Metro Council - Regular Meeting

a junkyard is a place where people keep buy or sell junk wrecked and broken cars machines appliances or other scrap materials like metal batteries rubber this can include businesses that sell used car parts junkyards are not allowed in residential areas where people live they can only be set up in special areas zoned for heavy industrial use and the owner must obtain a conditional use permit specifically for junkyard use in order to run one.

Hi, I'm Kayla with Louisville Water and this is Made with PeerTap, a special segment where we're highlighting some amazing local businesses that use water to make their products. Here in Louisville, we're proud of our water. Louisville PeerTap is an anchor for the small business community and an important ingredient in some delicious products. Today, we're here at Elixir Kombucha. Let's go talk to Corey and learn more about how this local business is using Louisville PeerTap.

Hey, I'm Corey Wood, co-founder of Elixir Kombucha. Danielle, my wife, and I launched Elixir in 2016. We make a bubbly probiotic beverage here in the Portland neighborhood of Louisville. We became fascinated with gut health and its impact on overall health, and kombucha's like the ultimate gut health beverage. So kombucha is, it starts as a batch of sweet tea. So we have loose leaf organic tea and organic cane sugar. We brew that and after we chill the tea, we introduce a live culture called a SCOBY and that's what makes kombucha special. So this SCOBY ferments the tea and it turns it into a bubbly, probiotic, organic acid rich product that's great for gut health. and making great kombucha starts with having a great source of water. So we are lucky to be in the city with the nation's best water, Louisville Pure Tap. Today we're brewing tea and we're canning our award-winning grapefruit, hibiscus, and orange peel kombucha. You can find Elixir at over 200 retailers across Kentucky, Southern Indiana, and Cincinnati, and we also ship nationwide through our website elixirkombucha.com.

Thanks Corey for that amazing behind the scenes look and for using Louisville PureTap. We're proud to give Elixir Kombucha the Made with PureTap seal of approval. Cheers.

Common problems found during electrical inspections include missing GFCI or AFCI protections. These are special outlets and breakers that help prevent shocks and fires. GFCIs are usually needed in places like kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas, while AFCI helps catch dangerous sparks. and is often required in bedrooms and living areas. Inspectors also check for open junction boxes where wires connect. If the box is left uncovered, it can expose live wires, which is unsafe and could cause a fire. Finally, using wires that are too small for the amount of electricity they carry is dangerous, or when too many devices are plugged into one circuit can trip breakers or damage equipment.

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Metro TV, we will start in 30 seconds. The regular Louisville Metro Council meeting of July 30th, 2026 will come to order. The time is currently 12 minutes after 6 p.m. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

This meeting is being held pursuant to CARES 61.826 and Council Rule 5A. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council Member Hawkins. Present. Council Member Shanklin. Present. Council Member Parrish-Wright. Present. Council Member Herndon.

Present.

Council Member Purvis. Present. Council Member Leninger. Council member Craney. Here. Council member Rita Weber. Here. Council member Owen. Here. Council member Raymond. Here. Council member Kramer.

Here.

Council member Joseph. Here. Council member Sign.

Here.

Council member Best. Here. Council member Chappell. Council member Reed. Here. Council member Winkler.

Here.

Council member Parker. Here. Council member Piagetini. Here. Council member Benson.

Present.

Council member Roy.

Here.

Council member Bratcher.

Here.

Council member Hudson.

Here.

Council member Moritz. Here. Council member Batchon. Here. Council member Eckers. President Eckerson.

Present.

President Eckerson, you have 24 in the quorum.

All right. Please let the record reflect that Councilman Piccantini has an excused absence. Madam Clerk, are there any addresses to council?

Yes, sir, there is.

Okay. Let me remind those addressing council, a maximum of three persons may speak with the same position on any topic before the council. Madam Clerk, please call this first speaker.

Lex Manis.

Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you tonight. My name is Lance Minnis. I'm a licensed massage therapist. Due to the amended ordinance passed last November by this body, I've closed my Louisville practice. I'm not the only one. I know of at least three others who've shut down entirely or moved out of Jefferson County. Some people have expressed disbelief that the ordinance would cause businesses to close. Well, here I am. I'm not here to talk about money. I'm here to tell you why I can no longer offer my services in Jefferson County because of the ordinance. Very simply, it requires all of us in good standing and licensed by the state either to violate the ordinance, facing potentially tens of thousands of dollars in fines for operating a business that is otherwise in accord with state and federal law, or violate state and federal law, thus opening ourselves to lawsuits, possible loss of license, and possible jail time. This choice is a circle that just can't be squared. The ordinance requires us to violate HIPAA, the Federal Health Information Privacy Law. It's not just my opinion. It's also the opinion of consulted legal counsel. Compliance, even verifying someone as a client, which is itself a violation, means clients have grounds to sue me and the PT or chiropractor that referred them to me. This is a hazard that I cannot subject my business to. Same with cameras. How on earth can I defend my business to outraged parents of the minors in my building going to their therapy appointments next door? I can't. It's a clear violation to film minors in healthcare contexts, and egregious in the extreme to then give that footage to any peace officer who asks for it. The ordinance requires us to violate Kentucky statute. It's built into the law that established our profession that our first duty is confidentiality of client identity. By offering client identity to, again, any peace officer, I'm violating state law in the name of complying with city ordinance, and we all know that state law trumps local ordinance. Full enactment of this ordinance will not only squelch my industry and my business, but will have adverse consequences to other healthcare providers who will no longer refer to us. I've worked with Olympic athletes in my practice, and they will absolutely not consent to have their identity and health status violated. This ordinance also makes us all less safe. Those who are trafficked in my industry are the practitioners, not the clients. We know that police across the nation are using surveillance schemes to stalk and harass women, even across state lines. The massage industry is 80% female. Requiring us to keep our doors unlocked, requiring us to allow anyone in who claims to be a peace officer, sets up the very situation this ordinance is supposed to prevent, harassment and abuse of clients and practitioners. I can't allow my sanctuary to become such an unsafe space. Lastly, I believe these issues open the city to extraordinary liability from persons who have been surveilled or had their data collected. I urge you all to repeal this amended ordinance, revert to the previous one, which exempts LMTs, and then let our industry assist you in moving forward on crafting better legislation that does what you want and what we all want. Thank you very much.

I am not as well organized as that fellow was. But I am really glad to be here, a couple people I know. I'm a plumbing contractor, I guess a retired plumbing contractor, but I renovate houses. I've renovated and currently have about 12 of them. Four of them are on the National Register. One just, well, won an award about 10 years ago. And I know you guys talk about helping us develop these properties, but man, I have lots of problems. One was zoning, which I just got completed. It was a commercial building on 7th Street and took eight months to get it rezoned and $8,000. Never was a residential house, was always a business. And if it was on the other side of the street, TNZD, it would have been rubber stamped. In 1926 it was a commercial building, it never has been a residential building, done. No, no. So that impedes development, people like me from developing that. So that same piece of property, which I'm gonna make an art gallery, it's not commercial, but not heavy duty. So I renovated the building, that's fine and dandy, and then we called the water company and said, let's turn on the water. And they said, oh no, we disconnected the water. And I said, well, reconnect it. I'm a licensed plumber. Oh no, no, we removed it. It'll cost you between 10 and $11,000 to restore the water to that building. And to me, that is, unconscionable. There is no reason to take an existing water line out of the street where there's an existing building that's been there for over a hundred years and then say, okay, we're going to just for just 10,000 to 11,000, we can get you no more than 11,000. I did talk to the water company thereafter and they relented and said, Oh, we'll just make it 5,000. I said, uh, listen, I'll save some time for you. I'll be on Thursday the 30th. I'll be speaking before the council. You can give them your side of the story. That's not about me as much as about everybody else who's out there who has property, who want to restore or fix, and they're cutting off water. They're doing all kinds of things that prevent us from doing this. And without reason, There are other things that have happened. I bought a piece of property and I just got a water bill. It's vacant for 9,000 gallons of water. I live across the street. That bill was $216. Mine was auto pay for 92. Identical houses right across the street. All right, well, you know, there just needs to be a little oversight on some of this stuff. That's what I'm looking for. I'm looking for somebody to, I'm going to be the canary of the Commonwealth. So you'll see me here again as these things develop. Thank you all.

Jennifer Call.

Good evening, I'm Jen Coyle. I'm a licensed massage therapist, certified lymphedema therapist, and oncology massage specialist. I live in Councilman Reed's district and my practice is in Councilman Leninger's district. I was the fifth business to receive a facility license under this ordinance. Human trafficking did not infiltrate our city overnight. It moved in boldly and took root because our professional boards, city government, law enforcement, and citizens looked the other way while it was happening. Men became emboldened to believe that they could pay for sex without considering that the woman on the other side of that transaction might be there against her will. Paying for her created a sense of entitlement to her. This is where trafficking begins, with the demand. and this is where it must be confronted. Open records show that Jefferson County has an estimated 375 massage businesses. The city has identified 35 known illicit operations. Since this ordinance took effect, only 175 applications have been received. Health and Wellness has just two inspectors for massage facilities. Only eight inspections have been completed since June 3rd. That was the most recent. Only five licenses have been issued. I'm aware of nine citations that have been issued for noncompliance. One of those citations was issued to a yoga studio that had already received an exemption. If shutting down illicit businesses were truly the priority, the pace of enforcement would be much faster and more deliberate. Kentucky already provides criminal tools to investigate and prosecute prostitution, promoting prostitution, and human trafficking. These laws are enforceable today without this ordinance. This ordinance should not be the city's primary anti-trafficking strategy. Instead, it places burden on LMTs while doing far less to address the demand that fuels commercial sexual exploitation. Members of this body and others involved with this ordinance have told our community not to worry because legitimate businesses aren't gonna be targeted. But the ordinance says otherwise. Warrantless searches, mandatory camera surveillance, and registration with ABZ as though we're liquor stores instead of health and wellness providers. I have recently heard from another therapist who has lost an affordable office lease because of this ordinance and can't find a comparable location. Others have simply left Jefferson County. Nearly 70% of trafficking victims are exploited within the private economy, from hotels to domestic cleaning services. Industries this ordinance doesn't even touch. Instead, it disproportionately burdens LMTs because we are primary small business owners without capital or political influence to push back. We are the low hanging fruit. We are not opposed to this amendment, this ordinance, but we would like a more fair amendment. Thank you.

