[StBernard] Governor urges reformation of levee districts

[Westley Annis]

Governor Blanco issues memo charging the Coastal Protection and Restoration
(CPR) Authority to draft legislation that would reform certain levee
districts; Tasks CPR with objectives for January meeting 

MEMORANDUM

TO: Johnny Bradberry, Secretary, Department of Transportation and
Development
Scott Angelle, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources 
Sidney Coffee, Chair, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

FROM: Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco 

SUBJECT: Levee District Reform and the Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority 

DATE: December 10, 2005 

On November 28, 2005, I signed into law Act 8 of the 2005 1st Extraordinary
Session of the Louisiana Legislature. This historic act created the Coastal
Protection and Restoration Authority (CPR Authority) and charges this body
with creating a master plan that fully integrates the state's coastal
restoration and hurricane protection efforts. It also empowers this body to
exert aggressive and stringent oversight of levee districts in south
Louisiana.

The integration of hurricane protection and coastal restoration is necessary
for the success of our state's long term recovery and rebuilding efforts and
will serve as the guidepost for comprehensive coastal protection efforts for
generations of Louisianans to come.

With enactment of Act 8, we must now take the critical next steps to
accomplish true levee district reform. Therefore I am charging the CPR
Authority to develop and draft language for presentation in the next
legislative session that would enable the constitutional abolishment of some
levee districts and simultaneously create a new district in the greater New
Orleans area with the following objectives:

1.	To remove opportunities for political patronage;
2.	To demand that focus be on flood related duties; 
3.	To provide constitutional protection of the new district; and 
4.	To create regional levee protection. 

In addition, I ask that the CPR Authority drive the levee and coastal
protection recovery and reform efforts underway to ensure that Louisiana's
citizens have confidence that a strong levee system will be in place. To
that end through your respective roles as heads of the two lead agencies,
DOTD and DNR, and as chair of the CPR Authority, I am charging the CPR
Authority in its first meeting to be held in January 2006, to also address
the following:

Levee District Reform and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

*	Engagement of a forensic auditor to review all levee district
financial information; 
*	Requiring all significant flood control contracts with levee
districts to be approved by the CPR Authority using the state's contractual
review process; 
*	Requiring all non-flood control contracts to be approved by the CPR
Authority using the state's contractual review process; 
*	Requiring all current levee board members and those being considered
for future appointments to submit to the CPR Authority a full disclosure of
personal information and details of business interests; 
*	Detailing consequences for non-compliant levee districts (including
state management of those levee districts); 
*	Creation of a state levee inspection program (based on national
standards), to include subsurface monitoring of levees;
*	Establishment of minimum Operations and Maintenance standards for
all levee districts; 
*	Identification of standard, "critical" indicators to be utilized in
monthly reporting and the establishment of procedures to be utilized by
districts in submitting such reports to the CPR Authority for review; 
*	Requiring the submission of detailed reports from levee boards on
steps taken since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to survey levees, detect
problems and to make improvements before the next hurricane season;
*	Recommendation of a formal state policy regarding the Mississippi
River Gulf Outlet (MRGO);
*	Development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be executed
between the CPR Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, recognizing
the CPR Authority as the lead state entity with the Corps of Engineers on
hurricane protection and coastal restoration; and
*	Requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to present monthly,
public updates, (more often if needed) on the progress of levee repairs and
the federally authorized study on protecting Louisiana's coast.

As you know we must ensure the strongest and most effective levee system
available to the citizens of coastal Louisiana. The fate of our levees is a
critical question in the rebuilding equation for our families and
businesses. People will have the confidence to return to the cities they
love when their questions of safety have been sufficiently answered. 

I look forward to a full report on your progress. Thank you for your service
to the citizens of our state. 

cc: 
Members of the Louisiana Senate 
Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives 


-30-

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), Louisiana''s fund for
Louisiana''s people, has been established by Governor Kathleen Babineaux
Blanco in order to support long-term family restoration and recovery and
help provide assistance to our citizens in need through a network of
Louisiana charities and non-profit agencies. 

1-877-HELPLA1 (877-435-7521) www.louisianahelp.org