
Mayor Holden to NFL: Back off “Who Dats”
Posted: February 1, 2010
Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden has joined Louisiana officials encouraging the NFL to allow the state’s small business owners to use the fleur-de-lis and the phrase “Who Dat” without threat of legal action by the league.
“While the NFL has made an effort to narrow their opposition to the countless small merchants who have been printing merchandise to the delight of fans throughout Louisiana, they have still gone too far,” Holden said.
“Certainly, any claim by the NFL on the phrase “Who Dat” or the fleur-de-lis, both which have been a part of Louisiana culture for many years, appears heavy-handed at a time when our entire state is celebrating the Saints’ success,” Holden said. “These have both been in the public domain for so long that any Louisiana merchant should have the right to use them.”
Holden said the NFL’s claims affect small businesses across the state and he urged the Governor and Attorney General to protect all Louisianan’s rights to these symbols.
“After a Saints’ victory this Sunday, there are going to be even more people around the country who want to join the Who Dat Nation,” Holden said. “I would say to the NFL, protect the Saints and the league’s marks, but let these symbols of Louisiana culture reign free.”
Sports Foundation Scores Big Economic Win in 2009
Posted: January 28, 2010
January 28, 2010
For release: IMMEDIATELY
In 2009, the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation recorded the most successful year in its 15 year history. Operating with a $250,000 budget, the Sports Foundation-supported events brought in 38,478 participants, over 118,000 total travelers and an estimated economic impact of $33,738,012. Highlights of the 96 events supported by the Sports Foundation last year include:
• Ultimate Mardi Gras XXII – February 21-22
o 100 Ultimate Frisbee teams from around the country
o Held at BREC’s Highland Road and Independence Parks
• Purple and Gold Cheer/Dance Championships – March 6-8
o Over 1,000 participants from around the Southeast
o Held in conjunction with LSU Gymnastics and held at PMAC and River Center
• Red Stick Recreational XVIII – March 14-15
o 170 youth soccer teams participated
o Conducted by Baton Rouge Soccer Association at BREC’s Burbank Soccer Complex
• Southern Bowling Congress Handicap – March 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 and April 4-5
o 2,300 participants from around the Southeast
o Hosted by Baton Rouge USBC
• USSSA Global Governor’s Games Tournament – May 22-24
o Youth baseball tournaments that attracted 89 teams
o Held at BREC’s Oak Villa Ball Complex
• United Cup – October 3-4
o 161 youth soccer teams participated
o Conducted by Baton Rouge Soccer Association at BREC’s Burbank Soccer Complex
• The National Bowling Association Southern Regional Tournament – Nov. 19-22
o 2500 bowlers from around the southwest and southeast
o Hosted by local TNBA chapter
“As great a year as 2009 was, 2010 looks to be as strong a year as ever,” said Jerry Stovall, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation.
Stovall said the Sports Foundation’s efforts at BREC’s Oak Villa Ball Complex continue to pay major dividends. The complex will host more than 30 adult and youth baseball/softball tournaments that are expected to attract an estimated 60,000 people in 2010.
Stovall said that preparations continue for the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III tournament, which will bring to Baton Rouge over 12,000 people from 11 states for a week of championship-level soccer at BREC’s Burbank Soccer Complex.
Formed in 1994, the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to create a positive economic impact in the local community by assisting in securing and staging statewide, regional, national and international sporting competitions and special events in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
The Sports Foundation strives to continually develop the sports industry and solicit members from the community to assist in the pursuit of its mission to make Baton Rouge the amateur sports capital of the South. In 2009, BRASF received $50,000 from the city-parish and has a number of other sponsors and supporters that contribute to its $250,000 overall budget, including local businesses, the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, other government agencies and volunteer sports organizations.
“FUTUREBR: Our Vision for Tomorrow”
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View "FUTUREBR: Our Vision for Tomorrow" short film highlighting neighborhoods and commerical development throughout East Baton Rouge Parish. This is part of the Year-Long Process of Updating the City-Parish Comprehensive Plan for the future of East Baton Rouge Parish.
