For Immediate Release: October 22, 2009
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov

BATON ROUGE --The Louisiana Governor's Office, through Executive Assistant for Coastal Activities Garret Graves, announced Thursday the formation of a 16-member commission to evaluate the financial sustainability of non-flood protection assets held by the Orleans Levee District.

The Non-Flood Protection Asset Commission is composed of Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East members, state legislators from the New Orleans area, civic leaders and state officials including the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development or a designee and the Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities.

The Commission will meet for the first time Friday, November 13.

The panel, whose members were selected after recommendation from SLFPA-East President Tim Doody, legislators and local civic leaders, will be charged with evaluating and making recommendations to the Louisiana Legislature, Graves and Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis on how to direct the following assets: Lakefront Airport, Lakefront Subdivision lanes and parks, Lakeshore Drive and adjacent parks and green spaces, Mardi Gras Fountain, Lake Vista Community Center, the former Naval Reserve Station, New Basin Canal Properties, Orleans Marina, Seabrook Boat Launch and Frank Davis Fishing Pier, Senator Ted Hickey Bridge, South Shore Harbor and North Peninsula and the police station on Elysian Fields Ave and in the loft building with the Franklin Avenue Complex.

The panel was formed based on recommendations contained in a bill proposed by State Senator J.P. Morrell of New Orleans. Though the legislative session expired prior to finalization of the bill, Graves said formal evaluation of the non-flood protection assets was needed.

"Today I, applaud the Governor for creating the commission to oversee this very important issue to the recovery of New Orleans, the operation and management of the Lakefront has an impact all the way from the lake to the river, this community has worked with this administration and the legislature to come to this agreement to see who will own and manage these very important assets," Morrell said.

Greg Ernst, who is serving as the temporary state representative for House District 94 during Representative Nick Lorusso's call up to active duty in the U.S. Army, also welcomed the creation of the Commission.

"I look forward to serving on the Commission, which I hope will come up with sound recommendations to increase the public's use and enjoyment of the Lakefront."

The commission shall be composed of: members of the Board of Commissioners of the SLFPA-East, executive director of the Orleans Levee District Flood Division, Executive Director of the Orleans Levee District Non-Flood Division, Senator Morrell or designee, state Senator Edwin Murray or designee, state Representative Gregory Ernst or designee, state Representative Jared Brossett or designee, state Representative Cedric Richmond or designee, Secretary of DOTD or designee, Chair of the CPRA, Commissioner of Administration or designee, Chair of the SLFPA Nominating Committee, representative from City Park Improvement Association, two representatives from neighborhood associations.

The following members have been selected to serve on the Commission: Tim Doody, SLFPA-East president; John Barry, SLFPA-East designee; Louis Cappo, executive director of the Orleans Levee District Non- Flood Control Division; Gerry Gillen, executive director of the of the Orleans Levee District Flood Control Division; Senator Morrell; Robert Lupo, designee of Senator Murray; Joe Hassinger, Lake terrace Association; John Trask, Lakeshore Association; DOTD Secretary William Ankner; Jerry Jones, designee Division of Administration; Garret Graves, CPRA Chair; Taylor Beery, chair of the SLFPA Nominating Committee; Representative Ernst; Darrel Saizan, designee of Representative Brossett; Representative Richmond; Al Pappalardo, City Park Improvement Association.

For more information about Louisiana's coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts, please contact Chris Macaluso at 225-342-3968 or by email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.

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The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's mandate is to develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration master plan. For the first time in Louisiana's history, this single state authority will integrate coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshalling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development, and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana's coast. Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA will work to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation's critical energy infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come. The CPRA of Louisiana was established by Act 8 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2005