The Louisville Metro Council Budget Committee is announcing the following schedule for hearings on the increase in pension contributions required by the Kentucky Retirement Systems, possible reductions in Metro services and a proposed increase in the insurance premium tax.

Our top priority is public safety and our number one responsibility is financial management. We ask the men and women of LMPD, Louisville Fire & Rescue, and EMS to put their lives in danger every day to keep us safe. It is our responsibility to make sure they have what they need to do so. We must invest in them and balance our budget at the same time. This is the first time in the history of our merged government that we have asked to increase our taxes. It’s time to invest, says Councilwoman Sexton Smith. 

The schedule is as follows:

Monday, February 25 – Special Budget Committee meeting at 4:30 p.m.  Louisville Metro’s Chief Financial Officer Daniel Frockt will be making a presentation.  The committee will also hear from two representatives of the Kentucky Association of Counties - Shellie Hampton, Director of Governmental Relations and Rich Ornstein, Staff Attorney, and from J.D. Chaney, Deputy Executive Director of the Kentucky League of Cities.

Thursday, February 28 – Regular Budget Committee meeting at 4:30 p.m.  Public Hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the conclusion of the regular committee meeting.    

Monday, March 4 – Public Hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 14 – Regular Budget Committee meeting at 4:30 p.m.

Signups for those wishing to address the Budget Committee on February 28 and March 4 begin one hour prior to the start of the hearing on the third floor of City Hall. 

Speakers are called in order of signup and have up to three minutes to make comments.  Written testimony can be turned in during the meeting and, occasionally, speakers are asked questions by the Committee members. 

Speakers may use the Sixth Street entrance to Historic City Hall. Individuals needing assistance may enter City Hall from the Jefferson Street entrance.

All meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. All meetings of the Metro Council are streamed live. Go to the Metro Council home page at www.Louisvilleky.gov/metrocouncil  and click on the Metro Council Agendas link.

The committee has also created an online form for questions about these issues.  Answers will be coordinated by the Louisville Metro Office of Management and Budget. Questions may be submitted online using this form: https://louisvilleky.wufoo.com/forms/submit-questions-on-the-proposed-budget/.  All questions should be submitted by March 6 to allow for responses to be posted online by March 14.

To access the new page with general information, and questions and answers, on the pension contributions, possible reductions in Metro services and the proposed insurance premium tax, the public may visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-9/proposed-insurance-premium-tax-and-proposed-reduction-city

Our top priority is public safety and our number one responsibility is financial management. We ask the men and women of LMPD, Louisville Fire & Rescue, and EMS to put their lives in danger every day to keep us safe. It is our responsibility to make sure they have what they need to do so. We must invest in them and balance our budget at the same time. This is the first time in the history of our merged government that we have asked to increase our taxes. It’s time to invest,” says Councilwoman Sexton Smith. 

Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith, LMPD officers and Metro Animal services visited Date Street during her February Get Connected Cake Walk. "I want residents to get connected and strike up a conversation with the officers who patrol their streets,” says the Councilwoman. “My goal is  to go door to door in different neighborhoods, meet folks and hear what’s on their mind.” 

Plans were unveiled Friday for the new Grand Lyric Theater at 13th and West Muhammad Ali Boulevard. The 300-seat facility will become home to a youth arts education program, and it will be a place for community groups to use for rehearsals and performances.

Fifteen  local arts, culture, and education groups were awarded a combined total of almost $50,000 in grants as part of the Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 project by Mayor Greg Fischer, Fund for the Arts and the Imagine Steering Committee. 

“Our city’s momentum is being propelled by innovative ideas and a thriving creative sector,” Fischer said in a news release. “I am proud to work with Fund for the Arts and the Imagine Greater Louisville Steering Committee to continue leveraging our world-class cultural assets to drive a more educated, economically vibrant, and compassionate community.”

Established in 2017, Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 is a blueprint for how the community's vision for arts and culture can propel the greater Louisville region. This is the second year arts grants have been awarded. 

“These grants bring impact and enhance lives in every single one of Louisville Metro Districts,” Metro Council President David James, D-6, said in the release. “Working with the arts and culture community allows us to address key community issues such as education and inequity in a smart, resourceful way.”

2019 Imagine Greater Louisville grant recipients: 

Aaron Rosenblum Kentuckiana Sounds

Bridge Kids International — 7 Generations

Center for Neighborhoods The Parkland Community Vision

Cochran Elementary School — KMAC Museum Field Trip

Kentucky Center for the Arts Foundation — The Little Africa Project

Kentucky Shakespeare, Inc. — Kentucky Shakespeare Festival Workshops 

Looking for Lilith Theatre Company — Just Like Us / Justo Como Nosotros

The Little Loomhouse — Fiber Arts Program 

Louisville Story Program — Equine Workers Literary Arts Collaboration 

Portland Museum — Portland Wharf Narratives Exhibition 

Rhythm Science Sound — Mixing Matters 

Slaughter Elementary — Revolution Residency 

Saint Joseph Children’s Home — Arts Workshops 

West Louisville Women’s Collaborative, Inc. — Community Jam Sessions 

Yani Vozos — Music Together

Shelby Park Neighborhood Association hosted its 7th Annual Compassionate Neighborhood Breakfast and Gathering during which 2018 success stories were discussed and five honorees were named Friends of Shelby Park:

The House of Ruth

Bailey Loosemore of the Courier Journal

Jessica Morrison, Community Resource Officer LMPD 4th Division

Bryce Butler, Access Ventures

Christa Robinson, Legislative Assistant for Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith.

Get ready, get fresh.

New Roots is now accepting orders and inquiries for the 2019 Fresh Stop Markets.

