West End Opportunity Partnership

Healthy West Lou- Health and Wellness Fair

Take the Louisville Fire Customer Survey

The Louisville Fire Department (LFD) serves the Urban Services District (the former city limits). Their services include fire protection, emergency medical response, rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, public education, and arson investigation. The fire companies respond to over 42,000 calls annually. Additionally, they provide basic fire safety inspections in over 18,000 homes and conduct required inspections of over 7,000 commercial structures each year. Your opinion is important to LFD. Please click here to take the customer survey.

Street Closures Urban Bourbon Half Marathon

October 16, 2021 - Urban Bourbon Half Marathon

5 am - 2 pm

• West Main Street from Seventh Street to First Street
• North Sixth Street from West Washington Street to West Main Street
• South Sixth Street from West Main Street to West Market Street
• South Fifth Street from West Market Street to West Main Street
• North Fourth Street from River Road to West Main Street
• South Fourth Street from West Main Street to West Liberty Street
• North Third Street from River Road to West Main Street
• South Third Street from West Main Street to West Market Street
• West Jefferson Street from South Third Street to South Fifth Street
• West Liberty Street from South Third Street to South Fifth Street
• East Main Street from First Street to North Preston Street
• North First Street from East Washington Street to East Main Street
• North Brook Street from East Washington Street to East Main Street
• South Brook Street from East Main Street to Bill Goat Strut Alley
• North Floyd Street from East Washington Street to East Main Street
• South Floyd Street from East Main Street to Bill Goat Strut Alley
• East Washington Street from North Floyd Street to North Preston Street
• North Preston Street from East Main Street to East Witherspoon Street
• East Witherspoon Street from North Preston Street to River Road
• Adams Street from East Witherspoon Street to Story Avenue
• Litterle Road from Story Avenue to Butchertown Greenway
• North Clay Street from Franklin Street to East Witherspoon Street
• North Shelby Street from East Water Street to East Witherspoon Street
• North Campbell Street from East Water Street to Adams Street

Olmsted Parks Events

The Olmsted Parks October Challenge, presented by Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Sam Swope Family Foundation, is a virtual fitness challenge where participants can walk, run, bike, or hike in the Olmsted Parks now until Sunday, October 24 and be entered to win special prizes! The more challenges completed, the more chances to win! For more info and to register, visit www.olmstedparks.org/activities/olmsted-parks-october-challenge

Gov. Beshear: kynect State-Based Exchange Opens Oct. 15 for Previewing Quality Health Coverage Plans

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 14, 2021) – Gov. Andy Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to visit kynect.ky.gov starting Friday, Oct. 15, to review and compare plans on the state’s new health care marketplace to see what coverage will best suit their needs for 2022. Kentuckians can enroll from Nov. 1, 2021, to Jan. 15, 2022.

The state-based marketplace relaunch, recently approved by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will allow Kentuckians to access and compare state-managed health care options, apply for coverage and complete their enrollment all on one convenient platform. The relaunched portal also will help connect Kentuckians with other benefits and resources, including food, utilities assistance, transportation, job training and veterans’ benefits.

“As COVID cases continue to decline and our economy surges, we’re excited to be bringing back the state-based health care marketplace,” Gov. Beshear said. “Making sure all Kentuckians have access to affordable health care coverage helps further strengthen our economy and our families by reducing the consequences of being uninsured. During this preview period, we encourage Kentuckians to visit kynect to see if they may be able to access more benefits while reducing their monthly health plan costs.”

The new plans take effect Jan. 1, 2022, which gives Kentuckians time to review plan details from the insurer.

The switch to a state-based marketplace is expected to save Kentuckians at least $15 million a year. Kentuckians who buy commercial health plans through the federal site pay a surcharge on premiums, which will not continue with the state-based marketplace. Savings will be passed on to people who buy health coverage through the marketplace. Restoring the portal and other kynect services will help people get access with more local support throughout the application process, including the ability to determine eligibility for Medicaid or help offsetting their out-of-pocket premium costs.

The Governor said kynect also offers a solution for small businesses through the Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP. The plans are available for employers insuring two to 50 employees and allow health coverage issuers to provide Kentucky’s smallest businesses with affordable plan options that offer essential benefits.

Wider Choice In addition to Anthem’s statewide coverage and CareSource, which offers plans in 100 counties, consumers can shop for plans available in select counties from two new health insurers: Ambetter from WellCare of Kentucky and Passport Health Plan by Molina. Plans also will be offered by Aetna and United Healthcare.

