Oct 17, 2024 Parks and Sustainability Committee

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LIFE. AND. FOR.

ALL. THAT. YOU. METRO TV WILL START. SECONDS. METRO TV. WE'RE WAITING FOR A QUORUM.

FOR. YOUR PRAYERS AND. PRAYERS. FOR. YOUR. RECOVERY FOR ALL OF THOSE.

THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT. TO. SUPPORT AND FOR PEOPLE. TO. BE. MORE COMFORTABLE. ALSO. FOR. SO MUCH LOVE TO GOD. FOR THE SUPPORT OF SO. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR.

IF YOU LIKE MY SONIA, I'M HERE. I'M SORRY. WE'RE STILL WAITING. OKAY. SORRY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR. THAT. OKAY.. WE SAYE ALWAYS. SAY, FOR THOSE WHO LIVE OUT THERE, THAT'S THE FIRST

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YEAH. I LOVE YOU. AND ONLY GOD. FOR THOSE. THAT.

ARE. NOT.

WE KNOW THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE PARKS AND

[Call to Order]

[Roll Call]

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[1. R-107-24     A RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCES APPROVING THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE FOLLOWING SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT FOR THE LOUISVILLE ZOO CONCERNING CUSTOM-BUILT CAGES TO HOUSE ENDANGERED BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS – (LAB PRODUCTS, LLC - $147,000). Action Required By:  April 10, 2025 Sponsors: Pat Mulvihill (D-10) ]

I'M THE VETERINARY HOSPITAL MANAGER AT THE LOUISVILLE ZOO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR PARKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT VIRTUALLY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MULVEHILL, FOR THE SPONSORSHIP. THIS PROJECT IS FOR NEW CAGING, NEW ENCLOSURES FOR OUR ENDANGERED BLACK FOOTED FERRETS. I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE VISITED THE ZOO, AND YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THIS PROGRAM BEHIND THE SCENES. THE BLACK FOOTED FERRET IS A HIGHLY ENDANGERED MAMMAL. NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA AND THE LOUISVILLE ZOO BEGAN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM IN 1991. AND OVER THE PAST 33 YEARS, WE'VE PRODUCED NEARLY A THOUSAND FERRETS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED BACK ON NATIVE NATIVE LANDS OUT IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THIS PROGRAM. BUT THE CAGES WE HAVE ARE 33 YEARS OLD AND THEY REQUIRE SOME PRETTY SPECIALIZED HOUSING. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO UPGRADE THAT. THE REASON FOR THE NONCOMPETITIVE CONTRACT IS BECAUSE ALL OF THESE ANIMALS ARE OWNED BY UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND MANAGED BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, AND THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY STRICT GUIDELINES ON THE CAGING THAT WE HAVE TO USE. THEY ALSO REQUIRE PRETTY SPECIALIZED CAGING, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ONLY TAKING CARE OF THEM IN CAPTIVITY, BUT WE'RE ALSO PLANNING ON RELEASING THEM INTO THE WILD SOMEDAY SOON. SO THE CAGING THEY NEEDED IS INDEED SPECIALIZED, AND PART OF OUR PERMITTING IS THAT WE HAVE THE APPROVED CAGING BY THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. SO BY GOING TO THIS COMPANY LAB PRODUCTS, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ANY MONEY ON DESIGN. THESE ARE THE CAGES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DESIGNED AND APPROVED THROUGH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. WE'RE JUST BUYING THE CAGES AND ONLY PAYING FOR THE MANUFACTURING FOR THE CAGES. THEY'VE ALREADY CUSTOM DESIGNED SO THAT THAT IS WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS FOR. THANK YOU. I FAILED TO MENTION THAT COUNCILMAN ARTHUR HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE. WAS THERE ANYBODY IN THE QUEUE? THIS THING IS ECHOIN. ANYBODY? COUNCILMAN HUDSON? YEA, I WAS IN THE QUEUE, AND MR. HUBER ANSWERED MY QUESTION. I WAS GOING TO ASK, HOW DO WE.

