[2. AP120324AB APPOINTMENT OF ANGELA BOWENS TO THE CIVILIAN REVIEW & ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES MARCH 25, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

BE THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. AP 120324 AB. THE APPOINTMENT OF BONDS TO THE CIVILIAN REVIEW AND ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES MARCH 25TH, 2027. A FORMER COLLEAGUE OF OURS, MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR OR A MOTION? MOTION AND A SECOND. SECOND. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF MISS ANGELA BOWENS TO THE CIVILIAN REVIEW AND ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE POLICIES THAT SAYS NO ONE THAT HAS BEEN APPOINTED CAN TO AN OFFICE CAN SIT ON THIS BOARD. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MISS BOWENS WAS NOT OFFICIALLY APPOINTED TO COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE, WE ARE ASKING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER APPOINTMENT. SO THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD HAS 11 MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD. THERE ARE THREE YEAR TERMS. THE METRO COUNCIL HAS THREE SEATS. THE MAYOR CHOOSES FOUR, AND THEN THERE ARE FOUR SEATS THAT ARE CHOSEN BY OUTSIDE ENTITIES. MISS ANGELA BOWEN, AGAIN IS A MAYORAL APPOINTEE.

SHE IS AT A METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE. SHE WORKS AT THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY AS THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. SHE SERVED AGAIN, BUT WAS NOT APPOINTED TO DISTRICT ONE. SHE HAS GOVERNANCE EXPERIENCE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. SHE IS HERE IN CHAMBERS TO SPEAK TO THIS APPOINTMENT. FORMER COUNCILMAN BOWENS, COME ON DOWN. IF YOU'LL JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MADAM ANGELA BOWENS. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT, MISTER CHAIR? YES, SIR. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. FIRST OF ALL. HI, ANGELA. IT'S A IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR YOU TODAY. I CAN'T IMAGINE A FINER PERSON TO BE APPOINTED TO THIS BOARD, FRANKLY. AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. I JUST WANT CLARITY ON SOMETHING. MISS JACKSON SAID. MISS BOWEN WASN'T ELECTED, BUT SHE WAS APPOINTED. CAN WE JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE 100% CLEAR ON ON WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE? RIGHT. SO SHE WAS NOT ELECTED, I MISSPOKE. I USED THE WRONG TERM. SO SHE WAS NOT ELECTED. YES, SHE DID SERVE IN THAT. BUT ACCORDING TO THE POLICY AND ACCORDING TO JEFFERSON COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT WE'RE IN THE CLEAR TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH NOMINATING HER. RIGHT. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU MEANT. I WAS JUST CONFUSED, AND I JUST WANTED TO ENSURE WE WERE STRAIGHT. NO. NO MISTAKE. NO. NO PROBLEM AT ALL. THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, ANGELA. AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD, WE'VE BEEN JOINED VIRTUALLY BY COUNCILMAN REED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CONCERNS OR COMMENTS, COUNCILMAN HAWKINS? I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. MISS BOWEN DID SERVE MY DISTRICT FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME. I'VE SPOKEN TO HER. AND I THINK SHE WOULD BE GREAT FOR THIS BOARD. I THINK THAT SHE WOULD BE VERY BOLD. AND I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS? HEARING NONE. THIS IS A THAT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALSO SAY I, I, I ANY OPPOSITION. HEARING NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ANGELA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. THE NEXT ITEM, NUMBER THREE AP 12032 FOR THE

[3. AP120324AH APPOINTMENT OF AMIR HUSSEIN TO THE EXTENSION BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

APPOINTMENT OF AMIR HUSSAIN TO THE EXTENSION BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. IS

[00:05:01]

THERE A MOTION? MOTION. SECOND ITEM BEFORE US, MISS JACKSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION BOARD HAS SIX MEMBERS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR. THE EXTENSION COUNCIL. THEY SUBMIT THOSE NAMES TO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR FOR US TO CHOOSE. MISTER AMIR HUSSEIN IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX. HE'S AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE. HE WORKS WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LOUISVILLE AS A FARMER SERVICES COORDINATOR. HE HAS EXPERIENCES. HE HAS EXPERIENCE WITH CREATING EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM ON FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. HE LEADS TRAININGS ON FARMING. HE BUILDS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN URBAN FARMERS AND BUYERS. HE'S A MEMBER OF THE GREATER LOUISVILLE FOOD COUNCIL AND THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD. WE THINK HE'LL BE A PERFECT PERSON TO AS A MAYORAL APPOINTMENT TO THIS BOARD. HE IS HERE IN THE CHAMBERS TO SPEAK WITH YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY, AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. MISTER HUSSAIN, IF YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS AMIR HUSSAIN. IT'S LOVELY TO MEET YOU ALL. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD GLADLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. MADAM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. WE WANT TO SEE MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO DO THIS WITH US. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU DO. THANK YO. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? MADAM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. WHAT BRINGS INTEREST TO YOU ON SERVING ON THIS BOARD? WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING TO THE BOARD? SO FOR ME, IN TERMS OF INTEREST, I AM HEAVILY INVOLVED IN LOUISVILLE'S URBAN AG COMMUNITY. AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN THE AGE OF TEN, AND MY FAMILY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FARMERS HERE. SO AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HELPING OTHER FARMERS OF MY ETHNICITY AND EVEN OTHER FARMERS THAT ARE MIGRANT OR IMMIGRANT FARMERS THAT DON'T GET THE SAME REPRESENTATION, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE UNDER THE SAME CLASSIFICATION OF URBAN FARMER. I BELIEVE I PROVIDE BOTH THAT EXPERIENCE AND SEVERAL YEARS OF KNOWLEDGE OF WORKING TO BLEND CULTURES TOGETHER AND CREATE A MORE HARMONIZING ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS SPEAK TOWARDS THE PROBLEMS THAT OFTEN ARE OVERSHADOWED BY PEOPLE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? I WILL SAY THIS. IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE SOMEONE SO YOUNG, SO KNOWLEDGEABLE AND SO ARTICULATE GETTING ON THESE BOARDS. AND I THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITH NO QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT THAT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I, I, I ANY OPPOSITION. HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THIS PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MISTER HUSSAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR

[4. AP120324BT APPOINTMENT OF BRELIN TILFORD TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION. (TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

AGENDA, THE ITEM NUMBER FOUR AP 120324 BT THE APPOINTMENT OF BRIAN TILFORD TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION, A TERM THAT EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION. SECOND, THE ITEM IS PROPERLY FORCED. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOO. SO THE PURPOSE OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION IS TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, OPERATE AND PROVIDE FOR THE LIBRARY THAT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THEY THERE ARE NINE MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD. THEY SERVE THREE YEAR TERMS. MR. TILFORD IS AT A METRO COUNCIL, DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN, AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE. HE IS THE CEO OF MEDIA PROS PRODUCTION. HE IS REPLACING A MEMBER THAT HAD SERVED THEIR TIME AND COULD NOT BE REAPPOINTED. HE IS A FOUNDER OF. THERE'S AN UPCOMING PROGRAM THAT HE'S GOING TO RELEASE A STORYTELLERS PROGRAM. HE'S CREATIVE, HE'S A VISIONARY, AND WE THINK THAT HE WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR THIS BOARD. LET ME SEE. HE IS NOT ON THE CALL, BUT WE DO WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS. OH, YOU SNUCK IN ON ME. HE'S HERE IN THE CHAMBERS TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF. MR. TILFORD, IF YOU WANT TO COME ON DOWN AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU'RE COMING. I KIND OF KIND OF CAME HERE QUICK. HI, MY NAME IS BRIAN TILFORD. I'M A FOUNDER OF MEDIA PROS PRODUCTIONS AND UPCOMING STORYTELLERS PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR YOUTH MEDIA PROGRAM. AND THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS, THE LIBRARY BOARD, WAS BECAUSE I GREW UP NEXT TO THE MAIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND BEING THERE, GOING TO FRANCIS PARKER AND BEING DOWNTOWN AND BEING ABLE TO GO THERE TOO, BEFORE I CATCH THE BUS. BEING ABLE TO GO AND CONNECT WITH FRIENDS, RESEARCH AND WHATNOT, AND BEING

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ABLE TO ALSO BE A PERSON IN MEDIA, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDIA LITERACY AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION. I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, THINKING OF WAYS THAT WE CAN BRING MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER. AND SO, YEAH, ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? YES, COUNCILMAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YES. QUESTIONS FOR MISS JACKSON, ACTUALLY. SO, MISTER BRELAND, YOUR RESUME IS FANTASTIC. ZERO ISSUES WITH YOU AS A CANDIDATE. BUT MISS JACKSON, I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE. WE SEE A LOT. THERE'S A LOT OF REAPPOINTMENTS COMING UP HERE FOR THIS BOARD. IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF THE MEMBERS, THEIR START DATE AND END DATE ARE IN DECEMBER, SO THEY HAVE TO BE REAPPOINTED DURING THIS TIME. I'M LOOKING AT THE MAKEUP HERE OF THIS BOARD, AND I LOOKED AT THE APPLICANTS OF THE BOARD, AND IT'S NOT MAKING A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO ME FROM A GEOGRAPHIC AND IDEOLOGICAL DIVERSITY POINT OF VIEW, AS I'M LOOKING AT IT AGAIN, TELL ME THAT MY DOCUMENTATION IS WRONG. I PULLED UP THE DOCUMENT THAT'S LOADED IN GRANICUS FOR ME. OKAY. AND IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE OF THE NINE MEMBERS, WE HAVE ONE REPUBLICAN, AND I'M LOOKING ACROSS THE BOARD HERE. I'M ONLY SEEING MAYBE ONE APPOINTEE, MAYBE TWO, WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF WHO RESIDE IN DISTRICTS OUTSIDE OF THE WATERSHED. WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE REFLECTED IN THIS BOARD AND THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE WATERSHED NOW REPRESENT ROUGHLY TWO THIRDS OF THE POPULATION OF THE CITY. AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE NEED FOR MORE SERVICES. AND THE UNDER SURFACE, IF YOU LOOK AT POPULATION, IF YOU LOOK AT PER CAPITA NUMBERS VERSUS ACCESS TO LIBRARIES, SO CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND? YOU KNOW, WHY WE'RE UNABLE? AND I LOOKED AT THE APPLICANTS TO THE BOARD, AND THERE SEEMED TO BE A PRETTY DIVERSE LIST OF APPLICANTS. IDEOLOGICALLY, RACIALLY, GEOGRAPHICALLY, ACROSS THE CITY THAT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO HELP BALANCE THESE, THESE OUT. BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT WHY WE CAN'T FIGURE THAT OUT HERE. SO THE FOLKS THAT WE ARE REAPPOINTING, YOU GUYS APPOINTED THEM INITIALLY, AND THEY ARE LIBRARIANS. SO WE LOOKED AT SKILL SETS AND WHAT THE LIBRARY NEEDED AT THE PARTICULAR TIME.

AND SO WE HAVE SEVERAL LIBRARIANS ON HERE. WE HAVE AND WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET APPROVED. THAT IS PUSHING MEDIA, WHICH IS VERY POPULAR. AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BEING A VISIONARY AND A WAY TO GO THAT WE THAT THE LIBRARY WANTS TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY NEED. BUT WE LOOKED AT IT AND THERE I MEAN, WE LOOKED AT SKILL SETS AND THEIR LIBRARIANS. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO NO, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT IN TERMS OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICTS. BUT I WAS WE WERE LOOKING AT SKILL SETS. MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY FOLLOW UP. MR. CHAIR, THE RESPONSE WAS SWING AWAY. THANK YOU. SO LET ME LET ME PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY. I THINK MR. THINK THIS APPLICANT IS MR. TILFORD IS AN INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE HE HAS A CERTAIN SKILL SET RELATED TO MEDIA.

