TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message from the Co-Chairs 3
The Resilient Louisiana Commission Membership Roster 4
Synthesis of Initial Task Force Recommendations 21
2 A MESSAGE FROM THE CO-CHAIRS
Governor Edwards,
On behalf of the Resilient Louisiana Commission, we are pleased to submit these preliminary recommendations to help inform your decisions on safely re-opening our State. The immediate response to COVID-19 has been unlike anything in Louisiana’s history, which prompts a thoughtful approach for next steps to protect our families and restore our economy. Recommendations to-date have been prioritized for the short-term, offering both direct action as well as conceptual considerations depending on the most immediate needs. We look forward to our continued work that now shifts focus to more long-term recovery measures and resiliency planning.
We, the Commission, have clearly benefitted from your thoughtful appointment of our members who reflect creative problem-solvers from the public and private sectors. While diverse in our backgrounds, we are truly united in our commitment to our State’s successful future. Thank you for your courageous leadership through these most trying times. We remain honored to support your efforts for all of Louisiana.
Respectfully,
Don Pierson and Terrie Sterling
RLC Co-Chairs
3 THE COMMISSION NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Terrie Sterling Co-Chair Chief Executive Officer, Terrie Sterling Consulting
Sec. Don Pierson Co-Chair Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development
Sec. Kimberly Lewis Robinson Lead, Ex-Officio Secretary, Louisiana Department of Revenue Member Commissioner Jay Dardenne Ex-officio Member Commissioner, Division of Administration
Dr. Jim Richardson Ex-officio Member Professor, LSU
Rep Paula Davis Designee of LA House Louisiana House of Representatives Speaker Sen Ronnie Johns Designee of LA Senate Louisiana Senate President Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser Member Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Scott Hensgens Member Managing Partner, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson
Bill Hogan Member President & CEO, Century Next Bank
Michael Lafitte Member Owner, Shreveport Haberdashery
Walt Leger, III Member Senior Vice President for Strategic Affairs & Executive Counsel, City of New Orleans Ti Martin Member Owner, Commander's Palace
Sonia Perez Member President, AT&T Louisiana
Tyron Picard Member Founder and Principal, The Picard Group
Louis Reine Member President, Louisiana AFL-CIO
Jade Brown Russell Member Principal, J.D. Russell Consulting, LLC
Tim Temple Member President, Temptan, LLC
4 TASK FORCES ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Michael Hecht Leader President and CEO, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Scott Martinez Leader President, North Louisiana Economic Partnership
Sec. Don Pierson Commission Member Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development Assigned to Task Force Jerry Bologna Member Executive Director, JEDCO
Jim Clinton Member President, Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
Guy Cormier Member Executive Director, Police Jury Association of Louisiana
Flozell Daniels Member President & CEO, Foundation for Louisiana
Chris DeGulle Member Director, Louisiana Business EOC
John Gallagher Member Executive Director, Louisiana Municipal Association
Adam Knapp Member President and CEO, BRAC
Ramesh Kolluru Member Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Vic LaFont Member President and CEO, South Louisiana Economic Council
Camille Manning-Broome Member President and CEO, Center for Planning Excellence
Chris Masingill Member CEO, St. Tammany Corp.
Quentin Messer Member President and CEO, New Orleans Business Alliance
Jan Moeller Member Executive Director, Louisiana Budget Project
Michael Olivier Member Committee of 100
Odell Riley Member President H.O.P.E for Monroe
Rocky Rockett Member Executive Director, GBEDF
Larkin Simpson Member Vice President Major Employers Division, CLEDA
George Swift Member SWLA Economic Development Alliance
Tana Trichel Member President and CEO, North Louisiana Economic Alliance
Troy Wayman Member President and CEO, One Acadiana
Michael Williamson Member President and CEO, United Way SE Louisiana
Pat Witty Member Director, Small Business and Community Services, LED
5
TASK FORCES HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN SERVICES
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Veneeth Iyengar Leader Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, City of Baton Rouge Mayor's Office Randy Morris Leader Rural Hospital Coalition, West Carroll Health Systems
Terrie Sterling Ex-Officio Member Chief Executive Officer, Terrie Sterling Consulting
Terry Bonnette Member CEO of LCMC Health
Lisa Bruhl Member Deputy Asst. Secretary - Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs
Clay Countrymen Member Partner in the Healthcare Group - Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P Greg Feirn Member CEO of LCMC Health
Dr. Lester Wayne Johnson Member Vice Chancellor of LSU Medical School and State Board of Medical Examiners Renee McCuller Member Vice President of Nursing, Willis Knighton Health System
Demetrious Porche Member Dean of LSU Health Sciences, New Orleans, Louisiana School of Nursing Teddy Price Member Vice President, Louisiana Nursing Home Association
Todd Stevens Member President and CEO of Mary Bird Perkins - Our Lady of Lake Cancer Center Edgardo Tenreiro Member CEO of the Baton Rouge General
Warner Thomas Member President and CEO of Ochsner Health
Steve Udvarhelyi Member President and CEO of BCBS Louisiana
