Louisville Metro Government  
Action Summary - Tentative  
Parks and Sustainability Committee  
Chair Khalil Batshon (R-25)  
Vice Chair Paula McCraney (I-7)  
Committee Member Crystal Bast (R-14)  
Committee Member Jennifer Chappell (D-15)  
Committee Member Anthony Piagentini (R-19)  
Committee Member Betsy Ruhe (D-21)  
Thursday, August 6, 2026  
3:00 PM  
Council Chambers/Virtual  
THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD VIA VIDEO TELECONFERENCE  
Call to Order  
Roll Call  
Chair Batshon called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.  
Chair Batshon introduced the committee members present. A quorum was  
established.  
6 - Chair Khalil Batshon (R-25), Vice Chair Paula McCraney (I-7), Vice Chair Crystal  
Bast (R-14), Vice Chair Jennifer Chappell (D-15), Vice Chair Anthony Piagentini  
(R-19), and Vice Chair Betsy Ruhe (D-21)  
Present:  
Support Staff  
Clerk(s)  
Nicole Pang, Jefferson County Attorney's Office  
Hollie Hopkins, Jefferson County Attorney's Office  
Mary Willis, Assistant Clerk  
Sonya Harward, Clerk  
Pending Legislation  
O-108-26  
1.  
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO  
GOVERNMENT CODE OF ORDINANCES (“LMCO”) SECTION 42.31 TO PERMIT THE  
FORAGING OF CERTAIN PLANT MATERIAL IN LOUISVILLE METRO PARKS.  
Sponsors:Primary JP Lyninger (D-6)  
Attachments:  
O-108-26 V.1 051426 Amend LMCO 42.31 RE Foraging in Metro  
Parks.pdf  
This item remained held in committee.  
R-091-26  
2.  
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD OF $75,000  
FROM THE KENTUCKY ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CABINET, DEPARTMENT FOR  
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, FOR THE IROQUOIS PARK PLAYGROUND RUBBER  
MULCH PROJECT TO BE ADMNISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND  
RECREATION.  
Sponsors:Primary Jennifer Chappell (D-15)  
Attachments:  
R-091-26 V.1 073026 Grant for Iroquois Park Playground Rubber  
Mulch Project.pdf  
Iroquois Park Playground Rubber Mulch Project.pdf  
A motion was made by Committee Member Piagentini, seconded by Committee  
Member Bast, that this Resolution be recommended for approval.  
The following spoke to this item:  
- Jason Canuel, Metro Parks  
- Committee Member Piagentini  
- Chair Batshon  
- Committee Member Ruhe  
The motion carried by a voice vote and the Resolution was sent to the Consent  
Calendar.  
R-142-25  
3.  
A RESOLUTION URGING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE URBAN FOREST MASTER  
PLAN STRATEGIES/ACTIONS TO ENSURE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO  
GOVERNMENT’S TREE CANOPY IS RESILIENT, PROTECTED, AND SUSTAINABLE.  
Sponsors:Primary Jennifer Chappell (D-15), Additional Betsy Ruhe (D-21), Additional Ben  
Reno-Weber (D-8), Additional Andrew Owen (D-9) and Additional JP Lyninger (D-6)  
Attachments:  
R-142-25 V.1 111325 Encouraging Louisville Tree Plan.pdf  
Updated UFMP Financial Impact Statement.pdf  
UFMP Handout 8.6.26.pdf  
UFMP Strategy_Action Progress Tracking - Sheet2 (2).pdf  
UFMP - Short Summary (2) (1).pdf  
A motion was made by Committee Member Piagentini, seconded by Committee  
Member Ruhe, that this Resolution be returned to the table.  
The motion to return to the table carried without objection.  
The following spoke to this item:  
- Michelle King, Metro Parks  
- Committee Member Piagentini  
- Mesude Ozyurekoglu, Metro Parks  
- Committee Member Bast  
- Chair Batshon  
- Committee Member Ruhe  
- Cynthia Sullivan, Trees Louisville  
A motion was made by Committee Member Piagentini, seconded by Committee  
Member Bast, that this Resolution be postponed.  
The motion to postpone carried by a voice vote.  
Adjournment  
Note: Items sent to the Consent Calendar or Old Business will be heard before the full  
Council at the Metro Council meeting August 13, 2026.  
Transcript  
ID 26-1059  
[See the "Unedited Captioning Transcript of the Parks and Sustainability Committee  
Meeting - August 7, 2026.pdf" attached hereto for additional information regarding  
discussion of each item.]  
Attachments:  
Unedited Captioning Transcript of the Parks and Sustainability  
Committee - August 6, 2026.pdf