Nov 11, 2025 Special Ad Hoc Committee on Efficiency of Boards and Commissions

[Call to Order]

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WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AND THE EFFICIENCY OF BOARDS AND

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[Roll Call]

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[1. ID 25-0673     BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OVERVIEW Jefferson County Extension Office Louisville Jefferson County Evvironmental Trust Oversight Board of Health Brightside Foundation]

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PERFECT TIMING. WELL I'M GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW. AND I DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS OR IF YOU DON'T KNOW, I SET A TIMER FOR 15 MINUTES SINCE WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE'S TIME. SO I RECOMMEND, BY THE WAY, WE ARE JOINED IN CHAMBERS BY COUNCILMAN KEVIN KRAMER. BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND MAYBE ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES OR SO GIVING A PRESENTATION OR TALKING ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THEN LEAVING THE REMAINDER OF YOUR TIME TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE. SO WE'VE GOT THE BOARD OF HEALTH. THEY ARE UNDER STATUTE AS WELL AS A LOCAL ORDINANCE. THEY MEET MONTHLY AND THEY DO GET $50 FOR EVERY MEETING. SO THIS IS A BOARD IN WHICH MEMBERS ARE COMPENSATED AND THERE ARE NINE MEMBERS. SO I WILL LET. DOCTOR BAUTISTA. CIERVA, SAAVEDRA, SAAVEDRA GO AHEAD AND START. THERE OKAY.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. PATRICIA BAUTISTA SAAVEDRA BOARD OF HEALTH. AND YOU CAN DECLINE TO RECEIVE $50 IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT. THE PURPOSE FOR THE LOUISVILLE METRO PUBLIC PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS BOARD OF HEALTH IS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT VOICE TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT EQUITABLE PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN THE WHOLE JEFFERSON COUNTY THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, REGULATION, AND COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES. THAT'S WHAT AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. OUR ROLE IS TO INFORM AND COLLABORATE WITH THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL, METRO COUNCIL AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC MATTERS CONCERNING THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE COMMUNITY. IT ALSO FULFILLS ITS STATUTORY AND ORDINAL RESPONSIBILITIES, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH REGULATIONS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE BOARD. SO THE WHOLE VISION FOR THE BOARD OF HEALTH IS TO HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES EVERY PERSON THAT LIVES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPLETE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THE MISSION, AGAIN, FOR THE BOARD OF HEALTH IS TO ACT AS A CHAMPION OF EQUITABLE PHYSICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND, ACCORDING TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATING RULES OF THE LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH. THE BOARD CONSISTS OF TEN MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE METRO AND NINE MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR, AND THEY HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE METRO COUNCIL. THIS IS THE LIST WE HAVE. THE BOARD OF HEALTH IS COMPRISED OF MEMBERS THAT LIVE WITHIN SEVERAL DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND ZIP CODES ACROSS JEFFERSON COUNTY. ALONG WITH THE MAYOR, THE BOARD OF HEALTH IS MADE UP OF MEDICAL DOCTORS, PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOLARS, NURSES, DENTISTS, AND PHARMACISTS, WITH THIS REPRESENTING DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN HEALTH CARE. AND AND THEY BRING DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AND WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SERVE A THREE YEAR TERM. IF A NEW MEMBER OF THE BOARD IS APPOINTED, THAT MEMBER WILL RESUME THE TERM OF THE. THE TERM PERIOD THAT THE PRIOR BOARD MEMBER WHOSE POSITION THEY ASSUME. WE ALSO HAVE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS. THIS MAY BE APPOINTED AND THE APPOINTMENT MAY BE DONE BY THE MAYOR OR BY ANYBODY WITH WITHIN THE BOARD. AND THESE MEMBERS SERVE IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE BOARD. WE HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF THEM AS WE PROVIDED ON THE HARD COPY. DEPUTY MAYOR NICOLE GEORGE IS PRESENT IN OUR MEETINGS REPRESENTING THE MAYOR. SHE'S THE VOICE, AND SHE BRINGS ALL THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WE HAVE THE CHIEF HEALTH STRATEGIST AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LOUISVILLE METRO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE FROM UOFL.

WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM GREATER LOUISVILLE MEDICAL SOCIETY. WE HAVE ALSO

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CALL TO ORDER MINUTES. THE CHAIR UPDATES WE HAVE AS, AS AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE UPDATES REPORTS FROM DIRECTORS AND BOARD COMMUNITIES COMMITTEES. WE HAVE ONLY ONE COMMITTEE IS THE IMMUNIZATIONS ADVOCACY COMMITTEE. AND WHERE WE HAVE IT'S LEAD BY AN INFECTOLOGIST AND A GROUP OF PHYSICIANS AND PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS INTERESTED ON THE ON THE ADVANCING ADVANCING OF IMMUNIZATION IN OUR CITY. OUT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AT EVERY MEETING, WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED PERSPECTIVE SESSION. AND THIS IS A MONTHLY PRESENTATION THAT IS USED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF CURRENT COMMUNITY HEALTH TRENDS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL ENABLE THE BOARD OF MEMBERS, THE BOARD MEMBERS TO ALIGN ON PRIORITIES, INFORM ON POLICY DECISIONS, AND STRENGTHEN STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE POPULATION HEALTH AND IMPROVE OVERALL COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTCOMES. THESE SESSIONS HELP FACILITATE INFORMED DISCUSSIONS, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND EVIDENCE BASED PLANNING TO BETTER ADDRESS THE EVOLVING HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS. I SHARE WITH YOU A LIST OF THE PERSPECTIVE SESSIONS WE HAVE HAD SINCE MARCH 2024, AND I CHOSE MARCH 2024 BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN I BECAME INVOLVED INTO CHOOSING HELPING TO CHOOSE WHO WAS GOING TO PRESENT. AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN YOUR HARD COPIES, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, VISION ZERO LOUISVILLE, THAT IS A NEW. PROJECT AND WHOSE OBJECTIVE IS PUBLIC SAFETY AS A PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY ISSUES IMPROVING AND CARE OF OF LIFE WITH AS MEDICINE. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION BY DOCTOR TED SMITH. WE HAVE LISTENED TO DOCTOR EVERSTONE THAT HAS SHARED WITH US WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE HEALTH AND THE VACCINATION APPROACH AND JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HARM REDUCTION, THE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2025, AND SO ON. OUR LAST PRESENTATION WAS THIS FIRST, FIRST WEDNESDAY OF NOVEMBER WITH THE TOPIC OF IMPACT OF PARK ALLIANCES AND PUBLIC HEALTH, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE PARKS FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. SO TO SUMMARIZE, THE LOUISVILLE METROPOLITAN HEALTH AND WELLNESS BOARD OF HEALTH IS A COLLABORATIVE ADVISORY BODY THAT ADDRESSES THE KEY PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY. IT BRINGS TOGETHER DIVERSE VOICES, DATA, AND EXPERTISE TO GUIDE STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE A HEALTHIER LOUISVILLE. FOCUSES ON CURRENT ISSUES SUCH AS FOOD INSECURITY, VACCINES LED. IT'S AN ACTION BASED ON HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION. THAT'S OUR GOAL AND CONSIDERS HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A PRIORITY. THIS IS ALL WE DO, AND MY INFORMATION IS ON THE VERY LAST PAGE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF THAT.