MEDIA IS MORE AND MORE PART OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. SO THAT'S GREAT, RIGHT? THE BOARD DOES NOT NEED TO BE A BUNCH OF LIBRARIANS. THIS IS NOT TO HIT ON LIBRARIANS. GOD BLESS THEM.

BUT THIS BOARD DOES NOT REQUIRE CERTAIN EXPERTISE. IT NEEDS TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T IN OTHER BOARDS ONLY APPOINT PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERTISE IN THAT SPECIFIC INDUSTRY. THEY'RE THERE TO REFLECT ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, THE COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, IF WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR LIBRARIANS, I THINK WE SORT OF DEFEAT THE PURPOSE. WE HAVE OPERATIONAL EXPERTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF OUR OF OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM. WHAT WE NEED HERE IS PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE OVERALL COMMUNITY. AND IF THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT GEOGRAPHICALLY AND IDEOLOGICALLY, THEN I THINK WE'RE SORT OF MISSING THE BOAT HERE. SO I'M NOT TERRIFIC. THIS IS NOT A HIT ON MR. TILFORD. QUITE FRANKLY, I'M VERY HAPPY TO VOTE FOR HIM. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER THIS FATE, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR

[00:15:05]

ANYBODY ELSE FOR THE LIBRARY, NOT AFTER TODAY. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I TO BE FAIR TO YOU, I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A HEADS UP BEFORE WE WALKED IN TODAY, AND I'VE JUST BEEN BUSY AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT I'M NOT INCLINED TO CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR A BOARD THAT DOESN'T REFLECT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY ONE THAT IS AS IMPORTANT TO EVERY ASPECT OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE SEE AREAS OF GROWTH THAT ARE SORT OF UNDERREPRESENTED HERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. AND I THINK WE CAN WE CAN DO BETTER. AND THIS ORDINANCE DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO HAVE LIBRARIANS ON IT. WE'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITY. SO MY QUESTION IS, SO THE ONES MOST OF THESE ARE BEING REAPPOINTED. SO YOU DIDN'T LIKE THEM THE LAST TIME OR YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT I NEED TO DO? NO, I WOULD EXPECT THAT NEW EMPLOYEES EXCUSE ME. NEW APPOINTEES. EXCUSE ME. WOULD WOULD HELP RESOLVE THE GAPS. WE HAVE ONE REPUBLICAN OUT OF NINE PEOPLE HERE. THAT'S NOT EVEN REMOTELY REFLECTIVE OF THE POPULATION OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE OUT OF NINE THAT LIVE OUTSIDE THE WATER SYSTEM, AND TWO THIRDS OF THE POPULATION LIVES OUTSIDE THE WATER. SO THAT'S NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY. SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S NOT A REFLECTION. AND DON'T MAKE IT BECAUSE I'M NOT MAKING IT ABOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS. I'M HAPPY TO VOTE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, THEY HAVE THEY AS LONG AS THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING UNTOWARD OR NOT REPRESENTED, THE LIBRARY BOARD. WELL, I SEE NO NEED TO THIS IS NO INDICTMENT ON THEM. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY SERVE THE COMMUNITY. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE ADMINISTRATION TO WHEN NEW APPOINTMENTS COME UP, OF WHICH THIS IS ONE THAT WE TRIED TO LOOK AT THOSE GAPS AND FILL THEM. AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU FILL THOSE GAPS. AND YOU HAVE REACHED OUT BEFORE TO, TO HELP FILL THOSE WHEN NECESSARY. BUT I LOOKED AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WHO HAVE APPLIED TO THIS BOARD. AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WHO COULD HAVE HELPED FILL SOME OF THOSE GAPS. AND I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED WE DIDN'T TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WITH THAT SAID, AGAIN, THAT'S NOT AN INDICTMENT ON MR. TILFORD. HE'S EMINENTLY QUALIFIED PERSON. I'M HAPPY TO VOTE FOR HIM. I JUST EXPECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE HIM FORWARD WHEN OPENINGS COME UP THAT WE THAT WE REFLECT THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEW APPOINTMENTS. AND I WOULD SAY THAT I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE AND THAT IS, AS I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW DIVERSITY OF GEOGRAPHIC HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SOME PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL. IT ISN'T FOR ME. YOU KNOW, IF EVERY PERSON ON A PARTICULAR BOARD CAME FROM ONE DISTRICT, WE'RE ALL LOUISVILLIANS. WE'RE ALL STRIVING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF LOUISVILLE. AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I WANT IS THE BEST PEOPLE IN THIS BOARD. AND TO MY COLLEAGUE I SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE LIBRARY, IS THAT WHO BETTER TO KNOW THE LIBRARIES THAN THE LIBRARIAN? IF I HAD A BOARD THAT DEALT WITH WITH WITH CULINARY ARTS, I'D WANT CHEFS ON THAT BOARD. YOU KNOW, IF IT'S ABOUT REPRESENTING THE TRUE COMMUNITY. WELL, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT DIDN'T EVEN GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THESE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, SUBSTANTIAL BEING, YOU KNOW, GREATER THAN PROBABLY 10% THAT DIDN'T GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. SHOULD WE THEREFORE GUARANTEE THAT SOMEONE THAT LACKS AN EDUCATION IS ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES A PORTION OF THIS COMMUNITY? TO THAT I SAY NO, AND I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE COMMUNITY, IF THIS IF ANY BOARD WERE STACKED ALL FROM A CERTAIN SEGMENT, I DON'T CARE AS LONG AS THEY'RE QUALIFIED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE INDUSTRY THAT WE'RE ASKING TO BE APPOINTED IN COUNCIL. I SEE YOUR HAND UP, SWING AWAY AGAIN. YEAH. SO TO RETORT. SO TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY WHEN I TALK ABOUT IDEOLOGICAL DIVERSIT, WHICH WHICH BY THE WAY, IS REQUIRED BY LAW. RIGHT. I'VE MADE THE SAME ARGUMENT, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE THE SAME ARGUMENT. IF WE HAD A BOARD THAT WAS ENTIRELY WHITE OR ENTIRELY OR ENTIRELY OF MALE RIGHT, WE SHOULD SAY THAT DOESN'T REFLECT THE COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WOULD INSIST THAT WE HAD APPOINTEES THAT REFLECTED THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR BOOKS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ THAT INTEREST ME AND INTEREST MY CONSTITUENTS IN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP. I'M ONE OF THE NERDS THAT ACTUALLY THEN GOES AND PUTS THOSE REQUESTS IN, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IDEOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY AND DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT IS IF, FRANKLY, IN ALMOST ANY BOARD THAT WE APPOINT IS SHOCKINGLY IMPORTANT IN IN THE LIBRARY BOARD BECAUSE WE WANT, FOR EXAMPLE, A LIBRARY FULL OF BOOKS THAT REFLECT ALL KINDS OF IDEOLOGIES AND POINTS

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OF VIEW. SO NO, I DISAGREE. IF WE HAD EVERYBODY COMING FROM ONE GEOGRAPHY AND ONE AREA OF THE CITY, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THE BOOK SELECTION. NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE INHERENT, NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BE BIASED, BUT INHERENTLY, IF THEY COME FROM ONE AREA OF THE CITY OR HAVE ONE IDEOLOGY, THEY WOULD JUST BE IGNORANT OF OTHER IDEOLOGIES AND NOT KNOW THAT WE NEED TO, FOR EXAMPLE, ADVOCATE TO PROCURE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOOKS AND LITERATURE AND GENRES.

SO NO, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. AND AGAIN, WE HAVE LIBRARIANS THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. WE'RE LOADED WITH THEM. WE EMPLOY THEM. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE BOARD THIS ADVISORY BOARD NEEDS TO REFLECT THAT. RIGHT. IT AGAIN IF IT REQUIRED THAT WE WOULD PUT THAT IN ORDINANCE. BUT IT DIDN'T REQUIRE THAT COUNCILMAN PURVIS, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? CHAIRMAN ATKINSON, MAY I PLEASE ADDRESS COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI ADDRESS AWAY? COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, AND FIRST LET ME SAY THIS. YOU KNOW, I'M CRAZY ABOUT YOU. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. I DID REACH OUT TO MISS JACKSON YESTERDAY WANTING INFORMATION ON BOARD APPOINTMENTS, AND SHE WAS VERY RESPONSIVE AND QUICKLY. AND I KNOW THAT IF YOU DO THE SAME, SHE WILL RESPOND BACK TO YOU. I JUST DON'T WANT OUR APPOINTEES TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE TAKING IT OUT ON THEM BECAUSE THESE BOARDS ARE NOT MADE UP THE WAY THAT YOU PREFER THEM. AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR SENTIMENTS AND WHATEVER YOU'RE FEELING THAT THERE'S NOT EQUITY ON THESE BOARDS. I GET THAT. I JUST DON'T THINK THIS MAY BE THE TIME TO ADDRESS THAT.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. I DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE BEING APPOINTED TO FEEL BAD ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL. I DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK THAT THIS IS ANY PERSONAL ATTACK ON THEM. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING, SIR. I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU. DO NOT HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. OH, SORRY.

COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SANTINI, FOR POINTING OUT WHY THESE APPOINTMENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER ON THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE APPLYING. WHO KNEW THAT THERE WAS SUCH DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT WITH A LIBRARY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE FOUR OUT OF. THERE ARE FOUR REPUBLICANS OUT OF 22 APPLICANTS FOR THE BOARD. SO, YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU WITH DIVERSITY. SO I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT THAT OUT. BUT I HAD A CONSTITUENT ASK ME RECENTLY WITH METRO COUNCIL GOING NONPARTISAN, HOW WILL THAT AFFECT COMMISSIONS? AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE COULD ANSWER THAT. AND THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE TIME FOR THAT AGAIN, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A FULL AGENDA TODAY. BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S WORTH CONSIDERING IS POLITICAL AFFILIATION SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION GIVEN THAT WE DON'T HAVE A R? I OR A D NEXT TO OUR NAME GOING FORWARD IN 2025. SO CONSIDERATION, COUNCILMAN KRAMER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO CAPTURE THE CONVERSATION I HEARD. ALTHEA, I HEARD MISS JACKSON. I'M SORRY, MISS JACKSON. MISS JACKSON ASKED THE QUESTION. IS YOUR FRUSTRATION WITH THE FACT THAT THEY'RE HERE NOW OR WHY IS THAT AN ISSUE? BECAUSE THEY WERE REAPPOINTMENTS, RIGHT? LIKE FOUR OF THE FOLKS WERE WERE TALKING ABOUT. AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT I WON'T PUT WORDS IN IN COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI MOUTH. I'LL JUST REPEAT WHAT HE SAID. I HEARD HIM SAY THAT HE DOESN'T FIND FAULT WITH ANY OF THE CANDIDATES TODAY, THAT HE INTENDS TO VOTE FOR ALL OF THE REAPPOINTMENTS.

