Veto No. 12 $100,000 for the GNO Biosciences Economic Development
District

Veto No. 13 $100,000 for the Idea Village

Veto No. 14 $30,000 for the N. O., LA Young Urban Rebuilding
Professionals, Inc. (NOLAYURP)

Veto No. 16 $25,000 for the GNO Biosciences Economic Development
District

Veto No. 44 $100,000 for the N.O. Jazz and Heritage Foundation

Veto No. 47 $50,000 for the Efforts of Grace, Inc (Group that runs the
Ashe Cultural Center)

Veto No. 69 $50,000 for UNO Hospitality Research Center

Veto No. 94 $250,000 for the Algiers Athletic Club, Inc.

Veto No. 117 $75,000 for Mercy Endeavors, Inc. (Seniors Group)

Veto No. 118 $30,000 Global Green USA (Environmental Group
pushing sustainable development in hurricane ravaged areas)

Veto No. 119 $650,000 for Dryades YMCA

Veto No. 122 $75,000 for the George and Leah McKenna Museum of
African American Art

Veto No. 125 $20,000 for Neighborhoods Planning and Community
Development Network

Veto No. 137 $25,000 for SE LA Council Boy Scouts of America

Veto No. 139 $50,000 Unity of GNO

Veto No. 141 $50,000 for Pontilly Association, Inc.

Veto No. 142 $200,000 Ponchartrain Park Community Development
Corporation

Veto No. 164 $100,000 Desire Community Housing Development Corporation

Veto No. 165 $50,000 for Pontilly Association

Veto No. 166 $35,000 for GNO Sports Foundation

Veto No. 169 $30,000 for the Paul S. Morton, Sr. Scholarship Foundation

Veto No. 170 $15,000 for Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training

Veto No. 171 $25,000 for Mary Queen of Vietnam (MQVN) Community
Development Corporation

Veto No. 194 $325,000 for Treme Education Program, Inc.

Veto No. 195 $300,000 for Succor, Inc.

Veto No. 196 $25,000 for Family Resources of GNO, Inc.

Veto No. 200 $25,000 for the Lower Algiers Community Development
Association

Veto No. 201 $20,000 for the Algiers Group

Veto No. 202 $20,000 for the Old Algiers Main Street Corporation

Veto No. 203 $10,000 for the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council
#1724

Veto No. 204 $12,500 for the Sunshine Club of Algiers

Veto No. 205 $10,000 for the Friends of A Studio in the Woods

Veto No. 206 $15,000 for the House of Ruth

Veto No. 208 $20,000 for the Vietnamese Community in Louisiana

Veto No. 209 $10,000 for the Park Timbers Homeowners Association

Veto No. 226 $300,000 for Rebuilding Our Community, Inc.

Veto No. 227 $50,000 YWCA of GNO

Veto No. 249 $300,000 for GNO YMCA

Veto No. 251 $25,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of SELA

Veto No. 252 $50,000 for Reality House

Veto No. 254 $25,000 for Algiers Church of God in Christ Corporation

Veto No. 255 $25,000 for Greater Bright Morning Star Baptist Church

Out of a reported $16M cut from HB1 New Orleans directly accounts for
approximately $4.5M. This is not including cuts to suburbs in Jefferson
Parish, St. Tammany Parish, or St. Bernard Parish.

TO ORDINANCE NO. ___________, M.C.S.

PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS – HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS (Additions to charter are underlined, deletions struck through.)

The text of this document has been coded for ease of review by the reader to indicate where proposed deletions from and additions to the current Home Rule Charter have been made. One effect of such coding is to alter the length of the document, since it retains much of the material that will ultimately be deleted from the amended Charter. The actual length of the amended Charter as revised will be much different than the document you hold in your hands.

ARTICLE III

THE COUNCIL

* * * *

Section 3-112. Introduction, Consideration, and Passage of Ordinances.

* * * *

(5) Proposed ordinances on any of the following specified subjects can be adopted only at a regular meeting of the Council and shall not be adopted until at least twenty calendar days have transpired beginning on the day after the date of introduction of the ordinance and not until a notice of the introduction of such proposed ordinance shall have been published in the official journal of the City not less than seven calendar days nor more than fourteen calendar days after the introduction thereof, which notice shall state the substance of the proposed ordinance and the date of the meeting at which the Council shall begin its consideration thereof:

* * * *

(c) The adoption, amendment, or comprehensive revision of the Master Plan and or the cComprehensive zZoning oOrdinance, including the Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map without limitation text amendments, zoning or rezoning, or changing the zoning districts or classifications. Zoning or rezoning, or changing the zoning districts or classifications.