Also new in January 2022, Kentuckians will be able to purchase a vision plan through kynect. VSP Individual Vision Plans will offer enrollees a comprehensive eye exam from an in-network doctor, an eye frame allowance and lens enhancements, such as progressives.

Help is Available Free help is available to Kentuckians during the Open Enrollment Period, Nov. 1, 2021, to Jan.15, 2022.

• Health coverage assistance (Medicaid, Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program, Qualified Health Plan with payment assistance): https://kynect.ky.gov/benefits/
• kynectors, insurance agents and authorized representatives: https://kynect.ky.gov/benefits/s/auth-reps-assisters/
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program: https://www.shiphelp.org/
• Kentucky Department of Insurance: https://insurance.ky.gov/ppc/new_default.aspx
• SHOP plans: https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/choose-and-enroll/qualify-for-shop-marketplace/

To learn more, visit kynect.ky.gov.

Neighborhood Block Party

Family Friendly Halloween Events

Annual Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular runs through Sunday, October 31 at Iroquois Park, 1080 Amphitheater Road. 5,000 artistically-carved pumpkins line a ¼ mile trail and illuminate an organic art gallery. For tickets and more information, please click here. Free Dive in Movie on Friday, October 22, at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Plan to watch the movie, Beetlejuice. No registration is required and children must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Questions, please call 574-1498. Halloween in Brown Park on Saturday, October 23, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. This is a free event. Trick-or-treating will begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. at the pavilion. For more information, please click here. Ghost Stories by the Fire on Friday, October 29, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue. No registration is required and children must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Questions, please call 574-1498.

Mayor Fischer outlines recommended pilot project to deflect some 911 calls to a non-police response

Alternative Response Model, developed by UofL research team, focuses on de-escalation and referral to appropriate community services

LOUISVILLE (October 13, 2021) – Mayor Greg Fischer today joined partners from the University of Louisville, Seven Counties Services and Spalding University to announce plans for a pilot program to deflect a number of 911 calls to a non-police response “focused on problem-solving, de-escalation and referral to appropriate community services.”

The pilot, recommended in a report from the UofL ’s Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky (CIK), will initially be limited to crisis intervention 911 calls from LMPD’s Fourth Division. It involves establishing:

• A Behavioral Health Hub, with health crisis interventionists integrated in the MetroSafe 911 call center. Call takers would direct certain crisis intervention calls to a trained interventionist, who would help further triage the crisis to determine whether it could be de-escalated over the phone, if the person in crisis would benefit from a mobile response, or if the scenario called for an LMPD response due to safety concerns. Their mission would be “to assist persons in crisis and first responders by providing empathy, connection, de-escalation, and linkage to the right-sized care,” the report says.
• A mobile response unit consisting of trained crisis interventionists to “rapidly respond, effectively screen and assist persons in crisis in accessing the appropriate level of care.”
• A 24-hour “community respite center,” a fully staffed safe place where individuals can stay for up to 24 hours when connected by the mobile response team. There, qualified mental health and substance use professionals will provide evaluations and connect individuals to needed services and resources, beyond what the mobile response team can provide onsite.

The research team recommended the pilot be centered in LMPD’s Fourth Division because of its high number of Crisis Intervention-related calls, an average of 11.63 events each day.

“Our team has been grateful for the opportunity to partner with the community to build a better way of addressing a public health crisis. Our research has allowed us to examine what other communities have done, while being intentional about listening to the unique needs of our own community. The one thing emphasized by other cities is that it is best to start small, learn from the community what’s working and what needs to change, and then refine the process before scaling it,” said Susan Buchino, Assistant Professor, University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences and Assistance Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky.

Now that the report has been shared, the Mayor said, UofL, Seven Counties Services and other partners will begin to work to implement the plan, with UofL’s stated goal of beginning the pilot in December.

“Our main goal is to help people in crisis in the best way possible,” said LMPD Sgt. Pam Oberhausen. “For many years I have worked with mental health providers, advocacy groups and police departments across the state to introduce a comprehensive response to individuals in crisis. Through the collective understanding of our roles in responding to Crisis Intervention runs, we will be able to better assist community members in crisis.”

In announcing a nearly $5 million investment in deflection and diversion programs as part of the FY22 budget, Mayor Fischer noted that “some situations are best served by a social service response, particularly when dealing with people living with  homelessness, mental health challenges or substance use.”

