§2740.26. Louis Armstrong Park Authority and Historic Jazz District; creation, composition, and powers

A. The area of the city of New Orleans bounded on the East by Esplanade Avenue, on the South by Rampart Street, on the West by Canal Street, and on the North by North Claiborne Avenue, including the contiguous property on both sides of these streets, is hereby created and designated as the Louis Armstrong Park Authority and Historic Jazz District, hereinafter referred to as the "authority", with the power to exercise jurisdiction within the said area.

B. The authority is established for the primary object and purpose of acquiring ownership, leasing, or entering into a management agreement for the Louis Armstrong Park facility from or with the city of New Orleans. Additionally, the authority is authorized to promote, encourage, and enhance the park and all areas within the boundaries of the authority through renewed commerce, industry, and for the utilization and development of the human resources of the area. The objectives of the authority may include such matters as music, housing, economic development, skills and technical training, the cultural and historic value of the area, tourism, entertainment, health, and day care facilities.

C. In order for the orderly development and effectuation of the services which may be furnished by the authority and to provide for the representation in the affairs of the authority of those persons and interests immediately concerned with and affected by the purposes and development of the authority, there is hereby authorized to be created a board of commissioners for the authority, hereinafter referred to as the "board".

D.(1) The board shall be composed of twenty-five members, all of whom shall be residents of the parish of Orleans. The members shall be appointed as follows:

(a) Four members of the board shall be appointed by the Treme Community Improvement Association, Inc.

(b) One member shall be appointed by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Inc.

(c) One member shall be appointed by the Congo Square Foundation, Inc.

(d) One member shall be appointed by the New Orleans Musicians Organized, Inc.

(e) One member shall be appointed by the Women Entrepreneurs for Economic Development, Inc.

(f) One member shall be appointed by the St. Bernard/N. Claiborne Merchants Association.

(g) One member shall be appointed by the Treme Community Education Program from a list of nominations by the Treme Brass Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and the New Birth Brass Band.

(h) One member shall be appointed by the Treme Community Education Program.

(i) One member shall be appointed by the Kumbuka African Drum and Dance Collective.

(j) One member shall be appointed by the Treme Community Education Program, who shall be a tavern or jazz club operator.

(k) One member shall be appointed from a Mardi Gras Indians Tribe by the Tamborine and Fan Club, Inc.

(l) One member shall be appointed by the UMOJA.

(m) One member of the board shall be appointed by the Tamborine and Fan Club.

(n) One member shall be the state senator from the 4th Senatorial District or his designee.

(o) One member shall be the state representative from the 96th Representative District, or his designee.

(p) One member shall be the state senator from the 3rd Senatorial District or his designee.

(q) One member shall be the state representative from the 93rd Representative District, or his designee.

(r) One member shall be appointed by the Downtown Development District.

(s) One member shall be the mayor of the city of New Orleans, or his designee.

(t) One member shall be the governor, or his designee.

(u) One member shall be the city council member from District C, or his designee.

(v) One member shall be appointed by the New Orleans Music Commission.

(2)(a) The terms of members of the board shall be three years, and upon expiration of a term of office, the successor shall be appointed in accordance with the procedures herein prescribed for the appointment of the original members. Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified. The organizations listed above who are authorized to appoint board members shall notify the secretary of state in writing of the name and address of the person appointed.

(b) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the term for which a member of the board has been appointed shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term.

(3) Any public official authorized to appoint a member of the board may, in lieu of such appointment, serve as a member of the board.

E.(1) As soon as practical after their appointment, the board shall meet and elect by a majority vote of the membership of the board a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as it may deem appropriate.

(2) The minute books and archives of the board shall be maintained by the board's secretary. The monies, funds, and accounts of the authority shall be in the official custody and control of the board's treasurer.

(3) The duties of the officers shall be fixed by bylaws adopted by the board. The board shall adopt such rules as it deems necessary or advisable for conducting its business and affairs and, to the extent that funds are available, shall hire such assistants and employees as are needed to assist the board in the performance of its duties. It shall hold regular meetings as shall be provided in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at such time and places within or outside the authority as may be prescribed in the bylaws.

