TO:City Council
FROM:Bob Engler, Mayor Pro Tem and David Newman, Councilmember DATE:August 25, 2026
SUBJECT: National League of Cities Summer Board and Leadership Meeting, Louisville, KY - July 8-10, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive report.
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Direct and indirect costs are included in the Adopted FY 2026-27 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The National League of Cities (NLC) hosts a Summer Board and Leadership Meeting each year. The purpose of the summer session is to bring together the organization’s leadership with members of five Federal Advocacy Committees to hear federal policy updates and develop policy positions for consideration. Mayor Pro Tem Engler, who serves on the Public Safety Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee; Councilmember Newman and Legislative Affairs Manager Mina Layba, who both serve on Energy Environment and Natural Resources Federal Advocacy Committee, attended. The Summer Board and Leadership Meeting was held at the Omni Louisville Hotel, Louisville, KY.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The Summer Board and Leadership Meeting is as follows:
A. General Meetings
1. Council on Youth, Education and Families (YEF Council) Meeting: NLC staff reviewed YEF survey results. Mental health and food insecurity were
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two top areas identified. Staff shared best practices on mental health from the cities of Petersburg, VA; Greensboro, NC; and College Park, MD on programs they offer to address these issues. In addressing food insecurity, examples from Petersburg, VA and Greensboro, NC on their partnerships with counties, food banks, food distributors, and supermarket programs (e.g. B’More Fresh).
2. Council Race Equity and Leadership Meeting: With the tone of governance changing with reactive residents and more contentious culture, the session focused on Leadership, Care and Resilience for NLC to create a playbook for elected officials on how to address organizational well-being.
Participants shared examples of aggressive public comments and alternative ways for engagement such as limiting time to speak, ending audience reaction such as clapping or booing, the mayor chastening attacks on council members, etc.
3. Board of Directors Meeting: Board members reviewed and approved the new budget. Membership committee reported the organization has grown to 2,731 cities. NLC staff announced new partnerships with Darden Restaurants that own chains such as the Yard House and Olive Garden.
To celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, NLC created America250 toolkit and an opportunity to add your name to the Declaration of Independence via signon250.org. NLC had the opportunity to participate in World Cities Summit in Singapore and send the Executive Director and a few board members to serve as panelists.
B. Special Presentations/Sessions
1. Group Session on Municipal Civility: NLC partner, The Dignity Index shared practical tools and strategies to foster productive dialogue and meaningful public connection.
2. Press Conference: NLC leaders held a press conference on the release of its 13th annual State of the Cities Report. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg shared findings based on surveys and a review of mayoral addresses.
Economic development, infrastructure and affordable housing were identified as the top issues affecting cities across the nation.
C. Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy Committee (PSCP) Meeting Mayor Pro Tem Engler attended the PSCP Committee meetings:
1. Host City Mobile Tour #1 at The Summit Wellness Center: PSCP toured the Summit Wellness Center for first responders. The center provides Louisville’s police and emergency workers with a holistic support system NLC Summer Board and Leadership Meeting, Louisville, KY - July 8-10 August 25, 2026
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designed to combat the intense physical, psychological, and emotional demands of their jobs. Since the center opened, first responders reported less injuries and stress leaves.
2. Host City Mobile Tour #2 with the Information, Technology and Communications (ITC) Policy Committee at Louisville Metropolitan Government’s Emergency Operations Center: PSCP and ITC members toured the center and learned about the public safety communications infrastructure, including the 9-1-1 answering center, the IT department, and related operations. They explored how Louisville actively leverages innovative technology to respond to emergency disasters, safeguard residents, and continually improve public services.
3. Host City Mobile Tour #3 Louisville Metro Government Drone-as-First Responder (DFR): PSCP members experienced live drone deployment demonstrations used by Louisville Metro Emergency Services, MetroSafe, and the Louisville Fire Department. The program provides real-time aerial intelligence to improve situational awareness, enhance responder safety, support faster decision-making, and strengthen emergency response.
4. Federal Policy Update: NLC Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy Director Yucel Ors reviewed policy updates: Public safety policy is moving forward on multiple fronts: counter-drone security, first responder support, digital safety, and targeted violence prevention. In airspace defense, implementation of the SAFER SKIES Act and recent joint Department of Justice - Department of Homeland Security regulations are granting state and local law enforcement the authority to detect and mitigate unauthorized drone threats around critical infrastructure and major public events.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are expanding support for public safety personnel through federal initiatives like the Medal of Sacrifice Act (H.R. 3497) alongside expanded mental health resources. In the digital sphere, Congress continues to advance Next Generation 9-1-1 funding and negotiate guardrails around artificial intelligence and youth online safety.
5. Review of Public Safety Resolutions: The Committee examined, edited, and adopted public safety resolutions that will be presented to NLC's General Assembly during the annual City Summit Conference in Nashville, TN.
