Louisville Metro Council Meeting - August 27, 2026

The Louisville Metro Council met on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 6:04 p.m. in Council Chambers (virtual) with President Brent Ackerson presiding. The meeting included a pledge of allegiance, roll call (24 members present, 2 excused), introduction of a page, public addresses, approval of minutes, a consent calendar with 23 items, and action on several old business items. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved by a vote of 23 yes, 1 present, 2 excused. Included:
  • O-204-26: Appropriating $40,000 from District 16 NDF to the City of Prospect for a boardwalk around Putney Pond (Ordinance No. 152-2026).
  • O-211-26: Appropriating $10,000 from multiple districts to South Louisville Community Ministries for the Taste of South Louisville fundraiser (Ordinance No. 153-2026).
  • O-215-26: Appropriating $10,000 from District 6 NDF to Central Louisville Community Ministries for LG&E bill assistance (Ordinance No. 154-2026).
  • O-219-26 and O-220-26: NDF appropriations for landscaping maintenance via Brightside and Luv-It Landscaping (Ordinances No. 155-2026, 156-2026).
  • O-223-26: $7,410 from District 23 NDF for Highview Fall Festival and Holiday Fest (Ordinance No. 157-2026).
  • O-213-26, O-222-26, O-231-26, O-232-26, O-233-26, O-234-26: Budget amendments and transfers (Ordinances No. 158-2026 through 163-2026).
  • R-093-26: Honorary street naming for Deacon James Turner and M. Annette Mandley-Turner (Resolution No. 064-2026).
  • Board appointments and reappointments to the Deputy Sheriff Merit Board, Human Relations Advocacy Board, Kentuckiana Works, and Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
  • Noncompetitively negotiated professional service contracts: Louisville Zoo mentorship program ($140,000), Norton Children’s forensic medical services ($200,000), UofL wastewater monitoring ($150,000), and a grant request for the Riverport Authority ($1,178,295).
  • R-101-26: Declaring 3705 Stone Lakes Drive as surplus property (Resolution No. 069-2026).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Richard Forsting spoke against the new massage ordinance, arguing it invades client privacy and damages trust between therapists and clients. He urged the council to target bad actors rather than all practitioners.
• Donna Catlett (with sign language interpreters), a deafblind individual, complained about TARC removing a bus stop near her home, negatively impacting disabled and elderly residents in her area.
• Jeff Cavalcante discussed the city budget and referenced socialism, noting that 8.3% of the current budget comes from a dividend from the city-owned water company. He criticized the use of the term "Marxist mob."
• Abigail Bonam, representing the Alliance of Licensed Massage Therapists of Louisville, asked the council to adopt amendments to the massage facility ordinance. She noted that licensed therapists are often victims of illegal actors and requested that the council work with them to distinguish legal practitioners from human traffickers.
• Lacanda Martin described problems with city housing repair programs (ECAP, Healthy Homes), alleging retaliation, shoddy work, and failure to address damage. She requested a city investigation.
• Jane Kennedy advocated for a plant-based treaty, citing health benefits and noting that cardiovascular disease deaths in the U.S. in 2025 were high. She urged the council to make information about plant-based eating available.

Discussion Items

• O-227-26 (Package Liquor Stores): Ordinance amending the Land Development Code to restrict package liquor store locations within 1,000 feet of schools, daycares, churches, parks, etc., with an exemption for grocery stores over 40,000 sq ft. Council Member Lyninger moved to remove the 40,000 sq ft exemption, arguing it favors large corporations over small businesses. The motion failed on a voice vote. After debate and addition of co-sponsors, the ordinance passed 21-0-3.
• R-107-26 (KPFF Incentives): Resolution approving local incentives to KPFF, Inc. Council Member Owen abstained due to his employment with One Louisville, which had spoken on the item. Passed 21-1-2.
• O-221-26 (Southwest Community Festival): Ordinance appropriating $2,000 from District 14 NDF (originally). Council Member Joseph and Bast spoke in support. An amendment added $2,000 from District 3, $1,500 from District 25, $1,000 each from Districts 1, 12, and 22, $500 each from Districts 13 and 21, and $250 from District 15, bringing the total to $9,750. The amendment passed by voice vote, and the ordinance passed 24-0.
• O-224-26 (Boots, Badges, and Bids Event): Ordinance appropriating $13,500 from multiple districts for the Louisville Metro Police Foundation event. An amendment added $500 each from Districts 4, 16, and 25, increasing the total to $15,000. The amendment passed by voice vote, and the ordinance passed 21-0-3.
• O-226-26 (Loan Fund Consolidation): Ordinance to transfer and consolidate funds between loan fund projects for more efficient administration. Council Member Kramer explained it allows reloaning of repaid grant money. Passed 24-0.
• R-110-26 (Federal Funding Acceptance): Resolution authorizing the mayor to accept up to $13,470,000 from several federal appropriations acts. Council Member Kramer moved to amend by removing "Department of Economic Development" and adding "Facilities and Fleet" in the third Whereas clause. The amendment passed by voice vote, and the amended resolution was adopted by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar approved (23-1-2).
• O-227-26 passed 21-0-3 (Ordinance No. 164-2026).
• R-107-26 adopted 21-1-2 (Resolution No. 070-2026).
• O-221-26 passed 24-0 after amendment (Ordinance No. 165-2026).
• O-224-26 passed 21-0-3 after amendment (Ordinance No. 166-2026).
• O-226-26 passed 24-0 (Ordinance No. 167-2026).
• R-110-26 adopted by voice vote after amendment (Resolution No. 071-2026).
• New business (Items 48-57) received first reading and were assigned to committees.