Metro Council - Regular Meeting

Self as well, we greet you with warmly and we know your name We know what you're interested in and we also know how to provide adequate like next level and for me like, you know techniques and stuff to help you grow in that so they can so I'm almost level seven, but y'all gonna encourage me to get to what eight or nine.

Yeah Yeah, well, but we like growth so so you're gonna force me to go to eight or nine.

Yeah Yeah

Okay, cool. This will be interesting. What is your favorite thing happening at Metro Arts?

That is a great question. So part of my personality, I like to be able to expand and grow. And so one of the things I felt that needed to really grow at Metro Arts is our ability to platform other artists. I am really looking forward to it. We have two shows coming up in the month of June. And so the first show that we have is going to be actually at Baxter Community Center. It's called Brown Sugar and Butter. It's an art show highlighting and platforming local black artists here in the community. And then also we have another show happening around the same time at Metro Arts at our location on Dixie and it's called Sparkle and it's a show to platform specifically LGBTQAI artists in the community.

Which is very interesting and I say which, I'm talking about both because it's very specific about reaching out and welcoming the entire community and letting everyone know that they are welcome to participate. absolutely one man's opinion there's nothing wrong with specialized programming because one everyone is welcome but it also allows people to see themselves and be whole and so forth so that's that's interesting and then as it turns out so Brown sugar and butter, butter and brown sugar.

It's called brown sugar and butter.

Brown sugar and butter is happening in the timeframe of Juneteenth.

Yeah, it's happening June 18th.

Well, that's the day before officially Juneteenth, so that's great. Last question.

Yeah.

In recreation, there's a lot of focus on programming. In the community, there's a lot of focus on crime and prevention and education that sometimes I think the value of art might be lost on the average citizen. I know enough and I dabble enough to like, oh, yeah. What do you think people young and old might be missing out on because art can sometimes be devalued? We're focused on technology and crime prevention and things of that nature, but by not spending enough time or giving enough love to art, what's missing?

I think art offers a time to have a safe space with yourself and maybe a limited audience for self-expression and creativity. We're always just living this rigid type of schedule or life. I mean, everyone lives according to a schedule and routine. But when you make time for the arts, that's a really good time to be able to color outside the lines or get paint on the table, if you know what I'm saying. So it's nice to be able to have those creative moments.

To create something really beautiful because I think as people we strive and we want beautiful things in our lives and technically from my perspective that'll bring us back to Crime prevention and health and safety because you can relax and then get back to that schedule and focusing on other things So great. Well, I certainly appreciate your time and Always appreciate your efforts and your creativity in the expanding of the program, which you've done both internally for us and externally for the community. Thank you very much.

Thank you for having me on.

My pleasure. So thanks for watching. Hopefully we will see you at a water park or a pool or in a class at Metro Arts soon. Follow us on all socials at atlubekyparks. And also, if this sounds like fun, check our website for opportunities for classes, opportunities to work with us because we have a good time, and opportunities to volunteer. This has been Johnson, Assistant Director of Louisville Parks and Recreation. We'll see you next month.

couldn't be more excited for the second year of louisville kentucky here at hersporn country club hosting the isco championship it is wonderful to continue to build on this event year after year and as you just heard to have a pga tour event in louisville one of only 35 in the entire world here in louisville every year is really special these events are so important to our city to help our local businesses our economy they put us in the national spotlight And I couldn't be more thrilled that Louisville is once again hosting the ISCO Championship.

Since the ISCO Championship's been coming, back when it was in Lexington and in Louisville, $1.2 million of charity has been left in the Commonwealth for charitable causes. And that's a great thing about the PGA Tour, is the charitable impact they leave in every city they visit. There's only 35 cities in this country that get the honor of doing this, and I'm proud that Louisville is the

But we're here at the Highland Community Ministries and I'm here with Troy Burden who is the Executive Director of Highland Community Ministries and is also the President of the Association of Community Ministries.

That's right so the Association of Community Ministries is an umbrella organization where the 13 community ministries each of us have our own board and our own mission but we come together with three distinct services which is rental or housing assistance, to keep people housed. We have food assistance to help people with food insecurity and then we do utility assistance through our work with Winter Help, the Louisville Gas and Electric Foundation and the Louisville Water Foundation. So we have those funds that we all work together to ensure that everybody can stay housed and have the lights on and have food throughout all of Jefferson County.

