Louisville Metro Council Meeting – June 25, 2026

The Louisville Metro Council met in regular session on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 6:11 PM, adjourning at 9:28 PM. All 26 council members were present except Council Member Ruhe (absent) and Council Member Winkler (attended virtually). The meeting covered a wide range of legislation, including the FY 2026-2027 operating and capital budgets, a noise ordinance, a sign ordinance, and a major mixed-use development near Slugger Field. Council President Ackerson began with an admonition regarding public speech, noting that following a First Amendment lawsuit threat, profanity and derogatory remarks would now be permitted in public comments.

Consent Calendar

Approved by a 25–0 roll call vote (Ruhe absent). Included 38 items:

• NDF Ordinances: O-153-26 ($6,160 for Southend Movies Under the Stars), O-155-26 ($8,000 for Southwest Community Ministries teacher supply giveaway), O-168-26 ($19,000 for Dirt Bowl events), O-171-26 ($175,000 for Warwick Park pavilion).
• Budget Ordinances: O-162-26 (Louisville Tourism FY 2026-2027 budget), O-163-26 (TARC FY 2026-2027 budget), O-169-26 (establishing real property subclassifications for ad valorem taxation within the Urban Services District), O-174-26 (authorizing up to $750 million in health system revenue bonds for Norton Healthcare).
• Resolutions: R-044-26 (approving Greater Louisville Lodging Management District budget and economic improvement plan for FY 2026-2027), R-047-26 (amending sole source contract with Public Consulting Group LLC, new not-to-exceed $550,000), R-074-26 (ratifying collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 3425 for Louisville Free Public Library employees through June 30, 2030).
• Code Amendments: O-170-26 (repealing, amending, and creating Title III chapters), O-140-26 (amending land development code for digital display off-premises signs), O-160-26 (requiring delinquent taxes/liens to be cleared before zoning map amendments or conditional use permits), O-173-26 (amending secondary metals recycling chapter to conform to state law).
• Public Works: O-182-26 (dedicating 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).
• Appointments/Reappointments to multiple boards (Civilian Review and Accountability Board, Bardstown Road Overlay District, Fairdale Fire Protection District, Jeffersontown Fire Protection District, Landmarks and Preservation Districts Commission, Okolona Fire Protection District, Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District, Police Merit Board, St. Matthews Fire Protection District, Fern Creek Fire Protection District, KentuckianaWorks Workforce Development Board).
• Resolution: R-066-26 (nominating Wolf Pen Branch Road as a scenic corridor).

Public Comments & Testimony

Nine speakers addressed the council:

• River Wood (licensed massage therapist, 22 years): Opposed the new massage facility ordinance, arguing it treats licensed healthcare professionals as suspicious, undermines client trust, and could deter trauma survivors from seeking care. Requested the council work with professionals.
• Bill Wells (District 23 resident): Discussed ethics in government, recounting a personal experience with bullying by an elected official and staff. Urged creating empowering resources for community learning.
• Collette Wilson (licensed massage therapist, 20 years): Strongly urged exempting licensed massage therapists from the ordinance, citing mischaracterization of the profession, barriers to care, privacy/safety concerns, and duplication of existing state regulations.
• Misha Tsozik (licensed massage therapist, owner of Embody Mindful Body Work): Supported anti-trafficking efforts but asked to amend the ordinance to exempt licensed therapists from requirements for unlocked doors, surveillance cameras, trafficking signage, and biannual inspections, which could harm trauma survivors.
• Curtis Owens (supporter of homeownership): Urged funding the Metro Down Payment Assistance Program at a minimum of $3 million (not the proposed $1.125 million). Noted housing prices increased 71% in 10 years and that homeownership builds wealth and community investment.
• Ann Ferree (District 8 resident, teacher, volunteer with Plant-Based Treaty): Introduced the Plant-Based Treaty, a global grassroots campaign complementing the Paris Agreement, focusing on food systems. Louisville chapter has 21 volunteers; she hopes to build a tailored resolution for unanimous vote by September 17.
• Harry Kron (representing Citizens of Louisville Organized United Together, CL OUT, 26 congregations): Urged continued and increased funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, noting a shortage of 30,000 housing units and that removing the fund ignores economic benefits (citing North Carolina study: every 100 families moving to stable affordable housing adds $2 million annually to local economy).
• Karen Frazier (District 14 resident, licensed massage therapist, 28 years, board member for state and national associations): Expressed emphatic support for including state-licensed massage therapists in the ordinance, stating exemptions would weaken its effectiveness. Cited statistics: illicit massage businesses outnumber McDonald's in the U.S., and about one-third of such businesses have at least one person with a valid state license.
• Tina Burnell: Criticized Council President Ackerson's characterization of her First Amendment complaint. stated her legal fees exceeded $13,000. Accused the council of retaliatory and malicious action in filing a lawsuit against her the same day a $6 million settlement was reached with LDG. Thanked Council Members Hawkins, Joseph, Chappell, and Lyninger for not participating in the lawsuit.

