Louisville Councilman Brandon Coan Issues 'Apolitical Edition' Of District 8 Newsletter

Press release from the City of Louisville:

May 21, 2020

• Welcome: The Menu Is Not the Meal
• District 8 Streets Report: The Pursuit of Grouchiness
• District 8 Development Report: Up in Smoke
• District 8 Crime Report: The World Looks Blue and Green
• District 8 Events Calendar: The Fortnight Ahead
• 8 Shout-Outs: The Grateful 8th
• In Two Weeks: The Addition Edition

Welcome: The Menu Is Not the Meal

For the latest news, resources and government response to the coronavirus crisis, please visit these local, state and federal websites.

Yesterday (5/19) was supposed to be Kentucky’s Primary Election Day. Of course, the coronavirus had other plans, so we changed ours. Governor Andy Beshear, by executive order, rescheduled the primary election to June 23. Now that we’re getting closer, preparation is ramping up. This week, the State Board of Elections will mail a postcard to registered voters with the information you need to cast your vote. The deadline to register online to vote is Tuesday, May 26 at 4:00pm. According to the Governor’s Order, you should use absentee voting by mail if you can. Registered voters can go right now to the Jefferson County Clerk’s website to request a ballot. The deadline to do so is Monday, June 15 at 11:59pm. If you can’t vote absentee by mail, the Clerk’s office (701 W. Ormsby Ave., Ste. 301) will open for in-person absentee voting by appointment beginning June 8. Days and hours are TBD. Call (502) 574-6100 or email absentee@jeffersoncountyclerk.org to schedule an appointment. June 23 is the postmark deadline for mail-in absentee ballots; and the Kentucky Exposition Center (937 Phillips Ln) will open for in-person voting 6:00am - 6:00pm. The KEC is currently Jefferson County's sole in-person primary voting site, which concerns me. I have asked the Mayor’s Office to request multiple additional (safe, accessible) polling sites and was answered that Metro’s intergovernmental team is actively working on it. (As of this writing, it doesn’t look good, though.) When we know more, you will know more.

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This Friday (5/22), under government guidelines, restaurants will be permitted to reopen at 33% capacity plus outdoor seating. In anticipation, I welcomed new District 8 resident and restaurateur Ryan Rogers (bar Vetti, Feast BBQ & Royals Hot Chicken) to the Eight More Miles Podcast last week to talk about his business’s response to the coronavirus crisis and how local government can help. Two days later, I worked with the administration and my Metro Council colleagues to pass an emergency ordinance granting temporary regulatory relief for restaurants. We enabled restaurants to use private parking and other open areas for dining space, expanded access to sidewalks, waived fees for same and extended alcohol sales outdoors as of right (again, all subject to additional safety and accessibility guidelines). We continue to explore other opportunities, as well. From closing down parts of streets for seating (think: Douglass Loop, not Bardstown Road) to extending “food truck” license and permit renewals, we can and should do more to support our local food economy. That includes buying local as a matter of procurement policy, which is why I am thrilled to share this Request for Proposals for the city’s COVID-19 Senior Meals program. Can your restaurant produce and deliver five frozen meals per week for up to 500, 800 or 1,000 clients? If so, then stop reading and start proposing! The bidding closes May 25 at 3:00pm and the program begins June 1. For more restaurant industry and other local small business resources, please click here.

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The Metro Council Budget Committee is halfway through its FY 2021 hearing schedule. I don’t serve as a member of the committee but still I attend virtually all of the meetings… virtually. Over the next two weeks, hearing highlights include the Louisville Free Public Library (5/26) and Louisville Fire (5/27). The full schedule, budget documents and a comment form are available at the Metro Council Clerk’s page. Watch or listen to the hearings live or archived here.

For breaking news and information, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you have a question or comment, please call me at: (502) 574-1108 or email: brandon.coan@louisvilleky.gov (and copy jasmine.weatherby@louisvilleky.gov). If you have a service request, please call Metro 311 or visit Metro 311 online. Visit the District 8 Strategic Plan page here.

District 8 Streets Report: The Pursuit of Grouchiness

In this space, we provide updates on major projects and report on upcoming (scheduled and funded) streets and other infrastructure improvements.

Despite staff’s best efforts, city junk pick-up can be a mess. So, I’m putting the finishing touches on new legislation to scrap the system we have now and switch to a reservation-based model instead, beginning next fiscal year. Currently, three times a year (with spotty notice and regularity), some 15,000 District 8 households engage in what is essentially organized dumping. It is good for decluttering but it is bad for illegal dumping, litter, complaints and it is expensive: approximately $164,952.90 to service our area (and $1,979,434.80 to provide for the entire Urban Services District), annually. Under the new system, junk-pick up would be appointment-only, large items only (no loose debris), a limit of four large items per set out and up to weekly appointments. It would preserve the service, substantially resolve the cleanliness issue and is projected to save taxpayers money (largely due to overtime).

