Happy Derby Week!

I’ll keep it short and sweet since the city is on Derby Mode these next few days.

With Churchill Downs being in the District and many of our neighborhoods being impacted by Derby, here’s some information to help everyone have a successful weekend ahead:

• Click here for a list of Oaks and Derby road closures and click here for Oaks and Derby no parking areas

• Click here for additional information about Derby parking, road closures, and other noteworthy things

• If you have any issues, you can send a text message to “69050” and it will go to the Churchill Downs Facility Operations Center. Your issue will be addressed by Churchill Downs security or law enforcement. You can also call the Churchill Downs Call Center: (502) 636-4400 to report an issue.

Whether you’re sipping juleps at the track, parking cars in your yard, or high-tailing it out of the city, I hope you have a safe and wonderful Derby!

Oh, and before I go…I’ll be hanging out in Bradley Park in the St. Joseph neighborhood on Saturday, May 13th from 10-noon. Come say hi, tell me what’s on your mind, and mingle with some neighbors. I may even have some free tickets for Wild Nights at the Louisville Zoo for you and your family for Wednesday, May 17th. I’ll send you a reminder next week, but be sure to follow my social media for the most up-to-date information.

Cheers!

Ellison Repaving & Restriping

In April, the Office of Advanced Planning presented designs for restriping Ellison Avenue from Spratt to Barrett Avenue. This came after over a year of nearby residents, local commuters and safe streets advocates calling for safer facilities for all users on this corridor which connects Germantown to the Highlands. In addition to new asphalt and striping along the corridor, the proposed plan includes bike facilities on both sides of the street but only protected facilities on the south side. A community meeting was also held in April where public input was gathered. Public Works is reviewing the input now and repaving should be completed later this year.

Iroquois Amphitheater 85th Season

Iroquois Amphitheater is celebrating its 85th birthday this year and recently announced its summer season. The line-up features the Louisville Youth Orchestra, Gary Clark, Jr., free movie nights, and many more! Click here for ticket information and follow the Amphitheater's Facebook page for more schedule updates:

DOJ Report Public Community Meetings

Schnitzelburg Spring Walk: May 13th

The Schnitzelburg Spring Walk will be happening on Saturday, May 13th. The day kicks off at 11 am with the Flea Off Market along Hickory Street from Burnett to Forrest Street. Starting at 4 pm, Hickory Street from Goss Avenue to Sylvia Street will be closed to traffic as people are encouraged to take to the streets to party with friends and neighbors. Hit up bars and establishments along Hickory Street, such as Monnik, Check's Cafe, Old Hickory Inn, The Merryweather, the 19th Hole, All Wool & Yard Wide Democratic Club, and Six Forks. Folks will be required to be off the street by midnight as the streets open back up for traffic. 

Center for Neighborhoods Neighborhood Summit 2023: May 20th

The Center for Neighborhoods is hosting the 2023 Neighborhood Summit on Saturday, May 20th at the Neighborhood House (201 N. 25th Street, 40212). The Neighborhood Summit is an annual conference open to all neighborhood and emerging leaders, neighborhood businesses, neighborhood associations, nonprofit community partners, local government officials, and staff. The day-long conference showcases community building success stories and celebrates neighborhood development across the Louisville community. Register here.

Kentucky Shakespeare's Hamlet in Emerson Park: May 21st

If you missed Kentucky Shakespeare’s last performance of Hamlet in D15, you’re in luck! Catch the performance on Sunday, May 21st in Emerson Park at 6:30 pm, sponsored by the D15 office.

Experience the classic tale of betrayal, revenge, and tragedy in a whole new way, as talented actors bring this timeless masterpiece to life on stage. With Iroquois Park's lush greenery and stunning views, it's the perfect setting to immerse yourself in the world of Shakespeare. Click here for more information or here to view the Facebook event.

Understanding & Preventing Eviction

The Louisville Free Public Library is hosting "Understanding & Preventing Eviction" on Tuesday, May 16th at 7 pm at the Main Library (301 York Street, 40203). Rebekah Joy Cotton, a Senior Attorney at the Legal Aid Society, will discuss the legal process of eviction, maintenance issues, tenants’ rights, illegal evictions, housing discrimination, when to call Legal Aid, and how to avoid an eviction. The event is free and open to all.

Preston Corridor Plan Public Comment

The Preston Corridor Plan, prepared by Louisville Metro’s Office of Advanced Planning, is ready for public review.

City planners have been working with transportation planning professionals from WSP Inc, MKSK, and EHI Consultants to develop a long-range plan for the Preston Corridor that aims to decrease the number of severe and fatal crashes on the roadway and improve the number and availability of useful transportation options along the corridor.

The full draft of the plan is available on the project website (https://www.prestoncorridorplan.org/) along with a survey for the public to submit their feedback.

According to the Kentucky State Police, there have been 13 fatalities and 33 serious injuries on Preston Highway since the Preston Corridor Plan process began in 2021.

