Board of Commissioners
The French Quarter Management District is a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana created in 2007 by the Louisiana Legislature pursuant to R.S. 25:796, et seq.
- BOUNDARIES
- FQMD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
- FQMD OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
- MEETINGS
- ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- INITIATIVES
- CREATION OF THE FQMD
- PURPOSE OF FQMD
- COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The boundaries of the FQMD are:
• The Mississippi River,
• The Center line of Canal Street,
• The rear property line of properties fronting on the lake side of North Rampart Street, and
• The rear property line of properties fronting on the downriver side of Esplanade Avenue.
A thirteen member Board of Commissioners governs the FQMD. Only one member, the chair of the Vieux Carre Commission, or the chair’s designee, is an ex officio member. The other twelve members are appointed by the following elected officials and organizations:
Mayor of New Orleans appoints two members
New Orleans City Council member representing District “C” appoints one member
Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates, Inc., appoints one member
Louisiana Restaurant Association, Inc. appoints one member
Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association, Inc.appoints two members
French Quarter Business Association of Louisiana appoints one member
Bourbon Business Alliance appoints one member
French Quarter Citizens, Inc. appoints one member
North Rampart Main Street, Inc. appoints one member, and
New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc., appoints one member.
FQMD OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS:
The FQMD's 2013 officers and members are as follows:
• Robert Watters, Chair, appointee of Bourbon Business Alliance of New Orleans
• Kimberly Rosenberg, Vice-Chair, appointee of City Councilmember representing District "C"
• Lori Herbert, Secretary, appointee of North Rampart Main Street, Inc.
• Anthony Marino, Treasurer, appointee of Vieux Carré Property Owners, Residents &
Associates,
Inc.
• C.E. Adler, Commissioner, appointee of the French Quarter Business Association
• Peter Ambros, Commissioner, appointee of the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging
Association, Inc.
• Darryl Berger, Sr., Commissioner, appointee of Mayor of New Orleans
• Brian Furness, Commissioner, appointee of French Quarter Citizens, Inc.
• Al Groos, Commissioner, appointee of the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association,
Inc.
• Dr. Ralph Lupin, Commissioner, appointee of Vieux Carré Commission
• Steve Pettus, Commissioner, appointee of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and
Visitors
Bureau, Inc.
• Sal Sunseri, Commissioner, appointed of the Louisiana Restaurant Association
• Theodore Young, Commissioner, appointee of Mayor of New Orleans
The Board of Commissioners generally meets the first Monday of every month from Noon to 2:00 p.m. The 2013 meeting dates are: January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, October 7, November 4 and December 2.
All meetings are open to the public unless the Board is in executive session. Meeting locations rotate among a variety of hotels and offices in the FQMD's boundaries. Agendas are posted at the meeting place, and at FQMD's Office located at 100 Conti Street. The meeting location and/or an agenda of the next Board meeting may be obtained by emailing rwatters@me.com. For other meeting agendas, please click on the name of the Board, Committee, or Task Force Chair and email them.
Studies Funded
• Video Surveillance Feasibility Study, funded (2012)
• Management & Operations Plan for a Security District, funded (2010)
• Managing an Evolving Nighttime Economy, Hospitality Zone Assessment Study by the Responsible Hospitality Institute, funded (2008)
• Parking & Mobility Study of the French Quarter, DDD, Marigny Triangle, co-funded (2008)
Events Sponsored
• Public Meetings Hosted
• French Quarter Land Value Property Assessments (2012)
• Loudspeaker Placement in French Quarter Businesses (2012)
• Proposed Legislation to Create a Hospitality Zone (2012)
• Referendum to Create a French Quarter Security District (2010)
• Formosan Termite Prevention (2011)
• New Orleans Seafood Festival, co-sponsored (6/2008)
Safety Initiatives
• Established SafeCams8 Program (2012)
• Prohibiting Parking & Stopping from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the 100 Blocks of Bourbon and Royal Streets
& 700 block of Iberville Street (2012)
• Limiting Use of Barricades on the 100 Blocks of Bourbon Street (2012)
• Ambassador Safety Ranger Patrols (2008-2009)
Infrastructure Initiatives
• Block-by-Block Survey of Condition of French Quarter Sidewalks (2011, 2012)
• Block-by-Block Survey of Condition of French Quarter Lampposts (2011)
• Block-by-Block Survey of Condition of French Quarter Signage (2011)
Governmental & Enforcement Initiatives
• Flyers on French Quarter Ordinances (2011-2012)
• Supporting Ordinance on French Quarter Curfew for Children 16 and Under, Ordinance Calendar No. 28,787 (2011)
• Supporting Ordinance Prohibiting Aggressive Solicitation, Ordinance Calendar No. 28,682 (2011)
• Supporting Loudspeaker Ordinance creating Sect. 66-209, Ordinance Calendar No. 28,967 (2011)
Planning
Vision 2018/2038 Task Force
Safety
Transform the 100 Block of Bourbon Street (Completed)
Continue and Complete the 100 Block of Royal Improvement Initiatives
Continue to Assist NOPD in Solving Crimes by Expanding Safecams8 Registration
Implement a Video Surveillance Saturation (VSAT) System in a Business & Residential Block
Improve Lighting in Another Block of Bourbon
Reduce the Number of Dark Streets
Make Clinton a Safer and More Attractive Street
