(New Orleans) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter met today with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and other regional leaders about future options for the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans.

            “I think this meeting demonstrates that there’s real consensus to come together as a region to develop the airport as a powerful economic development engine. By working with the mayor and other regional leaders, we are close to securing a historical breakthrough for New Orleans and southeast Louisiana,” said Vitter.

Over the years, Vitter has included language directing the airport to pursue a regional governance plan in federal transportation appropriations bills. His language prevents the airport from using federal funds for runway expansions until the city of New Orleans incorporates governance from surrounding areas.

            On May 17, Mayor Nagin announced his interest in developing a new airport to promote economic development in the New Orleans area. On June 27, Senator Vitter and other regional leaders responded in a letter about their willingness to discuss the proposal and outlined a set of principles for moving forward. At today’s meeting, the group agreed to a set of principles to follow as they explore future efforts to improve or expand the New Orleans Airport.

            Following are the principles that were agreed to by U.S. Sen. David Vitter; New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin; U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu; U.S. Reps. Bobby Jindal, William Jefferson and Charlie Melancon; St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis; Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard; St. John the Baptist Parish President Nickie Monica; Plaquemines Parish President Benny Rousselle; St. Bernard Parish President Henry Rodriquez and Aviation Board Chairman Dan Packer:

1.      We believe that the present New Orleans area airport must, over the next 15 years, either be improved and expanded at the present site, or be replaced with a new facility with greater capacity at a new site. Any new site, should be a distance from downtown New Orleans comparable to, or less than, the Bonnet Carre site already identified by the New Orleans Aviation Board and should offer regional convenience comparable to the present site.  This is vital in order to support the tourism industry, including the burgeoning cruise ship business, as well as to improve business travel options, important for other economic development.

2.      In pursuing this, we must respect and build on the master planning process that the New Orleans Aviation Board has begun.  We must fully consider all reasonable sites for a new facility, including, but not limited to the Bonnet Carre and New Orleans East sites already identified.

3.      A new or expanded airport should be governed by a new regional board and, as a prerequisite, the City of New Orleans should gain significant and certain financial compensation in light of its ownership and development of the present site.  There should be no final transition to a new regional governance structure until the appropriate compensation is negotiated with the City of New Orleans and is structured so as to be certain and assured (e.g., not dependent on future government appropriations, etc.).

4.      A possible regional board could be composed as follows: 50% appointees of the Mayor of New Orleans; and 50% appointees of the chief executives of the other parishes in the region and any municipality in which part or all of the facility is located, if other than New Orleans.  In addition, all major decisions of the new regional board should require a 2/3 vote.  This will require consensus and will give both the City of New Orleans and the other parishes in the region (taken together) a veto over major decisions.  (Many other details, including the parishes included, the number of board members total and from each parish, and the definition of major decisions will, of course, be subject to further discussion.)

5.      We want the State of Louisiana to be fully involved and invested in this enterprise.  This could be accomplished by having the Mayor of New Orleans choose one of his appointees from a list of three nominees of the Governor of Louisiana, and by having the other appointing executives collectively chose one of their appointees from a list of three nominees of the Governor.  In addition, the Louisiana Secretaries of Transportation and Development and Economic Development should serve on the board as non-voting ex offico members.

6.      We must build upon the recent successes of Mayor Nagin and the New Orleans Aviation Board in ensuring professional management.  This should include specific, concrete protections in the appropriate governing documents to ensure professional management.

7.      We should actively pursue all reasonable and innovative private investment and financing options.  As part of this pursuit, we will approach other entities including the Louisiana Airport Authority to explore coordinating with their private investment and financing, cargo airport, and business park concepts.

8.      We will actively pursue the vision laid out above by always working together in a common and coordinated manner.  We will meet  regularly and also organize through working groups on topics, including, but not limited to: 1) FAA support for a new airport or airport expansion; 2) Use of redevelopment revenue from the present airport site to compensate the City of New Orleans; 3) Other sources of revenue for the City of New Orleans; 4) Private investment and financing options for airport development; 5) Study and evaluation of new sites; and 6) Governance document for a new regional board.