What I hope are the final “announcement-based” junk-ups are scheduled for the Highlands May 29 - 31 and June 5 - 7 in Areas J and K, respectively. Here is what you can and can’t set out. My legislation will be read into new business at next Thursday’s (5/28) Metro Council meeting and then debated in our Public Works Committee beginning June 2.

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Over the Next Two Weeks

There are no paving or sidewalk projects scheduled. The Louisville Water Company Windsor Place Service Area paving (and patching) plan is being slightly revised for a June start date.

Scheduling information is subject to change. Please let us know if you observe any discrepancies in projects reported as completed. Visit the District 8 Streets Information page here.

District 8 Development Report: Up in Smoke

In this space, we report on District 8 planning and zoning activity from the past two weeks and, also, preview activity scheduled for the next two weeks. All information is as of today’s date. Please Subscribe & Stay Informed to receive Notification of Development Proposals via email or text and never miss the opportunity to participate in the development process.

Last fall, I began working with the administration to address the public health and economic development concerns regarding the density of vape shops and tobacco retailers here in District 8 and all across the city. We asked the Planning Commission to review the Land Development Code; we asked the Center for Health Equity to review Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances Chapter 90: the Smoke Free Law; and we asked both to propose amendments thereto. Last week (5/15), this work took a significant step forward when the Planning Committee voted to forward new zoning, location and approval standards to the Planning Commission for a final recommendation to the Metro Council. Notably, these include a 600-feet apart rule (similar to the investment-short term rentals rule but without the conditional use permit requirement), a 1,000-feet from schools and daycares/parks and recreation rule and limited hours of operation. Applicants may apply for a waiver but the burden of support is significant. I expect to file the ordinance – which will incorporate the Planning Commission’s ultimate recommendation and otherwise seek to amend Chapter 90 (including newly defining “Tobacco and/or Vape Shop”) – this summer.

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It is just about go time for the Cherokee Triangle & Bonnycastle Neighborhoods Plan. Over the last several weeks, our Metro planners and consulting team has gathered data, created existing conditions graphics, conducted stakeholder interviews, launched a website, created a wikimap – an interactive map that allows you to pin comments in a specific geographic location – and a survey is coming soon. Our neighborhood advisory group’s first meeting is tomorrow (5/21) and on the agenda is a discussion on how best to engage the public going forward. Obviously, it is difficult to plan public meetings and workshops at this point. Notwithstanding, this is a robust planning process that will continue most, if not all, of the year and guide the preservation, evolution and improvement of these two Highlands hallmark neighborhoods over the next decade. Please join us and participate!

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Over the Last Two Weeks

On May 18th, the Board of Zoning Adjustment approved with conditions a request for a conditional use permit to allow a private institutional use at 2169 Tyler Lane. 20-CUP-0044

On May 19th, the Metro Council Planning and Zoning Committee recommended for approval an ordinance denying a change in zoning from R-5B to R-8A at 1400 Hepburn Avenue. O-165-20

Over the Next Two Weeks

No planning and zoning activity is scheduled.

Click here to view meeting agendas, download supporting documents and live-stream all planning and zoning public meetings. Visit the District 8 Development Information page here.

District 8 Crime Report: The World Looks Blue and Green

The following Crime Report is adapted from the last two 5th Division Weekly Crime Updates provided by Sgt. Stuart Hamilton and a Traffic Enforcement Report provided by Ofc. Robert Ward (5/3/20 - 5/16/20). Please note the linked maps cover the entire LMPD Fifth Division, not just District 8 (Beats 2, 3 and 4).

Last week (5/11), a group of District 8 citizens and I helped the Synergy Project to pilot a virtual Action Session – a guided conversation aimed at strengthening police-resident relationships – and, hopefully, it was good for LMPD to practice being accessible, open and listening from a distance during these trying times for justice, security and peace…

So far as takeaways from the session, participants expressed that building trust and understanding in the Highlands means police give specific directives to the public. It means residents reinstitute neighborhood watch clubs and if they see something, they say something. It means police follow up when residents have questions and ideas; they attend neighborhood board meetings, create a 5th Division Facebook page and engage on Nextdoor. It means residents have realistic expectations of what police can do and understand that services will be affected if pay and benefits are impacted.

It all seems reasonable (and familiar) to me: meet each other where we are, communicate, accept responsibility and keep commitments. The only thing I would add is residents lock their cars, take their keys and hide their belongings! The feedback will go into the Synergy Project’s total research and LMPD is working on being able to announce some projects in coming weeks.

