Week of March 7, 2022
🔎 - Big topic this week: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
At this week's Work Session, Brandi Peacher, the Mayor's Director of Project Management, will present an overview of how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) applies to Lexington. President Joe Biden signed the BIL on November 15, 2021.
The BIL is a once-in-a-generation $1 trillion investment in American infrastructure. It was built to "grow the economy, enhance US competitiveness, create good jobs and make the US economy more sustainable, resilient & equitable."
These funds will be available through grants and federal spending for new and existing programs for water, transportation, broadband, environmental remediation, power/energy, water storage, and resiliency.
To use these funds strategically, Lexington will conduct a needs assessment for infrastructure and rank projects that qualify for funding. This will end in a Capital Improvement Strategic Plan to most effectively access the infrastructure funding.
Stay tuned next week for updates. Watch this meeting Tuesday, March 8 at 3 pm in Council Chambers or the Lex TVlivestream.
🔎 - This week in City Hall: Overdose Prevention and Recovery Living Assistance Update to Meet Objectives
On Tuesday, March 8 at 1pm, the General Government and Social Services Committee will hear a presentation on how the city meets specific overdose prevention and temporary recovery housing assistance needs in Fayette County.
LFUCG will apply to a no-cost extension for existing federal funding of these substance use prevention and intervention programs, which will end on November 29, 2022. They also will be able to apply for the next round of funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Originally, LFUCG received $2 Million in federal funding in October 2018.
Here are the goals of the Overdose Prevention Program to reduce fatalities:
Increasing Access to Naloxone (medication that reduces opioid overdoses) for first responders.
Improving general public access to Naloxone through training and giving out two free prescriptions.
Engaging with vulnerable, underserved communities through outreach.
Encouraging Overdose witnesses to call 911 with a digital and print campaign.
The Recovery Supportive Living Assistance Program was first piloted in October 2020. It provides four weeks of free drug & alcohol-free housing for recovery, which is estimated to be enough time to get clean and find a job to afford rent on their own.
In Fiscal Year 2022, 420 people have utilized this resource.
$400,00 of ARPA funding has gone towards funding this program in Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023.
This meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 8 at 1 pm in council chambers or on the Lex TV live stream. Stay tuned for further updates and future plans for these programs!
🏃 - Get Engaged
Comprehensive Plan Organizational Input
Leading up to April's On the Table conversations (ottlex.org), the Division of Planning staff will be hosting a series of "Community Organizational Input Meetings" for groups and organizations in the Lexington community.
These meetings are your opportunity to send representatives from your group or local organization to provide direct feedback to planning staff that focuses directly on your community interests.
These are available on a first-come, first-served basis - though alternate times can be arranged*
Dates: March 7-11; March 21-25
Times: 10a, Noon, 2p
Location: Both virtual and in-person options are available
Please register here: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../8050c45aba92babfe3...
Learn how to host a table for On The Table at our workshop!
Do you want to host a table for OTT, but you're not exactly sure how it will go? Join the On the Table planning team for a quick 30-minute virtual conversation about how to host a table, tips, tricks for facilitation, and more!
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAoduisqjwvG9CPYGa44KER3IuxFKQP092m
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
This April, all Lexingtonians are invited to answer this question and help chart the future of Lexington by hosting and joining a citywide conversation during On the Table from April 10-16, 2022. Anyone can host or join a conversation as part of On the Table. They can be held in homes, businesses, parks, schools, libraries, online, or in-person - really, wherever you want! These conversations are a way for you and your friends, family, and neighbors to come together and talk about what is and isn't working in Lexington while getting to know one another better.
Feedback requested on Davis Park
The City of Lexington is looking for feedback (via this survey) on features for the new Davis Park, located on Oliver Lewis Way.
Several features being considered are a dog park, a walking loop, a basketball court, playgrounds, and a pavilion.
Make sure to take the survey if you'd like to weigh in!
City Committee Watch Party
Join CivicLex and UK's Office for Student Success to watch and talk about the week's LFUCG Committee meeting! These City Committee Watch Parties, which are open to students and community members alike, and include free snacks, will take place every Tuesday from 5–6 pm. Feel free to drop in even if you can't stay the whole time!