Richard Vath Member President and CEO of the Franciscan Missionaries of our Lady Health System Scott Wester Member President and CEO of Our Lady of the Lake
6
TASK FORCES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION William LaBar Leader Vice President, Consulting Services, CGI
Erin Monroe Wesley Leader Vice President, Government & Public Affairs, Cox Communications Sonia Perez Commission Member President, AT&T Louisiana Assigned to Task Force David Aubrey Member Regional Vice President, External & Legislative Affairs, AT&T
Omar Bhatti Member Vice President, Technology Shared Services, General Dynamics IT
Terrell Boynton Member Director & General Manager, New Orleans Digital Transformation Center Janet Britton Member General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resource, EATEL
April Brumfield Member Director, Government Affairs (South Region), Verizon
Mike Dozier Member Chief Information Officer, Lafayette General
David Facey Member President, Sell Swipe
Melissa Mann Member Vice President, Government & Public Policy, CenturyLink
Charles Masters Member Vice President, North America Client Innovation, IBM
Shawn Usher Member President , Sparkhound
7
TASK FORCES FINANCIAL SERVICES, INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Jimmy Maurin Leader Founder and Past Chairman, Stirling Properties
Alden McDonald Leader President and CEO, Liberty Bank
Rep Paula Davis Commission Member Louisiana House of Representatives Assigned to Task Force Bill Hogan Commission Member President & CEO, Century Next Bank Assigned to Task Force Ann Marie Allen Member Executive Assistant, Liberty Bank
Morris Anderson Member Agent, State Farm Insurance
Tom Clark Member Partner, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson LLP
Helena Cunningham Member Owner/CEO, National Housing Consulting Services
Ann D. Duplessis Member Senior VP Retail Banking, Liberty Bank & Trust
Stephen Hanemann Member Partner, Kean Miller LLP
Bill Hogan Member President and CEO, Century Next Bank
Hunter Hill Member Regional President, Iberia Bank
Brian Keller Member Chief Marketing Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana
Ginger Laurent Member COO Louisiana Bankers Association
Martin Mayer Member President and CEO, Stirling Properties
Markham R. McKnight Member President and CEO, BXS Insurance Company
Marcos Ramos Member Managing Broker, Godwyn & Stone Real Estate
Sharon Swains O’Neal Member Owner / Agent, Best & Swains Insurance Agency
Barry H. Spizer Member President and CEO, SRSA Commercial Real Estate Inc.
Mike Wampold, III Member President and CEO, Wampold Companies
8 TASK FORCES TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Shawn Wilson Leader Secretary, LA DOTD
Gregory Morrison Leader Progressive Strategy Group, LLC
Gerrelda Davis Ex-Officio Member Executive Director, LCPA
Bill Hogan Ex-Officio Member President and CEO, Century Next Bank
Tim Temple Ex-Officio Member, President, Temptan, LLC Commission Member Assigned to Task Force Robert S. Boh Member President and CEO, Boh Bros. Construction Co. LLC
Steve Davison Member Developer, Squire Creek Country Club
Randy P. Guilliot Member President, Triple Express, Inc.
Jaclyn Hotard Member Parish President
Bryan Jones Member Gulf Coast Deputy Office Leader, HNTB Corporation
Renee Lapeyrolerie Member Commissioner, Multimodal Commerce
Robert Maness Member Col., Ret.
James E. Mayo Member Mayor
Sandra McQuain Member Executive Director, England Airpark/Alexandria International Airport Dan "Blade" Morrish Member Former State Senator, District 25
Roger Ogden Member President, Ogden Development
Drew Tessier Member Sr. Director Public Affairs, Union Pacific Railroad
Dinero' Washington Member CEP SproTran
9 TASK FORCES MANUFACTURING
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Tommy Faucheux Leader Senior Manager, State Government Affairs, Dow Chemical
George Swift Leader President and CEO, SWLA Economic Development Alliance
Jade Brown Russell Commission Member Principal, J.D. Russell Consulting, LLC Assigned to Task Force Alta Baker Member President and CEO, Safe Haven / SW Louisiana
Robert Barouse Member CFO, Elmer Candy / Northshore
Kim Cusimano Member Manager, NA Government & Public Affairs, Sasol / SW Louisiana
Dr. Shelina Davis Member Executive Director, LPHI
Nicole Daigle Member Senior Government Affairs Manager, Gulf Coast and Southeast Region, BASF/Ascension Adam Keyes Member Governmental Affairs Manager, Valero / River Parish Region & St. Bernard Tom Martin Member COO, Pod Pak International, Capital Region
Janile Parks Member Director of Community and Government Relations, Formosa / River Parish Region Nick Pestello Member Director of Engineering, Maintenance & Development, Port of Lake Charles / SW Louisiana Missy Rogers Member President, Noble Plastics/Acadiana
Joe Tanniehill Member Vice President of Sales, Steel Fabricators of Monroe / NE Louisiana Taylan Uras Member Associate Director of Product Supply, Plant Manager, Procter & Gamble/CENLA Tom Yura Member Chief Operating Officer, Cornerstone Chemical Company / NOLA Region
10 TASK FORCES ENERGY
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Rhoman Hardy Leader Vice President, Shell
Shane Hilton Leader President, Cleco Power, LLC
Scott Hensgens Commission Member Managing Partner, Breazeale, Sachse& Wilson Assigned to Task Force Brian Bond Member Vice President External Affairs, AEP/Swepco
Greg Bowser Member President and CEO, LCA
Gifford Briggs Member President, LOGA
Blake Canfield Member Executive Counsel, DNR
Dino Chouest Member Edison Chouest Offshore
Elizabeth Ellison-Frost Member Community Relations Manager, PBF Refining
Laura Ferrell Member Government and Public Affairs, Cheniere
Tyler Gray Member President and General Counsel, LMOGA