New Roots' Fresh Stop Markets are bi-weekly fresh food markets that "pop-up" at local churches, community centers and businesses in neighborhoods without farm-fresh food, where people who subscribe for organic, local produce can collect their shares (bags). New Roots is a grassroots nonprofit organization that supports the markets, volunteer leaders, farmers and fundraising that make it happen.

Here’s how it works: Community members purchase shares of 8-10 varieties of seasonal produce in advance, which comes from local farmers who provide fresh, delicious and organic items. Share prices are determined on an income-sliding scale, and everyone gets the same food regardless of what you pay. You then pick up your share at your neighborhood Fresh Stop Market every other week, at the market of your choice. Pop-up markets in seven different Louisville neighborhoods means fresh food is closer to home. Shareholders and volunteers regularly describe this movement of Fresh Food For All as life-changing.

Call 502.509.6770, or email info@newroots.org, to join a Fresh Stop Market in your community ahead of the June kick-offs. We double SNAP Benefits, and accept debit/credit. 

2019 Fresh Stop Markets are located in Berrytown, Shelby Park/Smoketown, Russell, Old Louisville, Hikes Point, Portland, and New Albany. Share prices are $6, $12, $25, or $40 based on your income and number of people in your household. Click here to see our PayMint scale. 

Contribute or volunteer to New Roots to support this life-saving work! Click here if you are an individual. Click here if you are a business.

See Something Say Something!!!!

We all know that illegal dumping--putting waste on property that is not licensed as a disposal facility--is an eyesore that is expensive to clean up, diminishes quality of life, discourages economic development and even sends plastic debris into our waterways.

That's why people caught dumping along our city's alleys, sidewalks, fields and roadsides are subject to fines and impoundment of any vehicle used in the dumping. That's where citizens can help with the problem. If you witness illegal dumping while it's happening, report it.

We've developed a new online form you can use to tell us where it happened, describe the vehicle(s) involved, preferably with license plate number(s), and even upload pictures. Of course you can always call Metro Call 311 or 574-5000. For more information about illegal dumping, including a link to the reporting form, visit our illegal dumping webpage.

Louisville Metro Community Services - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) Appointment Scheduler

Households with incomes below $64,000 are eligible for participation in this program.Please note that the IRS does not allow our program to prepare returns that include farm income, income from rental properties or businesses or self-employment income that includes depreciation or that includes expenses for other employees of the business.

List of Documents to bring for your appointment

There are two ways that you can take advantage of the free tax services:

1. Self-File: Click here to access free versions of Turbo Tax or My Free Taxes (H&R Block's product) and click on the Free Online Tax Filing tab which is located near the top of the page. Prepare and e-file your own return. Assistance, if needed, is provided through an 800 number.
2. Traditional VITA Service: You schedule an appointment using this site and work with a certified volunteer that will assist you in preparing your return, review it with you and efile it for you when finished.

Here is a list of sites where you can make an appointment:

• Louisville Urban League: 1535 West Broadway,
        Through Thursday from Noon until 8PM and Saturdays 9AM until 3PM.
• Salt and Light Community Development: 3025 Gerald Drive,
        Monday and Tuesday from 5PM until 9PM
• Sun Valley Community Center: 6505 Bethany Lane,
        Tuesday from 10AM until 7PM, Wednesday from 10AM until 4PM and Saturday from 9AM until 1PM
• United Crescent Hill Ministries: 150 State Street,
        Friday from 9AM until 3PM
• Wesley House Community Services: 5114 Preston Highway,
        Monday and Tuesday from 10AM until 3PM

Here is a list of sites where Walk- in services are available:

• Bates Community Development Corp ~ 1228 Jackson St ,
        Monday Noon until 7PM, Thursday 10AM to 4PM, Saturday from 10AM until 3PM
• Sun Valley Community Center ~ 6505 Bethany Lane , 
        Thursday 9AM until 7PM
• Portland Promise Center ~1831 Baird St ,
        Friday 7PM until 9:30PM, Saturday 9AM until 3PM and Sunday from 3PM until 7PM

Within minutes of making your appointment, you should receive a confirmation email with a calendar appointment attached to the email. In addition, you will also receive a phone reminder the day before your appointment.

Appointments can be changed or canceled at any time on this website. You can also make or cancel an appointment at any time (24/7) using our automated phone system by dialing (502) 305-0005 and following the instructions.

Notice of Application for Demolition Permit of Historic Structure
The Office of Planning and Design has received a demolition permit applications.

For more information on the Beecher Terrace Redevelopment Project visit this website: http://visionrussell.org/historic-preservation/section106/
The above reference property is listed or potentially eligible for listing in The National Register of Historic Places.
Per LMCO (150.110), the requested demolition permit may be issued on or after the following date provided that the application meets the development or deed restriction requirements of the LMCO (150.110):
2/23/19
For additional information regarding this application visit the website: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/construction-review or contact Mike Beard, Plan Review Supervisor at 574-3321 or Cynthia Elmore, Metro Historic Preservation Officer at 574-2868. Louisville Metro Government, Develop Louisville, Office of Planning and Design 444 S. Fifth Street, Suite 300, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-4313

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The Slow Food Bluegrass School Garden Grant supports a school garden project based in Louisville, KY with $5,000 distributed over the course of three years: $2,500 in year one, $1,500 in year two, and $1,000 in year three. To be eligible for a Slow Food Bluegrass Garden Grant, applicants must be a (a) 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or (b) nonprofit (public or private) K-12 school, developing a student garden project focused on connecting and engaging children with fresh fruits and vegetables. Priority is given to both limited-resource communities and to projects clearly demonstrating strong buy-in from stakeholders. Please email your application to info@slowfoodbluegrass.org; applications are due by March 10th. For more information please visit http://www.slowfoodbluegrass.org/schoolgardens/.