 Hello, D15! It’s your Legislative Aide, Amy! Councilwoman Chappell has carefully crafted your newsletter content up until now, which is unique for a council person, but this month I’m taking over!
Since some of you may not know me, here's a little about me and my role in the D15 office...
I am a bit of a government nerd. I like to think that helps when it comes to solving the often-complex questions and problems that arise in District 15. While I can't promise I can solve every issue, I do my best to listen and follow up. Sometimes it can feel like I’m more of a therapist, but I don’t mind since their profession and mine all centers on helping people.
I act as the repository for all the information that flows through the D15 office. I see every email and piece of mail that comes through the office and I’m responsible for passing along this information to Councilwoman Chappell so she can be in-the-know, especially when it comes to decision-making and what is going on in the District. This means that I handle all the meeting and event requests for Councilwoman Chappell and, occasionally, I get to play host for the District too!
My job requires a lot of paperwork, so whether that’s filing legislation with the clerk’s office, writing a letter of support, drafting a proclamation, or processing other documents, I’m your gal!
I also use my powers to work with the other Metro departments on a wide array of projects, such as choosing how to spend money earmarked for projects in our parks and working with County Attorneys on legislative requests.
That about sums up how I spend my days working for District 15, which is my full-time gig although you may see me out moonlighting as a mom to a 7- and 4-year-old. 😊
Now that you know more about my role, let me tell you about what our office has been working on this past month...
Budget: Metro Council approved the City’s final budget on June 20. This is the revised version of the budget the mayor proposed in April. The final budget included money for projects at Emerson and Wyandotte parks, the Jim King Senior Center, the Jefferson County Extension office, the Speed Art Park, the Park Ranger pilot, Slow Streets, and much more. You can find more information on the FY 25 budget here. Our office also added funding for sidewalks, speed humps, Repair Affair, parks projects, and BOB. Plus, we’re always looking for grants and opportunities to maximize funding and help get more projects off the ground.
Metro TV: Last month, Councilwoman Chappell filmed a segment for Metro TV that takes viewers on a trip through some of the notable places in District 15. You can check it out here. Fun fact: The producer and videographer for the video, Nikki, also lives in D15!
BOB: Alena has hit the ground running for BOB: Third Street. This second iteration of BOB will cover parts of D15 in and around 3rd St (see map below). This includes parts of neighborhoods like South Louisville and Wilder Park. Stay tuned for more info about upcoming planning meetings, ways to get involved, and some of this BOB’s unique initiatives. ICYMI, last month, Councilwoman Chappell spoke with Shay McCallister about our next BOB project.
54th World Championship Dainty Championship and Dainty Fest: Councilwoman Chappell is once again heading the planning efforts for this year’s Dainty. This year, the festivities kick off on Thursday’s Dainty Disco (7/25) and will continue with events on Saturday and Sunday before the big Dainty Day on Monday, July 29th. You can find more details below!
Summer events: Speaking of the Dainty, summer events are in full swing! Councilwoman Chappell and Alena spent last weekend at the Southend Community Market in District 15 meeting market goers and talking with community members. It was such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning that we are already planning our next appearance at the market! In the meantime, you can also find us at other events in the district this month, such as the Borders & Borders event and LIBA’s South Points Buy Local Fair. Please stop by and say hi and pick up some free District 15 swag!
Stay hydrated and stay cool this July! We’ll see you around the District!
-Amy
Councilwoman Chappell and Alena at the South Louisville Community Market on 6/22.
The Saint Joseph Area Association will be hosting a neighborhood cleanup on Saturday, July 6th. Volunteers will meet on Zanzabar’s patio (2100 S. Preston St.) to enjoy coffee from Sunergos, and after collecting bags of trash hang out and enjoy free Craft House Pizza!
Louisville Parks and Recreation is excited to announce the July schedule for the Iroquois Amphitheater Free Summer Movie Series. All five dates include double features with a focus on family friendly favorites.
