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METRO TV WILL START IN ONE MINUTE.
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WAITING ON A QUORUM.[Call to Order]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE PARKS AND[Roll Call]
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. I'M COUNCILWOMAN FOWLER. I'M JOINED BY MY VICE CHAIR, COUNCILWOMAN MARILYN PARKER. VIRTUALLY. AND CHAMBERS, I HAVE COUNCILMAN ZACKARY ARTHUR, COUNCILMAN RICK BLACKWELL, COUNCILMAN. MULVIHILL, AND COUNCILWOMAN RUBY AND COUNCILMAN HUDSON, WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. ONE IS A DISCUSSION. THAT'S THE FIRST ITEM. AND THEN TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION. SO WE HAVE MICHELLE KING. HERE SHE IS NEW TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AS OUR DIRECTOR. AND I WELCOME YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE'S GOING TO WORK ON. THANK YOU. AND JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M MICHELLE KING. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION, JUST THANK YOU. FIRST FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW ME AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MY VISION IS FOR MY ROLE AT LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION. JUST A FEW SLIDES TO HELP US KIND OF STEP THROUGH THIS, BUT I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONVERSATION, HERE AND IN THE FUTURE, INDIVIDUALLY WITH WITH ALL OF YOU. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME. I AM NEW TO PARKS AND RECREATION. THIS JUST COMPLETED, TWO MONTHS ON THE JOB THERE. SO, DEFINITELY STILL ON MY STEEP LEARNING CURVE WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, BUT I'M NOT NEW TO LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT, BEFORE JOINING PARKS AND RECREATION, I WAS AT THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT FOR 19.5 YEARS, PRECEDING THAT, I WORKED FOR THE STATE DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT. AND SO MY CAREER HAS BEEN IN PUBLIC
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SERVICE SINCE GRADUATING FROM LAW SCHOOL AND MY GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND LAW. AND BEFORE THAT, MY UNDERGRADUATE IS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CONCEPTS OF STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC RESOURCES AND OUR LAND COMMUNITY HEALTH, AND JUST BEING A SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN BAKED INTO ME FROM, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, MOREOVER, NOT ON THIS SLIDE. I'LL ALSO SAY I AM A NATIVE LOUISVILLIAN. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, WENT AWAY TO SCHOOL AND FOR A FEW YEARS COMMUTED OVER TO FRANKFORT. BUT LOUISVILLE IS MY HOME, NOW, AND IN MY HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. SO IT IS CERTAINLY A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO SERVE IN METRO GOVERNMENT AND SERVE MY COMMUNITY. SO I HAVE A FEW BULLET POINTS ON THESE SLIDES OF SOME GOALS AND PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT I SEE IN THE BEGINNING OF MY TENURE HERE. THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE ORDER OF PRIORITY HERE ON THE SLIDES. THEY FIT ON THE SLIDES THIS WAY. BUT I WILL START WITH, I THINK, PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST, OVERARCHING PRIORITIES AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M HERE.AND I THINK THE REASON WHY SO MANY PEOPLE WERE ANXIOUS TO FIND THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR PARKS AND RECREATION, A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SEEN A LOT OF TURNOVER IN ITS LEADERSHIP OVER SEVERAL YEARS, SOME QUICK SUCCESSION OF DIRECTORS, A FEW INTERIMS THAT HAVE KEPT A STEADY HAND ON THE WHEEL. BUT, I'M HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL, SO MY FIRST, JOB, I SAY, IS TO SUPPORT THE PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM THROUGH CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE MARKETING OF OUR PROGRAMS, CONSISTENT BRANDING, A MISSION THAT IS DELIVERED THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, ACROSS THE PARKS AND RECREATION SPECTRUM. AND AS I'M LEARNING, THAT'S A VERY LARGE SPECTRUM. THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS, I THINK, HAS A BREADTH OF WORK THAT WOULD SURPRISE MANY. SO MY HOPE IS THAT WHAT I AM DOING WHEN I COME TO THIS TEAM, I'M NOT HERE TO REPLACE. I'M NOT HERE TO SUPPLANT. I'M HERE TO ADD TO, I'M FILLING GAPS, NOT PICKING UP SLACK BECAUSE THERE IS NO SLACK IN THIS TEAM. SO I IT'S BEEN, A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO JOIN THE TEAM. I'VE BEEN WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS AND, REALLY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED IN THESE LAST TWO MONTHS IN A WAY THAT, I DON'T THINK I WAS NECESSARILY SURPRISED BY. BUT I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR. SO, NEXT, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE FIRST NEW INITIATIVES THAT I'M BRINGING TO METRO PARKS AND RECREATION IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, THAT IDEA CAME ABOUT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ASKED WHAT I THINK ABOUT STARTING THIS PROGRAM WITHIN METRO PARKS AND RECREATION, AND I THOUGHT, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY GOOD FIT. WE ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNITY GARDENS OPERATING IN OUR SPACES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY ONES WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY EXTENSION OFFICE. WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE OF THAT, AND WE HAVE A PLATFORM THROUGH WHICH WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE URBAN AGRICULTURE PARTNERS. AND HERE I JUST HAVE TO, REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE NOT HERE TO CHANGE THE URBAN AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY HERE IN LOUISVILLE. WE'RE HERE TO ADD TO IT. WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ALREADY A LOT OF THRIVING PROGRAMS OUT THERE. HOW CAN WE HELP AMPLIFY THOSE PROGRAMS? THOSE RESOURCES, DELIVER THEM TO MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY? AND THEN WHERE CAN WE BRING OUR RESOURCES IN TO ADD TO THOSE COMMUNITY ASSETS? SO, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHERE WE GO WITH THIS. WE HAVE THREE INITIAL PRIORITIES. I'D SAY FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS PROGRAM. FIRST, WE'D LIKE TO FIND WAYS TO EXPAND COMMUNITY GARDENS IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION SPACES. LIKE I SAY, WE ALREADY HAVE SOME OPERATING THERE, BUT WE HAVE MUCH MORE POTENTIAL. WE KNOW, AND THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE, PARTNERS AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS. THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST AMONG OUR COMMUNITY CENTER STAFF AND PARTICIPANTS IN SOME COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THOSE SPACES. AND HOW CAN WE USE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ACCESS TO BOTH FOOD RESOURCES, BUT ALSO FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION? SO THAT'S ALSO SORT OF A SECOND GOAL IS TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THOSE COMMUNITY URBAN AGRICULTURE ASSETS THAT CAN BRING THEM INTO THOSE SPACES. ADD PROGRAMING TO
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OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND OUR PARK SPACES. SO AGAIN, OUR ASSETS LEVERAGED AGAINST THE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT OUR PARTNERS ALREADY HAVE GOING AND JUST AMPLIFYING THOSE. AND THEN WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE A HUB WITHIN METRO GOVERNMENT FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. PEOPLE WONDER, WHERE DO I GO TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT URBAN AGRICULTURE IDEAS OR RESOURCES HERE IN METRO GOVERNMENT, THAT'S PARKS AND RECREATION. WE HAVE A HOME FOR THAT NOW. SO THAT IS VERY NEW. WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF HOMEWORK. WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO MANY OF THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE AND THE PROSPECTS FOR WHAT WE CAN ADD INTO THAT SPACE, I SKIPPED OVER ONE OF MY OWN BULLETS IN THE SUPPORTING THE PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM. IT'S NOT JUST THE CONTINUITY IN MY LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE TEAM THAT I HOPE TO BRING, BUT I'M ALSO PLANNING TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR RESOURCES FOR OUR TEAM, ESPECIALLY OUR STAFFING NEEDS, BECAUSE PARKS AND RECREATION IS REALLY ABOUT PEOPLE. THAT'S THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT BRING THAT SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE STAFFING NEEDS AND BUDGET CUTS HAVE REQUIRED SOME OF OUR POSITIONS TO BE TEMPORARILY FROSTED IN ORDER TO MEET THE BUDGET REDUCTION GOALS. WE ARE PRIORITIZING THOSE NEEDS, THOUGH, WE'RE HIRING WHERE THE NEED IS THE GREATEST, AND WE'RE EXPLORING THE USE OF CONTRACTORS FOR SOME OF OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT NEEDS. