Councilmembers Host Community Informational Meetings
Re: Office of Inspector General City Charter Amendment
(September 26, 2008)

City Councilmembers hosted community meetings in their respective Districts and around the City to discuss a proposed charter amendment that would give the Inspector General's Office a permanent place in the city's budget, helping protect the office from political pressure. 

The charter amendment, which voters will see on the October 4th ballot, would allot the office permanent operating funds equal to three fourths of 1 percent of the city's budget each year. The Inspector General would not be required to appear before the City Council each year to request operating funds. Only a new ballot initiative would be able to dissolve the office. 

Informational meetings were held by Council President Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, Council Vice President Arnie Fielkow, District "A" Councilmember Shelley Midura, District "B" Councilmember Stacy Head and District "C" Councilmember James Carter. The meetings were open to the public and Inspector General Robert Cerasoli was present at the meetings, along with City Councilmembers and community representatives.

Orleans Parish property owners who timely appealed their property tax assessments received tax assessment appeal hearing dates via United States mail this month.
 
Appeal scheduling letters were mailed to the mailing address provided in the appeal and the Board of Review hearing schedule is available on the City Council's website at www.nocitycouncil.com.
 
This year the New Orleans Board of Review received 436 residential, commercial, vacant land, and personal property appeals.  
 
To view a spreadsheet identifying all appeals received by the Board of Review click here. If the appeal you filed with your assessor does not appear on the hearing schedule, and you did not receive notice confirming settlement of your appeal, you are encouraged to contact your assessor to inquire about its status.
 
If exceptional circumstances do not allow you to attend your scheduled hearing, make-up hearings will be held on Friday, October 10, 2008 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
 
If you have questions about your appeal that have not been addressed, contact Kerry Miller at kmiller@frilot.com (504-599-8249) or Kyle Spaulding at kspaulding@frilot.com (504-599-8249).

To view complete News Release click here.

The Council adopted Resolution R-08-542, co-authored by Councilmembers Fielkow, Clarkson, Head and Willard-Lewis, calling on the Louisiana Economic Development Department and Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) to create a coalition of businesses, government and academic leaders to develop a comprehensive business disaster continuity program.
 
The disaster continuity program will assist local businesses in advance disaster preparations to lessen hardships, including financial and labor force issues, resulting from mandatory evacuations and short term closures caused by curfews, power outages and other hardships resulting from disasters.
 
Councilmember-at-Large Fielkow said, "Our local businesses are an important part of the livelihood of our City - the disaster continuity program will offer businesses vital assistance and support when dealing with the economic burdens they face in the aftermath of disasters."

To view complete News Release click here.

The Council passed Resolution R-08-545, calling on the Federal Government to expedite all relief and rebuilding efforts in the state of Texas as a result of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which caused significant damage to Southeast Texas and its Gulf Coast communities.

Council President Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson said, "Throughout our disasters, the state of Texas and its residents have shown Louisiana great generosity, with many Texans opening their homes to evacuees and the government of Texas giving great material and financial assistance to our residents. We are very grateful for this and we offer our support to Texans and call upon the Federal Government to expedite all relief and recovery efforts in the affected areas of the state."

To view complete News Release click here.

Colonel Jeff Bedey and other members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers appeared before the Council to present a status report on the City's levee system.

Colonel Bedey said, "The Corps has taken immediate action following our assessments after the storm - we are making system repairs including erosion repairs on the inside of floodwalls, as well as floodgate repairs."

The Army Corps representatives reviewed specific areas of the City's levee system. Through photographs, the Corps demonstrated to the Council the conditions of the levee system both before and after Hurricane Gustav.

To view complete News Release click here.

Representatives from the Algiers Development District appeared before the Council to give a report on the Federal City project, giving details about future plans as well as the economic impact of the project.
 
District "C" Councilmember James Carter said, "We look forward to the completion and groundbreaking of the Federal City project. This project represents immense economic development opportunity for District "C", the City of New Orleans, and the region."

The Council passed Motion M-08-521, authored by Councilmember-at-Large Clarkson, approving the Algiers Development District Plan and Budget of Revenues and Expenditures for 2008. The plan and budget indicate how the Algiers Development District will utilize funds to develop Federal City. 

To view complete News Release click here.

Captain Lincoln Stroh, Captain of the Port for the U.S. Coast Guard, came before the Council to discuss the incidents of loose vessels in the Industrial Canal during Hurricane Gustav and the Coast Guard's policies on the matter.
 
Stroh presented information on actions that have been taken by the Coast Guard to protect the citizens of New Orleans, the Port of New Orleans, and other waterways - including the requirement that each marine facility prepare a hurricane contingency plan - a key incident management tool to ensure facilities are prepared to safely weather storms.

District "D" Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell said, "We are glad to hear of the Coast Guard's additional pre-emptive measures - it is important that our citizens know that the Coast Guard is prepared to step in and take the necessary steps to protect our City."

District "E" Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis said, "We are focused on ensuring that a reliable plan is implemented and executed and that safeguards are in place to protect our citizens.
 
Captain Stroh stated the Coast Guard has launched an investigation to determine whether or not Southern Scrap Recycling followed its hurricane contingency plan regarding vessels that broke free from their moorings during Hurricane Gustav.

To view complete News Release click here.

Council Monitors Entergy New Orleans Progress and
Passes Emergency Public Safety Focused Ordinance
(September 4, 2008)

Council President Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson led the City Council in taking proactive steps to ensure that power was restored to businesses and homes and public safety protections were stepped up.

The Council requested that Entergy set up a constituent neighborhood-by-neighborhood report for Council offices to use in helping inform their constituents where and when electrical power was restored. These reports were also made available to the public through Entergy New Orleans.

The Council also took immediate steps to address citizen public safety issues. In an Emergency Special Session, the Council adopted an Ordinance which established a municipal offense for anyone who filed false theft or burglary reports. During this critical time, this Ordinance freed law enforcement from being distracted from vital public safety responsibilities.

To view complete News Release click here.

City Councilmembers monitored the activities of government agencies, utilities and businesses as efforts to fully restore the City continued following Hurricane Gustav.
 
The Council met in special Executive Session to hear briefings and updates from the Administration on the status of re-entry and restoration of all City services.

Councilmembers were in direct contact with agencies determining and communicating to citizens the level of emergency resources and services that would be provided upon their return, as well as the status of business re-openings across New Orleans.

The seven Councilmembers also spent time in the field, observing the re-entry of citizens and business owners entering Orleans Parish, assessing power outages in neighborhoods and monitoring the progress of the removal of debris and fallen power and cable lines.  

To view complete News Release click here.