THE CONCERN DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THAT WE'RE REAPPOINTING PEOPLE TO COMMISSIONS THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED PREVIOUSLY. IT FEELS MORE LIKE AT LEAST AS I'M LISTENING, THERE IS A CONCERN GOING FORWARD. SO TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT FIVE, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI MEANS FOR THE CURRENT APPOINTEES TO THINK HE'S TALKING ABOUT THEM. AND AS FAR AS LIKE WHETHER THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME OR THE WRONG TIME, I THINK HE'S TRYING TO GET INTO THE RECORD TODAY THAT GOING FORWARD, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT LIBRARY APPOINTMENTS ESPECIALLY, IT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE GREATER EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE NEW APPOINTEES, NOT REAPPOINTMENT, BUT NEW APPOINTEES TO THE LIBRARY BOARD THAT REFLECT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE FOLKS OUTSIDE THE URBAN SERVICE DISTRICT OR OUTSIDE. 264 WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST, AND I WILL THROW IN JUST REALLY QUICK WHILE WE'RE

[00:25:01]

HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF LIBRARIES SINCE THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WHEN THE PREVIOUS MAYOR CLOSED TWO OF THE BUSIEST LIBRARIES IN THE SYSTEM, WE WERE ABLE TO GET ONE OF THOSE LIBRARIES BACK OPEN. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THE MAYOR IS WORKING HARD TO GET THAT SECOND LIBRARY REOPENED, AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE TO REOPEN THAT FERN CREEK LIBRARY. BUT THE CONCERN IS IF THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD DOESN'T REFLECT FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE LIBRARY SERVICE RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, THE FOLKS IN FERN CREEK LITERALLY DON'T HAVE LIBRARY SERVICE. AND THEN WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE BOARD AND THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING REFLECTED THERE EITHER, I THINK THAT'S THE CONCERN. SO THE ASK, I THINK, IS NOT SO MUCH TODAY. AND I DON'T THINK AND IF IT DID SOUND LIKE THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING TO LET COUNCILMEMBER PIAGENTINI OWN HIS OWN MESSAGE, RIGHT? I DON'T FEEL FRUSTRATED OR UPSET OR DISCOURAGED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE MOMENT. JUST ASK NICELY, PLEASE. GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD, RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT THE MAYOR INHERITED AND OUR EXPERIENCE OF LIBRARIES HAS NOT BEEN ONE THAT UNDERSTOOD THE GROWTH OF FOLKS OUTSIDE OF 264 AND ONE THAT ACTUALLY KIND OF MORE THAN JUST IGNORED, RIGHT? WHEN YOU CLOSE A LIBRARY, YOU'RE NOT JUST IGNORING ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING PARTS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. YOU'RE ACTUALLY REDUCING REMOVING A SERVICE IN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR FOR HIS EFFORTS TO GET THAT FERN CREEK LIBRARY BACK OPEN. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE THERE. HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL TO OPEN NOT JUST THE FERN CREEK LIBRARY, BUT THE LIBRARY SERVICE IN GENERAL. SO SHORT ANSWER, GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD, IF WE COULD JUST BE SENSITIVE TO WHAT LOUISVILLE HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE LIBRARIES, AND IF THE BOARD COULD REFLECT THAT, SO CAN I SAY ONE THING? SURE. WELL, THAT'S UP TO THE CHAIR. THAT'S UP TO. SO THREE OF THESE REAPPOINTMENTS CANNOT BE COME BACK UP FOR THEY THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR TERM. SO MOVING FORWARD, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN. YEAH. IF I'M IF I MAY THAT'S PRECISELY THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO HEAR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HOPKINS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. YEAH. I WAS GOING TO JUST SAY THAT I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN KRAMER.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU CLEARED THAT UP, MISS JACKSON. JUST ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, HOW YOU WERE GOING TO MOVE? UNFORTUNATELY, I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN ANTHONY. WHEN IT COMES TO BEING CULTURAL. CULTURAL IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND IT'S JUST NOT IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH BLACKS. IT'S IMPORTANT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BOARD. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I GOT A FEW EMAILS TODAY JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT LIBRARIES ARE, AND ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO SAY IN PARKLAND, THAT LIBRARY HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IT'S GOING TO OPEN. AND I GOT ALL TYPE OF PEOPLE SHOOTING EMAILS, JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY BLACKS ARE GOING TO BE EMPLOYED VERSUS WHITES. SO THAT IS A BIG THING, OKAY. AND NOT JUST FROM OUR STANDPOINT, BUT JUST FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT AS WELL. BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CULTURE, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT PEOPLE THERE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURE. PEOPLE IN THOSE SPACES HAVE TO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DEAL IN THOSE TYPE OF CULTURE SPACES AND DEALING WITH THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE. SO JUST BASICALLY HAVING A DIFFERENT SET OF LENSES, YOU KNOW, JUST MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? MR. CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. MADAM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. TILFORD, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU. THANK YOU. IT IS GOOD TO SEE SOMEONE COME FULL CIRCLE. I WAS EXCITED TO READ ABOUT YOUR RESUME WAS IMPRESSIVE, BUT MORE IMPRESSIVE WAS YOU USING THAT LIBRARY AND NOW TO BE GETTING TO GET APPOINTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD MEANS A LOT. I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS. IT GOES LIKE THIS SOMETIMES SOME CANDIDATES JUST GO RIGHT THROUGH WITH NO QUESTIONS AND SOME WE GET A NICE DISCUSSION. I THINK THIS DISCUSSION IS MEANINGFUL AND I TOO DON'T WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY AND THINK, YOU KNOW, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? THIS IS GOOD.

AND YOU'LL BE HAVING A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ON THAT BOARD. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT. I MEAN, FOR YOUR APPLICATION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS? HEARING NONE. THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT THAT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEARING? NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES

[00:30:03]

UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MR. TILFORD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PP 12032 FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF

[5. RP120324MW REAPPOINTMENT OF MARCUS WALKER TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION. (TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

MARCUS WALKER TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION, A TERM THAT EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. IS THERE A MOTION, MOTION, MOTION. THE ITEMS BEFORE US. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MR. MARCUS WALKER. HE IS AT A METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TEN. HE IS HAS HIS MASTER'S OF SCIENCE IN LIBRARY SCIENCE. MARCUS WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED IN 2021. HE IS A LIBRARIAN WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE. HE IS ON THE CALL AND HE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. MR. WALKER, IF YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS MARCUS WALKER, AND I AM A LIBRARIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF ME, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? HEARING? NONE.

THIS IS A POINT THAT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I, I, I ANY OPPOSITION HEARING NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MR. WALKER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YEAH. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA BE ITEM

[6. RP120324NS REAPPOINTMENT OF NATHAN SMITH TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION. (TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

NUMBER SIX, P120324 AND S THE REAPPOINTMENT OF NATHAN SMITH TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION, A TERM THAT EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. IS THERE A MOTION? NO MOTION. THERE'S OUR SECOND.

THE ITEMS BEFORE US. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO NATHAN SMITH IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE. HE. THIS IS A REAPPOINTMENT. HE IS AN ARCHITECT WITH PARK STUDIO LLC.

THIS WOULD BE HIS LAST TERM. SO HE IS ONE OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT WE WILL BE REPLACING IN THREE YEARS, THREE YEARS. IF THIS IS APPROVED. HE WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED IN 2018. HE IS HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT ABOUT HIS REAPPOINTMENT. MR. SMITH, IF YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NATHAN SMITH. I'M PLEASED TO SERVE ON THE LACK. THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION. I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S A TECHNICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COMMISSION AND A BOARD. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BEING A COMMISSIONER IS A DIFFERENT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SITUATION.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT. SEE, WE'VE AIRED ALL ALL THE LAUNDRY. SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GOOD THING. I YEAH, I'M WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER MET ME OR ASSUMING THINGS ABOUT ABOUT ME, GIVEN SOME OF THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS, BUT THAT'S OKAY. I IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE A OKAY WITH YOU AT THIS POINT. GOOD, GOOD. SO YOU KEEP DOING THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AT THIS POINT. THIS IS A POINT THAT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE AYE AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEAR NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

[7. RP120324CR REAPPOINTMENT OF CARLA ROBINSON TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION. (TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

MR. SMITH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. THANK YOU. SO THE NEXT ITEM ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PP 120324 CR. THE REAPPOINTMENT OF CARLA ROBINSON TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION, A TERM THAT EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION, MOTION. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO MISS ROBINSON IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE. SHE IS WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HEAD START HEAD START PROGRAM. HER PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE WAS WITH THE LOUISVILLE URBAN LEAGUE AND SULLIVAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS. SHE WILL EARN HER DOCTOR OF EDUCATION IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN 2026. SHE HAS HER MASTER'S IN SCIENCE OF BUSINESS.

SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE STILL WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER REAPPOINTMENT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO HOLD UP THIS APPOINTMENT? NO, I WAS GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT. COMMENT AWAY. MADAM, I THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'VE MORE THAN CHECKED HER RESUME, HAVE SEEN THAT SHE IS A GREAT CANDIDATE AND I'M ALWAYS EXCITED. I DO WANT MORE PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT THREE TO SERVE, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FOR HER. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS? HEARING NONE. THIS REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ANY IN OPPOSITION? IN OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THE NEXT ITEM

[8. RP120324TS REAPPOINTMENT OF DR. TIFFANY STITH TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION. (TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

ON OUR AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT PP 120324. YES. THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DOCTOR TIFFANY SMITH TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION, A TERM THAT EXPIRES. GUESS WHAT? DECEMBER 31ST, 2027

[00:35:02]

MOTION SECOND. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO DOCTOR SMITH IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 16. THIS IS FOR AN A RE REAPPOINTMENT. SHE'S A SPECIALIST WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IS OUT OF THE CENTRAL OFFICE. SHE WAS AN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR. SHE ALSO WAS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. SHE'S IN THE DOCTORAL EDUCATION PROGRAM LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. SHE HAS ALSO DONE THE HAS BEEN A DIRECTOR OF EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS LICENSE. SHE I'M SORRY. SHE HAS HER LICENSE FOR DIRECTOR OF EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS. SHE HAS HER PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATION. SHE HAS HER MASTER'S OF ARTS AND TEACHING AND OTHER DEGREES. WE THINK SHE'S VERY QUALIFIED. WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER REAPPOINTMENT. I PRESUME SHE'S NOT HERE. SHE IS NOT. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO HOLD UP THIS APPOINTMENT? HEARING NONE. THIS APPOINTMENT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. SAY AYE. AYE AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEARING? NO. OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE LIBRARY ADVISORY

[9. AP120324PS APPOINTMENT OF PATRICK SPARKS TO THE PLEASURE RIDGE PARK FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES JUNE 30, 2026) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

COMMISSION. FOLKS, THE NEXT ITE, NUMBER 9AP120324 PS THE APPOINTMENT OF PATRICK SPARKS TO THE PLEASURE RIDGE PARK FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES JUNE 30TH, 2026. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION? THE ITEMS BEFORE US MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO THE MAYOR HAS THREE APPOINTMENTS ON THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARDS, AND THEN THE BOARD ITSELF HAS ELECTS FOUR. THERE ARE TWO FIREFIGHTER ELECTS AND TWO PROPERTY OWNER ELECTS. MR. SPARKS WOULD BE A MAYORAL APPOINTMENT. HE IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 14. HE'S A GROUP LEADER WITH LGA. HE IS VERY INTERESTED AND WILLING TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY. WE GOT MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS FOR MR. SPARKS AND HE'S EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF SERVING AND HE IS HERE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF, MR. SPARKS, IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. MY NAME IS PATRICK SPARKS. JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD FOR PLEASURE RIDGE PARK FIRE DEPARTMENT. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? HEARING NONE. THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT THAT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE, AYE. IN OPPOSITION. IN OPPOSITION. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MR. SPARKS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. NEXT AGENDA ITEM

[10. AP120324KM APPOINTMENT OF KEM MARTIN TO THE POLICE MERIT BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES JUNE 1, 2025) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

NUMBER TEN, AP12032 FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF KIM MARTIN TO THE POLICE MERIT BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES JUNE 1ST, 2025. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION. SECOND, THE ITEM IS BEFORE US. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO MR. KIM COULD NOT. MR. MARTIN. KIM MARTIN COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT. THE ALI CENTER HAD AN EVENT, SO HE HAD TO BE THERE. BUT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. SO THE POLICE MERIT BOARD HAS FIVE MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD. THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR. TWO ARE ELECTED BY THE FOP. THEY SERVE A FOUR YEAR TERM. MR. KIM IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.

