Budget Committee - Regular Meeting

Until it just won't let the metal pass through. So you can feel it's kind of tight in there? Yes. All right. And then we want to take it, we want to move it about a half a turn. Okay. And then we're going to make sure that you're going to hold it here at the end. Do you like me to hold it? Sure. And you're going to hold it in there and make sure it grabs it. And then you're going to crank this wheel forward. and push it in so you can crank. Got it? Put some muscle into it. There we go. All right. So it comes out the other end. And this one has a little bit of it, so we need to clamp it down a little bit more. But you can see where it took that edge that was real thick. Yes.

You can see where the pattern was going in there.

So would you use this for something like jewelry or? Absolutely. You would take that, and you could cut it out with that texture on it and do whatever you wanted with it. Turn it into a band of a ring. Turn it into earrings. Put enamel over the top of it and bring out that pattern even more. The texture and the metal. makes the enamel come out even more because it settles in the crevices.

Gotcha. It's so interesting to learn all about it. Well, all of this is just so cool. It's so interesting learning about all the different and unique things that you can do here at Metro Arts. And you said a lot of good things about Metro Arts, how you can explore different mediums and you don't have to have years of art experience to try anything here. I think that's really special.

Thank you. Thanks for coming out and joining us and showing everybody what we do here.

Yeah, yeah. Well, unfortunately, that's all the time we've got for now, but I know I can't wait to come back here and keep getting more crafty at Metro Arts Community Center. To keep up with all things Louisville Parks and Recreation, visit our website bestparksever.com or follow us on all social media platforms. I'll see you next time.

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Good afternoon. I'm Kevin Kramer. This is June 22nd. It is about 3.01, 3.02. This is the special meeting of the Budget Committee. We have several items on the agenda today. I am, without objection, gonna take the agenda slightly out of order. We will hear item number one, then we will move to items three and four, and then move back to item number two. So for those who are listening, item one is the IRB, items three and four are the operating budget and the capital budget, and then item two is the ordinance around the ad valorem tax. So that's where we'll be. All right, so I'm joining chambers by my Vice Chair, Councilman Marcus Winkler, joined also in chambers by Councilwoman Chappell, Councilwoman Hawkins, Councilman Joseph, Councilman Herndon, Councilman Leninger, joined online by Councilman Owen, Councilman Piagentini, and Councilwoman Parrish-Wright. I'm watching to see if anyone else comes in. Seeing no one. Madam Clerk, if you could please read into the record the meeting notice.

This meeting is being held pursuant to KRS 61.826 and Council Rule 5A, read in full.

Thank you. Great, so the first item on the agenda is Ordinance 17426. This is an ordinance of the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government authorizing the issuance of its health system revenue bonds to Norton Healthcare Inc. Series 2026 in one or more series in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $750 million. The proceeds, yep. The proceeds of which shall be loaned to Norton Healthcare Inc. to pay or reimburse Norton Healthcare Inc. and Norton Hospitals Inc. for the cost of acquiring, construction, constructing, renovating, and equipping certain hospital care facilities of Norton Healthcare Inc. and certain affiliates and refinance certain outstanding indebtedness and taking other related action.

Motion.

Can I get a second, please? Okay, the item is properly before us. Who's here to speak to this? I see Mr. O'Brien come forward. If you'll introduce yourself for the record, please.

Thank you, Chair Kramer. Jeff O'Brien, Executive Director, Economic Development. In front of you is a bond issuance for Norton Healthcare. As you said, the total amount is $750 million. $600 million of that is for refinancing. There are $150 million in new capital projects across the community. I'm just going to go through those real quick. And before I do that, I will say two things. Number one, this is conduit debt. So this is not debt that hits metros This is not debt that Metro is responsible for covering, and this is not the new Children's Hospital in Jefferson Town. Here, just a list of the projects that will be covered with the new $150 million. Central Phil Pharmacy, some work in the downtown campus, renovations and equipment at Norton Women's and Children's in St. Matthews, renovations at Norton Audubon, renovations at Norton Brownsboro. and then medical group initiatives, which is system-wide, and then some energy savings initiatives as well. So that totals up to $150 million. Helena Schultz with Norton Healthcare is here with me today. If there are any specific questions for her, we're happy to answer any questions that council may have for me this afternoon.

There is no one in the queue. I will remind colleagues just very quickly that it is not uncommon for us to issue bonds in this particular way. Not only do we not take on any debt, we also take on no risk in the future going forward. So if something goes wrong, it falls to Norton and not to us. If there are no other questions, go for a roll call vote, please. Madam Clerk, please open the voting.

Voting is open. Councilwoman Parrish-Wright.

Yes.

