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Peace. As the weather gets cooler, the danger of being unsheltered grows. Last winter our office funded a winter shelter program to help shelter families during weather emergencies. Because of this and an overwhelming amount of funding requests across the district, we will not be accepting any new Neighborhood Development Fund (NDF) requests for 2022. We will spend the next few months trying to finish processing requests we already have. Our office has been able to support thousands of dollars worth of needs including shelter programs, neighborhood events, small business assistance, kids' activities, food programs, mentor programs, and more. To review what we have funded this year please go to our Legistar page here.
With that being said, after a year and a half of managing our office funds, we are ready to start something that we believe will help the process — a Neighborhood Advisory Board. As an elected official, I work for you, but believe our work is better when I work with you. We host community meetings throughout the year including our monthly round table, but these meetings do not always include constituents from each of our 10 neighborhoods. It's important to look at neighborhood needs along with district-wide needs and having a dedicated group of constituents to do that with will be necessary going forward. We hope this Neighborhood Advisory Board can give our office advice on:
- spending Neighborhood Development Funds (NDF)
- spending Capital Infrastructure Funds (CIF)
- prioritizing policy for the district
We'll have a virtual interest meeting about this on Tuesday, November 1st 6-8 PM. To register for that meeting go here.
Best,
Councilman Jecorey Arthur
Louisville Metro Council District 4
601 West Jefferson Street｜Louisville, KY 40202
P: (502)574-1104
Louisville Metro Comprehensive Review Commission Updates
During the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly Session, House Bill 314 was passed, changing how Louisville Metro Government works. This bill also created a commission to study the "accomplishments and insufficiencies" of our local government. Councilman Jecorey Arthur was appointed to the commission along with other local and state officials. The commission will be meeting every second Friday at 3:00 PM to make a report due to the state by September 15th 2023. You can watch meetings in person at Louisville City Hall, 601 W Jefferson St or virtually on:
Facebook facebook.com/louisvillemetrocouncil
Metro TV louisvilleky.gov/metrotv
Spectrum Cable Channel 184 AT&T U-Verse Channel
Our office will be organizing an informational meeting about the commission soon.
District 4 Monthly Round Table
Tuesday, October 18th 6-7 PM
Video-In: https://louisvilleky.webex.com/meet/D4
Phone-In: (415)655-0001
Access Code: 180-005-6522 #
Stream: facebook.com/loudistrict4
Note: You do not need to download WebEx to join by video on a computer. Once you press 'cancel' on the link's popup there is an option to join by browser at the bottom of the screen.
Dosker Manor Meeting
Councilman Jecorey Arthur is hosting a community meeting with residents at Dosker Manor Apartments, on Wednesday, October 26th. The time is pending with the resident council but will be announced soon. There will be food first come, first served, updates about the district, and the councilman will be taking questions from residents.
Avenue Plaza Meeting
Councilman Jecorey Arthur is hosting a community meeting with residents at Avenue Plaza Apartments, on Wednesday, October 26th at 3:30 PM in the 2nd floor community room. There will be food first come, first served, updates about the district, and the councilman will be taking questions from residents.
Camping Ordinance Amendments
Some amendments to our camping ordinance were introduced. We have been fighting these changes along with dozens of community partners. To view the proposed amendments and revisions please go here. They are scheduled to be discussed in the Parks & Sustainability Committee on Thursday, October 6th at 3:00 PM.
Budget Equity Reports
In early 2021, the Metro Council passed legislation requiring the mayor's administration to have racial equity goals for their departments attached to the city budget each year. Councilman Jecorey Arthur, Chairman of the Metro Council Committee on Equity and Inclusion, has invited the administration to give a status report about these goals. For the remainder of the calendar year, this committee will hear from various Louisville Metro Government departments. The Committee on Equity and Inclusion meets every other Thursday at 4:00 PM. Remaining committee dates are:
- October 6th
- October 18th
- November 3rd
- November 17th
- December 8th
Equity goals can be viewed here.
Legislation
- Gun Buyback Ordinance — This ordinance will start a pilot program where Louisvillians can sell guns to Louisville Metro Government to be destroyed. We're working with the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, LMPD, and other advocacy groups on this effort. We are currently meeting with cities who have similar programs to learn from their experiences before sharing the first draft.
- Voting Restoration Resolution — A resolution relating to the voting of incarcerated individuals at Louisville Metro Department of Corrections and Kentucky. This was tabled to give other government agencies a chance to collaborate with corrections. It will be debated again in the Committee on Equity and Inclusion, Thursday, October 6th 4-5 PM.
- Historically Black Neighborhoods Ordinance — This ordinance will help prevent displacement by creating a displacement index to be used for new developments in select neighborhoods. A new draft can be viewed here. We will have virtual community meetings about this ordinance on October 11th and 25th at 5:30 PM. If you're interested in joining please let us know.