July’s lineup includes the following dates and titles:
- July 6: Rock Dog 3: Battle the Beat (PG) and Stop Making Sense (PG)
- July 13: WALL-E (G) and Say Anything (PG-13)
- July 19: Babe (G) and Barbie (PG-13)
- July 25: Migration (G) and Trolls: Band Together (PG)
- July 26: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (PG) and Paddington 2 (PG)
Gates open at 6 p.m. for concessions and door prizes, the first movie starts at 7 p.m. No outside food or beverages allowed. For a full list of movies and shows, visit http://iroquoisamphitheater.com
The Louisville Free Public Library is bringing their Bookmobile to Iroquois Park on July 11 and 25 from 11 am to noon. They will be parked next to the playground.
 Borders & Borders Attorneys is hosting an event for Louisville’s Hispanic Community at Holy Name Church (2914 S. 3rd St) on Saturday, July 13th! The event will host realtors, lenders, insurance agencies, inspectors, title agencies, and community partners. This outdoor event will be free and open to the community and include food, inflatables, a DJ, and more! Plus, Alena will be set up with the District 5 table, so come by and say hi!
The Iroquois scenic overlook is open to cars this weekend: July 13 & 14.
The road to Iroquois Park's North Overlook will be open one weekend a month to vehicular traffic. 🚗🌳
Louisville Parks and Recreation will open the gate to Uppill Road on the second Saturday and Sunday of every month through November 2024 (weather permitting). Gates will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Here's the rest of the 2024 schedule:
🔹 July 13 and 14
🔹 August 10 and 11
🔹 September 14 and 15
🔹 October 12 and 13
🔹 November 9 and 10
More info: https://www.olmstedparks.org/events/iroquois-park-uppill-road-to-north-overlook-opening/
 The Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA) will host the South Points Buy Local Fair on July 13 from noon to 4pm in Iroquois Park at the Iroquois Amphitheater
The event will feature:
- Local, independent businesses with South Louisville ties
- Music that's fun for everyone
- Kids activities including bouncy house and crafts
- Health screenings at UofL Health Mary & Elizabeth Hospital booth
- Local libations including food and beer
- Silent Auction
- BYOB—(water) bottle that is! Free ice cold refills from Louisville Water Company!
Admission is free and there will be free parking in the Amphitheater parking lot.
The Friends of Iroquois Park will be meeting on Monday, July 22nd at 6:30 pm at the Iroquois Library (601 W. Woodlawn Ave). All are welcome to join in a conversation about making Iroquois Park even better!
BTW, consider becoming a park steward! Park steward volunteers leverage and expand the work Olmsted is able to do. Park stewards are critical in keeping the Olmsted Parks maintained at a higher level. They support our team for healthy parks in removing invasive species, planting trees, monitoring our woodlands, and even work on small construction projects. They are trained, have ownership over their work, and autonomy. Register today!
The World Championship Dainty Contest will grace George Hauck Way for the 54th year on the last Monday in July (7/29). Spectators will gather in the street to watch the Dainty being played on the Dainty court. There will also be a food court, beer garden, family area, and more.
The Dainty Fest will also be back this year, starting with the Dainty Disco on Thursday (7/25) and resuming Saturday (7/27) and Sunday (7/28).
Here is the full schedule of events:
- Dainty Disco, Thursday, July 25th, 7 pm to 10 pm, Art Sanctuary (1433 S. Shelby St), $25
- Dainty FUNdraiser, Saturday, July 27th, 4 pm to 9 pm, The Merryweather (1001 Lydia St), free
- Dainty’s Schnitzelburg Sunday, Sunday, July 28th, 11 am to 9 pm, George Hauck Way, free
- 54th Annual World Championship Dainty Contest, Monday, July 29th, 20245 pm - 10 pm, George Hauck Way, free
For more information about Dainty, visit DaintyFest.org or follow @daintyfest on social media.
LMPD's 3rd and 4th Divisions will be hosting their annual National Night Out at Iroquois Park on Tuesday, August 6 from 5 pm to 8 pm. It is a free family-friendly event that gives you the opportunity to interact with officers, enjoy live music, partake in free food, and more!
TreesLouisville has officially kickoff the Louisville Tree Plan (Urban Forest Master Plan) in partnership with Louisville Metro. This initiative will be a year long process of engaging with the public to learn how we can create a robust tree canopy that serves all communities. Upon completion we will have a comprehensive plan in place for maintaining and improving our canopy across Jefferson County.
What can you do?
- Take the quick online survey
- Invite TreesLouisville to speak at your next club/neighborhood meeting
- Attend one of the public workshops across Louisville
- Sign up for the TreesLouisville newsletter
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The Louisville Audubon Society reminds you that peak spring bird migration occurs March through May. Please consider participating in LIGHTS OUT LOUISVILLE to make your home, neighborhood, and our city more bird-friendly.
Did you know that most birds migrate at night? Over 3.7 million birds flew over Jefferson County on Derby Night last year alone!
Between 11 pm and 6 am you can:
- Turn off unnecessary lights indoorsUse shades, blinds and curtains to prevent the glare from indoor lights shining through windows
- Turn off unnecessary lights outdoors
- Put necessary lighting on timers or use motion sensors
- Make sure external lighting is down-shielded so light shines where people need it, not upward into the night sky
For more information, visit www.louisvilleaudubon.org.; Questions? Email louisvilleaudubon@gmail.com.
Metro TV has programming such as Louisville this Week,” a weekly news magazine show and “Louisville Focus,” an original talk show, both hosted by Louisville’s Director of City Partnerships, John Ramsey; “alDia en Louisville,” a Spanish language talk show hosted by Jose Donis; “Dining Around the World” which spotlights immigrant owned restaurants throughout Louisville; “Uniquely Louisville” spotlights the people, places, and events that make our city special; and last but not least “Metro Council Chronicles,” hosted by members of the Louisville Metro Council.
They also have programming like “Park it Here” about the great park system in the city; “On The Wild Side” about all the Louisville Zoo has to offer; “Metro Matters” and “Moxie Talks,” feature the people, places, and events of interest throughout the city; and “Family Friendly Foods” provides a great opportunity to learn how to better feed your family.
MetroTV can be watched on Spectrum Cable Channel 184, online, or with the Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV OTT apps. Press conferences are also streamed live on Facebook at @loumetrotv or @Mayor Craig Greenberg, and shared on Twitter at @lou_metrotv.
The Department of Codes & Regulations has initiated their new Rental Registry program and your action is required. 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.
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.
The Office of Planning’s Library Hours return in 2024! City Planners from Louisville Metro’s Office of Planning will be available to answer questions about zoning (What is zoning? Why does it matter?) and discuss the ongoing LDC Reform project, including Middle Housing. We want to hear about your neighborhood and discuss what the reform means for you!
These conversations are part of the ongoing Land Development Code (LDC) Reform. 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.
- Tuesday, July 30, Iroquois
- Tuesday, August 13, South Central Regional
- Tuesday, August 27, Bon Air
- Tuesday, September 10, Newburg
- Tuesday, September 24, Shively
All sessions are from 3 pm to 7 pm.
If you have questions or want to learn more, contact ldcreform@louisvilleky.gov or (502) 574-5860/(502) 574-8272
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is offering free radon test kits while the supply lasts.
Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas. It is also the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Since it is difficult to identify any immediate symptoms related to radon exposure, it may take years before health problems appear.
When to test your home's radon levels:
- If it's never been tested or radon levels are unknown
- When preparing to buy or sell
- Before and after any renovations, especially after making any repairs to reduce radon levels
- Before making any lifestyle changes in the home that would cause someone to spend more time in the basement or lower level (like converting a basement to a bedroom).
Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you or your family is at risk of radon exposure.
Click here to request your free test kit or call 502-574-6650.
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