Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority

Executive, Administration and Legal Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Present: Dr. Curtis Lewis, Vice Chair, Mrs. Paula Katz

Absent: Mr. Greg Upton, Chair

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Executive, Administration and Legal Committee was called to order by Commissioner Lewis at 8:01 a.m. Executive Director, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Lewis to recommend approving the April 2024 Draft Financial Statements. A discussion was held. There being no public comments, the motion was passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Lewis to recommend approving the May 2024 Draft Financial Statements. A discussion was held. There being no public comments, the motion was passed by unanimous vote.

There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:09 a.m.

Governmental Relations Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Present: Mr. John Carroll, Mr. Chris Patel, Mr. John Callis

Absent: None

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Governmental Relations Committee was called to order by Commissioner Carroll at 8:09 a.m. Executive Director, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

There being no business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 a.m.

Capital Projects Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Present: M r. Ronald Morgan, Chair; Mr. Chris Patel; Dr. Curtis Lewis

Absent: None

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Capital Projects Committee was called to order by Commissioner Morgan at 8:10 a.m. Executive Director, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

There being no business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:11 a.m.

Economic Development Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Present: Dr. Curtis Lewis, Chair; Mr. Chris Patel; Mr. John Callis; Mr. Ronald Morgan

Absent: None

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Economic Development Committee was called to order by Commissioner Lewis at 8:11 a.m. Executive Director, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner Ca llis and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to recommend approving a Cooperative Endeavor with the Alexandria and Conventions & Visitors Bureau in an amount not to exceed Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) for meals and advertising & Marketing of the 2024 Future Farmers of America Conference . A discussion was held. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Patel -Yes Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- Yes There being no further comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Patel and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to table the motion to recommend approving a grant request with Peak Fighting Championship in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for out of area advertisement and marketing of the PFC 41 event to be held November 16, 2024. A discussion was held. There being no further comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Morgan and seconded by Commissioner Callis t o recommend approving a grant request with the Louisiana Animal Care and Control Association in an amount not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) for meals at the Louisiana Animal Care and Control Association Training to be held July 22-July 26, 2024. A discussion was held. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Patel -Yes Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- Yes There being no further comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Morgan and seconded by Commissioner Lewis to recommend approving a grant request with Southwestern Diocese Church of Christ Holliness USA in an amount not to exceed Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000) for meals at the Southwestern Diocese Convention to be held June 26- June 30, 2024. A discussion was held. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Patel -No Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- No There being no further comments, the motion failed.

It was moved by Commissioner Callis and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to recommend approving a grant request with R IRIS Playhouse in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for advertisement and out -of-market advertising of the “Soul Purpose” Stage Play to be held October 26, 2024 at the Coughlin Saunders Performing Arts Center. A discussion was held. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Patel -Yes Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- Yes There being no further comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Morgan and seconded by Commissioner Lewis to recommend approving a grant request with United Educational Missionary Baptist Association, I nc (UEMBA) in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) meals of the Louisiana Home and Foreign Missions Baptist Convention, Inc. (LHFMBC) to be held on July 28- August 1, 2024. A discussion was held. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Patel -No Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- No There being no further comments, the motion failed.

A motion to recommend approving a grant request with the Louisiana Association of Chiefs (LACP) of Police in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for meals at the LACP Annual Conference to be held July 15-18, 2024 died for lack of a motion.

There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:13 a.m.

Operations & Human Resources Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Present: Mrs. Paula Katz, Chair; Mr. Ronald Morgan; Mr. John Callis

Absent: None

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Operations and Human Resource Committee was called to order by Commissioner Katz at 9:13 a.m. Executive Director, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

There being no business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:14 a.m.

Regular Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Present: Dr. Curtis Lewis, Vice-Chair; Mrs. Paula Katz, Secretary/Treasurer; Mr. John Caroll; Mr. Chris Patel; Mr. Ronald Morgan; Mr. John Callis

Absent: Mr. Greg Upton, Chair

The monthly regular meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority was called to order by Commissioner Lewis at 9:14 a.m., Executive Director, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner Morgan and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve the June 2024 Consent Agenda. A discussion was held. There being no further discussion, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve the May 2024 Board Meeting Minutes. There being no public comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Katz to approve the May 23, 2024 Special Call Meeting Minutes. There being no public comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to approve the April 16, 2024 Meeting Minutes.

It was moved by Commissioner Callis and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve the April 2024 Draft Financial Statements.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Katz to approve the April 30, 2024 Special call Meeting Minutes.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Katz to approve the March 2024 Meeting Minutes.

Item number 9, a motion to approve the February 13, 2024 meeting minutes was tabled.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to approve the February 14, 2024 Meeting Minutes.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to approve the February 19, 2024 Meeting Minutes. It was moved by Commissioner Callis and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve a Cooperative Endeavor with the Alexandria and Conventions & Visitors Bureau in an amount not to exceed Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) for meals and advertising & Marketing of the 2024 Future Farmers of America Conference. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Upton- Absent Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Katz-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Patel -Yes Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- Yes There being no further comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion to approve a grant request with Peak Fighting Championship in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for out of area advertisement and marketing of the PFC 41 event to be held November 16, 2024 was tabled until July 2024 meeting.

It was moved by Commissioner Callis and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve a grant request with the Louisiana Animal Care and Control Association in an amount not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) for meals at the Louisiana Animal Care and Control Association Training to be held July 22-July 26, 2024. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Upton- Absent Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Katz-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Patel -Yes Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- Yes There being no further comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to approve a grant request with Southwestern Diocese Church of Christ Holliness USA in an amount not to exceed Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000) for meals at the Southwestern Diocese Convention to be held June 26- June 30, 2024. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Upton- Absent Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Katz-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Patel -No Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- No There being no further comments, the motion passed by 4 votes.

It was moved by Commissioner Callis and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to approve a grant request with RRIS Playhouse in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for out-of-market advertising of the “Soul Purpose” Stage Play to be held October 26, 224 at the Coughlin Saunders Performing Arts Center. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Upton- Absent Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Katz-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Patel -Yes Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- Yes There being no further comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Morgan to approve a grant request with United Educational Missionary Baptist Association, Inc (UEMBA) in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) meals of the Louisiana Home and Foreign Missions Baptist Convention, Inc. (LHFMBC) to be held on July 28- August 1, 2024. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Upton- Absent Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Katz-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Patel -No Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- No There being no further comments, the motion passed by 4 votes.

It was moved by Commissioner Katz and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve a grant request with the Louisiana Association of Chiefs (LACP) of Police in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for meals at the LACP Annual Conference to be held July 1518, 2024. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Upton- Absent Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Katz-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Patel -Yes Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- No There being no further comments, the motion passed by 5 votes.

The Board held a discussion regarding the location and time of the meeting. The Executive Director will poll the commissioners to find a reasonable time and place that accommodates the entire board.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Katz to enter into Executive Session to discuss the lawsuit filed in the 9th Judicial District Court on April 19, 2024 entitled John Callis v. Greater Economic Development Authority and Angela Varnado, Suit No. 279-724. A roll vote was as follows: Commissioner Upton- Absent Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner Katz-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Patel -Yes Commissioner Morgan- Yes Commissioner Callis- Yes There being no further comments, the motion passed by unanimous vote.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:38 a.m.