[00:01:04]
YOUR. METRO TV 30S. AND. INTERPRETATION FOR. YOU.
[Call to Order]
ALL RIGHT. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON EFFICIENCY OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THE ONLY METRO COUNCIL COMMITTEE THAT HAS MORE KEVIN'S ON IT THAN IT DOES WOMEN. IT'S WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH, AND THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO KRS 61.826 AND COUNCIL RULE FIVE A I'M CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER CHAPPELL, AND I'M[Roll Call]
JOINED BY MY VICE CHAIR, COUNCILMAN KEVIN BRATCHER. WE'RE ALSO JOINED IN CHAMBERS BY COUNCILMAN SCOTT REED AND COUNCILMAN KEVIN CRAMER. AND WE'RE JOINED VIRTUALLY BY COUNCILMAN MARCUS WINKLER. OH, I'M SO SORRY. AND ALSO BY COUNCILMAN LININGER, WHO'S[00:05:03]
SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROOM THAT USUALLY PEOPLE DON'T SIT ON. SO I AM SO SORRY. I'VE GOT TO GET IN TUNE WITH THAT. SO TODAY WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FOUR BOARDS THAT WE WOULD LIKE, BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO COME IN FRONT OF US. I JUST WANT TO SAY AS A REMINDER TO ANYONE THAT MIGHT BE HERE NEW TODAY, THAT THE GOAL OF THIS COMMITTEE IS JUST TO KIND OF RUN THROUGH THE 65 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN LOUISVILLE METRO, UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER. AND IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE YOU'RE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. OF COURSE, THAT'S ALWAYS AN OPTION TO WHATEVER CAPACITY WE WOULD HAVE IN THAT MATTER. BUT WE'RE ALSO WE'RE MOSTLY LOOKING TO HOW WE CAN HELP YOU RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY, HOW WE CAN HELP WHATEVER WORK YOU HAVE IN YOUR QUEUE, AND THEN HOW WE CAN PARTNER. SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO BE OF A BETTER SERVICE AND BE A BETTER CONNECTOR WITH THESE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF THE WORK AT COUNCIL.BUT BEFORE IT COMES TO US THAT WORK IS DONE IN COMMITTEE, BUT BEFORE IT COMES TO COMMITTEE, IT THAT WORK IS DONE IN THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. SO THEY'RE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, THE HIERARCHY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS VOICES AND OPINIONS. AND SO WE REALLY RELY ON THEM. AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET TO KNOW THEM A LITTLE BIT BETTER. AND THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN FRONT OF US TODAY IS BECAUSE WE KIND OF LOOK THROUGH WHICH ONES LOUISVILLE METRO, WHICH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WERE RUN OR CONTROLLED BY LOUISVILLE METRO ORDINANCES. AND SO ONES THAT DON'T HAVE A KENTUCKY STATE STATUTE, OF COURSE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THEM AS WELL, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER FIRST. AND WE KIND OF CAME UP WITH ALMOST A RANKING SYSTEM FOR WHICH ONES WE WANTED TO LOOK AT. AND YOU ALL RANKED UP THERE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, WHETHER THAT BE BOARD SIZE, IF YOU'RE FOLKS TAKE A COMPENSATION FROM THEIR POSITION, IF YOU DON'T REALLY MEET EVER. THESE ARE ALL KIND OF SOME OF THE TRIGGERS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AND GETTING YOU ALL HERE TODAY. SO FRIENDLY CONVERSATION, JUST TRYING TO LEARN MORE. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THIS COMMITTEE, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOT ONE THAT BACKS UP TO THIS. SO WE CAN GO AS LONG AS WE WANT. AND I WOULD LOVE TO STAY HERE ALL NIGHT WITH YOU ALL, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT YOU ALL SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO. I KNOW IT'S DISAPPOINTING. NOBODY EVER WANTS TO HANG OUT AT CITY HALL WITH ME, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING PUTTING EACH OF THESE COMMITTEES AND BOARD CHAIRS IN THE PROVERBIAL HOT SEAT FOR 15 MINUTES. AND SO, COLLEAGUES, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP ME ADHERE TO THAT 15 MINUTES. OKAY. AND SO FIRST UP,
[1. ID 25-0166 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OVERVIEW – Parks Advisory Committee, Michelle King and Nathan Maiwald Cemetery Board, Michelle King]
WE'RE GOING TO AND THERE'S NO REASON FOR THE ORDER TODAY. BUT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS. AND THAT SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE THE CODES AND REGULATIONS DIRECTOR, MR. RICHARD PRICE. SO I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CHAPPELLE. COUNCILMAN BRADSHAW AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TO GIVE CLARITY ABOUT THE BUILDING CODE BOARD. ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN WITH CODES AND REGULATIONS SINCE JANUARY OF 2024. SINCE THAT TIME, WE THAT BOARD HAS NOT BEEN. WELL, WE HAVE NO APPEALS. THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS BOARD HAS HASN'T MET. I WILL TELL YOU SINCE 2019. I DID NOT FIND ANY APPEALS ON RECORD THAT I COULD FIND IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT ANYONE HAS EVER APPEALED SINCE THAT TIME, 2019. IN THAT I DID FIND SOME BOARD MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 8TH OF 2019, WHERE THEY ELECTED THE CHAIR, ELECTED THE VICE CHAIR, AND THAT WAS REALLY IT. SINCE THEN, THIS BOARD HAS NOT MET. I DID SEARCH FOR. MAYBE ANY APPEALS THAT THAT ANYONE MAY HAVE REQUESTED. I CAN'T FIND IT NOW. THIS BOARD IN GENERAL. IS I THINK IT'S A NEEDED BOARD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE AT CODES AND REGULATIONS INTERPRET THE UNIFORM, THE UNIFORM STATE BUILDING CODE AND THE INTERNATIONAL CODE, AND WE GIVE FINES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THAT CODE. AND WHEN INDIVIDUALS DON'T AGREE OR IF WE FIND SOMEONE MAYBE BUILDING OR RECONSTRUCTING WITHOUT A PERMIT AND WE GIVE THEM A FINE, THEY SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO[00:10:06]
APPEAL THAT. AND THE, THE CODE, THE LOUISVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES, GIVE THEM THAT RIGHT TO DO THAT. AGAIN. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYONE SINCE MY TENURE, AND I CANNOT FIND ANY PRIOR TO 2019 OR AFTER 2019 THAT HAS APPEALED. SO THE BOARD HASN'T MET REGULARLY, AND I BELIEVE I ASSUME IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE TO APPEAL. BUT AGAIN, I WILL SAY AGAIN THAT I THINK THIS BOARD IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE DISAGREE AND LET ME LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT REAL QUICK SHORTLY ABOUT MY DEDICATED STAFF, BECAUSE I THINK I NEED TO SAY THIS BECAUSE WE GET SUCH SO MANY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN UNDER OUR CONSTRUCTION REVIEW DIVISION. WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS TO DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE INTERPRETATION OF THAT BOARD. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED STAFF THAT IS SMART, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, WE ARE ABLE TO WORK IT OUT WHERE THEY DON'T. IT NEVER ROSE TO THE LEVEL WHERE ANYONE WANTED TO APPEAL. SO I DON'T WANT TO SEEM LIKE THAT. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUSHBACK OF THE WAY WE INTERPRET THE BUILDING CODE, OR PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH THE FINES THEY RECEIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT. BUT I DO GOT TO. I MUST GIVE CREDIT TO THE EXPERTISE OF MY TEAM THAT IS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN A WAY THAT WE CAN RESOLVE ISSUES THAT DOES NOT LEAD TO APPEAL. BUT AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE ABOUT THIS BOARD. I TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I I'LL GIVE A LITTLE SYNOPSIS ON EACH BOARD BEFORE THE RESPECTIVE PERSON COMES UP TO SPEAK ABOUT IT. THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT I COULD SAY ABOUT THIS. IT DOES HAVE A CROSS STATUTORY AUTHORITY AS WELL AS A LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT GOVERNS IT. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE FIVE POSITIONS ON THIS BOARD, AND CURRENTLY THERE'S ONE VACANCY. SO WE HAVE HAD AN ASSEMBLED BOARD FOR, YOU KNOW, ALMOST SIX YEARS WITHOUT A MEETING. AND OF COURSE, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT AT ALL. BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE REALLY QUICK. COULD YOU KIND OF GO THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR FILING AN APPEAL BECAUSE IS IT THAT NOBODY NOBODY'S FILED ANY? BUT IS THAT DO PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT OR ABILITY. YES. AND DOES IT GO THROUGH A SELA.YEAH. WELL YES. YES AND YES. YES. SO YEAH. PEOPLE ARE NOTIFIED WHEN THEY DISAGREE THAT THEY CAN APPEAL. AND SOME OF OUR DOCUMENTS ACTUALLY HAVE ON THERE THAT YOU CAN APPEAL. BUT PEOPLE ARE TOLD REGULARLY THAT THEY CAN APPEAL IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE BY MY TEAM. SO IF THEY WANT TO APPEAL, THEY CAN DO IT TWO WAYS. THEY CAN DO IT THROUGH A SELLER.
