Section 33:2740.46 - Alexandria Central Economic Development DistrictA. Intent. The legislature hereby finds and declares that it is necessary for the public health, safety, and welfare of the city of Alexandria that the property value deterioration in the principal area of the city be halted and that the causes of such deterioration be halted.B. Creation. (1) The Alexandria Central Economic Development District, hereinafter referred to as the "district", is hereby created for the primary purpose of redevelopment of the central business district.(2)(a) The district shall be coterminous with House of Representatives District No. 26 as such House of Representatives district may be established from time to time by legislative or judicial action; however, the district shall include only that area of House District No. 26 which is within the municipal boundaries of the city of Alexandria.(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the boundaries of the district shall also include the area described as follows: That certain tract, piece or parcel of land, containing 10.602 acres, more or less, together with all buildings and improvements situated thereon, located in section 4, Township 3 North, Range 1 West, City of Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, being tract shown on a survey by Monceaux Buller & Associates, LLC, dated 1-04-06, being more particularly described with reference to said survey as follows, to wit:
The POINT OF BEGINNING being a one half inch iron rod and located at the intersection of the northerly edge of the right-of way for Horseshoe Drive and the westerly edge of the right-of-way for U.S. Highway 165. From Point Of Beginning proceed thence N. 88 degrees 46 minutes 50 seconds W. 164.55 feet along the right-of-way for Horseshoe Drive to a one half inch iron rod; proceed thence S 88 degrees 54 minutes 54 seconds W a distance of 90.28 feet along the right-of-way of Horseshoe Drive to a one half inch rod, proceed thence along a curve to the right having a radius of 1,382.39 feet, a chord of N. 87 degrees 58 minutes 36 seconds W. 152.44' to a one half inch iron rod; proceed thence along the right-of way of Horseshoe Drive N. 84 degrees 52 minutes 06 seconds W. a distance of 288.47 feet to a one half inch iron rod and corner; Thence proceed n. 29 degrees 05 minutes 14 seconds E. a distance of 889.57 feet to a one half inch iron rod and corner; thence proceed S. 60 degrees 40 minutes 46 seconds E. a distance of 622.89 to the westerly edge of the right-of-way of U.S. Highway 165 to a point and corner; thence S. 29 degrees 05 minutes 14 seconds W. 578.26' feet back to the northern right-of-way of Horseshoe Drive and the POINT OF BEGINNING.
(3) The district shall be a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana as defined in Article VI, Paragraph 44(2) of the Constitution of Louisiana and, as such, shall have all of the powers accorded by law to political subdivisions of the state, including the power to cooperate with and to engage in cooperative endeavors with other persons and entities as provided by Article VI, Section 20 and Article VII, Paragraph 14(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana.C. Governance. (1) The governing authority of the district shall be a board consisting of nine members, referred to in this Section as the "board", all of whom shall be qualified voters and residents of the city of Alexandria. The members of the board shall be appointed as follows: (a) Three members appointed by the mayor of the city of Alexandria and confirmed by the governing authority of the city of Alexandria.(b) Two members nominated by the governing board of the Central Louisiana Business League and appointed by resolution duly adopted by a majority vote of the governing authority of the city of Alexandria.(c) Two members nominated by the governing authority of Rapides Parish and appointed by resolution duly adopted by a majority vote of the governing authority of the city of Alexandria.(d) One member nominated by the board of directors of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce and appointed by resolution duly adopted by a majority vote of the governing authority of the city of Alexandria.(e) One member nominated by the governing board of the Rapides Regional Medical Center and appointed by resolution duly adopted by a majority vote of the governing authority of the city of Alexandria.(2) If any appointing authority fails to make an appointment within thirty days after notification by the board of a vacancy, the governing authority of the city of Alexandria may appoint a member of its own choosing. The appointing authority may remove any member for cause. The appointing authority may also remove any member who has accumulated three consecutive unexcused absences from regularly scheduled board meetings.(3)(a) The twelve members of the board in office on the effective date of this Subparagraph shall continue to serve until the expiration of their then current terms. The members appointed to serve upon the expiration of such current terms shall be appointed as provided in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection. Such members shall be appointed to four-year terms after initial terms as provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.(b)(i) The three members appointed by the mayor of the city of Alexandria and confirmed by the governing authority of the city of Alexandria shall serve initial terms of four years, three years, and two years, respectively, as designated by the mayor.(ii) The two members nominated by the governing board of the Central Louisiana Business League and appointed by the governing authority of the city of Alexandria shall serve initial terms of four years and three years, respectively, as designated by the governing board of the league.(iii) The two members nominated by the governing authority of Rapides Parish and appointed by the governing authority of the city of Alexandria shall serve initial terms of four years and three years, respectively, as designated by the governing authority of Rapides Parish.(iv) The member nominated by the board of directors of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce and appointed by the governing authority of the city of Alexandria shall serve an initial term of two years.