City of New Orleans Office/Department Descriptions

CITY COUNCIL - The legislative body of the city consisting of seven council members, (five elected from districts and two at-large), elected for four-year terms and subject to a two-term limit. The Council has the authority to levy taxes (subject to state law) and to adopt the City’s annual capital and operating budgets. Ordinances of the Council may be vetoed by the Mayor, and vetoes may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Council. The City Council employs the Clerk of Council, research and fiscal offices, and a utility regulatory staff.

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR - The executive and administrative body of the city headed by the Mayor as chief executive officer of the City. The Mayor is elected for a four-year term and is limited to two consecutive terms. The Mayor’s office is divided into four divisions:

• Administration and Policy Planning is responsible for general administration and the management of Federal and State programs.
• Intergovernmental Relations Division coordinates intergovernmental agencies and programs.
• Division of Economic Development provides long range economic planning, business assistance and development, and tax incentive programs.
• The Division of Housing and Neighborhood Development coordinates housing and neighborhood initiatives and supervises federally funded housing programs.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE - The Chief Administrative Officer is appointed by the Mayor and serves as the Mayor's principal assistant. The CAO oversees all of the city department heads, except the Departments of Law and Civil Service. The CAO also serves as the budget officer preparing both the annual operating and capital budgets. Within the Chief Administrative Office are four divisions: Budget, Operations and Planning Division, Emergency Preparedness and Capital Division, Central Services Division, and the Employee and Labor Relations Division.

• Police Department - responsible for law enforcement; providing protection of lives, property, rights, and liberties of the people

• Fire Department - extinguish, investigate, and prevent fires; enforce regulations relating to fire safety

• Safety & Permits Department - enforce zoning and building code ordinances, as well as all state and municipal laws and regulations under which permits are required

• Sanitation Department - provide for the collection and disposal of garbage and other refuse, either directly or by contract; manage disposal facilities and street cleaning

• Public Works Department - design, construct, pave, and maintain streets, bridges, and related structures; coordinate construction projects with other departments and public utilities; coordinate public works projects under construction

• Recreation Department - plan, supervise, and conduct a comprehensive and coordinated program of cultural and physical recreation; manage and operate all recreational facilities

• Human Services Department - administer welfare and human services programs of the city; includes the Milne Boys Home and the Youth Study Center

• Health Department - adopt and enforce local health and sanitary regulations; make health inspections; operate and provide emergency medical services; enforce the State Sanitary Code

• Finance Department - collect all taxes and license and permit fees; prepare tax rolls and bills; sell property upon which taxes are not paid; maintain the treasury of the City and all financial records of the City; administer the Bureau of Revenue

• Property Management Department - maintain all buildings owned or operated by the City; manage all immovable property in which the City has an interest, including all cemeteries owned by the City

• Utilities Department - recommend terms to be incorporated in any franchise, permit, or privilege granted by the city; recommend rates and revisions of rates charged by any public utility; manage the Taxicab Bureau; administer street use privileges

• Parks & Parkways Department - administer, control, and manage all parks; tree and ground maintenance

• Civil Service Department (a)- City Civil Service Commission; guarantee to all citizens a fair and equal opportunity for public service under the merit system

• Law Department (a) - direct and supervise legal affairs of the City; provide legal advice to the Mayor and Council; have charge of all legal matters in which the City has an interest or to which the City is a party

• N.O. Mosquito & Termite Control Board (b) - administer and evaluate mosquito and termite activities; monitor the populations of disease and virus transmitting mosquitoes; includes the Mosquito Control Unit, Upper Pontalba Termite Control Project, City Park Source Reduction/Dredge Project, and Formosan Termite Control

• Historic District Landmarks Commission (b) - preserve and protect the architectural character of the City of New Orleans through the regulation of eleven designated historic districts and separate landmark structures

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (UNATTACHED) - Boards or Commissions that are neither part of, nor attached to, any department.

• City Planning Commission - manage subdivision regulation, capital improvement plans, major street plans, and land use planning; make recommendations to Council on zoning matters, neighborhood improvement, environmental protection, capital budget amendments, ordinances, and other policy matters

• New Orleans Public Library - administer and manage the library system

• Vieux Carre Commission - preserve the buildings in the Vieux Carre section of the city defined as having historical or architectural value; make recommendations to Council concerning the preservation of the Vieux Carre

• Alcoholic Beverage Control Board – manage the issuance of permits to sell alcoholic beverages

• Civic Group Donations - fund to entertain and enhance the diplomatic relationship with visiting dignitaries from around the world at official city events
  
• Municipal Participation in Civic Affairs - contribution to civic organizations which enhance the quality of life within the City

• City Dues - fund for City participation in various national organizations

• Economic Development Trust Fund - use of 1.25 mill property tax revenue for economic development projects

• Housing Trust Fund - use of 1.25 mill property tax revenue for a comprehensive neighborhood housing improvement program

ENTERPRISE FUNDS – These funds typically perform activities that are commercial in nature and generate their own revenue. Their operating budgets are listed in the Executive Operating Budget and passed as City Council motions, but not included in the City Operating Budget ordinance passed by the Council.

• Aviation Board - operate and maintain the New Orleans International Airport including the capital improvements program; represent the City in all technical matters pertaining to aeronautics

• Canal Street Development Corporation - administer certain properties and stimulate business development on Canal Street and in the Central Business District

• Delgado-Albania Plantation Commission - operate and maintain the Delgado-Albania Plantation

• French Market Corporation - administer the French Market complex, including the Farmer’s Market and Flea Market; responsible for commercial leasing, and building maintenance of this area

• Municipal Yacht Harbor Corporation – operate the Municipal Yacht Harbor at West End on Lake Pontchartrain; responsible for leasing of 610 boat slips and 135 boat-houses and general maintenance of the harbor facility

• Orleans Parish Communication District - administer the 911 emergency communication system and provide funds for installing and upgrading of the computer-aided dispatch systems at the New Orleans Police Department

• Piazza d’Italia Corporation – monitor the development and maintenance of the Piazza d’Italia monument

• Rivergate Development Corporation - administer the improvement, leasing, and commercial development of the Rivergate Convention Center property (now the site of Harrah's Casino)

• Upper Pontalba Development Corporation - general oversight of the Upper Pontalba Building

JUDICIAL & PAROCHIAL -Elected state officials whose function falls outside the framework of the municipal government. These officials perform state functions at the local level. The City, under state law, pays a portion of these agencies operating expenses.

(a) The Home Rule Charter [Chapter 3, Section 4-302, (1)] states that the CAO does not supervise the heads of the Department of Law and City Civil Service; but Chapter 3, Section 4-302, (3) gives the CAO general oversight of the Departments of Law and City Civil Service.

(b) The Home Rule Charter [Section 4-1901: Section 4-2102] identifies the N.O. Mosquito and Termite Control Board, as well as the Historic District Landmark Commissions (New Orleans and CBD) as a part of the Executive Branch. In the City Operating Budget ordinance (No. 19476), N.O. Mosquito and Termite Control Board and the Historic District Landmark Commissions are described as ‘unattached’ boards and commissions.