Continue to Seek Partners to Implement a FQ wide Video Surveillance System
Sanitation
Proposed Ordinance on Commercial Roll Carts
Proposed Ordinance on Large Animal Waste Abatement
Trial Program on Residential Use of Trash Bags in Lieu of a Roll Cart
French Quarter 2013 Waste Collection & Sanitation Contract
Cleaning of Commercial Roll Carts & Waste Containers
Clarify law to limit time period roll carts may be on public right-of-way
Infrastructure
Bicycle Parking
Bicycle Ordinance for French Quarter
Limiting Length, Height & Weight of Vehicles in French Quarter
Graffiti Abatement
Freight, Loading & Delivery Zones
Bollards – Sidewalk Protection Initiative
Updating French Quarter Residential Parking Program
Parking Benefits District
Enforcement
Ordinance Flyer for French Quarter Businesses (complete: 1/2013)
Quality of Life Court
Identification of Chronic Violators of French Quarter Ordinances
Voluntary Cessation of Tour Group Sticker Litter (2011)
Government
Drafting an Outdoor Loudspeaker Ordinance
Drafting Ordinance on Operation of Miniature Vehicles in Quarter
Permitting of Street Performers
Property & Sidewalk Maintenance
Sidewalk Cafés
CREATION OF THE FQMD:
Though spared from significant flood water damage from Hurricane Katrina, both the image and the infrastructure of the French Quarter were damaged during the storm and its aftermath. The French Quarter became a staging area for waves of responders following the storm. At times, the Quarter appeared to be a war zone with military troops and vehicles patrolling its fragile, narrow streets. Instead of evoking images of fine dining, shopping for antiques and art or laissez les bon temps roulez (“Let the good times roll!”), after Katrina media articles and photos depicted the cornerstone of Louisiana’s tourism industry as a place of lawlessness and despair. The area’s tarnished, post-Katrina image negatively affected the amount of tourism, convention business and locals visiting the area, causing some restaurants and shops to permanently close their doors. The Louisiana Legislature created the French Quarter Management District in 2007 to revitalize the French Quarter and address the post-Katrina and systemic issues confronting the neighborhood.
As separate post-Katrina recovery initiatives, Mayor C. Ray Nagin, and the New Orleans hospitality and tourism industry, organized groups to create an economic recovery district for the French Quarter and its surrounding area. Senator Edwin R. Murray brought the two groups together. He subsequently authored the legislation that created the French Quarter Management District as a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana. The Louisiana Legislature also appropriated $50,000.00 to the District for its first year, 2007-2008.
On January 28, 2008, the Board of Commissioners of the French Quarter Management District held its first meeting.
The statutory purpose of the FQMD is to strengthen the District as a vital component of Louisiana’s tourism industry; aid in the preservation of the District’s architecture, quaint charm and tout ensemble; beautify the District's appearance; improve public safety, foster quality experiences and quality of life within the District; and improve commercial and residential vitality. The statutory functions of the FQMD include strategic planning, business and commercial development activities and administering capital improvement funds.
The FQMD ’s enabling legislation, in La. R.S. 25:799(G), also provides that the FQMD may:
• Create and maintain public restroom facilities
• Beautify the District and improve its streetscapes
• Enhance the walkability and pedestrian-friendly environment of the District
• Revitalize and nurture the cultural and historical features of the District
• Provide façade grants and incentives to utilize vacant buildings, upper floors and land
• Address transportation concerns
• Facilitate parking and mobility planning, strategies and management
• Develop and implement commercial planning, marketing and revitalization strategies
• Facilitate lighting and signage upgrades, repairs and replacements
• Aide in the repair of sidewalks, streets and related infrastructure
• Aide in video camera installation and monitoring
• Recruit public amenities and services
• Foster quality pedestrian experiences
• Foster regional and District character
• Facilitate removal and prevention of graffiti
In 2008, the District’s Board of Commissioners authorized the following contracts and/or programs:
Responsible Hospitality Institute, Inc. (RHI): The Board approved the expenditure of $3,500.00 to RHI to prepare a Nighttime Economy Hospitality Zone Assessment of the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle that focused on Bourbon Street and Frenchman Street and was developed through a series of stakeholder meetings, a leadership summit and five roundtable sessions on Safety, Hospitality, Music, Community and Development. Review the final report.
Downtown Development District (DDD): The Board approved the expenditure of $20,000.00 to the DDD to expand the boundaries of a Parking and Mobility Study the DDD was undertaking to include the properties in the portion of the Marigny Triangle that are within the District’s boundaries so that all of the District would be included in the Study. Review the final report. (Note: Download time ± 7 minutes.)
Operations Plan Security District (FQMD Initiative): The FQMD was founded to promote a vision of making the French Quarter a vibrant and safe place to live, work and visit. This Management and Operations Plan details the pursuit of that vision. The recommendations in this plan reflect valuable input from members of the public, extensive research and analysis, and close conversations with partner agencies and organizations, including the New Orleans Police Department. Review the final report.
