City Council - Regular Meeting

1:17 – 1:31•CLChris Leh

Good evening. This is the Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 special meeting of the City Council of the City of Louisville. If we could get a roll call, please.

1:49 – 2:38•CLChris Leh

Here. All right. If you join with me as able, I'll say the Pledge of Allegiance. Great. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, Thank you all. Tonight, we have a couple of matters on our agenda, but the first one is meeting with the Cultural Advisory Board, and we're really excited that you're here. Why don't we, just in case you don't know everybody, why don't we go around and introduce ourselves? I'm Chris Lay, the Mayor.

3:31 – 5:16•CLChris Leh

Thanks. I thought I would sort of introduce this, and I'm looking forward to a good conversation with you all. between us and you. Really appreciate, Cav, as you know, over time, this committee has evolved, right? Many of you know the history. If you don't, it's just as well, or it's just as well that you're kind of helping to make that history right now. We have about an hour tonight, no more. So that's a fairly short period of time in which to talk about a number of things. So if council members aren't able to address every question that you have tonight, it's not because we're not listening

18:06•CLChris Leh

Can you hold for just a second? Yes. Can you hold for just a second?

35:34 – 35:46•CLChris Leh

Maybe we can continue as we are but after the break we really need it to be broadcasting. So maybe we can take a few minutes to see what we can do.

56:42 – 57:26•CLChris Leh

Just one. One thing before we answer that, I just cannot say enough how impressive what you've all done. has been. I mean this, I and probably others know about these things but put all together and hearing your descriptions both of the staff and I really appreciate your comments about staff because they are jewels here on this but you are too and the working board is Really, really impressive. So before we do anything else, I want to make sure you all know that.

57:26 – 57:48•CLChris Leh

That's the heavy load that you're carrying on this is very much appreciated. Where do we start on answering the question you raised? I can ask for council comments on this. Go ahead.

57:51 – 58:40•DFDeborah Fahey

Well, I will first add my thanks to all of you for everything that you've done. This has been an amazing board with amazing staff that have accomplished amazing things, and I really appreciate all your efforts. I don't know what we can do to help with the issues that you have, but I'm wondering if there's any kind of... fundraising foundation or group that could be specifically for the cultural board that could publicly go out and say can you help us that would be my only suggestion I think we've tried some of that

59:01•DFDeborah Fahey

Well, and not, not just sponsorships, but individuals who would like to donate to your efforts.

59:11 – 59:50•DHDietrich Hoefner

Councilmember Heffner and then Mayor Pretent. Yeah, thank you all so much for being here and all the great material and appreciation, not only of your group, but of staff who we value at least as highly as you do. The only thing I want to share is there's at least, I think, some preliminary good news on budget, that a few things like 4th of July, and I think, I'm trying to remember what the other ones, there's a few items that I think we've gotten into the budget. It's probably not all of the items that we could possibly want, but it's a few of the critical ones, and we're certainly, I know ci

1:01:40 – 1:03:02•CLChris Leh

We are up against our time. What... What I think you can count on from us is that we are focused in making dollars go as far as we can. One thing that's really important that I think the just suggested is focusing efforts on maintaining what we have. helping us with what the hard decisions might be and how we can potentially make the events that we have even perhaps better. But we will continue to keep these discussions going. We've got a discussion about events coming up. And I hope you'll be a part of that. The date for that one is, do we know? 15th? Yeah. So it's coming up quick. And we'll

1:04:22 – 1:04:50•CLChris Leh

Thank you very much Thanks Thanks for coming I think some of us are sticking around for training now, aren't we indeed these two Why don't we take five and we'll do a little work on the audio visual front.

1:11:15•CLChris Leh

The next is we've got some training, and I understand Jeff is going to be doing the introduction.

