Southside Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Plan Timeline
Director of Planning Carol Gault and Planner II Palmer Stroup provided an overview of the timeline for the formal adoption of the Southside Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Plan as outlined by the State (KRS 99.37). This plan has been under development for the past few months and discussed with the Paducah Board of Commissioners in April. The next steps will be to send notices for a public hearing about the Plan and to upload the draft plan to the City’s website. The Planning Commission will have a called meeting on June 9 for the plan’s public hearing with plan adoption at the July 7 meeting. The City Commission would take up the plan at its July 22 and August 12 meetings.
This Southside Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Plan is an extension and expansion of the work that has been done since 2022 to revitalize the Southside. At that time, the Southside Steering Committee was created, and then in 2023, the Southside Incentive program was developed which offered home beautification microgrants and new construction and major rehabilitation grants.
CDBG Entitlement Community
Projects and Grants Coordinator Hope Reasons provided an overview of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program. Paducah is becoming a CDBG Entitlement Community through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) due to the growth in population of our local Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This Entitlement Community Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to entitled cities and counties. The goal of this program is to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities especially for low- and moderate-income residents.
The estimate is that Paducah would receive $469,100 annually in direct CDBG funds without the need to make an application and compete with other communities for funds. To qualify, the City is required to submit a five-year consolidated plan and annual action plans for approval. The consolidated plan must include a housing needs assessment, non-housing community development needs assessment, a strategic plan, and a one-year action plan. The timeline for completion is to collect data and hold a public comment period with public hearings this summer, present the draft plan to the City Commission in August, and submit the plan to HUD by the August 16 final deadline.
These CDBG funds may be used for various activities including acquisition of real property, relocation and demolition, rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures, construction of public facilities and improvements, public services, activities related to energy conservation and renewable energy, and assistance to businesses.
Additional information about this program can be found at CDBG Entitlement Community.
Paducah Sports Park Entry Plaza
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a Municipal Order authorizing Peck Flannery Gream Warren to proceed with the construction documents for the Paducah Sports Park’s entry plaza. Last year, the original design plans changed to demolish the former Bluegrass Downs grandstand which would have served as the main entryway into the Sports Park. Since that time, the Board approved in January the redesign for the championship field with the entry plaza approved at this meeting. The new entryway design includes a decorative gate structure and pavilion that leads to the championship field. There are also berms in the plan next to the championship field to provide areas for families to enjoy watching the games.
The Paducah Sports Park construction is expected to be significantly completed at the end of this year with tournaments in spring 2026. Currently, crews are working on site and utility work along with the installation of the sports fields, stormwater ponds, and retaining walls. For more information, visit Paducah Sports Park.
Creation of Training Incentive Program for City Officials
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance creating a training incentive program for city officials as permitted by KRS 64.5278. This program encourages city officials to obtain education and training related to the operation of city government. Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) will serve as the program administrator by validating courses, tracking participation, and providing annual certification to the City. Approximately 27 Kentucky cities participate in this program.
Key highlights of the program include
- Officials must complete 15 hours (15 hours = 1 training unit) of approved training annually to qualify.
- Up to 10 excess hours may carry over to the next calendar year.
- Officials will receive $500 for completing the 15 hours of training each year
- Training units build each year that the official successfully completes 15 hours of training with the cap at 4 years. (Year 1 = $500, Year 2=$1,000, Year 3=$1,500, Year 4=$2,000. Every year after 4 is capped at $2,000)
- If an official fails to meet the 15-hour requirement in any given year, accumulated training units reset to $0.
Amend Chapter 118 (Vegetation) of the Paducah Code of Ordinances
The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance amending Chapter 118 (Vegetation) of the Paducah Code of Ordinances. The main change to the ordinance reduces the size of the Tree Advisory Board from nine to five members by removing the city staff representatives on the board. However, there will be a city staff appointee from the Parks and Recreation Department who provides staff support to the Tree Advisory Board. This appointee also will develop a tree planting and replacement plan for city-owned lots and rights-of-way and a tree voucher program. The Tree Advisory Board will be required to provide an annual report to the City Commission on the board’s activities and goals and assist in the development and implementation of the tree voucher program.
Additional Meeting Information
- Mayor Bray presented a proclamation to Police Chief Brian Laird and members of the Paducah Police Department proclaiming May 11 through 17 as National Police Week and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in Paducah.
- Mayor Bray presented proclamation to Julie Harris with the River Discovery Center proclaiming May 22 as National Maritime Day in Paducah.
- The Paducah Civic Beautification Board recognized the Dogwood Trail winners. To see the list of winners and learn more, visit Dogwood Trail.
- Reappointment of J.P. Kelly and joint reappointment of Leon Owen to the Paducah-McCracken County Industrial Development Authority (IDA).
- Municipal Order approved for a contract with AT&T for the Vesta 911 phone upgrade.
- Municipal Order approved for a contract with Zybix for two 911 dispatch consoles to increase the number of consoles in the division from five to seven.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the City Manager to release a request for proposals for a non-exclusive cable franchise in ordinance with Chapter 22 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the Body Armor Grant application requesting $245,322 through the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General.
- Municipal Order approved for a contract with Vestis Services, LLC for uniform services for the Public Works, Engineering, and Parks and Recreation Departments.
- Municipal Order approved for the purchase of radios to be used by the 911 system and the Fire Department.
- Municipal Order approved for the Seaman’s Church Institute sublease to Reliant Maritime Services. The City leases the property at 129 Water Street to Seaman’s Church Institute.
- Municipal Order approved accepting the 2025 Kentucky Waste Tire Crumb Rubber/Tire-Derived products grant from the Kentucky division of Waste Management in the amount of $31,600. The funds will be used to purchase a pour-in-place rubber surface for a Keiler Park playground.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the release of applications for subgrant awards through Paul Bruhn grant program.
- Ordinance introduced for a professional services contract with HDR, Inc. for an analysis of alternatives regarding sedimentation occurring downstream from the transient boat dock. The sedimentation has been affecting Midwest Terminal’s transloading facility. The United States Corps of Engineers (USACE) is requesting an analysis of options to alleviate the effect of the sediment on Midwest Terminal.
- Ordinance introduced to repeal Chapter 2 Division 15 of the Paducah Code of Ordinance related to Main Street. The Main Street function will be transitioning from a division of the Planning Department to an external agency, a nonprofit, that will have a contract for services with the City.
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