* * * *

ARTICLE V

EXECUTIVE BRANCH - UNATTACHED BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

* * * *

CHAPTER 4.

CITY PLANNING COMMISION

Section 5-401. Creation and Composition

Section 5-402. Functions

Section 5-403. Director and Staff

Section 5-404. Master Plan and Subdivision Regulations

Section 5-405. Planned Street Lines and the Official Map

Section 5-406. Zoning Ordinance

Section 5-407. Public Notice and Public Hearing

Section 5-407. 5-408. Approval of the Commission.

Section 5-408. 5-409. Board of Zoning Adjustments.

Section 5-409. Orientation and Continuous Education Training for Planning

Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments Members

Section 5-410. Other Functions

Section 5-411. Neighborhood Participation

Section 5-412. Definitions

Section 5-401. Creation and Composition.

The City Planning Commission shall consist of nine members who are electors of and domiciled in the City, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council for a term of five nine nine years, staggered so that the terms of, no more than two one members term of one member shall expire each year. The Council shall adopt an ordinance authorizing the creation of a nominating committee to nominate members of the City Planning Commission to serve on the Commission and to replace Commission members as vacancies occur. The nominating committee shall consist of the head of the largest urban planning program at a university in the City, the head of the largest planning organization in Louisiana, a representative from the business community, a representative from an historic preservation organization, and a representative from a neighborhood organization. The committee shall nominate three persons for each vacancy on the Commission and shall submit these nominations to the mayor, who shall select one of the persons nominated to fill the vacancy. Commission members shall serve no more than two terms, and vacancies on the Commission shall be filled within a 90-day period.

Section 5-402. Functions.

The City Planning Commission shall:

(1) Prepare, adopt, amend, and recommend to the Council a twenty year Master Plan for the physical development of the City consistent with the requirements of Section 5-404. The Master Plan shall consist of a statement of development goals, objectives, and policies for the physical growth and development of the City, and shall include maps and a text setting forth principles, standards, and proposals. The Master Plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements: Vision, Goals, and Policy; Land Use; Transportation; Housing; Community Facilities and Infrastructure; and Historic Preservation. The elements are to be interrelated with each other and shall provide the overall guidance for city policy and priorities. The Land Use element shall consist of text setting forth land use issues and policies, and a Future Land Use Map setting forth categories of allowable uses and density, for the City. The entire area of the City shall be addressed within the Master Plan, as well as those land areas outside of the Parish of Orleans under the control or ownership of the City.

(1) Prepare, adopt, amend and modify a long term Master Plan for the physical development of the City, which shall consist of a statement of development goals, objectives, and policies and shall show the general location, extent, and character of streets, bridges, waterways, and other public ways; parks and open spaces; public buildings and structures; public utilities, and terminals, whether public or privately owned; public housing, slum clearance, and redevelopment projects and areas; and any other physical public facility, with due regard to the aesthetic characteristics of all public

(2) Prepare, adopt, amend and modify regulations governing the subdivision of land, including platting and replatting, which regulations shall provide for the proper arrangement of streets and public utilities; open spaces for lights, air and recreational areas; space for vehicular parking; the sizes and shapes of lots in order to avoid congestions of population and to provide for the amenities of human habituation; and the manner and extent to which streets shall be paved and public utilities installed in such subdivisions, consistent with the provisions of this Charter.

(3) Prepare and recommend to the Council, all to be consistent with the Master Plan:

(a) Plats, together with revisions and amendments thereof, showing the exact location of lines of recommended new, extended, widened, or narrowed streets, and the estimated time within which the land needed for future street development as shown on the plat.

(b) The Official Map of the City and amendments thereto, upon which shall be shown all existing and established streets, recommended street lines, all streets or street lines located on final or recorded plats of subdivisions, and the location of existing or planned parks and other open spaces. Street locations on final or recorded plats of subdivisions shall constitute amendments to the Official Map and shall be placed thereon.

(c ) A zoning ordinance and revisions and amendments thereof for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, aesthetics, and general welfare of the City, and implementing the Master Plan, which ordinance may contain regulations with respect to the location height, bulk, size of buildings and other structures; the size of yards, courts and other open spaces; the density of population; and the use of buildings, structure and land for trade, industry, business, residence, or other purposes. The zoning ordinance shall include an official Zoning Map, and the ordinance and the map may be periodically amended by the City Council provided any amendments are consistent with the Master Plan in accordance with Section 5-404(3). The text, diagrams and maps in the Land Use Element of the Master Plan that address the location and extent of future land uses, and the zoning ordinance that implements those provisions, may also address urban form and design. They may differentiate neighborhoods, districts, and corridors, provide for a mixture of land uses and building types within each, and provide specific measures for regulating relationships between buildings, and between buildings and outdoor public areas, including streets, sidewalks, and other right of ways.

