Week of June 28, 2021
💡 - Big Topics this week:
Council Redistricting Begins!
The City's Redistricting Committee is ramping up with its first meeting on Tuesday, June 29 at 10:30am in the Government Center. They'll be discussing their charge as a committee and creating their meeting schedule.
The Redistricting Committee is made up of council appointees - each council member selects someone from their district for the process. We're excited to see who each council member appointed to the committee.
Curious about local redistricting? Go to our primer on Redistricting.We'll have more detail on there about the city's process as it becomes clearer.
🏢 - This week in City Hall:
Report out on Neighborhoods in Transition
This week, Council Member James Brown will report out in the Council Work Session about the recommendations stemming from the Neighborhoods in Transition Task Force.
Since 2018, the Task Force has met to discuss and study issues of neighborhood change, with a particular emphasis on gentrification and displacement. CM Brown will ask that council adopt or place into committee all of the recommendations included in the report, including several recommendations made by the Mayor's Commission on Racial Justice and Equality.
Watch the meeting on Tuesday, June 29 at 3:00pm on LexTV.
Click here to find out what else is happening in City Hall.
🏃 - Get Engaged:
Give input on Open Space in Lexington
This week, we recommend taking a moment to review the Division of Planning's proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments relating to Open Space.
What is open space? In the context of a city, think about small parks, greenspace, communal gathering areas, and other parts of our civic fabric. Open space provides opportunities for increased social cohesion and connection between neighbors and cultural events. It also has positive environmental impacts, including reduced water runoff, easing of heat islands, and more.
The Division of Planning's proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance will set new definitions for open space, set open space requirements for new developments, and more.
Learn more here or provide your input here.
Click here to find more ways to get engaged this week.
🗞 - Updates from Last Week:
Council passes no-knock warrant ban
CM James Brown's ordinance to Ban No-Knock Warrants passed its second reading with a 10-5 vote.
Passage of the ordinance happened after a surprise substation ordinance proposed by CM Preston Worley which would make no-knock warrants legal under certain circumstances failed with a vote of 8-7.
CMs Richard Moloney, Preston Worley, Fred Brown, Whitney Elliot Baxter, and Amanda Bledsoe voted against the no-knock ban; the balance of council voted in favor.
CMs Richard Moloney, Chuck Ellinger, Josh McCurn, Preston Worley, Fred Brown, Whitney Elliot Baxter, and Amanda Bledsoe voted in favor of the substitute ordinance; the balance of council voted against the substitution.
📰 - From the Herald-Leader on this meeting:
🏢 This week in City Government
Monday, June 28
🏢 - Lexington-Fayette Urban County Industrial Authority
📺 - 2:00pm on June 28 via Zoom
📍 - Virtual
📖 - Read the Agenda
🗣 - No input process available
Tuesday, June 29
🗺 - Council Redistricting Committee
📺 - 10:30am on June 29 (no viewing link available)
📍 - Government Center, 5th Floor
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
🔦 - Meeting Highlights:
From the CivicLex Weekly: The City's Redistricting Committee is ramping up with its first meeting on Tuesday, June 29 at 10:30am in the Government Center. They'll be discussing their charge as a committee and creating their meeting schedule.
The Redistricting Committee is made up of council appointees - each council member selects someone from their district for the process. We're excited to see who each council member appointed to the committee.
Curious about local redistricting? Go to our primer on Redistricting. We'll have more detail on there about the city's process as it becomes clearer.
🏢 - Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
📺 - 1:00pm on June 29 via LexTV
📍 - Council Chambers
📖 - Read the Agenda
🗣 - Provide input via email (Staff: Hilary Angelucci)
🔦 - Meeting Highlights:
A presentation on the city’s finances.
The city’s revenues are 8.5% ahead of projections for the year.
The city’s expenses are 6.5% under the adopted FY21 budget.
Staff from the new downtown LexLive entertainment complex will give an overview of their new development.
CM Bledsoe and Craig Bencz will present about the city’s economic development partnerships and will recommend the following funds be distributed to said partners:
$66.5k to Euphrates International Investment Company for new business development
$120k to Commerce Lexington for existing business retention
$35k to Commerce Lexington for talent & workforce development
$77k to the Urban League and EHI Consultants for work in opportunity zones
Erin Hathaway from Gresham Smith will present about their work on a new Master Plan for the Coldstream area.
The presentation will include information about what infrastructure will need to be in place to welcome new development opportunities.
The total preliminary project cost is expected to be between $17.3M and $17.9M.
Larry Forester of Forcht Bank will present about Commerce Lexington’s work on the city’s Small Business Assistance program.
This latest funding round has funded $2.24M in funding for small businesses in Lexington
28% of businesses awarded funding were minority-owned
39% of businesses awarded funding were women-owned.
🏢 - Council Work Session
📺 - 3:00pm on June 29 via LexTV
📍 - Council Chambers
📖 - Read the Agenda
🗣 - Give input in person
🔦 - Highlights:
Elodie Dickinson will present about a new 6-month pilot program called Workforce Resource Center inside the Charles Young Center in the East End.
The Center is a partnership between the city and eight service providers, including the Kentucky Career Center, BCTC, Urban League, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, and more.
The program will provide free in-person job placement and job training opportunities to our residents living in and around Charles Young Center.
United Way of the Bluegrass will also provide a full-time staff person at the Center to provide social service referrals to those who come to the building for job placement opportunities.
