Louisville Metro Council Meeting – June 25, 2026

This was the regular meeting of the Louisville Metro Council, called to order at 6:11 PM by Council President Brent Ackerson and adjourned at 9:28 PM. All 26 council members were present initially (Council Member Winkler attended virtually; Council Member Ruhe was absent for the consent calendar and later present; others absent for later votes). The meeting covered approval of multiple consent calendar items, public addresses, and a series of debated ordinances and resolutions, including the FY 2026-2027 operating and capital budgets, zoning changes, a baseball development area, and several neighborhood development fund (NDF) appropriations.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved by a vote of 25–0 (Council Member Ruhe absent). It included:
  • O-153-26: $6,160 in NDF funds for Southend Movies Under the Stars.
  • O-155-26: $8,000 in NDF funds for Southwest Community Ministries’ teacher supply giveaway.
  • O-168-26: $19,000 from District 5 NDF for the Dirt Bowl Derby Showcase and tournament.
  • O-171-26: $175,000 from District 7 NDF for a pavilion at Warwick Park in St. Matthews.
  • O-162-26 and O-163-26: FY 2026-2027 budgets for Louisville Tourism and TARC.
  • O-169-26: Amending Chapter 38 to establish ad valorem tax subclassifications in the Urban Services District.
  • O-174-26: Authorizing up to $750 million in health system revenue bonds for Norton Healthcare.
  • R-044-26: Approving the budget and economic improvement plan for the Greater Louisville Lodging Management District.
  • O-170-26: Repealing, amending, and creating chapters of Title III of the LMCO.
  • R-061-26: $20,000 contract for workplace investigation services.
  • Numerous board appointments and reappointments (Civilian Review and Accountability Board, Bardstown Road Overlay District Board, fire district boards, Police Merit Board, Landmarks and Preservation Districts Commission, KentuckianaWorks Workforce Development Board).
  • R-047-26: Amending a sole source contract with Public Consulting Group (new total $550,000).
  • R-074-26: Ratifying a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 3425 for the Louisville Free Public Library (through June 30, 2030).
  • O-140-26: Amending the Land Development Code regarding digital display off-premises signs (billboards).
  • O-160-26: Requiring delinquent taxes or liens to be paid before processing zoning map amendments and conditional use permits.
  • R-066-26: Nominating Wolf Pen Branch Road as a scenic corridor.
  • O-173-26: Amending the secondary metals recycling ordinance to conform with state law.
  • O-182-26: Accepting dedication of Mermaid Lane as a public way.
  • R-068-26, R-070-26, R-072-26, R-075-26: Authorizing condemnation actions for sidewalk projects on Gagel Avenue and Blanton Lane.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Nine individuals addressed the council: River Wood, Bill Wells, Collette Wilson, Misha Tsozik, Curtis Owens, Ann Ferree, Harry Kron, Karen Frazier, and Tina Burnell. No details of their testimony are recorded in the minutes. Council President Ackerson made a statement before the addresses.

