§9097.31. Monticello Crime Prevention and Improvement District

            A. Creation. There is hereby created within the parish of East Baton Rouge, as more specifically provided in Subsection B of this Section, a body politic and corporate which shall be known as the Monticello Crime Prevention and 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 include the area within the following boundaries: Commencing at the northwest corner of Monticello, 1st filing, being located on the south right-of-way (ROW) line of Engineer Depot Canal; Thence southerly along the west boundary of Monticello 1st filing, being a line generally located 240’ west of the west ROW line of Scarborough Drive; Thence continuing along the extension of said line along the west boundary of Monticello, 6th and 7th filings to the southwest corner of Monticello, 7th filing Part 2; Thence easterly and southerly along the south line of Monticello, 7th filing Part 2, being the south boundary of Tract Z-1, the south ROW line of West England Avenue, the west and south boundaries of Lot 677, the south boundaries of lot 676 and 675, and the west boundary of lot 673; Thence southerly, easterly, and northerly along the boundary of Monticello, 7th filing Part 1, being a line generally located 150’ west of the west ROW of Sterling Drive, a line generally located 140’ south of the south ROW of Mendenhal Drive, and a line generally located 140’ east of the east ROW line of East Mendenhal Drive; Thence easterly and southerly along the south line of Monticello, 5th filing, being a line generally located 90’ to 95’ south of the south ROW line of England Avenue and a portion of the west ROW line of Newbury Drive; Thence southerly and easterly along the boundary of Monticello, 9th filing, being a line along the west ROW line of Newbury Drive, a line along the south ROW line of Ireland Avenue, the west line of lot 809, and a line generally located 140’ to 145’ south of the south ROW line of Ireland Avenue, to a point and corner; Thence N1°11”28E a distance of 1320.96’ along the east boundary of Monticello, 9th filing, to a point and corner; Thence westerly along the boundary of Monticello, 9th filing, being a line generally located 145’ north of the north ROW line of Britain Avenue, to a point and corner; Thence northerly and northwesterly along the east boundary of Monticello, 9th filing, described as follows: N1°1”1W a distance of 203.47’ along the east ROW line of Norwich Drive; N33W a distance of 39.82’ along the east ROW line of Norwich Drive; N57°E a distance of 120’; N33°W a distance of 100’; N12°E a distance of 141.42’; N33°W a distance of 135’; N89°58’34”W a distance of 119.27’; and a line generally located 140’ east of the east ROW line of Norwich Drive, to a point and corner; Thence northeasterly along the south boundary of Monticello, 3rd filing, being the south boundary of Lot 452 and a 50’ extension across the ROW of Thames Drive, and the south and east boundaries of lot 450, to a point and corner; Thence northeasterly and northerly along the south and east boundaries of Monticello, 8th filing, being the south boundaries of lots 714 through 711, the east boundary of Lot 711 and a 50’ extension across the ROW of Catalina Avenue, the north ROW line of Catalina Avenue, the east and a portion of the north boundary of lot 710, the east boundary of lot 709 and a 50’ extension across the ROW of South Melbourne Avenue, a portion of the south boundary of lot 708, a line generally located 140’ east of the east ROW line of Union Drive, a portion of the north boundary of Lot 696, the east boundary of lot 737 and a 50’ extension across the ROW of Langer Avenue, to a point and corner; Thence westerly along the south ROW line of the Engineer Depot Canal, being the north boundaries of Monticello, 8th filing, 3rd filing, and 2nd filing Part 1, to a point at the northwest corner of Lot 34, Monticello; Thence northerly, westerly, and southerly along the boundaries of Monticello, 4th filing, being the east boundary of Lot Z-7 and its southern extension, the south ROW line of Canterbury Drive, and the west boundary of Lot Z-2 and its southern extension to the south boundary of the Engineer Depot Canal; Thence southwesterly along the south ROW line of the Engineer Depot Canal, being the north boundary of Monticello, 1st filing, to the point of commencement.

            C. Purpose. The district is established for the primary object and purpose of promoting and encouraging the beautification, security, and overall betterment of the district.

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

            (a) The president of the Monticello Citizens Association.

            (b) The board of directors of the Monticello Citizens Association shall appoint two members.

            (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.

            (d) The member of the Louisiana Senate whose district encompasses all or the greater portion of the district shall appoint one member.

            (e) The member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council whose district encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint one member.

            (f) The mayor-president of the city of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish shall appoint one member.

            (2) All members of the board shall be residents and qualified voters within the district.

            (3)(a) Members appointed pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(b) through (f) of this Subsection shall serve three-year terms after initial terms as provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.

            (b) Two members shall serve an initial term of one year; two shall serve two years; and two shall serve three years as determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.

            (c) The member serving pursuant to Subparagraph (1)(a) of this Subsection shall serve during his term of office.

            (4) Any board member may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the board.

            (5) Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment. A member shall be eligible for reappointment unless he was removed pursuant to Paragraph (4) of this Subsection.

            (6) All members of the board shall serve without compensation and shall not receive reimbursement for expenses.

            (7) The domicile of the board shall be within the district.

            (8) The board is authorized to adopt bylaws for its governance and conduct.

            (9) The members of the board shall select from among themselves a president and such other officers as they deem appropriate whose responsibilities shall be as provided by the bylaws of the board.

            (10) The board shall hold regular meetings as provided for in its bylaws and may hold special meetings at such times and places within the district as provided in the bylaws.

            (11) The board shall keep minutes of all meetings.

            (12) A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for conducting business of the district.

            E. Powers and duties. The district, acting through its board of commissioners, 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 G of this Section.

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

            (5) To purchase items and supplies necessary for achieving any purpose of the district.

            (6) To accept private grants and donations.

            (7) 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.

            (8) To perform or have performed any function or activity the board deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the district.

            F. Parcel fee. The governing authority of East Baton Rouge Parish may 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 determined by duly adopted resolution of the board. The fee, however, shall not exceed one hundred dollars per parcel per year.

            (2) The fee shall be imposed on each parcel located within the district. The term "parcel" as used in this Subsection shall mean a lot, a subdivided portion of ground, an individual tract, or a "condominium parcel" as defined in R.S. 9:1121.103.

            (3) The owner of the parcel shall be responsible for payment of the fee.

            (4)(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 voting on the proposition at an election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code.

            (b) The fee shall expire ten years after its initial levy but 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 a regularly scheduled election in the parish of East Baton Rouge. 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 ten years.

            (5)(a) The sheriff of the parish of East Baton Rouge shall collect the fee at the same time and in the same manner as ad valorem taxes are collected.

            (b) The sheriff of the parish of East Baton Rouge shall remit to the district all amounts collected not more than sixty days after collection; however, the board may enter into an agreement with the sheriff to authorize the sheriff to retain a collection fee.

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

            G. Budget. (1) The board of commissioners shall adopt an annual budget in accordance with the 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.

            H. Miscellaneous provisions. (1) It is the purpose and intent of this Section that the additional law enforcement personnel and services provided by the district shall be supplemental to and not in lieu of personnel and services provided in the district by the city of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish.

            (2) If the district ceases to exist:

            (a) All funds of the district shall be transmitted to the parish of East Baton Rouge and shall be used for law enforcement purposes in the area included within the district.

            (b) The authority for the imposition of the parcel fee provided in this Section shall cease.

            Acts 2019, No. 357, §1, eff. June 11, 2019.