SOLE SOURCE $147,000 CONTRACT. BUT HE ANSWERED THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION BEFORE I ASKED IT. OF COURSE, ANYONE ELSE? BETSY. THANK YOU. SO WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL? THE CAGES, THE CAGING? YEAH, THE CAGING IS. WELL, THESE GUYS ARE NOT LIKE DOMESTIC FERRETS.

THEY'RE WILD FERRETS. AND THEY THEY WILL TEAR UP ANY KIND OF LIKE PET STORE CAGING, FOR INSTANCE. SO THEY HAVE TO BE PRETTY REINFORCED. WE ARE USING POWDER COATED STEEL AND THE CAGING REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE GUYS IS THAT WE'RE MIMICKING THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. SO IF YOU VISIT THE ZOO AND YOU SEE THESE GUYS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY'VE GOT A CAGE TOP WHERE THEY'RE EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT AND IT MIMICS THE GROUND LEVEL. IF THEY WERE LIVING OUTSIDE. AND THEN THERE'S SOME SPECIAL TUNNEL CONNECTIONS THAT MIMIC A PRAIRIE DOG BURROW WHERE THESE GUYS WOULD LIVE. SO TO HAVE ALL THE SPECIAL REINFORCED CAGING THE TOPS THAT MAKE THEM EASY TO CLEAN AND DISINFECT, AND THEN THE TUNNEL AND NEST BOX SYSTEM, IT'S PRETTY INTRICATE. SO HOW MANY SQUARE FEET IS ONE OF THESE? OH, ONE CAGE IS I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK. EXACTLY.

IT'S ABOUT THREE FOOT BY FOUR FOOT. AND THAT'S FOR THAT'S FOR ONE FERRET, I ASSUME FOR ONE FERRET. AND THAT'S THE, THE, THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE AREA. IT'S ABOUT THREE FOOT BY FOUR FOOT WIDE. THE CAGE ITSELF IS ABOUT THREE FEET TALL, BUT IT STANDS ON LEGS AND CONNECTS TO THAT UNDERGROUND TUNNEL SYSTEM. COOL. THANK YOU. YEAH. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN BAKER, MR. HUBER? YES, COUNCILMAN BAKER, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW THERE'S ROUGHLY 350 LEFT IN THE US. DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? HOW MANY ARE DO WE HOUSE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY? I'M JUST CURIOUS. THERE'S

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[2. R-111-24     A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF METRO GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT THE DONATION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON PROPERTY OWNED BY KYRAN L. DAUGHERTY AND ANNE LYNN DAUGHERTY LUTKUS LOCATED AT 13609 SHELBYVILLE ROAD IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY. Action Required By:  April 10, 2025 Sponsors: Anthony Piagentini (R-19) ]

YEAH. PERFECT. ARE YOU. GOODNESS, YES. OKAY. IF YOU IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF, MR. MASON. SURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO MAKE A PRESENTATION BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE OVER THE YEARS, BUT CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY LIKE TO COME HERE A LOT WITH EFFORTS LIKE CONSERVATION OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS KURT MASON. I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST OVERSIGHT BOARD, AND IT IS A BOARD THAT IS COMPRISED OF NON MEMBERS. AND THIS BOARD MEETS MONTHLY, USUALLY THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH. SO MY BACKGROUND IS I TELL PEOPLE I'M A I'M A DIRT GU.

I'M A SOIL SCIENTIST BY BACKGROUND AND WORK THROUGH WATER QUALITY. AND FOR 44 YEARS WORKED WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 40 OF THOSE YEARS WERE HERE, AND I GRAVITATE TOWARDS HOLES IN THE GROUND AND WATER MOVING DOWNSTREAM. SO THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST IS A BOARD THAT I'VE SERVED ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND REALLY LIKE THEIR WORK BECAUSE IT SO MUCH DOVETAILS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEEDS AND LOOKING OVER CORNERSTONE 2040 AND WHAT WAS THE OLD 2020? A LOT OF THOSE ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY ARE INGRAINED IN WORK THAT'S DONE WITH THE LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. AND SO WITH ME IS OUR ATTORNEY, AND I'LL LET ANNE INTRODUCE HERSELF. GOOD

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AND THEN THERE WERE TWO COUNCIL OR TWO MEMBERS AT LARGE. AND SO WE'VE KIND OF MAINTAINED THAT STRUCTURE A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE BOARD OF CITIZEN MEMBERS THAT COME FROM ALL OVER THE, THE, THE CONFINES OF THE COUNTY, THE METRO REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD ARE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MSD, THE DIRECTOR OF LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION, DIRECTOR OF METRO PLANNING AND DESIGN SERVICES, AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ASSETS. THOSE 5 OR 4 ENTITIES USUALLY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR AGENCY THAT COMES TO EVERY BOARD MEETING AND PROVIDES INPUT BACK TO THEIR THEIR AGENCIES. THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST HAS A SUPPORT STAFF, AND THAT'S A SUPPORT STAFF. AGAIN, YOU'VE MET THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SHE'S OUR OUR LEGAL ADVISOR FOR QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE. AND IN DRAFTING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR PROPERTIES. BUT UNLIKE A LOT OF LAND TRUST ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT BE PRIVATE LAND TRUSTS, WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE WEALTH OF EMPLOYEES THAT SERVE METRO LOUISVILLE IN SOME CAPACITY. SO WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BACKGROUNDS IN FORESTRY AND BIOLOGY AND WATER QUALITY, AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT BRINGS VALUE TO HELP US MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE VALUE OF LAND THAT MIGHT GO INTO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. WE ALSO HAVE A PART TIME PROJECT MANAGE, LISA HEIGHT, WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED NOT ONLY WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, BUT SHE STARTED HER CAREER WITH A PRIVATE LAND TRUST ORGANIZATION IN THE MARYLAND AREA. SO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE, THERE ARE VOLUNTARY LEGAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN A LANDOWNER AND A LAND TRUST OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO PERMANENTLY LIMIT THE USE OF THE LAND IT PROTECTS BY ITS CONSERVATION VALUES, AND THOSE CONSERVATION VALUES ARE OFTEN DESCRIBED AS AIR QUALITY, WATER QUALITY, SOIL HEALTH, FLOOD CONTROL, HEALTHY SOILS AND PRIME FARMLAND, AND IN SOME AND SCENIC BEAUTY. BUT ALSO PROPERTIES THAT MIGHT HAVE HISTORIC PROPERTIES THAT ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING THE HISTORY OF A CERTAIN PART OF AN AREA. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 16 EASEMENTS AND THEY COVER 1550 ACRES. AND WHEN I SAY 16 EASEMENTS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EASEMENTS WHERE FOLKS HAD SUBMITTED A AN EASEMENT AT ONE TIME, AND THEN MAYBE 5 OR 10 YEARS LATER THEY BOUGHT ANOTHER PARCEL OF LAND THAT'S CONNECTED TO IT. AND THEY'VE DECIDED TO ADD ON TO THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT. SO FROM THOSE 16 EASEMENTS THAT WE HAVE, FOUR OF THEM HAVE A PREDOMINANCE OF WETLANDS, AND IT'S ABOUT 160 ACRES. MOST OF THOSE WETLAND AREAS ARE IN THE POND CREEK WATERSHED. AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF NOT ONLY THE HABITAT THAT IT PROVIDES AND ITS FILTERING OF WATER THAT GOES TO POND CREEK AND BLACK POND CREEK AND OTHER AREAS. BUT IT ALSO HAS A SIGNIFICANT ATTRIBUTE OF HELPING

