HLS 19RS-321 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 173
BY REPRESENTATIVE JIMMY HARRIS
PARISH/ORLEANS: Requests the New Orleans City Council to expand the authority of
the city's code enforcement department and its employees
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the New Orleans City Council to expand the authority of the city's code
3 enforcement department and its employees so as to provide for a more consistent
4 enforcement of the city's sanitation and zoning ordinances and enhance the city's
5 ability to collect payment for fines imposed for violations of these ordinances.
6 WHEREAS, the city of New Orleans is a vibrant and lively city and a major driver
7of the state's economy as it is an annual destination for millions of conventioneers and
8tourists from all over the world; and
9 WHEREAS, it is imperative that the city recognize that consistent enforcement of
10the city's sanitation and zoning ordinances, including effective litter and blight control,
11protects the health, safety, and welfare of its residents and enhances the beauty and quality
12of the environment; and
13 WHEREAS, the city's residents, civic leaders, and business owners have a mutual
14interest in maintaining all property located in the city in a safe and sanitary condition; and
15 WHEREAS, pursuant to provisions of the city's home rule charter and code of
16ordinances, including the city's comprehensive zoning ordinance, several city agencies have
17the authority to enforce ordinances pertaining to sanitation and zoning; and
18 WHEREAS, the current administrative adjudication procedures, established pursuant
19to the city's code of ordinances, provide for limited jurisdiction over certain public health,
20housing, environmental, historic district, and nuisance violations; and
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HR NO. 173
1 WHEREAS, although employees of the city's code enforcement department are
2authorized to issue citations for certain violations of the city's code of ordinances, they are
3not authorized to issue municipal summonses, as that responsibility rests mainly with
4officers of the New Orleans Police Department; and
5 WHEREAS, many officers of the New Orleans Police Department do not have time
6to issue municipal summonses for violations of the city's code of ordinances as they are
7tasked daily with responding to an overwhelming number of emergency calls; and
8 WHEREAS, because many violators of the city's code of ordinances do not receive
9municipal summonses to appear in court, many fail to pay the fines issued for violations of
10these ordinances as they are keenly aware that the city's code enforcement department and
11its employees lack the ability to enforce the collection of these fines.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
13Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the New Orleans City Council to
14expand the authority of the city's code enforcement department and its employees so as to
15provide for a more consistent enforcement of the city's sanitation and zoning ordinances and
16enhance the city's ability to collect payment for fines imposed for violations of these
17ordinances.
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)]
HR 173 Original 2019 Regular Session Jimmy Harris
Requests the New Orleans City Council to expand the authority of the city's code
enforcement department and its employees so as to provide for a more consistent
enforcement of the city's sanitation and zoning ordinances and enhance the city's ability to
collect payment for fines imposed for violations of these ordinances.
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