Councilman Piagentini?

Aye.

Councilman Parker? I didn't hear you. I'm sorry. Aye. Thank you.

Rena Weber's here too.

So sorry, sir. Councilman Reno-Whipper.

Thank you.

Chair Cramer, you have nine yes votes.

Thank you. So the vote is unanimous. So this will go to the consent calendar. Madam Clerk, please cause the record to reflect that we've been joined by Council Members Parker and Reno Weber. The next item on the agenda are the budget items. And so before I read those into the record and start that process, I just want to say to the viewing public and to folks who may be paying attention to how this unfolds, This is understandably, it's a $1.1 billion budget. It is understandably very complex. There are lots and lots of different numbers that go into this as well as different departments. and quite a bit of conversation that has to happen. There are 26 council members, and so when we start working on a budget like this, we are of course appreciating, and I want to offer a shout out right now to the mayor and his staff. We're appreciating all of the work that was done by the mayor and his folks to bring this over. Then once it gets to our side, There is a lot of negotiation, conversation, discussion. We have the heads of departments come in and ask lots and lots and lots of questions. And then begins the conversation about what this budget is actually ultimately gonna look like. It is not an easy process. And I don't say that because I have anything to do with it. I say that because I've watched this for 20 plus years now. There are lots of conversations that happen between myself and members of the Metro Council, between Councilman Winkler and members of the Metro Council, between the two of us, between us and the mayor's office. Lots of advice from lots of places. So while every conversation hasn't been one held in front of a camera, every conversation has been geared towards making sure that we have a budget before us that reflects the needs of the entire community. And that conversation began in April, when the mayor presented the budget, and it finished as early as, or as late, I should say, as, Yes, so this has been quite a work in process. The chair, and I don't wanna speak for the vice chair, but I will for just momentarily. The chair and vice chair are proud of the budget that we're putting forward. I will tell you, and I'm sure my vice chair will as well, this is not the budget I would have presented. This is the budget the mayor presented and not had influence over what the budget looks like, along with 25 of my colleagues. I feel sure that if any one of my colleagues was to hold this budget, they would tell you this is not the budget they would have put forward, but it is a budget that after a great deal of conversation back and forth and recognizing the needs of the entire community, it is a budget that we believe meets the needs and we're putting it out there and after today, we'll get a vote from the committee and then Thursday night, a vote from the entire council and that vote on Thursday night will let us know how successful we were at trying to meet all of the needs of all of the folks in Louisville. Is that a fair assessment? Thank you. Okay, that said, I wanna go ahead and jump into the ordinance then. Item number three on the agenda is an ordinance relating to the fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget for the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro government, including appropriations and authorizations for operation, maintenance, support, and functioning of the government and its various officers, departments, commissions, institutions, agencies, and other Metro-supported activities.

Motion.

And a second. Can I get a second? Second, thank you. The ordinance is properly before us. So we will be amending the ordinance that came over from the mayor's office. There are two significant pieces to the amending process. The first are requests from the mayor's office since the original ordinance was proposed. So I'm gonna ask that Aaron Jackson would read those in. And then the second will be the negotiated amendment through the Metro Council, I will ask Beth Stenberg if she would read that in, and then we will make that as an amendment, and then we'll go forward from there. So, Aaron Jackson, the floor is yours.

