§2740.62. East Feliciana Parish Economic Development District

A. Creation. (1) The East Feliciana Parish Economic Development District, hereinafter referred to as the "district," is hereby created and is declared to be a body politic and political subdivision of the state, as defined in Article VI, Section 44 of the Constitution of Louisiana. Pursuant to Article VI, Sections 19 and 21 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the governing authority of said district, is hereby granted all of the rights, powers, development purposes, including but not limited to the power of taxation, the power to issue bonds and certificate anticipation notes, and refunding bonds, subject to the limitations hereinafter provided.

(2) The district created by this Section is established for the primary object and purpose of promoting and encouraging economic and industrial development and tourism opportunities, stimulating the economy through renewed commerce, industry, research, and tourism, and for the utilization and development of natural and human resources of the area by providing job opportunities.

B. Boundaries. The district shall be coterminous with the boundaries of East Feliciana Parish.

C. Governance. (1) The district shall be governed by a thirteen-member board of commissioners. All commissioners shall be qualified voters and taxpayers within the limits of the district during their term of office and shall reside or shall have their principal place of business or profession in or own property in the district. The members shall be appointed as follows:

(a) Two members of the board shall be members of the East Feliciana Parish Police Jury.

(b) Two members of the board shall be members of the East Feliciana Parish School Board.

(c) One member of the board shall be a member of the municipal government of Clinton, or their designee.

(d) One member of the board shall be a member of the municipal government of Jackson, or their designee.

(e) One member of the board shall be a member of the municipal government of Norwood, or their designee.

(f) One member of the board shall be a member of the municipal government of Slaughter, or their designee.

(g) One member of the board shall be a member of the municipal government of Wilson, or their designee.

(h) One member of the board shall be appointed by the state representatives representing the parish.

(i) One member of the board shall be appointed by the state senator representing the parish.

(j) Two members of the board shall be appointed at large by the first eleven members of the board.

(2) A commissioner's term shall be two years from date of appointment. A commissioner shall serve until his successor has been appointed and qualified. If a board member is absent for three consecutive meetings, the board shall determine by majority vote whether to declare the board seat vacant.

(3) Any vacancy during an unexpired term shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the remainder of the term.

D. Administration. (1) As soon as practical after its appointment, the board shall meet and elect from its number an executive committee, which shall include a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, a treasurer, and three other officers selected from the board of commissioners. The officers shall serve for terms of one year each and may be reappointed by a majority vote of the entire board. The executive committee shall exercise all powers of the board of commissioners between meetings, including budget expenditures only when there is a quorum of the executive committee. A majority of the members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum. A report of any action taken between board meetings shall be made to the full board of commissioners at the next scheduled meeting of the board.

(2) The duties of the officers shall be fixed by bylaws adopted by the board. It shall hold regular meetings as shall be provided in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at such times and places within or without the district as may be prescribed in the bylaws.

(3) The minute books and archives of the board shall be maintained by the board's secretary. The monies and funds of the district in the official custody and control of the board's treasurer shall be deposited, expended, and accounted for as 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 accordance with the Public Records Law.

(5) The members of the board shall serve without compensation; however, they may receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred while attending to the business of the board or the district only when these expenses have been pre-approved by the executive committee.

(6) Board meeting locations shall be held on a rotating basis in each of the five municipalities. Location will be voted on by the board for the next month's meeting. Meetings will take place on the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The board may vote for a change in the date due to conflict with the meetings of other boards. All board members must be notified and informed of any change of date or location.

E. Prohibited activities. (1) Commissioners and members of their immediate family and employees of the district are prohibited from bidding on or entering into any contract or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the district. If any commissioner or employee of the district owns or controls any interest, direct or indirect, in any property later included in any project under the jurisdiction of the district or has interest in any contract for materials or services to be furnished or used in connection with any project, he shall disclose the same in writing to the board. Failure to disclose shall constitute misconduct in the office. After disclosure a commissioner shall not vote on any issue or expenditure of funds relating to such property or interest.