THERE'S A PROCESS IN THERE, OR THEY CAN JUST DO A WRITTEN REQUEST. TO ME, ALL THE CODE OF ALL THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL OR MYSELF, THEY CAN MAKE A WRITTEN REQUEST AND WE WILL SET UP THE APPEAL. COUNCILMAN BRATCHER, THAT'S A THAT TELLS OR INDICATES MAYBE THAT YOU GUYS ARE YOU GUYS KNOW WHO YOU'RE WRITING UP AND THEN YOU KIND OF GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM. TO ME, THAT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT. IS THAT SO YOU'RE KIND OF DOING ANY APPEAL PROCESS BEFORE THE APPEAL IS NEEDED? ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. THE WAY THE WAY WE ARE SET UP, THE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PROCESSES AND OUR WORKFLOW. SO IF A PERSON BRING PLANS IN TO BUILD OR RECONSTRUCT, WE HAVE PLAN REVIEWERS THAT ACTUALLY SIT DOWN WITH MR. HEY, YOU NEED TO FIX THIS. YOU NEED TO FIX THIS. YOU NEED TO FIX THIS. THEY MAY SAY WHY? AND WE SAY, OKAY, HERE'S WHY. THE BUILDING CODE SAYS THIS, THIS AND THIS. WELL, I MAY HAVE AN ENGINEER. I GOT AN ARCHITECT THAT SAYS THIS. OKAY.
IF ARCHITECT WANTS TO PUT A STAMP ON IT, WE CAN ACCEPT IT. SO WE DO THINGS LIKE THAT. AND AGAIN, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME IN UNHAPPY HOUR MAY LEAVE UNHAPPY, BUT THEY DO NOT LEAVE
[00:15:07]
WITHOUT BEING WELL INFORMED ABOUT THE BUILDING CODE AND WHY WE SAY NO OR WHY IT'S GOT TO BE THIS WAY. AND SO YES, THAT'S OUR PROCESSES. AND I THINK THAT HELPS TREMENDOUSLY WHEN IT COMES TO I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I THINK THAT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT THERE. WHAT ROLE DO YOU PLAY. YOU'RE OVER BUILDING CODES. THEREFORE LET'S SAY I WAS BUILDING SOMETHING AND I HAD A AND YOU'RE YOUR FOLKS WROTE ME UP AND I DISAGREE. AND I SAID I WANT TO GO TO THE APPEALS COURT. WOULD IT BE ME VERSUS, YOU KNOW, AT THE APPEAL? WELL, WE HAVE. SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE 198, IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS TECHNICAL. THERE'S TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED PERSONS WITH PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY. RIGHT. AND THAT'S THAT'S HUGE BECAUSE NOW YOU GOT FIVE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD THAT ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND KNOW HOW TO. BUT I MEAN, THE TWO PARTIES APPEALING WOULD BE YOUR OFFICE VERSUS THE BUILDER. YES. AND THEN THE FIVE WOULD BE IMPARTIAL AND MAKE A DECISION JUST LIKE A COURT. RIGHT? YES. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER. BOARDS UNDER YOUR, UNDER YOUR PURVIEW, I'M SURE. YES. THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD, WE HAVE THAT BOARD THAT DEALS WITH OUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE VIOLATIONS. SO WHEN YOU RECEIVE A CITATION UNDER OUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, YOU CAN APPEAL. OKAY. AND ONCE YOU CAN APPEAL, ONCE YOU APPEAL, WE GOT A BOARD THAT YOU THAT YOU CAN GO BEFORE. AND THEY'LL HEAR THE CASE AND MAKE A DECISION ON BASED ON THE ORDINANCE. THANK YOU SIR. YEP. COUNCILMAN REED THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO IF I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU FOR COMING BY THE WAY. SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THEN YOUR STAFF PREEMPTIVELY LOOKS AT THESE CASES, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. SO THAT'S WHAT YOUR STAFF IS THERE FOR. AND THEN IF THERE IS AN ISSUE THEN IT GOES TO THE APPEALS BOARD. AND THEN AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENED SINCE 2019. CORRECT. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE I'M GOING TO ASK ANYBODY THAT COMES IN FOR THIS. IS THERE ANY SORT OF WRITTEN MISSION STATEMENT OR ANY SORT OF GUIDELINES THAT THAT YOUR BOARD OPERATES OFF OF? NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.THANK YOU. DO YOU KNOW SO OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE CITATIONS ISSUED. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FEE STRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. AND IF YOU KNOW IT, ALL THE FEES THAT YOU COLLECTED FROM THESE VIOLATIONS IN 2024? WELL, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER REASON, COUNCILWOMAN, REASON WHY WE DON'T GET A LOT OF APPEALS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITATIONS, BECAUSE OUR FINES UNDER THE BUILDING CODE IS SO LOW. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE A $50 OR $100, AND MOST BUILDERS ARE DEVELOPERS.
THAT'S NO MONEY. THEY JUST PAY IT. SO ALMOST ALL OF THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT AGREE, THEY JUST PAY IT BECAUSE IT IS SO LOW. SO WHEN YOU ADVOCATE FOR RAISING THAT AMOUNT, YES. I THINK THAT WE HAVE COME TO THE POINT WHERE WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND REALLY DO SOME RESEARCH ON RAISING THOSE FINES AND FEES, BECAUSE I'M FINDING MORE AND MORE INDIVIDUALS VIOLATING AND CIRCUMVENTING THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND IN FACT, PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK BY RUNNING, WIRING AND DOING THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE A PERMIT ON THAT SHOULD BE INSPECTED. AND WE ARE FINDING THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, SLAPPING THEM WITH $100 FINE IS JUST NOT GOING TO GET IT. THANK YOU. AND DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ONE MORE JUST ABSOLUTELY. THAT WOULDN'T BRING UP LIKE THE SCENARIO OF WELL, WE'VE MADE THIS DANGEROUS CONSTRUCTION AND IT'D BE JUST WE'LL JUST PAY THE FINE AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT FIXING IT. I MEAN WOULD NEVER COME TO THAT, RIGHT? WELL, WHAT WE DO GENERALLY WE'LL DO A STOP WORK ORDER. SO WE'LL YOU GOT TO STOP THE WORK AND YOU CANNOT PROCEED UNLESS YOU GET THE PROPER PERMITTING AND PAY THIS FINE. AND WHAT IS THE PENALTY SAY, IF I DON'T PAY THAT $50, FINE. IF YOU DON'T PAY IT, THEN IT TURNS INTO A LIEN, AND THEN YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR PROPERTY. THE ONE THAT HAS THE VIOLATION. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE AND NO ONE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, I'M SO SORRY. ONE MORE. AND I DID PUT ON A TIMER FOR EVERYONE.
[00:20:04]
SO WE DO HAVE THREE MINUTES AND 38 SECONDS LEFT. BUT DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S AT ALL IMPORTANT FOR THIS BOARD TO CONVENE AT LEAST ANNUALLY TO DISCUSS THINGS? I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THESE BOARDS TO BE ADVOCATES. I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIKE I CAN'T BE AN EXPERT IN EVERYTHING. AND SO IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE'RE WE'RE DOING THIS RESEARCH NOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE FINES ARE. AND, OH MY GOODNESS, WE NEED TO RAISE THEM. AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON. AND THAT MIGHT BE EASY. BUT WITHOUT HAVING THAT LIKE KIND OF LIKE ADVOCACY. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT ALL THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HAVE THAT MINDSET OF POLICY, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, A BOARD THAT CONVENES AND SAYS, OH, WE HAVE ZERO APPEALS.MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE A QR CODE, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOMETHING THAT JUST DOES HOUSEKEEPING EVERY YEAR. I THINK THAT IT'S NOT MEETING IN SIX YEARS SEEMS POINTLESS. AND SO, YOU KNOW.
