Metro Council - Regular Meeting

Most everybody that we've talked to is very happy with us having a playground because that really seems to enunciate what Mildred and Patty were all about and were for. Children at play growing.

This neighborhood place, Ujima Neighborhood Place, is one of eight neighborhood places across the city that provides a lifeline for Louisville families who need it most. Whether it's Medicaid enrollment, food assistance, child care support, or connecting to other services, help is right here in your neighborhood.

Today, Ujima is home to approximately 30 staffers representing multiple organizations. Jefferson County Public Schools, Department of Community-Based Services, Louisville Metro Government. This site continues to work to provide wraparound supports that strengthens families and helps to remove barriers.

this is our space we have our shop side where all of our handmade goods are sold my collection is a non-profit and we employ refugee women and international teens and they make handmade goods that we sell. For a lot of them, it's their first job here in Louisville, and we're all about empowering them. Back in 2009, our director actually was selling handmade goods out of her car, and then we moved into a church basement not too far from here, and so that's where we were operating out of for a few years until we found this place.

This was a perfect recipient for this grant.

This is how it used to look. It used to be a restaurant, but it just never opened. And so when we came in, there was a huge hole in the roof. It was super dark in here. There's a lot of rotting wood outside.

The South End Legacy Grant, they are awarded up to $10,000 to make outside renovations or to help make the space a lot better.

It helped us redo the exterior space and fix all that rotting wood up and add awnings and flowers to beautify our space and make it more welcoming. There's more exposure and we've had more people just walk in and want to know more about us. And so the space has been such a cool opportunity to let people know about my collection.

Just with the aesthetics alone, I think it's way more inviting. There's been a lot of businesses within this corridor that are interested in the grant program, and we want to help because we want this to be a place to call home and a place where they can grow.

We just hope that we can continue to be a blessing to more people.

Metro TV, 30 seconds. all right hello i am councilman jonathan joseph chair of the appropriations committee this is the regular meeting of the appropriations committee on august 19th 2026. the meeting is being held pursuant to krs 61.826 and council roll 5.8 with me is my vice chair marilyn parker joining us in chambers are committee members councilman herndon councilman leninger councilman sam councilman winkler we And we have a quorum. First item of business is the CIF amending the appropriation of $19,501 by adding $5,000 from District 9 capital infrastructure funds to public works for the assembly and installation of two rectangular rapid flashing beacons at Lexington Road and Wentworth Avenue near Sacred Heart Academy. This comes from Councilman Owen. Thank you. Motion and a second? Properly moved. Please.

Thank you, Chair. Regina Gar, Legislative Assistant for Councilman Andrew Owen. We are giving an additional $5,000 for the rapid rectangle flashing beacon. KYTC needed some things changed, and so that is why we are requesting an additional $5,000.

Thank you very much. Are there any questions? Okay, seeing none, this item does allow for a voice vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? You guys have it. Thank you. Thank you. Item two is an ordinance appropriating $2,000 from Neighborhood Development Funds in the following manner. $2,000 from District 14 through the Office of Management and Budget to the Southwest Community Festival and Parade Committee Inc. for costs associated with the Southwest Community Festival will be held on October 10th, 2026. This item comes from Councilwoman Bass. Do we have a motion? Properly moved. Brad, would you like to speak to this? Thank you, Chair.

Legislative Assistant. District 14, Council Member Bass. Southwest Community Festival is a long-standing community event held at Sun Valley Park, October 10th, 2026. Festival is free and open to the public and brings together residents, families, businesses, and community organizations for a day of fellowship and entertainment. Seeking a total of 15,000 to support this event, I respectfully ask for other council members to help contribute. Your support will help ensure the Continued success of the value community tradition.

Okay, are there any questions or concerns?

Anybody like to contribute?

Yeah, I'm gonna move to double bill, yeah. Okay. I will definitely be contributing, but we'll move this and we'll put it on old business to be able to do, is that fine? Okay. All right, are there any questions or concerns? All right, seeing none, this item requires a roll call vote.

