Week of November 1, 2021

💡 Big topic this week: ARPA COWs

Council is scheduled to hold two ARPA-related Committee of the Whole meetings this week.

The first, at 5:00pm on Tuesday, November 4th, is a public comment session that will take place in the Government Center's 2nd floor Council Chamber.

So far, the Council subgroups have brought forward their recommended project proposals, but have not decided to fund anything specific except for three time-sensitive projects. If you have anything to say about Council's proposed use of these funds, this COW meeting may be the best opportunity you have to publicly address your concerns.

  • Projects that received the go-ahead for funding in last week's COW

    • $1M to VisitLex/Hospitality Industry Recovery - Economic Growth

    • $10M for Affordable Housing - Equity Services

    • $30,000 for a partnership with Scott County/Spectrum and and a RFP related to the Federal Infrastructure Bill - Infrastructure

Last week's ARPA COW gave us a chance to finally see all the recommended projects from each Subgroup. One particular detail stood out to us (and Council): a funding discrepancy between revenue replacement vs. ARPA-qualifying project proposals.

Council has recommended projects be funded with each. Revenue Replacement is unrestricted, while ARPA-qualifying projects must meet certain conditions that directly address the pandemic's effects.

The problem is that the Council subgroups, who weren't communicating very much with each other about which projects they were recommending and how they would be funded, have recommended more revenue replacement proposals than the city has money for, and fewer ARPA-qualifying proposals than they would need in order to spend all of the money they have. Fortunately, Council realized this and plans to address the discrepancy as the process moves along.

Here are the fund breakdowns so far:

  • Council recommended $90M in proposals to be funded through Revenue Replacement, of which the city is set to receive about $30M

  • Council recommended $34M in proposals to be funded as ARPA-qualifying projects, which isn't enough to spend all of the allocated ARPA-qualifying funds

  • Read more about this topic here!

  • Read through the full list of recommended projects here:

    ARPA list with approved items


🏢 This week in City Hall: Potential Changes to Neighborhood Design and Expanded Notification

This Week’s Planning and Public Safety Committee (Tuesday at 3pm on LexTV) will hear presentations from the Planning Department about two topics: potential changes to neighborhood design requirements and expanded notification for zone changes. Let’s take them one at a time!

The first presentation is about a potential SRA, or Subdivision Regulation Amendment. An SRA is an update to Lexington’s Subdivision regulations, which determine things like where new neighborhoods can be built and how they will look.

This SRA is designed to increase connectivity and street continuity in new neighborhoods. Street continuity is a long-term goal of the planning department because it can have many benefits, including decreased traffic, improved public transportation, and increased walkability and biking/multimodal options.

The SRA would specifically change the following parts of Lexington’s subdivision regulations:

  • Updating the definition of a “block” to “A block is the smallest basic unit of a city’s urban fabric. It is surrounded by streets and usually contains several buildings”,

    • This update seems to be more about clarity and modernization than any particular policy change.

  • Changing the block length requirements from a 1,600 ft. maximum and 500 ft. minimum to an 800 ft. maximum and no minimum

    • Shorter block lengths can increase walkability and connectivity by providing more options to get from the same point a to point b, as illustrated below.

  • Revising the requirement for street continuity from “Street continuity between subdivisions shall be provided for “generally” to the substantially more specific “Street continuity between subdivisions shall be provided in all directions at 1⁄4 mile intervals.”

    • This would require intersections to be no more than a quarter-mile apart, further contributing to the street connectivity that planning is aiming for

    • They also specifically reference how important this is to first responders and reducing traffic volume.

  • Changing Cul-de-Sac requirements from a maximum length of 1,000 ft. to a maximum length of 500 ft. and a condition that you cannot locate one cul-de-sac off of another

    • Cul-de-sacs are a popular neighborhood feature for many families who want their kids to have a safe public space for them to play in without worrying about traffic.

    • However, they can also decrease connectivity and walkability because of their “dead-end” nature, as shown in the illustration from Lexington’s Comprehensive Plan below.

    • Shorter cul-de-sacs are a compromise between these two outcomes - the shorter a cul-de-sac is, the less impact it has on connectivity and traffic patterns.

  • Updating the requirement for Public Facility frontage, which is currently “Whenever a proposed subdivision is adjacent to a conflicting land use or a major road or railroad, measures must be taken to afford separation.”

