CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
Council Meeting Minutes
June 25, 2024
A meeting of the St. Matthews City Council was held in-person on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Richard Tonini. The following people were present:
MAYOR
Richard J. Tonini
CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Bernie Bowling Councilmember Sarah Landes
Councilmember Frank Flynn Councilmember Mary Jo Nay
Councilmember Nathan Hernandez Councilmember Amy Olson
Councilmember Tim Holland Councilmember Jackie Vanetti
OTHER OFFICIALS
John Singler – St. Matthews City Attorney
Chief Barry Wilkerson – St. Matthews Police Department
Susan Clark – St. Matthews City Clerk
Jack Ruf – St. Matthews Code Enforcement/Planning & Zoning
Kenan Stratman – St. Matthews Director of Public Works
OTHER ATTENDEES
Gary Major – Resident
Raymond Brown – Resident
Trevor Cravens – HB Productions
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was accomplished followed by the roll call vote of attendance.
MINUTES
A motion was made by Councilmember Nay to approve the minutes from the June 11, 2024 council meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmembers Bowling and Holland.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
PUBLIC MEETING COMMENTS
Trevor Cravens, President of HB Productions briefed the councilmembers on Summerfest 2024. The event was held on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Overall attendance was estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 people. The hottest parts of the day definitely saw a decrease in people but that is to be expected and not surprising. The variety of vendors was good as well as the mix of food trucks. Councilmember Holland inquired if local businesses were involved. Mr. Cravens relayed the Frankfort Avenue side of business were not involved nor were the Lexington Road side, mainly due to lack of personnel. Councilmember Holland also asked how advertising will be handled differently for next year’s Summerfest. Mr. Cravens mentioned he would love to have a billboard for future community events. He also added he received quite a bit of local media attention and that was helpful. Through social media, approximately 7,500 people clicked on they were interested in attending. However, the unusual heat wave was a deterrent. The tentative plan is to keep this event for the 3rd week of June each year and may also include events for the 75th Anniversary celebration of the formation of the City of St. Matthews. Councilmember Flynn interjected fireworks and a drone show may be included.
SUSPENSION OF REGULAR MEETING AND OPENING OF MUNICIPAL AID PROGRAM (MAPs) PUBLIC HEARING
Councilmember Bowling made a motion to suspend the regular meeting at 7:17 p.m. and begin the annual public hearing on the Municipal Aid Program (MAPs). The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried, and the regular meeting was suspended, and the MAPs hearing began.
City Attorney John Singler reviewed the proposed budget for the Municipal Aid Program (MAPs). Approximately $441,300 of revenue is expected to be generated. Projects estimated totaling $844,200 are planned. Unappropriated funds currently held will be added to 2024-2025 revenue and utilized for these identified road improvement projects. No one from the public choose to testify at the public hearing. Councilmember Nay made a motion to approve the proposed MAPs 2024-2025 budget. The motion was seconded by Councilmembers Holland and Bowling.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
At 7:25 p.m., Councilmember Bowling made a motion to adjourn the MAPs hearing and reconvene to the regular council meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
PENDING BUSINESS
ORDINANCE 24-04 CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
No discussion or action took place at that time.
ORDINANCE 24-05 ACCEPTANCE of the 2024-2025 FISCAL JOHN SINGLER, ATTORNEY
YEAR BUDGET – 2nd reading
City Attorney John Singler reviewed by summary Ordinance 24-05 setting a budget for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year runs from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Expected expenditures are $27,191,120.00. Review and discussion began on grant requests. They were reviewed as follows:
Alley Cat Advocates – Requested $5,000
Councilmember Flynn made a motion to approve $1,250 from the grant program for Alley Cat Advocates. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson.
Upon Voice vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
Blessings in Backpack – Requested $3,750
Councilmember Vanetti made a motion to approve $3,750 to help supply weekend meals to students at St. Matthews Elementary. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Hernandez.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
Kentucky Derby Festival – requested $9,020
Councilmember Bowling made a motion to approve a grant program request in the amount of $9,020. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Flynn.
