2026-0263
INTRODUCED BY: MICHELLE O’DANIELS, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT V
WALTER PILIÈ, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT III
ORDINANCE NO. ____________
Title
An ordinance to amend the St. Charles Parish Code of Ordinance, Chapter 2, Administration, Article I. In General, Section 2-2. Fees of copies of documents.
Body
WHEREAS, St. Charles Parish desired to revise and add fees to more clearly reflect the actual cost of reproduction and/or transmission of documents as permitted by 44:32(C)(1)(a); and,
WHEREAS, Parish President, Matthew Jewell, introduced File No. 2025-0305 seeking an increase in the fee schedule for reproduction of records to a uniform $.50 per page for reproduction or transmission of all public records, including electronic documents; and,
WHEREAS, the Council tabled File 2025-0305 and later introduced File No. 2025-0359 which adopted a sliding scale for transmittal of electronic documents with the first ten (10) pages free and a $5.00 per 100 page; maximum charges for miscellaneous electronic documents; and a $.25 per page charge for transmittal of e-mails; and,
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 25-12-14, File No. 2025-0359 passed on December 15, 2025, and the fee schedule was implemented on January 1, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, the Council pledged to review the new fee schedule within the year, allowing for time to document the efficacy of the new fee schedule; and,
WHEREAS, pending additional information, precedent, and/or further guidance from the state legislature, the Council desires to revisit the fee schedule and amend the fees for transmittal of electronic documents.
THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Administration, Article I. In General, Section 2-2. Fees of the copies of documents is hereby amended with new text underlined and deleted text in strikethrough:
(a) The parish desires to establish a uniform procedure to recover a portion of the expenses incurred in providing documents to the general public. The parish does hereby establish the following fee schedule to be used by all parish departments:
|
|
Paper Documents (Includes paper copy, printed photocopy, photostatic copy, etc.) |
Electronic Documents |
|
Viewing documents |
Free |
Free |
|
Code of Ordinances |
$200.00 |
Free |
|
Code of Ordinances-Supplements |
$30.00 |
Free |
|
Zoning Ordinance of 1981 - Code Book-Appendix A |
$0.50/pg. Maximum Charge $150.00 |
Free |
|
Subdivision Regulations of 1981-Code Book-Appendix C |
$0.50/pg. Maximum Charge $150.00 |
Free |
|
Bid specification packet |
$0.50/pg. or As determined in bid advertisement |
0.50/pg. or As determined in bid advertisement Free |
|
Bid Results |
$0.50/pg. |
0.50/pg. Free |
|
Any adopted long range plan |
$50.00 |
Free |
|
Budget book |
$30.00 |
N/A |
|
Unaudited financial statements |
$0.50/pg. (Maximum Charge $100.00) |
Free |
|
Audited financial statements |
$0.50/pg. (Maximum Charge $100.00) |
Free |
|
Miscellaneous documents |
$0.50/pg. |
Public Portal / 1-10/pgs - Free |
|
Miscellaneous documents |
$0.50/pg. |
Public Portal / 11-100/pgs - $5.00 ($5.00 per 100/pgs thereafter, Maximum Charge $5,000.00) Free |
|
Miscellaneous council records generated on plotter printer, per sheet |
$5.00 |
N/A |
|
E-mail Requests (terms, names and date parameters must be furnished by the requester) |
$0.50/pg. |
0.25/pg. |
|
|
|
|
|
Hardware & Other |
Fee |
|
|
DVD / DVD-R 4.7 GB - per DVD |
$0.50 |
|
|
DVD duplication of video recording |
$5.00 |
$5.00 |
|
USB Flash Drive 8 GB - per Flash Drive |
$9.00 |
|
|
USB Flash Drive 16 GB - per Flash Drive |
$10.00 |
|
|
Nonsufficient fund check fee |
$30.00 |
|
|
GIS MAPS |
|
Size |
Matte |
Glossy |
Laminated |
|
8.5 x 11 |
$2.00 |
$3.00 |
$4.00 |
|
8.5 x 14 |
$3.00 |
$4.00 |
$5.00 |
|
11 x 17 |
$4.00 |
$5.00 |
$8.00 |
|
18 x 24 |
$8.00 |
$11.00 |
$17.00 |
|
26 x 39 |
$18.00 |
$25.00 |
$39.00 |
|
42 x 60 |
$44.00 |
$62.00 |
$97.00 |
|
Data-CD/DVD (general data, streets, parcels, etc.) |
$20.00 |
|
Custom-CD/DVD (data, extents, tables, etc.) |
$40.00 |
|
Imagery-DVD/hard drive (hi resolution aerial photos) |
$75.00 per grid |
|
|
|
|
$500.00 whole parish on provided hard drive |
The actual costs for postage shall be added to all documents which are mailed.
(b) Either the parish council or the parish president may, whenever the council or the president shall deem it of public interest, waive the charge for any photostatic copy or copies of any ordinance, motion, resolution, or other record of any proceeding of the council. The council secretary may waive the charge for copies requested by a governing body, a public official, or a parish board or agency, or public bidder.
(c) Such fees as are collected under this section shall be the property of the parish and shall be accounted for by the officer or employee receiving same. All employees providing documents to the public shall complete the required invoice for proper billing at the time services are rendered.
(d) Payments for documents using a credit card will be subject to processing fees.
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the ordinance was declared adopted this _______ day of ___________, 2026, to become effective immediately.
CHAIRMAN:______________________________________________
SECRETARY:_____________________________________________
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:_________________________________
APPROVED:______________ DISAPPROVED:__________________
PARISH PRESIDENT:______________________________________
RETD/SECRETARY:_______________________________________
AT:_______________ RECD BY: _____________________________