MAYOR LANDRIEU, CITY COUNCIL LAY OUT NEXT STEPS FOR CITY’S RECREATION PROGRAM
October 21, 2010 – NEW ORLEANS, LA - Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the City Council today announced the next steps for the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission following a landslide victory for the City Charter amendment on October 2, 2010. An overwhelming seventy-four percent (74%) of New Orleans voters passed the City Charter amendment to create the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission.
Since the election, the Mayor and City Council have been working together to pave the way for the new Commission, which will become effective January 1, 2011. The Commission will be comprised of 13 members, five of which will represent each of the five City Council districts. These five unpaid Commission seats will be appointed by the Mayor subject to the Council’s approval.
The Mayor’s office is currently accepting recommendations. Letters of interest should be emailed or faxed to April Davenport, Boards and Commissions, at addavenport@nola.gov and 658-4938. Submissions should be made no later than October 29, 2010.
The other 8 seats pursuant to City Code are:
- The Mayor
- The Deputy Mayor & Chief Administrative Officer
- The Deputy Mayor over Operations
- One member of the New Orleans City Council who chairs the City Council’s Youth and Recreation Committee
- 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 begin the search for a superintendent of recreation and create its by-laws at its first meeting in early January 2011. For the remainder of 2010 and until the Commission commences operation in 2011, all recreation concerns, comments and questions should be directed to the current NORD Director Vic Richard at 658-3000. NORD programming will remain as planned until the new Commission gives further notice.
Mayor Landrieu recently doubled the city’s financial commitment to $10 million for recreation programs in his 2011 proposed budget.
“The smartest investment we can make to keep our city safe is in our kids,” Mayor Landrieu announced in his 2011 Budget Address last week “That’s why we will more than double NORD’s budget next year. We heard you, New Orleans. In the coming years, the new New Orleans Recreation Development Commission will once again make our City a national model for recreation. Our children will no longer have to fundraise for things like jerseys, pads, and helmets. Residents across the city will have access to good swimming pools, like the one we just broke ground on in Joe Brown Park. With quality programming, kids will have the opportunity to paint and play ball, laugh and learn, sing and dance.”
Arnie Fielkow, Council President and co-chair of the Youth and Recreation Committee, said, “The citizens of New Orleans value recreation, thus it is no surprise that the reform was approved by 74% of voters. By design, the new recreation system will combine insight from community leaders with the expertise of public officials and members of the business community to ensure that our youth and seniors have stellar facilities and programming. During the next few months, I look forward to the New Orleans Recreation Commission and Foundation taking shape and preparing to affect the change needed for New Orleans recreation to succeed.”
In the coming weeks, the fundraising arm of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, known as the New Orleans Recreation Foundation, will be created as a 501c3, although it cannot formally convene until January 1, 2011. Incorporated by the three co-chairs of the NORD Citizens Advisory Panel, Rod West, Roy Glapion and Bobby Garon, the Foundation will begin recruiting members as soon as possible.
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Contact:
Ryan Berni- Mayor Landrieu
504-658-4992 (office)
504-621-9504 (cell)
Danielle Viguerie- Council President Fielkow
504-658-1063