Discussion Items

Operating Budget (O-175-26) – FY 2026-2027

• Council Member Kramer (Budget Chair) presented the amended budget, noting it was balanced with bipartisan support.
• Council Member Owen announced he would abstain due to a potential job opportunity with One Louisville, which receives funding in the budget.
• Council Member Piagentini thanked the mayor's administration, OMB (especially Angie Dunn and Aaron Jackson), budget staff Beth Stenberg and Christina Scotland, and caucus leaders.
• Council Member McCraney expressed mixed feelings: supported public safety investments and rainy day fund, but criticized reductions in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (from $15 million to $40 million overall housing funding) and down payment assistance. Urged restoring $15 million for the trust fund and increasing down payment assistance by an additional $1 million.
• Council Member Winkler clarified that down payment assistance increased by $250,000 (to $1.25 million total).
• Council Member Hawkins defended the budget as a balance, noting that unmet needs could be addressed in the mid-year budget.
• Council Member Lyninger opposed, citing structural imbalance favoring the administration, lack of transparency, cuts to housing and social services (e.g., Arthur Street Hotel closure, Memorial Auditorium funding), and insufficient community input. He argued police spending has grown 2.5 times since merger without making the city safer.
• Council Member Mulvey-Woolridge supported the budget, acknowledging it wasn't perfect but represented compromise.
• Council Member Parrish-Wright (D-3) voted no, stating the budget underdelivered on promises, the process was unclear, and it favored those aligned with the administration. She noted she communicated priorities but many were not funded.
• Council Member Shanklin supported, excited about finally getting a community center in her district after years of advocacy.
• Council Member Chappell voted no, citing lack of transparency: she asked for requests on June 9, received the amended budget only 20 minutes before the vote on Monday, and felt collective input was not adequately considered.
• Council Member Winkler responded that the process is inherently representative; items get funded when multiple members advocate. He stressed that no one advocated for some of the mentioned cuts in committee.

Capital Budget (O-176-26) – FY 2026-2027

• Similar debate as operating budget. Council Member Kramer thanked colleagues for using new forms to specify funding destinations.
• Council Member Owen again abstained.
• Council Member Lyninger noted disappointment that barriers were placed on funding for West Louisville Dream Team and NEA Center in the mid-year budget.
• Council Member Parrish-Wright thanked for items in her district but advocated for Shively library expansion and NEA Center maintenance.
• Council Member Hawkins reiterated the need to fight persistently for district priorities, citing her successful advocacy for Council Member Shanklin's community center.
• Council Member Chappell noted that as Democratic Caucus Vice Chair, she was not included in leadership meetings or a private meeting reportedly held on Thursday (though Council Member Piagentini denied such a meeting existed). She stated she would not queue again.
• Council Member Piagentini defended the process as representative government, emphasizing that members must call colleagues to build support.
• Motion passed: 22 yes, 3 no (Parrish-Wright, Lyninger, Chappell), 1 abstain (Owen).

Zoning at 524 Baxter Avenue (O-166-26)

• Council Member Owen explained the change from M2 to C1 and C2 for a former industrial facility, intended for a brew pub and residential housing. Passed committee unanimously.
• Council Member Herndon (district host) supported.
• Unanimous 26-0 vote.

Baseball New Development Area (O-180-26)

• Council Member Herndon sponsored the ordinance to amend the Louisville Arena Zone and establish a new development area for a $275 million mixed-use project on the parking lot next to Slugger Field. Includes housing (10% affordable at JCPS bus driver income level), hotel, office, retail, and parking.
• Council Member Reno-Weber noted the challenging floodplain location and exciting rooftop.
• Council Member Batshon said the project signals Louisville is open for business.
• Council Member Piagentini joked about other districts competing with his for residential growth.
• Vote: 23 yes, 1 no (Lyninger), 1 present (Parrish-Wright), 1 absent (Winkler).

Inducement Resolution for MGI Louisville (R-076-26)

• Authorizes execution of a memorandum of agreement for up to 300 multifamily units, a hotel (134-180 rooms), office/retail, and a PARC-operated garage. Financed through industrial building revenue bonds.
• Council Member Parrish-Wright asked about affordable housing; Reno-Weber confirmed 10% units affordable for the life of the TIF.
• Council Member Batshon clarified that TIF revenue is performance-based, only on increased tax revenue from current parking lot.
• Council Member Owen noted TIFs are entirely performance-based.
• Vote: 22 yes, 2 no (Lyninger, Chappell), 1 present (Parrish-Wright), 1 absent (Winkler).

Surplus Property Transfer for Baseball Project (R-077-26)

• Declares several parcels surplus for transfer as part of the same Slugger Field development.
• Council Member Lyninger voted no, citing concerns about giving away public land and insufficient affordable housing (10% of housing units, but hotel units dominate). He acknowledged this was less egregious than other TIFs.
• Council Member Reno-Weber thanked Lyninger for consistently pushing housing questions.
• Vote: 23 yes, 1 no (Lyninger), 1 present (Parrish-Wright), 1 absent (Winkler).

Sign Ordinance (O-043-26) – Posting Handbills/Signs on Public Property

• Council Member Reed (sponsor) thanked Rolling Fields Mayor Dan Taffle, County Attorney Laura Ferguson, Deputy Mayor Nicole George, and President Ackerson. Amendment includes a warning before first citation, fines effective December 1, and lower fines for nonprofit organizations ($10-$50).
• Laura Ferguson (County Attorney) explained changes: removal of