Bardstown Road Corridor, the challenges and the changes. Over the course of the last year, Bardstown Road and the Highlands area has seen a multitude of changes. Some have been met with enthusiasm from the community and others have been the source of concern for residents and businesses. Joining us today for our discussion about all there is to celebrate about the Highlands and the ways that it can respond to these present challenges and opportunities, we have with us three panelists.

Bardstown Road Corridor and the Highlands are traditionally an economic development powerhouse.

Metro TV, 30 seconds.

I don't really use it. I guess it's just the teacher in me.

Okay.

All right.

Hello. I am Councilman Jonathan Joseph, Chair of the Appropriations Committee. This is a regular scheduled meeting of the Appropriations Committee on June the 3rd, 2026. It is currently 3.03 p.m. This meeting is being held pursuant to KRS 61.826 and Council Rule 5.8. With me virtually is my Vice Chair, Marilyn Parker. Joining us in chambers are committee members, Councilman Leninger, Councilman Sim, Councilman Winkler, Councilwoman Shanklin, Yes. Okay. And we have members present. Enough for a quorum. First item of business is a council originated NDF appropriating $2,500 from District 3 Neighborhood Development Funds through the Office of Management and Budget to More Than a Smile Foundation, Inc. for a go-level sponsorship of the mini soccer tournament to be held June 20th, 2026. This comes from Councilwoman Parrish-Wright's office. Do we have a motion? Motion. Properly moved. And this item does not require a speaker. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? The ayes have it. Legislation passes. Clerk, let it reflect on the record that we have been joined by Councilman Herndon. Item number two is the CIF appropriating $14,318 from District 3 Capital Infrastructure Funds to Public Works for milling and paving at the intersection of Old Miller's Lane and Miller's Lane. This also comes from Councilwoman Parrish-Wright. Do we have a motion? Motion. Thank you. Properly moved. And Ben, would you like to speak?

Yes, thank you, Chair. This appropriation is to Public Works as Old Miller's Lane is in really rough shape. Residents have been complaining about it for a while. This is a solution until the entire road can be repaved. in fiscal year 28 based on their paving schedule. We just wanna make sure that the cars and pedestrians have a safe way to traverse this roadway and Public Works was willing to do this if they accepted funding from our office. I'm happy to take any questions.

Yes, thank you. Are there any questions or concerns for Ben? All right, thank you. Seeing none, this item allows for a voice vote. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed? You guys have it. Legislation passes. Item number three is an ordinance appropriating $4,000 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $3,000 from District 9, $500 from District 8, and $500 from District 15 to the Office of Budget and Management to Crescent Hill Community Council, Inc. for costs associated with the 2026 Crescent Hill Fourth of July Festival. This comes from Councilman Owen. Do we have a motion?

Second.

Properly moved. Do we have a speaker? Yes. Okay, go ahead. Hello.

Hi Chair, thank you. My name is Regina Gar, the Administrative Assistant for Councilman Andrew Owen, District 9. The Crescent Hill Community Council hosts this 4th of July Festival every year. It's an annual thing that brings everyone from all districts. So we're really excited to support this and it will offset security, portable restrooms, dumpsters, tables, chairs, grounds, maintenance, equipment, all that jazz, the goodies. So that is it for us.

Are there any questions or concerns? Okay, hearing none, this item requires a roll call vote. Clerk, will you open the rolls, please?

Voting is open. Vice Chair Parker? Yes. Chair Joseph, you have seven yes votes.

Legislation passes and will be sent to Old Business. Old Business. Item number four is an NDF appropriating $318 from District 9 Neighborhood Development Funds to Metro Parks to cover the cost of portable restrooms at the annual Beargrass Creek Clean Sweep event on July 25th, 2026. This item also comes from Councilman Owen. Do we have a motion?

Motion. Second.

Properly moved. This item does not require a speaker. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed? The ayes have it and legislation passes. Item number five is a council originated in NDF appropriating $5,000 from District 19 Neighborhood Development Funds to Louisville Zoo for a large lantern sponsorship at the Wild Lights at the Zoo event from May 15th to July 26th, 2026. This comes to us from Councilman Piagentini. Do we have a motion? Properly moved. Do we have a speaker? Do we want to? Thank you.