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June 1 begins the next 60-day comment period for the handful of District 8 alcoholic beverage license renewals dated July 31. As with any new applicant, please share any written comments in protest of certain privileges with me and I will forward them to local Alcoholic Beverage Control. We love the nightlife and support our local bars but we also hold them accountable.

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Burglary – There were nine burglaries this reporting period, a significant increase from the last reporting period (2). There were five in Beat 2, three in Beat 3 and one in Beat 4. One was unlocked, three were by unknown means and five were by force. Four were business and the remaining five were residential. See maps here and here for more detail.

Auto Theft – There were five auto thefts this reporting period, an increase from the last reporting period (4). Two were in Beat 2, two were in Beat 3 and one was in Beat 4. All five were unlocked. See maps here and here for more detail.

Theft from Automobile – There were eight thefts from automobile this reporting period, the same as the last reporting period (8). There were six in Beat 2, one in Beat 3 and one in Beat 4. Four of the vehicles were unlocked, three were by unknown means and one was by force. Please remember to Lock, Take and Hide! See maps here and here for more detail.

2020 District 8 “Unlocked” Crimes Tracker

Q2: 25/66 = 37.9%

Q1: 50/157 = 33.8%

2019: 182/492 = 37%

2018: 206/581 = 35.5%

2020 over 2019 District 8 CompStat Data (Period 2020 19)

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Traffic – Officer Ward has begun to return to regular traffic enforcement (maintaining social distancing, using protective equipment and decontaminating equipment) while continuing to support patrol officers amid the coronavirus response. He has been answering citizen complaints about speeding motorcycles, running red lights and issued several warnings and citations to address those concerns. You may have noticed the speed cart placed at Gates Automotive Service (1546 Bardstown Rd), with their cooperation, to observe the traffic pattern and serve as a visual cue to drivers to obey the speed limit in that area. As businesses reopen, enforcement will increase and detailed reporting of citations, warnings, parking tickets and serious collision responses will resume. In the meantime, please send us your suggestions for new locations to place the speed machine.

If you have any questions or want to discuss anything in these crime reports, please email LMPD 5th Division District Resource Officers at: 5thdivlmpd@louisvilleky.gov. Visit the District 8 Crime Information page here.

District 8 Events Calendar: The Fortnight Ahead

This listing is primarily a District 8 business calendar. We’ll also highlight annual and special events affecting traffic and street closures, and choice events that are free and open to the public. We’ll use social media to promote many others. For event location and other information, click here to visit District 8 Events online.

MAY 28 6:00pm Metro Council Meeting

JUNE 1 7:00pm District 8 Advisory Board Meeting held online via Webex

Meeting Number: 478 116 615

Meeting Password: District8

8 Shout-Outs: The Grateful 8th

In Two Weeks: The Addition Edition

Thanks for reading, and tune back in two weeks!

This is a flexible space for giving thanks, saying hi to friends and having a little fun.

1. Shout-out to the Kentucky Science Center for producing dozens of Do Science at Home videos to keep kiddos curious and engaged while their doors are closed! We sure do miss the Science Center in our household!
2. Shout-out to a couple of my favorite reliable idea generators for offering not just new solutions but in-depth plans to meet the reopening challenges we face head-on: Ray Brundige for devising a fleet of mobile government offices; and Jackie Cobb for designing multiple outdoor restaurant seating parklets! I am advocating for bringing them all to life!
3. Shout-out to the Louisville Orchestra and 90.5 WUOL for broadcasting recordings of 16 live performances over the last two seasons beginning tomorrow (5/21) night at 8:00pm!
4. Shout-out to the Louisville Water Company for completing the Eastern Parkway Project, which was the biggest water main replacement in the company’s 160-year history and my first (and most persistent) headache as a Metro Council member! Sincerely, job well done!
5. Shout-out to TARC Transit Projects Coordinator Mitchell Stoops for field researching multiple locations for new old Cardinal Stadium seating all across the city! Soon, there will be another 26 benches in 17 more council districts!
6. Shout-out to LG&E for raising awareness that more people working from home means more potential conflicts between utility workers and pets and asking pet owners to do something about it while the company does its part, as well!
7. Shout-out and welcome to Hammerheads for bringing crispy mushroom medleys, Garcia burgers, Grippo fries and other dietary staples to the former Migo (2222 Dundee Rd)! R.I.P. those yucca tots, though!
8. Finally, shout-out to Metro Council Democratic Caucus Communications Director Tony Hyatt for taking some well-deserved time off next week! Find peace of mind and feel the wind in your mustache, Tony!

Councilman Brandon Coan | Louisville Metro Council | District 8

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This press release was produced by the City of Louisville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.