 I'm writing this at an embarrassingly late hour at City Hall as we're in full BOB-mode since our BIG BOB Day is on Saturday. I'm making this opener short and sweet, but here are a few things worth mentioning:
- Scroll down to meet our AMAZING interns, Kylie and Abby. We're so excited to have these amazing young ladies in the office this year!
- Christopher's Law (ordinance required training for unarmed security) has been updated, although the next Public Safety committee meeting is cancelled. It was not heard at the last Public Safety committee since it was a special meeting focusing on the mask ordinance. We'll keep pushing on this legislation.
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I spoke out about the appointment of the new LMAS Director. As an unwavering supporter of our community animals, our shelter, and its workers, I sincerely hope that we can move forward in a positive and stable direction. New LMAS Director Andy McClinton will be at our LMAS vaccine clinic on Saturday, so stop by if you would like to meet him.
- I signed on as a co-sponsor for a resolution that Councilman Arthur has initiated asking for a Public Health & Wellness to create a public amenities inventory and map. This will help us better examine our public amenities from an equity standpoint and give us an understanding of all the amenities that Louisville Metro upkeeps.
- Congratulations to Parks Alliance of Louisville, Metro Parks, and Iroquois Amphitheater on another successful Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular at Iroquois Park! We're super excited about next year, but we hope you're getting plenty of rest in the meantime!
- You know that "follow the buffalo" sign on Preston Highway by Eastern Parkway? It was part of a project initiated by neighbors in St. Joseph to commission life-size buffalo statues that would be placed in the median to commemorate the buffalo that once roamed this land. There was a pivot with the project and the buffalos will now be installed outside Craft House Pizza at 4041 Preston Highway. There will be an official unveiling of the statues on Friday, November 15th at 10 am.
In this season of gratitude, I want y'all to know just how grateful I am to serve as your Councilwoman. To be able to wake up every day and serve my community in this capacity is a dream come true. Not only that, but I get to do it alongside the best staff and for the best constituents. Like I do most every time I close my office door, I'll take a pause when I leave tonight, look over the mess of work strewn around the office, and tearfully smile. I'm so grateful.
May you also take moments of pause to reflect on the things you're thankful for in these coming weeks and always. Happy Thanksgiving!
See y’all around D15,
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I was honored to have presented Manual's Principal, Dr. Michael Newman, with the official landmarking seal for Manual Stadium's gate. It meant the world to have my parents, two proud Manual alums, join me on the field to do make the presentation and do the coin toss before the game against PRP. I even wore my dad's letterman sweater for the occasion! (In case you're wondering, I'm a proud Seneca grad. #GoRedhawks!)
As broader effort to preserve historically significant structures in Louisville, Manual Stadium is part of the first batch of landmark designations that my office has initiated, alongside Iroquois Amphitheater and the Wheelman's Bench at Wayside Park. All have been approved and we already have our next batch ready to file for new business!
Thanks to Louisville Metro's Office of Planning, the Landmarks Commission, and JCPS for working with my office to make this (and every) designation a reality.
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In 1923, when the property was purchased for Manual Stadium, it was known as “Milkman’s Field” as it was leased to cattle owners for grazing herds. Construction began that same year in 1923. The first game at Manual Stadium was played on October 18, 1924, before construction was complete. The dedication game was held November 15, 1924. In 1946, the Alumni Associations of Male and Manual High Schools created a joint committee to fundraise $160,000 for stadium improvements. While the fundraising goal was not fully met, the war memorial gateway, a smaller war memorial, and lights were purchased. In 1946, a large bronze plaque set in a concrete marker was dedicated to Manual students and alumni who perished in World War I and World War II, which included 120 names.
Manual Stadium has played host over fifty times for the Manual/Male football game, one of the oldest sports rivalries in the country. Throughout the last century, Manual has hosted games for teams such as University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, the Fort Knox Armoraiders, and several local high schools.
Today, the stadium remains a beloved fixture for the Schnitzelburg neighborhood.
BTW, congrats to the Rams on their victory this year over Male!
There are new painted bump outs on Hoertz Street aka George Hauck Way!!
I asked for these a few months ago in hopes that it will make pulling off and onto Goss Avenue a little easier. Nobody likes a head-on collision!
Just a reminder: It’s illegal to park within thirty (30) feet from the beginning and/or ending of any intersection, flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic control signal. I don’t expect anyone to carry a tape measure with them at all times—just use your good judgement. If anything, don’t park where you’d obstruct a sidewalk or make it difficult to turn onto a street. You’ve got this!