MR. MARTIN IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF SECURITY AND IT OPERATIONS WITH THE ALI CENTER. HE'S THE CO-CHAIR OF THE GREATER CLARK EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION.

HE'S A FORMER CORRECTIONAL SERGEANT. HE HAS EXPERIENCE WITH MANAGING AND INVESTIGATING PERSONNEL MATTERS. HE HAS HIS ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE ARE ASKING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS APPOINTMENT. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO HOLD UP THIS APPOINTMENT FOR THE MOMENT? HEARING NONE. THIS REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? HEARING NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE COENT CALENDAR. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM NUMR 1 AP120324 AND G THE APPOINTMENT OF MARY GERSTEL TO THE TRE ADVISORY COMMISSION BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBE 2 US? MISSACKSON, YOU HAVE THE

[11. AP120324MG APPOINTMENT OF MARY GERSTLE TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2025) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

FLOOR. SO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS PRESCRIBED SEATS AND. EXCUSE ME. AND THEY SERVE THREE YEAR TERM. I CAN GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT. THEY'RE CERTIFIED ARBORISTS. THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NURSERY INDUSTRY. THEY'RE LANDSCAPE LICENSED LANDSCAPE ARTISTS

[00:40:01]

TH ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC UTILITY, OVERHEAD AND UNDERGROUND. THE BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION HAS A SEAT ON THIS BOARD. GREATER LOUISVILLE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS HAS A SEAT ON THIS BOARD. JCLC HAS A SEAT. GREAT GLEE HAS A SEAT. AND THEN THERE ARE TWO SEATS FOR MEMBERS AT LARGE. THIS SEAT IS MARY GERSTLE. SHE WOULD BE REPRESENTING THE GREATER LOUISVILLE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. SHE IS THEIR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WITH. SHE IS WITH HOME PAGE REALTY. SHE'S AT A METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 16. SHE IS ON THE CALL AND SHE CAN SPEAK, INTRODUCE HERSELF AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. MAYBE. HI MISS GERSTLE, IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. SURE. I'M MARY GERSTLE, I'M WITH HOME PAGE REALTY. I HAVE BEEN A REALTOR FOR 14 YEARS AND BEEN A LOCAL RESIDENT FOREVER. SO ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE? I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT, COUNCILWOMAN? MR. CHAIR, JUST ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL HAS THE FLOOR FIRST. SORRY. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US VIRTUALLY. MARY, COULD YOU MAYBE TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE CULTURE OF LOUISVILLE METRO, BOTH WITH THE CITY OFFICIALS AND THE RESIDENTS, TO FOSTER THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES AND GROWING OUR TREE CANOPY? I KNOW THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR TEN SECOND ANSWER. 30S. SO YEAH, I'M WHO KNOWS. RIGHT? SO I'VE I LOVE MY CITY AND I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR PARKS AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. I'M A BEEKEEPER AS WELL. IN MY ONE OF MY PROPERTIES I HAVE PLANTED 200 KENTUCKY NATIVE TREES. HOWEVER, I STILL FEEL LIKE ON THIS COUNCIL I'LL BE A NEWBIE AND CAN ONLY HOPE THAT I CAN CONTRIBUTE. BUT I THINK THE MESSAGING THAT A REALTOR CAN GIVE ABOUT WHAT WE AS A CITY ARE DOING, PARTICULARLY IN IN NEW PEOPLE COMING TO THIS CITY, IS A MESSAGING THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO HOPEFULLY I CAN SPREAD THE WORD AND BE A GOOD AMBASSADOR FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? SOMEONE WAS CHIMING EARLIER. THAT WAS ME. I'M SORRY. MY CALL KEEPS DROPPING, MR. CHAIR. IT'S NOT SO MUCH RELATED TO MARY GERSTLE, BUT MR. SMITH HAD A QUESTION. AND THEN, BECAUSE THIS IS THE TREE COMMITTEE BOARD, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, ALTHEA, THAT FOLKS ARE KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COMMISSION, A BOARD AND A COMMITTEE? BOARD IS SO THAT THEY'RE CLEAR ON THAT, I THINK I HATE THAT HE LEFT THERE WITHOUT THAT QUESTION ANSWERED, BUT I AGREE WITH THIS APPOINTMENT. I'VE READ ABOUT KNT JUST JUST TO HAVE IT SO THEY'RE CLEAR ON WHAT IT IS. THANK YOU.

I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH HIM. BUT WE USE THE WORDS INTERCHANGEABLY I UNDERSTAND, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU. I AM A MEMBER OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO OR. I'M SORRY, THE LOUISVILLE BOARD OF REALTORS AND I CONSULTED WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE IF I SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM THIS, AND WAS GIVEN THE CLEAR. SO I WILL BE VOTING ON THIS. BUT I JUST WANTED IN FULL TRANSPARENCY TO BRING THAT UP.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? HEARING NONE. THIS APPOINTMENT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE IN FAVOR. SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEARING NO. OPPOSITION IS PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MISS GERSTLE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 12 AP120324 EB. THE APPOINTMENT OF. HELP ME HERE. NETRA AND NETRA

[12. AP120324EB APPOINTMENT OF ENEITRA BEATTIE TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2025) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

BEATTY. BETTY BEATTY, BETTY TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMISSION COMMITTEE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. BOARD. A TERM THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29TH, 2025. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION SECOND, MADAM FORCE. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SO EXCUSE ME. MISS BEATTY IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL. DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE. SHE IS A COMMUNITY LIAISON, LIAISON AND A COMMUNITY CHEF WITH AMERICORPS. SHE MANAGES ORGANIC PRODUCE POP UPS. SHE HAS HER CERTIFICATE IN CULINARY ARTS

[00:45:07]

AND ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. WHILE HER BACKGROUND IS NOT TREES, BUT HE, THE SEAT THAT SHE WILL BE FILLING IS AN AT LARGE SEAT AND SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT GETTING ON THIS COMMITTEE AND LEARNING AND SERVING. SHE IS ON THE CALL TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. MISS BEATTY, IF YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

MADAM. HELLO, MY LADY, AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT BEING ON THE COUNCIL. I AM A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PERSON AND EVERYTHING I DO IS FOR LOVE. SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERN. COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US VIRTUALLY. YOU LITERALLY LOOK LIKE A VERY GREEN PERSON, SO YOU MIGHT BE GREAT FOR THIS ROLE. I'M JUST WONDERING, IN YOUR TENURE ON THE TREE ADVISORY COMMISSION, WHAT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS OR AT LEAST YOUR PRIORITY THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH? THE MAIN PRIORITY REALLY IS THE EDUCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FOR ONE TREE CANOPIES AND JUST TREES IN THE THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TREES AND ISSUES THAT ARE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF HOMEOWNERS AND JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING. SO IF I CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY WE NEED THESE TREES AND WHAT THEY ARE AND IDENTIFYING THEM AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR IT, SO THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS, BECAUSE I'M ON A LOT OF OTHER COUNCILS AND OTHER WORK OUT OF NON-PROFITS, AND JUST EDUCATION IS THE.

IMPORTANT IN WHY WE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT HEARING? NONE. THIS APPOINTMENT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I.

AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEARING? NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MISS BEATTY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THE NEXT ITEM, OUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 13 AP120324G. THE APPOINTMENT OF JAMES GOWDY. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? I'M KNOWN TO BUTCHER NAMES. THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR ADVICE TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD, A TERM

[13. AP120324JG APPOINTMENT OF JAMES GOOTEE TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2026) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29TH, 2026. IS THERE A MOTION, MOTION AND A SECOND. WE HAVE IT, MISS JACKSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO, MR. JAMES CAN'T. GOATEE. IS THE BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENTATIVE. HE IS REPLACING SOMEONE THAT WE COULD NOT REACH. HE HAD SERVED OUT HIS TIME. MR. GOATEE IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT. HE IS A REGISTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.

HE IS THE PRINCIPAL VP WITH MENDEL SCOTT AND ASSOCIATES. HE WILL COME AND TELL YOU THE INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. IF YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. GOOD EVENING, JAMES KENT GOWDY, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.

EVERYBODY USUALLY KNOWS ME BY MY MIDDLE NAME, KENT. SO. BUT IT'S INTERCHANGEABLE. USUALLY IF YOU'RE CALLING ME JAMES, YOU'RE ASKING FOR MONEY. SO ANYWAY, WE SAY JIMMY. NO, THAT WAS MY DAD.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY I GOT MY MIDDLE NAME INSTEAD OF MY FIRST NAME. SO ANYWAY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT JOINING THE BOARD. JUST. I'VE BEEN ON ON SEVERAL, I GUESS, COMMITTEES AND JUST ON DEVELOPING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AS WELL AS FAR AS DOING PROMOTING TREE CANOPY. AND SO I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO BE ON THE BOARD AND BE A TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CANOPY AS BEST POSSIBLE.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF ME, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM. I THINK I JUST SAW A HAND GO UP.

NO QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. HOW CAN LOUISVILLE METRO BETTER ENFORCE CHAPTER 102 OF OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES IN MAKING SURE THAT BOTH EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS HAVE THE LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS AND TREE CANOPY REQUIREMENTS? WELL, I THINK WE'RE DOING A RIGHT NOW.

THEY DO HAVE THE LANDSCAPE PLANS THAT ARE PRESENTED FOR NEW BUILDINGS NEED TO BE CERTIFIED NOW BY A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT BEFORE THEY CAN GET THEIR PERMANENT CEO. SO WE'RE MAKING STRIDES. WE OVER THE YEARS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST A FEW BAD APPLES THAT, YOU KNOW, GOT THEIR PLAN APPROVED BUT NEVER IMPLEMENTED. THOSE PLANS. AND SO WE'RE ALL SUFFERING FROM THAT.

AND EVEN IF THEY PLANTED HALF THEIR TREES THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PLANT, WE'D ALL BE

[00:50:04]

BETTER OFF THAN THAN THE ONES THAT DIDN'T PLANT ANYTHING. SO I THINK WE ARE MAKING STRIDES. SO WE DO NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO NOT ONLY MAKE OUR WELL, WE'LL GO OFF RECORD A LITTLE BIT OR OFF THE RAILS A LITTLE BIT. JUST SAYING THAT OUR, OUR TREES ARE BASICALLY SHOULD BE TREATED AS A UTILITY. AND WE ALL NEED THEM. AND SO IF WE'RE DOING STREET TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE ALL SHOULD SHARE IN THAT AS WELL AS NEW DEVELOPMENTS. SO OKAY.

THANK YOU. YES. THAT IS AN ISSUE. ESPECIALLY IF THEY PLANT THEM. THEY DON'T PLANT THEM CORRECTLY. SO THEN OKAY WE CHECKED THAT BOX OFF AND THEN YOU KNOW THEY ALL DIE. AND THEN NOBODY SAYS ANYTHING LIKE HEY, YOU DIDN'T REPLACE THOSE THINGS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF LOOPHOLES IN THIS. AND SO I HOPE THAT OUR COMMISSION CONTINUES TO LOOK AT THAT. YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT HEARING? NONE. THIS APPOINTMENT REQUIRES A VOICE FOR THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? AYE. HEARING NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO CONSENT CALENDAR. JAMES, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MONEY, BUT WE ARE SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER

[14. AP120324MB APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL BLANKENSHIP TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

14 AP 120324 AND BE THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL BLANKENSHIP TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29TH, 2027. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION? THE ITEMS BEFORE US, MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO MICHAEL BLANKENSHIP IS FILLING THE ARBORIST SEAT. HE IS FILLING THIS SEAT DUE TO A RESIGNATION ON THE BOARD. HE IS AT A METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 13. HE IS A HE IS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF BLANKENSHIP TREE SERVICE. HE IS A RETIRED METROPARKS FORESTRY EMPLOYEE. HE IS HERE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF. MR. BLANKENSHIP, IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MIKE BLANKENSHIP. I'M HERE TO BE SELECTED FOR THE CERTIFIED ARBORIST, AND I'D BE HONORED TO BE APPOINTED FOR THAT POSITION. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THAT APPOINTMENT? MISS CHAPPELL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. NOT ONLY TO THE CITY, BUT ALSO IN THE ARMY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF LOUISVILLE'S TREES, AND HOW YOU'RE HOPING TO MAKE AN IMPACT? I'M HOPING THAT BY BEING ON THIS COMMITTEE, THIS BOARD, THAT WE CAN EDUCATE THE PUBLIC MORE ON THE REASON WHY WE NEED MORE TREES AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO PLANT THE PROPER TREE, NOT ONLY A TREE, BUT THE PROPER TREE FOR THE RIGHT SPOT. AND NOT ONLY PLANT IT TO MAINTAIN IT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE TREE CANOPY FOR MANY YEARS, NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATION. THANK YOU FOR NOT SAYING JOB SECURITY, SO THANK YOU. I DID THAT FOR 22 YEARS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT HEARING? NONE.