(d) Plans for the clearance of slum areas, public housing developments and the rehabilitation or redevelopment of blighted areas.

(e) Plans for the replanning, improvement, and reconstruction of neighborhood and community centers and of areas or districts destroyed or seriously damaged by fire, earthquake, hurricane, flood or other disaster.

(f) Such other studies as may be requested or directed by the Council.

(4) Prepare the capital improvement plan program and assist the Chief Administrative Officer in the preparation of the annual capital budget. The capital improvement plan and the capital budget shall be consistent with the Master Plan.

(5) Hear and decide all applications for conditional uses.

(6) (5) Prepare such studies as may be requested by the Mayor.

Section 5-403. Director and Staff

The City Planning Commission may appoint a director who shall serve at its pleasure. The Director shall be the executive officer of the Commission and shall be responsible for the supervision of the staff. The Commission may, subject to the provisions of this Charter, appoint such employees as it may deem necessary and may contract with planning experts, engineers, architects and other consultants for such services as it may require.

Section 5-404. Master Plan and Subdivision Regulations

(1) Preparation of the Master Plan. The City Planning Commission shall prepare the Master Plan. Prior to completion of the Master Plan, the Commission shall hold at least one public meeting for each planning district or other designated neighborhood planning unit to solicit the opinions of citizens that live or work in that district or planning unit; it shall also hold at least one public hearing to solicit the opinions of citizens from throughout the community. In addition, it shall take affirmative steps to involve neighborhoods in master planning activities and comply with the requirements of any neighborhood participation program that the City, pursuant to Section 5-411, shall adopt by ordinance. Each public hearing or meeting shall be duly advertised in a newspaper of general circulation at least fifteen (15) but not more than (45) forty-five days in advance. Upon completion of the public meetings and hearing(s) and completion of the Master Plan, and following the adoption of the plan by resolution, the Commission shall forward the Master Plan to the City Council for adoption by ordinance. Within ninety (90) days of its receipt, the Council shall adopt the Master Plan, reject it, or propose modification. If it rejects the plan, or proposes any modification, the Council shall refer it to the Commission for public hearing and comment.  The City Planning Commission shall consider and provide a recommendation to the City Council on the rejection or modification within (60) sixty days of receipt from the City Council. The Council shall take final action to adopt the Master Plan, with or without modification, within (45) days of receipt of the recommendation from the City Planning Commission. Following the adoption by the City Council of that part of the Master Plan relating to the Major Street Plan, the Commission shall by resolution adopt and may so modify or extend regulations governing the subdivision of land.

(1) Adoption. The Commission shall adopt and may modify or extend the Master Plan at any time. The Master Plan shall consist of statements regarding development goals, objectives, and policies and shall include a diagram and a text setting forth principles, standards, and proposals. The entire area of the City shall be addressed within the Plan, as well as those land areas outside of the Parish of Orleans under the control or ownership of the City. Adoption, modification or extension may be by single resolution or by successive resolutions relating to parts of the Master Plan corresponding to major geographical sections or functional divisions of the subject matter. Following the adoption of that part of the Master Plan relating to the Major Street Plan, the Commission shall by resolution adopt and may so modify or extend regulations governing the subdivision of land.

(2) Publication and Filing. Upon adoption by the Council, certified copies of the plan and regulations and the ordinances resolutions by which they were adopted shall be filed with the Clerk of Council and with such offices as may be required by applicable state or municipal law. Regulations governing the subdivision of land shall be published once after adoption in the official journal.

(3) Legal Effects of Master Plan

(a) Following adoption of the Master Plan, no public project or facility and no public utility, whether publicly or privately owned, shall be authorized or constructed except in conformity with the adopted Master Plan significantly altered.

(b) The Master Plan prepared by the Commission and adopted by the Council shall include as a part of the Land Use Element a table specifying which zoning districts in the comprehensive zoning ordinance are consistent with each of the land use categories the relationship between the land use designations and the zozning classification included in the Land Use Element of the Master Plan and reflected on the Future Land Use Map. The comprehensive zoning ordinance shall be simultaneously amended to include said table. Said table shall be amended, or updated as required, to accommodate amendments, or revisions, to the comprehensive zoning ordinance or Land Use Element of the Master Plan.

