The board of commissioners may regulate port district commerce and traffic and has broad powers to own, operate, maintain, lease, finance, tax, and improve port-related property and facilities.
§2104. Powers of commission; title to structures The board of commissioners may regulate the commerce and traffic of the port, harbor, and terminal district in such a manner as may in its judgment be best for the public interest; it has all the rights, privileges, and immunities granted to corporations in Louisiana; it may own, administer, contract for, construct, operate, and maintain docks, wharves, sheds, elevators, locks, slips, laterals, basins, warehouses, belt and connecting railroads, airports, works of public improvement, and all other property, structures, equipment, and facilities necessary or useful for port, harbor, and terminal purposes, including buildings and equipment for the accommodation of passengers and the handling, storage, transportation, and delivery of freight, express, and mail; it may dredge and maintain shipways, channels, canals, slips, basins, and turning basins; it may establish, operate, and maintain in cooperation with the federal government, the state of Louisiana and its various agencies, subdivisions, and public bodies, navigable waterway systems; it may acquire land necessary for the business of the district; it may acquire industrial plant sites and necessary property or appurtenances therefor and it may acquire or construct industrial plant buildings with necessary machinery and equipment within the district; it may lease or sublease for processing, manufacturing, commercial, and business purposes, lands or buildings owned, acquired, or leased as lessee by it, which leases may run for any term not exceeding forty years at a fixed rental, but may run for any term not exceeding ninety-nine years; provided they shall contain a clause or clauses for readjustment of the rentals upon the expiration of a primary term of forty years, and it may ratify, confirm, and approve any such leases heretofore granted and acquired by it; it may borrow from any person or corporation using or renting any land, dock, warehouse or any other facility of such district such sums as shall be necessary to improve the same according to plans and specifications approved by it, and it may erect and construct such improvement, and agree that the loan therefor shall be liquidated by deducting from the rent, dock, wharf, or toll charges payable for such property a percentage thereof to be agreed on, subject, however, to any covenants or agreements made with the holders of revenue bonds issued under the authority hereinafter set forth; it may maintain proper depths of water to accommodate the business of the district; it may provide mechanical facilities and equipment for use in connection with such wharves, sheds, docks, elevators, warehouses, and other structures; it may provide light, water, and police protection for the district and for all harbor and terminal facilities situated therein; it may make and collect reasonable charges for the use of all structures, works, and facilities administered by the board, and for any and all services rendered by it; it may regulate, reasonably, the fees and charges to be made by privately owned wharves, docks, warehouses, elevators, and other facilities within the limits of the district when the same are offered for the use of the public; it may borrow funds for the business of the district; it may levy and collect taxes; it may mortgage properties constructed or acquired by the district and it may mortgage and pledge any lease or leases and the rents, income, and other advantages arising out of any lease or leases granted, assigned, or subleased by it; it may incur debt and issue bonds for its needs in the manner provided by the constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, including, but not by way of limitation, R.S. 39:471(12), 39:551.1, 39:551.2, 39:570.1 and R.S. 34:340.1 through 34:340.6. All buildings, railroads, wharves, elevators, and other structures, equipment, and facilities herein referred to are declared to be works of public improvement and title thereto shall vest in the public. Added by Acts 1964, No. 68, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 431, §2.