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO SEEK ADDITIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FROM BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDERS. SO WE'RE CURRENTLY EXPLORING SOME OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. AND WE'RE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ON ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDED PROJECTS TO MEET OPERATIONAL AND CAPITAL NEEDS.SO WE ARE OPEN TO ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, EXPLORING THOSE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE WANT TO SERVE AS THAT POINT OF PARTNERSHIP FOR YOU HERE IN METRO COUNCIL AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARK SUPPORTERS, MANY OF WHOM CAN BE GREAT PARTNERS IN THOSE GRANT APPLICATIONS, OR MAYBE HAVE RESOURCES TO INVEST IN A PARKS AND RECREATION THEMSELVES. SO WE ARE HERE FOR THAT, AND WE'RE HOPING TO BRING THOSE RESOURCES TO THE TABLE. NEXT. AND IT ALMOST NEEDED A SLIDE OF ITS OWN BECAUSE IT'S A BIG BULLET POINT. IT'S A BIG JOB. IT'S A BIG PLAN. AND THAT'S THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN THAT I KNOW THIS BODY HAS ENDORSED. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN. WE WANT TO MEET OUR MISSION THROUGH THAT PLAN. OUR MISSION IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT AND GROW A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY. TO BE SURE, WE ARE ALREADY IMPLEMENTING ASPECTS OF THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN, THOUGH WE DO HAVE MUCH MORE TO DO. HOW DO WE DO THAT? WELL, FIRST WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE INVESTMENT OF FUNDING WHEREVER THAT FUNDING IS COMING FROM. THAT PLAN TELLS US TO FOCUS ON FOUR AREAS. FIRST, WE FOCUS ON OUR DAY TO DAY MAINTENANCE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM DOES EVERY DAY. WE REGULARLY MEET CHALLENGES THAT PARK USE AND PARK ABUSE BOTH BRING OUR WAY, BUT FURTHER, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS THROUGH GRANT FUNDING FROM THE USDA FORESTRY SERVICE AND WILL BE BRINGING MORE TREE MAINTENANCE TO OUR THOSE RESOURCES TO OUR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR HOPE IS TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES THROUGH THAT FUNDING THAT WILL ENDURE BEYOND THE FIVE YEAR GRANT PERIOD. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO UPGRADE OUR MAINTENANCE FACILITIES, INCLUDING REESTABLISHING A CENTRAL MAINTENANCE FACILITY THAT WILL PROVIDE A HOME TO MANY OF OUR OPERATIONS, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND URBAN FORESTRY TEAMS. THE NEXT AREA FOR INVESTMENT, ACCORDING TO THE PLAN WOULD BE REHABILITATION AND THANKS TO FUNDING FROM THIS METRO COUNCIL AND FROM MAYOR GREENBURG, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TACKLE MANY DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND HAVE MORE ON THE BOOKS. WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO REIMAGINE THE FACILITIES AT SOME OF OUR PRIORITY PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, AS IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN, THE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR BALLARD PARK AND GILMORE PARK IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ARE REALLY GOOD EXAMPLES OF THAT. THIS PLAN WILL HELP US CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THOSE FUNDING REQUESTS, THOUGH I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO POINT OUT THAT FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE, BOTH ROUTINE AND DEFERRED, AND OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS, MUST COINCIDE WITH ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE STAFF THAT MANAGE THOSE PARKS. THOSE PROJECTS, AND THEY PERFORM THE DAY TO DAY LABOR THAT KEEP OUR PARKS MAINTAINED. THE NEXT AREA OF EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IS PROGRAMING AND SERVICES. AND YET ANOTHER AREA WHERE OUR STAFFING NEEDS REALLY COME INTO PLAY IN
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ORDER TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMING. WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY AND RECREATION CENTERS STAFFED ADEQUATELY TO ENSURE OPERATIONAL CONSISTENCY. FORTUNATELY, WE ALSO HAVE MANY GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS HERE. THOSE ARE ACTIVE IN THESE SPACES AND THEY ADD VALUABLE PROGRAMING TO OUR OFFERINGS. I CONTINUE TO SEE NEW PARTNERS, AND I'M LEARNING EVERY DAY MORE ABOUT THE GREAT SERVICES OF THE DEDICATED RECREATION TEAM PROVIDES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE FOURTH AREA OF EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IS CAPITAL INVESTMENT, AND THAT'S FUNDING.NEED IS LAST ON THE LIST FOR A REASON, THOUGH WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING PARKS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, WE ALSO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE ASSETS WE HAVE FIRST. SO ANY INVESTMENTS INTO NEW PARKS AND RECREATION SPACES MUST COME WITH AN EYE TO SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR FUTURE STAFFING AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS. BUT BEYOND THOSE INVESTMENTS, I WILL ALSO BE LOOKING TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS BECAUSE WE ARE FORTUNATE HERE IN LOUISVILLE TO HAVE SOME REALLY FANTASTIC PARTNERS WITH OUR PARKS. WE HAVE OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY, WE HAVE THE PARKS ALLIANCE OF LOUISVILLE, WE HAVE WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE, AND FURTHER, WE HAVE PARTNERS LIKE FIRST TEE LOUISVILLE, PLAY, COUSINS COLLECTIVE AND MANY MORE THAT BRING HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMING INTO OUR SPACES. SO WE'LL LOOK TO COLLABORATE AND REALLY CAPITALIZE ON THOSE PARTNERS, THE RESOURCES THAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE AND HOW THEY COMPLEMENT THE PRIORITIES OF THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN AND THEN LASTLY, I WILL BE RECONSTITUTING THE PARKS ADVISORY COMMISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT DORMANT, AND THAT WILL PROVIDE US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN AND FEEDBACK ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION. THEN THE LAST PRIORITY PROJECT THAT I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY IS THE PARKS RANGERS PROGRAM. THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE GOALS FOR THAT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE A PARK EXPERIENCE WHERE USERS FEEL SAFE, AND THEN ALSO TO IMPROVE THE SECURITY OF PARK ASSETS. MUCH OF THAT DAY TO DAY MAINTENANCE THAT WERE REFERRED TO EARLIER COMES BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF VANDALISM AND OTHER ACTS AGAINST OUR PARK ASSETS, SO THAT PARK RANGERS PROGRAM WILL HELP BOTH OUR USERS AND OUR ASSETS IN THE LONG RUN. THE PLAN THERE IS FOR SWORN OFFICERS THAT WILL ENFORCE PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS AND WORK CLOSELY WITH LMPD WHEN NEEDED. THEY WILL ALSO ENHANCE OUR CURRENT EFFORTS TO DETER UNAUTHORIZED AND UNSAFE ACTIVITY IN THE PARKS. CURRENTLY, THOSE EFFORTS INCLUDE A SPECIALIZED RESPONSE WITHIN PARKS, A PARTNERSHIP AND RIDE ALONGS WITH LMPD, AND IN-PERSON INTERACTION WITH THE UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OFTEN NEEDING RESOURCES IN OUR PARKS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES HERE, THOUGH CERTAINLY WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DISCUSS SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW PROJECTS THAT I KNOW I'VE HAD, SOME OF THEM HAVE COME UP IN QUESTIONS LATELY, AND SOME JUST ARE OF INTEREST. AND IT'S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, THEY'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SHARING A LOT OF GOOD NEWS. ALL THOSE INVESTMENTS FROM THE PAST BUDGET CYCLE HAVE STARTED COMING INTO FRUITION. SO WE'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO A LOT OF, GREAT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RIBBON CUTTINGS. I THINK THE SCISSORS NEED TO GET SHARPENED AT THIS POINT. THEY'RE GETTING A LITTLE DULL FROM ALL THE RIBBON CUTTING, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE NATURE PLAY AREAS. THE RIVER OVERLOOK AND THE REHABILITATED AND RECONSTRUCTED POND AT CHICKASAW PARK. THAT WAS JUST THIS PAST SATURDAY WAS THE CANOE LAUNCH AT THE POND, AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO SEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUT PADDLING AROUND ON THAT CHICKASAW PARK POND. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. TRULY A GREAT DAY.