Upon Roll Call Vote: (3-5) the motion was not approved. Yes Votes: Councilmembers Bowling, Nay, and Flynn. No Votes: Councilmembers Landes, Holland, Hernandez, Olson, and Vanetti.
Parkside Halloween Parade – requested $500
Councilmember Flynn made a motion to approve $500 from the grant program for the decades long-held Parkside Neighborhood Halloween parade. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Holland.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
St. Matthews Area Ministries – requested $30,000
Councilmember Holland made a motion to approve the grant funding request of $30,000 to be distributed quarterly over the next fiscal year. The motion was seconded by Councilmembers Bowling and Nay.
Upon Roll Vote: (8-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmembers Vanetti, Hernandez, Olson, Holland, Bowling, Nay, Flynn, and Landes. No Votes: None
Chamber of St. Matthews – Requested $75,000
Councilmember Bowling made a motion to approve grant funding for the next fiscal year distributed quarterly totaling $75,000 contingent on the Chamber supplying a budget. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay.
Upon Roll Call Vote: (5-3) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmembers Landes, Nay, Bowling, Hernandez, and Vanetti. No Votes: Councilmembers Flynn, Holland, and Olson.
After reviewing the remainder of the budget, Councilmember Bowling made a motion to approve Ordinance 24-05 budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay.
Upon Roll Call Vote: (8-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmembers Vanetti, Hernandez, Olson, Holland, Bowling, Nay, Flynn, and Landes. No Votes: None
NEW BUSINESS
MUNICIPAL ORDER 24-08 GRANT REQUEST FOR JOHN SINGLER, ATTORNEY
COMMUNITY GARDEN AT
ST. MATTHEWS BAPTIST CHURCH
Volunteers from St. Matthews Baptist Church have been growing vegetables for several years in a vacant lot. Some portion of the fresh produce from the garden is donated to the St. Matthews Area Ministries (St. Mam’s) program. This program in turn distributes to those who are in need of assistance. Councilmember Nay made a motion to accept the grant request of $2,500. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Holland.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried.
RESOLUTION 6-13-2024 ETHICS RESOLUTION JOHN SINGLER, ATTORNEY
Mr. Singler spoke on behalf of the members of the Ethics Committee. Members have met over the course of 2024 and have made a few changes. 1). The Financial Disclosure Form has been updated. 2). Additional staff members will now be required to submit an annual Financial Disclosure form. 3). The City Clerk will be required to send Financial Disclosure forms to all candidates for office who are not currently on the city council. Those currently on the council are already required to complete and submit the form at the beginning of each year. 4) The members of the Ethics Committee also want all employees to be given a copy of the Ethics Ordinance and will be required to sign a statement acknowledging St. Matthews is a City of Ethics. Mr. Singler will clean up language referencing the primary election since St. Matthews does not participate in primaries. No further action was taken nor was any needed since it does not require council approval.
ORDINANCE 24-06 CHANGE IN LAND DEVELOPMENT JOHN SINGLER, ATTORNEY
CODE
The Kentucky General Assembly approved the sale of medical cannabis in cities across the state starting on January 1, 2025. With this passage, it has become necessary to make changes to the Land Development Code, including Louisville Metro and St. Matthews. The LDC amendment would only allow sales of medical cannabis in C-2, C-3 (commercial zones) and bits of M-1, and M-2 (industrial). As currently written, the sale of medical cannabis cannot be transacted within 1,000 feet of a library, school, day care, religious buildings, parks and other dispensaries. How to measure the distance has not been defined. Councilmember Nay asked for a map of the city outlining the zones previously mentioned. She then made a motion for introduction and 1st reading of Ordinance 24-06. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bowling.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried. The ordinance will be presented for 2nd reading and final vote at the next council meeting or soon thereafter if questions are pending.
EXPENDITURES
Councilmember Bowling made a motion to approve the expenditures listed and have checks drawn on the city’s treasury in the total of $422,292.54. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nay.
Upon Roll Call Vote: (8-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmembers Vanetti, Hernandez, Olson, Holland, Bowling, Nay, Flynn, and Landes. No Vote: None.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Councilmember Flynn wanted to endorse a cyber security policy that has been recommended by a representative of insurance brokers Sterling Thompson Insurance Company. This policy offers greater coverage, and less risk, should an unfortunate event occur.
