Meeting Minutes July 10, 2006
August 8th, 2006Time: 6:10 P. M.—7:20 P. M.
Place: Port Allen City Hall
Port Allen, Louisiana
Board Members Present: Chairman Chris Guerin, Vice Chairperson Liz Holmes, Terrell Joseph, Virginia Gough, Tabitha Gray, and Lynn Bradley
Board Members Absent: Frances Alexander, Joyce Jenne, Susan Langlois, Reynard Douglas and Gary Hubble. (Ms. Langlois and Mr. Hubble did not receive the Notice of Meeting. Their e-mail addresses have since been updated).
Guests present: Lu Cutrera, Director of Planning, Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. and attorney and staff member Molly McGraw Porter.
Type of Meeting: Regular monthly meeting of the Port Allen CDC Board of Directors
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Guerin. Chairman Guerin called the roll and it was determined that a quorum was present due to the reduction in the number of Board Members. Although official business could be conducted, the Board noted that not all Members had received the Notice of Meeting as required by the Bylaws. After discussion it was decided by the Members present that only procedural matters would be resolved by a vote of the Members present, reserving all other official business for the August meeting.
Reading and Acceptance of Minutes:
Minutes of the March 6, 2006 meeting were reviewed and accepted.
Communications, Guest Speakers, etc.:
Lu Cutrera provided an update on the Port Allen Annexation process including Port property omissions, La. Hwy. 415 plans, and upcoming planning/design meetings with the City concerning the Ferry. The CDC will be notified and invited to attend presentations made regarding the Ferry by the Moore Planning Group.
Unfinished Business:
The Board discussed Membership issues and Ms. Porter briefly outlined CDC’s Bylaw provisions as they pertain to the following discussion points:
* Reduction in Number of Board Members
* Attendance Requirements
* Quorum and Voting Requirements
New Business:
1. The Board discussed the $60,000 in funding awarded to CDC by BRAF. BRAF requires that CDC raise $20,000 on its own accord as a prerequisite to future funding.
2. The Board also discussed the status of the 2006 Capital Outlay Bill [House Bill 2] and its capital outlay provisions for Port Allen. At the time of the Meeting, H.B.2 was on the Governor’s desk awaiting her signature. Since then, H.B. 2 has been signed into law as Act No. 27 with an effective date of July 11, 2006. Under its provisions providing general obligation bond funding to specified projects, Port Allen’s Downtown revitalization and redevelopment, land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, renovations, planning and construction projects have been allocated $100,000 in Priority 2 funding and $900,000 in Priority 3 funding.[1]
3. Chairman Guerin agreed to contact members to discuss changes in membership, ongoing participation and bylaw amendments.
4. As a matter of procedure, it was decided that the Shaw/CDC Administration Contract should be maintained through the City rather than initiating a banking account for CDC and the concomitant reporting requirements for non-profits that would entail.
Tentative Agenda for Next Meeting:
The next meeting date was set for August 14, 2006 at 6 PM at Port Allen City Hall. Should this meeting be held in the new City Hall, as expected, the Meeting Notice will so specify. Issues for the next CDC meeting will include a discussion and vote on the membership issues addressed at the July meeting, as well as an update on the Annexation and Ferry.
Adjournment:
A motion from Liz Holmes to adjourn was offered, and it was seconded by Tabitha Gray. The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
[1] Priority 2 projects are those anticipated to begin by the first or second quarter of the fiscal year. It is presently anticipated that Priority 2 projects will require the sale of bonds or extension of lines of credit within six months after adoption of this Act. Priority 3 projects are those anticipated to begin in the third quarter of the fiscal year. It is presently anticipated that Priority 3 projects will require the sale of bonds or extension of lines of credit during the current fiscal year.