THIS APPOINTMENT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEARING? NO OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MR. BLANKENSHIP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU. SO MY COLLEAGUE GOES TO THE BOARD, THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, ITEM

[15. RP120324JS REAPPOINTMENT OF JOHN SWINTOSKY TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2025) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

NUMBER 15 PP 120324 JS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF JOHN SWITOWSKI TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR A TERM THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29TH, 2025. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION? THE ITEM IS BEFORE US, MISS JACKSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO JOHN IS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. THAT'S THE SEAT HE'S FILLING. HE WORKS FOR PUBLIC WORKS AS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. HE'S PRIOR TO BECOMING A LANDSCAPE LA. HE WAS A HORTICULTURIST AND A LANDSCAPE MANAGER FOR OVER A DECADE. HE WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED IN 2022. HE'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. MR. SWITKOWSKI, IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. AND IF I BUTCHERED THE NAME, I APOLOGIZE. YOU DID JUST FINE. THANK YOU. I'M JOHN SUNTARSKY.

I'M BEING REAPPOINTED TO THE TREE COMMITTEE AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AS THE LORAX OF METRO COUNCIL, YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE ONE FOR ALL OF THESE TREE FOLKS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE TREE ADVISORY COMMISSION IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW THAT YOU'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, OR SOMETHING THAT YOU PERSONALLY MIGHT BE WORKING ON THAT REALLY FANCIES YOU? YOU TEED THAT ONE RIGHT UP. THE URBAN FORESTRY MASTER PLAN. THE REPORT'S IN ITS DRAFT FORM. THE CITY TREE COMMITTEE. LOTS OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTING OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, BRINGING LOTS OF PUBLIC INPUT, LOTS OF PUBLIC OUTREACH AND

[00:55:08]

MYRIAD CONDITIONS TO REALLY HEAR WHAT THIS COMMUNITY THINKS ABOUT ITS TREES AND TAKING CARE OF THEM ONTO POSTERITY. AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRETTY SOLID REPORT. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF GOOD MEASURES, TOUGH MEASURES. YOU ALL ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO FUND SUCH THINGS. AND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN BASHFUL IN GIVING MY OPINION ABOUT NEED MORE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF TREES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, MUCH LESS RAISE THE BOATS, SO THAT WE LEAVE A LOT OF HEALTHY GROWING TREES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN AND EVERYBODY THAT COMES ALONG AFTER US. THINGS I'VE DONE MYSELF, I'M ABOUT I'VE MENTIONED IT AT THE BEGINNING, BUT I'VE BEEN COMING TO THE LOUISVILLE TO WORK NOW FOR 30 YEARS. I GREW UP IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND HAD A CAREER IN HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT BEFORE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AS A RETREAD AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, SO OFFERED A JOB TO WORK HERE AS A STUDENT IN THE SUMMER 1994 AND NEVER LET GO. AND IT'S JUST BEEN SUCH A RICH COMMUNITY WORKING IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR 20 YEARS, WHERE I WORKED WITH ALL OF YOU, ALL AND ALL OF YOUR PREDECESSORS AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES. NOW I'M AT PUBLIC WORKS DOING MOSTLY LOUISVILLE LOOP AND OLMSTED PARKWAYS PROJECTS THAT VERY MUCH STILL INVOLVED THE TREES. SO ALL MY PROJECTS INVOLVE THEM. ALL MY PAST PROJECTS INVOLVE THEM, AND HOPEFULLY WHAT REMAINING FUTURE PROJECTS I DO. TREES ARE AT THE CENTER OF IT, AND THAT URBAN FORESTRY MASTER PLAN AND YOUR ALL'S OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE COURSE FOR, AGAIN, RAISING ALL THE BOATS. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO. AWESOME, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU. I REALLY HEAR THE PASSION AND I LOVE PLANTING TREES FROM WHICH THE SHADE WE MAY NEVER ENJOY. BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO THAT FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS. AND IF YOU'RE THE FORESTRY MASTER PLAN THE URBAN IT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE IT HAS A CHART GRAPH WITH ROLES IDENTIFIED. OR YOU WILL HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUE CHAPEL. MISS CHAPEL AGAIN. SO BUT MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS YOUR DISTRICT? I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE THREE OUT OF THREE APPLICANTS OUT THERE THAT DIDN'T HAVE THEIR DISTRICT LISTED. SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW YOUR YOUR DISTRICT OR WHERE YOU LIVE OR IS IT IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY. SO JOHN DRIVES IN FROM GEORGETOWN EVERY DAY, RIGHT. HE'S A GEORGETOWN OR VERSAILLES GEORGE FROM GEORGETOWN, BUT HE WORKS FOR METRO GOVERNMENT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND IS THAT THE CASE WITH THE OTHER ONES THAT DON'T HAVE THE DISTRICTS, DO THEY NOT? OKAY, WHO ARE YOU SPEAKING ON? WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES WITH ME, BUT THERE WERE THREE THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE DISTRICTS LIST THEIR DISTRICT THAT THEY'RE FROM LISTED. I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, BUT I. I CAN MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT ALL. IT SHOULD BE IN THE INFORMATION, BUT I CAN I CAN SEND IT OVER TOMORROW. THANK YOU. YOU USUALLY DO. I JUST DIDN'T SEE IT FOR THOSE THREE FOLKS. I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES, BUT THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? HEARING? NONE. THIS APPOINTMENT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSITION IN OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO CONSENT CALENDAR. MR. SWITALSKI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER

[16. RP120324HM REAPPOINTMENT OF HELEN MCARTHUR-HACKER TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2025) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

16, PP 120324HM THE REAPPOINTMENT OF HELEN MACARTHUR HARTKE TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29TH, 2025. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION IS BEFORE US, MISS JACKSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO HELEN HACKER IS GLASS REPRESENTATIVE. SHE IS AT A METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX. EXCUSE ME. SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND POLICY WITH GLEE. SHE WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED JUST EARLIER PART OF THIS YEAR. SHE WAS FILLING A VACANCY. SHE'S HERE TO REINTRODUCE HERSELF TO YOU. MADAM, IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. GREAT. MY NAME IS HELEN HACKER. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT GLE. LIKE MISS JACKSON SAID, I WAS HERE. I THINK, TEN MONTHS AGO, TO FILL A VACANCY. BUT I'M BACK AGAIN. I'M GLAD THEY'LL TAKE ME AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER

[01:00:03]

ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR ME, ABOUT ME OR ABOUT TREES. MISS CHAPPELL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WILL THE TREE MASTER PLAN THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON. WILL THAT INCLUDE SUGGESTIONS FOR UPDATES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OR OUR ORDINANCES THAT WE CAN WORK ON AS LEGISLATORS THAT IN IN IMPLEMENTING AND WHAT IS THE PRIORITY THAT YOU ALL ARE PUTTING ON ON INCLUDING THOSE IN THE TREE MASTER PLAN? YEAH, CINDY SULLIVAN IS A BETTER PERSON TO TELL YOU THE INS AND OUTS OF THE URBAN FORESTRY MASTER PLAN THAN ME, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO INCLUDE UPDATES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR THAT. YES. YOU ALSO ASKED QUESTIONS AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT AND I KNEW YOU WERE READY. I CAME WITH ANSWERS TODAY. THANKS. DO YOU NEED ANOTHER ONE? I'LL TAKE THEM. NO.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION HEARING NO. OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MISS HACKER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. AND IT GOES TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THE

[17. RP120324CS REAPPOINTMENT OF CYNTHIA SULLIVAN TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2026) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 17, PP 120324 CS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF CYNTHIA SULLIVAN TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. A TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29TH, 2026. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION? I'M SORRY, MISS JACKSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO, CINDY SULLIVAN IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT. I'M SURE MOST EVERYBODY KNOWS CINDY BY NOW. SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TREES LOUISVILLE. SHE HAS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT, HORTICULTURE, LAWN AND GARDEN, COMMUNITY GARDENS. SHE ON THIS HER ROLE ON THIS BOARD IS ARBORIST. SHE WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED IN 2019. SHE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. MISS SULLIVAN, IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

MADAM ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAPPY TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS CINDY SULLIVAN. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR ME. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. MISS HAWKINS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANKS, MISS SULLIVAN, FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS I'VE WORKED WITH CINDY BEFORE. SHE CAME TO METRO COUNCIL BEFORE I CAME TO METRO COUNCIL. SHE PUTS THE P IN PASSIONATE. SHE WORKS EFFORTLESSLY. ALL OVER THE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO TREES. I WOULDN'T EVEN WANT TO SEE HER LEAVE THIS BOARD. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. ALL MY COLLEAGUES KNOW HOW PASSIONATE I AM ABOUT THINGS THAT I GO HARD ABOUT. YOU PUT THE P IN PASSIONATE I THOUGHT I WAS PASSIONATE, I'VE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AS I'VE SEEN YOU, SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. JUST THANK YOU.

JUST BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR SO MANY UNDERPRIVILEGED AREAS SUCH AS PARKLAND, PARKLAND HAS BEEN ON THE RISE SINCE YOU PUT YOUR FEET THERE. AND THAT WAS BEFORE I EVEN LANDED HERE. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS WORK, AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS WITH THIS BOARD. AND I TRUST YOUR JUDGMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN HAWKINS.

COUNCILWOMAN CHAPPELL, NO QUESTIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE I DO WANT TO PLUG THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT TREES LOUISVILLE JUST CAME OUT WITH. I ENCOURAGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO CHECK THAT OUT. IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE AND IT GIVES A GREAT OVERSIGHT INTO THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING WITH TREES, BUT ALSO. I'M DONE. YOU'RE TOO KIND. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. MR. CHAIR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, CINDY SULLIVAN, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY COUNCILWOMAN HAWKINS. ALSO WITH SHORELINE CEMETERY. I MEAN, THAT CEMETERY WENT FROM A LOT TO BEING VISIBLE FROM SEVENTH STREET ROAD AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE, THE VOLUNTEERS, YOUR PASSION, THE WAY YOU WITH PEOPLE IN THE SHAPE. I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILWOMAN SHAMIKA PARISH. RIGHT. AND FOR THE RECORD, WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? HEARING NONE. SUPPORT THE REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AY.

AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THIS PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. SHALL BE SENT TO

[18. RP120324EW REAPPOINTMENT OF ELIZABETH WINLOCK TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MISS SULLIVAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM, NUMBER 18 PP. 120324EW THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ELIZABETH WINLOCK TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2027. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION.

[01:05:06]

SECOND. SECOND. JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR HER REAPPOINTMENT. SHE REPRESENTS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS. SHE IS WORKS WITH. SHE WORKS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF NATURAL. SHE SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF NATURAL AREAS WITH THE OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY. SHE'S SHE'S ON THE CALL. WE CAN LET HER INTRODUCE HERSELF AND COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL CAN ANSWER, ASK HER ANY QUESTIONS SHE MAY HAVE. MISS WINLOCK, IF YOU'LL INTRODUCE YOU, INTRODUCE YOURSELF. FOR THE RECORD, PREPARE FOR COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL. HI. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS A REAPPOINTMENT TO THIS BOARD. AND IT'S A PRETTY SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN. SO THANKS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, LIZ. WITH US VIRTUALLY. JUST WONDERING, WHAT IS THE INTERSECTION OF OLMSTED AND THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE? I KNOW THE A LARGE OLMSTED PARKWAY IN MY DISTRICT. EASTERN PARKWAY.

AND I JUST NOTICED THAT TWO TREES CAME DOWN IN THE PAST WEEK ON ON EASTERN PARKWAY, WHICH IS CERTAINLY PROBLEMATIC. BUT I'M WONDERING WHAT INTERSECTION DOES THE WORK THAT OLMSTED HAVE GOING ON? HOW DOES THAT INTERSECT WITH WHAT THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS GOING ON? I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP IT VERY BRIEF, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES THAT THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT ARE WORKING ON THE PARKWAYS, PLANNING PROJECTS WITH JOHN SANTOSKY. I HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT ARE REVIEWING MASTER PLANS AND ORIGINAL DESIGNS LAID OUT BY FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED AND HIS SONS 100 YEARS AGO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN, FOR INSTANCE, ON EASTERN PARKWAY, THE CHARACTER AND BEAUTY THAT WAS DESIGNED AND EXISTS NOW. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING FORWARD ALL OF THOSE HISTORICAL PLANTING PLANS AND UPDATE THINGS IN A WAY THAT MAKES SURE EVERYONE IN THE CITY STILL HAS ACCESS TO THESE BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY, NATURAL SPACES. AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO CREATE SPACES THAT ARE ECOLOGICALLY FUNCTIONAL. TO ALL THE OTHER NON-HUMAN LIFE THAT'S AROUND THE CITY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? HEARING NONE. THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT THAT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THIS PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MISS WINLOCK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 19, PP. 120324 MS. THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MATTHEW WICK. ZÜRICH TO THE

[19. RP120324MZ REAPPOINTMENT OF MATTHEW WIECZOREK TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29TH, 2027. MOTION. I'M SORRY, MISS JACKSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO HE HAD A CONFLICT. HE'S OUT OF THE COUNTRY TONIGHT SO HE COULD NOT BE ON THE CALL. BUT HE IS FILLING THE PUBLIC UTILITY SEAT. HE WORKS FOR LGA AS A TEAM LEADER. DISTRIBUTION. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT. HE IS AN EXPERIENCED UTILITY ARBORIST. WE'RE JUST ASKING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS APPOINTMENT WITH HIS REAPPOINTMENT. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE US TO HOLD UP THIS APPOINTMENT? HEARING NONE. THIS APPOINTMENT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 20, PP. 120324 PP. THE REAPPOINTMENT OF PRIYA PRASAD TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29TH, 2027. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION.

[20. RP120324PP REAPPOINTMENT OF PRIYA PERSAD TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES NOVEMBER 29, 2027) Action Required By: May 21, 2025]

MOTION. THE ITEMS BEFORE US. MISS JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO, MISS PRASAD SERVES AD SERVES IN THE AT LARGE SEAT. SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE. SHE WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED IN 2023. SHE IS OUT OF METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TEN. SHE HAS HER MASTER'S IN PUBLIC POLICY. SHE HAS HER MASTER'S OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. SHE HAS HER DOCTOR OF JEWISH JURISPRUDENCE AND A BA IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND ENGLISH. SHE IS VERY QUALIFIED AND WILLING TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD. SHE IS HERE TO INTRODUCE REINTRODUCE HERSELF TO YOU AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. MISS PRASAD, IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND PREPARE FOR COUNCILWOMAN CHAPPELL. GOOD EVENING, I'M PRIYA PRASAD.

[01:10:02]

PRASAD. ALSO MY MIDDLE NAME. AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TONIGHT. TO BE POTENTIALLY CONSIDERED FOR REASSIGNMENT TO THIS BOARD. COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. HELLO. I REMEMBER WORKING WITH YOU AT CENTER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD, SO IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO BRING TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE? SO, AS MISS JACKSON SAID, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE, AND WE'RE THE FRIENDS GROUP OF JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST AND THE NATURAL AREAS DIVISION OF PARKS AND REC. AND SO I MY DAY TO DAY JOB IS TO STEWARD THE NATURAL AREAS. WE ALL KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES. AND WITH MY PUBLIC HEALTH BACKGROUND, THEY PROVIDE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH TO EVERYONE. AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BE A PART OF AS TO ECHO WHAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE SAYING, THE EDUCATION PIECE OF IT ABOUT THE VALUE OF TREES. TO I THINK NATASHA HAD SAID THAT THE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A RESISTANCE SOMETIMES TO TREES FOR COST REASONS AND WHATEVER REASONS THERE MAY BE THAT TO JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER TREES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND EMBRACE THE BENEFITS THAT THEY'LL BRING. AND THIS ISN'T SO MUCH A QUESTION FOR YOU. MAYBE A BETTER ONE FOR MISS JACKSON. IS THERE ANYONE THAT'S SERVING ON THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CURRENTLY THAT REPRESENTS THE ENVIROME INSTITUTE, OR HAS A CONNECTION TO THE GREEN HEART PROJECT? AND YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME. THAT'S NOT WHAT IS IN THE STATUTE. SO WE HAVE THE STATUTE IS VERY SPECIFIC ON THE SEATS FOR THIS BOARD. AND THAT'S NOT ONE OF THEM. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPOINTMENT? HEARING NONE. THIS APPOINTMENT REQUIRES A VOICE VOTE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? IN OPPOSITION THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MISS PRASAD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE, FOLKS. THAT WRAPS UP THE APPOINTMENTS. LET'S GET TO ITEM NUMBER ONE. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS ID 240729. A DISCUSSION OF AP 102924 TT. THE APPOINTMENT OF DIAN TEMPLETON TO THE AFFORDABLE

[1. ID 24-0729 Discussion of AP102924DT APPOINTMENT OF DIONNE TEMPLETON TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD. (TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2027)]

HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD, A TERM THAT EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE CHRISTY MCCRAVEY HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT. MISS MCCRAVEY, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHRISTY MCCRAVEY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISVILLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND. I BROUGHT YOU SOME COPIES OF OUR BYLAWS AND THE ORDINANCE THAT CREATED THE TRUST FUND, SO THAT WE COULD JUST FOLLOW ALONG. I'VE DONE THAT. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. I'LL KEEP ON. I MIGHT NOT HAVE ANY. ARE YOU EXCITED? I ALSO LEFT A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT. WE JUST CELEBRATED THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 23. OKAY. OKAY. I HAVE ADDITIONAL COPIES FOR ANYONE ELSE. ESPECIALLY THE OTHER MEMBERS THAT ARE ON IT. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT A QUESTION FIRST OR DO YOU WANT. I THINK IT WOULD. THIS IS WHAT LED US TO DO IS TO GET ANOTHER STORY. MISS MCGREEVY, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? SURE. YEAH. OKAY. BECAUSE I THINK WE JUST PROBABLY NEED TO GET TO THE NITTY GRITTY ON WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. SO I SIT ON THIS BOARD AND I'VE EXPLAINED TIME, YOU KNOW, A FEW TIMES WHAT THE MAKEUP OF THIS BOARD LOOKS LIKE.

FOR SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAS HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS. AS FAR AS THE MAKEUP OF IT. SO COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THE MAKEUP LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS IN THE BYLAWS? AND HOW BOARD MEMBERS THAT SIT ON THE BOARD CAN APPLY FOR FUNDS? BECAUSE I'VE, I'VE, I'VE. WHEN APPOINTEES COME UP AND WHEN THEY'RE ASKED THE QUESTION ON WOULD YOU APPLY FOR FUNDS AND THEY SAY WELL YEAH OF COURSE I'M GOING TO APPLY FOR FUNDS. THAT COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT DOES NOT GO AGAINST THE BYLAWS? SO PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, I SIT ON THE BOARD, I COULDN'T APPLY FOR

[01:15:04]

FUNDS. YOU KNOW, METRO COUNCIL WOULD LOOK AT THAT AS BEING UNETHICAL. RIGHT. SO MY COLLEAGUES ARE STRUGGLING WITH WHY OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AND WHY IT'S MADE UP OF THE PEOPLE THAT SIT ON THIS BOARD, CAN APPLY FOR FUNDS AND HAVE BEEN A, YOU KNOW, ALLOTTED FUNDS. SO IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF START THERE, MAYBE I JUST DIDN'T EXPLAIN IT WELL ENOUGH.

WHY? AND YOU KNOW, WHY PEOPLE ARE ABLE ONCE THEY SIT ON THIS BOARD TO GET MONEY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. AND THIS BOARD WAS CREATED IN 2008, IN YOUR HANDS, YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE ORDINANCE THAT CREATED THE BOARD. IT WAS ORDINANCE NUMBER 4040. I'M SORR.

THE ORDINANCE NUMBER IS DIFFERENT, BUT IT SAYS IT STARTS WITH 4040. NUMBER 4040. IT IS 1994 JEFFERSON COUNTY CODE 1007 JEFFERSON ORDINANCE ADOPTED AN EFFECTIVE 1220 1994. BUT THE ORDINANCE IS ACTUALLY NUMBER 56. DASH 2007 APPROVED 49 2007. THAT'S ON THE BACK. SO I WAS GIVEN A LOT OF EXTRA INFORMATIO. WHAT MADE UP THE BOARD. SO ON THE THIRD PAGE YOU SEE THE CONVERSATION OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD. IT IS ACTUALLY ITEM NUMBER 40 DOT 45.

AND IT GIVES SPECIFIC INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THE MAKEUP OF THIS BOARD IS. AND LOUISVILLE HAS A VERY SMALL, RELATIVELY SMALL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. SO WHEN THIS BOARD WAS CREATED, IT WAS THOUGHT IN ORDER TO BE THE BEST FISCAL AGENTS OF THE FUNDS. IT SHOULD BE SOMEONE THAT IS WELL VERSED IN UNDERSTANDING AND DISSECTING BASICALLY THESE TYPES OF DEALS.

SO WE ARE WE ARE MANDATED TO HAVE THIS COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD. ONE MEMBER FROM BANK, FROM THE BANKING COMMUNITY, ONE MEMBER AT LARGE, ONE ELIGIBLE OR CURRENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSUMER, ONE LOW INCOME HOUSING ADVOCATE, ONE METRO COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT. ONE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE, ONE MEMBER FROM METRO GOVERNMENT WHO IS DIRECTLY REPORTING TO THE MAYOR WITH HOUSING EXPERTISE. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF, OR ONE SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER. ONE MEMBER FROM THE HOMEBUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF LOUISVILLE, WHICH IS NOW BIA BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATES. ONE MEMBER FROM THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF LOUISVILLE, ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, ONE MEMBER FROM THE GREATER LOUISVILLE ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS THAT IS, WE ARE MANDATED. WE ALSO HAVE THE MANDATE THAT HALF OF THE MEMBERS MUST LIVE WEST OF I-65. HALF THE MEMBERS MUST LIVE EAST OF I-65. THIS ORDINANCE WAS VERY IS VERY SPECIFIC IN WHO HAS TO SIT ON THIS BOARD. IF YOU TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE, IF YOU FLIP OVER, YOU'LL SEE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST SECTION AND IT GOES INTO DEPTH ON HOW WE HANDLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF THE MANDATES OF THE INTEREST OR THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IT WAS FELT THAT NO ONE WOULD WANT TO SERVE ON THE BOARD IF THEIR COMPANY COULD NOT APPLY FOR FUNDS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT E CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, NUMBER ONE, NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD MEMBER SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION OF OR VOTE UPON ANY FUNDING OR GRANT REQUEST BY AN ORGANIZATION ON WHICH SAID BOARD MEMBER OR FAMILY MEMBER AND IT GETS INTO ALL OF THAT. IT SAYS THEY CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN IT IN THE DISCUSSION. THEY CANNOT BE INVOLVED IN ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE APPLICATION THAT THEY SUBMIT.