Mayor E. Kreider.

I'm pro. I'm Mary E. Kreider. I have a certification from T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. I'm for Louisville becoming one of the first 10 cities in the United States endorsing the plant-based treaty to reduce obstacles and encourage families with all lifestyle preferences to eat more. more fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains like old-fashioned oats and brown rice to increase our thriving and avoid illnesses. We all watched too many patients suffering with heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, excess weight, childhood obesity, asthma, cancer, stroke, arthritis, and dementia. Too many friends and loved ones declining and dying prematurely. In 2014, I found prevent and reverse heart disease. I hope you all There's one coming to you if not. It's information my husband John and I needed before he had a heart attack at 42 and died. Gratefully for 12 years, I have stayed remarkably healthy with exceptional lab results and freedom from pain, even from arthritis and headaches. Dr. Michael Greger wrote How Not to Die, Die Prematurely. As he predicts, I've found that greatly increasing my improved nutrition has helped me to overrule my family's genes for both heart disease and diabetes. And the more we eat, the more weight we lose. I've witnessed patients improving their health so much that they lowered their cholesterol and their doctors determined that certain medications or procedures were no longer needed, including stent procedures or bypass procedures. I have four friends who had their bypass procedure canceled. Some became free of hypertension, angina, and diabetes. People deserve to know they can have such power over the quality of their lives, their longevity, their healthcare costs. Still, we want to eat out. With supportive restaurants like Half Peach Bakery and Grape Leaf Mediterranean providing extraordinary dishes, we need not feel deprived. Your endorsement would facilitate greater awareness and support throughout the community. Please endorse the plant-based tree.

Layne Alexander.

Good evening all. My name is Layne Alexander. I'm a licensed massage therapist. and I'm opposed to the ordinance for a few things I'm gonna talk about here very briefly. There was a desire to address, eliminate human trafficking in the Louisville area. This is a great idea, but the application of that idea can be difficult to implement. The Massage Facilities Ordinance does not adequately address enforcement and resources could be more targeted for a better result instead of casting such a large net where several things will slip through. including licensed massage therapists who are already subject to laws and government by the State Board of Massage Therapy. More emphasis could be placed on inspection to those practitioners who are not licensed under the State Board, but who are already in violation of Kentucky law. Additionally, a single practitioner, which I am, cannot physically human traffic someone because there's no one else in the facility. So therefore, as far as exemptions go, Independent practitioners should be exempt from this because it's just simply not possible to traffic someone who is not there. Implementation versus theory is always the challenge to accomplishing societal goals. However, this ordinance could be better served by allowing licensed massage therapists under the state board to be exempt from this ordinance as to dedicate and pool limited resources in efforts to a demographic already not in compliance with the state law under the Kentucky Board of Massage Therapy. Additionally, there are some of the concerns that have already been voiced about privacy concerns regarding cameras and things of that nature. So we basically the protection of the client is the utmost thing that we do because the massage therapist mantra is do no harm, whether it be physical, emotional, to someone's finances or anything like that, things in those nature, that is what we are about as licensed massage therapists who are already under the state board. So three minutes goes fast, but apparently it doesn't go fast enough, so thank you very much.

Thank you. Connie Marshall.

My name is Connie Marshall. I work. I'm a homeowner. I pay state and federal taxes. My website is justiceforallcitizens.com. My email address is conniecmarshall at gmail.com. My topic is conspiracy against rights under color of law with intent to kill. falsely commit or falsely incarcerate, which I have dealt with for over 20 years. Number one, I received an email from Louisville Metro Police that stated that I am less than a slave. I am a TI. A TI is a targeted individual. Number two, when I met with my Metro Council rep, she told me she was told not to meet with me because I am targeted. She stated she chose to meet with me because she's targeted too, but not like I am. Number three, LMPD sent an email stating that they sent the man that tried to get in my home to murder me. When I met with Samantha Rose, who works for the United States Department of Justice, and showed her his picture, she stated, I know him. He's FBI. Number four, I received a telephone call that stated, it was a white man, said I need a rat for my brain control devices. All this is on my website, justiceforallcitizens.com. Number five, the Department of Criminal Investigation in Frankfort, I believe, Mr. Wolf stated, I know about your dealings with the LMPD, and we are not going to get involved in it, and if you call here one more time, I'll cut him off before he can continue to threaten me. I contacted the mayor's office to make an appointment and Pat Miller or Pam Miller stated, you can't meet with him because you met with David James and he has a big foul on you. For the record, I have never met with David James. Number seven, some others involved and tried to frame me, violating my rights and cover-up include Tim Melton and David Millay of Louisville Gas and Electric, Malone Staffing, the Jefferson County Attorney, again, the Jefferson County Attorney, he's not gonna sue me, because he gave me evidence against him, the US Postal Service, LMPD, FBI, and PNC Bank. I have never, ever had an account with PNC Bank. However, for nine years, I have received statements for three Social Security accounts. I filed a complaint against PNC with the controller of concurrency and the Kentucky Attorney General's Office. PNC lied to the controller, stating they stopped the statements in 2025, and I filed a second complaint. The Kentucky Attorney General's Office stated PNC would not respond and advised me to get an attorney. Number eight. My computer was hacked and Microsoft flashed on my screen and gave a name, tech number, and telephone number. When I called the number, a white man stated... But at any rate, the last one I want to mention is LMPD has confessed to the murder of Elizabeth Elliott. Yes, they confessed to the murder of Elizabeth Elliott, LMPD. They can't sue me. Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you, ma'am.

And I have many other pieces of evidence that are on my website, justiceforallcitizens.com. Thank you, Ms. Marshall. They gave me videos, ideas, all of that. Ms. Marshall, thank you. You're welcome. Again, justiceforallcitizens.com.

Thank you, Ms. Marshall.

You're welcome.

Charles Morrison.

Hello, thank you for letting me speak tonight. My name is Chuck Morrison, born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, retired Navy, retired Federal Aviation Administration. I'm here to ask you to support, once again, like Mary, to sign the plant-based treaty. Just my own personal story. About 10 years ago, like many of us, as we get older, we can't do the same exercise we used to do, and if we eat, we slowly start to eat the same way we have, we slowly start getting weight. So I looked for different ways, and I found plant-based options, and I found a support group here, and I started it, and it's really helped my health personally, More importantly, I was able to meet many people here in Louisville who had heart issues, diabetes, cancer. They all came off their medications amazingly by changing their diet drastically to a plant-based diet and oil-free, which is very important for heart issues. I believe that this plant-based treaty is the first step for Louisville to be more proactive, to support the community, to allow people to have more options to eat more healthy. So my personal experience with the group, people here in Louisville, And just so happens today's Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former governor of California, is 79 years old today. Many of you might know he was a bodybuilder, he ate all meat, and he had major heart issues and has had a couple major surgeries, and now he's in the movie Game Changers. He wholly supports a plant-based diet for health also. As I traveled around many times, there's just other communities that are much further ahead than Louisville for supporting the community. The biggest challenge is when you decide to make this change for your health. is to be able to still go out to restaurants with your family and friends and socialize, because many of us, when we started this, we had to completely stop eating at all restaurants and only eat inside what we cooked. But that doesn't need to be that way. And it's slowly changing, but it needs more help from the government level. to support that because you can go to some communities and there's many more options. I was even in Oaxaca, Mexico, and I was amazed there's two or three restaurants with incredibly good food that was all plant-based, oil-free, and totally healthy. And the key is this saves people's lives. These are real people here in our own community that their lives have been saved. They've come off all their medications. and they've totally changed it. So I ask you to support the plant-based treaty and take a step towards supporting community. Thank you for your time.

Nicholas King.

