Committee advances ordinance clarifying ban on blowing leaves, yard debris into Louisville streets
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Summary
The Louisville Metro Public Works Committee voted unanimously to forward Ordinance O-091-24, which clarifies that leaves, sticks and other yard debris should not be placed in roadways, aims to prevent damage to sweepers and clogged catch basins, and emphasizes outreach before citations.
The Louisville Metro Public Works Committee voted unanimously to advance Ordinance O-091-24, a change to Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances section 97.071 that clarifies what materials may be placed in roadways and establishes liability for removal costs where appropriate.
Councilman Piagintini, who chaired the meeting in Councilwoman Pervis’s absence and is the lead sponsor, said the update responds to a recurring problem: "there are folks who, are putting material into the street that should not be put into the street for street sweeping," which can damage equipment and clog drainage. He told colleagues the amendment is intended to enable a public education campaign in advance of enforcement.
Jennifer Khamis, director of Louisville Metro Public Works, told the committee, "We do not collect leaves," and said when residents blow or pile leaves into streets the material can clump and require crews to scrape and remove debris before sweepers can operate. Shannon Logan, assistant director on the solid waste operations team, described the extra resources required for those cleanups — "a skid steer, extra laborers to scrape first" — and said the optimal time for crews to act is immediately after leaf fall.
Councilwoman Chapel said she supported the clarification but asked whether the change would do more than clean up language, noting the ordinance text makes violators "liable to the Louisville Metro government for the cost of removing such foreign matter from the public way." She said, "I'll be voting yes for this, but I'm just wondering enforcement wise... what is it going to accomplish?" Khamis replied that the administration intends to prioritize outreach and education and use citations or cost recovery only after those efforts.
The committee conducted a roll-call vote. Chair Piagintini said he would vote yes; Stewart Benson and other members recorded yes votes, and the clerk announced five yes votes. With no amendments, the committee approved the ordinance and forwarded it to old business for further council consideration.
The ordinance and related policy work are intended to reduce equipment damage, limit localized flooding caused by clogged catch basins, and clarify expectations for residents. The committee’s next procedural step is the full council consideration as the item moves from committee to the council’s old business docket.
