Equity, Community Affairs, Housing, Health, and Education Committee Meeting - March 22, 2023
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Equity, Community Affairs, Housing, Health, and Education Committee Meeting - March 22, 2023
Vice Chair Stuart Benson called the meeting to order at 1:36 p.m. Chair Barbara Shanklin joined virtually at 1:56 p.m. The committee discussed three pending resolutions and received a special presentation on food insecurity. Eight committee members were present, along with Council President Markus Winkler. The meeting adjourned at 2:38 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- R-022-23: Resolution approving an $85,000 sole-source contract with Louisville Recovery Community Connection, Inc. for an Overdose Quick Response Team, funded by federal pass-through state funds. The motion to recommend approval carried by voice vote.
- R-024-23: Resolution approving a $60,000 professional service contract with Norton Healthcare, Inc. for a part-time (15% effort) LMPHW Medical Director, funded by CDC grants. The motion to recommend approval carried by voice vote.
- R-031-23: Resolution honoring Ms. Anna Wooldridge by designating the corner of South Clay Street and Camp Street as "Anna Wooldridge Way." After being initially tabled due to no speaker, the item was un-tabled upon the arrival of District 6 Legislative Aide Shalanna Taylor, who read the resolution. No vote was taken on the motion to recommend; the item was forwarded to Metro Council without a recommendation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Shalanna Taylor (District 6 Legislative Aide): Spoke in support of R-031-23, reading the full resolution listing Ms. Wooldridge’s community service and requesting the honorary street naming.
Discussion Items
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R-022-23 (Overdose Quick Response Team):
- Sponsor Andrew Owen explained the funds are from the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort and that unused FY23 funds would be returned, with hopes for renewal. The sole-source justification cited LRCC as uniquely able to provide unbiased peer support specialists not tied to a single treatment provider.
- Ben Goldman (LMPHW, Community Health Administrator) detailed the program’s operations: since July 2021, staff have visited ~140 overdose survivors, ~200 family members, and distributed Narcan to ~2,000 community members. The $85,000 would fund two part-time peer support specialists. He noted that 10–20% of home visits result in direct contact with the individual and an additional 25% with family members.
- Committee Member Parker questioned the organization’s mission, the data on relapse prevention, and the percentage of contacts leading to engagement. She expressed concern over some blog content on the organization’s website. Goldman clarified that the program is run by Metro employees and the contract is solely for peer support labor.
- Committee Member Hawkins asked whether peer support specialists are drug-tested and expressed concern that someone still using could be sent into homes. Goldman responded that Metro does not drug-test and that hiring people with lived experience is crucial for building trust, stating he would "die on the hill" of ensuring lived-experience hires. He also noted that clusters of overdose runs occur downtown, South Louisville, Southwest Louisville, and West Louisville.
- Committee Member Arthur thanked the team and requested that future resolutions include impact data in the whereas clauses. He also asked about potential dual employment between LRCC and Metro; Goldman believed there was no overlap.
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R-024-23 (Medical Director Contract):
- Taylor Ingram (LMPHW Chief of Staff) explained that the position had been posted for a year with only one unsuitable applicant. Norton Healthcare will provide a physician for 15% of their time, funded by $60,000 in CDC grant money. The physician will serve as medical advisor, assist in clinical planning, and participate in public education.
- Committee Member Arthur noted the funds were already allocated for the position. Vice Chair Benson confirmed the $60,000 covers 15% of the physician’s time; Norton pays the remaining 85%.
- Committee Member Hawkins asked about recruitment efforts; Ingram confirmed the position was posted on NeoGov and promoted through hiring fairs and social media, but the compensation was not competitive.
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ID 23-0368 – Update on Louisville’s Food Insecurity (Special Discussion):
- Vincent James (President & CEO, Dare to Care) presented on the surge in food insecurity. He reported that Dare to Care distributed 19.6 million meals last year (two-thirds in Louisville Metro). The end of emergency SNAP benefits (average reduction of $100/month for 600,000 low-income Kentuckians) has driven a 40% increase in food bank visits at some partner sites. Dare to Care itself faces a 54% decrease in USDA food commodities and has spent an extra $250,000 this year on food purchases due to inflation.