THEIR APPLICATION IS LOOKED AT COMPETITIVELY, JUST LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER SUBMISSIONS. NUMBER TWO, WHILE GRANTS MAY BE MADE TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMPLOY A BOARD MEMBER, ADVISOR OR FAMILY MEMBER OF A BOARD MEMBER, ADVISOR OR STAFF MEMBER OR THAT CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF GOODS OR SERVICES FROM ANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. NO GRANT TO SUCH AN ORGANIZATION SHALL INCLUDE FUNDS DESIGNATED TO PAY THE COMPENSATION FOR SUCH EMPLOYMENT, GOODS AND SERVICES.

SO THE WAY WE HANDLE THAT, WE DO NOT FUND 100% OF PROJECTS FOR ANYONE AND WE GET A DETAILED PROJECT BUDGET WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE APPLICATIONS. SO WE RECEIVE AN APPLICATION

[01:20:01]

FROM SOMEONE THAT REALLY GIVES US AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT. BUT THEN WE HAVE 17 ATTACHMENTS THAT GO INTO NUMBER ONE ARE THE APPLICATION ITSELF. NUMBER TWO, THEIR SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFICATION, THEIR LOUISVILLE METRO REVENUE COMMISSION, THEIR CERTIFICATION. WE LOOK AT THEIR DETAILED PROJECT BUDGET ON THE PROJECT ITSELF. WE LOOK AT A 15 YEAR PROFORMA. IF IT IS A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT, WE LOOK AT AN AFFORDABILITY ANALYSIS. WE REVIEW A MARKETING STUDY ON THE PROJECT, WE REVIEW SITE PHOTOS, ALL OF THE LOGIC INFORMATION THAT COMES. SO WE LOOK AT THE MAPS. WHAT IS THE ZONING? ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT GIVE US ANYTHING THAT WE CAN KNOW. WE GET THEIR FINANCIALS. SO IF IT'S A CORPORATION, WE WILL GET THEIR FINANCIALS. IF IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL, WE REQUIRE TAX RETURNS FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL. WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING A BANK BASICALLY LOOKS AT BECAUSE WE ARE A LENDER AND WE ARE LOOKING TO UNDERWRITE THIS LOAN LIKE ANY OTHER LENDER. BUT THE REASONS THAT A BOARD MEMBER CAN DO IT IS BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE CREATED, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT NO ONE WOULD SERVE WITH THE EXPERTISE THAT WE'RE SEEKING. IF THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO POSSIBLY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION NOW, FOR EXAMPLE. OH, I'M SORRY, I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ADVERSE TO YOU. THAT'S OKAY. I COME FROM A BACKGROUND OF ADVERSITY AND THE END RESULT IS THIS I KNOW THAT IN MY DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS. THERE'S BEEN A OUTSPOKEN CONCERN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. OKAY. SO I WANT TO I WANT TO SORT OF LAY THAT OUT FOR YOU WITHOUT BEING ADVERSARIAL. BUT, YOU KNOW, IN A DEBATING SITUATION TO, YOU KNOW, TO POINT COUNTER POINT NUMBER ONE IS I HEARD THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THE REQUIREMENTS, EVERYTHING FROM SOMEONE WHO'S INVOLVED WITH HOMELESS TO, YOU KNOW, ALL THE REQUIREMENTS YOU WENT THROUGH. THE END RESULT WAS NONE OF THOSE THINGS REQUIRED. SOMEONE WHO WAS BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR USING AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS. NONE OF THOSE THINGS REQUIRED THAT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. YOU KNOW, IF I'M REPRESENTING THE HOMELESS, DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT I'M BUILDING FOR THAT. NOW, YOU MAY STRETCH THAT, BUT HERE'S MY POINT. AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO RESPOND, BUT LET ME GET MY POINTS OUT HERE FIRST, PLEASE. IF YOU DON'T MIND. AND THAT IS THIS. YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD YOU SAY MY COLLEAGUES WILL HEAR THIS. AND AGAIN, THE CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT THAT YOU ALL HAVE ESSENTIALLY SAID YOUR CONCERN WAS WE WON'T GET QUALIFIED PEOPLE ON HERE IF WE KEEP THEM FROM GETTING ACCESS TO THESE DOLLARS. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND HERE IN A SECOND, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, THE RECORD WILL SPEAK FOR ITSELF. IT'S RECORDED. THE CONCERN IS ULTIMATELY IS THIS IS YOU KNOW, I DON'T I'M PROHIBITED FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH METRO LOUISVILLE AND SHOULD THE ARGUMENT BECOMES, SHOULD WE ALLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH METRO LOUISVILLE OR GET CONTRACTS OR GRANTS FROM METRO LOUISVILLE WITH THE ATTITUDE OF NOW WE'LL HAVE MORE LIKELY OF GETTING GOOD PEOPLE WANTING TO BE COUNCIL PEOPLE. YOU KNOW? SO I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU WHERE THE WHERE THE OPPOSITION IS COMING FROM. THE OPPOSITION IS COMING FROM. WHILE YOUR BYLAWS MAY PERMIT IT, THERE IS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNCIL, I CAN'T SAY A MAJORITY, BUT A NUMBER OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THIS COUNCIL THAT ARE UPSET WITH THOSE BYLAWS AND UPSET WITH THE INTERPRETATION OF THE OF THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. OKAY. AND SO THAT'S ONE THIS IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG HERE BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE GOT A REPORT COMING OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR ABOUT THOSE BYLAWS. AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THIS COUNCIL. WOULD THERE BE A MAJORITY OR MINORITY OF WHERE THEY THINK THAT THE DEFINITION OF CONFLICT IN ALLOWABILITY OF CONFLICT, AND TO THE EXTENT THEREOF, SHOULD EXIST? AND I'LL TEND TO THE FLOOR BACK TO YOU, MADAM. OKAY. SO WHAT I READ WAS THE ORDINANCE THAT CREATED THE TRUST FUND, THE BYLAWS COPY AND DUPLICATE WHAT IS IN THE ORDINANCE THAT CREATED THE TRUST FUND. SO THAT'S THE FIRST PART. A NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPER WOULD USE FUNDING TO DEVELOP HOUSING. THAT IS ONE OF THE SEATS ON THE BOARD. SO, YES, THERE IS SOMEONE ON HERE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY FILL A SEAT THAT WOULD MAY APPLY FOR FUNDS. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO CLARIFY. THEY MAY YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN SAYING A HOUSING ADVOCATE IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO APPLY FOR FUNDING. WE HAVE PROBABLY 2 OR 3 SEATS. THE BUILDING, THE BIA REP MAY APPLY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, TODAY WE HAVE 26 APPLICATIONS IN FOR $15 MILLION,

[01:25:13]

TOTALING MORE THAN $74 MILLION. THEY GET NO PREFERENCE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE A BOARD MEMBE, AN ACTUAL BOARD MEMBER. I HAVE ONE NONPROFIT BOARD MEMBER THAT HAS AN APPLICATION IN AND THAT'S IT. THAT IS IT. I THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE NOT APPLIED. COULD I INTERRUPT YOU FOR ONE SECOND? COUNCIL BYZANTINI HAD A QUESTION, CONCERN OR COMMENT? COUNCILMAN PICCININI, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU. AND I THINK AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND GOING THROUGH THIS. I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. I APPRECIATE IT, AND I AM GOING TO ECHO AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF, YOU KNOW, MY CAUCUS JUST IS JUST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW COUNCILMAN ANDERSON TALKED ABOUT HIS CAUCUS. I'M JUST SPEAKING FROM MY OWN POINT OF VIEW, PARTICULARLY AS SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF APPEARANCES, OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ACTUAL ONES. AND WHAT I WOULD SAY HERE IS GIVEN YOUR THE COMMENT YOU JUST MADE, I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE THE PREMISE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY BELIEVED TO BE TRUE. RIGHT? IF RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT A FULL BOARD AND YOU'VE ONLY GOT ONE PERSON AND THAT PERSON IS IN THE NOT FOR PROFIT SECTOR, WHO EVEN HAS ONE APPLICATION IN OF THE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT WAS 70 OR HOW MANY YOU HAD SAID YOU HAD, IT SEEMS TO ME WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A BOARD THAT IS NOT INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE. I MEAN, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THESE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD, FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD ASK HOW MANY DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS HAVE APPLIED FOR THESE APPLICATIONS OVER THE PAST. YOU KNOW, LET'S CALL IT, YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS AND LOOK AT THE DEVELOPERS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I KNOW A LOT OF DEVELOPERS, LOCAL DEVELOPERS, VERY SOPHISTICATED, EXCELLENT OPERATIONS WHO HAVE NEVER APPLIED FOR MONEY FROM THE FUND. AND YET THEY HAVE WHOLE TEAMS OF SKILLED PERSONNEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD TAP INTO TO WORK ON THIS BOARD. WHAT I LET ME POSIT ANOTHER THEORY AS TO WHY THAT IDEA CAME UP. IF I AM SOMEBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN AND WHEN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND WAS CREATED. RIGHT. AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS HAPPENED, I'M JUST POSITING A THEORY RIGHT. WELL, IF IT'S BEING CREATED AND I'M PART OF THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, WHO'S INTERESTED IN THAT FUNDING, I WOULD CERTAINLY CIRCULATE THE IDEA THAT NOBODY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING UNLESS THEY WOULD WOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE AND APPLY, ALBEIT PEOPLE ARE ABSTAINING. AND I BELIEVE I'M SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS ABSTAINED WHEN THEY WHEN SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE HAS COME UP FOR A VOTE. RIGHT. I, I WOULD ASSUME THAT'S PART OF THE RECORD. I WILL GIVE EVERYONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT ON THAT.

BUT THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY THAN BY DESIGN. YOU THEORETICALLY, I MEAN, WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY TELLING US IS THEORETICALLY WE COULD HAVE A GROUP OF BOARD MEMBERS WHO ALL AT DIFFERENT TIMES, WHO ALL WORK TOGETHER, WHO ALL EVALUATE THESE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS AND SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AT THESE MEETINGS AND, YOU KNOW, BREAK BREAD WITH EACH OTHER AND DO ALL OF THIS. AND YET WE EXPECT THEM TO THEY COULD ALL HAVE APPLICATIONS IN AT A GIVEN TIME, AND THEN WE EXPECT THEM TO NOT BE BIASED BY THE FACT THAT THEIR COLLEAGUE IS APPLYING AND, YOU KNOW, VERSUS THIS OTHER PERSON, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S THAT IS THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CREATING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT ARE THAT ARE CREATED RANDOMLY OR BY CHANCE. THEN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT ARE CREATED BY DESIGN. RIGHT. AND WHAT I'M AFRAID HERE IS WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BEING CREATED BY DESIGN, BASED ON A PREMISE THAT I THINK YOU JUST ADMITTED MAY NOT BE TRUE, THAT WE CAN HAVE A BOARD AND TELL ME I'M WRONG, THAT YOU DID SAY THAT YOU HAVE A BOARD RIGHT NOW, THAT SANS ONE PERSON, NONE OF THEM HAVE APPLICATIONS IN. CORRECT? WE HAVE ONE APPLICATION IN FROM ONE BOARD MEMBER RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T HAVE A FULL BOARD RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT IS THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE THIS TIME, I BELIEVE.