Mayor Jeff Hall Member Mayor of Alexandria
Mayor Nic Hunter Member Mayor of Lake Charles
Matt Jewell Member St. Charles Parish President
Chip Little Member Manager, Government Affairs, Colonial Pipeline
Rochelle Michaud-Dugas Member Government Affairs, LOOP LLP
Jody Montelaro Member Vice President, Public Affairs, Entergy
Helena Moreno Member New Orleans City Council
Nick Piatek Member Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Hilcorp
Randy Pierce Member CEO and General Manager, Demco
Major Thibaut Member Point Coupee Parish President
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine Member Mayor of Ville Platte
Karl Weber Member Vice President of Public Affairs, Atmos Energy
11
TASK FORCES HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Kyle France Leader LSED, Chair Jill Kidder Leader President and CEO, Louisiana Travel Association Ben Berthelot Member President and CEO, Lafayette CVC Doug Bourgeois Member Assistant Secretary, Louisiana Office of Tourism Christian Brown Member Managing Director, New Orleans Holdings LLC Ralph Calhoun Member Executive Director, The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens Linda Curtis-Sparks Member Director, Sabine Parish Tourist Commission Kyle Edmiston Member President and CEO, Lake Charles/ Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau Lane Ewing Member Member, Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm Elroy James Member President, Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club Elie Khoury Member President and CEO, KFK Group Walt Leger, III Commission Senior Vice President of Strategic Affairs & General Counsel, New Orleans Member Assigned to & Company Task Force Debra Mayhew Member Director of Marketing, Oak Alley Plantation JP Morrell Member Legislative Liaison, Middleberg Riddle Group Ralph Ney Member General Manager, Marriott Hotel Baton Rouge Naresh Patel Member VP Southern Hospitality Services LLC Melvin Rodrigue Member President, Galatoire's Restaurant Mark Romig Member Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, New Orleans & Company Julie Samson Member Chief of Staff, Office of Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser Dean Smith Member Dean of Public Health, LSU Health and Sciences Center Michael Smith Member General Manager, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Stephen Watson Member President and CEO, National WWII Museum Nick Zaver Member President and CEO, Insignia Hotel Management Billy Nungesser Commission Lt. Governor, Louisiana Member Don Pierson Commission Secretary, LED Member Kimberly Robinson Commission Secretary, LDR Member David Carter Central Team Communications Director, Resilient Louisiana Commission Andrew Doss Central Team Director, Resilient Louisiana Commission
12
TASK FORCES EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Sec. Ava Dejoie Leader Secretary, Louisiana Workforce Commission Dr. Kim Hunter Reed Leader Commissioner of Higher Education, Louisiana Board of Regents Tyron Picard Commission Founder and Principal, The Picard Group Member Assigned to Task Force Doretha Bennett Member - Workforce Director, Monroe Workforce Investment Board Bruce Busada Member President, Diesel Driving Academy Julie Cherry Member - Labor Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO Camille Conaway Member - Industry Senior Vice President, LABI Wayne Denley Member - Public Sr. Advisor for Business/Higher Education Partnerships, CLEDA Policy Hannah Dietsch Subcabinet Chair Assistant Superintendent & Chief Strategy Officer, Louisiana Dept. of Education John Fraboni Member - Workforce Founder & CEO, Operation Spark Education Henry Heier Member - Workforce Chairman, Louisiana State Apprenticeship Council Paul Helton Member - Economic Executive Director, LED FastStart Development Darcy McKinnon Member - Workforce Co-Director, NOVAC Brittany Major Member - Workforce CEO, Major Services Andy O'Brien Member - Workforce Executive Secretary, Southeast Louisiana Building & Construction Trade Council Mike Palamone Member CAO, St. Charles Parish Paula Polito Subcabinet Chair Chair, Early Childhood Advisory Chair / Owner, Bear-Y Cherry Tree Gary Stream Member - Business President, Matilda Stream Management Stephen Toups Member - Industry President, Turner Industries Group Angie White Member - Regional Executive Vice President, North Louisiana Economic Partnership Economic Development Tom Yura Member - Industry COO, Cornerstone Chemical Co. Dr. Ray Belton Ex-officio Member President, Southern University System Dr. Tom Galligan Ex-officio Member President, LSU System Dr. Jim Henderson Ex-officio Member President, University of Louisiana System Dr. Kenya Messer Ex-officio Member President, LAICU Schools Dr. Monty Sullivan Ex-officio Member President, LCTCS System Ali Bustamante Task Force Staffing Chief Economist, Louisiana Workforce Commission
13
Susie Schowen Task Force Staffing Director, Workforce Initiatives, LED FastStart Dr. Lisa Vosper Task Force Staffing Associate Commissioner, Board of Regents Sonya Williams Task Force Staffing Assistant Secretary - Office of Workforce Development Louisiana Workforce Commission
TASK FORCES CONSTRUCTION
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Mike Polito Leader President and CEO, MAPP Construction
Domoine Rutledge Leader VP & General Counsel, CSRS
Louis Reine Commission President, Louisiana AFL-CIO Member Assigned to Task Force Ben Baldwin Member Executive Vice President, McInnis Brothers Construction
William Barron Member President, The Barron Companies
Chris Fitzgerald Member President and CEO, Fitzgerald Contractors
Rhaoul Guillaume Member Founder & Managing Member, Pointe-Marie / GOTECH, Inc.