SO TO UNDERSTAND IT, YOU ARE THE BOARD OF HEALTH THAT OPERATES IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOUISVILLE METRO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND KIND OF AS OVERSIGHT. WE WE WE ARE TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT LOUISVILLE METRO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS DOES. AND YOU KNOW IT. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO OVERSIGHT AND WORK ONE BY ONE. WE DON'T DO FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION. I THIS IS I JUST COMPLETED MY FIRST YEAR AS A CHAIR AND WAS VOTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE

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YOU KNOW, THIS PART OF THIS ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEN WE HAVE TOPICS OR ISSUES TO DISCUSS, THEY CONTRIBUTE WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE. FAMILY HEALTH CENTER HAS A REPRESENTATIVE AND AND THE BOARD OF HEALTH HAS ALSO A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS AND WITH WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SO A LOT OF TIMES WE LOOK AT BOARD SIZE AND IT COMPLETELY VARIES.

AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM THE SCIENCE CENTER, AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE A BOARD OF LIKE 50 SOMETHING MEMBERS THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WAY TOO LARGE. BUT AS I'M LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK, AND YOU CURRENTLY HAVE NINE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A 10TH ONE AS THE MAYOR AND THEN THE ADVISORY BOARD HAS 14 MEMBERS. SO WHY NOT JUST MAKE THE BOARD OF HEALTH ONE BOARD? SO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEMBERS AS PART OF THE BOARD? IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME. I'M JUST SURE JUST FOLLOWING THE THE REGULATIONS, BUT THAT THAT'S SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL AND PROCESSING THE SAME INFORMATION. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT BE A BOARD OF 24. MAYBE THERE ARE SOME. BUT YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT ANY SORT OF LEGISLATION THAT DICTATES IT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE, SOMEONE FROM, YOU KNOW, THE COLLEGE OR YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT VERY SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIES SEATS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO YOUR BOARD OR NOT. SO IT WOULD IMPLY MODIFYING THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATING RULES THAT ARE ALREADY ALREADY PUBLISHED. SO THAT COULD BE, I THINK, TO BRING TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND AND DISCUSS, I THINK FOR VOTING AND FOR DISCUSSING, IT'S EASIER WITH THE SMALLER GROUP THAN WITH A BIGGER GROUP. YEAH. SO 26 BUT YOU ALWAYS GET YOUR YOUR WORK WILL ALWAYS GET ENRICHED BY THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE OF OTHERS. SO EVEN IF THEY IF THE ADVISORY BOARD, THEY ARE NOT VOTING MEMBERS, THEY CAN ALWAYS CONTRIBUTE AND BRING IN TO THE TABLE EVERYTHING THEY KNOW THAT WILL HELP. WHO ARE THE BOARD MEMBERS TO DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THE FOR THE COMMUNITY? THANK YOU. AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF KEVIN'S IN THE QUEUE AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH COUNCILMAN BRATCHER. THANK YOU MA'AM. DO YOU GUYS HAVE A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR? WE HAVE A CHAIR. YOU'RE THE CHAIR? YES, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS. WE HAVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LOUISVILLE METROPOLITAN HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THAT'S THAT'S DOCTOR IN THEIR SINGLE, BUT THAT'S FOR LOUISVILLE METRO. OKAY. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET GET A GRIP OF LIKE, WHO DOES THE DATA. IS THERE A DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF HEALTH OR IS IT JUST PURELY. WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS AND SUPPORT, FAMILY HEALTH CENTER TO SUPPORT LOUISVILLE METROPOLITAN HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND KIND OF BACK UP WHAT THEY ARE DOING REGARDING IMMUNIZATIONS OR AWARENESS OR LIKE WHEN I CALL THE BOARD OF HEALTH, I THINK I'M CALLING BOARD OF HEALTH OR MAYBE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

YEAH, WE WE SUPPORT THEIR THEIR WORK, BUT WE DON'T DO ANY DECISIONS UNLESS THERE'S A

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WHO WHO OPERATES THE BOARD OF I MEAN, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS. WE HAVE THE CHIEF HEALTH STRATEGIST, THAT'S CONNIE MENDEL, AND SHE IS A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. WHO HAS A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND HAS BEEN WORKING YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS THAT DOCTOR, SINGLE PHYSICIAN, ALSO VERY INVOLVED IN TRYING TO COORDINATE THE BEST WAY TO TO MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WORK. AND WE HAVE ALSO A MEDICAL DIRECTOR WHO IS DOCTOR CHRISTINE. AND HER LAST NAME JUST ESCAPED, BUT SHE IS THE PEDIATRIC INFECTOLOGIST THAT ALSO IS VERY INVOLVED. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN BUSH CAME, YOU KNOW, A VIRAL INFECTION THAT WAS AFFECTING SOME SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, DOCTOR CHRISTINA WAS DOING THE THE INFORMATION FOR, FOR MEDIA AND ME, AS A PART OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, WAS SUPPORTING WHAT SHE WAS DOING WITH MY ABILITY TO BE BILINGUAL. SO SHE WOULD DO ENGLISH INFORMATION. I WOULD REPEAT THE SAME IN SPANISH WITH THE USE OF MY BACKGROUND AS A PHYSICIAN, AND ALSO AS A AS A PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST. OKAY, JUST ONE LAST QUESTION. SO LET'S SAY THAT THERE'S AND I HATE TO GO THERE, BUT WE'RE JUST THIS IS HYPER HYPO HYPOTHETICAL. SAY THERE'S A VACCINE THAT EVERYBODY MUST TAKE WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS. WHAT ROLE DOES THE BOARD OF HEALTH PLAY IN THAT? ANYTHING WE WILL HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE CHIEF HEALTH STRATEGIST. AND WE WE WILL BRING OUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE BECAUSE AS AS YOU SAW ON THE LAST SEVERAL, EVEN THE IMMUNIZATIONS ADVOCACY COMMITTEE IS ANOTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR THAT IT'S A COLLABORATION COLLABORATION WORK. BUT USUALLY THOSE DECISIONS ARE TAKEN BY THE EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE CHIEF HEALTH STRATEGIST FROM PUBLIC METRO. PUBLIC METRO. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THE QUEUE JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THERE. AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL BE OKAY WITH THAT. BUT, COUNCILMAN KRAMER, THANK YOU. MINE WAS. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU JUST VERY BRIEFLY, THOUGH, I WAS JUST SEEKING SOME CLARITY ON THE LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION BETWEEN YOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND THE ACTUAL BOARD. MY EXPERIENCE WITH BOARDS HAS BEEN THAT ADVISORY BOARDS MAY NOT MEET QUITE AS FREQUENTLY. THEIR SCHEDULES AREN'T QUITE AS INTENSE, AND THAT TYPICALLY THE ADVICE THEY GIVE IS IS WELL RECEIVED. IT'S ADVICE, BUT THE EXPECTATION FOR YOUR ADVISORY BOARD, I'M GUESSING, IS PROBABLY CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN FOR THE ACTUAL BOARD. WE REQUEST OUR ADVISORY BOARD TO TO MEET WITH US THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH, TO ADVISE AND TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND TO GET ALSO THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PERSPECTIVE SESSIONS. AND IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS AND THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE TO CONTRIBUTE OR QUESTIONS TO, TO CHALLENGE WHAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, THAT'S, THAT'S THE MAJOR ROLE. AND AND BE THERE WITH US. THE IMMUNIZATIONS ADVOCACY COMMITTEE, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT DATE FOR MEETING. THAT'S THE THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH. AND SOMEBODY WILL SHARE WITH US WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO REGARDING IMMUNIZATIONS AND USUALLY. PARTICIPANTS FROM THE COMMUNITY WILL GO IN THERE. JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPRESENTATIVE PHYSICIANS FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS ALSO WILL PARTICIPATE THERE. SO IS THE LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION AMONG YOUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS? RIGHT. SO THAT'S YOUR ADVISORY BOARDS IS A RATHER LARGER BOARD.

