MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE CADDO PARISH COMMISSION HELD ON THE 14th DAY OF JANUARY, 2026   The Caddo Parish Commission met in a Regular Session, on the above date, at 3:30 p.m., in the Government Chambers, with Mrs. Gage-Watts, presiding, and the following members in attendance constituting a quorum: Commissioners Atkins, Burrell, Cothran, Gage-Watts, Jones, Lazarus, Thomas, G. Young, and J. Young (9). ABSENT: Blake, Epperson, and Kracman (3). Mr. Lazarus gave the invocation, and Mr. J. Young led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance. There were no Citizens Comments, so the Commission moved onto New Business. NEW BUSINESS • Discussion of committee descriptions with expected recommendations to be made for possible edits to the Caddo Parish Commission By-Laws Mr. Cothran asked for a description of each committee. Commission Clerk, Jeff Everson, gave the following explanations: Alcoholic Beverage Committee—The purpose of the alcoholic beverage permit committee shall be to hold hearings and recommend penalties for violations of parish ordinances on alcoholic beverage permits and to consider and make recommendations for changes in the alcoholic beverage ordinances of the Parish. American Rescue Plan Committee - This committee formed to address items directly related to the Federal government’s extensive pandemic response legislative package known as the American Rescue Plan. (Continued ad hoc Committee- not in bylaws) Animal Services Committee To this committee shall be referred, legislation relating to the following subjects: creation and modification of Animal and Fowl ordinances. Appropriations Committee- To this committee shall be referred legislation relating to the following subjects: appropriation of parish funds from the Riverboat Fund; the creation or modification of any special fund in the parish treasury to which proceeds from parish taxes, fees, or other charges are dedicated; budgetary requirements and procedures; comprehensive parish capital budget. Audit & Finance Committee- This committee shall make a recommendation regarding approval of the comprehensive internal audit process to the Commission body no later than the first regular February meeting of each year. The Administrator and Director of Finance shall also present an overview of the financial matters of the Parish to this committee on a quarterly basis and this committee shall make recommendations to the Commission body regarding any budget amendments requested by agencies or departments included in the Parish budget. Code Enforcement And Property Standards Committee To this committee shall be referred all legislation relating to the following subjects: all matters related to the dereliction of public and private lands within the parish outside incorporated municipalities; building code modifications, all matters related to subdivision creation; all matters related to health and safety issues effecting the public. Commission Clerk And Parish Administrator Evaluation Committee To this committee shall be referred the annual evaluation of Caddo Parish Administrator and Caddo Parish Commission Clerk; setting forth annual recommendation for pay raises and other matters. Economic Development Committee legislation relating to the following subjects: appropriation of funds from the parish’s video poker proceeds; Caddo Parish industrial inducement; economic development districts and special industrial taxing districts, industrial parks and enhancement avenues for new and existing businesses within the Parish of Caddo. This committee also features a sub-committee for Film & Entertainment. Juvenile Justice & Related Services Committee To this committee shall be referred legislation relating to the following subjects: matters related to Juvenile Court, and Juvenile detention in Caddo Parish; matters regarding community and faith based juvenile programs in the parish. Long Range Planning & Special Projects Needs Committee This committee shall be referred legislation relating to the following subjects: matters related to issues not covered in the other nine standing committees, including but not limited to long range planning, alcohol licenses, constables and justices of the peace, elections, census, facilities and space utilization, etc. and all matters related to disaster relief and emergency response. Natural Resources Committee To this committee shall be referred legislation relating to the following subjects: natural resources generally; mineral resources of parish owned lands; all matters relating to parish parks and recreation and parish waterways. Personnel Policies & Procedures Committee To this committee shall be referred legislation regarding matters encompassed by the Parish Charter, Commission By-Laws, and Parish Personnel Policies. Property Standards Hearing Committee The Property Standards Hearing Committee was created by Ordinance 6225. The purpose of the Property Standards Committee shall be to conduct hearings and recommend actions to the full commission sitting as the property standards board. The committee shall have authority to conduct hearings regarding violations of this Chapter and to make recommendations to the full Commission sitting as the Board Property Standards matters. (needs to be added into by-laws) Veterans Affairs & Services To this committee shall be referred legislation relating to the following subjects: matters related to Veteran issues, including parish veteran affairs offices, issues effecting veteran care, and support for various programs veterans’ programs throughout the parish. Public Safety CommitteeWas created in January 2023 to consider funding for the public safety related operations such as the crime lab, detainee healthcare and public defender’s office. To this committee shall be referred commission action related to public safety matters. Such activities include, but not limited to, regulation of alcohol sales, the issuance of alcohol licenses (permits), and to hold hearings and recommend penalties for violations of alcoholic beverage permits issued outside of the Parish’s incorporated areas. This committee will also be referred, legislation relating to the creation and modification of Animal and Fowl ordinances and the coordination of disaster response, emergency relief, coordination with Constables and Justices of the Peace, the Public Defender’s Office, Crime Lab, and coordinating efforts between relevant criminal justice organizations to address the expense of pre-trial detainee healthcare, and reducing overcrowding in parish detention centers. Rural Development Committee To this committee shall be referred items related to utility districts, and issues related to roads, water, sewer, and emergency services in those areas outside of the parish’s incorporated areas. Government Plaza Joint Committee The Government Plaza Chamber Standing Committee is established to oversee the operation of the Chamber and adjoining conference rooms and to make recommendations to the Caddo Parish Commission and the Shreveport City Council relative to the use and operation of the chamber and conference rooms. The committee shall recommend to their respective bodies that, to ensure that the chamber and its electronic feature were properly maintained and available to the governmental entities when needed. To ensure internal security, joint rules should be adopted by the Commission and the Council regulating the use of the chamber in Government Plaza. (By-Laws- Article XIII, Rule II) It was moved by Mr. Thomas, seconded by Mrs. Gage-Watts, to accept the committee descriptions as presented by the President. Motion carried unanimously with Commissioners Blake, Epperson, and Kracman being absent. There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 12:18 p.m. /s/Michelle Nations Michelle Nations Assistant Commission Clerk /s/Gregory Young Gregory Young President 12043670 2/4/26 ($197.54)