(2) A commissioner may be removed from office for just cause, but only after the commissioner has been given a copy of the charges against him and has had an opportunity to be heard in person or through counsel before the board.

F. Development plan. (1)(a) The board shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan or plans, hereafter in this Section referred to as a "development plan", specifying the public improvements, facilities, and services proposed to be furnished, constructed, or acquired for the district. The board may conduct hearings, publish notice, and disseminate information with respect to the development plan.

(b) Any development plan may specify and encompass any public services, capital improvements, and facilities, which the parish governing authority is authorized to undertake, furnish, or provide under the constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, and such specified public services, improvements, and facilities shall be special and in addition to all services, improvements, and facilities, which the parish governing authority is furnishing or providing or may be obligated to furnish or provide within the district.

(c) Any development plan shall include the following:

(i) An estimate of the annual and total cost of acquiring, constructing, or providing the services, improvements, or facilities set forth therein, including the operating expenses of the district.

(ii) An estimate of the total number of mills required to be levied each year on the taxable immovable property within the district in order to provide the funds required for the implementation of the development plan.

(iii) The proportion of the tax to be levied on the taxable immovable property within the district which is to be set aside and dedicated to paying the cost of capital improvements or paying the cost of debt service on any bonds to be issued to pay the cost of capital improvements, such proportions, in each case, to be expressed in numbers of mills.

(2) The board shall submit the development plan to the parish planning commission and economic development committee. The planning commission and economic development committee shall review the development plan and determine if it is consistent with the comprehensive plan for the parish. The planning commission and economic development committee, within thirty days following receipt of the plan, shall submit to the police jury its written opinion as to whether or not the development plan or any portion or detail thereof is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan for the parish and its written comments and recommendations regarding approval of the development plan.

(a) The police jury shall review and consider the development plan and the planning commission's comments and recommendations. It may, by a majority vote of all its members, adopt the plan as originally submitted or alter or modify the plan or any portion or detail thereof.

(b) If the development plan as originally submitted by the board is adopted, it shall become final and conclusive and may thereafter be implemented. If the police jury alters or modifies the development plan, it shall submit the altered or modified plan to the board for its concurrence or rejection.

(c) The board may concur in the modified development plan by a majority vote of all of its members. If the board votes to concur in the modified development plan, the plan shall become final and conclusive and may thereafter be implemented. If the board does not concur in the modified development plan, it shall notify the police jury in writing of its decision, and any subsequent submission of a development plan shall be in accordance with procedures established in this Subsection for the original submission.

(d) Thereafter, the board may prepare or cause to be prepared modifications to the development plan or plans and submit them to the planning commission and economic development committee in accordance with the same procedure prescribed for adoption of the original plan. The planning commission and economic development committee shall submit the proposed modifications and its written comments and recommendations to the police jury for its adoption, modification, or rejection in the manner and with the same effect as provided with respect to the original development plan.

(e) If the police jury fails to respond in writing to the original development plan or a modified development plan within sixty days of its submission, it will be considered approved by the jury and will become final and conclusive and may thereafter be implemented.

(f) Any and all parts of a development plan that come under the authority of the school board must be submitted to the school board for its approval or disapproval. The school board shall review the development plan and determine if it is consistent with the laws and rules of the school board. The school board within thirty days following receipt of the plan shall submit its written opinion as to whether or not the development plan or any portion or detail thereof is inconsistent with laws and rules of the school board and its written comments and recommendations regarding approval of the development plan.

(g) If the development plan as originally submitted by the board is adopted, it shall become final and conclusive and may thereafter be implemented. If the school board alters or modifies the development plan, it shall submit the altered or modified plan to the board for its concurrence or rejection.

(h) The board may concur in the modified development plan by a majority vote of all of its members. If the board votes to concur in the modified development plan, the plan shall become final and conclusive and may thereafter be implemented. If the board does not concur in the modified plan, it shall notify the school board in writing of its decision, and any subsequent submission of a development plan shall be in accordance with the procedures established in this Subsection for the original submission.

