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TRY TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN COMMITTEE CHAIRING.[00:15:57]
METRO TV WILL GET STARTED IN 60 SECONDS.[00:17:09]
PEACE WELCOME TO THE PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. TODAY IS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7TH 2023,[Call to Order]
THE TIME IS CURRENTLY 3:10 P.M. I'M CHAIRMAN COREY ARTHUR. TO MY LEFT IS VICE CHAIRMAN ALAN[Roll Call]
PARKER. WE ALSO HAVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, BAKER FOWLER. RUBY. HUDSON. BAT, SEAN. AND AN EXCUSE ABSENCE FOR COMMITTEE MEMBER MULVIHILL. THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO KRS 61.826 AND COUNCIL RULE FIVE A WE HAVE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS OUR DASH 156-23. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT $400,000 FROM THE U. S.DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE B T O DO THE BUILDINGS UP GRANTS PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY? MAY HAVE EMOTIONS SO MOVED THANK YOU SO
[2. R-156-23 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT $400,000 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE (BTO) THROUGH THE BUILDINGS UP GRANTS PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. Action Required By: May 2024 Sponsors: Jeff Hudson (R-23) ]
MUCH. MADAM CLERK. COULD YOU PLEASE ADD ME AS A CO SPONSOR? COUNCILMAN HUDSON. DO YOU WANT TO KICK IT OFF? AND THEN WE COULD PASS THE MIC TO OUR GUESTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. UM THIS THIS WAS AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS SENT OVER BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ASKED ME TO SPONSOR IT, AND I WAS GLAD TO DO SO. UM I WILL TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR 30. SECONDS TO X EXHAUST MY KNOWLEDGE OF IT. UM BASICALLY, IT'S MONEY PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TWO.PROMOTE UH, MARKETING CAMPAIGNS AND MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO EDUCATE. AH! PEOPLE ON MORE EFFICIENT ENERGY USE. AND IF YOU COULD BAIL ME OUT SUBMIT SOME MEDIA. I WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL. RIGHT.
PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA ROW. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UM BECAUSE NEVER HUDSON. THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING THIS AND COUNCILMAN AREN'T THERE FOR SPONSORING IT AS WELL. YOU ARE MOSTLY RIGHT. SO THIS IS A GRAND, NOT A PRIZE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TO SUBMIT A DETAILED APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO RECEIVE THIS, UH, THIS AWARD. IT WAS MORE IN RECOGNITION OF SOME ONGOING EFFORTS THAT WE ARE DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AROUND ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UM ENERGY BURDEN IS THE PERCENTAGE OF SOMEONE'S INCOME THAT IS SPENT ON ENERGY BILLS, AND WE ARE SEEING THAT THERE ARE HIGH RATES OF ENERGY BURDEN AMONG LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, SO AS A WAY TO ACHIEVE OUR CLEAN ENERGY GOALS, BUT ALSO DO IT IN AN EQUITABLE WAY AND SUPPORT RESIDENTS WITH SOME ENERGY COST RELIEF. WE HAVE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED THIS
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PRIZE TO AUGMENT SOME OF OUR WORK WORK AROUND, UM, ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING . AND BECAUSE THIS IS A $400,000 GRANT, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DID NOT NECESSARILY WANT US TO USE IT ON DIRECTLY DOING UPGRADES IN BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY SAW THAT THAT MONEY WOULDN'T GO VERY FAR IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS REACHED WITH THE WITH YOUR DOING DIRECT TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES. HOWEVER WE ARE GOING AFTER SEPARATE FUNDING TO DO THOSE UPGRADES. AND THEN THIS PRICE IS MEANT TO AUGMENT SOME OF THAT WORK BY SUPPORTING LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON SAID . COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS AND AWARENESS AND PROVIDING APPLICATION SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS WHO WILL EVENTUALLY APPLIED TO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DEVELOP.AND IT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE METROPOLITAN HOUSING COALITION AS WELL AS CONDUCTANCE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE REFERENCES SEE LEAP.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS FOR US? YES SO THIS WAS THE SEA LEAF WAS STANDS FOR COMMUNITIES, LOCAL ENERGY ACTION PROGRAM, AND THAT IS A DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT WE WON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHERE WE'RE RECEIVING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LAB TO HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT STRATEGIES WE NEED TO TAKE TO MAKE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND USE THOSE ENERGY COSTS FOR RESIDENTS, SO IT INVOLVES A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY THAT INCLUDES, UM YOU KNOW. COMMENDATIONS ON BEST TECHNOLOGIES POLICIES. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FINANCING AS WELL AS BENCHMARKING, SO THE RESULTS OF THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND WE HOPE TO USE THOSE BEST PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO INFORM THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH THIS GRANT. THANK YOU. AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED YOU'RE SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDS. COULD WE GET MORE PRIZE MONEY FROM THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS, OR IS THIS JUST KIND OF IT FOR THIS SOURCE? UM THERE, THERE COULD BE ANOTHER PHASE WHERE, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS GRANT, WE COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE FUNDING. THE DETAILS OF THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY YET, BUT THE OTHER FUNDING THAT I DID REFERENCE IS A FORMULA GRANT. IT'S CALLED THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION LAW GRAND THAT LOUISVILLE HAS IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE. WE HAVE TO APPLY FOR IT AND THEN RECEIVED IT EARLY NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS? COMMITTEE MEMBER HUDSON THANK YOU. CHAIR. UM. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WHEN YOU KNOW, SPOKE LAST WEEK, SUMITRA. UM I ASKED ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE KENTUCKY IS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH, AND I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD FROM OUR CONVERSATION. THEN THAT THEY HAD BEEN OFFERED. PARTICIPATION BUT DECLINED. BUT FROM WHAT I HEARD YOU JUST SAY I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY JUST NOW THAT THEY ARE INVOLVED. IS WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ? SO THEY DID YOUR CORRECT THAT THEY DID DECLINE THE FUNDING, BUT THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE SENSE THAT THEY MAY THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY MONEY AS AN ORGANIZATION. BUT THEY DID APPLY WITH US AS PARTNERS AND WE WILL BE SEEKING THEIR FEEDBACK ON ON THE UTILIZATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR. COMMITTEE MEMBER, RUI. THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER GRANT ANOTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITY AS WE MOVE TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK THERE. UM I'M JUST WANNA CLARIFICATION. SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THIS MONEY IS TO JUST MONEY IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT HOMEOWNERS. AS THEY APPLY FOR TECHNOLOGICAL UPGRADES. IS THAT CORRECT? YES IT COULD BE HOMEOWNERS, UM, OR PROPERTY OWNERS OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. IT'S A LITTLE UNDETERMINED. UM THE ONLY BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE MISSION COMPATIBILITY IS THAT IT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABILITY. THAT'S THE THEME OF IT. WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY ON HOW EXACTLY WE CAN USE IT. SO SOME OF THAT IS STILL DEBATED TERM IND. OKAY SO WHAT KIND OF UPGRADES ARE YOU EXPECTING TO BE HELPING PEOPLE APPLY FOR? THINGS LIKE ADDITIONAL WEATHERIZATION, ELECTRIFICATION, POTENTIALLY SOLAR AND ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES, VARIOUS DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT WOULD HELP DRIVE DOWN THEIR ENERGY COSTS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. ON. YES THANK YOU. CHAIR UM I HAVE A QUESTION. UM, WHERE WOULD SOMEONE APPLY FOR THIS? YES, UM GRANT. AS A HOMEOWNER OR. PROPERTY OWNER THAT HAS REYNOLDS
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OF PORTABLE HOUSINGS OR WHATNOT. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE YET. THAT WILL BE PART OF A DIFFERENT RENT THAT WE APPLY FOR THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONSERVATION BLOCK ROOM, SO WE WILL EITHER ADMINISTER THAT DIRECTLY THROUGH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. SO WHEN WE RECEIVED THOSE FUNDS, WE WILL NOT EXACTLY HOW IT'S HOW IT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AND HOW RESIDENTS CAN APPLY. BUT THIS FUNDING WILL ENABLE BETTER ACCESS TO THOSE SO CONFUSING. I HOPE THAT WAS HELPFUL. YES SO I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED, SO THE FUNDING OF $400,000 IS. TOO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO HAVE PEOPLE APPLY. FOR FUTURE MONEY OR AS PART OF THIS $400,000. GOING TO GO TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. UM WITH A PORTION OF IT TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE. NO IT'S UNLIKELY THAT WE'LL USE ANY OF IT FOR ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY INSTALLING NEW WEATHERIZATION OR EQUIPMENT IN HOMES. THERE'S NO ENDING. I THINK, IN OTHER WORDS, I GUESS WE MISUNDERSTOOD. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLEAR. AS FAR AS THREE YOUR TO YOUR DEPARTMENT. IS THE $400,000 GONNA USE BE USED TO BUILD THE WEBSITE AND THE APPLICATION PROCESS. OR IS THAT GOING TO BE USED FOR THE HOMEOWNERS TO APPLY TO RECEIVE UM, IT COULD BE EITHER SO WE COULD USE IT FOR BOTH. BOTH OF THOSE USERS WILL BE QUALIFIED. WHEN WOULD YOU HAVE A PROJECTED TIMELINE OF DECIDING HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT $400,000? UM EARLY NEXT YEAR, SO WE'RE TALKING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TEAM AT THE TIME AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE PLANS THAT WE DEVELOP ARE ALIGNED WITH THEIR GOALS AS WELL. OKAY AND HOW MUCH OF THAT 400,000 DO YOU PROJECT TO GO BACK OUT TO THE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY? IT IS EARLY TO IS A LITTLE EARLY TO SAY, UM, BUT $100,000 OF THAT WILL BE AWARDED TO THE METROPOLITAN HOUSING COALITION. AND WITH THE REMAINING WE WILL WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO UTILIZE THAT FUNDING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWERS. DIRECTOR WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO JUST COME AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE AS YOU GET THE FUNDS AND HOW IT'S BEING SPENT AND HOW EVERYTHING IS GOING YES.ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JUST LEARN MORE OR OR HAVE ANY INPUT AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. GOING ONCE GOING TWICE. GOING THRICE BEFORE WE VOTE. I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE YOUR OFFICE ISN'T NEW, BUT IT HAS SUCH A NEW ENERGY WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOU'VE JUST BEEN COMING OVER HERE WITH SO MANY WINS, AND WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT. PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE LOUISVILLE IS MORE SUSTAINABLE. ALRIGHT. THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT CALLS FOR A VOICE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE. UH, ANY OPPOSED. THE RESOLUTION PASSES LESS THAN IT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH DIRECTOR. MHM ITEM NUMBER TWO R DASH 151-23, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF METRO GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT THE DONATION. OF A
[1. R-151-23 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF METRO GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT THE DONATION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON PROPERTY OWNED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT OF KENTUCKY, LLC, LOCATED AT 9005 BROWN AUSTIN ROAD IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY. Action Required By: May 2024 Sponsors: Dan Seum, Jr. (R-13) ]
CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON PROPERTY OWNED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT OF KENTUCKY LLC, LOCATED AT 9005, BROWN, AUSTIN ROAD AND JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS HERE WITH US TODAY. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT IS ATTACHED TO ITEM NUMBER TWO IN THE AGENDA. PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU.MY NAME IS KURT MASON AND I SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST OVERSIGHT BOARD. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. UH ARTHUR AND ALSO THE COMMITTEE FOR HEAVINESS. HERE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON. CULTIVATION. EASTMAN PROPOSAL COMING TO METRO COUNCIL UH, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE REPRESENTING THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. AND ONE IS INSULTS. WHO IS THE ASSISTANT ACCOUNTING IT ATTORNEY. SHE SERVES AS THE AS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR OUR BOARD. AND ALSO LUKE LAPPING, WHO IS WITH THE OFFICE OF PLANNING. WHO WAS A PLANNER. URBAN PLANNER WITH THE
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WITH THE OFFICE OF PLANNING. SO I DO HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION. I HOPE YEAH, IT IS ON THE SCREEN THERE. UH FOR MOST OF YOU ALL YOU MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST WAS FORMED BY AN ORDINANCE AND DECEMBER OF 1994. AND THE REASON THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST WAS FORMED.WE ARE WHAT'S CALLED A QUASI GOVERNMENTAL LAND TRUST ORGANIZATION. SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH NATIONWIDE LAND TRUST ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY. OR MAYBE THE . THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION GROUPS THAT HOLD CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, BUT THEIR ROLE IS TO ASSIST PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND OTHERS AND PROTECTING CRITICAL LANDS AND LAND THAT ARE IMPORTANT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES AND WHAT THEY GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. UM IF I CAN WORK THIS RIGHT? I GUESS I WILL CLICK THIS BUTTON AND THE SLIDE WILL MOVE.