Thank you, and good afternoon. Aaron Jackson with OMB. I do have several operating friendly amendments to present before the Budget Committee this afternoon. I'll start with the Department of Corrections, and I'm referencing the list of anticipated awards that was included with the operating ordinance that was filed in May. So on the list of anticipated awards under Department of Corrections, the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission Treatment and Recovery Grant we are proposing to remove that grant. The Department of Corrections was notified that they did not receive that award, and that's a reduction of $1 million. For the Office of Housing and Community Development, there was a reduction to the CDBG allocation. and that's a reduction from 9.5 million to $8,153,700. And a portion of that was transferred to the Office of Social Services, which I'll discuss that in a moment. Also under the Office of Housing and Community Development, the home allocation of 2.9 million, that's being increased to $3,015,600. Under Emergency Solutions Grant, it was originally proposed at $960,000. During our review, it was determined that that was a duplicate grant, so that $960,000 will be removed. The HOPWA funding, $1.6 million. That's going to zero under the Office of Housing and Community Development. That funding is being... transfer it to the Office of Social Services, which I'll get into that momentarily. The Section 108 Loan Guarantee Legacy Challenge, that number is changing from $47,765,000 to $54,765,000. That's an increase of $7 million. There are several additions, and these are transfers from the Office of Social Services, $250,000, and that's for the HESG grant. There's $300,000 for the Home for Good Partnership, and that's to the Humana Foundation, that's $300,000. Rapid Rehousing, COC, that's $81,200. PSH, three, that's also COC, $185,000. PSHNCI COC, that's $593,000. TBRA COC, that's $3,235,100. And the Chancery COC, that's $501,100. So in total, that amount increased from $70,325,000 to $78,679,700. Under the Office of Strategic Initiatives, there was a grant that was included in the budget for the Real Vision Kentucky for $34 million that is being zeroed out, or proposed to be zeroed out. Under the Office of Social Services, several of these I just referenced. Rapid rehousing, that's being reduced from $81,200 to zero. PSHCOC, $185,000, that's being reduced to zero. PSHNCICOC, that's $593,000, that's being reduced to zero. HESG that's being reduced from $965,000 to $743,200. The TBRA that's being reduced from $3,235,100 to zero. The Chancery COC that's $501,100 and that's being reduced to zero. And then the CDBG, which I referenced before, That's an increase to social services of $1,373,000, and that's a transfer from the Office of Housing and Community Development. And the same for HOPWA, that number is going from zero to $1,779,900. And in total for the Office of Social Services, it's decreasing from $20,117,200 to $18,452,900. Let's see. Discuss that. Discuss that. One thing under the mayor's office, the amount was reduced, the appropriation to the mayor's office was reduced by $100,000 due to a budget oversight, which I believe that's already reflected in the amendments that will be discussed momentarily. There was also a transfer of personnel and operating expenses associated with the Office of Social Services Housing and Support Division. So that reflects a decrease of $1,237,300. And that funding is being transferred to the Office of Housing and Community Development in the same amount, $1,237,300. And that reflects a total of 22 positions being transferred, 21 field and one vacant. And also associated with the personnel and operating transfer of that division, we did have some ordinance language that we would like to propose. And it reads, this ordinance authorizes the transfer of personnel, functions, and associated funds currently administered by the Housing and Support Division of the Office of Social Services to the Office of Housing and Community Development. Such transfer includes but is not limited to all assigned personnel, previously authorized grants, and all housing and support-related programs, activities, and responsibilities. All prior year activities included but not limited to unexpended balances, encumbrances, and obligations associated with these functions are hereby transferred to the Office of Housing and Community Development, effective July 1, 2026. We also had a language change under the Economic Development It currently reads, any unexpended funds as of June 30, 2026 related to redevelopment authority, tax increment financing districts, public art, USA 250 commission. And we wanted to propose including Alberta Jones statue as an addition to that language. and workforce training and barrier removal as authorized in Ordinance 20, Series 2024, may be budgeted or designated for fund balance for expenditure in fiscal year 2026, 2027. And these next three on the operating changes, they don't impact, there's no budgetary impact, but I did, we did think it was necessary to note that under the external agency section of the budget under the Office of Violence Prevention, there's currently states that there's $400,000 for book works and $700,000 to VOA. Those numbers should be $300,000 to book works and $550,000 to VOA. and it says there's no budgetary impact, just noting for display purposes, but I need to verify that because the numbers don't appear to match up, so I'll have to look into that one. Under public health and wellness, family health centers, it currently states that there's $1,061,900, and that should have been noted as $1,264,900. And then under the external agency section, the EAF list for mayors recommended should have reflected the following emergency services grants. There's a couple that are listed there for LMG admin and LMG rapid rehousing. Those were inadvertently listed. And those should, the list should have only reflected grant recipients. So again, in this case, there's no budgetary impact, but just wanted to note those changes. And those are the changes that we wanted to propose.

Thank you. Madam Clerk, could you please call this record to reflect that we've been joined by Councilwoman McCraney online, and also Councilwoman Woolridge has requested an excused absence. Councilman Piagentini, you are first in the queue.

