For the Week Ending Sunday, May 18, 2025
I. Review of the Past Week (Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Saturday, May 17, 2025)
The past week in Louisville Metro District 1 was marked by significant community engagement efforts led by Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, ongoing Metro Council deliberations on the upcoming fiscal year budget, important zoning decisions impacting the district, and continued focus on public safety and infrastructure development.
A. District 1 Governance & Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins’ Activities
- Councilwoman Hawkins’ Community Engagement and Announcements
Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins (D-1) was actively involved in addressing community concerns and announcing future engagement opportunities throughout the week. A key event was the JCPS Individualized Education Program (IEP) Community Forum held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus, located at 2820 W. Broadway Street.1 This forum, organized in partnership with the “Village for the Kids,” aimed to gather community feedback regarding the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) IEP process for students with disabilities. Councilwoman Hawkins indicated that the forum was prompted by concerns brought to her office by several parents.1 Representatives from JCPS and the Board of Education were invited to participate in what was designed as an open and honest discussion, with the goal of listening to suggestions on how to improve the IEP system for the upcoming school year.1 The event was free and open to all JCPS parents.1 Given the forum occurred at the end of the reporting week, official summaries of the community feedback and any resulting action items may be forthcoming. Residents are encouraged to monitor Councilwoman Hawkins’ official communications for updates. This proactive approach to addressing constituent concerns about education is a consistent feature of the Councilwoman’s engagement, as also seen in earlier efforts like the Algonquin Park Community Day input meeting.2
Earlier in the week, on May 12, Councilwoman Hawkins announced an upcoming “Tea Time with Tammy” event. This series provides District 1 residents an opportunity for one-on-one conversations with their council representative. The next session is scheduled for Monday, June 23, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the newly renovated Parkland Library, located at 2743 Virginia Avenue.3 These 10-minute appointments allow residents to share concerns, ask questions, offer ideas, or simply get to know Councilwoman Hawkins in a more personal setting. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be scheduled online.3 This initiative offers a different mode of communication compared to larger public forums, potentially encouraging dialogue on more specific or sensitive issues. The choice of the recently renovated Parkland Library as a venue also serves to highlight ongoing investments in community assets within District 1.
While the Algonquin Community Day public input meeting took place on May 10, prior to this review week, its planning is relevant to ongoing District 1 activities.2 Announced on May 7, the meeting sought resident ideas for the main Algonquin Community Day event scheduled for May 24, which will celebrate the reopening of the Algonquin Park swimming pool.2 This approach of soliciting community input for event programming indicates a commitment to resident-led initiatives.
Furthermore, Councilwoman Hawkins’ May 1 newsletter highlighted the recent celebration of floor renovations at the Park DuValle Dr. William G. Weathers Senior Building.4 This project, which the Councilwoman had advocated for, was described as a promise kept after three years and represents a tangible improvement to the quality of life for senior residents in District 1.4 This development would likely have been an ongoing project or a recent completion noted by residents during the May 11-17 period. - Metro Council Actions & Discussions Impacting District 1
The Louisville Metro Council and its committees were active during the week, with several meetings and discussions holding implications for District 1.
Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, in her capacity as Chair of the Democratic Caucus 5, led a meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall. The agenda included approval of minutes, caucus chair updates, staff updates, and administrative updates.6 As caucus chair, Councilwoman Hawkins plays a key role in shaping legislative priorities and facilitating information flow within the majority party of the council.
Concurrently, the Minority Caucus of the Louisville Metro Council also met on May 15 at 4:00 p.m. Their meeting focused on reviewing upcoming items on the Metro Council agenda and discussing matters for future committee hearings.7 While announcements did not specify discussion of District 1 items, this bipartisan review process is a standard part of the council’s legislative preparations.
The full Metro Council meeting was held on Thursday, May 15, at 6:00 p.m..8 During this meeting, Councilwoman Hawkins introduced Jace Jones as the Page for District 1.9 Among the legislative actions, the council approved the zoning change for 5004 Camp Ground Road in District 1 (detailed further in section I.A.3).10 Other agenda items included an ordinance amending capital budgets (O-103-25), a resolution accepting funding for an underpass lighting project (R-024-25), approval of Neighborhood Development Funds for various city-wide initiatives, and several resolutions related to MSD easements and Planning Commission reviews (R-040-25, R-037-25, R-049-25, R-036-25).9
The Metro Council Budget Committee held several hearings to review Mayor Craig Greenberg’s recommended Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital and Operating Budgets. These hearings are crucial for determining departmental funding that will ultimately affect services and projects in District 1.
- On Tuesday, May 13, a hearing on Human Resources was held at 4:00 p.m..11 While no specific District 1 impacts were detailed, HR policies affect all Metro employees, including those serving the district.
- On Wednesday, May 14, hearings were conducted for Economic Development at 4:00 p.m. and Codes & Regulations at 5:00 p.m..11 Mayor Greenberg’s budget proposal includes development funds for economic expansion city-wide 12, and codes and regulations directly impact property maintenance and development across all districts. The ongoing budget review process remains a significant focus for the Metro Council.13
The Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust Oversight Board met on Friday, May 16. The agenda covered topics including conservation, economic development, the environment, and parks.15 Specific items included updates on the Beargrass Creek South Fork and Stoll Hill Conservation Easement and a review of the LJCET Finance and Bylaws.16 The Trust’s work in protecting natural areas and implementing goals related to parks and greenways 16 can indirectly benefit District 1, which contains significant parkland such as Shawnee, Chickasaw, and Algonquin Parks.
- Zoning & Development Decisions Affecting District 1
A notable zoning decision directly impacting District 1 was made at the May 15 Metro Council meeting. The council approved a zoning change for the property located at 5004 Camp Ground Road.10 This case (24ZONE0108), which also involved property at 4100 Bubbling Over Drive, saw a rezoning from R-4 Single-Family Residential to C-2 Commercial to allow for an auto repair business, “Tune Ups Plus”.18 The Planning Commission had previously recommended approval of the change 19, and the property is located within Council District 1 19, making Councilwoman Hawkins eligible to vote on the matter.18
The project involves utilizing an existing detached garage for the auto repair facility, with one staff report indicating a C-1 commercial use for the two-bay garage 20, while another mentions a C-2 rezoning and a proposal to construct an additional 1,200 square foot structure to expand the auto repair use, with the existing residence remaining.21 The approval for C-2 zoning suggests the potential for a more intensive commercial use than perhaps initially outlined for C-1. This rezoning introduces commercial activity into an area described as a Suburban Workplace Form District, situated between industrial development to the west and single-family residential uses to the east.20 Such land-use changes can have a direct impact on the character of the surrounding neighborhood and the daily lives of nearby residents.
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