No, we're just withdrawing your motion. Thank you.

Okay, so we'll come back to item number five in a moment. We're going to go on to item number six. Item number six, an NDF appropriated $657.20 from District 26 Neighborhood Development Funds through Brightside Inc. to Surmershine Landscape Company for reinstallation of the Highgate Springs neighborhood sign. This item comes from Councilman Ackerson. Do we have a motion? Motion. Thank you, properly moved. This item does not require a speaker. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item allows for a voice vote. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

No.

The ayes have it. Legislation passes. Item number seven is a CIF appropriating $7,342.01 from District 26 Capital Infrastructure Funds to Public Works for installation of a new sidewalk at Breckenridge Lane and Taylorsville Road. This is in addition to funding previously allocated for sidewalk repairs through ordinance number 52, series 2026. This item comes from Councilman Ackerson. Do we have a motion? In a second? Properly moved. And we have a speaker.

Thank you, Chair. Charles Weathers, Councilman Brent Ackerson's office. These funds are used to cover the shortage of the amount of money that we need that we moved from the ordinance over to Public Works to complete this new sidewalk.

Thank you. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this allows for a voice vote. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Aye.

The ayes have it. Legislation passes.

Thank you.

Thank you. Item number eight is an ordinance appropriating $5,000 from Neighborhood Development Funds in the following manner. $5,000 from District 6 through the Office of Management and Budget to Louisville Tool Library for rent and utilities for the Louisville Tool Library. This item comes from Councilman Leninger. Do we have a motion? Motion. Second. Thank you. Properly moved. Councilman, would you like to speak to this?

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. This was an appropriation that was actually solicited by my advisory council. I see several members of which are here in the gallery today where they invited the tool library to apply for this really fantastic nonprofit in our city. I love their slogan, you know, there's enough if we share. and they really provide a wonderful platform not just for equipment rentals for people to be able to do DIY projects and be involved in our community in a lot of ways. They do classes. It's a really excellent program, and I'm really glad that we can support the tool library today.

Thank you. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item requires a roll call vote. Clerk, will you please open the rolls?

Voting is open. Vice Chair Parker? Yes. Voting is closing. Chair Joseph, you have seven yes votes.

Thank you. Legislation passes, and we will be sending this to old business. No, consent. Do you need any more funding, Councilman?

Yes.

So we'll be going to old business? Yes. Okay. All right, thank you. Item number nine is an ordinance appropriating $5,000 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $5,000 from District 6 through the Office of Management and Budget to the Bardstown Theater for costs associated with its new works and production. This also comes from Councilman Leninger. Do we have a motion? Motion. And a second? Properly moved. Councilman, would you like to speak to this?

Yeah, so the Bard, you know, formerly an institution for the art scene in Louisville, was in District 8 on Bardstown Road. They've relocated under new management to Merriweather in District 6. And it's also now a nonprofit where they're doing a lot of community education, art support, things like that, in addition to... putting on productions and having people there for food and drink. And so we wanted to help support the community programming. We've been talking to them for a while about getting the CNDF in. So we're happy to support it. I believe there is still room to grow on this one as well. So if anyone wants to help support arts in Louisville, we'd appreciate your support on that too.

Thank you very much. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item requires a roll call vote. Clerk, will you open the rolls?

Vice Chair Parker? Aye. Chair Joseph, you have seven yes votes.

Thank you very much. Legislation passes, and this will be sent to old business. Item number 10 is an ordinance appropriating $6,000 from Neighborhood Development Funds in the following manner. $6,000 from District 6 through the Office of Management and Budget to Prominent Youth of America, Inc. for costs associated with its Jacksonwood Summer Program to be held June 22nd through July 31st, 2026. This item also comes from Councilman Leninger. We have a motion. Thank you. Properly moved. Councilman, would you like to speak to this?

Yes, we've been busy. This isn't the last one. Sorry, everybody. So this is going to be a summer youth program in District 6 in Shelby Park for kids that really need positive adult interactions in their lives, really need support in the summer. LaVon Clack approached us about applying for this. We've been working through it with him. This, again, also has a little more room to go if people want to add on to it before next Thursday. We would welcome that, but this is just an excellent summer youth program, and we're happy to support it.