WE'VE ALSO CELEBRATED THE GRAND REOPENING OF ELLIOTT PARK, THE NEW AND REFRESHED SPORTS COURTS, AND IROQUOIS PARK, AND JUST RECENTLY, THE REOPENING OF BRIDGE NUMBER TWO IN CHEROKEE PARK, JUST TO NAME A FEW, UPCOMING, WE HAVE THE HVAC REPLACEMENT AT THE SHAWNEE COMMUNITY CENTER STARTING NEXT WEEK. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WILL REQUIRE CLOSURE TEMPORARILY OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHILE THAT WORK IS UNDERWAY, BUT THE NEED IS REALLY TOO GREAT TO DELAY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A HEALTHY AND COMFORTABLE SPACE WHEN THAT DOES REOPEN, WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT A SIX WEEK CLOSURE PERIOD IS OUR HOPE. POOLS. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF GREAT ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT POOLS.
BOTH THE CAMP TAYLOR AND ALGONQUIN POOLS HAVE SEEN COMPLETE DEMOLITION OF THE PREVIOUS STRUCTURES, AND WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS TOWARD A CONSTRUCTION
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PERIOD THROUGH THIS WINTER AND SPRING. WE ANTICIPATE BOTH WILL BE OPEN NEXT MAY FOR A REALLY GREAT SUMMER SWIM SEASON. PICKLEBALL COURTS, CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY PICKLEBALL COURT ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE HAVE GEORGE ROGERS PARK CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY, WITH COMPLETION BY MID-OCTOBER, IS ANTICIPATED AND A REALLY, BIG CHANGES HAPPENING OUT AT JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST. AND WE ARE SEEING, REALLY CLOSE TO, TO COMPLETION ON SOME OF THE PROJECTS AT THE TOM WALLACE RECREATION AREA AROUND THE LAKE. THERE WE HAVE EXPANDED PARKING, BATHROOMS AND AMAZING ADA ACCESSIBLE PATH THAT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE LAKE THROUGH THE WOODS. THAT'S REALLY A UNIQUE ASSET FOR THAT AREA AND SOMETHING THAT I REALLY AM EXCITED TO SEE PUT TO. GOOD USE.THERE'S ALSO ACCESSIBLE FISHING PIERS ALONG THE LAKE NOW, SO THAT REALLY OPENS UP THAT OUTDOOR NATURAL SPACE RECREATION OPPORTUNITY TO A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WOULD HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY ACCESSING THAT BEFORE. SO THERE'S MANY MORE TO COME, MANY MORE THAT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.
AND COMPLETED IN THIS LAST SUMMER PERIOD AS WELL. BUT THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
AND SOME OF THE REASONS WHY IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TIME TO COME ON BOARD AT PARKS AND RECREATIO.
SO I'LL JUST FINISH UP WITH THANK YOUS, I HAVE SEVERAL, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I REALLY HAVE TO THANK THE PARKS AND RECREATION LEADERSHIP TEAM, LIKE I SAY, I'VE BEEN WELCOMED THERE IN A WAY THAT I'VE JUST CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR, THIS WAS A FAIRLY DIFFICULT SUMMER, AND THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY AND JUST THE HIGHEST CALIBER OF PROFESSIONALS AND REALLY THE BEST KIND OF PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH, A FEW OF THOSE FOLKS ARE HERE TODAY. WE HAVE DIRECTOR JASON CANUEL. WE HAVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR BEN JOHNSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR NATHAN MAYWALD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MASOUD AKULU.
