The old Shreveport Caddo Metropolitan Planning Board is no more.
Special state legislation sponsored by House Representative Danny McCormick dissolved the joint planning board, effective Jan.2, 2022.
Now the government entity is the Shreveport Metropolitan Board (MPC), and it only has jurisdiction in the city of Shreveport.
The current MPC board is operating under the legislation that created the joint Shreveport Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission.
This board has nine members: four appointed by the Shreveport city council, four by the Caddo Commission and one joint appointee. One of the Commission appointees lives in the parish; the other board members are Shreveport residents.
Now zoning matters governed by the Shreveport Unified Development Code (UDC) that come before the MPC board will be voted upon by five individuals not appointed exclusively by the Shreveport city council.
This board composition raises issues concerning citizen representation and governmental authority of non city appointees making decisions affecting city property.
It is unexplainable to this writer why a new MPC ordinance was not introduced and enacted before the effective date for the state legislation.
This issue has now become foreground due to a pending re-appointment of a diligent well-qualified MPC board member who was appointed by the parish.
The succinct legal question is can the city council can appoint or re-appoint ANYONE to a seat designated for parish selection
