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Peace,
Yesterday I joined tenants from our district as they rallied, marched, and demanded for better housing. Shoutout to Jasmine Harris and the New Directions Tenants Union for fighting back against the neglect of their property manager New Directions at Russell Apartments and across the city. We've heard stories about excessive mold, roaches on kids, bed bugs, and so much more in some of these apartments. I believe affordable, comfortable, and sustainable housing should be a right. We are working with tenants to hold New Directions accountable for making this a reality. On Wednesday, December 7th at 1:30 PM, the CEO of New Directions, Lori Flanery, will be coming to the Community Affairs, Housing, Health, and Education Committee. We will also be joined by Representative Attica Scott who used to serve on the New Directions Board of Directors. We invite anyone who can attend to join us at committee that day in person or virtually.
You can watch council meetings in person at Louisville City Hall, 601 W Jefferson St or virtually on:
Facebook facebook.com/louisvillemetrocouncil
Metro TVÂ louisvilleky.gov/metrotv
Spectrum Cable Channel 184 AT&T U-Verse Channel
A story about the rally can be found here.
Best,
Councilman Jecorey Arthur
Louisville Metro Council District 4
601 West Jefferson Street｜Louisville, KY 40202
P: (502)574-1104Â
Neighborhood Advisory Board Meeting
Councilman Jecorey Arthur is starting a District 4 Neighborhood Advisory Board. If you're interested in advising our office on how we spend money and prioritize policy for the district, please join us. We are looking for 10 constituents from our 10 neighborhoods to meet with the Councilman at least monthly. We'll have a virtual interest meeting about this on Tuesday, November 1st 6-8 PM. To register for that meeting go here.
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. All meetings are open to the public in City Hall. 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:Â https://louisvilleky.webex.com/meet/D4
Phone-In: (415)655-0001
Access Code: 180-005-6522 #
Stream:Â 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 at 1:30 PM in the community room. 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 20th at 3:00 PM but will likely be held for the next meeting Thursday, November 3rd.
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 20th
- 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. If you are a downtown resident please contact us to take our feedback survey.
- 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. This should be discussed in the Labor and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, October 18th at 3:00 PM.
- 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. It should be discussed in the Budget Committee on Thursday, October 20th at 5:00 PM.
- 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.
- Butchertown Street Lights Neighborhood Development Fund (NDF) Grant — This $1,091 grant will fund the installation of two street lights on Branden Klayko Alley between North Shelby Street and North Wenzel Street, including a five-year lease with Louisville Gas and Electric Company.
- Phoenix Hill Sidwalk Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF) Grant — This $4,000 grant will fund sidewalk repairs on East Madison Street.
- California Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF) Grant — This $6,520 grant will fund two speed humps and two speed hump signs on West Kentucky Street between South 22nd Street and South 23rd Street.
- Alberta Odell Jones Park Resolution — This resolution will name the new Maple Street Park in California after Alberta Odell Jones (November 12, 1930 – August 5, 1965), a Black American attorney and civil rights icon, who was one of the first Black women to pass the Kentucky bar and the first woman appointed city attorney in Jefferson County.
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.
LHOME Home Repairs
LHOME is a local, community-development lender offering affordable Home Repair and Energy Efficiency Loans that could be perfect for your needs! To learn more, click here.
Democratic Caucus Will Meet on Thursday, October 13
The Democratic Caucus of the Louisville Metro Council will meet on Thursday, October 13, at 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Third Floor Conference Room, Historic City Hall, 601 West Jefferson Street. To learn more, click here.
Louisville Metro Comprehensive Review Commission Will Meet on Friday, October 14
The Louisville Metro Comprehensive Review Commission will meet on Friday, October 14, at 3:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in Metro Council Chambers in Historic City Hall, 601 West Jefferson Street. To learn more, click here.
Louisville Zoo Temporarily Closing Some Areas to Protect Zoo Birds from Wild Avian Flu
With recently confirmed cases of avian flu discovered in a Fayette County backyard poultry flock, the Louisville Zoo is taking precautionary measures to keep its bird ambassadors safe and healthy. The Zoo has temporarily closed its public walk-through aviaries and is moving some birds to protected areas out of an abundance of caution. None of the Zoo’s birds are currently showing clinical signs of the disease. To learn more, click here.