I PRACTICE IT, I PROMISE. I DID, WE ALSO HAVE EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR SARAH FLORSHEIM HERE, NOT HERE WITH US. BUT ALSO PART OF THIS GREAT TEAM IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PAUL ADAMS. EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR BRIDGET FRALEY, AND OUR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, JOHN RYDER. I ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO METRO COUNCIL. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET WITH SEVERAL OF YOU SO FAR, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU. THAT'S PART OF MY LEARNING CURVE, GETTING TO KNOW ALL OF YOU, YOUR DISTRICT NEEDS INDIVIDUALLY, YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES IN YOUR DISTRICTS, THIS IS A GREAT BODY OF IDEAS AND RESOURCES, AND LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING WAYS TO MEET ALL OF OUR GOALS COLLECTIVELY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR GREENBERG FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HERE AT PARKS AND RECREATION, AND TO DEPUTY MAYOR GEORGE FOR HER CONFIDENCE AND HER GUIDANCE, WHICH HAS REALLY BEEN INVALUABLE TO ME AS I'VE DIVED INTO THIS BIG NEW JOB OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATIO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KEANE. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND A THOROUGH OVERVIEW. COUNCILMAN ARTHUR HAS A QUESTIO. THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW I PROBABLY SPEAK FOR THE CHAIRWOMAN WHEN I SAY THAT. WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO FIND A REPLACEMENT, SOMEBODY TO LEAD THIS DEPARTMENT. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN YOU, AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE COMING BEFORE YOU. SO THE PARKS FALL ACTION PLAN CALLED FOR AN UPDATE TO DEPARTMENT POLICIES, PRACTICES AND OPERATIONS TO REFLECT NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES. HAVE YOU ALREADY STARTED UPDATING POLICIES, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE YOU MIGHT WANT TO UPDATE IN THE NEAR FUTURE? WE HAVE STARTED LOOKING AT SOME PRIOR POLICIES AS THEY HAVE KIND OF COME UP IN NEED, WE HAVE AN EYE TO SOME OF OUR OPERATIONAL POLICIES ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. SO THAT'S NOT A NEW PRACTICE AT PARKS AND RECREATION. I'VE SEEN THAT, I APPRECIATE THEIR APPROACH TO REVISING POLICY, GETTING MULTIPLE VOICES AND EYES ON IT AND GOING BACK TO THE TABLE UNTIL IT'S A GOOD FIT. WE WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE FUNDING THAT THIS BODY HAS SET ASIDE TO HIRE THE CONSULTANT THAT HELPED PREPARE THE PLAN TO HELP US PRIORITIZE THE IMPLEMENTATION SIDE OF THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT THE POLICY DIRECTION IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO USE THAT OUTSIDE INPUT TO FIND THOSE NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE MODELS AND SEE HOW THEY APPLY BEST HERE IN LOUISVILLE IN 2022 AND 2023, PARKS HAD THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF ETHICS TIP LINE COMPLAINTS
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WITHIN METRO GOVERNMENT, WITH DISCRIMINATION BEING A HUGE ISSUE. TALK TO US ABOUT HOW YOU PLAN TO BUILD MORALE AMONGST EMPLOYEES, RETAIN THOSE EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO FILL VACANCIES THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE. YEAH, THAT CERTAINLY A HUGE CONCERN THAT THERE IS CONCERN AMONGST OUR STAFF ABOUT DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS. SO, THAT THAT HAS TO BE A CONSTANT, CONSTANT CONCERN FOR US AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM. I THINK A BIG PART OF ADDRESSING THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS RESPECT THAT GOES BOTH WAYS UP AND DOWN THAT ORG CHART, AND LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR STAFF AT EVERY LEVEL AND MEETING THOSE NEEDS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DO SEE WITHIN OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, THEY ASK FOR THOSE OPEN CONVERSATIONS AND THEY LISTEN AND LOOK FOR THOSE SOLUTIONS, I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE CHALLENGES MAINTAINING STAFF. SOME OF THAT IS A COMPENSATION QUESTION. WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR UNION NEGOTIATIONS, AND SO WE EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGE IN SOME OF OUR STAFF COMPENSATION, ALTHOUGH THAT IS LARGELY OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL, WE DO ADVOCATE FOR THE BEST COMPENSATION FOR OUR STAFF AS POSSIBLE, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT HAVING ADEQUATE RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS MET, THAT IS ALSO GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS OUR EMPLOYEE MORALE, BEING RESPECTED IN YOUR WORKPLACE IS IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE. AND EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL IT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS, PART OF THE CULTURE AT PARKS AND RECREATION AND NEEDS TO BE PART OF THAT CULTURE AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL. SO ETHICS COMPLAINTS ARE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. WHEN WE TALKED A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU SAID YOU WERE VISITING COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED ON THAT TOUR THAT MIGHT IMPACT SOME OF THE PLANS THAT YOU HAVE FOR PARKS? FIRST THING I LEARNED IS THAT THESE ARE SOME AMAZING, DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS THAT GIVE MORE THAN THEIR TIME. THEY'RE GIVING THEIR HEART AND SOUL TO THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS. THEY LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT THAT COME THERE AND THE JOBS THAT THEY DO. I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE STAFFING THAT THEY REALLY NEED. THEY ARE OFTEN DOING SO WITH FAR TOO FEW PEOPLE. AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO ADEQUATELY STAFF THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS. WE ALSO NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE MAINTENANCE NEEDS, AGAIN, HAVING A SAFE, HEALTHY WORKPLACE IS ALSO A SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY CENTER, FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER USERS. SO THOSE THOSE ARE, I THINK, THE TWO BIGGEST PRIORITIES FOR THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS. AND I'LL JUST FINISH WITH A COMMENT, I AGREE WITH YOU. I'VE DONE A LOT OF PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH HOW, YOU KNOW, TWO PEOPLE CAN HANDLE LARGE CROWDS AND ACCOMMODATE AND JUST SUPPORT THE EVENTS AND THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE GOING ON. OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND OUT OF THE DOORS AS WELL. YOU MENTIONED MARKETING, AND I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST, I THINK YOU ALL HAVE A COMMUNITY CALENDAR THAT HAS A LOT OF PARKS, EVENTS. IT HAS THE IROQUOIS AMPHITHEATER IN IT. I DON'T THINK IT HAS THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROGRAMING IN IT, AND THERE'S SO MUCH PROGRAMING THAT HAPPENS IN THOSE CENTERS, AND I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE HIDDEN GEMS WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY. SO I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THOSE PROGRAMS ARE BEING AMPLIFIED IN YOUR OWN CHANNELS, AND THEN ALSO WORK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE LIBRARY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, OCEAN, THEY HAVE A LOT OF OUTREACH EVENTS TO MAKE SURE THEIR PROGRAMING IS BEING SHARED ACROSS METRO GOVERNMENT AS WELL, BECAUSE PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY NOTHING FOR OUR KIDS TO DO. AND I POINT TO THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT BEING WRONG. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE. I'LL GET BACK IN THE QUEUE IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT OBSERVATION, COUNCILMAN MULVIHILL. I THINK SOMEBODY WAS IN THE QUEUE BEFORE ME. OH, SORRY, COUNCILMAN HUDSON, MY APOLOGIES. YEAH, I THINK COUNCILWOMAN RUBY NEEDS TO LEAVE EARLY, AND I'LL DEFER AND LET HER GO AHEAD OF ME. IF OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN RUBY.THANK YOU. SAVED ME. SENDING YOU A TEXT MESSAGE THERE. SO. THANK YOU. AS I LISTENED TO YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN IN JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST. FIRST OF ALL, I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE.
I'VE TAKEN PEOPLE DOWN THERE. IT'S PHENOMENAL. THAT'S BEEN MONEY WELL SPENT. IN FACT, I WAS THERE THE DAY AFTER THEY STARTED ROLLING OUT THE ASPHALT. IT'S LIKE, WOW, THIS IS GREAT. SO IT BRINGS UP THE QUESTION ABOUT OTHER DEVELOPMENTS GOING ON IN THAT PART. IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTY, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE LOUIS LOOP THAT'S GOING THROUGH THAT AREA? THE
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LOUISVILLE LOOP? I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DETAILS ON THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT PORTION OF THE LOOP IS UNDERWAY. AND I'M GOING TO LOOK BACK AT A PHONE, A FRIEND, JASON, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ON THAT? I'M GOING TO ASK DIRECTOR CANUEL TO STEP TO THE PODIUM TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. GOT A DEEP BENCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JASON CANUEL, THE ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR AT PARKS AND RECREATION, SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE'S A LOT OF SMALLER PROJECTS GOING ON IN SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY WITH THE LOOP. MOST ARE FROM WATSON LANE UP THROUGH, MEDORA ROAD, THROUGH JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST. THEY'RE THEY'RE IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF PLANNING, RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION. SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER PARTICULARLY, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS SLATED FOR CONSTRUCTION AT THIS POINT.THERE ARE STILL, DESIGN PERMITTING AND RIGHT OF WAY PHASE. OKAY. ARE THERE PLANS FOR ANY OTHER TRAILS IN THE FOREST AREA, WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON SOME RIGHT NOW, WITH OUR IN HOUSE STAFF. SOME NEW TRAILS, BUT I THINK ONCE WE GET INTO, NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER, IF YOU RECALL THAT WE DID WE DID GET MONEY ALLOCATED FROM THE STATE, THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST, AND RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL DEFINED SCOPE OF WORK FOR ALL THAT MONEY AT THIS POINT, SO WE'RE STILL WORKING INTERNALLY ON HOW BEST TO SPEND THAT MONEY, SO I THINK TRAILS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT, THAT WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON. I THINK IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. THERE'S A LOT OF LAND THAT THERE ARE NO TRAILS THROUGH. YES. SO THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL THERE. YOU ARE CORRECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN HUDSON. THANK YOU. CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE. A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION IN THERE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU MENTIONED WAS A STRATEGIC PLAN. ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A FORMAL STRATEGIC PLAN DONE, OR ARE YOU HAVING THAT DONE, WHAT WHAT KIND OF STEPS ARE YOU WORKING THROUGH THERE? IF YOU HAD DONE A SWOT ANALYSIS, ANY ANYTHING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE, I DO THINK A FORMAL STRATEGIC PLAN WOULD BE HELPFUL AT THIS POINT.