Today, he said, “By quadrupling our investment in violence prevention and capacity-building programs, including in deflection and diversion, we are acting on our shared goal of creating a safe city with fewer arrests and less incarceration for those who qualify for alternative programs. I appreciate the hard work of the University team to move us closer to that goal.”

Louisville Metro Government contracted with CIK to draft the report and to give recommendations on implementation of the pilot, as part of Mayor Fischer’s plan for reimagining public safety with an emphasis on the whole-of-government and whole-of-city approach.

In its Alternative Responder Model report recommending and outlining the pilot model, the UofL team acknowledged the national debate around public safety, and cites “a pattern in which law enforcement has become a default response in crisis calls, even when the crisis may be a civil issue or one best resolved by health care or social services.

“Even the officers themselves – in Louisville and elsewhere – admit they are asked to do too much, often without the best tools for serving the person in crisis, especially when it is a behavioral health need,” the report continues.

The report is the result of seven months of study by CIK and a multidisciplinary team consisting of the Kentucky Department of Behavioral Health, Development and Intellectual Disabilities; Spalding’s School of Social Work; Seven Counties Services (SCS); and community members, charged with assessing the feasibility and development of an alternative response model that appropriately meets the need of Louisville’s residents.

“As the region’s leading provider of mental health services, Seven Counties Services is well positioned for this community partnership to help our neighbors in crisis who need mental health treatment or other social services as opposed to a police response,” said Abby Drane, President & CEO of Seven Counties Services / Bellewood & Brooklawn. “We are hopeful that this deflection program will best serve our neighbors and aid in the effort to modernize public safety for the Louisville Metro area. This plan will provide a more streamlined path to critical services for those with a mental health or addiction crisis.”

“Spalding’s School of Social Work is proud to be involved in this vital, community-focused work to develop a deflection and diversion model for Louisville,” said Dr. Shannon Cambron, Chair of the Spalding University School of Social Work. “This is a critical moment for our community. We have a unique opportunity to finally get this right, to stop doing the same thing yet expecting something different. These issues are generations in the making and addressing them is not short-term work. By starting small and strategically scaling up, by centering the work in the community and empowering the community to hold us accountable, long-term solutions are not only possible but probable and sustainable.”

Their work included a review of police deflection activities in other U.S. communities; a series of interviews and focus groups with community members, behavioral health providers, and Metro Government leaders, as well as observations of Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) responses to 911 calls that could potentially be deflected and activities in the MetroSafe 911 Call Center, and an extensive review of MetroSafe 911 data.

The team also engaged with a Community Advisory/Accountability Board, which has met routinely since April to provide oversight and recommendations to the team’s research and planning – and effort to enhance community ownership and sustainability for the new program.

The report stresses that continual evaluation of the program is key, and that expansion beyond the pilot phase should occur “in phases that allow researchers to evaluate implementation and outcome and identify areas of improvement and success.”

The pilot project is just one of many FY22 investments in reimagining public safety, including a related one at MetroSafe in which nurses triage calls to determine the appropriate medical response to varying levels of incidents.

Over the past several months, the city has implemented other new programs and reforms, including recommendations from Hilliard Heintze’s top-to-bottom review of LMPD. Those include creating a Civilian Review Board and work to hire a new Inspector General, as well as the launch of a Group Violence Intervention initiative to divert people from the path of gun violence, incarceration and tragedy; expansion of Reimage, a collaboration with KentuckianaWorks that is helping to break the cycle of incarceration and recidivism by connecting justice-involved youth to education, training and careers in key fields such as IT, manufacturing, construction and more; and a new “reconciliation” program to build on the city’s work to improve relationships between Louisville Metro Police and the larger community they are sworn to serve and protect.

Louisville Metro Council quotes in support of pilot project:

Councilman Bill Hollander, D-9:

“It’s good to see this project moving forward. Metro Council called for it in the budget we approved more than a year ago, in June 2020. Alternative responders can produce better outcomes for all involved and free up police officers for situations where they are needed. I hope to see alternative responders on Louisville streets very soon.”

Councilman Mark Fox, D-13:

“This initiative responds to the community’s concerns addressing many issues that have fallen to our law enforcement officers by default. Allowing people trained in the types of skills necessary to provide specific social services makes perfect sense and allows our police officers to focus squarely on our crime issues.”

