There are two important updates to share from the Shreveport City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 23.
Digital Camera Ordinance Pulled
Ordinance 71 requiring multiple digital cameras in any business that sold a ‘good or merchandise’ was pulled by the author. This ordinance could be reintroduced at a later time, but if it did would have to begin the process all over again. This would require what is called a ‘layover’ in order to give citizens the opportunity to share concerns and insights.
Shreveport Casino Smoking Ban Moratorium Introduced
Ordinance 72, issuing a one-year moratorium on beginning the recently-enacted smoking ban in Shreveport casinos, was introduced. This will be voted on at the July 14th City Council meeting.
There are concerns about the timing of the Smoking Ban, especially as relates to the caisnos. It comes on the heels of a lengthy shut down of bars and casinos by COVID-19, and the fact that Bossier City does not have a similar smoking ban. Bossier Council members that we have spoken to confirm there are currently no plans in Bossier to consider such a ban.
$8-$11 million per year from the Shreveport casinos goes into a Riverfront Development Fund, the lion’s share of which goes to help stabilize the city’s General Fund. There is no word on what the effect on Shreveport casinos and bars might be.
Posted Thursday, June 18, 2020
Smoking Ban Passed; Shreveport Bars, Casinos Could Be Smoke Free
At their Council meeting on June 9, the Shreveport City Council voted 5-2 in favor of a smoking ordinance that will prohibit smoking in bars, casinos and public areas of the city.
See June 9 City Council Agenda here.
See Smoking Ban Ordinance here.
The smoking ban will take effect in 60 days after the ordinance becomes law if there is no mayoral veto.
There are concerns about the timing of the ordinance, which comes on the heels of a lengthy shut down of bars and casinos by COVID-19, and the fact that Bossier City does not have a similar smoking ban. Bossier Council members that we have spoken to confirm there are currently no plans in Bossier to consider such a ban.
$8-$11 million per year from the Shreveport casinos goes into a Riverfront Development Fund, the lion’s share of which goes to help stabilize the city’s General Fund. There is no word on what the effect on Shreveport casinos and bars might be.
Ordinance Seeks to Force Businesses to Purchase Camera System
An ordinance introduced at the June 9 Council meeting that will be voted on at the June 23 meeting, may force all businesses in Shreveport ‘that sell goods or merchandise’ to install a potentially-costly digital camera system.
Ordinance #71 would require that beginning on August 1, 2020, all such businesses would be in violation if they do not have a ‘digital camera system capable of transferring video to a widely used, portable form of media. The cameras shall be positioned to record all entrances and exits, all stairways and elevators, all points of sale, all parking lots, and all fueling areas, including the faces of persons located in each of those areas. The cameras shall be in operation and recording any time the establishment is open for business and for one hour after closing, and shall record video indexed by date and time at a resolution of at least 1080p high definition. All recorded video shall be maintained for at least 30 days and shall be made readily available to law enforcement upon request.
Based on the requirements of the locations of cameras, it is conceivable than even businesses with a small square footage might have to purchase multiple cameras and a DVR capable of holding 30 days’ of video footage or pay for ongoing services by a security company.
Given that businesses that ‘sell goods and items’ (which can be interpreted as retail businesses, restaurants, small bars, coffee shops, bakeries, art galleries and many more), are struggling to simply stay open post-COVID 19, we feel the scope and the timing of this bill leaves much to be desired. If you wish to comment to your council member about this or other ordinances, you can find email addresses at the bottom of this page.