- Industrial Revenue Bonds Ordinance(s) — These ordinances will approve Louisville Metro Government being the conduit for bonds for proposed developments at 930 Lampton St (Ferncliff Distillery) and 827 Logan St (Trellis Brewing). We are working with the Smoketown Neighborhood Association and Smoketown Originals on community benefits agreements to be executed with the ordinances. A draft can be viewed here.
- Community Benefits Ordinance — This ordinance will require developers to execute community benefits agreements with neighborhoods prior to the approval of financial incentives such as tax increment financing (TIF) or industrial revenue bonds (IRB). We are working with Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey, Louisville Forward, local unions, and several neighborhoods on this.
- Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF) Trees — This ordinance will allocate approximately $25,000 or less to help increase the tree canopy in our district. We are working with Trees Louisville on this.
- Rental Registry Ordinance — An ordinance regarding the registration of rental housing to include and assign the director of the Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations further administration and enforcement duties regarding the registry of rental housing units. This ordinance is currently tabled in the Public Works Committee.
- Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA) Resolution — A resolution in support of better public housing management and maintenance. This will be debated in the Community Affairs Community, Wednesday, October 19th 1:30-2:30 PM.
- Dream Hotel Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Ordinance — This hotel developer has asked our office to sponsor an ordinance offering them a tax break to finish funding their project. We have worked with the Downtown Residents Association on a community benefits agreement. The latest draft can be viewed here.
- Fair Chance Ordinance — We are working with councilmembers on an ordinance to increase our government contracts with businesses that hire people who have been convicted of crimes.
- Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF) Sidewalk Repairs — Our office is starting to pay for sidewalk repairs backlogged between early 2019 and late 2021. We plan to pay in order of received requests. The backlog can be viewed here. Our first round of spending will be $217,621, repairing sidewalks in Butchertown, California, Clifton Heights, Downtown, Old Louisville, Parkland, Phoenix Hill, Russell, and Smoketown. Approximately $138,000 of this funding is surplus from old District 4 projects.
- Smoketown Grocery Store Resolution — This resolution approves $3.5 million for the Louisville Community Grocery to open a store in Smoketown.
- Short Term Rental Resolution — We have co-sponsored a resolution with Councilman Markus Winkler that will review how short term rentals work in Louisville. This will support policies recommended from the Butchertown, Phoenix Hill, and NuLu neighborhood plan.
- Homeownership ARP Ordinance — We are working with Councilman Keisha Dorsey to set aside funding to help with homeownership in formerly redlined neighborhoods.
Some of the legislation above is drafted but may not have been filed. All our sponsored and co-sponsored legislation can be viewed here. We welcome input from constituents, experts, and stakeholders.
Appointments Can Be Scheduled for LIHEAP Fall Subsidy Early Registration for Eligible Residents
Louisville Metro Resilience and Community Services (RCS) is offering pre-registration for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Fall Subsidy Component. The pre-registration will begin on Monday, October 3, and end on October 31, or until appointments reach capacity. To learn more, click here.
MSD Triples Rate Discount for Low-income Customers
Senior Discount Recipients Must Recertify Eligibility The Louisville MSD rate discount for low-income customers triples from the previous 10 percent to 30 percent effective with billing periods beginning on or after October 1, 2022. It will also be easier to apply for the discount because of a new partnership with the Louisville Metro office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS). To learn more, click here.
Mayor Fischer and Community Leaders Break Ground on Historic Parkland Library Restoration Project
After more than three decades without a library to call its own, the Parkland neighborhood is one step closer to having library services within walking distance. Mayor Greg Fischer, Library Director Lee Burchfield, and Councilwoman Angela Bowens joined the Library Foundation and members of the community to break ground on a $2.7 million renovation and expansion project to restore library services to the historic Parkland Library. To learn more, click here.
President James Announces Historic City Hall Clock Will Light up Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
President David James (D-6) has announced the Historic City Hall Clock is shining pink as reminder of the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The goal of the month, which was originally founded in partnership by the American Cancer Society in 1985, is to educate women and men about breast cancer and early detection tests. In a show of support, City Hall’s clock tower will light up pink through the month of October. To learn more, click here.
Neighborhood Place Annual Conference Draws More Than 300 Participants to Emphasize They Are ‘Stronger Together’
Mayor Greg Fischer joined more than 300 staff and representatives of the Neighborhood Place network for an annual conference to celebrate Neighborhood Place accomplishments and explore new ideas for helping Louisville’s most vulnerable residents. To learn more, click here.
The Latest Trends in Child Poverty and Health Insurance
Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released its annual data on poverty and health insurance. The data reveals that 22.1% of Kentucky children lived in poverty in 2021, which is not significantly different from 21.7% in 2019. With over one in five Kentucky kids living in poverty, only 5 states have a higher rate than Kentucky. To learn more, click here.