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AND WHEN I SAY THE SCENIC BEAUTY AND A LOT OF CASES, IT'S THE ABILITY OF THE PUBLIC TO DRIVE THROUGH ON A PUBLIC ROAD AND JUST HAVE THAT VISTA THAT THEY SEE. OTHER THAN A LOT OF HOUSES AND A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S TAKING PLACE ALONG THE LANDSCAPE, THERE ARE SIX CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT TOTAL 1019 ACRES THAT ARE WORKING FARMS AND THEIR ATTRIBUTES INCLUDE PRIME FARMLAND, WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY. THOSE ARE AREAS THAT WILL FOREVER BE IN SOME TYPE OF OPEN SPACE. THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FARMED WITH ROW CROPS AND LIVESTOCK, BUT THEY WILL BE OPEN SPACE. THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR SCENIC BEAUTY. BUT THEY AGAIN, THEY ALSO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE OF BEING A SPONGE TO ABSORB WATER DURING STORMWATER RUNOFF TIMES. SO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK THAT THE BIGGEST VALUE OF A OF A FARM IS WHAT IT PRODUCES IN TERMS OF PRODUCE AND, AND MEAT OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A SHRINKING LAND BASE, IT BECOMES A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THAT THEY MAKE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO FLOOD CONTROL, CLEAN WATER QUALITY, HABITAT AND WILDLIFE AND SCENIC BEAUTY THAT EVERY ONE OF US ENJOYS. AND WE HAVE TWO FARMS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY EQUINE FARMS. THAT'S 212 ACRES WITH THEIR ATTRIBUTES BEING PRIME FARMLAND, SCENIC BEAUTY AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. OUR RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE LOUISVILLE-JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST IS WE HAVE TWO BIG THINGS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO IN HOLDING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON BEHALF OF METRO GOVERNMENT. ONE IS TO MONITOR THE EASEMENT ANNUALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THAT EASEMENT IS IN PLACE, REGARDLESS OF WHO OWNS IT, THAT THEY FOLLOW WHAT'S IN THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT. THE SECOND IS TO PROTECT THE CONSERVATION VALUES AND THOSE CONSERVATION VALUES ARE THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT ARE BEING PRESERVED IN THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO ENSURE THAT IF IT'S FORESTRY FORESTED, THAT THE TREES ARE THERE FOR WATER QUALITY AND FOR RUNOFF CONTROL, IF IT'S WILDLIFE HABITAT THAT THAT HABITAT STILL STAYS IN PLACE AND HAS THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF ANIMALS, OR IF IT'S FLOOD CONTROL, IN THE CASE OF WETLANDS AND WATER QUALITY, THAT THOSE ATTRIBUTES STAY IN PLACE. SO THESE ARE JUST FOUR PICTURES OF NOT ONLY THREE OF THEM ARE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, BUT THE ONE IN THE TOP CORNER IS THE EASEMENT MONITORING STAFF THAT GOES OUT ON THESE PROPERTIES AT LEAST ONCE EACH YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROPERTIES ARE FOLLOWING WHAT'S IN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT. AND WE WALK THE PROPERTIES. WE HAVE A BOARD THAT IS ACTUALLY A WORKING I WANT TO SAY IT'S A WORKING AND A WALKING BOARD. THEY ACTUALLY GO OUT ON EVERY PROPERTY AND THEY ACTUALLY THEY MIGHT NOT GO ON EVERY MONITORING VISIT, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE LOOKING AT THOSE PROPERTIES BEFORE THE AREA GOES FOR CONSIDERATION FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT. AND THEN THE REST OF THE STAFF MONITORS MAKE NOTES ABOUT WHAT'S OUT THERE. WE MONITOR THOSE PROPERTIES ON A FOUR YEAR ROTATION. IF THERE'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY EVERY FOUR YEARS, WE WILL HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE SPRING, WINTER, FALL AND SUMMER, AND THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE VEGETATION, THE PLANTS AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AT DIFFERENT SEASONS OF THE YEAR. THIS IS JUST A MAP THAT SCATTERS, THAT SHOWS THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE. SO I'M GOING TO GO TO THIS NEXT MAP THAT TALKS ABOUT THE CONSERVATION VALUES THAT ARE PROTECTED ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT EASEMENTS THAT WE HAVE. IT INCLUDES PRIME FARMLAND, GRAZING LANDS, UPLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT, CRITICAL WETLANDS, WATER QUALITY ATTRIBUTES, WATERSHED HEALTH QUALITIES, STORMWATER INFILTRATION, WOODLAND AND TREE CANOPIES, SCENIC OPEN SPACE AND