Thank you. I just want to make a quick comment or two about the overall amendments that are here. I'm not going to comment on the capital budget because I do have sort of overarching comments that will apply to both. First of all, I do want to join all of your praise and thanks. I'll praise the council members that were involved in this on Thursday because you're all at that meeting. But right now, I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank the staff and the members of the administration, the mayor's administration that are critical to getting this done properly. Beth Stenberg and Christina Scotland, of course, from our team. uh an omb angie dunn and aaron jackson obviously just do a ton of work related to this and then um even the deputy mayors and their staff so you know dana mayton obviously who mb reports to but also the other deputy mayors nicole george julie carr shan kemper uh nobody is untouched by these amendments which brings me to my quick comment on this which is I'm just happy to, first of all, I'm happy to see us moving some money into the Rainy Day Fund. I think it's important that we continue that discipline year over year to plan for the unforeseen, let's call it. As we've all experienced over the last several years, you never know what's coming. And then the last thing I want to say is, THIS WAS A VERY HARD BUDGET. CHAIR KRAMER, TO YOUR POINT, THIS IS NOT A BUDGET THAT ANY ONE PERSON WOULD HAVE DRAFTED, BUT READING THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AS A FINAL BUDGET, I CAN SEE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I CAN SEE DIFFERENT INFLUENCE FROM ALL 26 DISTRICTS IN HERE. WITH THAT SAID, THE FUTURE IS LOOKING TOUGH. WE MADE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS IN THIS BUDGET. WHAT I SAW THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS A FUTURE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY IN ORDER TO MAKE THESE BUDGET DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD. SO I'M JUST PREPARING THE PUBLIC AND PREPARING MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE POSSIBILITY AND I THINK IT'S THE PROBABILITY that we just saw in this budget and we will see in future budgets very, very, very difficult decisions. And we are only scratching the surface of the hard decisions that will be made because of increasing expenses that impact us, including labor costs, including health care costs, including raw material costs that must be addressed. While trying to maintain a high level of service for the people that we serve. So I want to thank everybody again. I'll thank the council members that were critical to this on Thursday in that forum. But I did want to thank the administrative members and members of our team. who were critical to this and just do yeoman's work to get this budget done. And again, I want to thank, I do see some tough decisions that were made, but some very good decisions that were made and appreciate everybody's work on this. Thank you.

Thank you. There's no one else in the queue. So at this point, I'm going to ask if Ms. Stenberg would go through the changes to the operating budget. We will then take this as one amendment. Ms. Stenberg.