Good evening. I realize time is limited and valuable, and that's the reason I'm here speaking, because I know how it feels when it is devalued. I've been an employee of Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation for almost 22 years. We worked hard to get a new contract, and it was great for most of my coworkers because our wages had been stagnant for so long. But sadly, I slipped through the cracks. When it went into effect about six to eight months ago, instead of being put into the wage scale as a topped-out senior employee with more than two decades of experience and service, I was entered as a six-year employee and given the corresponding wage and retro pay of someone that's only been with Parks for six years, even after I was assured verbally during negotiations that anyone with as many years of uninterrupted service as I had would surely be at the top of the wage scale. When I saw my first biweekly check in retro pay under the new contract, that was not true. So I started asking questions to see what happened. The way this occurred was I worked in the golf division my first 15 years as a park worker two, then a golf worker, which is just a park worker two with a pesticide license. Currently, most of the workers in golf today are park worker twos. I could be forcibly transferred back tomorrow and be expected to perform the same duties I have for the last 21 years in both divisions. During the last admin when some metro departments were shut down like YDS, I moved over to the maintenance side doing essentially the same work I had been doing in golf. But that's the excuse that was used to pay me differently than everyone else. The positions are so similar that I could show you the job description of a park worker two in maintenance and a golf worker in golf. and you wouldn't know which job title you were looking at. A coworker even asked me if they had warned me this could happen before I moved, and I told them no because this wage scale simply didn't exist at that time, so it would be impossible to foresee. I followed the chain of command and grieved it, and even asked for a MOU, or one-time position adjustment, to grandfather me in, which has been done for other situations that needed correction in the past, but I was denied at every step for some reason. It's resulted in me being paid dollars on the hour less than other employees with significantly less seniority and experience. It's not right, it's not fair, and I feel it should be corrected to reflect and compensate me properly for my total years of service and work that I've been responsible for throughout the course of my employment with Louisville Metro. As it is, they ignore more than three-fourths of my career as if it didn't even happen. It's costing me a few hundred dollars each month and negatively affecting me and my family's life and will continue to do so even into my retirement years unless we can correct it now. That said, I appreciate and value the time that you've given me to speak tonight and I've prepared an info pack for each of you with the finer details of my situation and hope that we can work together with you, Metro Parks, and my union to get this resolved as soon as possible. Thank you.

Deborah O'Gorman.

Good evening. I gave the young lady at the front of the paper with a letter saying that when I was seeing all the apartment buildings, they were doing petitions. I've been coming to you all about the downtown apartment complexes. You know, I don't know if y'all, we got 2,600 apartments going up and six new hotels. I get the conventions every month and I pass them out. This is the month of July. We had 389,000 people here. This month we got the Kentucky Derby, about 800,000 people there. We got six new hotels going up. The people are bored. Board. Forestry Live. David Kors bought the Forestry Live, bought the gallery for $1. I was there when David Armstrong did all that. Nothing's open. It's D-E-A-D. We're not Metro. We're downtown. This is articles. Anybody remember First Link? Bruce died, and they closed it up about 2016. Kroger's right there on South 2nd Street. They closed up that because they had a San Antonio Inn kept coming across the street. My dad was a cop in the West End. Broadway roller rink down the West End. The girls used to go across the street and do naughty things, so they didn't open up. I have talked, and I've got petitions going. Aldi says they're willing to come downtown. Kroger's on Ormsby Avenue is ready to come back. We got 2,600 apartments. You got 300 apartments going across the street with $3 million at the old sheriff building. And you got 300 dormitories on Broadway, JCC. And I've talked to the headquarters. I'm a disabled woman on disability. I run a nonprofit, 29 years. I've gotten two laws passed in Kentucky. Downtown Louisville isn't growing rapidly, so why doesn't it have a grocery store from 2019? Now, Tark Bus did not get the money. Barry Barker is up in heaven yelling, Armstrong up in heaven. Mayor Sloan, when he was the mayor, we had selling the houses 15,000. My daddy bought four of them on Garvin Place. and that's what we need to do in Louisville. McCrory's, let's auction it off and make it a store. These people are sending letters to WDRB, we're tired of coming to Louisville, they can't keep going to get a baseball bat, they're bored. That money goes to Frankfort and comes back and it pays people's checks and pays this and pays that. We need Metro alive. We're not alive. We're D-E-A-D. Now, I've got petitions going over everywhere. The Omni was supposed to open a grocery store there, and it says here they decide not to. It's an article. I didn't write it. These are sent for help. Downtown Louisville, growing rapidly. So why doesn't it have a store? Krogers did not sign a new lease on 2nd Street. This is history. Let's do something together. I've got the connections. Have a good day.

Lisa Trustee.

Good evening. My name is Lisa Trustee. I work at the Louisville Zoo and have been employed with Louisville Metro for 31 years. In my current position, I am in step six. of the pay scale rather than step 12. This is due because I was a keeper for 22 years and then became the registrar for the zoo. I'd like to speak about something that is fundamentally a question of fairness. Every year an employee dedicates to this organization has value. Those years represent experience, knowledge, loyalty, and a commitment to serving this community. They are not just numbers. on a payroll spreadsheet. They are years of showing up, solving problems, mentoring coworkers, and helping the organization succeed. When employees give years of their lives to an employer, it is only fair that those years are recognized and compensated appropriately. By refusing to include language in our contracts that protect employees' years of service, the employer isn't creating fairness or fiscal responsibility. They're creating savings at the expense of the very people who have earned that recognition. Let's be honest about what that means. The money isn't being saved because the work disappears. It's being saved because the employees are being denied compensation they have earned through their service. Calling it a cost saving measure doesn't change reality. If the organization's budget is balanced by withholding fair compensation from long-serving employees, then those savings come directly from the pockets of the workforce. That's not efficiency. That's shifting the financial burden onto the employees who have already invested the most. Our contracts should reflect our shared values. If we value experience, then our contracts should prove it. If we say we respect employees, then our actions should match those words. This isn't about asking for special treatment. It's about ensuring that employees receive the recognition and compensation they've earned through years of dedicated service. Fairness isn't just something that we talk about when it's convenient. It's something we demonstrate through the choices we make and the agreements we sign. I urge everyone on the council to stand with us in recognizing years of service. Don't balance the budget by asking dedicated employees to observe the cost. A fair contract should protect the people whose hard work has made the organization what it is. Thank you all for your time.

President Exum, that concludes the addresses to council.

Next, we have approval of the council minutes for the regular meeting of June 25th, 2026. Are there any corrections or deletions? Motion. We have a motion and a second. The minutes have been properly moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any in opposition? Hearing no opposition, the minutes are approved as written. Next, we have approval of the following committee minutes, all in 2026. The Regular Committee of the Whole, June 25th. Planning and Zoning, June 21st. Labor and Economic Development, June 21st. Public Works, June 21st. Government Oversight, Audit, and Appointments, June 21st. July 21st on those. Madam Clerk? Those Junes are all to be changed to July, okay? The regular equity, community affairs, housing, health, and education, July 22nd. The regular appropriations, July 22nd. The regular public safety, July 22nd. The regular parks and sustainability, July 23rd. The regular budget, July 23rd. Are there any corrections or deletions?

Motion.

Second. Item's proper before us. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Any in opposition?

Hearing no opposition, the minutes are approved as written.

Madam Clerk, do we have any communications to the council?

Yes, sir, we do.

Please read those into the record.

Dear President Ackerson, I'm appointing the following to the Tax Appeals Board. Dominique Hill, new reappointment, term expires August 31st, 2027. Daryl Skrein, reappointment, term expires August 31st, 2027. This is to be read in the record. Metro Council approval of these appointments is not required. Sincerely, Craig Greenberg, Mayor. Dear President Ackerson, in accordance with the ordinance, I am appointing the following to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board. Sarah Brady, no appointment. Term expires December 31st, 2028. Your prompt action is most appreciated. Sincerely, Craig Greenberg, Mayor. Dear President Ackerson, in accordance with the Police Merit Board, ordinance i'm appointing the following maria marina gonzalez new appointment term expires june 1st 2028 matthew beck new appointment term expires june 1st 2029 your prompt action on these appointments is most appreciated sincerely craig greenberg mayor dear president ackerson in accordance with the air pollution control district ordinance i am reappointing record blair term expires june 30th 2029 your prompt action on this reappointment is most appreciated sincerely craig greenberg mayor in accordance with the ordinance i'm appointing and reappointing the following to the greater louisville lodging management district board david green new appointment term expires may 1st 2027 jamie camposano reappointment term expires may 1st 2029 leslie schaefer reappointment term expires may 1st 2029 andrew blyden reappointment makes term expires may 1st 2029 your prompt action on these appointments and reappointments is most appreciated sincerely craig greenberg mayor dear president ackerson in accordance with the board of zoning adjustment ordinance i am reappointing the following sharon bond term expires june 30th 2029 marilyn lewis term expires june 30th 2029 your prompt action on these three appointments is most appreciated sincerely craig greenberg mayor Dear President Ackerson, in accordance with the Waste Management District 109 ordinance, I am reappointing the following. Brian Funk, term expires June 22nd, 2028. Kevin Gibson, term expires June 22nd, 2028. Your prompt action on these reappointments is most appreciated. Sincerely, Craig Greenberg, Mayor. Dear President Ackerson, in accordance with the Riverport Authority Board ordinance, I am appointing the following. Natarica Thibodeau, new appointment term expires July 31st, 2027. Your prompt action on this appointment is most appreciated. Sincerely, Craig Greenberg, Mayor. Dear President Ackerson, in accordance with the Anti-Displacement Commission ordinance, I am reappointing the following. Michelle Gardner, term expires June 20th, 2029. Terrence Elliott, term expires June 26th, 2029. Your prompt action on these three appointments is most appreciated. Sincerely, Craig Greenberg, Mayor. Read in full.

Those appointments need council approval before to the Government Oversight and Audits Committee. The next order of business will be the consent calendar. The consent calendar comprises items 22 through 32. Are there any corrections or deletions? Madam Clerk, a second reading of those items.

