Topics Covered:

• Approval of previous meeting minutes
• Report fromDistrict Coordinator Sgt. Ronnie Stevens
• Newsletter Status Update
• Magnet Status Update
• Tax Freezes Revisitation
• Report on Liberty Bank
• Announcment of Official MCSD Address
• Update on Finances
• Status of By-Laws
• Status of Chairman Replacement
• Target Zones

Attendance:

Colleen Boyle-Gannon

Angela Henderson

Susan Guidry

Corey Tisdale

Romney Richard

Also in attendance: Esther Braxton, Susan Stewart, Karen Stemley Hayes, Sgt. Ronnie Stevens, Becker Rutledge

Motion by Ms. Henderson to approve meeting minutes from September. Seconded by Ms. Gannon. Unanimous approval.

REPORT FROM MCSD COORDINATOR – SGT STEVENS

• Sgt. Stevens has continued keeping a chart of the various crimes. Numbers and types of arrests are listed.

• All three cars have arrived and are at the dealership and will be picked up tomorrow morning. They will be outfitted with the cages and sirens and be decaled. Timing for completion will depend on how many other cars they have ahead but it should be between 7-10 days.

• Sgt. Stevens reported to the board that we need to reconsider the MCSD decal given space limitations. He suggested an oval decal with a gold background and red letters so that it will stand out. The decals are to be put on the car between the rear passenger window and the rear window. This is the only space available on the car for security district decaling.

• MOTION from Ms. Richard to approve a gold oval with crimson letters that Mr. Tisdale will design. Seconded by Ms. Guidry. Unanimous approval.

• Decals cost about $650 per car, depending on the template and the design.

• NOPD’s technology department is getting a quote for computers in the cars for the board’s consideration.

• Sgt. Stevens will give us the invoices from the sirens, cages and cars. No monies have been paid on this to date by the security district.

• Sgt. Stevens reported that he has been working closely with the narcotics unit, they carried out a couple search warrants and have plans to carry out a couple more.

  • 622 S. Lopez – Recovered two firearms, crack cocaine, marijuana

  • 3500 block of Palmyra – Made an arrest for possession of a firearm and breaking and entering.

• Sgt. Stevens and Major Norton have been working with Volunteers of America on Tulane. They may be able to provide a space for the Mid-City Security District Coordinator, officers, meetings, etc.

NEWSLETTER STATUS

• Ms. Richard has completed the newsletter and it is waiting at the printer.

• Mr. Tisdale has finalized the mailout list.

• ACTION for Ms. Richard to contact Jennifer Weishaupt to see if she has a list of businesses in the MCSD and Ms. Henderson will contact staff of Stay Local to see if they might have a complete list. MCSD plans on additionally sending the newsletter and magnets to businesses as well as residents.

• Mr. Tisdale will also put the newsletter in PDF form on the website so that folks can download it there as well.

• The newsletter will also contain one magnet, a survey and a return envelope.

MAGNET STATUS

• Mr. Tisdale will be picking up the magnets tomorrow with the check prepared by Ms. Rutledge.

READDRESSING TAX FREEZES

• MCSD set October as the month it would reconsider creating legislation to amend the current legislation, so that anyone with a tax freeze would be exempt from the security district fee.

• 842 households have tax freezes which amounts to $168,000 per year in revenue for the Security District, based on this year’s tax rolls.

• Tangible and intangible benefits result from the security district for each resident within the district whether they pay or not.

• It was determined, based on the current budget and projections of costs, that exempting 842 households from the fee, would render the service inoperable, in other words, the MCSD would not be able to provide sufficient coverage to make a difference in the safety of the neighborhood.

• Motion by Ms. Henderson not to go forward with an attempt to pass new legislation to create an exemption from the security district fee for folks who have tax freezes. Second by Ms. Richard. Unanimous approval.

REPORT ON LIBERTY BANK STATEMENTS/ADDRESS

• Ms. Rutledge reported that Liberty Bank sends quarterly statements and that mail from Liberty Bank is being sent to Ms. Rutledge’s accounting firm address.

ANNOUNCMENT OF OFFICIAL MCSD ADDRESS

• The official MCSD Address is:

Mid-City Security District

PO Box 19651

New Orleans, LA 70179

FINANCES

• Ms. Rutledge prepared checks for Stencil works for the magnets, for her accounting services (she is charging half of her regular rate to the Security District) and also a check for NOPD services. Each will be signed by two commissioners at the meeting tonight.

• Sgt. Stevens brought an invoice for the police services, the total bill is $42,883 for one and a half months of police service. When we have full coverage (24-7) the bill will be slightly higher. The police invoices will be made available every two weeks for payment.

• Mr. Tisdale brought the invoice for the magnets.

• Ms. Rutledge brought an invoice for her services.

STATUS OF BY-LAWS

• Ms. Guidry’s computer has crashed and she was unable to consider the bylaws this past week. Ms. Gannon and Ms. Guidry will collaborate to get the bylaws created in the next couple weeks before the next MCSD meeting.

STATUS OF CHAIRMAN REPLACEMENT

• Bylaws will cover the replacement process; however it appears that the Vice Chairman does have the role of taking over the place of the Chairperson, should the Chairman leave.

• MCNO has the responsibility of finding a replacement for Mr. Tisdale, given that he was their appointment.

TARGET ZONES

• Target zones were discussed with Sgt. Stevens for additional coverage and surveillance by the patrols.

• Some progress has already been made on a couple of the zones.

• Neighbors were encouraged to submit locations where they are seeing criminal activity.

MOTION to adjourn by Ms. Henderson at 7:45 p.m. Seconded by Ms. Richard. Unanimous approval.