YEAH, I MEAN, NO, I AGREE, I AGREE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO AT LEAST CONVENE ONCE A YEAR TO JUST CATCH UP AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE KENTUCKY BUILDING CODE IS CHANGING. THERE'S CHANGES COMING TO THAT BUILDING CODE. YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AND JUST GET CAUGHT UP JUST TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE FLOW. AND THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. AND SO SINCE THEY HAVEN'T MET SINCE 2019, DO YOU KNOW WHO THE CHAIR FOR THAT BOARD IS? BECAUSE, I MEAN, WOULD IT BE THE SAME CHAIR THAT THEY ELECTED SEPTEMBER 2019 TO MY NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAST CHAIR WAS. ELLEN VANHOOSE. OKAY.
AND THE VICE CHAIR WAS ANTHONY EHLERS. THAT'S THE LAST TWO THAT I KNOW ABOUT THAT WAS ELECTED FROM THAT. BUT I'M GOING TO DO JUST THAT. I WILL CONVENE THAT BOARD AND JUST TO CATCH UP AND, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SEE WHAT COMES JUST BECAUSE IT'S JUST A GOOD THING TO DO. SURE.
CONTINUING EDUCATION, LIKE YOU SAID, THAT THAT'S ALSO FANTASTIC. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HOLD YOU TO DOING THAT. I DO TRUST YOU, BUT ANY OTHER FOLLOW UP? ANYTHING? OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, DIRECTOR PRICE. I HOPE YOU'RE ABLE TO GET TO YOUR NEXT MEETING. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU. AND I'M GOING TO CALL UP THE REVENUE COMMISSION. IN THE MEANTIME, I'M GOING TO ASK MY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO WAKE UP.
WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS, GUYS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP. NEXT UP WE HAVE THE REVENUE COMMISSION. AND THAT'S WE'RE GOING TO BE JOINED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF METRO REVENUE, THE METRO REVENUE COMMISSION, AMANDA BAKER. JUST SO YOU KNOW, THEIR MEETING SCHEDULE IS THE THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 9 A.M. IN FISCAL YEAR 23, OR, I'M SORRY, FISCAL YEAR 24. ALL CITIZEN MEMBERS RECEIVED A CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF $5,400 FROM OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION.
THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE VACANCIES, AND THERE ARE SIX PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING ON THIS BOARD. SO I'LL SET A TIMER FOR 15 MINUTES. AND PLEASE TELL US ALL ABOUT THE REVENUE COMMISSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. SO GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CHAPPELL, VICE CHAIR, BRATCHER AND ESTEEMED METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REVENUE COMMISSION. MY NAME IS AMANDA BAKER. I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LOUISVILLE METRO REVENUE COMMISSION, WHERE I HELP OVERSEE OUR REVENUE, COLLECTIONS AND COMPLIANCE AND SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH. PRIOR TO THAT ROLE, I WORKED IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, PRIMARILY IN THE WORLD OF CREDITORS RIGHTS, PRACTICING LAW, BANKRUPTCY, AND LOCAL OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX DISPUTES. YOU HAD A PRESENTATION? YES. IS IT NOT PRESENTING? I DO, I HAVE A POWERPOINT. I LOVE A GOOD VISUAL. THERE WE GO. LET'S LET'S GIVE THIS LADY HER VISUAL. I NEED MY VISUALS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I WORKED IN PRIVATE PRACTICE PRIMARILY HANDLING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX MATTERS. I HOLD A BACHELORS OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY AND A LAW DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE. GO CARDS. I AM LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN KENTUCKY AND IN MULTIPLE FEDERAL COURTS ACROSS MULTIPLE DISTRICTS. I'M HONORED TO BE JOINED TODAY BY TRAVIS FRICK, A CPA AND OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO REVENUE COMMISSION. HE GRADUATED MAGNA LAUDE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN AUDIT, ACCOUNTING AND TAX ADVISORY SERVICES. WE'LL SEE IF I CAN DRIVE. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY LESSON. THE SINKING FUND AS MANY USED TO CALL IT MANY MOONS AGO, WAS ACTUALLY A CORPORATION CREATED IN 1867 BY THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE. AT THE TIME, ALL ASSETS AND INCOME OF THE SINKING FUND OF THE CITY OF
[00:25:05]
LOUISVILLE AT THE TIME WERE VESTED AND PLACED UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.THAT COMMISSION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR APPLYING THE FUNDS TO THE PAYMENT OF THE DEBTS OF THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE, THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY MERGED TO FORM WHAT IS TODAY THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING VOTER APPROVAL, CREATING THE COMMISSIONER BOARD AS IT EXISTS TODAY. BY LOCAL ORDINANCE, THE REVENUE COMMISSION SERVES TWO PRIMARY FUNCTIONS. NUMBER ONE, THE PAYMENT OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBTS FOR METRO GOVERNMENT. AND NUMBER TWO, TO COLLECT THE MAJORITY OF THE LOCAL TAXES, SPECIFICALLY THE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX ON NET PROFITS AND WAGES, THAT IS, FOR METRO J-C-P-S ANCHORAGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TARC. WE ALSO COLLECT THE TRANSIT ROOM TAX ON HOTEL STAYS AND SHORT TERM RENTALS, OFTENTIMES CALLED AN OCCUPANCY TAX IN OTHER STATES. AND THAT IS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, LOUISVILLE TOURISM AND THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE ARTS. WE ALSO COLLECT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX ON RISKS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE URBAN SERVICES DISTRICT, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TAXES AND FEES. FOR EXAMPLE, TRUCKS OVER A CERTAIN WEIGHT CLASS THAT OPERATE IN THE LOUISVILLE METRO AREA. SO THIS SLIDE ACTUALLY REFLECTS SOME OF THE REVENUE THAT'S BEEN COLLECTED IN SUPPORT OF SOME OF THESE AGENCIES. LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE REVENUE COMMISSION COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO METRO GOVERNMENT OVER $518 MILLION TO TARC, $74 MILLION INTO J-C-P-S $212 MILLION. THE REVENUE COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT BY THE REVENUE COMMISSION MAKES UP APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL REVENUE FOR LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT, AND, ACCORDING TO JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MOST RECENT BUDGET REPORT, IT RECEIVES TWO MAIN SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR ITS FUNDING PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH WE DO NOT COLLECT, AND THE LOCAL ASSESSED OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX. ACCORDING TO THAT RECENT BUDGET REPORT, THE REVENUE COMMISSION RECEIPTS COVERED APPROXIMATELY 19% OF THEIR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, SLIGHTLY OVER THEIR STATE REVENUE SOURCES OF 17.5%. SO THERE'S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE AGENCY, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OPERATIONS, AND THE BOARD ITSELF. THE REVENUE COMMISSION IS THE ACTUAL AGENCY. IT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATING FUNCTION OF THE REVENUE COMMISSION. IT IS A DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. IT'S STAFFED BY APPROXIMATELY 43 TO 45 METRO EMPLOYEES. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT STILL OF THAT METRO GOVERNMENT GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDED DEBT. WE PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO TAXPAYERS, PREPARERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON ALL LOCAL FILING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. IT IS TAX SEASON. WE ARE VERY BUSY.
WE ALSO PREPARE AND MAINTAIN THOSE ANNUAL FORMS, BOTH IN PAPER AND ELECTRONIC FORMAT, AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH SOFTWARE VENDORS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THOSE SOFTWARE, THOSE FORMS IN THEIR SOFTWARE PACKAGES. AND FINALLY, WE PERFORM TAXPAYER AUDITS AND DISCOVERIES TO IDENTIFY NON-COMPLIANT TAXPAYERS. AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSION PRESIDENT TRAVIS SPRIGG, WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE BOARD ITSELF. YES. SO THE COMMISSIONERS, AKA THE BOARD IS A SEPARATE CORPORATE BODY WITH MEMBERS THAT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST AND PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AS IT RELATES TO THE AGENCY'S TAX POLICIES. WE REVIEW AND APPROVE TAX POLICIES. WE REVIEW BOARD BYLAWS AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS. WE ALSO REVIEW AND APPROVE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO ENTITIES WITH A VESTED INTEREST.
AND MANAGERS TALKED ABOUT WHO THOSE ENTITIES ARE AND HOW MUCH THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVE. WE REVIEW THE MONTHLY OPERATIONAL BUDGET, AND AS AMANDA MENTIONED, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ACTUAL BOARD INCLUDES A MEMBER OF METRO COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, J-C-P-S AND CITIZENS OF LOUISVILLE METRO. SO AS TRAVIS MENTIONED, THERE ARE BY STATUTE OR BY ORDINANCE, REQUIREMENTS ON WHO MAY SERVE AS COMMISSIONER. THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE HAS A SEAT ON THE METRO COUNCIL. PRESIDENT. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THEN THREE CITIZEN MEMBERS WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND APPROVED BY METRO COUNCIL. THEY HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR THREE YEARS. THE MAYOR FILLS ANY VACANCIES AND AS STATED EARLIER, WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO VACANCIES.