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SHE'S A BABY SISTER. SO THAT. BUT BABY CAN BE TWO DAYS. BUT ANYWAY, IT'S A IT'S A TRACK OF LAND THAT THEY HOLD DEAR TO THEM. THE FIRST TIME I WENT ON THE PROPERTY AND WAS GOING TO OPEN THE GATE, THERE WAS A SIGN THERE THAT SAID MISSOURI ACRES FARM, WHICH I CAN RELATE TO. I GREW UP AS A AS A FARM GUY, AND FARMING IS NOT ALWAYS PLEASURABLE, AND THERE'S SOME MISERY THAT'S IN THERE. BUT THEY SAID THEY JOKINGLY NAMED THE FARM MISERY ACRES BECAUSE SOMETIMES EVERYTHING WASN'T PLEASANT OUT THERE. IT WAS A SHEEP FARM. IT HAD BEEN IN THEIR FAMILY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THE ONE SISTER, KAREN DAUGHTERY, LIVES ON THE PROPERTY. SHE HAS NEVER LEFT THAT PROPERTY AND SHE LIKES THE PROPERTY. HER SISTER LIKES IT. THAT LIVES IN NEW YORK AND THEY HAD A DISCUSSION AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT COULD THEIR LEGACY BE TO LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. AND IT IS LEAVING AN OPEN GREEN SPACE THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY WOODED, BUT COULD HAVE THE ABILITY, IN SOME CASES TO OPEN IT UP FOR SOMEONE THAT MIGHT DO MIGHT WANT TO DO GRAZING. THIS 59 ACRE TRACT, 59 ACRE PARCEL ACTUALLY HAS TWO TRACKS ON IT. AND THOSE TWO TRACKS, THEY'RE MAINTAINING THE DIVISION OF THAT PROPERTY SO THAT IF IT IS EVER SOLD, THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT STAYS IN PLACE ON THAT PROPERTY. BUT THEY DID RESERVE TWO HOUSE SITES FOR THAT PROPERTY. ONE OF THEM BEING THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT OF EXISTING HOUSE. AND THE OTHER IS TO ALLOW, IF SOMEONE EVER WANTED TO. AND THAT TRACK WAS DIVIDED, TO HAVE A HOME ON THE OTHER TRACK. SO BOTH OF THOSE WOULD BE PRETTY CLOSE TO 30 ACRES IN SIZ. THE PHOTO THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AT THE TOP, THAT IS THE EXISTING HOME ON THE PROPERTY, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE, AND IT'S GOT THE SHEEP OUT FRONT. THOSE ARE NOT REAL SHEEP. BUT SHE ALWAYS MAINTAINS THAT SHE WILL HAVE SOMETHING IN AND AROUND HER PROPERTY CONNECTED TO HER HISTORY, GROWING UP WITH GROWING

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BUT IT WAS USED AS PART OF THE WATERING SYSTEM FOR THEIR THEIR SHEEP OPERATION. SO IT DOES HAVE UNDERGROUND PIPING ON IT THAT WENT TO CONCRETE TROUGHS THAT SUPPLIED WATER FOR THEIR ANIMAL.