AND I WASN'T HERE. I CANNOT SPEAK TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 2007 WHEN THIS WAS CREATED. I CANNOT

[01:30:01]

SAY WHAT THE PREMISE WAS. I DO KNOW THE LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER. WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER BECAUSE THERE ARE DEVELOPERS AND THEN THERE ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TAKE ON SUBSTANTIAL, MORE RISK IN THE SENSE OF NOT LOST REVENUES. POSSIBLE OPPOSITION IN MOVING FORWARD. AND I UNDERSTAND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. I MEAN, I YOU YOU'RE PREACHING SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS ALREADY BLESSED. SO WHEN THIS THIS CAME UP THIS YEAR, I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE IT IS SPECIFICALLY IN THE ORDINANCE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I CREATED. THIS IS SOMETHING I FOLLOWED WHEN I CAME ON BOARD. AND IF I MAY, MR. CHAIR, JUST A FOLLOW UP COMMENT THERE. SO AGAIN, FIRST OF ALL, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. I THIS IS NO COMMENTARY AND I THINK COUNCILMAN ANDERSON HAS SAID THE SAME ON YOU AND YOU'VE BEEN ABIDING BY THE LAW, NO QUESTION.

I MEAN, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ALL THE INTENTIONS ARE RIGHT AND PROPER HERE. THERE ARE VERY FEW AND EVEN OVER TIME, RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE ON COUNCIL.

WHEN THIS WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED. IT IS NOT AN INDICTMENT ON MY COLLEAGUES WHO CREATED IT AT THE TIME. SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE CREATE LAWS AND THEN WE LOOK BACK OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND WE SAY WE NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. IN HINDSIGHT, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND DOUBLE CHECK THAT OUR ASSUMPTIONS WERE ACCURATE OR INACCURATE. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK AGAIN I'M GOING TO TAKE YOUR WORDS WHICH ARE ARE ACCURATE AND TRUE, WHICH IS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS TIGHT. EVERYBODY KNOWS EACH OTHER. BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ISN'T, AS I UNDERSTAND IT. AND I'M NO EXPERT, BUT BUT I'M. NOR DO I CONSIDER MYSELF COMPLETELY IGNORANT ON THE PROCESS. IT IS NOT A MAGICAL THING THAT IS SO INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT THAN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. IT IS SIMPLY YOU'RE IN A COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT. THE MATH IS JUST DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU'RE USING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO CREATE A CAPITAL STACK THAT THEN BASED ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE YOU HAVE CAPITAL, YOU HAVE REVENUE, YOU HAVE EXPENSES THAT MATH HAS TO DRIVE, WHETHER OR NOT THE REVENUE IS COMING FROM PEOPLE PAYING RENT OR PEOPLE WITH VOUCHERS. AND THEN THE CAPITAL HAS TO COME FROM A BANK OR IT COMES FROM THE TRUST FUND. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU STILL HAVE THESE THREE CATEGORIES. YOU HAVE CAPITAL EXPENSES, YOU HAVE REVENUE. SO A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPER WHO JUST WHO NEVER HAS INTEREST IN AND SOMEBODY WHO WORKS IN THAT SPACE, WHO WOULD NEVER HAVE INTEREST IN. AND I KNOW MANY OF THEM OR SOME OF THEM, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY. I THINK THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS AND THE MATH WOULD STILL JIVE. AND I DON'T SEE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SO DIFFERENT THAT WE CAN ONLY PULL FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WORKS WITHIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND I THINK THAT'S THE PREMISE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK BACK AND CHALLENGE. AND THEN TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, MAKE A DECISION ON ON, YOU KNOW, DO WE CHANGE THE ORDINANCE AND DO WE CHANGE THESE THINGS, WHICH IS NOT AN INDICTMENT ON THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THE DECISIONS IN THE PAST, IS SIMPLY TO SAY, TODAY IS A NEW DAY, AND WE HAVE A DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE, AND MAYBE WE COULD DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY TO REMOVE THAT PERCEPTION AND CREATE A BETTER PRODUCT. AT THE END OF THE DAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR COMMENTS REGARDING WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT? SO FAR? I HAVE A COMMENT. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD MADAM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR OKAY OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MY BATTERY'S GOING DEAD. YOU ALL. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IN THE CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING. I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ADVOCATE FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND WHILE I WAS HOMELESS, BUT WE DIDN'T GET INTO THE DIRTY DETAILS. NOT THAT THEY'RE DIRTY, BUT THE DETAILS THAT YOU DESCRIBE. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK THAT SHOULD BE REVISED AND UPDATED ACCORDINGLY. AND I WOULD LOVE TO AT A LATER DATE, CHECK IN WITH YOU ON SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN THAT REVISION PROCESS. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE HOLDING THINGS UP AND DOING THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU INHERITED, AND WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO REVISIT SOME OF THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS EQUITABLE AND FAIR AND INCLUSIVE. RIGHT? BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE HAVE A SMALL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY. SO IT'S KIND OF HARD. I DO WANT TO SEE MORE PARTICIPATION WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE WATER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BREAK IT DOWN. THERE'S A LOT WE CAN LEARN AND TAKE AWAY FROM

[01:35:01]

THIS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS REGARDING WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT THE MOMENT? COUNCILMAN SHANKLIN, COUNCILMAN SHANKLIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I THINK I WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT UP THE CONCERN. WELL, MISS CHAPEL WAS TALKING ABOUT IT, AND I JUST SAID, IS THIS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? BECAUSE IT WAS THE URBAN, THE URBAN RENEWAL THAT I WAS SPEAKING OF, NOT THE HOUSING TRUST I'VE BEEN ON THERE QUITE SOME TIME AND THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HOUSING TRUST BOARD, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ALL THE RULES THAT SHE JUST SPOKE. BUT IT DOES CLARIFY. IT MAKES IT SOUND A WHOLE LOT BETTER. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON THERE WITH LAURA FOR YEARS, AND THEY HAVE 700 VACANT PROPERTIES, AND I WAS THINKING THEN, OKAY, DO WE HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BEING ON THE BOTH BOARDS? AND I MADE THAT COMMENT, WHICH I DIDN'T SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID A WORD. AND THEN THE WHOLE COUNCIL JUST WENT SORT OF NUTS. AND SO I'VE WORKED WITH CHRISTY FOR YEARS. EXCELLENT PERSON. I DON'T SEE WHAT SHE WOULD DO ANYTHING WRONG, BUT MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THAT URBAN RENEWAL BOARD, BECAUSE FOR YEARS I'VE BEEN TALKING TO LAURA ABOUT HOW MANY VACANT PROPERTIES ARE SITTING THERE AND THEY CAN JUST GIVE THEM AWAY OR SOMETHING AND HELP THE TAX BOARD, YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS NOT MEANT TO HIT YOU IN ANY KIND OF WAY. CHRISTY. IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE URBAN RENEWAL. SO WHY ARE YOU BRINGING ALL THAT INFORMATION IN? IT EXPLAINS A WHOLE LOT. AND I YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE.

AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT I WOULD SAY ANYTHING OTHER THAN KNOWING THAT YOU WERE FOLLOWING THE RULES. I'M JUST MY CONCERN STILL, IS THAT URBAN RENEWAL BOARD THAT HAS ALL THOSE EMPTY PROPERTIES SITTING THERE. SO SORRY TO BRING ALL THAT UP. I WON'T OPEN MY MOUTH NO MORE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IF YOU SAY ONE THING, THEY'LL TAKE IT FURTHER. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT AGAINST YOU IN ANY KIND OF WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST YEAR OR EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE HAD APPOINTED AN INDIVIDUAL NAMED MATTHEW HARRELL TO THE TRUST FUND BOARD. COULD YOU YEARS THAT INDIVIDUAL IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. AND COULD YOU SPEAK TO WHY THAT IS? WE ACTUALLY REQUESTED THAT HE BE REMOVED FROM THE BOARD. HE HAD A LOAN THROUGH HIS COMPANY BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS. HE HAD A LOAN THROUGH HIS COMPANY, AND IN SPITE OF ALL OF THE COMPLIANCE AND ALL OF THE TRACKING THAT WE DO, HE HAS BEEN OUR ONLY DEFAULT. THANK YOU. I THOUGHT I'D BRING THAT UP JUST IN CASE THAT ADDED A LITTLE MORE COLOR TO THE CONVERSATION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR COMMENTS REGARDING WHAT WE'VE COVERED AT THE MOMENT? IF NOT, MISS MCCREEVY IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

MADAM. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU. I THINK THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS THAT THE NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPER THAT IS REALLY THE SEAT THAT WOULD BE THE MOST OBVIOUS, THAT WOULD NOT WANT I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE PENALIZED. WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY OF THEM. SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IF YOU LOOK AT MAKING SOME CHANGES, TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. I LOVE OUR NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPERS, BUT IF THEY HAVE TO, IF THEY WILL BE PENALIZED BY HAVING ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES SIT ON OUR BOARD, PLEASE RETHINK THAT. MAYBE THAT IS NOT A SEAT THEY NEED TO HAVE. MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE OR SOME OTHER INDUSTRY NEEDS TO FILL THAT SEAT. WE DON'T. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE CASH FLOW TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD AND NOT APPLY FOR A PROJECT. AND THAT WAS THE I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE OF THAT. THAT WAS THE NON NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPER.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE 17, ONE OF 13, 13 OF THE 13. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM ANYONE. WANT TO STAY LONGER. WELL I WOULD LOVE TO GO HOME. AN HOUR AGO I GET I GET ONE QUESTION. YES MA'AM. I JUST WANTED THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. I SIT ON THE BOARD SO I

[01:40:08]

DON'T WANT NOBODY TO GET IT TWISTED. AND BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR ME TO REALLY SPEAK ON A VOTE ON IT. SO DEFINITELY I'M NOT DOING THAT. BUT JUST ONE MORE QUESTION, JUST FOR CLARITY, CAN YOU GIVE A MAKEUP OF WHAT EACH COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF? SO WE HAVE INFORMAL WORK GROUPS. WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT CAN MAKE DECISIONS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE A PROGRAM WORK GROUP THAT IS KIND OF LIKE THE TEAM OF STAKEHOLDERS. WE HAVE. WE DO HAVE DEVELOPERS, WE HAVE THE KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION, SOMEBODY FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. WE HAVE BANKERS, WE HAVE ATTORNEYS, REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS THAT ALL DIVE IN AND DISSECT THIS LOAN. SO WE HAVE THREE LAYERS OF UNDERWRITING STAFF. AND OUR CONSULTANTS DO THE FIRST LAYER OF UNDERWRITING. WRITE UP A SUMMARY. THEN WE HAVE THE COMMITTEE THAT REALLY DELVES IN AND LOOKS AT IT, LOOKS AT THE PERFORMANCE, LOOKS AT THE DCR, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ON THE LOANS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROJECT IS NOT JUST A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT IS SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS CREATE HOUSING THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. THAT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO DO WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE ALL KNOW PROJECTS NEED TO CASH FLOW NO MATTER WHAT THE RENTS ARE. AND THEN THE DECISION MAKER IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THEY ACTUALLY WILL EITHER TAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THOSE TWO LEVELS OF UNDERWRITING, OR THEY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENT DECISION.

COUNCILMAN HAWKINS, ANYTHING ELSE, MISS MCRAE, ANYTHING ELSE FROM YOU FOR THE MOMENT? NOT AT THIS TIME. I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD IN THE FUTURE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON AND ENLIGHTENING US AND GIVING US SOME SOLID INFORMATION TO MOVE FORWARD

[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.]

WITH, WITHOUT AN OBJECTION, WE'LL STAND

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

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