Chair Joseph, you have six yes votes.

Thank you very much. Legislation passes, and we will be sending this to old business to get more. Thank you. Thank you. Item number three is an ordinance appropriating $6,580 from District 15 neighborhood development funds through Brightside Inc. to Lovett Landscaping for costs associated with landscaping maintenance and beautification of five medians in District 15. This item comes to us from Councilwoman Chappell. Do we have a motion? Second. Properly moved. Please.

Amy Lickett, District 15 Legislative Assistant. I'm here to speak to this item. This is for five different intersection median areas, the yearly maintenance that we pay to Lovett Landscaping. If you have any questions, I'm here for them.

Any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item requires a roll call vote.

Chair Joseph, you have six yes votes.

Legislation passes and will be sent to the consent calendar. Item number four is a conditional NDF appropriating $5,000 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $2,500 from District 15, $1,000 from each Districts 3 and 21, and $500 from District 8 through the Office of Management and Budget to For a Lady's Sake for Us. a Superflow sponsorship at their Dining for Dignity fundraiser to be held October 18th, 2026. This item comes to us from Councilwoman Chappell. Do we have a motion? Properly moved. Did you have to speak to this?

Yeah, Amy Luckett, I'm here to speak to this item. We've actually got all the support that was requested for this sponsorship. If you have any questions, I'm here to answer them.

Any questions or concerns?

What's it for?

It's for the fundraising breakfast for Dining for Dignity for For Ladies' Sake. Funds raised will support the expansion of the 24-7 period pod program, community packing parties, and youth education all around period product equity and getting products into those who need it.

Any other questions or concerns? Seeing none, the assignment allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye. All opposed? The ayes have it. Legislation passes. Thank you. Item number five is an ordinance appropriating $40,000 from District 16 Neighborhood Development Funds to the Office of Management and Budget to the City of Prospect for the construction of a boardwalk around the perimeter of Putney Pond. This item comes to us from Councilman Reed. Do we have a motion? Properly moved. Did I say that right?

Putney Pond.

Putney, oops. Well, my bad. Would you like to speak to this, please?

Yes, thank you. Jared Towns, legislative assistant to District 16. We are allocating $40,000 here to go to the Putney Pond Boardwalk Project, which is an ADA-compliant project. This is for construction design.

Okay, thank you. Are there any questions or concerns?

This is Sonya Hormer, the clerk. Can I make one statement?

As long as it's not about Putney.

I don't know where you got that. But just letting you know, so this is not an amendment, but the application was significantly updated, including their budget on page seven of the application. I just wanna make that for the record that we did that. Thank you.

Any other statements, questions, or concerns? Yeah, Mr. Chair, I'm with you. Please. I just had a question, and I totally support this project. I really am just curious, and I don't know if anybody from the county attorney is here that can answer this, but I thought there was a restriction on us being able to use NDF funds in suburban cities, and so I'm just curious sort of how this works, and again, there we go, sorry. Yeah.

Amanda Baker, Assistant County Attorney. No judgment, nobody can see me behind the monitor. So we've, the council has appropriated two special projects within suburban cities in the past, and I did find a prior project that also funded this similar project as well.

Okay, so is it just things like sidewalks that we can't fund?

No, you can still, yeah, that's correct.

I think we pulled this from the City of Hurstbourne with the sidewalk project was what we looked at first.

Yes. Yeah. Yes.

Thank you.

Any other questions? Okay, hearing none, this requires a roll call vote.

Chair Joseph, you have six yes votes.

Legislation passes and will be sent to the consent council. Item number six is an ordinance appropriating $10,000 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $3,000 each from districts three and 21, $2,000 from district 15, $750 from district four, $500 each from districts nine and 24, and $250 from district 17 through the Office of Management and Budget to South Louisville Community Ministries for sponsorship of the Taste of South Louisville Fundraiser event to be held August 22nd, 2026. This item comes from Councilwoman Rui. Do we have a motion?

