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Metropolitan Council
About the Metropolitan Council
The legislative branch of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge government is the Metropolitan Council. The Metropolitan Council has twelve members elected from single-member districts. The districts overlap the Baton Rouge city limits and the parish ward lines.
All Metropolitan Council members are elected for four-year terms. The next Metropolitan Council member election will be in the fall of 2024. All members must be qualified voters of the parish and of the district that they represent. The members of the Metropolitan Council are sworn in on January 2nd following the election in the Metropolitan Council Chambers. After the members take the oath of office, there is an organizational meeting during which President Pro Tempore is selected by a majority vote of the Metropolitan Council members for a four-year term.
No member may hold any other public office and cannot be appointed to any public office for a period of two years after their service on the Metropolitan Council concludes.
The Metropolitan Council also serves as the governing authority of several other political subdivisions and agencies, including, but not limited to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sewerage Commission and the Greater Baton Rouge Airport Authority.
Meetings
Regular Metropolitan Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 4:00 pm. The Metropolitan Council Zoning Committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm for the purpose of conducting public hearings and considering items related to planning and zoning. All Metropolitan Council meetings are limited to four hours from the time the chair calls the meeting to order. A meeting may be extended for a specific amount of time, not to exceed an aggregate of thirty minutes beyond the four-hour limit. In order to conduct business at any meeting, a quorum of the members of the Metropolitan Council must be present.
Email Public Comments
Members of the public who wish to submit comments electronically may access the online comment form.
The Metropolitan Council E-Commenting Policy
Updated July 21, 2021
Metropolitan Council
City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge
E-Commenting Policy for Public Hearing Items
Pursuant to Ordinance 17952
The agenda for each Metropolitan Council meeting will be published by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding the meeting in the Agenda Center (under the Metropolitan Council tab).
Public comments must be submitted electronically on the E-Public Comment form.
Public comments will be accepted from the time the agenda is posted on the brla.gov website until 30 minutes before each meeting begins.
Each public comment submission must contain all of the following:
(i) the commenter’s first and last name
(ii) the commenter’s address
(iii) the agenda item number to which the comment pertains and whether the comment is submitted in favor of the item or opposed to the item, or for informational purposes only.
All emailed public comments will be provided to the Metropolitan Council members prior to the meeting. The comments will not be read aloud during the public hearing for each item but will be acknowledged by the number of comments in favor of or opposed to the item.
No member of the public may submit more than one written comment per agenda item.
Regular Meetings
- 4 p.m.
- 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month
- Council Chambers
222 Saint Louis Street
Room 348
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
-
New Baton Rouge Street Name Unveiling
East Washington will officially become Lorri Burgess Avenue, named for the late Metro Councilwoman. Read on... -
Metropolitan Councilmembers Hosting Public Meetings on the Proposed Stormwater Utility Fee
Representatives from the Mayor-President’s office will present an overview of the proposed Stormwater Utility Fee at area libraries. Read on... -
Mayor Broome Secures additional American Rescue Plan Funds for East Baton Rouge Parish
Initiatives include upgrades for fire districts and the Sheriff's Office. Read on...
Agendas & Minutes
Agendas are available by the Friday prior to the Regular meetings and Zoning meetings. The minutes for each meeting are available following approval. View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes.
Live Stream
View live stream videos of Metropolitan Council meetings.
Members
Overview
The Metropolitan Council acts as the governing authority for the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge. Its authority is exercised over the City and Parish General Funds, all districts created by the Metropolitan Council, the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sewerage Control Commission, and the Greater Baton Rouge Parking Authority. The Council acts as the official policy-making board for all of the above. The Plan of Government requires that the Metropolitan Council hold meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. The Metropolitan Council also holds the Zoning meetings on the third Wednesday of each month and and special meetings when properly called in accordance with law.
Addressing the METROPOLITAN Council
Citizens may speak during Public Hearings at Metropolitan Council meetings by completing a Request to Speak Form (PDF) and presenting it to the Public Information Coordinator near the podium prior to the start of the meeting before 4:00 p.m. Groups that wish to address the same issue are encouraged to select a spokesperson. Each citizen will be given three minutes to speak.
Mission Statement
To establish policy for the city, the parish, and the districts under its authority to adopt the annual budgets for the City and Parish General Funds and all districts requiring such action of the Council to appoint the members of various boards and commissions, as necessary and to provide for the continued growth of East Baton Rouge Parish through establishment of zoning policy and regulations.
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Metropolitan Council
Physical Address
222 Saint Louis Street
Room 364
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: 225-389-3123Fax: 225-389-3127
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- What are some of the things the Metropolitan Council is responsible for?
- What do Metro Council Members earn for their role on the Council?
- What is the Mayor Pro Tem?
- Where and when does the Metro Council meet?
- How can the community participate in Metro Council meetings?
- Do we have term limits in East Baton Rouge Parish?
- How do I reach my Metro Council Member?