The following legislation is for Appropriations Committee, item 22, an ordinance appropriating $10,000 from District Read Neighborhood Development Funds to Metro Parks to fund the GEMS, not JLS, programs to be held June 23rd to August 4th, 2026 at the South Louisville Community Center. Item 23, an ordinance appropriating $10,000 from the District 13 Neighborhood Development Funds through the Office of Management and Budget to the Faraday Affair Community United Corporate for sponsorship of the 2026 Faraday Affair to be held October 1 through the 3rd, 2026. Item 24, an ordinance appropriating $25,000 from the District 10 neighborhood development funds to lower metro parks for costs associated with the following events, Camp Taylor Elementary Park, Back to School Bash in July 2026, District 10 Community Day at the Lower Tennis Center, September 26, 2026, the second annual horse tournament at Camp Taylor Park, November 2026, and the second annual Snap Fest in Joe Creason Park in June 2027. Item 25, an ordinance appropriating $9,922 from District 6 Neighborhood Development Funds to Metro Parks for production costs associated with the 2026 Jason Central Park to be held August 23, 2026. The following legislation was formed from Equity Community Affairs, Housing, Health, and Education Committee. Item 26, a resolution on Mitzi McCauley-Wilson by naming the corner of 12th Street and Jefferson Street is Mrs. McCauley Wilson Way in her honor. Item 27, a resolution to honor Ms. Julia Rodriguez by naming the corner of Duncan Street and North 36th Street as Julia Rodriguez Way in his honor. The following legislation was formed from the Government Oversight and Appointments Committee. Item 28, an ordinance of the Louisville-Justin County Metro Council to approve the annexation by the City of Prospect of a tract of land SITUATED PROXIMATELY EAST OF HARRIS CREEK, WEST OF TIMBER RIDGE DRIVE, NORTH OF U.S. HIGHWAY 42 AND SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER TO THE BUNDARY OF SAID CITY BUT NOT TO THE BUNDARY OF THE FORMER CITY OF LOUIS AND BEING AN UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE FORMER COUNTY OF JEFFERSON. The following legislation was forwarded from Labor Economic Development Committee, item 29, a resolution authorizing the mayor to accept $25,000 from the National League of City Institute as part of the building economic relations and communities programs to be administered by the Office of Social Services. The following legislation was forwarded from Parks and Sustainability Committee, item 30, a resolution determining $2,000 2.966 acres of outer creek port located in Meade County, Kentucky, is shown on exhibit A attached here to and owned by Louisville-Jepson County Metro Government. The governmental successor of the City of Louisville is no longer needed and no longer practiced for the governmental purpose in authorizing its transfer to Meade County. The following legislation will be forwarded from the Planning and Zoning Committee. Item 31, a resolution nominating a portion of Chamberlain which runs from I-71 to Mid-Springs Branch Road to be designated as a scientific order and requested that the Planning Commission to review such nomination. Item 32, a resolution determining real property located at 207 North English Station Road and Suburbs and not needed for governmental purposes of Metro government authorizing its transfer. Read in full.

all right uh can we get a motion in a second all right the consent counter has been probably moved and seconded uh madam clerk open the roll call vote it's open well i don't have it on mine did you open you guys have it on yours all right

Council Member Leninger?

Yes.

Council Member Parrish-Wright?

Yes.

Voting's closing. President Eckerson, you have 24 yes votes.

The consent calendar passes. The next item of business will be old business. Madam Clerk, a reading of item 33.

Item 33, an ordinance relating to the zone of properties located at 603 and 603R Mount Holly Road, contained at approximately 7.9 acres and being in Louisville Metro. Case number 26, zone 0035. Read in full. Second.

On this property before us, Councilman Owen, this came out of your committee. You've got the floor, sir.

Thank you, President Ackerson. This is an ordinance changing the zoning from R4 to R5 on Mount Holly Road. It's 7.9 acres. There are a couple of structures there that will be demolished, and then it will be subdivided into about 40 parcels. The developer of this is Habitat for Humanity. It will be single-family houses, if I'm remembering correctly, and it is in District 13, so Councilman Sime might want to weigh in on this one. Councilman Sime.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Chair Owen. As Chair Owen said, we're going to get 40 single-family homes for people to be able to purchase and have... Generational wealth, finally. It's not an apartment building, and that I am happy about. So I thank you, and I ask for your support.

All right, let me see. I've got no one in my queue. So Madam Clerk, let's open the roll.

Vote is open. Councilmember Leninger?

Yes.

Councilmember Parrish-Wright? Yes. Councilmember Herndon? Yes. Phone is closing. President Erskine, you have 25 yes votes.

The ordinance is adopted. Madam Clerk, a reading of item 34, please.

Item 34, an ordinance establishing a development area pursuant to provisions of KRS 65.7041 through 65.7083 to be known as the Landmark Building Development Area Designating Metro Development Authority Incorporated as an agency adopting the development plan approving entering into a local participation agreement authorizing the payment of the released amount pursuant to the terms and the conditions of a local participation agreement requiring the submissions of regular reports to Louisville-Jefferson County Metro government and authorizing the execution and delivery of any other documents and the taking of any other actions necessary to accomplish the purpose authorized by this ordinance. Read in full.

I understand, thank you. All right, Ms. Plath, before us, Councilman Marina Weber, this came out of your committee. You have the floor.

Thank you, sir. This is establishing a 20-year lease to convert a property that has been fully vacant since 2017 into an active hotel. It's $74 million being invested by the private investor. It's in Councilman Herndon's district. Do you want to speak to this at all?

Yeah, briefly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Mr. President. Yeah, this is the landmark building that you may recognize, built in 1850-something, I believe. It's a beautiful building. It is the one final missing tooth in that area, located exactly between the current big Marriott, the Omni, the JW Marriott proposed at 4th, and it's in between those. It will fill in that space and reconfigure a beautiful old historic building, the original post office, and I ask for your support.

Councilman Owen, you're next in my queue.

Thank you, President Ackerson. I will be abstaining from the vote here. The TIF resolution was in part organized by colleagues of mine at One Louisville, working a completely different part of One Louisville than I do, but just out of an abundance of caution, I figured I should probably abstain from this vote. Thank you.

All right, seeing no one else in my queue, this is... Mr. President, I would like to speak to this item. Go ahead.

yes uh this is before us on old business because i was a no vote in committee i will be a no vote again tonight uh the fact of the matter is that we are always told every time that we have development downtown that it just does not pencil without public support for private enterprise. And I can't blame any of the developers when they say that their projects do not pencil without us assigning our tax dollars to their projects, because we give our tax dollars every time they say it. They frankly, they've they would be fools not to tell us that they need the money and because we're going to give it I am once again disappointed that we are going to be giving away our tax base for hotel development rather than housing. This does not meet the needs of our city, in my opinion, does not meet the needs for us with our assigning of our tax valuation back to a private entity. And so I will be voting it.

See no one else in my queue. This is an ordinance that requires a roll call vote. Madam Clerk, open the roll.

Voting's open. Council Member Parrish-Wright. No. Council Member Leninger.

No.

Council Member Owen. Okay, I see it. Council Member Best. Council Member Bratcher? Yes. Voting's closing. President Erickson, you have 21 yes votes, two no, and one abstention.

The ordinance is adopted. Madam Clerk, a reading of item 35.

Item 35, a resolution approving the granting of the local assistance for RC Bigelow in corporate and subsequent assignees are approved affiliates thereof pursuant to KRS Chapter 154, Subchapter 32, written in full.

I'm Mr. Robert Forrest, Council Member Reno-Weber. This came out of your committee. You have the floor.

It did. This is council approval in support of state KBI incentives to a great corporate local citizen, RC Bigelow. They make tea. And they are in Councilman Kramer's district, so I'm going to slowly tee him up to speak to his support of this.

Thank you. So this came out of committee, I believe, with full support. Bigelow Tea, many of us have probably drank it, not even necessarily realizing we were drinking it. A lot of restaurants in town have contracts with them. They have been processing tea in the industrial park for a bunch of years now. They are at a position that it's time for them to grow, and they were trying to figure out if they wanted to grow here or at one of their other locations. They really like the way things are going here. They reached out to the state, got some inducements, and the city of Louisville is participating in that. So it's a great business. They're adding employees. Someone asked in committee the other day what the average salary was on the line, and I can't remember what the answer was. It was like 21 or $23 an hour, so these are not low-paying jobs. This is a company that has a strong record of being a good corporate citizen, and this is an opportunity for us to get them to grow here, those of us who understand business. like limited side of understanding business. A lot of you all understand it better than I do. But when you look at business, it's always better to grow a business that's already here than it is to try and reach out and grab a new one because that's always, always more difficult. So keeping Bigelow here, having them grow here, especially with the kind of business that it is, the good corporate partners that they are, just makes a lot of sense. So that's a lot to say. Please support this resolution. I've got no one in my queue.

Councilman Owen. Thank you, President Ackerson. I think this was unanimous coming out of committee, and I asked it to be moved from consent to old business so I could abstain on this one as well. These incentives were, again, worked on by some of my colleagues at One Louisville and thought I should abstain just out of abundance of caution. Thank you.

Understood. No one else in my queue. This is a resolution that would normally require a voice vote, however, with the need for the abstention. Madam Clerk, open the roll.

Council member Paris, right?

Yes. Council member Leninger.

Yes.

Voting's closing. President X, we have 24 yes votes, one abstention.

The resolution is adopted. Madam Clerk, a reading of item number 36.

