A.  The governing authorities of St. John the Baptist Parish and the South Louisiana Port Commission, pursuant to the authority in Article 7, Section 14(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana may engage in a cooperative endeavor for the purpose of creating the South Louisiana Port and Intermodal Transportation Commission.

B.  The purpose of the commission shall be to provide for coordination of the regulation of commercial transportation on the Mississippi River as it flows through St. John the Baptist Parish.  It is the intention of the legislature that the commission shall use its powers to promote air and river commercial transportation for the enhancement of the economic conditions in the river parishes.

C.  The South Louisiana Port and Intermodal Transportation Commission shall be finally created only upon adoption of an ordinance and/or resolution creating the commission adopted by both the parish governing authority and the South Louisiana Port Commission.  The ordinance or resolution shall provide for membership on the commission and set forth its powers, functions, duties, and responsibilities.  In addition, a resolution by the South Louisiana Port shall be adopted no sooner than twenty-four hours after a public meeting specifically held to consider such matter and to receive public comment thereon.

D.  Upon creation by ordinance, the parish governing authority, South Louisiana Port Commission, and the South Louisiana Port and Intermodal Transportation Commission may enter into a cooperative endeavor pursuant to this Chapter which endeavor may include provision for the transfer of any obligations of any airport within the parish to the South Louisiana Port and Intermodal Transportation Commission.

Acts 1997, No. 1041, §2.