(c) All land development regulations and amendments thereto, including amendments to the zoning ordinance and the zoning map, as well as all other Land Use Actions, including but not limited to, preliminary or final approval of a subdivision plan; site plan; approval of a planned unit development, or similar site specific development plan; approval of conditional use; granting of a variance, or a decision by local government to construct a capital improvement; and/or acquire land or community facilities, including transportation facilities, shall be consistent with the Master Plan adopted by the City Council.

(d) A Land Use Action is consistent with the Master Plan if the Land Use Action:

(1) Furthers, or at least does not interfere with, the goals, policies, and guidelines, including design guidelines, that are contained in the Land Use Element of the Master Plan.

(2) Is compatible with the proposed future land uses, densities, and intensities designated in the Land Use Element of the Master Plan.

(3) Legal Effect of Master Plan. After the adopted Master Plan shall have been so filed and published, no public project or facility and no public utility, whether publicly or privately owned, shall be authorized or constructed except inconformity with the adopted Plan. Proposals for the authorization or construction of such projects, facilities or public utilities shall be submitted to the Commission for its approval for conformity with the adopted Plan as to location, character and extent. No final action with respect thereto shall be taken by the Council, by any other governing authority, by any officer, department or board, or by any person concerned therewith, except in conformity with the approval of the Commission certifying that the proposed action is in conformity with the adopted Master Plan.

(4) Mandatory Review. At least once every five years, but not more often than once per calendar year, and at any time in response to a disaster or other declared emergency, the Commission shall review the Master Plan and shall determine, after one or more public hearings, whether the plan requires amendment or comprehensive revision. If amendment or comprehensive revision is required, the Commission shall prepare and recommend amendments or comprehensive revisions and readopt the plan in accordance with the procedures of this section. The Commission shall hold at least one public meeting for each planning district or other designated neighborhood planning unit affected by amendments or revision in order to solicit the opinions of citizens that live or work in that district or planning unit; it shall also hold at least one public hearing to solicit the opinions of citizens from throughout the community. In addition, it shall comply with the requirements of any neighborhood participation program that the City, pursuant to Section 5-411, shall adopt by ordinance. Each public hearing or meeting shall be duly advertised in a newspaper of general circulation at least fifteen (15) but not more than (45) forty-five days in advance. Upon completion of the public hearings and meetings and following the adoption by resolution of the amendment or comprehensive revision, the Commission shall forward the amendment or revision to the City Council for adoption by ordinance. Within ninety (90) days of its receipt, the Council shall adopt the amendment or revision to the Master Plan, reject the amendment or revision, or propose modification. If it proposes any modification, the Council shall refer it to the Commission for public hearing and comment. The City Planning Commission shall consider and provide a recommendation to the City Council on the modification within (60) days of receipt from the City Council. The City Council shall take final action on the proposed amendment or revision within (45) days of receipt of the recommendation from the City Planning Commission.

(5) Amendment of Plan. The Planning Commission may amend the Master Plan, including the Land Use Element and the Land Use Map, following applications effecting a particular parcel or parcels of property, provided that all such amendments shall be considered on a regular schedule which shall allow all such amendments to be considered at one time and no more than twice per calendar year. The Commission shall hold at least one public hearing in the planning district, or other designated neighborhood planning unit, where the effected parcel or parcels of property are located, to solicit the opinions of citizens that live or work in that district, and a public hearing to solicit the opinions of citizens from throughout the community, prior to considering amendments to the Master Plan. Each hearing shall be duly advertised in a newspaper of general circulation at least fifteen (15) but not more than (45) forty-five days prior to each hearing. Upon completion of the public hearings, and the adoption, modification, or denial of the amendments to the Master Plan by the Planning Commission, the amendments shall be forwarded to the City Council. Within 45 days of its receipt of the amendments, the Council shall either deny or accept each such amendment to the Master Plan.

(5) Legal Effect of Subdivision Regulations. All proposed subdivisions of land to be made after the adoption of the regulations governing subdivision of land shall be submitted to the Commission for its approval for conformity with the subdivision regulations, and Master Plan, and no such proposed subdivision shall be made or recorded unless approved by the Commission. Approval of a plat of a subdivision shall not be deemed an acceptance by the City of any street or other open space shown on the plat.

(6) The City shall make adequate appropriations to the Commission to implement the mandate of this section.

Section 5-405. Planned Street Lines and the Official Map.

The Council, upon recommendation of the Commission, and consistent with the Master Plan, may by ordinance do the following:

(1) Adoption. The Council, upon the recommendation of the Commission, may by ordinance adopt:

(a) Plats showing the exact location of planned or mapped lines of street widening and extensions or of future streets.

(b) An Official Map showing all public streets then existing and established by law; all planned streets or street lines previously adopted under this Section; all streets or street lines as located on final or recorded plats of subdivisions as previously approved by the Commission; and all existing or planned parks and other public open spaces.