    • The changed requirement would be “and whenever a proposed subdivision is adjacent to an existing or proposed public space no less than 60% of the total facility length shall abut an approved street and shall be designed to provide safe pedestrian access to the facility.”

Still with us? Let’s check out the second presentation about expanded notification for zone changes.

This proposal deals with the legal requirements for notifying residents who might be affected by a zone change in their neighborhood. Right now, notifications about a zone change are only sent to nearby property owners, excluding residents in the same geography who are renting.

This setup is not in line with Lexington at large, where approximately 46% of Fayette County’s housing units are renter-occupied. This is a finding of the US Census, as illustrated in the map below.

With this presentation, the planning department expands notification requirements to include both property owners and renters. Currently, the rules are that:

Notice shall be given to owners of all property within a certain radius of the subject property.

  • 500’ radius for all zone changes and conditional uses

  • 200’ radius for all variances

  • Plus supplemental notice for agricultural land

The Planning Department is proposing to revise this to contain the language that:

"Notice shall be given to owners, and the property addresses, if the property is not the owner’s primary mailing address, of all property addresses within a certain radius of the subject property."

This change means that if the owner of a relevant property does not list that property as their primary address, Planning will send a notification to both the property owner’s primary address and the actual property, in an effort to include both owners and renters.

This recommendation is in line with the 2018 Comprehensive Plan, and its Public Engagement Toolkit, both of which recommend finding ways to engage renters and other non-traditional stakeholders.

The Planning Department also investigates the logistics and expenses of the change, mainly that the cost of mailers for a zone change will increase approximately $20-$50 per project.


🏃 Get Engaged: ARPA, Redistricting, and more!

🐄 Public Comment for ARPA

Voice your opinion about Council's proposed ARPA plans this Tuesday during a special Committee of the Whole meeting. As mentioned above, the ARPA subgroups have each brought forward several proposals for further consideration. Now, Council wants to hear from you before making any further decisions. The meeting will take place Tuesday at 5:00 pm in the Government Center's 2nd floor Council Chamber. If you won't be able to attend, you can still contact your District and all three At-large Council representatives with your concerns.

Public Input on the American Rescue Plan Act funds - Tuesday, 5:00 pm in the Government Center's 2nd Floor Council Chamber

🎨 Redistricting Paint and Sip

Join CivicLex at the Julietta Market at Greyline Station for Redistricting-themed Paint and Sip! Learn more about the local redistricting process by creating your own district map. Supplies, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided and all participants will be entered into a raffle for a $20 gift certificate from A Cup of Commonwealth!

Redistricting Paint and Sip - Wednesday 7-9:00 pm, Julietta Market at Greyline Station

💧Lexington Division of Water Quality Neighborhood Meeting

The Lexington Division of Water Quality will host a neighborhood meeting to discuss the next phase of the West Hickman Trunk E project and impacted areas. The West Hickman Trunk E project is located along Greentree Road, starting near Armstrong Mill Road and continuing past New Circle. It is comprised of approximately 6,000 feet of replacement pipe ranging from 15 to 42 inch diameter. This project is part of the Remedial Measures Program to address the EPA’s consent decree with Lexington.

When: Monday, (11/01) at 6:30pm

Where: Tates Creek Golf Course Counting Room (by the Pro Shop), 1400 Gainesway Drive


🗞 Updates from last week: Collective Bargaining Agreement

The Collective Bargaining Agreement between Lexington's Fraternal Order of Police and LFUCG passed its first reading at last Thursday's Council Meeting. CM Fred Brown made a Motion to bring the resolution forward to its second reading, but the Motion failed in a vote of 9 to 5. It would have needed 10 votes to pass.

Dissenting Council Members stated that while they will vote to pass the agreement, they didn't want to process to seem rushed and wanted to make sure the public had enough time to weigh in. It will go before Council for its Second Reading on Thursday, November 4th.

During last Tuesday's Work Session, Council discussed changes to the agreement and expressed that they were satisfied with the new contract.