Properly moved, please. Good afternoon, everybody. Ashkan Rezae, legislative aide for Council Betsy Rui, District 21. So this is a council originated NDF that supports South Louisville Community Ministries annual Taste of South Louisville, which will showcase 20 local restaurants, and all the funds will go to South Louisville Community Ministries missions, which helping the neighbors. And we already fully funded this project, and I want to thank all the district that helped contribute toward this sponsorship.

Are there any questions or concerns?

Glad it's done.

Seeing none, this item requires a roll call vote.

Chair Joseph, you have six yes votes.

Thank you very much legislation passes and will be sent to the consent calendar I'm number seven in the CIF appropriating $5,000 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner $2,500 each from districts 15 and 21 to economic development for installation of wayfinding signs in the water park neighborhood in partnership with Louisville tourism This item comes to us from councilwoman Rudy. Do we have a motion?

Properly moved. Please.

Ashkan Rezaei, District 21, Legislative 8. So this is just, as it states, it's a wayfinding program that we partnered with Louisville Tourism. And the total cost of the project was $15,650. $10,650 come from the grant that the Louisville Tourism gave, and the rest came from our office and District 15. And these are just for welcoming signs that highlights the Wilder Park neighborhood. People wanted them. to have designated borders and for the tourists and the communities just to know where the Wilder Park community is located. So we are happy to fund this project. I'm looking for your support. Thank you.

Are there any questions or concerns? Vice Chair Parker.

A couple of questions.

This is, okay, first of all,

How did you get that grant? I've never heard of a grant like that from Louisville Tourism.

That's something that they reached out actually, I believe they may have reached out to the whole council. emails that there were some grants available that will help create some of these wayfinding signs in a variety of neighborhoods. And I don't remember when exactly that email was sent, but that's something we found last year. And we did actually one project earlier in our Beachmont neighborhood. And then the Wilder Park community also wanted that. but then their grant was less limited this time than the last year.

So is this grant specifically for park signs?

For community signs, yes. They call way findings, those that they put, you can find different locations throughout the town. They point to library or they point to different attractions in the city, like libraries or parks or restaurants. It can be anything that you can put on those signs. Yeah, if you would like to, I think Zach Davis was the person who sent that email and maybe somebody has more.

Did you all initiate this project or did Louisville Tourism initiate it?

We initiated that. I think the grant was available just to everybody. Again, I don't remember exactly when the first time that email arrived.

How come they didn't pay for all of it?

They didn't have enough grant this time. They paid for last time, I think for Beachmont, I believe they covered most of that. Maybe we should have it in the record, but yeah.

Well, they get a lot more money through the hotel tax than we get in NDF dollars, so I'm just curious. All right, thank you. I could find answers more.

I'm sure it's in my email somewhere, but I don't exactly know where that first email came, but I know it was to the Louisville Tourism Grant that they had, so. Thank you.

Any other questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? The ayes have it, legislation passes. Item number eight is an ordinance appropriating $7,410 from District 23 Neighborhood Development Funds through the Office of Management and Budget to Have You Business Owners Association, Inc. for costs associated with the Have You Fall Festival and Parade on October 10th, the Have You Holiday Fest on December 4th, 2026, and website maintenance. This item comes from Councilman Hudson. Do we have a motion? Any second? Properly moved. Please.

All right. John Torski and Councilman Jeff Hudson's office. This is our annual appropriation to the Highview Business Association. These events have been going on easily 15 years, maybe 20 years. This is for the Highview Fall Festival and Parade, which is going to be on October 10th, and then the Highview Fall Festival on December 4th. I do want to commend the group. It is not often that an NDF or events get less expensive, but these have gotten maybe easily $1,000 if not $2,000 cheaper because they've changed some vendors and are able to get the same stuff for a little less price. So good work to them. So we invite everybody to come on out.