Yes, thank you. And I want to personally thank Aaron Jackson. I mean, he worked on Father's Day. He worked all weekend to get this document, which is the official amendment in our hands today. So, Aaron, hats off to you. On the first page, the change I want to talk about, there are changes in numbers and all of those numbers are reflecting all the changes that are within the body of this document. You'll see on the item number seven is the $500,000 for the rainy day fund is the first change. And I also want to say that as we go through this document, there may be that there are some things in this operating budget that should be in the capital budget and we may have to switch it back and forth. make any difference to the dollar amounts, but I just wanna say there may be some technical before we actually see this on Thursday, so with that said. On page two, I'm not gonna read the changes in the dollar amounts, you can see those, The wording describes the changes that are in the changes to the dollar amount. E, unexpended balances in the fiscal year 25-26 general fund appropriation and CAREFOR funds as of June 30, 2026 for general operations shall be designated from fund balance for general operations expenditure in fiscal year 26-27. Use of restricted expenditures will be determined by committee on committees. F, unexpended funds from the transfer of neighborhood development funds into a Metro Council member's cost center shall be transferred to the appropriate district neighborhood development fund prior to closing the fiscal year. G, in the event any district cost center expends more than their fiscal year 25-26 revised budget, the excess will be covered by a transfer from the administrative budget excess legislative aid salary, if available, and or from the district's neighborhood development fund before the close of the fiscal year. H, in the event any district cost center expends less than $30,000 of their fiscal year 26-27 revised budget, the remaining funds will be transferred to the district council infrastructure fund. I, any council member with an NDF balance more than $200,000 as of September 30, 2026 shall submit a plan for the use of those funds to the budget committee chairs and the president before October 31, 2027. The next changes are on page four. Under economic development, we've added three things. E, included in B7A1 above is $3 million for one Louisville. The department is requested to continue to provide a quarterly report to Metro Council to include at least accomplishments and pending projects. F, included in B7A1 above is $50,000 to expand the ambassador program in Newloo. G, included in B7A1 above are the following appropriations, $25,000 to Kentucky Contemporary Art Museum, $250,000 to Portland Children Museum, and $250,000 to Waterfront Botanical Gardens. on page five under office of housing and community development d included in b9a1 above is twenty five thousand dollars for a contract with metro housing resource center for the emergency home repair program to assist homeowners that meet the established income guidelines in district two twenty thousand dollars to the new direction home repair for eligible district 15 residents thirty thousand to the new direction home repair for eligible district 21 residents unexpended balances and individual council accounts for contracts with metro housing resource center or new directions originated from council appropriated projects as of june 30 2026 shall be designated from fund balance for expenditures in fiscal years 26 27. E, included in 9A1 above is $100,000 to Russell Place of Promise, $500,000 for the Office of Housing and Community Development Housing and Stabilization Fund, $1,395,500 for home repairs, and $250,000 for down payment assistance. included in 9a1 above is 500 000 for startup funding for louisville's housing finance agency a permanent local financing platform the office of housing and community development is requested to provide a status report of the new organization by december 31st to 2026. on page not on page six under Office of Violence Prevention, included in B13A1 above are the following appropriations. $75,000 to Americana Community Center, $50,000 to Youth Development in Action, Inc. $50,000 to Galilee Community Center. $150,000 to Family and Children's Place Child Advocacy Center. And $25,000 to Street Widows Foundation. F, included in B13A1 above, is $100,000 to Joshua Community Connectors. The Director of Office of Violence Prevention, as well as Joshua Community Connectors, Connectors is requested to attend the first Metro Budget Committee meeting in August 2026 to report on the proposed fiscal year 2627 contract, including but not limited to the performance expectations. At that meeting, Joshua Community Connectors is also requested to report on the accomplishments of the fiscal year 2627 contract. Lastly, reporting on the fiscal year 26-27 contract to be defined by the council is required at the end of each quarter for the fiscal year 26-27. Under Metro Police E, unexpended balances in the individual district police accounts for overtime or other expenditures originating from from prior council appropriation projects as of June 30 shall be designated from fund balance for expenditure in fiscal year 26-27. Top of page 7F, included in C1A1 above, is $500,000 to the Police Foundation for the Repeat Offender Initiative. G, included in C1A1, A1 above is $5,000 for events and activities in the sixth district. H included in C1A1 above is 39,000 for police annual events, seventh district, 21,000, eighth district, 14,000, sixth district, and 4,000. And I might add, some of these that I'm reading in are from the district NDF funds themselves, not from things that are being added to. And you'll see the results of those NDF back on page two where we defined NDF. Say what? Divisions, not districts. Divisions, not districts. We'll make that change. Thank you. I'll make that change. Thank you. On page eight under Brightside, C, included in E2A1 above is $40,000 for landscape and new loop. D, Brightside is requested to provide a written report by October 31st, 2026 to Metro Council of their operation, including but not limited to their benefit to the community, programs administered and successes over the last three years. Under Louisville Public Library, C, Director of the Free Public Library is requested to provide a needs analysis of books and materials not covered in the fiscal year 26-27 budget no later than November 15th, 2026. D, included in E3A1 above is $150,000 for Imagination Library. On page nine, under Office of Social Services, included in E5A1 is the following appropriations. $40,000 to St. Joe's Children's Home, $25,000 to Hope to Hope, $100,000 to Maryhurst Inc., $117,000 to St. John's Center, $87,500 to Family Scholar House, $100,000 to Uniting Partners of Women and Children, $50,000 to Exodus Ministries, and $75,000 to SOS International, Inc. I failed to include one, Mr. Chair, that I'm adding now, just reading in. $25,000 to Coles Foundation should also be included there. On page nine, still under Parks and Recreation, all funds received and credited to golf programs for restricted purposes if unexpended as of June 30, 2026 may be designated from fund balance for expenditure in fiscal year 26-27 and restricted or transferred to a new capital project golf course agronomic improvements for purposes for which the funds were received. On page 10. E included in E6A1 above are the following appropriations, $113,000 to Soil and Water and $20,000 to Webb Du Bois Academy. F, unexpended balances in the individual district park accounts or any other appropriations originated from council appropriated projects as of June 30, 2026 shall be carried forward for expenditure in fiscal year 26-27. on page 11 under Human Resources. C, the Director of Human Resources is requested to research various options to minimize healthcare costs for Metro and its employees. The results of that research is to be made available to Metro Council no later than October 31st, 2026. On page 12, under Metro Technology Services, see that MTS directors requested to identify and provide to the Metro Council three specific projects where AI will be deployed to demonstrate cost savings, either in the form of productivity improvements, staffing adjustments, or reductions in other spend. on page 13 under Jefferson County Clerk. What I'm going to read is not what you have in front of you, but the clerk and I have talked today and this is the language that he would like. Included in the general fund appropriation is $500,000 to preserve historic records pertaining to slave records to help our citizens gain a deeper understanding of their heritage. On page 14, under external agencies, prior to December 31st, 2026, the mayor's office, along with representatives from Metro Council, is requested to review the external agency panel process to determine needed changes, including potential elimination of the program as it exists in fiscal year 2627. And the last one, Mr. Chair, page 16, is all department directors are requested to continue providing the same reporting required in fiscal year 25-26 to the Metro Council.

Thank you, Ms. Tinberg. There are a couple typographical errors, and so Councilman Winkler wants to go over those, please.