(2) Notice to Owner of record. No plat showing the location of a planned or mapped street shall be adopted before notice shall have been sent by registered mail to the owners of record of the land on or abutting the future street lines designated upon the plat.

(3) Legal Effect

(a) Upon the adoption of any plat showing the location of a planned or mapped street, the owners of the property within the lines of such planned or mapped street shall for the period specified in the ordinance be prohibited from erecting any structure within such lines. The owner of any property so affected shall be entitled to appeal to the Board of Zoning Adjustments under the same procedure described for appeals in zoning cases.

(b) After the adoption of the Official Map or any plat showing the lines of planned or mapped streets, no change in any street shall be made by the Council until such proposed change shall have been submitted to the Commission for its approval or disapproval for conformity with the Official Map. Pending the adoption of the official Map, the Council shall not vacate, narrow, or extend any existing street without having secured the approval of the Commission thereon.

(c ) The adoption of any plat showing the location of a planned or mapped street or the placing of any street or street line on the Official Map shall not, in and of itself, constitute or be deemed to constitute the opening or establishment of any street nor the taking or acceptance of any land for street purposes.

(4) Amendment of Official Map. New streets and street locations on recorded plats of subdivisions as approved by the commission or on plats adopted by the Council shall be forthwith placed upon the Official Map as additions or modifications thereto, when the Council accepts the dedication of the streets and street locations shown thereon Other amendments to the Official Map may be made by the Council at any time after having secured the advice of the Commission.

Section 5-406. Zoning Ordinance.

(1) Except when adopted pursuant to a zoning plan proposed and recommended by the Commission, the City Council shall refer all proposed zoning ordinances and amendments to the Commission for its recommendations. Any zoning ordinance or amendments adopted by the Council must be consistent with the Master Plan. Inconsistent ordinances and amendments shall be null and void as provided by Sec. 5-404 (3)(c).

(2) Prior to making recommendations on any zoning ordinance or amendment thereto, and prior to adopting regulations governing the subdivision of land, and prior to adopting the Master Plan or part thereof, the Commission shall hold a public hearing thereon at which interested persons shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published at least three times in the official journal.

(3) Simultaneous with any amendment to the Master Plan, the Commission shall review the comprehensive zoning ordinance and shall determine, after one or more public hearings, whether the ordinance requires revision and amendment. Mandatory Review. At least every ten years, immediately following the review of the Master Plan,

(4) The Commission shall hear and decide all applications for conditional uses authorized by the zoning ordinance under criteria and procedures provided in the zoning ordinance. All such decisions shall be consistent with the Master Plan as provided in section 5-404(3)(c).

(5) (4) The City shall make adequate appropriations to the Commission to implement the mandate of this section.

Section 5-407. Public Notice and Public Hearing

Prior to making recommendations on any zoning ordinance or amendment thereto, prior to adopting regulations governing the subdivision of land, and prior to adopting the Master Plan or part thereof, the Commission shall hold a public hearing thereon at which interested persons shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published at least three times in the official journal.

Section 5-407. 5-408. Approval of the Commission.

When under this Charter the approval of the Commission is required of any proposal, the approval shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission. Should the Commission fail to act within sixty days (90) ninety days of the submission of the proposal to the Director of the Commission, its approval or certification shall be presumed unless the person, governing authority, office, department, board or commission submitting the proposal shall agree to a longer period of time for consideration by the Commission. In the case of amendments to the zoning ordinance, the Commission shall report its findings within a reasonable period of time, to be fixed by ordinance, without a presumptive approval being granted. (1)

(2) Should the Commission disapprove any proposal involving the expenditure of public moneys, such disapproval may be overruled by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the membership of the affected governing authority paying the preponderance of the cost involved. Any disapproval of a proposal for a public housing project and any approval or disapproval of any proposal not involving the expenditures of public moneys may be overruled by the affirmative vote of two thirds of all members of the Council.

Section 5-408. 5-409. Board of Zoning Adjustments.