(i) Thereafter, the board may prepare or cause to be prepared modifications to the development plan or plans and submit them to the school board in accordance with the same procedure prescribed for adoption of the original plan. The school board shall submit the proposed modifications and its written comments and recommendations for its adoption, modification, or rejection in the manner and with the same effect as with respect to the original development plan.

(j) If the school board fails to respond in writing to the original development plan or a modified development plan within sixty days of its submission it will be considered approved by the school board and will become final and conclusive and may thereafter be implemented.

G. Employees and professional services plan. (1) The board may prepare and submit a plan or plans, hereafter referred to in this Subsection as an "employment plan", setting forth its intention to employ or otherwise retain the services of professional consultants, experts, and other advisors and personnel as it shall deem to be necessary or convenient to assist in preparation of a plan for the orderly and efficient development of the services and improvements specified in the development plan and in implementation of the development plan.

(2) The employment plan shall specify the services to be rendered by such advisors and personnel, an aggregate estimate of the proposed compensation of such advisors and personnel, and an estimate of other expenses required for the preparation of the plan for the orderly and efficient development of services and improvements and the implementation of the development plan.

H. Termination. If no development plan is finally and conclusively adopted within four years of June 28, 2005, all power and authority conferred hereby shall lapse, the district shall be dissolved, and all power and authority incident thereto shall become null and void as a matter of law; however, in such event, all obligations incurred by the district shall survive and shall be fully enforceable in accordance with their terms. The board shall notify in writing the Louisiana State Law Institute if a development plan is not adopted within four years of June 28, 2005.

I. Services and improvements. (1) All services to be furnished within the district pursuant to any development plan finally and conclusively adopted may be furnished, supplied, and administered by the parish through its regularly constituted departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and instrumentalities. All capital improvements and facilities to be acquired, constructed, or provided within the district may likewise be acquired, constructed, or provided by the parish through its regularly constituted departments, agencies, boards, commissions and instrumentalities, it being the intention of this Paragraph to avoid duplication of administrative and management efforts and expense in the implementation of the development plan.

(2) In order to provide services or provide, construct, or acquire capital improvements or facilities, the board may enter into intergovernmental local service contracts with the parish.

J. Taxing authority. (1) The district, as a special district and political subdivision of the state, may levy and collect special ad valorem taxes as provided in this Subsection. Any such tax shall be collected in the same manner and at the same time as all other ad valorem taxes levied in the parish are collected.

(2)(a) After a development plan or an employment plan has been finally adopted, the governing authority of the district may levy an ad valorem tax on immovable property within the district at a rate sufficient to fund the activities and expenses provided for therein. The tax shall be levied for a term not to exceed twenty-five years. The proceeds of the tax shall be used exclusively for the purposes and benefit of the district in accordance with the plan or plans.

(b) No tax authorized by this Subsection shall be levied until a proposition authorizing its levy and stating the rate and the duration of the tax has been submitted to the electors of the district at an election held in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code and such proposition has been approved by a majority of the electors of the district who vote on the proposition at such election. The district may call such election subject to approval of the State Bond Commission.

(3) The avails of the taxes authorized by this Subsection shall be paid over by the tax collector to the parish finance department, day by day as they are collected, and deposited to a special account established for the district.

(4) It is expressly declared that the special taxes authorized by this Subsection are limited to immovable property, and nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to authorize the levying of a tax upon movable property of any kind or description whatsoever, whether corporeal or incorporeal.

K. Authority to incur debt. (1)(a) Subject to the provisions of this Subsection, the governing authority of the district may fund the avails of the tax authorized by Subsection J of this Section into bonds or other instruments of indebtedness for the exclusive benefit of the district. The principal of, the premium, if any, and interest on the bonds or other instruments of indebtedness shall be payable solely from the proceeds of such tax. The bonds shall not constitute general obligations of the parish, the district, or the state of Louisiana. The outstanding principal amount shall never exceed twenty million dollars and shall not exceed the principal amount, which may be serviced in principal and interest from seventy-five percent of the avails estimated to be available in the first and each succeeding year that there are outstanding bonds. The bonds shall bear such rate or rates of interest and, except as otherwise provided by this Subsection, shall be in such form, terms, and denominations, and be redeemable at such times and places, within a period not exceeding twenty-five years from the date thereof, as may be provided for in the district's resolution providing for their issuance.