DO YOU HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF ATTENDANCE OR OR DO YOU SEE WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE

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BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT, OTHER THAN VOTING FOR MINUTES, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT BE VOTING ON, OR IS THAT SIMPLY THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH SEPTIC TANKS AND SOMEBODY WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT FEELING THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS VERY WAS BEING NOT REALLY JUST WITH THEM. THEY WERE DEMANDING THAT THEY CLEAN OR THEY DO SOMETHING WITH SEPTIC TANK. SO THEY BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH. WE LISTENED TO IT AND THEN WE DISCUSSED AND THEN WE VOTED ON WHAT TO DO. SO WHEN WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUES THAT CALL FOR REGULATION ENFORCEMENT OR SOMEBODY A CITIZEN NEEDS TO BE HEARD ABOUT THEIR ISSUE, THEY BRING IT AND THEN WE LISTEN.

AND THEN ACCORDING TO OUR EXPERIENCE, WE MAKE QUESTIONS, THEN WE VOTE. DO YOU HAVE. I THINK. IS THERE A WAY TO IF I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DO I SUBMIT THAT DIRECTLY TO YOU ALL? HOW DOES THAT GET ELEVATED TO YOU? I DON'T KNOW THAT FAR, BUT JUST GOING TO TOWARDS THE LOUISVILLE METROPOLITAN HEALTH AND WELLNESS. AND WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD COMMUNICATION. SO IF SOMETHING IS GOING ON THEY ARE GOING TO LET US KNOW THAT THAT IS HAPPENING. YEAH. SOMETIMES THE THE BOARDS I DON'T IT'S TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION. RIGHT. AND SO LIKE TO HAVE THAT OVERSIGHT AND THAT ADVISORY CAPACITY. SO. GOOD QUESTION. BUT ALSO. COUNCILMAN BRADSHAW WANTED TO KNOW. SO YOU MEET AND YOU VOTE AND IT BECOMES A REGULATORY LAW. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THAT SITUATION. I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THAT SITUATION LIKE THAT SEPTIC TANK THING. AND THEN THE PERSON THAT CAME AND HE FOUND OUT THAT HE NEEDED TO ATTAIN AND, AND FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTIONS JUST BECAUSE THAT THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WERE LOOKING OUT FOR HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY AROUND. SO THAT'S WHAT WE DECIDED. AND WHEN THEY, THE CITIZEN, CAME, HE UNDERSTOOD THAT WHATEVER THE PUBLIC HEALTH, THE BOARD OF HEALTH VOTED ON, HE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW. AND THAT'S HOW WHY? HE BROUGHT IT TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH. AND THERE WAS SOMETHING WRITTEN ALREADY, AND WE HAD TO TO READ WHAT IT WAS WRITTEN AND THEN LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID, THAT HE WAS KIND OF IN RIGHT THERE AT THE EDGE. SO I GOTTA DO MY HOMEWORK ON. YEAH, THE CITY OPERATES. I MAY HAVE TO DO HOMEWORK TO I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE HOMEWORK. AND I THINK THAT IN THAT CASE, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE WORTH LOOKING INTO WHAT IF THAT PERSON WASN'T IN VIOLATION AND THE LAWS NEEDED TO BE UPDATED? I DON'T THINK THAT YOU ALL WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE LAWS, BUT PASSING THAT RECOMMENDATION ON TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. SO WE HAVE A LAWYER THAT ADVISES ON ON REGULATIONS AND AND THINGS THAT WE ARE TO, TO SUPPORT OR, OR TO SIGN OR TO BACK UP AND THAT GUIDES US. AND WHAT TO DO. IT'S NOT OUT OF FREE WILL. WE ARE GUIDED BY SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS. WELL, THANK YOU, DOCTOR BAUTISTA SAAVEDRA, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND EXPERTISE. AND IF WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE WILL BE SURE TO FOLLOW UP, PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP TO THE STAND, WE'VE GOT BRIGHT SIDE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF MISS LORI ROBERTS OR BRANDON SCHAEFER WILL BE TALKING TO US TODAY, BUT WHILE YOU MAKE YOUR WAY UP AND PULL UP YOUR PRESENTATION, THIS IS UNDER OUR STATUTE, NOT A LOCAL ORDINANCE. THEY MEET ON EVEN

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SO THERE'S AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, CLEANLINESS COMMITTEE, EDUCATION COMMITTEE, BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, AND OF COURSE A FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE. SO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP, STRATEGIC DIRECTION TO THE BRIGHT SIDE, BOARD SUPPORTING STAFF IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN GUIDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF BRIGHTSIDE AS AN ORGANIZATION HELPING HELPING KIND OF FOSTER AND DRIVE BOARD ENGAGEMENT AND OVERSEEING BOARD DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSION PLANNING. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE. FIVE BOARD MEMBERS ON THAT, LEANNE, BRIAN, GEORGE, HALLEY AND MASOOD. SO THIS THIS COMMITTEE PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN SHAPING BRIGHTSIDE'S BEAUTIFICATION PRIORITIES. SO INPUT RECOMMENDATIONS ON CURRENT AND FUTURE BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVES THAT ADVANCE BRIGHTSIDE MISSION AND ALIGN WITH BROADER GOALS OF CLEANLINESS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY. SO THERE'S 21 BRIGHT SITES THROUGHOUT THROUGHOUT THE METRO THAT THAT BRIGHTSIDE MAINTAINS AND AND DEVELOPS KIND OF ENTRANCES TO TO OUR CITY. ALSO THE DAFFODILS ALONG I-64 CORRIDOR AS SOME SOME EXAMPLES BUT ALSO MANAGES SOME OF THE VENDOR CONTRACTS TO HELP US WITH MAINTENANCE OF THESE SITES AS WELL. CLEANLINESS COMMITTEE, WHICH IS ONE THAT I SIT ON. THIS IS A LARGER ONE BECAUSE OF OUR CONNECTION TO LITTER ABATEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY TRYING TO FOSTER CLEANLINESS ACROSS THE METRO. SO WE SUPPORT THE STAFF AND STRENGTHENING BRIGHTSIDE CORE CLEANUP AND BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOCUSES ON VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION, BUILDING PARTNERS WITH WITH OUR CORPORATE CORPORATE PARTNERS OR AGENCIES, EXPANDING INITIATIVES SUCH AS COMMUNITY CLEANUPS, THE SWEEP AND SIPS, OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, ADOPT A MILE, ETCETERA. WE ALSO EVALUATE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO ALIGN THE COMMUNITY CLEANUP EFFORTS WITH LARGER PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION GOALS. EDUCATION COMMITTEE SEVEN. SO AMY, ADA, CHERYL, AMY, KAREN, DONNA, AND MARSHA. SO THIS IS A REALLY COOL COMMITTEE THAT THAT COLLABORATES WITH WITH THE STAFF, AGAIN, TO EXPAND BRIGHTSIDE'S ENVIRONMENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. YOU KNOW, GOING INTO OUR SCHOOLS,

