The CivicLex Weekly

Budget Season officially kicked off last week with Mayor Linda Gorton’s Budget Address! Council will begin working on the Proposed Budget as soon as Monday morning.

Earlier this year, LFUCG released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct an evaluation of LFUCG’s 69 Boards and Commissions, including their membership, structure, diversity, vacancy rates, appointment process, and more. CivicLex, in partnership with CivStart, a national nonprofit focused on local government technology, submitted a response to the RFP and were eventually selected for the project!

In Thursday’s Council Meeting, Council will have their final vote to approve a five-year lease extension for the 100 Flock license plate reader cameras currently operated by the Lexington Police Department.

In Thursday’s Council Meeting, Council will make their final vote to place the Parks Sustainable Funding ballot initiative on the November general election ballot. If Council votes to approve it, then all Lexington voters will get to decide in November whether or not to institute the new property tax.

Here are some highlights from the Mayor’s Budget Address!

This Tuesday at 3pm, Mayor Linda Gorton will present her proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 (FY24/25).

n Tuesday’s General Government and Planning Committee, the Rural Land Management Board will present its recommendations for regulations of STRs outside the Urban Service Boundary (USB).

In Tuesday’s General Government and Planning Committee, Council will hear proposed changes to the approval process for how certain Council and Administration projects are approved in Council meetings.

In Tuesday’s General Government and Planning Committee, Councilmembers will hear updates on LFUCG’s implementation of the 2022 disparity study. The Disparity Study analyzed contracts and projects awarded to businesses by LFUCG, such as construction projects or professional services, to see how equitable LFUCG was in awarding contracts to women and minority-owned businesses.

In Tuesday’s Council Work Session, Council will take their first vote on establishing a $10,000 grant to reimburse downtown businesses that integrate their security camera with LPD’s FUSUS program.

Council will soon cast their final vote on whether or not to place the Parks Sustainable Funding ballot initiative on the November General Election ballot.

In Tuesday’s Social Services and Public Safety (SSPS) Committee, District 11 Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds will present new policy recommendations from the Gun Violence Task Force that aim to address gun violence in Lexington.

In Tuesday’s Council Work Session, Council will take the first vote to extend the City’s lease for the Flock License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras for another five years.

The Social Services and Public Safety Committee voted to move forward an ordinance banning the retail sale of cats and dogs in Lexington.

Last Tuesday, the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee unanimously voted to move the Parks Sustainable Funding ballot initiative to the full Council. The full Council will takes its first action on the initiative on April 9th.

In Tuesday’s Budget, Finance, and Economic Development (BFED) Committee, David Lowe and Victoria Meyer of the Lexington Parks Advisory Board will present an overview of the Parks Sustainable Funding ballot initiative.

In Tuesday’s Council Work Session, Council will hear about Lexington’s plans surrounding medical cannabis, commonly known as medical marijuana.

In Tuesday’s Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee, Commerce Lexington will present an update and overview of their Regional Competitiveness Plan. The Regional Competitive plan sets seven action items to make the greater Lexington area a competitive region in attracting new businesses and economic development projects.

In last Thursday’s Council Meeting, Vice Mayor Dan Wu read a statement signed by the majority of Councilmembers regarding the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine.

In Tuesday’s Environmental Quality and Public Works (EQPW) Committee, Councilmembers will hear presentations on the Energy Improvement Fund and Lex Grow Trees, a campaign and grant program to support trees in Lexington.

Today, both the Kentucky State House of Representatives and the State Senate voted to override Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of House Bill 18. Council will soon amend the recently passed source of income discrimination ban ordinance.