Air Pollution Control District Proposed Permit and Public Hearing
The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (District) proposes to issue a FEDOOP construction permit to Sunshine Industries Ready Mix (concrete batch plant), 13905 Aiken Road, in accordance with Regulation 2.03. This permit is being issued to construct a new concrete batch plant which includes material handling. The 30-day public comment period starts on October 6, 2022, and ends on November 11, 2022. A public hearing will be held on November 10, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Edison Room at the Edison Center, 701 West Ormsby Avenue, Louisville, KY 40203 and via video teleconference in accordance with Regulations 1.08 and 2.07. Instructions for attending the hearing via video teleconference will be posted on the APCD website. Oral statements will be accepted at the public hearing. To learn more, click here.
Legal Aid Society Guide to Protections Against Landlord Discrimination
Please view the short legal guide to protections against landlord discrimination based on lawful source of income. To learn more, click here.
Land Development Code Reform
The Land Development Code (LDC) is a set of rules and laws that defines how land can be used, how a development such as a new shopping mall or apartment must be designed, and the procedures for approval. The LDC Reform is an equity focused approach to revise the LDC consistently with Plan 2040 to allow for increased housing choices and opportunities in new and existing neighborhoods, to create procedures and regulations that are easier to use, and increase the quality of life by reducing the concentration of environmental hazards near housing.
Work to reform the LDC began in the summer of 2020. Initial recommendations, including accessory dwelling units, notification procedures, and urban agriculture were all adopted within the first year. The work continues and we encourage you to participate!
To learn about the currently proposed amendments to the LDC, please click HERE to view the content or copy the following link into the address bar of your web browser: https://arcg.is/05LCLX0.
Please contact Joel Dock, Planning Coordinator at 502-574-5860 or send an email to ldcreform@louisvilleky.gov with any questions or comments.
Smoketown Community Wide Planting Day
TreesLouisville, Louisville Grows, and Louisville Parks and Recreation are teaming up for Tree Week! We are proud to be hosting a Smoketown Community Wide Planting Day on Saturday October 15th from 12:30pm-3pm.
All organizations and volunteers will meet at Meyzeek Middle School and "branch out" from there to plant 200 trees in the Smoketown Neighborhood! Volunteers will be grouped together based on experience and directed to one of the partnering organizations to complete their tree plantings. All volunteers should expect to plant both street and private property trees.
Event Date: Saturday, October 15th
Event Time: 12:30pm-3pm
Meet Up Location: Meyzeek Middle School, 828 S. Jackson Street
Presentation Academy
Eighth-grade Leadership Forum
Presentation Academy is excited to invite eighth-grade young ladies to participate in our 28th Annual Eighth Grade Leadership Forum. Louisville's original Catholic School, Pres has a legacy of developing confident female leaders for more than 190 years. Pres prides itself on integrating leadership within our high school curriculum, and we are excited to share this experience with our forum participants. This dynamic and unique workshop allows students to develop leadership skills they can adopt and implement in their own communities. This year's forum will be held from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Presentation's Arts and Athletics Center, 900 S. Fourth St. We hope to see you there! Contact Recruitment Manager Amy Harley '00 at aharley@presentationacademy.org or 502-583-5935 with any questions.
2022 Open House
Sign up for our Fall Open House and find out what sets Pres apart! We will offer in-person tours of our academic building and the Arts and Athletic Center on Saturday, November 5th from 12-3 p.m. For more information and to register, visit www.beaPresgirl.org.
Theatre Production
Presentation Academy Top Hat Theatre Company is proud to present William Shakespeare's "The Tempest, " adapted by Ashley Beck Heimbrock '06. Join us for this modern English adaptation of Shakespeare's final work: a comedic love story wrapped in a revenge plot and influenced by magic. Follow Prospero as he enacts a 15-years-in-the-making revenge against his usurping brother and council, finds a beloved for his daughter, and learns a lesson about humanity along the way. Performances include Friday, November 18 at 7:30pm; Saturday, November 19 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm; and Sunday, November 20 at 4:00pm. To purchase tickets and for more info, visit https://tempest2022.givesmart.com. We are located at 900 S. 4th Street, at the corner of Fourth and Breck. Please call (502) 583-5935 with any questions.
The Biden-Harris Administration's Student Debt Relief Plan Explained
President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the U.S. Department of Education have announced a three-part plan to help working and middle-class federal student loan borrowers transition back to regular payment as pandemic-related support expires. This plan includes loan forgiveness of up to $20,000. Many borrowers and families may be asking themselves “what do I have to do to claim this relief?” This page is a resource to answer those questions and more. There will be more details announced in the coming weeks. To be notified when the process has officially opened, sign up at the Department of Education subscription page. You'll have until Dec. 31, 2023 to apply. For more information go here.
Neighborhood Informational Meetings
There has been a notice issued for 927 East Broadway. To learn more, click here.
There has been a notice issued for 1008 East Washington Street . To learn more, click here.
Alcohol Beverage Control
There has been a notice issued for 801 Edith Road. To learn more, click here.
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