Michael Holly Member President, Holly & Smith Architects APAC
Anne Teague Landis Member CEO, Landis Construction Co., LLC
Michelle Lawson Member Owner & Principal Architect, Greenleaf Lawson Architects
Ray Manning Member President and CEO, Manning Architects
Keith Tillage Member Owner, Tillage Construction
Stephen Toups Member President, Turner Industries
Jimmie Woods Member CEO, Metro Service Group, Inc.
14
TASK FORCES GAMING
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Rhoman Hardy Leader Vice President, Shell
Shane Hilton Leader President, Cleco Power, LLC
Scott Hensgens Commission Member Managing Partner, Breazeale, Sachse& Wilson Assigned to Task Force Brian Bond Member Vice President External Affairs, AEP/Swepco
Greg Bowser Member President and CEO, LCA
Gifford Briggs Member President, LOGA
Blake Canfield Member Executive Counsel, DNR
Dino Chouest Member Edison Chouest Offshore
Elizabeth Ellison-Frost Member Community Relations Manager, PBF Refining
Laura Ferrell Member Government and Public Affairs, Cheniere
Tyler Gray Member President and General Counsel, LMOGA
Mayor Jeff Hall Member Mayor of Alexandria
Mayor Nic Hunter Member Mayor of Lake Charles
Matt Jewell Member St. Charles Parish President
Chip Little Member Manager, Government Affairs, Colonial Pipeline
Rochelle Michaud-Dugas Member Government Affairs, LOOP LLP
Jody Montelaro Member Vice President, Public Affairs, Entergy
Helena Moreno Member New Orleans City Council
Nick Piatek Member Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Hilcorp
Randy Pierce Member CEO and General Manager, Demco
Major Thibaut Member Point Coupee Parish President
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine Member Mayor of Ville Platte
Karl Weber Member Vice President of Public Affairs, Atmos Energy
15
TASK FORCES SMALL BUSINESS AND RETAIL
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Jessica Elliott Leader Executive Director, Louisiana Retailers Association Mayra Pineda Leader President and CEO, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Christine Bruneau Leader Partner, Cotton Schmidt Kelisha Garrett Leader Executive Director, Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation Michael Lafitte Commission Owner, Shreveport Haberdashery Member Assigned to Task Force Chad Bordelon Member Owner, Fleur de Lis Event Center Shawn Brayton Member Shawn Brayton Barbers Jaqueline Brettner Member Managing Partner, Brettner Law Trevelayn L Brown Member Southern Mixing Pot Brittany Dunn Member CPA, Shreveport Brian Egana Member President and CEO, Circular Consulting Edward Encalarde Member Attorney, Camellia Title Nicholas Felton Member President, Advanced Political Strategies Aaron Franklin Member Baton Rouge African American Chamber James Gobert Member President-Owner, Lake City Trucking Todd Grand Member President-Owner, Ethan Allen Baton Rouge Edward Harold Member Regional Managing Partner, Fisher Phillips Lisa Johnson Member President and CEO, Bossier Chamber of Commerce Sonya Jacobs Member JDS Consulting, LLC Jerry W. Jones, Jr. Member Baton Rouge North Economic Development District Manard Lagasse, Jr. Member President and CEO Associated Grocers Andrew Lam Member LL&P Operation, LLC Van Lam Member Legal Counsel, Regal Nails Baton Rouge Teresa Lawrence Member President-Owner, Delta Personnel Ryan Leblanc Member Home Depot New Orleans Edwin Neill Member Cosmetologist Li Pham Member Luxe Photography Angelica Rivera Member CEO, Colmex Construction Blanca Robinson Member Owner, VIVA Consulting Group Allison Rouse Royster Member Rouses Market
16
Maria Slater Member Professor, ULL Ronnie Slone Member President, The Slone Group, New Orleans Belinda Zhou Member Lafayette Chinese American Association Sonya Jacobs Member Financial Analyst/Business Consultant
TASK FORCES RURAL DEVELOPMENT
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Ben Nevers Leader Government Relations
Jim Clinton Leader President, CENLA
Scott Hensgens Commission Managing Partner, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson Member Assigned to Task Force Harper Amrstrong Member Owner, Armstrong Farms
