First, we bade farewell to 7 Councilmembers who will be leaving us as of January 4th. I wish them all well in their future endeavors. I do want to particularly highlight Councilmembers Blackwell, Engle, and Flood. These three were all original Councilmembers when Metro Council was formed approximately 22 years ago. They all served their districts and the city with distinction. They literally created the groundwork for our existing merged government and I appreciate the sacrifices they made for the community. We will miss their experience and wisdom.

We approved the Sherrif’s budget and the County Clerk’s budget. They both have continued to operate in a fiscally sustainable manner. The Sherrif broke even essentially and the Clerk returned money to the general fund at the end of her fiscal year.

We closed a loophole in our procedures for the use of public parks so now we can properly punish those who do not get a permit to use the park for a group event and charge a fee to enter. This happened recently and we had little recourse to punish the guilty parties. In the future, we will have tools to ensure compliance with the law.

There were many NDF allocations at the end of the year. This included a NDF in partnership with the suburban city of Woodland Hills in District 19. They are doing an upgrade to the playground in their park which is used by citizens of the larger District 19 community. We provided some funding to help offset the costs of that playground as it is open to anyone that wants to use it. This is in line with my ongoing support and funding to ensure our parks in and around District 19 are some of the best in the city.

We did overturn one development case which included over 400 apartment units to go up on Beulah Church Road in district 23. An almost identical development was overturned 2 years ago by the same developer due to issues around infrastructure and safety needs. Almost none of those original issues were remediated so the council overturned this case again. That developer has accused the council of being anti-residential development. This is patently and demonstrably absurd. We rarely overturn zoning cases, District 23 where this was proposed has had the 2nd highest growth of multi-family housing in the city, and Louisville is still considered one of the most affordable places to live in the country. There is one developer who has disproportionately been overturned including, in this case, twice on the same property. The truth is the council has a growth mindset but we expect all developers to adhere to the guidance of Plan 2040. If this developer continues to experience zoning overturns, maybe they need to reflect on their development practices and if they align with the goals of the city.

Finally, we approved the final budget adjustment from the 2023-2024 budget that ended in July of 2024. As I indicated before, we did run a multimillion-dollar surplus for at or less than 1% of our overall budget demonstrating that we are fiscally sustainable. A large chunk of the money went to modernization of Louisville Fire capital projects so these are one-time moneys that will fix deteriorating infrastructure. In addition, another $500,000 went to the Aiken/Arnold Palmer traffic circle project which means that we are now very close to fully funding that project. This shows that we are working hard to ensure our infrastructure needs remain a priority and I appreciate the Mayor’s support in making this happen.

As 2024 comes to a close, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This is a very special time for all of us to reflect on the past, look forward to the future, and reconnect with family. I will be praying for all of you that you have a safe and joyous holiday season. I only ask that you do the same for me. This has been an interesting year for me to say the least. I continue to be humbled and gratified to have your trust to represent you on Metro Council. Thank you for your confidence. I look forward to another year of working together to improve our incredible city.

May God bless each and every one of you!

Humbly Yours,

Anthony Piagentini

Winter at the Library

Top 10 things to do this Winter Break for FREE at the Library

  School is almost out for winter break and the Louisville Free Public Library is ready to help keep families engaged and entertained, without putting a dent in your budget. All LFPL branches offer free activities for children, teens, and caregivers throughout the winter break (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day), including a variety of craft and maker workshops, dance parties, hands-on learning, movie screenings, teen challenges, and more!

1. Vie for the title of puzzle master at a Teen Jigsaw Puzzle Race (Dec. 21, 2-3:30 p.m. @ Main), or try to escape not one, but three rooms at Northeast’s Teen Escape Room Challenge (Jan. 2, 1-5 p.m. @ Northeast Regional Library)
2. The whole family can relax and create together at special Mindfulness Storytimes at Western Library (Dec. 23 & 30, 6 p.m., for kids ages 0-10 and their families), or drop-in to make winter crafts over hot cocoa at Shively Library (Jan. 2, 2:30-4:30 p.m., ages 0-10).
3. Dress to get messy at a Slime Party at Main (Dec. 30, 2 p.m.), or get creative with glue and paint at Crescent Hill’s Winter Crafts & Games (Dec. 23, 2-4 p.m., ages 4-10).
4. Young book fans can read to a dog (Jan. 2, 3 p.m. @ St. Matthews Library, ages 5-10 & Jan. 4, 2-3:30 p.m. @ Northeast Regional Library), get cozy with snacks and a good book at Silent Book Club (Dec. 28, 2 p.m. @ South Central Regional Library, ages 8-12), and meet new friends at the Little Bookworms Book Club (Jan. 2, 1:30 p.m. @ Iroquois, ages 6-11.
5. Celebrate New Year’s Eve early with a NYE Storytime (Dec. 31, 10:30 a.m. @ Northeast Regional Library), NYE Dance Party (Dec. 31, 11 a.m. @ Iroquois Library), NYE Around the World (Dec. 31, 2 p.m. @ Main Library), and a Noon Year’s Eve Party (Dec. 31, 11 a.m. @ South Central Regional Library).
6. Our youngest patrons are invited to try out percussion instruments while their parents chat at a Musical Baby Play Group (Jan. 4, 10:30am @ Middletown Library, ages 0-2), or take in a storytime at any Library branch.
7. Kids & teens are invited to the Shawnee Library to learn the basics of cooking (Jan. 2, 3 p.m.) and discover their green thumb at an indoor plant session (Jan. 3, 3 p.m.).
8. Learn how to play loteria in both Spanish and English / Acompáñenos a jugar lotería Vamos a jugar de forma bilingüe Española e Ingles. (Jan. 2, 6 p.m. @ Iroquois Library)
9. Teens can get out of the house and meet up at an indoor snowball fight (Jan. 2, 2-3:30 p.m. @ Main Library), or grab snacks and a movie at a teens-only Holiday Party (Dec. 23, 2-4 p.m. @ Shawnee).
10. READ! There is always a good book to check out at your local library branch.    

These are just a few of the many free activities hosted by your Louisville Free Public Library. In addition, we offer a wide selection of books, eBooks, audiobooks, DVDs, and streaming videos to keep kids and teens reading and entertained during the break—all for free!  For a full list of activities and registration information, go to www.LFPL.org/winterbreak, or call (502) 574-1611. 

Cafe Louie 2025 Meet your Legislators schedule

You can meet Councilman Piagentini on January 11th, at the Middletown Library!

Public Meetings/Notices

Click the dates below to view the Weekly Activity Report for that week.

• IARC Weekly Activity Report 12.18.24.pdf
• IARC Weekly Activity Report 12.11.24..pdf

New Requirement to Renew Driver's License in Kentucky

Starting January 1, 2025, all Kentuckians must undergo a vision screening to renew their driver’s license. Multiple states have adopted mandatory vision screenings to ensure drivers have the visual acuity required to operate a vehicle safely.

This new requirement, enacted during the 2021 General Assembly, aims to promote highway safety by ensuring that all drivers maintain good vision throughout their driving career. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet  (KYTC) is responsible for administering the vision requirement law for drivers seeking to renew their license. Drivers have two options for vision screenings when renewing their license. Click on the link below for additional details. https://drive.ky.gov/Drivers/Documents/KCTC_fact%20sheet_public_.pdf

Call Before You Dig

Suspect A Natural Gas Leak?

An important update is coming to the rental registration process!

The Rental Registry (Chapter 119), which is enforced by the Department of Codes & Regulations, aims to maintain transparency and accountability among rental property owners across the city. 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

Message from LMPD

Over the past month, the 8th Division has experienced a concerning increase in thefts from vehicles and auto thefts, particularly in our residential areas. In response, our dedicated officers and detectives, in collaboration with various units across the Louisville Metro Police Department, have worked tirelessly to address and combat this criminal activity. Their diligent efforts have led to several arrests, and investigations continue as we identify additional suspects. Although we have seen a decrease in these incidents, they remain a top priority for our patrols and enforcement actions. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding your property. Most of the recent car break-ins involved unlocked vehicles, and the stolen vehicles had keys left inside them. Additionally, several incidents involved open garages resulting in thefts from vehicles and auto thefts. By taking simple preventative measures, we can significantly reduce the attractiveness of our neighborhoods to criminals. Please consider the following prevention tips to greatly reduce your chances of being victimized: ·        REMOVE KEYS FROM INSIDE VEHICLES ·        LOCK VEHICLE DOORS ·        CLOSE GARAGES ·        REMOVE GARAGE DOOR OPENERS FROM VEHICLES ·        REMOVE ANY VALUABLES FROM INSIDE VEHICLES Your cooperation is essential in making our neighborhoods safer and less appealing to potential thieves. By locking your vehicles and ensuring keys and garage door openers are not left inside, we can collectively deter criminal activity. In addition to our enforcement efforts, the 8th Division has hosted several community events over the past month, with more planned in the near future. These events provide an excellent opportunity for you to engage with our officers, ask questions, and learn more about our efforts to keep our community safe. Below are some pictures from our recent events, as well as a schedule of upcoming events. We warmly invite you to attend and participate.

Join 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.

To learn more about applications, please visit Boards and Commissions - List | LouisvilleKY.gov

Report Potholes

We need your help reporting potholes, use one of the methods below:

1. Use an online form by clicking here.
2. Use Twitter by sending the location of the hole to @LouMetro311 and include the hashtag #502pothole.
3. Call Metro311 or 574-5000 to report potholes or any other issues.
4. You can also call my office at 574-1119 or email chanelle.smith@louisvilleky.gov and we'll turn it in on your behalf.

To report a pothole on an interstate in Jefferson County, go to the “contact us” dropdown menu and select “report a hazard” on KYTC’s website http://transportation.ky.gov or click here.

Report a Litterer

Get directly involved in making Louisville a more litter-free community through the Report-A-Litterer program aimed at motorists who throw fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts, soda bottles or any type of litter out their car window.

Stay Informed

LMPD Nextdoor

The Louisville Metro Police Department is now on Nextdoor to engage with residents of Metro Louisville. Detective Sergeant Roderick Beasley is active on the platform representing the 8^th Division. He is sharing information with residents of the 8^th Division about current crime trends, crime tips, and community events for your neighborhoods. To join us on Nextdoor use the link below.

Link to LMPD on nextdoor

Guidelines for Calling the Police

New Kentucky Drivers License Info

Find the Latest Crime & Safety Info from LMPD

Crime Trends from Louisville Metro Police  Click here and view our interactive crime mapping tool. Save it in your favorites, it's updated daily. Forward this email to your friends and family!  Or use the crime mapping iPhone app: Crime Mapping | Louisville Metro PD, KY (louisville-police.org) If you see crime occurring, please contact the Louisville Metro Police Department. Call 911 for emergencies. Call 502-574-7111 for non-emergency related help or to find a towed vehicle. Call 574-LMPD to report crime tips.