(1) Composition. There shall be attached to the Commission a Board of Zoning Adjustments to consist of five seven seven members who shall be domiciled in and electors of the City, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council for a term of five years, five-year terms staggered so that the terms of no more than one member term of one or two members term of one or two members shall expire each year. The Council shall adopt an ordinance authorizing the creation of a nominating committee to nominate members of the Board of Zoning Adjustments to serve on the Board and to replace Board members as vacancies occur. The nominating committee shall consist of the head of the largest urban planning program at a university in the City, the head of the largest planning organization in Louisiana, a representative from the business community, a representative from an historic preservation organization, and a representative from a neighborhood organization. The committee shall nominate three persons for each vacancy on the Board and shall submit these nominations to the mayor, who shall select one of the persons nominated to fill the vacancy. Board members shall serve no more than two terms, and vacancies on the Board shall be filled within a 90-day period. seven members who shall be domiciled in and electors of the City, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council for five year terms, staggered so that the term of one or two members shall expire each year. Neither the Director nor any member of the Commission shall be a member of the Board. The Mayor may, by Executive Order approved by the Council in accordance with the procedures established in Section 9-201 (2) of this Charter, reassign or attach the functions of the Board to another department or board within the Executive Branch.

(2) Functions. The Board shall:

(a) Hear and determine appeals from applicants who have been refused building permits because of a violation or conflict with the zoning ordinance or official map of the City.

(b) Hear and decide appeals where error is alleged in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the zoning ordinance of the City.

(c) Have the power to permit exceptions to or variations from the zoning regulations in classes of cases or situations and in accordance with the principles, conditions, and procedures specified in and subject to the limitations imposed by the zoning ordinances of the City.

Section 5- 409. Orientation and Continuous Education Training for Planning

Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments Members.

(1) Training. Each Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments member shall attend a minimum of four six hours of orientation training concerning the duties and responsibilities of the Planning Commission, or Board of Zoning Adjustments, either prior to taking office or no later than one year after office is assumed. All training shall be approved by, and under the supervision of, the City Planning Commission.

(2) Continuing education. All members of the City Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Adjustments shall receive within each calendar year at least four six hours of continuous education in any of the subjects listed in subsection (3) of this section. All training shall be approved by, and under the supervision of, the City Planning Commission.

(3) Education subjects. The subjects for the education required by subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall include, but not be limited to, the following: land use, land use planning, land use law, zoning, transportation, community facilities, historic preservation, ethics, public utilities, parliamentary procedure, public hearing procedure, economic development, housing, public buildings, land subdivision, and powers and duties of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments.

(4) Removal from Position. Members of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments shall be subject to removal by a majority vote of the members of their respective Commission or Board if they fail to complete the requisite number of hours of orientation training and continuing education within the time allotted in this section.

(5) Validity of Decisions. A failure of one or more members of the Planning Commission or Board of Zoning Adjustments to complete the orientation training or continuing education requirements shall not effect, impact or invalidate a decision of the Commission or Board.

Section 5-410. Other Functions.

Functions not specifically assigned to the Commission by this chapter may be assigned to the Commission or reassigned by an Executive Order of the mayor approved by the Council in accordance with the procedures established in Section 9-201 (2) of this Charter.

Section 5-411. Neighborhood Participation.

The City shall establish by ordinance a system for organized and effective neighborhood participation in land use decisions and other issues that affect quality of life. It shall provide for timely notification to a neighborhood of any proposed Land Use Action affecting the neighborhood; it shall also provide the opportunity for meaningful neighborhood review of and comment on such proposals. In addition, it shall provide the opportunity for meaningful neighborhood participation in the formulation of the Master Plan or any amendment thereto.

Section 5-412. Definitions.

For purposes of this Article:

“Future Land Use Map” means a map in the Land Use Element of the Master Plan that sets forth categories of allowable land uses and density for the purpose of directing the future development and redevelopment of private and public property in the City

“Land Use Action” means the preliminary or final approval of a zoning map amendment, a zoning ordinance text change, subdivision plat, site plan, planned unit development, or conditional use; the granting of a variance, adoption of a development agreement, or issuance of a certificate of appropriateness; a decision by the City or any of its administrative authorities to construct a capital improvement, acquire land for community facilities, including transportation facilities, or for redevelopment. Approval as used in this paragraph includes approval subject to conditions.

“Zoning Map” means the Official Zoning District Maps adopted with the New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, setting forth the boundaries of each land use designation and showing authorized land uses and densities for such uses within each designated area.

Bywater Neighborhood Association

Central City Renaissance Alliance
Central City Partnership
Filmore Gardens
Garden District Association
Gentilly Terrace and Gardens
Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Hollygrove Neighbors
Indian Village
Lake Vista
Mary Queen of Vietnam