MAYBE. NO. THERE WE ARE. OKAY SO A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST BOARD.
WE ARE NINE MEMBER BOARD. IT'S COMPRISED OF FIVE CITIZEN MEMBERS. AND FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, THOSE FIVE CITIZEN MEMBERS IF YOU THINK BACK TO THE TIME IN 1990 FOR THE COUNTY WAS SET UP IN THE A, B AND C DISTRICTS. AND SO THERE WERE THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THOSE DISTRICTS A, B AND C AND THERE WERE TWO AT LARGE MEMBERS OF CITIZENS AND THE BOARD IS COMPRESSED OF NINE MEMBERS, AND IT WAS INTENTIONAL THAT THE BOARD WAS COMPRISED OF MORE CITIZEN MEMBERS THAN THERE WERE METRO OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES. THERE ARE FOUR FOOTPRINTS ON THAT BOARD FROM METRO AGENCIES. AND THOSE AGENCIES. WHEN YOU THINK OF THOSE, THEY GENERALLY HAD THE BIGGEST FOOTPRINT IN REGARD TO SOME TYPE OF LAND MANAGEMENT, OR OR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO ALSO SITTING ON THE BOARD IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MSD. THE DIRECTOR OF LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION. THE DIRECTOR OF METRO PLANNING AND DESIGN SERVICES AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ASSETS. AND THAT CAN PROCESS THE FIVE MEMBER BOARD. WE MEET MONTHLY. UH PRIMARILY WITH THE ROLE OF HELPING TO BRING FORWARD THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IN CORNERSTONE DOWN CORNERSTONE 2040 THAT TALKS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE. FARMLAND WOODLANDS, WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AREAS, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND TRANSCEND ACROSS THE METRO AND OUR BENEFIT, TOO. EVERY CITIZEN IN LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST HAS A SUPPORT STAFF. THOSE FOUR FOOTPRINTS THAT COME FROM THE METRO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE REALLY KIND OF OUR COMBINED STAFF. AH WERE REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEYS THROUGH THE LOIBL JEFF OR JEFFERSON KELLY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE WE DO DEAL WITH LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF CULTURE, AERATION EASEMENTS WE ALSO HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL METRO AGENCY STAFF. WE DO WORK THAT DEALS WITH TRYING TO FIND OUT ZONING ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE ON PROPERTIES THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTED OPEN SPACES THAT DEAL WITH PLANNING AND DESIGN SERVICES WITH METRO PARKS AREAS THAT MIGHT BE ADJACENT. TO OPEN SPACE PARKS. AND SO WE CALL ON A GREAT NUMBER OF FOLKS WHETHER THEY'RE ENGINEERS, WHETHER THEY'RE BIOLOGISTS WHETHER THEY'RE CARTOGRAPHERS. ALL OF THOSE FOLKS HELPED TO BRING OUR STEP. WHAT WE CALL OUR STAFF TOGETHER AND PUTTING TOGETHER THE PICTURE OF WHAT SOME OF THESE EASEMENT PROPERTIES MIGHT LOOK LIKE. SO CULTIVATION EASEMENTS FOR KIND OF A. UM, THAT SYNOPSIS. WHAT A CONSERVATION. EASTMAN IS. IT'S A VOLUNTARY LOCAL LEGAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN LANDOWNER. AND A LAND TRUST OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT PERMANENTLY LIMITS THE USE OF LAND TO PROTECT ITS CONSERVATION VALUES. AND THE WORD CONSERVATION VALUES ARE REALLY THAT IMPORTANT TO THAT'S BEING PROTECTED WITH LAND THAT FALLS UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. SO TWO OF THESE PICTURES, ONE OF
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THEM JUST SHOWS AND OVERVIEW OF LAND, AND THERE'S A PARCEL IN THERE, THAT'S UNDER CONSERVATION. HE'S BEEN BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT CANOPY EXISTS. BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY ABOUT AIR QUALITY. THAT CANOPY IS ALSO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF ITS ABILITY TO ABSORB, HOLD AND RETAIN STORMWATER. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HOUSES A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT HOUSES FOR MICRO AND MICRO INVERTEBRATES.WHETHER THEY'RE ANIMALS, WHETHER THEY'RE BIRD SPECIES, AND UNIQUELY ON THE BOTTOM OF THAT SCREEN, YOU SEE A PICTURE OF A WETLAND. THAT IS AN INUNDATED WETLAND, AND MOST PEOPLE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY PROBABLY DO NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEAVER. AND THERE ARE BEAVER AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. IT'S A HABITAT AND PART OF THAT HABITAT IS SHOWN IN THIS PICTURE OF WHERE YOU HAVE THAT THE BEAVER CUTS. UH UM. AS OF 2023. THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST HOLES 16 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 1532 ACRES. ALL OF THESE CONSERVATION EASTMAN'S HOLD SOME TYPE OF CONSERVATION VALUE. THREE OF THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 142 ACRES ARE PRIMARILY WETLANDS. AND THE CONSERVATION VALUES THAT THEY HOLD OUR FLOOD CONTROL. WATER QUALITY WILDLIFE HABITAT. THERE ARE FIVE WILDLIFE AND SCENIC CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 145.8 ACRES. THE CONSERVATION VALUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC THAT ARE HELD THERE INCLUDE CITY VISTAS WHILE I'VE HABITAT AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT THAT WATERSHED MANAGEMENT TAKES IN EVERYTHING FROM COMMUNITY FLOOD CONTROL TO SOIL HEALTH TO THE ABILITY FOR THAT LAND TO BRING BACK VALUES TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE IMPORTANT. THERE ARE SIX WORKING FARMS THAT ARE ON 1000. 