Noble Ellington Member Director of Legislative Affairs, Office of the Governor
Scott Huntsman Member Strategy & Operations Managing Director of Government & Public Services, Deloitte Valerie Aymond Long Member Vice President, Gilchrist Construction
Henry Cotton Member Mayor, Bastrop
Linda Sparks Curtis Member Director, Sabine Parish Tourist Commission
Milton Ceasar Member Mayor, Jonesville
Conni Castille Member Executive Director, The Teche Project
Leslie Durham Member Delta Regional Authority
Dr. Orlando McMeans Member Dean-Chancellor, Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center David Sickey Member Tribal Chairman, CTLA
17
TASK FORCES FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Commissioner Mike Strain Leader Commissioner, Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry
Wayne Baquet, Jr Leader President, Imperial Trading
Randy Bracy Member Owner, Bracy's Nursery
Dale Cambre Member President-elect, Louisiana Cattleman's Association
Richard Fontenot Member Owner, R & N Farms (rice)
Warren Harang Member President, La. Thoroughbred Breeders Association
Jim Harper Member 1st Vice President, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Susan Hassig Member Associate Professor. Director of MPH Program, Tulane University
Kevin Liuzza Member Owner, Liuzza Farms (produce)
Toni McAllister Member Director, Louisiana Loggers Association
Reggy McDaniel Member Owner, Macs Fresh Market
Dr. Orlando McMeans Member Chancellor-Dean, Southern University Ag Center
Scott Poole Member President & COO, RoyOMartin
Dr. Bill Richardson Member Vice President, LSU Ag Center
Jim Simon Member General Manager, American Sugar Cane League
Bobby Skeen Member Executive Vice President, Louisiana Cotton and Grain Association
Buck Vandersteen Member Executive Director, Louisiana Forestry Association
Rocky Weigand Member General Manager/Vice President, Coca Cola
Marty Wooldridge Member Owner, Wooldridge Cattle Company
18
TASK FORCES RESTAURANTS AND LEISURE ACTIVITY
NAME RLC ROLE OUTSIDE POSITION Edgar "Dook" Chase Leader Dooky Chase's Restaurant
Stan Harris Leader President and CEO, Louisiana Restaurant Association
Walt Leger, III Commission Member Senior Vice President for Strategic Affairs & Executive Counsel, Assigned to Task Force City of New Orleans Ti Martin Commission Member Owner, Commander's Palace Assigned to Task Force Randy Barrios Member Operations Director, Rand Barrios Restaurants, Fremins's - Thibodeaux Alana Belton Member Owner and CEO, The Belton Companies, Monroe
Tommy Cvitanovich Member Owner, Dragos
Perry Eastman Member CEO, Auto-Chlor Services, LLC
David Hearn Member Catfish Cabin - Monroe
Stephen Hightower Member City Hospitality Group, Baton Rouge
Nick Hazard Member Senior Vice President, Crescent Crown Distributing
Robert King Member Pitt Grill/PG's Grill - Lake Charles - Alexandria
Damien Lewis Member Orlandeaux's, Monroe
Matt Massey Member State Manager, Raising Cane's
Dr. Catherine O'Neal Member LSU Health Baton Rouge, Infectious Disease
Peter Sclafani Member Executive Chef / Co-Owner, Phil's Oyster Bar
Ike Spears Member Owner, Two Sisters Restaurant, New Orleans
Scott Taylor Member President and CEO, Walk-Ons Enterprises
Brad Watts Member Owner and General Manager, Kalurah Street Grill, Cecelia Restaurant - Baton Rouge Emery Whalen Member CEO, QED Hospitality - New Orleans
Dennis Lauscha Leader President, New Orleans Saints and Pelicans
Corey Wilson Leader Superintendent, BREC
Walt Leger, III Commission Member Senior Vice President for Strategic Affairs & Executive Counsel, Assigned to Task Force City of New Orleans Ti Martin Commission Member Owner, Commander's Palace Assigned to Task Force Verge Ashberry Member Deputy Director of Athletics, Louisiana State University
Roman Banks Member Director of Athletics, Southern University
19
Jay Cicero Member President and CEO, New Orleans Sports Foundation
Larry Connor Member General Manager, Stone Creek Club & Spa
Ron Foreman Member President and CEO, Audubon Nature Institute, Inc.
