§9091.28. Castle Manor 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 known as the Castle Manor Improvement District, referred to in this Section as the "district". The district is a political subdivision of the state as defined in the Constitution of Louisiana.

            B. Boundaries. The district is comprised of all property included within the following perimeter: Cerise Avenue, the south side of Chef Menteur Highway, Gawain Drive, and the north side of Dwyer Road canal.

            C. Purpose. The district is established for the primary objects and purposes of promoting and encouraging the beautification and security of the district.

            D. Governance. (1) The district shall be managed 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 Castle Manor Improvement Association.

            (b) The governing board of the Castle Manor Improvement Association shall appoint two members.

            (c) Each of the following shall appoint one member from a list of nominees submitted by the Castle Manor Improvement Association:

            (i) The mayor of the city of New Orleans.

            (ii) The member of the Louisiana House of Representatives whose district encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district.

            (iii) The member of the Louisiana Senate whose district encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district.

            (iv) 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.

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

            (3)(a) Board members serving pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(b) and (c) of this Subsection shall serve four-year terms after initial terms as follows: one member shall serve an initial term of one year; two shall serve two years; two shall serve three years; and one shall serve 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 Castle Manor Improvement Association.

            (c) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of a term shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the governing board of the Castle Manor Improvement Association. Board members are eligible for reappointment.

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

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

            (6) The board may adopt rules and regulations 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 laws relative to open meetings. The board shall hold regular meetings and may hold special meetings at times and places within the district as prescribed in the bylaws.

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

            (9) Each member of the board has one vote. The vote of a majority of the members of the board present and voting, a quorum being present, is required to decide any question upon which the board takes action.

            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 Subsections F and G 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 and to provide for improved lighting, signage, or matters relating to the security and beautification of the district.

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

            (7) To provide for services and make expenditures as the board deems proper for the upkeep and beautification of the district.

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

            (9) 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.

            (10) 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 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 requested by duly adopted resolution of the board. The fee shall not exceed the following amounts:

            (a) For parcels zoned residential, one hundred dollars per parcel per year for the first three years that the fee is collected and one hundred twenty-five dollars per parcel per year for the next two years of collection.

            (b) For parcels zoned commercial, two hundred dollars per parcel per year for the first three years that the fee is collected and two hundred twenty-five dollars per parcel per year for the next two years of collection.

            (2)(a) The fee shall be imposed on each parcel located within the district except a parcel whose owner qualifies for the special assessment level pursuant to Article VII, Section 18(G)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana.

            (b) 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.

            (c) The owner of each parcel is 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.

            (b) The initial term for the imposition of the parcel fee is five years, 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 for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. If the fee is renewed, the amount of the fee shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars per parcel per year for residential parcels and two hundred twenty-five dollars per parcel per year for commercial parcels. 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 five years. If the fee is not renewed, the district shall cease to exist.

            (4) The fee shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as city ad valorem taxes are collected.

            (5) 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.

            (6)(a) The city of New Orleans shall remit to the district all amounts collected not more than sixty days after collection.

            (b) The district shall use the proceeds of the fee 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.

            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 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.

            I. Miscellaneous provisions. (1) 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 or the city of New Orleans or their departments or agencies or by other political subdivisions.

            (2) If the district ceases to exist, the board shall transmit all district funds 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 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 provided in the district's bylaws.

            (2) No board member or officer of the district is 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; however, the foregoing provision does 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 the board member or officer 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 held individually liable for any act or omission arising out of the performance of his duties.

            Acts 2024, No. 202, §1.