I THINK WE'VE, KIND OF REACHED THE END OF PREVIOUS PLANNING HORIZONS, AND IT REALLY HELPS GUIDE US INTO THE NEXT LIKELY FIVE YEARS OF PLANNING, I THINK IS A GOOD OUTLOOK. IT'S HARD TO HAVE ENOUGH CERTAINTY BEYOND THAT TO DO MUCH SPECIFIC PLANNING, BUT DEFINITELY I THINK THE FORMAL PLAN, AS YOU SAY, WE SHOULD EMBARK UPON THAT. OKAY. THANK THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE AND IT KIND OF LEADS INTO MY NEXT POINT OF I LIKED THE ITEMS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, THE RANGER PROGRAM, THE URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM. AND MAYBE IT WASN'T INTENDED, BUT IT APPEARED BY THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU PRESENTED THEM. AND THE TIME YOU SPENT ON EACH ONE THAT IT WAS IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, AND AT LEAST IN YOUR OPINION. AND I WOULD I DIDN'T INTEND TO PUT ANY OF THOSE ABOVE, OTHER THAN THE UMBRELLA SUPPORT FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION LEADERSHIP TEAM. BUT I DO THINK THAT THEY ALL HAVE SOME EQUAL IMPORTANCE. THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION MAY BE, I WOULD PERHAPS PUT THAT SECOND ON THE LIST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ALL ENCOMPASSING OF THE REST, THAT'S PARK SAFETY. THAT'S COMMUNITY PROGRAMING. I LIKE THE URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAMING AND MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS. SO, TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE ARE SOME PRIORITY OTHER THAN HOW THEY BEST FIT ON MY SLIDE, THAT THAT MAY BE. YEAH FOR THAT. AND, AND, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE UNTIL THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS, IS REALIZED, I THINK IT MIGHT BE PREMATURE TO LAUNCH AN ENTIRELY NEW URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE STRATEGIC PLANS IS GOING TO SAY. IF IT COMES OUT AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT, YOU'VE ALREADY LAUNCHED IT. IT'S HARD TO IT'S HARD TO BACK IT. BACK IT IN MY OPINION, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN THE PARK RANGERS, THOSE TWO THINGS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER BECAUSE WHAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME ANYWAY IS SAFETY IN THE PARKS IS NUMBER ONE. AND TO USE YOUR WORDS, PARK USE AND
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ABUSE WOULD BE BENEFITED BY HAVING PARK RANGERS, BUT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS WHAT EVERYBODY IS SCREAMING AT ME ABOUT. SO I WOULD SEE THAT AS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT'S VERY HELPFUL. BEST OF LUCK. THANK YO, COUNCILMAN MULVIHILL. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I'M GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE PICKLEBALL COURT COMING IN MID OCTOBER. THAT'S GREAT. AND IF YOU GET A MORE DEFINITIVE DATE, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROBABLY PUT OUT TO E! NEWS BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT IT AND, AND WANTING TO USE IT. AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PERIOD OF GRACE PERIOD WHERE THE CONCRETE HAS TO SETTLE OR BE, BE FIT TO PLAY. SO THAT'LL BE EXCITING, CAMP TAYLOR POOL, YOU MENTIONED, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR. AND MAYBE I'VE BEEN TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS. I KNOW WE'RE ARE WE HOPING BY NEXT MAY 2025 THAT IT WILL BE OPEN FOR USE? YES FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY SWIM. OKAY, GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S AN AMBITIOUS PLAN. I'LL HOLD, I'LL HOLD YOU TO IT. AND I'M JUST KIDDING. BUT NO, THAT'S THAT'S GREAT. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THE LAST THING I WANTED TO YOU JUST MENTIONED IN YOUR REMARKS, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CENTRAL MAINTENANCE FACILITY. I KNOW THAT WAS FOR MANY YEARS OVER AT CREASON PARK. IT'S IT HAD THE 100 YEAR OLD BUILDING THAT WE FINALLY HAD. IT FINALLY GAVE IN. THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TEMPORARY BUILDING. IT SHOWS YOU WHEN THEY BUILD THINGS IN 1917, THEY'RE MEANT TO LAST, CERTAINLY LONGER THAN TEMPORARY, AS YOU LOOK AT THAT, IS, IS THAT ONE OF THE LOCATIONS THAT YOU ALL ARE MAYBE CONSIDERING, OR ARE YOU ALL JUST IN THE INITIAL PHASES? I KNOW FOR ME AND I JUST SIT HERE, I WON'T BE HERE SOON, SO IT WON'T MATTER WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT, FOR ME, A HIGHER, BETTER USE OF THAT PROPERTY WOULD NOT BE FOR THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY, BUT THAT'S MY OPINION. BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHERE YOU'RE ALL LOOKING FOR. WE'RE REALLY OPEN TO POSSIBILITIES AT THIS POINT.IT'S A NEED THAT WE SEE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR IT IN HAND, OR A SPECIFIC VISION OR DESIGN FOR WHERE THAT GOES. BUT IT IS A NEED THAT WE NEED TO SEE FILLED. AND I DO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A NEED AND I AND I KNOW I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO THIS TO TALK TO SEVERAL FOLKS ABOUT THIS AND I DON'T KNOW THE LOGISTICS OR IF IT'S POSSIBLE. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A FACILITY ON NEWBURG ROAD THAT STATIONS FOR PUBLIC WORKS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH ROOM YOU ALL NEED IN COMPARISON TO WHAT THEY HAVE. BUT I STILL CONTINUE TO THINK THAT MAY BE A PLAUSIBLE PLACE, BUT MAY NOT BE. BUT, BEST OF LUCK AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN PARKER.