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IT ALSO ADVISES STRATEGIES HOW WE CAN REACH SOME SOME OLDER STUDENTS. SO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUCH THAT WE COULD KIND OF GROW FROM GROW FROM THE YOUTH. FUNDRAISING COITTEE. SO THIS ONS KIND SELF-PLANORY, BUT IT SUPPORTS KEYS FUCLIN AND LIKE THE THERIGHT SIDE BASH THE REALLY, REALLY FUN VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT THAT WE DID NOT WIN AGAINST METRO COUNCIL. GIFT FOR GOOD LOUISVILLE, BUT ALSO REACHING OUT TO TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP US KIND OF FUND OUR MISSION. SO AD HOC MARKETING AND OUTREACH. SO TWO MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, THIS IS THIS IS THEIR SPECIALTY AND THEIR DAY JOB. AND SO IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS OR EVENTS OR SOME OUTREACH OR GETTING THE WORD OUT, GAIL AND DON HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL HELPING US THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S GRASSROOTS, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS STASH THE TRASH, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, HELPING US MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CONSISTENCY IN THE WAY THAT WE SHOW UP ACROSS THE THE OMNI CHANNELS. SO WE MEASURE OUR REACH IN MULTIPLE WAYS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2024 VOLUNTEER HOURS. SO YOU KNOW, THE COUNTS OF VOLUNTEERS, OVER 9600 INDIVIDUAL UNIQUE VOLUNTEERS, OVER 33,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS. AND THEN YOU YOU CAN APPLY A VALUE TO THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER $1.1 MILLION OF VOLUNTEER VALUE. A FUN ONE FOR US IS IS CALCULATING THE TONS OF LITTER COLLECTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND IF YOU COULD TRY TO IMAGINE TAKING 67 TONS OF OF LITTER OFF OF LOUISVILLE METRO STREETS, THAT'S THAT'S A PRETTY COOL STAT. OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS. AND SO WHETHER THAT'S AT ALBERTA JONES PARK OR JC SCHOOLS, THERE'S 152 OF THOSE IN 2024. WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF THAT. AND OVER 7400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACHED SO 2025 TO DATE. CLEARLY THE YEAR ISN'T OVER. SIMILAR TRAJECTORY ALMOST 7000 VOLUNTEERS SO FAR. WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE EVENTS AS THE WEATHER HOLDS OUT FOR US.

24,000 OVER 24,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS AND 850,000 VOLUNTEER VALUE AND 52 TONS OF LITTER COLLECTED SO FAR. KIND OF ASTOUNDING. THE NEXT PAGE IS JUST SOME SOME FUN PICTURES OF US, YOU KNOW, OUT AT WATERFRONT PARK OR OUT AT OUT IN SCHOOLS, OUT IN LOCAL BUSINESSES. BUT BUT SOME OF OUR CLEANUP EFFORTS FROM THIS EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE ALSO THRIVE ON ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND SO DOE, ANDERSON BAY SYSTEMS, GE APPLIANCES WHERE WHERE I WORK, YOU KNOW, JUNIOR LEAGUE OF LOUISVILLE, THE LOUISVILLE ZOO, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND PARTNERSHIPS TO TO TO TO WIN. SOME MORE AWESOME PICTURES OF OUR VOLUNTEERS LOVING ON OUR CITY. AND OF COURSE, ADDITIONAL PARTNERS BOTH INSIDE METRO AND OUTSIDE METRO, YOU KNOW, LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION, PUBLIC WORKS, YOU KNOW, KEY PARTNER FOR US. Y PAL JC. HERE A HANDFUL OF SHOTS ABOUT SOME OF OUR GREAT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING. YOU CAN SEE ALEC THERE IN THE TOP LEFT. YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT QUITE AN ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE OF OF YOUNG FOLKS LEARNING ABOUT GREEN HABITS. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE SOME, SOME STUDENTS FROM LOW ELEMENTARY READING UNDER A TREE CELEBRATING EARTH DAY. SO IT'S PRETTY COOL. AND THAT'S IT. SOMK YOU. YES, WE'VE GOT ABOUT SIX MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. SO YOU SAID THERE ARE ABOUT 18 BRIGHT SITES, 2121 OKAY. I ALSO HEARD A RUMOR THAT THE DAFFODILS ON

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AND IF THEY FUNDRAISE FOR PROGRAMS LIKE TREES, THEY CAN THEN SUPPORT TREE PLANTINGS.

BUT MY AGENCY AND STAFF DO NOT COORDINATE THE TREE PLANTINGS. DETERMINE WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

WE SIMPLY SUPPORT OTHER AGENCIES AS WE'RE ABLE AND DO PARTNER ACTIVITIES. SO WE'RE DOING A TREE PLANTING IN FEBRUARY WITH PARKS, AND WE'LL BE DOING A NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP AND LITTER ASSESSMENT TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN LEININGER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO THAT NUMBER OF BRIGHT SITES HAS BEEN REDUCED IN THE PAST TEN, 15 YEARS.

CORRECT. WE HAVE FEWER BRIGHT SITES THAN WE USED TO. YES. AT ONE POINT, THERE WERE NEARLY 60 BRIGHT SITES SPREAD THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY. MANY OF THOSE WERE ALONG KYTC RIGHT OF WAY ON THE HIGHWAYS, ON AND OFF RAMPS. WE NO LONGER HAVE A BRIGHT SIDE. STAFF LANDSCAPE MANAGER, AND WITHOUT THAT, THAT POSITION, WE OVER THE YEARS HAVE TRIED TO NOT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BRIGHT SITES, BUT RIGHTSIZE IT FOR WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING AT A HIGH LEVEL OF QUALITY. OKAY, WOULD YOU SAY, AND I COULD BE WRONG HERE, SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE BRIGHT SITES AND THE CLEANUPS ARE SORT OF THE THE CORE MISSION OF BRIGHT SIDE? I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT THAT LITTER ABATEMENT IS THE CORE OF OUR MISSION, AND WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS TO ENGAGE THEM IN THAT MISSION. BEAUTIFICATION IS A PART OF THAT. WHEN YOU HAVE CLEAN SPACES AND SPACES THAT LOOKED WELL CARED FOR, COMMUNITY MEMBERS TEND TO TAKE MORE PRIDE AND WANT TO INVEST IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS MORE SO, BEAUTIFICATION IS DEFINITELY A PART OF THE MISSION, BUT CORE AND CENTRAL TO OUR VALUES. I THINK WE ARE PRIMARILY LITTER ABATEMENT AND COMMUNITY ACTIVATION AND EDUCATION. OKAY.

WHAT IS YOUR TOTAL BUDGET? WE RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $465,000 IN OPERATIONAL DOLLARS FROM LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT. EVERYTHING OVER AND ABOVE THAT. SO ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY ARE PRIVATELY RAISED DOLLARS THROUGH GRANTS OR SPONSORSHIPS OR PRIVATE DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OKAY. AND WHAT WHAT THEN IS YOUR YOUR YOUR AVERAGE OPERATING BUDGET YEAR TO YEAR WITH THOSE DONATIONS? SO WE LAST YEAR THE FOUNDATION HANDLES ALL OF BRIGHT SIDE FOUNDATION. AS I MENTIONED SEPARATE 500 1C3.

THEY HANDLE ALL OF OUR PRIVATE DOLLARS IN. AND THE INVESTMENT OF THOSE I. I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS FROM MICHELLE WHITE WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION FOR PRIVATE NUMBERS. BUT ON AVERAGE WE OPERATE IN THE SPACE OF ABOUT $600,000. OKAY. WOULD YOU SAY THAT BRIGHT SIDE IS ADEQUATELY FUNDED TO MEET ITS MISSION, CONSIDERING THAT WE

[01:00:01]

