Tree Advisory Board Annual Update
Tree Advisory Board Chair Jonathan Perkins provided an overview of the Board’s actions and accomplishments from 2025. These accomplishments include assisting the Parks and Recreation Department with launching the Tree Voucher Program, planting new trees in Noble Park, and helping secure the City’s 34th consecutive Tree City USA designation.
Perkins then presented the Board’s goals for 2026 as follows:
- Goal 1: Reinstate or create new content for an informational newsletter.
- Goal 2: Conduct inspections of trees planted through the Tree Voucher Program.
- Goal 3: Actively participate in planting 100 trees in celebration of Noble Park’s 100th anniversary.
- Goal 4: Establish a Tree Price Tag campaign to raise public awareness of the value of local trees.
- Goal 5: Designate an area in Paducah as an ArbNet Accredited Arboretum.
- Goal 6: Continue providing residents with informational brochures about trees and tree care.
- Goal 7: Purchase a Paducah Tree Advisory Board tablecloth for use at events.
The Tree Advisory Board meets every other month.
Repeal and Replace Chapter 42 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances related to Rental Occupancy
After meeting with landlords and incorporating their feedback, the Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance to repeal and replace Chapter 42, Article III of the Paducah Code of Ordinances. This section governs Paducah’s Residential Rental Occupancy Permit for one- and two-family residential rental dwellings. The purpose of the ordinance is not to penalize landlords but to ensure rental properties are safe. The updates are intended to improve safety, clarify enforcement procedures, and enhance transparency for both landlords and tenants.
Under the updated ordinance, anyone who rents or leases a residential unit to the public must register each unit with the Fire Prevention Office by July 1 each year to obtain a valid rental occupancy permit. Failure to register will result in a $100 fine per unit. The annual permitting and inspection fee will be $50 per unit, with a maximum total of $500 per property owner. Permits are valid for one year.
To allow time for implementation, units that were occupied before March 1 may be registered without penalty until January 1, 2027.
Amendments to Clarify the 911 Parcel Fee Ordinance
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced amendments to the 911 parcel fee ordinance to clarify definitions and processes. The amendments shift assessments from only 'occupied' parcels to all 'occupiable' parcels. They clarify the scope of fees and assessable categories, refine property classifications, formalize the appeals processes, and update administrative provisions to promote fairness, consistency, and long-term stability in funding joint 911 services.
- Fee Applicability: Shifts assessments from 'occupied' to all 'occupiable' parcels; includes residential storage structures and government/public housing units.
- Refined Property Classifications: Reclassifies medical facilities as commercial and clarifies definitions for residential, commercial, public use, and mixed-use parcels.
- Standardized Appeals Process: Formalizes hearing rules and establishes a clear path for judicial appeal.
- Administrative Updates: Removes expired first-year rental rebate provision, confirms annual CPI-based fee adjustments, and updates section numbering.
Additional Meeting Information
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the application for the FY2027 Kentucky Highway Safety Grant in the amount of $25,000.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the release of a request for proposals for a Historic Structure Report for the Hotel Metropolitan.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing a contract with Tyler Technologies to upgrade the public safety servers.
- Municipal Order approved for an Upper Story Residential Grant for 620 Broadway.
- Municipal Order approved for a contract modification with Reliable Electric for the lighting project a Dolly McNutt Memorial Plaza.
- Municipal Order approved for the declaration of trust and trust partnership agreement for the Kentucky League of Cities Worker’s Compensation Trust.
- Municipal Order approved to apply for a Kentucky Heritage Council Certified Local Government Grant which, if awarded, would be used to nominate a portion of the Southside neighborhoods as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Ordinance approved for the mid-year fiscal year 2026 budget amendment.
- Ordinance introduced to approved a telecommunications franchise agreement with Lumos Fiber.
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