New:
Supporting Responsible Federal Action on Artificial Intelligence to Help Local Governments Keep Residents Safe
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Supporting Federal Resources for Comprehensive School Safety and School Resource Officer Programs
Supporting Federal Resources For Youth Community Centers Ongoing:
PSCP Policy Planning Document
6. Next PSCP Meetings: The next PSCP meeting will be virtual in September and an in-person meeting at the annual City Summit Conference in Nashville, TN in November. The PSCP meeting at City Summit will take place as a pre-conference session on November 18.
D. Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (EENR) Policy Committee Meeting
Councilmember Newman and Legislative Affairs Manager Layba attended the EENR Committee meeting:
1. Host City Mobile Tour #1 Waterfront Botanical Garden: EENR toured the garden which was converted from Edith Landfill. The 23-acre garden site is situated overlooking the Ohio River floodplain. The garden is part of Louisville’s Waterfront redevelopment.
2. Host City Mobile Tour #2 at the Waterfront Park: EENR toured Waterfront Park which is managed by Waterfront Development Corporation (WDC).
WDC is dedicated to transforming the Louisville’s downtown Ohio River riverfront for the community. The riverfront was once a center for industrial waste and is now reborn as an 85-acre park space with walking trails and bike paths. The city hosts major city events like Fourth of July celebrations, festivals and concerts.
3. Benefits Of Urban Tree Canopy for Heat Island Mitigation: Cindi Sullivan, President and Executive Director, TreesLouisville and Chris Chandler, President and CEO, Parks Alliance of Louisville shared community-driven parks projects to protect the city’s urban tree canopy to provide cooler streets to mitigate heat island impacts. TreesLouisville has developed partnerships with school districts and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
They also created an Urban Forest Master Plan.
3. The Power of Urban Greening: Lewis Johnson of Gresham Smith discussed the collaboration with Greenprint and the University of Louisville on maximizing urban greening to maximize health benefits downtown. The university is measuring the impacts of public health on environmental NLC Summer Board and Leadership Meeting, Louisville, KY - July 8-10 August 25, 2026
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changes to green-scaping projects including crime, traffic collisions, and downtown activity.
4. Federal Policy Update: EENR Legislative Director Carolyn Berndt provided status updates on the bipartisan Road to Housing Act. NLC was able to negotiate provisions for Community Development Block Grants and emergency services into the bill. Office of Management and Budget proposed changes on federal grants including mid-funding claw back. NLC asks that any advocacy letters be sent to congressional delegation.
Transportation and Water Resources Development Act reauthorization on the horizon. The House passed a version of the Transportation bill. A mark- up version of the clean water and state revolving fund proposal has been released at level funding.
5. Host City Mobile Tour #3 Louisville Water Tower: Louisville Water is Kentucky’s first public drinking water provider dating back to 1860.
Committee members toured the historic Water Tower and WaterWorks Museum. Overlooking the Ohio River, the tower serves as an architectural icon for the City of Louisville.
6. Utilizing Geothermal and Nuclear Energy in Communities: Dan Mann, Executive Director, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, shared how federal clean energy credits were used to implement both geothermal and nuclear projects at the airport. The energy savings resulted in close to half a million dollars in savings and 24 percent energy reduction.
7. Nuclear Energy: Kenya Stump, Executive Director, Kentucky Office of Energy Policy shared the state’s development as a Nuclear Ready Community. Kentucky’s Senate Bill 57 serves as a key genesis for nuclear- ready projects directly benefiting the greater Louisville region. By creating the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program, which provides up to $25 million in state grants, a few regional energy providers and industrial partners are able prepare local sites for small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors.
8. Data Center Energy and Water Use: Brian Davis, Director, Office of Planning, Louisville Metro Government, discussed how the City is creating land development guidelines and land use regulations for future data center construction. The city has a hyper-scale project proposed on 150 acres to use 350 megawatts of power. The city limits the size of a data center to 500,000 square feet. The Ohio River makes data centers an ideal site in Louisville.
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9. EENR Resolutions: The EENR Committee discussed the change in use of term “net zero” to “carbon neutral” which have been a concern from a number of states. EENR also discussed opportunities to develop new resolutions:
Toxic Substances and Control Act. – no existing policy. Superfund rules – there is a gap for small cities/utilities to obtain federal grants.
A Data Center Resolution is proposed by ITC to ensure no preemption on local authority. The resolution will be shared with EENR for concurrence.
10.Next EENR Meeting: Two virtual meetings will be scheduled in September.
The next in-person meeting will be at the annual City Summit Conference in Nashville, TN, in November. The PSCP meeting at City Summit will take place as a pre-conference session on November 18.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goal:
B. Provide municipal government leadership, which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
PREPARED BY: Mina Layba, Legislative Affairs Manager
CMO:150-20/ng/H: COMMON/Council Items/2026 Staff Reports/NLC Summer Leadership Forum Staff Report.docx