OKAY. THANK YOU. I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE GET IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILMAN KRAMER. COUNCILMAN LINENGER ASKED MOST OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD, SO I'LL JUST NARROW IT TO ONE. IN TERMS OF, LIKE, THE OUTREACH THAT YOU GUYS DO, I GET. YOUR MISSION IS PRIMARILY THE ABATEMENT. I WAS HERE WHEN EARLY ON AND WATCHED A WHOLE ITERATION OF CHANGES WITH BRIGHTSIDE. IS THERE A COORDINATED EFFORT STILL TO DO LIKE COMMUNITY WIDE LITTER ABATEMENT? ABSOLUTELY. AND WE WE HAVE OUR SPRING AND FALL COMMUNITY CLEANUPS, JUST AS WE ALWAYS HAVE. HOW MIGHT WE PARTNER WITH YOU IN A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY? I THINK BECAUSE I GET THE SENSE THAT MANY OF US AND I'LL SPEAK FOR ME. RIGHT? LIKE I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. WE USED TO PARTICIPATE EVERY YEAR IN EITHER ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE EVENTS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, MY OFFICE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ONE OF THOSE AND A NUMBER OF YEARS I GOT THE SENSE THAT THAT WASN'T HAPPENING ANYMORE, AND NOW I'M FINDING OUT THAT I'M WRONG IN THAT. SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO, LIKE, REENGAGE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS REALIZE THAT THIS IS A BIG DEAL AND IT'S NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE WORK. IT'S JUST YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO COORDINATE AN EFFORT ON OUR PART, BUT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO OUR CONSTITUENCIES. WE HAVE TO ORGANIZE THROUGH OUR OWN OFFICES. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, OF COURSE, BUT I AND AGAIN, WRONGLY, I MAKE SURE HE HEARS ME SAY THIS GOT THE SENSE THAT THAT SUPPORT WAS KIND OF LACKING, THAT WE WE WERE MAKING AN EFFORT TO DO THIS AND WE DIDN'T GET LIKE THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAD TRADITIONALLY GOTTEN. SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE THAT? WE BEING THE COUNCIL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME WE CAN DO TO CHANGE THAT? WELL, THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION ON YOU. I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU HEARD ME SAY THIS. IT'S NOT A SLAM AT BRIGHTSIDE AT ALL. SURE, I WILL SAY THAT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT ACROSS METRO, ALL 26 DISTRICTS, WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE CLEANUP IN EVERY DISTRICT THIS YEAR. SO WHETHER IT CAME THROUGH YOUR OFFICES OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TAKING IT UPON THEMSELVES, OR BRIGHT SIDE, LEADING THE CHARGE FOR A COMMUNITY ORGANIZED EVENT, WE HAVE HAD A CLEANUP IN EVERY METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT, SO THEY ARE STILL HAPPENING AND WE ARE STILL DOING OUR SPRING AND FALL CLEANUPS. WE OFFER NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS YEAR ROUND. I WOULD SAY THAT THE BEST WAY THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT US IS WHEN YOU GET A CONSTITUENT THAT REACHES OUT TO YOU AND SAYS, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TRASH. I HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEEDS ADDITIONAL HELP. CONNECT THEM WITH US SO WE CAN EITHER OFFER THEM THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE THROUGH SUPPLIES, BAGS, GLOVES, WORKING WITH THE CLEAN COLLABORATIVE TO GET THOSE BAGS PICKED UP AFTER THE EVENT. OR WE CAN MATCH THEM WITH A COMMUNITY PARTNER OR ANOTHER GROUP THAT MAY OR MAY NOT NOT HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE SOMETIMES GET GROUPS THAT CALL US AND THEY'RE LIKE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S OKAY, BUT WE'RE WILLING TO TRAVEL, SO HELP US MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR VOLUNTEERS AND TURN THOSE CONSTITUENTS INTO VOLUNTEERS FOR US. THANK YOU. WE WILL MAKE AN EFFORT. I WILL SHARE WITH YOU, THOUGH, THAT I'M HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU HAD A CLEANUP IN DISTRICT ONE, DISTRICT 11. I IF IT'S POSSIBLE, IF IT'S NOT ASKING TOO MUCH OF YOU GUYS, IF AN ORGANIZATION OR IF THERE'S A GROUP THAT THAT WANTS TO DO A CLEANUP AND THEY HAPPEN TO BE IN DISTRICT 11, IF IT'S NOT ASKING TOO MUCH, CAN YOU GUYS LET US KNOW WHEN THAT'S HAPPENING SO THAT WE CAN THROW SOME SUPPORT BEHIND THAT AS WELL? OUR ISSUE HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE REACH OUT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHERE CAN WE BE? AND WE DON'T GET FOLKS WHO ARE SAYING, WELL, THIS IS A PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, A LITTERED AREA OR WHATEVER. AND WE'VE TRIED TO ORGANIZE THEM AND DON'T HAVE FOLKS WHO REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. I GUESS I'D SAY EVERYBODY HAS HAS A PROBLEM. WE KNOW THAT'S TRUE, BUT IT'S HARD TO IDENTIFY SOMETIMES. SO IF THERE'S A GROUP OUT THERE THAT'S IDENTIFYING A NEED, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT SO WE CAN HELP. ABSOLUTELY. ANY TIME WE GET WE WILL DO A BETTER JOB OF SHARING WITH COUNCIL WHEN WE HAVE CLEANUPS HAPPENING IN YOUR DISTRICT. IT IS A FIELD THAT THEY FILL OUT WHEN THEY REGISTER FOR EITHER A NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY WIDE CLEANUP. WE ASK THEM WHAT COUNCIL DISTRICT THEY'RE IN, SO WE'LL DO A BETTER JOB OF

[01:05:02]

SO WE I MEAN, WE CAN CONNECT YOU WHENEVER WE GET CALLS LIKE THAT. WE ARE A PARTNER.

AGENCIES, RIGHT? OUR OFFICE IS NOW LOCATED WITHIN THE SAME BUILDING AS WIMS, AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY ON A DAILY BASIS WITH CLEAN COLLABORATIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE GETTING PICKED UP AFTER BRIGHT SIDE EVENTS. BUT WHENEVER WE GET THOSE CALLS, WE LET THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A MATTRESS ON BARDSTOWN ROAD. COULD YOU HELP US MAYBE FIGURE THAT OUT? WELL, WE GOT IDIOTS DROPPING TRASH ALL THE TIME ON GENE SNYDER, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO CATCH THEM ONCE AND IN A BAD MOOD. WHERE'S THE DAFFODILS? WE HAVE DAFFODILS ALONG 71, RIGHT DOWN FROM THE WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS. WE HAD DAFFODILS IN THE TRIANGLE IN BETWEEN THE THE SORT OF WHAT USED TO BE SPAGHETTI JUNCTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT NOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT I STILL CALL IT. SO IN THAT TRIANGLE ISLAND BETWEEN 65 AND 64 AND WHERE 71 COMES IN, THERE WERE THREE BEDS OF DAFFODILS THAT WERE PLANTED THERE. AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO BEDS OF DAFFODILS IN THE MEDIANS NEAREST TO THE LYNN FAMILY STADIUM. YOU KNOW, LADY BIRD JOHNSON, I DO KNOW LADY BIRD JOHNSON. WE ARE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AFFILIATES. YEAH, I MEAN, SHE HAD A LOT WILDFLOWERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MADE FUN OF IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WILDFLOWERS GROW EASY, RIGHT? THEY DO. THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED WHEN WE'VE TRIED TO. AND KYTC HAS DONE THE WILDFLOWER MATS AND THEY'VE BEEN BEAUTIFUL. BUT THE PROBLEM WITH WILDFLOWERS CAN BE THAT ONCE THE WILDFLOWERS STOP BLOOMING, FOR THEM TO NATURALIZE, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THEM THERE. YOU CAN'T CUT THEM DOWN. SO THEN THEY START TO LOOK LIKE WEEDS. SO IT'S A IT'S A GIVE AND TAKE WITH NATURALIZED PLANT SPECIES. YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THAT BEAUTIFUL PERIOD. AND THEN THEY LOOK KIND OF ICKY FOR A MINUTE. BUT IF YOU GIVE THEM A CHANCE, THEY'LL COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AND LOOK BETTER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I THINK WE NEED TO RETRAIN OUR BRAINS ON WHAT IS BEAUTY, RIGHT. AND WHAT BEAUTY WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME.

WELL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE'VE EXHAUSTED OUR QUEUE AND OUR TIME. APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

AS ALWAYS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANKS FOR HAVING US. WE'LL FOLLOW UP. OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP WE'VE GOT JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, I BELIEVE, MISS SHAY, COME ON UP AND ADDRESS US. THIS IS UNDER CRZ STATUTE AS WELL AS LOCAL CODE OF ORDINANCES. THEY MEET QUARTERLY. THEY DO RECEIVE MONEY FROM BUDGET. AND THAT'S BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN THE LAST COUPLE OF BUDGETS. AND THEY HAVE SEVEN MAXIMUM MEMBERS.