CM James Brown and Hilary Angelucci will present on the Task Force on Neighborhoods in Transition.
The report represents the conclusion of much of the Task Force’s work, which has been active since 2018.
You can read the Task Force’s final two reports here:
The final recommendations fall into five categories:
Category one: Modification of existing programs, policies, and procedures to lessen pressures on vulnerable neighborhoods
Category two: Implementation of new programs, policies, and procedures to lessen pressures on vulnerable neighborhoods
Category three: Increase in resources for the assistance and support of residents of neighborhoods vulnerable to involuntary displacement
Category four: Support the recommendations made by the Commission of Racial Justice and Equality, Housing and Gentrification Subcommittee
Category five: Identification of priority areas to focus resources dedicated to addressing involuntary displacement.
The Task Force is asking for three next steps from Council:
Adopting a resolution supporting the recommendations of the Task Force.
Refer all recommendations that fall under a Council Committee to be placed into those Committee’s future items for consideration.
Encourage community organizations and the private sector to advance what recommendations they can.
Wednesday, June 30
💸 - Exaction Credit Advisory Committee
📺 - 1:30pm on June 30 (no viewing link available)
📍 - 3rd Floor, Phoenix Building (101 E. Vine Street)
📖 - No agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
🚜 - Rural Land Management Board
📺 - 3:00pm on June 30 (no viewing link available)
📍 - Digital
📖 - No agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
Thursday, July 1
🏗 - Planning Commission Subdivision Committee Meeting
📺 - 8:30am on July 1 via LexTV
📍 - Digital
📖 - No agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
🗺 - Council Redistricting Committee
📺 - 10:30am on July 1 (no viewing link available)
📍 - Government Center, 5th Floor
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
🎨 - Public Art Commission Meeting
📺 - 12:o0pm on July 1 (no viewing link available)
📍 - Digital
📖 - No agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
🏗 - Planning Commission Zoning Committee Meeting
📺 - 1:30pm on July 1 via LexTV
📍 - Digital
📖 - No agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
Friday, July 2
🧓 - Senior Services Commission Meeting
📺 - 8:30am on July 2 (no viewing link available)
📍 - Senior Center (195 Life Lane)
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
🚲 - Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee
📺 - 12:00pm on July 2 via Zoom Webinar
📍 - 7th Floor, Phoenix Building (101 E. Vine Street)
📖 - Read the Agenda here
🗣 - No input option available
🏃 Get engaged
🍃 - Rethinking Open Space
🏃 - Give input here
The Division of Planning is proposing a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments relating to Open Space.
What is open space? In the context of a city, think about small parks, greenspace, communal gathering areas, and other parts of our civic fabric. Open space provides opportunities for increased social cohesion and connection between neighbors and cultural events. It also has positive environmental impacts, including reduced water runoff, easing of heat islands, and more.
The Division of Planning's proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance will set new definitions for open space, set open space requirements for new developments, and more.
Learn more here.
🚜 - Apply for the Grow Smart Academy
Grow Smart Academy is a free, four-week program hosted by Fayette Alliance designed to educate Fayette County residents on land-use planning and its relationship to our community’s economic development, environment, and quality-of-life.
You can learn more and apply here.
🏘 - Coalition for Livable Lexington Event
The Coalition for a Livable Lexington is hosting a virtual event on Wednesday, June 30, at 12pm about three zoning laws (ZOTAs) on Parking Reform, Accessory Dwelling Units, and Open Space that are making their way through City Hall. The Coalition will provide information on the details of each ZOTA and will share their perspective on how they could help Lexington work towards a more livable, accessible, and affordable community.
Register for the event at bit.ly/livablelex.
🅿️ - Rethinking Parking
The Division of Planning has put out a call for community members to help gather data to evaluate the current parking situation in our city. Learn more and take the Parking Survey here.
🗞 Updates from last week
🏢 - June 22nd: Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee
The proposed ordinance related to Abandoned Shopping Carts in Lexington will stay in committee.
The proposed resolution related to Kentucky Utilities' clear-cutting of Trees near power lines moved out of committee, was walked on to the June 22nd Work Session, passed, had its first reading June 24th, and will now be up for second reading at the next Council Meeting.
The resolution passed out of Work Session by a majority vote, with CMs Fred Brown and Susan Lamb voting no.
📰 - From the Herald-Leader on this meeting:
🏢 - June 22nd: Council Meeting
The proposed creation of a Permanent Commission on Racial Justice and Equality was approved unanimously by Council. It received its first reading on the June 24th Council Meeting.
📰 - From the Herald-Leader on this meeting:
🏢 - June 24th: Council Meeting
CM James Brown’s ordinance to Ban No-Knock Warrants passed its second reading with a 10-5 vote.
Passage of the ordinance happened after a surprise substation ordinance proposed by CM Preston Worley which would make no-knock warrants legal under certain circumstances failed with a vote of 8-7.
CMs Richard Moloney, Preston Worley, Fred Brown, Whitney Elliot Baxter, and Amanda Bledsoe voted against the no-knock ban; the balance of council voted in favor.
CMs Richard Moloney, Chuck Ellinger, Josh McCurn, Preston Worley, Fred Brown, Whitney Elliot Baxter, and Amanda Bledsoe voted in favor of the substitute ordinance; the balance of council voted against the substitution.
📰 - From the Herald-Leader on this meeting: