§9091.26. Vista Park Crime Prevention 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 Vista Park Crime Prevention District, hereinafter 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 boundaries of the district shall be that area within and including the following perimeter: Robert E Lee Boulevard, Fillmore Avenue, London Avenue Canal, and Paris Avenue.
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 a five-member board of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board". The board shall be composed as follows:
(a) The board of directors of the Vista Park Civic and Improvement Association shall appoint three members.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(2) All members of the board shall be residents and qualified voters of the district.
(3)(a) Board members shall serve four-year terms after initial terms as provided in this Subparagraph. Two members shall serve initial terms of one year; one shall serve an initial term of two years; one shall serve an initial term of three years; and one shall serve an initial term of four years, as determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.
(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 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 provided for in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at such times and places within the district as 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)(a) The amount of the fee shall be as requested by duly adopted resolution of the board. The fee shall be imposed on each improved or unimproved parcel located within the district. The fee shall be a flat fee per parcel per year not to exceed four hundred dollars for unimproved parcels zoned residential, four hundred dollars for improved single-family parcels zoned residential, one thousand dollars for improved multi-family parcels zoned residential, and one thousand dollars for unimproved and improved parcels zoned commercial.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, if multiple adjacent residential parcels are combined for the purpose of housing a single-family dwelling, the flat fee for the combined parcel shall not exceed six hundred dollars per year.
(2)(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) The fee shall be imposed only after its imposition has been approved by a majority of the registered voters of the district voting on the proposition at an election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code.
(4) The term of the imposition of the fee shall be as provided in the proposition authorizing the fee, not to exceed eight years. The fee may be renewed if the renewal is approved by the voters in the manner provided in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection. If renewed, the term of the imposition of the fee shall be as provided in the proposition authorizing such renewal, not to exceed eight years.
(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. Additional contributions. The district may 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 provisions. (1) It is the purpose and intent of this Section that the additional law enforcement or security personnel and their services provided for through the fees authorized in this Section shall be supplemental to and not in lieu of personnel and services provided in the district by the New Orleans Police Department.
(2) If the district ceases to exist, all funds of the district shall be transmitted by the board to the city of New Orleans, and such funds, together with any other funds collected by the city of New Orleans pursuant to this Section, shall be maintained in a separate account by the city and shall be used only to promote, encourage, and enhance the security, beautification, and overall betterment of the area included in the district.
J. 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 2021, No. 201, §1, eff. June 11, 2021.