AND WITH THAT I WILL LET MISS SHAKE TAKE IT AWAY. OKAY. SO THE THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, IF THE LITTLE BUTTON ON THE STAND THAT SAYS THERE YOU GO. IS IT ON THERE. PERFECT. OKAY.

SO WE I AM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY'S COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICE. WE RECEIVED $250,000 FROM THE LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT. THE I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE EXTENSION DISTRICT BOARD, AND IT'S OUR JOB TO DISTRIBUTE THAT MONEY. THERE REALLY IS NOT A LOT TO DISCUSS ABOUT IT. I'M SORRY. WHAT? SORRY. IF YOU COULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SORRY. CATHERINE. SHAKE. SO THERE REALLY IS NOT A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN OUR BUDGET, BECAUSE WITH THAT $250,000, WE PAY $34,000 A MONTH IN A YEAR IN RENT. I FIGURE WE PAY ANOTHER $16,000 A MONTH IN SOME MINOR UTILITIES, INTERNET, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THAT LEAVES ME $25,000 A YEAR FOR SALARIES, FOR STAFF, FOR MY EIGHT POSITIONS. I ACTUALLY HAVE NINE POSITIONS. WE'VE CHOSEN NOT TO FILL ONE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, AND I CAN'T HIRE SOMEONE AND THEN FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LAY THEM OFF. NOW WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN 2024, WE REACHED 51,000 PARTICIPANTS. IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. WE HAVE

[01:10:01]

OTHER EXTENSION DISTRICT BOARDS ARE ABLE TO FUND A GREAT MAJORITY OF THE COST FOR KIDS TO GO TO CAMP. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO LAST YEAR WHEN OUR KIDS WENT TO CAMP, THEY WENT WITH A GROUP FROM ANOTHER COUNTY AND THOSE STUDENTS HAD PAID $50 A PERSON.

IT COST $400 A CHILD FOR A KID TO GO TO CAMP. IF THEY'RE FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE DISTRICT BOARD DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THOSE COSTS. I WAS ABLE TO RAISE FOUR, FOUR, $4,400, SO WE AWARDED 22 $200 SCHOLARSHIPS, TRYING TO HELP PARENTS WITH LOWER INCOMES GET THESE KIDS TO CAMP. WE I AM ALSO CHAIRPERSON OF JEFFERSON.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU. THIS YEAR I WORK WITH AN CREATED AN EMBRYOLOGY PROGRAM WITH THE EXTENSION OFFICE. THEY HATCHED OVER 2000 EGGS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS LAST YEAR. I JUST SPENT THREE FARM BUREAU $2,300 RESUPPLYING THAT PROGRAM.

SO EXTENSION HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD LOOKING FOR OTHER SOURCES OF MONEY. WE THIS IS WHAT I SAY. WE BEG, BORROW AND STEAL BECAUSE WE HAVE NO PROGRAMING DOLLARS. IF OUR AGENTS WANT TO TEACH A SEWING CLASS, WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY TO DONATE MATERIAL AND DONATE THREAD AND DONATE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED. AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS ON EVERY ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS. SO AT THIS POINT, WHAT WHAT QUESTIONS CAN I ANSWER? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AS A SUPERVISOR VERY FAMILIAR WITH US CONSTANTLY LAMENTING THAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE THAT MILLAGE TAX AND WE DO NOT, AND THAT REALLY PUT A HINDRANCE INTO OUR ABILITY TO DO WORK.

BUT YOU HAD KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT. WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER REVENUE STREAMS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO FILL IN? SO I HAVE WE HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR DIFFERENT GRANTS. WE DO WORK, WE PARTNER WITH SOIL AND WATER, AND WE GET A GRANT TO FUND THE SOIL TESTING SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CHARGE PARTICIPANTS FOR IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE IS I STOPPED THE WE HAD A BUNCH OF COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPERS THAT WERE BRINGING IN SOIL SAMPLES FROM YARDS THAT PEOPLE WERE PAYING THEM TO MAINTAIN, AND THEY WANTED US TO DO THEIR SOIL TESTING AND WEED IDENTIFICATION AT NO COST. SO I'VE STOPPED THAT AND PUT IT IN A PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE CHARGING FOR THOSE SERVICES FOR THEM. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH LIKE CALL DILL SEED. WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE AWAY HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF SEED POTATOES AND ONION SETS. THIS YEAR WE'VE PARTNERED. THERE WAS

[01:15:05]

AND I CAN TELL YOU, THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE TOOK OVER THE ONES THAT WERE IN THE PARKS, SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WORKED REALLY HARD TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE TO TAKE THEM OVER. SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TOOK THEM OVER, BUT COMMUNITY GARDENS, IN THEORY, IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. YOU HAVE THIS VISION OF ALL THESE PEOPLE JUST COMING AND GROWING FOOD IN THEIR SPACE, BUT IN REALITY, IT'S A PROBLEM GARDENERS FIGHT. THEY HAVE. WE HAVE. WE WERE RUNNING DRUG PEOPLE OUT OF THE GARDENS. WE HAD HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVING IN THE GARDENS. WE HAD. YOU'D PULL UP TO THE GARDEN, THERE'D BE A STOLEN CAR PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN. THE GARDENERS ARE FIGHTING. THEY LEAVE THE WATER RUNNING FOR DAYS ON END BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PAYING THE WATER BILL. SO I, I SPENT SOME TIME, I CALLED THE CITY OF PORTLAND, I CALLED DENVER, I CALLED A CITY IN TEXAS THAT HAD SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAMS AND SAID, HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS? AND THE WAY THAT THEY'RE DOING IT IS THEY HAVE A FLEET OF PARK RANGERS THAT HELP THEM ADMINISTER THE COMMUNITY GARDENS, WHICH WAS NOT SOMETHING WE HAD IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. NO COMMENT. IT WAS REALLY TOUGH. I MEAN, I HAD THESE LITTLE TEENY 22 YEAR OLD GIRLS THAT I'M SENDING DOWN TO SEVENTH STREET TO RUN THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OUT OF THE GARDEN. IT'S A TOUGH JOB. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

COUNCILMAN BRATCHER, OKAY, I'M GOING TO START FROM SCRATCH. OKAY. ARE YOU HERE FOR THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST? I AM HERE FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. OKAY, OKAY. WELL, THAT THAT CLEARS UP A LOT. SO WE'VE TALKED BEFORE.

WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE. WHY DID THE MAYOR DROP YOU FROM THE BUDGET? I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T I HE DID HE TALKED TO ME I HAVE I HAVE TALKED TO HIM BRIEFLY. I HAVE ASKED FOR AN APPOINTMENT AGAIN. I'D LOVE TO GET IN AND AND HOW MUCH WAS YOU GETTING? WE WERE GETTING 335,000 EVERY YEAR. EVERY YEAR. AND HE WANTED TO CUT IT TO 30,000. AND WE FOUGHT AND I GOT UP TO 175,000.

HOW MUCH DID YOU GET IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR? 250. WHAT ABOUT LAST YEAR? 350 175,000

[01:20:07]

WELL, I'M SURE PRETTY MUCH HE OFFERED TO HELP ME CRAFT A STATUTE THAT WOULD JUST IMPACT LOUISVILLE. BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO THAT WAY. I WANT TO WORK THROUGH METRO LOUISVILLE.

WHAT IS YOUR TOTAL BUDGET? OUR TOTAL BUDGET YEARLY? WELL, IT'S $250,000. NOW. I GET SOME FUNDS IN DIRECT FUNDS THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, AND THEY WILL LIKE WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO MANAGE THE GARDENS, THEY FOUND GRANTS TO HELP US DEFRAY SOME OF THOSE COSTS. AND THEY HAVE BROUGHT US OFFICE SUPPLIES. OKAY. I LEARNED A LOT MORE TODAY. YOU KNOW, WE'LL

[01:25:01]

YEAH. WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING VERY SIMILAR THINGS WHO ARE NOT ASKING US FOR LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY, SURE. TO PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. SO JUST AGAIN,

[01:30:04]

WE DON'T MAKE DECISIONS BECAUSE WE'RE JUST MEETING OUR BARE MINIMUMS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST PAYING THE BILLS, TRYING TO KEEP THE THE THING GOING. SURE, SURE. WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO MEETING MORE OFTEN. WE DON'T PAY ANYBODY ON THE BOARD. WE DON'T REIMBURSE ANYBODY FOR ANYTHING. EVERY BIT OF THAT MONEY. THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ABOUT, WERE WE SPENDING MONEY OUTSIDE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND. ABSOLUTELY NOT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPENDING EVERY BIT OF IT JUST TO KEEP THE EXTENSION OFFICE OPEN AND KEEP THE EXTENSION OFFICE GOING. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. AND I DON'T I ANYTIME I CAN COME SPEAK. I'M HAPPY TO. ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU. AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MR. KURT MASON, WHO ALSO SERVES ON THE EXTENSION BOARD, WHO IS FORMER. OH MY GOSH, NACD CONSERVATIONIST, A MASTER CONSERVATIONIST, A KURT OF ALL TRADES. BUT HE'S HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST OVERSIGHT.

THIS IS UNDER CRA STATUTE AND LOCAL. THEY MEET ON THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. AND THERE ARE NINE MEMBERS, FIVE OF WHICH ARE CITIZENS AND FOUR OF WHICH ARE GOVERNMENT. SO I WILL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CHAPEL, THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST WAS ESTABLISHED BY AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS ADOPTED DECEMBER THE 20TH, 1994. SO WE'RE GOING INTO LIKE 31 YEARS FROM AN ORGANIZATIONAL STANDPOINT OF THE LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. AND TECHNOLOGY IS NOT MY BIG THING.

SO I'M GOING TO PRESS A BUTTON HERE AND SEE WHERE THE HIT THE SPACEBAR IS, WHAT I'M TOLD.

YEAH, I AM HITTING THE SPACEBAR AND IT'S THE DOWN THERE. YEAH OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO SINCE I RETIRED, I'VE BECOME LESS AND LESS TECHNOLOGY ADAPTABLE. SO THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST EXISTS AND IS DEVOTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT, EXECUTION AND PROMOTION OF VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION STRATEGIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING METRO GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE OPEN SPACE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY. THIS IS PRIMARILY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT PROTECT CRITICAL CONSERVATION VALUES. THESE CONSERVATION VALUES PROVIDE CRITICAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THAT SUPPORT AND ENHANCES METRO'S EFFORTS TO PRODUCE CLEANER AIR, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SURFACE WATER, MITIGATE THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF EFFECTS OF HEAT ISLANDS, REDUCE FLOODING, AND HELPS TO MANAGE STORMWATER RUNOFF.

[01:35:05]

THE BOARD SEATS BY METRO GOVERNMENT ARE HELD BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MSD, THE DIRECTOR OF LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DESIGN SERVICES AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ASSET. OF THOSE FOUR SEATS THAT ARE HELD BY METRO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. USUALLY THEY HAVE AN ASSIGNED REPRESENTATIVE THAT REPRESENTS EACH ONE OF THOSE AGENCIES. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE OLD JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICTS A, B, AND C, THIS IS A MAP THAT SHOWS WHERE THOSE ARE LOCATED AT. SO WE HAVE ONE BOARD MEMBER THAT GEOGRAPHICALLY REPRESENTS THE PURPLE SPACE, WHICH IS A THE ORANGE SPACE, WHICH IS B, AND THE GREEN SPACE THAT IS C, LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY'S OVERSIGHT BOARD. THE ORIGINAL COMPOSITION WAS FORMED FROM THOSE CITIZENS FROM A, B, AND C, AND WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS FORMED, A, B, AND C DISTRICT SEATS HELD A THREE YEAR TERM, AND THE AT LARGE. THE TWO AT LARGE SEATS WERE ONE YEAR TERM AND A TWO YEAR TERM. THAT WAS INTENTIONAL SO THAT WHEN THERE WAS AN OVERTURN ON THOSE BOARD SEATS, THEY DID NOT ALL EXPIRE AT ONE TIME. SO AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERMS OF THOSE BOARD MEMBERS, THE BOARD IS THE ONE THAT ELECTS THOSE NEW SEATS. THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM A, B AND C AND THE AT LARGE. THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST HAS A SUPPORT STAFF THAT INCLUDES THE JEFFERSON COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE FOUR METRO AGENCIES THAT SIT ON THE BOARD. SOME OF THEIR STAFF, PEOPLE. WE HAVE PRIVATE AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS. AND THIS YEAR WE DID HAVE A PART TIME PROJECT MANAGER THAT REALLY DEALT MORE WITH THE ACCREDITATION OF THE LAND TRUST. MORE THAN ANYTHING, OUR BOARD MEETS FROM 10 TO 1230 AT 444 SOUTH FIFTH STREET ON THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH. THOSE MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS, WHICH ARE NOT. THE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS OR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ARE NON-VOTING. THEY GENERALLY HAVE SOME TYPE OF EXPERTISE IN VARIOUS FIELDS THAT RELATE TO CONSERVATION VALUES. THIS IS CRITICAL TO THEIR ROLE IN ASSESSING CONSERVATION VALUES ON A VARIETY OF LAND USE AND FUNCTIONS. ALL THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT ARE HELD ARE BINDING LEGAL DOCUMENTS, AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EASEMENTS ARE VALID, AND THEY'RE A CRITICAL PART OF THE BOARD FUNCTIONING. THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST IS AN ACCREDITED LAND TRUST DATING BACK TO OUR FIRST DESIGNATION IN 2010. WE WERE THE SECOND LAND TRUST IN KENTUCKY TO RECEIVE THIS DESIGNATION AND REMAIN ONE OF THE FEW LAND TRUSTS IN KENTUCKY TO STILL HOLD THAT DESIGNATION. THE ACCREDITATION PROVIDES AN

[01:40:02]

