June 21, 2022

Executive, Administration and Legal Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Present: Dr. Curtis Lewis, Chair, Mr. Stephen McGee, Vice- Chair; Ms. Candice Cheney, Secretary/Treasurer

Absent: None

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Executive, Administration and Legal Committee was called to order by Commissioner Lewis at 8:03 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to recommend approval of a Professional Service Agreement with Ms. Nancy Burris Perret of Burris & Associates, Inc., d/b/a MindShare in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500) to facilitate the 2022 GAEDA Strategic Retreat to be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022. A discussion was held. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to recommend accepting the Annual Audit Report for the year ended December 31, 2021, as presented by Oestriecher CPA’s and Associates. A discussion was held. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to recommend approval of the Audit Bill from Oestriecher CPA’s and Associates. A discussion was held. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to recommend approval of the May 2022 Financial Statements. A discussion was held. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Cheney and seconded by Commissioner McGee to recommend ratifying the payment of the May 2022 Accounting Bill. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Cheney and seconded by Commissioner McGee to recommend ratifying the payment of the May 2022 Legal Bill. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote. There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:31 a.m.

Governmental Relations Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Present: Ms. Candice Cheney; Mr. John Carroll

Absent: Mr. Charles Frederick Smith

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Governmental Relations Committee was called to order by Commissioner Cheney at 8:32 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to add to the agenda a motion to hear a status report from House of Representative 26th District, Edward Larvadain regarding the 2022 Legislative Session. There being no public comments, motion was added by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to hear a status report from House of Representative 26th District, Edward Larvadain regarding the 2022 Legislative Session. There being no public comments, motion was added by unanimous vote. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Committee heard a report from House of Representative 26th District, Edward Larvadain regarding the highlights of the 2022 Legislative Session.

There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:01 a.m.

Economic Development Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Present: Mr. Steven R. McGee, Chair; Dr. Curtis Lewis

Absent: Ms. Renee White-Goolsby; Mr. John Carroll

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Economic Development Committee was called to order by Commissioner McGee at 9:02 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner Snow and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to recommend not approving a grant request from Ms. Deairrah Reese requesting funds to host the 2022 Mask Off Awareness event. A discussion was held. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby- Absent Commissioner Snow-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Snow to recommend approval of a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Hustle Squad Entertainment in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) for advertising and marketing of Bulls, Bands and Barrels Feat Zach Bryan to be held on August 20, 2022, at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. A discussion was held. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby- Absent Commissioner Snow-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Snow to recommend approval of a Cooperative Agreement with the Louisiana Rural Water Association (LRWA) in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) to assist with meals at the 2022 LRWA MiniManagement Conference to be held October 17-20, 2022, at the Holiday Inn Downtown, the Hotel Bentley, and the Randolph Riverfront Center. A discussion was held. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby- Absent Commissioner Snow-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote. There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:12 a.m.

Capital Projects Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Present: Mr. Steven R. McGee, Chair; Mr. John Carroll; Ms. Trayce Snow

Absent: None

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Capital Projects Committee was called to order by Commissioner McGee at 9:13 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

The Committee heard a report from the Executive Director regarding property acquisition sites. A discussion was held. The Executive Director stated that he would be contacting members of the Capital Projects Committee in the near future to discuss further.

There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 a.m.

Operations & Human Resources Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Present: Ms. Candice Cheney, Chair

Absent: Ms. Renee White-Goolsby; Charles Frederick Smith

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Operations and Human Resource Committee was called to order by Commissioner Cheney at 9:20 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was not present.

There being no business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:21 a.m.

Regular Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Present: Dr. Curtis Lewis, Chair; Mr. Steven R. McGee, Vice-Chair Ms. Candice Cheney, Secretary/Treasurer; Mr. John Carroll; Ms. Trayce Snow

Absent: Mr. Charles Frederick Smith; Ms. Renee White-Goolsby

The monthly regular meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority was called to order by Commissioner Lewis at 9:21 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner McGee to approve the June 2022 Consent Agenda. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to approve a Professional Service Agreement with Ms. Nancy Burris Perret of Burris & Associates, Inc., d/b/a MindShare in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500) to facilitate the 2022 GAEDA Strategic Retreat to be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney- Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith- Absent Commissioner White-Goolsby- Absent Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to recommend accepting the Annual Audit Report for the year ended December 31, 2021, as presented by Oestriecher CPA’s and Associates. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Cheney and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve the Audit Bill from Oestriecher CPA’s and Associates. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney- Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith- Absent Commissioner White-Goolsby- Absent Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Snow and seconded by Commissioner McGee to not approve a grant request from Ms. Deairrah Reese requesting funds to host the 2022 Mask Off Awareness event. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney- Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith- Absent Commissioner White-Goolsby- Absent Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Hustle Squad Entertainment in the amount of TwentyFive Thousand Dollars ($25,000) for advertising and marketing of Bulls, Bands and Barrels Feat Zach Bryan to be held on August 20, 2022, at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney- Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith- Absent Commissioner White-Goolsby- Absent Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Cheney and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve a Cooperative Agreement with the Louisiana Rural Water Association (LRWA) in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) to assist with meals at the 2022 LRWA Mini-Management Conference to be held October 17-20, 2022, at the Holiday Inn Downtown, the Hotel Bentley, and the Randolph Riverfront Center. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis- Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney- Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith- Absent Commissioner White-Goolsby- Absent Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Executive Director reported to the Board that the Authority may have to go before the Bond Commission to borrow money for property acquisition at some time. A discussion was held.

Commissioners thanked staff for their work during the Audit and throughout the year.

Legal Counsel reiterated to staff the reasons a governing body can enter into Executive Session. She further elaborated on the Cabela’s Test, which is the three-prong test developed by the AG following the Louisiana Supreme Court’s Cabela’s decision that states all three of the following elements must be met for a public entity to properly expend or transfer public funds or property. A discussion was held.

The Accountant commented that there are changes to items in the Agreed Upon Procedures every year, but that GAEDA will be in compliance with the new items that were added this year and found in the audit.

The Executive Administrator commented that tickets for the 2022 Legislative Luncheon have been purchased for Commissioners who wish to attend. She further commented that Commissioners should visit the Ethic’s Website to ensure that they have completed all required training. She also stated that all letters regarding the Executive Sessions and the Cabela’s Test will be uploaded to the Board Portal.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:37 a.m.