THERE ARE LIMITING QUALIFICATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, NO METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS, NO METRO GOVERNMENT OFFICERS OR STATE OFFICIALS MAY SERVE AS THOSE CITIZEN MEMBERS AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE METRO ETHICS CODE. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY CANNOT TRADE IN METRO GOVERNMENT BONDS WITHOUT APPROVAL. SO THE DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND, YOU KNOW, AS IT
[00:30:02]
RELATES TO OUR OUR MONTHLY MEETING, WE ACTUALLY MEET EVERY SINGLE MONTH. SO I AS PRESIDENT, I LEAD THE MEETINGS, I CALL SPECIAL MEETINGS, WHICH WE'VE HAD TO DO AND ALSO ASSIGN DUTIES. WE HAVE TWO VICE PRESIDENTS, ONE OF WHICH CAN SERVE IN MY ABSENCE DURING A MEETING. AND THEN THE SECRETARY TREASURER MANAGES FINANCES, RECORDS, MINUTES AND ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH METRO POLICIES AS FAR AS MEETINGS AND DECISION MAKING. AS I MENTIONED, WE MEET MONTHLY PLUS SPECIAL MEETINGS. ACTUALLY, LAST YEAR A LOT OF THE REGULATIONS WERE COMPLETELY OVERHAULED AND UPDATED, AND WE ACTUALLY CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING TO REVIEW THOSE. AND THEN WITH EACH MEETING YOU HAVE A QUORUM. YOU'VE GOT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A OBVIOUSLY A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS BE PRESENT FOR DECISION MAKING. AND THEN THE VIDEO TELECONFERENCING OPTION IS HYBRID OR VIRTUAL, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, WHO CAN MAKE IT IN PERSON IN THE MEETING VERSUS VERSUS VIRTUAL. THE NEXT SLIDE, AS FAR AS FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT. SO EACH AND EVERY YEAR A BUDGET IS PRESENTED TO US BY THE SECRETARY TREASURER. WE REVIEW IT AND ULTIMATELY IT'S APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION IN METRO COUNCIL. AS FAR AS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FUNDS DEPOSITED IN APPROVED BANKS WITH SECURITY BONDS, SECURITY IN METRO GOVERNMENT BONDS, STRICT OVERSIGHT, PURCHASE AND SALE APPROVALS, ANNUAL AUDITS. THE REVENUE COMMISSION RECEIVES A SEPARATE AUDIT BY AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM. THAT FIRM COMES BEFORE US AND REVIEWS THE RESULTS OF THAT AUDIT. WE ALSO REVIEW AND APPROVE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS, SO WE REVIEW THOSE PRIOR TO THE DISTRIBUTION THE FOLLOWING MONTH. AND AS I MENTIONED, THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE REVENUE TO METRO GOVERNMENT, JC STARK AND OTHER DISTRIBUTION OF TAXES COLLECTED UNDER COLLECTION AGREEMENTS, AS, AS AMANDA MENTIONED EARLIER. AND THEN WE HAVE REGULATORY POWERS WE CAN MAKE AND ENFORCE BYLAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS NOT CONTRARY TO LAW. SO AN EXAMPLE OF THESE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE APPROVAL OF PENALTIES AND INTEREST WAIVING AS FAR AS ALTERNATE APPORTIONMENT REQUESTS. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE COMMISSION COLLECTS BOTH THE OL3 TAX THAT'S ON WAGES AS WELL AS PROFITS ON BUSINESSES. AND THAT'S BASED ON THE BUSINESS SIDE ON OUR APPORTIONMENT FORMULA THAT WE CAN THAT WE SOMETIMES SEE WHERE A COMPANY MIGHT ASK FOR A CHANGE OR ALTERNATE APPORTIONMENT. AND WE'LL REVIEW THAT AND ULTIMATELY APPROVE IT OR NOT APPROVE IT. SO. AND WITH THAT THANK YOU. WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THE COMMITTEE MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. I TOLD MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO WAKE UP. AND UNFORTUNATELY WE WENT INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT BONDS AND TAXES AND BONDS AND TAXES. BUT YEAH, I DO WANT TO JUST MAKE THE CLARIFICATION THAT THIS IS NOT A BOARD THAT IS UNDER KRS STATUTE, BUT THIS IS LOCAL AUTHORITY. AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN WINKLER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND MADAM CHAIRMAN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. I DID HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE REVENUE COMMISSION FOR A LITTLE WHILE. MY QUESTION RELATES TO SOME THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I'M CURIOUS OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS. AND THAT RELATES TO. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS TIME THAT TRIED TO CENTRALIZE TAX COLLECTIONS. I THINK THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO CENTRALIZE OCCUPATIONAL TAX COLLECTION, HOTEL TAX COLLECTION, AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE UNDER THE FUNCTION OF THE REVENUE COMMISSION TODAY. AND SO MY QUESTION IS ONE SORT OF WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE OF THAT? AND THEN TWO, WHAT IS THE WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT ON THE REVENUE COMMISSION? WELL, NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO FIRST POINT OUT THAT COUNCIL INVESTED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF REVENUE IN THE SOFTWARE THAT THE REVENUE COMMISSION USES TO ULTIMATELY COLLECT THE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX. WE HAVE SEEN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN OUR ELECTRONIC FILING. I THINK THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR, WE ARE EXCEEDING OVER 70% IN THE MAJORITY OF OUR RETURNS COMING IN ELECTRONICALLY. SO THE SYSTEM WORKS VERY, VERY WELL AS FAR AS ANY IMPACT TO CENTRALIZE THAT. IT'S AT THE STATE LEVEL. THERE WOULD BE OPERATIONAL IMPACTS THAT COULD AFFECT OUR SUCCESSFUL ABILITY TO COLLECT THAT, MOSTLY DEALING WITH THE SYSTEM INTEGRATION THAT THAT WOULD REQUIRE. COUNCILMAN BRATCHER, HOW DO YOU GUYS THIS IS KIND OF JUST CURIOUS, HOW DO YOU LIKE, SAY YOU GOT SHIVELY OR SAINT MATTHEW'S CITY, RIGHT? DO YOU[00:35:07]
GUYS EVER, LIKE, GET INTO FIGHTS OR SOMETHING FOR WHAT THE MONEY IS? WHAT WHAT SHOULD COME TO LOUISVILLE OR WHAT SHOULD COME TO SHIVELY? OR IS IT JUST PRETTY WELL SPELLED OUT? DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERACTION WITH THE SMALL CITIES? NO. THERE ARE, THERE ARE. I THINK WE'RE UP TO SIX.THERE WERE FOUR SMALLER CITIES. I THINK WE'RE UP TO SIX NOW THAT HAVE THEIR OWN OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX ON WAGES WITHIN THAT THAT CITY THEY COLLECT THEIR OWN. IT IS WHAT WE WOULD CALL STACKED ON TOP OF THE WAGES THAT WE COLLECT FOR LOUISVILLE METRO. SO WE'VE HAD NO NO ISSUES WITH THAT. SO YOU GUYS DO THE OCCUPATIONAL TAX. YOU COLLECT THAT AND THEN YOU COLLECT ALSO THE WHAT INSURANCE TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX. SO WE COLLECT THAT FOR OURSELVES. THE CITIES COLLECT THEIR OWN. THEY PROCESS THEIR OWN RETURNS. AND WHAT ELSE. WHAT ELSE IS FUNDING THIS METRO GOVERNMENT TRANSIENT ROOM TAX WHICH IS THE OCCUPANCY TAX. DO YOU HAVE TO SPLIT THAT WITH THE TOURISM CABINET OR THAT'S ACTUALLY DICTATED BY LOCAL ORDINANCE. AND IT'S I THINK IT'S LMCO 121 THAT'S ACTUALLY BROKEN OUT TO THOSE ENTITIES BY STATE STATUTE AS WELL. AND THE PROPERTY TAX GOES TO THE PVA, I TAKE IT. YEAH. WE DO NOT COLLECT PROPERTY TAX. YES. OKAY. SO JUST THREE, YOU COLLECT THREE AND THEN THE, THE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENT IS ONE OF THOSE MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS THAT WE COLLECT ALONG WIT.
THERE'S IF TRUCKS OF A CERTAIN WEIGHT CLASS WE COLLECT IT'S CALLED A TRUCK LICENSING FEE.
AND THOSE ARE PAID TO US ANNUALLY USUALLY AND USUALLY IN MAY. OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN REED. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. AND THANK YOU FOR THE VERY GOOD POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THERE WAS A MISSION STATEMENT, BUT I THINK HE PRETTY MUCH LAID IT OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. SO YOU'RE COLLECTING THE TRANSIENT ROOM TAX, CORRECT? YES. AND THAT WOULD THAT WOULD INCLUDE AIRBNB, CORRECT? YES. OKAY. SO THERE WAS A HOUSE BILL THAT WAS PRESENTED THAT WOULD HAVE CENTRALIZED THAT. I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT. YES. OKAY. THAT I'M OPPOSED TO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'RE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME COLLECTING TAXES FROM VARIOUS AIRBNBS. IS THAT YOUR TAKE AS WELL? SO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL TAX IS UNIQUE IN THAT WITH A IT'S BASED ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAYS. SO FOR AN ENTITY THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS AN AIRBNB PRIOR TO HOUSE BILL EIGHT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AROUND 2022, THE FILER WOULD HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY THE PROPERTY OWNER. BUT WHEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE SHIFTED THAT BURDEN TO THOSE ONLINE PLATFORMS, THAT MADE IT WHERE IT'S NOW THE PLATFORM ITSELF THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING WITH US AND MOST ONLINE PLATFORMS BECAUSE OF OUR SUCCESSFUL ONLINE FILING SYSTEM, ARE FILING WITH LOUISVILLE METRO. OKAY, I'M SORRY. OKAY. SO YOUR POSITION IS THAT IT'S SORT OF A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM. YES. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN LEININGER. YEAH. WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING THROUGH THE PERCENTAGES OF THE AGENCIES AND ENTITIES FUNDED BY. BY THE REVENUE COMMISSION, ONE OF THE AGENCY LISTED, OF COURSE, WAS TARC. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET DOES WHAT YOU COLLECT MAKE UP? THAT IS ONE THAT I ACTUALLY COULD NOT LOCATE. AND IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING. WE ARE GOING THROUGH A NETWORK UPGRADE, AND I WAS ACTUALLY BLOCKED FROM THE TARC WEBSITE PREVIOUSLY WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER. SO UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. THANK YOU.
IT'S A NETWORK WE HAVE OUR OWN NETWORK FROM. IT'S FOR IT'S FOR OUR IRS COMPLIANCE. WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS $75 MILLION THAT TARC GOT LAST YEAR. AND SO ONE THAT WE SHOULD CERTAINLY DIVE INTO. OH, COUNCILMAN KRAMER, THANK YOU. I WANT TO BACK UP TO WHAT COUNCILMAN WINKLER HAD BROUGHT UP AS FAR AS THE STATE'S EFFORT, FAILED EFFORTS IN THIS SESSION TO CENTRALIZE SOME OF THE TAX COLLECTION. I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER, BUT I'M WONDERING IF MY UNDERSTANDING IS ACCURATE. SO I'M GOING TO THROW THIS OUT THERE AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. PART OF THE REASON THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE WERE SO ADAMANTLY OPPOSED IS BECAUSE, IN FACT, WE DO A MUCH BETTER JOB OF COLLECTING TAXES THAN THE STATE DOES. THAT'S CORRECT. IF IT BECOMES CENTRALIZED, THEN WE WOULD ONLY GET FROM THEM THAT WHICH THEY COLLECTED ON OUR BEHALF, AND SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BE AS SUCCESSFUL, WE WOULD SEE A REDUCTION. YES. OKAY. SO IT'S A SAFE STATEMENT. YES. THANK YOU. AND THEN MY QUESTION WAS WE'RE COLLECTING TAXES FOR OTHER ENTITIES FOR JC STARK AND OTHERS. YOU HAVE, I THINK YOU SAID 43 CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR US, WHICH MEANS WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT. IS THERE A IS THERE SOME KIND OF A, I DON'T KNOW, ASSESSMENTS? PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT WORD, BUT DO THEY IS THERE SOME KIND OF A SERVICE FEE THAT THEY PAY US FOR THE FOR COLLECTING THOSE TAXES? I THOUGHT THAT WAS PROBABLY TRUE.
[00:40:05]
BUT YES, THERE IS A AND SOME OF THEM GO BACK WAY TO THE SINKING FUND TIMES. BUT YES. BUT THERE IS A SERVICE FEE ASSOCIATED WITH EACH COLLECTIONS. GREAT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND FULL DISCLOSURE, DO YOU CURRENTLY SERVE ON THIS BOARD COUNCIL I DO, YES OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL PRESENTATION. THAT WAS MY TIMER THAT WENT OFF.THANK YOU FOR THE SPEED ROUND OF GETTING TO KNOW WHAT YOUR COMMISSION DOES, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT IT MAKES TO OUR CITY. I THINK THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE FOR EVERYONE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE WILL TALK TO YOU SOON. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANKS. GOOD EVENING. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY THE PARKS DIRECTOR, MICHELLE KING AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR NATHAN MAYWALD. AND JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THIS BOARD FOR MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THIS IS A BOARD THAT HAS A CRA STATUTE, ALSO A LOCAL ORDINANCE. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE THREE VACANCIES ON THE BOARD. THERE ARE SIX BOARD MEMBERS, SO A TOTAL OF NINE. BUT THIS ONE WAS AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST IF YOU CAN RECALL, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST, BUT IT MIGHT BE IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT. I'M WONDERING IF WE WERE STARTING WITH THE CEMETERY BOARD THAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? CEMETERY BOARD FIRST? THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT WAS POSSIBLE.
IGNORE ALL THOSE FACTS ON THAT. BUT I THINK THAT APPLIES. SURE. SO WE'VE GOT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, MR. NATHAN MAYWALD. LOOKS LIKE THE CHAIR RESIGNED AT THE LAST MEETING IN MARCH, AND THERE WASN'T A QUORUM TO VOTE IN A NEW ONE. SO THERE IS NOT A CHAIR TO BE PRESENT. THEY MEET ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY OTHER MONTH. THEY ARE UNDER A CR. S STATUTE, AS WELL AS A LOCAL ORDINANCE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE VACANCIES. AND THERE ARE. FIVE. WELL, I GUESS THERE'S FOUR BOARD MEMBERS NOW AND ONE VACANCY SINCE THE CHAIR RESIGNED AT THE LAST MEETING. BUT I'LL LET YOU ALL I'LL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE. GOOD EVENING. I'M NATHAN MAYWALD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH PARKS AND RECREATION. YEAH. SO THE CEMETERY BOARD IS COMPRISED OF FIVE BOARD MEMBERS. AND WITH THE RESIGNATION OF THE CHAIR AND THEN ANOTHER MEMBER HAVING TO RESIGN BASED ON THE FACT THAT HE MOVED OUT OF STATE, AND ANOTHER ONE WHO WILL NOT BE RENEWING. HER MEMBERSHIP OR HER HER APPOINTMENT. SO WE'LL WE'LL BE DOWN TO TWO MEMBERS IN APRIL. AND THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS TO FACILITATE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF NONPROFIT AND INDIGENT CEMETERIES THAT DO NOT RECEIVE PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS PURSUANT TO KRS 367952. AND THE THERE'S OTHER POWERS OF THE BOARD, LIKE ADOPTING BYLAWS, CREATING. STANDING AND TEMPORARY COMMITTEES. AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHICH I THINK MIGHT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, IS WORKING WITH LOCAL GROUPS TO IDENTIFY AND PROMOTE MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION OF LOCAL CEMETERIES THAT DON'T RECEIVE ANY CARE. THEY DO MEET, AS YOU SAID, THE BOARD DOES MEET EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH. WELL, THAT'S WHAT IT'S SCHEDULED. AND SINCE LAST YEAR WE HAD SIX SIX TOTAL MEETINGS. OKAY. AND HOW CAN YOU GO OVER AGAIN THE CEMETERIES THAT YOU OVERSEE THAT THAT PARKS OVERSEES THAT THE BOARD THAT THE BOARD OVERSEES.
SO THE CEMETERIES THAT THE BOARD WOULD OVERSEE ARE NONPROFIT AND INDIGENT CEMETERIES THAT DO NOT RECEIVE PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS. AND DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONES? THOSE ARE LIKE CHARDIN, EASTERN.