Sorry, I noted just three changes, and I was gonna text these to you, but I'll read them as well. On page 4F, it's the ambassador expansion that needs to be changed to west of Broadway from 7th to 30th, not Newloo, because we already have ambassadors in Newloo, so if we can make that change. Page 6F, the second-to-last sentence related to Joshua Community Connector is providing... Reporting accomplishments, that should be for the 25-26 year, because they're updating the accomplishments that have happened, so that's just a technical change, 25 to 26. And then page 9G, the organization name is Hope by Hope, not Hope to Hope. So you change the two to a by.

Thank you.

Great, thank you. So those are the amendments that are before us now, so I need a motion and a second for the amendment.

Motion.

Second. Properly before us, thank you. Colleagues, any questions or concerns? Seeing no one in the queue. This is amendment calling for a voice vote. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye. Aye.

Any opposed? One. Okay, it's the opinion of the chair. Voice vote, this passes. We now have the amended version before us. Are there any questions or comments about the amended ordinance that's before us? Seeing no one in the queue, the amended version requires a roll call vote. Madam Clerk, please open the voting.

Voting is open. Councilwoman Parrish-Wright? Yes. Councilman Reno-Weaver?

Yes.

Councilwoman Parker?

Yes.

Councilman Piagentini.

Aye.

Chair Kramer, you have eight yes votes and one no vote.

Thank you, the item was amended, and so we'll go before, or we'll go on old business. Moving on to item number three, or I'm sorry, yeah, I was right for a second, item number four. This is an ordinance relating to, it's ordinance 17626. It is an ordinance relating to the fiscal year 2627 capital budget for the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government, including appropriations and authorizations of funds for general construction, maintenance, repair and improvement of the facilities and assets of the government of Louisville Jefferson County and other Louisville Metro supported activities. Motion. Second.

Okay, it's properly before us.

Again, we'll move through the same process unless there's an objection. Mr. Jackson will speak first and then Ms. Stenberg. Mr. Jackson, the floor is yours.

Thank you. I have far fewer amendments for capital, so it won't take as long. What was project 44, the system development charge match, we would like to rename that project to system development infrastructure. So that's just a name change on there. We would like to add a new project titled bike scooter infrastructure funds. This project will be funded by payments received exclusively to maintain and build bike slash scooter infrastructure in support of the dockless vehicle program. and that's 120,000 is what we're proposing for that. There were a couple grants that inadvertently got omitted from the Mayor's recommended budget. One, Kentucky Emergency Management Special Projects, it's an EMPG grant for $100,000, and then the Justice Assistance Grant, which both of these are federal grants. The JAG grant is for $786,000. Another project under Public Works is a project we would like to rename. It's Bike Ped Trailhead Louisville Loop 5-3036. We would like to change that to Louisville Loop Ohio River Valley NE CMAQ 5-3036 to align with an existing project title in our financial system. We would propose removing what was Project 47, the Shelby Park and Smoketown traffic improvements. That was a federal grant for $2,400,000. Lastly, there were two projects that were in the capital budget that should have been budgeted in the operating budget. One is to Roots 101, and that's for property acquisition, $4 million. and that was project number three, and then what was project number 32, Home of the Innocents, both of those were for a million dollars. We would like to transfer those back to the operating budget. The ordinance is before you reflect those changes currently. That's all the amendments.

Thank you. Seeing no one in the queue. Certainly. Councilwoman Chappell.

Did I hear you correctly in Routes 101 is going to operating, but it's $4 million? No, no, no.

It's a million dollars in the proposed budget in capital. That funding is being transferred to the operating budget for the same amount, for a million dollars.

For a million? For $1 million. Thank you. Okay, thank you.

Anyone else? All right, Ms. Stenberg, if you would read in the amendments to the capital from the council side.