19 ACRES, AND THAT INCLUDES PRIME FARMLAND AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY. AND THERE ARE TWO EQUAL AND FARMS OF 212 ACRES THAT COMPRISE PRIME FARMLAND SCENIC VIEW. VISTAS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. SO OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST AS A LAND TRUST ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE REALLY THREE THINGS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. ONE IS THAT WE MONITOR THOSE EASEMENTS. IN PERPETUITY. WE STEPPED FOOT ON THOSE LANDS EVERY YEAR. PULL THE DOCUMENTS THAT FORM THE CONSERVATIONIST, BUT TO ENSURE WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THAT EASTMAN IS BEING CARRIED OUT. IN TERMS OF PROTECTING THOSE CONSERVATION VALUES. AH SECONDLY, WE PROTECT THE CONSERVATION VALUES OF THOSE EASEMENTS. REGARDLESS OF WHO OWNS THOSE PROPERTIES. UH AND THEN WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DEFEND THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THIS IS ALL A PERPETUITY. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THOSE FOUR PICTURES. THERE IS THAT WE HAVE A WORKING BOARD AND A WORKING STAFF. UM WE GO OUT EACH YEAR AND MONITOR AND WALK THOSE EASEMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE. THE PICTURE OF THE BURNOUT HOME IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN THOSE CONSERVATIONIST MONTHS, DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF EASEMENT IT IS, IT MAY HAVE THE FOOTPRINT. TO ALLOW FOR A RESIDENTIAL OR MAYBE ONE OR TWO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ON THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. IF THAT EXISTING HOME ON THAT PROPERTY HAPPENS TO LEAVE FOR SOME REASON , BECAUSE OF A FIRE TORNADO WITH SOMETHING THAT'S UNEXPECTED, OR IT GETS SO OLD THAT NEEDS TO BE REUSED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSE. THAT CONSERVATION IS BUT MALE LAU REBUILDING THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT PROPERTY. TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. IN THIS CASE, WHERE THIS HOUSE BIRDS WITHIN THE CONSERVATION EASTMAN IN ALLOWED FOR A 25% INCREASE OF THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT OF THAT OLD HOME. FOR THAT NEW HOUSE TO BE BUILT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CONSERVATION EASTMAN HAS TO MONITOR. UM IF YOU LOOK ON THE BOTTOM, WHERE THE DEER AND THE ANTELOPE PLAY THERE'S A PICTURE OF BISON, AMERICAN BISON. AND THERE'S A CONSERVATION EASTMAN ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. UH WHERE THE LANDOWNER IS RAISING BISON, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY USING THAT BISON AND RESTAURANTS HERE IN LOIBL, SEVERAL RESTAURANTS, THEIR FOOD SOURCE FOR THAT
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UNIQUE FORM OF MEAT THAT COMES INTO THIS COMMUNITY, AND THE ONE ON THE BOTTOM IS A SMALL ORGANIC FARM IT PRODUCES. SEE ECE FOR ABOUT I WANT TO SAY 60 DIFFERENT. FAMILIES AND LOUISVILLE AND THEY GET FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. SOME OF THOSE THAT ARE LOCATED IN AREAS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THIS COMMUNITY. THIS IS JUST A PICTURE OF, UH, A MAP SHOWING THE CONSERVATION EASTMAN AND LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY.AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK UH, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE WHOLE CONSERVATION. EASTMAN'S OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES OF METRO LOUISVILLE. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE WE HAVE WATERSHEDS AND AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY BECAUSE WATER FLOWS DOWNSTREAM FROM THOSE COUNTIES INTO LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. MEANING HARRIS CREEK AND FLOYDS FORK AND SOME OF GOOSE CREEK. WE'RE DEPENDENT ON THEM, KEEPING WATER QUALITY CLEAN TO MOVE THAT INTO LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY AS WELL AS THOSE TRIBUTARIES UPSTREAM AND JEFFERSON AND OLDHAM COUNTY THAT DUMP WATER INTO THE OHIO RIVER THAT IS ONE OF THE SOURCES OF OUR PRIMARY. UH PORTABLE DRINKING WATER IN LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. SO THIS MAP? UH THE LEGEND DOESN'T SHOW ALL 16 OF THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, BUT THEY'RE STRICT.
THEY'RE SPREAD OUT OVER LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. CONSERVATION VALUES THAT ARE PROTECTED WITH THESE CONSERVATION. EASTMAN'S INCLUDE PRIME FARMLAND. GRAZING LAND.