Shane Morrison Member CEO, Shane Morrison Companies
DR. David "Rusty" Ponton Member Director of Athletics, Grambling State University
Misty Setters Member Executive Director, Independence Bowl
Chris Stelly Member LED Film and Entertainment Program
Doug Tatum Member Executive Director of Digital Media, New Orleans Saints
20 A SYNTHESIS OF INITIAL TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS
Initial Recommendations were received from eleven Task Forces: Economic & Community Development (ECD) Education & Workforce Development (EWD) Gaming (GAM) Healthcare & Human Services (HHS) Hospitality & Tourism Task Force (HAT) IT & Communications ("a brief status report") (ITC) Manufacturing (MFG) Restaurant & Leisure (RAL) Retail & Small Business (RSB) Rural Development (RDP) Transportation & Infrastructure (TAI)
Additionally, staff observed and pulled top-line recommendations from the first meetings of four Task Forces: Construction (CON) Energy (ENE) Financial Services, Insurance, and Real Estate (FIR) Food and Agriculture (FAA)
Again, we recognize that some Task Forces may just be beginning their work. We also recognize that much of the “heavy lifting” in trying to build a more resilient Louisiana economy will be occurring in the coming weeks. And we look forward to receiving the thoughtful input from the Task Forces as we transition to creating our more longer-term situational analysis and compilation of ways to achieve our Charge 2 — Comprehensive Game Plan for a Resilient Louisiana: Long-Term Phase.
They are synthesized below.
21 General Health Infrastructure • Increase the bandwidth of testing systems, looking at best practices (Energy (ENE), Food & Agriculture (FAA), Financial Services, Insurance, and Real Estate (FIR), Health & Human Services (HHS), Retail & Small Business (RSB), Transportation & Infrastructure (TAI)) o Prioritize the emerging front lines of nursing homes, medical centers, and community living centers (HHS) o LDH should issue guidelines and information on antibody testing (FAA, HHS) o Multiple, accessible locations e.g. drive through locations and pharmacies (RSB) o Reaching out with special availability to rural regions (RDP) • Implement a statewide, streamlined contact tracing infrastructure (HHS) o Including at least 700 tracers (HHS) o Including contingency plans for low-income individuals without access to telephones (HHS) o Do not require businesses to collect or store personal information (RAL) • Prioritize mental and behavioral health in upcoming legislation and policy (HHS) o Invest in workforce development programs to provide mental and behavioral healthcare for workers (HHS) • Prepare for hurricane season (HHS) o Plan and coordinate evacuation protocols, with special attention to: (HHS) § evacuation of hospitals (HHS) § a shortage of volunteers and resources (HHS) § the health and proximity obstacles to public transit and shelters (HHS) • Conduct prevalence studies to accurately track infection rates over time (HHS) • Equity for vulnerable populations (HHS) o Pay special attention to racial disparities and elderly populations (HHS) • Work cross-sector based on science and best practices (Economic & Community Development (ECD), IT & Communications (ITC)) • Maintain and enhance rural healthcare services (RDP)
Education and Childcare • Guidance and assistance to childcare providers, essential to workforce return (Manufacturing (MFG)) • Daycare, camps, & child educational facilities should begin to carefully reopen (ECD, FIR) • Assign some of Louisiana’s $1.8B CARES Act funding to childcare subsidies or front-line workers and testing/PPE for childcare workers (ECD) • Facilitate partnerships with business, education and workforce for on-the-job training to supplement lost wages (ENE)
Infrastructure • Make robust investments in public health infrastructure throughout state (ECD)
22 • Plan for adaptation of community infrastructure needs, especially for vulnerable populations, such as housing, transit, health, and social service options. (ECD) • Analyze built environments for social determinants of health (ECD) • Provide full statewide easy access to full, affordable broadband service, especially to rural communities (ENE, ECD, ITC, RDP) • Provide public technological support (e.g. for continued remote work deployment, telehealth, cybersecurity, etc.) (ITC) • Facilitate reliable utility sector to quickly recover after storms and other crises (ENE) • Sustain energy delivery, from keeping the lights on to facilitating flow of oil and gas facilities and movement of refined products (ENE)
All spaces (Business/work/retail/government/public) • Design space for physical distancing (ECD, FIR, Gaming (GAM), Hospitality & Tourism (HAT), MFG, RSB) o Maximize curbside and delivery efforts with contactless pay options (RSB) o Use technology, innovation, and business process automation to deliver services (ECD) o Demarcate six feet of spacing in checkout areas through floor decals/markings (RSB) o Install barriers (sneeze guards) if and how practicable. (ECD, HAT, GAM, RSB) o Disable or restrict areas of interaction between public, including spacing of chairs, tables, etc. (GAM) o Restrict occupancy to clear and familiar standard, including: (GAM, MFG, RSB) § workplace common areas (GAM, MFG) § vehicles (MFG) • Inform o Post signage to inform and remind public of guidelines, e.g. CDC social distancing guidelines (ECD, GAM, RSB) § LDH design and publish downloadable, standardized signage (RSB) • Sanitize o Disinfect facility and equipment (GAM, HAT, MFG, RSB, TAI) § Especially high-traffic and high-touch areas like door handles, activity surfaces, with specific intensive protocols for bathrooms (GAM, RSB) o Provide personal sanitation stations/kiosks for visitors and employees, encouraging all to wipe-down used surfaces (FIR, GAM, HAT, MFG, RSB) • Restrict entry o Strong entry/delivery protocols (MFG) o To all whose work is not required in-person (MFG) o Daily entry screening for workers and visitors (HAT, MFG)
