Economic Vitality Committee Agenda and Packet 2025 02 21

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Economic Vitality Committee Meeting Minutes January 8, 2025 Page 2 of 5 to prioritize filling vacancies and providing housing for the workforce. Councilmember Kern commented that she would like to prioritize activating and invigorating the McCaslin corridor. She also agreed with Councilmember Fahey that she would like to prioritize filling vacancies. Mayor Leh stated that he would like to see the EVC focus more on strategy and policy, with a goal of generating more ideas and recommendations that could be taken to Council. He added that he would like to strengthen ties between Council and the Louisville Revitalization Commission. Mayor Leh also stated that he wants to increase efforts to actively listen and engage with the business community on issues. He cited the lack of energy code discussion at the EVC as an example. Councilmember Fahey added that she feels the Business Beat Roundtables are intended to help increase engagement and that they have been successful so far. Councilmember Fahey commented that she would like to see more information around what Economic Vitality does, including its efforts around filling vacancies in the February meeting. Manager Zarate confirmed that this information will be included in the Economic Vitality Year in Review that will be presented in February. Councilmember Kern added that she would like to see more branding and signage in Louisville and wondered whether that's something that the EVC could take on. Director Zuccaro responded that staff has heard similar sentiments before but that previous projects have ultimately hit a hurdle. He recommended that EVC's role could be turning ideas into Council projects and/or policy. Councilmember Fahey added that the Cultural Advisory Board is considering a program to add some artistic signage to Louisville. Director Zuccaro responded, clarifying that he thinks the most helpful outcome of the EVC is to gain Council support. The EVC can serve as project ambassadors to secure support from the rest of City Council. Acting City Manager Fox added that Council's Work Plan will likely have a section for recommendations from the EVC. Mayor Leh agreed that there is a complicated history around signage and emphasized that there is no money in the current budget. Additionally, the update to the Comprehensive Plan will take up quite a bit of Council bandwidth. He also emphasized that each of the four candidates for City Manager included branding in their applications. Manager Zarate responded, noting that branding is not necessarily an Economic Vitality function and would require collaboration with many different departments across the City. Councilmember Fahey commented that she has been hearing frustration from many Louisville business owners, specifically that there are too many ideas and not enough prioritization resulting in action. Director Zuccaro responded that this could be a great opportunity for project ambassadorship, supporting Agenda Packet P. 4