Major changes that will go into affect as of July 1, 2021 include:

  • Salary increases to encourage recruitment and retention

  • Two Citizen Seats on the Disciplinary Review Board

  • An unlimited timeframe for disciplinary look back

  • A more robust disciplinary process


🏢 This week in City Government

Monday, November 1

⚖️ MIAAC Immigrant Issues Committee Meeting
⏱ - noon on November 1
📍- Virtual
📺 - Watch via zoom (Meeting ID: 81955894985/Passcode: 774271)
🗣
- No input option available
📖 - No agenda available

——

Tuesday, November 2

⚖️ City Employees Pension Fund Board Special Meeting
⏱ - 10:00am on November 2
📍- 12th Floor Conference Room (200 East Main Street)
📺 - Watch on LexTV
🗣
- No input option available
📖 - No agenda available

🎨 Public Arts Commission
⏱ - 11:00am on November 2
📍- Virtual
📺 - Watch via zoom
🗣
- No input option available
📖 - No agenda available

🗺 Planning and Public Safety Committee Meeting
⏱ - 1:00pm on November 2
📍- 2nd Floor Council Chamber (200 East Main Street)
📺 - Watch on Lex TV
🗣
- No input option available
📖 - View Agenda

⚖️ Council Work Session
⏱ - 3:00pm on November 2
📍- Council Chambers (200 East Main Street)
📺 - Watch on Lex TV
🗣 - Give public comment in person
📖 - View Agenda

🐄 Special Committee of the Whole (COW) Meeting
⏱ - 5:00pm on November 2
📍- Council Chambers (200 East Main Street)
📺 - Watch on Lex TV
🗣 - Give public comment in person
📖 - View Agenda

——

Wednesday, November 3

☕️ Mornings with Planning: Autonomous Vehicles
⏱ - 9:00am on November 3
📍- Virtual
📺 - Register for this webinar here
🗣 - No input option
📖 - View Agenda

———

Thursday, November 4

⚖️ Planning Commission - Subdivision (Sub) Committee Meeting
⏱ - 8:30am on November 4
📍 - Virtual
📺 - Watch Via Zoom (Meeting ID: 89736781698/Passcode: 461588)
🗣 - No input option available
📖 - No agenda available

🎨 Public Arts Commission Meeting
⏱ - noon on November 4
📍 - Caucus Room (200 East Main St.)
📺 - No viewing option
🗣 - No input option available

📖 - No agenda available

🗺 Planning Commission Zoning (Sub) Committee Meeting
⏱ - 1:30pm on November 4
📍 - Phoenix Building - 7th floor conference room (101 E. Vine St.)
📺 - Watch on Lex TV
🗣 - Give input in person
📖 - No agenda available

🐄 Special Committee of the Whole (COW) Meeting
⏱ - 5:00pm on November 4
📍- Council Chambers (200 East Main Street)
📺 - Watch on Lex TV
🗣 - Give public comment in person
📖 - View Agenda

⚖️ Ethics Commission Meeting
⏱ - 5:30pm on November 4
📍- Virtual
📺 - Watch on LexTV
🗣
- No input option available
📖 - No agenda available

⚖️ Council meeting
⏱ - 6:00pm on November 4
📍 - 2nd Floor Council Chamber (200 East Main Street)
📺 - Watch on Lex TV
🗣 - Give input in person
📖 - No agenda available

———

Friday, November 5

🚲 Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee
⏱ - noon on November 5
📍 - Phoenix Building - 7th floor conference room (101 E. Vine St.)
📺 - Watch on Lex TV
🗣 - Give input in person
📖 - No agenda available


🏃 More ways to get engaged

🎭 Improv at the Bell House

Need a good laugh? Join comedian and Civic Artist in Residence Debra Faulk at the Bell House for skits, role-playing, storytelling and stand-up comedy this Wednesday morning at 10:30am. Call the Bell House at (859) 233-0986 to RSVP.

🎄 City Seeking Two Christmas Trees for Downtown

  • Do you have a large evergreen tree that is nicely shaped that you want removed from your property? If so, consider donating it for the city to use for Lexington’s holiday season celebration!

  • City officials will evaluate all trees and select the two chosen for the city Christmas trees. If your tree is chosen, the City and Kentucky Utilities will coordinate with the property owner remove it in early November. There’s no financial compensation, however removal of the tree and stump grinding is FREE.

  • The chosen trees will be placed in Triangle Park and in front of the KU building on Quality Street. They will be decorated and lit Friday, Nov. 26, as part of Luminate Lexington presented by Kentucky Utilities and Baird. Help your tree live out its Christmas destiny! The trees need to meet certain guidelines, which can be found here.


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Week of October 25, 2021 🎃