THOSE RECEIVE PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS SO THEY WOULDN'T FALL UNDER THAT PORTION OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOARD. BUT EXAMPLES WOULD INCLUDE SMALL FAMILY CEMETERIES THAT ARE SOMETIMES LEFT ABANDONED IN A DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF CEMETERIES THAT ARE ORPHANED THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW THEM BY NAME, OFTEN SO, BUT THERE ARE OFTEN FRIENDS GROUPS THAT THAT DO KNOW THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE, BUT THEY'RE ONES THAT DON'T HAVE A ORGANIZATION THAT'S CURRENTLY MAINTAINING OR THAT PERPETUAL CARE FUND TO
[00:45:03]
PROVIDE FOR THOSE MAINTENANCE NEEDS. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE EXISTING? LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE A LIST OR LIKE A TOTAL NUMBER OF TOMBSTONES KIND OF THING? AND WHAT MONEY IS DEDICATED IN? FOR EXAMPLE, THE LAST BUDGET FOR THE MAINTENANCE. THEY DO NOT HAVE A BUDGET, NO BUDGET, NO BUDGET. OKAY. WE'VE GOT A FEW PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE, SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN REED. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. SO YOU SAID FIVE MEMBERS WITH HOW MANY VACANCIES CURRENTLY? TWO CURRENTLY. AND THERE WILL BE THREE COME APRIL.OKAY. AND YOU HAD HOW MANY MEETINGS LAST YEAR? SIX. SIX MEETINGS. AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET MONTHLY. NO. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET THREE TIMES A YEAR PER ORDINANCE EVERY OTHER MONTH. GOT IT? THREE TIMES. OKAY. IN THESE MEETINGS, HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU ACHIEVE A QUORUM? ALL OF THEM.
BUT ONE. OKAY. AND DO YOU HAVE I TAKE IT, IS THERE A BOARD CHAIR NOW OR THE BOARD CHAIR RESIGNED? THE BOARD CHAIR RESIGNED. OKAY. DO YOU IN THE PAST, DOES YOUR BOARD CHAIR CIRCULATED AN AGENDA GOING INTO THE MEETING? DO YOU HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES? CAN YOU GIVE ME JUST AN IDEA OF WHAT YOUR TYPICAL MEETING IS LIKE? YEAH, THERE THERE IS AN AGENDA THERE. THERE IS NO SUBCOMMITTEES CURRENTLY, BUT THERE IS AN AGENDA THAT IS PROVIDED. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND OF COURSE, THEN WE POST MEETINGS, MINUTES FROM THOSE MEETINGS TO OUR WEBSITE. OKAY. AND THE AND THE AGENDA IN ADVANCE. OKAY. WELL, I HAVE SOME OPINIONS I GUESS, AFTER THE FACT, BUT YOU GIVE ME ENOUGH INFORMATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. FEEL FREE TO JUMP BACK IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN LEININGER. YEAH. SO THE MAJORITY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF CEMETERIES THAT ARE KIND OF ISLANDS IN OUR CITY PARKS. LIKE, THERE'S ONE AT CHARLIE VENTNOR, THERE'S ONE IN BROWN PARK. ARE THOSE MOSTLY UNDER YOUR BOARD? NO. THOSE ARE.
WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE. OKAY. IF THEY'RE INSIDE A PARK, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THOSE. OKAY? YES.
NOW, YOU TWO JUMPED IN THE QUEUE AT THE SAME EXACT TIME WHEN THEY WERE SPEAKING EARLIER. SO I'M CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE THE SAME QUESTION. SO, COUNCILMAN BRATCHER. NO, I'M JUST WANTING CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I'M QUITE CONFUSED. REALLY? SO WE HAVE A CEMETERY BOARD, BUT YOU'RE NOT.
THAT'S NOT YOUR. THE PARKS DEAL, RIGHT? CORRECT. THE CEMETERY BOARD ARE A VOLUNTEER APPOINTEES. THEY ARE. THE ORDINANCE SETS UP THAT THEY WILL BE STAFFED BY PARKS AND RECREATION. I THINK THE CONNECTION THERE IS THAT WE DO HAVE CEMETERIES THAT PARKS AND RECREATION AS A DEPARTMENT, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. WE DO PERFORM INDIGENT BURIALS FOR THE CITY.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE HAVE SPACES THAT ARE METRO PROPERTIES WHERE THOSE BURIALS ARE PERFORMED. SO WE MAINTAIN THOSE SPACES, BUT THEY ARE NOT ABANDONED OR ORPHANED.
CEMETERIES THAT THIS BOARD WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FACILITATING VOLUNTEER EFFORTS. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD, THE CEMETERY BOARD ISN'T BUDGETED. THEY DON'T GO DO THIS MAINTENANCE, BUT THEY ARE THERE TO HELP PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE FRIENDS OF EASTERN CEMETERY, AND I KNOW THAT'S ONE THAT DOES HAVE SOME PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS ASSIGNED TO IT, BUT THAT'S A VERY WELL KNOWN EXAMPLE. SO THEY MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME HOW TO GUIDES FOR FORMING A VOLUNTEER GROUP TO GO MAINTAIN AN ORPHANED CEMETERY. THEY ALSO HAVE IN THE LAST YEAR THEY DID IDENTIFY SOME PROJECTS THAT THOSE DIDN'T GET COMPLETED IN THE YEAR, BUT THEY ARE ONES THAT ARE, I THINK, TARGETS FOR THIS BOARD TO COMPLETE. AND ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE TO TRY TO CREATE THAT LIST, IDENTIFYING WHERE THESE PROPERTIES ARE. I THINK THAT'S A CASE WHERE WE, AS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFFING THEM, CAN ALSO PROVIDE MAYBE SOME ABILITY TO BE A LIAISON TO OTHER PARTS OF METRO GOVERNMENT THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH THAT RESEARCH AND THEN BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ON OUR WEBSITE, BECAUSE THERE'S KIND OF A VACUUM OF THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WILL YOU TAKE A CEMETERY LIKE RESTHAVEN OR SOMETHING, THOUGH? THOSE ARE COMPANY. THAT'S OUT. THAT'S NOT IN YOUR IT'S NOT PART OF THE CEMETERY BOARD'S PURVIEW. CORRECT. IS THERE A DOCUMENT OR A BOOK OR A LIST OF ALL CEMETERIES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY? NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. WE HAD A COMMISSION. SOMEBODY JUST GO DO THAT. OR IS THAT WOULD THAT BE TOO? I DON'T THINK THAT'D BE TOO HARD. THAT WOULD BE THE TYPE OF PROJECT THAT THIS BOARD COULD WORK ON. YES, BECAUSE IT'D BE NICE TO JUST KNOW WHERE THEY'RE
[00:50:04]
ALL AT AND WHAT THE NAME OF THEM ARE AND ANY HISTORY. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THERE, CORRECT? YEAH. I'M GOING TO GET TO YOU, COUNCILMAN, JUST ONE MOMENT. COULD YOU MAYBE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE TYPICAL SUBJECT MATTER IS THAT YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT AT A MEETING? I'VE BEEN LOOKING THROUGH YOUR MEETING MINUTES, WHICH ARE ALL ONLINE. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT RECORD KEEPING. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THE. MEETING MINUTE CONTENT IS HOUSEKEEPING. AND SO WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS BOARD, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DON'T PERTAIN TO, YOU KNOW, THE FUNCTIONALITY OR NOT? THE NUTS AND BOLTS, BUT MORE OR LESS THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE IS IN FRONT OF YOU. I DEFINITELY WANT TO LEAVE THAT FOR NATHAN TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THE BOARD, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST ADDRESS THE RECORD KEEPING AND THE AMOUNT OF THAT THAT HAPPENED IN THIS LAST YEAR. THE BOARD WAS ABLE TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT BYLAWS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PAST YEAR. SO I KNOW THAT DID TAKE A GOOD BIT OF EFFORT FOR THEIR MEETING TIME. SO HUGE UNDERTAKING IT. IT IS A GOOD ACCOMPLISHMENT THOUGH FOR THE BOARD. YEAH. SO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THE CEMETERIES, OF COURSE, THAT DO NOT HAVE PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS IS A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION. THE CHAIRMAN, PHIL DE BLASI, WAS HE HAD A LOT OF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND IN CEMETERIES. A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION WOULD COME TO THESE MEETINGS, A LOT OF INFORMATION PERTAINING TO CR STATUTES. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH. AND THE BYLAWS DID TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET ESTABLISHED.AND I THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FOR THE BOARD TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE. INDEED. AND I THINK THAT WE CAN CREATE A BOARD THAT CAN DO THAT. AND THAT'S OUR HOPES IS TO THE NEXT PEOPLE THAT WE APPOINT, YOU KNOW, GET SOME MORE PRODUCTIVITY OUT OF THEM.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION. COUNCILMAN LEININGER, YOU ACTUALLY ASKED MY QUESTION. SO THANK. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CEMETERY BOARD? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE AS METRO COUNCIL COULD HELP YOU WITH? I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT, LIKE I SAID, THIS PAST YEAR WAS SOME HOUSEKEEPING AND GETTING ORGANIZATIONALLY IN ORDER FOR THE BOARD. AND I THINK THEY ARE POISED TO HAVE A MORE PRODUCTIVE YEAR AND MEET SOME OF THE GOALS, AS ARE LAID OUT IN THE ORDINANCE FOR THEM. GREAT. WELL, MAYBE AT THE MEETING ON I THINK APRIL 8TH, YOU CAN ADD TO THE AGENDA, YOU KNOW, THAT SAME QUESTION. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANY SUPPORT THAT THE BOARD COULD, YOU KNOW, COULD SEE RECEIVING FROM US? THANK YOU FOR THAT. YEAH. NO PROBLEM. AND WITHOUT ANY MORE QUESTIONS THEN WE WILL HAVE OUR FINAL. PRESENTER. WHICH IS ARTIE IN THE HOT SEAT. SO AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO BE THE LAST THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING IS THE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THIS IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PARKS DIRECTOR MICHELLE KING SPEAKING TO THIS. THIS IS UNDER KRS STATUTE AS WELL AS A LOCAL ORDINANCE. THERE ARE THREE VACANCIES, SIX PEOPLE ON THE BOARD. SO A TOTAL OF NINE PEOPLE. BUT THERE IS NO INFORMATION OTHERWISE BECAUSE THIS IS A BOARD THAT DOES NOT MEET AND HAS NOT IN A VERY LONG TIME. SO THERE ARE INDEED NINE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OR NINE POSITIONS FOR THIS BOARD. THE SIX THAT ARE NAMED, THEIR TERMS HAVE EXPIRED. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO FILL ALL NINE VACANCIES RIGHT NOW. THIS BOARD HAS MET LAST IN FEBRUARY OF 2024. I THINK, AS MOST OF YOU ALL KNOW, I CAME ON BOARD AT PARKS AND RECREATION JUST THIS PAST SUMMER, RIGHT AT THE END OF JUNE, BEGINNING OF JULY, RECONSTITUTING THIS BOARD IS ONE OF THE GOALS FOR MY FIRST YEAR IN IN MY NEW POSITION. I THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BOARD AND HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BY SERVING OUR PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM. SO JUST BRIEFLY, FROM THE ORDINANCE, THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS TO ADVISE LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION AND SUPPORT THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF METRO GOVERNMENT'S PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS. I'D LIKE TO FURTHER FLESH THAT OUT BY LOOKING TO THE SEMINOLE PARKS FOR ALL STUDY AND PLAN OF ACTION, WHICH WAS ENDORSED BY METRO COUNCIL AND IS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY MAYOR GREENBERG. THAT PLAN OF ACTION AND STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT THIS BOARD COULD ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN AND RELATED POLICIES,
[00:55:06]
SO TO DO SO, THE BOARD WOULD PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY ON PARK POLICIES, MAJOR PARK DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND DESIGNS, NEW ACQUISITIONS, COMMUNITY CENTER PROGRAMING OPPORTUNITIES, RECREATION SERVICES, AND MANY OTHER AREAS OF PARKS AND RECREATION. DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS. AND IN FACT, WE JUST EXECUTED A CONTRACT WITH PROSE CONSULTING. THAT WAS THE FIRM THAT LED THE PARKS FOR ALL STUDY DEVELOPMENT THAT CAME THROUGH THE PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. AND THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT CONTRACT, WHICH IS TO HELP SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PARK FORLL, IS TO DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD TO OPERATE THROUGH. SO WHAVE BN WORKIN TOWAR THIS, BRINGINGOGETHER THEOARD EN WENOW THAT WEAVE A SOLID PLAN OF ACTION, WE REALLY VALUE THE TIME OF VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS AND DON'T WANT TO CONVENE THEM WITHOUT A CLEAR PURPOSE AND USE FOR THEIR TIME. I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WHEN THEY COME AND VOLUNTEER, THAT THAT EFFORT ON OUR BEHALF, THAT THEY'RE DOING SO WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PRODUCTIVITY. SO WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING A LOT OF THOUGHT AND PLANNING INTO THIS RECONVENING OF THE ADVISORY BOARD. AS YOU MENTIONED, THE BOARD CONSISTS OF NINE MEMBERS, AND OF COURSE, IS SUBJECT TO THE DIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS OF METRO ORDINANCES REFLECTING GEOGRAPHIC, POLITICAL, GENDER, AGE, RACIAL, AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF DIVERSITY WHERE APPROPRIATE.SO WE'RE KEEPING ALL OF THAT IN MIND AS WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE MANY APPLICANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS BOARD. I'VE REALLY BEEN PLEASED TO SEE THAT THERE'S SO MUCH INTEREST IN SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY. SO THE CONTRACT THAT WE IN INSTITUTED JUST KICKED OFF TODAY, ACTUALLY.
BUT THE BOARD, LIKE I SAY, IS WELL UNDERWAY IN ITS REDEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE A FOCUS ON ENSURING REPRESENTATION FROM OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND INCLUDING DIVERSE VOICES, REFLECTING A WIDE RANGE OF PARKS RELATED INTERESTS SUCH AS ATHLETICS, URBAN AGRICULTURE, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND EVEN SENIOR PERSPECTIVES. SO WE'RE PREPARING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MAYOR. NOW. THOSE WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARKS ALLIANCE OF LOUISVILLE, OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY WILDERNESS, LOUISVILLE WATERFRONT PARKS, AND AS WELL AS MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL BACKGROUNDS AND INTERESTS, INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE COORDINATION, URBAN AG SENIOR ACTIVITIES, PLANNING AND HEALTH CARE, AND MANY MORE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL INTERESTS AMONGST THOSE APPLICANTS. BUT AMONG THEM ALL, THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN SUPPORTING OUR PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. THE ADVISORY BOARD WILL PROVIDE KEY OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTERNAL FEEDBACK INTO PARKS AND RECREATION POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. AND WHILE THAT WILL CERTAINLY COME FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS THEMSELVES, I ALSO REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BOARD'S PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH THEIR PUBLIC MEETINGS. SO MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THE TIME AND EFFORT GIVEN BY THE VOLUNTEERS IS PUT TO ITS BEST PURPOSE, VALUE THE BOARD, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL AS WELL. THANK YOU AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, OF COURSE, THE DIVERSITY THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. BUT THERE'S NO STIPULATIONS ON THIS BOARD TO SAY ONE SEAT HAS TO BE FROM PARKS ADVISORY, ONE SEAT HAS TO BE OR PARKS ALLIANCE ONE. AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ARE SEEKING TO OUTLINE IN, YOU KNOW, UPDATED BYLAWS FOR US TO PUT INTO AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE KEY MEMBERS ARE REPRESENTED, NOT SEEKING TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE. AT THIS POINT, WE THINK THAT THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO CONSTITUTE THE BOARD WITH THOSE VOICES AT THE TABLE, WITHOUT HAVING TO OPEN UP THE ORDINANCE AND MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN LEININGER, THANK YOU. AS YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG FAN AND ADVOCATE OF PARKS FOR ALL, AND I LOVE HEARING, YOU KNOW, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR THIS BOARD. YOU KNOW, I LIKE A LOT OF OPENNESS IN OUR GOVERNMENT, A LOT OF CHANCES FOR OUR CITIZENS TO BE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON WHAT THE BUSINESS OF LOUISVILLE METRO IS. WHICH LEADS ME TO, YOU KNOW, I STILL AM CONFUSED ABOUT WHY THIS BOARD HAS NOT DESCRIBED IN THE MISSION STATEMENT, IN TERMS OF THE BUSINESS OF LOUISVILLE METRO AND PARKS AND WHERE THE PARK ADVISORY BOARD WOULD FIT IN, NONE OF THAT HAS PAUSED OR
[01:00:02]