AS FAR AS THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY, I KNOW YEARS PAST, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT PUTTING IT AT JOE CREASON PARK. UNDERSTAND THERE'S NO FUNDING MECHANISM YET, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS EVER ON YOUR OR BROUGHT TO YOUR RADAR, AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BUT MAYBE WE CAN JUST, KEEP IT ON THE RADAR, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF OUR ANCILLARY PARKS, LIKE ONE OF MY PARKS. ABE SAWYER PARK. IT KIND OF GETS. IT'S BETTER, BUT IT KIND OF. IT HAS BEEN KIND OF USED AS A DUMPING GROUND IN THE PAST. AND THEN I GET NEIGHBORHOOD, COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE GREENWAY TRAIL. IF WE KNEW WHEN THAT WOULD, START THE PROCESS WOULD START ON THAT TRAIL, AND I TURN AGAIN. YOU CAN SEE WHY DIRECTOR CANTWELL IS SO VALUABLE TO OUR TEAM. HE'S BEEN WITH PARKS AND RECREATION FOR, WHAT, 15 YEARS? ALMOST 15, ALMOST 15 YEARS. AND SO IF IT'S A QUESTION ON A PROJECT, THIS IS THE MAN WE TURN TO. EXCEPT THIS PROJECT, SO THAT PROJECT IS ACTUALLY BEING MANAGED BY PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEIR BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN FOLKS. JONSSON-TARSKI, I'M NOT 100% SURE ON THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE. I KNOW THEY'RE THEY'RE MUCH, MUCH CLOSER THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN, BUT I'LL HAVE TO DEFER AN ANSWER TO THEM, FOR ANYTHING MORE SPECIFIC THAT MAKES SENSE, YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS THINKING. I KNOW I ASK YOU THAT. OKAY. THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. OKAY, SO THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BAKER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I'LL BE QUICK.
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ONE. I JUST WANT TO THANK, YOU, DIRECTOR KING, AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, DEPUTY MAYOR GEORGE JASON BEING EVERYBODY, JUST FOR ALL YOU ALL DO, JUST WANT TO PUT IN A LITTLE ADVOCACY, JUST AS MY TIME AS COUNCIL GOES CLOSE WITH THE PARK, THE FOLKS IN PARK HIL, I KNOW THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT ELEMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, BUT JUST WHEN IT COMES TO REC THAT CONTINUE TO PLEASE JUST, YOU KNOW, IN THE PARKS WERE ALL STEADY AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE AN EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM. SO THANK YOU. BUT I'D JUST BE REMISS IF NOT ALWAYS HAVING ADVOCACY FOR THAT AREA. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY AND COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN ARTHUR, BACK IN THE QUEUE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO HOUSING AUTHORITY. I KNOW THERE'S SOME CORRELATION BETWEEN PARK HILL HAVING SOME MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT ARE ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THEN PERHAPS EVEN BAXTER COMING UP HERE SOON. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER AND GETTING THOSE WORKED OUT. YEAH, WE HAVE MET. I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN IN-DEPTH MEETING WITH HER YET, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BEN JOHNSON, HAS HAD SOME DIRECT CONVERSATIONS AROUND OUR SHARED SPACES AND THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS, BUT ABSOLUTELY A PRIORITY FOR THOSE SPACES. THANK YOU. OKAY THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE, SO YOU'RE OUT OF THE HOT SEAT. I'M GLAD THAT YOU'VE GOT THAT BEHIND YOU, BECAUSE I'M SURE IT WAS STRESSFUL TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT, WE'RE REALLY NOT THAT MEAN. SO I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND ALL OF THE FEEDBACK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH THANK YOU AND WELCOME. OKAY WE ARE JOINED BY COUNCILMAN VACHON, BUT I'M NOT SURE, COUNCILMAN, IF YOU'RE DRIVING, MAYBE, YOU NEED TO PULL OVER IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON THE MEETING. OKAY. I'M GETTING READY TO PULL IN THE PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW, SO. OKAY. THANKS. TWO MINUTES AWAY. SO OKAY. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY, I. AN O-166-2 FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING A SECTION 115.999 OF[2. O-166-24 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 115.999 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES TO IMPROVE THE ENFORCEABILITY OF LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND IMPROVE PROTECTIONS FOR LOCAL FARMERS. 8/15/24 Parks and Sustainability Committee Tabled 8/1/24 Parks and Sustainability Committee Tabled Action Required By: January 2025 Sponsors: Rick Blackwell (D-12) ]
THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES TO IMPROVE THE ENFORCEABILITY OF LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND TO IMPROVE PROTECTIONS FOR LOCAL FARMERS. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO UNTABLE MOTION? PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED, IS BEFORE US AND I BELIEVE, THIS IS, COUNCILMAN BLACKWELL, IS HIS LEGISLATION, BUT WE ALSO HAVE, REST OF AREA. SO IF YOU WANT ME TO JUST GIVE IT ON TO HIM, OR DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK VERY QUICKLY? OKAY. JUST AND THEN WE CAN SKIP ON TO HIM BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT'S FRONT AND CENTER AND WORKING WITH. OH. YOU'RE THERE. JUST. I WOULD I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TODAY IF WE COULD TO VOTE ON THIS. WE'VE BEEN NOW FOR ABOUT AONTH, WHAT SHOULD BE REALLY A VERY SIMPLE PIECE O LEGLATI. IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT WE'VE WE'VE DEBATED EVERYTHING THE ORNANCE. SO WE'VE TALKED OUT, SALMOLLA ISONG.AMENDMENT, WHATEVER YOU CAN VOTE UP OR DOWN ON AMENDMENTS. BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE US MOVE THIS TODAY BEFORE THE GROWING SEASON IS COMPLETELY OVER. AND WE HAVE YET AGAIN LET SOMEONE WHO IS BREAKING OUR LAWS ONE MORE TIME HAVE A WHOLE SEASON OF BREAKING THE LAW, NOT PAYING TAXES, AND THE PERSON WHO IS DOING ALL THAT WE ASK THEM TO DO ACROSS THE ROAD, GE STUCK WITH CHARGING MORE BECAUSE THEY GOT TO COVER TAXES AND BECAUSE THEY GOT TO COVER THE CUP THAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO. AND THEY SIGNS. NOW THAT WE'RE TELLING THEM THEY HAVE TO PUT IN AN OVERHEAD, WE HAVE TO PUT SIGNS, THEY HAVE TO THEY JUST NOW GOT A NOTICE THAT THEY HAD TO PUT SIGNS FOR THEIR, HANDICAPPED PARKING AND WHEN ASKED WHY THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO WHY, THE PERSON ACROSS THE STREET DOESN'T HAVE TO. AND THE ANSWER FROM OUR PEOPLE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE OPERATING ILLEGALLY. GREAT. THESE THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY PEOPLE HATE GOVERNMENT RIGHT HERE. I MEAN, YOU POUND THE PERSON WHO IS THE LAW ABIDING CITIZEN AND THEN CAN'T FIND A WAY TO PENALIZE AND STOP SOMEBODY WHO'S BLATANTLY BREAKING THE LAW. SO THIS WAS JUST AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE ONE MORE
