Ordinance to Establish a Creative & Cultural Council (vote December 17)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to establish the Paducah Creative & Cultural Council as part of Chapter 2 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances. This is one of the What’s Important Now (WIN) initiatives in the City’s Strategic Plan for enhancing arts and culture in Paducah. This ordinance creates the Council which will be composed of five Paducah citizens appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Board. In addition to the five citizens, the Planning Director, Neighborhood Project Planner, and the Grants Administrator will serve on the Council. The ordinance says the Council will meet no less than quarterly.
The roles and functions of the Council will be as follows:
- Acting as a resource for local artists and organizations.
- Undertaking initiatives that support the creative economy and the arts and culture ecosystem of Paducah.
- Uniting and connecting local partners to address community needs and make the community more healthy, vibrant and equitable.
- Recognizing, promoting and encouraging creative industry growth.
- Identifying funding and grant opportunities for local artists and arts & cultural organizations and assisting with the acquisition of said funding and grants.
- Coordinating efforts between agencies and individual artists and educating the public regarding community arts opportunities.
- Assisting with the installation of public art in neighborhoods, public places, and commercial corridors.
- Performing assessments on the state of arts and culture in Paducah.
If you are a Paducah citizen interested in serving on the Creative & Cultural Council, submit an application and a resume or biography. The application can be found at Boards and Commissions or contact the City Clerk’s office at 270-444-8506 for more information.
Ordinance to Amend Chapter 42 of Paducah’s Code Related to Junk Cars (vote December 17)
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 42 of Paducah’s Code of Ordinances related to abandoned, junk, and inoperable vehicles. The goals are to eliminate damaged and inoperable vehicles that may be damaging the environment through the leaking of fluids and to beautify the City by removing vehicles causing blight. This topic was discussed at the previous Commission meeting by Fire Chief Steve Kyle and Deputy Chief Greg Cherry.
The proposed amendments include clear definitions for apparently abandoned, apparently inoperable, and junk vehicles. The proposed amendments also include a section about vehicle owners who comply with the removal of a junk vehicle within the specified timeframe. It also outlines the circumstances and procedure in which a junk motor vehicle would be towed at the owner’s expense. If a junk vehicle is removed within 30 days of a violation notice, it is considered to be in compliance with the ordinance with no fine. If the junk vehicle is not removed within 30 days, the owner will receive a $100 fine. After 60 days, the vehicle is subject to being towed at the owner’s expense.
Quick Highlights
- Municipal order approved to accept the donation of property located at 2028 Clay Street. Accepting a property donation in lieu of foreclosure benefits the City financially.
- Ordinance approved to close a portion of the alley between 600 and 606 Broadway, 105 and 111 South 6th Street, and 603 Kentucky Avenue.
- Ordinance introduced (vote December 17) to approve a budget amendment to move General Fund Reserve Funds in the amount of $687,900 to the Ohio River Reconstruction Project (floodwall reconstruction project). This $31.2 million reconstruction project is funded 65 percent federally with the remaining 35 percent to be funded by the City. A portion of the total project funding must be in cash from the City. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is requesting the remaining cash payment of $687,900 to be submitted.
- Ordinance introduced (vote December 17) to approve Change Order No. 1 with Evrard Strang Construction Company for a contract increase of $16,951.32 for the spray pad and restroom project at the Pat & Jim Brockenborough Rotary Health Park. This change order brings the total contract to $531,951.32. Pat Brockenborough provided a generous donation of $500,000 for this project.
- Ordinance introduced (vote December 17) to release the promissory note for the Paxton Park Municipal Golf Course. In 2014, the City provided the golf course a $225,000 loan for facility improvements.
- Ordinance introduced (vote December 17) to accept property from P&L Railroad located near Adams Street, Jackson Street, and Tennessee Street.
- Ordinance introduced (vote December 17) to authorize a contract in the amount of $43,824.80 with Commonwealth Economics for professional services for the TIF project. This contract is to continue the work in the development of a TIF district in Paducah. The City has received preliminary approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority with the assistance of Commonwealth Economics. Commonwealth will assist the City through the final TIF review process by the State. This contract is an expense for which the City would be able to receive reimbursement once the TIF has successfully received State approval.
- Ordinance introduced (vote December 17) to consolidate the Urban Renewal & Community Development Agency (URCDA) with the Paducah Planning Commission. The consolidation will increase the efficiency of property transfers and redevelopment projects since the Planning Commission routinely meets twice per month.
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