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A gender-inclusive and responsive approach to urban planning and design is essential to the future of cities, creating places where everyone can live, work and thrive. Cities that are designed to be inclusive of women often prioritize safety, equity, and accessibility for all citizens. By designing urban areas that are responsive to the needs of all women—and increasing the participation of women in urban governance, planning, and design—our cities will become safer, healthier, fairer and more enriching spaces for everyone.
Recently, Louisville was chosen as one of the first cities in the City Hub and Network for Gender Equity (CHANGE) to explore how design in the built environment can make cities safer, more usable and welcoming to women, girls, gender diverse people, and caregivers.
In October, the Office for Women hosted Publica, a London-based urban design practice and representatives from CHANGE to conduct a series of workshops, training, and tours to build capacity of city officials and community members on gender equity in design.
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Amy, Kylie, and I were able to attend multiple workshops and meet-ups throughout the week, including a conversation with young women about safe spaces for youth, an interactive "street-tagging" workshop in which positive and negative spaces were identified with large stickers, and a seminar that included information about how London is striving to be more child-friendly and how they have developed a nighttime strategy to create a safe city 24/7.
We're excited to continue this conversation as the subject for our December Women's Caucus meeting, as we develop strategies in how we can make Louisville a safer city for women. We can and we will!
Check out a short video from MetroTV about our gender-inclusivity week here.
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Congratulations to Paul Fussenegger, Schnitzelburg's 2024 #1 Citizen who took home the prestigious award at the #1 Citizen Dinner on Monday, November 4th.
Paul is the owner of Oscar's Hardware on South Shelby Street. Paul has been a wonderful supporter of Schnitzelburg and the Schnitzelburg Area Community Council (SACC), going above and beyond to lend help and supplies for various neighborhood initiatives. Besides, who doesn't love our local hardware store?! I'm always amazing at how they have everything you need with a fraction of the footprint of a big-box store.
Congrats again to Paul! Well deserved!
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Stay up to date on everything D15 and see what's happening around the district and in the city.
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11/12: LMPD 4th Division Advisory Board meeting (6 pm; 1340 S. 4th St)
11/13: Meriwether Fort Hill neighborhood association meeting (6:30 pm; 511 E. Burnett Ave)
11/15: Buffalo Unveiling (10 am, 4041 Preston Highway
11/16: BIG BOB Day (10 am - 1 pm; 3rd & Central)
11/18: German-Paristown Neighborhood Association meeting (6 pm; 942 E. Kentucky St)
11/19: Lucky Horseshoe Neighborhood Association meeting (6 pm; 1017 Queen Ave)
11/21: Metro Council meeting (6 pm; 611 W. Jefferson St)
11/25: Friends of Iroquois Park meeting (6:30 pm; 601 Woodlawn Ave)
11/27-12/1: Office closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
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Hi! My name is Kylie Strehl, and I am a student at UofL double majoring in Political Science and English and minoring in Spanish. I am also pursuing my M.A. in Political Science through the department’s Accelerated M.A. Program. I pursued an internship with the District 15 office with the goal of expanding my understanding of local government by gaining relevant educational experience outside of the classroom. Right now, I am super excited to be working on our Christopher’s Law legislation to require unarmed security guards to obtain a license and am also excited to help with our upcoming Building Our Blocks (BOB) event on 3rd Street. I have already learned so much, made so many connections, and I’m so grateful to be a part of such a great team of strong women! |
Hi District 15! My name is Abby Konshak, and I am an intern from Holy Cross High School. I enjoy reading, writing, listening to music, watching video essays, traveling to new places, serving the community, and studying topics like politics and history. I wanted to intern at City Hall because it was a location my school could get in contact with for our Corporate Internship Program, and because I am passionate about helping those in the entire Louisville community. In our office I help with B.O.B., also known as Building Our Blocks. When I go to college, I want to major in political science or public administration—maybe both! I’ll decide that when I’m a senior. For now, I want to focus on fun upcoming events: my next Y-Corps trip, my school’s trip to Italy, and our very own B.O.B. day! |
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Our BIG BOB Day is almost here!!
We’ve been hard at work over the last few months in the Third Street area and we’re ready to celebrate with you on Saturday, November 16th for BIG BOB Day!
BOB is a program my office offers that takes an intensive focus on one area in District 15 if an effort to proactively help neighbors tackle projects that will better themselves and their community. Through extensive door-to-door canvasing, we have identified services will be bringing to neighbors' doorsteps, such as home repairs through New Directions Housing Corporation, security checks through Louisville Metro Police Department, smoke detector installation through Louisville Division of Fire, and trees from TreesLouisville. On Saturday, November 16th, we’ll carry out these services, but the fun doesn’t stop there…
YOU are invited to our BIG BOB Day celebration on Saturday, November 16th from 10 am to 1 pm at 3rd and Central (next to Churchill Downs) to check out a robust resource fair, kid’s zone, and so much more, like:
🐱 LMAS Vaccine Clinic
🩺 UofL Health Mobile Clinic
🚒 Touch-A-Truck and Inflatable Safety House with Louisville Fire
🧹 BrightSide neighborhood cleanup
💊 Medication drop-off with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
🔒 Gun lock giveaway by the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN)
🐖 Petting zoo, bike helmet giveaway, free books, and activities for kids!
PLUS, you can get 50% off admission to the Speed Art Museum when you mention BOB on Saturday, November 16th. 🖼
AND Bike Louisville will be having a group ride from the Speed Art Museum to Wayside Park at 11 am (meet at the Speed). 🚲
AND Ms. Dianne & Co. will be handing out free sandwiches, compliments of Kroger, at 517 Heywood Avenue. 🥪
There a whole lot going on for BIG BOB Day. Don’t just take our word for it—come see for yourself!
Saturday, November 16
10 am to 1 pm
3rd & Central (lot next to Wagner's Pharmacy)
More info: https://www.d15bob.com/
Questions? Want to volunteer? Email Alena at alena.balakos2@louisvilleky.gov
The Louisville Metro Council has teamed up with the Association of Community Ministries to host a Holiday Food Drive collecting essential foods for those most in need this season. All donations will be provided to the Association of Community Ministries to be divided evenly amongst the thirteen Area Community Ministries.
WHEN: November 11 - December 5
WHERE: Drop off your food donations in the bins at Save A Lot (4148 Taylor Blvd) and MUSCL Jim King Senior Center (1016 E Burnett Ave)
WHAT IS NEEDED:
Can't drop off food but want to donate monetarily instead? Visit: https://www.louisvilleministries.org/ and click "Donate" to give.
Join the Friends of Iroquois Park volunteers for their next cleanup on Tuesday, November, 12th at 4:00 p.m. Meet near the gate to Uppill Rd and bring your supplies to clean up litter and other debris along Uppill Rd.
Join MSD for their final public event on the Mill Creek Watershed on Wednesday, November 13 from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. This is a public meeting/open house to talk about best management practice ideas for the Mill Creek watershed. Community input will drive their prioritization of projects and programs in the watershed plan to improve water quality and help shape their implementation efforts. RSVP: bit.ly/4dKvnHL
The MUSCL Senior Center is hosting a Holiday Bazaar & Open House on Saturday, November 16th from 8 am to 2 pm at St. Elizabeth (1016 Burnett Avenue). There will be pictures with Santa, decorations, baked good, crafts, and more! Booth space is still available. For more information, contact Karen at (502) 718-5430.
The Kentucky Derby Museum is thrilled to announce the return of Derby in December on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. From families to fashionistas, historians to horse racing fans, there's something for everyone in the 2nd annual Derby in December lineup.
This year, the celebration grows even bigger, with Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Festival joining forces with the museum to present an all-day, free-admission event packed with Derby-themed activities, complimentary treats, and the unveiling of a brand-new exhibit. In the spirit of giving, the first 100 guests will receive commemorative gifts.
Kick off the day with the grand opening of the museum's new art exhibit featuring renowned photographer, Dan Dry, who has captured nearly 50 Derbys. The collection, titled Through the Lens: Derby Moments by Dan Dry, will showcase iconic images and never-before-seen photographs that capture the thrill, elegance, and timeless magic of the Derby.
Churchill Downs joins the Derby in December celebration with specially themed activities to honor the 100th anniversary of the “Run for the Roses” — a phrase coined by former Churchill Downs president and sports columnist Bill Corum.
Adding to the all-day party, the Kentucky Derby Festival will share a festive preview of the upcoming season, highlighted by the unveiling of the 2025 Pegasus Pin, along with giveaways and exclusive opportunities to purchase tickets for 2025 events.
Throughout the day, there will also be opportunities for guests to enjoy complimentary snacks, holiday shopping, interactive experiences, kid-friendly activities, photo opportunities, and happy hour specials — all with a Derby twist. To see the full lineup of events and to plan your Derby in December experience, click here.
MSD provides essential wastewater, stormwater, and flood protection services to our community. MSD understands that when temperatures are high and conditions are dry, odors can increase and become more noticeable. To more effectively alert customers of conditions that result in an increase in odors, MSD identified “Odor Season” as June through October and has outlined additional response activities specific to this time of year. While sewer odors will always exist, MSD has made reducing the frequency and intensity one of our top priorities. The clAIRity program was created to inform the community of MSD’s progress on its odor mitigation efforts.
Recently, MSD published an updated Odor Response Standard Operating Procedure and Short-Term Action Plan on MSD’s “Odor” website. The Action Plan includes projects identified for execution between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026. The SOP for Odor Response outlines the measures MSD takes to respond to odor concerns.
In the Taylor Berry neighborhood, 817 catch basins were inspected, and 43 were identified for replacement in FY25 and FY26, with an estimated expenditure of $860,000.
The Taylor Berry project is projected to start 12/1/24 and be complete by 12/31/25.
The Louisville Metro Office of Planning has released the draft of the South Central Neighborhoods Plan is available to view and open to public comment. The draft plan will live on the website until Monday, December 2nd, after which it will be removed, and all comments will be aggregated and reviewed. The final plan document should be released in December. View the plan and comment here.
Low Income Heating Assistance Subsidy enrollment is now available through Kentucky’s Community Action Network for eligible Kentucky households. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through December 20, or until designated funds have been expended.
LIHEAP Fall Subsidy provides households with a one-time benefit depending on housing category, fuel type used for heating, and income level. The benefit can be applied towards home heating costs for electric, natural gas, propane, coal, wood, or fuel oil.
Benefits are paid directly to the household's energy vendor. Prior LIHEAP assistance does not impact a household’s eligibility. Households must meet eligibility requirements, including income eligibility of up to and including 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
In Jefferson County, LIHEAP Fall Subsidy is available through the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services. Appointments are required in advance to apply.
A toll-free automated appointment system is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to schedule an in-person appointment at one of seven locations. The automated scheduler will provide details about these locations as well as eligibility and required documentation. Jefferson County residents meeting eligibility can call the automated scheduler at 991-8391 or visit online.
Fund for the Arts Mini-Grants support the implementation of creative events that engage communities, whether those communities are based on identity, neighborhood, special interest, or more. The program is part of the Arts in Neighborhoods initiative and has a rolling deadline, meaning one can apply at any time. Deadlines for the upcoming 2024/2025 Mini-Grant cycle are January 17 and April 18.
**There is $5,000 in this fund specifically for District 15 artists—PLEASE APPLY!!!**
More info: https://fundforthearts.org/funding/community-event-mini-grants/
The Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) has developed a draft update to its Noise Exposure Maps for the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, known as Part 150. Part 150 is a voluntary federal program administered by the FAA that sets guidelines for aircraft noise exposure, and in establishing programs to minimize incompatibilities with surrounding land uses.
The Draft Noise Exposure Maps and accompanying documentation are being made available for public review, which started yesterday. For the 30-day public review period, the draft document and appendices can be accessed online at https://www.flylouisville.com/nem/. Hard copies may be viewed at the LRAA Maintenance Facility, 4320 Old Park Boulevard and Louisville Free Public Library – Main Branch, 301 York Street.
The LRAA is accepting written comments during the 30-day review period to Bob Slattery at Engineering@FlyLouisville.com or at the following address by November 22, Bob Slattery, LRAA Maintenance Facility, 4320 Old Park Blvd., Louisville, KY 40209.
The City of Louisville is excited to announce the launch of a Comprehensive Cultural Plan to shape the future of the city's vibrant arts and culture scene. The plan aims to identify and address the needs and aspirations of local artists, organizations, and residents, ensuring that Louisville remains a thriving cultural hub.
To gather valuable insights and ensure that the plan reflects the diverse perspectives of the community, the city is inviting all residents to participate in a public survey. The survey is now live and can be accessed online at LouisvilleCreatesPlan.com. The survey will remain open through Fall 2024.
The Arts and Culture Plan will serve as a roadmap for the city's arts and culture initiatives, guiding investments, partnerships, and programming. It will address key areas such as:
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Accessibility: Ensuring that arts and cultural experiences are accessible to all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status or physical abilities.
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Equity: Promoting diversity and inclusion in the arts and culture sector, ensuring that all voices are represented.
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Economic Impact: Supporting the growth of the local arts economy and its contribution to the city's overall prosperity.
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Public Engagement: Fostering opportunities for public participation in arts and cultural activities.
The city encourages all residents to take the survey and share their thoughts on the future of arts and culture in Louisville.
In July 2023, the Office of Planning was tasked by Metro Council to initiate a study with two goals in mind: 1) Identity existing opportunities for addressing Louisville’s housing shortage by building new housing in key areas, and 2) Identify barriers in the Land Development Code that are currently limiting housing in these areas. Throughout 2023/2024, the Office of Planning has worked with Opticos Design to evaluate existing conditions, conduct public forums seeking feedback on the matter, and develop the housing and mixed use development study materials. At the September 26 Ad Hoc Committee on Land Use meeting, we provided an introduction to some of the findings of this study. A draft of the study’s findings is now available for public review and comment.
The following links will take you to all the information related to the study:
Website (all info): https://louisvilleky.gov/government/office-planning/housing-mixed-use-development-study
Story Map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bd0a56b917e24db2a0b72efa52f626b8
Analysis Map: https://lojic.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=69fa324478b74b5e979746a712893d4b
Implementation Strategies Report: https://louisvilleky.gov/office-planning/document/housing-mixed-use-development-studyimplementation-reportsep2024
All comments will be reviewed, considered, and incorporated into the record. While there isn’t a deadline for receiving comments, it would be best to submit comment by November 30th.
The Rental Registry, which is enforced by the Department of Codes & Regulations, aims to maintain transparency and accountability among rental property owners across the city. Property owners must register all their rental units with the city and pay a fee ranging from $25 to $250; failure to register is subject to a fine up to $100 per day per housing unit.
The registry will provide accurate and up-to-date contact information for property owners and management companies to help the city better identify and contact the responsible parties should Code Enforcement Officers find code violations at a rental property. Louisville Metro Government will randomly select properties from the list each year to undergo inspections to ensure the units meet the city code of ordinances.
Starting November 4th, those who need to register their long-term rental properties will transition from using the Metro Business Portal to a new, user-friendly platform called Slate.
The Slate application, developed by Tolemi, has been implemented in several other cities, such as Monterey, CA and Lakewood, WA, for their Rental Registry initiatives. The effectiveness of the program in these locations is underscored by terms like "streamlined," "compliance," and "customer-friendly." We are confident this change will benefit rental property owners and increase the health and wellbeing of their tenants.
A comprehensive step-by-step guide for registering your property using Slate, along with extra detailed information, will be provided by the Department of Codes & Regulations on the day the program is launched. Updates to their website will also be made available at that time. For more information, subscribe to the Rental Property Owner Newsletter by filling out your email address in the following link (you can unsubscribe anytime).
LINK: https://louisvilleky.wufoo.com/forms/rental-property-owner-newsletter
Rental registration is available online at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/codes-regulations/. Property owners/managers may also apply in person with the Department of Codes & Regulations at 444 S. 5th St., Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40202.
With fall weather starting to show up, it’s a popular time to have a fire. Local open burning laws keep you safe, protect our air, and prevent you from being a nuisance to your neighbors. Know the rules before you burn.
What’s allowed?
- Burning clean, dry firewood in a firepit up to 3 ft x 3 ft. x 3 ft.
- Burning clean, dry firewood in a firepit up to 5 ft. by 5 ft. by 5 ft. (**WITH A PERMIT**)
- Certain ceremonial, agricultural, and fire-fighting training fires (**WITH A PERMIT**)
What’s against the law?
- Burning trash and yard waste, including tree leaves, garbage, yard clippings, construction debris, fallen tree branches and limbs, and other similar items
- Burning recreationally without using a legal fire pit
- Using accelerants
- Burning on Air Quality Alert days or when winds exceed 15 mph
Louisville's Amplify 502 Youth are the youth of Jefferson County who usually don’t get recognition. This program celebrates youth who are overcoming adversity, hardships, and challenges, while achieving and serving their community. These youth deserve to be honored as inspiring examples for their peers and community.
Louisville's Amplify 502 Youth Nominees are:
- Jefferson county residents
- Between the ages of 13-24
- Serving as examples of good citizenship and volunteer community service
Place your nominations here.
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