Item 36, an ordinance authorizing Louisville Metro government to renew the gas franchise with Louisville Gas and Electric Company and sign a gas franchise agreement. Read in full. Motion.

Item is brought before us. Councilman Hudson, this came out of your committee. You've got the floor, sir.

Thank you, Mr. President. Yeah, this is a complicated issue that I want to thank the county attorney's office for breaking down to a fifth grade level so that I could understand it. And I will try to explain it as such. Kentucky Constitution requires public utilities to obtain a consent from the city before they can use the city rights away and authorizes the city to issue a franchise to those public utilities. And this is a five-year renewal of the current franchise. It's a 20-year franchise, renewable every five years. It is for LG&E Gas and Louisville Metro to have a franchise agreement. The city does not exercise their right to charge and recover that franchise fee, and that is the plan going forward. It came to old business because there were some present votes coming out of committee. I would encourage your support for this. Thank you.

Councilman Owen, you're first in my queue.

Yeah, I just had a quick question. I'll direct it to you, but maybe the county attorney. My understanding is if we did charge a fee, that it would be paid by the customers and not by the company itself. And I guess in some ways, they would pass it through to us anyway. But can you talk about that as to whether there's a statutory element there that requires, how that would be paid if we decided to charge it?

I'll defer to the county attorney.

Yes, so under Kentucky law, a gas utility that's regulated by the Public Service Commission is entitled to recover any and all reasonable and prudent costs that goes into the delivery of service of gas to customers. So a franchise fee would be considered a reasonable and prudent fee. for the delivery of gas to customers. So, LG&E, as with any other gas utility companies that are regulated by the PSC, are entitled to recover that cost through a line item on customer's bills. within Louisville Metro because it's very unique in that it has 83 home rule incorporated suburban cities. The Public Service Commission in 2016 in a litigation involving Louisville Metro and LG&E Gas ruled that a gas utility like LG&E Gas could only recover those franchise fees from the urban service district and unincorporated areas within Louisville Metro's jurisdiction. So the incorporated suburban cities would not be, those customers that reside, those LG&E gas customers that reside in the suburban cities would not see that line item. should Louisville Metro impose the recovery of those fees.

And Mr. County Attorney, you need to state your name for the record also.

I apologize. My name is Quan Nguyen with the County Attorney's Office.

Councilor Kramer. Thank you, Mr. President. It was a very odd decision. We had much discussion. about the fact that LG&E is operating in our rights of way, which we have every reason and right to be able to charge a fee for. The debate that made its way to the Public Service Commission and the Public Service Commission's ultimate decision, the debate was that we are not charging a franchise fee that the end user, is benefiting from, we're saying you're in our right of way, regardless of where that gas is going, you're in our right of way. And so we have every reason to expect payment for you to be in our right of way, a rent if you will. LG&E was able to convince the Public Service Commission because the gas was passing through our right of way into some other end user's possession that we couldn't charge that other end user. Our argument was we don't care where the gas is going, it's going through our right of way. The Public Service Commission did not see it our way and said the only way to do this is to put a disclaimer at the end user, and the only end user we can impact are those within our specific jurisdiction. I wish I could give you a better, different answer. I just will tell you that this was a prolonged fight, debate, however you want to define that, and we took it all the way to the Public Service Commission where we lost. I wish there had been a different outcome. And I wouldn't be opposed to re-adjudicating it. I mean, it's 10 years later. I don't know, maybe it's a different Public Service Commission. Maybe we could get a different response. I'm not opposed to doing this tonight because it's, I mean, it's what we did because it is the only reasonable solution. The problem is if we do this tonight, we're locked in for however many years, which prevents us the opportunity to go back to the Public Service Commission and to seek a different answer. But if we don't think we're gonna get a different answer anyway, there's no reason to.

Sorry, can I? I won't be here, but I think it's an interesting conversation to have again, because you're right, there will be a different Public Service Commission, there is now in place, and so I thought it was a strange decision when it was explained by the county attorney, and you confirmed that it was indeed a very strange decision. So I'm not sure what the right answer is, but I think it's worth a conversation, thanks.

And just so I'm clear, end result is we could charge the franchise fee, but then the citizens of Louisville utilizing that gas would pay that fee, and thus it'd be the equivalent of a tax by this body upon them, a tax that we have chosen not to take advantage of. Correct or incorrect?

If I may, your characterization is, I think, sufficient. The only... struggle there, the reason that's problematic is you have 80-something home rural cities who all 80 of them, well, I can't say. 16 years ago or 10 years ago when this was discussed in 2016, overwhelmingly the suburban cities all said that they had no intention of increasing the franchise. And so what would happen is those of us who live in unincorporated areas of Jefferson County or those who lived in the urban service district, we would see our rates go up and no one else would. And the gas was moving through our right of way. This wasn't about the end user. This was about it's in our right of way. And so the feeling was it was inherently unfair that those of us who live in unincorporated areas would have to pay a tax that other people didn't have to pay.

And again, just trying to keep it simple for anyone out there. End result is this, is Louisville Metro could enforce this fee. Yes, sir. But it would be the equivalent of putting a tax on those in the unincorporated Jefferson County and the Urban Service District. Metro Louisville has chosen to not implement that tax.

Yes, sir.

That was a decision 10 years ago. I've got no one else in my queue. This is an ordinance that requires a roll call vote. Madam Clerk.

Mr. President, I'd like to speak to this item.

All right. Mr. Leninger, you've got it.

Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, I think that we should actually hold this for the chance for us to investigate whether or not we would be able to reverse that decision with the Public Service Commission. But I also, if it comes to a vote tonight, we'll be voting no. I think that LG&E is a notoriously poor customer service agency for the city of Louisville. I think that we don't get good value for the service that our citizens are paying to that legal entity, which many people are confused and believe that it is somehow related to the city of Louisville, like the Louisville Water Company, because Louisville is in the name. We, of course, here on the Metro Council know that that's not the case. LG&E is a wholly owned subsidiary of a corporation headquartered in Pennsylvania, traded on Wall Street, has no relationship to the city of Louisville other than the money that is extracted from the people of Louisville. I'm a big believer in public power, something that we have a strong to explore under state law. And so I will be voting no tonight if it comes to the body, but I'll go ahead and make the motion that we hold this item and see if we can get a different answer from PSC. And I don't know if we need to follow that motion without making it.

I believe there's been a motion made. Is there a second? Second. Second. Okay. We're going to shift to the debate of the motion. Right now, Council Member Reno-Weber, you're first in my queue. I presume you're speaking to this. Yes, sir. You've got the floor.

I was present in committee because I did not have the context that Councilman Kramer provided about the history of this, and I am very grateful for that and grateful for the work of the county attorney in clarifying that. This is not a good arrangement for us. It is not a good arrangement for us, and we continue to have many, many instances in which an entity that is not headquartered here, however, we are their most profitable business unit. You go into their corporate filings, we are absolutely the place where they are taking the most money to an entity that is not here and is not acting in our long-term interests. If any of you guys read the super fascinating thing that came in your last electric bill, which I usually don't, but it happened at this moment I did, and it said, this is why we don't bother to bury power lines, because it's too expensive for us as a corporate entity, and so we're willing to continue to overcharge you and not make the long-term investments that we should, because it's inconvenient for our corporate earnings report. It's basically what it said in the newsletter. So the idea that we could actually go back to the PSC with a different configuration of the PSC and say this arrangement is not right. But it was. That is very appealing to me. And at the very least, I'd like to take the time to figure out whether or not that's something that we could and should do.

I'm sorry, Mr. President. This is Sonya Harvard, the clerk. Per our rules, we cannot debate the motion to postpone.

Was it to postpone or was it to send back to committee? Can someone clarify what the motion was?

I thought that he wanted to table it. So hold.

Okay. All right. So the motion to hold pursuant to our clerk is not debatable. So what we've got right now is we've got a motion to hold before us. And so Madam Clerk, let's make a roll call on that. Can I get a point of order?

What's that? Is there any consequence of timing here?

There is. There is. The current renewal period ends end of August. So in terms of timing, In order to extend or not to extend, a decision would need to be made by the end of August. What would happen if we did nothing?

Then.

Mr. President. Mr. President.

If I may, this question was asked in committee. What would happen if we don't approve it? And the answer from county attorney at that point was gas service would cease because there's no franchise in place.

I think what she said is I don't feel comfortable being on the spot with this right now. I'm not going to make this thing on the fly. It's possible that. I think she did not say definitively.

Fair point. It is possible.

Councilman Cramer, do you care to clarify?