1:39:02 – 1:39:31•CDCaleb Dickinson

I mean, I think right at the beginning, if someone knows that I am self-described as a spiritual guru who must help people transcend the Judeo-Christian belief system, like right there, I don't work there. He hasn't even talked to me yet. But the fact that that's a known thing about my supervisor makes this a hostile work environment. I do not want to work somewhere. where that's a known thing about my supervisor before he even speaks to me.

2:20:04 – 2:20:29•DFDeborah Fahey

Talking about getting a complaint from the public and that we should refer it to staff to deal with. We had a complaint from the public about one thing we were doing for one group. promoting them or supporting them, and they said, no, you should not support them, and you should undo what you've done to support that group.

2:20:40 – 2:20:57•DFDeborah Fahey

It was kind of an artistic installation. that some people said that's great, and then some people said, no, get rid of that immediately. So then what should we as council do with a situation like that where the public disagrees?

2:31:28•CDCaleb Dickinson

Sorry. You make fun of yourself so that other people don't or that you're in on it and it doesn't feel as bad?

2:37:08•CLChris Leh

I think if there are questions, we haven't set a formal limit on the amount of time. Okay.

2:37:21•CLChris Leh

Not going to discourage you from that. No, but I think I want to make sure people can ask any questions that they want while you're here.

2:40:57 – 2:41:08•CDCaleb Dickinson

I think I'll hold it. I think it's just, it's a little too broad and too big for a quick answer. So I can get back to you. Yeah, you bet.

2:41:26 – 2:41:44•CLChris Leh

Do we have any questions from anybody online? Okay. Thank you very much. Yeah, thank you. Pleasure to see you all. You might flash that slide that you did at the beginning with your contact information.

2:43:06•CLChris Leh

Anyone else, either on council or on any of the board's commissions? staff. Looks like we're good.

2:43:51 – 2:44:12•CLChris Leh

Let me just launch out of here. All right. The next item, I think it's our last item, is discussion direction, upcoming agenda items, and identification of new ones from today through the end of December. City Manager, I think, is going to present on this.

2:46:19 – 2:46:57•CLChris Leh

Why don't we take the first one first. Is there any interest on council in reconsidering the IGA particularly with respect to its expiration date? I think that's the answer. There is no interest in that from us. The next one would be the letter or responding to the letter. It sounds like The issue is whether we want to work up from the staff or not on that. Thoughts? Yes.

2:46:59 – 2:47:24•DHDietrich Hoefner

I would say no, provided that the discussions continue, you know, in good faith at the staff level, which it sounds like they are. So I know what? No to us taking it up as long as the discussions are continuing toward a mutually agreeable solution at the staff level. I don't think any of us need to play road engineer anytime soon. Yes.

2:47:42 – 2:48:23•CDCaleb Dickinson

councilmember dickinson i i'm yeah i guess i'm fine with not taking it up as long as what we're saying is i think this is what i'm getting but i don't want to put words in your mouth is the answer is yes like we would like to have a con continuous some continuity from the east side to the west side and whether that not the engineer like how it works or where it goes but not saying like no we're going to leave our side exactly as it is and we're not going to match what you do on your side that wouldn't really be in support of so if the idea is that we're working with them to accomplish that tha

2:48:27 – 2:48:41•DHDietrich Hoefner

Just, I think we're very close. My idea is just let's have the various engineering staff work together to find a solution everybody likes or at least can live with. Council Member Kern.

2:49:02 – 2:49:26•CLChris Leh

Okay, good. Was there anything, did you have anything more from staff standpoint? Council members, anything you want to add, comment on, subtract, multiply? Yes, so Member Cooperman.

2:51:05 – 2:51:18•CLChris Leh

Other comments? Do we have a motion? Actually, no, no, no, no. We need any public comment. I forgot to ask. All right.

2:51:21•DHDietrich Hoefner

Motion. Is that a motion to adjourn, Mayor? So moved. Second. All in favor?

2:51:28•CLChris Leh

Aye. Any opposed? Good. Thank you. Great meeting.