Thank you. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item requires a roll call vote. Clerk, will you please open the rolls?

Vice Chair Parker? Yes. Yes. Chair Joseph, you have seven yes votes.

Legislation passes and will be sent to Old Business. Item number 11 is a CIF appropriating $62,960 from District 6 Capital Infrastructure Funds to Public Works for speed humps and signage to be installed at the following locations. Three speed humps and four speed hump signs on East Ormsby Avenue between South Jackson Street and South Clay Street. Two speed humps and two speed hump signs on Ellison Avenue between East Oak Street and Krieger Street. two speed humps and two speed humps signs on Schiller Avenue between Breckenridge Street and Highland Avenue, and five speed humps and eight speed humps signs on Wilson Avenue between Dixie Highway and South 15th Street. This item comes from Councilman Leninger, District 6. Do we have a motion?

Second.

Properly moved. Councilman, would you like to speak to this?

This one's pretty straightforward. Some of these have been asked for for a long time. This is a collection of speed humps that are in just about every part of the district where we're allowed to do them. Not really possible in Old Louisville, but we've got the eastern and western portions of our district here that have applied.

Are there any questions or concerns? The streets of District 6 are about to get a lot slower. All right. Sorry, we need to take this to a vote. A voice vote. Yeah. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Aye. The ayes have it. Legislation passes. Thank you. Item number 12 is a CIF appropriating $188 from District 6 Capital Infrastructure Fund of Public Works for the fabrication and installation of an honorary street sign for Dr. Leonard A. Ramsey at the corner of West Galbert Avenue and Dixie Highway. This item comes from Councilman Lineger and District 6. Do we have a motion?

Motion.

Second. Properly moved. Councilman?

Yeah, this is a honorary street sign for a civil rights leader, pastor, community leader. We're happy to help support them. Their church is having a celebration this summer, and they approached us and asked if we could have this honorary street naming, and we said we would do whatever we could to help them out with that. So here we are.

Thank you. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, the sign allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. Legislation passes. Item number 13 is an NDF appropriating $1,066 from District 13 Neighborhood Development Funds to Metro Parks to cover extended hours for two family night events at the Fairdale Pool at Nelson Hornbeck Park on June 26 and July 17, 2026. This comes from Councilman Sime. Do we have a motion? Motion. Second. Thank you. Councilman Sime.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, this is for two nights extended hours at our pool in Fairdale. It usually closes at 5 o'clock. That's when most of the parents are coming home from work, and we wanted to give them a couple nights with their families. So I'm asking you to help support this, please.

Okay. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? The ayes have it. Legislation passes. Item number 14 is a CIF appropriating $39,986 from District 13 Capital Infrastructure Funds to Public Works to fund a leaf sculpture to serve as a centerpiece of the Fairdale Roundabout Beautification Project. This comes from Councilman Sime. Do we have a motion?

Second.

Properly moved. Councilman Sime.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a beautification project. that we're working on the Fairdale Roundabout. It's been a couple years in the making. I thank my assistant Lisa for all her hard work on getting this together, but we're finally starting work on it this week, and I ask your approval.

All right, are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed? The ayes have it, legislation passes.

Okay, we are... All right.

Councilman Stein offered to do knock-knock jokes for five minutes, but I guess we can go ahead and go to item number five. All right. We are gonna go back to item number five as the last piece. And so let's read this. Item number five, again, is that a council originated NDF appropriating $5,000 from District 19 Neighborhood Development Funds to Louisville Zoo for a large lantern sponsorship at the Wild Lights at the Zoo event from May 15th to July 26th, 2026. This comes to us from Councilman Piagentini. Do we have that motion? In a second? Properly moved. Please, we would like for you to speak to this.

Hi there. I'm very, very sorry. I appreciate your patience and kindness waiting for me to join on. My sincere apologies. My name is Chanel Smith. I'm the legislative assistant for Councilman Piagentini. And this is exactly what it says. They have the Wonderful Wild Lights event. They came to us and asked for sponsorship. The Councilman has sponsored several of their other events. and this one is for a particular one, but it just says Louisville Metro Council, and it's just a sponsorship of this great event. Is there any questions?

Okay, no questions. This allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed? Okay, legislation passes. That does conclude our final piece of legislation, or our final piece. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June the 17th at 3 p.m. We are adjourned.