Important Traffic Alert - Road Closure
Posted: January 8, 2010
Beginning this Monday, Jan. 11 at 5 a.m., South Harrell’s Ferry Road between Jones Creek Road and Manchester Drive will be closed for two weeks as part of the Green Light Plan project to four-lane South Harrell’s Ferry Road.
The closure is necessary to relocate a required pipeline and the road is expected to reopen on Monday, Jan. 25, weather permitting.
Motorists should use Jones Creek Road, George O’Neal Lane and O’Neal Lane as detours during the planned two-week closure. (To see a map click here.) Access to South Harrell’s Ferry Road from Lirocchi Drive will also be closed during that period with a detour provided to O’Neal Lane.
Please remember to exercise caution when traveling in this area, and remember that travel times are likely to be affected during the two-week closure.
When work is completed, we will have two additional through lanes, sidewalks and a raised median on South Harrell’s Ferry Road from a point 1,100-feet east of Millerville Road to O’Neal Lane. The project also calls for a new intersection at Jones Creek Road.
Other Green Light Plan projects are now under construction to widen Jones Creek Road from South Harrell’s Ferry Road to Coursey Boulevard, and South Harrell’s Ferry Road from Millerville Road to South Sherwood Forest Boulevard.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to get traffic moving throughout southeast Baton Rouge. Promises made, promises kept!
GREEN LIGHT PLAN COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION ON NINTH ROADWAY PROJECT
Posted: December 9, 2009
Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden will host a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the completion of the Downtown Signalization and Synchronization Project, the ninth completed roadway construction project for the Green Light Plan, at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at the corner of North 3rd Street and Main Street.
“Improving intersections and synchronizing our traffic signal lights in Downtown Baton Rouge are essential components to eliminating bottlenecks and ensuring an overall better traffic flow around the downtown area,” said Mayor-President Kip Holden. “With the completion of this project, we are breaking up gridlock while providing safer and more fluid transportation options for motorists and pedestrians alike to move around Downtown Baton Rouge.”
“The Downtown Signalization project of the Green Light Plan signals a new day for infrastructure improvements in our city,” said Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer. “Visitors to the area will experience the latest technology in vehicular traffic efficiency while presenting a uniform design in all of downtown’s street intersections. The signals are a critical component to the continued development of our downtown.”
The project broke ground in June of 2008 and was constructed by Ernest P. Breaux Electrical, Inc. of Baton Rouge. Through the public bid process, the firm was awarded the $9.8 million contract to upgrade traffic signals and communications at 27 intersections in the downtown area of Baton Rouge. Signal equipment upgrades, interconnection of signals, and handicap sidewalk ramp construction were key components that were included in the project.
Another Green Light Project Completed - November 19, 2009
Posted: November 23, 2009
Councilman Walker speaks at the Picardy Avenue Extension Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
The Picardy Avenue Extension is the eight Green Light Project to be completed
Country Music Fest Coming to Baton Rouge
Posted: October 30, 2009
Ground Broken On Major Southeast Baton Rouge Projects
Posted: October 11, 2009
Baton Rouge Economic Climate Update
Posted: September 4, 2009
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber has released an Economic Climate Update for Baton Rouge. You can view it by clicking here.
Some highlights include:
- Baton Rouge was one of nine metro areas in the U.S. to have experienced six months of positive over the year job growth since the start of the recession.
- The Brookings Institute ranks Baton Rouge as the 8th best performing metro area during the current recession.
- Baton Rouge had the lowest foreclosure rate of 100 metro areas in 2008.
Fair Share Task Force Inaugural Meeting
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This past Wednesday, the DBE Fair Share Task Force held its first meeting. I caught up with two of the members to get their thoughts on the inaugural meeting.
Cutting The Ribbon On Number 7
Posted: August 20, 2009
Today Mayor-President Kip Holden, Councilwoman Alison Cascio, Councilwoman Denise Marcelle and others cut the ribbon on a brand new intersection at Government St. and S. Foster Dr., the seventh Green Light Plan project to be completed.
Left turn lanes were added in all directions, pedestrian access was improved by adding push-button crosswalks and the efficiency of the traffic signals was improved by using LED technology.
