Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting - February 23, 2023
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Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting - February 23, 2023
The Budget and Appropriations Committee of the Louisville Metro Council met on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 4:31 PM in Council Chambers and virtually. Vice Chair Kevin Kramer presided initially, with Chair Rick Blackwell joining later. The committee considered 12 legislative items and received an update on the Workday financial system and invoice payment delays.
Consent Calendar
- O-029-23 (Newburg Middle School football field repairs): Appropriated $50,000 from District 2 Neighborhood Development Funds to the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation for field repair. Approved 9-0 and sent to the consent calendar.
- O-025-23 (Transfer of funds from District 7 NDF to CIF): Transferred $100,000 from District 7 Neighborhood Development Fund to Capital Infrastructure Fund for infrastructure improvements on Herr Lane. Approved 9-0 and sent to the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Caleb Howard, District 2 Legislative Aide, spoke in support of O-028-23 (Mental Health Lou & You series) and O-029-23 (Newburg field).
- Steven Seagal, Newburg Middle School representative, and Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin (D-2) advocated for the football field repairs, noting the field is unusable due to standing water and the school lacks JCPS funding for repairs.
- Shalanna Taylor, District 6 Legislative Aide, spoke on CIF and NDF items for sidewalk repair and drone traffic studies.
- Heather Blazis, District 12 Legislative Aide, spoke on the pickleball courts at Riverview Park.
- Ken Hillebrand, Louisville Accelerator Team, explained amendments to American Rescue Plan (ARP) ordinances regarding safe outdoor spaces, community care campus, and public safety reforms.
- Richard Champion, Finance Director for OMB, presented the Workday update and answered questions.
Discussion Items
- O-028-23 (Mental Health Lou & You): Originally $2,000 from District 2. Committee members added funding: $2,000 from District 4 (Councilman Arthur), $1,000 from District 19 (Councilman Piagentini), and $250 from District 14 (Councilwoman Fowler), totaling $5,250. The funds support a mental health education series at library branches. Approved 9-0 and sent to old business.
- O-029-23 (Newburg Middle School field): Discussed the field's condition (wetland, unplayable) and the need for fundraising beyond the $50,000. Council members noted the field is open to the community and used by nearby Boys & Girls Club. Concerns about JCPS not contributing were raised. Approved 9-0.
- CIF/NDF Items: Approved by voice vote:
- Item 3: $8,000 for sidewalk repair at 710 Baroness Ave (District 6).
- Item 4: $1,200 reimbursement for drone traffic studies (District 6).
- Item 5: $454.53 for pedestrian/traffic study at Barbour Lane and Trail Ridge Road (District 16).
- Item 6: $2,696.50 (amended from $2,470) for Wolf Pen Springdale Landscaping Project (District 16).
- Item 7: $12,325.75 for flashing lights and retrofitting solar street light at Farmer Elementary and Ramsey Middle Schools (District 20). Discussion noted the crossing is on Old Shelbyville Road, a state road requiring KYTC approval; public works handled the process.
- Item 9: $300,000 for pickleball courts at Riverview Park (District 12). Commented on popularity of pickleball in Southwest Louisville.
- O-025-23 (Transfer of funds): Councilwoman McCraney explained the funds will be used for infrastructure improvements on Herr Lane, including a left-turn lane to Westport Road.
- O-030-23 (ARP Amendments): Extended timeline for Outdoor Safe Space (LAT-0050), expanded resources for homelessness (LAT-0053) to include a community care campus, extended public safety reforms (LAT-0061), and accelerated public safety hiring incentives (LAT-0069). An amendment updated Schedule A. Concerns raised about prioritizing residents of safe outdoor space for the new affordable housing; administration committed to follow up. Appraisals for the Stenson property were requested. Approved 10-0 after reconsideration and amendment.
- Item 10 (YMCA Safety Around Water Program) was held and will expire February 28, 2023. Item 11 (ARP reappropriations) was held.
Key Outcomes
- O-028-23 (Mental Health): Approved as amended (9-0), sent to old business.
- O-029-23 (Newburg field): Approved (9-0), sent to consent calendar.
- O-025-23 (Transfer): Approved (9-0), sent to consent calendar.
- All CIF/NDF items (3-7,9) approved by voice vote.
- O-030-23 (ARP amendments): Approved after reconsideration and amendment (10-0), sent to old business.
- Item 10: Held; Item 11: Held.
- Workday Update: Richard Champion reported the invoice backlog reduced from 5,000 to 3,500 invoices (69 from prior fiscal year). 39,000 payments issued since October 3, 2022. With current processing rate (200 invoices/day imported, approving at double that), the backlog expected to be cleared in 18 business days. Committee members commended the progress but raised concerns about vendor relationships, reporting capabilities, and the need for customized reporting. Champion committed to meeting with council staff to address reporting needs.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Um, Councilman Kevin Kramer. It's 4 31 on uh February 23rd. Uh this is a budget committee uh appropriations and budget. Um I'm vice chair of the committee. Uh Councilman Blackwell is in route, and so he'll be taking the meeting over from me very soon. Um I'm joined in chambers by councilwoman um uh I'm looking right at you. Marilyn Parker, sorry, you've been working with Maryland for how many years now? Uh Councilman Jacori Arthur. I knew I was gonna forget somebody's name, I just thought it'd be Andrew's. Um Arthur, uh Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin, uh Paul McCraney, Andrew Owen, and uh Jeff Hudson. We're also joined uh virtually by council members Patrick Mulvahill and Cindy Fowler. Um I'm gonna move through the agenda in the uh in the order that it's here. I'm gonna check not taking anything out of order. Um we will be holding item number 11 when we get to that one for the for future meeting. So and before I get going, I need to have this statement read in about people attending virtually. This meeting is being held pursuant to KRS 61.826 in council rule 5a, read in full. Thank you, madam clerk. Um, the first item on the agenda is um an ordinance, it's oh it's an ordinance 02823. Um it's an ordinance appropriating neighborhood development funds in the following manner two thousand dollars from district two through the office of management and budget to mental health Louisville and U Inc. for speakers and personnel costs for its mental health series held in libraries within Louisville Metro. Can I have a motion? Motion Arthur. It's properly before us. I gotta write that down. I got the motion second before I start. Um case properly before us. Is there anybody here to speak to this? If you'd introduce yourself for the break, please. Thank you. Uh this is Caleb Howard with District 2. Um this is for a mental health program, again, mental health loo and you that's gonna be actually happening at the uh Louisville Free Public Libraries. It's gonna be at five to seven different branches, and the um the program's modeled off of programs like New York City's Spaces to Thrive, and it focuses on utilizing library spaces to fill in critical gaps in our mental health system. And they uh tend to do this by using libraries connection points for mental health education and resources, including promoting uh 988 and helping individuals find local providers. Uh so this is gonna be happening at Newburgh Library in our council district, but it's also gonna be in District 8, 18, 25, and 4 at least. Uh and so we're seeking both your approval on this as well as if you'd like to chip in some money. We wouldn't say no. Thank you. Okay. Uh anyone want to speak to this? Anyone in the queue? Councilman Arthur. I've never added money to an NDF at this level, only at the council levels. So is it the same? We just say jump in there. All right, is that much you'd like to add? 750 from District 4. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Anyone else?
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