Week of September 12, 2021
The Highlights:
💡 - Big topic this week: Next Steps on ARPA Funds
The great ARPA topic of 2021 continues!
This week, the Council will have a Committee of the Whole to build on last month's discussion about ranking and choosing publicly submitted ARPA projects. The city received hundreds of project proposals from residents throughout Lexington. It will have to decide which ones to accept, reject, or modify.
Complicating the matter.... many proposals don't have as much financial detail as necessary to make these decisions, so they'll also be discussing a plan to assess final costs and feasibility.
You can attend this meeting in person at the Government Center's 2nd floor Council Chamber or watch the broadcast live (day of) or recorded (any time after) on LexTV.
As a recap, earlier this year, LFUCG learned that it would receive just above $120M over two years through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Just last week, Mayor Linda Gorton released her funding priorities for the ARPA funds.
🏢 - This week in City Hall: Redistricting Continues
This week, we're highlighting the Redistricting Lexington Committee, who will be meeting at 10am this Wednesday, September 15th, in the Phoenix Building.
There is no agenda published for this meeting, but there are a few things we are pretty sure they are going to cover:
Adding more population data to the committee's understanding of the current voting precincts, so they can know a little more about the areas they might be moving around.
Splitting up into smaller groups to discuss the compact vs. iterative plans in more detail.
Feedback from the county clerk, Don Blevins, about potentially splitting up voting precincts between two (or more!) districts.
More data from the Planning Department on potential population growth over the next 10 years inside the urban service boundary.
If you're new to the redistricting conversation, check out our redistricting coverage. We'll report out on this meeting in our Redistricting Newsletter.
Also, keep an eye out for your favorite local Civic Education nonprofit 😉 in this week's council work session, presenting an update on our CAIR program!
🏃 - Speak your piece on Accessory Dwelling Units
Tuesday, September 14th at the Government Center (200 E Main St.)
As if there wasn't enough going on this week... Council's Planning & Public Safety Committee is hosting a Special Meeting to take public input on Accessory Dwelling Units. If you have an opinion (in any direction!) about Accessory Dwelling Units in Lexington, we'd recommend that you plan to come (yes, in person).
If you haven't been following the ADU debate over the past half-decade, here's a refresher:
ADUs have been brought forward by the Divisions of Planning & Senior Services as a solution to aging in place and Lexihousing supply.
The legislation has substantially changed since it was first introduced to respond to resident concerns. The current draft - likely one of the final versions - contains various changes that we have detailed here.
Some residents and organizations (like the AARP and Fayette Alliance) support the legislation - other residents and organizations (like many Neighborhood Associations) oppose the legislation.
💂 - Come work at CivicLex
CivicLex is looking for candidates to fill three newly-created positions:
Development Director
The Development Director will expand and implement the organization's current Annual Fund plan while having the opportunity to build the development function of CivicLex and grow within the position. PT or FT ($25k - $50k + benefits)
Civic Education VISTA
This is a one-year renewable volunteer position through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. The Civic Education VISTA will help Fayette County residents stay on top of what's going on in city hall by creating regular write-ups of city meetings for a community audience and helping CivicLex plan educational civic workshops.
Storytelling & Communications VISTA
This is a one-year renewable volunteer position through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. The Storytelling & Communications VISTA will help Fayette County residents understand complex civic issues through creative, digital communications and storytelling methods.
Read more information about these positions and apply here!
🏢 This week in City Government
Monday, September 13
🏡 - Board of Adjustment Meeting
🕜 - 1:30pm on September 13
📍 - 200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor Council Chamber
📺 - No Viewing Option Available
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - Give input in person
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🏡 - Commission for People with Disabilities
🕚 - 11:00am on September 13
📍 - Online
📺 - Watch on Zoom
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - Give input in via Zoom
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Tuesday, September 14
🏢 - General Government & Social Services
🕐 - 1:00pm on September 14
📍 - 200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor Council Chamber
📺 - Watch in person or on LexTV
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - Give input in person
🔦 - Highlights:
Overview of CASA of Lexington
A presentation on creating an Arts & Cultural Authority
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🏢 - Council Work Session
🕐 - 3:00pm on September 14
📍 - 200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor Council Chamber
📺 - Watch in person or on LexTV
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - Give input in person
🔦 - Highlights:
We’re giving a presentation 😉
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🏢 - Special Planning & Public Safety Committee on Accessory Dwelling Units
🕔 - 5:00pm on September 14
📍 - 200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor Council Chamber
📺 - Watch in person or on LexTV
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - Give input in person
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Wednesday, September 15
🗺 - Redistrict Lexington Committee Meeting
⏱ - 10:00am on September 15
📍 - 101 East Vine Street, 3rd Floor Conference Room
📺 - No Viewing Option Available
📖 - No Agenda available
🗣 - Give input in person
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🌳 - Greenspace Commission
⏱ - 3:00pm on September 15
📍 - 215 West Main Street, Ste 150, VisitLEX Conference Room
📺 - No Viewing Option Available
📖 - No Agenda available
🗣 - Give input in person
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🏞 - Masterson Station Parks Advisory Board
⏱ - 6:00pm on September 15
📍 - 469 Parkway Drive, Parks & Admin. Building
📺 - No Viewing Option Available
📖 - No Agenda available
🗣 - Give input in person
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Thursday, September 9
🛣 - Corridors Commission Meeting
⏱ - 12:00pm on September 16
📍 - Video Teleconference
📺 - Watch via LexTV
📖 - No Agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
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🏘 - Planning Commission Work Session
⏱ - 1:30pm on September 16
📍 - 101 East Vine Street, Phoenix Building, 3rd Floor Conference Room
📺 - No viewing link available
📖 - No Agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
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🏢 - Subcommittee: Division and Program Review Process
⏱ - 1:30pm on September 16
📍 - 200 East Main Street, Caucus Room
📺 - No viewing link available
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - No input method available
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🏢 - Special Committee of the Whole - ARPA Funds
⏱ - 4:00pm on September 16
📍 - 200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor Council Chamber
📺 - No viewing link available
📖 - No agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
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🏢 - Council Meeting
⏱ - 6:00pm on September 16
📍 - 200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor Council Chamber
📺 - No viewing link available
📖 - No agenda available
🗣 - No input method available
🏃 More ways to get engaged
Speak your piece on Accessory Dwelling Units
Tuesday, September 14th at the Government Center (200 E Main St.)
As if there wasn't enough going on this week... Council's Planning & Public Safety Committee is hosting a Special Meeting to take public input on Accessory Dwelling Units. If you have an opinion (in any direction!) about Accessory Dwelling Units in Lexington, we'd recommend that you plan to come (yes, in person).
If you haven't been following the ADU debate over the past half-decade, here's a refresher:
ADUs have been brought forward by the Divisions of Planning & Senior Services as a solution to aging in place and Lexihousing supply.
The legislation has substantially changed since it was first introduced to respond to resident concerns. The current draft - likely one of the final versions - contains various changes that we have detailed here.
Some residents and organizations (like the AARP and Fayette Alliance) support the legislation - other residents and organizations (like many Neighborhood Associations) oppose the legislation.
—
City Committee Watch Parties at Cornerstone
Tuesdays, until October 5 from 12:30-3pm | UK Cornerstone
CivicLex is partnering with BBNvolved and UK Student Organizations and Activities to organize a series of LFUCG Council Committee Watch Parties at the UK Cornerstone every Tuesday until October 5 from 12:30-3pm. Join us to watch a live broadcast of local government committee meetings, and answer any and all questions you have concerning how local government works. There will also be optional crafting activities and food from Rolling Oven!
These watch parties are FREE and open to students & community members.
Please RSVP here.
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Profiles in Recovery: There’s No Wrong Way to Recover
In honor of National Recovery Month, LFUCG is hosting a virtual panel of local individuals who will be sharing their personal journey to substance use disorder recovery. The panel will take place at 6pm on September 16.
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Downtown Neighborhood Meeting
September 22nd | 6PM - 8PM | Pam Miller Downtown Art Center
Do you have an idea on how to improve downtown? Downtown residents are holding an open conversation to explore how residents and businesses can come together as a downtown neighborhood to discuss issues that they care about and work towards solutions.
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Provide your input for how Lexington should treat Open Space
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.
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Give your input on parking in Lexington
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.