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TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR HARD WORKING PUBLIC SERVANTS LIKE MR. SILVERIA, WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT. IF YOU'LL JUST SIT IN A FIGHT YOURSELF, PLEASE. WELL HELLO EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS BRAD SAVARY. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL, AND WE'RE ALSO THE OFFICE OF SPECIALTY PERMITS AND LICENSES.AND SOMETIMES IT GETS CONFUSED. WE ONLY DO ALCOHOL, AND WE ACTUALLY DO A WHOLE LOT MORE ABOUT 19 DIFFERENT LICENSE TYPES THAT WE ENFORCE. THIS GOES BACK I WENT TO RICK AT THE NIGHT MEETING AND WE TALKED ABOUT, A SEPARATE PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHERE WE HAD EMERGENCY SUSPENSION POWER GRANTED TO THE ABC. AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT THAT RESULTED IN, IN THIS, IT GOES BACK TO 2018, WHEN I WAS A LIEUTENANT FOR ABC ENFORCEMENT, WHERE I ISSUED A CRIMINAL CITATION, AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE NAMES OUT. BUT I ISSUED A CRIMINAL CITATION. IN THIS VERY CIRCUMSTANCE, WE BELIEVED WE HAD CONQUERED THAT PROBLEM, AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AND IT REALLY JUST KIND OF KICKED THE ISSUE DOWN. NOW, THERE HAS BEEN TWO CRIMINAL CITATIONS ISSUED BY ABC FOR VIOLATING CHAPTER 115. AND THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT IS AN ATTEMPT TO ADD A CIVIL PENALTY TO THIS ORDINANCE, BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL ROUTE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING, WE'RE NOT DONE IN THE CRIMINAL REALM AT THIS POINT, BUT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO ISSUE CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE, I CAN TELL YOU WITH CERTAINTY THAT I'VE DEALT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL. I KNOW FOR SURE THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING SOLD. THE GOVERNMENT'S BEING LIED TO. THEY'RE NOT BEING GROWN AND PRODUCED. THERE THEY ARE BEING PURCHASED BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE, MANUFACTURER AND I HAD TO VERIFY ALL THESE THINGS. SO I WAS BEING TOLD ONE THING, AND I PROVED ANOTHER SITUATION, AND I TOOK HIM TO COURT. SO THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO ADD ANOTHER ITEM TO THE TOOL BELT TO GAIN COMPLIANCE. IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT FOR ME, THIS IS DO YOU HAVE THE PERMIT AND ARE YOU FALLING WITHIN THE PARAMETERS A, B, C? WE DON'T REALLY GET INVOLVED IN THE FOOD SAFETY ASPECT OF IT. I'LL, I'LL DEFER THAT TO, YOU KNOW, THE EXPERTS THAT HANDLE THAT. I'M THE GUY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE OFFICERS IN FOR COMPLIANCE ARE NOT ME SO MUCH ANYMORE. BUT MY TEAM AND I DO BELIEVE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS WILL FIX IT. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST PIECE, BECAUSE WE'RE BEING IGNORED, WHEN WE ADD THIS PIECE IN, I DO BELIEVE WE MIGHT CONSIDER EVEN TAKING THIS INDIVIDUAL TO COURT BECAUSE HE IS BLATANTLY AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW, I'M NOT THE ONE TO HANDLE THAT OR TO STAND FOR THAT. I WILL ACTUALLY TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAWS ARE FOLLOWED. THAT'S WHY YOU ALL PASS THEM.
AND MY JOB IS TO ENFORCE THEM. AND WITH THAT, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BUT I JUST SEE THAT, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN IT'S IN CRIMINAL COURT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, MORE IMPORTANCE IN SELLING TOMATOES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PROBABLY TO THAT JUDGE DOESN'T LOOK AS IMPORTANT AS SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY SEE, SURE. MUCH MORE HORRIFIC THAN THAT, BUT YEAH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON'T OWN A TOMATO GROWING BUSINESS. THAT'S RIGHT. AND I WILL SAY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS HAS EVEN MADE IT TO THE JUDGE AT THIS POINT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAS, BECAUSE THAT'S IT'S BEING HANDLED IN CONFERENCE ROOMS AT THIS MOMENT. RIGHT, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOREVER TO GET IT THROUGH THE SYSTEM. SO THE CIVIL IT MAKES SENSE TO ME. I LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE THE FINAL PIECE, BUT IT IS A PIECE THAT IS MISSING BECAUSE EVERY IN ORDER TO GAIN COMPLIANCE, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO EVERY LITTLE THING WE CAN TO GAIN MOST PEOPLE WOULD WOULD BE LIKE, HEY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS GENTLEMAN IS RESORTED TO EVEN USING, FAKE NAMES THAT WE FOUND WHILE GOING TO BUY THE PRODUCE IN WHICH HE SELLS AND SAYS THAT HE GROWS SO IT'S, YEAH, FOR US, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I DO HAVE KNOWLEDGE FROM 2018 WHEN I WAS WHEN I ISSUED THE CITATION TO HIM AND WHEN RICK'S OFFICE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION, I REMEMBER THE NAME. I REMEMBERED ALL THE DETAILS. THAT'S KIND OF HOW I OPERATE. AND I WAS REALLY AMAZED THAT WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT YEARS LATER. RIGHT.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ARTHUR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I SPOKE WITH THE SPONSOR, AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THIS WON'T HAVE ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT. SO I'LL BE A YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MULVIHILL. YEAH. JUST REAL QUICKLY ON THE CRIMINAL, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER ORDINANCES THAT DO THIS. I KNOW ON A CIVIL DOCKET IT GETS HEARD THAT DAY WHEN YOU'RE OVER. THIS WILL GO THROUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. YES, SIR. AND THEY HAVE A DOCKET AND IT GETS HEARD. AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR, I DO KNOW THINGS CAN GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE, BUT ARE YOU TAKING THIS OUT THROUGH, IS IT BEING DOCKETED THROUGH, LIKE, WARRANT COURT OR IS THIS BEING DOCKETED THROUGH, A REGULAR MISDEMEANOR
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OR FELONY? MISDEMEANOR? THIS THIS WAS CITED UNDER MISDEMEANOR COURT. SO IT WAS WE WENT TO THE MISDEMEANOR PROVISION UNDER LICENSE REQUIRED FOR THE BEHAVIOR, AND THE GENTLEMAN DID NOT HAVE THE CORRECT LICENSE. AND SO HE WAS CITED FOR FAILURE TO HAVE A LICENSE. SO WE'RE KIND OF IN THAT SPACE WHERE YOU EITHER HAVE THE LICENSE OR YOU DON'T. AND IF YOU DON'T, IT'S A MISDEMEANOR CRIME. YEAH. BUT YOU SAY IT'S STUCK. SO OR YOU KEEP GOING THROUGH A DOCKET. IS HE APPEARING. DOES HE HE'S APPEARING. YES, SIR. AND THEN IT'S CONTINUED. AND THEN WE'RE IT KIND OF HAS DELAYED. NOW I WOULD SAY WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS ABOUT A YEAR IN CRIMINAL COURT, PRETTY CLOSE TO A YEAR. I'M SORRY, WHAT'S THE WHAT IS THE CONTINUANCE? TO BRING THE LICENSE. THE PROPER LICENSE? WHAT'S THE CONTINUANCE? I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE. I'VE BEEN TOLD SOME OF THE THINGS, AND PART OF IT HAS TO DO. AND AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO REFRAIN FROM SAYING NAMES IN THIS ROOM. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT THERE'S AN AGE CONCERN, THE INDIVIDUAL TELLS THE PROSECUTORS AND THE OFFICER, ANYBODY THAT DEALS WITH HIM THAT HE HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION, HE HAS EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN. AND IT'S THE SAME THING HE TOLD ME IN 2018, WHICH STILL SEEMS TO BE GOING ON. RIGHT? YEAH. THANK YOU. I DO KNOW CRIMINAL DOCKETS CAN GET. YES, SIR. PRETTY LENGTHY. THERE ARE CERTAIN DIFFERENT CRIMES AND THEY CAN SORT OF GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. IT SOUNDS LIKE AT LEAST THEY'RE HEARING IT, BUT IF THEY'RE CONTINUING IT AT SOME POINT, YEAH THAT'S WHAT. SO WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR AND I'VE ASKED MY DETECTIVES TO TALK TO THE PROSECUTORS, IS GIVE US A CONDITION ON THE CASE. SO THAT WAY IF THEY VIOLATE IF THEY SAY SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, I'M GROWING THESE VEGETABLES HERE ON OUR PROPERTY, AND SOMEBODY APPEARS AND THERE'S LET'S SAY THERE'S, SUNFLOWER. I MEAN, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY, THEY SELL. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEY GROW. AND SO IF WE SHOW UP AND THEY HAVE WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY HAVE BASKETS OF ITEMS WHEN YOU BUY IT FROM, FROM THE, THE VARIOUS PLACES THAT THE VARIOUS MARKETS WHERE YOU CAN BUY IT AT WHOLESALE, THEY COME AND THEY HAVE LITTLE STICKERS ON THEM. I HAD TO LEARN ALL THIS BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR CASE. IN 2018. SO THE STICKERS ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO DETERMINE IF, THERE'S FOODBORNE ILLNESS SO THEY CAN TELL WHAT LOT IT CAME FROM AND WHAT FARM IT CAME FROM. AND IT'S VERY WELL TRACKED. AND SO WHEN I APPROACHED THIS INDIVIDUAL AND ONE OF HIS WORKERS IN 2018, I WAS ARMED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SOME OF MY DETECTIVES WERE NOT BECAUSE I HAD TO INVESTIGAT, I KNEW THAT I WAS BEING LIED TO. I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROVE OTHERWISE. AND WHEN HE SAID NO, I'M GROWING THIS ON MY PROPERTY. AND I SAID, WELL, IT'S INTERESTING, IT'S IN A TRAY THAT COMES FROM THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION WITH A STICKER AND THE LOT NUMBER ACTUALLY COMES BACK, AND IT MEANS YOU DIDN'T GROW THOSE VEGETABLES. SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS NOT TRUTHFUL. AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I BELIEVE IS HAPPENING HERE IS WHAT I WAS SEEKING IS A CONDITION WHERE THE COURT SAYS, STOP DOING THIS. AND WE'VE NOT EVEN BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THAT POINT AT THIS, AT THIS JUNCTURE. SO GOING CIVIL ROUTE AND IF, IF, IF WE HAVE TO AT THIS POINT FILE SOME FORM OF INJUNCTION AGAINST THIS INDIVIDUAL, IF THERE'S ONCE THE CIVIL PENALTY IS THERE, I BELIEVE THAT MIGHT BE THE NEXT STEP. AND I'M, I'M SO AGGRAVATED FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT RIGHT BECAUSE I'M, I'M A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. MY JOB IS TO AND IT IT IRKS ME WHEN PEOPLE DO IT RIGHT. AND THEN SOMEBODY THUMBS THEIR NOSE AT, THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. THANK YOU. YES SIR, I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE, SO THIS IS AN ORDINANCE, CALLS FOR, IF YOU CAN PUT THE ROLL CALL, VOTE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. ALL THANK YOU. YES COUNCILWOMAN PARKER? YES. YES THANK YOU. OKAY. 77. YES VOTES. SO THAT WILL GO TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. SILVERIA. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS R-093-2 FOR A RESOLUTION DETERMINING CERTAIN PROPERTY AT 301 NORTH 12TH STREET. 1105 ROWAN STREET AND PARCEL ID.[3. R-093-24 A RESOLUTION DETERMINING CERTAIN PROPERTY AT 301 NORTH 12TH STREET, 1105 ROWAN STREET AND PARCEL ID NO. 015B00530000 AS SURPLUS AND NOT NEEDED FOR A GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZING ITS TRANSFER. Action Required By: February 2025 Sponsors: Donna L. Purvis (D-5) ]
NUMBER 015B00530000 AS SURPLUS AND NOT NEEDED FOR A GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSE AND[01:00:01]
AUTHORIZING ITS TRANSFER. DO I HEAR A MOTION? MOTION FOR A SECOND, PROPERLY MOTIONED AND BEFORE US, HI. I GUESS WE HAVE, DEBORAH BALINSKI WITH US HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MA'AM. THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR. DEBORAH BELETSKY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WATERFRONT PARK.THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY. AND APOLOGIES TO COUNCILMAN ARTHUR, THIS IS ACTUALLY IN COUNCILMAN ARTHUR'S DISTRICT. IT'S VERY NEAR THE BOUNDARY OF DISTRICT FOUR AND DISTRICT FIVE, SO, I BELIEVE HE MAY WISH TO CO-SPONSOR THIS. I HAVE NOT INITIALLY REQUESTED THAT COUNCILMAN ARTHUR. YES. ALSO, JUST WHILE YOU'RE HERE, COULD YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHEN THE PLAY AREA WILL BE OPEN? I CAN, AND WHAT I CAN DO FIRST IS EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO REQUEST THIS TRANSFER OF. I THINK IT'S THREE PARCELS, A FEW PARCELS FROM LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT TO THE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THESE ARE ACTUALLY WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF WATERFRONT PARK PHASE FOUR, AS PART OF SOME, SOME GRANT COMPLIANCE THAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WE HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FULLY DESIGN YET. BUT WE NEED TO CONSOLIDATE ALL THAT PROPERTY INTO THE NAME OF THE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. SO WE CURRENTLY OWN SOME PARCELS.
METRO CURRENTLY OWNS SOME PARCELS. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT UNDER SINGLE OWNERSHIP.
THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST AND I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. AND IF THERE ARE NONE, HAPPY TO ADDRESS COUNCILMAN ARTHUR. OKAY, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE IN THE COMMITTEE? I DON'T SEE ANYONE IN THE QUEUE, SO I THINK THIS IS A RESOLUTION. CAN BE A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE, AYE, NOS. BY LIKE, SIGN. THIS PASSES AND WE'LL GO AS WELL TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. AND MAY I ADDRESS COUNCIL? PLEASE DO THAT.
ARE YOU SURE? I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE WELL UNDERWAY ON THE FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION FOR PHASE FOUR, WHICH IS PLAY PORT, OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AREA. WE'VE DESIGNED WITH KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER. WE ARE LOOKING TO COMPLETE THAT FIRST PHASE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND IT HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE EVEN YOU'VE VISITED THE SITE, COUNCILMAN ARTHUR. SO I WOULD WELCOME YOU AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PLEASE COME OVER FOR A VISIT. IT IS TRULY SPECTACULAR.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HOST YOU OVER THERE FOR A HARD HAT TOUR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO EXPLAINING ALL OF THAT. WE APPRECIATE YOU, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE US, WE
[Adjournment Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.]
ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.