STOPPED. AND SO INSTEAD, WE'VE JUST HAD THIS VACUUM WHERE WE COULD BE HAVING ENGAGEMENT FROM PEOPLE THROUGHOUT LOUISVILLE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH PARKS AND HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR, SAY, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PARKS FOR ALL AND THE BUDGETARY NECESSITIES THAT WOULD GO WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION, IMPLEMENTATION OF PARKS FOR ALL. SO I STILL AM CONFUSED, AS I WAS THE LAST MEETING OF THIS COMMITTEE ABOUT WHY THIS BOARD WAS ESSENTIALLY DISBANDED. OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T THERE AT THE LAST CONVENING OF THIS BOARD. I DON'T FOR THE BEST I CAN TELL, IT WASN'T A CONSCIOUS DECISION THAT SOMEONE MADE TO SAY, WE WON'T CALL YOU BACK. IT JUST WASN'T A PRIORITY IN THE AT THE TIME. AND IN A BIT OF A LEADERSHIP VACUUM THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL INTERIM DIRECTORS, SOME FREAK OR QUICK SUCCESSION OF DIRECTORS BEFORE AND DURING COVID ERA. SO I THINK IT SIMPLY WAS NOT THE PRIORITY OF KEEPING THE REST OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT GOING. I CAN SAY IN MY WORKING ON EIGHT MONTHS NOW, MAYBE IT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY, BUT DEFINITELY HAD MY OWN LEARNING CURVE TO GET UP TO SPEED TO MAKE SURE. LIKE I SAY, I REALLY KNEW WHY THESE FOLKS WERE BEING CONVENED AND HOW TO BEST USE THAT TIME AND TALENT THAT THEY WERE GIVING. DO WE HAVE A TIME FRAME FOR WHEN WE'RE GOING TO SEE APPOINTMENTS, AND WHEN THIS BOARD IS GOING TO COME BACK UP? OUR APPOINTMENTS ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR ARE CURRENTLY BEING VETTED. SO WE ARE ACTIVELY IN THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND VERY FAR ALONG, I THINK WITHOUT KNOWING EXACTLY THE TIME FRAME FOR ALL OF THAT HAPPENING, I'M HOPEFUL THAT LATE SPRING WILL BE CONVENING. MAY. MAY WOULD BE MY GOAL TO SET IT OUT LOUD. SO THERE YOU GO.LOOKING BACK, HOPEFULLY NOT SHOOTING ME DAGGERS. YEAH, GREAT TO HAVE THAT TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO. HOPEFULLY OKAY. SAME WAY AS DIRECTOR PRICE. YOU KNOW YOU ALL HAVE HOMEWORK AND I SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT WITH COUNCILMAN LEININGER. THAT AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE NOT HERE PRIOR TO EIGHT MONTHS AGO, BUT SHARING THE SENTIMENT THAT THIS BOARD SHOULD BE RUNNING REGARDLESS OF IF WE HAVE A DIRECTOR OR INTERIM DIRECTOR, BECAUSE I ALSO THINK THAT THIS BOARD WOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL PIECE TO HELPING FIND THAT DIRECTOR. SHOULD WE BE IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE AGAIN? AND I DO JUST WANT TO SAY, BEFORE I GET TO YOU, COUNCILMAN BRATCHER, WE IDENTIFIED THAT LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL HAS 90 DAYS OR POSITIONS HAVE, I THINK, 90 DAYS TO BE FILLED. IF IT REACHES BEYOND 90 DAYS, THEN LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL THEN ASSUMES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT SOMEBODY IN THAT SEAT. AND WE CAME TO REALIZE THIS, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR KEEPING UP WITH THAT IS THE CLERK'S OFFICE. AND SO WE'RE TALKING WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KIND OF KEEPING A BETTER FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THESE BOARDS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANY OF THESE VACANCIES TO HAPPE, BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED THESE BOARDS OPERATING AT MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY. COUNCILMAN BRATCHER WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY UNTIL TILL JP AND THE CHAIR SAID SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST ELIMINATE THE BOARD. I TRULY THINK THERE'S A GREAT VALUE FOR THIS BOARD, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT BEEN USED HOW LONG IT'S BEEN A MISSING ASSET. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE IT MET? IT MET IN LAST MET IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR FEBRUARY 2024. SO JUST OVER A YEAR DID THE DID THE MEMBERS NOT EVEN APPROACH AND SAY HEY SOMEBODY SOMEBODY NEEDS TO WE NEED TO CONVENE THIS BOARD. WERE THEY INTERESTED ENOUGH TO COME FORWARD AND APPROACH YOU AND SAY, DID NOT HAVE COMMUNICATIONS, LACK OF INTEREST. SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE I WAS IN MY POSITION. SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A GOOD CANDIDATE TO DISSOLVE IT. I, I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU'LL GIVE US A CHANCE TO. RECONSTITUTE AND THAT'S ALL BRING SOME VALUE TO THIS BOARD. THANK YOU. AND I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE A CLARIFICATION THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS POSITION HAS TO BE FILLED WITHIN 90 DAYS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO FILL THAT WITHIN 30 DAYS. AFTER THAT 90 DAYS. AND I THINK AFTER THAT IT GOES BACK TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. SO WE HAVE A VERY SHORT LITTLE WINDOW THAT WE NEED TO BE CATCHING THESE THINGS. AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, OH, WELL, THEN WE CAN FILL METRO COUNCIL CAN FILL ALL THESE SEATS RIGHT NOW. AND I WAS ACTUALLY TOLD WE CAN'T. SO COUNCILMAN KRAMER, THANK YOU. I JUST I THAT YOU'VE CLARIFIED IN SOME SMALL WAY PART OF WHAT I
[01:05:06]
WAS GOING TO CLARIFY. IT DOESN'T REALLY BECOME OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FILL THEM. IT JUST MEANS WE CAN. THE MAYOR HAD A RESPONSIBILITY. HE DIDN'T DO WHAT HE HE DIDN'T MEET THAT RESPONSIBILITY. IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. IT DOESN'T. IT DOESN'T. WE ARE NOT THEN BURDENED WITH THAT AS A RESPONSIBILITY. IT JUST MEANS WE CAN. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOW IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING IS IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY. AND THEN THE SECOND PIECE AND COUNCILMAN BRADSHAW, I WAS LOOKING AT THE LIST THAT WAS SENT OVER. I BELIEVE THE PARKS COMMISSION WAS CREATED BY THE STATE STATUTE. SO EVEN IF WE WERE TO WANT TO. SO I'M, I'M SAYING YOU CAN RELAX A LITTLE BIT. EVEN IF WE WANTED TO. I DON'T THINK WE CAN. I DON'T THINK WE CAN DISSOLVE IT. NOT THAT I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR DISSOLVING IT ANYWAY, BUT I THINK STATE STATUTE MANDATES IT. SURE. COUNCILMAN LEININGER, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE WE WERE GOING AROUND ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE STATUTORY THINGS AT THE LAST SESSION. WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT THIS BOARD IS, AS A CITY OF THE FIRST CLASS, WHAT THE STATUTE STIPULATES IS THAT WE MAY CREATE SUCH A COMMISSION. AND SO ALTHOUGH THERE IS A STATUTE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD, ITS EXISTENCE IS ENTIRELY CONTINGENT ON METRO ORDINANCE. SO WE'RE BACK TO BEING ABLE TO DISBAND IT. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? WELL OKAY.THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I JUST WANT TO CONSULT WITH MY FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THE NEXT MEETING. HOW DO WE FEEL THAT THIS ONE WENT? I THINK I LEARNED A LOT HERE. I, I THINK WE REALLY NAILED IT. ON THE PACING FOR FOUR OF THEM. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SO FOR COUNCILMAN REED. DISCUSSING SOMETHING RELATED TO THEIR STATUTES, I THINK SO. OH, WELL, I WAS JUST SAYING, HOW DID WE FEEL ABOUT THIS MEETING AND HOW IT WENT? BECAUSE I THINK WHAT I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE IS MAYBE WE LOOK AT THE NEXT FOUR THAT WERE ON OUR LIST AND HAVE THEM COME IN. I FEEL I THINK WE MADE GOOD PROGRESS TODAY. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT COMES IN AND DOES A NICE PRESENTATION THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF THEIR GROUP, SOMEBODY COMING IN AND SAYING THAT THEY'VE NOT HAD A MEETING IN 18 MONTHS. YOU KNOW, THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN BRADSHAW WAS SAYING EARLIER. THAT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT'S THE POINT? SO I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD EXERCISE. I WOULD CONTINUE. FANTASTIC. SO THEN I WILL LOOK AT OUR LIST AND SEE WHAT THOSE, YOU KNOW, I GUESS FIVE THROUGH EIGHT WERE. AND THEN I'LL SEND IT OUT AND SEE IF WE HAVE CONSENSUS. AND THEN WE'LL GET THEM HERE WHEN WE MEET AGAIN IN THREE WEEKS WE HAVE SPRING BREAK IN THERE. WHERE IS IT IN TWO WEEKS? IN A MONTH? OH, MAN.
YEAH, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPREADSHEETS FOR YOU ALL TO BRUSH UP ON IN THAT TIME. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.