Old Louisville Journal, August 2005

Questions and Answers....
Special Management Districts

Editor’s note: The Old Louisville Neighborhood Council met on July 26, 2005, to discuss the possibility of creating a special management district for the neighborhood. Due to publication deadlines, this article was written prior to that meeting. Information was provided by OLNC Vice Chair, Ken Herndon, who is also the Executive Director of the Louisville Downtown Management District, and who served as technical advisor at the OLNC meeting.
What exactly is a special management district?
A special management district is a designated geographical area where property owners, through a petition process, agree to an assessment based on property values to fund supplemental or additional services within the district.
What services can a special management district provide?
State law allows for a wide range of services to be provided by special management districts. A district selects the specific services to fund. Security, litter cleanup, and street lighting have been mentioned as possible services in Old Louisville.
The Louisville Downtown Management District funds extra security, street cleaning, and streetscape improvements such as litter baskets, kiosks, bicycles racks, and benches. Security and cleaning personnel do not carry weapons and do not have arrest power; however, they do have close contact with authorities to report illegal behavior.
How is a special management district created?
Petition signatures must be obtained that represent at least 51 percent of the total land value and at least 33 percent of the property owners in the proposed district. A public hearing is then scheduled by the Louisville Metro Council. The Metro Council votes whether to approve the district or not.
Who administers a special management district?
A Board of Directors is created. In the case of Old Louisville, the OLNC and/or the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce would probably select the board. That Board decides upon the services to be offered and suggests the assessment rate. Based on the cost of services to be provided and the revenue available from property assessments, the board creates the budget for the services. An executive director may be hired by the board.
How much does a special management district cost taxpayers?
The current state cap on assessments is 8 cents per $100 of property value. (For example, a home valued at $100,000 would be assessed $80.00) That is also the current assessment in the Louisville Downtown Management District.
The level of assessment is determined by the services desired, and the value of land in the district. A residential district would generally have lower land value than a commercial district; therefore, an Old Louisville District, for example, might require a higher assessment than the law now allows. This would require the Metro Council to raise the assessment cap through legislation.

Concert Will Swing Down Memory Lane
The Doctors’ of Swing will be featured in the August First Sunday Concert in Central Park on Sunday August 7, 2005, at 4:00PM.
The band specializes in the big band sound of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s as well as show tunes. Originally formed by physicians, the Doctors’ of Swing remains true to its name; half of the current band members are doctors.
The band was a big hit with young and old in Central Park last year. So get in the swing, and plan to be in the park on August 7.

Heavy Trucks and Semis Are a Big Problem
Heavy trucks and tractor-trailers are an increasing presence and problem on Old Louisville Streets, according to discussions at the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council Property Improvement Committee meeting on July 14, 2005.
Neighbors complained of trucks running over curbs and causing autos to serve or back up as the trucks travel down narrow streets or try to negotiate wide turns from or onto narrow streets. Noise, fumes, dangers to pedestrians, structural damage to homes,and illegal parking were also cited. Allegations of prostitution in parked trucks along Oak and Floyd Streets were voiced.
Rick Storm, an engineer with Metro Louisville Public Works, said at the meeting that according to state law, trucks can be restricted only if safety hazards are documented. He was asked to provide specific definitions of what qualifies as a safety hazard and what is considered adequate documentation. He said he will check with city lawyers.
Fourth District Officer Tara Long noted that a city ordinance prohibits commercial trucks from parking on city streets.
Many neighbors noted that trucks use Old Louisville streets, especially Magnolia, Second, Oak and Hill Streets, as a convenient and fast pass through to downtown or the interstates. Mr. Storm indicated that if residents will give him the names of trucking firms that are doing this, the city would talk to the companies involved in an attempt to get voluntary changes in routes. Residents are encouraged to call the Old Louisville Information Center (635-5244) with their information; it will be complied and passed on to Mr. Storm.
Herb Fink, PIC Chair, will appoint a subcommittee to follow-up and report on the issues raised at the meeting. Suggestions for more two-way streets, truck routes, limiting streets to service trucks only, reducing the neighborhood speed limit to 25 mph, and filing claims against trucking firm insurance companies will be investigated by this subcommittee. Anyone interested in serving on the subcommittee should call the Old Louisville Information Center.

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