Yes. Beginning on page one, there was $2.6 million in capital infrastructure fund. It's been distributed throughout this document, but the remaining balance is in District 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, down to District 9, or $100,000 each. District 10, 70,000. District 13, 20,000. District 15, 74, 9. District 16, 75,000. District 17, 77, 6. District 21, 100,000. District 22, 50,000. District 26, 100,000. On project number three, the council designated projects of a million dollars has been distributed throughout this capital budget. Erin talked about number three. The things that have been added now beginning with the new project number two, District 10 public art projects for $30,000. District three, Southwest Government Center Veterans Memorial for $75,000. And I'll repeat that some of these are from the CIFs being distributed not from things actually being added by the council. Louisville, excuse me, on Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, a decrease of $5 million. Project number seven, justice, Aaron did that one, excuse me. On project number 12, the Kentucky Emergency Management Special Projects, I'm sorry, Aaron did that one too, I should have these marked, I apologize. We'll go to page three. Louisville Urban League fields has been reduced from 500,000 to zero. A new project, District 1 cameras in Algonquin for 25,000. District 1 lighting in Algonquin for 25,000. District 10, excuse me, District 15 lighting That should be changed to District 15, Wilder Park improvements, $125,000. District 12, 14, 25, park land acquisition in Southwest for $1.5 million. District 13, Nelson-Hornbeck Park improvements for $56,400. District 14, Southwest Soccer for $80,000. Actually, that's District 14. It is for Southwest Soccer, but it should reflect that it's Sun Valley. Okay. There is a conversation going on that Wilder Park should be District 21, but Parks has told me it's District 15. Now on to District 23, McNeely Lake Lodge, $160,000. District 23, Highview Park improvements for two funding sources, CIF for 218,789.76 and from previously authorized bonds for 13,541.99. A new project, District 1118 Dupre Park Pickleball Courts from CIF 152,000 from previously authorized bonds for 13,841.02. And then a new project, and if you don't mind, I wanna talk about this one. The golf course agronomic improvements for 1,264,615.23. That actually was remaining balances from an old deferred golf maintenance account that we just want to formalize into a new project to reflect the three-year plan that Parks has developed and this council supports. The next is on page four. District 17, widening on Westport Road for $250,000. District 1, 12, 14, street safety lighting project for $120,000. Just a correction. 69 should be D7, not D17. I'm sorry, 69 should be D7, not District 17, for the widening of Old Westport Road, thank you. And then next is District 17, pedestrian warning signs of $7,000. District 17, paving wooded oak circle for a combination of, I can't do that that quick, CIF 20,400, previously authorized bond 70,000, and general fund of 11,137.92. Next is District 17, sidewalk repair for 13,717. District 15, speed humps and signs on E. Barber Avenue in Warnock for $25,100. District 12, lower hunters traffic calming for $93,000. District 12 and 14, Greenwood Road area traffic calming for $208,000. District 18, Dorsey Way sidewalk construction for 291,000. District 23, Vaughn Mill Road sidewalk for 182,000. Under, excuse me, District 20, sidewalk on Briscoe Lane for 150,000. District 22, Fairmont Road expansion, 95,000. On District 5, solar products, buildings, and street lights for $500,000. And then, if I may, Mr. Chair, there is a listing that, well, I'm gonna go with R first on page six. All department agencies are required to continue providing status reports to the council in the same format and timing as reported in the fiscal year 2620, no, reported in the year 2526. In the event a revenue item exceeds the fiscal year 25-26 revised budget presented with the 26-27 Metro proposed executive budget, the following new capital and operating projects will be funded in the order presented. library books if needed as identified, reduced bond funding in at least an equal amount for any project expenditures added, and thirdly, additional funding for the golf course agronomic improvements. T, in the event a grant-funded project with Metro-funded match is not awarded, the match requires Metro Council approval before the Metro funds can be used. U, all departments, agencies are requested. I think that's a duplicate. are and you are duplicates so we can take you out. And then there is an extensive list from on page six through page seven and on to page eight of old capital projects that have either been completed with remaining balances that we are lapsing inside this document and reallocated inside this document. So all the funds that you see here will be used. There are some, if you look on page, beginning on page six, there are some that, when we researched it more, the funds did not have those remaining balances. So for instance, on what is labeled 16, The Ordinance 104 Series 2025 Council Match Paving Projects has been eliminated from being lapsed, meaning it's staying. Another one was for the markings for street paving on Bradley that is not being lapsed. Neither is the Kentucky Street Master Plan or the Blevins Gap on the last page. There are items being added to the lapsed accounts. Fiscal year 19, Beechmont Community Center playground improvements for $1,726.95. District 27, Republic paving in District 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 22 for $179,171.01. District 27, Republican paving in District 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 22 for $74,212.07. District 27, Republican paving in District 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 22 is being reduced by... Erin, you might have to help me on that. I've got two different numbers here. Is that the remaining balance? Okay. The remaining balance will be the 22, 3, 14, 53. And then the golf course maintenance, deferred maintenance account that I spoke about earlier, will have a remaining balance of 433, 848, 78. Okay. And I believe those are all the changes. I may want to, because it was asked again last year, there are several things that I read in that were District 27. There are not 27 districts. We just used the symbol D27 to reflect when the Republicans pool their monies together and reallocate inside the document.

Motion. Yeah, I think we missed one. No, you're good. Do I cover that reduction on the bill? Oh, did you mention the reduction on the Belvedere? I don't think I heard that. Excuse me? The Belvedere reduction.

I did not say that. The Belvedere reduction is being reduced by $5 million.

Thank you. Thank you. Motion. Can I get a second? Second. Properly before us. Questions for Beth or Aaron on the amendment? Seeing none, this is an amendment calling for a voice vote. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? It's the opinion of the chair that the ayes have it. We have the amended version before us. Are there questions about the amended version? Councilman Leninger?