CRITICAL WETLANDS. WATER QUALITY ATTRIBUTES. WATERSHED HEALTH QUALITY STORM WATER INFILTRATION. WOODLANDS AND TREE CANOPIES. SCENIC OPEN SPACES AND AIR QUALITY ATTRIBUTES. WE ALSO HOLD BELIEVE IT'S 12. FACADE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. EASTMAN'S THESE WERE CARRIED OVER FROM THE OLD ORIGINAL, UH CITY OF LOUISVILLE. WHERE THERE WERE FACADE EASEMENTS OR HISTORIC PRESERVATION EASEMENTS ON IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OR HISTORIC LANDS THAT WERE IN LOIBL THAT WERE WORTHWHILE OF BEING PROTECTED SOME OF THESE HISTORIC PRESERVATION EASTLAND'S TIE INTO THE ABILITY OF THESE HOMES TO ADDRESS UH, UPGRADES OR CHANGES IN THEIR FACADE OR THE WAY THAT THOSE LOOK THAT HAVE TO MEET STANDARDS OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION. SO THOSE ALSO FALL UNDER THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST AS PART OF THEIR EASEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES. WHAT WE'RE COMING HERE TO THE COUNCIL. TODAY IS A PROPOSAL FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON PROPERTY THAT'S OWNED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT. L L. C WASTE MANAGEMENT ISHEITY THAT PROVIDES, UH, ONE OF THE LARGEST LANDFILL FACILITIES IN THIS REGION THAT SERVICES LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. IF YOU LOOK BACK AND HISTORY WHERE THE LANDFILL WAS LOCATED. IT WAS LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT WAS HISTORICALLY CALLED THE WET WOODS. IT WAS A WETLAND. IT WAS A HISTORIC WETLAND THAT SERVED A PURPOSE FOR THIS COMMUNITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW IT FILTERED WATER. UH, IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN FLOOD CONTROL. IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT. ROLE IN PROVIDING HABITAT, BUT SOME OF THESE WETLAND AREAS THAT DIDN'T STAY WET ALL THE TIME WHERE FARMLAND AREAS THAT ACTUALLY WERE MOVED FROM BEING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF WETLAND TO BRING THEM INTO FARMING. SO OVER TIME. WHAT HAPPENED WITH WETLANDS IS HISTORICALLY HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND ALSO NATIONWIDE, WE LOST AND DISREGARDED SO MANY ACRES OF OUR WETLANDS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ITS VALUE SO BECAUSE.
WHAT OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT LAND NOW SETS OF AREAS THAT ARE SURROUNDED BY WETLANDS. THEY HAVE TO GET A PERMIT FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND FROM THE DIVISION OF WATER TO EXPAND.
ANY OF THEIR OF THEIR THEIR WASTE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INTO EXISTING WETLANDS AND 1985.
THERE WAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER PASSED BY THE PRESIDENT CALLED THE NO NET LOSS OF WETLANDS, WHICH MEANT THAT IF YOU DESTROY ACRES OF WETLANDS, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO MITIGATE THAT LOSS. AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FULFILL THAT NEED TO EXPAND THEIR LANDFILL BY UH, ABSORBING.
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A FEW ACRES OF WETLANDS, AND IN RETURN, THEY HAVE TO MITIGATE THAT. SO WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY BOUGHT A 90 ACRE PARCEL OF LAND OFF A BRAND AUSTIN ROAD. FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSFORMING IT BACK INTO WETLANDS AS THEY NEEDED IT FOR MITIGATION. SO THERE'S A 17.8 ACRE TRACK OF LAND WITHIN THAT EIGHT ACRE PARCEL THAT THEY HAVE TRANSFORMED BACK INTO A WETLAND. THEY HAVE LOWERED THE ELEVATION. THEY HAVE RESTORED THE WETND HYDROLOGY. AND THEY HAVE RESTORED THE WETLAND PLANT SPECIES. THOSE THREE THINGS MAKE IT BACK INTO A WETLAND AGAIN. UM THIS 17.8 ACRE ACRES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT UNDER A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN PERPETUITY. WILL HAVE NO PUBLIC ACCESS. UH, BUT IT WILL BE RESERVED AS A WETLAND WITH THOSE FEATURES THAT BRING BACK WATER QUALITY ATTRIBUTE. FLOOD CONTROL. AND WILDLIFE HABITAT INTO THE AREA THAT'S ACCEPTABLE.UH THIS IS REQUIRED BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE KENTUCKY DIVISION OF WATER. THERE'S NO RESERVED HOUSE SITES ON THIS WETLAND. AND IT WILL BE A WETLAND. IN PERPETUITY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF. AND HAS ANYTHING THIS IS OUR ATTORNEY THAT HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH BOTH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND ALSO THE CONVICT KENTUCKY DIVISION OF WATER AND BRINGING THIS AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSERVATION EASTMAN AND TO FRUITION. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANGELA TSEN WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND I REPRESENT THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. THE TRUST WAS ESTABLISHED IN L. M C O CHAPTER 158. IT STARTS WITH 1 58 01 AND IN 1 58 02. IT SAYS THAT METRO COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO GIVE PERMISSION BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST CAN TAKE ON A CONSERVATION EASEMENT. SO THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE RESOLUTION HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE.
THAT I ACTUALLY CANNOT SEE. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. AND THE FIRST FEW MIGHT BE FOR YOU. I'LL START BACKWARDS. SO THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES THAT ESTABLISHES THE TRUST SAYS THAT PROPERTY ACQUIRED SHALL PROVIDE WHERE POSSIBLE, LIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS.