Melia Subdivision
Mid-City Neighborhood Organization
Milneburg
Oak Park
Pensiontown Neighborhood Association
Pontilly
St. Roch
Sugar Hill
Baronne Street Neighbrhood Association
Desire Street Ministries
Seabrook Association
Paris Oaks
Carrollton United
Rosedale Subdivision
Another Life Foundation
Beacons of Hope
Build Now LLC
Consumer Credit Counseling Services
Green Project
Hands On New Orleans
Juvenile Justice Project of LA
LA Bucket Brigade
Levees.org
makeneworleanshome.com
Metro Bicycle Coalition
New Orleans Food and Farm Network
New Orleans Women’s Shelter
NOLA YURP
New Schools for New Orleans
Phoenix of New Orleans (PNOLA)
Project Home Again Foundation
Rebuilding Together
SAFER
SMCL Foundation and Associates Inc.
Save our Schools NOLA (SOS NOLA)
Tobacco Free Living
Trinity Christian Community
Volunteers of America
Arts Council of New Orleans
Habitat for Humanity
Louisana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO)
Last Hope Inc/Abstract Cafe & Bookshop
GNO Fair Housing Center
Rethink
Common Ground Relief
Global Green
Lake Catherine

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HB 1347 & SB 795

Representative Austin Badon and Senator Ann Duplessis propose to spend $10 million of tax-payer funds to pay for private school tuition for about 2,000 students currently in the New Orleans Recovery School District, Orleans Parish and public charter schools.

Vouchers Will Impair Public School Students in New Orleans

• Vouchers will take $14 million from the 30,749 remaining public school children in New Orleans.

• Vouchers will imbalance public schools in New Orleans by reducing the number of its students in grades K-3, which will be especially difficult on new public charter schools.

• Since reforms in New Orleans have barely begun and not yet been given opportunity for evaluation, passing this legislation will send a message to the public that the state does not believe in its own reforms and programs leading to decreased public confidence and resources for public schools.

Vouchers Won’t Change Achievement Outcomes for Children

• Private schools score lower, on average, in the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) than public schools.

• Milwaukee Parental Choice Program found no appreciable academic gains in reading and math from vouchers and attrition rates were high: 44% and 32% in the first two years.

• In Washington, D.C., the academic achievement of African American students who used a voucher to switch from public to private school was not consistently higher over the 3 years of the study than that of the control group of African American students who remained in public schools.

• In Cleveland, after two years, there was no improvement in the overall test scores of those students using vouchers in established private schools.

Vouchers Will Undermine Current Public School Progress

• This program will further complicate an already complex system for public education.

• Studies show that parents who enroll their students into voucher programs are better educated; more involved in their child’s school and have higher aspirations for their children than average public school parents.  Given that such aspects are typically indicative of higher student achievement, vouchers will remove some of the public school district’s best assets from classrooms.

• Reforms without our public school families’ voice are reforms that will not be supported by our public school families and contribute to the barriers of mistrust, hopelessness and cynicism.

What could $10 million do for public education in New Orleans?

• Reduce class size by adding 200 teachers to our public schools.

• Add art, music and physical education to every elementary and middle school.

• Expand electives for language, science and technology within each high school.

• Improve building health and safety through better facility maintenance.

• Create 75 early childhood classrooms for 1500 three and four year olds, doubling capacity for early childhood education.

• Create school-based, high-quality after school programs for approximately 7,000 students which would nearly double the number of students participating in such programs.

So… Why Vouchers in New Orleans?

Politics, as usual.

We strongly urge you to review the facts of the matter before making a decision.

From Save our Schools NOLA & the Campaign: Our Schools. Our Future. Our Plans.

No Tags]]> http://www.npnnola.com/so/feed/ http://www.npnnola.com/citizen-participation-process-faq/ http://www.npnnola.com/citizen-participation-process-faq/#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:03:55 +0000 gill http://www.npnnola.com/?p=896 Frequently Asked Questions about the Citizen Participation Process

What are the goals of the Citizen Participation Process?

The goal is to create a formal relationship between City Government and citizens. We do not yet know what form this relationship will ultimately take, but we know what our goals are: to ensure that City Government must engage with citizens, that citizens have a voice in the decision making process before decisions are made, and that our city comes back the way we want it to.

Who is running this process?

The process is citizen-driven. The Neighborhoods Partnership Network and the Committee for a Better New Orleans/ Metropolitan Area Committee are helping to facilitate this process, have opened an office at 3500 Canal Street, and hired staff to help, but neither organization is directing the process and the development of Citizen Participation. Those decisions will be made by the individuals who get involved, and anyone can get involved.

What is the next step?

These forums are acting as a way for us to get in touch with people who want to become involved in this process. The next step is to hold a two-day retreat here in New Orleans to discuss different models and ideas for Citizen Participation. The retreat will lead to the creation of a citizen-driven Steering Committee, who will ultimately be in charge of directing the process.

How is this funded now?

Grants from national and local foundations are currently funding this process. NPN and CBNO/MAC are not privately funding this process, and do not have a private agenda for this process.

