Louisville Metro Council

History

The first semblance of local government came shortly after the settlement began. This was originally considered part of Virginia. In 1779, pioneering founders elected five men as "trustees". In 1780 the town was formerly chartered and the Virginia legislature provided for local government by nine legislature-appointed trustees. When Kentucky became a state in 1792, the Kentucky legislature took over the appointments.

Trustees did not have to live in Louisville until a 1795 law change. In 1797 citizens were given home rule and the privilege of electing trustees. Most important decisions were made at the state level, and the trustees were administrators rather than legislators.

When Louisville was incorporated as Kentucky's first city in 1828, it gained greater autonomy. A ten-member "Common Council" was founded, to be headed by a mayor. In 1851 the city was given a new charter, keeping the Common Council as a "lower house" to the Board of Aldermen, an "upper house" of the city's legislative power. In 1929 the larger but less prestigious Common Council was eliminated. This legislative system continued until City-County Merger.

The 26-seat Louisville Metro Council was formally established in January 2003 upon the merger of the former City of Louisville with Jefferson County. It replaced both the city's Board of Aldermen and the county's Fiscal Court (three county commissioners).

Council President ==

The Louisville Metro Council President is the presiding officer of the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Council. The President is elected annually by a majority vote of the entire council at the council's first meeting in January. Currently the President is Brent Ackerson (D), who was elected on January 9, 2025.

Council Presidents

• 2025–present: Brent Ackerson (D)
• 2023–2025: Markus Winkler (D)
• 2018–2023: David James (D)
• 2016–2018: David Yates (D)
• 2015–2016: David W. Tandy (D)
• 2011–2015†: Jim King (D)
• 2010–2011: Tom Owen (D)
• 2009–2010: David W. Tandy (D)
• 2008–2009: Jim King (D)
• 2007–2008: Rick Blackwell (D)
• 2006–2007: Kevin Kramer (R)
• 2005–2006: Barbara Shanklin (D)
• 2004–2005: Kelly Downard (R)
• 2003–2004: Ron Weston (D) †Died in office

Members

Ordinances

In 2006, two controversial ordinances were passed: a smoking ban in and a restrictive animal control ordinance.

One Touch Make Ready

Main article: One Touch Make Ready

In 2016, Louisville's Metro Council was the first among several cities in the United States to approve a One Touch Make Ready ordinance for allowing new communications service providers to alter/relocate existing utility pole attachments owned by third party communications service providers. Louisville's Metro Council faced multiple lawsuits following its approval of the ordinance.

Breonna's Law

Main article: Killing of Breonna Taylor

On June 10, 2020, the Metro Council unanimously approved ″Breonna's Law″ banning no-knock search warrants after the 26-year-old emergency room technician was killed by Louisville police on March 13, and the city erupted in violent protests on May 28. Police Chief Steve Conrad was fired on June 1 after the fatal shooting of black business owner David McAtee.

References

References

1. McCrary, Eleanor. "Democrat no more: Former Louisville party leader makes change to independent".
2. (January 9, 2025). "New leadership elected at first Louisville Metro Council meeting of 2025".
3. "Most requested ordinances". louisvilleky.gov.
4. Bailey, Phillip. (February 11, 2016). "Google Fiber Measure passed over objections". The Courier Journal.
5. Bailey, Phillip. (February 26, 2016). "AT&T sues Louisville Metro over One Touch Fiber proposal". [[The Courier-Journal]].
6. (June 11, 2020). "Louisville passes 'Breonna's Law' banning no-knock warrants".
7. (June 2, 2020). "Louisville police chief fired after fatal shooting of black business owner".