Lawn Care for Cleaner Air

Submissions are now open for the inaugural Lawn Care for Cleaner Air Community Equipment Grant Program. The Grant will award a package of professional-powered, electric lawn equipment to a local non-profit organization. The package of equipment is valued at $1,256 and includes an electric mower, trimmer, blower, and extra rechargeable battery that powers all three tools. The Grant is an extension of Air Pollution Control District’s Lawn Care for Cleaner Air program, which incentivizes the purchase and use of electric-powered lawn equipment in order to reduce air pollution from gas-powered engines.

New electric vehicle charging station activated in Jefferson Memorial Forest’s Tom Wallace Park

LOUISVILLE, KY (October 11, 2021) – Mayor Fischer was joined by leaders from Louisville Parks and Recreation, the Air Pollution Control District, Evolve KY, the Louisville Sustainability Council, and Louisville Forward on Monday to celebrate the activation of the newly installed electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Tom Wallace Park, a part of Jefferson Memorial Forest.

“This EV charging station is a testament to our continued commitment to this important work,” said Mayor Fischer. “This EV charger also contributes to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, that when passed, will work to make historic investments in a clean transportation infrastructure, as well as improvements to sustainable transportation options for millions of Americans.”

In a partnership with Jefferson Memorial Forest and Evolve KY, the addition of the EV charging station at Tom Wallace Park was made possible with funding from the Air Quality Trust Fund administered exclusively by the Air Pollution Control Board, as well as a micro-grant received by Wilderness Louisville from the Louisville Sustainability Council.

“This will be our 36^th site and 82^nd installed charger,” said Evolve KY Co-Founder Stuart Ungar. “It’s wonderful to have chargers in cities and towns so that folks can charge while they work, shop, and eat. But, in this fast-paced time, it’s something special to have chargers placed in natural areas.” 

As part of a city-wide initiative and with the passage of the 100% Renewable Energy resolution in February 2020, Louisville joined hundreds of other cities across the nation in making the commitment to investing in clean, renewable energy.

This year, Mayor Fischer signed Executive Order 2021-005, prompting Metro agencies and departments to prioritize the purchasing of electric and hybrid vehicles, green equipment, and necessary infrastructure to support Louisville Metro’s municipal fleet transition to electric; a critical part of Louisville Metro’s goal of 100% clean energy for all operations by 2035.

With the addition of EV chargers throughout the city and in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Louisville is well on its way to achieving the goal of 100% clean energy community-wide by 2040. The community is encouraged to join in on the Green Fleet Challenge by investing in battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. More information on the challenge and how to sign up can be found at 100percentlou.com.

Job Announcements

PepsiCo is Now Hiring!

Available positions.

Join the Louisville Metro Public Works & Assets Team!

Find a rewarding career! Serve the Louisville community!

We have career opportunities in various fields, such as engineer, electrician, performance analyst, heavy equipment operator, sanitation vehicle operator, sanitation worker and solid waste enforcement officer.

Click the link below and apply to be part of the Louisville Metro Public Works & Assets Team!!

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/louisvilleky?department[0]=Public%20Works&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending

The Works Week

How to Recycle More

1. Use your recycling cart! Recycling carts offer 3-5 times more capacity than the old 18-gallon bins. If you don't already have a cart, request one through Metro311. These requests are for residents in our service area who do not already have a recycling cart with wheels. Additional carts may be purchased (currently only 65-gallon recycling carts are available for purchase) or you may use a store-bought container that has lifting handles and a lid, labeled RECYCLING.
2. Review our accepted items! If you haven't seen the list in a long time, it's worth checking it out. Look for something that you don't already recycle or didn't know is accepted and start recycling that item. Use the Recycle Coach app to look up any item and find out if it's accepted in our program. 
3. Don't let your cart get full by wasting space! Flatten all cardboard (and neatly place on top if necessary), crush containers, and don't bag items. Carts are often overflowing because of boxes or containers that could have been crushed first. Additional carts may be purchased (currently only 65-gallon recycling carts are available for purchase) or you may use a store-bought container that has lifting handles and a lid, labeled RECYCLING.
4. Make recycling convenient! Use side-by-side trash and recycling containers inside your house so the sorting is done on the spot. Try placing a small bin in your bathroom or other room where recyclable items might get trashed. 
5. Don't miss a recycling collection! Use the Recycle Coach app to set reminders or view your waste calendar so you know if it's a recycling week or not. Set your cart out by 6 a.m. the day of collection.