How will this be funded in the future?

That is a question that the citizen’s committee will have to decide; this will probably be the hardest question to decide. It has been expressed that it would be desirable to have it written into the budget as a project that gets recurrent funding without having to go through the budget processing. This would be a safeguard from having this process corrupted or completely wiped out by any person inside the city government who may be unhappy with it. It would hopefully keep citizen participation separate from politics. This is only a suggestion, however.

My neighborhood/other community group already has a great relationship with our City Council representative. Why should I want to jeopardize that by supporting this?

It is wonderful that you have a close relationship with your representative, and this process is not trying to endanger that relationship. This process could benefit your relationship with City Government in many ways. Whereas you may have a great relationship with your current representative, there is no guarantee that you will have a similar relationship with representative that may replace them in another election cycle. Moreover, CPP would hopefully free people up to vote based on issues, and not based on relationships or political strategizing. Additionally, CPP would bring everyone to a level playing ground, improving everyone’s relationships with their representatives.

Survey

Small Entrepreneur Developer Program:

Providing Individuals Access to NORA Properties

Please Complete by April 7, 2008

The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) is creating a new Small Entrepreneur Developer program to assist small developers – both for-profit and nonprofit - in applying for and acquiring NORA-held properties that can be developed into housing. It is not aimed at the large professional developers, but those individuals and small organizations that are interested in developing 1-5 properties as a means to participate in the rebuilding of New Orleans and to tap into the economic potential of rehabilitating dilapidated houses or developing new homes on vacant lots.

NORA would be very grateful if you would take a few minutes to complete this survey. By doing so, you will provide direction to NORA in the creation of a program that includes the necessary support systems to ensure its success. All responses will be confidential.

1. What is your experience in developing housing in New Orleans in the past five years:

□ Developed more than 10 houses

□ Developed 6 - 10 houses

□ Developed 1 – 5 houses

□ Never developed housing

2. What are the biggest obstacles you experience in developing housing in New Orleans?

3. In which areas would you be interested in receiving training?

□ Budget / Pro forma Development

□ Construction Management

□ Marketing

□ Housing Design / Specification Writing

□ Financial Packaging / Available Funding Sources

□ Collaborative Project Planning

□ Legal Issues

□ Other: ______________________________

4. What is your anticipated source of funding for redevelopment projects

□ Personal Funds

□ Bank Financing

□ Government Subsidy

□ Need Funding Assistance

□ Other: _______________________________

5. In what ways could NORA assist you in developing housing? What is your anticipated source of

6. Any other comments or concerns you would like to express?

7. Please indicate your name and contact information, if you would prefer to be contacted personally.

Name _____________________________

Phone Number _________________________

Thank you for completing this survey. Your input is important to NORA.

Please send the information to Amy Hovey, consultant with the Genesee Institute assisting NORA, at amyhovey@protogenia.com or fax to 810.257.3090.

We would love to have your input in The Trumpet. You can e-mail us with your ideas, suggestions and submissions at thetrumpet@npnnola.com.

Please limit submissions to 500-1500 words and send them to us as a Word Document. Photos can be submitted as jpegs, tiffs or pdfs. And the bigger the file size, the better.

Letter from the Editors

Neighborhood Voices

Little Gypsy, Big Messy

Tropical New Orleans

Education Versus Incarceration

Recovery at Work in Communication

Green Orleans: “Stumped” For the Perfect Gift? Give the Gift of Releaf

Stay Local: The Craft Mafia: A Well-Organized Syndicate

New Orleans Kid Camera Project

Shop Locally for the Holidays

In the Spotlght: St. Roch’s Road to Recovery

Poem: Dead Soldier Walking

Rethink New Orleans: Rethink New Orleans: An interview with Rayne Martin, Deputy Chief of Operations, Recovery School District

Ask City Hall

Ted Hornick and Alethia Picciola
Trumpet Directors

For me, the winter holidays are times for reflection: Not only for looking back with family and friends, but for looking forward. I was never especially partial to New Year’s resolutions (is anybody, anymore?), but I always enjoyed thinking about next year and wondering at its possibilities and ideas. To see the beauty of nature is to acknowledge the need to rid oneself of all that is old and un-useful, in efforts to grow to greater levels.
It is with that attitude in mind that I think of the Trumpet’s future. I think of the past year, with our speedy growth and (mostly) smooth transitions and I wonder how we can hope to grow further. I also think of how exciting the immediate future is – the winter holiday blitz will lead us into what I know will be a fantastic year, with the Trumpet celebrating its first birthday, NPN celebrating its second, and all of New Orleans celebrating with us!!

Timolynn Sams
Executive Director of NPN