Call to Order and Roll Call
The 3rd meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue was held on Monday, September 19, 2016, at 10:00 AM, in Room 129 of the Capitol Annex. Representative Jeffery Donohue, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Representative Jeffery Donohue, Co-Chair; Senators Denise Harper Angel, Stan Humphries, Alice Forgy Kerr, and Max Wise; Representatives Terry Mills, Ruth Ann Palumbo, Marie Rader, Dean Schamore, and John Short.
Guests: Dominic Grotto, Vice-President of Board of Directors, Waterfront Botanical Gardens; Kasey Maier, Director for Program Development, Waterfront Botanical Gardens; Caroline Boeh Baesler, Executive Director/General Counsel, Office of Legal Services, Cabinet for Economic Development (CED); Josh Benton, Executive Director, Workforce Development, CED; Phillip Brown, Chief of Staff & Legislative Liaison, Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet; Karen Williams, President & CEO, Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau; Anthony Leachman, CFO, Chief Business Development officer & Co-Interim CEO, Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB); and Steve Kelly, Executive Director of Expositions & Co-Interim CEO, KSFB.
LRC Staff: Joe Lancaster, Raymont Griffith, Stephanie Rich, Greg Troutman, and Jenny Wells.
Update of Louisville Waterfront Botanical Gardens
Ms. Maier presented an update on the status of the Louisville Waterfront Botanical Gardens.
In response to a question from Chair Donohue, Ms. Maier said that in 1999 an individual donor passed away and established a $1.5 million trust to build a botanical garden in Louisville.
In response to a question from Rep. Schamore, Ms. Maier noted that a study indicated that when a city comparative to the size of Louisville in population has a botanical garden, visitors tend to extend their visits to the city approximately two days longer.
Overview of the Economic Development Partnership Board
Ms. Baesler presented an overview of the Economic Development Partnership Board.
In response to a question from Chair Donohue, Ms. Baesler stated that the board had met once but is required by statute to meet twice per year. Ms. Baesler stated that a second meeting is scheduled for November 30, 2016.
In response to questions from Rep. Mills, Ms. Baesler stated that the Economic Development Partnership Board provided three candidate names for the position of Secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development to the Governor. Ms. Baesler stated that the Governor has requested three additional names from the board.
Cabinet for Economic Development - Workforce Development Partnerships
Mr. Benton presented an overview of the Kentucky Workforce Development Partnerships.
In response to a question from Chair Donohue, Mr. Benton said that, since the apprenticeship program is relatively new, available data is insufficient to determine program effectiveness.
Kentucky State Fair Board - Old Cardinal Stadium Demolition - Capital Project
Mr. Brown, Ms. Williams, Mr. Leachman, and Mr. Kelly presented an overview of tourism in Louisville and the condition of Old Cardinal Stadium.
In response to questions from Chair Donohue, Ms. Williams stated that there is a great need for a quality hotel on-site at the Kentucky State Fair Grounds. Mr. Leachman noted that with public private partnership (P3) legislation in place, the State Fair Board is anticipating more opportunities to attract developers. Mr. Kelly stated that a major demolition cost relative to Old Cardinal Stadium includes major underground infrastructure relocation, such as electrical, water, and sewer lines.
There being no further business before the subcommittee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:54 AM.