Thank you. Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item requires a roll call vote.

Chair Joseph, you have six yes votes.

Legislation passes and will be sent to the consent calendar. Item number nine is an ordinance appropriating $5,440 from District 2 Neighborhood Development Funds through the Brightside Inc. to Lovett Landscaping for costs associated with the landscaping, maintenance, and beautification of three right-of-ways at the intersection of Shepherdsville Road and Newburgh Road. This item comes from Councilwoman Shanklin. Do we have a motion? A second. Thank you. Properly moved. Who would like to speak to this?

Yes, Christina Scotland, financial analyst, speaking on behalf of District 2. This is for landscape maintenance for some areas that's in an intersection between Shepherdsville Road and Newburgh Road, and she would appreciate your support.

Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, the sign requires a roll call vote.

Chair Joseph, you have six yes votes.

Legislation passes and will be sent to the consent calendar. Item number 10 is an ordinance appropriating $10,000 from District 6 Neighborhood Development Funds through the Office of Management and Budget to Central Loyola Community Ministries, Inc. for its low-income LG&E bill assistance program. This item comes from Councilman Leninger. Do we have a motion? Properly moved. Councilman, would you like to speak to this?

Yes, this is another appropriation that was decided upon by our Advisory Council. We spoke to Central Louisville Community Ministries, asked them to come and speak to our Advisory Council. They presented about the dire need for assistance with utilities and with rent, that they have seen a skyrocketing need, and this was the appropriation that the Advisory Council has to put forward. So I appreciate your support.

Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, the sign requires a roll call vote.

Chair Joseph, you have six yes votes.

Legislation passes and will be sent to the consent calendar. Item number 11 is an NDF appropriating $5,000 from District 6 Neighborhood Development Funds through the Office of Management and Budget to St. James Court Art Show, Inc. for security costs at the 2026 St. James Court Art Show to be held October 2nd through the 4th, 2026. This item comes from Councilman Leninger. Do we have a motion? Properly moved. Councilman?

It's that time of year again. Our office has a longstanding relationship with the consortium to help put on the St. James Art Show. It's the first Saturday in October. I would welcome everyone to come down. It's a fantastic event. I love having it right outside my front door, and I know my kids do, too, with all the fair food. And this was, again, decided by the advisory council. This was the level of support they decided, and I appreciate your support.

Are there any questions or concerns? Seeing none, this item allows for a voice vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Ayes have it, legislation passes. Item number 12 is an ordinance appropriating $9,000 from neighborhood development funds in the following manner. $3,000 from District 13 and $1,500 each from Districts 14, 19, 20, and 24 to the Office of Management and Budget to the Louisville Metro Police Foundation for the Boots, Badges, and Bids event to be held on August 15th, 2026. This item comes from Councilman Sime. Do we have a motion? Second. Properly moved. Councilman, would you like to speak to this?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is for Law Enforcement Appreciation Month, which starts September last year. We was able to do this out of our cost center, and they won't allow us to do it this year, so we had to make a pivot, and we had to funnel this money through the foundation, which is going to help provide the food, the gift baskets, and the awards. like we did last year in here, and we're gonna need a little bit more money. I do have an amendment with some council members that's added. Do I give that to you now, clerk? 500 from District 23, 1500 from District 12, and 1500 from District 22. That's currently, we have 12, five, and we're working to get 15,000 sponsorship level. We need about $2,500 to reach the goal, and I'm looking for your support.

Sorry, my bad. You can go ahead and add us for 500, please. 500, yeah. D18 for 500.

So it'll be 1,500 short for?

No matter what, it's going to open. Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah. Okay, so I need a motion to- Motion to amend. Thank you, second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay, now we need to take this to a roll call vote.

Chair Joseph, you have five yes votes and one present vote.

Legislation passes and that will be sent to old business. This is all for the day. We stand adjourned.