§9091.24. University Neighborhood Security and Improvement District

A. Creation. There is hereby created within the parish of Orleans, as more specifically provided in Subsection B of this Section, a body politic and corporate which shall be known as the University Neighborhood Security and Improvement District, hereinafter referred to as the "district". The district shall be a political subdivision of the state as defined in the Constitution of Louisiana.

B. Boundaries. The boundaries of the district shall be that area within and including the following perimeter streets and avenues: Calhoun Street, downtown side, from Saint Charles Avenue to Freret Street; Freret Street, river side, from Calhoun Street to State Street; State Street from Freret Street to Saint Charles Avenue; Saint Charles Avenue, lake side, from State Street to Calhoun Street and all of Everett Place and 5940 Freret Street.

C. Purpose. The district is established for the objects of promoting and encouraging security in the area included within the district and promoting and encouraging the beautification and overall betterment of the district.

D. Governance. (1) The district shall be governed by an eight-member board of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board". The board shall be composed as follows:

(a) The president of the University Neighborhood Association, Inc., referred to in this Section as the "association".

(b) The board of directors of the association shall appoint three members, none of whom shall be the president of the University Neighborhood Association, Inc.

(c) The member of the Louisiana House of Representatives whose district encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint one member from a list of nominations submitted by the association.

(d) The member of the Louisiana Senate whose district encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint one member from a list of nominations submitted by the association.

(e) The mayor of the city of New Orleans shall appoint one member from a list of nominations submitted by the association.

(f) The member of the governing authority of the city of New Orleans whose council district encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint one member from a list of nominations submitted by the association.

(2) All members of the board shall be residents of the district.

(3)(a) Board members serving pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(b) through (g) of this Subsection shall serve four-year terms after initial terms as provided in this Subparagraph. Two members shall serve initial terms of one year; two shall serve initial terms of two years; two shall serve initial terms of three years; and two shall serve initial terms of four years, as determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.

(b) The member serving pursuant to Subparagraph (1)(a) of this Subsection shall serve during his term of office as president of the association.

(c) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the term for which a member of the board has been appointed shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. Board members may be reappointed.

(4) The board shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as it may deem necessary. The duties of the officers shall be fixed by the bylaws adopted by the board.

(5) The minute books and archives of the district shall be maintained by the secretary of the board. The monies, funds, and accounts of the district shall be in the official custody of the board.

(6) The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or advisable for conducting its business affairs. Rules and regulations of the board relative to the notice and conduct of meetings shall conform to applicable law, including, if applicable, R.S. 42:11 et seq., relative to open meetings. The board shall hold regular meetings as shall be provided for in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at such times and places within the district as may be prescribed in the bylaws.

(7) 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 through the secretary of the board to residents of the district.

(8) Each member of the board shall have one vote, and the vote of a majority of the members of the board present and voting, a quorum being present, shall be required to decide any question upon which the board takes action.

(9) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the governance of the district.

E. Powers and duties. The district, acting through its board, shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To sue and be sued.

(2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.

(3) To receive and expend funds collected pursuant to Subsection F of this Section and in accordance with a budget adopted as provided by Subsection H of this Section.

(4) To enter into contracts with individuals or entities, private or public.

(5) To provide or enhance security patrols in the district, to provide for improved lighting, signage, or matters relating to the security of the district, to provide for the beautification of and improvements for the district, or to provide generally for the overall betterment of the district.

(6) To enter into contracts and arrangements with one or more other security and improvement districts for the joint security, improvement, or betterment of all participating districts.

(7) To contract for such services and expenditures as the board deems proper for the upkeep of the district.

(8) To acquire or lease items and supplies which the board deems useful to achieving the purposes of the district.

(9) To acquire, lease, insure, and sell immovable property within the boundaries of the district in accordance with district plans.

(10) To procure and maintain liability insurance against any personal or legal liability of a board member that may be asserted or incurred based upon his service as a member of the board or that may arise as a result of his actions taken within the scope and discharge of his duties as a member of the board.

(11) To perform or have performed any other function or activity necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the district or for the overall betterment of the district.

F. Parcel fee. The governing authority of the city of New Orleans is hereby authorized to impose and collect a parcel fee within the district subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection.

(1) The amount of the fee shall be as requested by duly adopted resolution of the board. The fee shall be a flat fee per improved parcel of land not to exceed nine hundred fifty dollars per year for each improved parcel, beginning in calendar year 2017.

(2) The fee shall be imposed on each improved parcel located within the district except as provided in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection.

