Budget and Appropriations Committee

Agenda

1. Non-Committee Member(s)

   Council President Markus Winkler (D-17)

2. Support Staff

   LaTonya Bell, Council Financial Analyst Hollie Hopkins, Jefferson County Attorney's Office Kathryn Meador, Jefferson County Attorney's Office

3. Clerk(s)

   Sonya Harward, Clerk

4. Call to Order

   Chair Blackwell called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.

5. Roll Call

   Chair Blackwell introduced the committee and non-committee members present. A quorum was established. *NOTE: All committee members present attended virtually, except for Vice Chair Kramer, Committee Member Owen, Committee Member Piagentini, and Committee Member Hudson, who attended in Chambers.

6. Pending Legislation
7. 1. APPROPRIATING $1,100 FROM DISTRICT 5 NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, TO THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (YMCA) OF GREATER LOUISVILLE FOR 22 YOUTH FROM DISTRICT 5 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SAFETY AROUND WATER PROGRAM.
   Neighborhood Development Fund
   Action: held

   This item was held.

8. 2. APPROPRIATING $3,325 FROM DISTRICT 6 CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF SIX TRASH RECEPTACLES TO BE PLACED IN THE WEST ST. CATHERINE AREA.
   Capital Infrastructure Fund
   Action: approved

   A motion was made by Committee Member Piagentini, seconded by Committee Member Chambers Armstrong, that this Capital Infrastructure Fund be approved. The motion carried by a voice vote and the Capital Infrastructure Fund was approved. Vice Chair Kramer asked for a point of order and the following spoke to this item: - Vice Chair Kramer - Sonya Harward, Clerk - Council President Winkler - Chair Blackwell - Hollie Hopkins, Jefferson County Attorney's Office The following was discussed: - Funds being appropriated from a vacant District - Appropriation initiated before the District was vacant and, per Council Rules, the President's Office manages the vacant District's office - Funds would still come from District 6's account - President Winkler signed the appropriation request on behalf of the District 6 office - Reading of Council Rule 10.12: "President to Manage Vacant Office - During the pendency of a vacancy in the office of Council Member, the affairs of the vacant office will be managed by the President, with the consent of the Committees on Committees. These affairs include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff and managing the office’s cost center."

9. 3. APPROPRIATING $5,000 FROM DISTRICT 16 CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR SIDEWALK REPAIRS AT 7621 BEECHSPRING FARM BOULEVARD.
   Capital Infrastructure Fund
   Action: approved

   A motion was made by Committee Member Piagentini, seconded by Committee Member Chambers Armstrong, that this Capital Infrastructure Fund be approved. Committee Member Piagentini stated that he was asked to speak to this item on behalf of District 16. He explained that this address was left off a list of sidewalk repairs the District funded in the FY 2022-2023 Budget, and getting this address approved for sidewalk repairs allows the work to be done at the same time as the repairs at a neighboring address that was previously approved. The motion carried by a voice vote and the Capital Infrastructure Fund was approved.

10. 4. APPROPRIATING $1,422 FROM DISTRICT 8 CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS TO PUBLIC WORKS TO INSTALL MARKINGS IN THE ALLEY OFF OF JAEGER AVENUE.
    Neighborhood Development Fund
    Action: approved

    A motion was made by Committee Member Piagentini, seconded by Committee Member Chambers Armstrong, that this Capital Infrastructure Fund be approved. Committee Member Chambers Armstrong stated that the funding was for the listed safety improvements. The motion carried by a voice vote and the Capital Infrastructure Fund was approved.

11. 5. APPROPRIATING $4,818 FROM DISTRICT 14 CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS, THROUGH METRO PARKS, TO JONES & SCOTT FENCE INC. FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A CHAIN LINK FENCE AROUND THE PICKLE BALL COURTS AT SUN VALLEY PARK.
    Capital Infrastructure Fund
    Action: approved

    A motion was made by Vice Chair Kramer, seconded by Committee Member Piagentini, that this Capital Infrastructure Fund be approved. Committee Member Fowler explained that this pickleball court was one of the first installed in any of the Metro Parks and no fence was placed around it, so now a fence is being installed for safety purposes and easier ball retrieval. The motion carried by a voice vote and the Capital Infrastructure Fund was approved.

12. 6. AN ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS UNDERBUDGET COUNCIL-APPROVED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (“ARP”) PROJECTS THROUGH REAPPROPRIATIONS OF ARP FUNDING.
    Ordinance
    Action: tabled

    A motion was made by Committee Member Fowler, seconded by Committee Member Piagentini, that this Ordinance be recommended for approval The following spoke to this item: - Chair Blackwell - Vice Chair Kramer - Committee Member Parker - Committee Member Arthur - Committee Member Fowler - Committee Member McCraney - Lee Burchfield, Louisville Free Public Library The following was discussed: - The item would be tabled after the discussion, as the Administration has asked to speak to the Committee regarding which funds would not be spent and returned to the account - Some projects were not sufficiently funded and some funds could not be spent in the time period required by the Federal Government - Rather than being rushed later to spend the unused funding as the deadline approaches, priorities will be established and as funds became available they would be assigned to the designated priority projects - Possible priority projects: Library projects need additional funding to be completed; funding for Harbor House Life Center; funding for housing and economic development at Starks Building; renewable energy/solar projects on Government property; and Veteran's housing - Federal funds to be used for Homeless Task Force and whether that's been considered in regards to these funds - Administration will be speaking to their vision for these Federal funds - Reason for subsidizing housing rather than encouraging the Starks Building developers to apply to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund - Discussion of the type of affordable housing - Veteran's housing project - Three capital projects that are partially funded at the Parkland Library, Portland Library, and Fern Creek Library - Library having discussed its operating and capital needs with the new Administration - Assessment of the buildings owned by Metro Government as solar panels are being considered - Needs for the Starks Building project A motion was made by Committee Member McCraney, seconded by Committee Member Piagentini, that this Ordinance be tabled. The motion to table carried by a voice vote. Committee Member Owen spoke about the Sparks Building total project budget being $125M-$130M, and the project is for affordable live/work space for artists.

13. Adjournment

    Without objection, Chair Blackwell adjourned the meeting at 5:08 p.m.

14. Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.