Well, again, I'm not a county attorney. I don't know what the rules stipulate. But if the agreement runs out, as I understand it, then we could let this out for, we could do an RFP. We could let this out for bid. And we could ask if any other gas company wants to come in under this franchise or under a franchise agreement that we came up with. and put that out. When we contemplated that 16 years ago, or 10 years ago, it was in 2016. When we contemplated this 10 years ago, we understood that was not a reasonable concern. We knew that we were not as a city gonna put this out for bid because that's not gonna happen. The question really was between us and LG&E what the fee was gonna be. Up until that point, and again, way more history than maybe, well, I don't know. This history is probably actually in context. Up until a decision by the previous mayor, LG&E wrote Louisville a check every year for the franchise agreement. They just wrote a check. The mayor decided that the franchise fee had been left alone for too long and that LG&E wasn't paying enough. And he nearly, I don't want to use numbers because I'm going to get that wrong, but it was a sizable jump. It wasn't incremental. It was a sizable increase. When he proposed such a sizable increase, LG&E balked. They said, no way, that's way too big of an increase, we're not gonna do that. And the answer was, it's a franchise agreement, we can force it. When that decision was made, LG&E said, fine, if you wanna raise it that much, we're putting it on the bill. We argued first that we shouldn't raise it that much. That's part of the reason I was involved so deeply in this is because the rate increase was not at all proportionate with what it should have been. I mean, granted, we hadn't raised it in a while, but that's not LG&E's fault, right? That was the city just didn't do it. So to come in with this astronomical rate jump wasn't fair. And I agreed with LG&E it wasn't fair. But... I also understood that they were paying us a flat fee and they could have continued to pay us a flat fee. The question was, what was a fair flat fee? LG&E was not interested in discussing a fair flat fee, nor was the mayor, because the mayor was convinced we could get this much money by increasing the franchise fee, and LG&E was convinced that that would be such a public outrage that there's no way that would ever go forward, and so they fought back. Look, I get it. I mean, if I was their attorney, I'd probably... would have made the same arguments but that's where this ended up it ended up with lg e saying fine you raise it but when you do we're passing on to your consumers and when we pass on your consumers we're going to make it clear that we're passing it on only to the folks in certain parts of the community that was so distasteful that we ended up where we are now so the argument that that somehow this is like, we have to make this decision tonight. And I apologize that I'm having this conversation on the floor instead of two weeks ago, right, in committee. I was a little bit shocked when I saw it before tonight. I wasn't expecting this. I apologize. I should have followed the committee work more closely. And I would have been okay until the conversation started. And again, I'm not... Blame the county attorney, but I cannot imagine the county attorney making an argument that LG&E would cut off the gas. Clearly, they have that. I mean, they're in a contract right now. When the contract runs out, right, they can choose. But we also can choose. We can put it out for bid. Again, I don't think any reasonable person thinks we're going to put out for bid gas lines in Louisville. But certainly, the conversation about a fair franchise fee can be had, I suspect, and the reason I would probably vote yes if we don't table it. The consequence is gonna be if we don't do something, then we're gonna end up with that same unfair I don't want that. I'd rather vote to extend it than have something unfair come out of it.

Mr. President. What you're really saying, sir, is this, is if we don't extend it and we pick the fight and go back to the Public Service Commission, the people of the Urban Service District and the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County We'll pay much higher rates until we're able to resolve this issue before.

No, because LG&E can't charge us. The franchise has to be agreed upon. What this does is it extends the agreed upon franchise. If we don't do this tonight, there will not be a franchise agreement in place. and LG&E will either be able to choose to continue to operate without a franchise agreement, Louisville would be able to then engage in an opportunity to get a different franchise agreement, or we could talk to each other about what's reasonable.

What's the drop-dead date? Mr. President, just to be clear, approving this tonight does not preclude us from taking a different action during that five years. With a 60-day notice, we can visit implementing the franchise fee.

That's correct. Under the current franchise agreement, at any point in time, if Metro decides to, if it wanted to, recover that fee, under the current construct of the PSC ruling that Metro Council could do that. All it takes is 60 days notice for LG&E to reconfigure its billing system to include that as a line item on customers' bills who reside in the Urban Service District and the unincorporated areas.

But I think that's slightly different than renegotiating the franchise agreement. We could charge the fee with a 60 days notice, but that's not the same thing as renegotiating. That's not what Kevin's talking about. What he's talking about is renegotiating the whole franchise agreement. We could do the fee, and that would have that impact. But renegotiating the agreement is different, and it is not subject to a 60 day notice.

But what's on the floor right now is a motion to postpone. That's correct. I'm just making clear that I don't see the urgency to postpone. because we still have the option with a 60-day notice.

Point of clarification, then.

We're getting ready to call the roll, sir. Thank you. Madam Clerk, we're going to call the roll on the issue of whether to hold this. Is that correct? Postpone it? So this is a motion to table and postpone indefinitely. A yes vote will table and postpone this, a no vote will keep this on the floor and moving. Madam Clerk, open the roll.

Council Member Parrish-Wright?

Yes. Wow.

Council Member Leninger? Yes. Voting's closing. President Exchip, 18 yes votes, seven no votes.

The motion to postpone to an indefinite date passes. Madam Clerk, reading by number 37.

Item 37, ordinance appropriating $18,000 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $11,000 from District 15, $7,000 from District 3, due to office of management and budget to friends of Nicole 5050 Mentoring Correlative Incorporate for costs associated with the Chris Wyandotte Career Readiness and Beautification Project.

Ready for motion? Motion.

Items probably before us, Councilman Joseph, this came out of your committee. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Mr. President. This sponsor was Councilwoman Chaplin, District 15, and I'd like to yield my time to her.

Thank you. As we were doing our last Bob program this past spring in the Wyandotte Oakdale neighborhood, we heard from a lot of people saying that there needed to be more activities for children. And we are partnering with 5050 Mentoring to offer after school programming for students And they've done a similar program in the past, but students will not only have something to do, but they'll also get paid for their time for doing projects throughout the community. So they'll be doing everything from reattaching gutters to mowing yards to painting fences. And so we're really excited to have this opportunity. It's gonna run the months of September and October. in the area in and around Wyandotte, Oakdale, Taylor, Berry, Jacobs neighborhood. So if you think around Churchill Downs. And I think the total ask here is $21,000. I'm very grateful for District 3 for so far giving $7,000 towards this initiative. And if anyone would like to chip in to help children in our community make it better, I would really appreciate it. I guess young people, not children, young people.

37. I've got no one in my queue. And now I do. Mr. President. Councilman Rui, you're first.

$1,000 from District 21.

Councilman Owen.

I'll do 500.

Did I hear Councilman Leninger chime in?

Yes, Mr. President. $1,000 from District 6, please.

Appears they are 500 short at the moment on the ask. Am I correct on that, Madam Clerk? Yes. OK. No one else in my queue? Councilwoman Bast. And that 500 brings the ask to a full amount. Can we get a motion to amend this? Second. All right. All those in favor of amending this with the new dollar amount, say aye.

Aye.

Well, thanks for coming. Any in opposition? Hearing no opposition, we now have the amended ordinance before us. Madam Clerk, open the roll. Voting's open.

Council Member Parrish-Wright?

Yes.

Council Member Linegar?

Yes.

Thank you. Voting's closing. Mr. President, you have 25 yes votes.

The ordinance is adopted. Madam Clerk, a reading of item number 38, please.

Item 38, an ordinance appropriating $15,000 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner, $10,000 from District 15 and $5,000 from District 10 to the Office of Management and Budget to the Ministries United of South Central Louisville, Incorporated for Salaries, Rent, Utilities, and Costs for the Jim King Senior Wellness Center. As amended, read in full.

Notices. Items brought before us. Councilman Joseph, this came out of your committee. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. This as well came from District 15 with Councilwoman Chappell, and I'd like to yield my time to her. Councilman Chappell.

Thank you all so very much. My heart is full after that last ask. That was helping the young children in my community. This one's helping our older folks in and around District 15 at the... Muscle Jim King Senior Wellness Center in Schnitzelburg. Even though it's in Schnitzelburg, it does serve many of the districts. It operates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to, I believe, 1 p.m., and it's really a wonderful place for seniors to gather. They have everything from chair volleyball to games and everything in between, craft room, yard sale, all sorts of things. I'm giving $10,000 because I do want to give credit to the late President of Metro Council Jim King, his wife has committed $10,000 to match my $10,000. So I'm very grateful to Debbie King and the King family for doing that. That still does not get us to where we need it to be. I'm grateful for District 10 for giving 5,000, but I am asking for other council members to contribute to this to help seniors in our community continue having friends and fellowship in their golden years. Thank you.

Councilman Winkle, you're first in my queue. 500 from 17, please.

Councilman Hudson. 1,000 from 23.

Councilman Reed. 500 from District 16, please. Councilman Rui.

1,000 from D21.

All right, I've got no one else in my queue at the moment. Mr. Chair, I'd like to do $1,000 from District 16. I'm sorry.

This is Sonia, the clerk. We are at our total.

OK, great. Alright, so we're at the total. What's up, sir? We're at the total. You can't give anymore. It's maxed. Alright, we've got a proposed amendment to the ordinance adding dollars to this. All is in favor. Motion, second.

Second.

Alright, we've got the motion to amend before us. All those in favor say aye. Any in opposition?

Aye.

We now have the amended ordinance before us. Madam Clerk, open the roll.

Council Member Parrish-Wright?

Yes.

Council Member Leninger?

Yes.

Voting's closing. Mr. President, you have 25 yes votes.

The ordinance is adopted. Madam Clerk, reading by number 39.

Item 39, an ordinance enacting a new chapter of Title 11, amending chapter 149 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinance, LMCO, relating to criminal activity, notices and in-person security in late-night business, amended by substitution, ready and full.

Item is probably before us. Councilman Simon, this came out of the Public Safety Committee. Your committee, you have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to toss this over to my vice chair, Tammy Hawkins, as she's the sponsor and been working on this diligently for a long time.

Councilman Hawkins.