THE LOWER PICTURE IS A CREEK AND THAT IS PART OF CHENOWETH RUN CREEK AND CHENOWETH RUN RUNS INTO FLOYDS FORK. AND SO THAT 60 ACRE PARCEL IS A BIG IS AN INSTRUMENT. IT'S A IT'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FLOYDS FORK WATERSHED. AND PROTECTING ITS GREEN SPACE HAS VALUE NOT ONLY TO THIS COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO THE SPECIES THAT IT SUPPORTS AND THE FAMILY THAT IS USING THAT LAND. SO I WILL STOP THERE ON THAT ONE AND ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ON MISERY ACRES ON THE 59 ACRES ON SHELBYVILLE ROAD. THANK YOU, MR. MASON. YOU ALWAYS HAVE AN INTERESTING SLIDESHOW AND POWERPOINT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS WITH ANYONE ELSE ON THE COMMITTEE ONLINE? NO. SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE KNOWS ABOUT LIKE SIGN. THIS WILL GO TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NUMBER.

THREE IS R-112-24. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF METRO GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT THE DONATION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON PROPERTY OWNED BY DAVID KILL AND MARGARET SHAY, LOCATED AT 1205 SOUTH BUCKEYE LANE IN OLDHAM COUNTY, KENTUCKY. DO I HEAR A MOTION? MOTION PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED. IT IS BEFORE US. MR. MASON, YOU'RE OKAY? YEAH. THANK YOU. AS I

[3. R-112-24     A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF METRO GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT THE DONATION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON PROPERTY OWNED BY DAVID KEAL AND MARGARET SHEA LOCATED AT 1205 S. BUCKEYE LANE IN OLDHAM COUNTY, KENTUCKY. Action Required By:  April 10, 2025 Sponsors: Andrew Owen (D-9) ]

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AND EVEN WITH METRO PARKS AND SUPPLYING NATIVE PLANTS AND MATERIALS TO STABILIZE CREEK BANKS AND TO DEVELOP WILDLIFE HABITAT. SO THIS THE IDEA ABOUT PUTTING TWO OTHER ADDITIONAL PIECES THAT THEY HAVE ACQUIRED, ONE OF THEM, 3.9 ACRES IN SIZE AND THE OTHER FIVE ACRES IN SIZE TO THE EXISTING CONSERVATION EASEMENT, MADE SENSE TO THEM FOR THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO BE HELD BY THE ORGANIZATION THAT NOW HOLDS THE 27 ACRES, WHICH IS LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. IT HAS 700FT OF LINEAR FEET OF SINKING CREEK THAT FLOWS TO HARRODS CREEK. THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT DOES NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC ACCESS TO IT, MEANING THAT THE PUBLIC CAN'T JUST WALK ON THE PROPERTY, BUT IN A WAY THEY DO HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS BECAUSE THEY ALLOW FOLKS TO COME OUT DURING THE GROWING SEASON, MAYBE TO PICK SOME OF THEIR OWN VEGETABLES WHEN THEY'RE NOT DOING THE CSA, AND ALSO TO HAVE NATIVE NATIVE PLANT SALES THERE.

