RS 9080.2 - Tamaron Subdivision 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 Tamaron Subdivision Improvement District, referred to in this Section as the "district". The district shall be a political subdivision of the state as defined in the Constitution of Louisiana.
B. Boundaries. The district shall be comprised of the area located within the following boundaries: the North I-10 Service Road, Morrison Road, Kingswood Subdivision, and Gannon Road.
C. Purpose. The district is established for the primary object and purpose of promoting and encouraging the beautification, security, and overall betterment of the area included within the district.
D. Governance. (1) The district shall be governed by a nine-member board of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board", who shall be appointed as follows:
(a) The members of the Tamaron Homeowners Association, upon a majority vote of the membership, shall appoint five members. Each such member shall be a homeowner and resident of the district.
(b) The mayor of the city of New Orleans shall appoint one member.
(c) The member or members of the governing authority of the city of New Orleans who represent the area which comprises the district shall appoint one member.
(d) The member or members of the Louisiana House of Representatives who represent the area which comprises the district shall appoint one member.
(e) The member or members of the Louisiana Senate who represent the area which comprises the district shall appoint one member.
(2) The members of the board shall serve three-year terms after serving initial terms as provided in this Paragraph. Three members shall serve initial terms of one year; three members shall serve initial terms of two years; and three members shall serve initial terms of three years, as determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.
(3) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the terms 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 shall be eligible for reappointment.
(4) The board shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary-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-treasurer 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-treasurer of the board.
(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 adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(2) To receive and expend funds collected pursuant to Subsection F of this Section and in accordance with a budget adopted as provided by Subsection G of this Section.
(3) To enter into contracts with individuals or entities, private or public.
(4) 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.
(5) To provide for such services and make such expenditures as the board deems proper for the upkeep of the district.
(6) 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.
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 parcel of land not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars per year for each parcel.
(2) The fee shall be imposed on each 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, or an individual tract.
(b) The owner of each parcel shall be responsible for payment of the fee.
(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 on December 31, 2014, but 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 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.
Any election to authorize the renewal of the fee shall be held only at the same time as the mayoral primary election for the city of New Orleans. If the fee is renewed, the term of the imposition of the fee shall be as provided in the proposition authorizing such renewal, not to exceed eight years.
(4) No fee shall be imposed upon any parcel whose owner qualifies for 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 are collected.
(6) Any parcel fee which is unpaid shall be added to the tax rolls of the city 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 city may retain one percent of the amount collected as a collection fee.
(b) The city of New Orleans shall remit to the district all amounts collected not more than sixty days after collection.
G. Budget. (1) The board of commissioners shall adopt an annual budget in accordance with the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et seq. The budget and all amendments shall be subject to the approval of the governing board of the city of New Orleans.
(2) The district shall be subject to audit by the legislative auditor pursuant to R.S. 24:513.
H. Miscellaneous provisions. (1) The board may contract with the New Orleans Police Department or with a private security company that has been certified and approved by the superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department for the provision of security patrols in the district. It is the purpose and intent of this Section that any additional security patrols, public or private, provided by the district shall be supplemental to and not in lieu of personnel and services provided in the district by the New Orleans Police Department.
(2) The district may perform or have performed any other function or activity necessary for the achievement of its primary objective of encouraging the beautification, security, and overall betterment of the area included within the district.
Acts 2008, No. 270, §1, eff. June 17, 2008.