Thank you. Today we're gonna be voting on an ordinance designed to improve public safety, strengthen security, and ensure equitable enforcement of our existing regulations. This is about protecting our neighborhoods, supporting responsible businesses, and addressing locations with repeated criminal activity. The goal is prevention and deterrence, not punishment. Responsible businesses should not have to compete with locations that repeatedly create public safety concerns for our neighborhoods. I wanna say thank you to my co-sponsor, Betsy Rui. I also wanna say thank you to so many of my colleagues that worked on this with me all the way to the end. I'm a firm believer that that's what building relationships is about. You know, it kind of saddens me. I've been working on this ordinance for nine months. Put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this. You know, we say that we want a safe Louisville. But do we? And I also want to say, some won't vote for it. They won't vote for this just because it's me. And I'm okay with that. We have a community that has been affected by gun violence, criminal activity that is out of control. I believe this is reasonable and a balanced approach. and I respectfully ask for your support and your vote today. Thank you.

Councilman Mulvey-Woolridge, you're first in my queue.

Thank you. I am going to have two amendments, but before I start with that, I would like to thank Councilman Hawkins for the last nine months' worth of work. I know it's been hard and difficult, so thank you for that. I've personally had a lot of phone calls and conversations with codes, with ABC, with with a lot of people in the community to have questions answered. Again, from my understanding and reading this, what's being proposed tonight is not creating a new process, but rather codifying a process that is already in place. This ordinance simply formalizes that the existing process in a metro code providing greater clarity and consistency. Likewise, the current standards and process for determining when a business is deemed a criminal nuisance remains unchanged from what was already in the ordinance. This ordinance does not alter that threshold. But again, I do have two amendments that I would like to make. The first one being, On page five, section one.

Countswoman Mulvey-Warage?

Yes.

This is Alice Lyon with the County Attorney's Office. Yes. Your amendments are floor amendments to the committee amendment by substitution, and that isn't before the body yet.

Then I'll hold.

Let's go ahead and take care of that. We have that proposed floor amendment, correct? Do you want to move, make a motion to amend by substitution? Okay.

I'm sorry, the clerk. I am unaware of, Alice, I thought we voted on the committee amendment by substitution in committee already.

Earlier tonight in committee of the whole, there was a discussion about oral floor amendments that Council Member Mulvey-Woolridge is ready to propose, but they're to the amendment by substitution.

I got you. Is that what she's talking about right now? Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much. I'm sorry, you all.

So, Alice, just so we're clear here, do we have the amended version presently before us? Are we looking to make a motion to get the amended substitution before us, and then the councilwoman can make amendments to that?

The second option. Someone needs to move to bring the committee amendment before us.

Can I make a point of order? I'm sorry. Again, to the clerk's point, I thought we voted on the amendment. I mean, I thought the ordinance before us is the amended by substitution already. I think that's what we passed out of committee. There's not a new amendment by substitution tonight. I mean, so the ordinance before us has already been amended by substitution. That's what we passed on Wednesday.

If I have added to confusion, I apologize. I trust what the clerk would say.

Yeah, and so then, Council Member Mulvey-Walrich's amendments would be in order just to the ordinance that's before us. That's my belief and understanding. There is no amendment by substitution to be offered tonight.

Okay. Can the clerk confirm?

That's my recollection and belief.

So can you confirm that that is the case? That is the case. We do have an amendment by substitution that was adopted, and now she is, unless they wrote it tonight, since Committee of the Whole, a whole new amendment by substitution, we are just adding the two other amendments she wants.

Okay. It's just a floor amendment. Yes.

Now we're back to Councilwoman, if you'd like to make your amendment. Thank you.

Motions. Page 5, Section 1, 149.02, under the definitions, the security services. I want to update this language to add. To add the reference to the current LMCO 124.01, which states that security officers are explicitly not considered law enforcement or public peace officers and do not possess general police detention or arrest powers, therefore to read, possessing authority to physically detain or eject persons from the business premises or as pursuant in LMCO 124.01.

All right, we've got that proposed amendment before us. I've got a number of people in my queue, but does anyone want to speak directly to this amendment, proposed amendment? Councilwoman McCraney.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I see that in writing?

I can... It's the bottom three sentences is what's being proposed.

Thank you. Anything else Councilman? Does anyone else? Have anything related to this proposed amendment? Seeing and hearing no one, the proposed amendment requires a voice vote. All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any in opposition? We have amended, accepted that amendment.

Okay. My other one is in the same section. This is under security provider to remove federal as training is unknown as a peace officer, therefore to read. Um, possessing authority to physical detain or eject persons from the business premises. Um, and also adding so long as current or prior services is in good standings. And I apologize. I did not give the reasoning for that at first, but wanted to add that section to ensure that the person was or is in good standing with the agency. So again, I'll read that again. Possessing, oh, sorry. Security provider, sorry. A person with prior commissioned law enforcement experience from any state or local jurisdiction occurring within five years prior to the date securing services are performed so long as current or prior services is in good standing.

All right, is there any debate on that proposed amendment? Seeing none and hearing none, the proposed amendment requires a voice vote. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any in opposition? We have now accepted that amendment. Any other amendments, madam?

No, sir.

Okay. We now have the amended version before us, the final amended version. And are you still in my queue on this? Okay. Councilman Owen, you're next in my queue.

I just wanted to say, I think in my time on council, which is now three and a half years, if a piece of legislation can mature, can improve, this piece has matured as much as any I've seen since I've been here. And I think that's a credit to a lot of people in this room, but it's a credit primarily to Councilwoman Hawkins. So I appreciate your work. Thank you.

Councilwoman Rui. Excuse me, thank you very much. So I'd like to thank Council Hawkins for her work on this. It's been nine months, I think it's time to birth a baby. We initially looked at our office, we had an incident at an event space and it turned violent out in the parking lot and we looked for a solution for how to provide security and I was very grateful to see what you were working on and that's why I'm on here as a co-sponsor on this. And I'd like to thank my fellow council members for the thoughtful discussion in caucus and in committee of the whole to add the new amendments to it to ensure that it is the best piece that we can make it. Thank you very much. Seeing no one else in my queue.

Hearing no one. Councilman Leninger.

Thank you, Mr. President. I also believe that Councilman Hawkins has greatly improved this piece of legislation since its initial introduction, and I would be inclined to vote for it. Unfortunately, due to the events on Bardstown Road with Atomic, one of the things that came out during the proceedings was the owner of Atomic said that an unnamed member of Louisville Metro government encourage them to open a bar in the West End so that West End patrons, and we all understand that West End patrons and these Black patrons, would no longer attend clubs and bars on Bardstown Road and they could go back to their neighborhood. I think that we have a process that is really open to bad action from political forces in the city that you know frankly are not as fully accountable to every neighborhood in the city as they should be and for that reason i just will not feel comfortable voting yes on this piece of legislation although i really think that That's of no fault of Councilwoman Hawkins, but I think has crafted a much better piece of legislation. I wish we had a better city to receive it. So I will be voting no on those matters.

Councilwoman Hawkins, you're next in my queue.

Thank you. I just wouldn't be mean. I think everybody that I have built relationships with on this council, they know that I'm pretty passionate. I'm passionate about everything that kind of goes on in this city that has to do with crime. But what really You know, it's so disheartening to me is it is not okay if there's white on black crying. But it's okay when it's black on black crying. Because that's what's going on in the West End right now. Right? And y'all know I just say the stuff that some people just won't say. But it's the truth. You know, we march all day long when it's white, a white person has affected a black person. But we turn the cheek, and it's okay. And we go on like normal business when a black person kills another black person. That's not okay. We got a lot going on in this city. And it's sad. Sometimes it's like, you know, we crabs in a barrel. There's no way we can have a better city unless we all work together collectively. You know, and I wasn't gonna speak on this. A lot of people on this council just has not been affected with gun violence or criminal activity. I watched my brother protect citizens, clubs, people, employees for years. And one day, somebody drove down Broadway and shot him in the head. And guess what? The next week or two, The club went on with normal business. I want to say don't wait until it hits your family member. Don't wait until it affects you. They can say that the data says that crime and violence is decreasing. But it's not. Every day across this city, we are losing people. And just because it has not affected you yet. And you can think that you're doing yourself justice. You're not hurting me not voting for this. You're hurting me. the community. And I'm okay with that. Because tomorrow morning, no matter how the votes go, guess what? I can wake up and look in the mirror and say, I tried. So I'm going to be okay.

Thank you. Councilwoman Shanklin, you're next in my queue. You have the floor, madam.

Thank you, Mr. President. With the permission of the sponsor, I would like to be a co-sponsor because some of these same things happen in my district. Thank you.

You'll be added as a co-sponsor, madam.

Thank you.

I've got no one else in my queue. Anybody? Yes, sir. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. First, I want to offer my condolences, however long-going a task it was, what happened to my colleague, Councilman Hawkins. I do know what it's like to be affected by gun violence. When I was running for office, my cousin was murdered in a club. He was shot in the head. He was executed. And so my heart absolutely goes out to you from a very

understanding and shared perspective uh and i just wanted to say that uh i i do understand because i do think that gun violence affects all of our families uh here in the city of louisville whether we realize that they're not thank you see no one else in my queue i would also remind my colleagues that uh our mayor was almost murdered uh running for office that first time and so we too and other members of the school are also aware of the gun violence out there Seeing no one else in my queue, this requires a roll call vote. Madam Clerk, open the roll.

Council Member Parrish-Wright?

Present.

Council Member Leninger? No.

Do we have a person in the queue? Okay. Council Member Parrish-Wright?

Present.

Voting's closing. President Eckerson, you have 20 yes votes, 2 no, and 3 present.