UNDER THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, THAT IS, THEY HOLD THOSE BUNDLES OF RIGHTS THAT ATTRIBUTE TO CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY SOILS, FLOOD CONTROL, ALL OF THOSE INTRINSIC VALUES THAT YOU FIND WITH OPEN SPACE AND WITH LAND THAT WE OFTEN HAVE A HARD TIME ATTRIBUTING A REAL VALUE TO. AS OF TODAY, THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST, THROUGH METRO GOVERNMENT, HOLDS 25 EASEMENTS ON ROUGHLY 1800 ACRES. THERE ARE FOUR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY WETLANDS, AND THEY HAVE MAJOR CONSERVATION VALUES OF FLOOD CONTROL, WATER QUALITY, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. THERE ARE TEN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT ARE PRIMARILY WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SCENIC VALUE. THEY HOLD THE VALUES OF SCENIC VISTAS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. THERE ARE SIX THAT ARE WORKING FARMS THAT ARE A LITTLE OVER A THOUSAND ACRES THAT HAVE PRIME FARMLAND. THEY HAVE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY, FLOOD CONTROL, AND ALL THOSE ASPECTS OF CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER. THERE ARE THREE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT ARE PRIMARILY EQUINE FARMS OR HORSE FARMS THAT PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC VALUE OF PRIME FARMLAND PROTECTION, SCENIC VISTAS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. MR. MASON, I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE'S ONLY ABOUT SIX MORE MINUTES LEFT. OKAY, SO I MIGHT NEED OKAY, I'LL GO QUICKLY AND I MIGHT STOP PART OF THIS. SO WITH WITH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON PROPERTIES IN THE EASEMENT, IT TALKS ABOUT THE VALUES OF THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. AND IT ALSO EXTENDS OUTSIDE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND WATERSHEDS THAT INFLUENCE JEFFERSON COUNTY. THOSE WATERSHEDS PRIMARILY ARE HERITAGE CREEK, FLOYDS FORK AND THE OHIO RIVER TRIBUTARIES. WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT? WELL, MSD RECOGNIZED, I THINK, 11 DIFFERENT WATERSHEDS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THREE OF THOSE WATERSHEDS HARRIS CREEK, FLOYDS FORK, AND THE OHIO RIVER TRIBUTARIES. WE HAVE LITTLE CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY DO IN THOSE WATERSHEDS. BUT THE END RESULT OF THAT IS THAT WATER FLOWS INTO JEFFERSON COUNTY AND IMPACTS OUR COUNTY. OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A LAND TRUST IS PRIMARILY TO MONITOR THOSE EASEMENTS, PROTECT THE CONSERVATION VALUES, AND TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. SO WE HAVE TRULY A WORKING BOARD, THOSE FIVE CITIZEN MEMBERS ON THE BOARD AND THE ADVISORY BOARD CONTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 1700 HOURS ANNUALLY TO THE OPERATION OF THE TRUST. THEY DO ALL THE FIELD WORK IN THE EVALUATION OF EASEMENT PROPERTIES. THEY DO ALL THE ANNUAL MONITORING, THEY DOCUMENT THE SITES AND THEY DO THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES. OUR MAJOR. COMMITMENTS FROM METRO LOUISVILLE COMES FROM METRO PARKS, NATURAL AREAS MANAGEMENT AND FROM LEGAL ASSISTANCE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. YOU'VE GOT A COPY OF THIS POWERPOINT. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THOSE FIVE CITIZEN MEMBERS, ALL THE WORK THAT'S DONE THROUGH THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST, IS ENCOMPASSED BY THE BOARD, BY THE BOARD. WE TRAMP THROUGH WETLANDS, WE TRAMP OVER FARMS, WE LOOK AT WILDLIFE HABITAT. WE DO THE EVALUATION.

WE DETERMINE ITS VALUE TO METRO COUNCIL AND TO METRO GOVERNMENT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON BEHALF OF THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST FOR THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT WE PRESENT TO THEM. SO WITH THAT,

[01:45:04]

VERY INFORMATIONAL, AND I HOPE AFTER THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT WATERSHED AT LEAST THEY LIVE IN.

COULD YOU TELL ME THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY? THAT IS PLAN 2040, CORRECT? YES, BUT IT WAS 2020 AND THERE WAS A PLAN BEFORE THAT. SO WE EXISTED BEFORE ALL OF THOSE, I WOULD IMAGINE JUST LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY, LIKE PRE-MERGER. WHO FUNDED THE PART TIME PROJECT MANAGER POSITION THAT CAME THROUGH THE OFFICE OF PLANNING. AND SO FOR YEARS WE HAD A DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. WE NO LONGER HAVE A DIRECTOR. WE'RE BOARD DRIVEN, AND ALL OF OUR THINGS THAT WE NEED TO OPERATE COMES THROUGH THE GRACES OF MSD PARKS, OFFICE OF PLANNING, PUBLIC WORKS AND THOSE FOUR AGENCIES. SO WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET. OUR LAST BUDGET WAS IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS AFTER WE WERE FORMED, AND WE GOT $10,000 AS A BOARD. WE NOW HAVE ZERO BUDGET, SO WE GO TO EACH ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND SAY WE NEED HELP. WE WANT TO DO A BROCHURE.

CAN YOU HELP US PRINT IT? SO OUR BOARD HAS NO MONEY, BUT WE HAVE GREAT VALUE, OF COURSE.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, OR MAYBE IN THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE APPROVED SOME CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. WOULD YOU SAY IN THE TIME THAT YOUR THIS BOARD TRUST HAS BEEN IN OPERATION OF ALL OF THE ONES THAT YOU HAD SPOKEN ABOUT, THE 25 EASEMENTS, WOULD YOU SAY THAT? YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF EASEMENTS YOU GET A YEAR? ARE THEY TRENDING UPWARDS? ARE THEY TRENDING DOWNWARDS? IS THERE A GOAL THAT YOU ALL HAVE. SO THEY SEEM TO BE TRENDING UPWARD. FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IT MIGHT TAKE TWO YEARS TO NEGOTIATE THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT. AND A LOT OF THAT IS EACH INDIVIDUAL EASEMENT IS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT THE DONOR HAS EXPECTATIONS OF PROTECTING AND THE VALUE THAT THEY WANT TO SEE PROTECTED IN THAT LAND. SO WITH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, IT'S A MATTER OF TRUST. AND IT'S A RELATIONSHIP. AND THAT RELATIONSHIP LASTS IN PERPETUITY. SO IT'S I TELL PEOPLE IT'S KIND OF LIKE A MARRIAGE PARTNER. YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE HOPEFULLY FOR A LONG TIME. AND SO WITH THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. WHEN SOMEONE LOOKS AT DONATING THAT BUNDLE OF RIGHTS TO SOMEONE ELSE, THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW THAT ORGANIZATION MIRRORS WITH THEIR NEEDS AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THOSE EASEMENTS IN TERMS OF GIFTING, LIKE GIFTING, AIR QUALITY BENEFITS, WATER QUALITY BENEFITS, FLOOD CONTROL.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT. FOR ONE THING, THAT WE LOOK AT EASEMENTS THAT ARE IN WATERSHEDS THAT AFFECT JEFFERSON COUNTY, BECAUSE WE PROBABLY GET THE GREATEST BENEFIT OF THE VALUE OF THOSE EASEMENTS, BECAUSE WHAT GOES WHAT HAPPENS UPSTREAM DEPOSITS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. AND SO WE GET THE VALUE OF FLOOD CONTROL, WATER QUALITY, AIR QUALITY, SOIL HEALTH, PRODUCING GOOD, HEALTHY FOOD THAT COMES INTO THIS COMMUNITY THAT'S USED BY LOCAL CITIZENS. AND MY TIMER WENT OFF. BUT I'M GOING TO HONOR MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE QUESTIONS. SO, COUNCILMAN KRAMER, THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE. FIRST, YOU LISTED IN YOUR PRESENTATION SIX WORKING FARMS. YES. THAT WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

YES. WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE SLASH BENEFIT TO A PERSON WHO HAS A FARM DECIDING TO GO DOWN THE ROAD OF CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND THEN KEEP IT AS A WORKING FARM? IS THERE A IS THERE A TAX INCENTIVE THERE, OR. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THE BENEFIT TO THE TO THE SOCIETY, RIGHT? BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO A PERSON WHO'S ACTUALLY RUNNING A FARM AND SAYING, HEY, METRO LOUISVILLE WILL BE BETTER OFF IF YOU KEEP YOUR AREAS OF FARM, THAT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS AN EASY SELL. SO YEAH, THERE COULD BE A TAX BENEFIT. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR INCOME LEVEL AS TO WHETHER YOU CAN TAKE A TAX BENEFIT OR NOT. SO OUR FIRST EASEMENT THAT WE EVER TOOK WAS WITH A POSTAL WORKER, UNMARRIED, HAD VERY LITTLE INCOME. HE WANTED TO

[01:50:10]

[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.]