(v) The member nominated by the governing board of the Rapides Regional Medical Center and appointed by the governing authority of the city of Alexandria shall serve an initial term of one year.(c) Vacancies occurring prior to the expiration of a term shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.(4) The board shall elect a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary-treasurer from among its members. Officers shall serve one-year terms but shall be eligible for reelection. The board shall adopt such rules for the transaction of its business as it deems necessary and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, studies, findings, and determinations, which record shall be a public record.(5) The board may employ or contract with an executive director and set his compensation and terms of employment. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the board may establish the term of such contract. The board also may employ such other employees as are necessary to carry out the functions of the district as authorized by the board.D. Redevelopment activities. (1) In order to effectuate the purposes of this Section, the board shall have the specific authority provided in R.S. 33:4625(F); such authority shall be exercised solely within the district.(2) The board shall formulate a redevelopment plan or plans for the district and submit any plan to the governing authority of Alexandria for review. The board shall formulate a program or programs to implement any redevelopment plan. Such a program shall implement the various plans in such a manner as to aid and encourage private development of the area and to promote and coordinate public development. In formulating such a program, the board may conduct studies and may consult with all departments of the city of Alexandria and other public or private agencies concerned with matters affecting or affected by the program.(3) After adoption of the development program, the board may implement any portion thereof in such manner as shall, in its judgment, most likely accomplish said program. To that end, the district may employ or contract with engineers, architects, attorneys, underwriters, and other professionals necessary for the financing and implementation of the construction, renovation, maintenance, or operation of facilities described in the redevelopment plan and may contract in accordance with law for the construction, renovation, maintenance, or operation of the facilities.(4) The board shall prepare each year an annual budget in accordance with the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et seq.E. Revenues. (1) Subject to the approval of the governing authority of Alexandria and district electors as provided in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection, the district may levy an ad valorem tax not exceeding fifteen mills for such number of years as may be provided in the proposition authorizing its levy for the purpose of planning, constructing, acquiring, operating, or maintaining public facilities contemplated by the redevelopment plan and for the operating expenses of the district.(2) Subject to the approval of the governing authority of Alexandria and district electors as provided in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection, the district may issue general obligation bonds in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 39:551 et seq. for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, or improving any work of public improvement contemplated by the redevelopment plan. As provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the bonds shall have pledged thereto the full faith and credit of the district, and the district shall levy and collect taxes on all property subject to taxation in the district sufficient to pay the bonds in principal, interest, and premium, if any, as the same become due and payable.(3) Any ad valorem tax levied by the district, including taxes levied under Paragraph (1) of this Subsection or levied to provide for payment of bonds authorized under Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, being special ad valorem taxes, shall be subject to homestead exemption as provided by Article VII, Section 20 of the Constitution of Louisiana.(4) No ad valorem tax may be levied under the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection nor may any bonds be issued under the provisions of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection unless authorized by a majority of the electors of the district who vote at an election held for that purpose in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Louisiana Election Code. The governing authority of the city of Alexandria shall call any such election.(5) Any tax levied under authority of this Subsection shall be in addition to all other taxes which other political subdivisions in Rapides Parish are now or hereafter may be authorized by law to levy and collect. All services and programs to be provided from the proceeds of the tax shall be in addition to the services and programs which are otherwise provided by other governing authorities.F. The district shall be authorized to enter into agreements with any person or persons, public or private, providing for contributions or payments towards the cost of financing public facilities in the district. The district is hereby authorized to issue bonds secured wholly or partly by the revenues of such agreements and wholly or partly by other revenues that may be received, from time to time, by the district provided the bonds are authorized and issued in the manner provided by R.S. 39:1011 et seq.G. To the extent allowed by state and federal law, the district shall adopt a program or programs awarding contracts to, and establishing set-aside goals and preference procedures for the benefit of businesses owned and operated by socially or economically disadvantaged persons in accordance with any of the provisions of state and federal law.H. The financial records of the district shall be audited pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 24:513.Acts 1999, No. 500, §1, eff. 6/28/1999; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 75, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1217, §1, eff. 7/3/2003; Acts 2011, No. 272, §1, eff. 6/28/2011.