Join us Tuesday, March 8 at 5 pm in the Gatton Student Center at UK!
🗞 - Updates from Last Week
Abandoned Shopping Carts at the EQPW
Council Member David Kloiber presented his improved abandoned shopping cart plan to council last week with hopes that this was the final update.
After questions from the committee, a resolution was passed to “Request the administration to reach out and work with local businesses to develop a policy for return or retrieval of abandoned shopping carts.”
This resolution was said by Council Member Kloiber to be a “quick and easy” fix to get the ball rolling on retrieval plans. Any business that shares their own plan, contact information and signage will not need to face fines.
This item will stay in the committee while administration begins to work with local businesses. Council Member Kloiber will return to committee once he has an update.
Head over to our newsletter from last week to see the packet details of his presentation.
The first meeting for the permanent Commission for Racial Justice and Equality
The new commission met last week on March 2 to hear the commission’s official ordinance and to discuss their purpose and how they will function in LFUCG. Most notably, this Commission can set goals, develop strategies and commission studies and may work together with citizen’s groups. Mostly, they act as an advisory group for Equity and Implementation Officer, Tiffany Brown, as she implements recommendations from the 2020 Racial Justice and Equity Report.
A regular meeting date was set for the first Wednesday of every month at 3:30 pm for about 90 minutes. The commission established that this meeting date could change if needed, much like how other committee meetings get rescheduled if conflicts arise.
Their Commission must comply to the KY Open Meetings Act and be recorded like any other government meeting. They will also likely release yearly commission reports, as requested by Mayor Gorton. The set quorum for decision-making is 8 members and each member is either on a two-year or four-year term. They may be re-appointed with approval of the Mayor and Council after their terms if they wish.
Aside from advising issues in the 2020 report, commission members may bring up community issues to discuss in meetings based on the five different topic categories: Racial Equity, Education & Economic Opportunity, Health Disparities, Law Enforcement, Justice and Accountability and Housing and Gentrification.
The strict details of exactly how this commission will function as an advisory group to Tiffany Brown are not completely hammered down. This will strengthen as time goes on throughout meetings.
🏢 - This Week in City Government
Monday, March 7, 2022
Ad Hoc Committee
⏱ - 1:00 am on March 7th
📍 - Caucus Room — 2nd Floor Government Center
📺 - In person
🗣 - No public input
Subdivision Plans & All Development Plans Filing Deadline
⏱ - 4:00 pm on March 7th
📍 - Phoenix Building — 7th Floor Planning Office
📺 - No virtual option
🗣 - No public input
———
Tuesday, March 8th
General Government & Social Services Committee
⏱ - 1:00 am on March 8th
📍 - Council Chamber — 2nd Floor Government Center
📺 - LexTV
🗣 - No public input
Council Work Session
⏱ - 3:00 pm on March 8th
📍 - Council Chamber — 2nd Floor Government Center
📺 - LexTV
🗣 - In person
———
Wednesday, March 9th
Board of Adjustment
⏱ - 8:00 am on March 9th
📍 - Phoenix Building — 7th Floor Planning Office
📺 - No virtual option
🗣 - No public input
Transportation Technical Committee
⏱ - 9:00 am on March 9th
📍 - Video Teleconference
📺 - No information for virtual option
🗣 - No public input
Tree Board
⏱ - 10:30 am on March 9th
📍 - Conference Room — 5th Floor Government Center
📺 - No virtual option
🗣 - In person
Commission on Veterans Affairs
⏱ - 11:30 am on March 9th
📍 - Senior Center — 195 Life Ln.
📺 - No virtual option
🗣 - In person
Public Arts Commission
⏱ - 1:00 pm on March 9th
📍 - Caucus Room — 2nd Floor Government Center
📺 - No virtual option
🗣 - In person
Homeless Prevention and Intervention Board
⏱ - 1:30 pm on March 9th
📍 - Public Library — 140 East Main Street, 4th Floor Training Room
📺 - No virtual option
🗣 - In person
———
Thursday, March 10th
Planning Commission Meeting Subdivision Items
⏱ - 1:30 pm on March 10th
📍 - Council Chamber — 2nd Floor Government Center
📺 - Zoom
🗣 - No public input
———
Friday, March 11th
No meetings