MAYORAL DECLARATION OF STATEOF PUBLIC HEALTH ANDSAFETY EMERGENCY DUE TO PROPERTY CONDITIONS

SHREVEPORT, La —

WHEREAS, La. R.S. 29:737 empowers the chief executive officer of a municipality to undertake immediate emergency response measures within the municipality whenever a situation develops within or outside the municipality and the chief executive officer of the municipality determines immediate action is required to preserve the public peace, property, health, or safety within the municipality; and

WHEREAS, as of June 27, 2024, the Mayor of the City of Shreveport has determined that the Linwood Homes apartment complex (7210 Bernstein Avenue) in the City ofShreveport no longer lawfully houses residents – the owner and manager of this complex having ceased active management, and water and power services having been disconnected; and

WHEREAS, on June 23, 2024, the Shreveport Fire Department responded to a two-alarm fire at Linwood Homes. It took the efforts of thirty-two (32) firefighters operating thirteen (13) units to bring the fire under control. As a result, one firefighter was taken to a local hospital for evaluation for heat exhaustion; and

WHEREAS, unauthorized occupiers have been observed by firefighters onsite at 7210 Bernstein Avenue. Without access to water or electricity services, unauthorized occupiers are likely to start fires within or adjacent to the units, thus posing the danger of further fires causing damage to the properties, to the nonpermissive occupants, to the public, and to first responders; and

WHEREAS, bulk trash dumping has been observed at Linwood Homes, including tires and mattresses. Trash generated byunauthorized occupiers and bybulk trash dumping is apublic health hazard and a fire hazard and creates a target of opportunity for other persons wishing to dump illegally; and

WHEREAS, without running water or functioning toilets, any occupancy by unauthorized occupants is a hazard to public health without sanitary disposal of human waste, which hazard can only be eliminated if no one is permitted to occupy the properties; and

WHEREAS, because the owner of Linwood Homes has ceased effective management, there is no responsible party to remove unauthorized occupants or to ensure that buildings in the complexes do not become even more serious health and safety hazards; and

WHEREAS, a declaration of emergency pursuant to La. R.S. 29:737, will vest the City, most specifically the Shreveport Police Department and other emergency response personnel, with the authority to remove and/or arrest unauthorized occupiers and persons unlawfully removing things of value from the buildings on the properties named herein; and

WHEREAS, these measures are necessary to preserve and protect the health and safety of the people of the City of Shreveport.

NOW THEREFORE, I, TOM ARCENEAUX, Mayor of the City of Shreveport, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Mayor and ChiefExecutive Officer of the City of Shreveport by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby undertake immediate emergency response measures and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: Pursuant to La. R.S. 29:737, declare that a State of Public Health and Safety Emergency exists for the buildings and premises at the Linwood Homes apartments (7210 Bernstein Avenue).

SECTION 2: The Shreveport Police Department is hereby granted the authority to remove and, if necessary, to arrest any person found at the above listed apartments for whom there is probable cause to suspect of criminal activity;

The Departments of Public Works and Property Standards are authorized to ameliorate health and safety hazards and remove illegally dumped trash and garbage; and all City departments and agencies are authorized to act to prevent or eliminate hazardous conditions affecting either public health, public safety, or both.

SECTION 3: Signage will be posted at the entrances to the Linwood Homes property, advising all persons that their presence on the property for any reason constitutes trespass and that such presence may result in arrest.

SECTION 4: The provisions established herein shall be effective from 1:00 p.m. on June 27, 2024 through 11:59 PM on July 26, 2024, or earlier if all the buildings on the properties named herein have been totally demolished. It may be modified to remove the above City authority if the property owner or their representative takes responsibility to secure and operate the premises, or to demolish the existing buildings and rebuild housing or any other permitted use.