The next Pop-Up Drop-Off event will be 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 23 at Metro Fleet Services, 3515 Newburg Road. These events occur monthly, March - November. Go to Louisvilleky.gov/PopUps for more information.

No Paving Projects/Road Work Scheduled for Next Week

No paving projects are scheduled for next week. Currently all the construction contractors utilized by Metro Public Works to work sidewalks and paving projects are encountering staffing issues, thus causing prolonged projects and delaying the start of others.  This has been the case since the end of August and throughout September.  It is unknown at this time how much longer this will continue. We anticipate this will be an issue through at least the end of this paving year. We will update as the situation changes and publish projects as their start dates are confirmed.

Clean Collaborative Crew - Weekly Report-Oct. 4-8

The Crew of 13 staff members and their equipment, fall under our Bulk Waste Department within the Solid Waste Management Services Division. They are primarily tasked with collecting litter and debris along Metro roadways.

Below is the weekly update on the Clean Collaborative Crew’s actions from October 04, 2021, to October 08, 2021. The crew cleaned approximately 41.92 curb miles and collected 110 bags, 3 Tires, and 27 other items. Other items include everything from vehicle wreckage to illegally dumped bulky items. Also, last week KYTC started work on their final mowing/litter cycle of the year along the interstates.

Since February 2021, the Clean Collaborative Crew has removed 10,631 bags of litter, 778 tires, and 2,828 other items from 2,872.08 curb miles.

Additionally, the Clean Collaboration crew has started training on a new smaller sweeper that the crew will utilize. This hands-on training will occur over the next couple of weeks. Once trained on the equipment, it will become a helpful tool for the crew to aide them as they continually work to keep our city clean!

To learn more about the collaborative, track the crews' progress, and find out how you can help, visit: Louisvilleky.gov/CleanLou.

Pets of the Week

Dog of the Week It's Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. Adoption fees are waived for all large dogs, with an approved application. You'll also receive a gift for your new four-legged friend, a dog crate donated by the non-profit organization, Friends of Metro Animal Services.  Love Spell is one of the adoptable dogs you can meet at Animal House. Love Spell is a spunky, affectionate do and she gets along great with other dogs.  Love Spell is approximately one years old and weighs 70lbs.  For more info about Love Spell, email animalservicesadoption@louisvilleky.gov. To meet or adopt Love Spell, visit Animal House (3516 Newburg Road) from 12-6 daily.

BOGO Kittens It's ADOPTober at Animal House! BOGO kitten adoptions are only a $25 donation through Oct. 31. Spay-neuter, microchip and vaccinations are included! Adopt your purrrfect pair at Animal House Adoption Center, located at 3516 Newburg Road, from 12-6pm daily. For more info, call 502-473-PETS.

Interested in serving on a board or commission?

If you are interested in volunteering for one of Louisville Metro Government's Boards and Commissions, now is the time to start. By being a part of a board or commission, you will offer your time and your talents to improve the quality of life in our community.

There are approximately 100 boards and commissions with many areas of interest, including business and economic development, land planning, parks and recreation, public health and public safety.

Please find below a list of boards and commissions for an opportunity to serve:

BOARD VACANCIES

• Metropolitan Business Development Corporation
• Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board
• Bardstown Road Overlay District
• Building Code Board of Appeals
• Cemetery Board
• Civil Service Board
• Code Enforcement Board
• Community Action Partnership
• Jefferson County Public Law Library
• Deputy Sheriff Merit Board
• Downtown Development Review Overlay Board
• Downtown Management District
• Ethics Commission
• Fire Protection Districts (Fairdale, Harrods Creek, Highview, Lake Dreamland, Lyndon, Middletown, Okolona, St. Matthews & Worthington)
• Hazard Materials Ordinance Appeals & Overseers Board
• Housing Authority Board
• Human Relations Commission Advocacy Board
• Human Relations Commission Enforcement Board
• Kentuckiana Works
• Landmarks
• Library Advisory Commission
• Louisville Arena Authority, Inc.
• Louisville Public Media
• Merit Board
• Medical Center Commission of Jefferson County
• PARC Board of Commissioners
• Police Merit Board
• Redevelopment Authority
• Science Center
• Urban Renewal Commission
• Vacant Property Review Commission
• Waterworks
• Zoo Foundation Board

To apply for a board:

1. Search here for the board you are interested in: Boards and Commissions - List
2. Apply online.

Office of Councilwoman Jessica Green | Louisville Metro Council | District 1

601 West Jefferson Street  Louisville, Kentucky 40202

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