Minority Caucus to Meet Thursday, October 13, 2022
The Minority Caucus of the Louisville Metro Council will meet at its normally scheduled day and time of 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, 2022, from the 2nd floor Caucus Room within City Hall (601 W. Jefferson Street). To learn more, click here.
Metro Council Members Host Fall Community Cleanups
Several Metro Council members are hosting fall community-wide cleanups in their respective districts this month. These cleanups are held in conjunction with Brightside, Inc. Plan to attend or organize a cleanup this fall and help make Louisville a cleaner place to live. To learn more, click here.
Mayor Appoints Leanne French as Director of Early Childhood Development
Mayor Greg Fischer announced Leanne French as the city’s inaugural Director of Early Childhood Development. In her new role, French will engage with community stakeholders to increase high quality learning opportunities for local children, thereby increasing their likelihood for school successes and providing greater employment opportunities for parents and guardians. To learn more, click here.
Water Environment Federation Presents Mayor Fischer With Public Officials Award for Contributions to the Water Industry
The Water Environment Federation, a not-for-profit technical and educational organization representing water quality professionals around the world, has awarded Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer with its 2022 Public Officials Award for his contributions to the water environment over his three terms in office. To learn more, click here.
Notice About Permit Inspections Starting November 2022
Beginning November 1, 2022, any permit that has exceeded the number of inspections associated with your permit will require payment of the additional inspection fee prior to the inspection being scheduled. This will be an automatic requirement when requested on the business portal or when requests are submitted via phone or email. The fee amount for additional inspections remains at $50.00. We are not assessing an additional fee for any inspection with a result of “phone, cancelled, waived, no work, or rescheduled”.
Louisville Celebrates Digital Inclusion Week, Touts National Trailblazer Designation
As Digital Inclusion Week concluded, Louisville Metro Government (LMG) is celebrating the designation as a 2022 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) — the third time the city has received the accolade for digital equity. To learn more, click here.
Mayor Joins Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund & Metro Council Members to Announce Recipients of American Rescue Plan Funds
Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Council members and Christie McCravy, Executive Director of the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, announced seven projects to be funded by $40 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) dollars – adding almost 300 affordable housing units specifically for households at or below 30% of area median income. To learn more, click here.
Mayor Signs Executive Order Setting New Targets for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the City
Mayor Greg Fischer signed an Executive Order that sets new targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the city and “builds on our growing momentum to deliver a healthier environment for today and tomorrow.” To learn more, click here.
Air Pollution Control District Proposed Permit
Notice of Action on a Federally Enforceable District Origin Operating Permit (FEDOOP)
The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (District) proposes to renew a FEDOOP operating permit for Kelley Technical Coatings, Inc. (manufactures swimming pool and deck coatings, non-slip and non-skid coatings, architectural and precision OEM coatings, as well as outdoor coatings for tennis and basketball court surfaces), 1445 South 15th Street, Louisville, KY 40210 in accordance with Regulation 2.17. The 30-day public comment period starts on October 6, 2022, and ends on November 7, 2022. A public hearing may be scheduled if the District determines that there are germane, unresolved issues or substantial public interest, in accordance with Regulation 2.07. To learn more, click here.
Legal Aid Society Guide to Protections Against Landlord DiscriminationÂ
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.
Volunteers Needed for Parkhill & California Neighborhood Cleanup October 15
President James and Councilman Arthur will host a collaborative cleanup in the Parkhill and California neighborhoods. Volunteers will meet at 15th and Hill Streets. Gloves, bags, and lunch will be provided to all volunteers. To learn more, click here.
Affordable Pet Clinic October 16
Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Pets4Life will be hosting an Affordable Pet Clinic this Sunday, October 16 12-2pm in Chickasaw Park. Rabies Vaccines, DAPP Vaccines, Microchips, Flea Medicine. Services available to first 75 dogs or while supplies last. $10 fee per dog. Pre-registration suggested. Sign-up at Pets4LifeLou.org/October16.
*Must live in 40203, 40208, 40209, 40210, 40211, 40212, 40215 or 40217*
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.
Alcohol Beverage Control
There has been a notice issued for 441 South 4th Street. To learn more, click here.
There has been a notice issued for 1860 Mellwood Avenue Ste. 187. To learn more, click here.
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