§ 20-1. Creation of historic district and historic district commission.

(a)

Commission established. There is hereby created a commission to be known as the "Historic District Commission of the City of Westwego."

(b)

Composition; appointment of members. The commission shall consist of nine members, five of whom shall be appointed by the city council in the ratio of one per council district. The remaining four members shall be appointed by the mayor, one of whom must reside in the historic district.

(c)

Term; vacancies. Each of the members of the commission shall be appointed for a term of four years. The chairperson shall be elected by the members of the commission. Whenever the term of a member of the commission expires, the mayor shall appoint his successor. The members may serve consecutive terms. The first commission shall have staggered terms: one-fourth with one-year terms, one-fourth with two-year terms, one-fourth with three-year terms and one-fourth with four-year terms. All commission members shall have a demonstrated knowledge of or interest, competence, or expertise in historic preservation. The commission shall seek the advice, as needed, of professionals in the related disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, or archaeology, etc.

(d)

Administration and committees.

(1)

The city building inspector will serve as advisor to the commission and will act as liaison between the commission and the office of the mayor. Nominal expenses necessary to carry out the duties of the commission will be budgeted through the aforementioned department. The recording secretary for the commission will be designated by the director and all files, records, and minutes for the commission will be maintained by the department. The city attorney shall be the ex officio attorney for the commission. The commission may designate and appoint, from among its members, various committees with such powers and duties as the commission may have and prescribe.

(2)

Should it become necessary to appoint a new historic district commission advisor, the historic district commission is hereby empowered to select a replacement from among the officers and administrators of the city, barring only the mayor, subject to a meeting attended by the full membership of the commission. The procedure for the selection of the post of advisor shall be determined at that time and shall be subject to the advice of the office of the city attorney.

(e)

Rules, regulations and guidelines; meetings; reports and recommendations. The commission shall make such rules and regulations as it may deem advisable and necessary for the conduct of its affairs not inconsistent with the laws of the city and of the state. The commission shall hold meetings at the request of any two city councilmembers, commission member, the chairperson of the commission, the mayor, or by petition from any property owner. The commission shall make quarterly reports to the mayor and city council containing a statement of its activities. Copies of the rules, regulations and guidelines shall be available at the historic district commission office.

(f)

Purpose. The historic district commission shall have for its purpose the preservation and stewardship of all structures in the designated historic district of the city. The commission shall have for its further purpose the guardianship of those structures which have architectural and historical value and which should be preserved for the benefit of the people of the city and state.

(g)

Designation of historic district. The following area of the city is hereby designated as the Salaville Historic District:

From the river batture and levee at the junction of LA 18 and Sala Avenue or "The Hill," south to Fourth Street, which includes blocks one (1), two (2), three (3), and four (4) of Sala Avenue and all properties and structures within these four blocks facing Sala Avenue and also including sites that extend from Sala Avenue through to Louisiana Avenue or Avenue A, and the 100 and 200 blocks of First, Second, and Third Streets.

(Code 1976, § 10.5:1; Ord. No. 1101, 7-13-1998; Ord. No. 1122, 7-15-1999; Ord. No. 1154, 9-11-2000; Ord. No. 1453, 6-11-2012)