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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 126
BY REPRESENTATIVE DIXON
PORTS/HARBORS/TERMINALS: Urges and requests the creation of a parishwide port
authority in Rapides Parish
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the further development of existing port assets focused on the entire2
Red River waterway in Rapides Parish.3
WHEREAS, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 138 of the 2012 Regular Session of4
the Legislature (SCR No. 138) requested a comprehensive report on economic development5
opportunities and strategies for the Red River area between the cities of Alexandria and6
Pineville; and7
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the Central8
Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA), and the Red River Waterway9
Commission (RRWC) also contributed to this response as the designated regional economic10
development organization for the area described in SCR No. 138; and 11
WHEREAS, the report provides an in-depth overview of the need for a broader eight-12
parish central Louisiana regional economic development plan to encourage the collaborative13
development of strategies and plans among multiple communities to create a more powerful14
unit; and15
WHEREAS, the review of existing planning efforts related to the Port of Alexandria16
and the city of Alexandria reveal no such comprehensive plan for parishwide, river-related17
development in recent history; and18
WHEREAS, due to recent changes in legislation, the opportunity to expand and19
update the authority of the Port of Alexandria has arisen; and20 HLS 13RS-1313 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 126
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WHEREAS, with the port authority of the Port of Alexandria restricted to the1
municipal limits of the city of Alexandria, the port's authority covers only one side of the2
Red River within the city of Alexandria's boundaries; and3
WHEREAS, a regional port authority with jurisdiction to cover all of Rapides Parish4
would allow for increased planning and competitive position for the port and region; and5
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, CLEDA, and the6
RRWC recommended legislation setting a timetable for the creation of a parishwide port7
authority governing the Port of Alexandria to develop activities and provide opportunities8
to develop a plan focused on the entire Red River waterway in Rapides Parish; and 9
WHEREAS, this expansion shall require more dedicated staffing, funding, target10
industry analysis, strong interregional relationships, leadership training and stakeholder11
education, as well as improved marketing; and12
WHEREAS, in the effort to build interregional relationships, the parishwide port13
authority shall include three commissioners appointed by the mayor of the city of Alexandria14
and confirmed by the Alexandria City Council, three commissioners appointed by the15
Rapides Parish Police Jury, one commissioner appointed jointly by the mayors of the16
municipalities in Rapides Parish, except the municipalities of Alexandria and Pineville, and17
shall be subject to confirmation by the Rapides Parish Police Jury, two commissioners18
appointed by the mayor of the city of Pineville and confirmed by the board of aldermen of19
the city of Pineville, and one commissioner appointed at large by the Central Louisiana20
Chamber of Commerce and confirmed by the Alexandria City Council and the Rapides21
Parish Police Jury.22
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby23
urge and request the development and creation of a parishwide port authority in Rapides24
Parish.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution and the26
Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA) report findings as legislated27
by SCR No. 138 of the 2012 Regular Session of the Legislature, be sent to all municipalities28
in the parish of Rapides and the following economic development organizations: Greater29
Alexandria Economic Development Authority, England Authority, Central Louisiana30 HLS 13RS-1313 ORIGINAL
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Chamber of Commerce, North Rapides Business Alliance, and the Central Louisiana1
Business League.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each economic development organization and3
each municipality in the parish of Rapides shall pass a resolution in support or opposition4
to the suggested formation of the parishwide port authority and report such resolution to the5
House Committee on Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs by November 21, 2013.6
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Dixon HCR No. 126
Urges and requests the creation of a parishwide port authority in Rapides Parish.