The ordinance is adopted. Madam Clerk, a reading of item number 40.

Item 40, an ordinance of the Louisville-Jeffson County Metro Government providing for the authorizing the insurance of certain general obligation bonds and notes of the Metro Government in one or more series to finance the cost of various public projects as described in Metro Government Capital Project Budgets, setting forth the terms and conditions on which the bonds and notes are to be issued and provided for a competitive advertised sale thereof. defining and providing for the rights of the holders and the bonds and the notes and providing for the application of the proceeds thereof and taking other related action relating to the insurance of sales and bonds and notes as amended, reading full. Motion.

Second. Item is brought before us. Councilman Cramer, this came out of your committee.

Thank you, Mr. President. This committee was chaired in my absence by Councilman Winkler, so I would offer the floor to Councilman Winkler.

Thank you. This is our standard bond ordinance that pays for the capital budget. The only reason it's on old business is the administration worked with PARC to combine PARC's debt issuance in this bond ordinance. PARC is responsible for their portion, but it's gonna be sort of going to market in one swoop, and so it was amended in committee. That's the only reason it's here. It did pass unanimously, and I would ask for everybody's support. Thank you.

If I may, Mr. President? Yes, sir. Just a real quick follow-up. And again, to Councilman Winkler's point, PARC would be responsible for their portion of this. We will take on no liability. There's no risk for us. That's on PARC. And I would abdicate for your support.

All right. I see no one in my queue. This is an ordinance that requires a roll call vote. Madam Clerk, open the roll.

Go for it. Do it.

Council Member Parrish-Wright?

Yes. Council Member Leninger? Yes.

Voting's closing. President Exner, you have 25 yes votes.

The ordinance adopted. Colleagues, before you leave, tomorrow, my understanding, is our clerk Amy's birthday. I think she's going to be 19, correct? Yes. Well, happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. All right, folks. The next item of business is going to be new business. As you leave the chambers, please do so quietly so the clerk may read the new business. I would ask those council members that wish to make announcements, please remain in the chambers and request to speak on your system under the announcements. New business comprises items 41 through 64. Madam Clerk, a reading of those items and their assignments.

The following legislation is assigned to Appropriations Committee. Item 41, an ordinance appropriating $4,250 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $3,000 from District 3, $1,000 from District 15, and $250 from District 24 through the Office of Management and Budget to feed Louisville Inc. for costs associated with rent, personnel, and program materials. item 42 an ordinance appropriating fifteen hundred dollars from neighborhood development funds in the following manner fifteen hundred dollars from district nine through the office of management and budget to girl scouts of kentuckiana inc for venue rental and fencing costs for the via colori festival to be held october 24th and 25th 2026. item 43 an ordinance appropriating ten thousand dollars from district four neighborhood development funds to brightside inc for tree maintenance in district four item 44 an ordinance appropriating twenty thousand dollars from district four neighborhood development funds to louisville metro parks and recreation to fund the district four park activities account for community events in district four Item 45, an ordinance appropriating $4,000 in neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $4,000 from District 6 of the Office of Management and Budget to Bridge Kids International Inc. for costs associated with the African Heritage Festival to be held August 21st through 22nd, 2026. Item 46, an ordinance appropriating... $6,500 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $4,000 from District 10, $2,000 from District 8, and $500 from District 15 through the Office of Management and Budget to Louisville Nature Center, Inc. for costs associated with boardwalk replacement in the Bear Grass Creek State Nature Reserve and surrounding forest. Item 47, an ordinance appropriating $19,250 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $9,625 each from Districts 8 and 9 to close some regulations for graffiti removal as reported or identified. by the Highland Commerce Guild. Item 48, an ordinance appropriating $12,500 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner, $10,000 from District 13, $2,000 from District 14, and $500 from District 12 through the Office of Management and Budget to Celebrate Recovery Fairdale Corporation for cost of meals, transportation, and program expenses for Celebrate Recovery. The final legislation is assigned to the Budget Committee. Item 49, an ordinance amending ordinance number 110, series 2026, relating to the fiscal year 2025-2026 operating budget and reallocating funds between various departments. Item 50, an ordinance amending ordinance number 110, series 2026, relating to the fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget by transferring $5,000 from Neighborhood Development Funds District 11 to the Louisville Metro Council General Operations District 11. Item 51, an ordinance amending ordinance number 110 series 2026 relating to the fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget by transferring $20,000 from the neighborhood development fund district seven to the Louisville Metro Council general operations district seven. Item 52, an ordinance amending ordinance number 111 series 2026 and ordinance number 110 series 2026 relating to the fiscal year 2026-2027 capital budget and the fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget respectively by transferring $60,000 from this district six capital infrastructure fund to the district three neighborhood development fund item 53 or resolution of official intent of the Louisville Jefferson County Metro government to finance the acquisition construction renovation and improvement of certain capital projects of Louisville Metro Jefferson County government and its agencies and departments from the proceeds of one or more proposed issues of general obligation bonds and general obligation notes Item 54, a resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept up to $107,250,000 of funding from the Commonwealth of Kentucky through the Department for Local Government, DLG, authorizing and directing Louisville Metro Government to execute any documents which are deemed necessary by DLG to carry out various projects, and authorizing the Mayor to act as the authorized correspondent for these projects. The following legislation is assigned to Committee on Committees. Item 55, a resolution amending the Louisville Metro Council policies and procedures regarding image usage and approval of mailings. The following legislation is assigned to Equity Community Affairs, Housing, Health, and Education Committee. Item 56, a resolution honoring Deacon James Turner and M. Annette Manley Turner by naming the corner of 32nd Street and West Broadway as Reverend Deacon James and M. Annette Turner Way in their honor. The following legislation was assigned to Government Oversight, Audit, and Appointments Committee. Item 57, an ordinance amending Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances, LNCO, Chapter 36 on police department policies to be known as the Safety and Accountability for Everyone Safe Law. The following legislation is assigned to Labor Economic Development Committee. Item 58, a resolution pursuant to the capital and operating budget ordinances approving the appropriation to fund the following non-competitively negotiated professional service contract for the Louisville Zoological Gardens for its mentor internship program for Jefferson Community Technical College students, $140,000. The following legislation is assigned to Parks and Sustainability Committee. On 59, a resolution authorizing the mayor to accept a grant award of $75,000 from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Department for Environmental Protection, the iroquois park playground rubber mulch project to be administered by the department of parks and recreation the following legislation is assigned to planning and zoning committee item 60 an ordinance relating to the amendment to binding elements for property located at 908 south english station road containing approximately 12.5 acres and being in louisville metro Case number 26, amend 0002, item 61, ordinance relating to the closure of an unnamed alley near the intersection of West Breckenridge Street and South 8th Street containing approximately 555,000 square feet, 5,500 square feet, sorry, and being in Louisville Metro. Case number 26, street closure 0010. Item 62, an ordinance relating to the closure of Mermaid Lane containing approximately 1.165 acres and being in Louisville Metro, case number 26, street closure 0017. The following legislation is assigned to Public Safety Committee. Item 63, an ordinance amending the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances, LMCO Chapter 51 regarding licensing fees. The following legislation is assigned to Public Works Committee. A resolution... Authorizing the Office of Jefferson County Attorney to bring a condemnation action against the owner of certain property parcel number 18 in Jefferson County in connection with the Crumbs Lane sidewalk project, read in full.

Do we have any announcements? Councilwoman McCraney, do you have announcements?

The floor is yours, madam. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I represent District 7. in Eastern Jefferson County. And I'm very, very proud to announce that there are several things going on in the community that I wanna invite everyone to attend. In District 7, there's this event that's taking place on July the 31st through August the 1st, at the Brownsboro Hardware and Paint Store. It's called Egg Fest. And if you have not gone to Egg Fest, you have been missing out. I invite you to come to the Egg Fest and take a look at the activity that goes on in support of recipe to end hunger and another event uh another non-profit that this all these funds raised will support this is a festival that you get a chance to meet the rest of the community that's there but more importantly you get an opportunity to taste test so much good food that will be displayed during these two days of festivities the beauty of egg fest is again it 100 of these proceeds are donated to the recipe for to end hunger and it just goes back right into the community so when you attend egg fest you are doing a favor for the least of those who are really in need of support. And so I invite you on Friday, 6 to 9 p.m., July 31st, and on Saturday, August 1st, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Again, it will be held at the Brownsboro Hardware and Paint Store on 4858 Brownsboro Road. The other item I want to bring to your attention is on August the 8th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I, as the council person for District 7, will be hosting a Muffins with McCraney. The Muffins with McCraney is a neighborhood meeting that I host quarterly. Within this particular event on August the 8th, we are honoring our brave, wonderful, first responders of the St. Matthews Police Department and the Linden Police Department for their bravery and their actions in working with someone who had a mental illness situation. They worked with this individual for about six hours, five to six hours, and peacefully they were able to get this resolved. That my friends is bravery It is patience, it is great public service. So on August the 8th, we will be recognizing the City of St. Matthews and we will be recognizing the City of Linden Police Department. The chiefs will be recognized for their leadership and all of the officers involved in that incident will receive proclamations. I invite you to come out. It will be held at the Northeast Regional Library. from 10 a.m. to noon on August the 8th. Thank you so much, and I hope to see you there.

All right, that concludes the meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 13th, 2026 at 6 p.m. With no further business, we stand adjourned.