City of Monroe, LA

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that a public hearing will be held on the following Ordinance, Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber at Monroe City Hall:

ORDINANCE

STATE OF LOUISIANA

CITY OF MONROE                                                                         

The following Ordinance was introduced.

            WHEREAS, the City of Monroe is the owner of certain land located at the Monroe Regional Airport that was previously leased to AvFlight Monroe Corporation under a Contract of Lease dated September 25, 2016 (Ordinance No. 11,723);

            WHEREAS, the Monroe City Council approved a Lease Amendment to the Contract of Lease that released approximately 1.609 acres back to the City of Monroe for non-commercial aeronautical purposes (Ordinance No. 12,158);

WHEREAS, Pilots for Patients is a non-profit organization which serves our community and the region by providing free air transportation to patients needing diagnosis and treatments at medical facilities not available to them locally, with a goal to eliminate the burdens of travel;

            WHEREAS, Pilots for Patients positively affects countless lives, and the entire northeast Louisiana region will benefit from Pilots for Patients’ continued operation, growth, and success within Monroe;

WHEREAS, Pilots for Patients is currently based at the Monroe Regional Airport and desires to lease the approximately 1.609 acres released by AvFlight for the construction of the state-of-the-art hangar facility, host charitable events supporting the organization, and to grow its mission;

WHEREAS, the City does not have its own plans for use or development of the property, the property is not currently needed for any other public purpose, and the City does not believe that the property will be needed for any other public purpose during the term of the lease; and

            WHEREAS, a copy of the proposed “Ground Lease Agreement between the City of Monroe, Louisiana and Pilots for Patients” is attached hereto and made part hereof;

WHEREAS, the City deems the terms of the lease to be in the best interest of the City and that the investment and rentals paid by Pilots for Patient under the lease are commensurate with the value of the property;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of the City of Monroe, in legal session convened, that Stacey Rowell, Director of Administration, be and is hereby authorized and empowered for and on behalf of the City of Monroe, Louisiana, to enter and execute the attached Ground Lease Agreement between the City of Monroe, Louisiana and Pilots for Patients; and

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the subject property is declared no longer necessary for public use, that the terms and conditions of said lease are fair and reasonable, and that the terms and conditions of the proposed lease are in the best interest of the City.

            BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that under the provisions of Louisiana Revised Statute 33:4712 that prior to the final adoption hereof, notice of this Ordinance shall be published in the official journal three (3) times within fifteen (15) days, one week apart and that any opposition hereto must be made in writing, filed with the Clerk of the Council within fifteen (15) days of the first publication.

ORDINANCE INTRODUCED on the   23rd      day of  July    , 2024.

            NOTICE PUBLISHED on July 26th, 2024 and August 2nd & 9th, 2024.

                                                            Carolus S. Riley, CMC, MMC

                                                                        Council Clerk