The French Quarter Management District (FQMD) Board of Commissioners has approved its 2020 Annual Report. Intended to provide a review of FQMD’s activities and financial performance, the report highlights FQMD’s achievements for the year. It is the desire of the leadership of FQMD to set ambitious goals to achieve the mission of the agency and provide transparent reporting to the stakeholders.
As the world reacted to the impact of COVID-19 in 2020, FQMD remained busy adapting to the new realty the pandemic presented and introducing new programs for the French Quarter.
The FQMD’s signature program, the Supplemental Police Patrol Program (SPPP), proactively patrols French Quarter streets to help the NOPD deter crime. The SPPP patrols the French Quarter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The economic impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic had an unfathomable impact on the hospitality industry which funded the SPPP. The Board knew in March that funding would end and therefore took quick action to prioritize continuing 24/7 SPPP blue light patrols. The Board elected to reduce shifts from 2 to 1 officer patrolling during the day, and from 3 to 2 officers patrolling at night. This allowed FQMD to extend the restricted fund balance and keep patrols rolling for the entire year without a break in service. Even with a reduced deployment in while conducting “blue light” crime deterrent patrols, SPPP officers:
- Responded to 2,348 App Calls and 469 Dispatch Calls
- Made 5,050 Citizen Contacts
- Performed 2,543 Business Checks
- Made 129 Arrests & Apprehensions
- Wrote 346 Summons & Traffic Citations
- And Maintained 4 Vehicles that Patrolled 59,441 Miles
The French Quarter Management District (FQMD) released the French Quarter Physical Security Assessment. To further FQMD’s mission to identify and implement strategies for improving public safety throughout the French Quarter, the Board of Commissioners engaged Interfor International to conduct a physical security assessment. Interfor International is a global investigation and security consulting firm offering comprehensive domestic and foreign intelligence services. Interfor’s methodology for a physical security vulnerability assessment was to observe and analyze areas of potential and/or actual vulnerability, to define causes, and to recommend means to reduce or eliminate exposure. This third-party security expert made recommendations for improvements that are effective and found efficiencies that could be attained. This assessment shows that FQMD has run a transparent and effective Supplemental Police Patrol Program and that the structure of a unified plan for security in the French quarter moving forward should build upon that success.
FQMD developed the multi-pronged Keep the Quarter Clean campaign. The intent of the program is maintain a higher level of cleanliness than before the COVID-19 shutdown with all stakeholders feel a sense of ownership in promoting the Keep the Quarter Clean campaign and driving concerns to the survey tool to inform future programming.
The Livability Committee took up a new comprehensive approach to the Sidewalk Assessment bringing commercial construction expertise and taking the annual sidewalk assessment to the next level with in-depth data analysis with outputs for cost estimation and progress on repairs.
The French Quarter Management District is a political subdivision of the state created in 2007 by the Louisiana Legislature as a means for the residential and business communities to work together to protect, preserve, and maintain the world-famous French Quarter as a safe, clean, vibrant, and friendly neighborhood.
The FQMD works to:
- Improve public safety, foster quality experiences, and enhance quality of life within the District
- Improve commercial and residential vitality
- Strengthen the District as a vital component of Louisiana’s tourism industry
- Aid in the preservation of the District’s architecture, quaint charm, and tout ensemble
- Beautify the District’s appearance
If you would like more information about the French Quarter Management District’s 2020 Annual Report, please contact, Karley D. Frankic at 504-323-5801 or kfrankic@fqmd.org