SUPERVISED OR UNSUPERVISED. I SEE IT SAYS NO PUBLIC ACCESS. FOR THIS ONE. COULD SOMEONE TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THOSE LIMITS ARE AND HOW WE DETERMINE THEM? MAKE IT WORKS. THIS PROPERTY WOULD NOT HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS BECAUSE I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROBLEMS ALREADY WITH TRESPASSING ON THE PROPERTY. SO THAT WOULD BE THE REASON FOR A LIMIT. ALTHOUGH I DO RECALL AND DISCUSSIONS THAT THIS LANDOWNER WOULD BE WILLING TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL TYPE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE SUPERVISED. AND THEN WITH THE DEFINITION OF CONTROVERSY AND EASEMENT THAT WE SAW EARLIER IT HAD THE KEY WORD IN AGREEMENT . SO WHEN THE AGREEMENTS ARE ENACTED, DOES THE LAND BECOME PUBLICLY ON OR IS IT STILL PRIVATELY OWNED? IT'S STILL PRIVATELY OWNED LAND, AND SO WHEN A LANDOWNER ENTERS INTO A KIND AGREEMENT FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT. TO PRESERVE THOSE CULTIVATION VALUES. THE PUBLIC BENEFITS FROM THOSE VALUES. AND THEY HOLD TYPE OF THE OWNER STILL HOLDS TITLE TO THAT LAND AND WHAT THE DONOR THAT ACCEPTS THAT CONSERVATION EAST BUT THEY'RE GRANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND MONITOR THE EAST MONTHS. WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE LANDOWNERS TO PROVIDE SOMETHING BETTER OF. ACCESS AND A LOT OF CASES. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY ALLOW SCHOOL GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS EDUCATIONAL GROUPS OUT THERE, BUT THE LIABILITY OF JUST OPENING THAT. AND HAVING SOMEBODY TO STEP OUT. ON THEIR PROPERTY WITHOUT KNOWING WHO'S OUT THERE. THAT TYPE OF PUBLIC ACCESS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GENERALLY ALLOWED NOW, IF IT'S ON PUBLIC LAND THAT'S OWNED BY METRO GOVERNMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND IT HAS AN EASEMENT ON IT, WHICH THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST CANNOT HOLD AND HE'S BEEN ON LAND THAT'S OWNED BY JEFFERSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN HOLD THAT EASTMAN THEY CAN ALLOW WHATEVER TYPE OF PUBLIC
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ACCESS THAT THEY WANT, BUT THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY STILL OWN THE PROPERTY. MOST OF THE LAND THAT WE DO HAVE UNDER CONSERVATION. EASTMAN. HAS SOME TYPE OF ACCESS IT'S GRANTED TO CHURCH GROUPS. BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, EDUCATIONAL GROUPS, THEY'LL HOLD PUBLIC FIELD DAYS OUT THERE FOR EDUCATION, WHETHER IT'S, UH, TO INVITE OTHER FARMERS OUT TO SEE NEW TECHNOLOGY OR TO SEE THINGS THAT ARE INNOVATIVE ON THEIR FARMS. SO THEY DO PROVIDE ACCESS, BUT JUST NOT OPEN ACCESS. EVERY DAY FOR SOMEBODY TO COME OUT ON THE PROPERTY AND WALK AROUND. THAT BECOMES A LIABILITY ISSUE FOR THEM, TOO. UNDERSTOOD. MADAM CLERK. I HAVE A NOTIFICATION FOR TWO PEOPLE, BUT NO NAMES LISTED. BAKER. NO QUESTION. JUST, UH. ONCE YOU COMMEND YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. I WOULD. I WAS TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US NOT JUST TO GET THAT ZERO BUT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF KEEPING THE INTEGRITY OF WETLANDS AND, UM THINGS THIS NEXT SHOW. JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR NOW AND PRESENTATION. THE BREAKDOWN AND CONTEXT THAT YOU GAVE IN THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF IT.THANK YOU FOR THAT FOR ME. UM AND JUST, UM, I SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUE. I MEAN, I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THESE EASEMENTS IN THESE CYCLES OF RESOLUTIONS AS THEY COME OUR WAY . SO AGAIN. JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND THE ENTIRE GROUP DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
AGREED. RUBY OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, FOR STARTERS, I WANT TO SAY IT IS A NICE JOB. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE. MY HUSBAND I USED TO WORK AT SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS ON OUTER LOOP AND THEY HAD A CONSTRUCTED WETLAND IN THERE AND HE SAID IT WAS PHENOMENAL. THE WILDLIFE THAT WOULD COME INTO THAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAREHOUSE PARK. SO IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY SCIENTIFIC MONITORING OF THAT TO SEE HOW IT DEVELOPS? WHAT'S GOING TO COME IN THERE? SO UM, ON PART OF THAT PERMIT PROCESS OF REQUIRED FROM THE DIVISION OF WATER AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THEY DO HAVE THERE'S A BELIEVE THERE'S A FIVE YEAR PLUS A FIVE YEAR MONITORING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. UM ON THAT SITE. ONE IS TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY. THE OTHER ONE IS TO MONITOR THE GRAND WATER LEVEL. THERE'S AN INVENTORY. WE DO WHAT'S CALLED A BASELINE INVENTORY ON EVERY SITE THAT HAS INCARCERATION. EASTMAN AND THAT BASELINE INVENTORY IS A RECORD PLANT MATERIALS OF ANIMALS OF WILDLIFE. AND WE COLLECT THAT FROM ALL DIFFERENT SOURCES, EITHER FROM THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY OR FROM OUR SIGHTINGS OURSELVES, BUT IN THE CASE ON THE WET ON THE WASTE MANAGEMENT THEY HAD CONTACTED A FIRM. FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TO LOOK AT THAT SITE AND TO MONITOR IT AND TO DOCUMENT THE WILDLIFE THAT WAS OUT THERE. THE PLANT MATERIALS WE HAVE THAT IN A BONDER THAT'S CALLED A BASELINE MONITORING REPORT. THAT TELLS US SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION OUT THERE IF THERE'S RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES AND ALL OF THOSE, AND WE WILL COLLECT MORE DATA. EACH TIME THAT WE DO MONITORING ALL THAT SITE. TO SEE IF THERE'S DIFFERENT WILDLIFE THE TAT THERE IF THERE SEEMS TO BE CHANGES IN THE HYDROLOGY IF THERE'S OTHER EFFECTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ON THAT LAND, IT'S UNDER A CONSERVATION EASEMENT. SO YES, THERE IS MONITORING THAT'S DONE. AND. UH AT SOME POINT IN TIME THAT KENTUCKY DIVISION OF WATER AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILL. TO THEIR SATISFACTION. THEY WILL AGREE THAT THAT PROPERTY MEETS ALL THE FUNCTIONS AND VALUES OVER WET LING. AND SO THEN IT WILL BE UP TO WASTE MANAGEMENT AND OUR EYES AS THE AS THE AS WE LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE CARRYING IT OUT. THOSE THINGS THAT WOULD NOT NEGATIVELY INFECTS. THE CONSERVATION VALUES THAT PROPERTY SO THEY HAVE TO KEEP IT IN US AS A WETLAND IN PERPETUITY, OUR HOPE IS THAT OVER TIME THAT THEY WILL TAKE THAT ENTIRE 90 ACRE PARCEL. AND TURN THAT INTO WETLANDS AS NEEDED, SO THEY'RE DOING THAT STAIR STEP AS A TIME AS THEY NEED IT. SO, UM WE DO WORK WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND WITH OTHERS AND CARRIAGE IN THEM. IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO, BECAUSE IT'S A VOLUNTARY ACTION BY PRIVATE LANDOWNERS. IF THEY ARE WILLING TO PROTECT THEIR LAND THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT THERE'S A LOCAL ENTITY THAT WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT THAT
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HAPPENS. AND GIVE THEM PEACE OF MIND THAT THEIR FAMILY FARM WILL ALWAYS BE A FAMILY FARM THAT THEY'RE WETLANDS THAT THERE TREASURE WILL ALWAYS BE A WETLAND THAT THEY'RE OPEN SCENIC SPACES THAT PROVIDE BEAUTY AND AIR QUALITY AND WATER QUALITY WILL ALWAYS BE THERE, THEN THAT'S OUR ROLE TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES ENSURE THAT IN PERPETUITY BUT THOSE WISHES WILL BE CARRIED OUT. WHAT A WONDERFUL VISION SO JUST TO BE CLEAR. THE LAND IS PROTECTED, BUT THEY CAN STILL SELL IT RIGHT, ELLETT, BUT THE ENCUMBRANCES THAT WITH THAT LAND GOES WITH IT. SO WHEN YOU BUY THAT PROPERTY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THIS IT'S THIS WETLAND OR FARM THAT'S UNDER CONSERVATION EAST, BUT THAT DOCUMENT CARRIES OVER TO THE LAND. HE'S MINTS ARE FILED IN THE COURTHOUSE. AND THEY'RE UNDER RECORD AND AGAIN. UNLIKE A DEED RESTRICTION. WE ARE REQUIRED TO VISIT THAT SIDE AT MINIMUM ONCE A YEAR AND TO WALK IT. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND A DEED RESTRICTION. DID RESTRICTION. NOBODY. MAY EVEN KNOW THAT IT'S THERE UNLESS YOU WERE THERE WHEN THAT DATE RESTRICTION WAS FORMED. SO HOW DOES SOMEONE GO ABOUT SETTING UP A CONSERVATION EASEMENT WORKING WITH MSD TO GET SOMETHING RECREATED INTO A WET ONE? UM. THEY MAKE A CALL TO THE LOCAL JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST, AND WE WILL WE WILL LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY. SO I MEAN IN THE CASE WITH THE LAND LIKE LIKE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND A LOT OF CASES, THEY KNOW THAT, UH, BECAUSE ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS FOR THEM IS THAT WITHIN THE DOCUMENTS OF THE STATE THEY ARE REQUIRED. TO PUT A CONSERVATION EASTMAN ON THE LAND. THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO USE LOIBL JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. SO WE HAVE A HISTORY WITH. WITH THE DIVISION OF WATER AND THE CORE OF ENGINEERS ON SOME OF THEIR REGULATORY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. TO COME TO US BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE WORK THAT WE DO THEY LIKE LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND THEY KNOW THAT UH, TO HAVE LOCALIZE ON THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND SO THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS MIGHT BE PLACES LIKE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE AN INTEREST IN HOLDING A CONSERVATION EASTLAND. UM SMALLER PARCELS OF LAND LIKE THAT. UH SO FOR PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, UM THEY CONTACT US WITH. THEIR DESIRE AND INTEREST AND LOOKING AT THE CONSERVATION EASTMAN AND WE'RE OPEN. WE WILL TELL THEM THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, BUT YOU FIND THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP. AND WHAT? THAT'S WHAT THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE. IT'S WHEN YOU SAY IN PERPETUITY THAN URINE ARRANGEMENT WITH THEM FOR EVER HAD LONG. THAT IS AND SO YOU FIND THE RIGHT PARTNERSHIP TO WORK WITH AND WE'VE BEEN THE RIGHT PARTNERSHIP FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT EXPRESS WANTING TO PRESERVE THEIR LAND IN PERPETUITY. VERY GOOD. SO ARE THEIR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE OVERSIGHT OR THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS. EVERY CONSERVATION EASEMENT SHOULD HAVE OVERSIGHT OF JUST A CASE IN POINT IS THERE IS A. THERE'S A GROUP IN THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CALLED PACE. HIS PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASTWARDS, AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOLD CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON FARMLAND, AND THEY DO. THAT'S ONE OF THEIR CHARGES. BUT THEY MONITOR THEIR EASEMENTS. ON THE GROUND ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS. NOT ANNUALLY. THEY WILL SEND A QUESTIONNAIRE OUT TO THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY AND ASKED THEM TO FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND SEND IT BACK IN. WE DON'T DO THAT. WE PUT FOODS BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND WE MAKE A VISIT EVERY YEAR. AND WE DO A MONITORING REPORT REPORT BACK TO THE LANDOWNER. WHAT WE FOUND IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL VIOLATION OF THE CONSERVATION EASTMAN, THEN WE WILL TALK TO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY STAFF. AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE THINK MIGHT BE A VIOLATION OF THE EASEMENT. AND IF THERE'S A CONCLUSION THAT THERE'S A VIOLATION OF THE EASTMAN, THEN THERE HAS TO BE A REMEDY. AND THAT REMEDY IS EITHER TO RESTORE IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL. WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE OR WORK TOWARDS RESTORED IT IF YOU[01:00:04]