- James highlighted recent emergency response: during widespread power outages, Dare to Care set up seven pop-up pantries, serving over 2,700 families, plus delivered hot meals and food to seniors.
- James described a new three-year grant to pilot model food pantries designed like grocery stores, with focus groups to assess community needs.
- Committee Member Arthur asked about food quality. James acknowledged occasional issues and said the organization investigates immediately. He noted that all partner agencies receive food safety training.
- Arthur questioned funding breakdown: Daniel Frockt (CFO) stated that government funding accounts for under $1.8 million annually (about 10% of cash funding), with $200,000 from Louisville Metro. The ideal goal is to eliminate unmet need rather than target a specific percentage.
- Arthur also asked about updating the agency map connected to 211; James agreed a website refresh was needed.
- Committee Member Hawkins testified to Dare to Care’s positive impact in her district, citing their responsiveness during emergencies and support beyond their normal scope.
- Committee Member Ruhe asked about food sources; James listed federal programs, retail donations (Kroger, Walmart, Publix), and other partnerships.
- Chair Shanklin described her own monthly food pantry that sources from Dare to Care, noting a recent high demand (spare ribs, lobster tails) and inviting colleagues to volunteer.
Key Outcomes
- R-022-23: Recommended for approval by voice vote; sent to Consent Calendar.
- R-024-23: Recommended for approval by voice vote; sent to Consent Calendar.
- R-031-23: Forwarded to Metro Council without a committee recommendation (no vote taken).
- All items sent to the Consent Calendar will be heard at the full Metro Council meeting on April 13, 2023.
- Dare to Care’s presentation was informational; no action was taken, but committee members expressed support for continued funding and collaboration.
Meeting Transcript
Create a new pop of color, something whimsical and fun that when you're walking down the sidewalk, you get to see uh local art and enjoy being out in the downtown's street. I really think beautification takes many forms. Color, design, artistry. If that isn't by a mural, that's painted on a building. If it's street gallery, if it's the alley gallery doorways that you see, banners that hang on the light poles, all of these things make somebody know that they're in the right place. It's a place that's being taken care of. There is a reason to appreciate where you are. My name is Antonio Butler, and I'm a sanitation tipper. It's very physical job. You will have to be energized and bring your A game every day. Once I learned how to tip and got better at it, that's what I love to do. Help the residents out and getting rid of their trash, their yard waste and they recycle. You know, it's a good feeling. Very intense job. But you know, I love it. I've been here three years. You know, I don't see myself going nowhere. It's great. What are you looking for? It is external agency funds, and the amount is $600,000. It's decreasing homelessness, also financial stability, increase access to a targeted population. Those are the three primary focuses for RCS. There's not a specific project in mind. As long as they align with those three primary focuses, they're more than welcome to apply. They have to be compliant in multiple areas, and that's available on our website. There's also application guidelines available for applicants to review the questions kind of ahead of time and also get a little bit of guidance on information that is pertinent to them answering the questions. These are general appropriated fund dollars through Metro Council that's approved through the mayor and metro council. We serve all demographics, so different races, ages, all across Jefferson County. They have until February the 3rd to apply. And it's just great to see how the monies are directly impacting individuals and also families and just moving forward and being progressive and helping the community in the best way possible. My name is Ronita Nance, and I'm an artist based here out of Louisville, Kentucky. And I actually work for my home. I am an abstract artist. I do pour painting, and she commissioned me to do a tabletop to fit the space. She gave me the colors and actually it works very well. I'm so appreciative that she thought of me to help her to uh bring it to fruition and to add to the space. I almost cried when I bought it in here because it coordinated so well with her space. I'm excited as a small business owner to be able to have this space to bring clients. Sometimes people come to me and they want to do different projects, and I'm not real comfortable with bringing people into my home. I have children, so it's exciting to be able to have this space to bring them to. It felt really good to be around people like-minded, like-spirited. It felt really good. My name is Gary Parker. I served as a Calvary Scout and a military policeman in the United States Army for 20 years. When I was a cavalry scout, we had a young lieutenant that came in. Great guy, but he moved on, got promoted to lieutenant colonel, went on to Afghanistan, and I was able to keep in contact. Wake up one morning, go on social media, and there's that post you don't want to see. For whatever reason, he took his own life. Nobody knows why he did it. Is there something that we could have done to prevent it from happening?
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