23 § Including physical observations as well as a questionnaire covering symptoms and exposure to people with possible COVID-19 (MFG) § at dedicated worksite entry points (MFG) § require entrants (employees and visitors) to • sanitize hands prior to entry (GAM) • pass a non-invasive temperature check (ECD, GAM) • read and affirmatively answer questions (ECD, GAM) § encourage facial coverings by visitors (GAM, RSB) • offer access to anyone wearing appropriate facial covering (GAM)
Government • Protocols & Guidelines o Define standard protocol for handling suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases (MFG) o Establish standard protocols for employer obligations for use of PPE in plants, facilities or places of business (FAA, FIR, MFG, TAI) o Give clear, consistent messaging and directions (FIR, Restaurant & Leisure (RAL)) o Coordinate between parishes for statewide uniformity (RAL, FIR) • PPE o Provide assistance to procure PPE supplies for businesses to purchase, particularly sanitizer, disinfectant, masks, and temperature scanners. (ECD, FIR, RSB, TAI) o Create a centralized “depot” or procurement effort for businesses to purchase affordable PPE (ECD, RSB) • Data o Establish a data management, reporting, and dynamic modeling team to help track and monitor daily progress towards key public health metrics, made publicly available (ECD, RAL) o Provide projected timelines for needed data to be collected and processed at each phase of reopening, to provide “runway” (RAL) o Create a centralized data group to provide a shared resource for the RLC and the individual task forces. The data group should be structured as a resource team of the RLC rather than as an additional task force. Each task force may, if they choose, delegate members and/or staffers to serve on the data group, and qualified experts selected by RLC and task force members may be nominated as well. (Education & Workforce (EWD)) • Incentivize workers to return from increased unemployment benefits (CON, FIR) • Limit Liability o Affordable insurance coverage with new and expanded risks and liabilities (RSB)
24 o Extend liability protections (safe harbors) against COVID-19 lawsuits to businesses that adhere to established protocols from state authorities (RSB) o For entities operating in good faith, unless damages or injury caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct (ECD) o Treat liability due to COVID-19 like any other contagious disease (CON) o Protect from new language being inserted into contracts for future impacts of the virus, including delays, cost increase, and more (CON) o Legal climate reform (CON, ENE) o For worker’s compensation that might arise from COVID-19 claims (FIR) o Extend negligence definition to include COVID-19 (FIR) • Launch information and Marketing Campaigns o A door sticker or indication of a business’s compliance with state COVID guidelines (RSB) o Broad access to technical assistance, business counseling and re-opening advice (RSB) o “Louisiana – open for business” campaign (ECD) § Emphasizing small businesses (ECD) o “Keep the dollars at home” campaign (ECD) o Create clear communications plan to set expectations and reduce uncertainty (ECD) • Local and Small Business support, especially DBE’s o Incentivize retaining recovery funds as wealth in Louisiana. (ECD) § Prioritize Louisiana companies and workers, especially DBE’s (ECD) § Establish “procurement partnerships” to facilitate local relationships (ECD) • e.g. LaMATS Louisiana Procurement Services (ECD) assists municipalities and parishes in procurement needs o Implement practical strategies to assist DBEs, including: financial support, connection to customer networks, and mentoring from seasoned business leaders (ECD) o Launch a statewide campaign to encourage consumers support small businesses which are both vulnerable and invaluable to the economy of Louisiana. For example, a discount for purchases, supported by a state credit (ECD) o Expand the Small Business Program to include a policy of Local and Sustainable Small Business Purchasing Program that incentivizes the use and purchase of goods/services from businesses domiciled in LA with a defined % of employees living in LA according to the Gaming board definition (RSB) o Increase percentage of small and local subcontractors participating on state funded public infrastructure/improvement contracts – identify a goal system that establishes a baseline that can be reported to OSP when responding (RSB)
25 o Develop a strategy for equality in procurement opportunities – require all state funded agencies, boards and commissions to adopt the existing small business purchasing policy and expand to a local first incentive program – top-down prioritization – Small Local Business Enterprise Program /Equal Opportunity Contracting Program (RSB) o Create a partnership with community banks – Provide LOI or Contract Award for small businesses to use in effort to obtain loans/capital for projects (RSB) o Expedite license requests from individuals with existing business locations that may need to pivot from their prior business activity/service offering to remain viable during this time (RSB) • Regulators o Maintain all COVID-19-related executive and/or regulatory orders for at least 60 days after governmental agencies have fully returned to work, in order to make stable and consistent across sectors and for the good of employees (MFG) o Cooperate to encourage return-to-work