(b) Bonds issued under the provisions of this Section do not constitute or create an obligation, either general or special, debt, liability, or moral obligation of East Feliciana Parish, or the state of Louisiana within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory provision whatsoever. The bonds shall be obligations of the district only, payable solely from the revenues pledged therefor as provided in Subparagraph (1)(a) of this Subsection. In no event shall bonds issued under this Section constitute or give rise to pecuniary liability of East Feliciana Parish or the state of Louisiana, nor shall the district have the power to pledge the general credit or taxing power of East Feliciana Parish, or the state of Louisiana for the payment of such bonds. Neither the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of East Feliciana Parish, or the state of Louisiana is pledged for payment of bonds issued under this Section. All bonds issued under this Section shall contain a statement on their face substantially to the effect that neither the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of East Feliciana Parish, or the state of Louisiana, is pledged to the payment of the principal or the interest on such bonds.

(c) No bonds shall be issued unless a proposition authorizing the issuance of bonds and stating the maximum amount of bonds to be issued and the maximum period over which the bonds will be outstanding has been submitted to the district electors at an election held in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code and such proposition has been approved by a majority of the district electors who vote on the proposition. The district may call such election subject to approval of the State Bond Commission.

(2) The bonds shall be signed by the chairman of the district governing authority and attested by the district's treasurer or secretary; however, in the discretion of the board, one of the signatures may be in facsimile. If any officer whose signature appears upon a bond or coupon ceases to be an officer before delivery of the bonds or coupons to the purchaser, his signature or countersignature shall nevertheless be valid for all purposes.

(3)(a) The resolution of the board authorizing the issuance and sale of such bonds and fixing the form and details thereof may contain such other provisions as the board may deem to be necessary or advisable to enhance the marketability and acceptability thereof by purchasers and investors, including but not limited to covenants with bondholders setting forth:

(i) Conditions and limitations on the issuance of additional bonds constituting a lien and charge on the avails of the special tax levied on immovable property within the district pari passu with bonds theretofore issued and outstanding.

(ii) The creation of reserves for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds.

(b) The bonds and the interest thereon shall be exempt from all taxation levied for state or parish, municipal, or other local purposes.

(c) Savings banks, tutors of minors, curators of interdicts, trustees, and other fiduciaries are authorized to invest the funds in their hands in the bonds issued pursuant to this Subsection.

L. General powers and duties. The governing authority of the district shall have the following additional powers and duties:

(1) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business.

(2) To adopt an official seal and alter the seal at its pleasure.

(3) To maintain an office at such place as it may designate and for such purposes to occupy space as may be made available by the parish governing authority.

(4) To sue and to be sued.

(5) To receive, administer, and comply with the conditions and requirements respecting any gift, grant, guarantee, subsidy, or donation of any property or money.

(6) To acquire, by any lawful means, property, including rights-of-way, and to hold and use any franchise or property, whether real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, necessary or desirable for carrying out the objects and purposes of the district.

(7) To borrow money and issue bonds or obligations of the district in the manner provided by this Section and to refund the same.

(8) To make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary in the exercise of the powers and functions of the board.

(9) To pledge or assign any monies, fees, charges, or other revenues and any proceeds derived by the district from the sale of bonds and other contracts or rights of the district.

(10) Subject to limitations otherwise provided by this Section, to employ such employees, to make use of such persons as the parish governing authority may make available to the district for its use, and to employ or otherwise retain the services of accountants, financial advisors, underwriters, attorneys, engineers, and other consultants as may be required, in the judgment of the governing authority, and to fix and pay their compensation.

(11) To exercise any and all other powers necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth in this Section.

Acts 2005, No. 155, §1, eff. June 28, 2005.