§9097.7. Melrose East Crime Prevention 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 Melrose East Crime Prevention 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.(1) Boundaries. The district shall encompass the area included within the following perimeter: Renoir Avenue, North Ardenwood Drive, North Lobdell Boulevard, and Florida Boulevard.

            (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the boundaries of the district shall also encompass the area included on both sides of the following streets: Renoir Avenue, North Ardenwood Drive, North Lobdell Boulevard, and Florida Boulevard if the question of expansion and imposition of the parcel fee is approved by a majority of the registered voters in the area included within the expanded boundaries voting on a proposition at an election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. No less than thirty days prior to any election held to approve such expansion and parcel fee, the board shall mail notification of the upcoming election to each registered voter of the expanded area and to each owner of a parcel in the expanded area who is not a registered voter of the expanded area.

            C.(1) Purpose. The purpose of the district shall be to aid in crime prevention and to add to the security of district residents by providing for an increase in the presence of law enforcement personnel in the district.

            (2) In addition to the purposes provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the district is also created for the purpose of adding to the overall betterment of the district by providing for beautification and other improvements within the district if the question of the additional purposes and the imposition of the parcel fee for such purposes is approved by a majority of the registered voters in the district voting on a proposition at an election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. No less than thirty days prior to any election held to approve such additional purposes and parcel fee, the board shall mail notification of the upcoming election to each registered voter of the district and to each owner of a parcel in the district who is not a registered voter of the expanded area.

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

            (a) The president of Melrose East Community Association, Inc.

            (b) The board of directors of Melrose East Community Association, Inc., or its successor shall appoint one member.

            (c) The member or members of the Louisiana House of Representatives who represent the area that comprises the district shall appoint one member.

            (d) The member or members of the Louisiana Senate who represent the area that comprises the district shall appoint one member.

            (e) The assessor for the parish of East Baton Rouge shall appoint one member.

            (f) The mayor-president for the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge, shall appoint one member.

            (g) The member or members of the governing authority of the city of Baton Rouge and parish of East Baton Rouge who represent the area that comprises the district shall appoint one member.

            (2) All members of the board shall own immovable property within the district.

            (3)(a) The terms of the members appointed pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(c) through (g) of this Subsection shall be concurrent with the respective appointing authority.

            (b) The member serving pursuant to Subparagraph (1)(b) of this Subsection shall serve a term of four years after an initial term of one year.

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

            (4) Vacancies resulting from the expiration of a term or any other reason shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner of the original appointment. Members shall be eligible for reappointment.

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

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

            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, for the provision of security patrols in the district.

            (5) To purchase items and supplies which the board deems instrumental to achieving the purpose of the district.

            (6) To perform or have performed any other function or activity necessary for the achievement of the purpose of the district.

            F. Parcel fee. The governing authority of the district 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, however, shall not exceed two hundred dollars per parcel per year for lots zoned for residential use and two thousand dollars per parcel per year for lots zoned for commercial use.

            (2)(a) The fee shall be imposed on each improved parcel located within the district.

            (b) For purposes of this Section, "parcel" means a lot, a subdivided portion of ground, or an individual tract and does not mean a "condominium parcel" as defined in R.S. 9:1121.103. Thus, with respect to condominiums, the fee collector shall impose the parcel fee on each lot on which condominiums are situated and not on individual condominium units.

            (c) The owner of the 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 voting on the proposition at an election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. At least thirty days prior to any election held to approve imposition of a parcel fee, the board shall mail notification of the upcoming election to each registered voter of the district and to each owner of a parcel in the district who is not a registered voter of the district. No other election shall be required except as provided by this Paragraph.

            (b) The election on the question of the imposition of the fee shall be held at the same time as a regularly scheduled election in the parish of East Baton Rouge.

            (c) The fee shall expire at the end of the term provided for in the proposition authorizing the fee, not to exceed ten years, but may be renewed as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph. If the fee is renewed, the term of the imposition of the fee shall be as provided in the proposition authorizing such renewal.

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

            (5) Any parcel fee which is unpaid 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 unpaid ad valorem taxes.

            (6) The sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish shall collect and remit to the district all amounts collected not more than sixty days after collection; however, the sheriff may enter into an agreement with the district to authorize the retention of an annual collection fee, not to exceed one percent of the amount collected.

            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 East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council.

            (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 parish of East Baton Rouge.

            (2) If the district ceases to exist, any funds of the district shall be transmitted to the governing authority of the city of Baton Rouge and parish of East Baton Rouge and shall be used for law enforcement purposes in the area included within the district.

            Acts 2009, No. 139, §1, eff. June 25, 2009; Acts 2024, No. 446, §1, eff. June 3, 2024.