SO PEOPLE CAN GO ON THE PROPERTY. SO I'VE GOT A QUESTION. SURE. I KNOW THERE'S A SINKING CREEK DOWN IN BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY. IS THAT NOT THE SAME? NO, IT'S NOT THE SAME ONE. OKAY. NO. SO THIS ONE, THIS ONE IS HYDROLOGICALLY CONNECTED TO HARRODS CREEK. AND OKAY, THAT ONE WOULDN'T BE. AND THE, THE CSS WITH THE NATIVE PLANT TRUMP SEED NURSERY THAT'S LOCATED ON THIS EASEMENT. YES, YES. AND THEY THE, THE PERSON THAT RUNS DROPSEED NURSERY IS MARGARET SHEA. AND SHE, SHE HAS SHE HAS A, A NATURAL PLANT BACKGROUND. BUT THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THIS FARM. AND ACTUALLY THE OWNER THAT SOLD THEM THE ORIGINAL PIECE OF PROPERTY SAID THE ONLY WAY THAT I WILL SELL THIS TO YOU IS IF YOU PUT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON IT, AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST, AND WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO DO A CONSERVATION EASEMENT? OKAY, SO THE LENGTH OF TIME VARIES. I MEAN, USUALLY WITHIN A EIGHT MONTHS TO A YEAR WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO US. SO IT'S KIND OF A NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE VALUES ON THAT PROPERTY OF WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE, BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS THEY RESERVE RIGHTS ON THAT PROPERTY.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST RIGHTS THAT THEY MIGHT RESERVE IS THE RIGHT TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL HOME. SO THERE HAS TO BE A FOOTPRINT THERE THAT DOESN'T DESTROY THE OTHER VALUES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT. AND THEN IN OTHER CASES, WHEN THEY START TO LOOK AT AT THOSE VALUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, THEY START THINKING THROUGH WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO DO AND WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPEDIMENTS OF PASSING THIS ON, EITHER TO SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE FAMILY OR A FUTURE OWNER? AND RECOGNIZING WHAT THOSE CONSERVATION VALUES ARE? SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE OF THE LONGER PARTS OF THE DIALOG, BECAUSE WHOEVER IS PUTTING THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON, WE DO TWO THINGS IN ADVISEMENT TO THEM. ONE, WE HAVE OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE THAT WORKS ON BEHALF OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST AND METRO GOVERNMENT, BUT WE TELL THEM THEY NEED TO SEEK THEIR OWN LEGAL ADVICE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. AND WE HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THAT. CAN I ASK YOU IF THERE IS ARE THERE ANY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, SAY, IN SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FARMLAND OUT THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PROTECTED IN THAT WAY. OKAY. SO THERE THERE ARE NOT ANY THAT'S HELD BY THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST IN SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY, BUT WE ARE UNDER DISCUSSION WITH ONE IN SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY. THAT IS THE MINT FARM. OH, OKAY. YES.

OKAY. YEAH. I KNEW THAT WAS HAPPENING. SO YEAH, WE WOULD WE WOULD LIKE I MEAN, WE WOULD LIKE

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BUT IT TOUCHES THAT PROPERTY AND AGAIN SHE RELAYED TO THEM THAT NEEDS TO HAVE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON IT, AND THAT THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON THE ON THOSE NEW ACREAGES DO NOT PROVIDE ANY FOOTPRINT FOR BUILDING. SO THAT 3.9 AND FIVE ACRES WILL ALWAYS BE EITHER WOODLAND OR IT WILL BE PRIME PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL SPACE. SAID EVERYTHING. YEAH. DO WE HAVE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS IF ANYONE ONLINE. NO. OKAY. AND SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. NOSEBAND LIKE SIGN. THIS WILL GO TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ITEM

[4. R-113-24     A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT $846,678.00 FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY THROUGH THE FENCELINE AIR MONITORING INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT. Action Required By:  April 10, 2025 Sponsors: Cindi Fowler (D-14) ]

PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED, IT IS BEFORE US AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS. IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD. LET'S SEE. IS THIS ON? IT IS. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M RACHEL HAMILTON AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT. AND I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE BILLY DEWITT, WHO IS OUR AIR MONITORING PROGRAM MANAGER. I DO HAVE A VERY BRIEF POWERPOINT. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. SO JUST FOR BACKGROUND, APCD STAFF OPERATE FIVE AIR MONITORING SITES ACROSS JEFFERSON COUNTY. WE COLLECT DATA THERE BASED ON FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AND IN ALL TOTAL, WE GENERATE SOMETHING CLOSE TO 40 TO 50 MILLION DATA POINTS A YEAR. THIS DATA IS USED IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS. THAT IS, INCLUDING PROTECTING AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC WITH AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH INFORMATION.