And we finished 80 days ahead of schedule! The Green Light Plan has projects just like this throughout our parish that is providing the traffic relief our citizens demanded. Promises made, promises kept!
Help Support “Civics For Kids”
Posted: August 3, 2009
My dear friends at the East Baton Rouge Parish Republican Women’s club are raising money to expand their “Civics for Kids” program, which provides school children with dictionaries and copies of the U.S. Constitution.
They are raffling off two nights at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, MS, which includes two free meals for the winner and a guest. The tickets are $3 each or 10 for $10.
If you’d like to help out some very dear friends of mine and support a great cause, please call Lou at 771-8881.
Eyesore Elimination
Posted: July 29, 2009
By: Zona M. Pickens
As Legislative Assistant to Councilman Mike Walker, on July 13th, I attended a workshop on Mayor Kip Holden’s new Blight Enforcement Program and how “Litter Court” will operate. This idea was born as a result of Mayor Holden’s “Listening Tour” meetings where, over and over, he heard residents complain about the trash and blight that seem to be overtaking EBR Parish.
The 5 most common violations on which this program will concentrate are:
1. Accumulation of junk/trash/debris
2. Maintenance of Property – Overgrown vegetation, open/vacant buildings
3. Swimming Pools – Security (gate & fence requirements) and condition
4. Sign Ordinance Violations – Size, zoning, location, non-permitted
5. Garbage Containers
Basic explanation of the process:
a. Residents are still requested to report perceived violations to the 311 Call Center.
b. DPW or Office of Neighborhood representative assigned to the area in which the offense is located will take pictures of the alleged violation using a specialized camera inputting the images into a computer system.
c. ATS (the same company that generates the traffic light violation letters) will generate a 15-day warning letter (from date of letter) with possible hearing notice date to the property owner(s).
d. If the problem is not addressed by the owner within the specified time, new photos will be taken that ATS will use to issue a certified letter (this does not have to be signed for by the owner in order to legally be recognized as having been received) to alert the owner to the date and time for a hearing by an Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) (this keeps such cases from backing up on a judicial docket).
e. The AHO will have the authority to assess a fine of $117 FOR EACH VIOLATION as well as court fees and DPW clean-up costs. Owners who refuse to pay the clean-up costs will find that amount attached to their property tax bill the following year.
Some of the main things that are exciting about this approach to these long-standing and ongoing problems is that: instead of only 4 DPW Inspectors to cover the entire parish, there are now 15 (and possibly more); instead of cases getting backed up on a judicial docket, there is now in a special AHO who will hear ONLY these cases; this is a stream-lined process that significantly cuts the time between when the offense is first reported and when it possibly is heard in court; and, it takes care of the possibility of out-of-state or absentee owners getting away with being irresponsible.
The program is scheduled to get begin on August 1st with the first court hearing date of Sept. 17th.
Should you want more information, call your Councilperson’s office. Click here to find your Councilperson.
Breaking Ground on Number 17
Posted: July 23, 2009
Earlier today I was honored to join Mayor-President Kip Holden and others to break ground on the 17th Green Light Plan project, the Pecue Lane Realignment. This project will realign the existing Pecue Lane at Perkins Rd. into the existing Pecue Ln. at the Kansas City Southern Railroad.
This new and improved route will provide citizens with an alternative to Siegen Lane and Highland Road, and together with the Stumberg Lane Extension project, will provide a continuous north-south connection between Coursey Boulevard and Perkins Road.
The citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish asked us to get traffic moving, and with 17 projects just like this and many more coming up that’s exactly what we’re doing!
Council Roundup - July 22, 2009
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Breaking Ground On Another Green Light Plan Project
Posted: June 18, 2009
This morning I joined Mayor-President Kip Holden, Councilman Chandler Loupe and others to officially break ground on the Siegen Lane improvements. This project will widen Siegen Lane between Perkins and Highland to four lanes with a raised median and sidewalks on both sides, improving traffic flow in a heavily congested area and creating a safer route for you and your family.
This is the next in a long list of Green Light Plan projects that are under construction around the Parish to get traffic F-L-O-W-I-N-G. The voters of East Baton Rouge asked for traffic relief and that’s exactly what we’re delivering. Promises made, promises kept!
