§349. Commercial leases; New Orleans French Quarter

A. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, and in particular the provisions of R.S. 41:1212, the board of directors of the Louisiana State Museum is authorized to lease, for any purposes other than oil, gas, or other mineral development, commercial space within or on the properties located in the New Orleans French Quarter of which the board has title to or custody or possession, without advertising for and receiving public bids for such leases, provided that such leases are negotiated for and executed according to the terms and conditions contained in this Section.

B.(1) The board shall establish a comprehensive usage plan and a lease program for the commercial space within or on the properties located in the New Orleans French Quarter of which the board has title to or custody or possession. The plan shall be in compliance with all of the following:

(a) Be compatible with the historic nature of the museum properties.

(b) Establish criteria for the acceptance or rejection of lease applications.

(c) Be presented at a public meeting of the board with prior notice, by public advertisement at least once no more than ten days before such meeting is held, that such plan will be discussed at such meeting.

(d) Be available to the public, in writing, upon request.

(2) No earlier than one month after the adoption of such plan, the board shall review applications for commercial leases at a public meeting after notice by public advertisement at least once no more than ten days before such meeting is held, that such applications will be accepted at such meeting.

(3) No earlier than one month after receiving such commercial lease applications the board shall render its decision to accept, reject, or defer such commercial lease applications at a public meeting after prior notice by public advertisement at least once no more than ten days before such meeting is held, that such decision will be rendered at such meeting.

(4) In making its decision the board shall determine all of the following:

(a) The financial qualifications of applicants.

(b) The compatibility of the proposed lease with the historic integrity, structure, and safety of the property, the relationship of the proposed commercial lease with other commercial leases on the property.

(c) The impact of the proposed lease on the historic character of the neighborhood in which the properties are located.

(5) The board shall fix terms and establish minimum rental fees as determined in the comprehensive usage plan.

(6) The board shall accept no applications from nor shall it approve any lease with any state official, board member or his spouse or child, or any person of which he is an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee, or of which he has a substantial personal economic interest, as distinguished from that of a general class or general group of persons, of which he may be reasonably expected to know. The provisions of this Paragraph are illustrative and not exclusive.

(7) All commercial leases approved by the board shall be reviewed by the attorney general and no lease shall be finally approved by the board unless approved by the attorney general as to form and legality.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 581, §1, eff. July 18, 1979; Acts 1997, No. 318, §1, eff. June 18, 1997; Acts 2001, No. 156, §1.