One involves loud businesses while the other focuses on sports marketing.
Noise ordinance
Bossier police jurors in January signed off on an ordinance designed to keep noise down.
When the parishes on both sides of Red River started discussing the law about a year-and-a-half ago, discussion centered on gas drilling activity — thanks mostly to Haynesville Shale production.
But the latest version — drawn up with the help of oil and gas companies — is all encompassing. It would require noise makers to submit plans on how they will meet an area's maximum permissible sound level — 5 decibels above ambient sound.
That was determined through a scientific process during which a contracted company measured noise at sites throughout Caddo and Bossier.
Local governments took direction from Fort Worth, Texas, home of the Barnett Shale. That city has changed its laws over the years.
"Every other entity I know that has undertaken this project of developing a comprehensive ordinance like this has ended up having to go back and modify," Parish Attorney Charles Grubb said.
The proposal isn't scheduled for vote until the commission's March 3 meeting.
Sports commission
Caddo also is considering backing a new sports marketing group headed by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.
Shreveport signed off on it last week, and it's also up for approval in Bossier City and Bossier Parish.
Partnering with the Shreveport Sports Commission for most local governments would mean breaking things off with the Shreveport Sports Authority, best known for bringing the Bassmaster Classic to the area in 2009.
But that relationship may be slightly different for Caddo. Commissioner Carl Pierson helped found the Sports Authority. And the commission has pledged to give the older group $200,000 this year, with some stipulations.
As a tradeoff, commissioners want to make appointments to the Sports Authority's board, plus get better communication. Caddo, Bossier City and Shreveport officials say Sports Authority leadership hasn't kept them in the loop.
The Sports Authority says it has been open with agreements to use public property to host sporting events.
"There hasn't been a definitive reason in regards to performance why there was a need to re-establish another sports commission in this area," Pierson said. "Everything I've heard in regards to supplanting this agency has been personal."
The commission could vote to support the sports commission as early as Wednesday.


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