(a) For purposes of this Section, "parcel" means a lot, a subdivided portion of ground, an individual tract, or a "condominium parcel" as defined in R.S. 9:1121.103. "Parcel" shall not refer to any building or structure unless it is part of a condominium parcel.

(b) The owner of each parcel shall be responsible for payment of the fee. The tax collector shall submit the bill for a parcel fee which is to be collected from the condominium owners to the condominium owners' association, and the owner's association shall pay the fee from funds available for that purpose. The owner's association shall remain liable for the entire fee until it is paid.

(3)(a) The fee shall be imposed only after the question of its imposition has been approved by a majority of the registered voters of the district who vote on the proposition at an election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. The amount of the fee may be changed by duly adopted resolution of the board, not to exceed the maximum amount authorized as provided in this Subsection. No other election shall be required except as provided by this Paragraph.

(b) The initial election on the question of the imposition of the fee shall be held at the same time as a regularly scheduled election in the city of New Orleans.

(c) If approved, the fee shall expire in ten years from its initial levy as provided for in the ballot proposition approved by a majority of the registered voters of the district voting on the proposition at an election as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph. The fee may be renewed if approved by a majority of the registered voters of the district voting on the proposition at an election as provided in R.S. 33:9100.21(F)(2)(d).

(4) No fee shall be imposed upon any parcel whose owner qualifies for and receives the special assessment level provided by Article VII, Section 18(G)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana.

(5) The fee shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ad valorem taxes on property subject to taxation by the city of New Orleans are collected.

(6) Any parcel fee which is unpaid shall be added to the tax rolls of Orleans Parish and shall be enforced with the same authority and subject to the same penalties and procedures as unpaid ad valorem taxes.

(7)(a) The proceeds of the fee shall be used solely and exclusively for the purpose and benefit of the district; however, the Department of Finance for the city of New Orleans may retain one percent of the amount collected as a collection fee.

(b) The Department of Finance for the city of New Orleans shall remit to the district all amounts collected not more than sixty days after collection.

G. Additional contributions. The district is authorized to solicit and accept additional voluntary contributions and grants to further the purposes of the district.

H. Budget. (1) The board shall adopt an annual budget in accordance with the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et seq.

(2) The district shall be subject to audit by the legislative auditor pursuant to R.S. 24:513.

I. Miscellaneous. It is the purpose and intent of this Section that any additional security patrols, public or private, or any other security or other services or betterments provided by the district shall be supplemental to and not be in lieu of personnel and services to be provided in the district by the state of Louisiana, the city of New Orleans, or their departments or agencies or by other political subdivisions.

J. Dissolution. (1) The district may be dissolved without the vote of the registered voters of the district if a majority of the area covered by the district becomes included in another district that serves similar purposes but includes additional parcels of property adjacent to the district, if approved by the affirmative vote of not less than five members of the board.

(2) If and when the district ceases to exist:

(a) Unless the district is dissolved in accordance with Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, all funds of the district shall be transmitted by the board of the association to the city of New Orleans and such funds together with any other funds collected pursuant to this Section, shall be maintained in a separate account by the city of New Orleans and shall be used only for law enforcement, security, improvement, and beautification purposes of the district.

(b) If the district is dissolved in accordance with Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the funds of the district that relate to the portion of the district that is included in the new district, together with any other funds collected, pursuant to this Section that relate to such portion of the district, may be transferred to the new district, with the remaining portion of funds, if any, being transmitted in accordance with Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph for law enforcement, security, improvement, and beautification purposes of the portion of the district that is not included in the new district.

K. Indemnification and exculpation. (1) The district shall indemnify its officers and board members to the fullest extent permitted by R.S. 12:227, as fully as if the district were a nonprofit corporation governed thereby, and as may be provided in the district's bylaws.

(2) No board member or officer of the district shall be liable to the district or to any individual who resides, owns property, visits, or otherwise conducts business in the district for monetary damages for breach of his duties as a board member or officer, provided that the foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a board member or officer for any of the following:

(a) Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law.

(b) Any transaction from which he derived an improper personal benefit.

(3) To the fullest extent permitted by R.S. 9:2792 et seq., including R.S. 9:2792.1 through 2792.9, a person serving the district as a board member or officer shall not be individually liable for any act or omission arising out of the performance of his duties.

Acts 2017, No. 288, §1, eff. June 16, 2017; Acts 2018, No. 420, §1, eff. May 23, 2018; Acts 2018, No. 472, §1, eff. May 23, 2018.