Discussion Items

• O-175-26 (FY 2026-2027 Operating Budget): Council Member Kramer presented. Council Member Owen abstained, citing a possible job opportunity with One Louisville, which received funds in the budget. Council Member Purvis noted she is a board member of One West. After debate, the ordinance passed 22–3 with 1 abstention. No voters: Parrish-Wright, Lyninger, Chappell. Abstain: Owen.
• O-176-26 (FY 2026-2027 Capital Budget): Similar debate. Council Member Owen again abstained for the same reason. Passed 22–3 with 1 abstention.
• O-166-26 (Zoning at 524 Baxter Avenue, ~0.36 acres): Council Member Owen spoke; Council Member Herndon also spoke. Passed unanimously (26–0).
• O-180-26 (Arena Zone amendment – Baseball Development Area): Council Members Reno-Weber, Herndon, Batshon, and Piagentini spoke. The ordinance removes the New Development Area and establishes a Baseball New Development Area, authorizing grant contracts. Passed 23–1 with 1 present and 1 absent. No: Lyninger. Present: Parrish-Wright. Absent: Winkler.
• R-076-26 (Inducement resolution for MGI Louisville project – industrial revenue bonds for a mixed-use development): Included up to 300 multi-family units, a hotel, office/retail space, and parking. Council Members Parrish-Wright, Reno-Weber, Batshon, and Owen spoke. Passed 22–2 with 1 present and 1 absent. No: Lyninger, Chappell. Present: Parrish-Wright. Absent: Winkler.
• R-077-26 (Declaring surplus properties and authorizing transfer for the baseball development): Council Members Lyninger and Reno-Weber spoke. Passed 23–1 with 1 present and 1 absent. No: Lyninger. Present: Parrish-Wright. Absent: Winkler.
• O-043-26 (Amending LMCO Chapter 112 on posting handbills/signs on public property): Council Member Piagentini and Laura Ferguson (County Attorney’s Office) spoke. Passed 19–0 with 3 present and 4 absent. Present: Parrish-Wright, Lyninger, Chappell. Absent: Reno-Weber, Winkler, Mulvey-Woolridge, Ackerson.
• O-133-26 (Amending LMCO Chapter 99 on noise regulation): Extensive debate. Council Members Hudson, Batshon, Reno-Weber, Lyninger, Hawkins, Parrish-Wright, Piagentini, Ackerson, Herndon, Chappell, Purvis, Bast, and Ruhe spoke. Passed 20–4 with 1 present and 1 absent. No: Parrish-Wright, Lyninger, Chappell, Ackerson. Present: Shanklin. Absent: Mulvey-Woolridge.
• Multiple NDF ordinances (O-156-26 through O-178-26, CONDF061726GSm): Each was amended on the floor to add additional contributions from other districts, then approved. Votes ranged from 22–24 in favor, with absences. Details:
  • O-156-26 (St. Joe’s Annual Picnic): Amended to $3,250; passed 23–0 (3 absent).
  • O-157-26 (StageOne Children’s Theater): Amended to $5,750; passed 22–0 (4 absent). Council Member Lyninger abstained due to his daughter’s possible paid role; Council Member Winkler is an unpaid board member.
  • O-158-26 (St. Matthews Fire & Rescue Freedom Fest): Amended to $5,250; passed 22–0 (4 absent).
  • O-167-26 (Floyds Fork HVAC replacement): Amended to $21,680; passed 24–0 (2 absent).
  • O-172-26 (LIBA South Points Buy Local Fair): Initially amended to $5,750, then reconsidered and amended again to $6,250 (adding $500 from District 24); passed 24–0 (2 absent).
  • O-178-26 (Riverview Independence Festival): Amended to $25,000; passed 24–0 (2 absent).
  • CONDF061726GSm (Gathering Strength Adaptive Recreation Showcase): Amended to $3,250; passed 23–0 (3 absent).
• O-177-26 (Amending LMCO Section 42.31 on park permitting): Council Members Batshon, Hawkins, and Hudson spoke. Passed 23–0 (3 absent).
• O-193-26 (Annexation by City of Prospect): Added to New Business by motion. The motion to approve the ordinance failed (no further details in minutes). The ordinance was listed as passed later (Enactment No. 127-2026), but the minutes state the motion failed; this appears to be a discrepancy. The summary will note the conflict.
• New Business Legislation Assigned to Committees (first reading only): Items 72–89 were read and assigned to various committees. No votes taken on these.

Key Outcomes

• FY 2026-2027 Operating Budget (O-175-26) and Capital Budget (O-176-26) were approved, each 22–3–1 (Owen abstaining).
• Zoning at 524 Baxter Avenue passed unanimously (26–0).
• Baseball Development Area (O-180-26) approved 23–1–1 (Lyninger opposed).
• MGI Louisville inducement resolution (R-076-26) approved 22–2–1.
• Surplus property transfer (R-077-26) approved 23–1–1.
• Handbill/sign posting ordinance (O-043-26) and noise ordinance (O-133-26) both passed with divided votes (19–0–3 and 20–4–1 respectively).
• Ten Neighborhood Development Fund ordinances were all amended and approved, allocating a total of over $100,000 to various community events and organizations.
• O-193-26 (Prospect annexation): The minutes indicate the motion to approve failed, yet the ordinance carries an enactment number. This conflict is noted.
• All remaining first-reading items were assigned to appropriate committees for further consideration.
• Meeting adjourned at 9:28 PM after Council Member Parrish-Wright’s announcements.