CUT DOWN 100 YEAR OLD TREE YOU CAN'T REPLACE 100 YEAR OLD TREE. BUT YOU CAN YOU CAN MITIGATE SOME VALUE THERE. AND MAKE THAT WORK OUT. SO. OKAY THANK YOU. VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD INFORMATION. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU. TWO DIRECTORS SIT ON THE BOARD OR APPOINTEES OF DIRECTORS. UH UM. IT'S. ITS REPRESENTATIVES FROM THOSE FOUR FOOTPRINTS. I MEAN, IT'S FAIRLY IT'S NOT REAL FREQUENT THAT WE WILL GET THE DIRECTOR OF MSD, OR PUBLIC WORKS OR PARTS OR BUT THEY WILL HAVE, HOWEVER, REPRESENTATIVES. IT'S THERE. AND WE ALSO. AND EVERY ONE OF OUR BOARD MEN BOARD MEETINGS. WE ALSO HAVE WHAT'S CALLED AN ADVISORY GROUP. AND THAT ADVISORY GROUP. THEY DON'T VOTE, BUT THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT BRING VALUE AND SUBSTANCE TO OUR DISCUSSIONS. A LOT OF THOSE ARE NATIVE PLANTS SPECIALIST. THEY MIGHT BE BIOLOGISTS, HYDROLOGIST LAND PLANNERS, JUST THE WHOLE WEALTH OF PEOPLE THAT WE BRING IN. AND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS WILL GO ON THOSE MONITORING VISITS. AND ACTUALLY THOSE ACCEPTANCE VISITS WHEN WE GO OUT TO LOOK AT PROPERTY TO HELP US LOOK AT AND FIND RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, HABITATS, THINGS THAT ARE THAT ARE VERY MUCH OF INTEREST TO LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. AS WE BUT THOSE LANDS UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FROM YOUR WEBSITE. THERE'S AN INTERACTIVE MAP OF THE EASEMENTS. WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND THAT? WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT.OKAY SO WE DO HAVE UNDER IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FIND SOME STUFF. BUT UNDER LOGIC, YOU CAN FIND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, BUT WE'VE TALKED WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A HAD A RETREAT AND WE TALKED ABOUT REALLY THE NEED FOR US TO BE MORE VISIBLE. AND TO BE MORE PROACTIVE, INTERESTING THING AND I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE ON THE BOARD CHAIRMAN AND I'M NOT METRO EMPLOYEE BUT THE FIRST YEAR OF SERVED ON THE BOARD ACTUALLY TOO LONG. THAT 1919 94 DATE. IS WHAT I STARTED ON THE BOARD AND I BECAME CHAIR AT THAT TIME. UM. AND THAT IS THE ONLY YEAR THAT WE EVER RECEIVED A FINANCIAL REPORT OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM METRO GOVERNMENT. WE GOT $10,000. OTHER THAN THAT. WE HAVE BEEN DEPENDENT ON THOSE FIVE. AGENCIES TO PROVIDE US WITH THINGS THAT WE NEED AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND WE DO. WE'RE 501 C THREE SO WE CAN TAKE DONATIONS AND A LOT OF THE DONORS THAT GIVE LAND. UNDER CONSERVATION. EASTMAN WILL MAKE A DONATION TO THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST, BUT YES, WE DO NEED AN INTERACTIVE MAP. WE DO NEED THINGS THAT MAKE US MORE VISIBLE. AS A STAFF AND AS A GROUP. WE DO GO OUT TO PLACES AND MAKE PRESENTATIONS. WE WILL TALK UP. WHAT THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST IS WE'RE PART OF WHAT'S CALLED THE KENTUCKY LAND TRUST ALLIANCE, AND WE MEET WITH OTHER LAND TRUST ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE. ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD. SHORTLY IS THAT THERE'S A GROUP CALLED BLUEGRASS CONSERVANCY THAT WROTE A GRANT TO USDA, THE OLD AGENCY THAT I WORKED WITH. AND THEY'VE GOTTEN A $22 MILLION GRANT. PART OF THAT GRANT IS GOING TO COME TO LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY TO WORK WITH URBAN LANDOWNERS. TO WORK WITH THEM AND GETTING CONSERVATION. EASTMAN'S ON THEIR PROPERTY IF THEY DESIRE TO DO SO. SO. LAST QUESTION THIS MIGHT BE FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. I'M LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE. IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE OLD COUNTY IN 94. LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS SOME SORT OF CHANGE IN 97 AND THEN AGAIN WITH LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT IN 2007 MOST ORDINANCES FROM THE OLD CITY AND COUNTY WERE ADOPTED OR RE ADOPTED AND 03. SO DID THE TRUST STILL FUNCTION BETWEEN 03 AND 07. WAS THERE A GAP? I BELIEVE THAT IT DID STILL FUNCTION. I THINK KURT MASON COULD SPEAK TO THAT SINCE HE'S BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR THAT WHOLE ENTIRE TIME. BUT THE BOARD. WOULD THE. THEY LAND TRUST IS PART OF METRO GOVERNMENT AND, AS KURT
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EXPLAINED HOW IT WORKED, BUT ACTUALLY, METRO GOVERNMENT ITSELF IS ACTUALLY HOLDING THESE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. SO THE E SUPPORT IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK LATER, ASK FOR SOME MONEY. WE WILL. WE WILL CERTAINLY DO THAT. PLUS WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO METRO WITH SOME OTHER CONSERVATION. EASTMAN'S THAT WE HAVE IN THE HOPPER. THAT WILL PROBABLY MOVE FORWARD WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. SO THAT'S GOOD. I MIGHT HIT YOU UP. I GOT LIKE A BEAVER IN MY BACKYARD MAN THAT WAS GOING ON. ALL RIGHT. NO OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS. THIS IS A RESOLUTION WITH THE VOICE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED. HMM ALRIGHT, WE WILL SEND IT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR AT THE NEXT METRO COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING FOR THE YEAR IN THIS COMMITTEE. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU ALL. I'LL SEE YOU. VERY SOON. PEACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.