(4) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The board shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall make them available to the public in conformance with law.

(5) The members of the board shall serve without compensation; however, if funds are available they may receive a travel allowance as reimbursement for expenses incurred while attending to the business of the board or the authority.

F. The authority shall have the power to cooperate with and to engage in cooperative endeavors with other persons and entities as provided by Article VII, Section 21(H) of the Constitution of Louisiana to provide a means by which owners of such properties who expand, restore, improve, or develop them may pay ad valorem taxes for five years based upon the assessed valuation of the property for the year prior to the commencement of the expansion, restoration, improvement, or development.

G. Consistent with the above objectives of the authority and in order to provide growth and development of the authority and the prosperity and welfare of the people in order to expand, restore, improve, and develop existing commercial structures within the authority and to encourage the fullest use of underutilized resources, and the enhancement of the tax base and in order to improve communication and coordination among the economic and human development efforts of state, federal, and local governments and to encourage maximum local participation in the development and coordination of federal, state, regional, and local programs in Louisiana and in order to better coordinate state plans and programs with one another, as well as with programs in the federal, regional, local, and private sectors, the board may:

(1) Seek the designation of the park as a national park in any way it deems appropriate, including communication and cooperation with any state or federal authority or commission such as the Federal Jazz Study Commission. Additionally, the authority may seek designation as the federal or state management authority for such park.

(2) Make recommendations concerning natural and environmental factors, trends of industrial, population, or other developments; the habits and lifestyles of the people of the authority; the relation of land use within the authority as it relates to the city as a whole; areas for the concentration of wholesale, retail, business, and other commercial uses; and areas for recreational uses, and for spaces and areas of mixed uses.

(3) Make recommendations concerning the need for and the proposed general location of public and private works and facilities, including but not limited to pollution control facilities.

(4) Make or assist in studies and investigations of the resources of the authority and the existing and emerging problems of industry, commerce, transportation, population, housing, public service affecting the redevelopment of the authority, and in making such studies to seek the cooperation and collaboration of the appropriate state departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of federal, state, and local government, educational institutions, research organizations, whether public or private, and of civic groups and private persons and organizations.

(5) Prepare and from time to time revise inventory listings of the authority's resources and of the major public and private works and facilities of all kinds which are deemed necessary to the redevelopment of the authority.

(6) Cooperate and confer with, and upon request supply information to federal agencies, and to local and regional agencies created pursuant to a federal program or which receive federal support, and shall cooperate and confer, as far as possible, with economic development authorities in and outside of the state.

(7) Advise and supply information, as far as available, to civic groups and private persons and organizations who may request such information or advice, and who study or otherwise concern themselves with the authority's problems and development of the fields of business and industry, labor, natural resources, urban growth, housing and public service activities such as public health and education, insofar as such problems and development may be relevant to the authority's redevelopment.

(8) Provide information to officials of departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of state and local government and to the public at large, in order to foster public awareness and understanding of the objectives of the authority in order to stimulate public interest and participation in the orderly, integrated development of the authority.

(9) Accept and receive, in furtherance of its functions, funds, grants, and services from the federal government or its agencies, from departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of state, parish, municipal, or local government, or from private or civic sources.

(10) Solicit the assistance and active cooperation of industry and private civic organizations which are active in anti-litter and recycling efforts to assist in the control and reduction of litter within the boundaries of the authority. The authority may also encourage industry and private civic organizations to participate in the "adopt-a-road" program as provided in R.S. 25:1114 for the purpose of controlling litter along the public roads in the authority.

(11) Hold public hearings and sponsor public forums whenever it deems necessary or useful in the execution of its functions.

(12) Contract with the city of New Orleans for the purchase or lease-management of any parks within the boundaries of the authority and to assess an admission fee regarding any such park.

(13) Seek the issuance of revenue bonds through appropriate public entities.

(14) Exercise all other powers necessary and proper for the discharge of its duties.

H. No provision of this Section shall be interpreted so as to grant the authority any powers with regard to land use, zoning, or taxation.

Acts 1992, No. 719, §1; Acts 1997, No. 153, §1.