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I just want to understand properly in the capital budget amendment that we are saying that additional funding in, for example, the mid-year, that the golf course ergonomics improvement program must eat first before any other project, for example, the Nia Center, if we were going to fund that with capital funds?

Ms. Sinberg? Sorry, I'm sorry, the question, I was distracted.

My question is, and I just want to make sure that I understand this correctly, we are stating in the budget by ordinance that additional funding in the mid-year, we must fund the golf course ergonomic improvements program before we would do any other capital programs, for example, the Nia Center.

Actually, that's the third thing. So the first thing was to take a look at the libraries. Mm-hmm. And then every dollar that we spent, we would reduce that. And then the third was the golf course agronomic.

Correct, yeah. So the answer is yes to my question.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Anyone else? Councilwoman Chappell.

Thank you, I got a promotion. Could you go, this might have been asked and I didn't hear it, but project 30, the D-12-14-25 parkland acquisition, could you speak, someone speak to that?

Yes, so there are several parks where there are properties that the park would benefit by taking ownership. And so we are reserving money in the budget so that when or if those properties become available, we would be able to purchase those. And there are a couple that we know right now are actually available. That's what that identifies.

Thank you.

Any others? Seeing none, this is an ordinance that calls for, I'm sorry. Yeah, we have the amended version. Yeah, but this is an ordinance that calls for a roll call vote. Madam Clerk, could you please open the voting?

Councilman Parrish-Wright? Yes. Councilman Reno-Weber?

Yes.

Councilman Parker? Yes. Councilman Piagentini?

Aye.

Chair Cramer, you have eight yes votes and one no vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. The item passes and therefore will go again because it's amended to old business. Colleagues, we're moving on to item number two. Again, I apologize if we were taking these out of order. Item number two is ordinance 16926. It is an ordinance amending chapter 38 of the Louisville Metro Court of Ordinances to establish subclassifications of real property for purposes of ad valorem taxation within the urban service district.

Motion.

That's probably before us, um, the primary sponsors are here. Um, and if 1 or 1 is here.

Yeah, I'll start and councilman owns here. I, I have a stop here in the 5 minutes that I have to jump on another meeting. But, um, 1st of all, I want to say that this is. A PIECE OF AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION. WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY TAKING ANY SPECIFIC ACTION VIA THIS LEGISLATION OTHER THAN SETTING UP THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WILL ALLOW US IN THE FUTURE TO BRING ANOTHER ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO PROPERTY TAXES POTENTIALLY IN THE URBAN SERVICES DISTRICT. SO IN STATE LAW THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT To amend state law men 67 see this past. In the last general assembly to give us the authority to do this, what this would allow is right now we have 1 property tax rate that we charge in the urban services district and that charge and that hits both. Property or land and. improvements which are buildings this will allow us to have to potentially again we would have to do it via separate ordinance two separate tax rates for land and for improvements that's buildings right the intention of this to be super clear And this is something we've a lot of people have opined about and talked about is to incentivize development, particularly in our urban core. Right. And we see a lot of open land and land speculation happening in that area. And that is not conducive to urban development. So this would give us the ability to do that. To be super clear, uh, if we are able to move forward, and we're working with many organizations right now with with councilman Owen and councilman, Rena, Weber and others to find what this would look like. And we will bring that forward to this council as soon as possible. But the numbers that, um, or what we're looking to do here is to make sure that. The overall net effect, first of all, will be neutral to taxpayers in the urban services district and specifically to those that own buildings. And that includes single family homeowners. We want to see a net neutral or potentially a reduction in their property taxes. So I think this could have not only improve. and incentivize people to build on open land that they own in downtown, but also reduce taxes for critical folks, including single-family homeowners in the Urban Services District. Still working on that plan, but this is just authorizing us to eventually bring that ordinance to bear. I want to thank Councilman Owen and Ben Reno-Weber and others that have advocated for this and seek everybody's support here.

Thank you. Does anyone have any questions or comments? There is no one in the queue. This is an ordinance calling for a roll call vote. All those in favor, I'm sorry, calling for a roll call vote. Madam Chair, Clerk, would you please open the voting?

Councilman Parrish-Wright? Yes. Councilman Reno-Weber?

Aye.

Councilman Parker? Yes. Councilman Piagentini.

Aye.

Chair Kramer, you have eight yes votes and one present vote.

Thank you, and lacking a unanimous vote, then this will go, it passes, but lacking unanimous vote, it will go to old business instead of consent. That was the last item on the agenda. Unless there are objections, we are going to adjourn. Without objection, we're adjourned.