2023 PVA Reassessments

Certain areas of District 15 will be reassessed this year by the PVA. The role of the PVA is to fairly assess the value of all property.  This is an important part of the process to determine the taxes collected to fund our cities, school districts, and emergency services. The PVA does their best to determine accurate median property value for comparable homes, but they don’t know every detail of all properties. The condition of a home could mean it falls substantially below or above the median value. If you think the assessed value does not represent the fair market value of your property, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL YOUR ASSESSMENT! An "Online Conference" is the required first step of the appeal process, which is available through May 15th, 2023 at 4 pm. The online conference requires documentation supporting your opinion of the value of your property. Examples include but is not limited to photographs, recent appraisals, or the repair cost estimates from a licensed contractor. Click here for more information about the online conference process and for dates/times that for in-person assistance. Go to www.JeffersonPVA.ky.gov for more information or call the PVA office at (502) 574-6380.

Conversations with a City Planner

Does planning and zoning make you go "huh?" Same.

Our Planning & Zoning team operates under the guidance of a 900+ page book called the Land Development Code. It's confusing, outdated, and limiting, so they are looking to revise the LDC to be more comprehensive. They want you to join the conversation, so city planners from the Office of Planning and Design Services will be holding 'Zoning Matters: Conversations with a City Planner' events at libraries throughout Louisville so you can ask questions about zoning and give input on the ongoing Land Development Code Reform project.

Questions? Email LDCReform@louisvilleky.gov

Give Feedback on the Mayor's Budget

Mayor Greenberg presented his budget on Thursday, April 27th to a full session of the Louisville Metro Council and delivered the Budget Address. The Mayor’s budget, which calls for significant new investments in public safety, parks and transparency measures, will be considered by the Louisville Metro Council Budget Committee and approved by Metro Council before the start of the fiscal year. Public hearings for the budget are scheduled to start on May 8th. 

The $868 million operating budget is an increase of 3.5% over the previous budget, after removing non-recurring revenue. After accounting for all spending, Mayor Greenberg’s budget leaves $83.4 million in the city’s rainy day fund, the largest amount in the city’s history. Including the capital budget, the total proposed budget is approximately $1.1 billion.

You can view the proposed budget here and you can share your thoughts on the budget here.

Give Feedback on Louisville's Next Police Chief

Jail Population Dashboard

Mayor Greenberg announced a new transparency tool that allows citizens to access to real-time information on who is residing in or in the care of the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. The Louisville Metro Corrections Dashboard, which can be found here, displays daily infographics on the corrections population that includes gender, race, length of stay, category of charge, amount of set bond, and other information.

Community Crosswalks Program

The Community Crosswalks program, a collaboration between the Department of Advanced Planning and Office of Arts & Creative Industries, is ongoing placemaking effort to support Louisville’s rich culture through tactical interventions that enhance safety. The program utilizes unique, vibrant asphalt art designed by local artists to disrupt the monotony of the street at intersections around Louisville. These colorful designs improve the aesthetic of the streetscape and serve as a tool for increasing pedestrian safety.

According to the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Safety Study, communities that have implemented similar asphalt art programs have seen a 50% decrease in the rate of crashes involving vulnerable road users and a 17% reduction in the total crash rate. Examples of Louisville’s new asphalt art crosswalks can be seen along South Fourth Street at the intersections of West Chestnut Street, West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, and West Liberty Street.

The Mayor has allocated $50,000 in his proposed budget for the Community Crosswalks program. Neighborhood associations, community organizations, and businesses are encouraged to install colorful crosswalk art at intersections in neighborhoods across Louisville. Details on applying for the program and eligible funding can be found here.

PrimeGov Conversion

Metro Council is in the process of transitioning to a new meeting information system, PrimeGov, which is replacing the Legistar system.

Metro Council meeting agendas are now accessed by the public online at: https://louisvilleky.primegov.com/public/portal. To view the attachments to an item, you must view the HTML version of the pdf version of the packet. A “search” functionality allows you to browse current legislation on the PrimeGov public portal by typing in a keyword.

The public may watch the proceedings live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184, or on UVERSE at Channel 99, Metro Council's Facebook page, or streamed live from the Swagit page (select Watch Live). Note: The Swagit link is temporary, and you’ll be able to view meetings on the PrimeGov webpage in a few weeks.

Currently, you may view archived meetings and search passed legislation on the old Legistar system at http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2, but all meetings will soon be available on the PrimeGov site exclusively.

Solar Over Louisville

Louisville Metro's Office of Sustainability has launched the 2023 Solar Over Louisville solarize program. Solar Over Louisville makes going solar easy by connecting participants with vetted and trustworthy solar installers, providing a step-by-step walk-through of the solar installation process, and helping participants access discounted rates on solar. In addition to a wholesale discount of 15-23% through certified installers, Solar Over Louisville participants may also be eligible for a 30% tax credit through the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The program is open to residents, small businesses, nonprofits, places of worship, and other small non-residential properties in Jefferson and surrounding counties. Learn more about the program and sign up: www.100PercentLou.com/2040.