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Mr. Singler relayed he had no additional comments.
MAYOR’S REPORT
Mayor Tonini did not give a report.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Holland made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bowling.
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried, and the meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Clark, City Clerk
Mayor Richard Tonini
| June 25, 2024 | |||
| BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR DRAW WARRANTS on the City Treasury, | |||
| counter-signed by the City Clerk authorizing payment of the below listed invoices: | |||
| Aardvark | Police – Training/Special Munitions | $1,020.00 | |
| AT&T | All – Telephone Service | $7,711.51 | |
| Best Stamp & Seal Co. | Admin./Police – Stamps | $86.80 | |
| BMS, LLC | All – Insurance Addendum | $131.25 | |
| Cross Chrysler Jeep | Police – VMR/Mechanical/Routine | $849.52 | |
| Derby Fire Services | Works – Inspection/Annual Monitoring | $805.00 | |
| Earth First of Kentuckiana | Works – Mulch/Playground Mulch | $1,006.60 | |
| Enterprise Fleet Management | Police – Vehicle Leases | $13,941.14 | |
| Galls | Police – Uniforms | $90.90 | |
| General Rubber | Police – Supplies & Materials | $1,903.97 | |
| Guardian Insurance Company | All – Long/Short/Life Insurance | $10,724.45 | |
| Hunter Knepshield Co. | Works – Warwick Park Direct Purchase | $95,899.50 | |
| KEMI | All – Workers Comp. Installment | $35,390.07 | |
| Kentucky League of Cities | Admin. – Summer Summit- Jack Ruf | $150.00 | |
| Kiesler’s Police Supply, Inc. | Police – Training/Special Munitions | $8,367.91 | |
| LG&E | Works – Electric/Gas | $1,354.53 | |
| Linear Services | Works – Paint Striping Equipment | $500.00 | |
| Louisville MSD | Admin. – Map of St. Matthews | $41.00 | |
| Louisville Water Company | Works – Water Services | $575.15 | |
| Meineke Car Care Center | Police – Vehicle Main./Routine | $345.60 | |
| Miller Company | Police – Service Contract – Copies | $40.00 | |
| Norse Tactical | Police – Training/Course & Materials | $25.00 | |
| Norton Healthcare | Police/Works-Contract Medical Services | $3,467.00 | |
| RCS Communications | Police – CI/Dispatch Console | $166,450.00 | |
| River Link | Works – Fees | $25.16 | |
| Rumpke | Works – Portalets | $818.21 | |
| Security Pros, LLC | Works – Monitoring | $1,215.46 | |
| Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories | Police – Supplies & Materials | $7.69 | |
| Site One Landscape Supply | Works – Supplies & Materials | $227.81 | |
| Sprigler Door Service, Inc. | Works – Garage Door Repairs | $2,740.00 | |
| Sterling G. Thompson Co. | Admin. – ABC Administrator Bond | $101.80 | |
| Studio Kremer Architects | Works – Community Center Phase II | $3,281.25 | |
| Subsentio, LLC | Police – Training/Course & Materials | $1,120.00 | |
| The Covina-Thomas Company | Police – Training/Special Munitions | $2,115.00 | |
| Tires Plus Total Car Care | Police/Admin. – Vehicles/Routine Main. | $1,259.59 | |
| Tony’s Wrecker Service | Police – Towing | $400.00 | |
| Total Office Products & Service | Police – Office Supplies | $116.49 | |
| Trace3, LLC | Works – CI/Ten Pin Shop | $2,253.29 | |
| Trans Union | Police – Contract Services | $476.90 | |
| Valvoline | Police – Vehicle Main.-Preventative | $393.35 | |
| Verizon Wireless | All – Telephone Services | $3,375.15 | |
| Wex Bank | All – Gasoline | $19,213.49 | |
| Yesworx | IT – Software Hosting/Support | $1,000.00 | |
| Reimbursements and Payments | |||
| Olson, Amy | $25.00 | ||
| TOTAL | $391,042.54 | ||