for employees currently receiving unemployment benefits (MFG) o As much as possible, provide regulatory stability for industries hardest hit by pandemic (ENE, FIR, HAT, MFG, RSB) • Financial support o Credits or subsidies for low-wage workers whose majority of survival budget is consumed by housing, transportation, and childcare to mitigate those costs (EDC) § Consider TANF to provide short-term emergency financial grants to poorest families (ECD) o Assistance or support for low-income and rural communities, including assistance for utility payments (ENE, RDP) o For businesses forced to operate at significantly less than full capacity (ECD) § e.g. restaurants that can’t viably operate at reduced capacity (ECD) § can come in the form of “gentle” loans, like the Paycheck Protection Program (ECD) o Suspend or let state’s self-imposed bond cap for construction borrowing and whittle down construction project backlogs (ECD) o Rural towns and small cities will need significant help with tax shortfalls (RDP)
Employers • Provide PPE & hygiene equipment/materials/stations (ENE, ECD, HAT, GAM, MFG, RSB) • Provide accommodations for remote / home work wherever possible (FIR, HAT, MFG) • Adhere to CDC guidelines for businesses and workplaces (ECD, GAM, MFG) • Enforce standard protocols for employees who test positive for COVID-19 (ECD, HAT) • Provide consideration to an individual employee’s personal circumstances (MFG)
26 • Provide employees special training re: COVID-19 risk factors (GAM) • Modify employee schedules (MFG) • Provide stringent but supportive sick-leave policy per CDC guidelines (ECD) • Allow customers to wear facial coverings (RSB) • Consider policies to limit returns, exchanges and use of fitting rooms and notify customers of such policies (RSB)
Employees • Must wear PPE & facial coverings (GAM, MFG, RSB) o with exceptions for certain circumstances (medical issues, etc.) (RSB) • Must practice frequent and thorough hand washing and personal hygiene practices e.g. coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue and PPE usage and disposal (GAM, RSB) • Must conduct health screenings and be isolated with potential symptoms (HAT) • Must self-monitor and report symptoms, and to stay home if sick (ECD, MFG, RSB) • Follow processes for returning to work following COVID-19 diagnosis and recovery (ECD, MFG) o with exception process and resources for caregivers, childcare, high risk conditions of workforce (MFG) o with enforcement/intervention process when key controls not followed (MFG) • Restrict travel (MFG) • Limit physical interaction with public (clients, patrons, customers) to maximum extent possible (MFG)
Additional Sector-Specific Recommendations • Salons and Personal Care Providers: Reference the protocols recommended by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. http://www.lsbc.louisiana.gov/pdfs/Re_open_salon.pdf (RSB) • Gaming: o Maximum capacity of 50% including employees (GAM) o Re-open horse tracks and stables safely, e.g. without in-person audience, to assist in equine breeding (FAA) • Restaurants: o Emphasis on outdoor dining, where possible (ECD) o Uniform statewide approach to reopening and timing (RAL) o Define social distancing by proximity (6 feet) rather than % of capacity (RAL) o Consistent approach to takeout/delivery alcohol service, to all alcohol (RAL) o Allow bars with valid LDH foodservice establishment permit to provide take out or delivery food &/or alcohol (RAL)
27 o As they return to operation, allow bars to resume video poker devices (RAL) • Healthcare: Increased use of telemedicine (ECD) • Maritime & Trade: Reduced shift changes, to manage interaction (ECD) • Construction: o Improved on-site sanitation (ECD) o Prepare for the impact most likely to come in Q3-Q4 as projects are delayed or cancelled (CON) • Cultural Attractions: o Visitor capacity restrictions; outdoor attractions first (ECD) o Re-open under Phase 1 (HAT) • Universities: COVID-19 testing of all students when they arrive (ECD) • Government: Increased use of technology to reduce in-person needs (ECD) • IT & Communications: Align the skill set of Louisiana’s workforce with resilient IT & Communication jobs (ITC) • Travel Business: follow best practices in food and beverage service (HAT) • Outdoor Recreation, Adventure, and Natural Attractions: Fully open in Phase 1, with enforced social distancing norms and protocols (HAT) • Youth Sporting Events: Resume in Phase 1, with proper management to enforce safety and hygiene protocols (HAT) • Convention & Visitors Bureaus/Visitor Centers: reopen in Phase 1, posting and enforcing safety and hygiene standards and protocols (HAT) • Hotels: allowed to remain open as “essential”, adopting in Phase 1 the recommended American Hotel Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Safe Stay cleaning/hygiene standards focused on enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions, and workplace protocols, while ensuring transparency. (HAT) • Convention and Event Centers: Remain closed until Phase 2 (HAT) • Fairs and Festivals: o Remain closed until Phase 2 (HAT) o Organizers provide 3-4 month lead time for cancellations (HAT) • Food & Agriculture: o Relieve limitations in processing plants that are blocking farmers from getting product out to market. Problem-solve to get workers back in plants safely (FAA) o Re-open restaurants to increase demand, e.g. for meat products (FAA) o Re-evaluate current policies regarding H2A, H2B, and Visa to assist labor supply for planting and harvesting season (FAA) • Banking: o Drive-through banking only o Establish in-house “essential services teams” who can be onsite for items that need to be handled manually.
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