YOU MAY REMEMBER, PARTICULARLY LAST SUMMER WHEN WE HAD THOSE CANADIAN WILDFIRES. YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT FROM THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT. THIS DATA SUPPORTS THAT. IT ALSO HELPS US DEMONSTRATE OUR STATUS WITH RESPECT TO THE NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS. IT SUPPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, AND OF COURSE, IT INFORMS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL POLICY MAKING. THIS PARTICULAR GRANT OPPORTUNITY IS FROM US EPA. IT IS THEIR INFLATION REDUCTION ACT GRANT THAT THEY HAVE MADE DIREC, NONCOMPETITIVE GRANT AWARDS TO STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL AIR AGENCIES HERE IN EPA REGION FOUR. THEY WERE ALLOCATED CLOSE TO $14 MILLION. THERE ARE EIGHT STATES, AND I THINK 15 LOCAL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCIES. SO

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IT WILL SUPPLEMENT OUR LOCAL AIR MONITORING NETWORK, AND IT CAN BE USED AT THE FENCE LINE OR IN OTHER PLACES WHERE WE MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN DETERMINING WHAT SORTS OF POLLUTANTS MAY BE PRESENT, INCLUDING OZONE, NITROGEN, DIOXIDES, FINE PARTICLES, CARBON MONOXIDE, AS WELL AS VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. THIS IS A TYPE OF SENSOR. IT'S NOT THE SAME REGULATORY LEVEL OF ANALYZER THAT WE HAVE INSTALLED AT OUR AIR MONITORING SITES, BUT IT IS REALLY GOOD AT HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE WE MAY HAVE AN ISSUE OF CONCERN THAT DATA AND THE METEOROLOGICAL DATA THAT IT WILL GENERATE WILL COME TO OUR OFFICE IN REAL TIME AND WILL PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL. THE OUTCOMES OF THIS, OF COURSE, ARE TO INCREASE AIR QUALITY AWARENESS. IT WILL HELP US HAVE BETTER RESOURCES, INCLUDING UP TO DATE EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS SPARES. OUR EQUIPMENT IS IN THE FIELD IN USE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR. SO HAVING A READY SUPPLY OF MATERIAL TO REPLACE AND REPAIR IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO US.

IT CAN PROVIDE FOR BETTER AIR QUALITY INFORMATION IN DISADVANTAGED OR PREVIOUSLY UNMONITORED AREAS. IT WILL INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR AIR MONITORING NETWORK AND OF COURSE, DATA IS ALWAYS NECESSARY FOR DECISION MAKING AND WE GENERATE AND RELY ON A GREAT DEAL OF DATA. LASTLY, IT'S A PROBLEM SOLVING TOOL. WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILWOMAN FOWLER HAS STEPPED OUT, SO I AM TAKING HER SEAT. SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JEFF. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION THERE. AND I GUESS I WOULD TAKE ISSUE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION NOT BEING AS SEXY AS THE BLACK FOOTED FERRETS. AS AN ENGINEER, THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT PUSHES MY BUTTONS. KINDRED SPIRIT. BUT THE LAST TIME YOU CAME BEFORE US, I THINK WAS AT THE BUDGET. AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION I ASK THEM IS, HAVE WE MADE ANY PROGRESS IN INTEGRATING ALL OF THE DATA THAT YOU COLLECT WITH MSD? BECAUSE MSD IS GENERATING THE STINK AND YOU GUYS ARE DETECTING THE STINK, WHO'S FIXING THE STINK? THANK YOU.

THIS IS AN ISSUE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. SO WITH RESPECT TO MSD, WE'VE RECENTLY EXECUTED A SECOND AMENDED AGREED BOARD ORDER. OUR BOARD COMPLETED THAT WORK AT THE SEPTEMBER BOARD

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