September 2, 2010 – New Orleans, LA - Today, an ordinance was unanimously passed by the New Orleans City Council to establish the membership composition and length of terms of membership for the proposed New Orleans Recreation Development Commission. The Commission, which would replace the existing NORD, will be up for a vote of the people on October 2nd, 2010.
Under the Ordinance, the Commission would consist of thirteen members, including five duly qualified electors, one from each Council District. These five electors will be appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of the City Council and will possess expertise/experience in at least one of the following subject areas: arts or culture; sports; accounting or finance; law; or be a consumer of recreation activities, including parents, coaches, booster club representatives and seniors. In selecting these five members, the Mayor and the Council will consider factors such as diversity and geographic location of appointments, relevant skills and any other expertise beneficial to the operation of the recreation facilities and programs for the City. These members will serve for an initial term of five years with subsequent terms to be staggered.
Also on the Commission will be: The Mayor; the First Deputy Mayor – Chief Administrative Officer; the Deputy Mayor of Operations; a member of the New Orleans City Council; the Superintendent of the Recovery School District; the Chairman of the Orleans Parish School Board; the Chairman of the City Planning Commission and the Chairman of the New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation.
The Commission will be effective January 1st, 2011. Its organizational meeting will take place no later than January 15th of each year, at which time the Commission will elect a chairperson, vice chair and other officers. A search for a well-qualified Superintendent of Recreation will be one of the Commission’s first orders of business.
Within ninety days of the effective date of this Ordinance, the Mayor and City Council will form the New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation, which will be organized as a non-profit corporation. The Foundation will serve as a fundraising body to support the activities of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission.
All meetings of both the Commission and the Foundation will be open to the public.
“Having the support of all seven Councilmembers, as well as the Mayor, is a great step in our process of transforming New Orleans recreation into a successful system that serves all of our citizens, especially youth and seniors. It is time New Orleans gets back to a recreation model which represents excellence, and the reform measure up to the vote of the public on October 2nd gives us the chance to achieve that! The ultimate goal is for New Orleans to have a recreation system that other cities want to emulate,” said Council President Arnie Fielkow, the co-author of the Ordinance.
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Contact:
Danielle Viguerie
Communications Director, City Council President Arnie Fielkow
(504) 658-1063
